Synopsis and Starting Chapter Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
Chapter 45
Chapter 46
Chapter 47
Chapter 48
Chapter 49
Chapter 50
Chapter 51
Chapter 52
Chapter 53
Chapter 54
Chapter 55
Chapter 56
Chapter 57
Chapter 58
Chapter 59
Chapter 60
Chapter 61
Chapter 62
Chapter 63
Chapter 64
Chapter 65
Chapter 66
Chapter 67
Chapter 68
Chapter 69
Chapter 70
Chapter 71
Chapter 72
Chapter 73
Chapter 74
Chapter 75
Chapter 76
Chapter 77
Chapter 78
Chapter 79
Chapter 80
Chapter 81
Chapter 82
Chapter 83 - Cry-Baby And Ugly-Faced Woman
Chapter 84 - The Situation Took A Turn For The Worst
Chapter 85 - The Blood Clan’S True Form (One)
Chapter 86 - Blood Clan'S True Form (Two)
Chapter 87 - Your Blood Is Quite Nutritious
Chapter 88 - Awakening (One)
Chapter 89 - Awakening (Two)
Chapter 90 - Awakening (Three)
Chapter 91 - Return
Chapter 92 - Sin Of Hell’S River
Chapter 93 - Don’T Do It, It’Ll Hurt
Chapter 94 - All The Blood In This World Belongs To Me
Chapter 95 - The Charm Of That Shield
Chapter 96 - I Definitely Will Not Let You Suffer
Chapter 97 - Our Inland Sea
Chapter 98 - Arracca Murkh
Chapter 99 - Uncertain Fate
Chapter 100 - Ramon (One)
Chapter 101 - Ramon (Two)
Chapter 102 - Eckstedt’S Welcoming Ceremony
Chapter 103 - Gamble (One)
Chapter 104 - Gamble (Two)
Chapter 105 - The Kingdom’S Wrath
Chapter 106 - The Failed Bet
Chapter 107 - Mystic Gun
Chapter 108 - Chapman Lampard
Chapter 109 - Remnants Of Magic
Chapter 110 - Paid Homage
Chapter 111 - Kaslan’S Tavern
Chapter 112
Chapter 113 - The Intersection Of Fate
Chapter 114 - The People In Hell (One)
Chapter 115 - The People In Hell (Two)
Chapter 116
Chapter 117 - Star Killer
Chapter 118 - The Unexpected Guests
Chapter 119 - A Marquis From Camus
Chapter 120 - Bait
Chapter 121 - Clue
Chapter 122 - Until Dawn Came (One)
Chapter 123 - Until Dawn Came (Two)
Chapter 124 - Queen Of The Sky
Chapter 125 - The Female Warrior
Chapter 126 - Heroic Spirit Palace
Chapter 127 - The Born King (One)
Chapter 128 - The Born King (Two)
Chapter 129 - A Duel
Chapter 130 - The King And His Archdukes
Chapter 131 - The Strange Swordsman
Chapter 132 - Who Are You?
Chapter 133 - Hunt And Chase
Chapter 134 - Little Rascal And Alex (One)
Chapter 135 - Little Rascal And Alex (Two)
Chapter 136 - Stabs
Chapter 137 - Kidnapping The Archduke?
Chapter 138 - Numb Hands
Chapter 139 - A Unique Welcome Banquet
Chapter 140 - The Red Witch
Chapter 141 - Reunion
Chapter 142 - Who’S There (One)
Chapter 143 - Who’S There (Two)
Chapter 144 - The Sword Of Baptism’S Death
Chapter 145 - The Wait
Chapter 146 - The Culprit
Chapter 147 - The Northland Road
Chapter 148
Chapter 149 - Not Even Worth Half A Penny!
Chapter 150 - The Beloved Former King, Nuven
Chapter 151 - Veteran
Chapter 152 - Shadow
Chapter 153 - Have A Drink
Chapter 154 - The Secret Of ‘Triumph’
Chapter 155 - A Bargaining Chip You Cannot Refuse
Chapter 156 - Horrifying
Chapter 157 - The Death Of Soria
Chapter 158 - Betrayal
Chapter 159 - The Fateful Night
Chapter 160 - The Invitation
Chapter 161 - The First Mystic Declaration
Chapter 162 - Letting Go Of A Suspicion
Chapter 163 - Monster And Monster
Chapter 164 - Chaos Begins
Chapter 165 - Just Speak
Chapter 166 - Surprise
Chapter 167 - Flee
Chapter 168 - The Tragic End Of Weaklings
Chapter 169 - Air And Blood
Chapter 170 - The Desperate Dash
Chapter 171 - The Outcome Of The Civil War
Chapter 172 - Elimination
Chapter 173 - The Blade Of Purification
Chapter 174 - The Truth About Elimination
Chapter 175 - Same Kind (One)
Chapter 176 - Same Kind (Two)
Chapter 177 - Sudden Entrance Into The Battlefield!
Chapter 178 - True Form
Chapter 179 - Silence And Darkness
Chapter 180 - Knocking On The Door
Chapter 181 - Phantom
Chapter 182 - A Gentle Kiss
Chapter 183 - The Cost Of Victory
Chapter 184 - The Paradoxical Assassin
Chapter 185 - Thunder Rumbles In Winter
Chapter 186 - End Of Arc: A Good Name
Chapter 187 - The Night Ends, The Day Breaks
Chapter 188 - It Is You
Chapter 189 - Symphony Of Blood (One)
Chapter 190 - Symphony Of Blood (Part Two)
Chapter 191 - Stop Meddling Into The Matters Of Elders
Chapter 192 - Six-Fifty
Chapter 193 - Choose Who You Want To Become
Chapter 194 - Ice-Cold
Chapter 195 - Spirit Of The Contract
Chapter 196 - The Manipulator (One)
Chapter 197 - The Manipulator (Two)
Chapter 198 - Price
Chapter 199
Chapter 200 - Encounter
Chapter 201 - The Prince’S End
Chapter 202 - Really Bad Luck (One)
Chapter 203 - Really Bad Luck (Two)
Chapter 204 - Understanding
Chapter 205 - Execute On The Spot
Chapter 206 - Guest From Barren Bone
Chapter 207 - The Prince’S Doubts
Chapter 208 - The Black Prophet From The Other Side
Chapter 209 - Code Name: Dragon’S Blood
Chapter 210 - The Importance Of Dragon’S Blood
Chapter 211 - A Gamble In The Dark (One)
Chapter 212 - A Gamble In The Dark (Two)
Chapter 213 - The Curse Of The Witch
Chapter 214 - The Scorching Blade
Chapter 215 - Stall
Chapter 216 - The Latecomer
Chapter 217 - A Very Big Problem
Chapter 218 - The Blade And The Wing
Chapter 219 - Trust And Loyalty
Chapter 220 - Nicholas’ Bargaining Chip
Chapter 221 - Shelter
Chapter 222 - A Critical Decision
Chapter 223 - Failure
Chapter 224 - Little Rascal’S ‘Consolation’
Chapter 225 - Save This Country
Chapter 226 - King Slayer
Chapter 227 - Creating Trouble For Ourselves
Chapter 228 - The Strongest Chess Piece (One)
Chapter 229 - The Strongest Chess Piece (Two)
Chapter 230 - The Strongest Chess Piece. (Three)
Chapter 231 - Lampard’S Plan
Chapter 232 - The Archduke’S Fight
Chapter 233 - It Has Been A Long Time
Chapter 234 - A Great Threat
Chapter 235 - Contention
Chapter 236 - The Inextinguishable Starlight
Chapter 237 - The Virtuous King
Chapter 238 - Centuries Of Strategic Planning (One)
Chapter 239 - Centuries Of Strategic Planning (Two)
Chapter 240 - Centuries Of Strategic Planning (Three)
Chapter 241 - Genuine Patrols
Chapter 242
Chapter 243 - Seize Control
Chapter 244 - Chad Vlad
Chapter 245 - Severing Souls With A Slash!
Chapter 246 - A Game Of Chess
Chapter 247 - A Chance Encounter
Chapter 248 - I Am Very Honored
Chapter 249 - When Swords Cross (One)
Chapter 250 - When Swords Cross (Two)
Chapter 251 - Arduous
Chapter 252 - I Am So Relieved
Chapter 253 - I Can Help You
Chapter 254 - The Black Knight’S Death
Chapter 255 - Changing Hands
Chapter 256 - Counter-Attack
Chapter 257 - Check
Chapter 258 - Checkmate
Chapter 259 - A Speculation
Chapter 260 - The Reason For Battle (One)
Chapter 261 - The Reason For Battle (Two)
Chapter 262 - Twist Of Fate
Chapter 263 - A Child Who’S Not Able To Drink Alcohol
Chapter 264 - You Northland Barbarians!
Chapter 265 - Two Minutes
Chapter 266 - What A Shame (One)
Chapter 267 - What A Shame (Two)
Chapter 268 - We Won
Chapter 269 - The Archduchess
Chapter 270 - The Blood-Stained Crown
Chapter 271 - The Day Before The Bitter Cold Winter
Chapter 272 - Yc
Chapter 273 - End Of Arc: The Destiny They Missed
Chapter 274 - The Quiet Prince
Chapter 275 - A Game Of Chess (One)
Chapter 276 - A Game Of Chess (Two)
Chapter 277 - First Lesson
Chapter 278 - The Truth Brothers
Chapter 279 - Traitors
Chapter 280 - Target
Chapter 281 - An Awkward Dinner
Chapter 282 - Upset
Chapter 283 - Riot
Chapter 284 - The Familiar Guest
Chapter 285 - The Honor And Humiliation Of The Great Dragon (One)
Chapter 286
Chapter 287 - The Mystery About Putray
Chapter 288 - The Dragon’S Blood Has Yet To Dry
Chapter 289 - Dragon Breaker (One)
Chapter 290 - Dragon Breaker (Two)
Chapter 291 - Meryl Hicks
Chapter 292 - The Boundaries Of Governance (One)
Chapter 293 - The Boundaries Of Governance (Two)
Chapter 294 - What Is Magic?
Chapter 295 - An Unforeseen Invitation
Chapter 296 - The Game In The Carriage
Chapter 297 - The Former King’S “Present”
Chapter 298 - The Prince’S Shackles
Chapter 299 - Friend And Foe
Chapter 300 - Victory And Defeat
Chapter 301 - A Duel
Chapter 302 - Not Too Bad?
Chapter 303 - Leave
Chapter 304 - A Storm Is Coming
Chapter 305 - The Creation Of The Two Empresses
Chapter 306 - Raven Of Death
Chapter 307 - Ian The Nuisance
Chapter 308 - Collusion
Chapter 309 - The Writers Of Legend (One)
Chapter 310 - The Writers Of Legend (Two)
Chapter 311 - The Day Of The State Affairs Hearing
Chapter 312 - The Hatred For Stealing His Sister
Chapter 313 - The Beginning
Chapter 314 - For Dragon Clouds City
Chapter 315 - The Archduchess And Her Vassals
Chapter 316 - Plan
Chapter 317 - A Romantic Story
Chapter 318 - Are All Of You Coming?
Chapter 319 - Not According To Plan
Chapter 320 - Releasing In “Installments”
Chapter 321 - The Price Of Saying “No”
Chapter 322 - The Moral Of The Story
Chapter 323 - Good Morning
Chapter 324 - Returning The Favor
Chapter 325 - Send Reinforcements
Chapter 326 - Five Archdukes
Chapter 327 - The Prince’S Whereabouts
Chapter 328 - Just Like Chapman Lampard
Chapter 329 - The Final Journey
Chapter 330 - Assassinating Lampard?
Chapter 331 - Bumping Into A Ghost
Chapter 332 - Headquarters
Chapter 333 - Smooth-Sailing
Chapter 334
Chapter 335 - The Confusion While Going Back Home
Chapter 336 - The Veteran On The Wheelchair
Chapter 337 - Double The Amount?
Chapter 338 - The Point Of Contact
Chapter 339 - His/Her Eyes
Chapter 340 - The Magical Therren
Chapter 341 - You Son Of A *Censored*
Chapter 342 - Which Will You Choose?
Chapter 343 - Exterminate Them All
Chapter 344 - Black Track
Chapter 345 - Join Us
Chapter 346 - Silver Shadow
Chapter 347 - You Will Fail In The End
Chapter 348 - You Fell Into The Trap, Eh?
Chapter 349 - The War Of The Deceased Souls
Chapter 350 - Never Lost
Chapter 351 - The Pulse Of The Ground
Chapter 352 - God Knows
Chapter 353 - The First Rule
Chapter 354 - Pursuers
Chapter 355 - The Hardest Fight
Chapter 356 - Unique Only To One
Chapter 357 - Just Die Here
Chapter 358 - The Three-Second Fight
Chapter 359 - Surpassed Kaslan
Chapter 360 - The Raven And The Snow Blade (One)
Chapter 361 - The Raven And The Snow Blade (Two)
Chapter 362 - The Black Raven’S Eyes
Chapter 363 - Who Does Your Loyalty Belong To?
Chapter 364 - Turning Against One Another
Chapter 365 - Saber Or Crossbow?
Chapter 366 - Prince In The Desert
Chapter 367 - Sellsword
Chapter 368 - Dante’S Greatsword
Chapter 369 - Desert Threat
Chapter 370 - There’S Someone
Chapter 371 - Barren Bone People
Chapter 372 - Bloody Thorn Lizard
Chapter 373 - Young Cub
Chapter 374 - Foreign Blood
Chapter 375 - Coming-Of-Age Ceremony
Chapter 376 - Flag
Chapter 377 - The Destructive Army
Chapter 378 - Freaks
Chapter 379 - Welcome To Constellation (One)
Chapter 380 - Welcome To Constellation (Two)
Chapter 381 - Ghost Prince
Chapter 382 - My Home (One)
Chapter 383 - My Home (Two)
Chapter 384 - Age Of Mercenaries
Chapter 385 - Confrontation And Stalemate
Chapter 386 - Prince Versus Prince
Chapter 387 - So Many Tricks
Chapter 388 - You Have To Laugh
Chapter 389 - Shackles Of Power
Chapter 390 - Perhaps I Have
Chapter 391 - Happily Ever After
Chapter 392 - Technical Skill
Chapter 393 - Intention
Chapter 394 - New Guest
Chapter 395 - Shadows And Swords
Chapter 396 - The Dark Side
Chapter 397 - Emergency Mission
Chapter 398 - Alliance Of Traitors
Chapter 399 - The Mole
Chapter 400 - As Bad As Can Be
Chapter 401 - Affectionate And United
Chapter 402 - F*Ck You
Chapter 403 - H.N. Jadestar
Chapter 404 - Stupid Idea
Chapter 405 - Sinner
Chapter 406 - The Intruders
Chapter 407 - Head Towards Omniscience
Chapter 408 - Black Prison
Chapter 409 - Behind The Iron Curtain
Chapter 410 - Hallucination
Chapter 411 - Seven
Chapter 412 - People Whom History Has Forgotten
Chapter 413 - The Mourning Of The Guards
Chapter 414 - Where Is He?
Chapter 415 - Fall Out
Chapter 416 - Disaster Sword’S Battle
Chapter 417 - The Knight Of Judgment
Chapter 418 - A Different World
Chapter 419 - The Queen’S Dowry
Chapter 420 - The Greatest King
Chapter 421 - Knew Clearly
Chapter 422 - Nameless
Chapter 423 - Awaken
Chapter 424 - Loyalty
Chapter 425 - Peer
Chapter 426 - He Was Probably Old
Chapter 427 - A Stalemate
Chapter 428 - Dusk
Chapter 429 - The Man At The Proximal World
Chapter 430 - The Second Declaration Among Mystics
Chapter 431 - The Anchor Point
Chapter 432 - Taurus Mill
Chapter 433 - Decision
Chapter 434 - Correcting The Mistake
Chapter 435 - Malicious Flower, Malicious Fruit
Chapter 436 - Moriah Returns
Chapter 437 - Old Self
Chapter 438 - The Prince Is Not Here
Chapter 439 - Scheme Between The Thief And Bandit
Chapter 440 - Seven To Three
Chapter 441 - Missing One
Chapter 442 - Quick Wit
Chapter 443 - Not Just You
Chapter 444 - Someone Needs An Answer
Chapter 445 - A Forbidden Name
Chapter 446 - Three Calamity Allies
Chapter 447 - Enemy Of The World
Chapter 448 - 1 Vs 8
Chapter 449 - Chaos Of Armies
Chapter 450 - Two Hands
Chapter 451 - Xx Films
Chapter 452 - Fratricide
Chapter 453 - It Was Not A Coincidence
Chapter 454 - More Than Half
Chapter 455 - I Hated Him
Chapter 456 - Nothing At All
Chapter 457 - The Person Who Supported Him
Chapter 458 - Where The Sun Does Not Shine (One)
Chapter 459 - Where The Sun Does Not Shine (Two)
Chapter 460 - Rebirth (One)
Chapter 461 - Rebirth (Two)
Chapter 462 - Rebirth (Three)
Chapter 463 - Rebirth (Four)
Chapter 464 - Rebirth (Five)
Chapter 465 - Truth Swords
Chapter 466 - Beheaded
Chapter 467 - Revealed In Flames
Chapter 468 - The Silent Demon
Chapter 469 - So Naïve That You Are Adorable
Chapter 470 - The Fate Twins
Chapter 471 - The True Essence Of The Power Of Eradication
Chapter 472 - Leaving The Prison
Chapter 473 - I Am Not A Devil, After All
Chapter 474 - Much… Higher
Chapter 475 - The Warden
Chapter 476 - Life, Safety And Freedom
Chapter 477 - Something Lighter
Chapter 478 - Get Me Something To Eat And Drink
Chapter 479 - Exclusive Possession
Chapter 480 - Kill Them
Chapter 481 - A Different Way Of Living
Chapter 482 - Get Yourself A Girlfriend
Chapter 483 - Make Me Even More… Excited
Chapter 484 - You Are Good-Looking
Chapter 485 - Too High
Chapter 486 - You Are Good-Looking
Chapter 487 - Too High
Chapter 488 - That Night
Chapter 489 - Usurp Power
Chapter 490 - Do Something
Chapter 491 - Power Comes From Violence (One)
Chapter 492 - Power Comes From Violence (Two)
Chapter 493 - The Third Party
Chapter 494 - Destiny Is Like A Poem
Chapter 495 - Raven Leader
Chapter 496 - Never
Chapter 497 - His Majesty’S Blessing
Chapter 498 - Black Lion
Chapter 499 - I Have Come In Peace
Chapter 500 - End Of Arc: Duke
Chapter 501 - Everything Will Be Better
Chapter 502 - Six Divisions And Seven Attendants
Chapter 503 - Divided Western Desert
Chapter 504 - Only One Day Left
Chapter 505 - Protection
Chapter 506 - This Is Just The Beginning
Chapter 507 - Hometown
Chapter 508 - A Small Spark
Chapter 509 - Anxious
Chapter 510 - Fifteen Minutes
Chapter 511 - King In The Mist
Chapter 512 - Crazy
Chapter 513 - A Small Favor
Chapter 514 - Like A Fleeting Cloud
Chapter 515 - Timetable
Chapter 516 - Coincidence?
Chapter 517 - Went To High School
Chapter 518 - Discovered?
Chapter 519 - Let’S Fight
Chapter 520 - Not Just The Power Of Eradication
Chapter 521 - World Class Battle Worthy Of Being Written In Historical Poems
Chapter 522 - Continuous Fights
Chapter 523 - Mutant
Chapter 524 - Self-Reliant
Chapter 525 - Lustful Woman
Chapter 526 - Knowledge Of People
Chapter 527 - Holiness Exorcism
Chapter 528 - Fight Between The Eldest And Youngest
Chapter 529 - Privacy
Chapter 530 - Alien Star
Chapter 531 - Guest
Chapter 532 - The Young Kingdom
Chapter 533 - Calm On Iron Spikes
Chapter 534 - Sorry To Keep You Waiting
Chapter 535 - Polaris
Chapter 536 - Times Have Changed
Chapter 537 - Pretty Boy
Chapter 538 - Magnificent Scene Of Hell
Chapter 539 - Side Story 7: Joint Council
Chapter 540 - Never Kneel
Chapter 541 - A Piece Of Cake
Chapter 542 - Merciless
Chapter 543 - That Gaze
Chapter 544 - Watchmen’S Code
Chapter 545 - The End Of It
Chapter 546 - To Not Perish As Foes (One)
Chapter 547 - To Not Perish As Foes (Two)
Chapter 548 - To Not Perish As Foes (Three)
Chapter 549 - To Duke Thales
Chapter 550 - What Rationality
Chapter 551 - Better
Chapter 552 - Sacrificing A Pawn (One)
Chapter 553 - Sacrificing A Pawn (Two)
Chapter 554 - Sacrificing A Pawn (Three)
Chapter 555 - Unfulfilled
Chapter 556 - Chess Player
Chapter 557 - Relieved
Chapter 558 - Punishment
Chapter 559 - Eight Arteries
Chapter 560 - Imperial Style
Chapter 561 - Cannot Escape The Sheath
Chapter 562 - Want Everything
Chapter 563 - Cause And Effect
Chapter 564 - Blazing Blood
Chapter 565 - Of Course—Not
Chapter 566 - Crown Jewel Of The Kingdom
Chapter 567 - Head Over Heels
Chapter 568 - As Truthful As Possible
Chapter 569 - Hand In Marriage
Chapter 570 - What Do I Need You For
Chapter 571 - Defects
Chapter 572 - Heart Of The Guards
Chapter 573 - You’Re A Real Dog
Chapter 574 - Antecessors
Chapter 575 - The Years Have Caught On To Me
Chapter 576 - Shooting Yourself In The Foot
Chapter 577 - Lie
Chapter 578 - The Wine Merchant
Chapter 579 - Damn The Prince
Chapter 580 - The Prince Likes Them
Categories Genre: Action, All, Drama, Fantasy, Mature, Ongoing, Psychological, Seinen, Tragedy Status: Ongoing Alternative names: Wang Guo Xue Mai, 王国血脉, ______
Total Chapters in book: 580
Estimated words: 2362673 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 11813(@200wpm)___ 9451(@250wpm)___ 7876(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 2362673 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 11813(@200wpm)___ 9451(@250wpm)___ 7876(@300wpm)
______
LIST OF LAST 10 CHAPTERS:
Page No. 580 Page No. 579 Page No. 578 Page No. 577 Page No. 576 Page No. 575 Page No. 574 Page No. 573 Page No. 572 Page No. 571 Page No. 570 Chapter 262 - Twist Of Fate
Chapter 262: Twist of Fate
Translator:
EndlessFantasy Translation
Editor:
EndlessFantasy Translation
“We were ecstatic, over the moon.”
Kaslan coughed, and like a normal old man, reminisced about the olden days. “We, a group of guys, including Little Lisban, shared the same ambition. We were sick of the feud between families and territories. That was how it began.”
Kaslan gazed at the stone pillar Nicholas was leaning against. His tone of voice was grievous. “You can’t possibly imagine, for Eckstedt, what had we been through all these years by Nuven’s side.”
Nicholas raised his head and instinctively looked at the ceiling.
“It was merely a small matter at first: to secure the authority and influence of the prince, to protect the imperiled families who were the prince’s loyalists, to punish the corrupt vassals.” A strange gleam sparkled in the old man’s eyes. “I broke the tradition of the White Blade Guards, selecting candidates with humble backgrounds, training a team of candidates who were loyal to Nuven, who did not bear the burden and concern of prestigious families… that included you, Big Mouth, Byrne, and Yvsia. You were all recruited by me during that time.”
In that second, Nicholas’ breathing stilled. He almost blurted out the words that were in his mouth.
The day he was recruited into the White Blade Guards…
‘Commander…’
“Everything I did was to allow the future king to achieve his ambitions, to be prepared.” Kaslan’s face darkened. His tone changed sharply. “But things began to change after Nuven ascended the throne.
“His enemies multiplied, became more and more powerful. He needed a sharper blade, a tougher shield. My missions became more and more unscrupulous, more and more unsavory—from hunting down criminals, to kidnapping children, to falsifying evidence of crime to incriminate opponents, to burning down farmers’ barns for winter rations…”
Nicholas clenched his fists, suppressing the emotions in him. He observed Kaslan’s shadow under the firelight. His gaze hovered over the weapon racks around him, trying to find a way to get rid of the threat of his opponent’s javelin.
‘I can’t aim as well as he can; I can’t compete with him in ranged weapons. I need…’
“It’s true that the partnership between me, Calshan, and the Secret Room was closer than you imagined,” Kaslan said gloomily. His attention focused on the back of the stone pillar. “There were many things Nuven did not want the Secret Room to interfere with, he would hand those over to us.
“I had escorted a doctor to Prestige Orchid Region and let him poison the heir of Archduke Olsius. In the name of the king’s secret envoy, I had instigated the vassals of the City of Faraway Prayers to rebel against their suzerain so that Dragon Clouds City could step in.
“I had even posed as a bandit, robbing and slaughtering a long-standing dissident noble family, from their master to the women… Other than an innocent little girl, no one was spared.
“I even instigated my nephew Harold’s defection, persuaded him to swear allegiance to Nuven, even if that could threaten his relationship with his father…”
Kaslan closed his eyes. He felt a dull pain in his chest. What he did not expect in the end was that Holt would turn his two sons against each other to be rid of Nuven’s control.
“I tried to convince myself that it was for Eckstedt,” Kaslan said in his agony. “For our ambition, if I could leave my family behind, then I can do the same for my honor and conscience.
“By day, I was an honorable and celebrated Commander of the White Blade Guards, respected by many.” The old man endured the sharp pain in his chest as he breathed. “By night however, I was a stone-hearted, unscrupulous, cold-blooded assassin for the king, leading the first batch of guards I created on the nastiest and the most secretive missions.
“You once said that you had seen through my ‘phony noble exterior’,” Kaslan said softly, “You were right. I did not deserve to stand in front of you and lecture you as a commander.”
A cold, clear voice asked from behind the stone pillar, “Why?”
Kaslan closed his eyes. Kaslan knew what he was asking about. He sighed regretfully and said, “Nuven had changed. He had aged, become paranoid, vigilant, sensitive, selfish, and prudent.
“For a whole new Eckstedt, Nuven must wield immense power and control. It was a necessary tactic.” Kaslan tightened his grip on the javelin in his hand with a complex gaze. “Nevertheless, it was unclear since when had the tactic had become the aim. The original goal had long been forgotten.
“We consume food to live, Spiky, but we should not live to consume food.” His tone had become more pained.
“The longer he stayed in power, the more he prioritized the status of Dragon Clouds City over the strength of Eckstedt. He cared about his son’s right of inheritance more than the future of the kingdom. Nuven became the most typical King of Eckstedt. Other than his family and power, he had neither the strength nor intention to fulfill his past ambitions.
“Retaining dominance had become Nuven’s only aim, while ‘For Eckstedt’ was turned into a flimsy excuse.” Kaslan observed every spot where Nicholas might make his appearance, keeping the latter’s shadow behind the stone pillar in his field of vision, he patiently waited for the other party. “It made everything we had done for the last few decades seem like a joke.”
Nicholas let out a cold laugh.
The Star Killer suppressed his anger, trying to sound unaffected. “You know, everything you do now makes what you taught us seem like a joke, too.”
Kaslan paused for a second with an unnoticeable look of guilt and anguish on his face.
“Therefore, I was tired; I retired; I gave up.” The old man exhaled a breath, shaking his head. “On that day, I stood at the bottom of the stairs, questioning him for the last time in front of all the vassals. ‘Do you still remember your ambition?’ I asked him. Since when was he constrained by his identity and position, since when did he bend his back to reality?”
Nicholas did not speak.
“You know what happened next.” Kaslan’s words were laced with melancholy. “The common-elected king was furious. A group of elders and I were expelled from the White Blade Guards.”
A silence ensued. The fire in the brazier grew fiercer, casting the shadows of the two men onto the stone pillar’s sides.
“Yeah.” Nicholas took a deep breath, seemingly with great dismay. “Meanwhile an exception was made: I was promoted, becoming the most inexperienced acting commander with the humblest origin—”
Before he finished, the Star Killer leaped out from behind the stone pillar in the next second.
The duel resumed abruptly.
Unhesitatingly, Kaslan flung the javelin in a fierce, precise manner. The javelin impaled the opponent’s body with great force.
*Thwack!*
It nailed him to the floor!
Even so, Kaslan, who was highly experienced and had been observing the opponent’s shadow the whole time, immediately noticed something was not right—it was only Nicholas’ leather chest armor the javelin had pierced through.
The real Star Killer leaped out from the other side of the stone pillar without his armor or any protection on his body.
Kaslan’s reflex was insanely fast. He aimed at the gap between Nicholas’ landing, injured foot, and the ground. He tossed out the second javelin immediately!
The Star Killer listened to the swishing wind beside his ears. He felt a chill in his chest.
‘I’m doomed. I couldn’t fool him.’
In that very moment, a familiar voice echoed, “Nicholas!”
Nicholas raised his head sharply and saw a disk-shaped object fly towards him!
The Star Killer did not hesitate. His Power of Eradication erupted within him. He made a turn on his feet and grabbed the object from mid-air.
The javelin flew towards him.
*Thud!*
A dull sound echoed. Kaslan’s pupils became smaller.
His javelin had jammed into the disk-shaped object in Nicholas’ hands—a round shield made of thick wood and leather.
The Star Killer gritted his teeth, removed the javelin from his shield, and held it in his right hand. However, Kaslan had no time for Nicholas. He turned around solemnly, glaring vigilantly at Nicholas’ rescuer.
“Byrne.” Kaslan frowned. There was a hint of nostalgia in his eyes. “It has been a long time.”
The former White Blade Guard and administrator to the king, Byrne Mirk, stood at the entrance of the armory. He apparently did not seem too keen on responding to his ex-superior’s warm greeting.
“Sorry, commander, I don’t mind catching up.” From afar, the grim-faced Mirk took two short-handled throwing axes and swung his arms violently. “However, I just met my daughter… I don’t know what you said to her to make her the way she is now, but I am…”
Mirk raised the throwing axes in his hands with a complex emotion in his eyes. “… I am in a bad mood!”
Kaslan’s expression changed abruptly. His javelin was thrown at almost the same time as Mirk’s two throwing axes!
*Swish!*
*Swoosh!*
The javelin and throwing axes flew past each other in the air.
*Sching!*
Despite his effort to dodge the attack, Mirk was still stabbed in the thigh by Kaslan’s javelin. Under immense pain, he fell on a row of weapon racks.
‘This is enough.’ Mirk thought.
As the sounds of metal clashing echoed, Kaslan parried off one throwing axe with a javelin, but was slashed by another. It sliced off a large chunk of his skin and flesh.
The old man took a deep breath, enduring the sharp pain in his chest.
‘When it comes to throwing skills and accuracy, Byrne is still outstanding as ever.’
As he thought about this, Kaslan turned around and threw the third javelin.
It was aimed at Nicholas, who was darting towards him at high speed!
*Thump!*
The Star Killer’s thick shield stopped the javelin again. Due to the momentum of his charging speed, the spearhead pierced through the upper part of the shield, past Nicholas’ forearm by a considerable length.
As he charged forward, Nicholas spun the shield instinctively, the place where the shield was stabbed facing down.
Another dull thud echoed in the next second.
*Thump!*
The fourth javelin shot towards on the shield from the same angle, penetrating his shield and lodging directly below the previous javelin. Both spears had pierced into either end of the shield.
Nicholas felt a chill in his heart. ‘If I didn’t spin the shield…’
Nevertheless, he no longer needed to worry. Nicholas threw off the worn, heavy shield, and raised the javelin in his right hand. He was back at the spot three feet away from Kaslan.
Kaslan, too, tossed the remaining javelins away with a grim look, leaving only the one in his right hand.
In the next second, two men raised their right hands at the same time.
*Whoosh!*
When they were almost right in each other’s faces, two javelins shot forward in the air.
Kaslan, whose right arm was still up in the air, evaded the attack. His opponent’s javelin slashed across his cheek and jammed into the weapons rack behind him.
*Whoosh!*
Nicholas, on the other hand, did not dodge or flinch, letting Kaslan’s javelin pierce into his left shoulder!
“Argh!” Nicholas endured the intense pain in his left shoulder with a grimace. His right fist shot out, to Kaslan’s puzzlement.
The Power of Eradication erupted in his bones. His fist changed course twice in the air, evading the opponents’ defense.
In that very second, Kaslan’s expression, which appeared calm the whole time, changed sharply.
*Thunk!*
As a strange metallic sound echoed, Kaslan wrapped his hand around Nicholas’ throat, while the Star Killer’s fist landed on Kaslan’s torso.
Time seemed to freeze in that very moment.
The strange thing was that Nicholas’ fist did not aim for Kaslan’s vitals, but merely hit the spot below his right armpit.
The Star Killer lowered his fist weakly.
Kaslan was trembling uncontrollably. He loosened his grasp from around Nicholas’ neck. The red-faced Nicholas gasped.
The two men remained where they stood, but they were both losing their balance.
*Thump!*
Nicholas could not bear the heavy injury in his left shoulder anymore. He collapsed onto the floor with the javelin.
Unexpectedly, Kaslan’s face paled, his lips shivered, and his upper body could not stop trembling. He reached out his frail left hand to cup his right armpit. The old man’s face twitched constantly, as though he was in immense pain.
In the next second, a gush of blood spurted from Kaslan’s mouth. He collapsed on the ground and, like a frail, dying old man, lost all his strength.
His expression became gloomy.
Kaslan’s teeth were chattering. He asked cautiously and in the softest voice, as though afraid of waking a sleeping kitten, “How did you know…? My right armpit…” Blood kept pouring from the corner of his lips. It was a terrible sight.
Weakened, Nicholas lay on his side on the ground, reaching out a hand to grab the javelin in his left shoulder.
“Monty. He has the best eyesight and the steadiest pair of hands,” the Star Killer said with difficulty. “So, the night you were mortally wounded and got a prosthetic metal rib, he was selected to be the assistant. He stayed by your side the entire time… He knew.”
Kaslan’s gaze froze. ‘Nate Monty, the Big Mouth. That pesky, cowardly country bumpkin whose mind was filled with only lust and women?! Hmph.’
Kaslan laughed to himself, silent and helpless.
“Monty told only me.” Nicholas squeezed his eyes shut and clenched his teeth. “Your new rib had a fragile juncture—it would be your weakness if enough pressure was applied. He instructed me to watch out for you during battle…”
As he said that, Nicholas had a suffocating feeling in his chest. He could not continue.
‘The commander’s weakness… It was supposed to be the spot they swore to protect with their lives. But…’
Nicholas clenched his fists. He felt a stinging sensation in his eyes.
Kaslan sat down on the floor, trembling, and leaned against the weapon rack behind him with a sigh of relief. As he breathed, blood poured endlessly from his mouth and nose, drenching the cloth over his chest.
“The javelin?”
Kaslan whose upper body was drenched in blood glanced lazily at the bundles of javelins on the racks beside him. “You forced me to this spot on purpose?”
“You’re used to keeping your right arm down when you fight, to protect your weakness,” Nicholas said dejectedly. “I had to look for the chance when you lifted your right arm—like when you threw that javelin.”
Kaslan arched an eyebrow and let out a bleak laugh.
‘…To die at the hands of Spiky. This sort of ending… it’s not so bad.’
“Good move. Hahaha, Spiky, you- Cough! Cough!”
His laughter lasted for a short while until his voice cracked. Kaslan frowned again and coughed violently in immense agony. Due to his movements, Kaslan’s chest emitted a horrifying crack. The old man’s face contorted.
Nicholas closed his eyes. He could not bring himself to look at his old superior’s face.
‘Damn it.’ Nicholas stretched out his arm, reaching for the javelin in his shoulder, hoping to distract himself. He could not pull it out. Nicholas then felt a slight ache in his left shoulder.
He opened his eyes in surprise and found Kaslan reach out his left hand and grip the javelin that had pierced into his shoulder.
“Endure it,” Kaslan said softy, spitting out another mouthful of blood. “It might hurt.”
Dazed, Nicholas tightened his shoulder as he watched Kaslan pull the javelin out of his shoulder. He did not notice the pain.
Nicholas recalled that evening many years ago…
When he was on the verge of death, Kaslan, who was punishing him, picked up the wooden piece from the ground and delivered it to his lips.
The Iceberg tugged at the whip in his hand and said coldly, “Bite this. This will definitely hurt.”
Nicholas snapped out of his reminiscence of the past. He struggled to sit up on the floor. With the help of his Power of Eradication, his muscles began to tighten.
He stared at pained Kaslan. The old man leaned against the weapon rack and could not stop vomiting blood. Anger and resentment grew in him.
“Talia.” Nicholas wore a dejected expression. “Your wife… What message do you want to me pass to her?”
In that second, Kaslan’s eyes gleamed suddenly. “Talia…” Kaslan’s eyes dimmed and he shook his head. “No… She’s long gone.”
In that instant, the Star Killer felt a slight tremor.
A second passed. Nicholas inhaled and lifted his head gently with a look of astonishment he was unable to mask. “How can that be? She’s only forty…”
Kaslan’s breaths started to weaken. He lifted his hand laboriously and wiped the blood off his chest. The old man wore a dark look. With his raised, shivering hand, he scooped out a lump of red silk cloth from his shirt pocket.
“A year ago, she finally found out.” Kaslan gazed at the red silk cloth, as though entranced. He slowly unfolded it, as if it contained a precious gem. “Before I confessed to her, she found that I was the man from all those years ago…”
Kaslan’s hand trembled somewhat. “I was the ‘chief bandit’ who robbed her family caravan, slaughtered her father, mother, brother—eliminated her entire family—and left only a nine-year-old girl.”
Nicholas froze.
“Talia fell sick since then. Not even the best physician could identify the cause of her illness.”
Kaslan seemed unable to control his hands. Still, he tremblingly unrolled the red silk cloth in his hand inch by inch. “There she was, lying in bed under excruciating pain, withering day after day like the most beautiful blossom.
“It was the hardest battle of my life. I would rather have thirty more rounds with Zakriel, two hundred sword fights with Shao, trade my life ten more times with Xyra Darkstorm, and receive twenty punches from Molly rather than face that.” Kaslan coughed loudly with a look of anguish. “But I could only watch Talia slowly die day by day, trying to explain to her… that it was the king’s orders. It was the choice I made against my own will.”
Kaslan eventually unfolded the red silk cloth, his eyes glistening with tears.
“In her last moments, Talia told me—with a forced smile—that perhaps it was God’s will that she was destined to repent for my sin.”
Nicholas gawked at the object in the silk cloth: it was a plain black stone.
The stone was engraved with two tiny human figures. The slightly larger person was holding the hand of the slightly smaller person. The figures were misshapen, carved in an unskillful manner. Each figure was basically a circle joined by four lines representing the limbs.
It looked like the amateurish handiwork of a child, but Kaslan stared at that stone as though he was completely captivated by it. His hand began to tremble more vigorously. “In the end, as I held her almost weightless body, I asked myself, ‘Ground-Shaker Kaslan Lampard, what is the meaning of your existence?'”
The sound of something being dragged across the floor echoed from the distance. Mirk was dragging his impaled thigh, crawling towards them.
Kaslan’s eyes were filled with grief and desolation. He gave a weak smile to Mirk who was crawling towards him. “For a moment, I began to hate Nuven…
“Until a few months later, when Nuven’s only son died in Constellation.” The old man shook his head. Every sentence he spat came out with splashes of blood that streamed from his nose and mouth. “That day, as I gazed into the sky where the sun was setting, I suddenly pitied him. Both of us lost everything we had ever loved. The effort we made throughout half a lifetime turned into ash within a day.
“That once-glorious Prince Walton had in the end fallen into the vicious cycle he started, plunged into the same tragic fate as that of the suzerains of Eckstedt, and unable to escape, like my brother and my nephews.”
Nicholas ripped off a stretch of cloth to bandage his injured shoulder. He said through gritted teeth, “Idiot.”
Mirk crawled to Nicholas’ side and, together, the two of them stared at their former superior.
“In that moment, as though there was a fire burning in my chest, I was in unfathomable agony.” The volume of Kaslan’s voice gradually became lower. “But when King Nuven sent his men to look for me, expressing his wish to let me take over the title of Archduke of Black Sand Region, I realized what that fire meant.”
Kaslan’s eyes gleamed. His hand clutched the stone in his palm tightly.
“I no longer hated him, but this was not the end. Everything Nuven and I began…” Kaslan spoke with great effort, tears pouring out of his eyes. “It has not ended.
“What Nuven could not achieve, gave up on, or didn’t dare to face…” Kaslan, pale-faced, coughed violently. He trembled and said, “I will accomplish them for him… out of loyalty. The is the meaning of what remains of my life.”
Mirk stared at him in disbelief. Nicholas pressed his shoulder tightly and wordlessly lowered his head. His fists were tightening by the seconds.
As he lay on his stomach on the floor, Mirk said softly, “Commander…
“When you realized that by doing such, you betrayed him; betrayed His Majesty.” Mirk wore a grievous and pained expression as he stammered, “How did you feel about that?”
Nicholas could not help taking a glance at Mirk. Kaslan averted his gaze which had gradually become murky.
He opened his mouth and returned a question with an unsmiling grin, “Did I betray him?”
Mirk was stunned. A silence ensued.
“By the way… I have an idea, Spiky.” The old man twitched his eyebrows.
Nicholas raised his head to look at Kaslan with a complex expression. Kaslan’s gaze slowly lost focus. Blood no longer flowed from the corners of his mouth.
“The name of your Power of Eradication…” Kaslan gazed at the ceiling, forced a smile, and said softly, “Let’s call it…
“The Twist of Fate.”
Nicholas and Mirk froze for a moment.
“Hey.” A second later, the Star Killer snorted coldly and said, “What kind of name is that…”
*Ta-thud.* A faint sound came, stopping Nicholas’ words in his throat. Nicholas and Mirk were startled.
The stone engraved with two figures rolled out of Kaslan’s grip. The two men turned their heads slowly.
The legend of the White Blade Guards, the Ground-Shaker Kaslan Lampard, lay on the weapons rack with his eyes closed, wordless and unresponsive.
Mirk stared at the unmoving Kaslan in a daze. The silence lasted for a few seconds.
Nicholas, then, stretched out his arm and took the stone in his hand. A sentence full of spelling errors was carved on the other side of the stone:
[Kaslen protacts Talia.]
Nicholas felt a stinging in his eyes. He turned his head sharply, squeezing the stone in his palm.
*Thump!*
The Star Killer clenched his teeth and kicked the rack beside him. He leaned back, turning his head away from Mirk and Kaslan. He rubbed his face, his breathing heavy—his chest rose and fell arrhythmically.
“F*ck,” Nicholas murmured. The fire in the newly-lit brazier grew stronger. In the armory, the two sturdy, middle-aged men laid on the ground wordlessly.
Beside them, the old warrior fell into deep slumber. Never to wake again.
Total Chapters in book: 580
Estimated words: 2362673 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 11813(@200wpm)___ 9451(@250wpm)___ 7876(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 2362673 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 11813(@200wpm)___ 9451(@250wpm)___ 7876(@300wpm)
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