A few days ago, on the way to Windrock City, Ye Chui, Debbie, and their group passed through a small village. Out of gratitude for past help, they brought supplies, and Cass gifted his dagger to an old farmer.
The dagger was a rare treasure, adorned with gems and pearls, a gift from Lord Kevin to Cass, valuable enough to sell. Yet, Ye Chui and his group never expected to see it again here, in the hands of a mercenary.
The mercenary exuded a brutal aura, clearly not a kind man.
“That dagger!” Ye Chui stepped forward as the mercenary sheathed it. “Where did you get it?”
The mercenary, with a scruffy beard and fierce eyes, glanced at Ye Chui, smirking. “A few days ago, after a job, I passed through a rundown village on my way back to Windrock City. A villager tried to sell it to me. What’s it to you?”
Ye Chui pressed, “Did you buy it from him?”
“Buy?” The mercenary sneered. “That village was a wreck, barely had food. How’d they get something like this? Must’ve been stolen.” He patted the dagger at his waist. “So, I took it from him.”
He could tell Ye Chui recognised the dagger, likely guessing the villager stole it from him and now Ye Chui wanted it back. But what he claimed, he wouldn’t easily surrender.
“What happened to the villager?” Ye Chui’s voice carried a chill.
The others turned their curious gazes to the two.
“The villager? Hmph, I slashed him. Who knows how he’s doing? Probably dead by now,” the mercenary said arrogantly.
A murderous aura radiated from Ye Chui. Since his rebirth in this world, he’d never been so enraged. The old farmer was a stranger, and Cass hadn’t thought much when gifting the dagger. Yet, it had led to his harm, and this mercenary showed no remorse, even boasting about it.
“What are you doing? You dare attack me?” The mercenary sneered, drawing his longsword as Ye Chui approached.
Since arriving, Ye Chui, Debbie, Lesha, and Green had been on the defensive, leading the mercenary to assume Ye Chui wouldn’t risk their hard-won position by attacking.
“Sister Lesha, come here!” Bishop Talbot called out as Lesha, furious, pulled out her Bible. “The gods see all. They will judge the guilty. Don’t be rash!”
“He’s guilty,” Lesha pointed at the mercenary stubbornly.
“That’s not your concern!” Talbot’s voice grew stern.
“If I see it, it’s my concern!” Lesha’s tone matched his coldness.
She didn’t seem like a proper nun, with revealing clothes and a bold demeanour, ignoring the tenets of her order. Yet, her heart was kinder than any believer or nun, fiercely devoted to the justice the church preached.
At Debbie’s signal, Gilga aimed her golden longsword at the mercenary, ready to strike.
“Don’t go too far! We’re in the ruins’ world, danger could strike anytime!” the fourth prince interjected. “Killing civilians will be dealt with after we leave. It’s a small matter.”
“It’s not small to me,” Ye Chui said icily to the prince.
The prince’s face darkened. “I’ve had enough of you. Attack, and you’re an enemy to us all.”
Emboldened by the prince’s support, the mercenary grew fearless, certain these youths wouldn’t dare strike. He grinned. “Now I remember, I hit that old man hard. He’s definitely dead.” His tone taunted, daring Ye Chui to act.
Ye Chui didn’t disappoint.
Shadow Elementary Auxiliary Spell: [Shadow Stealth]
Ye Chui vanished instantly, reappearing at the mercenary’s side.
Space Elementary Attack Spell: [Space Blade]
Two spatial ripples shot toward the mercenary’s throat.
No ordinary adventurer, the mercenary sensed danger and prepared to dodge as Ye Chui vanished. When the [Space Blade] struck, he ducked and rolled, narrowly avoiding a fatal hit. Rising, his right cheek was bloodied, marked by Ye Chui’s attack.
The onlookers were stunned that Ye Chui dared attack. His fingers slid across his iPad grimoire, but he smiled at the prince. “I’m killing him today, and no one will stop me!”
With a roar, a massive flaming serpent formed, its gaping maw lunging at the mercenary. [Dance of the Fire Serpent], used in a weakened form while cooking under Food God BGM, was now unleashed at full power. The serpent, thick as a waist, coiled and roared like a dragon.
Shocked, the mercenary swung his sword, using a defensive skill to counter the fire serpent.
Meanwhile, Makenzie acted. Previously hostile but restrained by the prince, he now had no qualms since Ye Chui had defied the prince. Smirking, he flipped through his grimoire, conjuring a powerful ice spell.
The air around him chilled, frost spreading across the ground.
Advanced Ice Attack Spell: [Glacial Surge]
An icy river formed around him, flowing in midair with a rushing sound. Floating ice writhed, freezing the ground, sprouting sharp icicles that branched like dangerous plants.
Other mages and swordsmen retreated to avoid the spell’s reach.
The spell targeted Ye Chui, enveloping Debbie, Green, and the others.
But Gilga appeared before the icy river.
As a formidable spirit swordswoman, she was ready the moment Makenzie began casting.
Intermediate Golden Sword Skill: [Golden Fortress]
A golden wall rose before her.
Boom!
The icy river crashed against it, shaking the ground. Ice shards flew, icicles sprouted from the wall, but it held firm.
Gilga blocked the high-level mage’s deadly strike.
Makenzie’s face shifted. This golden spirit was formidable.
Beyond the wall, Gilga soared, sword raised, descending.
Intermediate Golden Sword Skill: [Golden Slash]
Since Debbie first summoned Gilga, her strength was evident, but she’d never fought all-out, as no opponent required it. Her skills weren’t limited to [Golden Rain]; enemies usually fell to that alone. But Makenzie warranted her full power, her beautiful face alight with a warrior’s zeal.
Meanwhile, the mercenary’s sword skill dispersed Ye Chui’s fire serpent. Before he could catch his breath, a crackling bolt struck. He’d fought mages before, knowing each element required specific counters, but Ye Chui’s spells—shadow, space, fire, now lightning—were unpredictable.
Caught off guard, he screamed as [Lightning Strike] hit, collapsing in a heap.
Ye Chui’s power wasn’t overwhelming, but his all-element spells were impossible to counter.
“Your Highness, help me!” the mercenary cried, fear creeping in.
The prince, face grim, signaled his men. The armoured swordsman charged, drawing his greatsword.
The mercenary grinned, turning to Ye Chui.
But his expression turned to horror.
A devastating sword aura descended, pressure overwhelming, aimed at his head.
“You…” was all he managed before the domineering strike crushed his head into pulp, his body collapsing.
The prince’s own man had helped Ye Chui kill the mercenary!?
Everyone stared at the armoured swordsman in shock.
After clashing with Makenzie, Gilga sheathed her sword, returning to Debbie’s side.
Ye Chui, stunned, smirked at the swordsman. “You stole my kill.”
“Sorry, I was too angry,” the swordsman replied, his voice no longer hoarse. He removed his helmet, revealing Cass’s rueful face. Bending, he retrieved the dagger from the corpse. “I shouldn’t have given it to that old man.”
“Cass!” A joyful cry rang out from Windsor, who’d been hiding behind Green, who clutched a brick, warily watching the scene. She tore off a blue pendant from her neck.
The pendant, a magical item, altered appearances, and she no longer needed the disguise.
As it came off, her aged face transformed into a beautiful, youthful one.
“Windsor!”
Cass’s voice trembled with emotion as he rushed to embrace the girl he’d longed for.
The fourth prince gaped, stunned. His fiancée appeared, embraced by the swordsman he’d recruited.
A breeze blew, green leaves drifting onto his head.
“You, you… I, I…” The prince stammered, pointing at Cass and Windsor, fury rendering him speechless.
Ye Chui couldn’t resist. “Oh, Fourth Prince, what can you do now? Just forgive them!”
