Kingdom Bloodline

Chapter 466 Rebirth (Part 2)

Just now.

"Hahahahaha..."

A long, low, desolate laugh, almost mournful, rang out.

All eyes turned to them.

Sacel raised his head, took a step forward, and entered the range of the firelight.

But at that moment, everyone was stunned.

Then came the former Watchman of the Royal Guard, the fearsome Knight of Punishment, Sacelle, who chuckled softly as he staggered toward them.

But that's far from the reason they were surprised.

It's unclear when exactly, but the usually tough and unyielding Sackel was already in tears.

“You are very clever, Your Highness,” Sacel’s voice was choked and hoarse, his chest trembling, his bloodshot eyes fixed on Thales:
"Even too smart."

He slowly raised the axe blade.

This made the remaining people instinctively take precautions.

“You know that in this gloomy dungeon, once I’ve got my eye on you, there’s no chance of survival. So you’ve given up force, stopped running away, and stopped using your forbidden power. Instead, you’ve resorted to political maneuvering.”

Thales was slightly surprised.

Sacel's voice was hoarse, filled with despair and sorrow, like that of a wounded soldier who had lost his last hope.

“You know my relationship with these people, so you deliberately released them to confront me, to observe and gather intelligence, and to look for opportunities while lying in wait and preparing.”

He scanned each guard member one by one, his eyes filled with pain and conflicting emotions.

"From the moment we met until now, you have appeared to be fleeing in a sorry state, weak and helpless, but in reality, you have been relentlessly pressing forward with a well-thought-out plan."

“From Samir, Barney to Naki, your subtle probing and instigation have brought you closer and closer to the truth of what happened back then—until you found my weakness, the things I care about.”

As he spoke, Sakel looked around and gave a bitter laugh through his tears.

“I…” Thales opened his mouth to speak, but found himself unable to utter a word.

Bang!

There was a crisp sound.

Sacel's axe blade fell to the ground.

At this moment, under the surprised gazes of everyone, Sacel finally showed signs of unusual fatigue and aging.

Just like before, he was still alone, standing in opposition to everyone else.

One against eight.

but now……

Sacel raised his eyes.

But now...

The multiple figures before him gradually blurred, eventually focusing on the young and disheveled yet inexplicably composed figure at the very front.

Sacel looked at Thales quietly, a bitter and wistful smile appearing on his face through his tears.

I don't know when it started...

It's become one-on-one now.

Sacel sighed inwardly and turned his gaze away from his former colleague.

They are no longer criminals who have been imprisoned for a long time or are on the run in fear.

Instead, it has become the proudest existence once again.

The Star Kingdom...

High Royal Guard
At this moment, Sacel didn't know why he couldn't hold back the tears in his eyes, nor why he couldn't fill the emptiness in his heart.

He just stared blankly at Thales in front of him.

If he weren't such a taboo existence...

That's good.

Sacel's figure swayed in the air, but he managed to steady himself.

"You relentlessly and ruthlessly demand the truth, pushing them one by one to the brink, revealing their true nature, and uncovering the details most valuable to you."

Sacel became increasingly anxious as he spoke, his expression growing heavier and more desperate.

"Then, like a savior, you use your special status as a star to forgive them and relieve them of their burdens."

"more importantly……"

"You became their pillar of support, completely binding yourself to them."

Thales felt bitter.

He could only force himself not to look at the expressions of the people around him.

Sacel took a deep breath and stared desperately at Thales, whose expression was now complex:

"To them, you are no longer just a prince they've just met."

The Knight of Punishment continued dejectedly:

“You are the funeral director of Naki and Nai, the pardoner of criminals, the comforter of prisoners, the Prince of Shining Star recognized by them, and the noble one who is willing to risk his life to clear up the misunderstanding for me.”

“If I kill you, it will be the same as destroying them entirely—both physically and mentally.”

Sacel covered his tears, and with a bitter smile, he trembled uncontrollably:

"But all of this seems so logical and without any flaws—hahaha."

Thales sighed:

“Sakel…”

But the Knight of Punishment did not give him a chance to speak.

“Just now, when I was still a villain, I could have beaten them to a pulp without hesitation, and then killed you.”

Sacel lowered his arm, speaking with a fierce tone that made the others tense.

"I can bear their hatred as the villain afterward."

"I can live like that, I can die like that, I've lived like that for eighteen years!"

Eighteen years!

Sakel growled in a low voice.

His swaying body seemed unable to support him any longer, and he fell backward against the wall.

A somber silence fell over the dungeon.

Sacel's expression slowly darkened.

"But those words you just said, those words you used to defend me, weren't meant for me."

"You're saying this to them."

Sackel looked up at each of his colleagues.

For some reason, those who were met with his gaze felt an indescribable stinging sensation.

“You have cleansed my sins, you have made them respect me again, and more importantly, you have turned those feelings into weapons against me.”

The Knight of Punishment's voice grew increasingly bitter, sounding almost like a plea.

"Because you know, from this moment on, when I see on their faces no longer hatred for traitors, but rather apology and respect for their superiors..."

Sacel leaned against the wall, pointed to his chest, then to his head, his breathing becoming intermittent.

"And you understand, that is my greatest weakness."

Sakel stared sadly at the axe blade at his feet, looked up to the sky, and let out a painful roar from his throat.

"You know, facing people like them... I just can't do it anymore..."

Thales stared blankly at the other person.

Speechless.

"But why?"

The dying knight of punishment took a deep breath, as if regaining his strength:

"If you don't expose all of this, if you don't pursue the truth..."

"Perhaps..."

At that moment, Sackel looked at the body on the ground, then at Barney, his face filled with endless sorrow:

"Perhaps Naki and Nai are still alive and breathing."

"As for Barney, he will only hate me, not his father, and not the former king."

Sakel closed his eyes.

Barney turned his head away, trying his best not to look at him.

Cannon took a painful breath and dropped his weapon as well.

The atmosphere became quite unpleasant.

Thales felt an unprecedented pressure on his chest, as if he was about to explode if he didn't say something soon.

"I'm sorry, about Naki and Nai, I..."

But the boy was interrupted again after he finished speaking.

Sacel clutched his forehead tightly with one hand, his face contorted in pain.

"I don't know, I really don't know, what you said to them, what comforted them, including what you said to me when you were willing to reveal your identity, even your selfless self-disclosure, were they the heartfelt truth, or were they hypocritical with ulterior motives?"

"Are we, to you, truly honest and open people, or merely pawns to be used?"

"Are you trying to save them, or are you trying to save yourself?"

Thales was stunned.

Sincerity or hypocrisy?
Living people, or chess pieces?
Save others, save yourself?
Thales was lost in thought for a moment.

"Perhaps," the boy thought, a sense of inexplicable melancholy creeping over him.

"Perhaps a little bit of both."

Sacel's breathing became increasingly labored.

It was as if he had relapsed.

"Hahaha, lurking in the shadows, probing weaknesses, and finally striking the vitals for a fatal blow," the Punisher Knight's laughter grew faster and faster.

"The most terrifying thing is that I already know your methods, yet I'm still powerless to retaliate!"

Sacel's voice was filled with sorrow.

"I don't have Lord Hansen's talent; I can't even tell whether your words are sincere or not."

sincere.

pretend?

Thales looked at him with a conflicted expression.

He tried to speak several times, but in the end could only say dejectedly:

“A long time ago, I heard a saying from a one-eyed guy.”

Thales sighed deeply:

"If it benefits the stars, what does it matter whether it's genuine or not?"

Sacel was slightly startled and paused for a few seconds.

But soon, his tear-streaked face contorted in pain.

"Beneficial to the stars?"

"Stars...stars...hahahaha..."

Sakel was talking to himself almost maniacally.

Thales was silent for a moment, then spoke:

"Actually, I didn't think that much about it, I just felt..."

"feel……"

Thales opened his mouth, but found himself unable to speak.

at this time.

“You bright stars, aren’t you all the same?” Sacel lowered his hand and said bitterly with tears in his eyes.

Thales was stunned:
"us?"

Sacel let out another eerie chuckle:

"He was like that back then."

“He looked at me with the same sincerity and calmness as you, revealing the truth without any concealment, admitting his purpose without hesitation, even admitting his hypocrisy, his apology, and his ‘having no choice’.”

This time, the Knight of Punishment stared intently in one direction and slowly extended his finger.

“Look, he’s sitting there, smiling sincerely and innocently, letting me choose.”

"Just like this."

Thales looked in the direction he was pointing.

But all they saw was a dark void.

He turned around with concern and found the guards around him looking at the deranged Sacelle with sorrowful expressions and grief in their eyes.

"By fusing sincerity and hypocrisy together, we can carve out a chessboard that others cannot but tread..."

At this moment, Sakel looked like a withered old man, no longer possessing the warrior's demeanor he once had.

This caused Thales a pang of pain.

Sacel's voice trailed off, carrying a heartbreaking rhythm: "I hate you, but I hate even more that I don't hate you, I hate even more that I can't hate you..."

“Brilliant Star…”

"You are all equally cruel."

cruel.

Thales closed his eyes tightly.

"I'm sorry," he said with difficulty.

The next moment, the Executioner Knight suddenly roared!

"what!"

Sakel knelt on the ground in agony, clutching his forehead.

"Your Majesty, Your Highness!"

"Why!"

The roar was hoarse, yet it sounded all the more heart-wrenching.

Thales tried to step forward, but was pulled back by Belletti from behind.

Barney shook his head at him.

Sacel's wailing lasted for a few seconds before subsiding.

But the next second, he looked at Thales with a sorrowful expression.

"Walk."

This time, Sacel's words were simple.

"Let's go, Your Highness, let's leave."

He covered his head, crouched down in front of the wall, and spoke in an almost pleading tone.

"Never, never come back here again."

"Just pretend you... have never... seen me."

Thales stared blankly at the knight of punishment.

He is safe.

but……

This is not what he wants.

He looked at Sackel, who was on the verge of collapse and had been hysterical just moments before, and felt a pang of sadness.

No.

Thales took a deep breath and clenched his fist:
“You…you can come with us.”

"Leaving the prison of bones may not allow me to return to the capital openly, but at least..."

But unexpectedly, Sakel suddenly sprang up and roared out of nowhere!

"go!"

Thales was startled until Belletti pressed down on his shoulder.

Sacel slumped back to his original spot, his voice low and almost pleading.

"Go before I lose control..."

"I beg you."

"Brilliant Star".

Thales looked at him and remained silent for several seconds until Barney behind him coughed lightly.

"I understand."

Thales sighed, turned around, and walked away.

ended.

He said this to himself.

But for some reason, he felt no joy.

Only a faint sadness remained.

"Wait a minute."

Everyone turned their gaze away.

Samir looked in Sakel's direction and called out loudly:
"Sakel, do you intend to stay in the Prison of Bones and rot here for the rest of your life?"

The Knight of Punishment did not answer.

Samir frowned.

"Fine, if you like it here, then fend for yourself."

“But before that, you have to tell me,” Samir gritted his teeth, “who is it?”

"Who exactly was that Canxing who attempted to usurp the throne eighteen years ago?"

This sensitive issue has put everyone on edge once again.

But Sacel just gave a faint, absent-minded laugh and shook his head nervously.

"It doesn't matter anymore."

"It's no longer...important."

Samir's brow furrowed more and more, clearly unwilling to give up, and he took a step forward.

"you--"

But another hand held him down.

“He’s right, Samir.”

Barney exhaled, his tone filled with disgust for the past and the lies:
"No matter who did it... the result cannot be changed."

Samir remained silent for a moment.

Finally, he angrily shook off Barney's arm and stopped looking at Sackel.

“Very well, then we’ll…” Barney sighed.

But just as everyone breathed a sigh of relief, Thales let out a long breath, as if he had made up his mind, and suddenly turned around and walked back!

He resolutely walked towards Sacelle again.

Barney, who only had one arm left, couldn't catch it in time and his expression changed instantly.

"Your Highness!" Belletti instinctively tried to stop Thales.

But Thales calmly raised a hand, stopping everyone in their tracks.

"I know what I'm doing."

The boy exhaled and slowly walked to Sakel, who was clutching his head, trembling, and muttering to himself, and squatted down.

“You know, knight,” Thales gave a friendly yet sorrowful smile:

"There was a period of the darkest, most desperate time in my journey."

Sacel's trembling stopped.

He lowered his arm and stared blankly and bewildered at the boy.

"At that time, there was a lonely but selfless unsung hero who gave me the most generous and sincere blessings."

The next moment, Thales did something that shocked everyone.

He reached out and gently embraced Sacel's head.

“And now, in the name of Thales the Star,” Thales spoke in his calmest and gentlest voice, uttering his most sincere words:
"I convey his blessings to you."

blessing.

Sacel seemed stunned, staring at Thales without moving.

Thales leaned forward and touched the knight's forehead. "May darkness cleanse your soul, may the torch guide your way."

Thales's voice was hoarse, yet strangely hollow, which unconsciously eased the anxiety of those watching.

“The Lonely Watchman, Sacelle.”

Thales closed his eyes and pressed his forehead against the other person's hideous brand:

May you... never lose your way.

The moment he was touched, Sacel trembled slightly.

Thales was completely calm.

After doing all this, he had a feeling that he had become a different person.

but……

"what!"

He suddenly heard the people behind him exclaim in unison.

But Thales ignored them. He knew they were worried, but he also knew he was safe now.

"This is……"

However, from an angle that Thales couldn't see, the rope gaped open.

He looked at the faint silver light emanating from Thales and took a step back in surprise, bumping into Tardin!
Barney stared in astonishment at the extraordinary light, exchanging glances with Belletti, speechless with shock.

Several seconds later, a puzzled Thales opened his eyes and stood up.

He then realized that, without him noticing, all the guards behind him were staring at him with wide eyes.

Strange.

Thales was puzzled.

The boy cast a questioning look at the person who seemed frozen in place: "What's wrong?"

"Um, what you just did..."

Quick Rope exaggeratedly covered his mouth, babbling incoherently, pointing at Thales's arm and waving it incessantly: "Oh my god, the bright moon, the harvest, the sea, the desert god..."

"Could this be... the legend, the Imperial Family, that... gold, shining, glittering, sparkling—"

The next second, Tardin covered his mouth from behind.

"It's nothing, Your Highness."

Tardin said respectfully:
"He was just a little excited."

Under Tardin's merciless grip, the almost-crying Quick Rope immediately nodded in agreement.

Thales shook his head, puzzled.

But he knew it wasn't the time to pursue the matter further.

He turned his head wearily, covered in wounds, and saw Sakel sitting there, staring at him in disbelief, silent.

But at least...

Thales thought silently:
The crisis was resolved.

Thales stared at him for a moment, then finally sighed.

The prince strode toward the others, with Barney and Belletti making way for him, followed by Samir, Tardin, Cannon, and Brie.

Quick Rope stood there dumbfounded, until Tardin yanked him away.

Thales staggered along the path they had respectfully cleared for him, and suddenly had the illusion of walking in the Palace of Rejuvenation.

He laughed, almost self-deprecatingly.

For some reason, he felt that these people's attitudes were different.

There was more respect than when we first met, but less warmth than after I had forgiven and comforted them.

Thales didn't think too much about it. He walked through the passage cleared by the people and went to Naki and Nai's bodies.

"What are your plans regarding the disposal of their remains?"

Barney paused for a moment, his face filled with sorrow.

“Someday,” he said carefully in a soft voice:

"We will come back and retrieve everyone's remains."

Thales nodded.

These people's bloody years.

That's it for now.

The boy sighed, endured the back pain, bent down, and picked up the green crystal "key" from the ground.

The key to the prison of bones.

“So,” Thales grimaced, rubbing his lower back, which he thought was a muscle strain, and looked at the group of people in front of him:
"Ready to get out of prison?"

Everyone looked at Barney.

Barney was silent for a moment before turning his gaze away from the body on the ground.

He silently picked up the longsword, walked to Belletti's side, and let the latter support his body.

Cannon made one last adjustment to Naki and Nai's remains, sobbing as he nodded through gritted teeth.

Brie kissed the deceased's forehead and stood up.

Tardin loosened the rope and straightened his swords.

Quick Rope flashed his white teeth, holding the Time Crossbow, and gave Thales an exaggerated "You're awesome" gesture.

Samir silently picked up the silver-bladed longsword left behind by Thales from the ground and walked behind the group.

The wounded and battered soldiers silently assembled.

Barney looked around, then gave a soft hum and nodded to Thales:

"at any time."

Thales raised the corner of his mouth, his gaze suddenly sharpening.

"Oh, one last thing."

"While you're all still here..."

The prince turned around, stroking the key in his hand, and looked thoughtfully at each of the disheveled and wounded guards:
"Seranjelana".

Do you recognize this name?

Everyone was stunned.

Thales scanned the expressions on everyone's faces.

He did not find anything unusual.

The boy frowned and pressed for an answer:

"I mean, eighteen years ago, especially before the Bloody Year?"

The others looked at each other, all of them utterly astonished.

Finally, Belletti asked tentatively, with a hint of doubt, "Serlan...na?"

"Who is that?"

Looking at their expressions, Thales could only sigh in disappointment.

“My mother,” he shook his head, finally abandoning his attempt to find a witness from years ago:
"It is said so."

The group stared at each other in astonishment.

"It's okay, I was just trying to ask."

"But since you don't know..."

Without any hesitation, Thales walked straight to Samir, raised the key in his hand, and with the most complex and strange emotions, took one last look at the ancient yet lonely dark dungeon: "Come, find your secret exit."

"We've had enough of this dilapidated dungeon."

Samir reached out his hand, but did not immediately take the key.

Are you sure you want to go out?

Thales was slightly taken aback:
"What do you mean?"

Samir shook his head:

"I don't know your capabilities, but if the disaster is outside and leaks out through people like us..."

Samir's eyes turned cold:
"Whether you are a prince or not, there are plenty of people who want you dead."

"Semir!"

Belletti glanced at Sacel, who was sitting in the shadows on the other side, and said sternly, "Don't forget, His Highness saved your life... and all of our lives."

Samir gave a soft snort.

Thales looked at him, then at the people around him.

In their eyes, he saw not only respect for the prince, but also fear and awe of the unknown.

Of course, there is only one exception: a heartless person.

Thales smiled.

"Yes, if my identity is exposed, there are plenty of people who want me dead."

The prince said calmly, "But you don't want it."

"This is enough."

For a moment, Samir was stunned.

His gaze lingered on Thales for a long time.

Several pairs of eyes flickered slightly.

Thales scoffed and shook the key in his hand.

"And we really should go."

Samir stared at the key in Thales' hand, then at him, lost in thought.

"Yes."

"time to go."

Samir nodded coldly, but withdrew his hand, ignoring the key.

Under Thales's questioning gaze, Samir took ten steps, walked to an inconspicuous corner, first pried open a floor tile with his longsword, then bent down and reached in to pull something out of it.

"Samir? The key?"

Just when everyone was puzzled, a change occurred.

Rumble…

The slight tremors from the ground and the clouds of dust falling from above caused Thales and his men to change color drastically!
"What is this—"

Before Barney could finish speaking, Thales, who was covering his mouth and nose, discovered the key point.

Amidst the falling dust, a dark hole suddenly appeared where the ceiling met the wall directly in front of them!

Rumble…

Amidst the astonishment and confusion of the crowd, the tremors continued, and the area of ​​the hole above their heads continued to expand.

It looked as if the wall tiles connected to the ceiling were receding one by one, slowly revealing the spacious rectangular opening.

Even more amazingly, the wall bricks seemed to have agreed to recede at different distances from top to bottom. When they reached the bottom, they formed a stone staircase that led from the ground to the ceiling, a width of eight or nine people, leading to that dark, unknown cave entrance.

The cold wind kept blowing in from the ever-widening opening, making Thales shiver.

Ten seconds or so passed.

When the tremors completely subsided and the hole above was fully revealed, everyone was stunned.

This is……

Thales stared blankly at the stone steps that seemed to automatically recede backward and ascend step by step.

“I know, it’s amazing, isn’t it?” Samir stood beside the newly formed stone steps and sighed, “The miracle of the mages.”

"When I first saw it, I felt the same way as you."

Thales took a deep breath, came to his senses, and tried to convince himself that he didn't need to be so shocked.

The boy took his first steps:

"Okay, then we'll..."

Thales tightened his grip.

and many more.

In an instant, he suddenly realized that something was wrong.

"Semir."

Thales stared blankly at Samir, who was standing by the stone steps.

"You opened the exit without even looking for it? You knew where it was?"

The prince's question attracted the attention of most people.

Samir snorted softly:
"I always knew it."

Thales was stunned.

He struggled to regulate his breathing and shakily raised the crystal-green key in his hand:

"Then why...don't you need a key?"

Thales' question made everyone realize something was wrong, and Barney's expression changed drastically.

Samir scoffed and turned away from them, his back to the cave entrance and the stone steps.

“Because this exit was opened an hour ago,” Samir said expressionlessly.

"Before the key falls into your hands."

Thales felt a wave of dizziness as he tried to make sense of the strange logic at play.

Was the door, which served as an exit, already opened?
Before it fell into my hands?
Wait, where did I get this key that's supposed to open the Prison of Bones?
That is……

Thinking of this, Thales' face turned pale.

Samir looked into the darkness at the cave entrance and frowned slightly.
"They seem a little late; they need a reminder..."

Samir gripped his silver-bladed longsword and tapped it lightly on the stone bricks a few times. The blade immediately emitted a crisp, ringing sound that echoed through the empty darkness behind the cave entrance.

ding... ding... ding...

At that moment, Barney and Belletti both changed color!
"Samir?"

Samir turned his head and hummed softly, saying nothing.

But soon, something unusual happened in the arena.

tread.

Footsteps.

Mysterious footsteps echoed from the darkness of the cave entrance.

It reached Thales' ears.

Right behind Samir.

Barney instinctively stepped forward, forming a two-person formation with Belletti, shielding the bewildered Thales behind them, while facing the odd-looking Samir.

tread, tread, tread...

Multiple footsteps.

More and more footsteps, growing louder and louder, approaching from afar.

From being faintly audible, it became clearly audible.

Everyone tensed up!
“Samir, what have you done?” Barney looked at his former colleague in disbelief.

But Samir just stared at him coldly.

tread, tread, tread...

Finally, a pair of sand boots appeared at the top of the stone steps, walking leisurely out of the darkness and down step by step.

"Well done, Samir."

A voice, so unfamiliar that Thales had almost forgotten it, yet instantly remembered it, came from above the boot:
"I waited so long, I almost thought you had already died."

The voice was calm and unhurried, yet cold and indifferent.

Samir snorted coldly and did not reply.

Barney and the others looked at each other in confusion, but received no answer.

But they noticed that Prince Thales suddenly looked pale and was extremely shocked.

impossible.

"So, all our troubles..."

The sand boots slowly descended the stone steps, gradually revealing the figure of their owner.

That composed voice continued:
"Shadow Shield, Northerner, Secret Society, your prisoner friend, including that damned mask..."

"Have they all killed each other enough to annihilate each other?"

Samir nodded, completely ignoring the puzzled and disappointed looks on the faces of the others.

“Of course, almost everyone here is wounded and no longer a threat,” Samir said coldly, glancing at his fellow guards.

"But Sonny didn't survive."

The owner of the sand boots paused slightly:
"Oh, what a pity."

"But we will remember him."

Barney, wielding his sword with one arm, raised his guard to the highest level. Belletti fiercely protected Thales' flank, while the others solemnly rearranged their formation.

But Thales was completely frozen in place.

impossible.

The owner of the sand boots finally stepped down the stone steps, revealing his full form in the firelight.

"no no."

Thales stared blankly at the newcomer:

“I saw it with my own eyes, you were clearly, clearly pierced by nails…”

The person wearing sand boots sighed slowly, seemingly unhappy.
"Yes, yes, I know."

He was like a librarian who had explained the library rules to countless people, yet still encountered violations every day; his words were filled with laziness and impatience.
"You saw it with your own eyes: I died."

Amidst the guards' astonishment, Thales stared intently at the person who shouldn't be there.

impossible.

"So why don't you take a guess, Prince Thales?"

The newcomer calmly opened his arms, displaying his undamaged neck and chin to Thales with the same polite smile as before:

"What kind of beings truly exist in this world...?"

The visitor paused for a moment, seemingly enjoying Thales' reaction:
"It cannot be killed..."

He chuckled softly and continued:

"Rebirth every time?"

The newcomer's laughter seemed to possess a magical power, drawing out the deepest fears in Thales' heart.

It cannot be killed.

Each time, a new life begins.

Thales stared blankly at the other person on the stone steps, feeling as if his thoughts were about to stop.

In this world, there are beings that cannot be killed...

That is……

That is……

"By the way, thank you for keeping the 'Eternal Truth' safe for me."

Amid Thales's almost frozen, astonished gaze, the newcomer calmly and politely accepted the silver-bladed longsword that Samir handed him.

It's Ricky.

Thales said to himself, bewildered and alarmed.

It's him.

The man who should have died long ago under the Yordle's sword, the mercenary leader whose blood whistles echoed, Krasus of the Blade of Calamity, and the ever-calm Ricky, stood on the stone steps, gently revealing two lines of inscription on the streamlined blade.

tread, tread, tread...

More and more footsteps came from above.

The prisoners of the royal guard all paled.

Behind Ricky, Klay, Josh, and countless Blades of Calamity who had previously disappeared from sight descended the wide stone steps one after another. Fully armed, they coldly looked at the group of wounded and defeated soldiers who had been through numerous fierce battles.

“But I remember you didn’t understand the inscription on it.”

Ricky clicked his tongue softly and slowly shook his head.

"We are struggling endlessly."

Looking at the stunned Thales, Ricky's eyes flashed with a cold light, as if he had been reborn from the dead. In the calmest of tones, he recited the inscription on the sword:

Truth is eternal.

First update of the new year! Wishing everyone grows a year older!
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(End of this chapter)