Edson had just used all his fighting spirit to fend off the bullets, leaving him no strength to defend against the blood-drinking axe. Under the fierce amplification of Bloodflame, the life force of this extraordinary detective was rapidly drained, swallowed by the axe.
Despite his strength far surpassing that of Wells, Edson was still able to resist for a time, desperately using his fighting spirit to counter the consuming power of Bloodflame. Recognizing Charlotte, he shouted, "It's you!"
Charlotte smiled without replying, drawing his Blood Rose sword and launching a relentless three-strike attack. In a normal sword duel, Charlotte wouldn't stand a chance against Edson, whose swordsmanship was honed through rigorous combat experience. However, with Edson already gravely injured and Charlotte wielding an extraordinary blood-drinking weapon and the insight ability, Edson was no match.
Charlotte easily pierced through Edson's body, and even the protective flame of Edson's fighting spirit couldn't save him. He collapsed, his eyes filled with venomous hatred.
With two blood-drinking weapons simultaneously absorbing Edson's life essence, Charlotte felt an invigorating surge of power, shouting, "Move now!"
Spurred by his command, another two dozen adventurers swarmed into the battle.
Winterburn, furious and alarmed, realized that they had walked into a carefully laid trap, designed specifically to eliminate them. Knowing the danger, Winterburn unleashed his full fighting spirit, surpassing Edson in strength, and quickly forced the five surrounding adventurers to retreat.
Meanwhile, Charlotte, while continuing to absorb the life essence from the Blood Rose sword, pulled out the blood-drinking axe, recharged it with Bloodflame, and sent it flying again.
The small axe, slicing through the air with precision, targeted Winterburn. Winterburn, who had seen Charlotte use this strange weapon to kill Edson, did not take it lightly. He summoned his fighting spirit, combined with his superior swordsmanship, and deflected the flying axe with a skillful strike.
The axe was knocked away, but it quickly looped back, striking again with a bird-like agility.
The adventurers, inspired by Charlotte's abilities, charged into battle with renewed vigor. Charlotte skillfully manipulated the blood-drinking axe, drawing most of Winterburn's attention.
While manipulating the axe, Charlotte accelerated the absorption of Edson's life essence.
Now, every bit of strength mattered in increasing his chances of victory.
Edson's life force, blazing like fire, was far stronger and more potent than Wells'. Charlotte used Bloodflame to contain and harness Edson's essence, using the Protégora Breathing Technique. After thirty-five breaths, the Blood Rose sword finally ceased its vibration, signaling that Edson's life force had been fully consumed.
Charlotte pulled out the Blood Rose sword, letting Edson's body fall to the ground. He glanced casually at his weapon.
This newly acquired magical sword was of excellent craftsmanship, quality, and design, but the blade was covered in numerous tiny nicks, not just "slightly damaged" as Louis had claimed, but severely worn.
The previous owner of this Blood Rose must have fought countless battles; otherwise, such a high-quality magical weapon wouldn't have been so badly damaged.
Charlotte recalled Louis eagerly showing him the inscription but never drawing the sword, inwardly cursing, "What a swindler!"
He instinctively channeled Bloodflame into the blade, witnessing a strange phenomenon.
The sword briefly fell silent before emitting a clear, resonant sound. The blade began to liquefy slightly, and the damaged areas started to mend themselves, becoming as bright and sharp as a freshly sharpened blade.
Charlotte was shocked and hadn't yet fully grasped the significance of this change.
The next moment, the magical sword emitted a faint heat, transforming into a blood-red stream of light that merged into his left arm, forming a fourth Bloodflame vortex.
Charlotte's feelings at this moment could no longer be described as mere shock.
Shape-shifting magical weapons were extremely rare and valuable.
For example, the spear of Sanrunts could transform into a ring, allowing its owner to carry it everywhere, which was already considered a top-tier item.
This Blood Rose sword, capable of self-repair and capable of forming a Bloodflame vortex, allowing Charlotte's Bloodflame technique to break through to the fourth level, must be even more precious.
For a moment, if he weren't currently on the run with no safe way to sell this magical weapon, Charlotte would have considered selling it to make a fortune.
However, the Blood Rose sword's ability to self-repair and hide within a Bloodflame vortex made it an ideal defensive weapon. Charlotte wasn't entirely willing to part with it.
He shook his wrist lightly, and the Blood Rose sword reappeared in his hand. He mused, "It's a shame! My swordsmanship is too amateurish. Even with such a divine weapon, I can't become a sword master."
Despite being surrounded and harassed by the blood-drinking axe, Winterburn, a fourth-tier knight, still managed to dominate the battle.
The other five detectives, however, couldn't withstand the adventurers' attacks. Two had already been killed, and three were captured.
Such is the nature of battle; it's hard to avoid casualties.
Winterburn hadn't expected the situation to deteriorate to this extent, and he shouted, "We're detectives of the Fierce Horse Detective Agency! Aren't you afraid of crossing us?"
Charlotte immediately responded, "Sorry! We're Byronic!"
Winterburn shouted in shock, "You're spies?"
This time, Charlotte didn't need to answer; the adventurers all shouted, "That's right! We're spies, Byronian spies!"
No one wanted to provoke the Fierce Horse Detective Agency, so the adventurers, following Charlotte's lead, played along, hoping to shift the blame for the conflict onto the Byronians.
Winterburn's heart sank. He believed it almost completely. Charlotte used Bloodflame's secret techniques and blood-drinking weapons, draining the life force of Wells and Edson, giving off an aura akin to a vampire. Winterburn didn't dare to hold back any longer, his fighting spirit flared, and his sword once again deflected the blood-drinking axe. In one swift move, he killed two of the adventurer leaders who had surrounded him.
Seizing the moment, Winterburn broke through the encirclement, his fighting spirit propelling him forward at a speed like a galloping horse. In the blink of an eye, he was out of the battle.
Charlotte watched him flee and could only sigh with regret, abandoning any thought of pursuit.
Although he had absorbed Edson's life essence, broke through to the third tier, and gained new abilities, he was still fundamentally a civil servant, not skilled in combat. Pursuing Winterburn alone might not end well.