Nicholas frowned. "I don't understand. The White Blade Guards gave you everything —"
Monty shook his head and sneered, interrupting him. "Of course you don't understand.
"You're the person Kaslan chose, the future commander whom he placed high hopes on and nurtured. You're the one who can carry the entire war flag for the White Blade Guards."
His breathing quickened. He pressed his right hand against the ground and dragged it along. His eyes were filled with sorrow and indignation as he stared at Nicholas. "Soray Nicholas, you're the glorious Snow Blade whose blade shines brightly. How can you understand a scavenging, dirty crow like me?"
"Yes, the White Blade Guards gave us everything, but they didn't give us a choice."
As he listened to Monty's baffling words, anger rose in Nicholas' heart. "You —"
But Monty continued talking, leaving the Star Killer's words stuck in his throat.
"That was the second day we officially joined the team," Monty said flatly.
Monty said faintly, "Kaslan suddenly told me that he thinks I'm very talented in scouting. Coincidentally, after 'Coward' Lyken died of illness, the Royal Guards are lacking people like me. There's a secret mission tonight. Do you want to give it a try?"
Nicholas' cheeks twitched slightly. He remembered this. He still remembered the envious expressions and sour tone of the others when Kaslan told him about it. He also remembered the uncontrollable excitement and agitation on Big Mouth's face.
'But …'
Nicholas looked at Monty's eyes, which were filled with complicated emotions, and subconsciously closed his mouth.
"There was no moon that night …"
The Raven of Death spoke softly, as if he was telling a lesson from a long time ago to a child. "Kaslan brought me and a few other elderly guards. We covered our faces and carried out my first mission after joining the team."
His eyes shone with a brilliance that made Nicholas shudder. "A merchant had something that the king was interested in. We had to search for it in secret, and while we were at it …"
Monty paused for a moment before he finished his sentence in an indifferent tone.
"… Kill his entire family."
The sun was covered by a cloud, casting a shadow between the two of them.
It brought with it a faint chill.
"What?"
Nicholas' face turned pale. "You?"
Monty's shoulders trembled. His facial features quivered. He leaned against the rock and laughed.
"Hahaha." His breathing was extremely unstable, and his speech speed was sometimes fast and sometimes slow. He looked like a person who had just been rescued from drowning.
"Covering your face in the middle of the night and committing murder and arson, it's hard to imagine, right? This was especially true for the awe-inspiring Captain Nicholas. To him, the White Blade Guards were perfect. Protecting is your most sacred duty. "
Nicholas did not speak. He only stared blankly at the ground.
"The moon was very dark that night. Even the human blood was black. I couldn't see their faces clearly."
Monty sucked in a deep breath and shuddered slightly. His pupils quivered slightly. "I'm just a lookout. I don't have to do anything."
"But Kaslan, Dominic, and the others … These respected seniors in the Royal Guards, they stood among the corpses with torches in their hands. With their numb eyes that could not be seen through their masks, they gave me a special privilege as the most special ceremony to join the team: to kill the last survivor."
"An old woman lying on a sickbed, on her deathbed."
Nicholas, who was listening quietly, felt a slight chill in his heart.
"They probably thought that since I'm a newbie, I should start with the easier ones and slowly get used to it. She's about to die anyway."
Monty let out a faint, hollow laugh.
"But Kaslan and the others didn't know that when I cut her, her expression before she died was completely different from my grandmother's expression before she died.
"Of course, I might have remembered wrongly. After all, I've been through so much … My memory of my first target is already very blurry."
But Monty's smile still faded away. His gaze was calm. "But they don't know.
They don't know. "
Nicholas did not speak. He only stared at Monty in a daze. As a White Blade Guard who was supposed to protect his brother, the Star Killer did not know how to reply at that moment.
Monty sucked in a deep breath and watched the clouds above his head slowly float away. The scorching sun shone down on them once again, enveloping them in light.
"Just like this, Spiky, before the light of the bright moon, under the witness of the snow, raise your white blades high, drink strong wine, and make a blood oath to become White Blade Guards."
The Raven of Death said faintly,
"And I, I, in the deepest darkness, in front of the dim torches, facing the profound gazes of my seniors, raised my blade high, drank my blood as wine, and used my head as proof … I became another type of White Blade Guard."
"I didn't even know if my blade hilt was the usual snow white color when I joined the team.
"Because it was too dark that night. Too dark. I couldn't see the color at all. I couldn't even recognize the blood on the old woman's neck, much less know if the blade in my hand was a white blade."
Nicholas sucked in a deep breath. "F * ck."
"After a long time, I only understood that the White Blade Guards of Dragon Clouds City had been doing this kind of work in the dark for a long time, much earlier than we imagined. Aside from the shiny and tough snow blades, there would always be people who would throw away their limits, dirty their hands, and do the rough work. These were Kaslan's exact words."
Monty panted a few times. His eyes became more bloodshot.
"But they were old. The ugly and secretive side of the White Blade Guards needed to be replaced. Kaslan needed fresh blood and a successor.
"I didn't want to be an elite scout or a sentinel at the frontlines. I wanted to be an assassin who was not afraid of staining his hands with blood. I wanted to be a cold, merciless, and unshakable blade. I wanted to be a tool with no limits or principles."
The Raven of Death raised his head swiftly!
He stretched out his hand and patted his chest weakly.
"And out of so many people, Kaslan chose me."
Monty gritted his teeth. His expression was miserable.
"Chose me."
The wind whimpered.
The two heavily injured men faced each other quietly.
"From that day onwards, I put down my snow blade, carried a crossbow on my back, and wore a mask." With his face half burned, Monty faced Nicholas with his teeth chattering. "I became an ominous Raven that chased after death and rotten flesh."
Nicholas slumped to the ground dejectedly. "Why, Big Mouth … why didn't you tell me about these things?"
"Tell you?" The Raven of Death sucked in a sharp breath, threw his head back, and laughed. His laughter was desolate.
"What could you have done? Thorny soldiers?
Did you want to work with me? Or did you want to beg Kaslan to let me go and pretend that none of this happened? "
Nicholas shut his eyes tightly.
On the other side, the unconscious Thales let out a pained groan.
Monty sneered faintly. "You don't know … this isn't like the suzerain's guards in the countryside. They only need to stand guard and sweep the area, accompany me on my hunts, and occasionally deliver letters and run errands."
He struggled to clench his right fist.
"Nuven was a very ambitious man. He didn't want to just be the king of Dragon Clouds City, but the Secret Room, which abided by neutrality and had limited functions, could not satisfy his expectations. He didn't need eyes and ears, guards, or even soldiers. Instead, he needed a sharp blade, a dark hand, and a group of cruel mercenaries who would be absolutely loyal to him without a bottom line, without asking for a reason, to fulfill his ambition.
"Kaslan was one of them, and I was his successor."
Nicholas was silent. He kept thinking about Kaslan before he died.
He remembered the complicated Iceberg, the stern Iceberg, the laughing Iceberg, the distressed Iceberg, and the relieved Iceberg before he died.
He once wondered if he had not matured fast enough and could not share the burden on Kaslan's shoulders.
That was why such a tragedy happened in the end.
But today, he suddenly understood.
There was someone else who shared Kaslan's burden.
"Over the past ten to twenty years …" Monty stared at his fist. "You can't imagine where I've been, who I've met, what I've done, and what blood I've been stained with."
"Killing people to keep them quiet was the most insignificant part of it all.
"Remember after the Battle of the Deep Valley, when we were both injured and drinking in the Alliance of Freedom's military camp?" The Raven of Death smiled bitterly. "You complained that you were too bored guarding the palace gate all day, and you envied me for going out on duty all day …"
Nicholas frowned. "I …"
"But what do you know …" Monty shook his head.
"Every day, every night, every minute, every second, I had to wear a different colored mask and the same black cloak. I had to walk in the shadows, run amidst blood, kill, kidnap, deceive, plunder, threaten, spy, snipe, poison, instigate, rape, torture, interrogate … I did almost all the dirty things I could do!"
Monty's expression tensed. He swung his right fist with great effort.
"From Camus Union to Constellation, from the Golden Passage to Thornland … I was a spy who blended into the crowd, a scout who patrolled the frontlines, a robber who killed people and stole their goods, a prisoner who committed many crimes, an assassin who sniped targets, a scout who snuck into the enemy's camp, and a spy who started wars. For King Nuven, I became whatever he needed. Everything I did was for the sake of power, especially after Kaslan retired.
"Facts have proven that I, who abandoned my conscience and morals, was the most outstanding tool. I wore the skin of the White Blade Guards, and during the years I served them, I killed countless political enemies, created countless opportunities, and started three wars. Nuven was very satisfied with me. He even handed me over to Prince Soria, hoping that I would become the latter's right-hand man for his coronation and become his royal assassin."
Monty lowered his head, but he raised his gaze and glared at Nicholas with the whites of his eyes. He panted like a man who was about to be hanged.
"Do you understand?
"You don't understand Kaslan, Spiky, because I'm the one closest to him."
Nicholas' heart was heavy. He could not say a word.
The Raven of Death slowly raised his left palm and covered the left half of his face.
"The person you admired the most, King Nuven's most trusted Kaslan Lampard, had two faces revolving around power."
A relaxed smile appeared on the right side of his face. He had the usual ruffian and boorish air of the blabbermouthed brown-haired knight, just like he did many years ago. "Under one face, he held a white blade and protected the kingdom and Dragon Clouds City."
Monty gently moved his left palm to cover the right side of his face, revealing the left side of his face. His smile gradually disappeared. His gaze was cold, and the corners of his face were sharp. Coupled with his charred left lower jaw, he looked incredibly ferocious. "Under the other face, he was covered in blood, and he spread darkness and shadows."
Nicholas stared at him in a daze. He could not help but let go of the stone in his pocket.
He remembered the words carved on the stone.
"Kaslan's Protector Talia"
Monty gently lowered his palm. There was no longer any expression on his face.
He looked cold and stiff.
There was not the slightest hint of humanity.
"Under the banner of 'For Eckstedt', Kaslan was sandwiched between these two faces in agony. He suffered for his entire life, and it was difficult for him to free himself."
Nicholas shuddered a little.
Monty snorted coldly. "Perhaps he did not want the tragedy to repeat itself, or perhaps he had enough of everything, so he … Hmph … When he was passing down the legacy of the White Blade Guards and training the last batch of newbies …"
He stared at his old friend in front of him.
"'Ground Shaker' Kaslan, the invincible Kaslan, he tore his conflicted self, his two-faced self … into two halves while he was still alive."
Nicholas' breathing froze.
The Raven of Death slowly extended his index finger and pointed it at the Star Killer.
His eyes were focused on it seriously, as though it was the aim of a sniper rifle.
"He gave the bright and dazzling half to you."
With a stern expression, he raised his voice and said, "Soray Nicholas, the Star Killer who built his career in front of Broken Dragon Fortress.
"The leader of the White Blade Guards, the war banner that never falls, the indestructible iron wall. You are the junior he has high hopes for. You lead the future of the White Blade Guards like the alpha of a pack of wolves, and protect Northland in the snow like the wings of a snow eagle."
The Star Killer did not say a word.
The breeze blew again, and a thin cloud invaded the path of sunlight. The ground became dark, and the two people facing each other could be seen indistinctly.
Monty withdrew his finger and slowly turned it to point at his chest.
Even though the man curled up the corners of his lips, the emotions in his eyes were incredibly complicated and unfathomable.
"And he gave me the dark and filthy side of him."
He grinned cheekily and said softly, "Nate Monty, the Raven of Death who lingers on in the boundless hell.
"A nameless killer, a beast in human skin, a cold-blooded and merciless blade, and dregs whose hands are covered in blood. Like the shadows under the clouds, they cover the stairs of power to the throne, and like earthworms in the sewers, they chase after rotten flesh and foul stench."
The Raven of Death's smile became even brighter.
"The two of us are the two sides of the legendary 'Ground Shaker' Kaslan.
"We inherit his supreme glory …" On the ground that was covered in the smell of burnt flesh, Monty took a deep breath leisurely, as though he was tasting the freshest air.
"… and endless sins."
Nicholas' expression was bitter. His emotions were complicated, and he could not speak for a long time.
Monty only smiled and stared at the sky.
It was as though his hometown was there.
"Urk …"
Not far away, Thales groaned in pain like he was in a dream while he lay on the ground, as though he was going through an unbearable torture.
Nicholas frowned and looked at the prince.
At that moment, Monty's right hand moved abruptly!
* Thud! *
As an irritated sound rose, a black crossbow flew from the air. It was pulled by an extremely thin iron wire, and it flew over the short rock behind Monty into the Raven of Death's hand.
The Star Killer's expression changed!
"Damn it!"
The battle resumed. The two of them, who had recovered a little of their strength, moved almost at the same time!
Nicholas struggled to get up from the ground with all his might. With a saber in hand, he limped and charged at Monty with all his might.
The Raven of Death, who sat on the ground, gritted his teeth and put his foot into the footrest of the crossbow. He did not care about the injury on his hand and pulled the bowstring with all his might.
The Star Killer was one meter away from Monty, but the Raven of Death used one of his legs as a pivot to roll on the ground. With great effort, he dodged Nicholas' first slash in a pathetic manner!
He even kicked up a large amount of dust. Nicholas narrowed his eyes slightly due to the agitation.
Monty's expression was unpleasant. Rolling on the ground worsened his injury.
With a click, he finished pulling the bowstring.
The Raven of Death calmly pulled his foot out of the footrest of the crossbow.
Nicholas' heart clenched!
'This is bad.'
The Star Killer did not delay. He activated what little remained of his Power of Eradication, roared, and pounced on the Raven of Death amidst the dust!
Monty, on the other hand, lifted the crossbow strenuously, and with a long arrow that had been set up at some point in time, he turned towards the Star Killer.
One of them sat on the ground, and the other pounced. Both of them, who were at the end of their tether, had savage expressions on their faces. They were less than one meter away from each other, and their blades and arrows were aimed at each other!
In the next moment …
* Clang! *
This was the sound of the blade hitting the crossbow.
Nicholas stared at the enemy in front of him and breathed a sigh of relief. He had finally hit Monty's weapon before his opponent could shoot the arrow.
Strangely, the black crossbow did not break when it faced the Rising Sun Saber, but it still deviated from its trajectory.
* Whoosh! *
This was the sharp sound of an arrow leaving the bowstring.
A whistling arrow grazed past the side of Nicholas' face and shot towards a place no one knew where it was headed.
* Thud! *
Nicholas rammed his knee into the helpless Monty so hard that he coughed up blood and fell back to the ground. His only crossbow fell out of his hand and flew into the distance.
"F * ck!"
The Star Killer roared in exasperation and fell backwards with a limp. Before he fell, he held onto the rock wall.
"You just won't give up, right?!"
On the ground, Monty, whose face was covered in blood, tried his best to raise his head and smile.
When he saw his expression, Nicholas suddenly felt that something was not right!
* Shick! *
Without any warning, as if he was pushed by an invisible arm, Nicholas' entire body crashed into the stone wall, and he was stuck to the stone wall!
* Clang! *
With a few crisp sounds, the Rising Sun Saber flew a few meters away and fell on the ground. The red blade gradually cooled down.
"Ah —"
The Star Killer let out a pained cry!
He lowered his head in disbelief. He saw a crossbow arrow that was slightly longer than other crossbow arrows first pierce through his left forearm, then his left upper arm, and finally into his left shoulder, nailing the Star Killer to the rock wall!
'What … is going on?'
Nicholas felt the intense pain from his arm to his shoulder, which made him almost unable to move. Drenched in cold sweat, he stared at the crossbow arrow in shock, then at Monty, who was smiling. 'I clearly missed, didn't I?
Didn't I … Didn't I dodge it? '
"Argh." The Raven of Death spat out a mouthful of blood. He trembled as he tried to get up, but in the end, he fell down again. "I forgot to introduce myself."
However, Monty stared at the shocked and furious Nicholas, who was nailed to death by the crossbow arrow. He snorted coldly and pointed at the inconspicuous black crossbow in the distance.
The Star Killer's expression changed when he followed his gaze.
"This piece of trash."
"There has never been anything it could shoot." Monty's expression darkened. He spat and stared at the crossbow lying on the ground, as if he was incredibly disdainful. "There has never been any prey it could not shoot. Its existence is to torment every master."
Nicholas endured the intense pain. He felt incredibly indignant, but he also stared at the weapon in puzzlement.
"A legendary anti-mystic equipment."
The Raven of Death said with slight dissatisfaction,
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