Kingdom Bloodline

Chapter 149 Not even worth half a penny!
The next second, without any delay, Grand Duke Pefit moved.

He charged head-on, roaring as he swung his giant axe at King Nuen.

"boom!"

The two giant axes clashed together without any fancy moves!
The dull thud of metal clashing tormented everyone's ears.

Thales stared in shock at the two men in the arena.

Pefit gritted his teeth, his giant axe blade wedged between the tip of King Nunn's giant axe—slanted downwards between the blade and the pointed tip.

“Impulsive rookie.” King Nuen calmly turned to the side, his left hand gripping the junction of the axe handle and the blade, and his right hand holding the far end of the handle, using the axe head to block Pefit’s strike like he was holding a gun.

The old king fended off the opponent's axe, his tone icy:

"On the battlefield, if your weapon were jammed, you would have been beheaded long ago."

During their struggle, King Nuen pushed with all his might, deflecting his opponent's giant axe.

“You know this isn’t a good idea, old man.” Peffert took a step back solemnly, withdrew his giant axe, and moved to look for an opportunity to strike again.

“This is not a battlefield, it is a duel,” the young grand duke said calmly, circling the old king. “There are no guards with melee weapons around you… to protect your noble head!”

King Nunn, like a seasoned warrior, turned as Pefit moved, his axe tip always pointing at the enemy.

"It's just you and me!"

As they were talking, Pfeet's second attack came!
This time, Pefit's giant axe drew an arc and cleaved horizontally from the side, striking King Nunn's waist with great force.

"Clang!" The sound of metal clashing rang out again!

King Nunn turned the axe handle at the opportune moment, holding the axe in his left hand, and once again blocked Pefit's horizontal slash.

“Yes, it’s just you and me,” King Nuen said through gritted teeth, defusing the enemy’s axe blade, “This is much more exciting than the battlefield.”

Thales asked in a low voice, puzzled, "Are they all so skilled at wielding their axes?"

"His Majesty is not some naive child who has never handled a weapon before." The Meteorite said solemnly, explaining while also taking a jab at Thales.

"As the King of Exter, he once stood at the Thirty-Eight Outposts in the far north, personally fighting against the orcish invasions from north of the glacier. The skull of 'Human Slayer' Sila Darkrai still hangs high at the First Outpost, deterring the glacier orcs."

"He also led his troops out of the Golden Corridor, breaking through the White Mountain Elf defenses to the west, and his advance subdued the Comas, the White Elves, and the Free Alliance."

A glint appeared in the eyes of the Meteorite: "He is also the first northern monarch in three hundred years to conquer the Dragonbreaker Fortress and cross the border between Exter and the Stars."

"In terms of combat experience, he is no less than any of the battle-hardened warriors in the White Blade Guard."

Putila raised an eyebrow, while Thales stuck out his tongue.

In the dueling arena, Pefit once again swung his giant axe, colliding with King Nunn's weapon in mid-air!

"Bang!" The axe blades collided, sparks flying everywhere.

King Nuen seemed to be struggling; he gritted his teeth and braced himself against the giant axe, his arm trembling slightly.

"Tired?" Pefit seized the opportunity when King Nunn caught his breath, roared, and forcefully swung his arms:
"Old man!"

King Nuen was forced to take a step back.

While he was still adjusting his stance, Peffert swung his axe again and chased after him!

"clang!"

King Nunn once again parried the enemy's fierce attack—he had been on the defensive from the beginning until now.

But this time, the enemy's attack did not end so easily.

A surge of power coursed through Pefit's arms, his eyes blazing with fury. Like a warrior blinded by rage, he roared and swung his axe again, aiming for the king's left leg!
In Thales' fluctuating vision, Peffert was now filled with a bright light, concentrated in her arms, flashing continuously.

"The power of termination," Nikolai said calmly as he saw his king in danger. "The unique combo axe technique of Beacon City has given rise to at least three kinds of the power of termination."

The old king roared and used all his strength to pull back his giant axe, knocking Pefit's giant axe away. The two axe blades sparked in the air!

"Keng!"

The king barely managed to block the opponent's axe blade.

But unlike before, this time the old king failed to lock the opponent's axe.

Peppe showed no sign of stopping!
His axe spun in the air, whistling through the air as its master, in his frenzied state, struck again toward the king's head.

King Nunn, panting, struggled to adjust his posture, lifting the heavy axe handle to his side, and forcefully blocked Pefit's pursuit.

"Bang!" A loud noise came, and Thales instinctively reached out to cover his ears.

But with the power of the End, Peffert was not stuck by the axe blade as he had been before.

He reacted quickly and reversed the axe.

In an instant, it slipped past Nunn's block!
The next moment, the young duke pursed his lips, pushed with both hands, and thrust out the sharp axe tip.

Pounce on the opponent!

Faced with the enemy's surprise attack, the overpowered King Nuen had no time to retract his heavy axe.

He could only watch helplessly as the axe tip pierced his face.

Until the axe tip pierced straight into his left cheek!
"Ah!" King Nuen roared in frustration.

At that moment, Thales felt his heart skip a beat.

At the critical moment, King Nuen suddenly turned his head to the side!
"laugh!"

The axe tip grazed the king's face, drawing blood!
This also caused a gasp in the hall.

With a terrible scar running from his cheekbone to the side of his left ear, King Nunn narrowly dodged the deadly axe tip!

Fresh blood dripped onto the ground.

The king gritted his teeth, mustered all his strength, and swung his axe horizontally, forcing Pefit back.

This was also Nunn's first counterattack.

Peffert nimbly retreated three steps, dodging the King's axe wind, and simultaneously leaving the opponent's attack range.

Like many others in the hall, Thales finally let out a sigh of relief, patting his chest to calm his nerves.

“Perhaps you’ve forgotten something?” Thales turned around, looking worried. “That old man…King Nunn is already seventy years old!”

“As the King of Exter, dueling is a test he must undergo,” Nikolai said, his gaze unwavering and his lips slightly parted, “regardless of age.”

“Every man in the North must undergo rigorous combat training during his service, and every Lord of Exter even more so, to the point that they awaken the power of termination,” Putila explained to Thales, whose expression was unusual. “That’s the way things are in this country, it’s the way the people are.”

“Good heavens,” Thales rolled his eyes and shrugged helplessly, “I was born among the stars, not Exter. I’m so lucky.”

Upon hearing this, the Meteorite smiled nonchalantly, "It's the same old story..."

Welcome to the North.

Thales shook his head and turned his gaze back to the field.

Putila's expression shifted as she looked at Thales's retreating figure.

Is it lucky to be born among the stars?
Putila sighed silently: "It's too early to say that, little prince."

"Hahaha," the young grand duke looked at the king, whose face was covered in blood and who was panting heavily, with satisfaction, and grinned maliciously through gritted teeth: "Only a few rounds? Old man?"

"Are you already beyond saving?"

“Nonsense, brat,” King Nuen said, slamming his axe on the ground and wiping the blood from his face with his left hand. “I’ve only just warmed up.”

“You’re seventy years old,” Peffert said, weakening the king’s aura with his words, preparing for the next attack. “Not only have your muscles atrophied, but your finishing power has also deteriorated, hasn’t it?”

“Heh heh,” King Nuen took a breath and smacked his lips menacingly, “Little brat, how many battles have you fought that you dare to say such things in front of me?” Pefit began to laugh strangely, “Yes, I still remember twelve years ago, when my grandfather was still alive, you gathered the armies of seven grand dukes and marched south to the stars with unprecedented pride.”

As he spoke, Peffert swung his axe without warning.

"bump!"

The axe blade struck again hard against the great axe that King Nuen had raised!
This time, the young Grand Duke roared and pressed his entire body forward, wrestling face to face with King Nuen!

King Nuen was pushed back two steps before he could barely stand. His face was contorted as he struggled against the young and impetuous Grand Duke, his arms trembling uncontrollably.

“You were strong, fierce, and in your prime then,” Pefit said through gritted teeth, pushing the axe blade firmly into the ground, effortlessly subduing the aging king. “You weren’t this sickly and dilapidated state you are now.”

The next second, the old king finally lost his strength and was pushed away, falling to the ground!
His weapon fell to the ground.

"Clang!"

Many people's breath caught in their throats.

Pfeiffer showed no mercy and brought the axe down!
The old king tumbled and rolled to dodge, but the axe slammed down on his left side.

"boom!"

The force was so great that it even dented the stone ground!
An uproar erupted in the hall!
“Damn it,” Thales turned around irritably, “that’s exactly what I was worried about!”

“Keep watching!” Nikolai said coldly, though his furrowed brows betrayed his emotions: “On the battlefield, it’s not over until the very last moment…”

King Nuen, panting, grabbed the fallen giant axe with a speed beyond his years.

Young Peffer retracted the giant axe he had slammed into the ground, seemingly panting slightly as if he had overexerted himself with the blow: "Back then, my grandfather, dressed in military uniform and armor, stood beside you, panting, looking like a toothless tiger, old and ugly as ever."

Pefit remained calm as she carefully observed King Nunn's movements.

“Your grandfather and father were far better than you,” King Nuen spat fiercely, slowly standing up. “And you, you’re just ungrateful, aren’t you?”

Pefit's eyes flickered, and the instant King Nunn stood up, he unleashed a powerful axe strike!
Taking advantage of the opponent's unsteady footing, Nunn was knocked to his knees!

"Can't be tamed?"

Pefit grinned maliciously and swung his giant axe violently, knocking Nunn back once again. Nunn knelt on the ground, panting heavily.

"To you, Fengzhao City is just a tamed, domesticated hunting dog, isn't it?"

"A hunting dog that you can manipulate at will, ordering things around as you please?"

Pefit laughed and knocked the old king, who was trying to get up, down again.

Every time King Nunn tried to stand up again, he was interrupted by Pefit's offensive, and King Exter's co-ruler was not even able to get up to meet the enemy.

"Before the Dragon-Slaying Fortress of Stars, my grandfather's army could not withstand that damned Sword of Light, and the defenses of Beacon City collapsed..."

“I still remember you just whispering to Grandfather, ‘You’re old, and Fengzhao City is old too?’” Pefit’s tone was icy as he recovered from the immense exhaustion of wielding the axe. “The next day, Grandfather obediently returned to Fengzhao City to retire, and Father became the next Grand Duke of Fengzhao City…”

"What?" Kneeling on the ground, King Nuen, who was at a complete disadvantage, laughed nonchalantly, "Don't tell me that you're going to betray Dragon Sky City because of this?"

As he spoke, the old king swung his axe, aiming a low blow at Pefit's leg!

“The three dukes in the south are unruly,” Pefit easily stepped back to avoid the slash, looking at the kneeling King Nuen: “Supplies are dragging on, and progress is slow, so the war with the stars has fallen entirely on the shoulders of our Beacon City! Supply lines, military expenses, reinforcements, suicide squads, and even scavenging camp prostitutes from the surrounding area!”

"Don't you think something's wrong?" Peffert said through gritted teeth.

"That's the responsibility you were assigned!" King Nunn's eyes were menacing, and his voice was filled with anger: "It's also the king's order!"

Pefit struck again with his axe, sending King Nunn tumbling away!
This time, Nunn, exhausted, was unable to completely withstand his opponent. The axe blade grazed the old king's left arm, drawing a spray of blood.

Not good.

Thales thought to himself.

I have a bad feeling about this.

"To hell with your orders! How many soldiers and men did we sacrifice to take that damned Broken Dragon Fortress! More than half of them were from Fengzhao City!" the young Grand Duke roared.

"I watched as the wounded and dead soldiers returned to their tents, their expressions numb, lamenting when they would go home."

"The next day, they were sent up again in the first wave, like targets, to wear down the fortress's crossbows, arrows, oil bombs, giant logs, rolling stones, magic guns, and soldiers in the siege," Peffert pounded his chest, his eyes fierce: "to be sent to their deaths!"

Meanwhile, the elite troops of Dragon Sky City were singing and laughing, enjoying the finest food, drink, and women! And the privilege of storming the city walls at the most crucial and relaxed moment!

"After Father took office with trepidation—what could he possibly do in the face of you?"

"The only way is to be even more reckless, more generous, and more ruthless in sending all our soldiers... to their deaths at the fortress!"

"To earn back your trust!"

King Nuen grabbed the axe handle, parried another attack from his opponent, and then collapsed to the ground, panting heavily.

Pefit began pacing around King Nunn, switching the position of his left and right hands to reduce the strain of wielding the giant axe with both hands: "You actually sat in the tent, under the protection of the White Blade Guard, and righteously questioned your grandfather and father why Beacon City couldn't stop Horace Star!"

"Can't stop that damned Star Butcher?"

"Can't stop the most elite and most fanatical royal guards he brought from the Star Capital?"

Horace Shining Star?
Thales' heart stirred; he recalled the story that Tuleha of Black Sand Territory had told him about the final moments of the Sword of Light.

He turned his head and looked at Putila and Nikolai.

The former remained silent, while the latter pursed his lips, his face showing displeasure.

“You talk too much nonsense,” King Nuen wiped the blood from his left arm on his clothes to prevent it from affecting his grip. He raised his head, his eyes fierce: “On the battlefield, the one who talks the most nonsense dies the fastest.”

His response was a merciless vertical slash from Pelfit.

"Boom!"

King Nuen trembled as he deflected the trajectory of the axe blade.

He has fallen into a completely disadvantageous position.

“Go to hell, Nunn Walton,” Peffer spat, his face full of resentment, “'Conqueror of Dragon Keep,' you dare to call yourself that?”

King Nuen rose from his knees, gripping his giant axe, and glared menacingly at Pefit, as if preparing the most crucial counterattack.

Once again, Peffert's men didn't stop, and one of them swung an axe at the handle of Nunn's axe.

"Clang!"

King Nuen struggled to withstand the opponent's powerful attack, and the two terrifying weapons remained locked in mid-air.

"With just a 'Fortress Peace Treaty,' you sent everyone packing their bags and going home. At least you put on a show of comforting and explaining to the other grand dukes."

"And for us, for Fengzhao City? No land, no spoils, no reward, no consolation, just a wave of the hand and we're gone!" Peffert gritted his teeth, looking like a madman.

“I personally placed your grandfather and your family on the throne of the Duke of Fengzhao City, and I trust him!” King Nuen gritted his teeth, his expression furious. “I turned a blind eye because they are my most trusted confidants!”

"What a load of bull! It's not even worth a penny!" Pefit roared. "Countless corpses of Beacon City soldiers are buried in the fortress and throughout the Star Realm. Go ahead and tell them if you dare!"

"An arm? Why haven't you sent any Dragon Sky City people to their deaths!"

However, in the next instant, the old king, who seemed to be at a complete disadvantage, suddenly had a flash in his eyes, and the muscles in his arms bulged out.

In the unique vision that the fluctuation gave Thales, a dazzling light suddenly burst forth from the old king's arms.

He knew that this was the power of King Nunn's demise, which had surged into his arms in an instant.

Why did the agreed-upon "two hours" last night take so long?

Of course... it's because our time flows at different rates!

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(End of this chapter)