After the tension left his body, he stumbled, using his sword to keep him upright. He was sore all over. After all, he fought two consecutive high-level battles in a row. A little over an hour ago, he fought against the Second Hand! Now, he had faced against three opponents at once. There was no way he could remain unfazed, both physically or mentally, from the pressure. It was a miracle that he lasted until this point to be honest. However, he had a fundamental limit. His wounds might not be fatal, but the blood loss would be. He felt light-headed and slid down a tree trunk. He was on the verge of death.
At least… I didn't run away this time. Isn't that right, Isabella? he thought with a smile. He fainted!
Nearby, a few bushes rustled as an entire group of hooded figures emerged. They wore cloaks and masks similar to the Second Hand! Yet, the Second Hand was nearly annihilated by Lady Valentina during the previous fight. Their numbers dwindled down to a small handful. On the other hand, this group numbered close to thirty or forty! They were not the Second Hand, but closely related! Most importantly, the main difference was their movements. They were extraordinarily smooth and precise, as if practiced a million times. That extreme level of bodily control was superior to those of the Second Hand! They were… the First Hand, the most powerful group in the Whispering Shadow!
"Captain, we should be searching for the Second Shadow, not wasting our time with children like this. The Alzar Kingdom is already here," the vice-captain said irritated. His captain had many strange hobbies, and this was one.
"Are you the captain or me?" the man sneered. "If you disapprove of my actions, then you're welcome to challenge me."
The vice-captain turned silent and fumed inwardly. He had no choice but to accept the degrading comment. After all, who was his captain? This man… was a true legend, an overlord of his generation! The captain walked toward Benedict with a gentle grace, as if his footsteps were light as a feather. Wherever he stepped, he left zero traces. Not a single grass blade was shifted out of position! Even Sir Winstin, who reached the level of Perception Realm Master, had not achieved such supreme bodily control! This was a level that far surpassed anything ever seen before. This was a power of a true legend!
The man bent down and stared at Benedict curiously like he was inspecting goods for purchase. "I wonder how far you'll go?" he said.
He raised his hand and grabbed Benedict's shoulder. All the sudden, a small breeze brewed, and grass leaned in captain's direction. The vice-captain pulled a taut face. The effect was so subtle that normal people might not notice it at all. They might pass it off as a lucky coincidence. The truth, though, was that the captain's body began emitting a very faint blue glow! Perhaps, no one beneath Perception Realm would see it! The strange light condensed in his hand and entered Benedict before suffusing throughout his body. In a matter of seconds, it covered Benedict! As the light began to dim, Benedict's injuries began to visibly close. Moreover, his body was being replenished with fresh blood! His body was healing at a rapid rate!
Some distance away, in a secret undisclosed location, Elizabeth was bound in place by a mysterious force, causing her to levitate in the air. She remained unconscious. Lord Wenmord was about to begin his experiments when he raised an eyebrow in surprise. He glanced up, through the hundreds of layers of rock and earth, as if his eyes could pierce through the world itself! The view of the First Hand entered his sight. Despite all that, none of the First Hand, including the captain, noticed a thing. It was clear that Lord Wenmord's power had exceeded even the captain!
"Oh, this is the First Hand? There is someone that can use Martial Energy?" the man wondered softly. "To reach the standard of Rank 3 combat strength, this person… must be the strongest human!" Curling his lips in disdain, he said, "Is that the limit of humanity after all?" He returned his full attention to Elizabeth, forgetting about such a minor event.
Benedict gradually woke up. He winced a little, almost instinctively, then realized that there was no pain. He was stunned. Was he hurt so badly that he lost the feeling in his body already? That would mean he was paralyzed! In that case, that would really be the end for him. His future as a swordsman would be cut short! He despaired. Before he could break down, he realized that he was not paralyzed at all. Otherwise, how could be moved his arms? He stared at his wounds dumbfoundedly. They were sealed shut! His eyes nearly fell out!
This… How long have I been unconscious for? Benedict wondered. His skin seemed flawless, as if there was no trace of the previous battle. It seemed like several weeks of healing had flown by!
"Someone helped me?" he muttered. "But… who?"
The First Hand had already left, and they left no trace. Benedict saw nothing out of the ordinary and he frowned. His hand shifted to his sword suspiciously, but nothing happened. He took a deep breath before slowly standing up. As he did so, he noticed how different his body felt! Instead of fatigue, his muscles felt rejuvenated by some mysterious force. Somehow, he returned to his peak condition! In fact, he felt better than ever! He took a minute to suppress his shock. Disbelief was written across his face. But Benedict soon refocused. He needed to rescue Elizabeth first! The other problems could be dealt with later!
Hence, Benedict sheathed his sword and recomposed himself before moving once more. This time around, his success was much better. He did not encounter any lone patrols. This showed that the situation at the main gate was heating up. The Lannisail Household had to divert most of their manpower over. Having fought against Vice-captain Julie firsthand, he knew how strong those two assassins were. He did not hold much hope for the Alzar Kingdom to break through anytime soon.
After all, the Lannsail Household was one of many. Without sufficient evidence, the kingdom would not focus on them. Instead, their range of operations would encompass all of Algard and Corasen! To spread three brigades, composed of fifteen thousand, across these two massive capital cities would stretch them thin. That meant that the numbers here could not be considered high. Just the two master assassins would be enough to suppress everyone! Of course, if he knew that Sir Winstin, Sir Sebastian, and Lady Valentina, the kingdom's three strongest knights were also on their way, he would have left everything in their hands instead!