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 473 - I Am Not A Devil, After All
Chapter 473: I am Not a Devil, After All
Translator:
EndlessFantasy Translation
Editor:
EndlessFantasy Translation
It was a fairly small desert.
It was situated between several sand dunes of varying sizes. It slept deeply under the gloomy sky, and everything in it was dead silent.
Then, the sand on the ground began to tremble slightly.
*Thump!*
There was a dull thud, and an uneven platform suddenly rose in the middle of the desert.
*Thud!*
More dull thuds followed. Countless grains of sand gradually fell from the rising platform and into the dark hole beneath it. The falling sand hissed.
The platform was about several meters wide. It kept rising and revealed its black-gray surface.
More than ten seconds later, a figure covered in dust and sand emerged from the dark, mysterious hole with a torch in hand. The figure patted the sand off himself and glanced around.
He then turned around, extended his arm to grab the second person, and pulled them of the hole. He then pulled out the third man, the fourth… more and more people crawled out of the hole.
There was more than ten of them.
At last, a scrawny figure emerged and was pulled out by someone. He stepped on the sandy ground.
“Cough, cough…”
Thales, with his face covered in dirt, took off his face scarf, coughed out some dust and sand painfully, and patted the sand off his whole body.
The chilly, predawn wind and the odor of sand attacked his senses simultaneously. They gave him a chill. It was a vaguely familiar feeling.
Thales reached behind his waist instinctively, only to recall that his dagger was confiscated by Ricky.
…Behind the teenager, Tardin, Bruley, and Canon were brought out to the desert with their hands tied.
Zakriel, Barney, and Beldin’s situations were worse. They were blindfolded and personally watched over by Klein and Josef.
Quick Rope appeared to be treated as an unimportant laborer. He carried the equipment collected by the mercenaries from the battlefield, darting a pleading glance at Thales every now and then.
Stake was blindfolded as well. He was shoved out of the hole under the watch of two mercenaries.
Everyone climbed to the surface one after the other.
“This is… this is not the Prison of Bones?” Thales steeled his heart and ignored Quick Rope’s miserable stare behind as he stepped on the incredibly pleasant sand. He cleaned the mess on himself while studying his surroundings under the dim daylight. “This is not even… Blade Fangs Camp.” The endless stretch of yellow sand terrified him.
Ricky turned his head around under the glowing sky. “What? Did you think we would go back?”
Ricky tossed away the torch in his hand, shook his head with a sarcastic expression, and said, “The entrance to the Prison of Bones has probably been surrounded by the Secret Intelligence Department long ago.”
Thales sighed internally. The prince wrapped his arms around his torso and rubbed it as the cold wind blew at him. He looked around, confused. “Where are we?”
“Not far from Blade Fangs Camp.” Ricky raised his head under the gray sky and gazed at a familiar row of fortresses in the distance.
“We’re just near enough to see it.”
Thales squinted his eyes and observed Blade Fangs Camp, which seemed so close to them. He felt disheartened.
In the desert, “just enough to see something” equated to “a whole day’s journey on foot”.
‘So, what are they up to next?’
“What are you waiting for?” Thales asked, rubbing his palms.
This time, Ricky merely darted him a cold look. “An opportunity.”
‘Opportunity?’ Thales frowned.
In the howling wind, Ricky looked up at the sky, turned around, and ordered, “Everyone, do a final check. We’re leaving.”
Ricky walked past Thales, who was thinking deeply, and headed towards Samel, who was standing in a remote corner.
He peered at the Royal Guards in the distance, all bound tightly, and lowered his voice to ask Samel, “How was it?”
Samel moved away from the group, cast a quick look at Zakriel, and shook his head. “They refuse to join us.”
Ricky heaved a sigh with a frown. “Barney?”
Samel gave a light snort, seemingly displeased. “Especially Barney. That fellow is as stubborn as a rock.”
Ricky stared at the blindfolded Barney and clicked his tongue softly. “He just happens to be the only person who has mastered the secret of Northland Military Sword Style.”
Samel’s eyes lit up. “Then, is he…?”
Ricky shook his head in disappointment. “The Thawing of Glaciers.”
The two of them fell into silence for a while.
Ricky glanced at his subordinates who were making their final preparations and performing their last inventory check behind him. He gestured at Zakriel with his chin.
“I have been trying to persuade their superior. If he agrees…”
But Samel shook his head firmly. “Not Zakriel.” The firmness of Samel’s tone surprised Ricky. “Zakriel is not the key.” Samel looked at the scrawny, somewhat short figure behind him with a complicated expression. “They will only devote themselves to him.”
Ricky looked in the direction of Samel’s gaze and saw the worn, weary teenager with a bruise on his chin. That teenager was currently staring at the sand under his feet and seemingly mumbling to himself.
“Him?” Ricky was momentarily startled. His eyes lingered on Thales for a few seconds. “You told me that you could instigate a fight between them.” Ricky turned his head around. His expression became stern. “What happened after that? The child showed up, and all of you bent your knees?”
‘What happened after that?’
Samel was quiet for a moment. He remembered Nalgi and Naer, who were now in eternal slumber, and he also remembered the smile on the teenager’s face.
‘”I rest now by the Emperor’s side…”‘
“Nothing.” Samel raised his head, shook off the memory, and tried not to look at Thales. “He is just… very persuasive.”
Sensing the disengagement in his tone, Ricky raised an eyebrow. “Huh…”
‘Very persuasive, eh?’ He gave Samel a meaningful gaze.
“I am curious about one thing, Samel.” Ricky’s words made Samel nervous. Crassus narrowed his eyes. “Before we arrived, did you find out why the Knight of Judgment wanted to kill the child?”
Samel’s breath stopped for a second. ‘Why?’ He was silent for a few seconds.
Ricky slowly drew closer to him. “Is there anything you have not told me? Perhaps it’s… about the royal family?”
As he watched Samel’s expression, Ricky started to chuckle.
“Alright, I know that perhaps you still can’t forget the oath you made years ago. I can fully understand—”
However, Samel took a deep breath and interrupted him. “Zakriel did it because he really went insane.”
Samel stared at Ricky with a serious expression.
‘Really went insane?’ Ricky frowned with a doubtful look.
Samel lowered his head stiffly. “You saw it, too. Moments ago, Zakriel was still in a killing spree. Moments later, he went back to help them. I think he might have really gone crazy.”
This time, Ricky stared at Samel for a very long time under the dark but gradually brightening sky. But Samel did not look up.
“Oh, he’s gone nuts, huh?” Ricky’s eyes lingered on him. His tone of voice became strange. “No wonder it’s so difficult… to communicate with him.”
He was still studying Samel’s expression.
Samel coughed, and said suddenly, “Listen, if you want the secret behind Barney’s swordsmanship, sure. If we can take that child away—”
Right at that instant…
“Hey, Ricky! Uncle Ricky? Ricky dum-dum?”
Ricky and Samel turned their heads around, and to their astonishment, saw Prince Thales raise his hand in the crowd to wave at them.
‘Dum-dum?…’
“Hey, can we talk?”
Thales’ dramatic wave and shouts drew the others’ attention. Marina, who was behind him, even placed her hand on the sword hilt at her waist.
“You say… take him away?” Ricky glanced at Samel, sighed, and walked towards Thales. “I’d love to.”
Ricky came in front of Thales, and his expression returned to the composed and slightly amused look he always wore. “Your Highness, please do not tell me you are looking for a quiet spot to pee, because you could have done it right here. We would not mind.”
Unexpectedly, Thales grinned toothily.
“I have a question about the Air Calamity. He went to the Tower of Eradication with you, yes?”
The Air Calamity.
Once he said that name, the mercenaries who were occupied with their respective tasks fell into silence. Many people turned to look at them.
Ricky’s expression changed. He turned his head around and said to Samel with a grim look on his face, “Keep an eye on them.”
After that, Ricky wrapped an arm around Thales’ shoulders in an incredibly rough motion and dragged him to a quieter spot away from the others.
“Ah, ouch, be gentler… I’m still young, you can’t… Alright, I won’t struggle anymore. Don’t be so rough…”
As Thales protested and struggled, Ricky flung him away. “Give me a reason not to knock you out,” Ricky said coldly.
But Thales merely patted the dust and sand off himself, panted, and shrugged.
“The Dragon Breaker or whatever. That was what the Air Calamity wanted, am I right?” Thales said as he smiled. “The way you behaved in the prison made me feel that…. you were not so keen on that.”
There was a small, curious change in Ricky’s facial expression.
“What you wanted was Black Sword, who had the Sin of Hell’s River.” Thales’ tone of voice became serious. “Yes, I know, that weapon was brought back by Black Sword.”
Ricky’s eyes widened. He stared at Thales for three full seconds.
“My dear, I just realized that you were cuter when you listened quietly.” Ricky’s voice was as chilly as the desert night.
Thales flashed him a helpless, toothy grin. The teenager turned his head around to look at the group and scratched his head.
“It took some time to recall the names you mentioned, but…”
Ricky narrowed his eyes.
Thales turned around, drew in a deep breath, and said solemnly, “The Iron Blood King was a king in the Northland who died heroically when he fought against the ancient orcs before the era of multiple kings. There was a scene in the drama about the Age of the Empire that describes the Black Knight’s trial after committing regicide. Shawlon Tannon was a name in the Tannon Family of Northland. They were stripped of their territory, Prestige Orchid Region, as a punishment for conspiring in regicide. Their name was also removed from the ten archduke families of Eckstedt.
With each sentence from Thales, Ricky’s expression darkened a little.
“As for Hill Crassus, he was the man who betrayed the Tower of Eradication and founded the Disaster Swords more than a hundred years ago.” Thales finished his last sentence.
Ricky watched him, and gave a light snort. ‘This child… Perhaps Samel was right.’
With that thought in mind, Ricky said, “Correction, we are not called Disaster—”
Thales cut him off again.
“According to you, all of them activated the Sin of Hell’s River, am I right?”
Ricky arched an eyebrow.
“You used to say that the Power of Eradication is the warrior themselves.” Thales breathed in and out deeply multiple times.
“But everyone who had the Sin of Hell’s River seemed to meet a tragic end… including Black Sword.”
This time, Ricky gazed at him attentively, as if he had found something surprising in Thales.
Thales spoke to test waters. “I had some friends who were trained in the Tower of Eradication. They told me that the biggest difference between the Powers of Eradication of the Disaster Swords, and those of their own, is that you surrender to the worst aspects of your powers. Madness, savagery, and anguish. Even your opponents could feel them.
“Am I thinking too much?” Thales watched Ricky’s facial expression closely. “Or should I actually give up on the Sin of Hell’s River?”
‘Madness, savagery, and anguish.’
It was uncertain whether mentioning the Tower of Eradication or the Disaster Swords had gotten on his nerves, but Ricky’s expression turned darker.
Ricky remained silent for a while before he spoke at last. “Your friends must have an extraordinary status. You must know that we are the secret scar the Tower of Eradication is most unwilling to reveal.
“Also, to correct you, we are not called Disaster Swords.”
Thales could tell that he was changing the subject. He could not help but sigh. “I have seen how you all fought. You cannot deny that you fight like beasts.”
Ricky clicked his tongue and shook his head. “Then you should know that our powers are stronger than the Swordsmen of Eradication, and that we have fewer limitations placed on us.”
However, Thales did not buy his explanation. “What you taught me today, and what you said, hoping that I would one day reach the ‘True Class’ or something like that, will that end up turning me into a beast like you, too?”
Ricky gave a frustrated snort. He was just about to answer before he suddenly thought of something.
“This is odd.” Ricky quirked his eyebrows. “Why are you suddenly so talkative?”
Thales froze a little. He snuck a glance behind him, as if he was afraid of being seen, before he lifted the item in his right hand sheepishly. “Because… of this?”
Then, Ricky saw the item in Thales’ right hand clearly.
It was a dagger. The light reflecting off its blade was cold. It looked exactly like the one he had confiscated earlier…
Ricky’s expression changed drastically! He instinctively lowered his head and touched his bosom.
“When did you steal—”
But Ricky did not manage to finish speaking.
*Rip!*
In the next second, a gray sword Thales was incredibly familiar with shot out from thin air, as if it was a warship charging through the waves. It stabbed Ricky’s left temple and plunged straight into his head!
*Whoosh!*
The gray blade was drawn out of the head, bringing with it an endless stream of blood! The sand floor was sprayed red with blood.
“Ricky!”
Thales clenched his teeth and ran a few meters to the side. Before he could greet the dark purple mask that appeared again, he heard a commotion from the mercenaries behind him. These mercenaries who had been paying attention to what was happening on their side cried out in surprise.
“Enemy attack!”
Josef gnashed his teeth in anger and hate, then roared before he drew his sword. With a few mercenaries, they rushed at the black-robed figure who had suddenly appeared!
“F*ck! It’s him again!”
Klein’s extreme anger made the swordsman laugh. He brought a few people to surround them as well.
“How many times does this make…?”
But in the next moment, Klein noticed what was wrong.
*Thud!*
A heavy thud rang out. Klein felt pain at the back of his head. His vision swam, and he fell.
The three mercenaries by his side turned their heads around instinctively and saw that the ruffled prisoner who had his left arm fixed to a plank had already forced his way into their group!
Klein lay on the ground, shivering. He turned his head around. In his despair, he saw that Zakriel had broken free of his restraints at some point and regained his freedom. Swiftly and agilely, the man put down three men… Or rather, he only put down one man, because the other two crashed into each other for some strange reason, and fell unconscious, allowing Zakriel to move past them.
Zakriel headed towards Ricky and Thales as he limped, leaving behind an airy sentence that drifted in the air.
“The fourth time.”
Klein sucked in a painful breath. ‘No… When did they break free of their binds?’
Not too far in the distance was Bruley, who had also broken free of his restraints and sent a man flying. Barney Junior rammed his head against the mercenary standing guard over him. Tardin snatched an axe and threw it at Beldin. Canon threw a throwing knife he obtained from somewhere…
The mercenaries’ formation was immediately thrown into chaos!
Josef led the charge, but right then, he turned his head around in astonishment. At some point, the prisoners had all broken free of their restraints, and while the mercenaries were shocked by Ricky’s fall, they quickly broke through the heavy encirclement to reunite with Thales!
‘No. They’re…’
*Whoosh!* A swift sound arose!
Josef instinctively lowered his head, but noticed that an arrow had plunged itself into the sand beside his feet.
“F*ck, why can’t I hit…? You’re a counterfeit, right?”
Right across from him was Quick Rope, who tapped the Crossbow of Time in his hand in exasperation. However, once he noticed three people surrounding him, Quick Rope was scared so badly that he felt his soul leave his body. He flailed his arms as he charged madly towards Thales.
“HELP ME!”
Samel yelled amid the crowd, reorganizing his disorderly team and formation. “Don’t panic! They’re at the limits of their strength! We have an advantage in numbers!”
Thales breathed nervously during the short few seconds of chaos and commotion. He turned his head around and saw Josef throw something at Barney and the others who were running towards him.
Before the prince had time to voice his thoughts, a rustling sound that made chills appear in his heart arose. It came from nearby!
A gust of cold wind blew towards him and goosebumps broke out on Thales’ skin. He turned his head around to look.
‘As expected. That’s the demon’s panting.’
“You’re… asking for your own death.”
Ricky’s face was as pale as a corpse when he crawled up from the puddle of his blood. He gnashed his teeth as he glared, then stretched out his arm to draw Everlasting Truth from his waist.
But before he finished speaking, Zakriel’s expression became stern. The man, who was the first to rush at him, bent his body, and suddenly leaned forward while stretching out his arm.
In the next second, Thales widened his eyes and let his jaw fall slack.
‘What?’
To his shock, he saw the heroic and imposing Knight of Judgment throw… a handful of sand at Ricky who had just resurrected from the dead.
“Aaaaaahhhhh!”
Perhaps Ricky did not expect the reputable Knight of Judgment to play such dirty tricks either, hence, right when Ricky drew his sword, he was caught off guard when he had sand thrown right in his face.
“Damn it!” Ricky cried in pain. He covered his dirt-filled eyes with his left hand. He thrust forward instinctively with his right hand, but Zakriel tumbled on the ground agilely and avoided it.
“Yes! That’s right!”
In the chaos, Quick Rope scrambled up from the ground, clenched his teeth, and swung his fists. He shouted loudly, “Give that s*cker another one!”
Quick Rope arrived next to Thales, along with Canon, who was tasked to escort him. When Canon heard it, he frowned and looked at Quick Rope. Quick Rope’s voice instantly became much fainter. He looked at Canon in embarrassment.
“I, I… did it for the sake of the at-atmosphere…”
“Don’t worry about Ricky, he will recover in no time.” Samel clenched his teeth, trying to restore order to his group and take control of the situation. “First, we surround them!”
In the next second, Thales saw Barney Junior whip out the thing he received from Yodel earlier on. Realization dawned on him.
“You thought you can kill me that way?”
Ricky was rubbing away the sand in his eyes in agony while swinging his weapon around. The sound of the wind by his ears guided his swings.
Soon enough, he heard some metallic clinking.
With his eyes shut, Ricky endured the pain in them as he felt a huge force charge towards him. It pressed down on him from all directions.
The force was so strong that it caused him to jolt!
*Plop.*
Everlasting Truth dropped on the sandy ground with a light thud.
As the mercenaries cried in surprise, Ricky opened his eyes laboriously and saw the situation before him.
There was a chain.
At a certain point of time, a vicious, metal chain with countless hooks was coiled around him four times from head to toe! He was bound tight!
His left hand was tied to his left cheek, while his right hand was pressed against his torso. He fell on his knees.
Barney and Beldin clutched one end of the chain with solemn looks on their faces, while Bruley and Tardin held the other end of the chain. The four men pulled the chain from both sides, stretching it, completely restricting Ricky’s movements.
“Well, we know we can’t kill you…” Zakriel panted. His arms dangled from the sides of his torso. He came before Ricky, who was trembling nonstop but was powerless to move.
“…so we’ll simply trap you.”
The Knight of Judgment ignored the odd gazes from his subordinates and Thales, then wiped off the remaining sand from his right hand with a casual expression. He picked up Everlasting Truth, which was on the ground in front of Ricky, and turned towards the direction of the mercenaries.
“Good sword, by the way.”
Zakriel shook his head and clicked his tongue.
Thales exhaled and held on to Quick Rope as the latter stumbled towards him. He recognized the chain on Ricky—it was the one Stake used to bind Yodel.
“ARGHHHH!!”
Ricky, who was bound, let out a furious roar.
“Zakriel!”
However, the more he struggled, the deeper the hooks on the chain sank into him, making it harder to break free, just like what happened to Yodel earlier.
Thales panted, gave Yodel a thumbs-up, and smiled. ‘Great job.’
From the time Yodel resurfaced to when Ricky got trapped, no more than a dozen seconds had passed, but it felt like a lifetime.
Yodel held his Supreme Sword in an icepick grip, pressed the hilt against his chest, and gave Thales a slight bow. In the next second, ripples surged around the Masked Protector in black, and he vanished into thin air again.
A few seconds later, dozens of Disaster Swords rushed towards them under Josef and Samel’s leadership. The group split up right in front of the Royal Guards and circled them!
However, another figure was already standing in their path.
There seemed to be a strange aura around the Knight of Judgment’s body. Wherever he set his foot on, the mercenaries who had seen what he was capable of, froze at once.
“Stay put!” Samel stopped the angry mercenaries exasperatedly. He glared at Zakriel before him. “Don’t forget about his power!”
Josef clenched his teeth and said, “He’s heavily injured! We just have to—”
“No!” Samel shook his head firmly. “I can’t risk it. Don’t forget about the masked one!”
Josef let out a frustrated bellow.
Thales steadied his breathing after considerable effort. He studied the situation where the power balance had been restored between the two opposing parties.
Ricky’s eyes were shut tight while he was bound in chains by four men. Thales held Quick Rope and stood behind the demon, while Canon stayed on guard by his side.
Zakriel held Everlasting Truth and stood alone as a wall before the other mercenaries.
The small area in the desert fell back into silence once more. All they could hear was the sound of heavy breathing.
“My old, masked friend.” While bound in chains, Ricky strenuously opened his eyes a little and searched for the elusive figure. “Marina said you were dealt with. When did you come back?”
There was no response.
Thales breathed in deeply, smiled, and said, “When we were underground; when your people were waiting and resting; when I kept you occupied by listening to your lecture about demons and the Powers of Eradication, and let you indulge in the thrill of mentoring someone.”
Ricky was slightly startled.
The teenager continued, “All the while, your old friend lurked in the darkness, busy untying knots, passing messages, and planning the next move.”
‘What? Kept me occupied by listening… Indulged in the thrill of mentoring someone?’ The tightly-bound Ricky felt his chest rise and fall rapidly.
He struggled again, but the four Royal Guards held him tightly. Their faces were red from the exertion.
“Meanwhile, you tried to make me lower my guard. When the time came, you asked if we could ‘talk’?” Ricky’s eyes were closed, but there seemed to an anger in his voice that threatened to incinerate everything.
Thales chuckled as a sign of confirmation.
Under the grey, gloomy sky, Ricky’s face was filled with rage. He clenched his teeth and said to Thales behind him, “I’ve underestimated you again, Your Highness. Even when you were listening to me, you were the same—cunning and deceitful.”
‘Cunning? Deceitful?’ Thales sighed.
He turned to look at Blade Fangs Camp in the distance.
“Don’t flatter me.”
Thales turned his head around, and smiled a toothy smile at the group of exasperated mercenaries before him.
“I am not a demon, after all.”
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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