He didn’t scream, nor did he have time to mourn his lost arm. As expected of an Extraordinary, Samuel gritted his teeth against the pain and swung his blessed Knight’s Sword at the monstrous Gargoyle Knight before him.
As expected, the moment the Gargoyle’s hard, stony skin touched the holy glow, it was as if it had met its nemesis. The skin offered no protection; instead, it was swiftly dissipated and disintegrated by the Holy Light. The sharp blade carved a terrible wound across Yano’s chest—one that burned with Holy Flame and nearly pierced through his entire shadowy form.
"Ugh!" Yano grunted, a soul-searing pain erupting from his chest. He and Samuel both staggered back, creating distance between them.
"Healing Potions! Magical support! Now!" The well-equipped Mage Corps reacted instantly. Knights closed in, and several beams of healing Magic and a precious Healing Potion were used on Samuel.
His severed arm was quickly reattached, and the wound healed rapidly under the effects of Magic. However, it was clear he wouldn’t be able to fight effectively with that arm for some time.
Meanwhile, Yano beat his wings and ascended into the sky. Surrounded by his Gargoyle brethren, the power of shadow and the dark life force of the Gargoyles surged, gradually expelling the residual Holy Flame. The wound healed at a speed visible to the naked eye.
This brief exchange seemingly left both sides injured, with neither gaining an advantage. However, the Knight Order’s retreat was severely delayed by Yano’s interception.
The Arevalo Knight Order, led by Levin and Alice, had caught up. They enveloped them from the flanks, completely surrounding the other Knight Order.
Facing these exhausted yet still-resisting Knights, Levin raised his Longsword, his voice heavy with sorrow yet powerful as he shouted:
"Knights! Dominic Elvin was bewitched by a Demon long ago! He has betrayed the Kingdom and the oath of a Knight! By following him without distinguishing right from wrong, you are fighting an unjust war and tarnishing the honor of all Knights!"
His gaze swept over faces that were dazed, conflicted, or angry. "Lay down your longswords and lances! Surrender and you will be spared!"
"Surrender and you will be spared!" the Knights of the Arevalo Clan roared in unison. The sound was deafening, their momentum utterly intimidating.
The expressions on the besieged Knights’ faces turned dazed. Their convictions began to waver.
They looked at the ferocious Gargoyles and monsters surrounding them, then at their own heavily wounded comrades... A sense of despair and confusion welled up in their hearts.
Just then, Dominic came galloping over on his horse. His face was grim, but his voice was steady, as if imbued with a certain Magic Power. "Don’t listen to the Demon’s bewitchment! Open your eyes and see clearly! Look at what these Arevalo Knights are fighting alongside!"
He pointed around him: "Monsters! Gargoyles! These creatures that fear the Holy Light! And this Princess Louisa, who has betrayed the Kingdom and colluded with Demons!"
"What is there to hesitate about? Are you going to lay down your arms and surrender to these enemies who desecrate honor?!"
The Knights subconsciously looked around—at the hideous and evil Gargoyles, the disciplined yet bizarrely-shaped Demon Legion, and Yano, the Knight who had just transformed into a monstrous Gargoyle... Under the guidance of Dominic’s words, their gazes instantly became firm again.
"We will be martyrs for the Knight’s oath!"
"For the Kingdom! For honor!"
The besieged Knights roared in unison, the fire of battle reigniting in their eyes. They tightened their grip on their weapons, preparing for a final stand.
Chen Yu, who had just arrived riding Peggy, saw this scene. His round, rolling body slumped a little, and he was speechless.
’As I thought... the prejudices of the human heart are a great mountain.’
’Ahem... even though my side is full of monsters, Dark Creatures, and Shadow Assassins—all these seemingly "dark" types—I’m a bona fide Forest Sage! I love nature and have absolutely nothing to do with Demons!’
’On the contrary, *their* side is the one riddled with Demonic influence...’
’Looks like I’ll have to handle this myself.’
"Father, what do we do now?" Alice asked in a low voice, tightening her grip on her reins as she looked at the enemies whose fighting spirit had been rekindled.
Levin felt a headache coming on.
He had underestimated Dominic’s power to bewitch and influence the common Knights. As he was pondering how to break the stalemate, Celeste transformed back into a Giant Eagle and flew overhead, carrying Princess Louisa.
"SCREE!"
Louisa, cradling Chen Yu, floated gracefully down from the eagle’s back to the ground.
Under the wary and hostile gazes of the Knights, Chen Yu jumped out of Louisa’s arms, bounced, and landed on top of her head to make himself look taller and more conspicuous.
He turned his round, rolling body to face the besieged Knights of the legion and said solemnly, in a soft voice that was trying its best to sound serious:
"Oh, Nature, please guide these lost Knights."
After speaking, he piously closed his eyes and secretly used a drop of the World Tree’s life essence to make himself look more like a holy oracle.
Xixu Long - Part Two
"VMMMM..."
A soft, vibrant green radiance bloomed from Chen Yu’s small Gel body. The light wasn’t harsh, and it carried a warmth that seemed to cleanse the soul.
Wherever the light fell, the soil, stained with blood and scorched black, miraculously sprouted with tender green grass.
Immediately after, a phantom of a lush Ancient Tree with sprawling branches slowly materialized behind Chen Yu. Its massive canopy blotted out a portion of the gray sky, and shimmering green motes of light, like a sea of stars, swirled within its crown, emitting a vast and pure aura of life.