Kingdom Bloodline

Chapter 733 The Caster

After hearing the secrets revealed by Li, Thales overcame his initial surprise and calmed down.

"According to you, today's disaster is not only not your fault," the prince said skeptically, "but also the fault of the Starry Sky royal family for not properly guarding that source blood, which allowed Losang II to become a vampire and cause endless trouble?"

“I had no such intention,” Li Gongjin replied, his scrutinizing gaze never leaving Thales. “But with this lead, Your Highness is probably closer to the truth behind the assassin than we are.”

Thales frowned.

How cunning.

This old guy threw the mystery back at me along with the clues to solving it, while also subtly and overtly absolving Corleone of any responsibility.

But this trick did work, and Thales couldn't help but wonder:

King Losang II, the ruthless killer, returned to the Star Kingdom after many years, not merely to settle old scores with the Blood Bottle Gang.

How did he obtain the source blood that should have belonged to Crown Prince Midir?
What exactly is his relationship with the Star Royal Family?
Just then, Li suddenly turned his head and looked down at the tower quite naturally:
"The younger generation of the Hollier family has engaged in combat with the other side."

Thales took a deep breath, clearing his mind of further doubts and forcing himself back to the present moment.

“Thank God,” he said, raising his binoculars and finally finding his target, “at least they’re fighting on the rooftop, so at least I can see them.”

Although the pace and rhythm of Yannick and Lausanne II's fight were so fast that Thales could see nothing but blurry figures, he could not make out anything.

"However, Your Highness should be careful."

"Because Yannick might not be his match?"

Li shook his head.

"As far as we know, this Yannick Hollier has taken the reins of the family at a young age, and is skilled at sowing discord and taking advantage of others' weaknesses. He is deeply trusted by the 'Ghost Mother'."

As for "Ghost Girl" Vissanlia Holier herself, she was an old member of the "Unyielding Night," the leader of the rebellion against the Night Kingdom, and a troublesome figure whom even King Nightwing had to be wary of, fearful of, and both love and hate.

Li thought to himself, his words continuing:

"In your opinion, why would the Holliell family, who have long resided in Feast Territory, choose this time to visit Emerald City?"

Thales had an idea.

For the Jade Festival?

To see the prince?

To deliver a letter to the ugly woman?

Thales recalled his encounter with Yannick at the Battle Feast.

“For the sake of ‘balance’,” he said casually.

Li nodded gently:
"If it's for the sake of balance, will he really do his best as you wish?"

Thales frowned.

Of course, you know that.

A voice deep within the prince's heart told him:

In fact, Yannick already knew the truth.

This elegant vampire had long seen through the filth beneath the Emerald City's surface and guessed that a member of his own kind was secretly hunting within the city. That's why he left behind that meaningful remark at the Battle Feast:

[...Emerald City is currently rife with undercurrents; many filthy things reside here.]

However, he, the acting master of the Renewed Court, and the young vampire of the Hollier family, remained unmoved and even pleased with the outcome.

He awaited the day when the rulers of the Emerald City—whether Thales or Jann—would be tormented and overwhelmed by this.

In exchange for greater returns.

The problem is, Thales...

A voice whispered in his heart:

How do you plan to use this?
----

Ding!
Metal clashed, the two men on the rooftop wielding their swords back and forth, their attacks and defenses moving so fast that they were almost imperceptible to the naked eye, leaving only blurry afterimages.

"Don't you find it strange, child? You've always refused to accept your vampire identity, refused to join them, and refused to be used by them..."

But even amidst the fierce battle, Yannick's voice remained gentle and calm:

"Then why did the Corleone family keep you alive instead of just killing you—"

A brilliant sword move suddenly appeared amidst the dazzling array of attacks, instantly interrupting Yannick!

Caught off guard, the vampire senator grunted and then quickly retreated, appearing on another rooftop.

"They tried it."

King Lobsang II raised his head, his face as white as a corpse, lifeless.

"They can't do it."

Having said that, he drew his badly damaged longsword:

The sword blade was stained with black blood, which dripped down.

Yannick frowned and slightly loosened his left hand that was clutching his abdomen: the wound was extremely deep and black blood was gushing out continuously.

Damn it, how did he manage to stab like that?

If I were still an ordinary human being...

But upon witnessing this scene, King Lobsang II frowned slightly:
It's off-center.

That sword should have gone straight for the heart.

“Can’t do it? Oh, even the once invincible Prince Philip thought so,” Yannick quickly raised his head, putting on the standard diplomat’s and senator’s smile again, “until he was overthrown by Lanley Corleone and became an old story in the history books.”

Lobsang II did not answer, or rather, he answered with his actions:

The assassin leaped forward, and the sword flashed once more!

Couldn't he have waited a little longer?
Yannick was furious, but unable to wait for his wound to heal, he was forced to fight again:
What's wrong with the world these days? When masters clash, shouldn't they respect each other and at least let the opponent finish speaking?
clang!
Swords flashed, and Lausanne II pressed forward relentlessly, while Yannick retreated and dodged without hesitation.

The vampire assassin's movement was slightly inferior to Yannick's, but his swordsmanship was superb. Every strike landed on the key points that his opponent had to defend against. In just a few rounds, Yannick was hit by the sword again and had to retreat to more than ten meters away!
This time, Yannick wasn't in such good form; he swayed and knelt on one knee.

A horrific gash, with skin torn open and flesh ripped open, ran diagonally down from his right shoulder, even splitting open his collarbone.

Almost.

King Losang II shook the black blood off his sword, clearly dissatisfied.
Just a little short of beheading.

“Like this,” the assassin said softly, “they fear me.”

The filthy race of the Night Kingdom—especially the old guys who have lived for thousands of years—are selfish, greedy, and afraid of death. They fear his swordsmanship, his supernatural abilities, his determination, and even more so, his countless killing experiences accumulated over decades (how many people have those old guys killed? What kind of people did they kill? Farmers walking home at night? Blood food trembling in a dark room? Human blood servants who both respected, loved, and feared them?).

In short, they were unwilling to pay a high price to kill him.

"Afraid of you?"

Yannick couldn't help but chuckle upon hearing this. He was currently struggling to recover from the severe injury to his shoulder and neck, and speaking was somewhat difficult for him.
"Poor child, you've been...you've been deceived..."

King Lausanne II raised his eyes and strode forward without hesitation.

And you will be killed.

A pretentious, filthy bunch.

“You may not understand Corleone,” Yannick said with a pained expression, “but I can tell you that this is not fear, but power politics: the Corleone family put on a show to make you think they fear you.”

cheat?

Power politics?

interesting.

King Lausanne II was disdainful.

If that was acting, then the price they paid was far too high.

That night, in an attempt to execute him, the filthy race of the Night Kingdom came one after another, only to rush to feed him, until they aroused the uncontrollable ferocity and supernatural power within him.

The Corleone family was in a predicament, while the other families in the seven lower branches of the Night Kingdom suffered heavy casualties...

Just as Lobsang II was about to raise his sword, he suddenly stopped.

other.

Other families.

He looked directly at Yannick again.

One after another.

One by one.

In the Land of Night, besides Corleone...

Other families?

Unbeknownst to him, King Lausanne II gripped the hilt of his sword tightly.

“What do you know?” he asked softly.

Yannick gave a bitter laugh.

“A terrible friend, or rather, an adversary, told me this, and unfortunately, she is related to the Corleone family by blood.”

King Lausanne II frowned.

"Yes, Corleone lied to you because they wanted to make better use of you."

Yannick stood up shakily. His abdominal wound had healed, but the severe injury on his shoulder was still healing, closing up to a visible degree.

"Because if you feel that they are not afraid of you, then you will be on guard, fight them to the end, refuse to compromise, let alone cooperate."

Yannick sneered repeatedly.

"Only by making you feel that they are 'afraid' of you can they—at least in your eyes—be logically forced to release you, keep you, and have no choice but to let you 'move freely'."

King Lausanne II did not speak; he simply stared intently at the other man's wound.

"As for why..."

Yannick scoffed lightly: "A living piece is always more useful than a dead one."

piece.

Lausanne II's sword trembled slightly.

Yannick gestured to him:
"Look at yourself now. Aren't you willingly and without complaint serving others? You even naively believe that it's all out of your own will, that everything you're doing is for yourself, that it's all out of free will, that it's all your free action?"

The vampire senator laughed heartily:
"Wouldn't you, as a chess piece, become more vibrant, more motivated, and more dedicated to your work in this way?"

At this point, Yannick seemed to remember something and looked around:

"Just like this land beneath our feet, the National Affairs Conference created by a wise ruler makes everyone who can attend, from kings and generals to commoners, believe that they have the power to influence national affairs, the capital to make the rulers wary, the right to speak for themselves, and the qualification to act freely."

He said with emotion:

"Therefore, they neglected to doubt, forgot their hatred, let alone resisted."

They accepted the seats bestowed upon them by the mighty kingdom with peace of mind, as if it were their birthright.

King Lausanne II lowered his head.

“Then here’s the question: you’ve now reached the most crucial juncture in this power struggle, and your every move carries immense weight,” Yannick stretched his shoulder, his wound finally healed, “how are you going to react?”

He smiled broadly:
"A pawn that thinks it's free?"

His response was met with an increasingly cold glint of sword light from Lobsang II.

----

On the abandoned watchtower, Thales remained silent for a long time before finally putting down his binoculars.

"Make a deal."

Le Corleone's eyelids twitched:
"Your Highness?"

“Whether it’s Yannick or anyone else who wants to interfere, Count Li, bring me Lausanne II. He must be able to breathe and be interrogated.”

Thales turned around:
"In this way, your long-standing debt of protecting exiled political figures, including smuggling vampire assassins, wreaking havoc on Emerald City, and overthrowing the Duke of the Kingdom, can be wiped clean."

Li frowned upon hearing this.

“I appreciate Your Highness’s leniency, but this man possesses Prince Philip’s bloodline, and his abilities are bizarre and terrifying; I’m afraid we are powerless to help him—”

“If a drop of blood is so terrible,” Thales interrupted him rudely, “then where is Prince Philip now? Why hasn’t he ruled the world yet?”

Perhaps the question was too sensitive, for the vampire count kept his mouth shut and did not respond.

Thales stared at him for several seconds before turning away and smiling.

“You know, when the Blood Calamity was causing chaos and destruction in Dragon Sky City, the instigator also told me: the calamity was too terrible, and even if they wanted to stop it, they were powerless to do so.”

Upon hearing several keywords that could be considered secrets, Li's eyes lit up.

Thales turned around and looked at the brightly lit Kongming Palace in the distance.

"But I later wondered: as the people who plotted the conspiracy and brought about the disaster, they may not have been powerless."

He said quietly:

"They just don't want to put in the effort."

Thales turned back to his opponent, his gaze sharp as a sword:

"What do you think, Earl Li?"

Li remained silent for a long time before taking a step back, bowing respectfully, but his words showed no sign of yielding an inch:

"Your Highness should know that before we came here, Her Majesty Cortrina repeatedly instructed us to follow the rules and regulations in your country and not to cause any trouble."

Thales sighed.

"But Cortina also said that you should be able to adapt to different situations."

Instead of responding to him, Li changed the subject.

“This assassin is a pawn in the game between young master Federico and his cousin,” Li said, looking down at the tower, his face expressionless. “Since Your Highness has taken action against him, does it mean that you have already chosen one side among them and made a decision for the fate of Emerald City?”

Take sides?

It's troublesome no matter which team I'm on.

Thales thought of Janne and Federico, his head aching as he pondered what the other person cared about.

"If your concern is revenge against Janne, or you're worried about Iris's retaliation, then I can guarantee—"

“I’m not worried about Kevin Deer,” Li interrupted him before he could finish. “Historically, Bloodfang has been enemies with three different masters of the Sky Palace, but no matter how great the grudge, it would dissipate when their lifespan was over, and they would reconcile as before when their interests were at stake.”

"Then why—"

Li's eyes flickered:
"What I'm worried about is Your Highness: Did you consult with the Fuxing Palace before making this decision?"

Thales frowned slightly.

He recalled King Kessel's letter:

You decide what to do.

but……

Thales remained expressionless, but his words were insincere:
"That's natural—His Majesty has given me full authority to handle matters here."

“If that’s the case, Your Highness, you shouldn’t have asked us for extra help,” the regent of the Night Kingdom said calmly, but with a hidden meaning in his words. “Because our cooperation with the Kingdom’s Secret Service, or rather, with the Palace of Restoration, has already been settled. And that messy debt that you used to blackmail me into ‘wiping it off’ should not have been attributed to us.”

Thales frowned.

“You said earlier that when faced with disasters and chaos, the instigators might not be powerless, but rather unwilling to do so,” Li Youyou said. “Perhaps, because the truly ‘too terrible’ one is someone else?”

Thales fell silent.

“After leaving Emerald City, I will head north to meet His Majesty Kessel as his envoy and present my credentials,” Li glanced at him and bowed. “Why must you force me to do this?”

Thales looked at the other person, lost in thought.

Li turned around.

"After Cortrina returned home, she lost two of her biggest supporters, so life hasn't been easy for her, has it?"

Thales suddenly spoke up:
"Otherwise, we wouldn't be in such a hurry to meet a 'friendly and trusting' Emerald City."

Li did not respond.

Thales took a deep breath, and after careful consideration, his tone was firm:

"But sometimes, it is precisely because we are unwilling to do things against our will that people can be so terrible."

Li's eyes flickered:
"what do you mean?"

Thales exhaled and said resolutely:

“In fact, everything I’m doing now may be far from what the Palace of Restoration wants, so let’s make a new deal.”

Li squinted.

Thales took a step forward:
"Cortrina said that although she was walking in the dark, when she opened her eyes, she saw a sky full of stars, illuminating her path as if it were daytime, is that right?"

Li curled the corners of her lips into a smile.

Thales gazed wistfully down at the tower below:
Tell her I understand.

"Understand what?"

Thales stared blankly at the night view of the new suburbs.

"I stand on the earth, and look up at the stars."

He gazed at the brilliant Milky Way in the night sky and spoke softly:
"Waiting for sunset and nightfall, I'll reach out and pluck the stars."

----

Swish!
With a flash of the blade, Yannick tumbled from the roof to the ground, taking three steps back before barely managing to stand, covered in blood and looking utterly disheveled.

Not good.

This stubborn fellow, refusing to listen to advice, truly relied solely on his unparalleled swordsmanship, without using his physical strength, to firmly suppress the speed, agility, dexterity, and power of the vampires.

Those who have achieved this throughout history are all renowned masters of extreme skill.

For example, the infamous Wolf Enemy Kayla, even the "Confessor" Parrye Reihart, known for his bizarre and unpredictable movements and who once fought against the Nightwing King, could not gain the upper hand against his seemingly mediocre blade.

On the other side, Lausanne II landed gracefully.

"Your swordsmanship is quite good, vampire," he said slowly.

Some of the moves even hint at profound martial arts techniques.

Unlike other filthy species that only take advantage of their vampire physical advantages to rampage recklessly—such as the beasts of the Castigan and Loriloya clans.

The next second, King Losang II sprang up and closed in with lightning speed!
Yannick, still recovering from his wounds, had no choice but to raise his sword again and hastily engage in battle.

clang!
The two swords were pressed together.

Lausanne II, positioned in the easiest position to exert force, coldly shook his head:
"But it was ultimately just a little short."

This seemingly ordinary point becomes an insurmountable chasm between masters.

To Yannick's disbelief, his opponent's blade twisted mysteriously, piercing straight into his chest just as he was about to retaliate.

Without hesitation, Lobsang II thrust the sword deeper, until it pierced the opponent's heart.

This is the point that will ultimately determine life or death—wait, what?

King Losang II's hand trembled, and he immediately sensed something was wrong!
This is not the feel or direction of piercing the heart!
laugh!
Amidst Yannick's muffled groans of extreme pain, he desperately parried Lausanne II's sword with his narrow blade, the blade veering slightly off course and grazing Yannick's ribs before piercing his upper abdomen.

Lausanne II's pupils contracted.

This was a heavy blow to the vampires, but not fatal.

The next second, Yannick's eyes hardened. He roared and looked up, his right hand wielding a narrow sword in retaliation, while his left hand conjured sharp claws.

worse.

King Lausanne II reacted swiftly, immediately drawing his sword to defend!
Swish!
In the blurry phantom, the two figures touched and then separated!
Clang.

Both weapons landed on the ground.

laugh.

Large amounts of black blood spurted out, splashing everywhere.

Yannick staggered back several steps, trembling as he knelt on one knee, black blood gushing from the wound on his chest and abdomen, forming a stream beneath him.

Losang II leaned weakly against the wall: his chest had been ripped open by vicious claws, large chunks of flesh and blood dug away, revealing his pale ribs, a horrifying sight.

Both sides were seriously injured.

The vampire physique took effect instantly, and the flesh at the wounds of both of them trembled and sprouted granulation tissue, striving to heal themselves.

But it was clear that Yannick recovered very quickly and stopped the bleeding in no time.

Meanwhile, Lausanne II groaned in pain—his wounds were healing at an incredibly slow pace, and he was struggling to keep up.

【Blood.】

The desire within me surged at just the right moment.

After a long and fierce battle, his blood and energy were severely depleted.

It urgently needs replenishment.

【Blood……】

But what bothered him even more was...

Despite the excruciating pain, King Lausanne II struggled to lift his head.

"It seems your swordsmanship isn't as superb as they claim, lost child." Yannick sneered, his words laced with mockery.

Lausanne II found it hard to believe.

His decisive, all-powerful attack, which gave him an absolute advantage, was parried by his opponent at the last second.

To be able to fight sword to sword, to escape and counterattack from such a disadvantageous position, and to fight to the death...

No.

unless……

He looked at Yannick with a serious expression.

Unless the other party uses...

It is an even more sophisticated and exquisite swordsmanship.

but……

Yannick struggled to his feet, pulled out a small bottle about the size of a finger, unscrewed the cap, and tilted his head back to drink it all in one gulp.

The moment the other person unscrewed the bottle cap, King Lausanne II's nose twitched, and he clenched his teeth in pain.

Blood! Blood! We need blood!

The next second, Yannick shuddered, and the wounds on his chest and abdomen healed rapidly!
Yannick let out a comfortable sigh and his smile returned.

"This is the essence of blood extracted by the 'scholar' Mersid family. It's highly concentrated and easy to carry. Ah, their family loves to invent things," he said, shaking the empty bottle in his hand and taking out another small bottle with a friendly smile. "Want a bottle? It's on me. I guarantee it's non-toxic and harmless."

After saying that, he indeed threw the small bottle at King Losang II!

【Blood!】

The assassin's expression tightened, and he dragged his heavily injured body away.

With a crash, the bottle shattered on the ground, leaving a small pool of blood.

“Sorry, I almost forgot, you’re untrained and can’t eat rationally,” Yannick said apologetically, as if he had just remembered this. “What a pity.”

after all……

It's very expensive.

Yannick sighed.

King Lausanne II gritted his teeth, forcing himself not to look at the pool of blood on the ground.

No.

Do not!
Soon, Yannick recovered completely from his serious injuries, while Lausanne II's wounds only stopped bleeding and his healing process almost came to a standstill.

The balance of power shifted instantly.

"This is not your true strength."

With great difficulty, King Lausanne II tore off his clothes and, as he had done in life, bandaged the wound with a strange yet practiced ease.

"It's your special ability."

Yannick frowned:
"Why do you say that?"

King Losang II snorted coldly, enduring the excruciating pain as he spoke:
"Every time I have the upper hand, my sword strikes always fail to land, not because your swordsmanship is superior, but because of my sword..."

“No, no, no,” Yannick interrupted him, his eyes sharp. “What I’m asking is, why do you think that those mysterious, complex, and time-consuming abilities that require countless efforts to understand, become familiar with, train in, and utilize cannot be considered true ‘strength’?”

King Lausanne II's expression changed.

Yannick smiled.

"In other words, if you die by my hand tonight, Losang II, then no matter how skilled your swordsmanship is, no matter how strong your true 'strength' is..."

At this point, the vampire senator abandoned his witty and irreverent manner, solemnly picking up his weapon with a serious expression:

"And what's the point?"

Before he could finish speaking, Yannick vanished instantly!
Losang II's eyelids twitched, and he struggled to lunge at his own sword!

The next second, Yannick appeared in front of Lausanne II, and the two swords clashed again.

clang!
The metal clashed, and the two separated almost immediately.

But this time, Yannick calmly took three steps back, displaying a composed and confident demeanor.

Losang II dropped his sword, groaned in pain, and knelt on the ground, with another wound on his body.

No.

Having suffered severe injuries, his body was weak and powerless, his vision was unsteady and erratic, his sword strikes were inaccurate, and his footwork was chaotic.

[Blood!!! Blood!!!]

To shut up.

The assassin knelt on the ground, thinking gloomily:

No matter how many excellent and exquisite sword moves were available, enough to turn the tide of battle at this moment, they could not be used.

As expected... the tide has turned against them.

I just don’t know…

What kind of superpower did the opponent use to turn the tide from an absolute disadvantage step by step?
"Ah, even in this state, you can still bite back," Yannick said, looking at the new cut on his elbow. "You really have excellent swordsmanship."

Even among the six branches of the Feast Territory, the "Silent Guard" Baplan family, who are dedicated to mastering unparalleled martial arts, probably no one can compare to him in swordsmanship.

King Lausanne II scoffed dismissively.

"What a pity."

Yannick did not pursue, but instead looked down at them with genuine admiration:

"If you weren't so stubborn, and instead accepted your vampire identity, made good use of my clan's skills, got used to my clan's physique, and even achieved 'true form,' coupled with this unparalleled swordsmanship that is rare in the world, tsk tsk tsk..."

He gazed into the distance, his eyes deep and his words enticing:
How high will you reach?

King Lausanne II scoffed at these words.

"nonsense."

Didn't those filthy creatures of the Night Kingdom, or even that Kevin Deer brat, say these things to him?

As he lay dying, Lobsang II tightened the bandage around his wound.

His posture was awkward, trembling, and he finally managed to touch the longsword that had fallen to the ground.

Just like...

Just like the Hundred-Step Swordsman from before. The thought flashed through his mind, and Losang II forced himself to forget it.

He gritted his teeth and braced himself with his sword on the ground:

"If I hadn't refused to become a filthy race, if I hadn't refused to spend all my time and energy sucking blood and grinding my teeth..."

If he hadn't relentlessly practiced swordsmanship day and night, constantly reminding himself of his past life as a human being, and suppressing the burning thirst that trembled deep within his soul...

No, it should be said that if he hadn't been born with this single-minded, stubborn, and universally disliked personality, if he had been as adaptable and charming as Aknet...

Harboring an unquenchable resentment and anger, King Losang II coldly said:
"Do you think I can still master this swordsmanship?"

Yannick was taken aback by what he heard.

"Precisely because...precisely because I am stubborn enough, focused enough, and relentless enough, I discard this powerful body like worn-out shoes..."

He dismissed the strange ability that kept him up all night...

Turn a deaf ear to the nightly seductions of that filthy race...

They scoff at the allure of immortality and eternal youth...

King Lausanne II, dragging his nearly collapsing body, struggled to his feet:

"That's why I was able to develop and be worthy of this... passable swordsmanship."

Humans are not boundless pockets; they cannot hold everything.

Even having an endless lifespan wouldn't be enough.

No.

Right, old man Joaquin?
"Well said."

Yannick was stunned by what the other person said, and exclaimed repeatedly:
"Tsk tsk, truly, I've heard a lot from you..."

He paused, then seemed to realize something and shook his head in understanding.

Hmm, it doesn't seem to be of much use.

King Lausanne II closed his eyes.

Damn.

If he hadn't hesitated, hadn't listened to the other's nonsense about "Corleone lying to you," and had instead relentlessly pursued his opponent after severely injuring his shoulder and neck, aiming straight for vital points, then things wouldn't have turned out this way...

"Are you thinking, 'If only I hadn't hesitated back then, and hadn't given me time to recover,' that would have been better?"

Yannick's sudden words startled the assassin.

“That won’t help,” the vampire senator smiled gently, “you’re still going to lose.”

King Lausanne II was taken aback.

“Because the problem isn’t ‘what if we hadn’t hesitated then’,” Yannick said, his gaze intense, “but rather ‘why did we hesitate then?’”

Why, why did I hesitate back then?
Lausanne II's pupils contracted.

Yes.

Why did I suddenly act against my long-held instinct to kill...?

Why hesitate or waver because of his words?
At that moment, looking at Yannick, he suddenly understood something.

"I see," the assassin murmured.

The influence of the other party's supernatural abilities...

It wasn't his sword.

Yannick gave a light snort and stepped forward, sword in hand.

Lausanne II closed his eyes.

I resigned myself to my fate.

But just a second later, Yannick's expression changed!
The young head of the Hollier family seemed to daze for a moment, then closed his eyes and slumped forward.

At that moment, King Lausanne II suddenly opened his eyes, roared, and drew his sword, slashing at Yannick!

It's not over yet!
That filthy bastard is right.

Superpowers are also a form of strength!

laugh!
The next second, the blade sliced ​​through Yannick's neck.

But they were unable to go any further.

King Lausanne II stared in disbelief at what lay before him:

Suddenly, Yannick's eyes widened in fury, and his hand transformed into sharp claws, gripping the blade tightly and preventing him from being beheaded.

what happened?

King Lausanne II trembled as he watched his opponent pry his sword apart inch by inch.

"This is your special ability?"

Yannick gritted his teeth, his neck covered in blood:

"The so-called evil whispers?"

At this moment, Yannick's expression was bitter and complicated, and his words were angry and humiliating.

Looking at him, King Losang II couldn't help but laugh.

"So, what did you see in the 'murmurs'?"

Unable to withstand Yannick's power any longer, he watched helplessly as his opponent pushed the blade away.

But the assassin didn't care at all, his smile was sarcastic:

"Is it the thing you feared most in your life? The thing you dreaded most? The thing you regretted most? The thing you were happiest about? The thing you were most excited about? The thing you will never forget, even when you are old and dying?"

Yannick's eyes flickered, and he moved in an instant!

Swish.

At that moment, King Lausanne II felt a sharp pain in his right hand.

He lost his balance and collapsed in a pool of blood.

Clang.

Lausanne II's eyes widened: his right arm, along with his weapon, had come off his body and landed at his feet.

The fingers gripping the sword were still twitching on their own.

“Child, you are barbaric and rude, showing no respect for time and the past, and wantonly manipulating other people’s memories.”

Yannick flicked his arm, and the narrow sword shot out like lightning, piercing through Lausanne II's right arm, which was yearning to find its body.

His eyes flashed with disgust and anger, and the wound on his neck slowly healed.

"This is utterly rude."

The right arm, deprived of nutrients, twitched once, and finally withered and shriveled on the ground, like a dried-up corpse.

King Lausanne II ignored the missing arm and looked at the other person with a solemn expression.

This vampire...

He was able to get rid of his own superpower in less than a second.
Even that different prince takes several seconds to wake up, doesn't he?

Is it because my control has decreased due to my serious injuries?

Or is the other party just too powerful?

"How pitiful. After being reincarnated, no one of your kind, especially your elders, ever taught you these things, right?"

As if knowing what he was wondering about, Yannick sneered.

"So you don't know that the reason why superpowers that affect the mind are so rare is because most of these superpowers have complex and difficult-to-understand mechanisms, and more importantly, because they always affect ourselves first."

King Lausanne II was startled upon hearing this.

Yannick tapped his forehead.

"If you want people to trust you, you must treat them with sincerity."

"If you want someone to love you deeply, you must first give them your true heart."

"To instill fear and panic, you must experience terror firsthand."

"And if you want to turn someone into a madman, you have to experience what it feels like to be completely insane first."

And it's ten times, a hundred times, a thousand times, ten thousand times.

even more.

King Lausanne II was stunned.

"Therefore, the Nightwing King dislikes his fellow race members who possess rare psychic abilities and is forever prejudiced against them."

This same prejudice ultimately led to a major split between the Eastern and Western vampire clans.

Yannick shook his head:

"But the most ironic, ridiculous and absurd thing is that he himself is an expert in this field."

Spreading its wings of night, it descends with endless darkness.

At this point, Yannick Hollier chuckled:
"So in the end, Langley himself went mad."

Completely insane.

He's gone mad and is an enemy of the whole world.

He repeatedly emphasized the tragic fate represented by his surname.

“That’s why every vampire is strictly supervised and given a lot of warnings by experienced seniors when they start practicing psychic abilities,” Yannick twisted his neck, feeling the wound that had just healed, his eyes filled with complex emotions. “They must be cautious and restrained, always vigilant, protect themselves, and avoid endangering themselves or going astray.”

Losang II understood and looked up in relief.

“I see, just like me,” the assassin said softly. “Your ability also affects people’s…mind.”

A manipulator of psychic abilities.

This is why the other party was able to quickly get rid of the "evil whispers".

King Lausanne II frowned:

"Its operating mechanism probably makes my spirit and will relax without my realizing it at the most critical moment, causing me to fail at the last minute."

Ingenious, mysterious, and almost without a trace.

Yannick smiled slightly, neither confirming nor denying.

He looked at the 'comrade' on the ground who had lost his swordsmanship and whose fate was sealed.

“My special ability,” he said softly, “is called ‘Dissonance’.”

Disharmony...

Facing imminent death, King Lausanne II fell into deep thought.

I wonder what kind of swordsmanship could break through this supernatural ability?

But Yannick, while looking at his opponent, was thinking about something else entirely:

It's a pity that while this assassin possessed unparalleled martial arts skills, he was less vigilant and alert than the boy.

By the time he realized what was going on and reacted, it was too late, and he was powerless to resist.

Pity.

What a waste of such superb swordsmanship.

“Even now, are you still refusing my help?” Yannick raised an eyebrow.

King Lausanne II remained silent, simply turning his head away.

“It’s okay, you have no right to refuse anyway,” Yannick smiled slightly, not caring at all. “We’ll have a lot of fun.”

He extended his hand to the other person.

King Lausanne II gritted his teeth, preparing to make a final stand for his dignity.

At this moment.

"He's not your toy, kid."

Yannick's arm paused.

But his expression remained unchanged. He turned around with a smile, even taking the time to straighten his blood-stained and torn collar.

“It’s a pleasure to see you back, Count Li.”

King Lausanne II, nearly in despair, stared wide-eyed:

They saw Le Corleone, with a Far Eastern appearance, walking slowly towards them in the middle of the road.

Their footsteps were silent.

It's him.

It's that filthy species.

Lausanne II turned his head away disdainfully.

Ignoring Yannick, Li looked at the barely recognizable Lausanne II and frowned: "Even so, facing death, you still refuse to eat?"

His response was a disgusted "Pah!" from Lausanne II.

Yannick burst into laughter upon seeing this:
"Oh dear, if I had known you, Earl, would shamelessly come back, why did you leave in such an unpleasant manner?"

Li gently turned her head to look at Yannick, whose eyes were cunning.

"Or rather, you were already determined to back down and submit, but you only came back when the benefits were at their maximum, so as to reap all the rewards..."

Yannick squinted:
"Even someone as intelligent as Polaris must have been completely fooled by you, thinking he was asking you for help?"

Li did not respond.

“Just as Mother said, you seem dull and restrained, but in reality you are cunning and shrewd,” Yannick said, glancing intentionally or unintentionally at Lausanne II. “We have to be careful, don’t we?”

Just then, Li suddenly spoke:
"Young man, you have the same demeanor as your mother."

Yannick's eyelids twitched: "Oh, then I'm honored to be associated with..."

“But do you think that if you do this, Vissanlia will forget her grudges, treat you like her own child, and trust you like a right-hand man?” Li interrupted him, “as if she had never experienced the pain of losing her child?”

The count's voice was calm and even.

But this caused Yannick's expression to change slightly.

The head of Huanxinting's eyes turned cold in an instant, no longer relaxed and carefree.

Li said no more, and walked towards Lausanne II with a blank expression.

But Yannick flashed forward and blocked his way!
“Junior, you have overstepped your bounds.” Li remained calm and composed, as if he had known this all along.

But Yannick's expression remained indifferent:

“I just remembered, Lord Corleone, it seems this guy was brought to Emerald City by your ship?”

Li did not answer.

Yannick squinted:
"So, do you want to help him escape so he can continue his conspiracies, or do you want to simply silence him so he can't admit that you two were in cahoots?"

King Lausanne II lay quietly on the ground, staring blankly at the night sky.

Li didn't even bother to respond:
"Step aside."

"I cannot comply. I am acting on His Highness's orders to rid the people of this scourge. How could I possibly allow you to..."

"It's just us here, juniors, so stop hiding your true intentions," Li said coldly. "Even if you stir up trouble and add fuel to the fire, what will you gain?"

Yannick's smile also vanished:

“Very good, it seems you also know that at this moment, the key to the struggle in Emerald City lies in this piece. Whoever seizes this piece will control the situation.”

piece.

Therefore, I am ultimately just a pawn.

The pieces that follow the path of the game.

As he lay on the ground awaiting death, King Lausanne II unconsciously clenched his right fist—no, his right hand was gone.

Strange, is this what phantom limbs and phantom pain are?
So he squeezed even tighter.

Just like that kid who called himself a wandering knight before.

"Therefore, he is no longer just a pawn, but a bargaining chip."

Yannick sneered:

"So, in order to successfully acquire this bargaining chip and exchange it for the Star Kingdom's assistance, Li, what are you willing to give up?"

"It's not your place to ask me, junior."

"The diplomacy of the Kingdom of That Night—"

At that moment, both Li and Yannick's expressions changed!

The next second, the two of them swayed simultaneously!
Li knelt on one knee, eyes closed, his face showing bitterness.

"Please, Master, Grandmaster, Senior Brother... I can't, I can't..."

He murmured something, but it wasn't in the common language; it was in another, unfamiliar language:

"Let me out, let me out... let me out... it'll be over soon, it'll be over soon..."

Yannick fared slightly better; he covered his forehead, stepped back a few meters, and barely managed to regain his balance.

Damn it, this superpower is...

Having just recovered from his shock, he immediately turned his head, filled with a mixture of surprise and anger, to look in the other direction:
Before anyone knew it, King Losang II had stood up and gripped his sword with his left hand.

"You bastards..."

Despite his horrific injuries and unsteady gait, the vampire assassin stared with eyes full of resentment, determined to take another step.

Step by step, he struggled toward the Far East vampire kneeling on the ground, unconscious.

"You, you always have your own reasons, for all sorts of reasons, all sorts of interests, all sorts of ideals, haha, you fight endlessly, you scramble endlessly... thinking that with these reasons you have the right to control the fate of others without any burden, and even take pride in it, with a selfless look on your face as if you are ready to die for your cause, you, you make me nauseous, nauseous..."

Yannick frowned:
At this moment, King Losang II was dazed and confused. He held the sword with difficulty in his left hand and pointed it at Leon's head.

Li remained with her eyes tightly closed, lost in her dream, oblivious to everything: "No, it shouldn't be me, it shouldn't be me, I'm not worthy, I'm not worthy, forgive me, forgive me..."

Yannick was about to step forward, but when he saw Li's appearance, his eyes darted around and he stopped in his tracks.

Why did he try to stop it?
King Lausanne II's eyes were unfocused, his face filled with sorrow:
"But actually, you're nothing but bullshit."

Shit is not!

I'm just another pawn in this pathetic game of chess.

"You are all part of the destiny of this world, and you should all come to an end with it!"

King Losang II gritted his teeth and fiercely slashed out with his longsword!
Yannick, standing behind him, subtly curled the corners of his mouth into a smile.

laugh!
The sword pierced through flesh and blood.

The next second, King Losang II felt a blinding light before his eyes, so bright that he instinctively turned his head and closed his eyes!
Yannick, who was watching from the sidelines, was also startled and quickly retreated while shielding his eyes from the light.

what happened?
But with his eyes closed, King Losang II felt a piercing burning pain in his left hand, and the longsword immediately slipped from his grasp!

"Ahhh-"

He groaned in pain, feeling an indescribable wave of intense heat coming from ahead, making him want to cover his head and hide.

The heatwave caused the already weakened King Losang II to collapse to the ground, which briefly cleared his mind, and the assassin struggled to open his eyes.

He was immediately stunned.

It is fire.

Sometime later, Li disappeared, and in his place was a figure engulfed in flames.

The raging flames engulfed the opponent's limbs, body, and head, emitting waves of terrifying heat that were impossible to resist!
The fire-man took a step forward.

A heat wave then rolled in.

The soil and rocks it stepped on all melted, turning scalding hot and black, emitting ominous smoke.

The surrounding streets were illuminated as if it were daytime.

Within sight, even the air seemed to be twisting and contorting.

Startled, King Losang II roared furiously at him from the depths of his blood:

No! No! No! Run! Run! Run! Run, run! Run!

Just as Lobsang II opened his mouth, intending to crawl backward, everything went black.

Every part of his body shrank and stiffened the moment it came into contact with the high temperature, making it difficult for him to move.

It was burning painfully.

Unable to move.

He wanted to die but couldn't.

All the fighting techniques and skills that this body was once familiar with were completely suppressed and vanished in that instant by the instinctive fear within.

No.

King Lausanne II trembled, and only now did he truly feel utterly desperate.

No.

Yannick, who had retreated to a distance, was equally astonished. He stared blankly at the terrifying "fire man" slowly moving forward in the street, scorching everything around him.

What bothered him even more was not the scene itself, but what he discovered:
My body is trembling uncontrollably.

Every organ and every piece of flesh belonging to the vampires within his body was frantically urging him to turn back and run away.

fire.

That's fire.

It's fire!
It is all the vampires in this world, except for the sun...

The second enemy.

The next second, the blinding flames on the "fire man" suddenly dimmed and then went out.

The surrounding scenery became clear again.

Yannick's eyes widened:
After the flames died down, what remained in the embers was a humanoid monster wearing simple metal armor, its flesh glowing red and twisted.

It grabbed Lausanne II by the neck with one hand and lifted him up with ease.

The vampire assassin trembled, powerless to resist.

"You see it."

The monster spoke; its voice was hoarse and unpleasant, like tearing silk.
"This is my true self, my essence before I achieved immortality."

The monster twisted its neck, revealing red skin that looked like it had healed from burns. Its head and face were pitted and hairless, with layers of tissue, distorted features, and no human-like appearance.

His appearance was repulsive.

Ugly and hateful.

Like a demon.

The monster—the former Earl Li—let out a nasty laugh:

"I was once a pawn, tormented on the chessboard of fate, experiencing confusion, self-doubt, and struggles all the way to where I am today."

Those were the blessings and curses left for him during his life when he was still human.

Lingering forever.

There is no escape.

It is inescapable.

“Little brat,” Li said, his body still bearing scattered embers and sparks despite being burned beyond recognition, “your little complaints are far from enough.”

Losang II, who was being strangled, felt a burning sensation on his neck that was suffocating him. He wanted to reach out and resist, but his whole body, starting from his skin, would stiffen and lose control as soon as he got even slightly close to the still warm Li, and he could only want to retreat.

Not only that, but every wisp of smoke, every ember that rose, and every spark that exploded on the other person's body, on the road he walked on, and even in the air, would make him tremble violently and be filled with fear.

Until Li scoffed dismissively and threw him, who was cowering in a ball, to the ground.

It's like throwing away a rag.

Having escaped the hellish heat, King Lausanne II trembled and was finally able to move.

But once his reason returned, he felt more shame than pain.

"Why, why..."

King Lausanne II looked up in disbelief.

"Fire, fire," he stammered, trying to comprehend the illogical events unfolding before him, his heart pounding with fear. "But how could this be..."

Isn't fire the nemesis of immortal beings and all evil spirits?
Historically, wasn't the way people identified and dealt with vampires to burn them alive?
But this old vampire...

Why, why could he...?

This is completely contrary to common sense!

"Although I had heard of it, this is the first time I have seen it, and it is truly breathtaking."

The person who spoke was Yannick.

Looking at the firelight left behind by the other party, the head of the Hollier family subconsciously raised his arms to protect himself, cautiously approaching, occasionally shrinking back as if to avoid the sparks that flew up.

"Historically, there have been vampires who could control fire, but none have been able to be fearless of flames, clothe themselves in fire, or even be reborn from the ashes..."

He looked at the monstrous-faced count of the Night Kingdom with mixed feelings:

"Only this one person."

Li didn't speak or turn around.

"The last of the four terrifying wings under the Night Lord's command, or rather, the foundation of the four wings."

Yannick was both nervous and wary:

"Logistics officer—that's just a fancy title; to be precise, he's the executioner—'Red Wing' Le Corleone."

Bloodlines.

Fearless of flames.

They were clothed in fire.

Rebirth from the ashes?

King Lausanne II stared wide-eyed, his expression as if he had heard someone say to him:

Sheep prey on wolves.

Insects eat birds to survive.

Pikas prey on eagles and falcons.

"According to my mother, he was a blacksmith when he was alive."

blacksmith?

Lausanne II was still unable to dispel his doubts.

but……

"But he was no ordinary blacksmith."

Under the shocked gaze of King Losang II, the vampire councilor stared intently at the expressionless "Red Wing," his tone grave:

"Legend has it that he was the first legendary anti-demon weapon in the final battle—the Rising Sun Saber..."

Yannick squinted:
"The billet caster".