Chapter 284: Dragon Knight

Chapter 284: Dragon Knight



The clash of the two warhammers created a shower of sparks and a powerful shockwave, forming a fierce storm of hammer blows that sent six or seven nearby Black Flame Adepts and guards flying into the air.

The ground beneath them also sank nearly ten centimeters under the immense force, and the soil erupted like a tornado, scattering in all directions.

In an instant, a large crater formed around Ren and the Ancient Hero Monge, spanning several meters in diameter!

Monge's expression changed dramatically at the moment of impact, his face contorting in sheer terror. He had always assumed that the unique power of his opponent's technique, which could harm the soul, came from the skull battle hammer that had just been reduced to dust.

Monge had sensed through his perception that the hammer was somehow related to a sacrificial ritual.

It was plausible that during a prolonged sacrificial process, one might occasionally gain the ability to harm souls.

However, Monge never expected that this Imperial youth named Ren, without the skull battle hammer in hand, could still deliver a strike capable of harming the soul.

In that instant, the semi-transparent ethereal shadow behind Monge's towering figure, already somewhat tattered, was struck again by Ren's hammer, detaching it from his body once more.

The scene from the previous encounter replayed itself!

The transparent shadow, hovering about a meter away from Monge's body, suddenly sprouted dozens of fist-sized holes all over again, leaving it in a severely damaged state, like a flickering candle in a storm.

If one didn't look closely, it was almost impossible to discern any human form.

As the shadow returned to Monge's body, he staggered backward, taking five or six steps before collapsing to the ground with a loud thud.

Ren, too, was not spared from the pain.

His warhammer, even though it was made of tempered mithril, couldn't withstand the intense collision from before.

The thinner part of the hammer's handle snapped, and the hammerhead was completely dislodged, leaving Ren with only a headless hammer in his hand.

Monge's strike was accompanied by a unique dark red flame and a transparent surge of energy.

Ren's right hand was nearly fractured, and his entire body was engulfed in the dark red flames, causing him immense agony.

Despite the pain, Ren clenched his teeth and took a step forward, transforming the tempered mithril in his hand back into a warhammer. He raised it and brought it down heavily on Monge's head.

It seemed that Monge had sensed his impending death.

In that fleeting moment, Monge's dying eyes widened, fixing on Ren.

The next second, Monge raised his ashen-white arm to block Ren's strike.

"Bang!"

The impact felt like hitting a thick leather armor, reverberating through the hammer's handle into Ren's hand. Despite the opponent's wrinkled skin, resembling a mummy, the muscles beneath were like steel wires, providing formidable defense.

Even compared to Ren, who possessed the Intermediate Steel Body talent, the defense was no weaker.

The blow only damaged Monge's arm muscles, failing to shatter his arm bones.

Whether it was a last-ditch effort or some hidden secret, the exhausted Monge roared and charged into Ren's embrace, pushing with all his might.

"Boom! Boom!"

They crashed through several brick walls in succession before bursting into an adjacent villa annex, immediately engaging in close-quarters combat.

However, Monge's condition was so dire that within seconds, Ren seized the opportunity.

"Pfft!"

Monge's eyes widened, and his body trembled.

A pointed hammer pierced through his crown and into his brain.

The next moment, he seemed to want to raise his arm for a counterattack, but his entire body began to convulse. The raised thick arm fell back down, and his lion-like head finally slumped in defeat.

Ren pulled out the pointed hammer and stared at the towering figure lying on the ground, momentarily speechless.

As the Ancient Hero Monge died, a peculiar aura emanated from his robust corpse, filled with grandeur and vast implications.

Ren felt as if Monge's death resembled a 'whale fall,' where the passing of a great creature releases a surge of primordial energy.

Suddenly, a system prompt sounded:

[Ding! Unknown high-quality absorbable energy detected. Absorb? Yes/No?]



(Note: This high-quality energy can be directly converted into talent points after absorption.)



Huh?

Ren was taken aback by the system prompt. This was truly unexpected.

Since the last time he killed a Black Flame Cult High Priest during the Promotion Stage and coincidentally encountered an opportunity to convert talent points, Ren had assumed that only enemies with a connection to divine beings could potentially yield talent points.

He never imagined that by killing the Ancient Hero Monge, he would also have a chance to gain talent points.

Without hesitation, Ren chose 'Yes!'

In an instant, the strange aura emanating from Monge's robust corpse, which had begun to dissipate, was now completely absorbed by Ren's body.

The system prompt followed:

[Ding! Converted a total of two talent points.]



[Please choose to enhance 'Basic Weapon Mastery (Passive),' 'Basic Extraordinary Insight (Passive),' 'Intermediate Steel Body (Passive),' or 'Intermediate Super Strength (Active).']



Ren's face lit up even more upon seeing the system prompt, revealing two Talent Points.

This meant he could enhance his Intermediate Talent, an opportunity he couldn't pass up. But first, he had to address his physical condition; the malevolent flame within him, like a festering wound, continued to cause persistent damage.

Ren had no choice but to rely on his three battle pets to bear the unbearable burden once more. As the eagle, dog, and horse rushed into the ruins, Ren activated his Level 3 Beast Vitality, finally alleviating his overall condition.

At that moment, Ren spotted something that caught his attention, raising his eyebrows slightly. He approached the object, now holding the blue and white warhammer that once belonged to Monge, examining it closely.

The warhammer felt heavy, and Ren could sense a distinct aura of resistance. It was as if the warhammer had a mind of its own, disapproving of its new owner.

Ren held the warhammer close to his chest, studying it carefully. The handle, adorned with intricate blue and white patterns, seemed to form an array, suggesting a special function.

The hammerhead, however, lacked any distinctive markings. Its square shape had blue on two sides and silver-white on the remaining four, giving an impression of exceptional sturdiness and weight.

Pondering, Ren attempted to activate his Talent Sorcery, Metal Transformation, but the warhammer emitted a faint blue-white glow, isolating the metal energy particles outside.

Transformation failed!

This only piqued Ren's interest further.

Clearly, this warhammer was no ordinary weapon. It seemed even more advanced than his shattered Skull Battle Hammer.

Although Ren couldn't unravel the warhammer's secrets at that moment, he wasn't worried. He was confident that within the vast Swordsman organization, someone would have the solution.

After some thought, Ren gripped the blue-white warhammer with his right hand and, with his left, grabbed Monge's ankle, dragging the tall, heavy corpse out of the villa's annex ruins.

As Ren emerged, everyone present involuntarily paused their battles, regardless of whether they were part of Freeman's Black Flame Cult or the guards led by Roland and Viscount Filk.

Their eyes, fixed on Ren, were filled with disbelief and shock! Freeman and the Black Flame Adepts stared wide-eyed, repeatedly examining the tall corpse Ren dragged, undoubtedly the ancient hero Monge.

But how could this be possible? Monge was a rare Epic-level warrior in the church's history!

To think he had fallen at the hands of an Imperial youth!

Even a fairy tale written by a bard wouldn't dare go this far.

In the game of Dragon Slayer, the hero must have an exceptional record, right?

Otherwise, a script where a peasant slays a dragon with a pitchfork would surely be met with jeers.

But in the eyes of the Black Flame Church, what was the difference between Ren and a peasant facing a dragon?

Roland and Viscount Filk also watched this scene in shock! While they didn't want Ren to lose, they had to admit they hardly expected him to win.

After all, in their minds, the possibility of his victory was minuscule.

Their greatest hope was for Ren to hold off the Black Flame Cult's legendary warrior for as long as possible.

If he could stall until Imperial reinforcements arrived, it would be a dream come true.

But even this hope seemed like a pipe dream to them.

In other words, they never imagined Ren could win!

Yet, the turn of events far exceeded their expectations.

He had won?

Roland vividly remembered Flay's words from the previous day. Ren was a Gold Rank Swordsman Captain, but in reality, he had only joined the Swordsman Division of Minster Province two months ago.

For a near-newcomer to have defeated a legendary warrior of the cult was astonishing.

It wasn't a matter of 'this youth will surely become a great talent' anymore.

It was more like 'this youth has already become a great talent'!

Clara, standing guard at the villa's entrance, stood with her mouth slightly agape and eyes wide, unsure of what to say as she witnessed Ren's feat.

Just two hours ago, she had given Ren a handwritten manuscript by her ancestor on how to comprehend Will Radiance, and now he had turned to slay a legendary warrior of the cult?

Clara's mind struggled to process this sudden turn of events.

The guards within Habsburg Castle, their eyes fixed on Ren, exuded respect and a hint of fear. Their attitude was a stark contrast to when Ren had first assumed responsibility for the castle's security.

Many guards blushed slightly, recalling their initial doubts. At this moment, seeing Ren's familiar figure, they felt an indescribable sense of security.

Suddenly, Freeman, standing in the arena, trembled as realization dawned on him.

If he didn't leave now, he might never get the chance.

"Retreat!" he shouted, quickly crushing something in his hand, causing a dense fog to materialize out of thin air.

The Black Flame Adepts, having lost their will to fight, followed suit, pulling out objects resembling smoke bombs and tossing them to the ground.

In the garden, a thick haze enveloped the area, making it difficult to discern the details. However, amidst the haze, one could vaguely make out the surviving Black Flame Adepts swarming towards the tunnel entrance previously excavated by the Earth Serpent.

As Ren considered pursuing the enemy, Roland and Flay approached him, saying, "Your Excellency, we can handle these remaining enemies. Please leave it to us!"

Ren thought for a moment and nodded in agreement. "Very well!"

Ren sat down on a broken slab of stone, taking a moment to catch his breath and reflect on the recent battle. Whether they were familiar with Ren or not, everyone present hesitated to approach the young man as he sat in quiet contemplation, holding a massive warhammer with blue and white hues.

The entire garden seemed to freeze in this peculiar moment. The young man appeared disconnected from the world, deep in thought, his powerful weapon resting in his hands.

Meanwhile, the others busied themselves with their tasks. Some chased after the fleeing enemies into the tunnel, while others spread out, maintaining a vigilant guard around Ren.

Olena, the Deputy Secretary of the Swordsman Division, had intended to approach Ren and offer words of praise. However, seeing his pensive expression, she felt an instinctive reluctance to disturb him.

Olena, well-versed in the ways of the Swordsman Division, fully understood the magnitude of Ren's contribution. Even with her extensive knowledge, this was the first time she had witnessed the defeat of a legendary enemy warrior at the hands of their own forces.

If he were to rely solely on his current true offensive power to break through the opponent's physical defense and inflict severe damage, it would still be an extremely challenging task.

"This is the power of a top-tier legendary profession, the core skill of a Warhammer Wizard!" Ren couldn't help but exclaim.

"If I hadn't changed my job to a Warhammer Wizard, I'm afraid this battle wouldn't have turned around. The best outcome would have been to rely on my quick-stepped horse to escape swiftly."

"But in that case..."

"I still need to strengthen my power."

Instantly, Ren thought of the two talent points he had just obtained.

After a moment of contemplation, Ren understood.

Currently, he had three main choices before him.

The first choice was to enhance the talent 'Intermediate Super Strength (Active)'. An increase in burst power meant that his attack power could be elevated to the next level, which was crucial in combat.

The second choice was to enhance 'Intermediate Steel Body (Passive)'. The reason was simple and important—armor was timeless!

The third choice was to split the two talent points and allocate them separately to 'Basic Weapon Mastery (Passive)' and 'Basic Extraordinary Enlightenment (Passive)'.

By doing so, these two basic talents would be upgraded to intermediate talents.

The advantage of this approach was that the power of the techniques used with weapons other than the warhammer would be enhanced.

Additionally, extraordinary enlightenment could further improve the cultivation speed of subsequent extraordinary combat techniques.

Each of the three choices had its own merits. Which one should he choose?

Ren couldn't help but ponder again.

Suddenly, he sensed something and looked up at the sky to the east.

Two teams of griffin knights were approaching from a distance, flying in two straight lines, leaving a large gap in the middle as if guarding something.

However, there was nothing visible in the middle to the naked eye.

"Hmm? The griffin squadron is here."

"Wow, there are quite a few griffin knights this time." Many guards exclaimed in awe.

Among the two teams of griffin knights, one of them was Fayse, who had just gone to deliver the message.

Seeing the Habsburg Castle, which had obviously calmed down, Fayse immediately thought of something, and his entire body stiffened. His expression was one of extreme sorrow, as if he believed that everyone, including his superior, Viscount Filck, had sacrificed themselves.

But the next moment, Fayse's reddish eyes blinked.

Upon closer inspection, he noticed that the people standing guard in the garden of the castle were all wearing guard uniforms, which made Fayse overjoyed.

However, this also left him puzzled.

"Viscount Filck said that the guy was at least a legendary warrior, right?"

"Could it be that the opponent retreated on their own?"

"Why would they retreat when they had the upper hand? I don't understand."

Fayse shook his head, unable to comprehend what had happened.

As for the possibility of the legendary warrior from the cult being killed, it never even crossed his mind.

After all, the scene where the opponent had paralyzed the griffin with a single blow was still fresh in his memory.

As the two teams of griffin knights drew closer, Ren felt a subtle uneasiness in the atmosphere, and a sense of anxiety arose within him.

Hmm? This intense aura... It's similar to that of the ancient hero, Monge. A flash of lightning crossed Ren's mind, and he suddenly thought of something. He looked up abruptly.

In the midst of the griffin knights hovering in the air, the previously empty space between them began to shimmer with ripples, as if the light was refracted by glass.

Then, the strange effect of invisibility suddenly disappeared.

A majestic, graceful, and slender giant creature appeared before Ren's eyes.

The shock he felt was no less than when he first encountered the ancient hero, Monge.

For what stood before him was a genuine dragon, its entire body red. Its scales were tightly packed and thick, each one larger than an adult's palm. The limbs beneath the red scales were muscular and sinewy, and each sharp claw at the end of its claws was comparable to a knight's longsword.

On both sides of the red dragon's head, there were two slightly curved horns, and on the top of its head, there were four smaller horns arranged in a row.

The flesh-and-blood wings, when seen up close, could be described as covering the sky and blocking out the sun.

Judging by its wingspan, which was at least twenty to thirty meters, the faintly swirling wind element energy particles surrounding it were the reason for its swift flight.

But what made people shudder was not just the dragon's size.

If it were just about size, the sea serpent dragon that Ren had killed near the coast wasn't much smaller than the red dragon before him.

Even the legendary Earth Serpent's massive size surpassed that of the red dragon.

What truly moved people was the dragon's aura.

The scorching and vast aura made those guards who had not yet entered the extraordinary realm tremble.

Although they knew this was not an enemy but the empire's legendary Dragon Knight, this overwhelming pressure from the level of life still made them shudder.

The red dragon first lowered its head to sniff the body of the ancient hero, Monge, on the ground. Then, with its huge golden vertical pupils, it looked at the blue-and-white warhammer in Ren's hand.

A sense of curiosity, doubt, and surprise, as if humanized, was revealed in its eyes.

At this moment, an elegant and magnetic female voice came from the dragon's back.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end