Kingdom Bloodline

Chapter 692 Strange Descendance (Part 1)

"How...did you find this place?"

So this is what it feels like to face his superpowers? Thales wondered.

At such close range, it felt like even breathing was becoming numbing.

But at least he didn't fall into hallucinations.

Lausanne II did not answer Thales. He first looked down at Slimani, who was muttering in his sleep on the ground, and then at Catherine, who had fainted again. His purpose was obvious.

Thales frowned:
"What did he promise you? What made you, a skilled expert, so loyal that you'd do such dirty, shady work, even crawling through sewers?"

Losang remained silent. He placed his hand on the hilt of his sword, circled around Thales, and took a step to the side.

Oops.

Thales, holding a dagger, quickly turned around to shield the person behind him.

"Wealth? Official rank? Honor? Even fiefdoms and manors?"

Thales could only manage to shout, "Or...revenge?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Losang suddenly looked at him!

Despite the mask and goggles obscuring his vision, Thales could vaguely sense the other person's sharp gaze at that moment.

Good, stall him.

Thinking of this, Thales abandoned his tense sword stance and tried his best to appear relaxed:
"So superficial?"

“I suggest you do not stop me, Your Highness,” Losang said. “If you feel uncomfortable, you may turn your head away or close your eyes.”

Thales chuckled softly:
"Then I suggest you learn from Chaman Lumba, let go of your deep-seated hatred, and focus on a brighter tomorrow—"

But before he could finish speaking, the black-clad assassin in front of him moved and instantly darted behind Thales!
Grass!
Such a skilled fighter would resort to sneak attacks?
Thales was still cursing in his heart, but his body had already lunged forward involuntarily, and the JC dagger stabbed fiercely at Losang's side.

Stop him!
But his attack failed—almost at the same time, Lausanne, as if by divine intervention, turned back, effortlessly changing direction and dodging JC's attack, and to Thales' incredulous gaze, circled to the other side.

Oops!

Thales was startled.

He instinctively stopped and turned around, but his body couldn't keep up with his mind. He lost his balance during the sudden stop and turn and fell backward.

Lausanne even had the energy to turn her head and glance at him before rushing towards Slimani on the ground.

It's better than strolling leisurely in a courtyard.

Or is it a street monkey show?

Messi dribbled past Boateng?

Grass!
Thales cursed inwardly, but could only watch helplessly as he fell backward, watching the enemy get closer and closer to Slimani.

No.

How to do?
How can I stop him?
Do not!
But right now.

【not enough.】

Thales shuddered as the Sin of the River of Hell within him burned fiercely, invading his joints and bones.

Grass!
Amid the cracking and popping sounds and intense pain in his joints, Thales felt as if his ankles, calves, and knees, which had been stretched to their limit, had regained their strength.

This feeling is...

Thales stiffened, and with the help of the River of Sin, he stomped his feet hard, propelling his body backward!
This is fucking—a twist of fate!
The boy roared, turned around, and spun his dagger in the air before thrusting it at the man in black!

clang! clang!
Amidst the clanging of metal, Thales, wielding his dagger, finally secured a position, standing between Lausanne and the four unconscious men on the ground.

Losang II stepped back a few paces, his sword already drawn, gleaming coldly.

blocked.

Thales braced himself on his knees, breathing heavily, feeling the excruciating pain in his leg joints.

He blocked it.

Although his body was previously affected by his superpowers, making it difficult for him to move, things got much better once he actually got into the swing of things.

The price was a bit too high—Tales had already “overused” the Sin of the River of Hell today, and now he could only feel his leg joints groaning in protest.

No, how come that dead-faced guy's ultimate power is so weak?

"Not bad. Clumsy, but effective," Losang said, his tone slightly changing as he looked at the exhausted and pained Thales. "What kind of finishing power is it?"

it is good.

Force him to talk, make him talk more, and drag it out as long as possible.

Thales, still struggling to breathe, forced a smile:

Guess—

But before he could finish speaking, Losang set off again, closing in on Slimani!

Grass!
Thales cursed inwardly.

too fast!
I haven't recovered yet!
Mira even said something like, "This guy isn't that strong?"
Has the mighty Arendt family's sword of Neverwinter started boasting?
Despite his cursing, the exhausted Thales could only keep up with his opponent's movements, his dagger closing in on Lausanne.

clang!
In the next instant, Losang's longsword struck with precision, hitting Thales' dagger squarely!

Thales was startled.

The force of the opponent's sword was just right, not even enough to scratch Thales's skin, but it just so happened that the boy's arm trembled and the weapon slipped from his hand.

At that moment, Thales's mind went blank as he watched the JC dagger being thrown into the air.

Damn, is it that accurate?
Over the years, he had seen many exceptional masters, and even fought some of them. Although he was mostly soundly defeated (or, in Cohen's words, narrowly lost in a fierce battle), Thales could say with certainty that none of them, not even one, could so skillfully and accurately disarm him during such a brief lull in the fighting, without injuring him in the slightest.

Even the Executioner Knight, whose every move was calculated and whose every second was suffocating, could not achieve this.

But Thales had no time to marvel at his opponent's superb swordsmanship and exquisite moves.

After knocking away his dagger, King Losang II continued to press forward with his longsword towards Slimani without stopping!

Oops.

【not enough! 】

In that instant, Thales frowned deeply.

Ok.

The sins of the River of Hell have reignited.

He couldn't stop the opponent's sword, but at least he could...

The next second, Thales, who was unarmed, roared and took the initiative to step forward and charge into the blade of Lausanne's sword!
call!
The wind howled, and the sword light suddenly stopped.

The tunnel fell silent.

Thales was breathing heavily with tension. He knelt on the ground, spreading his arms to completely block Slimani from behind.

At that moment, the blade of Lausanne II's sword stopped right in front of him, just an inch away from Thales's chest.

The sword tip remained motionless, as steady as a mountain.

“You charged at me with your eyes open the whole time,” Losang said calmly. “It seems you really aren’t afraid of death.”

It's done?
“Your sword is steady and controlled,” Thales stared at the other’s visor and forced an ugly smile. “It seems you really don’t intend to hurt me.”

The moment the words left his mouth, Thales felt a sharp pain in his eyes—as if a dagger had been shot out from behind the other person's goggles.

The tunnel was quiet for a while.

Lausanne II glanced at Thales, then at Slimani lying behind him, took a few steps back, and withdrew his sword.

Thales finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Damn, I won the bet.

He lowered his arms and took the opportunity to move his joints and relax his muscles.

That's right, the stiffness and numbness in my body are much lighter than before.

In other words, I've become stronger—no, are you kidding me? It should be said that the other party's superpower effect... has indeed begun to weaken?

Thales was deep in thought.

Losang stared at the prince before her, her thoughts racing.

It seems that informing him in advance that he would not be harmed not only failed to weaken the prince's fighting spirit and make him wisely retreat and protect himself, but also gave the other party a good hand, even though he was unarmed.

If he continues his erratic behavior, using such suicidal interceptions to block his target without being able to harm him...

Yes, that's a challenge, even for him.

This prince.

It's both daunting and annoying.

And cunning.

King Lobsang II casually twirled his sword, the longsword moving with effortless grace in his hand, as if it were a third hand.

"Is this lawyer so valuable that Your Highness is willing to risk your life for him?"

“This isn’t a transaction,” Thales shook his head and replied casually, “It’s not about utilitarianism, it’s not about his value.”

King Lausanne II remained silent upon hearing this.

"I see."

A few seconds later, he slowly nodded, but his words were laced with sarcasm:
“I have met people like you, Your Highness. I am moved by the noble chivalry and the slogans of those knights: ‘Protect the weak,’ ‘Defend the good’... They are admirable, but also make one sigh.”

King Losang II sneered:
"It should be understood that these virtues that are being promoted and the slogans that have been designed are ultimately only meant to protect and defend the 'weak' who obey the strong and the 'good' who submit to the powerful."

Thales frowned slightly.

"From a certain perspective, you're right. Everything born from the dog-eat-dog world, whether we realize it or not, inherently carries an element that benefits and protects the strong..."

Lausanne interrupted him, the tip of her sword pointing directly at the defense attorney on the ground:
"Then you should know, Your Highness! The person you condescended to save is neither weak nor kind. He used to be a guard, a parasite who leeches off the system. He is a rotten person who dares to do whatever he wants just because he has an official title. He is a coward who bullies the weak and fears the strong."

Thales was stunned.

He gazed at Losang's sword, sighed, and nodded.
"Yes, I know, he is, he might be."

But the next moment, Thales stood up, his tone firm:

"but I am not."

He stared intently at Losang, took a step forward, and blocked the unconscious person behind him.

"I can't be."

King Lausanne II did not reply.

His eyepiece remained completely black, reflecting nothing except the faint light from the stove.

Just as Thales took a deep breath, pondering his next move...

“I understand,” Losang said softly, his voice ethereal and echoing faintly in the dim tunnel.

Thales glanced at the location of the dagger and casually remarked:
"Know what?"

"Your reason for protecting this guy," Losang replied calmly, his words carrying a deeper meaning, "has nothing to do with his political value, nothing to do with any gains or losses, and nothing to do with anyone or anything else, but only with you, only with your own choice."

Thales' expression shifted.

His gaze toward Losang changed slightly:
"Interesting, you actually understood it."

He exhaled, a thought flashing through his mind, a mixture of emotion and amusement washing over him:

"Unfortunately, my personal guard captain still doesn't understand."

But in that instant, the black-clad assassin drew his longsword again!
Oops!

The Sin of the River of Hell roared up, and Thales tensed up, turning his foot to block the sword's edge!

Okay, he finally understood—these days, you have to be good at sneak attacks to become a master.

Unexpectedly, Lausanne II's longsword merely spun around, its reflection flashing across Thales' face, forcing him to blink instinctively.

Not good!

The moment the thought crossed Thales' mind, he felt the light of his opponent's sword fade, followed by a whooshing sound of wind!

Lausanne's black boots, hidden behind the sword strike, kicked out fiercely. Thales had no time to react and could only barely block it with his arms.

"Boom!"

The opponent's kick was powerful and accurate, and Thales lost his footing and flew into the air!

Damn it, I've been broken through like this? Thales in the air trembled, filled with regret.

I was paying too much attention to his sword moves.

What's even more infuriating is that after unleashing this move, King Losang II actually had the leisure to wave goodbye to him in mid-air.

thump!
With a heavy thud, Thales fell two meters away, feeling a sharp pain in his buttocks.

But he didn't have time to pay attention to the pain.

Now, nothing can stop Losang from killing.

No.

Do not!
Lausanne stepped forward, lowered his sword, and drew closer and closer to Slimani.

"Grass!"

The boy sitting on the ground roared and instinctively swung his arm!
The next instant, JC's dagger left his palm, slicing through the air and shooting towards King Lausanne II!

Losang heard the voice but didn't turn his head, only chuckled softly.

With a slight flick of his wrist, the blade met the rapidly flying dagger with perfect accuracy, without missing a beat.

Thales felt a chill run down his spine.

Do not!
No no no no!

Not enough, not enough, not enough—

He gritted his teeth amidst the boiling roar of the River of Hell, which seemed to burn everything to ashes.

Stop him! Stop him! Stop him!
The next second, Losang's sword clashed with the dagger in mid-air, but instead of the expected crisp metallic clang, it produced—

"boom!"

Losang tilted his head back, followed by a muffled, unpleasant thud.

"what!"

The assassin in black grunted and retreated several steps!

His posture was awkward, his steps were unsteady, and even his longsword was blindly waved in the air a few times, creating a sharp sword wind, as if he was resisting an unseen enemy.

It's no longer the relaxed and carefree state it once was.

After retreating more than ten steps, King Lausanne II finally stopped, but still maintained a defensive posture, full of vigilance, and looked somewhat disheveled.

Thales exhaled, trembling as he struggled to his feet, and once again stood in front of the four.

The tunnel fell silent again, with only Thales's panting able to be heard for a moment.

And the humming sound of JC's dagger trembling as it fell to the ground.

In the firelight, King Losang II slowly lowered his longsword and raised his head.

Thales smiled.

Unbeknownst to them, the black-clad assassin's dark goggles had shattered into countless cracks.

The black mask was also damaged.

King Losang II snorted coldly, took off the shattered goggles, and pulled off his mask to reveal a handsome, fair face.

impossible.

Losang stared at the shattered goggles in his hand, then turned to look at the JC dagger on the ground, in disbelief.

He blocked the dagger that was just thrown.

Indeed, decades of sword-wielding experience, over a hundred battles, and the killing of hundreds of people taught him:
He had clearly blocked it.

but why?
How was he able to hit my eyepiece?

Thales, panting, watched the man in black remove his goggles and mask:
"Hey, isn't he pretty handsome? Why are you hiding it?"

Unfortunately, it didn't cause any more damage.

Looking at the dagger that was no longer trembling on the ground, Thales coughed painfully twice, wiped away the blood that had unknowingly flowed from his nose, feeling helpless and sentimental.

I'm sorry, Mr. Saxe.

I've performed magic again...

But rest assured, if the two emperors manage to catch me because of this, I will absolutely not—I will not betray you too quickly!
however……

Thales' expression sharpened, and his attention returned to the present moment.

If I'm not mistaken, whenever the man in black starts to make a move, gets caught up in the fight, and his attention wanders, his superpowers show signs of weakening, allowing his movements to become smoother.

If Marius is right, those with superpowers have their limitations...

That means that even someone as powerful as King Losang II, with both supernatural abilities and swordsmanship, cannot possess both.

For some reason, Thales was reminded of Ashida's sarcasm:
[This shows that you can't touch the crown with your left hand, and you can't use magic with your right... you haven't made a name for yourself with either.]

Humph.

Thales thought irritably, and flicked his wrist:
A familiar dagger magically appeared in his palm.

King Lausanne II was startled and turned his head:

The dagger that had broken through his defenses and shattered his goggles was nowhere to be found.

Sure enough, something was amiss.

Perhaps it is some kind of magical weapon.

It seems those monsters were right: the history and foundation of the Starry Sky royal family are truly unfathomable.

We cannot be careless in the slightest when dealing with this teenager.

What other trump cards does he have up his sleeve? The Alchemy Orb?
Thinking of this, the assassin in black became fully focused and on high alert.

Thales regulated his breathing, recalled the "trick" he had just performed, and tried to allocate his finishing power as reasonably as possible.

So what I need to do is use various methods to distract the other party, keep them so busy that they have no time to spare, and ideally make them overwhelmed with work.

So that Golov and Rolf behind him can wake up as soon as possible!
As for how long this process will take and what the cost will be...

Thales swung the dagger forcefully, trying his best to forget the pain and soreness in his body.

Losang began pacing around Thales, carefully searching for a place to strike, no longer the relaxed and confident figure he had been before.

"Alright, Your Highness, you've already fought."

The assassin in black, now revealing his true face, spoke coldly, his tone tinged with apprehension:
"You have proven your attitude, demonstrated your benevolence, and established a good image of a wise ruler. This guy will have no regrets even if he dies."

King Lausanne II looked at Slimani on the ground, his words sharp and cold:

“If this continues, I won’t be able to meet my employer’s requirements—I might accidentally hurt you.”

“If that’s the case, then your employer isn’t that important,” Thales chuckled softly and replied quickly. “You can be flexible with his requests, right?”

King Lausanne II frowned.

"Then why can't you be more flexible and report to Janne that 'the lawyer ran away' or 'the prince saved him'?"

Thales' eyes sharpened:
"You should know that no matter what price he offered you, I, the heir to the throne of the Star Kingdom, can give you double."

Well, at least in the name of the king.

But Losang merely curled the corner of his lips into a cold smile.

Seeing that the other party remained unmoved, Thales tentatively continued:
"Okay, so what you're afraid of is him giving you a free ticket on the high seas..."

Just then, he heard the sound of someone turning over from among the people who had fainted behind him.

Thales was invigorated.

Great.

They're starting to wake up!
He just needs to hold out a little longer, attract attention, and keep the other person busy and focused, so they won't have time to use their supernatural abilities...

"...Then I mean, the royal family can provide you with sufficient protection..."

But the next second, King Lausanne II coldly interrupted his thoughts:

"What I ask for, Your Highness, is something you cannot give me in your current state."

“Then wait until I am crowned king!” Thales shouted.

King Lausanne II remained silent, his gaze fixed on the dagger in the man's hand.

“Of course, if you can’t wait, if you can’t afford to wait,” Thales took a deep breath, raised his dagger, and smiled amiably, trying to attract the other’s attention, “then why not lend me a hand and speed up the process of transferring the throne?”

Losang closed his eyes and remained silent for a long time before opening them.

“Interesting, Polaris,” the assassin in black stared at him in the dim firelight. “You are a little different from your well-fed peers—whether they are shrewd and self-serving, pretending to be ‘playing the game,’ conservative and old-fashioned, or self-righteous and rebellious.”

“And you, Losang II, you’re different,” Thales continued, “You’re not like a leek, you’re not doing this for wealth and glory, nor are you blindly loyal—so why are you so serious? Wouldn’t it be better to slack off occasionally? Why are you willingly exploited and used? Why risk offending the future king to clean up the mess left by the three-colored irises—”

Before the prince could finish shouting, Losang suddenly closed in!

But Thales was prepared. The sins of the River of Hell surged forth, and JC's dagger shot out like lightning!

Ha, he's learned this level of sneak attack now...

Lausanne II's longsword flew straight towards the dagger in mid-air.

But the next second, the assassin in black moved a meter to the side in a strange way, causing the dagger to miss completely!
Thales was startled: The opponent's speed had suddenly increased so much?

Bang!

JC's dagger fell to the ground with a clinking sound.

Meanwhile, Lausanne continues its rapid advance!
Damn.

Thales took a deep breath, stepped forward, and swung his left hand—the JC dagger miraculously reappeared in his palm and flew towards Lausanne, who had changed direction!
This time, Lausanne II made another sudden turn and sidestep, the dagger just barely grazing past him before shooting into the darkness.

The assassin in black turned around:
Thales cautiously raised his right hand, and the dagger appeared in his hand for the third time out of thin air.

Losang squinted.

It's not copying a dagger, not changing its trajectory, not a visual illusion, but rather...

Very well, next time, he'll know how to deal with this troublesome prince.

Just then, Thales finally heard the person behind him wake up, panting heavily.

But unexpectedly, a clear female voice came through.

“No, Kahame, I’m not interested in this…wait, how did I get here…”

Is it Hilaire?
Thales frowned slightly.

Golov and Rolf still show no signs of waking up, and neither does that female boss...

You so-called battle-hardened guys are no match for a pampered young lady?
Hilly struggled to sit up from the ground, her tone shifting from dazed to shocked:
"Ah! What happened? Who is he?"

Thales sighed, but he had no choice.

“Don’t panic, Wyana, listen to me,” he said, holding up his dagger, wary of Losang before him, while reminding Hilaire behind him, “Go wake them both up—by any means necessary.”

Hilaire stared wide-eyed at Thales, then at Lausanne II, in disbelief.

“You are killing them, Your Highness,” Losang said calmly. “I only promised not to harm you.”

Thales gritted his teeth.

Grass.

Of course he knows that!
but……

Thales gave a soft hum and gestured with his chin backward:
"Harm? Do you even know who she is?"

Losang did not speak.

"I understand."

Hilly quickly grasped the situation, took a deep breath, and stood up.

Thales felt a surge of relief:
“Yes, wake Rolf first, I mean the mute, and then tell him to go and beg…”

But the next second, Lady Kevin Deer ignored the unconscious Rolf on the ground, jumped up, and ran away!
"good luck!"

In the dim firelight, Hilai trotted along towards the dark tunnel, waving back as she went:

"Come on!"

(End of this chapter)