Sid's Three Legends

[Throat Slash] is a skill used by professional assassins, while [Decapitation] is generally a strength-based skill used by warrior-type Transcendent.

Especially given Rein's current incredible physical resilience, severing his neck with a single blow would be virtually impossible for a Fourth Tier assassin. Even a typical fifth-tier, Strength Extraordinary wouldn't necessarily be able to do it so easily.

Therefore, it's not hard to guess the identity of the assassin who carried out the assassination.

He must be one of the "Ten Great Legends" active in the Xid Empire, the top assassin who has perfected stealth assassination to the extreme—[Night Ghost] Rosco!

If it's just Throat Slash that cuts off the carotid artery and trachea, which would be fatal to other Transcendent, it wouldn't be a big problem for Rein in his current state.

As long as the nerves connecting the brain to the body are not completely severed, he can manipulate the "Gang Line" to easily stitch up his body.

However, it was clear that the other party had come prepared.

The enemy had gathered very detailed intelligence on him.

After all, back in City of Radiance, Rein had survived Throat Slash by an assassin in the street. Those who were interested would naturally know that he possessed a special, Transcendent ability to heal fatal wounds.

So this cut severed his neck.

Severing the head means completely severing the brain's perception of the body's existence.

At this moment, with his head detached from his body, Rein could no longer perceive the existence of his body.

Even though he possessed a massive amount of battle Gang Line within his body, he couldn't sense or control them at all.

His healing abilities were powerless to help.

This was the most fatal injury Rein had suffered since his transmigration.

[Decapitation] can kill even a highly resilient High-tier Extraordinary in just tens of seconds. Because the neck contains a large number of complex nerves and meridians, current medical technology is simply unable to treat this complex and fatal injury.

Logically speaking, with a single blow to the head, Rein would be dead for sure.

The instant his neck snapped, Rein clearly felt his life rapidly slipping away.

He also clearly sensed that his soul was floating and about to leave his body.

Is this what death feels like?

In the final moments of his life, Rein's mind raced.

In that instant, time seemed to slow down countless times.

In his previous life, he had heard that some people on their deathbed could recall almost everything they remembered in their entire life in the brief moment of their passing.

It turns out it was true.

On the brink of life and death, images flashed through his mind like fleeting shadows.

Rein recalled the details of his journey from the past.

Several years ago, he transmigrated to this misty world and encountered the weakest Canine Rabbit in the wasteland, which almost cost him his life.

Then came that incredibly bloody year of recruit training with the "Weasel Bandit Group".

Then, the "Blazing Steel Fortress" attacked and killed Baron Morin, obtaining the Transcendent potion Treasure Map.

During the Battle of Storm Lake, while breaking through the enemy lines, I encountered the heavily wounded Ymir for the first time.

I ran into Canossa again on the train, followed by Uncle Sam.

Then in City of Radiance, they encountered the reclusive old man Tuster and young Karl.

Then there were Wudo and the friendly Kolman Tribe.

Then, "Black Dragon City" finally gained a foothold in the Karatva Basin.

The journey was bumpy and dangerous.

But it seems that everything is moving in a positive direction.

Although these few years have been short, Rein feels that this "life" he has experienced in his time travel has been exciting enough.

In the final moments of life, the mind enters a mysterious state.

It seemed that only then could he calm down and recall many things.

Rein knew that this was the "great enlightenment" between life and death that the Great Shaman Mafat and the others had spoken of.

Many things that I couldn't understand before suddenly became clear at this moment.

He remained calm and collected, thinking things through without panicking.

It was as if time had stood still.

Do I have any regrets about coming into this world?

Of course there are.

Ymir 've just had an intimate relationship; there's plenty of time ahead.

Wudo has grown from a pretty girl into a fiery, wild beauty; I used to take it for granted, but now, looking back, I realize I've gotten quite used to her taking care of me. If she were to die, that girl would be heartbroken.

Oh, if I survive, the next time I see Canossa, whether I get beaten up or not, I'll push her first.

Also, it's quite a pity that he couldn't advance to the Fourth Tier of the Transcendent before he died.

At this moment, he clearly felt that threshold, which had seemed so distant and unattainable before, was now within reach.

What is "the essence of boxing"?

In the face of life and death, Rein had a complete epiphany.

Like wisps of ethereal smoke slipping through his fingers, gradually condensing into a form, which he firmly grasped in his palm.

His unwavering belief was to become stronger; this is the essence of "will".

The fist style he wanted to master was the invincible fist style.

He wants to be invincible among his peers.

If I feel wronged, I'll smash it with one punch.

One day, Rein realized that his punch could pierce mountains, split seas, and destroy cities, revealing the truth of the world.

One day, he will be invincible.

I have no regrets about coming into this world.

The moment between Rein's life and death seemed to last an eternity.

But in reality, it only lasted a moment.

Even a top assassin would have to go all out to sever the neck of the incredibly strong Rein with a dagger.

An assassin's greatest strength is always revealed in the instant of their stealthy attack.

His use of that sudden burst of speed to kill Rein meant that he left an opening for others to exploit.

While Rein was powerless to resist the attack, it didn't mean Ymir, who was beside him, was not.

Between masters of the same level, every move must be fiercely contested.

One move made, and one move lost.

In that instant, Ymir's pupils contracted sharply, and a chilling Deity Phantom suddenly appeared behind her, instantly entering a state of "Demonic Release".

Without any hesitation, she drew her longsword and thrust it forward with a fierce thrust!

In that instant, it was as if the space itself was frozen by the chilling aura of that high-level law, causing the figure in the void who had attempted to escape after the assassination to freeze in place.

The assassin's expression suddenly changed. Although he didn't say anything, his meaning was clear: How could she have advanced to the legendary level?!

The intelligence team clearly described Ymir's combat strength. Her Cultivation Method and swordsmanship were secrets passed down by the Oma Royal for hundreds of years, which was no secret to the high-ranking officials of the Xid Empire.

Overall, Princess Oma is only at the peak of the fifth tier.

But what did he see now?

The phantom of "demon liberation" behind her is a genuine legend!

Originally, Night Ghost 'Rosco assassination plan was perfect.

He thought that even if he succeeded in the assassination, he could leave calmly.

Because there were only three people with Rein.

That mechanic named Tuster did indeed possess legendary Transcendent combat abilities. But no matter how agile a combat mech is, it could never catch up to the reaction time of a top-tier assassin with full agility.

Ymir is strong; below the legendary level, one might be able to hurt him, but definitely not be able to stop him.

As for the man in the tuxedo, he didn't exude much fighting spirit, suggesting he was a Mystic System, Transcendent.

Haha, it also prevented him from killing people!

But then, an unexpected incident occurred.

Princess Oma, who had never been seen to make a move since the establishment of Black Dragon City, has actually quietly advanced to the Legendary Realm?

This is something that was not recorded in the intelligence at all!

And that's not all!

The Raven "Pikachu" automatically protected its master; the instant the assassin appeared, a bolt of purple lightning with a capacity of Billion Volts struck out.

In an instant, [Night Ghost] Rosco felt a strong sense of numbness rush through his entire body.

Although it wasn't fatal at the moment, it left his body frozen in place.

In a battle between legendary Transcendent, this momentary lapse in concentration can be a fatal weakness.

After Rosco made that first strike, he had no chance to make a second one.

The gleaming, cold court slender sword was already piercing his heart. His instincts as a top assassin compelled him to dodge at the last moment, avoiding an instant death from a pierced heart. But the icy longsword still pierced a large hole in his sternum!

Damn it!

He cursed inwardly.

Just as Rosco coughed up a mouthful of blood, thinking he was going to die,

To his surprise Ymir did not press her advantage, but instead caught the revelation before it even hit the ground and installed it on the human fountain!

Moreover, what's even stranger is that he was certain that he had assassinated the Lord of Black Dragon City, Rein, so why has the face of that "corpse" changed?

He had transformed into the young man in the tuxedo who had been standing next to Rein earlier!

Rosco was unaware that this was Metternich's Transcendent ability—[The Substitute Clown]!

In fact, Metternich had already predicted this situation when he divined last night that Rein would encounter a "death calamity".

The instant Rein was assassinated, Metternich decisively used his ability.

This "Substitute Clown" can not only make others die in his place, but can also die in place of others.

Although he was a gambler, he never liked owing favors to anyone.

I owed Rein a life, and now I'm paying it back.

Rein clearly felt that sensation of his soul leaving his body and then instantly returning to his senses.

He looked at the headless corpse beside him with its neck severed, instinctively touched his own neck, and cold sweat broke out on his back.

At that moment, Ymir had already placed Metternich's severed head on his neck, but blood continued to gush out from the wound.

Seeing this, Rein didn't dare to delay at all. He placed his hands on Metternich's neck wound, and hundreds of Gang Line surged out wildly, weaving through the severed nerves and blood vessels.

Rein's mastery of human anatomy has reached a level where he can handle any injury with ease.

Without any examination, he precisely stitched up those fatal nerves and blood vessels in an instant using his Gang Line. Then, the [Divine Healing Technique] attached to the Gang Line was frantically poured in, and the severed tissue began to heal visibly.

Miraculously, just a moment later, Metternich's blood stopped flowing from his severed head.

Then his eyes, which had been as white as dead fish eyes, instantly regained their luster.

Although Metternich was not yet unable to speak, a smile had already spread across his face.

Looking at Rein, the guy's eyes gleamed.

It's that familiar confident look in his eyes, the kind of dopamine-fueled, ecstatic expression a gambler has after winning a life-or-death gamble!

Sure enough, the two Joker Card together resolved this seemingly hopeless situation.

Without Metternich, Rein would likely be dead today.

Without Rein's healing abilities, even if Metternich wanted to give him his life today, he would probably have to trade his life for his own.

After a few breaths, Metternich's discomfort in his throat disappeared, and he seemed to be able to speak with difficulty.

He squinted, and his first words weren't of relief at surviving, but rather a meaningful remark. "Mr. Rein is indeed blessed with great fortune."

Because Ymir was helping Rein rescue the decapitated Metternich, the severely injured "Night Ghost" Rosco also managed to escape some distance.

Clearly, the enemy's assassination methods go beyond this.

Rein was completely focused on treating Metternich and could not afford to be distracted.

This guy's cervical vertebrae have been severed. Bone healing is much more difficult than skin healing and takes much longer.

The two of them stood there, not daring to move an inch.

But just then, they suddenly discovered mysterious Hexagram Magic Array all around them.

Judging from the complexity of those magical runes, it's at least a fifth-ring magic.

Moreover, this is not elemental magic, but rather a fluctuation of mental energy.

"Mind materialization? Heh heh. That guy Friedrich, the Great Illusionist, is here too."

Metternich flared his nostrils slightly and gave a cold snort.

Clearly, he recognized the caster of this technique, but a sneer crept onto his lips, "What a small world."

Rein's thoughts stirred slightly as he listened, but his hands did not falter at all, and he continued the suturing surgery.

[The Great Illusionist] Friedrich was a courtier of the First Court of Sid, Mystic System illusionist, and another of the "Ten Great Legends"!

Legend has it that he could materialize his thoughts using his mental power.

To put it simply, whatever he thinks in his heart will become reality.

Although it's called illusion, his mental magic can actually cause real damage.

This ability is extremely strange!

What Rein didn't know was that Metternich's teacher, the previous gambler Oratou K. Kand, was killed by this guy.

The moment those magical runes appeared, Rein felt his surroundings suddenly change.

As if the world had shifted, the environment outside the palace hall had transformed into an altar covered in purple magical patterns.

The surroundings were empty and deserted, and the sky above was filled with stars.

On the vast altar, only Rein and Metternich remained, all alone.

The next moment, a deadly threat arrived.

Without any chanting, in the blink of an eye, four enormous fire serpents, each tens of meters long, appeared on the altar. They raised their tongues and spewed thick plumes of black flames at Rein and his companion, flames so intense they distorted the very void.

Before the black flames even reached him, Rein felt a sharp, burning pain on his skin.

He knew it was an illusion, but the burning pain was real and felt in his body.

However, Rein remained completely calm. He held Metternich, whose wound was being stitched up, and wore his signature squinty-eyed, foxy smile.

"They really don't take my 'Gambler Sequence' seriously at all."

Metternich muttered something to himself.

Although he couldn't move his neck, the reconnected nerves were enough for him to control his body.

Just as the flames surged towards him, Metternich suddenly threw a deck of gold playing cards into the air.

An amazing scene unfolded

The moment those golden playing cards appeared, the intense burning sensation vanished instantly.

What amazed Rein even more was that the guards on the four "JAKE Card had transformed into four burly armored knights. Wielding swords and axes, they swiftly cleaved the four fiery serpents into several pieces.

The four Queen Cards, the four Kings, and the number cards A through 10 also came to life, transforming into wizards, hunters, knights, guards, and Gunslinger.

A deck of cards suddenly transformed into an army!

But the danger lurked on the altar far beyond that.

After the four flames were killed, countless terrifying monsters suddenly appeared.

The two sides clashed fiercely as soon as they met.

Hail, wind blades, lava, fire, darkness—all sorts of dazzling fifth-tier magic clashed fiercely in this special illusion space, seemingly without any restrictions.

If we're talking about Metternich before last night, facing this veteran "Ten Great Legends" who once defeated his teacher, the odds might be 40/60.

But now...

Perhaps it's 50/50, perhaps 60/40, or perhaps 30/70.

With Rein, this "colorful JOKER Card," by his side, Metternich showed no sign of thinking he might lose, despite the strength of his enemy.

It was also the first time that Rein had witnessed two top-tier Mystic System Transcendent, and he was immediately struck by the incredible spectacle.

A Night Ghost named Rosco, active in the Xid Empire, and a Sid named Friedrich, the Great Illusionist, arrived.

One is a physics department, the other a Mystic System.

Two of the "Ten Great Legends" arrived together.

This lineup is so strong that it could practically assassinate anyone.

Rein also realized that the "death calamity" in the divination did not come from an evil god, but from the Xid Empire.

The reason for this is easy to understand with a little thought.

The location of "Black Dragon Pass" is right in Sid territory.

The rise of Black Dragon City had the greatest impact on the Xid Empire.

For the Xid Empire, Omar was, after all, an empire with which it had coexisted for thousands of years. Although it was a major concern, it was something that could not be dealt with in the short term.

These two empires were like two evenly matched rivals in a boxing ring, knowing each other inside and out and surviving under the same rules.

But the Black Dragon City that suddenly appeared was different; it broke the original rules of competition.

Black Dragon City lacks the ability to generate its own resources; instead, it frantically absorbs resources from the outside world.

In just about a year, it devoured Sid's foundation in a way that was more like a "vampire" than a vampire clan.

The democratic system in Black Dragon City was a disaster for the autocratic monarchies of the two great empires, which were characterized by "semi-slave and semi-feudal" systems.

It's fair to say that if Black Dragon City is allowed to continue developing, Sid will be the first to collapse.

Meanwhile, Sid's intelligence department gathered more targeted intelligence.

They knew that the most crucial figure in the establishment of Black Dragon City was Rein.

Kill him, nip that emerging city in the bud.

While watching two legendary figures clash with mental magic in the illusion, Rein was unaware that the scene outside was even more exciting.

It turns out that Sid didn't just bring two legendary fighters, but three!

There's one more, even stronger!

Just as Rein and Metternich were trapped in the mental illusion, countless palm-sized black bats flew through the sky, numbering in the tens of thousands. They quickly coalesced into a vampire wearing a red cloak with a black face, thick dark circles under his eyes, and scarlet lips, with a bewitching appearance.

This was none other than the ancient monster of the Xid Empire, the "Blood Ancestor" Lilith Dracula, who had lived for countless years!