Thales had experienced the bloody and heavy battle between the two armies at Broken Dragon Fortress. He had felt the ferocity and intensity of the White Blade Guards and Black Sand Region's battle to the death in Dragon Clouds City. He had also experienced the terrifying power of the orc army and the cavaliers charging at each other in the desert. However, the sudden encounter in Black Prison was definitely the strangest battle he had ever seen.
Because this was a battle that happened in the dark, and there was no visual aid.
* Whoosh — *
In the pitch-black darkness, Thales had just activated hell's senses when he heard the howling of the wind!
"Lower your head!"
A shout came out of nowhere. Then, with his black and white hell's senses, Thales saw a Disaster Sword three steps away from him fall to the ground in pain. A short arrow suddenly appeared in his chest.
The mercenaries beside him raised their swords warily, but they could not see where the threat came from since they were in the dark.
Hell's senses gave Thales a lot of advantages, but it also made him, who could see clearly in the dark, feel even more fearful than the mercenaries, who could not see anything.
They were like two people who were driving on the edge of a precipitous cliff during the day and night.
"Three o 'clock! Crossbows! "
Shawn the mercenary's angry shout traveled into Thales' ears.
Thales saw Shawn's figure turn around quickly, and a hand axe flew out of his palm.
"Suppress the perimeter!"
A few throwing axes and knives flew out from the Disaster Swords at the same time. They flew towards the darkness on the right as Shawn gave the order!
* Thud! *
A low grunt instantly traveled into the air, indicating the result of the counterattack.
However, the Disaster Swords' counterattack was only temporary. Everything had just begun. The sounds of a chaotic battle came from all directions in the dark.
"Above!"
Thales only heard the sound of robes fluttering in the air above him. He turned his head and was shocked to see a strange black shadow fall from the ceiling. It went straight for a mercenary on the perimeter to his left!
* Thud! *
The two of them fell to the ground. The mercenary struggled for a while, but he could no longer move. The assassin nimbly rolled backwards to avoid the enemies who surrounded him.
"Watch the hostage!" Ricky's voice traveled into the distance in the chaotic battle.
Thales did not even have the time to be surprised. He felt a weight on his shoulder, and Marina pushed him to the ground in the dark!
"Stay here! If you dare to play any tricks … "The swordswoman in red gritted her teeth and said rudely. She pressed her entire body weight on Thales' body.
He was abusing his position to avenge a private grudge.
Thales was still coughing in the stirred up dust as he thought in pain.
When he finally managed to calm himself down, he inexplicably recalled the scene from six years ago when he fought against the elite vampires in the northern birch forest.
The scene at that time was the same …
Clang!
The sound of weapons clashing interrupted his thoughts.
"No!"
Not far away, a mercenary swung his sword instinctively and parried a stab that came from the dark. However, he immediately cried out in alarm and slipped. It seemed that he was dragged down by a rope that he did not know when. Then, he was dragged into the endless darkness, and all that was left was a scream.
"Damn it!"
Even further away, an experienced swordsman cursed as he cut down an assassin who wanted to sneak an attack from behind. However, he was immediately greeted by seven or eight hidden weapons that tore through the air. With a grunt, he fell to the ground and died.
Thales, who had an extra layer of vision compared to the others, watched all of this while drenched in sweat.
Stake was right.
Darkness was the assassins' home ground.
Besides, they came prepared and did not hold back. In the first round of ambushes, the Disaster Swords could only defend passively because they could not get used to the darkness. They were caught off guard by Shadow Shield's endless assassination methods!
"Coming!"
"Use your shields!"
"One of them is heading to your right!"
"Ah! Go up, I've been hit! "
Arrows, throwing knives, tore through the air, and screams echoed in Thales' ears.
The assassins nimbly moved past the periphery of the formation. They were either looking for a chance to attack or making sounds to probe. It made people nervous.
Even Thales, who could barely see clearly, found it difficult to suppress his fear.
However, the Disaster Swords lived up to their reputation as the famous Blood Whistle. In the face of the tense, difficult, and terrifying situation where they could not see, these mercenaries displayed outstanding qualities that did not lose to an army.
No one panicked, no one ran, and no one even retreated.
All the people in the darkness stood their ground like the most qualified soldiers.
"Don't panic. Guard the front, don't let them infiltrate! Cut down all those who move! "
Klein's impatient command rang out.
"Cover, light up!"
Soon, a torch was lit again, and it was lit at the center of the formation of dozens of Disaster Swords!
It illuminated a small area.
When everyone instinctively closed their eyes, they could not help but feel their spirits lift.
'There's light.'
However, at that moment, the light from the torch was like the blood that attracted sea sharks, and it attracted countless attacks from the assassins!
From arrows, throwing knives, daggers, and unknown weapons …
* Thud! *
* Bang! *
Thales heard a series of chaotic sounds. The Disaster Swords had been prepared for this since a long time ago. They raised three shields and blocked the hidden weapons that came from all directions. Quite a number of people even used their bodies to protect the light.
Shawn raised his shield and bared his teeth. "Don't even think about it! Quick, pass the fire! "
With the light from the fire, the Disaster Swords could see everything in front of them clearly.
They saw the figures of assassins moving through the darkness at the periphery. They were either running or lying on the ground, waiting for an opportunity. There were even some who hung on the wall in a bizarre fashion.
All of them were dressed in black and masked, revealing only a pair of eyes that shone with a cold light.
Quite a number of assassins subconsciously turned their heads a little, as if they were not used to the sudden light.
"Light up, counterattack!" Klein shouted angrily.
Shortly after, after the second source of fire was ignited, the first torch was thrown out without hesitation, smashing fiercely onto the body of an assassin in a corner!
The assassin was caught off guard. Sparks flew all over his body, and it was incredibly bright.
That was the last thing he saw. Shawn's second hatchet came after him and pierced his chest.
The torch he threw was still burning, and it illuminated another assassin in that direction. The two mercenaries immediately caught up to him.
"Aaaahhh!"
The two Disaster Swords roared and attacked. One of them slashed the assassin until he lost his balance.
"Go to hell ah ah ah!"
The person who came later swung a two-handed hatchet and swung it in a sharp arc without holding anything back!
* Bang! *
At the same time the blade of the hatchet cut open the assassin's neck, blood sprayed everywhere. It was a very intimidating sight.
The hatchet man was still roaring, as if he was venting his anger.
* Thud. *
His head hit the wall and bounced back. A few drops of blood splashed into Thales' mouth, causing the prince to turn his head and spit in disgust.
'Damn it.'
He hated the smell of blood.
'No matter what.'
The fanatical roars still rang in his ears, and the sounds of chaotic battle became more frequent.
The tables seemed to have turned at that moment. After the first wave of panic, the Disaster Swords' counterattack soon arrived.
"Nine o 'clock, behind you!
Straight ahead, suppress them in one go! "
Orders were given in an orderly manner. More torches were thrown, and they either hit the assassins hiding in the dark, or illuminated their indistinct figures.
The Disaster Swords caught up to them with great teamwork. They either worked together to suppress them, or killed them in one strike.
Most of their gazes were filled with anger, and their attitudes were fanatical. They cut down the assassins who had been nimble in the dark!
Obviously, Shadow Shield was better at sniping and ambushing. But when it came to a head-on battle, these assassins who were used to living in the dark immediately revealed a weakness that could not be ignored.
* Bang! *
"Come on, cockroaches!" Josef laughed angrily. He did not care about the flames on his body. He crashed into an assassin who was accidentally hit by a torch and pushed his opponent against the wall.
The moment he touched Josef, the assassin trembled and could not move, as if he had been cursed.
Under the assassin's terrified gaze, Josef stabbed his sword into his abdomen, then laughed and dragged the hilt horizontally.
The tip of the sword drew a string of bright red liquid, and the assassin screamed in pain as it spilled on the ground.
It was terrifying and disgusting.
'That's not all.'
Thales frowned and looked at an assassin who wanted to hide in the dark again. A rope that looked like a horse noose was wrapped around his neck, and he was dragged back into the mercenaries' formation.
A tall swordsman coldly turned the hilt of his sword upside down. He deliberately and cruelly pointed the tip of his sword at the assassin's mouth. After letting out a delighted sigh, he roared and stabbed down with all his might!
"Ah ah ah ah ah ah ah!"
* Rip! *
The poor assassin, whose mouth and the back of his head had been pierced, let out a muffled groan. He wanted to scream, but he could not. His limbs flapped violently on the ground, but the only sound he could make was the sound of the blade piercing through flesh, and the melody of death.
Thales furrowed his eyebrows again.
The assassins who showed themselves were no match for the mercenaries who had fought in wars. Coupled with the strange Power of Eradication that Thales had experienced before, many of the assassins were beaten to the point that they could no longer move. Then, with the second or third blow, they fell to the cruel fate of dying tragically.
But this was not what Thales cared about the most.
"Haha!" Shawn rammed his shield against an assassin's head, rendering him unable to move. Having used up all his hand axes, he threw away his shield and held the assassin's upper body. He licked the corner of his mouth and drew a dagger from his bosom.
"Do you like to kill people like this?"
Shawn shouted in delight. He held the assassin and took three steps forward. The dagger in his right hand stabbed the assassin's chest a dozen times, as if he was driving a pile of wood!
Every time, under the assassin's dazed gaze, warm blood would splatter on Shawn's face.
It made him look even more ferocious.
"Do you like it? Rats in the sewers! "
Then, Shawn, whose face was flushed red, pushed the unconscious and twitching assassin away. He turned around with a smile.
Then, he licked the corner of his mouth again.
It was as if he had just finished dinner.
"Hmph." Marina sneered and said, "You didn't even wipe your mouth clean."
Thales felt a chill run down his spine as he watched.
'No.'
The prince stared at the Disaster Swords in disbelief.
He watched as these experienced but ruthless people mercilessly cut open their opponents' stomachs and killed them in the most horrifying way possible.
He watched as almost every swordsman who fought against the enemy came back covered in blood or wounds, with expressions of delight or satisfaction.
'No!'
Thales watched these swordsmen who killed without batting an eyelid. He suddenly felt a panic that he had not felt for a long time.
'It's not like this.'
Over the past six years, the prince could be said to have seen a lot of things.
Whether it was the unparalleled strength when the vampire sisters turned against each other, the Kingdom's Wrath's indomitable charge when he broke through the army's formation, Aida's precise attacks when she weaved through the encirclement, or Nicholas and Monty's bloody battle to the death in the wilderness, every confrontation was incredibly exciting, and it was difficult for a normal person to witness one of them.
'But …'
Thales stared blankly at the group of mercenaries who were bathed in blood.
But those people, be it the Blood Clansmen, Arracca, the elves, the Star Killer, or the Raven of Death, were the most outstanding, the most efficient, and the purest warriors. They did not move, but once they did, they only wanted to win, advance, and achieve their goals.
Be it slaughter or bloodshed, they were just the most superficial and peripheral side products of this process.
'But …
'These people before me …'
Thales watched the battle in a daze. He watched Josef, who was laughing maniacally, Shawn, who was licking his blood, and the countless swordsmen who were merciless in their attacks.
It was not a warrior's personal style, not a martial art's unique moves, not one person, and not two people …
Almost everyone was immersed in a frenzy during the battle, enjoying their enemies' wails, cries of grief, pain, and blood.
They seemed to have forgotten themselves.
Thales became more and more frightened as he watched.
'No, there's definitely something wrong with this group of people …
'A battle, a normal battle is definitely not like this!'
He suddenly noticed that among the Disaster Swords, only Ricky, Klein, and a few other leaders did not move. Their expressions remained the same.
They were like bystanders.
At that moment …
* Beep — *
An ethereal, long, and strange whistle suddenly rose.
The Disaster Swords froze at the same time!
But they were not the ones who reacted.
They were the enemies.
The assassins from Shadow Shield gave up on fighting after the whistle. They no longer attacked. They turned around, either dragged their companions' corpses, or ran away on their own. They fled for their lives.
Once again, they hid further into the darkness.
The battle ended as quickly as it started. In a short period of time, the assassins disappeared from the people's sight, leaving behind only a few corpses that they did not manage to take away in time.
"They retreated." Klein grabbed a torch and watched in disgust as the last assassin's figure disappeared into the distance. "They went into the corners, the stairs, the forks … Any place that can hide cockroaches."
Ricky nodded, but his expression did not relax.
"Take inventory and report!"
After the terrible battle, the Disaster Swords might have chased their opponents away, but it was not as easy as it seemed. Many people fell in the first round of ambushes. More people were injured and sat on the ground to be bandaged. There were even people who were poisoned. They either received treatment on the spot or gritted their teeth and endured the pain.
Thales was roughly dragged up from the ground. He rubbed his dusty chin in pain and tried his best not to look at the bloody mess on the ground.
"Do your people enjoy every battle so crazily and … so much?"
The prince looked at a Disaster Swordsman who was injured along with an assassin and was lying on the ground in pain as he waited for his companions to bandage his chest. He said intentionally, "Just like … just like wild beasts."
"What? Did the bloody scene scare our prince?" Marina mocked him without showing him any respect. She dragged the prince to her side and said maliciously, "Don't be anxious.
"Don't worry, you'll see more."
Thales sighed in his heart and shifted his attention to the leaders.
"They retreated, but they did not give up." Samel put away his sword. His expression was solemn.
"The environment here is too dark and messy. It's very suitable for them to hide, snipe, harass, and hunt us down. It will cause us a lot of trouble.
We have to do something. "
But Ricky shook his head as he looked at the messy scene.
"No, you will never be able to kill all the cockroaches.
We can only take care of ourselves. "
While Samel was deep in thought, Ricky looked at Klein, who had just finished counting and walked forward.
"How are the casualties? Who was the first to fall? "Ricky was very calm, but the question he asked was very strange.
"In one round, eight of us fell, and more than ten of us were injured." Klein could not suppress his anger.
"The other side also suffered about the same number, maybe a little more or less. As for who was the first … I can't tell.
"And the baron from Eckstedt disappeared. I suspect that he might be with those assassins."
Ricky pondered for a while and nodded.
But he immediately raised his gaze and swept his gaze across the battlefield.
"Something is wrong," Ricky said faintly.
Samel frowned.
"What's wrong?"
Ricky turned around and carefully observed the place where the assassin disappeared.
"Stake is not trustworthy, but he is definitely not stupid.
"For the sake of Constellation's heir, it is normal for him to threaten us in this situation, but to overturn the chessboard and go our separate ways? This is not in line with his interests. "
This sentence stunned Klein and Samel at the same time.
But Ricky did not give them more time to think. Crassus of the Disaster Swords turned around resolutely and gave his orders.
"Carry out the defense during wartime. The standard will be the same as during the Purge War."
Compared to before, Ricky's words had a harsh and awe-inspiring tone, as if he was going to war.
"Klein, Josef, Shawn, follow behind me and guard the rear. From here on out, assign people and communicate with each other regularly. We must guard the five floors from top to bottom, especially the corners and the ceiling. Those assassins will not just walk on the ground. I do not need absolute safety, and it is impossible for us to surround and kill them in this situation. But I want to make sure that when we are attacked, we can send the news over immediately."
Under their leader's orders, the Disaster Swords moved efficiently and swiftly.
The Disaster Swords, who had experienced bloodshed, were like a pack of wolves that had just woken up. Their ruthless aura, which they did not bother to hide, was now covered in frost.
"Be careful, everyone. This time, our opponent is not the Tower of Eradication," Ricky said coldly.
"But the terrifying assassins whose name shakes the entire Western Peninsula. They will never attack head-on, they will only attack from the shadows.
"Samel, come with me. This time, we will go straight to the target and end this as soon as possible."
Samel followed without a word and came to Ricky's side.
The mercenaries who had seen blood continued to follow Ricky and the others down. They vigilantly observed the darkness around them, and set up sentries at every corner and fork in the road. They guarded the path of retreat and ensured that their Crassus would not have to worry about anything behind him.
Soon, under the illumination of the torches, they arrived in front of a unique stone hall.
"This should be the place. The last floor. The stone stairs end here."
What appeared in front of them was still a pitch-black, ice-cold, and spacious hall, making them feel uneasy. However, the strange thing was that this stone hall wasn't as clear and distinct as the previous few floors. Instead, it was divided into three paths that led to three deep and serene passages.
"The structure here is much more complicated." Samel furrowed his brows.
Ricky raised his torch and carefully observed the three tunnels. "According to the information I obtained from the oracle, this is the place where the Confinement Research Institute developed anti-mystic equipment. Although Constellation's Secret Intelligence Department later converted it into a prison, the general structure could not be changed much."
Crassus soon found the emblem of an eye.
Ricky pointed at one of the tunnels. "This leads to the original storage room. I guess …"
His expression suddenly changed.
"What is that sound …?"
His words made everyone nervous. Even though they had taken a lot of precautions before this, many of them still turned around and vigilantly paid attention to the path they came from.
But Thales also furrowed his brows. He had heard the sound Ricky mentioned.
It seemed to be coming from the other side of the tunnel …
'Buzzing?'
The sound from hell's senses became clearer, but it also made Thales more puzzled.
Ricky listened attentively for a while, and a puzzled expression appeared on his face. "It sounds like … someone is praying?"
The Disaster Swords held their breaths and listened. As expected, faint human voices came from the other side of the dark tunnel.
"No."
Samel spoke. His expression changed slightly as he stared at the other end of the tunnel. "It's not praying, but …"
"There's no doubt." Samel gritted his teeth. His torch illuminated the first half of the tunnel from which the mysterious voice came.
"Our target is here, at the other end."
The Disaster Swords' spirits were lifted.
"Bring some people to ensure the exit first. If I remember correctly, it's the other two tunnels." Ricky nodded at Klein. "Don't let the cockroaches and rats block it.
Once we're done … "
Klein smiled faintly and led the others to the other tunnel.
"The rest of you, guard outside. Pay special attention to the back," Ricky said to Shawn and Josef solemnly. "Samel can follow us in."
Just when Thales thought that Ricky was going to search for his' target ', to his surprise, Ricky walked over and stared at the prince with a spirited gaze.
"You can rest now, Marina.
From now on, I will personally watch over our guests. "
While Thales was still in shock, Ricky walked forward and dragged Thales away from the puzzled Marina's hands without giving her any explanation.
The prince staggered as he followed Ricky through the crowd. Samel followed behind them. The three of them walked forward step by step and entered the dark tunnel.
"Why me?" Thales managed to steady his feet after much difficulty. He followed Ricky's torch and groped his way forward in the tunnel that was only as tall as two people.
Ricky chuckled.
"Our friend lurking in the dark is too worrisome. I'd rather watch you by myself … and listen carefully."
Ricky's expression changed.
As expected, the moment Thales activated hell's senses, he heard an unusual human voice.
It was a dry and cold male voice. There was a faint drawl to it as he mumbled.
"I know … I know … I know very well … Something is coming …"
The voice gave off the impression of an antique covered in dust. It echoed through the narrow stone wall and spread faintly.
It seemed to be mumbling to itself.
The expressions of the three people in the tunnel changed at the same time.
"It's him." Samel could not hide his excitement as he looked at the other end of the dark tunnel. "That's right, it's him!
He's still alive! "
Ricky remained calm. "Continue."
But compared to the other two, Thales had the help of hell's senses, so he could hear more.
He heard the voice at the end of the tunnel continue quietly.
"I know that your appearance is not without reason. You must be foretelling something, and you want to remind me …"
Thales frowned deeply.
'It sounds like the dry male voice is … talking to someone?'
But he did not have the time to ask his question. He was forced forward by the two Disaster Swords' footsteps.
They were getting closer and closer to the source of the voice.
"But what do you want me to do? Give you another sacrifice? Save you one more time? Regret one more time? "
The voice was filled with doubt and longing. It seemed to be asking for his opinion, but it also sounded like it was begging for forgiveness. But the emotions contained in the voice that were about to overflow made Thales feel a little uneasy.
'The person at the end of the tunnel.
'What … is he doing?'
Soon, as the torch trembled slightly, they walked out of the unsettling tunnel.
The light from the torch shone and illuminated the stone hall that was neither too big nor too small.
The scene before them was still gray and ruined. The only difference was that there was only one prison cell in this stone hall. It was surrounded by a thick iron curtain, and it was located on the other side of the hall.
And the dry male voice that had been lingering for a long time came from behind the iron curtain.
"No, I know that you are testing me … But please believe me, I have never wavered because of sacrifices. I know that this is what I must give. No matter whether it is merits or sins, good deeds or evil deeds, I will accept them calmly, and will never run away …"
The voice rose and fell, but its rhythm was orderly.
Ricky and Samel looked at each other. One frowned, and the other nodded.
They slowly approached the prison cell.
"Yes, I have foreseen my mission, my salvation, but when will it come?"
The voice continued.
Thales looked at the iron curtain, and an ominous feeling rose in his heart.
'So, the person locked in that prison cell is …'
* Clack. *
Before he could finish his thoughts, Ricky had already walked to the wall and stuffed the long, dark green 'key' into the center of the Alchemy Tower's emblem.
Soon, the iron curtain slowly descended amid the rumbling sounds of machinery.
The cover was opened, and light shone in the prison cell.
The final goal of the Disaster Swords was revealed.
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