Using Another's Blade, Preparing the Sacrifice

Once John realized the unlucky family was the Kascga Family, he paused, then began searching the national map of the Loran Kingdom. As a possibility occurred to him, his expression turned thoughtful.

"I didn't expect the Kamlofi Family's territory to be so close to the Kascga Family's."

If he remembered correctly, he still had not sent Elena the information about the genuine manuscript that he had promised her. He had only given her an incomplete conceptual version. So maybe I can use that to my advantage?

John studied the map, rubbing his chin as he recalled the charts rating Elena's combat strength at different stages of the game. If he remembered correctly, at the current point in the timeline, Elena had not fully unsealed the Thousand Blades Formula and could not perform a true conceptual slash. But thanks to her unusual bloodline, she could apparently unleash a slash that froze time when fighting with her life on the line.

She could sustain that state for less than three seconds, but against Robson, the Dark Star priest, who was still incomplete, the Sword Saint should be able to grievously wound him. That would delay the Dark Star Lord's arrival for a long time.

Of course, it would leave Elena weakened for an extended period. She might even die at a critical point in the war, changing the course of the Allied Forces' campaign. For John when he had played on the Allied Forces' side, that would have been a terrible outcome.

But for him now...

"This couldn't be better!"

He could already picture it. Through his scheming, Elena would go looking for the "key" to open the ruins.

Instead, he would mislead her into reaching the sacrificial altar Robson had secretly prepared. The two sides would stare at each other in