Kingdom Bloodline

Chapter 348: I've fallen for it!
At that moment, Kanekamur unleashed an endless black mist of curses, firmly enveloping the Silver Shadow's radiance.

Darkness descended upon the cave, leaving only the mournful cries of countless souls.

But right now.

"Zi..."

A strange sound suddenly came from the direction of the Silver Shadow Man and the General of the Dead.

It sounds like pouring cold water on a hot iron.

As Thales retreated, he was surprised to find an irregular silver line appearing in the pitch-black darkness!
Like lightning piercing the night sky, it brings a glimmer of light.

Thales squinted instinctively.

No, it's not silver thread.

Instead, a sliver of silver light leaked from the direction of the Silver Shadow and the General of the Dead.

It illuminated this corner.

A seemingly casual yet undeniable voice rang out: "You are, after all, soldiers..."

Before the words were finished, a second, third, and fourth silver line emerged from the darkness one after another, intertwining to form a tree-like shape, illuminating the increasingly rapid flow of black mist around them!

Thales' heart stirred, and hope was rekindled.

"Can't you just focus on fighting..."

The pitch-black night, enveloping the entire landscape, began to crack inch by inch beneath the fissures formed by the silver light.

"Stop talking nonsense?"

As the silver light began to glow strangely, the howls of the dead suddenly became chaotic!

【Ahhhh——】

Thales felt a chill run down his spine as he saw a ghost a foot away, about to extend its arm, painfully covering its eyes to avoid the silver light emanating from it.

The imperial general's agonizing screams echoed amidst the eerie scene of layers of silver light and black mist: "No, no, no..."

"Hahahaha," that was the Silver Shadow's laughter:
"I almost forgot, you guys have bad memories."

The next moment, the increasingly dense silver lines converged into a great river like tributaries, suddenly bursting forth with an even brighter brilliance!

Dispel the surrounding darkness.

From a distance, it looks like a pitch-black cocoon that suddenly shatters under the influence of the silver light emanating from within!
The cave became bright again, and the clarity was even greater than before.

The silver light gathered into a dazzling brilliance that was difficult to look at directly, so bright that it even began to obscure Thales's vision.

The boy instinctively raised his hand to shield his eyes, and the skin exposed to the silver light protested with stinging pain.

He saw with astonishment through his fingers: in the endless silver light, the eerie black mist encountered the silver radiance as if it had encountered a natural enemy. Like water vapor rising into the air, it evaporated and vanished urgently.

Like a conscious life form, it evaded the invasion of the silver light and fled outwards!

The ghosts covering the rock walls howled and trembled in panic, turning away and seeping deeper into the rock strata. Some ghosts were even unable to move under the dazzling silver light, struggling in vain, and finally turned into ashes.

After Thales adjusted to the bright light, he was surprised to see:

A familiar human figure emerged at the very center of the light—he was like a legendary, unyielding warrior, striding forward with his right arm outstretched, restraining another dark figure who continued to scream in agony, clinging to the other's right arm and struggling desperately under the silver light.

It's that silver-clad figure.

And there was Kanekamur, his throat gripped by his right arm, the black mist vanishing under the silver light, leaving only a pitiful human form—the general was still desperately screaming: "You...you will fail..."

The once fierce and arrogant General Kanekamur Linka, now resembled a lowly pawn, grabbing his opponent's right arm. His illusory limbs twisted and turned in the air, making the monstrous appearance of the undead somewhat pathetic.

I will tear you apart... Northerners...

Thales coughed, then looked at the captured ghost general with surprise: "You just said it...powerful, terrifying, and troublesome?"

"You think I can spar with you?"

The silver-clad figure's facial features twitched slightly, as if he were chuckling.

He turned around and watched as the spirits on the surrounding rock walls vanished without a trace, completely gone.

Cairnkamur clung to the other's right arm, continuing his frantic and futile struggle, roaring: "One day, Northman... I will make you watch your kingdom perish..."

The silver-clad figure clenched his left fist and slowly raised it to his chest.

His fist gathered countless dazzling silver rays, forcing Thales to raise his hand to shield his eyes.

"That's right, it's very powerful."

The next moment, the Silver Shadow unleashed a powerful punch!
"boom!"

The silver light's heavy fist struck the withered face of the Undead General squarely!

As the silver light intensified, Thales noticed with surprise that the entire cave began to tremble almost imperceptibly under the force of the punch, emitting a low whimper.

The next second, the General of the Dead screamed, its illusory body becoming as if it were real, and it was violently thrown backward by this punch!
[Northerners...]

Driven by countless surging silver lights, Kanekamur roared in agony, his limbs flailing wildly, yet he was uncontrollably propelled into the rock wall and vanished without a trace.

The cave bears only its final curse: "We will...return..."

"But that's just..."

The Silver Shadow, in a rather humane manner, blew a breath onto his fist, retracting the powerful punch that had easily sent the Undead General flying, and turned back to Thales seriously, saying:
"On a relative level."

Thales stared blankly at the empty rock face, speechless for a long time.

The light emanating from the Silver Shadow gradually dimmed until Thales could see it clearly.

Thales immediately frowned.

He suddenly realized that the Silver Shadow Man was different now.

On the opponent's body, which was constructed of silver light, a heavy armor made of the same silver radiance had appeared at some point—from helmet to shoulder armor, from breastplate to belly armor, from boots to knee pads, the armor was complete.

He appeared much taller and more imposing.

Thales looked at the fully armed Silver Shadow with some doubt.

"what is this?"

The prince stared wide-eyed at the new image of the Silver Shadow Man and asked stupidly.

The Silver Shadow seemed to only then notice this, and was also surprised by his new look.

"Not bad, the recreation is quite realistic... cough cough, I mean, it's been a bit overly beautified, yes..."

His facial features twitched slightly, and he looked himself up and down with apparent excitement:
With towering shoulder armor reaching his eyebrows, barbed arm guards covering his forearms, and flowing armor across his chest, abdomen, waist, and hips, plus heavy combat boots with knee pads, the Silver Shadow looked like a legendary warrior from a bard's poem—majestic, imposing, and possessing both heroic spirit and magnificent beauty.

What's most eye-catching is his helmet—a massive, grotesque helmet formed by silver light that covers his entire face and head, with an intricate design and even four exaggerated, sharp horns extending from the sides.

As the silver shadow moved, the giant helmet made of silver light swayed back and forth terrifyingly, giving it an exaggerated sense of being on the verge of collapse.

"Um, forget about the helmet..."

The silver-clad figure tapped his menacing, horned silver helmet, which emitted a few glints of light. Behind his visor, his features were contorted in a furrowed brow, as if he were somewhat embarrassed.

"This is just for boosting morale. I've never worn it in actual combat. It's too silly—I mean, too flashy..."

The silver-clad figure began gesturing wildly, and the movements became increasingly exaggerated.

"...And it has four corners, you know, even my wife only has two. She might not say it, but she doesn't really like it..."

Thales blinked blankly, feeling the excitement of "buying new clothes" flowing from the other person's words. He couldn't quite accept it: the Silver Shadow Man who was solemn and serious a moment ago had become a chatterbox the moment a piece of armor had inexplicably appeared.
Before the silver-clad man could finish speaking, the silver light on his body seemed to have its own consciousness and flickered several times.

The Silver Shadow's facial features changed continuously:

"Oh right, and the shoulders... You know, even turning my head could result in a headshot..."

Immediately, the silver light that had repelled the souls of the dead began to flow.

The Silver Shadow's terrifyingly large, horned helmet transformed into specks of silver light and vanished into thin air.

The exaggeratedly high shoulder armor on both sides has also been flattened somewhat.

"Ah, much better, thank you," the silver-haired figure, feeling much lighter, looked himself over again before nodding in satisfaction.

"If only there were a mirror..."

The silver light began to flow again.

The silver-clad figure seemed startled and quickly raised his hand:

"Oh wait, I was just saying, I didn't really want it. We can't waste divine power like this..."

The silver light that was about to transform into a mirror flashed several more times in the air before dissipating again.

Thales was puzzled: Who was he talking to?

The silver light shimmered back and forth in the air, its brightness shifting unpredictably.

The silver-clad figure shook his head in alarm, his facial features shifting rapidly:
"What? Then why armor? Cough cough, well, it's because it looks cooler—cough cough, I mean, it makes you stronger in combat..."

"Yes, you misheard. It's 'good at fighting.' I always prioritize practicality... Don't laugh, what's so funny..."

The silver light circled around the silver figure, scattering specks of light, as if it were conversing with him.

The silver-clad figure paused, then pointed somewhat angrily at the silver light before him:
"You're still young, you don't understand. A good mental attitude is an important foundation for strength. For example, if I want to unleash the full power of this punch, it must meet one primary condition: it has to look cool..."

The silver light flashed three times and then gathered into a hand in mid-air, raising a thumb and falling towards the silver shadow figure.

The Silver Shadow was immediately exasperated: "I was just giving an example, why are you talking so much? You're so long-winded..."

What's happening here?
Completely bewildered, Thales watched as the silver shadow and the silver aura around him "argued," speechless with astonishment, marveling at the wonder of the world.

Finally, the silver armor on the Silver Shadow Man transformed into starlight and disappeared into the air.

Thales withdrew his gaze from the human-like silver light and looked at the silver shadow figure, speaking silently.

“Ex…”

Upon hearing the name, the Silver Shadow paused, his previous ease vanishing instantly.

“That ghost, it called you ‘Ex’,” Thales asked tentatively, staring intently at the silver figure before him.

"This, this is your name?"

The silver shadow man remained silent for a few seconds.

"It does not matter."

He said lightly.

Thales took a deep breath.

"There aren't many people in history with this name."

The boy suppressed his excitement and tried his best to calmly state his guess:
"And this name is closely related to the North and Dragon Sky City. There is only one person who knows what 'Brilliant Star' is."

The Silver Shadow remained motionless.

Thales bit his lower lip, staring intently at the silver presence before him, unconsciously using honorifics:
"You are, Your Excellency is..."

The silver-clad figure abruptly raised his head, interrupting him.

"who am I?"

But the Silver Shadow shook his head: "As I said before, it doesn't matter."

“Even I often forget who I used to be.”

"Because that's all in the past."

Thales' words were cut off, and he couldn't help but exclaim in surprise:
"But……"

"Haven't you noticed yet?" The silver-clad figure walked up to him, his dark features filled with unfathomable depths.

“In essence, I am no different from them, from those dead souls.” “I am just another dead man, one of the thousands of wandering souls here.”

The voice of the Silver Shadow Man echoed in his mind, low and lifeless.

Even the silver light emanating from his body dimmed considerably.

Thales looked at him, puzzled and confused.

Another dead person...

But Thales immediately shook his head vigorously, his eyes resolute:
"Do not."

"I think you are different."

The silver-clad figure paused slightly.

“You and that general… I can see the difference between you.”

"They are forced, confused, and delirious, filled with pain, resentment, and hostility, but you, you are clear-headed, rational, autonomous, and even..."

Thales swallowed hard:
"Even if you may have been dead for many years, but..."

He paused, recalling the terrifying ghosts, the whispers and cries that had given him splitting headaches but later made him thoughtful.

Thales raised his head and affirmed:

"You voluntarily guard this pitch-black, boundless path, suppressing these increasingly cruel and vengeful spirits, right?"

"Have you been suppressing this inexplicable curse, trying your best to prevent the terrible consequences it might cause?"

The silver-clad figure remained silent, but his dark features grew increasingly tense.

"For so many years, you have stood guard in this dark and hopeless place, relying on your own strength," Thales said, enunciating each word with unbelievable awe and excitement, "protecting Dragon Sky City."

"Whether in the past or the future."

Thales bit his lower lip and uttered the name:
“Ex…”

The silver shadow suddenly raised its head!
"you are wrong."

His tone returned to indifference and rejection.

Thales was stunned.

"The only difference between me and them..."

"I was lucky after death, receiving the blessing and grace of some great being," the Silver Shadow Man sneered.
"Even if I lose my physical body, I can still maintain my former self, retain a few important memories, and escape the fate of losing my mind."

"So that I can preserve new memories for as long as possible—like meeting you."

The silver figure slowly stepped forward, its hand, formed of silver light, resting on Thales' left shoulder:
"But I am still forgetting, still losing—in a few days, you will disappear from my memory, and I will no longer remember your arrival."

Thales stared into the dark, round hole that should have been an eye, and was stunned, remembering the other person's extraordinary identity and his current situation.

The silver-clad figure shook his head slightly:
"I am ultimately not of this world, and I am ultimately different from you."

"I too will eventually vanish."

"That's it."

No more.

Just then, the silver light on the Silver Shadow Man's body brightened once more.

He released Thales again and looked solemnly to the other side.

Lost in the complex emotions of knowing the other person's identity, Thales was startled to find that the surroundings had darkened again.

what happened?

He noticed that an ominous black mist had reappeared in the cave.

Countless ghostly faces reappear on the rock face, as the spirits of the dead return once more.

Thales' eyes widened: What?
Just now, the Silver Shadow Man didn't just...

Soon, in the place where the black mist was densest, the imperial general, Kanekamur Linka, who had been dead for many years, appeared before them for the second time, as ferocious and terrifying as ever.

As I said, people of the North, the curse grows ever stronger; we will never perish...

With trembling limbs and an increasingly terrifying aura, it stiffly crawled out of the rock wall, its expression deathly still, its eyes unfathomable, and the ancient imperial language, carrying an eerie and sinister feel, rang out once more:

And you will ultimately fail...

Thales swallowed hard, smoothed his hairy back with his hands behind his back, and took a step behind the Silver Shadow.

He said anxiously, "Didn't you say that their strength is only relative?"

"You probably can't beat me?"

The silver-clad figure's features contorted in shock as he patted his head, causing the silver light on it to tremble.

"That's right, but you have to know, that's just..."

The silver-clad figure shrugged, his back to the souls crawling out of the rock wall, and solemnly addressed Thales:
"Round One."

Thales frowned: Round one?

Just then, the silver light on the Silver Shadow Man's body suddenly jumped!
These silver rays, as if possessing their own consciousness, converged into a line above his head, forming a universal phrase unseen by the Silver Shadow Man:
This is an excuse.

It was as if they were explaining the words of the Silver Shadow.

Thales stared in disbelief at the silver lettering above his head:

"What?"

The Silver Shadow seemed oblivious to the silver lettering above his head that betrayed him.

He crossed his arms, appearing calm and unmoved, his dark features curving into a crescent shape, as if he were smiling.
“You know, winning too easily is never fun, so I prefer best-of-three—three, you know, so the first round isn’t the end…”

The silver light above his head flashed again, transforming into the next sentence:

[Stubborn]

Thales looked at the words above the Silver Shadow's head, then at the Silver Shadow's "Don't worry, everything is under my control" expression, and felt a twitch at the corner of his mouth.

The prince exhaled, gave an awkward laugh, and tried his best not to look at the text above the silver shadow's head: "Alright, let's have a second round. Just like before, you give it another hit. Best of three..."

The Silver Shadow Man lowered his arm.

"Regarding this," the Silver Shadow said rather seriously, "since it's a best-of-three series, I think it wouldn't hurt for us to let them win a round..."

Thales squinted and looked at the silver lettering above his head:
[Nonsense]

Thales lowered his head, his face full of suspicion: "You mean, you can't handle them like you used to?"

The silver-clad figure trembled slightly.

But he immediately waved his hand dismissively: "That's not true!"

The silver character continues to appear:

[Just kidding]

The silver-clad figure glanced at the approaching souls, his expression still aloof, but his tone softened considerably: "However, to be honest, I didn't hold back in that attack just now, so it took a bit of effort, but to save you, I couldn't worry about that..."

The silver lettering was played with great excitement, several times, this time accompanied by beautiful punctuation:
[Armor! For looking cool! For looking cool! For looking cool!]

Thales stared wide-eyed, looking up and down, comparing the words of the silver shadow man with the message in silver, feeling somewhat embarrassed.

What's happening here?
The silver figure seemed to sense something was wrong. He looked up abruptly, but the silver light had already vanished without a trace before that.

Finding nothing amiss, the silver-clad figure scratched his head in bewilderment:

"So for now, for the sake of the visual appeal and enjoyment of the battle..."

"We need to adjust our strategy."

The character for silver reappeared above his head, this time simple and clear:
[Can't beat them]

"what?"

Having gleaned something from their messages, Thales stared at the Silver Shadow in disbelief.

This guy……

Is it a trap?
The cave became even darker.

Cairnkamur's low whisper came again: "Come, Northlanders..."

[Give up the resistance and join us...]

The spirits of the dead on the surrounding rock walls began to roar again and climbed towards them!
Thales was on edge:
"Now what?"

The Silver Shadow turned to the General of the Dead, his tone becoming solemn again:

"Should be arriving soon."

Thales frowned: "What?"

As they drew nearer, the General of the Dead's whispers transformed into a roar: [Come on!]

“Now,” the Silver Shadow looked down at Thales, “use your supernatural powers to show them the way.”

Thales shook his head, puzzled.
"Super...what?"

“Of course…” This time, the Silver Shadow Man didn’t try to be mysterious. He grabbed Thales’ shoulder, and silver light seeped into the latter’s body as he said in a deep voice:

"The Sin of the River of Hell!"

Startled, before Thales could react, he felt an indescribable stinging pain and chill erupt from his body wherever the silver light touched!

"Ahhh—" he couldn't help but groan softly.

Threatened, his special finishing power automatically activated, surging towards the shoulder that the Silver Shadow was grabbing.

Thales sensed something was wrong!
As expected, the moment the Sin of the River of Hell was activated, the surrounding souls went berserk, some screaming shrilly, others moving faster, climbing toward Thales under the cover of thick black mist!
The prince looked at the scene before him, then stared in shock at the silver shadow figure:
"Are you crazy?"

"what."

"Thank you so much, young Brilliant Star, for your rare extraordinary power," the great figure who had been dead for many years said, his dark features flickering eerily in the silver light, his voice carrying a chilling and ferocious undertone.

"A good bait."

"We can't let it go to waste."

At the same time, the silver light within Yin Ying's body reappeared, converging into new characters above his head:

[You've been infected!]

At that moment, hearing the Silver Shadow's indifferent attitude and seeing the words formed by the silver light, Thales, who had previously lowered his guard because of the other party's identity in his previous life, suddenly felt a chill in his heart!
Oops.

Not really.

At this critical moment, he suddenly remembered what the ghost general had said to the Silver Shadow Man:
The power of this curse... far exceeds your imagination...

[...even maintaining his sanity was a struggle...]

You can't hold on...

Thales stared incredulously at the Silver Shadow's grotesque features and the nonchalant curl of his lips.

so……

he already……

Before they could finish their thought, the decaying monsters, led by the General of the Dead, were already frantically flailing their limbs and howling, ignoring the damage from the silver light, and charging menacingly toward Thales, who was immersed in the sins of the River of Hell!

Like a pack of bloodthirsty wolves staring intently at their prey.

All they could see was blood.

(End of this chapter)