Kingdom Bloodline

Chapter 168 The Fate of the Weak
Two hands reached out from the alley, with an irresistible force, and tightly covered their mouths.

The firelight flickered, and a patrol of at least several dozen people hurried past on the street outside.

The shouts of commands rose and fell in succession, one after another.

Thales and Ramon struggled desperately, but the other party easily broke their strength to speak by touching their necks with a few light touches!

Ramon opened his eyes wide and, in the dim moonlight, saw clearly the person before him—the Black Sword who had covered their retreat.

The pale-faced Black Sword covered their mouths and pressed them firmly against the wall of the alley.

Until the patrol left.

Thales sighed inwardly.

"Hurry!" Black Sword released their mouths and said weakly, "Aishida is right behind us."

A sense of tension rose in Thales' heart again.

Before they could answer, Black Sword pulled the two men into another alleyway.

“I’ve attracted at least three patrol teams… I don’t know how long this will hold him off, but at least it’s drawn the attention of Dragon Sky City,” Black Sword said, panting as he led the way, touching the wall as he went.

“We walked through alleys, and I suspect that Ashida was searching for us from the sky.”

Thales' heart skipped a beat.

"Do not."

The two members of the fraternity turned their heads at the same time.

Thales looked up, frowning at Black Sword and Ramon: "He doesn't need to search for us from the sky."

"What?" Black Sword continued walking, his brows furrowed.

Thales remembered what Ashda had told him in that card room on Red Street: an air mage could sense all the air movement on an entire street.

such as……

“Our breathing,” Thales said through gritted teeth, “is how he tracks us.”

At this moment, Black Sword, who was leading the way, suddenly stopped.

This made Thales and Ramon tense as well.

Just then, Thales suddenly realized that behind him, where Ashida and the patrol should have met, there was a strange silence.

what happened?

“It’s not just breathing,” a familiar, pleasant male voice, yet one that sent chills down Thales’s spine, came from ahead, “all the air flowing within you is a beacon—as bright as a light in the darkness.”

Ramon trembled and took a step back.

Black Sword lowered his body solemnly, assuming a charging stance.

Thales sighed and looked at the alleyway ahead—Aishida Sahn emerged slowly from around the corner like a ghost.

“Child, you are really disobedient,” Ashida ignored Black Sword and Ramon, and looked straight at Thales, the coldness in her eyes growing more frightening: “I must admit that your little tricks, combined with this stinky cockroach, have indeed caused me some trouble.”

Ramon's face darkened, and he took another step back, looking around.

The black sword remained at the forefront, and he calmly pressed it against the strange sword at his waist.

“That’s because you’re not very friendly.” Thales sighed and clenched his fist.

This is a residential area—would it help if I shouted now?
Or will it just needlessly kill those who came out to watch the spectacle?
"Oh no."

“I’ve been very friendly,” Ashida shook her head, appearing calm, “but you’ve forced me to resort to some rough methods.”

Thales squinted.

He realized that something was off about Ashida's words.

Sure enough, Ashida beckoned with her finger.

A small figure emerged from behind him.

A figure constantly sobbing.

Thales' pupils contracted.

No.

She was a sloppy girl wearing glasses.

About eight or nine years old.

Under Ashida's control, she floated into the air, occasionally letting out a trembling sound of fear.

Damn.

Thales stared at the girl in disbelief.

The girl's glasses were tilted to one side as she looked at herself floating in the air with fear and panic.

However, the moment she saw Thales, it was as if she had found a lifeline.

It's him.

It's that boy.

The girl stretched out her small, delicate hand to Thales, revealing the bruises on her wrist.

Tears of grievance welled up in her eyes, and she burst into tears.

Hearing the girl's cries, Thales took a deep breath.

He raised his gaze, his emotions a complex mix of feelings, and looked at the trembling, terrified girl—Little Sly.

Thales clenched his fist.

That girl.

Selma Walton.

Little rascal.

"Come back to me quickly—stop being stubborn."

“Unless…” Ashida said softly, beckoning with her finger, “you want to watch this little maid die?”

The little rascal in mid-air suddenly turned around and faced downwards!

Thales's breath hitched!
In that instant, the little rascal was so frightened that he stopped crying.

It just floated there listlessly, sobbing softly in extreme fear and trembling.

Even Black Sword frowned.

Thales gritted his teeth.

“I know you won’t come with me willingly,” Ashida chuckled, as if she knew what he was thinking. “So I took some precautions.”

The little rascal in the air spun around again.

The girl was so frightened that she was completely disoriented, tears streaming down her face, and she couldn't even speak.

“This is between us,” Thales said through gritted teeth, his heart filled with complex emotions. “She has nothing to do with this!”

He looked at the fearful eyes behind the sly little man's glasses.

Before his eyes, the image of the little rascal looking at the convulsing Alex, covering his mouth and backing away in fear flashed before his eyes.

He recalled the scene where King Nunn tightly grasped the little rascal's hand and placed a black ring on it.

The little rascal's hands trembled as he recalled pulling the girl away in the Hall of Heroes.

She knew absolutely nothing and was completely unprepared.

They were forced to face all of this.

“Of course,” Ashida said slowly, a smile appearing on her face. “I noticed that you were quite concerned about your companion back in Red Street.”

"Then let's see if you care about this companion as much as you do?"

The scene from long ago flashed before Thales' eyes.

With a sneer, Quaid lifted Coria up, picked up a red-hot silver coin with one hand, and, laughing loudly, pressed it against the beggar's face.

Coria.

Her struggle at that time.

That expression.

The sound of crying at that time.

Thales took a weak breath and looked at the little rascal.

“If I go with you,” Thales said weakly, “you will let her go?”

“No,” Ashida’s smile slowly faded, and he said expressionlessly, “I will keep her.”

"Her fate will depend on how you perform."

Thales gasped for breath.

“Your previous actions have disappointed me,” the Air Mage said coldly. “This is punishment for your uncooperative attitude—don’t forget my seriousness because of my friendliness.”

"A mage is not someone you can toy with at will."

“Don’t easily offend the strong,” Ashida looked at him meaningfully, her words carrying a deeper meaning:

"Unless you become—equally powerful."

"do you understand?"

Thales was startled.

He looked at the helpless little rascal and remembered that day.

That day, Coria, who had a high fever and a flushed face, cried and laughed at him, who was helpless in the sixth room.

I'm not afraid, because...

Because Thales always finds a way.

However, the moment the silver coin was pressed onto Kolia's face, that sizzling sound of flesh boiling seemed to ring out again.

Thales closed his eyes, clenching his fist tighter and tighter.

A nameless grief and indignation rose in my heart.

Thales always finds a way.

I always have a way.

“Aishida,” Thales closed his eyes tighter and tighter, took a deep breath, and forcibly suppressed his trembling chest: “You bastard.”

"Don't be angry, taking hostages..." Ashida sneered, "This trick was learned from your Brotherhood friends."

Just then, Thales felt a tightening in his left shoulder.

“That girl,” Black Sword sighed, placing his hand on his shoulder, “is she someone important to you?”

Thales remained silent. Ashida frowned slightly.

Thales raised his eyes.

“Mr. Black Sword.” Thales shook his head, his eyes resolute.

“Put your sword against my neck,” Thales’ words made Ashida frown. “Let’s gamble on which life is more important to him, my life or hers.”

“Oh, child,” Ashida sighed regretfully, “guess what kind of punishment you will receive for saying that?”

silence.

Only the little rascal's sobs remained in the air.

Until that ordinary man broke the silence.

Black Sword slowly extended a smile and patted Thales on the shoulder.

“I’m telling you,” Black Sword turned to look at Aishida, “don’t listen to that guy…”

"You're talking nonsense."

Thales looked up in confusion.

"A strongman?" Black Sword drew his sword from his waist, his voice scornful. "This arrogant undead monster? He dares to call himself a strongman?"

Ashida's expression changed.

"He appears powerful."

“But don’t forget,” Black Sword smiled amiably, his tone calm, as if the person before him was merely an ordinary enemy, “in this world…”

"Hiding its head and tail in the vast and boundless world..."

"Trembling in fear for over six hundred years..."

"Fleeing in terror during countless battles..."

Thales frowned.

Aishida's expression changed.

Black Sword did not, as Thales had predicted, put the sword to Thales's neck.

He took a step forward, looked at Aishida, and his eyes flashed with murderous intent:
"The weaker party should be afraid..."

Black Sword took a step forward and bent his knees.

His eyes radiated a cold light.

"It's you."

"Disasters."

"Don't get the location wrong!"

Thales did not speak.

A blue light flashed in Ashida's eyes.

“Before you go after this boy, monster,” Black Sword raised his sword, pointing it directly at Ashida, “we haven’t settled our score yet.”

The Qi Mage stopped laughing.

"Want my life?" Black Sword said tauntingly, "Come and take it."

"You pathetic weakling."

Ashida squinted, blue light surging within her eyes.

The little rascal slowly landed on the ground.

“Don’t misunderstand, child,” Ashida replied calmly, “your punishment will continue.”

"After I killed this cockroach."

The two looked at each other.

It was as if this was the final duel.

Thales held his breath.

He quickly considered how he could respond to different outcomes in their duel.

Although Thales was not optimistic about Black Sword.

After all, the legendary anti-magic force...

Just now.

"Ahhh-"

Ramon's exclamation came from behind!
Thales suddenly turned around!

Ramon was standing a dozen steps away from them, with his back to them.

It seems they want to escape quietly.

But at that moment, Ramon stiffly turned around and looked at them.

The eccentric doctor revealed the greatest fear of his life.

His eyes were filled with both shock and fear.

It seems they've witnessed something extraordinary.

Black Sword's expression changed, and he began to move.

Black Sword ignored the air mage and charged without hesitation toward Ramon, who had encountered an unknown accident.

Thales narrowed his eyes in confusion.

what happened?
Soon, Thales no longer had any doubts.

The next moment, a loud bang was heard!

"boom!"

Thales stared wide-eyed.

He looked at Ramon right in front of him, alive and well...

exploded!
The strange doctor, who had been lively and energetic just moments before, suddenly burst into countless pieces of blood, which scattered all over his body.

Thales stared blankly at all of this.

This is……

The force of the explosion created a shockwave that sent the walls on both sides of the alley flying!

"No!"

Black Sword roared, bypassing Thales, cleaving a large rock in two, and rushed towards the site of Ramon's explosion!

Thales struggled to raise his hands to block the flying bricks, wood, and stones.

The black sword plunged into the endless dust.

Intense fighting sounds came from inside, followed by the earth-shattering roar of the black sword.

A few dozen seconds later, the black sword's roar abruptly stopped.

Thales stared blankly at everything, not even noticing when Ashida walked up to him.

"Step back," the air mage coldly ordered Thales.

Thales realized what was happening.

He turned and rushed toward the trembling little rascal on the ground.

“It’s alright…” Thales tried his best to comfort her, but his own heart was filled with fear as he looked at the dust.

The little rascal clung tightly to Thales' arm, gritting his teeth and sobbing incessantly.

A moment later, a frail figure slowly emerged from the dust.

The newcomer was carrying a sword.

Thales' pupils contracted!
It was a strange, jet-black sword.

“Look at those who dare to call us weaklings.”

The newcomer cheerfully tossed down the black sword.

"Clang!"

The strange black sword fell to the ground.

"This is what happened to him."

The newcomer chuckled.

No way?
Thales stared incredulously at the strange sword lying on the ground.

Black sword?

He just...

The strange sword continued to vibrate.

It seemed to be calling out to its departed owner.

The approaching person drew closer and closer until they were completely out of the dust's reach.

Thales's expression changed.

He looked at the uninvited newcomer with a look of horror.

She was a frail young girl.

She had a lovely smile on her face.

Thales felt a churning in his stomach—the visitor had stirred up his most hated memories.

"I was still wondering what it was that could make our 'qi' choose to ascend to the threshold?" The girl chuckled, tilting her head and looking at them playfully. "It's also thanks to your unhesitating ascent to the threshold that I was able to find this place so quickly."

"Wow, what a surprise to run into you," the girl's gaze shifted to Thales, her eyes swirling with increasingly intense emotions. "What a delightful surprise..."

Thales sighed inwardly.

Ashida stepped forward with a cold expression, blocking Thales's path.

"It's been a long time, my dear partner," the Qi Mage said calmly to the girl, his expression unchanged.
"Giza".

-

Let me just give you a preview of the next chapter's title: Chapter 103 - Qi and Blood

Oh! I forgot to put in the security guard!

The next chapter is very important, so please remind me to be careful about piracy.

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(End of this chapter)