Kingdom Bloodline

Chapter 183 The Price of Victory

Under the deepest night sky, ashes flew everywhere.

The people who had been controlled by Giza slowly awoke from the ground.

Some people regained full control of their bodies and, in the shock of surviving the ordeal, embraced each other and wept bitterly.

But many more people, whose bodies had been drastically deformed by the Blood Mage, died screaming amidst a backdrop of flying ashes after regaining their senses and control.

"I am Nikolai from the White Blade Guard, don't panic!"

A pale-faced man, covered in blood and clutching a strange blade, emerged from the crowd.

He shoved aside an elderly man who was arguing madly at those around him and strode forward.

"Everyone stay where you are! People from above will be sent!"

"In the name of the King!"

The formidable reputation of the Meteorite intimidated the poor people in the Shield District, and many fell silent in hesitation.
There were also a few rather "stubborn" people, whom Nicolai had to persuade with the blade.

Nikolai walked breathlessly to a pile of ruins and pulled out a thick arm from under a collapsed sign.

“I thought you were dead,” the Meteorite said, struggling to move the wounded man. “Did that calamity spare you?”

The owner of the thick arms—the lame former heavy sword infantryman Griveo—barely brushed away the dirt and ashes covering his body and, with the help of Nicolai, crawled out from under the collapsed signboard.

“No,” Griveo coughed violently, struggling to wrap his body around Nicolai’s neck and pointing to his bleeding forehead.

"That man with the child..."

The veteran frowned, his expression grave.

"He spared me—when I was being controlled by that monster."

Nikolai was slightly taken aback.

"A man? With a child?" The Meteorite helped Grivell to his feet, his eyes filled with suspicion. "To be able to move freely in the face of that catastrophe—does he possess legendary anti-magic weaponry?"

Griveaux staggered a step and shook his head: "I don't know, maybe."

Nicolai narrowed his eyes, his words direct and to the point: "Where is he?"

“He was here just a few minutes ago,” Griveo chewed his salty mouth, spitting out a bloody tooth, and said gruffly, “Damn it, that guy held off my and those monsters’ attacks…”

Nikolai pushed aside a wooden plank: "He's very powerful?"

"sharp?"

“No,” Griveaux paused, a hint of apprehension and seriousness flashing in his eyes:
"He's terrifying."

The veteran pursed his lips and rubbed his nose, which was red from the cold: "And... his skills, I feel like I've seen him somewhere before."

The Meteorite stirred slightly: "You know him?"

Griveaux thought for a few seconds, then shook his head: "I don't know, I've fought too many guys on the battlefield."

A glint of light flashed in Nikolai's eyes as he sheathed the Soul-Severing Blade: "So, that guy solved the disaster?"

"I don't know." Griveaux shook his head, his face still ashen.

"Could you please stop asking questions I don't know the answers to?"

At that moment, Nikolai stopped in his tracks.

"What's wrong?" Griveaux said impatiently. "Hey, you're still helping the wounded!"

“You know,” Nikolai said, gazing gravely at the distant ashes, “the Blood Calamity is too bizarre.”

"So what?" Greaver scoffed. "Already taken down, haven't they?"

Nikolai shook his head, his gaze focusing on a withered multi-headed snake tentacle lying on the ground in the darkness: "This suddenly reminds me of..."

"In the 'Book of Legends,' there is a story about the hero Nekaru..."

"Another account of the struggle against the Blood Calamity and the Hydra Kirika..."

----

Thales gasped blankly, a few black ash particles gently touching his face before crumbling away.

A normal person's emotions gradually return to their senses.

What exactly happened just now?

"My weapon—" He looked down at the Blade of Purification, bewildered—"Why could it pierce her directly?
and……

Is it over?

He looked up blankly, staring at the dust filling the sky and the ruins all around him, completely bewildered.

Thales didn't recognize the place; he had been taken too far during his escape from Giza.

But he could still see the bodies lying dead in the street—at his feet lay an old man with white hair, who had reached out his hand as if trying to touch the hope of survival before he died.

Thales' ears twitched; he sensed something.

He turned around and was immediately startled.

The unharmed Ashida stood behind him, graceful as ever amidst the swirling ashes.

The Qi Mage looked at the Purifying Blade in Thales' hand with a complicated expression.

Thales took a breath to calm himself down: "Could you at least say something next time? Or send out an invitation first?"

Ashida didn't speak, but simply turned her gaze to his face.

“And another thing,” Thales sighed, gesturing with his chin, “are you late?”

Ashida looked up at the swirling ashes, her eyes filled with a complex emotion.

"Emerging from underground..." the mage said slowly, his expression unchanged, "It will take time."

Thales chuckled.

After experiencing the battle with Giza, and especially after hearing Black Sword's words, he seemed to have suddenly had an epiphany.

The fear and apprehension he had felt when facing the Qi Demon Master in the past, which he had tried so hard to suppress but which was still deeply hidden in his heart, began to slowly dissolve.

Magician?
Compared to Giza, the opponent before him was merely a slightly stronger one.

“By the way, Mr. Sakun,” Thales called out Aishida’s surname softly, “I’ve made up my mind about the mage…”

The mage raised an eyebrow slightly.

He raised his eyes and looked at Ashida with a firm and resolute gaze.

“I’m not ready yet,” Thales said, staring into the mage’s piercing gaze, enunciating each word clearly and distinctly: “This is my answer.”

"It was my choice too."

Aishida's handsome face remained motionless.

They stared at each other in silence.

After a long while, the mage closed his eyes and sighed.

"but……"

Thales spoke again.

“I don’t intend to refuse you, nor do I reject becoming…” Under Ashida’s strange gaze, Thales calmly uttered, “I just need time to learn, understand, and acquire everything about magicians, and perhaps everything about magic—and that requires your help.”

Perhaps, there is still the truth behind the bloody year.

A strange blue light flashed in Ashida's eyes.

“Besides, you must know your current situation,” Thales turned his head, looking at the corpses and ruins all over the street. “There’s a reason why this world hates magic users—even if you did it to protect me.”

In that instant, Thales felt so suffocated that he could hardly breathe.

So many lives lost...

All because...

He took a deep breath, clearing his mind of all emotions, and tried his best not to think about the fact that the person in front of him was a ruthless executioner.

“Perhaps I can help you, as a prince,” Thales said slowly, having sorted out his thoughts, “as the future King of the Stars.”

Aishida slightly raised her chin, a smirk playing on her lips, a strange look flashing in her eyes: "You mean..."

"Now that I know the cause and effect, perhaps I can find a way for you, a way for you to stand in peace, for the world to be at peace, and for both sides to live in harmony," Thales said, raising the Blade of Purification with a clear and resolute voice, "Magicians cannot continue like this."

Amidst the drifting black ashes, Ashida gazed at the small red sword in his hand, a look of apprehension in her eyes.

“If I am indeed destined to become a mage, then for my own sake, it is all the more necessary for me to do so,” Thales nodded.
"And a human king who holds power and an army would undoubtedly be more helpful than a powerful and unrestrained calamity."

This time, Ashida remained silent for an exceptionally long time.

Thales waited patiently for his reply.

For a second or two, the second prince swore that he saw an emotion on Ashida’s face that he had never seen before.

Remembrance and grief?
Thales had only ever seen this expression on his face when Ashida was explaining the magic tower.

“Many people have had the same idea—that mages can coexist peacefully with other races, and even help each other,” Ashida finally spoke slowly, his tone seemingly concealing a sorrow he was unwilling to face:

"Whether it is magic users, humans, or even elves, there are countless similar efforts and attempts."

"They all failed."

"Aishida said softly."

They stood in the ruins, one tall and one short.
Thales met the mage's gaze with a firm and unwavering look.

He stepped forward without hesitation.

“First, their efforts are not enough,” Thales’ voice echoed through the air, “Second…”

"I am not them."

"Not the losers."

Thales felt the cold air, his pupils contracted slightly, his tone was steady, and his voice was slightly deep.

"I am Thales."

Under Ashida's questioning gaze, he said calmly:

"Tales Seranjelana Kessel Star".

"He is a descendant of the imperial family, of the bloodline of the Stars, the future king of the stars."

At this point, Thales took a deep breath and raised the Blade of Purification.

He was not surprised to see Ashida frown and take a step back.

Thales smiled slightly to himself, but remained calm and resolute on the surface, saying, "He is also the sealer of the Blood Mage."

as well as……

A traveler from an unknown world.

A myriad of unreadable emotions flashed across Ashida's eyes in an instant, but in the end, they were all suppressed by a crystalline blue light.

Thales lowered the Blade of Purification. He waited quietly for the other party's reply.

But only he knew that the palm of his hand holding the Blade of Purification was already slightly sweaty.

He did not forget Giza's last words before he disappeared.

Beware of Ashida.

The mage continued to stare at him, his gaze unwavering.

one second.

two seconds.

three seconds...

Thales swallowed hard, his palm trembling slightly.

Finally, Ashida suddenly smiled.

Thales was taken aback and looked at him, puzzled.

“You know, it’s not just you…” Ashida’s chilling smile reappeared:
“After today, I realized that I wasn’t ready for you either,” the mage nodded slightly. “You are too special.”

Thales frowned.

“Whether as a human prince,” Ashida’s gaze drifted to the Blade of Purification, her words pausing almost imperceptibly, “or as…”

Ashida raised her hands and gestured gracefully to herself.

"therefore."

“I will respect your decision,” the mage nodded slowly under Thales’s slightly shifting gaze. “And I also need time to study your unusual situation—whether it’s the inexplicable knocking or the loss of control that you can initiate on your own—perhaps your path will be easier or more difficult than ours, who knows.”

Thales suppressed his inner turmoil, adopted the most friendly and calm demeanor, and smiled.

Negotiations...

Successful.

Aishida...

“Yes, I won’t force you to come with me anymore, nor will I urge you to become a magic user,” Ashida smiled slightly as she observed his reaction. “But since you said you want to understand magic and magic…”

“I can spare the time to think of a way,” Thales responded quickly, raising his eyebrows. “Even a prince needs some private hobbies or quirks, right?”

Thales emphasized the word "privately".

“Very well, I will contact you regularly and privately,” Ashida understood Thales’s words. He gave a mysterious smile and emphasized the word “privately”: “Of course, I will keep a low profile for a while first…”

Ashida looked around, her eyes strangely peculiar:
"Look around, this mess... Soon, all sorts of random things will gather here to take a look. The reappearance of a magic user is no small matter..."

Thales sighed inwardly: Who do you think caused this mess?
Aishida snorted: "But after things calm down..." "The same old method—check your invitations."

Thales rolled his eyes at him without any attempt to hide it.

Aishida chuckled softly and said slowly, "Then,"

"See you later."

"Tales Shining Star".

He gave a playful yet meaningful smile, his eyes subtly revealing his expression.

Just like their first meeting in the basement of the card room.

"My interesting junior."

Thales took a deep breath and then slowly exhaled.

He nodded slightly: "Thank you, Mr. Sakorn."

Ashida bowed slightly, his elegant figure transforming into blue light.

The blue light gradually faded.

Until only a colorless breeze remained, ruffling Thales's hair and causing him to squint.

"I won't bother you any longer; she's been looking for you for a long time."

Aishida's beautiful voice drifted on the wind.

Thales was somewhat taken aback.

A few seconds later, the sound of the wind disappeared.

Thales stood there for several seconds, gripping the Blade of Purification tightly in his hand.

Only after confirming that the other party had completely left did he breathe a sigh of relief, and the anxiety and tension in his heart instantly relaxed.

Oh my God……

He looked up at the deep night sky and sighed with a sense of relief.

The expression on Giza's face before he disappeared, and the look in Ashida's eyes before she left, were still etched in his mind.

Magician...

What kind of beings are you?

What does the world look like in your eyes?
Thales then looked down at his hands—the JC dagger in his right hand and the small red sword in his left—lost in thought.

He sighed dejectedly, put the JC back into the sheath at his waist, but then touched something foreign.

Thales froze.

That is……

He lowered his head, bit his lip, and a silent sorrow welled up in his heart.

Just then, a timid voice suddenly came from behind him.

"Tai, Thales... is that you?"

The second prince was startled and turned around abruptly.

His eyes suddenly widened.

All he could see was the disheveled little rascal, his hair filthy, standing behind him, shivering with cold, his arms crossed.

She was squinting, as if trying to see everything clearly.

Thales was stunned.

she……

The little rascal seemed to have gotten used to everything in front of her. With her eyes bloodshot, she sniffed, shrank back, and reached out her hands, groping her way forward.

Amidst the ruins and corpses, she moved forward cautiously, like a child just learning to walk, or like a helpless blind person, wandering alone in a world without light.

This reminded the prince of the scene in the library where she was lying on a thick book, squinting as she read, and then looking up in horror.

"Is it... Thales?"

The little rascal stumbled and tripped over the uneven road surface.

Thales stared at her blankly for a few seconds before he came to his senses.

"It's...it's me!"

"Little slippery man!"

Upon hearing the affirmative answer, the little rascal first took a deep breath, then pursed his lips.

Her eyes welled up with tears.

Thales let out a breath, bit his lip, stepped over the mess on the ground, and rushed to the girl.

He stopped a step away from her, panting, and carefully extended his blood-soaked left hand.

Then, take the little rascal's hand in yours.

Feeling a tightening in his hand, the little rascal trembled, as if he were afraid.

But after a moment, she resolutely and confidently grasped Thales' left hand with both of hers.

They stood amidst the ruins, holding each other tightly.

Thales looked at the little rascal with a complicated expression, clenching his fists, but feeling a slight relief in his heavy heart:
"You...are you okay?"

He asked hesitantly.

The little rascal seemed to have calmed down a lot. She squinted her severely nearsighted blue eyes and nodded tremblingly:

"She...those tentacles, spared me."

The girl stood in front of him, her lips slightly pursed.

Looking at the disheveled girl, Thales closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

The little rascal sniffed, and his hands gripping his arm trembled slightly.

"We...that..."

But before she could finish speaking, Thales suddenly laughed.

A second later, he stepped forward without hesitation and hugged the scatterbrained little rascal tightly.

The little rascal trembled slightly, but still obediently leaned on Thales' shoulder, tears streaming down his face.

"That's good."

Thales gritted his teeth and muttered to himself.

He looked at the streets of the Shield District, where only the wind and snow howled, at the countless corpses lying dead by the roadside, and at the ashes scattered everywhere, and tightly held the only warm, trembling life in front of him.

At that moment, Thales felt his eyes become a little blurry.

“It’s alright,” he said softly.
"We are safe."

The little rascal clung to him tightly, sniffling repeatedly, her tears soaking his shoulder.

“At least, King Nunn…” Thales gripped the Blade of Purification and wiped away tears with the back of his hand.

Upon hearing the name of King Nuen, the little rascal stiffened slightly.

Thales took a breath, forced a smile, and continued...

"At least he won't hang me on the city gate for the crime of abducting a girl."

The little rascal paused for a moment, then burst out laughing.

Thales chuckled softly.

"correct."

A moment later, Thales released the little rascal.

He reached his hand towards his waist, towards that foreign object.

"this is for you……"

Thales took it out and stuffed it into the little rascal's hand.

The little rascal paused slightly, then fumbled for the thing in her hand.

The things she knows best.

The little rascal sniffed hard, then gently lifted the object in his hand, put it on his head, and pressed it behind his ears.

Behind those comical, thick, dusty, and cracked black-rimmed glasses, the little girl reopened her bright, clear green eyes.

The little rascal stared blankly at Thales, at the boy in front of him covered in blood and grime, with messy hair and a large red bump on his forehead.

A few seconds later.

The two men looked at each other's disheveled appearance and burst into laughter.

Just now.

The little rascal's expression changed.

"What's wrong with you?" she asked, somewhat surprised.

Thales raised an eyebrow: "Huh?"

The next second, the little rascal opened his eyes wide, looking utterly terrified.

Thales frowned; he quickly sensed something was wrong.

He lowered his head, his face pale.

A drop of blood appeared on the ground.

Then the second drop, the third drop...

Thales shuddered violently.

He reached out and touched his nose.

It was slippery to the touch.

Thales's face stiffened.

I am...

what happened?
"Clang!"

The Blade of Purification slipped from his hand and fell to the ground, wobbling slightly.

Under the shocked gaze of the little rascal, Thales staggered back a step, instinctively clutching his chest.

The prince's hands trembled slightly as if he couldn't control them.

He stared intently at the little rascal.

It was as if I had witnessed the most terrifying thing.

In that instant, the little rascal remembered Alex's expression before he died a few hours earlier.

She covered her mouth and screamed.

No.

Will not.

With the little rascal's shout, Thales swayed and fell to the ground.

The little rascal was terrified and quickly reached out to help him lie down.

"Ah..."

Thales let out a painful, suppressed groan.

A sharp pain, piercing straight to the heart, suddenly surged through Thales' body!

It felt like it was tearing his soul apart!
No.

Do not!
The kind of pain I experienced when being assassinated by a supernatural assassin or bombarded by a magic gun, as if every inch of my body and every cell was being torn apart...

That kind of price to pay for using magical energy...

here we go again……

Is this... the price of victory?

In the midst of excruciating pain, Thales vaguely heard a chilling cracking sound emanating from within his body!

It's like his body is slowly crumbling.

"what--"

Thales convulsed and let out another painful scream!
The little rascal could only cling to him helplessly, screaming in terror and trembling all over.

There will be another chapter later at midnight.

This volume is nearing its end.

感谢Rudolf_zero、乾磬的一万书币打赏（又有舵主了！）！以及yols的5000书币（5000是怎么按出来的？），还有滞停。D、DragonIgor的2000起点币！以及瀰艛的1800，沉睡の羊的1500、曾玥皓的1200，深海魔兽、PanWangbo、脑抽小公举的1000，夜靜人空的700！華胥之夢的500打赏！（再多的书页上显示不出来了）

Thank you to readers Feiquan, Jimo Shi Bu Zi, Xueyang, and Mingri Zai for their generous donations on the Chuangshi website!

Thank you everyone!

Suddenly, I discovered that this book had been pushed into the top ten of the fantasy category's monthly ticket ranking. So, this book, which had been running without any recommendations, was now featured on the homepage of the fantasy category!

(What's with this faint sense of pride and satisfaction? Damn it, I need to be indifferent to fame and fortune... cough cough)
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(End of this chapter)