Kingdom Bloodline

Chapter 450 Two Hands

The seemingly evenly matched duel between Sackel and Barney lasted only a few minutes.

The moment Naki finished speaking, Sakel pressed down on him.

Ding!
With a piercing, sharp sound, Barney's sword was caught at an odd angle by Sackel's axe.

Barney's pupils contracted.

“You’re fighting like a Yankee,” Sackel said, his left arm crossing diagonally upwards to catch his opponent’s advancing shield with perfect accuracy.
"But their thoughts remain those of the Star People."

Barney gritted his teeth and withstood the other's strength. The two faced each other in a tense standoff, trembling slightly.

"You should know that Northerners are single-minded..."

In the contest of strength, Sacelle leaned towards Barney, who was standing close by, and shook his head expressionlessly:

"Never hesitate."

Amid everyone's gasps, Sacel suddenly released the axe handle, letting Barney's blade slice across his shoulder, drawing blood!

The next moment, before Barney could even celebrate his victory, he felt his feet slip and, unable to dodge in time, was lifted up by Sackel, who used the momentum to grab him by the waist and abdomen!

Damn!

In his shock and anger, Barney had only this thought in mind before he was slammed to the ground by Sackel.

Boom!
In excruciating pain and dizziness, little Barney knew all was lost. He endured the pain and shouted:
"Nai, Tardin!"

Just then, two sharp gusts of wind approached from behind Sackel!

In a flash, Sacel dodged the two life-saving darts that Nai had shot out of his hand.

When he turned back, he was met with Tardin's merciless blade and sword!

Tardin's sword trajectory was extremely unpredictable, forcing the unarmed Sakel to retreat a few steps and pick up a warhammer left behind by a mercenary.

Barney took the opportunity to stumble to his feet, tumbling awkwardly out of the battle zone, where he was caught by Belletti.

"How is it?" Belletti asked calmly.

“His skills aren’t as sharp as they used to be, and his stamina isn’t either,” Barney said breathlessly, watching Tardin take over from him against Sackel. “And he has a fresh, deep wound on his back, which makes his movements a bit sluggish.”

The prisoners of the royal guard gathered around, found new weapons for little Barney, and listened attentively to the conversation between the vanguard officer and the executioner.

"Very good, so we have a chance?"

Samir touched his sword and asked, squinting.

As Thales watched their brief exchange, he suddenly realized it resembled a small military meeting during wartime.

Barney glanced at his colleagues and remained silent.

A few seconds later, amidst the disappointed looks of the crowd, he shook his head: "I don't think so."

"His instincts and consciousness remain clear."

"Weaknesses can be turned into strengths at any time."

Barney took the sword and shield from Bree, coughed loudly, and said, "I even suspect that he deliberately let me see the wound on his back to lure me into attacking his side. And then, as you all saw, if I hadn't attacked with that sword, maybe it wouldn't have been so quick..."

Everyone tensed up.

On the other side, Sacel and Tardin moved faster and faster, the latter's attacks were strange and urgent, the sound of weapons clashing was like the ringing of wind chimes.

"Then what do we do?" Belletti's expression remained unchanged, like an unmoving hill.

Barney watched Tardin's movements intently.

“Taldin’s moves are cunning; he can stall for time, but…”

He didn't speak again, but Thales could sense that the guards' morale had plummeted.

Barney shook his head and stood up, his eyes sharpening.
"I'll go and replace him in a bit. This time, there will be no probing. I will kill him at any cost."

Regardless of the cost...

Upon hearing this, Belletti and the others' expressions darkened, and Samir also frowned.

“Barney…” Naki hesitated, as if he wanted to say something but stopped himself.

But Barney Jr.'s expression remained resolute, giving no one a chance to refute him.

“More importantly, I will force him to give way, and you can take the prince and run uphill,” he said, turning to Thales, making the boy's heart tighten.
"Until we escape the prison of bones and reach the surface."

The expressions on everyone's faces immediately varied:

Samir frowned and crossed his arms, Belletti remained silent, Brie blushed and stammered, while Naki and Cannon exchanged a glance, their spirits low.

Looking at them, Thales had a bad feeling.

“Very well, let’s run away.” Samir shook his head sarcastically.

These words were barely audible amidst the sounds of Sacel and Tardin's fierce battle, but to the onlookers, they carried immense weight.

Barney ignored Samir's taunts.

He was silent for a moment, then spoke again:
"If Nai and I don't succeed, and he catches up with you..."

He calmly surveyed everyone and said slowly:

"The next ones to go up in order are Samir, Cannon, then Brie, Naki, and finally Belletti..."

Upon hearing this, Thales' heart sank.

Bump it up...

They're going to...

“Each opponent has a different fighting style, and the differences between replacements are significant. It will take Sacel time to adapt, which will allow the fight to drag on longer…”

Samir snorted coldly:
"how long?"

Barney suddenly turned around:

"For as long as possible!"

He coldly interrupted Samir: "Do you understand, Second Standard-Bearer? Or are you not happy with being first?"

Samir gave a soft hum and fell silent.

Thales noticed that Barney Jr. no longer referred to Samir as a "coward".

Looking at these people with branded faces, ragged and dirty, yet with serious expressions, the boy couldn't help but speak:
"Actually, we can also lend a hand..."

But Barney refused him without hesitation.

“No, you must escape, Your Highness,” Barney said, putting his hand on Thales’ shoulder, his eyes slightly trembling. “Escape to the Baki camp and use your identity to find the army.”

Thales frowned.

Barney turned solemnly to Sackel, who was locked in fierce combat:
"Let them use the iron hooves of their cavalry and their magic lances to seek justice and clear their names."

The guards began to breathe heavily.

Naki opened his mouth, as if to say something but then stopped.

Thales couldn't hold back any longer. He shook off the rope that was pulling him back and took a step forward:
"Are you really planning to die here?"

Barney paused slightly.

"die?"

"of course not."

He turned around, glanced at the dim scene of the bone prison, and let out a long sigh with a complex expression:

"Only today can we truly say we're 'alive' here."

The tone was desolate.

Thales was immediately taken aback.

Upon hearing this, the guards, who had initially been slightly agitated, fell silent as if they had been rendered speechless.

“And I am honored to fight alongside you, Guards,” Barney said softly, his back to them, gripping his sword hilt against his heart.
"May the legacy endure and the empire last forever."

There was silence.

Behind Barney, Belletti raised her fist expressionlessly and gently pounded it against her chest.

Except for Samir, all the guards raised their fists and lightly pounded their chests.

Looking at them, Thales felt a tightness in his chest.

Before Thales could recover from his slight disappointment, Barney burst into speed and dashed toward the battlefield!
"Taldin!"

He roared!
Upon hearing this, Tardin, who was already gradually losing ground, retreated without hesitation, tumbling off the battlefield in an unseemly manner.

Sacelle frowned, turned around, and rushed to meet Barney again.

"Come, let's end this, Watchmen!"

clang!
As weapons clashed, Barney's expression turned ferocious.

This time, his movements were significantly more dangerous than before, characterized by wide, sweeping motions, showing no regard for his own safety!

This made Sacel shudder, and that sense of danger returned to his heart.

He knew that this time, his opponent was serious.

"From now on, I will take over command of the vanguard officer."

On the other side, just as Naki helped the sweaty Tardin back down, Belletti decisively addressed the crowd:
“Barney will create an opportunity for us to break through, so we'll seize the moment and rush up the stairs. Don't worry about anything else, just go all out upwards. If Sacel stops one of them…”

He glanced at everyone, and the answer was self-evident.

The guards glanced at Sacel in the middle of the field and then sprang into action.

Thales was grabbed by the arm by Belletti and pulled forward.

He felt a pang of sadness watching Barney, who had almost given up on defense and was charging at Sackel with a do-or-die spirit, and Nye, who was hovering nearby, his eyes glued to the darts.

Is there...is there a better way?
But at that moment, another arm suddenly appeared and pressed down hard on Belletti's shoulder!

To stop him and Thales from moving forward.

Thales was startled, and the others were also taken aback.

Belletti frowned, looking at the person who had stopped him with a puzzled expression:

"Samir, you—"

“If we follow Barney’s lead, we’ll all die,” Samir said coldly.

He turned to Thales, his eyes flashing coldly:
"Including him."

Samir's warning look sent a chill down Thales' spine.

Belletti paused for a moment, glanced at Barney who was attacking like a madman, and then his anger was evident:

"That's the best way, and it's also the vanguard officer's order..."

But before he could finish speaking, Samir abruptly interrupted him:

"We have to climb eighteen stories to get to the ground!"

Samir pointed at Sakel and said decisively:
"And what about the six of us left? Even if we all fight like madmen, can we hold him off for even six minutes?"

Belletti was taken aback.

“You and he have both been penal officers, Belletti. Many of the special prisoners were escorted here from the capital by you—he knows the terrain here well and will catch up sooner or later.”

"That's not a good idea. Use your senses. We can't escape."

Samir looked at everyone seriously:

We must find another way out.

Can't escape.

Belletti fell silent.

He knew that what the other person was saying was true.

The others also tensed up.

Find another way out.

Thales' heart skipped a beat.

Belletti, taciturn yet strong-willed, watched Samir's behavior with displeasure and was about to lash out when Thales suddenly spoke up:
"You mean, you have an idea?"

Samir nodded and pointed to the stone steps:

“Go down to the bottom, I know a way, a mysterious exit… Sacel doesn’t know, it may be our only chance of survival.”

Thales' eyes lit up:
"You mean, another exit from the Prison of Bones? Built by the mages of the Alchemy Tower?"

The Alchemy Tower.

Belletti frowned and exchanged a glance with Tardin.

Samir turned to the other prisoners, his tone slightly impatient:

"Believe me, that was our—the Swords of Calamity's—originally prepared escape route. Our leader is meticulous and reliable; if he says it exists, then it must be true."

Belletti looked at him suspiciously:
"And where is your leader...?"

Semilton once.

He looked at Thales with a complicated expression:
"ask him."

Thales raised an eyebrow and subconsciously slung the sword behind his back.

He forced a smile and changed the subject: "That... it should be true. The Shadow Shield and they fought over this matter."

"Are you sure that exit route will work?"

Samir, panting, ignored the displeased looks from those around him:
"Ricky has found the Black Cell, hasn't he?"

Even if it doesn't work out, and you get caught, would you rather die climbing the stairs or going down them? Which would you choose?

Thales frowned, his gaze passing over the two fighting figures and looking at the steps behind them.

up……

down……

On the battlefield, Barney's reckless attack struck Sackel's ribs, but he was hit in the ribs by Sackel's knee, and the two of them groaned and staggered backward.

“I know your plans,” Sacel glanced at the crowd in the distance, then looked at the stone steps behind him:
"That won't work."

Opposite him, Barney trembled as he held up his shield, feeling the numbness in his hands and feet.

Oops.

This battle was more difficult than he had imagined.

Sacelle knew his determination, so he stood in front of the stone steps, not giving them any chance, preparing to use the safest and least strenuous method...

Grind him down.

“As long as I kill you,” Barney said through gritted teeth.
"It will work." We must... seize the opportunity.

He pounced again!
On the other side, Belletti remained silent for a moment, but still shook her head:

“Barney is doing everything he can to give us a chance. The path he’s chosen may be bleak, but I won’t risk the prince’s life for you…”

Samir stepped forward, grabbed Belletti's shoulder, and gritted his teeth, saying:

"To knowingly obey a death order and still stubbornly press forward is foolish!"

Belletti's eyes blazed with fury as she shoved Samir aside!
“Punishment Officer Belletti,” Thales spoke up as the two were about to fight.
“Maybe it’s worth a try—he’s right, we can’t escape.”

Belletti's expression changed:
"Your Highness!"

But Thales shook his head and gripped his longsword tightly.

"I am releasing you today in the name of Canxing."

“Rather than watching you all go to your deaths,” Thales gazed into the distance, his eyes deep and unfathomable.
"I'd rather take the risk."

His words startled everyone present, even Belletti, who was eager to refute him, paused in his tracks.

Quick Rope sighed and shrugged:

"Ah, this is him."

The guards fell silent.

At that moment, Barney roared and crashed into Sackel, and the two rolled into a heap!
"Wherever we're going, we have to go,"

Tardin, who had been watching the battle intently, gripped his sword tightly, sensing something:
"Now is the time when Barney's offensive is at its strongest, and Sackel may not be able to stop us."

Belletti stared, glancing at Samir, then at Thales, seemingly hesitant.

Naki cautiously interjected:
“I think Your Highness makes a lot of sense.”

"And... I hate climbing stairs, and I hate being chased up stairs even more."

Belletti's brow furrowed more and more.

Thales ignored the hesitant guards and turned to the two men fighting, his face tense.

"If we go down, is there any chance we can save Barney and Nai?"

Belletti pursed her lips, her expression one of reluctance:

“Your Highness, but... they were prepared to sacrifice themselves here.”

Thales clenched his fist.

Samir snorted coldly:
“Sakel is not a hound that will obediently run away when you throw a frisbee.”

He watched the battle escalate and said in a cold voice:

“Someone has to keep him in check—before he tears us to pieces.”

Restrain him...

Thales stared at Sacel, his brows furrowed deeply.

"You just said that the key to the Chaos Army lies in superhuman perception, observation, and attention?"

Belletti sighed:
"Yes. But Your Highness, please reconsider..."

However, the boy ignored him and turned to the others, repeating to himself:
"Perception, observation..."

Thales suddenly looked up and scanned the crowd:

"Is Saxeel invincible?"

"Is there no one who can defeat him? Defeat the Knight of Punishment?"

The prisoners in the guard looked at each other in bewilderment.

Many are clearly still struggling with the conflict between Samir and Belletti, between orders and risks.

"some."

Just then, Naki spoke up quietly:

"Sakel's breakout match is far from over."

Follow-up?

Thales squinted.

Naki shrugged: "It was still Barney who said it..."

"When young Sakel had knocked down forty opponents and made the northerners pale with fear, that old man arrived."

Thales said:
"Uncle...what uncle?"

The prisoners in the guard looked at each other.

Naki looked up and glanced at Sackel, who was locked in a stalemate with Barney:

"That was Sakel's only defeat in his life, his most cherished enemy, and a deep-seated shame in his heart—he challenged him twice in the decades that followed, but failed to win either time."

Telston was immediately startled.

The only defeat?
Naki looked at the composed-looking Sacel in the distance and sighed:
“It wasn’t just because of the defeat, but also because of the enemy’s skill, lineage, and identity—in short, everything about that uncle made Sakel feel extremely ashamed and uncomfortable.”

The enemy I care about most.

Thales rolled his eyes.

"Most importantly, before they fought, in front of everyone..."

Before Naki could finish speaking, he spoke with a touch of melancholy and regret, like a bard:
"That legendary uncle said this to the hot-blooded young Saxeel..."

In a word...

As Thales listened to Naki's words, his pupils slowly contracted.

A few seconds later, Barney struggled to withstand Sackel's counterattack and stumbled back a few steps.

He had just managed to inflict a sword wound on Sacel, but he was unable to force his unmoved opponent to leave his position.

Damn it, if this continues, they won't find a way to break through...

At this moment.

"Kaslan Rumba!"

A boy's voice rang out, high-pitched and shrill, echoing through the dungeon.

Do you remember him?

Little Barney, who was deep in thought, paused for a moment.

Upon hearing that name, Sacel, who was confronting him, trembled!
A face that had never faded appeared vividly before his eyes.

The Executioner glanced at Barney, who was panting, then turned back expressionlessly to look at Thales, who was standing in front of the guards.

Belletti's expression was extremely tense, and Samir was completely focused.

But none of that compares to what Thales said next.

Thales stared at Sacel and said softly, "Kaslan is dead, killed by his apprentice."

Sacel's eyes slowly widened.

Kaslan.

Kaslan Rumba...

The Knight of Punishment's heartbeat gradually quickened.

"Dead...dead?" he asked, seemingly oblivious.

"Yes, the Earthshaker Kaslan is dead."

Thales took a deep breath and slowly stepped forward:
"But the one who defeated him—the invincible, unrivaled strongest man in the Western Continent, the 'Meteorite' Serene Nikolai of the White Blade Guard..."

Sacel stared silently at Thales, his expression gradually becoming bewildered.

It felt like stepping back in time.

Thales exhaled, trying to calm his increasingly rapid heartbeat:
"He has not forgotten you, nor has he forgotten his teacher's rival."

"While you were in prison, he sent a message to the royal guard through someone."

Thales stared intently at the bewildered Sacelle and gritted his teeth, saying:
"A phrase you're very familiar with."

As he expected, he saw Sakel's eyebrows slowly furrow.

One sentence...

It looks very familiar...

话？
Thales took a deep breath and straightened his chest.

Imagine the old man who invited him to drink in the tavern six years ago, and imagine the latter's bold, majestic, and imposing appearance.

"Come on, you little brat from the South."

Thales remained calm and composed, casually placing his hands behind his back, and said in a gruff, disdainful voice:

"I can let you use... both hands."

Let me give you... both hands.

For a moment, it was as if time stood still.

Sacel stared blankly at Thales, motionless, as if he had lost consciousness.

Southern kid...

"Do not……"

He murmured, trembling.

A scene from many years ago slowly materialized before his eyes.

Let you use both hands...

"Do not……"

Sacel lowered his head, slowly hunching his shoulders, the veins in his neck bulging, and the muscles in his arms taking shape.

"Do not……"

Looking at the knight of punishment, who was bowing his head and groaning, Thales swallowed hard.

An unprecedented chill rose from the soles of my feet.

The sins of the River of Hell roared uneasily in his veins.

Immediately afterwards, a heart-wrenching roar exploded in the dungeon!
"No!"

Before Thales could react, Sacel roared furiously and suddenly sprang up, charging towards him like a landslide and a tsunami!
“Kaslan—”

Amazing momentum!

Thales felt a chill run down his spine. Just as his guards were about to move, two gusts of wind blew from behind Sacel.

But the Executioner Knight, with his bloodshot eyes like a wild beast, seemed to have eyes in the back of his head. His warhammer flew behind him as if by accident, and Little Barney's deadly longsword was deflected and collided with the dart that Nai shot from the other side!

Only a scar remained on his back.

At that moment, all he could see was that figure in front of him.

The same person who, just like many years ago, stood with his hands behind his back, chest puffed out, and mocked him with disdain.

That damn...

Yankees!
I'll give you both hands.

Two hands!
How dare you...

How dare!
"—Rumba!"

tread!
Sacel roared, his expression ferocious and his charge unstoppable!

At that moment, Thales felt the endless boiling of the River of Hell's sins, gritted his teeth, and made up his mind.

The next second, he closed his eyes and turned around.

Turning away from the Knight of Punishment.

Little Barney, who was chasing after Sackel, panicked and exchanged a glance with Nai, who was also desperately chasing after him.

No.

Do not!
But before he could shout it out, something suddenly slipped from Thales's hand, which was behind his back.

pat.

It was a sphere.

It fell to the ground and bounced.

Everyone was stunned.

Immediately afterwards, the sphere trembled slightly between Thales and Sackel, making a buzzing sound.

Sacel regained his composure instantly and then frowned.

That is?

On the ground, the strange metal sphere bounced freely.

Like innocent, happy children, unaware of danger.

"I hate this"—that was Sackel's last thought.

The next moment, Thales felt an unparalleled impact coming from his back!

"call--"

Devour his entire body!
"boom!"

In that instant, a deafening roar erupted from the ground!
The strange alchemical orb erupted like a mountain collapsing and the earth splitting, releasing terrifying energy and bursting forth with endless light!

Dazzling.

Dazzling.

gorgeous.

It completely swallowed up this small dungeon...

Everyone.

——End of the book——

The moment the story was finished, Wujian felt as if a huge weight had been lifted from his heart, and he breathed a sigh of relief.

Many thanks to everyone for your tireless support these past few days, which is why "The Fallen Schoolgirl" has been able to reach where it is today.

P.S. Don't worry about the daily update issue anymore. 3000 words per chapter, two days' worth of content, combined and posted together, isn't that still a daily update? Hope remains, and the battle against the weekly update issue will never end (clutching the wound inflicted by the weekly update issue, giving a weak laugh)!
I don't know what to name my new book (cough cough...)
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(End of this chapter)