In Helag's eyes, Karim was enveloped by a massive amount of light energy particles, completely submerged in a sea of light.
Karim's wounds healed rapidly, closing up completely except for some residual bloodstains.
The light energy particles not only healed his body but also strengthened it.
Karim slowly opened his eyes, feeling a warm sensation throughout his body.
His consciousness had just emerged from an endless darkness, leaving him somewhat dazed and unaware of what had happened.
Surrounded by light energy particles, his floating body gently descended until he landed steadily on the ground.
Karim sat up, confused, looking at his hands. The marks on his armor from being pierced were still there, and his chest armor had a hole where his wound had been.
He touched the wound, finding it completely healed without a scar.
"I thought I was dead. What happened?" Karim was bewildered.
His expression suddenly changed to one of surprise as he clenched his fists. "I broke through to a great knight?!"
"Deep Blue, scan Karim's body data," Helag said, intrigued by Karim's resurrection and newfound strength.
[Karim: Strength 5.1, Agility 4.2, Constitution 6.1, Spirit 2.7, contains unknown light energy.]
Helag was surprised by the data. Karim's stats were already stronger than an average great knight, and he had just broken through.
Ordinary great knights had stats around 3 to 4, but Karim's breakthrough brought his stats to 5 and 6.
"It must be related to those light energy particles. His body contains light energy, which is different from magic, likely belonging to another power system."
Now, even Helag had to take Karim seriously.
Karim's enhanced body data combined with light energy could yield unknown power.
What puzzled Helag the most was why so many light energy particles had automatically helped Karim.
"Handsome, strong, and foolish, able to resurrect and gain strength after dying. Could he be the protagonist?" Helag speculated.
He seriously considered this possibility. If the concept of world consciousness existed, Karim might be favored by it.
Otherwise, it was hard to explain why the light energy particles had saved Karim, indicating he might have a connection to light energy.
"Captain Karim, are you alright?" Karim's team members quickly gathered around him.
They had been fighting hard, unable to help him when he was severely injured and on the ground.
Karim's miraculous recovery temporarily halted the battle, allowing his team to regroup.
Karim smiled. "Not only am I alright, but I've also become a great knight."
The adventurers cheered, knowing what this meant.
Any adventurer group or team with a great knight instantly reached the highest level of strength.
After a brief conversation with his team, Karim said, "We'll discuss this later. We have more pressing issues to address."
He stepped forward and confronted Ivis. "Ivis, I never expected you to be so insane as to kill everyone to cover your tracks."
Karim looked around at the bodies, guilt on his face. "It's my fault for being impulsive and not thinking things through, causing their deaths. Ivis, I won't kill you. As Duke Theodore's knight commander, I'll personally escort you to the gallows!"
He drew his greatsword from the ground.
Ivis laughed. "Escort me to the gallows? You're just a newly promoted great knight. I've been a great knight for many years. You're still too green."
Despite his words, Ivis prepared for battle, donning his helmet and drawing his sword, focusing intently on Karim.
Karim gripped his greatsword, a layer of white light enveloping him and his weapon.
"A Knight of Light! How is this possible? You're not from the Church of Light…" Ivis exclaimed, shocked.
"A Knight of Light?" Helag heard the term for the first time, knowing little about it.
Ivis's face grew serious, feeling immense pressure.
Karim said, "So this is the power of a Knight of Light? Interesting…"
He charged at Ivis with his greatsword.
Ivis moved quickly, meeting Karim's charge with his sword.
Karim's move was simple, a straightforward vertical slash.
But the sword glowed with dazzling white light. The fog had cleared, and the sunlight made Karim shine brightly.
In the next moment, a flash of light, and only Helag saw what happened.
Ivis's sword shattered into pieces, and his right hand flew off, landing nearby.
"Ah!" Ivis screamed in delayed pain as his arm hit the ground.
Karim followed with a strike, crippling Ivis's left hand.
Ivis's left arm twisted grotesquely, bones completely broken.
"I said I wouldn't kill you. I'll personally escort you to the gallows to atone for these deaths!" Karim declared, planting his greatsword in the ground.
Ivis gritted his teeth, glaring at Karim with hatred.
Karim's team quickly bound Ivis with chains from the caravan, also disabling his knees.
Though Ivis had the strength to resist, he didn't, knowing it was futile.
He allowed himself to be bound and locked in an iron cage.
The cage was specially made, very sturdy, sometimes used to hold magical creatures. In his current state, Ivis couldn't escape.
As Karim subdued Ivis, his soldiers, seeing the situation, fled.
Judging by their direction, they likely wouldn't return to Stormwind City, probably turning into actual bandits.
Karim didn't send anyone to chase them. The caravan had suffered too many casualties and couldn't spare the manpower.