Chapter 806: Chapter 34: Upheaval in the Royal Capital (2)_3
Yuliy was poised for rescue when a sudden forewarning tingled in his heart. A sword beam, as blazing as the sun, shot out from beneath the bell tower, piercing from an exceedingly sharp angle, and he leaped up from the icy path, landing in front of the tower.
“Good morning, Knight Yuliy. It surprises me to find you not among the knights on such an important day.”
He was greeted by a peal of silvery laughter, as a woman with yellow hair and a black dress leaned against the wall of the bell tower, with a human-shaped guardian like dawn by her side. Yuliy recognized the enemy, and a surge of anger arose within him.
“Jane Della!”
“It’s me, it’s me!” Jane laughed lightly, covering her lips. “You actually remember my name, how honored a mere villager like me feels. If I could cut you down with my sword, I bet Knight Alandia’s expression would be priceless, wouldn’t it?”
Yuliy’s expression grew as dark as water, and coldness crystallized into a deep blue great sword in his hand. He wished to exchange no more words with the woman, adhering only to tradition, he spoke the final declaration a knight should make before confronting the enemy.
“Sixth Rank of the Star Radiance Assembly, Cold Crystal Knight Yuliy Bran, tasked with vanquishing rebels on behalf of the Dawn Knights.”
“Can you do it, Cold Crystal Knight? There’s something I’ve been meaning to say…” Jane revealed a caustic smile, “Perhaps the majority of the Star Radiance Assembly are not as valiant and skillful as me!”
Transparent ice crystals surged like mountains, reflecting the knight’s angry face in countless smooth facets. Yuliy fully unfolded his domain, and with agile grace like an eagle, thrust forward with his ice sword: “Desolate Form: Manifest, Pure Commandment: Eternal Freeze Crystal!”
The dawn guardian by Jane’s side brandished its sword to intercept, uttering the same voice as its original. She revealed her hidden true declaration, demonstrating her fully sublimated power: “Spiritual Image: Manifest, Perfect Knight [Jane Della]!”
Once comrades, the two now clashed swords, as if enacting a drama from a millennium ago, past allies turned into foes.
·
“Did you know, Rakael, I’ve always intended to recommend you to take over as vice captain after I retire. This position engages frequently with less savory work… budgets, internal strife, nepotism, political propaganda… It requires a knight less idealistic. And you know how to handle those aspects well.”
“I’m truly honored.” Rakael decapitated a knight-desiring beast with one swing, sealing its neck with wax to prevent resurrection. A newly formed wax statue behind him focused on deploying the forces within Shadow Mist City; wax surged underfoot, flowing along a mysterious path. Ghostly shadows moved within the fog; amid the busyness, Rakael activated his armor, revealing the giant phantom spirit with a bright light. “I must arrange a comfortable retirement for you…”
“An opportunity to create social value, fully harnessing one’s potential post-retirement,” Gafri corrected.
“Of course, vice captain.” Using the corpse of an undying beast as a springboard, Rakael leapt into the building, wielding his sword with both hands to halve a giant phantom spirit from the middle. “Vice head of Supibia Bank? Chairman of the Royal Theater Foundation?”
“Perhaps honorary principal of the Mage Academy?” Gafri quipped.
“Haha… honestly, I have always admired you. I’m so nervous that I have a bit of a stomach ache, yet you can still joke around.”
Landing, Rakael propped his body up with his great sword, taking a slight breath of relief. Recalling the ninja exchange at Zero Island, where he was dubious about their talk of long-term stomach pain under high stress, now it seemed the ninja finally spoke some truth. When the body and mind are under dual pressures, discomfort is inevitable; some succumbed under pressure and even vomited publicly.
In truth, vomiting might actually help; stress could leave with it, but more often, people have to endure the pressure and continue fighting, easing emotions with banter and shouting.
“However, your ability to receive jokes is why I recommended you.” Gafri stretched his neck. “There is a phrase in the Empire I’m fond of, ‘In the face of major events, remain calm.’ Some gentleman’s calm is on the frontline directing troops; some gentlemen’s calm is remembering to joke while working.
He sat on his horse, a mighty black stallion wrapped in ominous black armor, ghostly blue fire blazing in its eyes. The animal’s primal instinct sensed hidden danger, its hooves restlessly pawing the ground. The knight on its back remained steady, donned in heirloom light armor, looking more like hunting wear than battle equipment.
“Ignite.”
Gafri let out a whistle, and the black horse breathed fire from its mouth!
The horse’s fire illuminated their feet, and white wax crisscrossed in a web-like grand array on Shadow Mist City’s ground. Rakael’s array completed a half-second before, and the flames touched the wax, setting it alight like true candles. The bright fire spread from beneath their feet, quickly lighting the surroundings, and Gafri’s warhorse gave a loud neigh.
It’s a beast horde! The beasts, fallen into desire, surrounded the two knights like an ocean; the sheer numbers created an oppressive sensation suffocating them. It was a premeditated ambush, facing forces not of low-grade beasts with lanterns but of deeply crystallized soldiers and knights. The beast army, led by beast-knights, arrayed themselves, looking to swiftly slay the intruders.
Yet the beast horde couldn’t move; strands of black shadows bound their forms like ropes, someone single-handedly halting the legion’s advance. Gafri drew up the black mask, whispering: “Shadow Hunt.”