Imperial Crown.

Chapter 327 The Unused Backhand
Lord Faraday was sitting on a makeshift podium.

He was not tall, but was quite obese, three times fatter than Vesdon in the past, so that his armor looked like a huge cocoon.

Although he was already 36 years old, his face was still wrinkle-free with fat. His fat, carrot-like fingers pinched a silk handkerchief to wipe the sweat off the tip of his nose:

"This damn sun is so poisonous."

"Lord Palmer, we can't delay any longer. If Raven still can't take down the Wall of Sighs by the time he gets back, I'm afraid I'll die in the sun."

Lord Palmer, the man sitting next to him, looked nothing like Faraday.

He is only in his early 50s, but he looks like he is 90. He is frail and has obvious age spots on his chicken-skinned face.

Her lips were pursed like an old lady's, but when she opened her mouth she revealed a row of white teeth:

"Haha, there's nothing I can do. After all, my Wolf-Faced Legion is not as good as your 'Volcano Legion'. It's normal for it to be a little more difficult."

"But don't worry. There were only about 5000 defenders in the city. In the past few days, I'm afraid there are less than 3000..."

"Thank God, you mean, we can get the Wall of Sighs back today?" Faraday wiped his nose and then his forehead. He put the handkerchief in front of his eyes and saw a conspicuous yellow oil stain.

"Who can say for sure about war?" Palmer said without making any promises:

"Come to think of it, I haven't tasted the delicious Angel's Tears for a long time since the locust plague last year."

"I hope there is still some stock inside the high walls. Then, maybe I can enjoy a feast soon."

Faraday chuckled:
"If that's the case, then once I capture Raven, I will force him to hand over the formula for Angel's Tears so that Earl Palmer will never be short of wine."

Faraday was a marquis and Palmer was an earl. Although their titles differed by one level, the size of their fiefdoms, financial resources, and strength were almost the same, and it was hard to tell who was higher when they got along with each other.

This time, under the order of the Cabinet and His Royal Highness the Grand Duke, the Wall of Sighs was retracted and Raven's way back was blocked.

According to the cabinet's arrangement, although Faraday had a higher title, Palmer was older and more stable after all, so in principle Palmer was in charge.

However, Palmer did not use this status to exert pressure, but instead divided their respective responsibilities with Faraday from the beginning.

Palmer was responsible for taking down the Wall of Sighs, while Faraday took all the credit for destroying Raven.

Of course, both of them knew that war was no joke, so they were not really unwilling to help each other.

The Wall of Sighs was only the responsibility of Palmer, and Faraday's troops were not involved, mainly because the wall was limited in width and only so many troops could be deployed.

But a considerable number of catapults and siege vehicles were supported by Faraday.

"Raven will be back near the Wall of Sighs in seven days at most." Faraday said with a hint of urgency:
"Your Wolf-Faced Legion is not bad in combat, but it is still difficult to make the final decision."

Palmer is not as stubborn as his appearance suggests:

"Haha, of course. That's why I asked 'that person' to join today's siege sequence."

"Him?" Faraday was stunned: "One attack, 1 gold coins."

“Hopefully he gets his money’s worth.”

……

A ghost, a blue ghost wandering on the city wall.

He was wearing a blue robe belonging to the Principality of Eivor, and under the robe was armor covered with magic patterns. The armor exhaled a heart-pounding bleak gray mist.

His footsteps were light and silent, and every swing of his overly long knight's sword took a life.

The blood of those he killed would turn into red light and flow down his sword onto the body, leaving behind only a shriveled corpse.

"Huh..." A wisp of gray mist emerged from his visor, and his cold eyes swept over a group of soldiers, finally locking onto a figure who was fighting bloody battles dozens of meters away.

Raising his sword, he slowly approached his target.

Link was unaware of being stared at by the blue ghost.

He held a spear, holding the butt of the spear in one hand and the shaft in the other, and pushed hard. The spear knocked the long knife out of the hand of the wolf-faced warrior in front of him, and pierced his throat with a "pu" sound.

Even so, the wolf-faced warrior was not dead yet. He grabbed the spear with one hand and wielded the sword with the other, aiming at Link's throat.

boom--

A ball of fighting spirit flame burst out from the tip of the gun, enveloping the wolf-faced warrior. A strong burnt smell filled the air, completely destroying his life.

Link drew his gun and watched the wolf-faced warrior fall to the ground. He used the tip of his gun to lift up his visor and saw a face that looked like a mummy.

The skin was dry and stiff, not caused by the burns; the nose was completely bald, the tip of the nose disappeared, leaving only two empty holes; the teeth were yellowed on the atrophied gums.

"What the hell is this?"

Link's mood grew heavier.

These members of the Wolf-Faced Legion are like this. Their strength and endurance are far greater than that of ordinary people. They seem to know no fear and no fatigue.

Their vitality is extremely strong. Unless their torsos are smashed or their heads are chopped off, they can still fight for at least 5 minutes even if their hearts are pierced.

It was because of them that the defenders suffered such heavy losses.

Once these wolf-faced warriors climbed onto the city wall, the defenders of the Snow Maple Legion were no match for them. Often, they would sacrifice six or seven lives before being able to kill them.

Even if the Eagle Army took action, they would suffer losses if they were careless - the gap in equipment, leather armor versus iron armor, could not be made up by tacit cooperation alone.

What's more, the shooting tower not far away was still shooting arrows continuously.

Suddenly, a sound of breaking through the air was heard. Link was startled and immediately jumped to the side with both legs.

thump—

A feather arrow wrapped in green swift wind brushed past the place where Link had been standing before, and slammed heavily into the city wall. The power of the flying feather arrow fragments did not decrease at all, and instantly penetrated into the bodies of the two nearby defenders, taking their lives.

Link turned his head and saw a tall woman on a shooting tower more than 100 meters away, waving the enchanted longbow in her hand provocatively.

His silver hair flutters in the wind and his skin is as black as ink.

That seemed to be the legendary drow, that is, the dark elves who had fallen into evil.

How could there be drow here?!
Before he had time to think about it, Link suddenly heard a familiar scream!

"Go away——"

That was Howell's voice. The long sword in his hand was burning with shining bright fighting spirit and was aimed at a blue figure who was walking towards him.

Although he looked brave and strong, Howell's trembling legs betrayed his inner feelings.

The blue figure was wrapped in gray mist, as if walking in another world.

The defenders in front of him could not avoid being slaughtered whether they fought or fled.

No matter who it is, one strike of the sword will knock them to the ground.

It's like the god of death walking on earth!

"It's you!"

Link recognized the man's identity.

The ace of the Eivor Principality Mercenary Guild, the third-level shadow knight Joz, known as the "Ghost of the Fog Night"!

His background and origins are unclear, but his methods are ruthless and his wealth is high.

Not only does he have outstanding personal strength, but while wearing the second-level enchanted "Shadow Mist Armor", his sword "Sharp Blood" is a true third-level enchanted weapon!

"Howell, retreat!" Link roared, his fiery fighting armor ignited, and he rushed towards Joz with his spear!

But it's too late.

Joz took a light step forward, raised the sharp blood sword in his hand and thrust it forward without any fanfare. At that moment, a layer of shadow covered the blade of the sword, as if it had disappeared from the real world!

Howell's eyes froze. He had clearly seen Joz's movements, but his body felt as heavy as a lead block. He wanted to block, but the weapon in his hand did not move at all.

He could only watch as the mist approached his throat!

hum-

On Howell's chest, an amulet suddenly lit up, forming a dazzling barrier of light.

This is the magic amulet that Viscount Broca bought to save his son's life. It can release the second-level magic "Magic Shield" once when encountering a fatal attack.

The shield is like a tortoise shell, with strands of green magic energy intertwined on it.

The mist floated onto the shield, creating a tiny hole in it. Just as it was about to use all its strength, it suddenly pulled it back, leaving a shadow in the air and stabbing again!
The two swords merged into one and stabbed into the hole again without any deviation. The shield immediately shattered into pieces like dry earth!
Howell felt his blood run cold. This was the most basic double stab in longsword swordplay, also known as the drawer sword, but he had never thought that someone could practice this swordplay to such a level!

It is no less powerful than a combat skill!

But the shield's instantaneous blocking allowed Howell to finally raise his sword to block in front of him.

Shine——

With a slight contact, the sword was bent to the limit and hit Howell's chest at an exaggerated angle, leaving a dent as big as a bowl in his armor.

Howell was like a rag bag, blood spurting out of his mouth, and he flew back!!!

He fell to the ground with a thud, and it was unknown whether he was alive or dead.

"Howell!!!" Link's face had turned red.

If Howell died here, then the Sighing Wall would really fall into the hands of the enemy today!

Without time to think about it, the spear in Link's hand burst into flames and stabbed towards Joz's face!

"Good skill!"

Joz's originally cold eyes became more lively.

He himself is not a talented person. He was born as a mercenary with scarce resources, so he practiced basic martial arts as proficiently as combat skills.

And he saw the same qualities in Link.

Although the shot came with great force, Link's legs were extremely stable and the tip of the gun did not shake at all. Both the speed and power could be called perfect.

"Unfortunately, it's only level 2."

Joz drew his sword again, and the sharp blood sword pointed steadily at the blade of Link's spear.

Dark mist enveloped the sharp blood sword, and the surging fighting spirit instantly blew away the flames on the spear. As long as the two intersected, Link's spear would be split in half.

Link, having lost his weapon, will no longer be qualified to fight Joz.

But at this moment, the gun tip that was originally pointing straight forward suddenly jumped. The tip of the gun that was supposed to fall directly on the sword blade deviated a bit and went straight to Joz's head!

A hint of surprise appeared in Qiao Zi's eyes.

He didn't expect that this powerful shot could have such a change!
This is Link's plan.

He knew that given the difference in strength between the two, even if he used his fighting skills, he would only bring humiliation upon himself.

If you want to fight with Joz, you can only compete with your reaction, speed and basic skills!

The hard work of the past seven years has finally paid off at this moment.

The tip of the spear passed over the sword and landed heavily on Joz's helmet!

The helmet was suddenly covered with a layer of shadow. It was Joz's fighting spirit armor, which was intertwined with the enchantment of his own shadow mist heavy armor to form a solid protection.

The flames of fighting spirit rose from the spear, but there was no way to dispel it.

Keng——

The tip of the spear landed on the armor.

Joz's look went from astonishment to horror.

Because he suddenly discovered that Link's power was far beyond his expectations, and his own protective fighting spirit and second-level enchanted armor alone were not enough to defend against this all-out attack!
The armor was deformed and twisted at this moment, breaking the corners of the eyebrows and emitting a wisp of blood mist.

At this moment, wisps of shadows gushed out like steam.

Behind Joz, there was a deep curtain like a door.

Wuhun!

The next moment, the martial spirit disintegrated and turned into gray-black streams of light that rebounded into Joz's body, leaving black and white light marks on his armor.

The martial spirit enters the body and turns into battle patterns!
At this moment, Link felt that he was not stabbing a person, but the Wall of Sighs!

The spear tip shattered instantly, and the feedback force turned the entire spear into debris on the ground!
Link's mouth was full of bitterness:

"Level 4!?"

How could it be the fourth level! ?
When did Joz break through to the fourth level! ?

His feet slowly lifted off the ground, and Joz's figure was completely covered by shadows. His voice echoed dully:

"You have enough pride to push me to this extent."

"I was thinking of giving Eric a surprise on the battlefield."

Although he tried to sound calm, there was undisguised anger and a hint of fear in Joz's eyes.

If the battle pattern had not been opened in time, I would probably have really fallen into the hands of this second-level extraordinary!

"But it would be the same if I just killed you."

Before he finished speaking, he slowly raised his hand, and a wind made of shadows spread out, covering the entire section of the city wall, making it dim and dull.

And Joz's figure disappeared into thin air.

Link grabbed a long sword from the ground and used it to protect himself, feeling a sense of despair.

He knew that the Wall of Sighs might be difficult to defend, but Howell's life or death was unknown now. If he died here too, then the backup plan he left behind would be completely useless!

There was the sound of wind in his ears, and the sword in Link's hand burst into flames and slashed backwards fiercely.

Cut through the air with one sword.

Joz's voice rang behind Link's ears: "Your swordsmanship is far inferior to your spearmanship."

Link turned around and slashed again, but he could only cut air.

"Why, are you so anxious?" Qiao Zi said, "Don't worry, I won't let you see the fall of the Wall of Sighs."

"Before that, I will slowly torture you to death."

Link seemed to have fallen into despair. He kept drawing his sword and slashing towards the source of the sound, but each time he could only hit nothing, and then he would dance in frustration.

Joz also had the mentality of playing cat and mouse and was not in a hurry to kill Link.

There was a sound of flapping wings, and a horned hippogryph flew over the top of the city and grabbed an unconscious knight on the wall.

It was Howell.

Link looked up, then stopped:
"Come on, you can kill me now."

"You..." Qiao Zi also saw this scene and felt something was wrong: "What do you mean?"

Link smiled calmly:
"Mercenaries are mercenaries. They always lack foresight."

Joz appeared, raised his sword and pointed it at Link, and said word by word:
"What did you say!?"

The funny gestures Link made just now were orders to the Eagle Army to rescue Howell.

As long as Howell is alive, the backup plan prepared in advance may still be activated.

Of course, Link would not reveal his true purpose, but he did not mind giving Joz a little trouble at the last moment of his life: "Howell is an heir to the viscount, and I am just a knight."

"He is the commander guarding the Wall of Sighs, and I am just a helper."

"Even if you kill ten of me, it's better to capture one of him alive."

"Unfortunately, now you have no chance."

Joz gritted his teeth. Link, a mere second-level transcendent, gave him two "surprises" in a row today!
He forced out his true strength, and had a truly valuable target rescued right in front of him!

A thick shadow of fighting spirit spread around him, seeping into the space. Wisps of black fighting spirit gushed out from the cracks in the bricks, condensing into tiny blades:
"Then, you give me..."

Before he could finish his words, a magical light unfolded beneath him.

Joz's knees went weak and he suddenly knelt down!

……

(End of this chapter)