*Boom!*
With a heavy stomp from Morde, earth-yellow Magic Power poured into the ground.
The once soft soil instantly transformed into rock, hurtling toward Lockes under his control.
“Is he a warrior with earth-attribute Magic Power?”
Lockes stood ready.
He sliced his palm, and hot blood surged from the wound, manifesting into a blood-red sword.
“Blood-Entwined Blazing Sword!”
A red flash of light cut through the flying rocks.
Morde took the opportunity to leap high into the air, raising his twin-edged axe over his head.
It swung down with a sharp, air-tearing whistle.
Faced with this terrifying assault, Lockes showed no fear.
He swung his sword to meet the blow.
The moment their weapons collided, their Magic Power exploded simultaneously.
The red Vampire magic and the yellow earth-attribute magic clashed violently, whipping up a gale that forced everyone present to shield their eyes.
“Is this the battle between the strongest of the Mortal Rank?!”
Someone shouted in amazement.
After all, Lockes was at the 5-Crown Peak stage, only one step away from the King Rank—and Morde was actually at the same level!
“The Black Fang Legion is one of the ace units of the Balta Kingdom. Their commander is naturally the kingdom’s strongest combat force,” Qiaolin said as he watched the battle alongside Aurora.
“But I rarely hear of King-level powerhouses appearing in human nations. Is it possible that no other humans have broken through to that rank since the Hero and the Saintess of old?”
Faced with Aurora’s question, Qiaolin hesitated for a moment.
What she said wasn’t wrong.
The main reason for the lack of King-level individuals in human nations was the existence of the Holy Hero Church.
They would extend an olive branch to any human who reached the King Rank or possessed King-level potential.
Almost no one would refuse the blessing of a God, as it allowed them to travel further on the path of cultivation, perhaps even touching the Saint Rank.
“The human race has infinite potential. Never underestimate them, or you will suffer for it,” Qiaolin said with a smile.
Aurora frowned in confusion, and then the battle on the field suddenly shifted.
Lockes’s body was abruptly bound by stone spikes erupting from the ground.
“What?!”
“It’s quite clear you have never fought a human, Vampire!”
Morde had only feigned weakness for a moment, and Lockes had charged in, completely forgetting Morde’s ability to manipulate rock and soil.
Before Lockes could break free, Morde raised his axe and struck his shoulder.
The blade tore through flesh, and blood sprayed from the gruesome wound.
However, there wasn’t a hint of pain on Lockes’s face.
A flash of shock crossed Morde’s eyes.
The Vampire youth grabbed the axe and said, “It seems you haven’t fought many Vampires either.”
“Ugh?!”
The moment he spoke, the blood from Lockes’s wound transformed into tentacles that wrapped around Morde.
The strength was so immense that it momentarily twisted his muscles.
“Though I didn’t want to use this ability…”
Lockes twisted his body, shattering the surrounding rocks.
He controlled the blood tentacles to lift Morde high into the air before slamming him into the ground.
“But for a despicable human like you, this method is most appropriate.”
Lockes made a grasping motion.
The tentacles binding Morde sprouted sharp thorns that pierced his skin, beginning to drain his blood and Magic Power.
“You really are… a monster!”
“Say what you want. You hurt Aurora, so I’m going to make you pay in blood!”
In the literal sense of the phrase, Morde could clearly feel his Magic Power rapidly depleting, and even breathing became difficult.
“Dammit!”
He gritted his teeth and channeled his Magic Power, yanking up jagged rocks to sever Lockes’s tentacles.
Morde rolled across the ground, gasping for air.
“It would be a shame if you were drained to death just like that.”
Lockes seemed to have anticipated this.
He drew blood from the wound on his shoulder to form a longsword imbued with raging flames.
He traced a red arc through the air as he walked slowly toward Morde.
“Next, I’m going to take your head.”
“Then just try it!”
Morde grabbed the axe beside him.
The ground beneath him churned.
As Lockes approached, his footing suddenly softened, and he sank in.
Lockes looked down to see that his opponent had turned the soil into something resembling a swamp.
Seizing the chance, Morde struck again.
“Tyrant Rock Slash!”
The sharp axe blade was enveloped in a wave of earth-yellow Magic Power.
This strike caused even the rocks around Lockes to tremble.
The powerful earth-element magic surged toward him with the momentum to crush him entirely.
Lockes’s Magic Power surged, and his crimson sword erupted with a terrifying heatwave as he swung.
“Blood Wave Slash!”
*Boom!*
The scorching red strike shattered Morde’s Magic Power with overwhelming force.
After blood splattered, everyone saw that Morde’s arm had been severed!
“Aaaagh!”
Morde screamed in agony, falling heavily to the ground.
He had clearly lost the ability to fight.
“The match is decided.”
In a corner, Staff Officer Wiggins watched and curled his lip.
He beckoned a subordinate and whispered, “Order the soldiers at the rear of Lin City to attack immediately.”
‘As expected, the Balthars are just a bunch of brainless Barbarians. In the near future, you will all become slaves conquered by the Demon Race.’
He spared a contemptuous glance at Morde’s pathetic figure and left without looking back.
“Surrender, or die?”
Lockes’s sword dragged a bloodstain across the ground.
His question was accompanied by a blood-scented killing intent.
“I am the commander of the Black Fang Legion. Why should I fear death? I earned my position as General through the Three Flag Challenge.”
To a Balthar, the Three Flag Challenge was the most powerful proof of one’s strength.
It could grant you anything you desired, but it could also cause you to lose everything.
Therefore, anyone who invoked this ritual was prepared to be left with nothing.
Morde was no exception.
The soldiers of the Black Fang Legion remained indifferent as they watched their General face execution.
Only a few who were close to him showed expressions of pity.
“So you don’t fear death? Then say goodbye to your bullshit honor!”
Lockes raised his longsword, but just as he was about to slash Morde’s throat, an explosion sounded from behind them.
*Boom!*
The sounds of panic followed immediately.
Everyone turned toward Lin City as black smoke rose into the air.
Aurora looked at Lin City in shock.
At that moment, only one thought occupied her mind—
‘Lin City has been invaded!’
“This is bad, Lin City is in danger! Did the Black Fang Legion do this?” someone questioned.
Aurora dashed toward the city without waiting.
Lockes stared at the thick smoke rising into the sky, his eyes wide.
He realized something and stepped hard on Morde’s face.
“What did you do? Did you want to use this chance to attack the city?!”
“No… I never gave such an order.”
Morde’s eyes were filled with confusion.
He respected the Three Flag Challenge.
It was impossible for him to think of forcibly seizing Lin City because of a loss, even considering the national interests.
Lockes didn’t have time for him. Seeing Aurora leave, he quickly followed.
Once the people from Lin City had cleared out, the Black Fang Legion soldiers stepped forward to Morde’s side.
The Witch Doctor, Fenris, took the severed limb to reattach and heal him.
“What exactly happened?”
Morde asked his subordinates.
They all shook their heads, signifying they knew nothing.
Looking at the direction where the chaos originated, he suddenly remembered the order he had given Wiggins earlier.
‘Wiggins? You did this, didn’t you?!’
But no one answered him.
The sharp pain in his arm spread through his body, causing him to lose all ability to think.
Only his screams remained.