[The Fresia imperial city has been registered in the system.]
[The Royal Military Academy has been registered in the system.]
[Some items have been unlocked.]
[New characters have been added.]
– Sasha Rehinar
– Rose Rehinar
– Informant of the Black Raven
[Main Story – 'The Crisis of the Imperial City of Fresia! 'is still ongoing.]
[Complete the main story to unlock the remaining items.]
The main story continued.
This was because the hidden boss of this story had not yet been defeated. Only by killing 'him' would the Imperial City episode end with the biggest reward. Upon reaching the one-third point from the capital, they felt a menacing presence in the wind.
"We've been caught." Kane muttered.
Just as Camilla was about to ask what he meant, Kane sent her a secret transmission.
[Those targeting us have arrived.]
[Prepare to fight.]
[Keep going straight.]
[Are you planning to fight alone again, Your Highness?]
[Remember, there are non-combat personnel here.]
Twenty slaves given by Wendy. Despite her fatal flaws, she had a surprisingly good eye for picking female slaves. Not only were they exceptionally beautiful, but all possessed great talent in martial arts.
[Protect them. They are essential for rebuilding the maid combat unit of Rehinar.]
All Rehinar's servants possessed mana. In times of war, every servant turned into a combat unit.
Wendy, the first princess, had copied the best aspects of Rehinar.
Her maid unit was created by keeping Rehinar in mind.
[Blata, you need to help Camilla.]
[Should I go too?]
[You're the strongest here.]
Blata laughed at Kane's compliment.
[Hehe, Blata is the strongest!]
[Summon the other Blood Tigers to prepare for a potential ambush.]
He handed Blata over to Camilla.
[Hurry. They're getting close.]
[Your Highness, at least take the Frostbite.]
Camilla pointed to a sword in a long box, but Kane shook his head.
[Right now, no good weapon will help.]
Even the sword Mikhail had made was no use.
The opponent was a member of the secret group created by the House of the Sun. Unless the sword was forged with blood stone, it would be of no help.
[Go quickly.]
Since he had shown the power of the Blood Knight, he thought they would certainly try to kill him. And, as expected, they were about to reveal themselves.
"Be careful, Your Highness."
"I'll catch up soon," Kane replied, turning his horse around. He then revealed the power to those rapidly approaching.
'The opponent is a beginner-tier 7th Class knight, someone I cannot defeat.' This enemy was on a completely different level from any he had faced before. One wrong move could result in death in an instant.
'If I can just get through this phase safely, I can catch my breath. I have to do this.' He felt a natural tension. The menacing aura was approaching from ahead.
In the past, he had been a 8th class spear knight, but now he was only a mid-tier 4th-class knight.
Although the Emperor's mana and the formlessness poison were being converted into strength within his body, the power gap with the opponent was too great.
No matter how special his powers were, even with the unique trait 'Pure-Blooded' and the powerful skill 'Blood Dance', the opponent was simply too strong.
'I have no choice but to rely on the Blood Knight's unique passive skill.'
[Will of Transcendence – Madness]
– Type: Blood Knight's Unique Passive
– Grade: SSR (Evolving)
– Description: The Blood Knight is a judge with the power of a demon. At the same time, they are also knights of life. To oppose the gods, they can wield immense power by putting their own life on the line.
– Effect: Activates when life drops below 5%.
He thought that by mobilizing all his combat experience, mana utilization, and the Blood Knight's unique passive, he could at least hold off the Executioner Seven.
"You've come. 'Executioner Seven', Ulrich Siemens."
* * *
Men in robes descended in front of Kane.
"Have you been waiting for us?"
Though the darkness obscured their faces, he knew who they were.
"Who would have thought the Emperor's Chief Attendant was a dog of the Meyer Family? Isn't that right, Ulrich Siemens, or shall I call you Executioner Seven?"
The leader removed his hooded robe.
"You knew my identity?"
The old man was the Chief Attendant who had introduced the nobles at the Ball of Stars. Back then, he had been groveling before Isaac, but now he exuded a dignified and imposing presence.
"I also know you poisoned His Majesty. And that the poison is called Mana Crystal Herb."
Ulrich frowned. Only Hatzfeld and the House of the Sun (Meyer Family) knew about Mana Crystal Herb. How did this brat from Rehinar know about it?
"Not only do you know about us, but you also know about the Mana Crystal herb. You're a dangerous one."
Ulrich scrutinized Kane closely. This brat had a peculiar strength. No matter how powerful a Blood Knight he might be, how could he stand so confidently before him?
Ulrich was trying to discern where this confidence came from. Eventually, he withdrew his aura.
"Let this old man give you a piece of advice. The power of a Blood Knight isn't omnipotent. It's not a power that allows you to stand so arrogantly before me."
Boom!
Ulrich's robe fluttered wildly. A fierce wind blew around them as his mana dominated the area.
Kane let out a groan.
"Guh!"
He tried to steady himself, but darkness was pressing down on his shoulders. Ulrich's cold voice rang out.
"Did you think you could stand proudly before me with such insignificant power?"
The ground shook. With just a shout, Ulrich made Kane's mana tremble.
"I may have to stake my life."
He probably wouldn't be able to kill Ulrich. He still lacked the power. As humiliating as it was, what could he do? He had only been Kane for a few months.
The Executioner Seven was a significant figure in this world, akin to a mid-boss. Known as "Enforcers," they were as strong as the Twelve Star lords of the Continent.
Their full emergence would happen in a much later update of the story, but during the main storyline, one of them could be encountered as a hidden boss—a sort of preview of the update. The strategy was to strike when the opponent let down their guard and revealed themselves. If Ulrich became cautious or hid, it would be a huge setback, missing the chance to take down a mid-boss.
That's why Kane had blatantly displayed his blood mana. It was a gamble, a life-or-death bet to catch a big fish. But if it succeeded, it would be the best move.
"This is all I've got."
Kane pulled out the Bloodstone from his pocket. It was an artifact that could become an elixir, a weapon, or armor. One of the most important items in this world was in his hand. Without hesitation, he swallowed the Bloodstone.
[Warning! You have swallowed ???.]
[Warning! Blood Bond is reacting.]
[Warning! ??? and Blood Bond are clashing inside your body.]
"Ugh!" Kane coughed up blood—dark, crimson blood. The mana inside him and the new power welcomed each other with violent enthusiasm.
"Ah!" He felt as if his body was being torn apart. Blood flowed continuously from his eyes, nose, ears, and mouth. Blood even seeped from the pores all over his body, drenching him. He had experienced this once before, but back then, all his stats were nearly maxed out, sparing him this level of agony.
[The Five Elements blood extreme physique is analyzing ???.]
He had consumed an ancient elixir in front of his enemy. Ulrich was not one to sit idly by. He commanded his subordinates.
"Capture and kill all of his companions."
Some of them cast spells at Kane, while others lunged towards his companions who had gone ahead. A fist-sized sphere of darkness exploded against Kane.
As dust rose into the air, a shadow moved swiftly through it, heading toward Ulrich's subordinates, the Enforcers of Judgment.
"Behind you, be careful!" Ulrich's urgent voice rang out, but the shadow was faster than his warning.
Slash!
Blood sprayed through the air. The Enforcers clutched their arms, blood gushing from their wounds.
"What the hell?"
"I didn't even feel it move."
"I put up a barrier at the last moment, but it was torn apart."
The Enforcers couldn't hide their confusion, and neither could Ulrich.
"Blood Armor! To think he could awaken something even his father couldn't."
Kane's body was enveloped in a crimson aura. It looked like he had coated his body in mana, similar to how one would coat a weapon. When mana is coated on a weapon, its destructive power increases. So what happens when mana coats the body? Defense increases dramatically, depending on the quality of the mana. Blood Armor was among the best, providing unparalleled defense.
"Indeed, you must die here," Ulrich murmured, as an Enforcer of Judgment charged at Kane.
—
Meanwhile, Kane could not control his own body.
[Warning! Life force has dropped below 5%.]
[Unique passive trait 'Will of Transcendence – Madness' has been activated.]
With great power came a significant drawback. At least he could still maintain some level of sanity. Perhaps, with higher skill, he could fully control his actions even with the passive activated. But for now, it was beyond him.
[The Five Elements blood extreme physique is attempting to replenish your depleted life force.]
[The Five Elements blood extreme physique has accelerated the analysis of ??? to maximum speed.]
As the messages ended, Kane's figure vanished. The Enforcers of Judgment lost sight of him. However, they still had Ulrich, the monster, among them.
"Use the light of darkness to retreat!" Ulrich commanded, and the Enforcers folded space, retreating. Yet one was caught by Kane.
A blood blade held at the Enforcer's neck, while another blood blade pierced his chest.
"Argh!" The Enforcer's body shriveled as if drained of all blood and moisture, leaving only bones and sagging flesh.
"Who… is next?" It wasn't Kane's voice.
It was the voice of a demon. The voice filled with magic shook the hearts of his enemies.
Even Ulrich, a 7th Class warrior, felt a chill run down his spine for a moment.
"That is the power of the Blood Knight… truly a demon's avatar."
His hand was wet with sweat. Feeling tension for the first time in a while, Ulrich finally stepped forward, rolling up his sleeves. He assumed a shooting stance.
"Target of Judgment."
An invisible bow formed in his hands. As he drew the string, black wisps coalesced into an arrow. It was Ulrich's signature technique.
"I'll kill you in one shot."
He released the bowstring.
Bang!
The black arrow burst forward, growing larger as it spun, charged with immense mana. Just as it reached Kane!
Slice-
The black arrow was cut by a flash of light.
Ulrich frowned.
An unexpected interloper. He shouted irritably into the darkness.
"Who are you?"
From among the trees, a man in a robe slowly emerged.