Allen had never imagined coming into direct conflict with the Holy See. He knew his own limits.
No matter how dissatisfied he was with those religious fanatics, he kept it buried in his heart. After all, the Holy See practically looked like the continent's number one power. Its experts were as numerous as clouds, and every last one of them was a religious madman. The Holy See was practically a mental asylum.
Allen was deeply repulsed by the Holy See. He believed it was merely a monster acting in the Holy Father's name—a colossal monster.
Unless he had no other choice, he had no desire to provoke such a monster.
It was like being nothing more than a minor county magistrate while thinking every day about how to take on the White House. Wasn't that just asking to die?
He knew he was only a kingdom baron. At most, he had a father who could throw his weight around within the kingdom. And whether that bargain-bin father would offend the Holy See for his sake was another matter entirely. After all, he himself had been rather disappointing.
When Xiulunte's guards and attendants had seized the homes of Outpost County's residents and driven those innocent commoners from their own houses, Allen had not wanted to meddle. He had merely hoped Sakre and Yorkshire would seek justice for the civilians, nothing more. At most, he had fanned the flames a little. He had never intended to be the one standing at the forefront.
Then things spiraled completely out of control, escalating again and again until Xiulunte was thoroughly offended beyond any chance of reconciliation.
Allen recalled a saying: "If you walk the streets, sooner or later you have to pay your dues." He just had not expected the bill to come due so quickly.
Xiulunte had already surrounded the Old Castle as tightly as an iron barrel. If tiny Outpost County had been large enough to hold them all, he probably would have brought every last soldier from the Earth Dragon Legion.
Still, this was enough: a bow and crossbow unit providing long-range suppression, infantry armed to the teeth, nearly a hundred heavily armored cavalrymen, and two ascetics who practiced Holy Light System magic and were at least high-level mages.
And on Allen's side? A maid whose profession was serving tea and water, an elderly Old Butler with one foot already in the grave, and Sakre, a Third Tier Battle Aura Martial King wielding two battered iron swords.
Even their reinforcements were not particularly reliable: a little mommy escorting a young lady, the blackhearted owner of a blacksmith shop who forged iron all year round, two barbarians whose intelligence had apparently gone into arrears, plus a short fellow dressed like a thief who might even moonlight as a fisherman casting nets.
To be honest, Allen had long since taken matters of life and death lightly. Beneath his joking, laughing exterior lay a heart colder than ice toward the world.
Dina had given him a reason to leave Outpost County. If possible, Allen would travel through every corner of Saint Cassis, venture deep into the Great Wilderness, even break into Behemoth territory, all to see Dina once more reveal that simple, wholehearted smile she used to wear.
Allen had lost his family at a young age in his previous life. He understood that pain, so he did not want innocent Dina to suffer through it too.
Allen felt that enough honest people had already been bullied by the Holy See. So he seized the Dragon Slaying Halberd, kicked open the Old Castle's iron gates, and stood with a resolute expression. Facing the legion soldiers pouring into the Old Castle like a tide, he showed no fear.
Xiulunte wore a savage grin as he watched several hundred infantrymen file in behind him and encircle Sakre, the Old Butler, and the others.
Allen looked at Xiulunte and said leisurely, "The Dragon Slaying Halberd, made by Rockhammer from the curved blades of hundreds of Behemoth Wolf Cavalry. Xiulunte, today I'll use your blood to consecrate this halberd."
Xiulunte's blood-red pupils abruptly contracted.
Could this be a change caused by the power of an evil god? Xiulunte discovered that the man before him had changed. He still wore that lazy expression, but the aura he revealed without realizing it seemed to belong to someone who had faced life and death countless times. That look, one that could only emerge after enduring innumerable trials of blood and fire, should not have appeared on a pampered baron.
Before Xiulunte came to Outpost County, he had investigated this baron lord who existed in name only. In the Kingdom of Locke, this fellow was practically a celebrity. Anyone who spent time in the Kingdom of Locke basically knew the rumors about Allen. They had reached the point where everyone had heard of him.
The private life of a grand duke's son should not have been so transparent that the entire world knew about it, but this fellow was simply too outrageous.
In his childhood, he had possessed exceptional talent in both magic and Martial Skills. Unfortunately, after years of cultivation, he had achieved nothing whatsoever.
After reaching adulthood, both his title and reputation had fallen again and again. He had begun to give up on himself, bullying men and women and swaggering through the streets. In the Royal City, he had been like an irritating fly, his reputation so foul it stank to high heaven.
If he had not had a grand duke for a father, he would probably have been beaten to death long ago.
Why could such a useless man face this hopeless situation so calmly?
Why could he stand before so many of my soldiers without the slightest fear on his face?
Why could he reveal an aura as though he had long since seen through life and death?
Xiulunte began to wonder whether all the rumors about Allen in the Kingdom of Locke were true.
Allen had no mood to answer his questions. Though surrounded on all sides, he struck first. Gripping the Dragon Slaying Halberd with both hands, he cleaved and swept, separating two sword-wielding soldiers from their bodies.
"Sharp!" Allen thought of Lü Bu. Didn't that guy use a halberd too? It seemed true experts should all use halberds. Only nobodies like Sakre used swords.
"Other than the Candidate Saintess, kill them all!" Xiulunte snarled, raising his sword and pointing it at Allen.
The instant Xiulunte finished speaking, a tall knight completely encased in armor leaped from his warhorse. Raising a Knight Greatsword with both hands, he charged toward Allen.
He was fast. Empowered by Battle Aura, the greatsword in his hand shone brilliantly. His massive frame did not slow him down in the least, and his strike came from a tricky angle, thrusting straight for Allen's abdomen.
Knight Greatswords had broad hilts and wide blades. They were generally used by cavalry after charging into enemy formations for close-quarters combat, with broad, sweeping techniques mostly involving chops and slashes.
The greatsword in this knight's hand was ordinary, no different from the weapons used by the others, but the way he wielded it was completely different.
Allen only saw the man trailing a faint afterimage before appearing in front of him in an instant. Caught off guard, he nearly got pierced.
"So fast!" Allen retreated sharply and swept out with the Dragon Slaying Halberd.
Sakre rushed to Allen's side, crossing his twin swords defensively as he warned, "Magellan, infantry commander of the Earth Dragon Legion. Third Tier Qi Warrior. Be careful!"
Magellan dodged backward, avoiding the Dragon Slaying Halberd, then lifted his visor. His cold, merciless eyes fixed on Allen. "I heard you killed a Behemoth bear-man. I don't believe it."
"There are also rumors that I'm your long-lost father." Allen raised the Dragon Slaying Halberd and closed in. "I don't believe those either!"
Allen was fast, but the two Haftless Broken Blades gleaming with a sinister light were even faster. Like meteors tearing through the air, they shot toward Magellan's throat and heart.
Seeing the two poisoned daggers less than half a meter from Magellan, Diao Ling, who had launched the surprise attack, revealed a faint sneer on her beautiful face.
Unfortunately, her smile lasted less than an instant. Magellan merely made a simple motion, gripping the greatsword in reverse with both hands as though he were about to drive it into the ground. The two broken blades were effortlessly knocked aside.
"Die!" Magellan gripped his knight sword normally once more and swung through the air at the briefly distracted Diao Ling.
A golden wave of Sword Qi slashed between Allen and Sakre. It was even faster than the Haftless Broken Blades, hurtling toward Diao Ling with terrifying force.
At that critical moment, Rockhammer, who had been at the rear, sprang into the air and descended before Diao Ling. Crossing his forearms, he forcibly blocked the sword wave. The halted wave transformed into countless tiny strands of Sword Qi like golden needles, exploding outward indiscriminately.
Rockhammer bore the brunt of it. His bronze skin was covered in dense little bloody holes.
Tearing off his tattered leather armor soaked in blood, Rockhammer said with a bitter smile, "Looks like I won't be opening that blacksmith shop after all."
After saying that, Rockhammer wiped the blood from his chest and charged straight at Magellan. Many legion infantrymen rushing into the Old Castle were sent flying into the air when he slammed into them.
Hidden behind Sakre, Diao Ling flicked her wrist and threw three more Haftless Broken Blades at Xiulunte, who stood nearby without anyone protecting him.
Xiulunte did not move. A layer of golden light covered his entire body. When the Haftless Broken Blades struck the light barrier, they produced the clash of metal against metal before falling to the ground.
Seeing Xiulunte's dazzling Battle Aura cover his entire body without leaving the slightest gap, Sakre's eyelids twitched. His expression complicated, he said, "I never expected a Legion Commander with such outstanding command ability to also be a Martial King on the verge of stepping into the Fourth Tier of Battle Aura."
"Dina!" Allen called, and the maid ran to her master's side.
To curse someone, curse their mother first; to capture bandits, capture their leader first.
"Stay close to me!" Allen seized the Dragon Slaying Halberd and charged toward Xiulunte.
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