Kingdom Bloodline

Chapter 364 Rebellion
No one knows what kind of torment Thales, who seems relaxed at this moment, has just endured.

Lying on the ground, under the dual assault of weakness and pain, he suddenly realized that he had forgotten the Black Sword's last teaching: the sins of the River of Hell often unleash power beyond the body's capacity.

Even though Thales had spent six years thoroughly observing the power of the Fallen Star, imitating the Fold of Fate still came at a huge cost—the arduous battle where he fought desperately against Nikolai had taken a toll on Thales far beyond what was expected, and the strain on his body was unimaginable.

Having had his limbs broken by the meteorite, he lay on the ground exhausted and unable to recover. To make matters worse, he was seriously injured and urgently needed treatment.

Pain was the first sensation Thales lost; the wound became warm and numb, no longer painful—but this was clearly not a good thing.

In a daze, the young prince realized with alarm that his body was gradually growing cold.

His hands and feet began to stiffen.

Breathing became increasingly difficult.

His mental state gradually deteriorated.

Visibility dimmed.

Hearing loss.

He was getting more and more tired and sleepy.

A bewildered Thales had a thought pop into his muddled mind: his life was slipping away.

But at this moment, Thales no longer had the strength to even call for help.

Until that strange yet familiar power, as if it were conscious, began to "joyfully" boil within his body!

Just as he was about to faint, the mysterious power of termination, like a blade of grass finally receiving rain, grew strong and spread within his body.

The sudden, intense pain returned to his body, jolting Thales, who was on the verge of unconsciousness, back to his senses!

He can't sleep.

Thales gritted his teeth, enduring the abnormality within his body, and desperately inhaled a breath of smoky, polluted air, like a drowning person scrambling for air.

The Sin of the River of Hell, yes, the healing effect of the Sin of the River of Hell!

Thales desperately tried to recall the scene from six years ago: after the Blood Mage disappeared, Thales collapsed from exhaustion, bleeding profusely, convulsing uncontrollably, and suffering excruciating pain, just like now, on the verge of death.

At that time, it was the Black Sword that used the strange fluctuations of the River of Sin to heal the prince's wounds and pull him back from the brink of death.

Thales rubbed his face against the rocky ground, struggling to recall that peculiar fluctuation, a fluctuation that shared the same origin as the power within him but followed a different path.

Over the past six years, Thales had been secretly studying the effects of the River of Sin, including the healing-promoting fluctuations demonstrated by the Black Sword. But each time, the results left Thales extremely disheartened: just as the power, speed, and senses it granted him were temporary and limited, the River of Sin's restorative effect was negligible, even less effective than his own self-healing constitution.

Thales was filled with trepidation: in countless failed experiments, he had never used the Sin of the River of Hell to repair such severe damage—a broken wrist, a dislocated knee, a fractured tibia, and countless abrasions, bruises, and muscle strains all over his body.

But this time it's different.

Soon, the Sin of the River of Hell rippled with familiar waves, surging forth from every corner of his body in an unusual way!

Thales shuddered; this was a scene he had never encountered before: the Sin of the River of Hell was unusually active.

No, it's not just "some".

Compared to the sluggish feeling when entering the Hellish senses, and the smooth feeling that suddenly appeared during the tense battle, the power of the end at this moment was like an unstoppable flood, pressing down on his entire body!

Just like a lazy hyena that suddenly transforms into a hungry wolf!

Thales didn't need to be called out; he automatically entered his hellish senses, and everything around him appeared in his perception: the sound of the wind, the fighting, the conversation, the temperature, even a scorpion crawling five meters away, only clearer, more precise, and more delicate than before he was injured—unfortunately, this also included the sensation of pain.

The next moment, as his hellish senses intensified, the excruciating pain within his body suddenly increased!

Thales shuddered!
pain!
It hurts!
"Ugh..."

Thales' face contorted in agony, and he could only clench his teeth unconsciously, letting out muffled groans!
As if the pain wasn't enough for him, an unbearable itching sensation and a constant feeling of dizziness came one after another, originating simultaneously from his brain.

The feeling was like someone was holding a hammer and hammering his bones inch by inch, from the outside in.

It was as if someone was holding a sharp blade, cutting open his blood vessels bit by bit, from the inside out.

Then they dumped tens of thousands of starving ants on top!

My God, my God, my God!
Unfortunately, Thales was unable to move and could only endure this torment while trembling.

Black Sword… he thought desperately: How did that guy endure all of this?

Thales swore he would pay any price, any price, if someone would lend a helping hand and stop it all!
But no one could hear the screams in his heart.

The boy was drenched in cold sweat and trembling all over. He could only force himself to listen to the battle between the Meteorite and the Death Crow in an attempt to distract himself.

Amid convulsions and tremors, Thales, almost paralyzed yet with incredibly heightened senses, passively experienced it all:
The last vestiges of life force within him were activated, consuming energy and causing the wounds all over his body to regenerate, heal, and scab over at a visible rate.

Even the bones damaged by the meteorites began to regenerate, rejoining themselves under the overwhelming pressure of the River of Sin.

After an unknown amount of time, Thales finally stopped feeling the pain, itching, and dizziness.

Instead, weakness and hunger prevailed.

Having survived the ordeal, he lay on the ground, trembling as he extended his left hand, now free of pain, panting as if his shock had subsided.

Thales was pleasantly surprised to find that his legs had fully recovered: his right knee had returned to its original position, and his left shin was no longer painful, although it felt slightly dented to the touch.

As for the boy's left wrist, although it was somewhat stiff and there was still a noticeable resistance when turning it, at least it no longer affected his movements.

Thales stared blankly at his hands and feet.

He recovered.

The special fluctuations from the black sword took effect.

But—Thales thought with unease about the horrific torture he had just endured—if that was a side effect of the treatment, he'd better try to avoid getting hurt.

That feeling was terrifying.

The bewildered boy slowly rolled over from the ground, but then paused for a moment.

Thales clearly felt that he was different.

To be precise, the crime of the River of Prisons is different now.

If the sins of the River of Hell in the past were like the thin mist of the morning, repeatedly and willingly staining Thales' body to satisfy his corresponding desires, then the sins of the River of Hell at this moment are like the tangible frost of a cold autumn, automatically and eagerly covering his flesh and blood without needing to be called upon.

In his daze, Thales suddenly understood Black Sword's words: the moment of life and death is the opportunity for the River of Sin to progress, and it is also the state in which it is most adapted and most powerful.

Just like when it was born.

Thales glanced at the situation on the field, struggled to his feet, and staggered toward the Crossbow of Time—he was extremely weak and starving.

But he can't rest yet.

No.

So when Thales stood up completely, the Meteorite and the Deathrattle could hardly believe their eyes.

The astonishment reached its peak when he raised the Time Crossbow and aimed it at Monty.

“Your Highness,” the Deathraven frowned at the crossbow bolt pointed at him, “what are you doing?”

“As you can see,” Thales said calmly, suppressing the hunger in his stomach, “I am questioning you.”

Nikolai watched the two turn against each other with a puzzled expression, his gaze constantly shifting.

Monty gave a submissive and amiable smile: "Your Highness Thales, perhaps you didn't hear me clearly, but I'm on your side..."

"I know."

Thales interrupted him briefly, his tone heavy and cold.

“I’ve known for a long time that you’re from the Secret Service,” the prince said calmly.
"Otherwise, I wouldn't have been so obedient along the way."

Monty was slightly taken aback.

“Is that so?” The Raven looked at Thales thoughtfully, its tone slowly becoming cautious: “When did you recognize me? Did the Secret Service tell you beforehand?”

He asked the questions very carefully and respectfully.

Thales stared intently at his expression, but his grip on the crossbow never loosened.

The prince shook his head and said softly, "After I woke up for the first time, I told you: You are not carrying me on your back, but two thousand Star Cavalrymen in the desert."

"This is information that the secret service told me."

The Howling Crow's eyes flickered slightly: "So?"

Thales narrowed his eyes: "However, a few days ago, you interrupted the hearing with a message from Qiyuan City, and also Ian's plans—you said that five thousand Star cavalry suddenly appeared on the border."

Monty's pupils dilated instantly!
“So, after seeing that you had no reaction to my words, to the huge difference between two thousand and five thousand,” the Second Prince sighed, “I knew it: you were lying to the lords from the beginning, deliberately exaggerating the threat of the stars, just to get Dragonsky City to hand me over.”

"Because you are a member of the Secret Service, you are aware of this plan to rescue the prince."

Nicolai, standing to the side, chuckled dismissively.

A few days earlier, when Raphael at headquarters repeatedly insisted that the Secret Service had "appropriate means and arrangements" to rescue the prince, Thales initially disagreed.

But now it seems...

Thales stared intently at the subdued Meteorite, his gaze sweeping over Monty, who was equally weak and leaning against a rock. His heart sank. He had finally grasped the Secret Society's rescue plan.

Monty brought news of the unusual movement of the stars and, through the name of Grand Duke Ronnie, urged Dragon Sky City to hand over Thales. The prince would be traveling to Qiyuan City, which is close to the Great Desert, as part of the Qiyuan City delegation.

Having escaped the strict surveillance of the Palace of Heroes, and with the infamous Raven's legitimate personal escort, the Second Prince Da Ke mysteriously "disappeared" en route, while the Star Kingdom welcomed back their royal heir in the vast desert near the City of Prayer.

As for what happens afterward, whether to frame King Chaman for the loss of the prince, incite the escalating infighting within Exter, or use this as a pretext to control Qiyuan City and thus interfere in the internal affairs of the Dragon Kingdom, will depend on King Kessel's mood and preferences.

During this process, Thales need not worry about security issues, and even the Secret Service does not need to show itself, because except for the last step, all the handovers along the way will be conducted through the open diplomatic channels of the Northerners: the Western Expeditionary Army of Dragon Sky City, the Western Return Mission of Prayer City, the Vanguard Outpost under the Command of the Wraven of Death, and the Desert Expeditionary Army of Starry Sky.

Perfect, ingenious, and smooth.

If it weren't for that little "accident" at the end of the Hall of Heroes...

Thales sighed inwardly: In this accident, who should be blamed?

Is it yourself, secretly plotting something? Is it Selma, who tried to protect you but ended up making things worse? Is it King Chaman, with his keen sense of smell? Or is it the Kingdom's secret police, who adheres to the principle of "the less the better"?

Monty was slightly taken aback at first, then took a deep breath, his tone full of praise and admiration: "As expected of Prince Thales, in that case, why did you..."

Thales interrupted him again.

"Not only that."

The prince said coldly, "I secretly told Nikolai about your secret identity the moment you gave the signal and shot the first arrow that hit him."

At that moment, it felt as if everything around us had come to an end.

Monty could no longer hide his shock.

He slowly turned his head, looking incredulously at the Meteorite beside him:
"what?"

But Nikolai just frowned and continued to struggle against the crossbow bolt that pierced him.

“Otherwise,” Thales slowly knelt down, using his knee to brace the horizontally raised crossbow—he was weaker than anyone could imagine and couldn’t hold on for long—“do you really think this dead-faced guy is so clever that he suddenly had a breakthrough and figured out your identity?”

Nicolai snorted coldly and stared at Thales with hostility.

Monty turned his gaze back to Thales, his face filled with disbelief.

"Your Highness," his doubts were almost overflowing, "why?"

Thales smiled slightly and nodded toward Nicolaes:
"Because this is the only way to get the two of you to start fighting to the death."

The Death Raven's breathing began to quicken.

He leaned against the rock, frowned, and took a step forward: "Your Highness, why..."

"Don't move!" Thales shouted sharply, raising his crossbow high.

Monty paused.

The prince brandished his crossbow and said calmly, "Are you sure that after being roasted by the Rising Sun Blade and using the Time Crossbow, which has taken a toll on you, you can dodge the crossbow bolts?"

Monty stared at the weapon that rightfully belonged to him, gritting his teeth in resentment.
"I don't know."

Thales nodded, then shook his head.

“Yes, just like me, I don’t understand,” the prince observed the other person’s situation and slowed down his speech, “when you were taking me on the run, why did you knock me unconscious from time to time?”

Monty's eyes flickered.

"Haha, if that's the case, please forgive me," the Raven said somewhat embarrassedly, "My identity is too valuable; the Secret Service forbids me from revealing it casually, not even to you..."

But Thales still shook his head: "Why east?"

Monty took another bite.

This time, he narrowed his eyes almost imperceptibly: "What?"

Thales sighed softly, “We met in a jungle in the Rocky Hills, but on the first night, you knocked me out.”

"When I woke up, I found that we were in Luotie County, which is under the jurisdiction of Longxiao City. It is located directly east of Luanshiling."

The raven looked astonished.

He said somewhat helplessly, "Please do not doubt my route, Your Highness..."

But Thales chuckled and denied it: "The jungle soil in Rocky Hills is very dry, while the underground rock formations in Ironshire have a different kind of hardness. I can't be wrong."

Monty froze, unnoticed by anyone.

"Underground rock layers?" he asked in confusion.

“On the second night, we arrived at Wilan Territory, which is close to the Sighing Hills. The land there is much more fertile and moist, and the terrain is much more complex,” Thales said, his expression growing increasingly grave. “But it is located southeast of Ironshire—not on the way to the Great Desert.”

Monty fell silent.

Thales scoffed, "I even asked you specifically, are we on the right track?"

"You're still the same as always: knock me out."

Monty took a deep breath, rubbed his face weakly, and smiled helplessly: "But didn't I bring you here, to the edge of the desert?"

Thales shrugged: "That was out of your control—I woke up on the third or fourth day and found ourselves back at Spear City, the border between Dragon Sky City and Qiyuan City, and you told me anxiously that we had just crossed the Twilight Snow River and were being pursued."

The prince shook his head: "You're lying. We didn't come from across the Twilight Snow River. Instead, we circled around to the southeast and came back to Spear City."

“According to the plan, we should have headed straight to the southwest and into the desert, but you led me all the way to the southeast,” Thales gestured to Nicolaen beside him, “It was only under the relentless pursuit of this dead-faced man that you reluctantly released me and were forced to turn around, quickly heading west into the wasteland of Qiyuan City.”

The raven, looking misunderstood, said impatiently, "Your Highness, perhaps you lack experience in field marching, which is why you are somewhat disoriented and have trouble distinguishing directions and geography. But we took a detour precisely to evade our pursuers..."

Thales interrupted him firmly: "You don't have to lie to me—I remember very clearly that when there were no pursuers, you went east, and only when the pursuers closed in did you turn in the right direction."

"This is not the route I remember."

"If Nikolai hadn't been pursuing me so relentlessly, were you planning to lead me all the way east?"

Montyton stayed.

Thales said in a cold voice:

I should be asking you: Why?

Monty remained silent for a long time.

The Meteorite stared intently at him, then glanced at Thales, utterly puzzled.

"Your Highness, I don't understand."

A few seconds later, the Death Crow sighed: "You've been unconscious the whole way, how can you be so sure about all the places you've been?"

Thales smiled.

"Of course I can be sure."

Monty frowned, looking puzzled.

Thales, holding a crossbow, said mysteriously, "You don't know, do you? As the royal family of Shining Star, besides our glittering blood, a generous god has also bestowed upon us a blessing."

Nikolai and Monty were both taken aback again.

what?
A blessing from the gods?
Thales lowered his voice, a confident smile spreading across his face, and stamped his foot: "This is the blessing from that god: As long as one stands on the earth..."

"I will never lose my way."

Thales smirked, and with each breath, he felt the glasses in his arms had a certain weight to them.

“That’s right,” Thales raised an eyebrow, agreeing readily.
"No matter when, I know where I am."

At this moment, both Meteorite and Monty were completely stunned.

They looked at each other, both showing expressions of surprise.

Three seconds passed.

“Impossible,” Monty exclaimed in astonishment, his chest heaving as if unwilling to believe it: “You…”

But just then, before he could finish speaking, the Death Crow suddenly moved!
Monty, whose expression suddenly turned cold, swung his right arm at Thales.

Along with Monty's right arm, three streaks of silver light flashed through the air!
The prince, who was still feeling smug from his joke, suddenly tensed up!
Oops.

He didn't even have time to react!

"call out!"

Three strange silver lights, accompanied by a whistling wind, attacked Thales.

"Watch out!" Nikolai's angry roar reached their ears just in time.

At that moment, the sins of the Hell River surged wildly.

It rushed toward Thales' almost blank mind.

(End of this chapter)