Kingdom Bloodline

Chapter 360 Raven and Snowblade (Part 1)

Nicolai frowned: "I don't understand, the White Blade Guard gave you everything..."

Monty shook his head and scoffed, interrupting him: "Of course you wouldn't understand."

“You are the one chosen by Kaslan, the future commander he has placed high hopes on and is capable of carrying the entire battle flag for the White Blade Guard.”

His breathing quickened, his right hand pressed tightly to the ground, dragging it along, his eyes filled with sorrow and resentment as he looked at Nikolai: "Serrey Nikolai, you are the glorious Snowblade with its gleaming blade, how could you understand a filthy raven like me who feeds on carrion?"

“Yes, the White Blade Guard gave us everything, but Kaslan… he didn’t give us a choice.”

Hearing the other person's inexplicable words, Nikolai felt a surge of anger: "If you involve him again—"

But Monty interrupted him without any politeness!

"You know nothing about Kaslan!"

The Death Crow spat fiercely, its eyes filled with resentment: "You think you're his successor, going to help him protect his last vestige of honor?"

"fart!"

Nikolai's anger intensified. He was about to speak when Monty continued talking, silencing the Fallen One.

"That was the second day after we officially joined the team."

Monty suppressed his emotions and said calmly, "Kaslan suddenly told me that he thinks I have a lot of talent in scouting. It just so happens that the guard is in dire need of people like me after 'Coward' Lycan died of illness. There is a secret mission tonight. Do you want to give it a try?"

Nikolai's cheeks twitched slightly—he remembered this incident, he also remembered the envious expressions and sour tones of the others when Kaslan mentioned it, and the barely suppressed excitement and agitation on Big Mouth's face.

but……

Looking into Monty's complex eyes, Nicolai subconsciously closed his mouth.

That night, there was no moon...

The Raven spoke softly, as if telling the children an ancient lesson: "Kaslan took me, along with a few other old guards, and we went on my first mission after joining the team, masked."

A chilling glint flashed in his eyes: "A merchant has obtained something that interests the king. We need to secretly find it, and incidentally..."

Monty paused for a moment, then ended the sentence in a nonchalant tone:
“...kill his entire family.”

The sun was obscured by a cloud, casting a shadow between the two.

It brings a faint coolness.

"what?"

Nikolai's face turned pale: "You?"

Monty's shoulders trembled, his facial features quivered, and he leaned against the rock, laughing out loud:

"Hahaha," he said, his breathing extremely unsteady, his speech fluctuating between fast and slow, as if he had just been rescued from drowning.
"To kill and set fires in the middle of the night with your faces covered, it's hard to imagine, right? Especially for the imposing Captain Nicolai—the White Blade Guard is such a wonderful thing. Protecting is your most sacred duty."

Nikolai didn't speak; he just stared blankly at the ground.

"The moon was very dark that night, and even the blood was black, so you couldn't see faces clearly."

Monty took a deep breath, trembling slightly, his pupils quivering: "I'm just keeping watch, I don't need to do anything."

“But Kaslan, Dominic, and others… these highly respected seniors of the Guard, standing amidst the corpses, torches in hand, their numb eyes beyond their masks, reserved a privilege for me as the most special initiation ritual: to kill the last living one.”

"An old woman on her deathbed, nearing the end of her life."

Nikolai, who was listening quietly, felt a chill in his heart.

"They took care of the 'difficult' part, those unarmed children and women, before leaving her to me. They probably thought I was a newcomer and would start with the easier tasks to get used to—after all, she was going to die soon anyway."

Monty gave a barely audible dry laugh:
"But what Kaslan and the others didn't know was that when I made the cut, the expression on her face before she died was completely different from the expression on my grandmother's face before she died."

"Of course, maybe I'm mistaken. After all I've been through... my memory of the first target is quite vague."

Monty's smile faded, his eyes remaining calm and expressionless: "But they don't know."

“They don’t know.”

Nikolai didn't speak; he just stared blankly at the other person. As a White Blade Guardian who was supposed to protect his brother, the Meteorite was at a loss for words.

Monty took a deep breath, watching the clouds above slowly drift away, and the blazing sunlight shone down again, bathing them in light.

"And so, you troublemakers, before the bright moonlight and witnessed by the heavy snow, raised your blades, drank strong liquor, swore an oath of blood, and became guardians of the blade."

The Death Crow said calmly:

"And I, I, in the deepest darkness, before the dim torches, facing the profound gazes of my predecessors, also raised my blade high, using blood as wine, and my head as proof... becoming another kind of white-blade guard, the kind that lives in the darkness."

"I didn't even know if my sword hilt was the snow-white color that's customary when I joined the unit."

"Because it was so dark that night, so dark that I couldn't see any colors at all—I couldn't even make out the blood on the old woman's neck, let alone know whether what I was holding was a white blade."

Nicolai took a deep breath: "Damn."

"It took me a long time to realize: the White Blade Guard of Dragon Sky City had been doing this kind of work in secret for a long time, much earlier than we thought—beyond the gleaming and tough snow blades, someone always has to drop their bottom line, get their hands dirty, and do the hard work—that's what Kaslan said."

Monty took a couple of breaths, his eyes becoming increasingly bloodshot.
"But they are getting old, and the secretive ugly side of the White Blade Guard needs to be replaced. Kaslan needs fresh blood and successors."

"It's not about becoming an elite scout or a frontline sentry, but about becoming a killer who isn't afraid to get his hands stained with blood, a cold, ruthless, and unwavering blade, a tool without any bottom line or principles."

The raven suddenly raised its head!
He reached out and weakly patted his chest.

"And of all those people, Kaslan just happened to pick me."

Monty gritted his teeth, his face contorted in pain:
"You chose me."

The wind whimpered.

The two seriously injured men faced each other in silence.

“From that day on, I laid down my snow blade, shouldered my crossbow, and put on a mask,” Monty said, his teeth chattering as he faced Nikolai, his face half-burned. “I became an ominous black raven that chases death and carrion.”

Nicolai slumped to the ground, utterly exclaiming, "Why, Big Mouth, why didn't you tell me about these things?"

"Tell you?" The Death Raven took a deep breath, threw his head back and laughed, a desolate laugh.

"What can you do, you troublemaker?"

"Come with me to do it? Or beg Kaslan to let me go, and pretend that none of this happened?"

Nikolai closed his eyes tightly.

On the other side, Thales, who was unconscious, let out painful groans.

Monty gave a faint, cold laugh: "You don't know... this isn't like being a lord's guard in the countryside, where you just stand guard, sweep, accompany him on hunts, and occasionally deliver messages or run errands."

He struggled to clench his right fist:

“Nun is a very ambitious man who doesn’t want to be just a king in Dragonstreet. But the Dark Chamber, which adheres to neutrality and has limited functions, cannot meet his expectations. What he needs is not eyes and ears, not guards, not even soldiers, but a blade, a black hand, a ruthless mercenary with no bottom line, no questions asked, and absolute loyalty to him, to help him fulfill his ambitions.”

“Kaslan is one of them, and I am his successor.”

Nikolai remained silent, his mind constantly replaying the image of Kaslan before his death.

Recalling that complex iceberg—the stern iceberg, the laughing iceberg, the sorrowful iceberg, and, before death, the relieved iceberg.

He had wondered if he hadn't matured fast enough to share the burden on Kaslan's shoulders.

That's what ultimately led to that tragedy.

But he suddenly understood today.

Someone else shared the burden of Kaslan.

“For the past ten or twenty years,” Monty stared intently at his fist, “you can’t imagine where I’ve been, who I’ve met, what I’ve done, or what blood I’ve spilled.”

"Killing someone to cover it up is just the least significant part of it."

"Do you remember after the Battle of Deep Valley, when we were both wounded and drinking in the Freedom Alliance's camp?" Deathcrow said with a wry smile, "You complained that you were bored guarding the palace gates all day and envied me for being out on duty all the time..."

Nicolai frowned: "I..."

“But what do you know…” Monty shook his head.

His expression was bitter, a half-smile playing on his lips: "While you're boredly guarding the goal, training, or even trekking long distances to fight tough battles..."

“Every day, every night, every minute, every second, I have to wear a mask with different colors and a cloak of the same black color, walking in the shadows, running among blood, killing, kidnapping, deceiving, robbing, threatening, spying, sniping, poisoning, provoking, raping, abusing, torturing... I have done almost every dirty thing I can do!”

"Killing is commonplace as long as there is a beneficial mission. I never hesitate to kill, from young children to the elderly. To survive, lying is my habit. I can no longer distinguish between truth and falsehood, from sworn brothers to relatives."

Monty's expression tightened, and he struggled to swing his right fist.

"From Cornmas to the Stars, from the Golden Corridor to the Thornlands... an undercover agent infiltrating the crowd, a scout patrolling the front lines, a murderous bandit, a prisoner with a long list of crimes, an assassin sniping at targets, a sentry infiltrating the enemy camp, a spy instigating war. For King Nunn, I became whatever he needed, all for the sake of power—especially after Kaslan retired, my work only became more and more ruthless."

"As it turns out, I, who have abandoned conscience and morality, am the best tool. In the years I served the White Blade Guard, I assassinated countless political enemies, created countless opportunities, and instigated three wars. Nunn was very satisfied with me. He even handed me over to Prince Suriel, hoping that I would become the latter's coronation assistant and become his royal assassin."

Monty lowered his head, but raised his eyes, revealing the whites of his eyes as he glared at Nicolai, panting like someone about to hang himself.

Do you understand?

“You don’t understand Kaslan, you troublemaker, because I’m the one closest to him.”

Nikolai was somber and could not utter a word.

The Deathraven slowly raised its left hand, covering the left half of its face. "The person you admire most, Kaslan Lumba, whom King Nunn trusts most, has two faces when it comes to power."

A relaxed smile spread across his exposed right cheek, carrying the roguishness and rudeness typical of the outspoken brown-haired knight, just as it had years ago:
"Behind that mask, he wields a white blade, guarding the kingdom and Dragon Sky City."

Monty subtly moved his left palm, covering his right cheek and revealing his left. His smile gradually vanished, replaced by a cold, angular gaze. Combined with his charred left jaw, he appeared utterly ferocious.

"Behind his other face, he was covered in blood, exuding darkness and shadow."

Nicolai stared at him blankly, and involuntarily released the pebble from his pocket.

He remembered the words carved on the stone.

[Kaslan beneficiary Talia]

Monty gently lowered his hand, his face no longer showing any expression.

It appeared cold and stiff.

There was absolutely no human presence.

“Under the banner of ‘For Exter,’ Kaslan was tormented by these two faces for the rest of his life, unable to extricate himself.”

Nikolai trembled slightly.

Monty scoffed, "Perhaps he didn't want the tragedy to repeat itself, perhaps he'd had enough of it all, so he... humph... while passing on the legacy of the White Blade Guard, while training the last batch of new recruits..."

He stared intently at his old friend before him:

“The earth-shaking Kaslan, the invincible Kaslan, he tore his contradictory self, his two-faced self, in two, living and bloodily.”

Nikolai paused in his breathing.

The Death Crow slowly extended its index finger, pointing it directly at the falling star.

His eyes were focused intently on it, as if he were aiming before a sniper shot:

"He gave you his bright and dazzling half."

His expression was serious as he raised his voice and said, "Serrey Nikolai, the Fallen Star who made his mark at Dragonslayer Fortress."

"The leader of the White Blade Guard, the battle flag that never falls, the indestructible iron wall—you are the successor on whom he places high hopes, leading the future of the White Blade Guard like the alpha wolf of a pack, and protecting the snowy north like the wings of a snow eagle."

The meteorite remained silent.

A gentle breeze stirred again, and a thin cloud invaded the path of the sunlight, darkening the earth and casting indistinct shadows on the two figures facing each other.

Monty withdrew his finger, then slowly turned it halfway through, pointing it towards his own chest.

Although the man's lips curled into a smile, the emotions surging in his eyes were incredibly complex and unfathomable:

"And he gave me his dark and dirty side."

He grinned and said softly, "Ned Monty, the raven that lingers on in the endless hell."

"Nameless assassins, beasts in human skin, cold-blooded and ruthless blades, and scum with hands stained with blood, like shadows under the clouds covering the power ladder of the throne, and like earthworms in a sewer chasing after rotting flesh and stench."

The Death Raven's smile grew even brighter.

"The two of us are the two sides of 'Earthshaking' Kaslan."

"It is the legacy and rebirth of that legend."

"Inheriting his supreme glory..." On the scorching ground, Monty took a deep breath, as if savoring the freshest air:
"...and endless sins."

Nikolai's expression was bitter, his feelings complicated, and he remained silent for a long time.

Monty simply smiled and gazed at the sky.

It was as if his hometown was there.

"Forehead……"

Not far away, Thales lay prone, groaning in pain as if in a dream, as if he were experiencing unbearable torture.

Nikolai frowned and looked at the prince.

Just then, Monty's right hand suddenly moved!
"puff!"

With a loud bang, a black crossbow flew through the air, pulled by an extremely thin iron wire, from behind Monty across the low rock, and into the hands of Deathraven.

The meteorite-bomber's expression suddenly changed!

"Damn it!"

The battle resumed, and the two, who had recovered some strength, moved almost simultaneously!

Nicolai struggled to his feet, gripping his military knife, and limped toward Monty with all his might.

The raven sitting on the ground gritted its teeth, put its foot into the foot pedal of the crossbow, and, ignoring the injury on its hand, cocked the crossbow with all its might.

The Meteor rushed to within a meter of Monty, but the Deathcrow timely used one leg as a pivot to roll on the spot, struggling and awkwardly dodging Nicolai's first strike!

He kicked up a cloud of dust, which made Nicolai squint.

Monty looked terrible, and rolling around aggravated his injuries.

With a click, the wind-up was complete.

The raven calmly pulled its foot out of the crossbow's foot pedal.

Nikolai's heart tightened!
Oops.

Without hesitation, the Meteorite unleashed his remaining power of destruction, roaring as he lunged at the Death Raven amidst the smoke and dust!
Monty, with difficulty, raised his crossbow, carrying a long bolt that had somehow appeared on it, and turned towards the Meteorite.

One sat on the ground, the other leaped forward. Both men, exhausted, had ferocious expressions on their faces. They were no more than a meter apart, their blades and crossbow bolts pointing at each other!

The next moment.

"clang!"

That's the sound of a blade striking a crossbow.

Nikolai stared intently at his enemy and breathed a sigh of relief: he had finally struck Monty's weapon before his opponent could fire his crossbow bolt.

Faced with the Rising Sun Saber, the black crossbow miraculously did not break, but it did deviate from its course.

"Shh!"

That was the sharp sound of a crossbow bolt leaving the bowstring.

A crossbow bolt, whistling through the air, veered past Nikolai's cheek and flew off into an unknown location.

"Boom!"

Nikolai delivered a powerful knee strike, sending the helpless Monty spitting blood as he crashed back to the ground. Monty's only crossbow slipped from his grasp and flew into the distance.

"Hold!"

The meteorite roared in fury, limping backward and barely managing to grab hold of the rock face before collapsing:
"You just won't give up, will you!"

On the ground, Monty, his face covered in blood, struggled to lift his head and force a smile.

Looking at his expression, Nicolai suddenly sensed something was wrong!

"Swoosh—thud!"

Without warning, as if pushed by an invisible arm, Nikolai slammed into the rock wall and stuck to it!

"Clang!"

With a few crisp sounds, the Rising Sun Saber flew several meters away, crashed to the ground, and the red-hot blade gradually cooled down.

"what--"

The falling star let out a painful cry!

He looked down in disbelief and saw a crossbow bolt, slightly longer than its kind, pierce his left forearm, then his left upper arm, and finally pierce his left shoulder, pinning the Fallen Star firmly to the rock wall!
How is this going?

Feeling the excruciating pain from his arm to his shoulder that made it almost impossible for him to move, Nicolai, drenched in cold sweat, stared in astonishment at the crossbow bolt, then at the smiling Monty: He clearly missed!
I didn't... I did dodge it, didn't I?

"Aiya ya," the Death Raven coughed up blood, trembling as it tried to get up, but ultimately fell down again: "I forgot to introduce myself."

But Monty, looking at the horrified and furious Nicolai pinned to death by a crossbow bolt, still snorted coldly and pointed to the unremarkable black crossbow in the distance.

Following his gaze, the Meteorite's expression changed.

"This piece of junk."

“There’s never anything it can shoot,” Monty said, his face darkening. He spat and looked at the crossbow lying on the ground with obvious disdain. “And there’s never any prey it can’t shoot—its existence is solely for tormenting every master.”

Despite the excruciating pain, Nikolai stared at the weapon with extreme resentment and bewilderment.

"Legendary Anti-Demon Armed Forces,"

The raven, sounding slightly disgruntled, said:
"The Crossbow of Time".

(End of this chapter)