Wizard Apprentice? Carl?
Dana struggled to raise her head, looking at Carl with surprise in her eyes. She had experienced quite a lot and had even witnessed Robert’s methods firsthand, so she naturally sought out related information. Although Wizards were rare, they were not non-existent; records of them could be found within the legacies of the great noble families. Previously, she had dismissed these as mere legendary tales, but now she knew that some individuals truly possessed special powers.
They were called Wizards, or Wizard Apprentices!
Nearby, something suddenly exploded, followed immediately by flames erupting into the sky and the faint sound of screams.
"It has begun," Lady Annie said with a smile. "Sigerno City cannot withstand the Thunder Spear. If you follow me, you won’t be targeted by Kolon soldiers, and you’ll also be free to dispose of the wealth I’ve accumulated over many years. Sounds good, doesn’t it?"
She reached out and lifted Carl’s chin, her voice soft and rich with allure.
Her childhood experiences had left her with a profound lack of security, so she always needed someone to rely on as a ’pillar’ of support. Her wealthy merchant father, her Earl husband, Pharmacist Robert... they were all her ’pillars’ until she grew tired of them, drained them of all they had, and was forced to abandon them.
Now, she had set her sights on Carl.
The roar erupted again, this time even closer, startling the horses, causing them to rear up and neigh frantically. The carriage swayed violently.
Dana’s eyes lit up. The floorboards beneath her feet suddenly shattered, and she launched herself backward like a cannonball.
The rear of the carriage instantly disintegrated.
"Hmm?" Lady Annie turned her head, her beautiful eyes ice-cold. Her body swayed slightly, and a spectral image thrust towards Dana’s heart.
Just then, Carl’s eyes narrowed, and a ring on his hand suddenly pulsed with bright light.
The light flared, and pieces of armor materialized out of thin air.
"Hmm?" Lady Annie’s eyes flickered. Her body twisted sharply, and the finger previously aimed at Dana now pointed towards Carl. Her fingers were slender and smooth, her nails meticulously polished, like perfect works of art.
But in Carl’s perception, the approaching finger felt like an indomitable, all-penetrating sword. Its extreme speed meant it would undoubtedly pierce his body before the armor could fully cover him.
The sound of it cleaving the air arrived a split-second later.
Fortunately for Carl, Lady Annie’s sudden turn had given him just enough time to grab the broadsword beside him.
The broadsword was unsheathed.
In that hair’s breadth of a moment, Carl’s hard-honed instincts allowed him to intercept her finger with his broadsword.
The sound of collision rang out. The delicate finger struck the sturdy blade, scattering sparks and unleashing a violent rush of Qi Force.
Carl felt a piercing force transmit through the sword, causing his body to tilt back involuntarily. Dana, after only a momentary pause, struck out again.
Battle Skill—Gale Slash!
Carl’s arm trembled slightly, and sword phantoms materialized out of thin air, forming what looked like multiple layers of a sword screen defending him.
TING! TING, TING... DANG, DANG...
The sounds of impact were rapid and incessant. Lady Annie lunged forward while Carl retreated, and countless streams of Qi Force erupted from the collision between the two of them. In an instant, the carriage was torn to shreds. The horses and coachman screamed as they collapsed, and Dana was also flung clear.
The sounds of impact abruptly ceased.
Lady Annie, tall and curvaceous, stood in the center of the wreckage.
But Dana’s gaze was fixed intently on Carl. Or rather, on the armored warrior!
Although Carl’s physique had not yet changed, the armor he wore clearly revealed his identity. The mysterious person who had rescued their group that night!
Carl? It was him? How could this be?
For a moment, Dana felt as if the Master of Dawn was playing an immense joke on her. She didn’t find it amusing in the slightest; on the contrary, it felt utterly absurd.
"’It was you?’" Lady Annie’s voice turned grave. "’Was it you who killed Robert? To think you’re not just a Wizard Apprentice, but also a peak-level Knight.’"
Her words received no reply. The ground beneath Carl’s feet trembled as he launched himself forward with explosive force.
In mid-air, his body swelled as if being inflated.