Leonard sprang into action, having made his decision. He knew he had to hurry if he were to catch up with the shadow knights. With the Fifth Shadow accompanying them, they could move through the island's central region quickly.
He wasn't sure how long the preparations for a Mass Teleport would take, but it wouldn't be more than a day. Waiting for Commander Fabian's arrival would be too late.
With a swift motion, Leonard emerged from the underground passage and sprinted toward the Valley of Lions. Fortunately, nothing blocked his path. The fierce killing intent emanating from him kept even the monsters at bay, forcing the fearless mountain orcs to clear the way and sweat profusely.
His first destination was the place where he had fought the special variant manticore.
"It's just as I left it."
It seemed the Fifth Shadow had given up on tracking him and hadn't returned to this location. The bodies of the five shadow knights and the headless manticore were scattered around. Looking at the mess in front of his eyes, Leonard quickly got to work.
He stripped the most intact armor from one of the shadow knights, then adjusted and cut it to fit his body. The armor from the knights he had decapitated with his Azure Dragon Form was in the best condition.
Clank.
The shadow knight's armor fit surprisingly well. Given the knight's capabilities and missions, it wasn't surprising that the armor was of high quality. It adhered to Leonard like a second skin and didn't feel heavy at all. He picked up a few of their black swords, attached them to his belt, and donned a helmet, completing his disguise as a shadow knight.
From now on, even the smallest mistake is unacceptable.
One misstep and everything would be in vain. With that in mind, Leonard's eyes burned with determination. He thrived under pressure, and now his unyielding spirit awakened, pushing him beyond his limits.
Disguised as a shadow knight, Leonard retraced his steps. This time, he planned to approach the camp's guard post without using the underground passage.
Snap! Crack!
As soon as he exited the Valley of Lions and entered the forest, he used the branches as springboards, propelling himself forward. Within moments, the scenery changed, and he covered hundreds of meters in mere seconds. Every second counted.
Reaching the Order of the Fledgling Dragon's camp at top speed, Leonard charged forward. The knights didn't anticipate that he would approach so quickly, and they reacted a step too late. Like a storm, Leonard swept through the area where six knights were gathered.
Boom!
His sword struck the ground at the center of the camp, raising a thick cloud of dust that enveloped them. He created as much noise and commotion as possible.
"Wha-what's happening?!"
"It's the enemy! The enemy is attacking!"
"The enemy?! How many?"
"He's hiding in the dust cloud! Don't let him escape!"
Leonard sensed dozens, even hundreds, of presences approaching. A second's delay would mean death or capture. The thrill of the chase sent shivers down Leonard's spine, making him smile involuntarily.
This is where it begins.
Emerging from the dust cloud without a sound, Leonard quickly subdued one of the apprentice knights.
Thud.
A knight at the Second Degree External Force Tier did not possess a strong enough energy shield to stop Leonard's pressure point sealing technique. Leonard's finger struck the Ma point, momentarily paralyzing the apprentice in an instant. He slung the youth, now motionless, over his shoulder and bolted away at full speed.
Five Elements and Six Divinities Arts
Heavenly Dragon King Art
Flash Lightning Stride
Crackle.
A bolt of lightning shot forth, and Leonard accelerated to a terrifying degree, carrying the apprentice knight.
"Urgh!"
The strain of using such a high-speed movement art while carrying someone made him cough up blood, but he didn't slow down. He took another step, stacking the Flash Lightning Stride and breaking through the incomplete encirclement.
Boom!
Leonard used the shockwave from the blast behind him to transition to the Whirlwind Step and launch himself into the air.
The Fledgling Dragon knights were stunned by his speed and the sight of the apprentice knight dangling from his shoulder. They shouted in rage.
"This fucking bastard! How dare he mock us like this!"
"Protect the children of Cardenas!"
"If we can't win, we must at least cripple him before we die!"
Each knight was at least at the Sixth Degree External Force Tier, with some even reaching the Ninth Degree. As these Apex Realm knights brimming with killing intent chased him, Leonard felt a chill down his spine. Though he prided himself on his speed because he had the Lightness Art, those at higher Degrees had their own methods for attacking from a distance.
Sure enough, the knights attacked.
Boom!
Leonard twisted in mid-air as a thrown sword shattered a thick tree trunk below him. Though the attack was too crude to be considered a Flying Sword Technique, its power was undeniable. Inspired by this, more knights threw their swords, aiming meticulously to avoid the apprentice knight and hit Leonard's legs.
"So annoying!"
Narrowly dodging the attacks, Leonard realized he couldn't keep this up. He threw the apprentice knight high into the air, a move that caught the Fledgling Dragon knights off guard. Taking advantage of their momentary hesitation, Leonard darted forward.
Then it happened. A shockwave arrived seconds later, creating a massive crater where Leonard had just been.
It's Bradley!
There was no need to look back. There was only one man whose presence was so overwhelming that he could surpass the Twelfth Shadow. Bradley. He was a knight at the Tenth Degree External Force Tier, just one step away from reaching the Transcendence Tier. His sword could strike hundreds of meters away and overturn the ground.
Bradley's eyebrows twitched. "He's quick. I don't feel a particularly powerful energy... But he must either be wearing a high-grade artifact or is extremely skilled with aura control."
"Should we pursue?"
"Of course. Judging by those agile movements, he's no ordinary soldier. This might be our last chance to get back the kidnapped children," said Bradley, the banneret in charge of Galapagos Island. His face was red, his anger boiling like molten lava.
"Our role is to provide the future pillars of the Cardenas family with appropriate trials and protect them from unforeseen threats. And we've failed miserably."
The faces of the knights listening grew solemn. This was an unprecedented situation.
So what if a Swordmaster had invaded their training grounds? That didn't matter. Honor and pride didn't excuse them from their duties. Fulfilling their roles, even at the cost of their lives, was a knight's virtue.
"Everyone, let's fulfill our responsibilities. We can seek atonement afterward."
"Yes, sir!"
"Yes!"
The knights accepted the order with a single salute and sprang into action. The Order of the Fledgling Dragon was not part of the Seven Great Orders, but they took pride in nurturing the family's future pillars. To wash away this day's disgrace, they had to recover what was lost, even if it meant risking their lives. It was a choice that would cause significant losses. They planned to save eight apprentice knights at the Third Degree External Force Tier even if it meant that dozens of knights above the Sixth Degree would end up dying.
However, their decision was the living proof of their status as a prestigious family.
***
Night fell. As the sun quickly set below the horizon, darkness engulfed the Galapagos Island, threatening the humans' survival.
"Huff! Huff! Hughh!"
Leonard, who had been running for hours without rest, tasted blood in his mouth. The speed and distance were exhausting enough on their own, but with lethal attacks constantly flying toward him from behind, the situation was dire. Bradley's shockwaves cut off his path, forcing him to dodge a barrage of swords from the Order of the Fledgling Dragon. Their pursuit was harsh and relentless.
Even after using the Black Tortoise's movement art principle—the Water Current Step—Leonard sustained several deep wounds.
Still... I'm almost there.
Before he knew it, Leonard finally reached the beach on the island's farthest side from the camp of the Order of the Fledgling Dragon. This beach was where the Order of the Shadow had landed ashore.
It was the best location if the shadow knights planned to use a Mass Teleport. Returning to the starting point was the fastest and most accurate way to cross a far distance, much better than finding an unknown spot.
Nevertheless, Leonard's heart skipped a beat several times due to the close calls. He narrowly avoided capture by the Order of the Fledgling Dragon multiple times and was even attacked by Rank A monsters left behind by the shadow knights.
Most of the monsters retreated due to the presence of the Order of the Fledgling Dragon chasing me...
However, encountering a twin-headed ogre at the True Demon Tier was a real shock. The ogre's long-range punch almost ended him, but luckily, its accuracy was poor, and it no longer attacked him after he dodged the punch a few times. If it had been a proper fist art, he would have met his end right then and there.
Shaking off these thoughts, Leonard crouched low. When he approached the beach, he tensed up.
As expected.
His sixth sense picked up on the danger lurking on the beach, even before his five senses picked it up. Leonard had predicted this, knowing that the Fifth Shadow, a Swordmaster, wouldn't leave his post.
The effect of the Waning Moon Fleeting Art is certain. Even the Fifth Shadow can't detect me if I'm not discovered first.
If he was discovered even once, his stealth would be compromised, but as long as he remained hidden, the technique could work even against a master more superior than him. This technique would have been regarded as the pinnacle of the assassin world if it didn't have the downside of revealing one's presence when attacking. Without this flaw, the entire Yellow Spring Pavilion might not have been wiped out by the Sword Emperor alone.
The Fledgling Dragon knights and the shadow knights were now less than three kilometers apart. To an Apex Realm expert, this was a distance that could be covered in a few strides.
Now was the perfect timing.
"Fireball, Lightning Bolt, Explosion, Wind Cannon, Thunder Spark!"
Leonard tore all the magic scrolls he had taken from the shadow knights and activated them with incantations. The five magic scrolls lit up simultaneously. The chain explosion of the magic circles was as destructive as it was brilliant.
Boom! Boom! Kaboom!
One part of the night sky suddenly lit up brightly. Both the Order of the Fledgling Dragon and the Order of the Shadow were caught off guard, their eyes widening in surprise. The group that had successfully completed their secret mission and the other group frustrated from half a day of pursuit shared a similar reaction for a brief moment.
"It's the enemy!" someone shouted, causing the two groups to become aware of each other.
The Fifth Shadow soared into the sky. Bradley sensed his presence and launched a highly concentrated shockwave. Though it was a one-time attack, it was so powerful that even a Swordmaster couldn't ignore it.
That single clash marked the beginning of a fierce battle on the Galapagos Island. Enraged by the appearance of their long-awaited enemy, the Order of the Fledgling Dragon charged forward with fierce momentum, pushing the shadow knights back. Due to the difference between their average skill levels, their numerical superiority played a crucial role in the fight.
Good, everything's going as planned.
Watching the two groups clash, Leonard moved deeper into the shadow knights' camp. It was time to rescue the kidnapped apprentice knights.
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