Godwin Lopez stared at the sword of remnant fire in the heart of Shitai, and clenched the hilt of the holy sword Dawn.
Afterfire rejected him again.
When Godwin first stepped into the heart of the labyrinth years ago, the possibility hadn't even crossed his mind. He reached out to it firmly, with the momentum that he was bound to win.
Immediately afterwards, the burning pain that made his eyes black instantly ignited in his right palm.
What he held was not like a sword, but more like a red-hot iron. The pain was piercing, and Godwin seemed to hear the sizzle of his skin scorching. But when he retracted and opened his palm, the skin on his palm was intact.
[Anyone who is ashamed and confused, picks it up and his heart is burned like a branding iron.]
It's the spell on the Sword of Residual Fire. It's not that Godwin hasn't heard of it, but he never thought that he would meet the conditions and trigger the spell. Over the years, he has never found any confusion or remorse in his heart. Maybe there were still some when I was young, and now those immature feelings have long since vanished.
Everything in the world can be explained by reason, and he has always chosen the most reasonable path. Perhaps there are many helplessness, blood and weeping on this road, but it is indeed the least harmful, and he admits that he has a clear conscience.
But the sword apparently disagreed with that.
With the Holy Sword Breaking Dawn, Godwin has no attachment to the Sword of Remnant Fire itself. In the final analysis, "Only the brave can use the Sword of Residual Fire" is nothing but a strange standard set by the current Pope Dawn Quinn of the Rad Cult, and has nothing to do with prophecy.
Godwin cared about it for only one reason—
It was Flint Lopez's sword, the sword that Flint had brought to the bottom of the abyss. The man was free to use the residual fire, and he couldn't even hold it steady. He's not as good as Flint Lopez, as his father once said. He thought that he had come all the way to the present, and it was enough to surpass the unrestrained head of the tin soldier mercenary regiment.
not enough.
Godwin could feel a throbbing pain spreading near his heart and running with his blood. If the bleakest memory in his life is the uncle he never met.
"If my brother's child survives, he will be the greatest warrior," his father once said, "but Denny gave you to me, Godwin. Maybe the world is only worthy of me. the leader, so Chenni took the best one first."
"No, it's too far! You have that kind of power, Godwin, how did I teach you? You don't need to take care of anyone now, you have time, but Flint took it all out when he was your age. You're well-versed in swordsmanship. Listen, you can't save anyone at this rate."
"Why the hesitation? Why show mercy? If the battle takes place in the city, it will bite the throat of other people in the next second. You are lucky this time, remember, you can be fast."
"You want to conquer the abyss at this level? Pick up your sword and let me continue. Don't be distracted, what are you looking at outside? I've said it countless times, you are different from them, a hero has to bear such a responsibility! … Maybe my teaching failed too much, if it was Flint... if my brother's child hadn't died..."
Even though his father had long since passed away, the torrent of that voice was still hitting his eardrums from the inside out. The irony is that Flint Lopez's son is still alive.
Oliver Ramon is alive and well.
Godwin flicked his wrist, and dawn left a beautiful arc of warmth in the air. Yes, Oliver Ramon is not only alive, he may even have strange powers he can't see through. He needs to confirm this, not only for the current task, but some obscure emotions of his own are pushing him.
Meeting Oliver Ramon for the first time in Caleb Village and identifying him, Godwin initially had a vague sense of relief and pleasure, followed by unexplainable anger and dissatisfaction. The anger did not erupt immediately, but like the hot magma under the earth's crust, slowly and continuously burning his nerves.
This is the son of the man you talked to death, father.
At that time, Ramon looked like he had no pursuit, and it seemed that he was destined to miss the prophecy. Sloppy, short-sighted, without the slightest ambition and ideal, the temperament is not much different from the ordinary people who can be seen everywhere. However, the talent is commendable, and the heart is not bad, that is, the teammates are not good, and the environment is terrible.
With such power, how could Oliver Ramon be content with the status quo and live like this? He never thought that if he used that power to the extreme, how many people could he save
As the head of the Horizon Mercenary Corps, as a competent brother. Godwin reached out, a cordial invitation. If Oliver Ramon chooses to go the right way and rely on that talent, he's bound to make a difference. Ramon still had time to choose a less ugly life.
But in the face of such a generous invitation, Ramon refused him—his cousin didn't even have the will to step out of the quagmire. Godwin had thought that his reckless, talent-wasting cousin would no longer appear in his sights.
But the action of tumbleweed is the opposite of the dull, more and more crazy. Oliver Ramon, the head of the group, most likely acquired a dangerous power that should not belong to this world and disrupt the current order during this period of time.
As one of the two remaining descendants of the Lopez family, Godwin felt it was his responsibility to confirm the true condition of Oliver Ramon.
If the worst happens, Ramon really touches areas where humans shouldn't. With his current status, he may be able to come up with a less bad solution.
Edge of stone platform.
Oliver finally came to the center of the maze. At this distance, he could clearly see Godwin Lopez.
His cousin was standing in front of Shitaixin's sword, just below the Dragon Breath stone ball. Head Horizon bowed his head, wondering what he was thinking. The members of Horizon gathered on the side of the stone platform, and there was a pile of blackness. Oliver couldn't immediately find the former knight commander who had lost his strength.
"Never mind. Horizon isn't a savage, Ed should be held in the tent over there, they're not going to hang him upside down for a demonstration." Jesse didn't sound worried.
Oliver stopped and looked back at the students who were following behind him.
"Go," he said softly. "The horizon is over there."
But apart from Leonard, who had promised to act together in advance, no one else moved. Hayden and Elmer didn't even turn their faces away, but Marilyn hesitated for a moment, then gritted her teeth and retracted her outstretched foot.
"I want to stay, life-saving grace is life-saving grace. Even if there is really no academy involved, Horizon made a mistake, they should see our attitude." Hayden said, his voice was a little trembling, but firm enough.
"Oliver has helped me a lot." Elmer scratched his head, "Leonard is so tough, I don't want to be a 'rescue target', shrinking in the tent and watching you negotiate... Uh, that's too useless."
"What is 'all'?" Leonard said dissatisfiedly.
"To be honest, I'm not familiar with those two." Marilyn drooped the corners of her mouth, her face a little bitter. "But... ugh. Fuck his hostages, what's the matter."
Leonard blinked, and his face that had always been pale and tense finally showed an expression that resembled a smile. "Don't go?"
"Don't go."
"That's good." The little aristocrat simply gave himself a loudspeaker spell and spoke directly to the horizon.
"Marilyn Lawler, Hayden Wilhelm, Oliver Elmer, Quentin Leonard. We're the students who got sucked into the labyrinth this time, and we're all here, no less. Yes. The tumbleweed saved us."
He paused. "Mr. Lopez, I don't know what information you got. But we were not under any form of coercion or mind control. If you have any doubts about this matter, you can send members to come for appraisal."
"I'm sorry, Mr. Leonard." Godwin Lopez turned around, his voice serious. "Clement's request to us is to send you back to the academy just like that, and not to do anything superfluous, including psychiatric appraisal."
Leonard clenched his jaw, wrinkled his lips, and temporarily stopped the effect of the amplifying spell: "It seems right. There must be someone in the academy waiting to take this matter. If this is just an ordinary rescue, this request is very important to Horizon. Clearly an insult."
Tumbleweed may not be aware of the implicit and explicit rules between those in power, but Leonard, who grew up in a noble family, is very clear about it.
Horizon has a reputation. But this requirement is clearly to beware of their unauthorized insertion, forging evidence in favor of tumbleweeds, or questioning the results after they are obtained. It's irrational, but it's very effective—
If Godwin abides by the rules, then he must accept all the results given by Clement after the fact. If Godwin violated the requirements and actually cast mental check-type magic on them beforehand, such violations would also put the horizon in a quandary. Even if Horizon found out that they had not accepted any form of manipulation, the Mercenary Guild would not accept Horizon's testimony.
If the college just wants the students to be safe, it won't do anything extra. What's irritating is that the relationship between Clementine Academy and the Mercenary Guild has never been good. Although this requirement is excessive, it is not "abnormal".
"Looks like we have to go with the tumbleweed." Leonard shook his head.
Several students were silent, they were no longer teenagers. In their early twenties, no one would be happy to be manipulated as a chess piece. If you just want to protect yourself, it is the right choice to cast the horizon immediately. However…
Nobody moved.
"Come over." Nemo couldn't stand it anymore. "The tumbleweed will be all right, Godwin... Well, you should know what to do. No one knows what's going on now, and you're likely to be implicated if you join in. .us-"
Leonard glanced at him with stiffness and embarrassment in his eyes. The little noble shook his head, and before Nemo finished speaking, he activated the amplification spell again: "Then I'm sorry, we have our thoughts. Mr. Lopez, we're going with the tumbleweed."
He glanced at Marilyn, and continued: "And we have a lady here who is very unwell. She needs a calmer environment." Horizon could understand his overtones.
Marilyn rolled her eyes and pointed at Leonard. Then "softly" slid down to the ground, making a look as if he was about to faint.
Nemo: "… "
The scene fell into a stalemate for a while.
Before figuring out the strength of Tumbleweed, there were so many mischievous young people on the opposite side, and no one dared to force it. The tumbleweed members were detained just to prevent them from finding another exit to escape, and no one really dared to threaten anyone with the safety of the former trial knight commander. Godwin stood in the middle of the stone platform, Oliver stopped at the edge of the stone platform. The two looked at each other and quickly considered the most appropriate way to deal with it.
At this moment, the last member of the Tumbleweed returned to the team.
Ann didn't look right, the always energetic female warrior looked as pale as lime, without the slightest smile on her face.
"What are you doing?" She frowned, her voice a little hoarse. "What's going on with these little guys?"
Seeing Oliver still staring at Godwin, Nemo pulled Ann aside and briefly explained the current situation.
"Oh." Ann didn't show any surprised expression. She threw the grey parrot towards Nemo and strode to Oliver's side.
"Captain, I have a request." The female soldier's tone was terribly serious. "I hope we can get out of here quickly."
Oliver turned his head and raised his eyebrows. He was just thinking about the possibility of a protracted war.
"I heard from Nemo that Clemente blocked the academy. Combined with the information I know, I think I know what's going on." She said very simply. "Both the tumbleweed and the horizon were used."
"As long as we are still here, the academy can continue to be closed. Is the headmaster Salter? He calculated that the horizon can hold us. If I guess correctly, the teleportation circle in the heart of the labyrinth is no longer usable. Watch the horizon reach the heart. They definitely got permission to use the royal family's special channel to come in - that permission can only be used once, and 80% of them are counting on using the teleportation array to retreat."
"Assuming that the teleportation array cannot be used, even if it is as strong as the horizon, it will take at least half a month to withdraw from here. Considering the escorting of students and escorting us, this time is likely to be extended to more than a month. Then in this month, Clement has every reason to remain in complete lockdown...a lot can happen in a month."
"To completely offend Horizon, just to close this academy?"
"It can't be offended, they will just excuse the teleportation array. After all, Lopez is not the kind of person who is obsessed with revenge. As for closing the academy... Do you know how many descendants of the great nobles are here? Clement Royal Military In the academy, combat students are more or less related to the military at home. If something 'happily' happens outside, a group of perfect hostages are being held here. And if those nobles really want to get angry, we must back it up this pot."
Ann who said this doesn't look like Ann.
Female warriors have always been outspoken and open-minded, although Oliver knew that Ann was always thoughtful. But she would occasionally be impulsive, or make dirty jokes. She was their comrade-in-arms, always so peaceful and close.
The current female warrior is slightly gloomy, with a faint aura of a superior that he can't understand.
"install… "
"Godwin Lopez." The female warrior stepped on the stone platform, "Let your people try the teleportation array and see if it still works. As Delia's fiancé, you should have noticed something. That's right."
Godwin Lopez didn't move, just looked this way coldly. He waved casually, and a Horizon member not far away ran towards the teleportation array knowingly.
After a few minutes, the member ran back with a pale face and reported something in a low voice.
"It really doesn't seem to work anymore." Ann smiled wearily and put one on Oliver's shoulder. "Now you have two choices - first, to eliminate us regardless, exhaust your own strength, and implicate those lovely young people by the way. Finally, exhaustively break out; second, we cooperate and get out of here as soon as possible. "
Godwin was silent for a long time.
"No," he said, staring at Oliver. "You're right, I do have some not-so-good information. But I also have things that I have to confirm. So I want to pick''. Oliver Ramon, play with me. One-on-one kind. "
"If you want to know about me, I can tell you directly." Oliver took a step back. "I don't think we have to fight this, Lope... Godwin."
"Did you destroy the Wither Castle?"
"…Yes, if you must know this." If they were to retreat together, in order to hide Nemo's true combat power, he couldn't leave, and Godwin would notice it sooner or later. Oliver took a deep breath, glanced at Nemo reassuringly, stepped forward alone, and finally stopped opposite Godwin. "Now we can—"
"Then it's more necessary for me to fight you," Godwin murmured, raising his eyes.
If that despairing power really belongs to Oliver Ramon...
"Why?" Oliver raised his hands, indicating that he had no intention of holding a sword.
"Prove yourself." Godwin curved his mouth, something burning quietly in his eyes. "I never work with dangerous people of unknown strength - it's about the battle plan for Horizon after we get out of the labyrinth."
If Ramon was stronger than himself as Head of Horizon...
"...As long as the point is reached, yes. To be honest, I don't want to hurt you." Seeing the other party's firm attitude, Oliver sighed.
"There's no need for you to live or die. According to the regulations, I also want to escort you to the mercenary guild alive." Godwin said coldly, holding up Dawn. "Draw your sword."
Oliver yanked the Sword of Rest from his waist, but Godwin spoke again before his sword touched the hilt.
"I'd like you to use the one in front of you, if you can," said Godwin in a voice that could not have been lower. "With your father's sword."
Oliver was silent for a long time, he stared at the strange black sword between the two, and his eyes swept across the flames that danced on the blade. Finally he stretched out, slowly grasped the hilt, and pulled it out of the stone platform.
The expression on Oliver Ramon's face did not show any fluctuations.