According to the information provided by Boss Luis, there are only two fourth-level knights in this city.
Don't underestimate the fourth level. Compared to the third level, the fourth level represents a significant leap—a qualitative transformation.
Professions in this world are divided into nine levels of strength, but every three levels mark a major threshold.
For example, breaking through the sixth level elevates a person to the holy realm, and it's said that reaching the ninth level allows one to ascend to godhood.
Similarly, surpassing the third level earns the title "supernormal," as the professional's strength undergoes a fundantal change.
As the na implies, professionals above the third level are no longer ordinary mortals.
Before the third level, crossing tiers in combat is possible, though rare. But after reaching the fourth level—a significant milestone—such feats beco nearly impossible.
Despite this, when Asmon scanned the battlefield, he noticed that none of the half-elf guards appeared to be fourth-level knights.
Disappointed, he began to think that his search might be futile. But just then, his instincts flared—he felt an overwhelming sense of danger.
Without hesitation, he hurled the coffin in his hands forward and rolled to the ground.
Boom!
A deafening explosion tore through the air. The spot where Asmon had been standing just monts ago was obliterated by a burst of golden light.
Erging from the smoke and debris was a massive white figure, clad in heavy armor. It wielded a shield in its left hand and a lance in its right, charging toward Asmon like an unstoppable tank.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The ground trembled under the weight of its thunderous footsteps.
Asmon glanced back, his face paling in terror. The creature's hulking, beast-like fra lood over him, blotting out everything else.
Reacting instinctively, Asmon swung his sword, aiming for the gap in the armored knight's neck.
Clang!
The blade struck, but it glanced off the armor harmlessly.
A massive force surged through the sword, sending Asmon flying. He crashed hard into the stone wall by the palace gate.
Despite the impact, Asmon seed relatively unhard. He quickly scrambled to his feet and dashed toward the coffin.
While running, he stole a glance at the armored knight. Its body was completely encased in armor, making it impossible to determine if it was a half-elf or another race entirely.
However, judging by the scent, it was undoubtedly a Half-Elf.
Asmon was not particularly skilled in sword fighting and struggled to properly mobilize his Aura. As a mber of the Blood Race, his true strength lay in assassination and his ability to manipulate his own blood to attack others.
"Knight Asmon, please order your n to cease resistance. Our Modiwen family has no desire for unnecessary conflict with you..."
The Half-Elf armored knight lifted his mask, revealing a square, imposing face.
Chi!
A dagger slipped through the gap in the knight's armor, piercing his side. Experience tales at empire
The knight let out a cry of pain and roared, "You ungrateful fool!"
Seeing that Asmon had no intention of surrendering and was preparing to continue fighting, the Half-Elf knight stopped holding back. Without hesitation, he thrust his spear forward, driving it into Asmon's chest.
"Knight Luis!" Knight Telde roared as he rushed to intervene.
The Half-Elf knight prepared to finish off Asmon and turn his attention to Telde, but to his shock, Asmon, who should have been incapacitated, began to laugh.
Before the knight could react, Asmon lunged forward, wrapping him in a crushing embrace.
Terrified, the Half-Elf knight twisted his spear frantically, trying to break free from Asmon's grasp.
But Asmon held him tightly and whispered, "Strong enough to serve under my command!"
Chi!
A flash of red light slashed through the air, and a massive wound, half a ter long, opened across the knight's back, nearly splitting him in two.
"Ahhhh!"
The knight scread in agony, hurling his spear in a desperate attempt to drive Asmon away before turning to flee.
Asmon released him, allowing him to escape—briefly.
Unfortunately for the Half-Elf knight, the Dressrosa family guards had already surrounded him, blocking any path to freedom.
Monts later, Knight Telde, in pursuit, drove his blade through the knight's forehead. The Half-Elf fell to his knees and died where he stood.
With the knight's death, the remaining Half-Elf guards, already demoralized and at a disadvantage, lost all will to fight and scattered in panic.
"Knight Asmon... are you alright?" Knight Telde asked, his voice heavy with concern as he eyed the bloody wound on Asmon's chest.
Asmon was drenched in sweat from the searing pain, but he still managed to raise a trembling hand. Pointing weakly at the coffin lying on the ground, he murmured, "Guard... Miss Vera... out of the city..."
Knight Telde's eyes reddened instantly. Overwheld by grief, he dropped to one knee beside Asmon and solemnly vowed, "Rest assured! I will deliver Miss Vera's body out of the city, even if it costs my life!"
Hearing this, Asmon seed to find peace. A faint, fleeting smile appeared on his lips before his eyes closed, and his body went limp.
Silence.
Knight Telde and the soldiers stood still, their faces heavy with sorrow. Then, as one, they saluted Asmon, honoring his sacrifice.
Without a word, they turned to the coffin. Together, they hoisted it onto their shoulders and resud their journey, their resolve unshaken despite the tragedy.
----
After everyone left, the battlefield fell silent once more.
Occasionally, curious passersby would approach, but upon seeing the horrific carnage, they quickly backed away, unable to endure the overpowering stench of blood.
Beneath the glow of the silver moon, one of the corpses suddenly twitched.
Monts later, the "resurrected" corpse began crawling slowly toward the body of a fallen Half-Elf.
"Gulp… Gulp…"
The eerie sound of sucking echoed softly across the desolate battlefield, unsettling in the grim silence.
A few black crows, scavenging for food, landed nearby. But almost imdiately, they flapped their wings and took flight, as if sensing sothing profoundly unnatural.
The reanimated figure moved from one corpse to the next, sinking its fangs into the flesh and draining them of blood and again injecting with special blood through the fangs.
Then, a grotesque transformation began.
The hearts of the drained corpses started to beat once more, slow and faint at first, but gradually accelerating.
Their pale, lifeless skin turned flushed, dotted with tiny crimson spots, as if the excess blood inside was struggling to escape.
The rapid blood flow seed to push their bodies to their limits. Their muscles swelled grotesquely, tearing apart the armor they once wore.
Their eyes opened, glowing a sinister scarlet, devoid of any trace of humanity. Their exposed flesh was soon marked with intricate, blood-red patterns, as though carved by so dark force.
On their backs, the muscles bulged unnaturally, as if sothing was trying to force its way out.
Chi!
With a sickening rip, the bulges burst, revealing a pair of black, leathery bat wings that unfolded to their full span, each extending over ten ters.
These once-human figures now stood as monstrous creations, their forms grotesque and inhuman.
The Blood Slaves, devoid of emotion or reason, had been born.
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