Kingdom Bloodline

Chapter 474 Release from Prison
"Uh, no?"

The boy asked, puzzled, "What's wrong?"

But this time, Ricky clearly didn't expect Thales to answer.

“Barney’s finishing power is ‘Glacier Melt’, which is known for its ability to follow the flow of the battle, but can you feel any ‘following the flow’ in his battle?”

Melting glaciers?

Go with the flow?

and many more.

Upon hearing the familiar term, Thales paused for a moment.

The melting of glaciers... isn't this... the power of ending Sonia Sathere, the flower of the fortress six years ago?

Is her and Barney's Ending Power the same?
But little Barney...

The leader of the Blade of Calamity turned to look at little Barney, who was being closely guarded in the distance, and spoke Thales's thoughts:
"He's a ruthless person, isn't he?"

Ricky looked at Barney's indistinct figure with a touch of melancholy:

"Despite being in such a physical condition, he still managed to seize the opportunity and force me into that state."

Thales paused slightly, recalling Barney's battle.

The prince was filled with doubt: he simply couldn't connect the fortress flower, the valiant warrior Sonia who remained unscathed amidst the endless tentacles of Giza, with the fearless and blood-soaked Barney who fought ruthlessly against the enemy.

Ricky turned back and asked, "Do you know Barney? What kind of person do you think he is?"

What kind of person is Barney?

Thales suddenly remembered how the other person had lost hope and wanted to end their own life.

The boy was about to reply, but suddenly realized that he couldn't give his opponent any more information, so he stopped talking abruptly.

Ricky didn't take it seriously, and lowered his head to answer his own question:
Let me guess—

He raised his right hand and slowly tapped his fingers:
“He must have had full knight training when he was young – you can tell from his gait and habits.”

"But he has become like this, willing to risk his life just to deliver an effective blow in the most dangerous moment."

Ricky's eyes narrowed:
"This is no coincidence: he must have experienced something unforgettable in his youth, which led him to decisively and resolutely abandon his traditional swordsmanship and ultimately take a risky step to completely change his style of fighting, becoming the person he is today—sacrificing everything for a single victory."

As Thales listened to his seemingly logical analysis, he recalled Barney's extraordinary fight and tried to keep up.

Ricky looked up at Barney again and sighed:
“Even his glacial melting was greatly affected—I could hardly recognize him.”

Thales raised his eyebrows:

"But you still recognized me."

Ricky shook his head, revealing a mysterious smile:

"You didn't catch my point."

As Thales scratched his head in bewilderment, Ricky sighed, as if talking to himself:

“I think Quill Barney’s early life was probably not very good, even withdrawn, cold, and bleak.”

"His tragic experiences over the past decade or so have shaped his extreme, ruthless, and vicious fighting style, not only towards his enemies but also towards himself. I think he is probably tenacious, stubborn, and even a bit inflexible in life, and difficult to get along with—just like his finishing power."

Thales thought of little Barney in prison, and then of the royal guards' experiences over the past eighteen years, and remained silent.

Ricky stopped sighing and smiled:

"Do you think my guess was right?"

Thales glanced at Barney in the distance, then looked at Ricky suspiciously:
“You heard it from Samir—they are old acquaintances.”

Ricky laughed when he heard this.

But he simply turned his head again and pointed to Sakel, who was walking beside Samir.

"Sacel, the famous Knight of Punishment, what kind of person do you think he is?"

Sakel.

Thales pictured himself painfully preventing Barney from committing suicide.

Ricky, seemingly recalling the moment when Sackel charged at him, said absentmindedly:

“Samir told me about his finishing power, and I’ve seen it for myself. That guy is practically a giant legion with all the different types of troops. With just a few moves, he can throw everyone into disarray and cause them to lose their composure…”

Chaos and a thousand armies.

Thales muttered to himself.

That was Saxeel's ultimate power.

This time, he subconsciously thought: If I were to imitate that power of termination...

Ricky continued:
"What's remarkable is that he can move freely and without hesitation between movements and stillness, and even in the most critical moments he still has the leisure to think about things other than fighting—heaven knows when he stuffed the oilcloth onto me."

"To achieve such results, he must be extremely observant and cautious on the complex battlefield, taking everything into his eyes, knowing the enemy's situation in an instant, making accurate judgments, reacting immediately, coordinating his mind and body, taking into account both the enemy and himself, and working continuously—what a genius he is."

Ricky remarked:
"If he weren't a warrior, he would definitely be the best chess player, multitasking, quick-witted, far-sighted, and with a global perspective."

“And our conversation proved that.”

Thales frowned.

As he listened to Ricky's assessment of Sackel, he seemed to slowly grasp what the other man meant.

Ricky picked up the water bag, took a sip, and then casually tossed it to Thales.

"So I guess he was a cautious, meticulous, perceptive, and considerate person in his daily life, someone you could entrust your life to."

But Ricky immediately sighed:
"This is probably also unfortunate: compared to Barney, who sacrifices everything for a single victory, he has too many concerns and too many factors to care about. His versatility and genius may very well become his curse and burden."

"But he clearly doesn't like to complain or vent; he just acts silently and takes on all the burdens. But people who carry too much will always stagger. In time, they will either become stagnant and unable to extricate themselves, or they will become crazy and violent, unpredictable."

As he listened to his account, Thales was secretly alarmed.

Did Ricky know Sackel before?

After Ricky finished speaking, he laughed:
“Look, through the power of termination, I can learn a lot about them—but why is that?”

Thales frowned and shook his head:
“This must be something Samir told you—you gathered intelligence on the target beforehand.”

Ricky chuckled.

Amid Ricky's laughter, Thales pursed his lips.

"Ok."

The boy pondered for a moment, then unearthed a long-forgotten figure from his mind:

"If... I mean if, if there were a powerful warrior at the extreme level, he possessed a rare power of ending..."

Ricky listened to Thales's words with great interest.

"...It allows him to change his momentum and posture, retract this sword, and thrust out the next one, making multiple feints or deceptive movements, deceiving the enemy and winning in a way that is difficult to defend against and unpredictable—what can you learn from this?"

After Thales finished speaking, he remembered the person who had beaten him countless times on the training field over the past six years.

I also remembered...

Dragon Sky City.

"A feint attack? Oh, that's not common."

Ricky was taken aback after hearing the story, and unusually fell into deep thought:
"It should be known that almost every soldier is taught: to attack decisively, to defend firmly, to walk steadily, to concentrate, and to never waver once a move is made. If you go to the battlefield and swing your sword while hoping to retract the movement and find a better posture, such a person is usually a new recruit and will die the fastest."

Ricky raised his eyebrows, and said uncertainly:

"But your friend, perhaps he is a rather special person, perhaps he is a different kind of genius, who turned his disadvantage into an advantage, giving him one more chance to back down than his enemy."

Thales banished his memories and looked intently at Ricky:
"So, what kind of person do you think he is?"

This time, Ricky pondered for a long time.

If you ask me—it's confusion.

what?
Thales was taken aback again.

confused?

Ricky nodded and speculated:
"Sheathing this sword and thrusting out the next one—I guess such a person is perhaps always striving to do things better, a perfectionist in some way."

"So this kind of person... probably doesn't live a very comfortable life. I find it hard to imagine that he wouldn't feel lost and confused when he's alone with himself."

Thales blinked incredulously.

No way.

That deadpan face... confused?
Thales couldn't help but conjure up an image of Nicolai standing in a big city, facing the bustling traffic, staring blankly at the map, scratching his head in bewilderment.

Confused?

Or perhaps, the meteorite stands before the neon lights under the night sky, looks up at the sky, and takes a melancholy puff of smoke amidst the breeze and the whistles of cars.

Thales chuckled and quickly covered it up with a cough.

"Impossible," he said instinctively.

No...

The picture is so beautiful.

The painting style is unique.

I dare not look. I dare not look.

Ricky laughed when he saw Thales's expression.

But his smile only lasted a few seconds before he suddenly stopped smiling:

Do you find this funny?

Telston froze for a moment.

Ricky’s tone was quite formal, and for a moment, Thales thought he had returned to the classroom—whether it was the classroom in those fragmented memories or the classroom in Ashida in reality.

This made Thales subconsciously stop smiling and sit up straight.

"The power of termination within each person is unique. It is formed through the user's long-term life and battles, gradually becoming one with them. It is closely related to their personality, experiences, and habits, and inseparable from them. Even the same power of termination will be vastly different in different people."

unique.

Even the same power of termination can vary drastically...

Thales listened intently, immediately recalling the glacial melting on Sonia and Barney.

Ricky's tone softened:
"In this way, the style of the power of termination matches and resonates with the characteristics of its users, reflecting their understanding of battle, themselves, and their enemies. It is a unique emblem imprinted on each warrior."

The brand imprinted on every soldier...

Unique coat of arms?

Thales immediately recalled the topic of their conversation and a question arose in his heart:

But the sin of the River of Hell, the so-called omnipotent power of ending...

Ricky looked at him, his eyes cold and sharp, his tone crisp and resolute:
"And you, do you think you can perfectly present the great power accumulated by countless masters in every battle, every life and death, and every experience in their lives, shaped by their character, experience, body, and even enemies and opponents, based on a few minutes or even a few seconds of observation and contact?"

Thales was stunned.

Personality, experience, physique...

Even enemies and rivals...

Ricky squinted:

"When you are obsessed with 'imitation,' the biggest mistake you make, Thales, is to treat the Finishing Force as a tool that is disconnected from the warrior himself. You imagine the Finishing Force as a jigsaw puzzle made up of several lifeless parts. You think you can take one part at any time and ignore the other. You think you can only take their advantages and ignore their disadvantages."

"You think you can just imitate the strength and benefits of the warriors in this moment and easily discard the sweat and price they have paid in the past decades; you think you can just remember the state you want to imitate now and ignore how they have become who they are now from the past."

Thales frowned deeply and began to carefully consider Ricky's words.

Ricky leaned forward, staring intently at Thales, his tone even more ruthless:

"Did you know that even the most desperate suicide squads on the Western Wilderness battlefield needed Chaka wine during their suicidal charges?"

"But Quill Barney, this guy of noble birth, did it so easily—which means he had to walk on the edge of a knife countless times, honing his spirit between narrow victory and near defeat, abandoning hesitation about pros and cons, seizing fleeting opportunities and making them the norm, to become who he is today."

"So his glacial melting, his power and fighting style, are things I can imagine but can never learn: because I can't feel that kind of terrifying moment of imminent danger, I can't develop that kind of decisive fighting style, and I can't reproduce his distinctive fighting style."

Ricky's eyes flashed, and he said decisively:

"So, no, Thales, the power of ending is not a power, nor a weapon, nor a state."

"It is the soldier himself."

Thales was slightly startled!
From Eternal Star City to Dragon Sky City, and then to the Western Wilderness Territory, although Thales awakened the Sin of the Hell River and mastered swordsmanship, he in fact always held a dismissive attitude towards the power of termination in his heart.

It's quite simple. Ashida's words influenced his judgment: the power of termination is merely a byproduct created by mages for knights; in this world, forbidden magic represents the highest knowledge.

Moreover, after experiencing magical power, and even the "knocking on the door," and entering the "thing" stage as described by Toros...

But only now did Thales suddenly realize that he had forgotten again.

He forgot the old crow's teachings and his own past insights:
humble.

Yes, magic may encompass everything, seemingly vast and boundless, and is captivating.

But the power to end it all...

According to Ricky, it's much more focused and simpler than magic.

Because it is—the warrior himself.

Thales was deep in thought.

Ricky continued, each sentence becoming more and more stern.

"In other words, Thales, your current sin of the River of Hell is a true reflection of yourself."

"They only know how to imitate improvisationally, but they can't find their own unshakable essence." However, Ricky's next words pierced his heart like a long sword:

"This is your ultimate power, and it is also who you are now: forced forward, dragged along, without a goal, without direction, swaying left and right, drifting with the tide, and even..."

At that moment, Ricky's eyes widened in fury, as if he could see right through Thales' soul:
"No self."

Thales was stunned.

He found it quite amusing to watch Ricky use his observations of the Ending Force to deduce the characteristics of Barney Jr., Sackel, and even Nicolai.

But when it was actually his turn...

Thales took a deep breath.

If his sin in the River of Hell is himself.

The boy lowered his head in a daze.

No goals, no direction?
Swaying left and right, drifting with the tide?

There is no...self.

Ricky didn't notice Thales's strange behavior, but the boy was lost in thought, and for a moment he could only hear his own breathing.

Has he always been like this...?

It wasn't until Ricky spoke again, his stern tone pulling Thales back to reality, as if he'd been chilled to the bone by a cold wind:
"The omnipotent power of termination? Imitation? No, it's far less wonderful than you imagine."

"If you weren't me, if you didn't know my personality, whether I'm aggressive or cautious, whether I prefer thrusting or slashing, you wouldn't know my defensive habits, the strength with which I wield my sword, which muscles I use when I strike, the circumstances and history of my past battles, my life experiences, or how I developed such a destructive power..."

Ricky's gaze grew increasingly terrifying, as if he were looking at an unbearable humiliation, as if Thales had committed a heinous crime:
"Then you can't imitate the most important and essential part of my power of termination, the things that make it and me 'the way I am'."

Thales, who had just been pondering a certain sentence, could only listen quietly.

“If you haven’t experienced the life of the Knight of Punishment, you can’t simply appreciate Sackel’s multitasking skills while ignoring the terrible burden he bears every moment. If you haven’t seen Barney’s world, you can’t simply enjoy Barney’s terrifying destructive power while ignoring the tragic price he pays for his desperate actions.”

Ricky snorted coldly, his reprimand showing no mercy:

"No matter how exquisitely it imitates the Sin of the River of Hell, its product can only be a second-rate product, a dregs that is neither fish nor fowl."

Inferior products...

Neither fish nor fowl...

At that moment, as Thales looked into Ricky's eyes, he suddenly felt that his long-held preconceived notions about the power of termination, and his pride and smugness about the Sin of the River of Hell, were all shattered and destroyed in an instant.

No, perhaps it's not just the power to end things.

and also……

Thales instinctively clenched his fists and gritted his teeth.

he himself.

Ricky looked at the slightly dejected Thales and gently shook his head:
"More importantly, when you rely on imitation while ignoring these things, it's as if you lack the most basic things regarding the ultimate power that others have condensed with their lives, regarding each of your imitators, each of your opponents, and even yourself..."

In that instant, Ricky straightened his posture, his eyes filled with utmost seriousness:
"respect."

A lack of...respect?
Thales was taken aback by his attitude.

But the boy couldn't help but start thinking: the black sword, the imitation and replication he had taught him over the past six years, the so-called "omnipotent power of ending"...

Is it...

Not a good thing?

Ricky's tone could practically freeze the entire dungeon:

"You're not imitating, you're plagiarizing."

"For plagiarists, the sword in their hands or in their hearts will never be their own. The imitations they create are just the surface; they will forever lack the most important core."

"You can never become one of those great warriors who have internalized the power of termination into their lives."

After Ricky finished speaking, he stared at Thales without moving.

Waiting for his response.

Thales did not speak.

He didn't know how to respond.

Several seconds later, the boy finally let out a difficult breath and asked in return:

"So, the so-called 'omnipotent power of ending' of the River of Sin is actually just nonsense?"

Ricky snorted coldly.

“No,” he leaned forward and gently raised his index finger at Thales, “that’s correct.”

"But you're on the wrong track."

Seeing Thales's confused look, Ricky spoke softly:
"The significance of imitation lies in understanding."

"Understand your opponent."

understand?

Thales blinked.

Ricky glanced around and curled the corners of his mouth slightly.

“I don’t know Barney, I don’t know Sackel, I don’t know your confused friend.”

“But I can understand them on another level through my feeling of their power of termination.”

Another level?
Thales was thinking hard.

A glint of light flashed in the eyes of the leader of the Sword of Calamity:
"For example, through analysis and speculation, I can know..."

“When facing Barney, I may not be able to meet his desperate attack head-on. Instead, I must use other factors to delay, disrupt, and thwart his advance until I finally defeat him.”

“I can’t compete with him in terms of perfect overall planning when facing Sacel. I can’t even hesitate or think too much. I must focus all my attention on my strongest point and break through the surface with that point in order to have a fighting chance.”

As he was speaking, Ricky suddenly paused.

Thales, who was listening attentively, looked puzzled.

“I see,” Ricky said, lightly pounding his palm in realization. He glanced at Barney and Sackel, as if he understood something.
"Barney versus Sakel would probably be a good match."

Ricky, his excitement fading, turned around:

"As for your confused friend, my best choice is not to confront him head-on, not to engage in a two-way battle, not to drag things out, not to give him the opportunity to deceive me and launch a feint to find my weaknesses, but to conceal myself, hide my motives, and before he can react, strike him deadly from behind or in the dark, defeating him in an instant."

Thales frowned.

But Ricky immediately changed the subject:
"But do you know..."

He stared at Thales meaningfully:
“You can do all of these better than I can.”

Thales had a sudden thought.

Ricky sighed:
"My finishing power has its own characteristics, and my style of facing enemies has become fixed—only in this way can I unleash my strongest potential."

“But you, Thales, your River of Sin is constantly changing. You can do more, understand more, and master more details through so-called imitation, through brief contact and observation, and understand your opponent faster, better, and more perfectly than I do.”

Understand my...opponent?
By comparing Ricky's example with his own, Thales pondered the meaning of the sentence.

"The power of termination is one of the most amazing powers in humankind. How many masters have gone through countless hardships to achieve such a feat?"

Ricky seemed quite sentimental.

"The imitation of the River of Sin is not meant to simplify this process. On the contrary, it is to better grasp the opponent's process, and then better adjust and enhance yourself, giving you an advantage in the battle and providing you with options for your response."

Thales' eyes lit up:
"You mean... I'm not trying to replicate my opponent's strengths, but rather to find my own path to victory?"

Ricky laughed.

The astonished boy recalled the masters he had "seen" through the River of Hell:

The volcanic eruption-like surge within Arakka Mu's body.

The flower of the fortress embodies a colorless yet resolute power that permeates the entire body.

Nikolai's entire body was covered in fleeting silver needles.

Raphael's clothes were covered in a grayish hue.

Thales suddenly understood.

He doesn't want to become like them.

Instead, it is necessary to...

Surpass them.

"By using the River of Sin's ability to mimic, you can deduce his experiences, characteristics, strengths and weaknesses, grasp the most essential and purest aspects of their respective martial arts skills, and turn them into your advantage against your enemies, instead of lazily skipping this step and vainly trying to become them directly and replicate their achievements."

Ricky pointed at Thales, who seemed to have gained some insight:

"Remember, the focus is on how you are, not how strong your opponent is."

"It's about the gain, not how much it imitates."

"Once you grasp this, you will be able to find a way out in every situation and a solution when facing every formidable enemy."

Thales was slightly startled.

It was as if some long-blocked thought process in his mind had been cleared up.

Ricky squinted at Thales, whose eyes were becoming increasingly clear, and the sternness on his face slowly melted away:

"The ever-changing advantage of the River of Sin is not that it allows you to become any opponent by deception."

"It's about enabling you to face any opponent with composure and fearlessness."

Ricky took a deep breath, looked at Thales whose expression had changed, and sighed softly:

"This is the real 'omnipotent power of ending'."

Thales stared intently at him, nodding slightly with a serious expression.

"I understand."

"but……"

Thales hesitated for a moment, then finally asked:

"Why are you telling me this?"

Ricky stared at him, remaining silent for a moment.

But before Ricky could answer...

Boom!
A slight tremor came from beneath my feet.

Everyone's expression changed.

Including Thales.

A few seconds later, the rumbling stopped, and everything fell silent.

Thales looked down at his feet in surprise.

This is……

Feeling the sudden lightness beneath his feet, Thales's expression darkened.

The platform... has stopped.

At that moment, everyone on the platform stood up, causing a small commotion.

Ricky,

A few seconds later, Clay walked slowly forward, torch in hand, and solemnly said:

"We've reached the ground."

Ricky nodded and waved.

The swords of calamity sprang into action, ready to strike.

Thales instinctively looked around and was dismayed to find that he and his companions were still prisoners.

Why should I tell you?

Ricky turned and stared at Thales, saying meaningfully:

"I told you, darling, you possess a key..."

"It can open a door we have been longing for."

key?

Thales frowned:
"Has anyone ever told you that your eccentric manner resembles that of a temple priest?"

Ricky was slightly taken aback.

But then he laughed.

Yes, there are.

As Thales was stunned, Ricky looked up at the ceiling, which was now almost within reach, as if he could see the outside world.

He then loudly gave the order:
"Everyone get ready, it's time for your release."

"It's time to confront the prison of bones..."

Under the watchful eyes of all the mercenaries, Ricky's gaze sharpened, turning fierce:

Say goodbye.

The homework I assigned yesterday, someone actually answered it so quickly?

Then let's release the update!

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(End of this chapter)