Then, under the watchful eyes of all, its imposing body dropped to one knee, lowering its ferocious head toward Chen Yu!
Its pitch-black gargoyle form rapidly degenerated like fading ink, sinking back to the ground and transforming into a monstrous shadow.
And the master of this monstrous shadow was, surprisingly, just a seemingly ordinary human Knight.
He knelt on one knee, his right hand placed over his chest. With a resolute face and a steady gaze, he spoke in a solemn and respectful tone, "Knight Yano, I greet Your Majesty."
"I hope... I haven’t returned too late."
Yano’s voice wasn’t loud, yet it echoed clearly across the silent battlefield, stirring fear in the hearts of all the human Knights.
Vincent’s eyes narrowed as he recalled a long-forgotten legend.
Once, decades ago in the Dark Land, the Stone Golem Army had also been led by a human.
Castor Belmont, the man revered as the Grand Duke of the Stone Race, had nearly swept through the Dark Land and brought the entire gray territory under the control of the Belmont family.
Now, history was repeating itself. A descendant of Belmont... had returned.
And he had returned to this land with the title of Grand Duke.
Yano Belmont. From this day forward, this once-unknown name would be remembered by all.
They could never have imagined that just six months ago, this king who commanded the Gargoyles had been a down-and-out noble who hadn’t even earned the rank of Knight.
With the addition of a terrifying aerial force like the Stone Golem Army, the tide of victory in this war was destined to turn in favor of the Demon Legion.
Without a single word exchanged, the Knight Order that had been so aggressively pursuing them just moments before now began a hasty and undignified retreat.
Chen Yu shrank back to his original size and landed in front of Yano, his small, round eyes curiously looking him up and down.
’How strange. How did this guy go to the depths of Gor and not only get stronger, but even his whole vibe became as cool as Arthur’s?’
As if sensing Chen Yu’s confusion, Yano, who had been completely serious a moment ago, suddenly glanced around furtively and lowered his voice.
"Boss, don’t blow my cover yet. It took me half the trip here to come up with this entrance. At least let me keep up the act for a little longer."
"Speaking of which, Boss, weren’t those lines of mine just now totally badass?" he added, his tone filled with unconcealable pride.
Chen Yu: "..."
Okay, he took back his earlier thought.
This clown Yano really couldn’t stay cool for more than three seconds.
But then again, this was the real Yano.
He secretly glanced at Yano’s current status panel.
—
Prestige Title: Grand Duke of the Stone Race
Acquisition Requirement: The Master of Shadows must, in the depths of an ancient ruin and under the witness of a lightless sky, personally defeat a Gargoyle King on the verge of transformation. Then, using the Shadow Secret Ceremony, they must strip and devour its "Shadow of Submission," converting it into their own Monster Shadow.
Title Effects:
1. Mark of Prestige: The name "Grand Duke of the Stone Race" is widely known among dark kindred and shadow-sworn, marking the bearer as a Shadow Lord who commands both fear and authority.
2. Dark Protection: Greatly increases natural deterrence against Dark Creatures and significantly enhances control and manipulation of all Shadow Powers.
3. Body of the Gargoyle: The petrified body gains the formidable defense of a Gargoyle, with stronger resistance to physical attacks and conventional elemental damage, but is weak to pure Holy Light Power. (The petrified state does not affect one’s own agility or mobility).
4. Legion Command: Can use the Monster Shadow to command and strengthen the Stone Golem Army, or summon Gargoyle servants to battle.
Note: This is the Shadow Crown that has stolen the power of petrification. When shadow devours the pulse of stone, he becomes the ruler who walks between darkness and rock—the Grand Duke of the Stone Race.
"I miss Lola and the kids so much. I hope this new form of mine doesn’t scare them." —From the writings of Belmont, Second Grand Duke of the Stone Race
—
After confirming that Yano’s soul hadn’t been swapped with something strange, Chen Yu felt much more relieved.
At least this sappy message was very much in Yano’s style.
The effects of the [Grand Duke of the Stone Race] title were terrifyingly powerful; Yano had truly received an Epic Level upgrade.
Not only were his Shadow Abilities comprehensively enhanced, but even his petrified body was strengthened. It gained the petrified defense of a Gargoyle without affecting his mobility, perfectly solving the fatal weakness of the Stone Race’s rigid movements after petrification.
Not to mention, he now commanded the feared Stone Golem Army from the depths of Gor, having conquered those ferocious, ghoul-like Dark Creatures and turned them into his loyal claws.
"Retreat! Fall back to the fortress!"
Dominic had already given up on his inconclusive duel with Levin. He made a snap decision, shouting orders to the chaotic Knight Order to regroup. They were to quickly rendezvous with Samuel and the others and retreat toward Storm Fortress.
"Thinking of running now? A little late for that."
Nili’s lazy voice drifted from behind the Knight Order.
Immediately after, blurred shadows fell silently upon the Knights who were in a panicked retreat.
"SHHFF! SHHFF! SHHFF!"
Dozens of figures clad in tight leather armor, their faces hidden under hoods, seeped out from the shadows. They were the Stone Assassins.
These assassins struck with speed and precision, their daggers stabbing out from all sorts of incredibly concealed angles.
"Argh!"
"Ugh!"
Some Knights had no time to react before their vital points—necks, ribs, joints—were struck. They only had time to let out short, miserable cries as blood spurted and they collapsed to the ground.
"Assassins! It’s those Stone Assassins from the Dark Land!"
"Watch out! They’re hiding in the shadows!"
That’s right, Nili was back.
And this time, she had brought all the remaining combat-ready Stone Assassins of the Belmont family.
The Stone Race had laid low in Gor for too long—so long that they had been gradually forgotten and looked down upon.
It was time for everyone in this land to once again recall the terror of being dominated by the Stone Assassins.
This was also their pledge of loyalty to the second Grand Duke of the Stone Race—Yano Belmont—and to the Slime Kingdom.
"Pursue them! Don’t let them escape back to the fortress!" Levin immediately regrouped the Knight Order of the Arevalo Clan and, along with Alice, launched a pursuit against the routing enemy forces.
The Demon Legion also resumed its steady advance, the cannons of the Goblin Rippers roaring once more to provide covering fire for the pursuing allies.
In the sky, the Stone Golem Army was a black whirlwind of death, continuously diving and harassing the enemy, further deepening their chaos.
The situation was urgent. Yano didn’t even have time to explain what had happened in the depths of Gor or how he had obtained the power of the Gargoyles. He merged back into his monster shadow, Giant Sword in hand, and pursued them with flapping, bat-like wings.
As a former reserve Knight, he had once genuinely admired the Garrison Legion that guarded the borders and recognized the honor of such Knights.
But now, that honor had been tainted by the Demon’s Claw, and Storm Fortress, a symbol of protection, had become a stronghold controlled by them.
He attacked without any psychological burden.
Yano’s dark figure dropped down in the path of the retreating Knight Order. He slid forward, swinging his Giant Sword.
Dominic brandished his Holy Sword to block. Its holy power was like a brilliant light shining on snow, causing the pitch-black shadow to melt slightly and dissipate a dark aura.
His seemingly tiny figure managed to block Yano’s Giant Sword.
The Holy Light had a suppressive effect on Yano’s dark form.
But Yano’s strength was simply too immense. He instantly knocked the Holy Sword aside and continued his downward swing with the Giant Sword.
Samuel joined the fight just in time. Realizing the Holy Light seemed to suppress this monster, he activated the Enchantment on his Longsword.
A holy blessing flowed across the blade, helping him barely block Yano without being sent flying immediately.
Dominic’s figure leaped up from behind Samuel, raising his Holy Sword high.
[Divine Judgment]
"Oh, Holy Light, destroy your enemies!"
He made his proclamation with a solemn expression as the Holy Light in his hand surged, engulfing the pitch-black monster’s form.
But the next moment, Yano’s figure suddenly appeared behind them.
Vincent, who was being held back by Chen Yu, only had time to cast a Magic Shield over the two of them before the Giant Sword violently shattered it and fell.
Samuel couldn’t dodge in time. His left arm, clad in expensive Enchanted Equipment, was severed in a spray of blood and fell to the ground.