Byronians

Addison had just unleashed his battle qi to block the incoming bullets with all his strength. How could he have had any energy left to fend off the Vampire Hand Axe?

Under the savage amplification of Blood Flame Qi, the Transcendent detective's vitality poured out in an endless torrent, swallowed by the Vampire Hand Axe.

Addison was far stronger than Wells and still had the strength to put up a desperate struggle. He frantically drove his battle qi to resist Blood Flame Qi's devouring force. He also recognized Charlotte and shouted sharply, "It's you!"

Charlotte merely smiled without answering. He drew Blood Rose again, gave it a light flick, and launched three fierce thrusts.

In a normal sword duel, even ten Charlottes might not have been Addison's match. His swordsmanship was merely passable—he had learned it, but could hardly be called proficient. Addison's swordsmanship, however, was formidable: vicious, ruthless, and honed through real combat.

But Addison had fallen into a trap and was already gravely wounded. How could he withstand Charlotte, who wielded a Transcendent-grade Vampiric Weapon and had activated Insight?

Charlotte easily pierced Addison's body. Even Flame Battle Qi could no longer protect him. He collapsed onto the ground, his eyes filled with venomous hatred.

The two Vampiric Weapons drew upon life essence simultaneously, greatly invigorating Charlotte. He shouted, "What are you waiting for? Move!"

At his urging, another twenty or thirty adventurers surged out and joined the fight.

Winterburn was shocked and furious. Though five adventurers had surrounded him, he had still held back somewhat. Seeing Addison killed in an instant, how could he not realize that these people had come specifically for them? This was a targeted trap!

Knowing the danger, the Fourth-Order Knight unleashed his battle qi without restraint. His cultivation was above Addison's, and he immediately forced back the five adventurers attacking him.

At that moment, Charlotte absorbed the life essence sent back by the Vampiric Rapier while pulling out the Vampire Hand Axe. He activated Blood Flame Qi and hurled the hand axe once more.

The tiny Vampire Hand Axe spun gracefully through the air, slicing toward its target!

Winterburn had seen with his own eyes how Charlotte had killed Addison with that bizarre weapon. He did not dare underestimate it. Flame Battle Qi swept out as he paired his superb swordsmanship with a single strike, knocking aside the flying Vampire Hand Axe.

After being knocked away, the Vampire Hand Axe looped through the air and came chopping down again, as agile as a bird in flight.

The Old Continent had never seen such a strange combat technique. Winterburn did not dare press forward recklessly. His rapier traced circling arcs, defending him so tightly that not even wind or rain could penetrate.

Seeing that Charlotte possessed such an ability, the adventurers' confidence soared. Their fighting spirit ignited as they threw themselves into battle.

Charlotte controlled the Vampire Hand Axe so unpredictably that it drew most of Winterburn's attention.

While controlling the Vampire Hand Axe, he hastened to digest the life essence he had devoured.

At a time like this, every bit of increased strength meant another bit of greater odds of victory.

Addison was a Third-Order Transcendent. His vitality blazed like fire, stronger and more abundant than Wells's.

Charlotte wrapped Addison's life essence in Bloody Glory and activated the Protagoras Breathing Method. After a full thirty-five breaths, the Vampiric Rapier finally stopped trembling, and no more life aura came through.

He pulled out the Vampiric Rapier and let Addison's corpse fall to the ground, casually glancing at the weapon in his hand.

The craftsmanship, quality, and design of this newly acquired Magic Rapier were all exceptional. Yet its blade was covered in countless tiny chips. This was not the "slightly damaged blade" Louis Smythe had described, but extremely serious damage.

The former owner of this Blood Rose must have fought countless battles in his life. Otherwise, a Magic Weapon of such quality could never have been damaged to this extent.

Charlotte recalled how enthusiastically Louis had displayed the inscriptions, yet had never drawn the sword from its sheath. He cursed inwardly, What a crooked merchant!

On impulse, he poured Bloody Glory into the blade—and witnessed something strange!

The Magic Rapier fell quiet for a moment, then released a clear, ringing cry. Its blade seemed to liquefy slightly, and the damaged chips repaired themselves, leaving it as fresh as if newly sharpened, bright as water.

His heart shook violently. Before he could even consider what this change meant—

The next second, the Magic Rapier grew faintly warm and transformed into a stream of bloody light that merged into his left arm. A fourth Bloody Vortex silently took shape.

Charlotte's feelings at that moment could no longer be described as mere shock.

Every Magic Weapon capable of changing shape was of extraordinary quality and especially exorbitant price.

The Spear of Sharlons could transform into a ring, allowing its owner to carry it at all times. That was already top-tier merchandise.

This Magic Rapier could repair itself and even create a Bloody Vortex, allowing Bloody Glory to break through to the fourth level! It had to be even more valuable.

For a moment, if he had not been fleeing and had there been a way to sell this Supernatural Weapon, Charlotte would have wanted to sell it again and make a huge profit.

Still, this Vampiric Rapier, Blood Rose, could repair itself and hide within a Bloody Vortex. It truly was a perfect weapon for self-defense, and Charlotte was rather reluctant to sell it.

With a flick of his wrist, Blood Rose appeared in his hand again. He thought to himself, What a pity! My swordsmanship is too mediocre. Even with a divine weapon in hand, I can't become a sword master.

Although Winterburn was under siege and harassed by the elusive Vampire Hand Axe, he was still a Fourth-Order Knight and continued to hold the upper hand.

The other five detectives, however, were no match for this band of adventurers. Under the assault of dozens of adventurers, two had already been shot dead and three captured alive.

That was how battle was. It was difficult to ensure that no one died.

Winterburn had not expected the situation to worsen to such a degree. He could not help shouting, "We are detectives of the Fiery Steed Detective Agency! Aren't you afraid of the Fiery Steed Detective Agency?"

Charlotte immediately answered, "Sorry! We're Byronians."

Winterburn cried out in horror, "You're spies?"

This time, Charlotte did not need to answer. All the adventurers chimed in, "That's right, we're spies—Byronian spies!"

No one wanted to offend the Fiery Steed Detective Agency. Charlotte had casually made up a lie, and the adventurers went along with it, hoping to shift this conflict onto the Byronians.

Winterburn's heart suddenly sank. He believed it seventy or eighty percent. Charlotte used vampire secret arts and Vampiric Weapons; Wells and Addison had both been drained of their life force. He truly did have something of a vampire about him. Winterburn no longer dared hold back. Flame Battle Qi surged wildly around him as his rapier knocked away the Vampire Hand Axe once more, then swept in a circle, instantly killing the leaders of two small adventurer groups who had been attacking him.

Having succeeded with that move, Winterburn forcibly broke through the encirclement. Driven by surging battle qi, he moved as fast as a galloping horse and left the battle in the blink of an eye.

Watching him escape, Charlotte could only sigh regretfully and abandon the pursuit.

Although he had devoured Addison's life essence, broken through to the Third Order, advanced once again, and gained several abilities, he was ultimately from a clerical background and was not skilled in combat. If he pursued Winterburn alone, the outcome might not be favorable.