Murphy had triggered the Trial of Strength several days ago, but in Cadman City, where everything was still being rebuilt, he hadn't been able to find a suitable target.
After Jade appeared, Murphy had threatened the young lady, saying that if she refused to cooperate, he would use her as his "proof of Black Iron." But that had only been an artistic exaggeration. In truth, the moment Jade appeared and tried to take advantage of him, Murphy had mentally tagged the self-important woman.
Of course, using a Silver-rank vampire as the target of a Black Iron trial was clearly absurdly ambitious.
But in the current circumstances, Murphy felt he might actually have a chance.
In a remote corner of the outer-city ruins, faint sunlight seeped through gaps in the thin wisps of black smoke, scattering specks of light across the ground. As ash drifted over the streets, Murphy, holding the Blade of the Desire Lineage, cast a scouting spell at Jade, who stood before him with her tattered wings drooping.
The information that appeared before him formed a label that followed Jade as she moved:
Name: Berner Jade Lasombra
Rank: Level 30 · Silver Body · Blood Source Weakened (all attributes reduced by 30%)
Class: Level 15 Tomb Guard / Level 15 Midnight Hunter / Painter · Classical Painting Specialization
Status: Fragile and Vulnerable · Mental Pressure · Physical Collapse · Nature's Entanglement · Intensifying Pain · Daylight Curse
Assessment: Extremely Dangerous
"You're really badly hurt. I don't know what kind of torment you suffered in the Blood Vulture Corridor, but your wailing body and those dreadful wrinkles make it clear you've had a miserable time lately."
Murphy stared at the several wounds in Jade's chest, where Triss's emerald hunting arrows had pierced her. They showed no sign of healing