A Situation of Certain Death

Allen had never imagined confronting the Holy See head-on; he was self-aware enough for that.

Even if he was dissatisfied with those religious charlatans, he kept it to himself. After all, the Holy See appeared to be the continent's foremost power, teeming with experts who were all religious fanatics. The Holy See was practically a mental institution's control center.

Allen felt a strong aversion to the Holy See, viewing it as a monster operating under the Holy Father's name, a gargantuan entity of a monster.

Facing such a monster, Allen, unless absolutely necessary, had no intention of provoking it.

It was like him, a mere county magistrate, constantly thinking about how to oppose the White House – wasn't that just asking for trouble?

He knew he was merely a baron of the kingdom, at best protected by his father who could throw his weight around within the kingdom. Moreover, it was debatable whether this convenient father would offend the Holy See for him, especially since Allen himself wasn't exactly a source of pride.

Back then, Xiulunte's guards and retainers had occupied residential buildings in Outpost County and driven out innocent commoners from their homes. Allen hadn't wanted to meddle; he had merely hoped Sakre and Yorkshire would seek justice for the commoners. At most, he had fanned the flames a bit; he had no intention of being the first to stick his neck out.

Then, things spiraled out of control, the situation escalated continuously, and ultimately, Xiulunte was thoroughly offended with no room for negotiation.

Allen recalled the saying, "What goes around, comes around," but he hadn't expected it to come back so quickly.

Xiulunte had already led his forces to surround the old castle like an iron barrel. If the small Outpost County couldn't accommodate so many people, he probably would have brought his entire Earth Dragon Legion.

But even this was enough: long-range crossbowmen, infantry armed to the teeth, nearly a hundred heavily armored cavalry, and two ascetics who practiced Holy Light magic, holding at least the rank of high-level Mage.

On Allen's side, however, there was a maid who served tea and water, an elderly old butler whose foot was already in the grave, and Sakre, a third-tier Battle Qi Martial King wielding two broken iron swords.

Even the reinforcements weren't very reliable: a stepmother accompanying a young lady, a blacksmith owner who spent his days forging iron, two barbarians with severely lacking intelligence, and a thief-like individual who might also be a part-time fisherman, a short, stout fellow.

To be honest, Allen had long since become detached from matters of life and death. Beneath his outwardly jovial and sarcastic demeanor lay a heart that had grown incredibly cold towards the world.

It was Dina who gave him a reason to leave Outpost County. If possible, Allen would traverse every corner of Saint Cassis, venture deep into the Great Wilderness, and even trespass into Behemoth territory, all just to see Dina's genuine, innocent smile again.

In his previous life, Allen had lost his family at a very young age. He understood that pain, which was why he didn't want the innocent Dina to experience it.

Allen felt there were already too many good people bullied by the Holy See, so he picked up the Dragon Slaying Halberd, kicked open the old castle's massive iron gate, his face resolute. Facing the legion soldiers surging into the castle like a tide, he showed no fear.

Xiulunte, with a sinister grin, watched hundreds of infantry pour in behind him, surrounding Sakre, the old butler, and the others.

Allen looked at Xiulunte and said leisurely, "Dragon Slaying Halberd, produced by Rock Hammer, forged from the sabers of hundreds of Behemoth Wolf Cavalry. Xiulunte, today your blood will consecrate my halberd."

Xiulunte's blood-red pupils suddenly constricted.

Could it be a change caused by the Alien God's power? Xiulunte noticed that the aura of the person before him had changed. Although he still had that lazy expression, the aura he inadvertently exuded seemed as if he had faced death countless times. It was the kind of gaze that only emerged after enduring countless trials of blood and fire; it shouldn't appear on a pampered baron.

Before Xiulunte arrived at Outpost County, he had investigated this nominal baron. This guy was a sensational figure in the Kingdom of Locke; practically everyone who mattered in the Kingdom of Locke knew about Allen's rumors, to the point of being universally known.

A Duke's son's private life shouldn't be as transparent as the world knew it, but this guy was truly an extreme case.

In his childhood, he possessed exceptional talent in both magic and martial skills, but unfortunately, after years of practice, he achieved nothing.

After reaching adulthood, his title and reputation plummeted. This guy then started to go off the rails, bullying the weak and intimidating the virtuous, swaggering through the Royal City like an annoying fly, his reputation utterly ruined.

If not for having a Duke for a father, he would likely have been beaten to death long ago.

How could such a good-for-nothing face this seemingly certain death situation with such composure?

Why could he stand before my numerous soldiers without a trace of fear?

Why could he exude such an aura as if he had long since seen through life and death?

Xiulunte began to doubt whether all the rumors about Allen in the Kingdom of Locke were true.

Allen had no time to answer his questions. Facing the encirclement, he attacked first, gripping the Dragon Slaying Halberd with both hands. With a chop and a lift, two soldiers wielding long swords were decapitated.

"So sharp!" Allen thought of Lu Bu. Didn't that kid also use a Fangtian Huaji? It seemed all experts should use halberds; only incompetent fellows like Sakre used swords.

"Kill everyone except the Candidate Saintess!!" Xiulunte roared, raising his sword and pointing it at Allen.

As soon as Xiulunte finished speaking, a tall knight, completely encased in armor, dismounted and charged towards Allen, raising his Knight Greatsword with both hands.

He was fast. Under the augmentation of Battle Qi, the greatsword in his hand shone brightly. His imposing stature didn't impede his speed, and his attack angle was particularly tricky, aiming directly for Allen's abdomen.

Knight Greatswords, with their broad hilts and wide blades, were mostly used by cavalry charging into enemy formations for close-quarters combat. Their techniques were broad and powerful, mainly involving chopping and slashing.

The greatsword this knight wielded was ordinary, no different from the weapons others used, but his technique was entirely different.

Allen only saw the guy appear before him in an instant, accompanied by faint afterimages. Caught off guard, he was almost stabbed.

"So fast!" Allen retreated sharply, sweeping the Dragon Slaying Halberd forward.

Sakre ran to Allen's side, crossing his swords defensively, and warned Allen, "Magellan, the infantry commander of the Earth Dragon Legion, a third-tier Qi Warrior. Be careful!"

Magellan, who had retreated and dodged the Dragon Slaying Halberd, lifted his faceplate. His pair of cold, ruthless eyes stared intently at Allen, saying, "I heard you killed a Behemoth Bearman. I don't believe it!"

"There are also rumors that I am your long-lost father," Allen said, gripping the Dragon Slaying Halberd and advancing. "I don't believe that either!"

Allen's speed was remarkable, but the two gleaming Haftless Broken Blades were faster than him, like meteors piercing the air, flying towards Magellan's throat and heart.

Seeing the two short blades, coated with potent poison, less than half a meter away from Magellan, Diao Ling, who had launched the sneak attack, revealed a cold smile on her beautiful face.

Unfortunately, her smile lasted only a fleeting moment. Magellan made a seemingly ordinary move, reversing his grip on the greatsword as if to plunge it into the ground. The two broken blades were casually deflected.

"Die!" Magellan re-gripped his knight sword and swung it through the air towards the momentarily stunned Diao Ling.

A golden sword wave sliced through the space between Allen and Sakre. Its speed was even greater than the Haftless Broken Blades from before, and with a terrifying momentum, it slashed towards Diao Ling.

At the critical moment, Rock Hammer, from the rear, leaped forward, descending from the sky to shield Diao Ling. He crossed his forearms, taking the brunt of the sword wave. The resisted sword wave disintegrated into countless tiny needle-like sword qi, which scattered indiscriminately.

Rock Hammer, bearing the brunt of the attack, his bronze skin was peppered with numerous tiny bloody holes.

After shedding the tattered leather armor stained with fresh blood, Rock Hammer said with a wry smile, "It seems my blacksmith shop won't be opening after all."

After speaking, Rock Hammer wiped the bloodstains from his chest and charged straight at Magellan, sending many of the legion infantry who had stormed the old castle flying through the air.

Diao Ling, hidden behind Sakre, flicked her wrist and threw three Haftless Broken Blades again, aiming at Xiulunte, who had no one protecting him.

Xiulunte remained unfazed. A golden film covered his entire body. When the Haftless Broken Blades came into contact with the film, they made a sound like metal clashing against metal before falling to the ground.

Seeing Xiulunte, whose body was covered in a dazzling, gapless layer of Battle Qi, Sakre's eyes twitched. He said with a complex expression, "I didn't expect a Legion Commander with outstanding command abilities to also be a Martial King on the verge of reaching the fourth rank of Battle Qi."

"Dina!" Allen called out, and the maid ran to her master's side.

To curse someone, you first curse their mother; to capture a thief, you first capture their king.

"Stay close to me!" Allen picked up the Dragon Slaying Halberd and charged towards Xiulunte.