Chapter 200: Give it Your All!

Chapter 200: Give it Your All!



Dennis felt his left leg, transformed into Claws, lightly tap the ground, and in an instant, he surged forward with lightning speed.

He was certain that this speed far surpassed that of an ordinary Knight.

Even compared to his father's speed when he broke through to the Great Knight realm, it didn't seem much slower.

This immediately lifted Dennis's spirits, especially after consuming the Mutation Potion and transforming into a non-human form.

As he moved, he was like a rapidly shifting transparent fog. After leaping over a high wall, he looked around.

Being in the Noble Quarter of the County City, he was surrounded by villas of various sizes belonging to noble families. Even at night, he could see the guards of each household patrolling back and forth.

This immediately sparked an idea in Dennis's mind.

He wanted to test his newfound power.

Scanning his surroundings, he spotted a guard in chainmail detaching from the patrol team, presumably heading to the toilet. A chilling smile crept onto Dennis's scaly face.

'A perfect test subject.'

In the next moment, Dennis's nearly transparent figure vanished from the top of the wall.

The guard, who had just turned the corner of the corridor, suddenly felt a gust of wind brush past him. Before he could react, he heard a crack, and he froze in his tracks.

The guard's body trembled like a sieve, and the next moment, he slowly collapsed to the ground.

"Look at that, I just cracked open the skull of a well-trained guard with a single claw! And the skull is one of the hardest parts of the human body. That guard wasn't weak either; he was probably at the level of a Level 1 Knight's attendant. But against my non-full-power strike, he had no chance to resist."

This discovery boosted Dennis's confidence, and he felt his power growing stronger by the second. The feeling of possessing such surging, overwhelming power was truly intoxicating.

"Rain! I'm coming for my revenge!" Dennis muttered, gazing at his transformed clawed hand.

In a swift leap, Dennis vanished from his current location.

Two Resistance Army members nearby, holding copper monoculars, blinked, startled by the sudden disappearance.

They quickly scanned the area, and after a moment, they spotted a nearly transparent figure briefly appearing at a distant manor before vanishing again.

After that, the figure was nowhere to be found.

"Damn! The effects of this potion are so strong! How did this kid get so fast?" one of them exclaimed.

"This is not what the captain described!" the leader spat.

"This potion is incredible. I wonder if it can restore a human body. If so, I'd like to request one from the adults," the other man said enviously.

"Don't be an idiot, Whitey. The mortality rate of this potion is sky-high. This kid is just lucky," the leader scolded, smacking his companion's head.

The two men hurriedly ran after Dennis, but despite being Formal Wizards, they couldn't keep up.

"We can't catch up, Whitey. You go and report this to the captain! This speed is even faster than that of a Senior Knight."

"And you're right, the Eagle Federation's potions are freaking amazing!"

---

Late at night, Rain continued to toil in the blacksmith shop, drenched in sweat.

From dinner until now, he had advanced his Armorer level 6 experience points to (1839/3000).

Rain wiped the fine beads of sweat from his forehead, thinking, 'Thankfully, Jennifer placed a bet on me during the Bloody Duel, and I won big! Otherwise, I wouldn't have the financial means to use rare ores like they were ordinary. I wouldn't have to worry about selling these Water Film Steel shoulder guards I've crafted.'

"After all, Knight armor is best sold as a set. A single piece would look out of place, especially since these are rare ore Water Film Steel pieces."

'At this rate, I should be able to finish everything tomorrow with some hard work.'

'Even with the system's help, my skills are hard-earned.'

"Knock knock!"

A rapid knock on the door interrupted Rain's thoughts.

Before Rain could open the door, a guard outside called out anxiously, "Baron, the manor has just been attacked!"

"What?!" Rain's pupils constricted, and he immediately opened the door. "What's the situation now?"

"Four guards were killed, but the regional patrol team responded quickly. The attacker has fled. Baron, your parents and sister are safe, just a bit shaken."

Rain's hands paused for a moment at this news.

It was a relief that his family was only shaken and not harmed.

"What about Baroness Crowly?" Rain asked, knowing that the beautiful woman had been staying at his manor these past few days, officially as his manor's housekeeper.

"The Baroness is also unharmed. She was in the cellar when the attack happened."

Rain nodded in relief. "Good!"

Nevertheless, Rain quickly donned his newly acquired Water Film Steel armor and rushed to his manor.

Along the way, he intermittently questioned the manor guards.

"Who was the attacker?"

"We're not sure, but it seems like a ferocious beast?" The manor guard hesitated before answering.

"A beast?" Rain was taken aback.

Even if it were a ferocious beast, it was highly unlikely for it to venture into a human city, let alone the noble quarter, merely for food. It didn't make sense.

"Were other noble manors attacked as well?"

"Yes, but not as severely as ours," the guard replied after some thought.

"I see," Rain said, deep in thought.

Soon, he arrived near his manor, where familiar teams of Night Watchmen in black leather armor and numerous City Guards were running back and forth, tightening security.

Apparently, the entire county town's defenses had been mobilized after the attack.

"What's the situation now?" Rain asked, stopping a man dressed as a Night Watch captain.

The man was about to get angry, but when he saw it was Rain, he immediately froze. This was the 'Baron Hammer'!

The Night Watch captain quickly wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and said, "Baron Rain, several noble manors were just attacked by some kind of monster. Eyewitnesses only saw a transparent shadow flash by, causing severe injuries or death. But one thing we're certain of is that the attacker used claws."

"The attacker was fast, wasn't it?" Rain asked.

"Yes, sir," the captain replied.

"Then why did it run away?"

"Because we fired signal flares, and after seeing them, it broke through our encirclement and fled in that direction," the captain pointed towards the distant city wall.

"Good work, thank you! I was once a Night Watchman myself, and if I encounter that monster on patrol, I'll lead it towards my manor," Rain said, patting the captain's shoulder.

"Thank you, Baron!" The captain was excited by Rain's words and bowed slightly.

After a brief inquiry, Rain returned to his manor.

"Wow!"

When Rain returned, his sister Mint rushed into her brother's arms, crying, "Brother, Cookie is badly hurt!"

"Hmm?"

Rain's eyebrows furrowed, and he quickly rushed to the manor entrance. He found that Lynx Dog Cookie had four deep claw marks on his back, severely injured and unable to move.

Seeing Rain, Cookie whimpered and looked at him, letting out a few "woofs."

"Don't be afraid, I'll heal you," Rain said, stroking Cookie's head reassuringly.

At that moment, his mother Emma, father Old Rain, and the beautiful woman Jenny also came out of the manor.

"Father, mother, please rest assured, I'm here," Rain comforted them.

At the same time, he turned to the beautiful woman and said, "You and Jenny stay here tonight; it's safer with me."

"Oh, and make sure these fallen guards' families are well compensated. If they need any assistance, do what you can to help them."

"Yes, Baron," the beautiful woman nodded and immediately sent for Jenny.

---

In an inconspicuous residence within the county town.

Upon hearing his men's report about Dennis, Brigadier Parix's eyebrows furrowed in surprise. "Are you sure you didn't mistake his strength?"

"We assure you, sir, we did not mistake it," the two strongmen reported confidently.

Brigadier Parix glanced at them and nodded.

One reason he launched this sudden attack was because he received news from the county town that Earl Habus was not present, meaning he only needed to be wary of the strong from the Goddess of Wind and Sea Church.

The second reason was the fortunate encounter with Dennis, an excellent 'material' for a mutation potion. And now, this 'material' had surprised him again.

As if in recollection, he muttered to himself, "According to the physician who delivered the potion, typically, if a Knight Apprentice doesn't die immediately after consuming it, their combat strength increases to the level of a Senior Knight or slightly higher."

"But Dennis's increase is almost beyond that of a Peak Knight, which is extremely rare."

"In that case, Dennis's body becomes more valuable. The Eagle Federation will likely be very interested."

"Yes, we must retrieve it quickly and freeze it promptly to ensure accurate detection."

"I suppose I'll have to make a trip."

---

After making arrangements in his manor, Rain examined the bodies of several fallen manor guards.

At that moment, the town marshal, Viscount Hamadi, arrived.

But as soon as he arrived, a messenger reported to him.

After hearing the report, Viscount Hamadi's expression changed.

He approached Rain and said, "Baron Rain, the messenger just informed me that Flash Gold Town was attacked by a bandit gang. Several wealthy merchants' manors in the northern part of the town were also attacked. I must arrange support immediately."

"I'll increase the frequency and intensity of patrols here," Rain assured.

Flash Gold Town and other places were also attacked?

Rain nodded. "Viscount, please go ahead. Given the current situation, the likelihood of another attack is low. And I'll be staying in the manor."

After Viscount Hamadi left, Rain felt something was amiss.

First, the claw marks on the fallen guards' bodies were indeed from a beast, but the timing of the bandit gang's attack was too coincidental.

Secondly, the 'Detect Evil' divine magic array in the manor's first-floor room hadn't been triggered, indicating it wasn't a demon or evil spirit.

Therefore, if it were a beast, it must have been a beast controlled by someone! Rain concluded.

In the late hours of the night, Rain didn't rest. He stepped into the front courtyard, his body adorned in a Water Film Steel suit, and began practicing the Kadhar Fist Technique. He had set aside his weapons in the nearby storage room.

Half an hour later, a transparent figure stealthily darted back.

"Rain is practicing fist techniques without his weapons?" Dennis observed, perplexed by Rain's actions.

Even though he sensed something amiss, at this moment, a violent force seemed to surge within him, yearning to be unleashed.

Moreover, he harbored a strong desire to kill the person before him.

This was partly due to the 'Shadow Saber Lizard Mutation Potion,' which contained a special substance extracted from the lizard's egg sac, causing a potent assimilation effect on the human body.

Not only had Dennis's body mutated, but his personality had also undergone a certain degree of transformation.

From another perspective, the fact that Dennis had managed to restrain himself for so long under the influence of the lizard's mutation indicated the depth of Rain's shadow in his mind.

"Screw it! Even if I can't win, my speed should be enough to escape!" Dennis thought, his tongue darting out to lick his lips.

In the next moment, he transformed into a transparent mist and rushed towards Rain.

Rain, with his level 3 'Danger Sense,' had already been alerted to Dennis's approach.

Despite his calm demeanor and unchanged fist technique, Rain's heart was filled with joy.

"Clang!"

Sparks flew from the surface of Rain's Water Film Steel Gauntlets as he firmly blocked Dennis's incoming claw attack.

Without the Finger Tiger, Rain's combat effectiveness was slightly diminished, but with the gauntlets, he could still execute most techniques, except for the secret 'Hundred Rend Strike' that required a blade.

After the initial clash, Rain quickly assessed the monster's strength, confirming his earlier prediction—its speed was exceptional, but its power was not as formidable as expected.

"Swish! Clang!"

The two engaged in a rapid exchange.

Dennis was thrilled as he realized Rain's strength had diminished significantly without his weapon.

'Hammer Baron,' without his hammer, was now an evenly matched opponent.

Dennis's confidence soared, and he launched a full-on assault on Rain.

This was Rain's deliberate strategy. He had anticipated the monster's weakness and intended to use it as a training partner for his fist technique.

Upon engaging, Dennis's confidence soared as he realized his plan.

The nearby guards, as instructed by Rain, focused on maintaining security and protecting the family, refrained from interfering with the fight.

They watched from the sidelines as the silver and transparent figures clashed rapidly in the courtyard.

The grating sound of their strikes filled the air, and the ground occasionally erupted with small pits as plants and grass were slashed.

Despite their efforts, the guards struggled to discern the specific movements of the combatants.

Dennis's excitement grew with each blow, sensing victory. He believed that if Rain weren't wearing that incredibly tough iron clump, he would have already been injured by his previous attacks.

The thought of defeating Rain, who had bested his father, a Great Knight, filled Dennis with exhilaration.

This feeling surpassed the pleasure he derived from dominating Tina, who was powerless to resist.

Dennis felt an overwhelming desire to taunt Rain.

"Hiss, Rain, you're dead meat!" Dennis hissed, his tongue flicking in and out.

"Oh? Who are you?" Rain asked, maintaining their exchange while answering.

"Me? I'm someone you'd never expect."

Despite the prolonged battle, both combatants should have been significantly fatigued.

However, Dennis, under the influence of the potion, remained in a hyper-excited state, akin to a person with hyperthyroidism, brimming with energy and the belief that he could fight indefinitely.

In contrast, Rain's breathing became more labored.

This only added to Dennis's confidence.

"Remember, I, Dennis, will be the one to kill you!"

Dennis's attacks surged like a tide.

Rain recognized Dennis, remembering their brief encounter.

He was surprised to see Dennis transformed into this ghastly form, possibly due to his connection with the bandit group.

Rain's primary concern, however, was Dennis's exceptional stamina.

He realized he could gain more experience from this opponent, even as his own stamina waned.

With his advancement to a Full Wizard requiring a spirit of 30 points or more, this was an opportune moment.

So, without much hesitation, Rain added a point to his Mental Power attribute.

With the remaining attribute points decreasing from 6 to 5, his Mental Power also increased from 27 to 28 points.

Suddenly, a warm current surged out from his heart and quickly spread throughout his body.

In an instant, all of Rain's exhaustion vanished!

Facing the rapidly approaching Dennis, Rain suddenly remembered something.

His opponent definitely didn't know that desperately attacking him would bring him tremendous benefits instead.

Rain couldn't help but wonder how his opponent would feel if he found out about this situation.

So, Rain smiled slightly and rushed towards Dennis at high speed.

"Ding! Ding! Clang!"

Thus, the two fought once again.

This time, Dennis became more and more agitated as the fight continued, and his impatience grew.

Just as Rain was about to run out of stamina, and he was about to win, this Rain suddenly became energetic again.

After a few more exchanges, Dennis couldn't hold back and asked:

"Hiss~ How is this possible! Your stamina should have been almost depleted!"

"Hehe, I have more endurance, and it's normal for you not to know that," Rain replied casually.

"Damn it!"

Dennis could tell Rain was mocking him, and his vertical pupils narrowed as he unleashed his full force in the attack.

Rain's chest, protected by Water Film Steel Armor, was continuously struck by Dennis' claws, but with the sturdy Water Film Steel Suit and the protection of his Extraordinary Trait 'Iron Skin,' such attacks were of little concern to Rain.

Soon, Dennis' transparent form began to falter, possibly due to excessive stamina depletion. At this moment, he started to revert from his 'Chameleon' state, returning to his original appearance with pale green scales.

"Indeed, he's like a wild beast!"

"Faster! Faster, and you'll be able to hurt me!"

"Use more force! More force, Dennis!"

Rain continued to taunt Dennis.

It wasn't that Rain was being malicious; he merely wanted to squeeze out Dennis' last bit of stamina.

Hearing Rain's occasional jests and taunts, Dennis, whose mind was already affected by the continuous assimilation effect, now had his eyes turning red with anger!

He unleashed his attacks with all his might.

As Rain's understanding of Kadhar Fist Technique deepened, his combat became smoother.

Additionally, since Dennis was using claws, Rain was able to compare and contrast the use of fists and claws, which seemed to have some benefits for his subsequent learning of the secret technique 'Hundred Rend Strike.'

White steam started to rise from Dennis' body, and his face, visible through the pale green scales, turned slightly red!

"Slap!"

As Dennis moved at high speed, he suddenly stumbled, and his expression changed dramatically!

"Damn!" Dennis felt something inside him suddenly burst!

Immediately after, he felt his strength rapidly draining away.

It was as if his body was a balloon being pricked by a needle, rapidly leaking its contents.

Rain also stopped and observed Dennis trembling uncontrollably, his scales and claws falling off one by one.

Witnessing this bizarre scene, Rain decided not to continue his attack.

He guessed that his opponent had reached some sort of limit.

Was it a physical breakdown?

Or was there another reason? He wasn't quite sure.

However, it was a bit of a pity to lose such a good 'experience-grinding opponent' like this.

If given a choice, he would rather have his opponent recover immediately.

Or perhaps his opponent's current bizarre state was just a prelude to some kind of transformation, and after the transformation, they could continue their battle.

But wishes are always beautiful.

In reality, it was a 'regret.'

After a few seconds, Dennis fell to the ground with a thud, convulsing uncontrollably.

A minute later, a withered Dennis, with graying hair and an extremely aged appearance, was lying on the ground, convulsing.

With his enhanced Mental Power, Rain sensed that Dennis' vitality seemed to have been completely depleted, and even his breathing was barely audible.

At this moment, a system notification appeared:

[Your skill Kadhar Fist Technique has improved, +977 Experience Points]



[You have experienced a battle, +89 Experience Points for Knight (Extraordinary)]



The Knight (Extraordinary) experience gain wasn't much, but the extended battle duration and the use of fist techniques allowed Rain's Kadhar Fist Technique to directly advance from level 4 (77/1000) to level 5 (54/2000)!

Seeing the monster finally transform into a human form, the Manor's guards were also surprised and surrounded the scene. One of them reported, "The opponent is dead!"

"I didn't expect it to be a human!"

". "

Rain nodded and said, "Take care of the body."

This body should have great research value, and he wondered if the Empire would reward him with a substantial amount of merit points after receiving it.

Reaching level 5 in fist techniques was an unexpected joy, and with just 5 more points, he would reach level 10.

Rain turned around and retrieved two weapons from the side. He planned to return to his room for a short rest.

Suddenly, he stopped.

Then, he quickly turned around and looked towards a street corner in the night, where his gaze seemed to be focused.

The guards who were cleaning up the battlefield also seemed to sense the change in the atmosphere and looked up, following their Baron's gaze towards the street corner illuminated by the street lamp.

A pair of shiny plate mail boots appeared at the street corner, not too far away.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end