Austin was sure that this blow would determine the outcome of the battle—the attack angle of the Sword Fighting Qi had been carefully calculated. If the blond swordsman dodged, the sharp blade of Qi would hit the unsuspecting Katoli and the others behind him. Ren - the opponent has no choice at all, but can only resist with the body, and that means death.
But in fact, the death knight had no intention of evading from the very beginning. Roland held Shuanggui tightly, and adjusted the angle formed between the horizontal blade and the roaring sword fighting energy with breathless concentration. The moment the sharp wind blade was about to hit him, the stationary demon hunter slashed horizontally.
The semi-circular trajectory drawn by the big sword was buried in the fighting spirit of the sword, and in the next instant, accompanied by a loud thunderous sound, the air blade that tore the atmosphere shattered like glass. Under the impact of the explosive force, the surrounding scene was distorted by the vibration of the air, the whirlwind whirled around the hot edge of Frost Lament, Roland's long hair was blown wildly, and the belt also made a hunting sound.
And when everything returned to silence, not only did the invincible sword fighting spirit not leave any traces, on the contrary, it disappeared without a trace.
crushed? My sword fighting spirit was shattered? How can this be? Austin opened his eyes wide, unable to restrain his shocked expression.
"Sword Dou Qi cannot be stronger than a sword, just as a sword cannot be stronger than a sword holder." Roland's cold voice filled the ears of the Sword Master, "Any user of Sword Dou Qi should know this sentence words, those are the famous words of 'Emperor' Jagassi."
"'Emperor'... how do you know~!?"
"In the Grand Lourdes arena, Jagassi maintained an invincible position for hundreds of years with his self-created swordsmanship. Even at the moment of his death, people still recognized him as the emperor who held the strongest sword. '~!" The death knight recalled the story he had been fascinated by, "Before the skill called 'Yunyao', sword fighting qi was simply vulnerable~! I thought sword fighting qi would be eliminated since then, but I didn’t expect that nearly two hundred years later, there would still be people using this flashy technique.”
"You actually said that this is a flashy technique...don't be too presumptuous~!" Austin's face turned from pale to flushed.
"Isn't it? The feeling just now is no different from a breeze." The demon hunter replied mockingly, he didn't seem to notice that the other party's sword hand was shaking.
"Shut up~!" The angry Juggernaut once again exerted his sword fighting spirit. With the powerful shaking of his right wrist, the air seemed to turn into a silk, rippling like ripples driven by the narrow-edged sword, and then shot out many Dao Ripple pushes towards the enemy.
Multi-layer wind blade, this is the strongest attack Austin can do, he believes that this time he will be able to cut the opponent into two pieces.
In response to that stern superimposed attack, Roland's defense also turned into a multi-stage slash. The huge sword seemed to have no weight at all. It swung it several times at a speed that the naked eye could not catch, and every time it splashed countless chaotic air currents. . When the strong wind dissipated, the witcher was still standing in front of the Juggernaut without even losing a single hair.
Crushed again
How can this be? Austin suddenly felt that the fire in front of him became darker, and fear was sweeping in silently, but the things he had always trusted in his heart could not resist the black tide.
But Roland didn't have any sympathy, he continued to taunt his opponent: "It's commendable, you've actually comprehended the mysteries of multi-layered wind blades... But, it's nothing to be proud of, it's a skill at the 'Zhenkong' level after all. And as far as I know, the power of this realm cannot be compared with the "crushed stone" of a high-ranking sword master, let alone the legendary "Broken Mountain"~! Just mastering "Zhenkong" makes me feel invincible Is it already? Or is that already your limit?"
Who is he? Why do you know so much about sword fighting qi? Austin thought drowsily, but the reality didn't give him more time to guess—the demon hunter had already given up the defensive strategy, and instead took the initiative to attack and rushed over.
The leader of the Fahdod Knights hastily raised his sword and pointed, but Roland had anticipated this attack and shifted his body's center of gravity beforehand. The fighting spirit of the sword brushed past his hair, leaving only the sword on the ground. A hole with smooth edges.
In the next moment, the blond figure had already arrived in front of the Juggernaut, and the sword blade shrouded in cold light split a long bright line in the hot wind, straight for the opponent's head.
This narrow-edged sword alone can't stop him~! This thought flashed through Austin's mind, and the Juggernaut's left hand reflexively pulled out the dagger at his waist, and crossed it with the long sword, intending to hold up Frost's Grief that fell to the top of his head.
Then, the metal made a piercing crisp sound. After taking this blow hard, Austin felt that his arms were about to be broken, and what was worse, there were cracks on the dagger that was not blessed with magic~!
The crack expanded rapidly, and after less than a second of stalemate, the Juggernaut's defense completely collapsed. However, this period of time was enough for Austin to react, and before the dagger was disconnected, he quickly jumped out of the envelope of the sword wind. Frost Grief, who had lost his target, immediately smashed into the ground, split a wide crack, and splashed countless sand, stones and dust.
There was a shallow scar on Austin's forehead, which was slowly oozing blood—if he hadn't jumped away in time, it would have been more than just a wound, and perhaps the Juggernaut would have been cut along the longitudinal axis of the human body. To make matters worse, he found that in this duel, his strength was completely suppressed.
How can I defend against it? How to fight back
For Roland, this battle was nothing compared to the countless death journeys he had experienced—the enemy was just a low-level sword master, and he lacked the ability to fight in close quarters. Although he missed a hit, the witcher believed that he had enough time to complete the plan of cutting the human body, and he lowered his posture again, preparing to launch the next round of combo attacks.
However, before that, the keen Death Knight noticed something strange, and he immediately jumped aside—at the same time, a sharp bone spear pierced out like lightning from the place where he had just stood.
"Thomas?" The Juggernaut turned his gaze to the rear, and the necromancer had arrived beside him at some point.
"Get ready to leave, Lord Austin." The other party replied, and let the four skeleton soldiers summoned in advance entangle Roland.
"But what about the followers of Luvis~! Let's go back to the capital empty-handed~!?" Seeing the paladin who was still chanting prayers in the distance, Austin couldn't help raising his volume.
"The two of us may not have a chance of winning together. Besides, there are many demons around here. The troops are ready to retreat. If we drag on, the entire army may be wiped out~! Please act calmly, Master Austin. And I promise, you will There will be another chance to capture them." By the time the necromancer explained, the witcher had taken care of the two skeletons.
"There will be another chance... I see, let's retreat, Thomas." The head of the Fahdod Knights nodded, and then glanced at the blond swordsman—the same goes for the demon hunter who was blocked by the puppet. Focus on this side, to beware of possible sword fighting spirit.
Is it called Kaos... Next time... No matter what method I use, I will get rid of existence like you~!
The necromancer put a hand on Austin's shoulder, and then murmured a magic spell softly. When Roland finished off the last skeleton soldier, the light of the transfer phalanx just disappeared under the noisy night.
"The timing of the retreat was chosen really well. It seems that there will be another fierce battle in the future...if you are still clinging to the power of God." Looking at the gradually fading azure circle, Roland whispered to himself, those water-colored eyes It is reflecting the shadow of the firelight jumping.
The battle finally came to an end, but the death knight remained vigilant—the demons were still nearby, and they might soon find them, and the surrounding fire was getting bigger and bigger. If they didn't get out soon, danger would come again. Thinking of this, his elegant brows quickly frowned, and the witcher immediately walked towards Catoli who was still kneeling beside Josephine.
"How about it..." Roland broke off in the middle of speaking, because Josephine's broken body already explained everything.
Under the treatment of the double holy light, Ranger's right shoulder, the deep wound on his chest, and the pierced thigh have all healed, but this does not mean that the situation is under control. The demon hunter's water-coloured pupils have witnessed too many deaths. Not only that, he was also very aware of the limitations of the holy light technique as a paladin—underneath the superficial recovery, Josephine's life is still going on. is passing by, and... it can no longer be undone.
"This is a fatal injury. Even if the body is healed, it won't help. His soul is disappearing." Roland's ruthless judgment made Catoli's whole body tremble uncontrollably.
"No~! I must bring Josephine's soul back~!" Katoli clenched her lower lip.
The uninterrupted prayer just now exhausted both the girl and Ren, but after only a few minutes of rest, she continued to use the holy light technique. With that strong will, the dazzling golden light stream once again overwhelmed The whole body of the ranger.
You have always taken care of me very carefully and shared the pressure with me. You are my best companion, just like my elder brother, but... why do you have to do this? Why don't you hesitate to face the Juggernaut alone and don't want me to be hurt? If it was two people, maybe it wouldn't be like this~! I should have noticed earlier... Katoli felt as if her heart had been pricked by a needle, and her breathing suddenly suffocated.
I don't deserve to be a captain at all~! If I had known it sooner, you wouldn't have become like this. Josephine, don't leave us like this~! Please~!
"Stop it, it's pointless to do this." Roland put his big hand on the girl's shoulder, "That will only make you lose your physical strength and consciousness."
"Shut up~! Don't talk nonsense~!" The other party broke free from his restraints, but Katoli's face became paler—she was using the holy light technique, and she could clearly feel that the soul of the child of the forest and The last connection of the body is gradually disappearing.
The power of Luvis can heal the wounds on the body, but it cannot call back the soul lost in the shadow of death, which paladins know best.
"Why, how could this be..." the girl whispered to herself in despair.
At this moment, the silent child of the forest finally opened his eyes.
"Josephine~!" Katoli exclaimed in surprise, Ren and Roland immediately lifted their spirits, and Xiu Yin struggled to lean over. But after only a few seconds, the joy brought by their companions' awakening was blown away by the scorching wind, leaving only a heavy silence lingering around them.
In the depths of You Xia's blank pupils, the haze of death could be clearly seen, his cheeks had completely lost their color, and his frail body began to twitch more and more violently. Bright blood froth flowed down the corners of Josephine's mouth wantonly, as if mocking the people who longed for a miracle.
"It seems that I am about to die." Josephine said intermittently, showing a bleak smile with difficulty, "My swordsmanship is really bad, and I couldn't resist the attack of Jian Douqi. Everyone... Are you okay? ? How is the situation now?"
"We have already defeated the Fahdods, and they all fled back to the castle with their tails between their legs." Katoli's crisp voice revealed a strange softness at this moment, the girl replied, carefully helped the ranger up, and Let the other person's head snuggle on his shoulder.
"That's good, but I probably won't be able to reach the agreement with you, what a pity..." Coughing interrupted the ranger, and it took him a while to recover, "Catoli, you still have a lot It's a long way to go, you have to know everything... so I can have peace of mind."
"Well, I'm listening." The girl replied in a low voice, the tears swirling in her eyes finally broke through the shackles of suppressed emotions, and two tear stains were drawn along the girl's face. But Katoli just shed tears silently, without crying.
"When Pope Julian told me about you a few months ago, I was skeptical until the beginning of the journey. But now...if I'm gone and you haven't learned the truth, it's likely to be in the Unknowingly stepping on the road of death."
"Katori, in fact, whether you are the number one in this assessment or not, no, it should be said that whether you can become a paladin is irrelevant. When Luvis' prophecy comes, you have already been determined to be a paladin." I am now a member of this team. Because only your blood can open the road to the star capital." Josephine's words were interrupted by coughing from time to time, and the nearby flames were approaching inch by inch, but everyone was just silent listening.
"Because... that girl named Jiuyuan..." A ripple flashed in the depths of Katoli's pupils.
"I'm sorry to remind you of the memories of that time, but there is a reason why the Pope didn't tell you the content of the prophecy. Because... the ancient blood is not only a key to open the road, but also contains a certain Some unexplainable power, and that power... will attract the demons of the Netherworld... "
"What~!?" The three other than Roland said in unison. In the next instant, a burst of angry roar of the Balrog suddenly came from a distance, like a flash of lightning, shattering the tranquility brought by the breath of death, and making Katori tremble uncontrollably.
"The demons want to suck your blood, so the pope entrusted me to join this operation as a guide and protector. I have been a ranger for nearly fifteen years, but I have never become a demon hunter, so the content of the mission It made me very worried. Fortunately, we met Kaos," Josephine turned her gaze to the blond figure behind Katoli, "without you, maybe we would have stopped in Belial Village , this should be regarded as... fate..."
The death knight hid his expression in the swaying dark side, and subtly changed the subject: "Maybe it's fate, but that's not important. The pope's order is one aspect, but I think the children of the forest will do it to this extent , there must be other reasons."
"Has the witcher's intuition always been this sharp? Or is it a relationship with rich experience?" The ranger smiled, "You are right, the real reason for me to swing the sword is another reason—the relationship with Dilicia Agreement."
Josephine's tone was mixed with melancholy, and the witcher's speculation ignited memories of his youth, "You know, Katoli, I have always... always liked Delicia."
"my mother?"
"When did it start? Probably eighteen years ago... At that time, I was not yet twenty years old, and I served as two apprentice paladins together with your father Kadar in the paladin assessment——Dilicia and Roland -'s adjutant. But in the end, she chose Kadar. Of course we are still good friends, so before departure, she asked me to protect the most beloved daughter of the head of the Holy Sword Knights in this dangerous mission. Injured by the devil, and bring you back to the holy capital safely."
"In the beginning I was only for Dilicia, but later I fell in love with this job. Katoli, you are very similar to your mother, gentle yet strong, and the most reliable companion. If I were young Twenty years old, I will definitely fall in love with you." Ranger's eyes drifted to the distance, "It's just that there is no way to reach an agreement to protect you now... I have failed Dilicia's trust..."
"It's not like that, Josephine~! Mom would never think that way, you are my best companion~!" Katoli finally couldn't stop sobbing, "Without your care, I wouldn't be here at all. Might have come this far. Thank you... Josephine."
"Finish the mission well and return to mother safely, Katori." The child of the forest showed a serene smile.
"Yes, I promise you." The girl replied gently, "I promise you, Josephine."
The noble ranger stopped breathing, and the fire of life died in his dim eyes, leaving only a hollow and deep darkness. The flames surrounding everyone were jumping up and down, and the red letters engulfing the earth and sky outlined an ugly face, as if mocking the fragility of human beings. And amidst the ironic crackling sound, the girl hugged the ranger's gradually cooling body, and wept bitterly in a low voice.
This is human beings. Revenge, protection, ambition, desire for things that do not belong to oneself... These powerful obsessions have been contained in human instincts from the very beginning, and have prompted the fragile body to resist fate at all costs. Josephine, what would you choose? If you could become a death knight, would you be willing to fulfill the agreement with your beloved Dilicia in that way
Just like I used that way to revenge, would you be willing
In the next moment, Roland's thoughts were interrupted by the roar of the Balrog approaching. Through the barrier of the flames, the witcher could see a giant-like figure heading towards this place.
"It's not suitable to stay here for a long time, not to mention you are the target of the demons, we should go." Roland said to Katoli.
"Well... I know, but, just let Josephine..."
The death knight bent down and carried the ranger's cold body on his shoulders: "Josephine is a respectable ranger, and the kind Mother Earth is the home of the children of the forest. We will find a place for him to sleep. ground."
"Thank you, Kaos." The girl's emerald eyes finally calmed down.
"Are you going to the capital of stars?" Roland looked at her and Ren who was carrying the mage on his back, "Go and get back the weapon in hand, we still have a long way to go, we must be prepared. Now, with I come."
The demon hunter strode away from the battlefield, and the blond hair flying in the sparks quickly disappeared into the silent darkness.
The warm summer breeze caresses the girl's short disheveled hair, and the bright sunlight sifts through the gaps in the leaves. The verdant scenery is like an oil painting carefully drawn by a master.
Katoli climbed up from the soft sleeping bag, appreciating everything in front of her quietly, and then she recalled everything last night—the companion who had been taking care of her died under the sword fighting spirit, and the subsequent breakout was full of dangers. Not only did they encounter several Balrogs on the way, they were also attacked by hellhounds following from behind. When defeating all the enemies and finally reaching safety, both himself and Ren were exhausted.
If only all this was just a dream, if nothing happened, I would be able to come up with a perfect solution. The girl thought this way, but the dazzling grave not far away was reflected in her green eyes at the same time, and Catoli's petite body trembled involuntarily.
That's Josephine's tomb. The ranger's tomb is very simple, just a small raised mound. If you don't look carefully, you can't notice it. There is neither a coffin nor a stele under it. Only the wet soil of Stantyr, a sword, and a bow accompany you. The sleeping children of the forest. Last night's funeral was also very simple, with only a prayer - at that time Katoli felt that she still had the strength to use the holy light technique, but she couldn't find the water that could be used for blessing.
What should I do now? The girl subconsciously stretched her hand to her chest, and clenched the ornament tightly, and the refreshing coolness soon spread to her whole body through the palm of her hand—Luvis' blood was still as cold and severe as ever.
"Katori, are you awake?" Ren's voice came over, noticing the other party's depression, he asked in as gentle a tone as possible, "How is it? How do you feel now?"
"Thank you, don't worry," Katoli smiled, "I will cheer up as soon as possible... because we still have very important tasks to complete."
"Then you have to take good care of your body, Miss Captain. You must be thirsty if you haven't drank water all night?" The paladin said as he handed over the water bottle, and the other party took a big gulp politely, and the unexpected taste of the drink The fresh taste, but the girl couldn't help but have doubts.
"Isn't this water?"
"It's... a kind of tree sap, Kaos got it," Ren shrugged, "Huin recalled that he read it in a book, and it must be fine."
"Kaos got it?" Katoli repeated, a shadow passed over her face, and the girl asked several times faster, "Where is he now?"
Ren shrugged again: "I don't know, he asked me to guard you, and left by himself, I didn't ask..."
"Ren, take care of Xiu Yin first, I'll go find him right away~!" The girl stood up abruptly, and quickly equipped her small shield and dagger.
"but… "
"Stay vigilant and wait for me to come back." Before she finished speaking, Katoli's figure had disappeared behind the screen made of dense leaves.
He must have gone away again, as quietly as last time~! This guy... Does he only know how to fight with demons? He didn't consider other people's feelings at all, he came and left whenever he wanted, it was too much, even worse than that notorious playboy in Delano~! It is no different from the summoned creatures of those mages~! If that guy shows up in a shameless manner next time, I will definitely knock off his nose with a shield, and then let him taste the taste of electricity flowing through his body~!
After traveling through the jungle for nearly half an hour, the girl finally gave up her search. She chose a flat stone and sat on it heavily, but the light and invisible sense of loss still made her anxious. It took a long time for the girl to calm down.
So, what to do now? Accompanied by the occasional chirping of birds, Katoli picked up the question that was interrupted just now. Although she was the number one in the annual assessment, she had to admit that without Josephine's protection, she knew nothing about the land under her feet.
The capital of the stars is located in the western border area of Fahdod. Not to mention the specific location is not clear, just how to cross this country is already a big problem. The Juggernaut named Austin is the head of the Chief Knights, which means that Katoli and his party are currently fighting against the entire state apparatus, and they will definitely be arrested if they enter the city. But if you don't go to the city, how should you supply it? In the jungle and the plateau, how can we find a way to the destination? Are there any potentially fatal hazards to be aware of on the road
"I can't even answer a single question." She shook her head selfishly.
Maybe I should discuss it with my companions, but I, who have been with him for five years, know how capable Ren is. And Xiu Yin—"It's... a kind of sap, Kaos got it, Xiu Yin recalled reading it in a book, it must be fine."—The girl recalled what Rennes said just now.
"It seems that now I can only pray that the memory of the high-ranking mage is good enough, and hope that he has read all the books about the geographical overview of Fahdod." The girl looked at the ground in front of her in a daze.
"What's the matter with you? You were meditating here early in the morning?" Roland's familiar voice sounded behind him without warning. At that moment, the girl felt that the air seemed to freeze.
"Kaos~!?" Katoli turned around abruptly, and the fierce movement made Qi Er's short hair dance happily in the air.
"Because I couldn't collect dry food yesterday, I went to catch some prey just now," the death knight explained, and raised the two rabbits in his hand, "These should be able to meet the needs of the day."
"I think so too." The girl answered absent-mindedly, and lowered her head to hide her expression.
Great, so you didn't leave... So, can I rely on you? Can I depend on you as I depend on Josephine
"Cheer up, don't be too sad." Roland patted her on the shoulder, "As a human being, death is inevitable. The Son of the Forest has done what he wanted to do, which is to protect Delicia's daughter. And you should do Yes, just keep your spirits up and let him live with him."
"Well, thank you." Katoli bowed deeply with the formal etiquette of a paladin. "This is an expression of gratitude for what happened yesterday. Without you, maybe we would all die there. Please accept my respect."
"That's nothing." Roland's expression was a bit complicated, because the girl's actions reminded him that the girl was Ishutori's enemy.
"Did you hear what Josephine said yesterday? We shoulder the important mission of the alliance, and we need to find the legendary star capital for this purpose. The Fahdod army is chasing us, not only that... due to some unspeakable My bloodline will also attract greedy demons. I will definitely encounter many unforeseen dangers during the journey." Katoli raised her head and stared into the demon hunter's water-colored pupils, "I know it's selfish to say that, It's too much, but... "
The girl swallowed her words suddenly, as a cruel possibility occupied her mind. If the witcher unequivocally declines his invitation... what should I do
"You want me to stay, don't you?" the death knight said the obvious last.
"...Yes, because I can't go that far alone," Katoli's fair face was flushed, "Companions... I trust Ren and Xiu Yin very much, but they can't help you. I need you , with you, the journey can continue. Kaos, would you like to be my companion?"
Companions... We are clearly enemies, right? But it's strange, but my eyes are always attracted, the sword I haven't held for seven years has a reason to swing again, and the sound of the rhythm of the soul is gradually becoming clear... It's all because of you, before I find out the reason for all this , It’s okay to go together like that.
Maybe that will make me reaffirm the meaning of my seventeen years of existence. You think so too, Ishutoli
The death knight stretched out his right hand: "Then let's make an agreement, just like the agreement between Josephine and Dilicia."
"En~! It's an agreement like this, and you can't go back on it." Katoli's eyes were shining with light, and Roland could feel the delicate touch from the girl's palm, as if it were warm jade.
"We are leaving here, Josephine," the girl said softly, and placed a bouquet of daisies in front of the ranger's tomb, "Rest in peace, those who sleep will not feel lonely, because the living will surely remember you Farewell to my heart, my companion."
"Let's go, continue the journey." Ren smiled with emotion.
"En." Katoli nodded, then turned to the silent witcher, "Kaos, is there anything else I can ask you?"
"What's up?"
"Can you teach me 'Yun Yao'?"
The moment he heard these words, an inconceivable gleam flashed across the death knight's eyes, like lightning produced by the burning of his soul.
It was lightning intertwined with vengeance and destruction.