radicalducati Page 37
Page 37
"Who is Kate? What's her strength?"
“Kate is a first-level priest of the Church of War, with the first-level bloodline Purple Lightning Thorn, possessing the abilities of [Thorn Protection] and [Electric Thorn].
Why did you want to assassinate Lady Leah?
"Only by eliminating the Falao Merchant Guild's support for Zhuang Sen can we have time to replicate plate armor and continue to monopolize the arms trade in Leon Territory."
The answer was exactly the same as that of Nott, Nils, and John, only the wording was slightly different, but that didn't matter anymore.
Mira stopped asking questions and looked at Zhuang Sen.
The smile Zhuang Sen had just managed to muster had vanished, replaced by an extremely gloomy expression. This was the first time Mira had ever seen Zhuang Sen like this. Even when Bishop Charles had been constantly picking on him, he had always maintained a polite and proper smile. But this was understandable, given that his mother's life was at stake.
But where did the War Church get the audacity to assassinate Count Cross's wife, the daughter of the Farau family? Isn't Charles afraid that if the matter is exposed, the entire War Church of Leon will be buried with him for his foolish act?
Everyone knows how important Lady Leah is, but neither Jem Leon nor Ange Leon would want to kill her. This is not only because they also have mothers and are worried about retaliation from Johnson, but also because Lady Leah is an important link between the Leon family and the Farau family. Anyone who dares to lay a hand on her will offend two count families.
Therefore, Johnson has always been very confident in Lady Lia's safety, even now.
In the somber atmosphere, the sound of hooves rang out, and Nia led in Zhuang Sen's mount. Loris opened her mouth, but said nothing. What could she say? Even traveling light on horseback, it would take nearly a day to travel from Thorn Manor to Radiant Manor—enough time for a bloodline user to kill someone and escape hundreds of miles?
Zhuang Sen knew this too, but he couldn't just give up like that. Besides, maybe he could make it in time. What if Bishop Rosa discovered the problem? What if Count Cross sent someone to rescue him?
He patted Nia's head, then mounted his horse: "Dantrian, I'll leave the manor to you."
“Wait a minute, Johnson!” Miss Mira suddenly spoke up, interrupting Dantalian’s reply, “I’ll go with you. I can use [Bloodlust] to enhance the horse’s speed and stamina!”
Zhuang Sen's eyes lit up, but then dimmed again: "The duration is too short, and the horses' physiques can't withstand it."
At this moment, Hana, who had arrived earlier than Dantalian but hadn't had much of a chance to appear, said weakly, "Um, regarding the issue of physique, I can use [Parasitic Seed] to strengthen it. It should be able to make it more robust."
This seems like an option. The Parasitic Seed can replace the warhorse's weak flesh and nerves with a more resilient plant that has no pain, so the warhorse can indeed withstand the berserk enhancement of the Bloodlust spell.
Miss Mira added, "I'll go with you. We can continuously cast Bloodlust along the way. As for the bloodline power needed to use the ability..."
Miss Mira hesitated for a moment, then pointed to her canine tooth. "You should know, Johnson."
I understand, it's the traditional way vampires replenish their mana by drinking blood.
Without hesitation, Zhuang Sen ripped off his helmet: "Get on!"
Miss Mira mounted her horse and came to stand behind Zhuang Sen, preparing to unleash the Bloodlust spell. Hana also carefully came to Zhuang Sen's mount and pressed on the muscle in front of the horse's heart. A green light shone brightly and seeped into it.
The two's actions alerted Dantalian and Nia, who also approached Johnson and began to unleash their abilities on the good horse, a horse whose fate was hard to define.
The blessings, healing, and prayers of the Holy Ramia.
The dwarf girl's [Rock Skin], [Earth Power], and [Endurance].
The sunflower Anawa's [parasitic seeds], [rapid growth], and [paralyzing aroma]
The vampire girl's [Bloodlust], [Boiled Blood Curse], and [Weakened Perception] spells.
Zhuang Sen pondered for a while and realized that the only enchantment enhancement among the bloodline of the Unranked Angel was the [Light] spell. So he could only take out the four bottles of Berserk Potion and three bottles of Rejuvenation Potion that he had seized from the four people in the Church of War, and pour them, along with the strong liquor in the [Dwarven Wine Jar], into the mouth of his horse.
Of course, he didn't forget to add the light spell as well.
Finally, after this round of cost-effective buffs, the horse under Zhuang Sen's mount had grown more than two sizes larger, with a shoulder height reaching a terrifying 2.8 meters. The hot breath coming out of its nostrils was a mixture of red and green, and its original brown pupils had turned crimson. It was no longer docile, and its four hooves kept pounding the ground, leaving deep pits on the solid stone slabs.
Its gray mane had now turned into patches of green, gray, gold, and red, and large, murky beads of sweat were gushing from its mottled fur, quickly soaking the ground as if it were raining. There were even some sharp protrusions on its dashing head, whether it was a side effect of the Nine Dragons Pulling the Coffin or the awakening of the unicorn bloodline under excessive enhancement... Considering that Zhuang Sen did not see any strange phantoms, it was probably the former.
In short, Zhuang Sen acquired a colorful, 2.8-meter-tall, muscular horse with green vines occasionally emerging from its body!
Without further hesitation, Zhuang Sen reached out and grabbed the mane of the Nine Dragons Horse, clamped its belly between his legs (which, though not particularly thick, were still quite powerful), and then lashed the horse's rump with the whip, which was already soaked with red sweat and matted with hair: "Giddy up!"
The Nine Dragons Horse let out a high-pitched neigh, abruptly standing up, startling Mira into grabbing Zhuang Sen's waist before landing back down. It instantly rushed out of the blacksmith's workshop, moving so fast that Hana didn't even have time to open the door before it was smashed through. The Nine Dragons Horse was already at the entrance of Thorn Manor.
On the ground, hoofprints were left one after another.
Chapter 87: The Loyal Female Knight (2999 words)
Kate entered Glorious Manor without any difficulty.
The skilled guards and loyal servants were all focused on the sons of Leon outside, completely ignoring the potential intruders. So Kate simply killed one of the guards on the inner wall and entered the luxurious manor.
She stood on the white stone wall, glancing back at the crowd outside who appeared tiny due to the distance, a flicker of mockery crossing her mind. But she quickly suppressed this emotion, turned her gaze forward, and swiftly located the building in front of her.
Lia Farau's residence, a place adorned with flowers.
The priestess, dressed in a black cloak that concealed her face, stepped across the rooftops, passed through the flower-filled courtyard, and arrived at the gate.
A female knight in armor stood guard at the door, warily drawing her longsword from her waist: "Who's there!"
A smirk played on Kate's lips beneath the black mask, and she casually swung her longsword. Kate, of course, didn't reveal her name; she didn't even care about the existence of this mortal guard. She only wanted to complete her mission quickly: to kill Lady Leah—the wife of Earl Cross, the legitimate daughter of the Falau family, a family with sacred blood, and the wise and cunning head of the Falau Merchant Guild.
Although she hadn't awakened her bloodline, she actually held a higher status than Kate, a first-level bloodline user. Normally, if they met, Kate would have to bow to her first. But now, she was about to destroy such a noble person, which gave her an uncontrollable sense of pleasure.
She took a step, preparing to walk through the tightly closed door.
A longsword gleaming with cold light slashed towards her, forcing the unarmored priestess to take a step back and deflect the powerful blow with her sword.
Kate looked at the guard seriously for the first time.
She was robust, clad in a new type of plate armor that obscured her face, but the gaze emanating from within her helmet was resolute; she was clearly an excellent soldier, a competent guard. Kate knew who she was: Lydia, the guardian knight of Lydia Farau.
But she was just an ordinary person. No matter how strong her will was, she couldn't withstand that fatal sword strike. Her armor wouldn't have been enough either, unless...
Kate's gaze fell on the neck guard that had just received her sword strike. Its bluish-gray color was not very noticeable against the gleaming silver metal, but once seen, it would appear quite jarring.
"Fel Iron Armor?"
Kate's voice betrayed an undisguised jealousy. She, a person of noble blood, a devout priestess, had only been gifted a mid-grade magic iron longsword while carrying out a great mission from the bishop. And yet a lowly mortal, an insignificant female knight, was allowed to wear magic iron armor?
“What a waste. You think you can stop me with just a metal can?” Kate raised her head coldly and proudly. “True strength cannot be compared to an inanimate object. But if you can block one of my swords and then die under my electric thorns, you should be proud.”
As soon as she finished speaking, a long, purple thorny spike appeared before Kate, crackling with purple electricity. Kate shifted her gaze again, looking towards the door, and stepped forward. The sound of a longsword cutting through the air rang out, but this time Kate didn't care. Even if the thorny spike couldn't penetrate the armor's defenses, the intense electricity it emitted could still destroy the flesh beneath the armor—a fact proven many times over.
She won—
A sudden sense of crisis caused Kate to leap backward, her longsword lashing out hastily. It clashed with another longsword in mid-air, sending it flying. The sheer difference in strength allowed Kate to easily avoid a fatal blow. But she wasn't so lucky to dodge the other attack.
A stone bullet grazed her waist, wiping away her black robe and fair skin, causing bright red blood to flow out and stain the remaining black robe.
Those of bloodline?
No, it's not!
Kate stared intently at Lydia's right hand gauntlet, its bluish-gray, rock-like color slowly fading, revealing the true nature of the sudden stone projectile.
"High-grade magic iron armor!"
Kate gritted her teeth and pronounced the name of the obstacle slowly and deliberately.
A high-grade magic iron armor capable of unleashing power, a family heirloom of an earl, is being worn by a mere mortal! What a waste!
Lydia silently raised her longsword again, blood flowing from her hand. The magic iron armor forged by Nia could protect her from Kate's attacks and granted her the abilities of a first-grade bloodline user, but it couldn't give her the physical attributes of one. In a head-on confrontation, she was indeed at a significant disadvantage.
But this doesn't mean she should be afraid or back down.
She is Lydia, the guardian knight of Lydia Farau, who will protect her master with her life until death.
With a soft exhale of fear and hesitation, Lydia took the initiative to step forward. Her honed swordsmanship instincts suppressed the distortion of her movements caused by pain, allowing her longsword to still fall steadily toward her enemy's chest.
Kate's eyes widened in fury, and her longsword lashed out with lightning speed. The two swords clashed again, and no miracle occurred. Lydia's sword was once again knocked high into the air; the fact that it hadn't fallen from her grasp was a testament to her immense effort. The price was that her hand was torn open again, and blood gushed out.
But this is a given.
Lydia calmly watched as Kate's longsword hurtled toward her neck, then raised her gauntlet.
"madness!"
Kate mocked her enemy. She wasn't someone who had just awakened her bloodline; she had extensive combat experience, including war priests against other bloodline users. How could she possibly underestimate her enemy's abilities?
Her feet shifted slightly, her body turning gracefully like a dancer, dodging Lydia's pointing finger, while the blade drew even closer to Lydia's vitals. This was the fatal difference between those with bloodlines and ordinary people—not just in ability, but also in physical attributes. Those with bloodlines were simply stronger, faster, and more agile than ordinary people!
Then, Kate jumped into the mud puddle.
Lydia, stepping onto the bluish-gray iron boots, lunged towards Kate, who was mired in the mud, in the lingering glow of the earthy yellow light. The heavy tin can changed color again in mid-air; the bluish-gray rocky skin swallowed the bright silver, and the rocks that sprang up out of nowhere increased the weight of the female knight, turning her into a giant iron boulder, from which a magic iron longsword also sprouted.
Although it's just a basic level one magic iron longsword, possessing only sharpness and hardness exceeding that of ordinary steel weapons, it should be enough to slit the throat of a level one bloodline user.
Kate roared in fury. She hadn't expected Lydia's armor to have more than one ability, and she certainly hadn't expected Lydia to be so decisive. A mere mortal trying to fight a bloodline user hand-to-hand? Even unarmed, she could beat her to death inside that expensive metal can!
Besides, she didn't need to be in such a sorry state.
Lightning flashes, thorns grow in layers.
Outside the black robe stained with yellow mud, a layer of purple thorns crackling with purple lightning suddenly appeared, their sharp thorns and flashing lightning clearly indicating their danger.
[Protective Thorns]
Creates a layer of thorny armor around itself, causing electric shock damage to those who touch it.
The heavy boulder crashed down, crushing the thorns with steel and rock, but failing to harm the flesh within. Meanwhile, the flashing lightning pierced through the shattered rocks, penetrated the metal armor, and struck the fragile mortal body.
Lydia groaned, feeling spasms and numbness in her body. The armor that had once held her up so easily now felt like a steel cage, firmly suppressing her movements. But she didn't give up, still struggling to use her longsword to slit the throat that was so close at hand. But another hand gripped her wrist tightly and then roughly ripped off her helmet.
Lydia's handsome face, glistening with sweat, was exposed to the air. But the next second, she struggled to lift her head and try to bite her enemy's wrist, only to be met with a heavy blow. Her forehead swelled rapidly, her not-so-fair skin turned bluish-purple, and blood pooled and flowed out. Dizziness made it increasingly difficult for her to control her body.
But she still fought bravely and tried to attack the enemy.
Kate dropped the expensive helmet she was holding, grabbed Lydia's wrist, and forcefully pressed it against Lydia's own neck. Under the overwhelming force, Lydia's joints gradually twisted, and the longsword that was meant to slit Kate's throat gradually pressed against her own neck.
Then came the less-than-satisfying sound of metal hitting flesh.
Kate tossed aside the longsword, picked up her mud-covered weapon, and limped to her feet. Her once mysterious and elegant appearance was now smeared with mud and blood, making her look like a vagrant. But Kate wasn't angry. She looked down at the head she had severed with her own hands, and instead of the expected fear and regret, she saw a smile.
idiot.
She thought that although it had indeed caused her some trouble, it was only because of the armor, and she couldn't save her master anyway; it was just a self-satisfied foolishness.
Kate glanced at the closed door and easily kicked it open. Looking at the seemingly composed Lady Leah before her, she shouted, "Madam, don't struggle, face your fate—"
Before she could finish speaking, she heard the sound of horses' hooves behind her. Her body sensed an angry gaze, which made her turn around alertly, but she didn't have time to complete the action.
A pale fist punched through her stomach, causing her to collapse in pain.
Then, as she fell to the ground, she saw Johnson, who shouldn't be there, a strange and terrifying giant horse, and Angela Leon and Mira Koffney on the horse.
Is this... a hallucination?
Kate murmured, like Lydia, who was ethereal and transparent in mid-air.
The author says:
Author's Note: The female lead won't die.
Chapter 88: A Chance Encounter Due to a Misunderstanding
"The fire is really big."
As Ange rode on her horse, gazing at the flames that had been burning fiercely in the distance for so long, her tone tinged with schadenfreude. Thanks to her farsightedness, even though she was currently near Radiant Manor, she could still see the towering flames emanating from Thorn Manor.
However, after admiring this scene, she immediately turned her gaze back to her brothers and sisters. At every intersection leading from Glorious Manor to Thorn Manor, there were many more soldiers, including many of Leon's sons who had awakened their bloodlines.
Clearly, they were faithfully carrying out the orders conveyed by the Church of War through Ange, although Ange herself was not involved.
She certainly wouldn't get involved, because she never thought it was a good idea. The Church of War's plan was clearly flawed. Thorn Manor and Radiant Manor were so far apart, how could they possibly believe that Radiant Manor would be the first to discover the attack on Thorn Manor, let alone be able to rush to its aid?
Of course, this wasn't a problem for Zhuang Sen's enemies. They were willing to do anything to cause Zhuang Sen trouble, as long as the cost wasn't too high. And if they could also gain benefits, it would be even more worthwhile.
So Anjie didn't refuse at the time, and neither did the others. However, Anjie had a tiny bit of doubt.
So, why would the Church of War do something so pointless? Is it to help their enemies, like Zhuang Sen's? Is the Church of War really that selfless?
Ange didn't think so. She believed the Church of War must have its own purpose in doing this. That's why she was on this small hill. From here, she could see not only the fireworks of Thorn Manor in the distance, but also the entire plain where Radiant Manor was located.
She could clearly see the smug smiles of his brothers and sisters, the guards searching around Glorious Manor, and even one of them suddenly collapsing.
Ange frowned. She almost thought she was hallucinating, but her farsightedness allowed her to clearly see a guard patrolling the inner wall of Thorn Manor suddenly collapse. He was alone, positioned out of sight of the others, so he didn't attract their attention. As he fell, a figure shrouded in black clothing swiftly swept across that section of wall and entered the interior of Radiant Manor.
A strange chill crept up Anjie's spine. Her knowledge and the books she had read clearly revealed the most likely possibility of this scene—an assassination.
Within Glory Manor, there is only one person worthy of an assassination attempt—Lady Leah, the wife of Count Cross, the head of the Falau Merchant Guild in Leon Territory, and the mother of Johnson Leon.
The chill turned into real fear. Angela could hardly imagine what crazy things that madman, Zhuang Sen, would do to them when he discovered that his mother had been assassinated and that they, the sons of Leon, had actually acted as accomplices to attract attention.
Even disregarding Zhuang Sen's retaliation—after all, if the War Church could really harm Lady Lia, they would likely kill Zhuang Sen in return—simply out of respect for Lady Lia and out of a businesswoman's conscience, Ange felt that the War Church's mad actions could not be tolerated.
Even Zhuang Sen never said he would lay a hand on their families.
Thankfully, the figure just now didn't look like Bishop Charles or Wall at all. And Nils and Nott did indeed head towards the vicinity of Thorn Manor, having gone through their anti-Zhuangsen alliance. This means that the assassin was at most a level one bloodline user, probably no match for Ange.