Chapter 80: Passing Away

Chapter 80: Passing Away



Chaos!

Utter chaos!

Accustomed to the tranquility of Signo City, Karl found himself slightly disoriented by the pandemonium before him.

Flames raged everywhere, and countless people cried out in panic.

Some took advantage of the chaos to loot and pillage.

In the distance,

The faint sounds of fierce fighting could be heard, and the unrest at the city gates had already spread throughout the entire city.

No!

Karl shook his head slightly.

It must have been the Kolonians who broke through the city gates; otherwise, the city wouldn't have spiraled into such chaos.

Signo City had thousands of city guards, numerous police officers, patrol officers, and even the Vatican's Guardian Knights.

Not to mention the private armies kept by various nobles.

In such a situation, far from the front lines, the city's defenders had allowed the gates to be breached. How incompetent were the city's leaders?

Fortunately, having experienced the turmoil in Black City, Karl quickly adjusted his mindset and familiarized himself with the environment.

"Boom!"

A loud noise reverberated from not too far away, and the roof of a building flew up into the air, exploding in mid-air.

"Baro!"

A roar followed:

"You can't escape!"

Baro?

Baron Baro!

Karl's gaze flickered, and he instinctively looked in the direction of the sound.

The moonlight was partially obscured by dark clouds, but the flames burning in various places provided enough illumination to see the situation in the field.

Baron Baro, holding a longsword, was covered in blood as he stumbled onto the street, his eyes filled with rage and terror.

"Tucker!"

"Crackle..."

Like a flash of thunder, a bright light instantly traversed over ten meters and appeared before Baron Baro.

It was a horse!

The knight on horseback was tall and robust, far beyond ordinary men.

With a slight shake of his arm, the knight, clad in armor and wielding a long spear, had already pierced the void and brought the spear close.

"Clang!"

Baro parried with his sword, but in the next instant, his entire body flew off the ground and crashed into a building behind him.

A Grand Knight, and he couldn't withstand a single blow!

"Huff!"

After knocking Baro away with a single strike, the knight didn't pursue further. Instead, he tightly pulled the reins and waved his spear, aiming at someone by his side.

A dark shadow suddenly rushed out, attacking with clenched fists.

The howling Battle Aura converged on the fists, resembling two colossal hammers, unleashing a terrifying force.

"Clang!"

The spear clashed with the fists.

Visible shockwaves erupted from the point of contact, swirling and instantly engulfing the long street.

The ground was ripped apart, walls swayed, and several figures attempting to approach staggered and retreated.

So powerful!

Karl's eyes narrowed.

Even if he were to use the secret technique of the Titan Breath Technique and undergo Gigantism, he might not possess such immense strength.

For him, it would take an all-out effort to unleash a strike like this, but for a true Grand Knight, it was a casual feat.

"Bern!"

The knight glanced at the attacker and spoke in a low voice:

"I thought you were already immobile, at your age. It would be better to stay home and rest."

"I'm here to die!"

Bern?

Karl's heart stirred.

The Grand Knight from the Noble Council, Lionheart Bern!)



This man was over fifty years old, yet he was still so fierce. He lived up to his title of Lionheart.

"Tucker." Lionheart Bern clenched his fists, his eyes blazing with anger.

"Don't forget. You were once a mere commoner from Gandor. Without the kingdom, you wouldn't be where you are today."

"You're right." Tucker replied:

"I was a commoner from Gandor, but now... this commoner has become a general of an enemy nation, leading a massive army to wage war."

"Grand Knight, shouldn't you reflect on this?"

"Swish!"

Before he finished speaking, the spear in his hand flashed with lightning and struck out, instantly brightening the dim night.

Battle Technique - Thunderfall!

"Boom!"

The spear, enveloped in thunder, slammed into Lionheart Bern's fist, unleashing a ferocious force.

Lionheart Bern's muscular body slid backwards for over ten meters before coming to a halt.

At the same time.

Baro, who had been defeated earlier, burst out of the ruins, his body leaping high like a swooping eagle.

"Buzz..."

The sword trembled slightly, and heavy sword shadows appeared.

The howling Battle Aura was so intense that even Tucker's warhorse was startled, its front hooves rising.

Enchanted Artifact!

The longsword in Baron Baro's hand was actually an Enchanted Artifact.

It had the effect of releasing phantom sword auras and intimidating the opponent's mind. When used, the sword's body would be concealed within the phantoms.

If the opponent wasn't careful, they would be injured by the sword's edge.

This weapon allowed him to easily gain the upper hand when facing other Grand Knights.

"Huff..."

Tucker waved his spear.

His eyes were cold and murderous, unaffected by the longsword as he aimed at the approaching Baron Baro.

"Boom!"

The ground trembled.

Lionheart Bern seized the opportunity and swung his fists, gathering Battle Aura to form a lion that charged towards its target.

"Boom!"

Dust and smoke rose in the field.

The spear created numerous afterimages as it clashed with the two Grand Knights.

Even Karl, who was some distance away from the battlefield, could feel the bone-chilling killing intent.

Others,

couldn't even get close.

Arrows fired by archers from a distance were blown away by the howling Battle Aura before they could get near.

The situation didn't last long.

"Crackle..."

"Boom!"

A thick bolt of lightning descended from the sky, covering the surroundings with dense electric light.

Battle Technique - Thunderfall!

"Puff!"

The warhorse charged forward, and the spear thrust straight, causing Baron Baro's longsword to be knocked away by the power of thunder.

And his body was also pierced by the spear.

The knight on horseback gave a slight shake of his arm, and Baron Baro fell to the ground like a torn sack.

After landing, he twitched twice and completely lost his vitality.

"Hya!"

General Thunder Lance Tucker, riding his horse, turned back and galloped towards Lionheart Bern, who was filled with despair. He thrust his spear forward.

"Pff!"

A figure fell to the ground.

The two Grand Knights, both of whom were skilled among Grand Knights, were no match for Tucker, even when they joined forces. In a short time, they both died on the spot.

Others might not have been able to see clearly, but they knew that the victory belonged to General Thunder Lance.

As for Karl,

He saw it all!

Baron Baro and Lionheart Bern were no match for General Thunder Lance Tucker, not even when they joined forces.

The gap between the two sides was so great that once they started fighting, the two of them wouldn't even have a chance to escape.

No wonder he was known as a potential legend.

No one in Signo City was his match, and with the loss of two Grand Knights, the city's fall was almost certain.

"Chase them!"

General Thunder Lance Tucker shook off the blood from his spear and turned his gaze to the west:

"Try to capture Lord Terrence alive. If you can't..."

"Then kill him!"

"Yes!" In the darkness, the Black Armor soldiers from Koln lowered their heads in response.

...

Run! Run fast!

A group of people rushed towards the west in a panic.

Currently, the north and south gates were in chaos, and the east gate had already been occupied by the Kolonians. Only the west offered an escape route.

Before Signo City completely fell, fleeing as quickly as possible was the only way to save their lives.

The corpulent Lord Terrence sat on his horse, galloping while looking back.

The shouts of pursuit from behind were getting closer, making him increasingly anxious and nervous, with cold sweat breaking out on his forehead.

His body was too corpulent, weighing more than three or four average adult men, causing even the carefully selected sturdy horse beneath him to struggle. After running for a distance, the horse became unsteady.

It seemed like it might collapse at any moment.

"Lord!"

A guard rode forward and supported his body:

"Be careful, slow down..."

"Slap!"

Before the guard could finish speaking, Lord Terrence slapped him across the face, causing his cheek to visibly swell.

"What do you mean by slowing down?"

"The pursuers are about to catch up. Are you hoping for me to be captured by the Kolonians?"

"You bastard!"

"Forgive me." The guard's face turned pale, and he quickly lowered his head:

"My lord, please forgive me."

"Useless fool. I spend so much money on you all, but you're of no use at a critical moment." Lord Terrence grumbled, turned to look back, his eyes filled with fear:

"Quick!"

"Divide into two groups and block them!"

"Flaramt!" He shouted at the slave not far away:

"You go, no matter what method you use, stop the pursuers. Don't let Tucker catch up."

"Yes."

Flaramt responded and led a group of guards to turn their horses and charge towards the pursuers.

"Kill!"

"Boom!"

The two groups of men clashed head-on.

The fully armed Black Armor soldiers were like killing machines, brandishing their weapons as they charged forward.

They didn't utter a sound, nor did they dodge or evade. They allowed the guards to attack them, relying solely on their armor for defense.

In the moment of their attack, they swung their weapons.

A life-and-death struggle ensued.

"Pff!"

"Pff... pff..."

In the blink of an eye, one figure after another fell, and corpses lay on the cold ground.

There were Black Armor soldiers,

And there were also the intercepting guards.

This fierce slaughter caused the usually arrogant guards of the lord's mansion to change their expressions and tremble slightly.

But it didn't affect the charge of the Black Armor soldiers.

Almost as soon as they clashed, these guards, who had the strength of knights and even knight attendants, were overwhelmed.

Knight attendants and knights were still flesh and blood, and they were no match for sharp weapons either.

Even if the ones wielding the weapons were ordinary people.

Spears and swords filled the air, swiftly reaping lives.

"No!"

Some couldn't bear the invisible pressure and threw their weapons to the ground, turning to flee.

"They're not human!"

"They're madmen!"

"Run!"

The panic spread quickly, accelerating the Black Armor soldiers' slaughter.

"Don't retreat!"

Flaramt roared, brandishing his longsword in an attempt to block the lord's guards who had lost their fighting spirit:

"Go forward and stop them!"

Alas.

It was useless.

In battle, morale is paramount. Once morale collapses, even the arrival of a Grand Knight would be futile.

Seeing the Black Armor soldiers breaking through their ranks and pursuing the lord, he couldn't help but feel infuriated.

"Tucker!"

Flaramt roared to the sky:

"You despicable commoner, traitor, and coward! If you have the guts, come out and face me in a duel!"

"Come out!"

"Boom!"

His Battle Aura erupted, and he swung his longsword, sending the Black Armor soldiers blocking his path flying one after another.

"General Thunder Lance Tucker, you're just a cowardly rat, only good at sending these useless fools to do your dirty work!"

The surrounding Black Armor soldiers halted their charge and turned to look at Flaramt, their cold gazes filled with anger.

"He's insulting the General!"

"Damn him!"

Finally, someone spoke, their voice seeming to come through clenched teeth, and the intent to kill was palpable.

Long spears and swords were pointed at Flaramt, as if they wanted to chop him into mincemeat.

"Boom!"

The ground shook violently.

A figure mounted on horseback appeared in the center of the scene.

"Disperse!"

Thunder Spear Tucker waved his hand gently,

"Continue the pursuit."

"Yes, sir!"

The soldiers obeyed.

"If you want to catch up to the City Lord, you'll have to step over my dead body!" Flarmurt's figure flickered, appearing at the front of the group, arms outstretched to block the way, shouting,

"Come on!"

"Boom!"

An immense battle aura surged from within him, like a tornado, sealing off the entire street.

The Black Armor Army soldiers in front stumbled, forced to halt their advance.

"A forbidden technique?"

Thunder Spear Tucker's eyes flickered,

"To burn one's life force, just for a fool like Terrence, is it worth it?"

"It's worth it!" Flarmurt's expression turned solemn, and he coldly shouted,

"I am my master's slave, and everything I have is granted by my master. You, a traitorous commoner, don't understand what loyalty is!"

"Hmph!"

His condescending tone caused anger to flare in the eyes of the Black Armor Army soldiers, and they brandished their blades towards him.

Thunder Spear Tucker,

The soul of the Black Armor Army, would never tolerate such humiliation!

"Loyalty?"

Tucker scoffed,

"The ancestors of these kings and dukes betrayed and divided the empire, which led to the formation of kingdoms like Gandor and Koln."

"Who's to say they were wrong for renouncing their loyalty?"

"If others can do it, why can't I? If someone offers better terms, why shouldn't I accept?"

"Hmph!" Flarmurt snorted coldly,

"You don't need to make excuses for yourself. Others' disloyalty isn't an excuse for you to betray your master."

"Wrong!" Tucker suddenly roared,

"I may be of common birth, but I've never considered myself lowly. What's the difference between me and other children of God?"

"The princesses of kingdoms, descendants of dukes, and those of noble blood... They are born into privilege."

"As for me..."

"Born into poverty, with limited knowledge and no one to help, I've struggled to obtain what they can easily achieve."

"Why should I be held back?"

Tucker removed his helmet and stared directly at Flarmurt,

"Should someone like me only be a hardworking serf or a despised commoner?"

"I've begged on my knees for food, endured seven days and nights in the snow to learn a martial technique, and nearly lost my life several times trying to learn the most basic breathing technique!"

"Every time I go into battle, I charge at the front, killing the most enemies, but the credit always goes to those nobles!"

"In this world, there are countless heroic tales and legendary figures, why can't an ordinary person succeed?"

He scanned the surroundings and roared,

"Me!"

"Thunder Spear Tucker!"

"I've never betrayed a single person!"

"I just want to prove that even those of humble birth can become legends, praised by future generations!"

"The Black Armor Army has no nobles, and few knights and squires, yet we've conquered numerous fortified cities. We want to show those nobles that we can do what they can, and even what they can't!"

"Huff..."

A fierce wind swept across the ground, and not a single person in the field responded, only a blazing fire burning in the eyes of the Black Armor Army soldiers.

"What's your name?"

Tucker dismounted from his horse, holding his spear and striding forward,

"Your loyalty has earned my respect, but if you continue to block the way, you'll only throw away your life in vain."

"Flarmurt!"

Flarmurt raised his sword high, facing Thunder Spear Tucker, and shouted,

"Loyalty!"

"Boom!"

The forbidden technique was unleashed with full force at this moment, using life force as fuel to push his battle aura beyond the limits of a knight.

He had reached the level of a Grand Knight, perhaps even stronger.

"Boom!"

The two clashed in mid-air.

Soon after,

Thunder Spear Tucker sheathed his spear and instructed those around him,

"He may lack flexibility, but this man is a warrior. Take care of his body and find a place to bury him."

"Yes, sir!"

His subordinates acknowledged the order.

"Report!"

At this moment, a messenger rushed in,

"City Lord Terrence has escaped from Signo City, but we've captured Princess Duna of the Sachs Kingdom."

"Oh!"

Tucker's eyes flickered.

By the time Princess Duna was brought over, her hair was disheveled, her body covered in blood, and her legs were broken and fractured.

It was an unavoidable situation.

There weren't many experts in the Black Armor Army, and to restrain a knight like Princess Duna, they had to use heavy-handed methods to ensure she couldn't resist.

"Tucker!"

Duna lay limp on the ground, her body trembling slightly from the pain as she gritted her teeth and looked up,

"I am the princess of the Sachs Kingdom. Even if you've captured me, I can request asylum according to the treaty."

"You can ask for ransom, but you can't kill me!"

"Of course." Tucker knelt on one knee and extended his right hand,

"My princess."

"I've heard that the royal family of the Sachs Kingdom has a special method to promote Grand Knights to legendary status."

"I wonder if I can obtain it?"

Duna's body stiffened.

Karl held his breath, transforming into a dark shadow, and leaped along the rooftops in the night.

Well-informed individuals had already learned of the Black Armor Army's intrusion into the city, and many packed their belongings and fled into the streets with their families.

Opportunists taking advantage of the chaos were also on the rise.

The flames grew more intense.

"Quickly!"

In the courtyard, Kingsley was instructing the servants to pack up:

"Load the important things onto the carriage. Don't bother with the rest. Let's leave before dawn while we still can."

"What are you doing?"

Gehril roared, "If we leave Signo City, our assets will shrink significantly. I don't agree to leaving!"

"Father!" Kingsley was stunned.

"Can't you see that the Kolonians have already entered the city? Signo City has fallen."

"If we don't leave now, we won't just lose our assets, but our lives as well!"

"You're wrong," Gehril shook his head.

"If we have no assets, what's the point of keeping our lives? I've worked hard for decades to accumulate this wealth."

"We can't leave!"

He took a step forward, grabbed the carriage, and began unloading the items they had just placed on it.

"Father."

Kingsley stamped his foot in frustration, "Have you gone mad?"

"Father," Yvonne whispered, "As long as we're alive, we can earn money again. Now, the most important thing is to leave the city and find refuge."

"Mugi, have you informed Cousin Karl?"

"Miss."

A young servant replied, "There's no one at Cousin Karl's residence. He might have already left."

"No one?" Yvonne's face filled with worry.

"Do you think he might not know about the situation in the city? Could he still be at the Patrol Hall? Why don't you go and check again?"

"What nonsense!" Kingsley rolled his eyes.

"With the current situation outside, how can you expect to find anyone? I say he's definitely gone."

"If we can get the news, how can Karl, a patrol officer, not know about it?"

"But just because you can think of him, it doesn't mean he can think of you. In my experience, men are all unreliable."

"Let's go! Let's go!" Gehril shouted at the two of them.

"You two only know how to leave. When did I agree to that?"

"Father!"

Kingsley stood there, staring at his father in disbelief.

"You've truly gone mad!"

"Is money more important than life?"

"Who said that?" Gehril's eyes widened.

"With money, you can buy slaves and servants. Even if you kill someone, you can pay a gold coin to atone for your crime."

"With enough money, even the Dawn Lord can forgive murder. What can't be done?"

"Life is more important than money!"

"Father," Yvonne tried to persuade him.

"But if we lose our lives, the money won't belong to us anymore!"

"Who says we'll definitely lose our lives?" Gehril scoffed.

"Even if the Kolonians occupy Signo City, they'll still need merchants and people to do their bidding."

"Maybe we can even make a fortune!"

"Uncle, you're really making me speechless." Just then, Karl jumped down from the roof. Hearing this, he couldn't help but shake his head.

"Since you won't leave, let Yvonne and Kingsley come with me. We can return when it's safe."

"Karl!"

"Cousin Karl."

Kingsley and Yvonne spoke in unison.

"Cousin Karl," Yvonne said with a smile, "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine." Karl shook his head.

"Thunder Spear Tucker has entered Signo City. The city will be occupied by the Kolonians. We must leave as soon as possible."

He had come specifically to inform them, as they were his only 'relatives', but he hadn't expected to encounter such a situation.

"Father!"

Yvonne turned to him, "Cousin is here. Let's go!"

"You can leave if you want, but I'm not going." Gehril shook his head and continued unloading items from the carriage.

"And I don't allow you to take my things, not even a penny. These are all mine."

"You're infuriating!" Kingsley was so angry that his body trembled.

"Good!"

"Let's go!"

She took a step forward, grabbed Yvonne, who was still unsure of what to do, and headed for the door.

As they walked, she asked, "Karl, where are we going first?"

"To the city's outskirts," Karl replied.

"We'll leave through the North Gate. It's already open, and there are no Kolonian troops there. Let's head to my mentor's manor and meet up with my senior sister."

...

Black Swamp.

Tim stood at the entrance of a dark cave, his face grim, holding a white flower.

A white chrysanthemum,

The flower that the deceased loved the most.

Usually, it was only worn when paying respects to the dead.

"My condolences."

Someone approached and nodded to him.

"Adolph was too hasty. After obtaining Green Potion, he attempted to break through to the Full Wizard realm without sufficient preparation. As a result, his spellcasting failed, and he couldn't even leave behind a fragment of his soul."

"Perhaps..."

He sighed, "This is our fate!"

"Mr. Arthur," Tim bowed his head, his voice heavy.

"Thank you for selecting a tomb for my mentor and arranging his funeral. I will remember this no matter what."

"You're welcome," said Arthur, a tall and slender man with a beard, resembling a scholarly elder.

He waved his hand lightly and asked, "According to wizarding customs, Adolph's legacy will be inherited by his apprentice. Apart from you, how many other apprentices did he have?"

Tim's fingers trembled slightly.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end