"Brothers, follow me! Charge in and grab whatever you can!"
Roars, growls, and shouts merged into a cacophony as flames erupted everywhere, illuminating the entire manor.
Most of those who stormed the manor wore night garb. Their strengths varied, but all were ferociously fierce.
Flashes of swords and sabers lit the scene as bodies fell one after another.
The guards stationed by the Dragon King Chamber of Commerce were also capable, but they were far outnumbered by the invaders.
The defensive line had already collapsed.
A man charged toward Carl, swinging a poisoned blade. The long sword, coated with a bluish hue, was clearly toxic.
Carl frowned slightly, casually drawing his broad sword and sweeping it out.
The strength of a Great Knight held an overwhelming advantage over an ordinary man. The attacker's long sword shattered instantly. The residual force of Carl's strike slammed into the swordsman's chest, breaking several ribs and sending him flying.
He was breathless before he even hit the ground.
This single blow made several nearby assailants, who had intended to surround Carl, freeze in their tracks, terror etched on their faces.
They immediately turned and scattered.
This one is not to be trifled with!
What's going on? Carl wondered. Are other factions making a move against the Dragon King Chamber of Commerce?
He had just rested briefly in a Divine Domain Fragment and emerged to find utter chaos. He was puzzled but not afraid. With his current strength, he ranked among the top masters in Freedom Port.
Except for a few Peak Great Knights and those wielding unique Dharma Seals, he would have little trouble dealing with others.
Glancing around, Carl pondered for a moment, then turned and strode towards the core area of the manor.
There must be many valuable items here. It's worth exploring amidst the chaos.
Due to its proximity to the Endless Sea, the architecture of Freedom Port had developed unique characteristics from years of enduring moisture and sea winds. Buildings were typically not very tall but were extremely solid, and generally not very aesthetically pleasing. Finely constructed, beautiful rooms were exceedingly rare.
In the central area of this manor, however, stood a few such buildings, specifically designed for storing various precious goods.
At that moment, the once-delightful architecture was mostly in ruins, fresh blood flowing across the cold ground.
A dull, forceful impact resounded.
A thick wooden door was violently blasted off its hinges, crashing to the ground and kicking up a cloud of dust.
Two figures leaped out from within.
Curved sabers and long spears clashed in mid-air. Sparks flew, and powerful gusts of wind howled from the impact.
Teresa, the captain of the Dragon King Chamber of Commerce's guards, brandished his Long Spear and roared, "Don't think I can't recognize you just because you're masked! Isn't your Hunter Group afraid of our Chamber's retaliation?"
"HUMPH!" Rod snorted. "The Dragon King Chamber of Commerce? Dragon King Zimorman is dead. It's uncertain if your Chamber will even exist in the future."
His curved saber flashed, a blur of afterimages striking the Long Spear over ten times in an instant.
The intense vibrations forced Teresa to retreat repeatedly.
More than the ferocious assault, the opponent's words shook him to the core, his expression changing drastically.
"The Dragon King is dead?" Teresa growled. "You're lying!"
"So, you still haven't heard?" Rod sneered. "Truly pitiful. To think you'd have to learn such news from an outsider. Why else do you think we dared to come here?"
Teresa gritted his teeth, his gaze flickering.
He had heard rumors, but the specifics were unclear; in fact, very few knew the actual situation. The attack tonight... it's a probe by other factions! They want to ascertain Dragon King Zimorman's current condition. If the Dragon King were still alive, any subsequent actions would naturally cease, and everyone involved in tonight's events would pay the price. But if his death were confirmed... well, that would be an entirely different scenario!
"Rod, stop wasting your breath on them!"
Not far away, a big man wielding a shield and a massive axe marched forward, swinging his weapon. "Whether the Dragon King is dead or not, let's just kill them all today! Who's going to know it was us?"
The man's strength was astounding. He maneuvered the heavy shield with ease, blocking every incoming attack.
His swinging greataxe met no resistance; no one could withstand a direct blow.
"Deputy Head of the Storm Group!"
"The Dragon King Chamber of Commerce will not let you get away with this!"
The Hunter Group and the Storm Group were mid-sized factions in Freedom Port. Though not as strong as the Dragon King Chamber of Commerce, they were by no means weak. Each faction was overseen by a Great Knight.
However, today, none of the Great Knights had appeared.
But besides Rod and Reiden, several other Peak Knight-level masters were present.
Even though they wore night garb and concealed their faces, their signature Martial Arts and weapons were unmistakable.
The group surged forward.
Nearly everyone who had made it this far was a Knight-level expert, with several Peak Knights among them. They were skilled and possessed various Dharma Seals. For a time, the Chamber's resistance became precarious.
"It's open!" someone shouted, their voice filled with ecstasy. "The secret room!"
"The Dragon King Chamber of Commerce's truly valuable treasures are all in here!"
"HAHA..." Reiden laughed heartily, his axe attacks growing fiercer as he charged forward with his shield. "Brothers, follow me!"
Lured by the promise of treasure, the attackers surged forward fanatically. The defensive line of the Chamber's guards instantly collapsed.
Some had already rushed into the secret room and begun to loot vigorously.
A fierce gale howled, and several figures on the perimeter were brutally blown away.
Carl, having donned a black robe, appeared in their midst. He tugged the hood further over his head, a slight smile playing on his lips.