Kingdom Bloodline

Chapter 769 A Glimpse

At this very moment, in the Corpse Demon Pit, the wooden dungeon door that imprisoned King Losang II was silently wide open.

Inside the door, it was pitch black.

Damn!

Miranda was in a heavy mood.

King Lausanne II has indeed escaped.

Outside the door, Glov lay slumped on the ground, eyes closed, motionless. His sword remained on the table, unsheathed.

Not far away, Rolf lay on his side on a straw mat, his fate unknown.

As for DD... he's nowhere to be seen.

The makeshift alarm bell still hangs on the frame, its rope dangling low, quietly and obediently waiting for someone to pull it.

Miranda's eyes slowly widened.

No.

Have they fallen victim to the vampire assassin's "evil whispers" once again?
However, that ability had a limited range. They had tested it, and unless King Losang II escaped from the dungeon, it shouldn't be able to affect the guards outside the door...

Moreover, both Golov and Rolf had experienced that kind of superpower, knew how to resist and deal with it, and always carried "Lost River Shrimp" with them...

Besides, didn't Cassandra say that the black stone lock could trap even a master of the extreme realm, and that he absolutely couldn't break free?

Wasn't it said that King Lausanne II was critically injured and dying, and also suffered from severe anemia, making it difficult for him to exert his full strength?

How come they let him escape so soon after she left?
Not good, very bad.

Miranda was filled with doubt, but she had no time to complain.

The female swordsman gritted her teeth, resisting the urge to rush around the corner. She calmly and cautiously observed her surroundings, confirmed the environment, and eliminated any threats.

Safety.

The next second, she stood up, took a step, rushed around the corner, and headed straight for the alarm bell!

The dangerous criminal has escaped unexpectedly, so she must quickly notify the outermost sentries, relay the message to the prince and the terrifying blade, and immediately arrange a capture plan.

But just as she was about to reach the alarm bell, Miranda felt a chill run down her spine and her hair stood on end!

The Pegasus Movement takes an abrupt turn, sharp and high-pitched.

This is bad—Miranda's heart tightened—there's an ambush!

In the blink of an eye, the female swordsman, who was already on guard, lowered her shoulder and stepped back, then swept her sword horizontally!
"clang!"

A crisp metallic clang rang out, and at the critical moment, the sword Eagle Soaring barely managed to deflect a sure-kill attack!
Knife.

Despite being a seasoned veteran, Miranda remained calm and collected during the sudden attack, managing to make out the enemy's weapons with just a quick glance.

The opponent was using a knife.

The curvature looks a bit odd.

It arrives faster and more unpredictably than ordinary swords and knives.

But she managed to defend herself.

Miranda adjusted her center of gravity, rotated her hands, and used her waist and back to propel the sword back.

The eagle soared through the wind, its cry mournful.

The enemy's sneak attack failed, and their rhythm was disrupted, while her calculated counterattack was aimed straight at his vitals—wait a minute?

Miranda stared wide-eyed at the empty space before her.

"call out!"

The next second, the female swordsman missed her target with her sword. Due to her miscalculation, she was pulled two steps to the side by the eagle's flight before regaining her footing and returning to a defensive stance, looking somewhat disheveled.

The rhythm of the Pegasus Melody abruptly stops, taking a sharp turn for the worse.

Miranda gritted her teeth and exerted her strength, quickly turning around to prevent her opponent from other directions—hmm?

What about people?

Miranda looked around in surprise and disbelief:

Where have people gone?

Miranda was on high alert, looking around in all directions, her sword tip pointed at every possible hiding place.

but……

Miranda circled around several times, but her field of vision remained empty.

The area around the sentry post was quiet.

Just like before.

Only the Pegasus Symphony within his body rose up continuously, restless and uneasy.

Where are the enemies?
The enemy has vanished?
Miranda was incredulous.

She immediately retreated quickly, leaning against the wall to reduce the pressure on her defense while thinking quickly.

First, she was ambushed.

Even though she carefully observed before rushing out, she still failed to find any trace of the enemy's ambush.

Secondly, the enemy disappears without a trace after striking once.

If it weren't for her still-healing arm injury, the excruciating pain from the heavy blow, and the fleeting glimpse of the blade, she might have even wondered if she was hallucinating, or if the enemy had created some kind of illusion.

So, what exactly happened with the vanished enemy?

[Take our fellow disciples from the neighboring Chenhuan lineage as an example. They are all masters of concealment, lulling their opponents into a false sense of security, waiting for the opportune moment to strike—masters of ambush.]

At that moment, Miranda's pupils flickered.

[When facing them, there's no need to waste time being surprised or investigating how they hide and disappear without a trace—that's a secret technique their countless ancestors spent thousands of years and countless lives refining and perfecting, with countless variations that are impossible to defend against. We neither need nor can we try to use our weaknesses to outmaneuver them.]

Inside the Tower of the End, the cool and indifferent voice of Teacher Shatil, the ultimate inheritor of the Pegasus lineage, rang in her ears:

Don't think that by remaining constantly vigilant and preventing the enemy from finding a way in, you can achieve a flawless and impenetrable defense. That's simply impossible; it's just the wishful thinking of those brainless behemoths from the Ironblood and Storm factions, who are always on guard against thieves. Know that they are often better at stalling and waiting than you are. If you insist on waiting until they make their move, believe me, it will be a time when you are already powerless and unable to resist.

Miranda suddenly understood something.

King Lausanne II did not escape on his own.

Miranda took a deep breath, her mind clear:

Golov and his unsheathed sword, and Rolf's posture, clearly indicating he was taking a nap...

Aside from Lausanne II's special abilities, they may have been caught off guard and taken down by their opponents.

They may not have even seen what the enemy looked like.

What you should pay attention to, and what you can control, is the timing of when these opponents will "appear."

It turned out to be the case.

This style...

[These unfathomable assassins.]

Yes—Miranda was certain in her heart:
He's an assassin.

Without a doubt, she was now facing a highly skilled assassin who had infiltrated the tunnel.

With that thought, Miranda exhaled, no longer expending energy searching every corner of her field of vision.

Since the enemy is an assassin.

Since he has been hiding his tracks.

He was just waiting to strike her, to kill her in one blow.

And what Miranda Aarond had to do, what she could do…

[And relying on observation and rhythm to seize opportunities, and even create them, is precisely what the Tianma lineage excels at.]

Seize the opportunity.

Create an opportunity.

Miranda slowly rotated her wrist, her eyes flashing sharply, but then she suddenly remembered something:
Taking the initiative to control the pace and pressure the enemy is Chromassa's forte.

Miranda unconsciously curled the corners of her mouth into a smile.

Don't try to guess when your opponent will appear.

Don't "wait" for your opponent to appear.

The next second, Miranda decisively dropped his defense, left the wall, and rushed towards Golov and Rolf!

She needs to create opportunities and "decide" when her opponent will appear.

After taking only two steps, Miranda felt her hair stand on end again, and a chill ran through her!
Sure enough, the assassin arrived!
This time, it was from the side and rear.

"Of course," Miranda knew perfectly well.

A moving objective, like a moving army, needs time to stop, turn around, and reorganize...

As an adversary, this is the perfect time to launch an attack!
Just like in the first round, Miranda lowered her shoulder, swung her sword, and turned to face the enemy's second attack.

call out!
But just as the blade flashed and Miranda prepared to parry, she frowned!
This knife...something's not right.

Miranda's pupils contracted as she faced the reappearing blade:
The assassin's second strike was faster, stronger, and more cunning than the first!

Oops.

She was too late.

She can't catch up.

She will be hit by her opponent.

She can't avoid it!

In that instant, Miranda, who was desperately swinging her sword, understood:
The opponent's first attack failed to kill her.

But he successfully probed her movements and perhaps even carefully adjusted his second, seemingly inevitable sneak attack.

A fatal blow!
As the strange knife drew ever closer, Miranda roared and twisted her wrist!
The celestial melody flows once more.

But this time, its rhythm is different.

There were two things he hadn't anticipated about this assassin—Miranda gritted her teeth, staring intently at the blurry figure wielding the strange knife before her:
First of all, the timing of the assassin's attack was not chosen by him.

It was Miranda who chose it herself.

She was able to completely anticipate and even control the rhythm of this round!

Secondly, dealing with an assassin like you...

What's the point of defense!
Miranda summoned the courage of someone who had survived a battle and swung her longsword swiftly!

"call out--"

The next moment, Yingxiang let out a mournful cry, but it was not to block or resist.

Instead, it slashes diagonally, ignoring the opponent's killing move, and clashes with the enemy's blade.

Go straight for the opponent's vitals!

The enemy's blurry figure swayed slightly, as if hesitating.

With bloodshot eyes and a fierce determination, Miranda charged forward recklessly, confronting the assassin head-on!
come!

I'm not going to defend myself anymore, I'm not going to block anymore.

No more alive!
The symphony of celestial horses played faster and faster, and Miranda thought with a touch of madness:

I was stabbed first.

Then it's your turn to be struck by the sword!

Let's see who's more ruthless.

Let's see who survives!

In the blink of an eye, a sword and a blade flashed by like a fleeting shadow!

"clang!"

A piercing bang startled Miranda, jolting her out of her desperate struggle.
Her neck was intact, not slashed by the enemy.

Her sword strike was ineffective, as it was skillfully parried by the enemy.

But Miranda's eyes lit up, and she smiled.

It worked.

The assassin eventually gave up, not wanting to gamble with her luck.

A gamble that results in death for another injury.

So he went back to defend.

Since that's the case—Miranda's eyes sharpened, and although she hadn't sheathed her sword, her aura suddenly changed.

This time, it wasn't Miranda guarding him.

It was the assassin defending Miranda.

The next moment, the symphony of the Pegasus changed its tune!
"clang!"

Miranda flipped her hand and launched a counter-attack, landing right on the moment the assassin was about to move, forcing him to parry again!

"Ding!"

This time, with no obstruction and plenty of time, Miranda finally saw the enemy's strange blade in its entirety:

The blade of this knife has a unique curve, the opposite of that of ordinary blades.

It bends downwards along the direction in which the assassin grips the hilt of the knife.

It turned out to be the case.

In that instant, Miranda's mind raced:

If the timing is right, this curved blade can strike its target faster than ordinary swords when wielded.

This is why the assassin's second strike is something the attacker can neither catch up with nor defend against.

If she continues with the habits from the first round, trying to take this hit, or even foolishly waiting for the opponent to make a move in preparation for a counterattack...

Miranda felt a lingering fear:
Nine times out of ten, her neck will be ripped open. Of course, there are gains and losses; besides enhancing the offense, such a curved blade will likely be more disadvantageous for defense.

So now...

Miranda's expression turned cold.

The next second, the symphony of the Pegasus had accumulated enough material and began to play the next movement, beautiful and melodious.

Miranda's Eagle Soaring Spear instantly changed its style, shifting from a lingering, drawn-out approach to a sharp, aggressive attack!

"clang!"

In the nick of time, the assassin parried a deadly attack that Miranda launched with a sudden burst of speed, leaving him looking somewhat disheveled.

Now—Miranda's offensive was fierce—she had gambled her life and forced her opponent into a fierce battle, where swords clashed and there was no time to retreat, let alone use his assassin's stealth skills.

That's right, the assassin hid perfectly, the ambush was terrifying, and I could only passively take the beating.

But once you get into a prolonged fight...

Let's see where you hide!
But as long as you face the enemy head-on and engage in close combat, you can't defend anything with that reverse-bending assassin's knife!
After all, the opponent was an assassin, not a swordsman who was used to exchanging blows.

You're an assassin...

What kind of defense do you need?
"clang!"

In the blink of an eye, after only a few exchanges, Miranda's eyes narrowed:
It must be said that this assassin was highly skilled in movement and even her knife skills were not bad. Several times she almost managed to counterattack successfully and create distance between herself and the assassin.

However, the symphony of the heavenly horse, with its soaring spirit and overwhelming momentum, perfectly captured the rhythm of the battle:
Miranda's offensive was extremely fast and relentless. Every time her opponent was about to disengage, she would launch an attack, either tricky or fierce, forcing him to either desperately defend or dodge in a sorry state, never allowing him to create distance, let alone leave her sight.

As Miranda clung tightly to the assassin, a realization dawned on her:
After exchanging swords with King Lausanne II, her vision and experience greatly improved. Unconsciously, she fine-tuned her movements and habits, making each sword strike more perfect.

No wonder both Teacher Xia Tier and Master Shao said that fighting to the death with an extreme master is a rare opportunity.

Of course, that's assuming you survive.

The next second, the assassin was forced back another step, with the wall right behind him, leaving him with no way to escape.

Miranda's gaze sharpened, and her swordplay instantly became more expansive and powerful, echoing the Pegasus Melody with a resounding emphasis.

"Shh!"

The eagle soared with a mournful cry, swooping down on the assassin's chest!
But at that very moment, seeing no way to avoid it, the assassin suddenly changed his actions.

He turned around, leaped off the wall, and soared into the air!
Miranda frowned, and her longsword slashed upwards in a swift motion—her opponent was attacking with both legs off the ground, which was a major taboo in combat.

After all, there's nowhere to use as leverage to dodge in the air.

Unless this assassin has grown wings—hmm?

Miranda's eyes widened.

The assassin in mid-air flipped her blade, bent down and faced Ying Xiang at an angle, the side of her curved blade striking her sword with exquisite skill yet a close call!
"Boom!"

Miranda couldn't retract her sword in time, let out a muffled groan, and took a trembling step back—her opponent was on higher ground, and this head-on collision was going to be tough on her.

With this, the assassin was lifted up almost upside down by Miranda, and gracefully suspended in mid-air for a fraction of a second in an incredible pose.

Like a flying fish leaping out of the water and gazing downwards.

At that moment, one above the other, one high and one low, the assassin and Miranda's eyes met in mid-air.

The former had his head and face covered, revealing only a pair of cold eyes.

That figure, those movements...

This desperate, last-ditch dodge...

Miranda's arms ached terribly, and she couldn't believe it:

Is this something a human could do?
In that instant, the symphony took a sharp turn for the worse, becoming cold and abrupt.

Miranda suddenly felt a chill rise again!

Oops.

The next instant, the assassin pushed off the wall with his hind legs, using the momentum to propel himself forward, and his curved blade shot out like lightning!

Miranda was caught off guard and could only instinctively raise her sword to barely block the slash that came from the sky.

"clang!"

The eagle was propelled by a tremendous force and crashed into her chest.

The symphony of the heavenly horse came to an abrupt end.

In that instant, Miranda felt a sudden jolt, lost her balance, tumbled backward, and fell into the sewage ditch.

Water splashed everywhere.

Miranda's eyes were filled with stars, and her heart was filled with bitterness.

She guessed correctly.

The opponent, being an assassin, excels at offense but is not good at defense.

Miranda struggled to lift her chest, bringing her mouth and nose above the water, and gasped for breath.

She managed to turn over, bracing herself against the ground. Ignoring the foul smell of the filthy water covering her, she only managed to touch Yingxiang at the bottom of the water before trembling as she tried to get up.

But she also missed the point.

Miranda recalled that incredible, unpredictable aerial attack.

He was an assassin...

What the hell do you need defense for?
At that moment, a sharp pain shot through Miranda's chest and abdomen!

"what--"

Miranda groaned in pain, her face contorted, her legs buckled, and she was forced to kneel back down in the calf-high sewage.

thump!
Ah ah ah ah ah……

Miranda gritted her teeth to suppress her cries and groans of pain, and she reached out with trembling hands to touch her chest and abdomen.

The next second, Miranda felt a chill run down her spine.

Damn.

Damn it!
Enduring the excruciating pain with every breath, Miranda stared incredulously at the specks of bright red appearing between her fingers:

That last stab...

I failed to block it?

Miranda lowered her head, looking at the armor on her chest and abdomen, which was gradually spreading crimson.

It turned out to be the case.

As the swords clashed, the enemy's blade deftly and treacherously veered off course, deflecting the parry and piercing diagonally into the gaps in her armor.

It pierced below the ribs.

It penetrates deep into the internal organs.

Miranda clutched her wound tightly, trying to get up, but the excruciating pain forced her to kneel back into the sewage.

Damn it, damn it...

This kind of injury...

She had seen too much on the battlefield and knew what kind of wound this was.

If she immediately used her power to protect vital organs, tighten wounds, stop bleeding, and then rest quietly in place to calm her breathing, avoiding strenuous exercise, and then wait for rescue to carry her away from the battlefield to a safe place, find the best doctor and the best medicine to keep her alive, perform surgery, and stitch her up, relying on medical skills, divine magic, and most importantly, a little bit of the blessing of the sunset goddess...

It's unlikely they'll survive.

Miranda struggled to breathe, feeling each breath excruciating pain from the wounds inside her body.

Otherwise, even the power of termination within the lineage of miracles, capable of healing severe injuries, would likely be powerless to reverse the situation.

A pair of legs suddenly appeared in her field of vision.

Miranda shuddered and struggled to lift her head:

It was that assassin.

He was dressed in black, his head and face covered, making it impossible to discern his figure or appearance in the dimly lit tunnel.

Oh, right, the battle...

she……

Miranda thought desperately:
She lost.

From the moment she made her move to the end, she couldn't even last a single exchange.

The assassin walked slowly forward, stepping into the foul-smelling, filthy sewage without hesitation, and stopped a foot in front of her.

"The Symphony of the Pegasus"

The assassin spoke softly, but his voice was incredibly hoarse, as if he was deliberately trying to mask his tone.

"The power of the Tower of Termination..."

Looking at the heavily wounded Miranda, the other man raised his peculiar curved blade, glanced at the crimson bloodstains on the tip, and said disdainfully:
"It's nothing."

Enraged by these words, Miranda endured the excruciating pain and tried to stand up and fight to the death.
"Fuck you—"

But she suddenly swayed, her strength failing her.

Wow!

Miranda fell helplessly back into the water, creating a splash and ripples.

"Stay put and kneel properly."

The assassin stood beside her, looking down at her, his voice hoarse:
"Get up, and you will die."

No.

She can't stay here.

The pain and severe injury were seriously affecting her thoughts. Miranda shook her head vigorously, trying to say something.

She still has a mission: Hillary is still in hiding and on the run.

She can't leave her alone...

But the next second, Miranda's expression changed, and she subconsciously gritted her teeth!
"Cough-cough-"

Miranda coughed violently, and a large amount of blood seeped from between her teeth and kept flowing down from the corners of her mouth.

Oops.

Miranda stared blankly at the drops of blood on the water's surface, unconsciously releasing her hand from her wound.

Internal bleeding...

Is she going to die here?

Miranda's consciousness was somewhat scattered.

It seems she has truly let down her teacher, Ms. Chaltier.

My own fantastical symphony... I really can't beat this guy.

But... just one glance?
For a moment, she suddenly felt like laughing.

It was just a brief encounter.

She had exhausted all her strength and managed to pull the assassin out of the shadows and into a situation where she was in a better position.

Miranda's vision was a little blurry, and she shook her head as best she could.

Even in a head-on confrontation, in a positional battle, it only took her a short time to defeat her...

A face-to-face meeting.

[Masters at the pinnacle of skill are formidable opponents... Among them, pinnacle assassins are the most mysterious and terrifying of all pinnacle warriors...]

Imagine a master who has reached the pinnacle of skill, yet devotes all their talent, willpower, energy, and time to that final, decisive blow...

In a daze, Miranda was slightly startled.

Facing them, you have no opportunity to prepare beforehand, gather intelligence, let alone adapt to your opponents and react accordingly during battle...

Chaltier's voice rang out from afar:
Your encounter with them will most likely be just a fleeting glance.

Miranda's gaze grew increasingly unfocused, but at that moment she understood something.

[A single glance can decide your life or death.]

A brief encounter.

The dying female swordsman let out a bitter laugh and coughed up more blood.

Extreme conditions.

It turned out to be the case.

Presumably, Golov and Rolf...

They were also taken down by him in a single move, weren't they?
Miranda looked up, trembling, trying her best to see the assassin in front of her.

Get a clear look at that incredibly unique curved blade.

The pain in my chest and abdomen gradually subsided.

The field of vision became increasingly dim.

But Miranda felt increasingly tired, and even her eyelids felt heavier.

The only advice I can offer is...

Teacher Xia Tier's voice suddenly tightened:

Survive, Mira.

At that moment, Miranda's vision went black, and she felt all the strength in her body leave her.

[Survive, live, survive that first encounter with the Extreme Assassins...]

That's right.

The guy wielding the curved sword is...

Extreme Assassin.

(End of this chapter)