Under the sun, the two enemies faced each other in silence.
One of them knelt on the ground and panted weakly.
The other stood in a daze, his heart trembling.
Finally, Thales exhaled. The aftereffects of forcefully using the Sin of Hell's River were slowly fading away.
Compared to six years ago, when he would easily faint every time the Sin of Hell's River came, Thales smiled in relief.
'Look.
Even though I can't improve …
'But I can still get used to it.'
Under the sun, Nicholas did not move.
It was as if he had sunk into the greatest confusion of his life.
The Star Killer's body stiffened, and he panted in disbelief. "How can this be … that's … that's something I can only occasionally awaken on the battlefield …
"The Twist of Fate … Even the name was given by him on the spot …
"You only used it during training sessions …"
At that moment …
Thales roared furiously!
"Ahhhh!"
He threw away his longsword and charged at Nicholas with a ferocious expression!
Nicholas trembled slightly. Even though he was still in shock, his battle instincts, which he had trained countless times, allowed him to react without any delay.
* Bang! *
Nicholas swung his arm coldly and parried Thales' fist.
The next moment, the Star Killer struck with both hands!
* Thud! *
Thales, who was at the end of his tether, felt a pain in his chest. His forward momentum stagnated, and in the next second, Nicholas' Rising Sun Saber appeared at his throat.
After six years, the weak Thales could only sigh slowly as he felt the faint chill from the same weapon pressed against the same spot.
"What's going on?"
Nicholas recovered from his shock and stared coldly at the prince in front of him. "The Twist of Fate … It's completely different from any systematically trained Power of Eradication. It's impossible for you to learn it from any swordsmanship or moves!"
A gentle breeze blew past the quiet world. It blew past the rocks, bringing with it a mournful howl, and the sporadic chirping of birds in the distance.
"Ha." Thales forced a smile. "Is it really that strange?
After all … "
He leisurely raised his trembling hand and flicked the blade in front of his neck, as if this was just a pleasant outing.
"I'm the Star Killer's disciple, a good student who gets beaten up by you once a week."
Nicholas' expression turned cold.
He withdrew his blade and lifted Thales' collar.
"I'm warning you for the last time …"
At this moment, Thales suddenly raised his finger and interrupted him.
"Shh, listen." Thales flashed a gratified smile, as if he was really listening attentively.
"That's the sound of a grey magpie."
Nicholas was slightly stunned.
"What?"
But in the blink of an eye, a terrifying shudder erupted from Nicholas' entire body!
The Star Killer's expression changed drastically!
It was the intuition of a soldier who had been through hundreds of battles.
He subconsciously wanted to turn around!
But Thales did not think so.
The prince, who had been prepared for this, suddenly raised his hands and grabbed the Star Killer's shoulders tightly.
Don't let him leave this place!
Nicholas, who was halfway through turning around, was suddenly seized. His expression changed drastically. "You —"
He did not continue.
A terrifying, muffled sound suddenly rose in their ears.
"Chi!"
Thales watched with satisfaction as Nicholas, who was in front of him, shudder violently after that sound. His face stiffened.
The Star Killer's expression contorted from shock to savagery, then from savagery to rage!
Bang!
He threw a punch with his left hand, and without holding back, he hit Thales' chest!
The prince was sent flying like a broken sandbag and fell with a thud.
Then, with a twisted expression, Nicholas' knees gave way and he knelt on the ground. He opened his mouth and let out a crazed and pained roar.
"Uh Uh Uh Ah Ah Ah!"
The right side of the Star Killer's body seemed to have stiffened. He trembled and threw away the Rising Sun Saber.
He clenched his left hand into a fist and punched the rock beside him!
Boom!
"Dong! Dong! Dong!
Punch after punch, Nicholas, who was kneeling on the ground, had a ferocious expression on his face. It was as if he had a grudge against the rock beside him. He punched the ground with all his might while he continued to roar in anger and madness.
It was as if he was enduring some kind of pain.
Thales spat out a mouthful of blood. He endured the pain in his chest and shook his head.
He was gratified to see a thin arrow shaft suddenly appear on the Star Killer's back.
The thin arrow sank deep into the right side of Nicholas' back, and a ferocious and sharp arrowhead appeared on his chest. Fresh blood dripped from the arrowhead.
The Star Killer lifted his head abruptly. His bloodshot eyes shone with terrifying flames. He roared in anger.
"Ahhh, Ned Monty!
You son of a b * tch! "
His roar spread through the Land of Barren Rocks and echoed in the cracks between the rocks.
At some point in time, the chirping of the birds had disappeared.
Only the mournful sound of the wind remained.
Thales sucked in a breath and closed his eyes. He was completely at ease.
He had won the duel between him and Nicholas.
He had grasped every factor and every bargaining chip he had …
Thales coughed out a mouthful of blood in pain. He then could not help but laugh.
'Yes, the prince's only chance of winning in this duel is that Nicholas' opponent was never just him. '
The Star Killer's roar turned into pained moans and grunts. He tried to reach out to retrieve the arrow, but the location of the wound was too tricky. Nicholas could not touch it at all.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk …"
A hoarse and sinister voice that both of them were very familiar with came from behind a rock. "Be careful, Lord Nicholas. Don't move, especially your right hand. That's a barbed arrow.
"The more you move, the more you'll get hurt."
The hidden man let out a low chuckle.
Nicholas' right arm was still trembling as he knelt on the ground. He used his left hand to support himself on the ground. He glared at Monty with bloodshot eyes and gritted his teeth.
"You can't run away!
We'll tear you to pieces! "
Monty's cold laughter came from behind an unknown rock again. "Oh? You?
You're talking about Lum and Gella, the hidden sentries half a mile to the north who are providing support …
"Or are you talking about the two new guards I don't know in the northeast?"
Nicholas' gaze froze.
Monty, who was hidden in the dark, laughed out loud. "Don't worry, I've already 'taken care' of the four of them. I even left a mark for the people further behind. They won't come here."
The Star Killer shuddered violently. His heart turned cold.
"Taken care?"
Thales panted in pain and felt slightly better. He struggled to sit up and reached for his sword and shield.
A whistle rose around him.
Monty's voice sounded near and far, as if he was moving nonstop. "Spiky, you said that you strengthened the Royal Guards' scouting and scouting training, and reduced the amount of fighting against the enemy head-on, right?"
Nicholas tried to reach his wound again, but in the end, he failed. He could only moan in pain.
"Thank you so much. Those soldiers aren't very skilled." There was a rhythm in Monty's voice that made people's hearts palpitate. "You saved me a lot of trouble when I intercepted them."
"Ah!" Nicholas roared furiously and punched the ground again.
Monty's laughter was intermittent, but anyone could hear the ghastly, unfathomable, and malicious intent in it.
"Fortunately, the Royal Guards still use the scouting formation passed down by 'Coward' Laeken …
"Take a guess. Who is the person who knows, understands, and is most familiar with Laeken's twelve scouting formations within a circular area of one hundred miles? Who is the person who can intercept them in the shortest amount of time and at the fastest speed on the path they must pass through?"
When he said this, the Raven of Death's smug laughter came from somewhere.
"Hahahahaha …"
Thales frowned slightly.
"Monty." Nicholas' gaze became more and more terrifying.
The pain in his heart and body tormented him greatly.
"You son of a b * tch."
A long sigh came. It seemed to be the Raven of Death's sigh.
"Yes, Spiky." He seemed to find it a pity. "Now, there's only you and me left."
The Star Killer clenched his fists while he knelt on the ground.
"Ahem … About that …" At this moment, Thales coughed softly. "Did you forget about me?"
The Raven of Death and the Star Killer's voices rose at the same time.
"Shut up!"
Thales raised his eyebrows. He closed his mouth and continued to crawl to look for his weapon.
Noon had passed, and the sun began to set in the west.
"Listen up, Spiky.
"This is the Land of Barren Rocks in the City of Faraway Prayers, the border of Eckstedt. Further south is the terrifying Great Desert." Monty's voice rose coldly. "It's very dangerous to faint in the wild."
Nicholas let out a low growl.
"Give me this boy. Let me bring him to the City of Faraway Prayers." The Raven of Death clicked his tongue.
"Then we'll be even. Lum and the other three can also live.
"What do you think of this suggestion?"
Thales' expression changed.
The air was quiet for a while.
For a while, only Nicholas and Thales' panting could be heard.
"Suggestion?" The Star Killer raised his head abruptly. His gaze was vigilant as he scrutinized almost every rock around him.
"Why?
Why do you insist on having him? Why do you insist on having this prince? "
Monty's strange laughter rose around them.
"You know very well that he will play a key role in the war between the City of Faraway Prayers and the Alliance of Freedom."
The Raven of Death's words became fierce.
"We need him, more than Dragon Clouds City."
Don't block our way. "
Thales scratched his head as if he had a headache.
'Old Monty, that's enough!'
There was another period of silence.
"Big Mouth," Nicholas was heard saying in a low voice.
"Do you remember what happened eighteen years ago?"
The voice behind the rock was silent for a while.
"I don't want to talk about the past with you."
Monty's cold voice traveled into his ears. "You know I hate this the most."
But at this moment, Nicholas, who had lost his composure and roared just now, raised his head and laughed.
Strangely, this time, the Raven of Death did not interrupt him.
"That year."
The Star Killer seemed to have had enough of laughing. He said airily, "Prince Soria and his wife were assassinated. The late king was furious, and all the White Blade Guards were punished."
Thales felt his skin tighten. He heard this incident from the past again.
Nicholas said weakly, "Old Coleman took responsibility for me, the acting captain. He admitted his mistake and resigned. Isaiah was disheartened and left the Royal Guards. Many of our brothers were implicated. And you, Monty, you rushed back to Dragon Clouds City overnight to fight for justice for them, even though you were out on another mission."
"Negotiations were fruitless. You didn't even show the king any respect. The next day, you threw away the White Blade Guards and left Dragon Clouds City."
Monty did not speak.
There was still only the sound of the wind blowing through the cracks in the rocks. It was shrill and sad.
Nicholas laughed brokenly.
"No, Big Mouth. I knew your personality from the moment you secretly brought me to visit prostitutes when we were on duty when we were young.
"You're not the kind of person who would run errands for a suzerain, even if that suzerain is the king.
"Not to mention chasing after the Archduke of the City of Faraway Prayers all the way from Rubble Hill to this place." There was a hint of sadness in Nicholas' voice. "No, you're not."
The Star Killer straightened his back and looked around fiercely.
"Ned Monty."
The Raven of Death was still silent.
But Thales frowned.
"But now I understand." Nicholas' anger turned into a sneer. "Hahahahaha, you, you!
You! "
His voice contained indescribable hatred, and it echoed among the rocks.
It spread.
A few seconds later, Monty, who had been hiding in the dark, finally spoke airily.
"Spiky," the Raven of Death said faintly.
"What do you understand?"
Nicholas snorted coldly.
He sucked in a breath and let out a long sigh. The pain in his chest and back made him frown from time to time.
But Nicholas still gritted his teeth and said softly,
"Lord Ned Monty …"
"A few days ago, as the so-called vanguard, you came to Dragon Clouds City earlier than the official diplomat group of the City of Faraway Prayers and anyone else.
"On the day of the council hearing, when the situation was already set, you brought news of Constellation's unusual movements at the border and pushed the prince to the front of the stage."
Thales closed his eyes gently.
The Raven of Death did not say a word.
Nicholas continued speaking. Every sentence and every word he said was filled with an even deeper and heavier chill.
"The Archduchess tried her best to protect the young prince, but you fanned the flames at the critical moment and forced Dragon Clouds City to send him to the City of Faraway Prayers.
"After this prince disappeared, at the same time when Dragon Clouds City opened, you arrived even earlier than us, the local tyrants, and intercepted him."
"Hehehehe …"
The Star Killer sneered. "Everything you've done over the past few days has puzzled me, even though I know you well … Aren't you putting in too much effort for the City of Faraway Prayers? Aren't you too much of a coincidence in this game of chess? "
Monty interrupted him.
"You don't understand." The Raven of Death's words seemed to be a little sentimental. "Spiky, you don't understand."
* Thud! *
The heavily injured Nicholas punched the ground!
"Yes, I don't understand!"
He shouted angrily, "But I understand now!"
The Star Killer's gaze had never been so terrifying. It was even more terrifying than when he saw Lampard. "It's all thanks to this young prince. He was the one who reminded me that I underestimated the Secret Intelligence Department."
Thales' expression froze.
At that moment, the air became quiet.
Nicholas' voice became urgent. He was practically gnashing his teeth as he said the following words, "Eighteen years ago, Prince Soria and his wife were strangely assassinated. The assassin from Constellation entered as if there was no one around. No one saw him sneak in. The White Blade Guards' strict defense was useless."
No one responded to him.
Aside from the sound of the wind.
"No!"
The Star Killer shouted angrily. "Six years ago, even a formidable person like Lampard had to rely on calamities to lure us away and weaken us. He knew that. With every additional White Blade Guard, the assassin's chances of success would decrease, and the possibility of a coup would decrease.
"But the assassin eighteen years ago could bypass the heavy defense of hundreds of elite White Blade Guards, plan meticulously, and assassinate the prince of the strongest country in the Western Peninsula?"
At this moment, Nicholas' face was extremely distorted.
"There's only one possibility."
He clenched his left fist tighter. "There's … a traitor among the White Blade Guards."
There was still no response.
Thales lowered his eyes and looked at the ground.
Nicholas practically hissed each word through gritted teeth. "Over the years, I've suspected many people: Byrne Mirk, who was the prince's personal bodyguard; Old Coleman, who was the first to arrive that day; Justin, who was patrolling the perimeter; I even suspected Isaiah, who was in charge of protecting Black Sand Region's diplomat group …"
When the Star Killer said this, he took a deep breath.
The rocks were still silent.
It was as if even the stream was about to stop flowing.
"But you just reminded me, old friend."
When Nicholas said this, his eyes seemed to burn with the flames of pain and hatred.
"Among the White Blade Guards, especially on the day Prince Soria was assassinated … the person who knew the internal situation the best, understood the formation of the scouts the best, was the best at avoiding detection, the most familiar with the loopholes in the defense, and the most convenient for the assassin …
"Actually, it was a person who wasn't even there.
"An expert in concealment and assassination.
"A person who hid in Eckstedt, in Dragon Clouds City, by the king's side, and among the White Blade Guards for decades …
"Constellation's spy."
The air was so quiet that it could not be any quieter.
No one answered him.
It was as if everything around him had sunk into eternal silence.
The Star Killer was still kneeling on the ground.
But he no longer cared about the arrow on his back. Instead, his entire body trembled, his eyes struggled, and his facial muscles twitched slightly.
He looked like he was about to wail, but also like he was about to roar.
His gaze was incredibly complicated: disgust, pain, regret, resentment, sorrow, sadness, despair … It was endless and mixed together.
In the end, Nicholas shuddered and sucked in a deep breath.
A mouthful of the coldest air in midsummer.
When he thought of this, Thales could not help but shiver a little.
"What do you think?"
He asked the person behind the rock softly, "Big Mouth, Ned, Monty … the sworn brothers who joined the White Blade Guards with me."
The former commander of the White Blade Guards, Lord Soray Nicholas' voice became more and more indifferent.
Finally, he restored his expression to the coldest, most apathetic, most merciless, and most competent version.
"Or should I call you …
"The Raven of Death from Constellation's Secret Intelligence Department?"
Thales gently grabbed his longsword.
He sighed a little at an angle that no one could see.
Silence.
Still silence.
Another gust of wind blew.
The whistling in the crack became more and more sorrowful.
Then, a voice that was not so harmonious broke the silence. The sound of a bow being nocked rose clearly.
"You know, I've changed my mind about the suggestion just now."
The Raven of Death's voice traveled into Thales' ears. He still sounded calm, relaxed, and at ease.
"Spiky …"
But this time, his words were filled with a dark, murderous intent that made people shudder.
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