Chapter 328: Precondition 1

Chapter 328: Precondition 1



Hansal was startled, not because of the additional person. He had anticipated Ren's appearance, but who was the dignified-looking beauty beside him? It seemed odd for two people to be in a room together at this late hour.

But Hansal quickly shook these chaotic thoughts from his head.

At that moment, two words flashed through his mind—'more money'! It didn't make sense for him to charge the same amount for leading one person away as for two.

One more person meant one more payment.

That should be right, right?

Meanwhile, Ren was quickly sizing up the burly man before him.

The man had a cross-shaped scar on his face, a tall and muscular build, and a powerful aura. Judging by his aura, he seemed slightly stronger than Bartista of the Stone Formation Squad.

Compared to Rulagatzbi, he was not as formidable.

In other words, the man's strength was likely between the peak of a Grand Knight and the level of a Knight Commander.

However, Hansal couldn't quite grasp the man's intentions.

Why had he grabbed Agatha as soon as he entered?

Was there some conflict between the Wiggins family and Agatha? Or did he grab the wrong person?"

Ren had always assumed that if someone was going to kidnap someone, the target should have been Anna.

Suddenly, the man lifted Agatha and quickly moved to the left, seemingly uninterested in engaging with Ren.

Ren turned to Delana and said, "Lady Delana, I'd appreciate it if you could protect the manor, especially Anna."

As soon as Ren finished speaking, his figure at the spot began to dissipate.

Delana, who was surprised by Ren's words, found that before Ren's voice even fell, he had already moved twenty or so meters away, rapidly chasing after the intruder.

If this had happened two days ago, Delana might have scoffed at Ren's words, but since coming to Ren's manor, she had believed in his words to an extent.

Simultaneously, she reevaluated her perception of Ren's strength.

So, she nodded, not making any move, and slightly turned her head to acknowledge Anna, who had also been awakened by the commotion.

When Hansal turned back for the first time, he saw that Delana and Anna were still at the spot, causing him to relax.

He thought, this money is too easy to earn.

But the next moment, his face turned grim as he felt a gust of wind behind him. Instinctively, he spun around, protecting the girl he had been holding with his right hand, and then raised his left arm to block the incoming attack with his arm shield.

However, Hansal only saw a shadow flash by, and felt a sharp pain in his right hand, causing him to lose his grip on the girl.

Immediately after, he felt a tremendous force on his left arm's shield.

"Bang!"

Hansal's entire body flew like a heavy artillery shell, creating a straight line from the garden of Ren's manor to the outside.

"Boom!"

The sturdy marble courtyard wall shattered, and Hansal flew through it, creating a large hole. He continued flying across the street, crashing heavily into the wall of a mansion on the opposite side, finally coming to a stop.

The solid white marble wall had a human-shaped dent, and spiderweb-like cracks were spreading in all directions.

This scene naturally caught the attention of Sam's team and Hansal's followers who were lying in wait.

They had just heard the distinct sound of metal clashing and assumed Hansal had been defeated. Eagerly, they prepared to take action.

But the next moment, they saw Hansal's familiar tall figure emerge from the hole, but he was flying out backwards!

The speed was incredibly fast, meeting the standards of an Earth Dragon Knight, but it didn't seem like he was luring the enemy to pursue him.

How should he describe it? It was more like...

Being knocked away by the enemy?

So, including Sam and the others, who were originally waiting for the right moment to strike, now felt a bit lost, not quite understanding Hansal's current state.

Especially Sam, whose thoughts were in turmoil.

Was Hansal intentionally showing weakness to lure the enemy into pursuit?

Didn't he clearly instruct him to take any female captive and leave immediately, and the enemy would give chase?

Why the hell was he fighting with Ren?

What the hell!

But soon, Sam's pupils constricted, his face turning grim as he spotted a familiar figure walking out from the hole with composure—it was Ren.

After Ren had saved Agatha, he handed the frightened girl over to Vieri, who had rushed over, and the guards who had been alerted by the commotion.

Ren himself then headed towards the outside of the manor.

As for why he didn't chase after them, it was because he was still savoring the punch he had just thrown.

Ren hadn't utilized his new core skill 'Weakness Mastery', nor did he use 'Bloodlust Rampage'. He merely tested his 'Ultimate Strength' and used the intermediate technique 'Heavy Punch Combo', delivering a powerful punch to the opponent while saving Agatha.

I didn't expect that the power of this punch would be so overwhelming.

As he witnessed the burly man embedded in the wall and his visibly twisted left arm, Ren couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

But soon, Ren's expression turned to understanding.

It was due to the talent 'Ultimate Weapon Proficiency' that his gauntlets also received a significant boost, reaching the level of 'Gauntlet Expertise Max'.

Additionally, during his class change, the eight-point increase in both Strength and Agility was no small matter.

Furthermore, with the blessing of 'Ultimate Strength', even though he hadn't fully unleashed its power, the effect was comparable to his previous use of the top-tier warhammer technique, 'Annihilating Hammer'.

No wonder a single punch was enough to reduce a peak Grand Knight to such a state.

"Damn it!" Hansal struggled to get up from the wall, his face twisted in rage. However, when he looked down at his dislocated left arm, a chill ran through his heart.

Such strength... Even a semi-legendary powerhouse wouldn't be able to dislocate his arm with a single punch, right?

What kind of game is this?

Could this young man be a legendary powerhouse?

Hansal's eyelids twitched violently!

At that moment, he began to realize something.

Why did Sam repeatedly emphasize that he should take the woman and leave immediately?

It's not that he was afraid of killing the man; it was that he was afraid that if he didn't leave immediately, he wouldn't be able to escape later!

Why would Sam, that cunning bastard, agree to double the price?

That bastard must have known that the opponent was incredibly strong!

Why did I agree to that?

I was stupid... No, I was fooled by that bastard Sam!

But I haven't lost yet!

"Krups!" Hansal roared, and with a 'crack', his dislocated arm popped back into place.

"Boom!"

A lizard, standing three to four meters tall and six to seven meters long, burst out from a nearby house.

Ren's eyes widened slightly in surprise.

It wasn't the size or power of the monster that surprised him.

Instead, it was the dragon-like aura mixed within its breath.

"A dragon-blooded creature?"

"What a surprise!"

Ren's gaze toward Hansal softened.

What a good person!

Ever since Ren learned that his dragon bloodline required the absorption of dragon essence or similar items to gradually enhance it, he had been wondering where to start.

He never expected that such an opportunity would present itself so soon!

As for the prying eyes around them, Ren was well aware of their presence.

Moreover, he had a vague sense of the strength and numbers of the hidden enemies.

"But this is perfect. My departure should force these onlookers to reveal themselves."

"With Delana and Vieri here, I can return within a minute, and there shouldn't be any problems."

Ren made an instant decision.

Hansal leaped onto the dragon-blooded creature and let out a cry as he quickly headed in the opposite direction from Ren.

Sam's team members were left speechless by this turn of events.

Sam was fuming inside.

"Hansal, you idiot! The plan was for you to kidnap the woman and then escape!"

"I didn't tell you to run away immediately!"

"Without a hostage, will they even bother chasing us?"

However, to Sam and the others' surprise, Ren tapped his toes, and his entire body surged forward in a silver streak, charging directly at Hansal riding the Earth Dragon.

The members of Sam's team looked at each other in bewilderment, utterly perplexed by this incomprehensible scene. Nine out of ten normal people would choose to retreat and secure their own residence in such a situation.

But Ren seemed to have a screw loose, as he was chasing after them?

"Leader, the target is being led away, but the situation seems to have deviated from our plan! Should we still go after them?" Garcia asked in a complex tone, unable to contain his confusion at the unfolding events.

Sam's mind raced, and soon a ruthless look appeared on his face. He quickly said, "Of course, we're going after them! We just need to make some adjustments! Estevan, you two will also join in and help Garcia capture the elven girl!"

"Ioem, be ruthless and finish off that Vieri quickly. Then, we'll capture the other elf together," Sam added, addressing the bald, muscular man beside him.

"Will do!" The bald man responded with a sinister smile.

He had been wanting to suggest that their leader delegate some authority.

Damn it!

The previous operation was so timid and inefficient, leaving a bad taste in his mouth.

In Ioem's opinion, if they had offered more money, and 'Earth Dragon Knight' Hansal had teamed up with them for a combined attack, they might have been able to take down Ren directly.

Losing one elf might have been too costly, but with two elves, the loss of some manpower would be worth it if they could achieve their goal.

At Sam's command, the members of Sam's team emerged from their hiding spots and rushed towards Ren's mansion.

Quickly, they leaped into the vicinity of Ren's residence.

Upon seeing multiple foreign intruders, and noticing their attention focused on both herself and Anna, Delana's eyes narrowed, and she silently mused:

"As expected, they are here for me and Anna?"

During the day, when she descended from the airship, Delana sensed someone tailing her. Now it seemed her initial feeling was not wrong.

Delana's attention immediately shifted to the middle-aged man in black robes leading the group, as the spiritual light emanating from his sorcery indicated he was a powerful expert, possibly even stronger than herself.

Vieri, standing nearby, also had a grave expression.

Opposite him was a stranger, a bald, muscular man with shiny skin. His aura was even stronger than Angus, and he was a peak-level Grand Knight.

Although Vieri had been training diligently with his team leader, Ren, and had improved significantly, at best he could only compete with a senior Grand Knight. Compared to a peak Grand Knight, there was still a noticeable gap.

Sam fired a signal flare, and if they could hold out for five minutes, the rest of the squad would arrive.

"Move!" Sam commanded in a low voice.

Immediately, he began chanting and casting spells.

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Hansal's nickname was 'Earth Dragon Knight', and the Earth Dragon beneath him was his greatest reliance. As a dragon descendant, the Earth Dragon's strength and speed far surpassed ordinary ferocious beasts.

With the Earth Dragon, Hansal felt more at ease.

At this moment, he was at his full potential!

With the Earth Dragon's cooperation, Hansal's offensive and defensive capabilities increased significantly.

Additionally, the Earth Dragon's speed was incredibly fast. Even without a flying mount, it could outrun legendary experts.

In fact, if it weren't for Ren's earlier display of overwhelming strength, Hansal, who had just suffered a setback, would have turned around to teach Ren a lesson.

However, Hansal had barely relaxed for two seconds when he turned back and was shocked by what he saw.

He realized that Ren's pursuit was even faster than Krups, leaving him behind. At this rate, in less than five seconds, he would be caught.

"Krups, Earth Dragon, charge!" Hansal roared.

As he vigorously shook the reins, the grey skin of the Earth Dragon beneath him began to exude fine beads of blood. Then, its limbs rapidly alternated in a galloping motion.

Suddenly, its speed increased dramatically, like a grey streak, charging forward.

The Night Watch Squad, who had sensed something amiss along the way, was repeatedly blown away by the whirlwind created by the Earth Dragon. Some unlucky members were blown high into the air, falling from a height of four to five meters, losing their fighting ability instantly.

"Huh?" Ren was surprised to see the Earth Dragon, which was about to be caught, summoning its strength once more and gradually creating distance between them.

Ren, at this moment, was intermittently using the Supreme Technique 'Shadow Step' in pursuit.

"Since it's like this..."

In an instant, the piece of hardened mithril in Ren's hand transformed into a short spear.

Suddenly, Ren stomped his foot, and the white stone-paved ground was crushed by his Mithril Boots, sending shards flying.

At the same time, he twisted his waist, and his arm muscles swelled to more than double their size, and he swung his arm vigorously.

"Huh!"

With a low roar, the short spear in Ren's hand vanished, and a black lightning bolt shot from his fingertip, striking the bald man's back from dozens of meters away.

There was no sound of breaking through the air.

The short spear seemed to teleport through space. A circular white shockwave appeared in front of Ren, and at the same time, on the distant Earth Dragon, Hansal's entire waist and abdomen exploded, creating a massive hole.

At that moment, an extremely sharp whistling sound reverberated through the surroundings.

"Chirp!"

Obviously, the short spear's speed was incredibly fast, surpassing the speed of sound, creating such an effect and power, breaking through the sound barrier to reach its target.

But even after piercing Hansal's waist and abdomen, the short spear's power remained undiminished, and it heavily struck the Earth Dragon's neck, which was in a straight line with its owner, Hansal.

"Boom!"

Nearly half of the hardened mithril short spear had penetrated the Earth Dragon's neck, creating another bloody hole.

"Ah!!!"

"Ouch!!!"

Hansal and his Earth Dragon both screamed in pain. The Earth Dragon could no longer maintain its galloping state and instantly stumbled.

Hansal, due to the intense pain and severe injury, couldn't even sit steadily and immediately fell to the ground.

The next second, Ren rapidly approached from behind, his body tracing a silver arc, and he appeared in front of the Earth Dragon's left side.

The hardened mithril in his hand had already transformed into a double-handed greatsword.

"Shh!"

A curved slash flashed across the Earth Dragon's neck.

"Sizzle!"

The Earth Dragon's bloody neck gushed out like a miniature waterfall from the circular wound where its neck had been severed.

Ren adjusted the distance slightly and was promptly drenched in the Earth Dragon's blood. At that moment, the system prompted:

【Ding! Host detected with Dragon's blood baptism. Traceable dragon gene fragments found. Absorb?】

(Note: Absorbing these trace dragon gene fragments will slightly enhance the host's dragon bloodline concentration.)



"As expected, my perception was correct. This Earth Dragon has dragon genes, and it's a dragon descendant."

"However, based on the description, it seems to be of a similar level to the Legendary Snake, and it's only a 'trace' amount. I doubt it will be enough to upgrade my bloodline."

"But every little bit counts. Let's accumulate these small gains."

Without hesitation, Ren chose "Yes!"

Just like the previous time, Ren felt a warm sensation rising from the part of his skin that was soaked in the Earth Dragon's blood, as if something was seeping into his body. The entire process was extremely brief.

"Pfft!"

As Ren sliced open the Earth Dragon's chest with his sword, he reached into the wound with one hand and pulled out a heart the size of a basketball, still beating vigorously.

"Can't let this go to waste."

Ren glanced at his attribute panel, and as he had predicted, there was no change in the effect of the Dragon Bloodline.

【Mutated Dragon Bloodline (Moderate) Effect: Moderately increased affinity with water and fire elements. Possesses danger perception, dark vision, ultimate weapon proficiency, extraordinary comprehension, Gigant Strength, and Steel Body's ultimate talent effects. Battle Cry Techniques are doubled in strength.】

"Huh? What's this?"

But the next second, Ren's eyes lit up.

He noticed that the system had refreshed with another prompt:

【Precondition for promotion to Dragon Vein Wizard (Legendary): 1. Mutated Dragon Bloodline concentration must be 'Rich' or above; 2. ???】

"I didn't expect that increasing the Dragon Bloodline concentration would also clarify the conditions for promoting to Dragon Vein Wizard (Legendary)."

"Also, the description mentions that the Dragon Bloodline concentration required is 'Rich'?"

"Currently, I'm at the Moderate level. Is the next level Rich, or is there another level in between?"

Ren couldn't help but look pensive.

However, he quickly shook his head.

"This isn't important right now. Let's hurry back to the mansion."

"Just now, I sensed quite a few prying eyes. I bet they've all come out by now."

Just as Ren was about to leave, he suddenly noticed the burly man lying in a pool of blood a short distance away, still struggling to get up. At this moment, his eyes were fixed on Ren, filled with anger and hatred.

"That's right, can't let this go to waste," Ren muttered to himself.

In his hand, the double-handed greatsword rapidly transformed into a warhammer. Amidst Hansal's terrified gaze, the warhammer precisely struck his forehead.

"Whack!"

As the sound of a metal bar smashing a watermelon rang out, a transparent soul phantom with a hideous face and a long trailing flame appeared, swirling around Ren several times before plunging into the warhammer.

The next second, as the ground beneath Ren's feet cracked like a spider web, a white wave of energy rapidly spread out! The phantom standing on the ground began to gradually dissipate.

---

At the same time, in Ren's new mansion...

The battle had just begun, and it had not even lasted half a minute.

A wall-like green vine, extending for dozens of meters, separated the two groups.

The vine shimmered with dense green sorcery light, blocking almost all the attacks from Sam's team.

However, Delana, the caster, was not in a comfortable state. Sweat already glistened on her forehead.

She knew that her Level 2 Spell, 'Vine Wall', couldn't hold off the opponents for long. At most, it would last another minute before failing.

At this moment, Anna's gaze suddenly shifted to the mansion's entrance, and she exclaimed, "Ren!"

"Hmm?"

Hearing Anna's exclamation, everyone present turned their eyes to the doorway, struck dumbfounded as if by a lightning bolt. They saw Ren suddenly appear at the mansion's entrance, drenched in blood, but his fluid movements indicated that it was not his own.

The answer was clear!

"Damn! Has it only been a minute?"

Just as the bald, muscular man, Ioem, was about to make a move on Vieri, he saw this scene and was completely stunned. "That bastard Hansal really screwed us over! He promised to distract them for ten minutes!" another team member gasped.

"Yeah! The captain wisely left almost double the buffer time! But it's been such a short time, and even that might not be enough to handle the current situation!" Estevan muttered.

Sam's face turned grim, his mouth twitching.

He was well aware of Hansal's strength as an Earth Dragon Knight. Ren's sudden appearance meant that Hansal had most likely escaped with severe injuries.

Now, a difficult choice loomed before him.

Should he retreat or continue the attack?

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end