The canopy rustled gently. Countless green motes of light, brimming with Life Energy, drifted down like a spring rain, blanketing the entire besieged area.
"Watch out for an attack!"
"Be careful of these specks of light!"
The wariness in the Knights’ eyes had not yet faded. They were still on guard against these falling specks of light, assuming them to be some form of attack.
However, the moment the droplets of life touched their bloodstained skin, a warm, rich vitality surged through their bodies like a fresh spring. Their wounds began to itch and tingle as they healed and scabbed over at a visible rate. Even their depleted minds and bodies felt soothed and relaxed, as if soaking in a warm spring.
Many Knights involuntarily lowered their raised weapons. Some even spread their arms, welcoming the warm rain of life, their faces showing expressions of relieved comfort.
"This... This is the power of nature."
"How can a monster..."
What moved them even more was that Yano, the monstrous Gargoyle Knight, was also basking in this rain of life.
Not only did he show no sign of discomfort, but his shadowy, stone-like skin actually began to glow with a faint green light under the reflection of the green radiance, hinting at a harmony with nature.
It was as if... he wasn’t purely a creature of darkness, but a Guardian of nature.
"How can this be..." Many of the Knights looked bewildered, their convictions deeply shaken.
They subconsciously turned their gaze to the round Slime perched atop the princess’s head, emanating a holy green light.
Chen Yu had only intended to reveal his "Forest Sage" identity and use his Life Energy to waver the Knights’ will, making them doubt themselves.
But at this moment, bathed in the glow of life he had created, he felt as if he had truly received nature’s blessing. His body slowly began to float, and the green light of life swirling around him grew more intense, lending his round, Gel-like body an indescribable sense of Holiness.
He was now... every bit the divine Forest Sage.
Chen Yu opened his eyes. His tiny eyes now seemed to hold the wisdom of nature itself, and his Spiritual Power broadcasted clearly across the entire battlefield.
"Confused Knights, awaken."
"What you protect is not a true Kingdom, nor does it hold a Knight’s honor. Demons have already infiltrated it."
"We fight for the forest, for our homes, for true order. And you..."
Before he could finish, a scorching Bursting Fireball came screaming from the distance—Vincent’s Magic!
Although the Fireball was quickly intercepted by a circling Gargoyle and exploded into a shower of sparks, it successfully cut Chen Yu off.
Dominic watched the situation spiral out of control, but his expression remained unchanged. He said in a low voice, "So what if it’s nature? The power of a Demon can deceive even the gods. It is merely a monster that has stolen the power of nature. Don’t be fooled by its appearance!"
Upon hearing this, Levin suddenly burst out laughing, his laughter filled with mockery.
"Dominic, you’re right! Deception and bewitchment are what Demons do best. They can always disguise themselves well, even... as a holy Believer."
His gaze was like lightning as he stared fixedly at Dominic. "Just like you!"
"But do you really think... you can hide from the gods?!"
Levin thumped his chest hard, producing a dull thud. He straightened his back, his expression turning solemn and dignified, and declared to the heavens in a loud, devout voice:
"Great God of Knights! Forger of the Guardian’s Oath! By Cadus!"
"I, Raven Arevalo, swear by my Knight’s oath that the path of the Guardian is forever etched in my heart, never to change."
"Under your glorious light, I will defend the honor of the Knights and the path of the Guardian to the death, until every last Demon is driven out!"
Levin’s words sparked a wave of whispers among the Knights on the battlefield.
Although Cadus, the ancient god of Knights, rarely answered his Believers’ prayers directly anymore, daring to make such a solemn vow on the battlefield, before everyone, using a Knight’s oath as his witness—this alone was enough to prove the firmness of his knightly will and the purity of his heart.
In the tradition of Knights, oaths are one of the sources of their strength, as well as the standard by which they lived.
To break an oath was to not only lose one’s power—a minor consequence in comparison—but also to suffer the scorn of all one’s peers and the torment of a power backlash.
However, some of the more clear-headed Knights were puzzled. The power of a Demon could twist oaths, blind people’s hearts, and even allow someone to lie publicly without batting an eye. Publicly declaring an oath didn’t seem to prove anything.
They didn’t understand the point of Levin doing this.
Of course, Levin himself also understood that merely reciting an oath in public was not enough to expose Dominic.
The main purpose of his actions was to divert everyone’s attention.
The opportunity he had been waiting for had finally arrived.
Dominic immediately retorted in a cold voice, "Levin, are you showing off the deceptive power the Demons have given you? Do you think such an empty oath..."
Before he could finish, a bone-chilling aura of death, like the sharpest icicle, struck from behind him without any warning.
’Not good, something’s approaching!’
Dominic’s combat instincts screamed a frantic warning. The hair on his body stood on end; he wanted to turn, to dodge.
But it was too late!
A Knightly figure wreathed in the flames of death, riding an Undead Warhorse, crashed through the Magic Barrier Vincent had hastily erected with unstoppable momentum. Ignoring the dagger thrust from Allen, it charged from behind Dominic like a vengeful bolt of deathly lightning.
Its target was him!
It was an Undead Knight!
Bleached white bones were clad in old armor, a ghostly blue soul-fire burning within its helmet. The bone spear in its hand, driven by a will to pierce through anything, shot forward. SQUELCH! The tip burst precisely from Dominic’s chest, hoisting his entire body into the air!
Time seemed to freeze at that moment.
The Undead Knight’s act of hoisting Dominic was like the most blatant provocation and declaration to the entire Knight Order.
After a moment of dead silence, the Knights erupted into an uproar, their gazes filled with hostility.
The Undead Knight slowly turned its head. Its eerie blue soul-fire calmly swept over the angry and terrified Knights, finally landing on Dominic as it spoke in a hoarse, slow voice:
"Arthur Arevalo, guided by nature, has returned to deliver your punishment."
"I once died because of you. Now, I bring death to you."
"Are you... prepared?"
His words instantly caused an uproar within the Knight Order.
"Arthur?!"
"It’s true, it really is Arthur!" some of the older Knights who were familiar with him cried out in surprise, recognizing his identity from the style of his armor and his distinctive voice.
Alice also let out a quiet sigh of relief, but her expression remained solemn.
"He’s still alive? No, he’s already dead..."
The younger Knights were still bewildered, but nearly all the veterans recognized his familiar gear.
What caught everyone’s attention even more was Dominic, impaled on the bone spear in mid-air. Not a single drop of blood seeped from the wound in his chest. Instead, a black, viscous substance writhed at the edges of the injury, emitting a nauseating stench.
Meeting the shocked and suspicious gazes of the Knights, the impaled Dominic sighed. His voice held little pain, but rather a sense of calm and regret.
"Why did it have to be this way..."
"You could have lived... you could have known nothing, accepted the praise of nobles and commoners, become glorious Knights who guard the Kingdom... become heroes of the Kingdom."
"And I could have been the good commander you all looked up to."
"It was you who tore it all down. But the price of facing the truth is one you may not be able to afford."
After speaking, Dominic flicked a coin that had suddenly appeared in the palm of his hand.