A Knight who had consolidated the Life Seed, who, compared to an ordinary person, had undergone a leap in the essence of life itself. To ordinary people, they were no longer the same kind. Their strength was comparable to lions and black bears, their speed matched cheetahs and tigers, and their agility resembled the eagles and falcons soaring in the sky. Once clad in armor, Knights became an unstoppable force on the battlefield.
Upon seeing the newcomer, Jacqueline’s hands subconsciously clenched, her eyes welling with grief and helplessness. Matthew, the captain of the Seventh City Guard Squad. He was also the murderer who had killed the leader of the Whisperers of the Wind. Many of her comrades, her brethren-in-arms, had died at his hands; only those who knelt and submitted like her survived.
The moment Matthew appeared, several people had already guessed the outcome. Deng Pulu shook his head with regret, "Such a pity! If he hadn’t been so impulsive, they could have supported each other in exploring ahead. Now, it’s too late for anything."
A blade flashed. The heavy saber, weighing dozens of pounds, traced a beautiful arc through the air, slashing down towards Carl.
The sound of impact rang out.
The area was suddenly plunged into silence.
Jacqueline, who had been indifferent, suddenly tensed. Her previously lifeless, dull eyes now sparkled with an incredible light. The eyes of the spectators, who had been like a pool of stagnant water, also seemed to flicker with newfound vitality, stirring like ripples. The emotion called hope surfaced for the first time! The scene unfolding before them was beyond everyone’s expectations.
Carl, holding his broadsword, body slightly bowed, met the saber’s blade squarely with his own, not retreating even a single step. "Is this all?"
Facing a sudden slash from a Formal Knight, he had parried it with ease, his expression calm and collected.
"You..." Matthew’s facial muscles twitched. He abruptly pulled back and swung his saber again, the light from its blade intensifying.
Martial Art—Shock Blade!
This martial art could imbue his saber with a vibrating force, making it easier to break through an opponent’s defense. Even the tough hides of Exotic Beasts could be easily torn asunder.
Carl raised his hand, "Guna!"
Lesser Force Field Spell!
An invisible force field instantly enveloped the surroundings. He had already constructed three Zero-Circle Witchcraft in his Spiritual Inner Sea. He was a genuine Intermediate Wizard Apprentice; his spiritual power was consolidated, and the might of his witchcraft had increased accordingly. A force field spell cast by an Intermediate Wizard Apprentice could weaken a Peak Knight’s Attendant to the level of an ordinary person. It wasn’t as effective on Knights, but they would still be affected.
As a ring on his finger pulsed with a faint glow, a suit of armor materialized and enveloped Carl completely. In an instant, a warrior clad in dark, imposing armor, exuding a cold and murderous aura, appeared in the arena.
This scene caused Matthew, the opposing Knight, to pale, staring at Carl in utter disbelief.
What was this? Where did the armor come from? And how had he donned it so quickly?
The broadsword once again blocked the incoming saber.
"HMPH!" Carl snorted, his Constitution of nearly 1.5 erupting with terrifying power as he pressed his advantage. His strength already surpassed that of an ordinary Knight, and that wasn’t even accounting for the suppressive effect of the Force Field Spell.
Matthew’s body trembled. His saber retreated inch by inch, his entire frame bending downward under the overwhelming pressure. Despite being a Knight, he was actually losing in a contest of pure strength.
"RAAAGH!" With a furious roar, Matthew twisted, his saber a blur of afterimages.
Battle Skill—Rotating Blade!
In a head-on clash of strength, he was no match for Carl; he had no choice but to evade the direct onslaught.
"HMPH!" Carl snorted at the sight, swinging his broadsword.
Battle Skill—Gale Slash!
Seven sword phantoms materialized, colliding with the incoming afterimages. The rapid impacts sounded like a torrent of rain drumming against banana leaves. Terrifying power erupted at the point of collision between sword and saber. A fierce gale swirled as the two figures clashed relentlessly. And the one with the upper hand... was Carl!
Carl, like an emotionless warrior in dark, imposing armor, rapidly swung his broadsword, chopping down at his opponent.
When it came to martial arts, he was inferior to Matthew. The Gale Swordsmanship was decent at the Knight Attendant stage, but it certainly wasn’t top-tier for a Formal Knight. However, relying on his pure strength and the armor he wore, he had been dominating Matthew from the outset, forcing him back step by step. Each powerful, heavy chop made Matthew’s body tremble violently, his guard on the verge of collapse.
At that moment, a few more soldiers charged out from the passageway. Their faces changed drastically at the sight, and drawing their weapons, they rushed towards Carl.
A figure moved. Scar-faced Jacqueline suddenly struck, her longsword flashing out to block the soldiers.
"What are you doing?" one of the soldiers demanded, his eyes turning cold. "Get out of the way if you don’t want to die!"
"You’re the ones who are going to die," Deng Pulu of the Shadow League chuckled softly, then darted forward, his twin short spears stabbing fiercely at one of the soldiers. The others in the area also sprang into action.
"Kill them! Follow Brother Carl and fight our way out!"
Both Jacqueline and Deng Pulu were Peak Knight Attendants, their strength far surpassing that of ordinary soldiers. In the blink of an eye, several City Guard soldiers lay dead or dying on the ground.
"Where there is oppression, there will inevitably be resistance!" Minstrel Mengde declared. He flicked his arm, a soft sword springing into his hand, and then, employing a flexible movement technique, pounced toward the remaining soldiers.
"Charge!" Nan’s face was alight with wild elation as she cried, "Kill them!"
Leon, however, merely smirked. If oppression truly bred resistance, why didn’t you all resist sooner? Isn’t it only because you saw an opportunity, a glimmer of hope, that you finally dared to act?
He then ducked low, executed the Dharma Seal: Shadow, and lunged towards one of the soldiers like a phantom.
Inspired by the actions of these few, the miners in the area began to rise, their once-dead eyes now alight with intense emotion.