Chapter 409: Broll's Shock

In the war last year to annihilate the Brandit bandits, Ronin had slain Amicus, who had broken through mid-battle to become a Meteor Knight, thereby completing the eighth tier of the King of Slayers achievement—slaying a tier-seven extraordinary entity.

Today’s situation bore a certain resemblance to that day—

There were no tier-eight entities on the battlefield at first, not until Orson absorbed the energy of all the Sorcerous Soul clan soldiers to force a breakthrough, only then becoming a Silver Moon Knight.

Ronin opened his attribute panel and expended all 3000 of his newly acquired attribute points, which not only brought his Knight rank progress to the peak of the Silver Moon level, but also pushed his Mage rank progress to Archmage (3496/15000).

"I am still short 11504 attribute points from becoming a Blazing Sun Knight and a Grand Archmage."

Despite this, the current Ronin already possessed absolutely formidable strength.

At least for now, he had not heard of any Blazing Sun Knights in the Kingdom of Alduin or the Kingdom of Tricia.

Stepping back, even if there were a Blazing Sun Knight, killing him would be no simple matter. Putting aside Raydal's presence, with Ronin's own strength alone, he could contest with a Blazing Sun level for a while.

Between these two echelons, the difference lay in spiritual power; in terms of raw physical strength, the gap was narrow, and the battle qi was merely a difference in volume.

Therefore, in the battle just now, Ronin had unleashed the secret technique "Sky-Burning Flames" without any hesitation.

The Grand Archmage Miroslav manipulated the Earthen Bear to place Ronin upon the ground, and immediately afterward dispersed the spell, walking up to Ronin with a complex gaze.

"Ronin, your strength..."

He did not know how to describe his current state of mind, feeling as though the person standing before him was not a young man under twenty years old, but rather an old monster who had reverted to youth.

Bror, walking over with quick strides, voiced his doubt directly: "Are you a Silver Moon Knight?"

Though that thirty-meter-long crimson sword shadow just now had pierced through Orson’s body, it had equally stung Bror's own eyes.

Bror asked himself honestly, even if he were to face that strike, he would likely find it difficult to withstand.

Yet such an attack had actually been unleashed by Ronin.

One had to know that at the Knight Tournament last year, the lad was a mere Silver Knight; in less than a year, he had broken through from Silver to the Silver Moon level?

At this moment, Rulance also walked over, asking with concern, "How is the situation?"

The old man was not particularly surprised by Ronin's strength; after all, given the presence of the so-called "divine artifact," becoming a Meteor or Silver Moon Knight was acceptable.

Ronin smiled faintly and said, "I suffered no significant injuries, it is just that the secret technique just now almost drained the battle qi within my body entirely. The consumption was too great."

"Toru!" Rulance called out.

Toru ran over with quick steps, "My Lord, your orders!"

"Go and bring the carriage used for hauling the magi-cannon over, and let Ronin rest well."

"Are you turning senile in your old age?"

Miroslav said with a laugh, "That kind of carriage does not even have a cushion, how could sitting in it be comfortable? Go and lead my magi-carriage over."

Rulance laughed heartily, "Fine, fine, you old fellow have finally shown some generosity for once."

In truth, although Ronin's battle qi consumption was massive, it had not reached the point where he absolutely needed to rest. However, since Rulance had arranged it this way, it would be improper for him to slight the old man's courtesy.

He then boarded the carriage under Toru's supportive guidance.

The spectating knights looked upon Ronin with fervent gazes; they had not expected the Marquis's grandson to have already grown to such a terrifying degree.

"Toru," Ronin called out.

"Your orders, my Lord!"

Toru spoke with deep reverence, even his form of address now elevated to the honorific.

"In a moment, my dragon will bring Elrond here. Have him first go and tend to Melonica; he seems to have suffered rather severe injuries. Furthermore, if there are knights heavily wounded beyond hope, you may also have Elrond lend his hand."

Toru thought of that mage who had appeared at the Black Mountain Castle during the annual festival; this Elrond seemed to possess no small amount of strength either.

"Please rest well, my Lord, leave these minor matters to me!"

On the other side, Bror watched as Toru assisted Ronin away, Rulance's intervention leaving his question unanswered.

"This child Ronin is simply too competitive; using a secret technique across tiers is still a bit forced for him."

Bror gave a dry chuckle, "You mean to say, he is only at the Gold rank?"

His mind roared with the thought, "Go fool a ghost!"

Rulance shrugged, spreading his hands, and shifted the topic: "Though Orson was slain by us, the Mephisto he spoke of is likely not dead. What entered Orson’s body should have been merely a type of special power."

To this, the crowd nodded slightly in agreement.

Dawn said, "I have heard that a wind-attributed Blazing Sun Knight can learn a battle technique called the 'Clone Shadow-Shifting Art,' which can use battle qi to condense a clone and maintain it for a period without dispersing."

"Never mind a Blazing Sun Knight, just now in battle Orson split into two, it is just that the duration was too brief."

Bror was also drawn in by their discussion, "Indeed, the abilities of these Sorcerous Soul clan members are rather bizarre. I also agree with what Rulance said, the mastermind Mephisto should still be alive. He might be in Black Python City, or perhaps hidden elsewhere."

Speaking to this point, everyone's expressions turned solemn.

Although they had won this battle, they had still experienced the terror of the Sorcerous Soul clan.

Firstly, they could endlessly swell their ranks, converting men, women, young, and old alike into combatants, and they could even use horns to stimulate potential, inflicting casualties upon the noble army in a manner of mutual destruction;

Secondly, they could also absorb the energy of fellow Sorcerous Soul clan members to forcibly raise their own strength, a point far more terrifying than the first.

If they could mass-produce Silver Moon Knights, what sort of concept would that be?

"Bror, after you return, relay this matter to His Majesty, so that he may notify the other nobles. If any widespread deaths or similar bizarre events occur within their territories, they must report to the local high nobility or the royal family."

The Sorcerous Soul clan was an alien race; leaving them unchecked would only allow them to expand at extreme speed.

In less than two months, Black Python City had amassed tens of thousands of Sorcerous Soul soldiers. If left unattended for a year, merely thinking of the numbers made one shudder.

"I will!"

With the deaths of Orson and the other main forces, taking possession of Black Python City thereafter would present no difficulty.

After the men deliberated for a moment, Miroslav and Dawn prepared to withdraw with the personnel of the Silva Magi-Commerce Guild, because what followed belonged to the internal affairs of Rulance's territory; they were not vassals and thus would not participate further;

Bror was even more so; the battle was basically over, Ronin and Rulance would certainly arrive at Golden Feather City on time in June, and he could return to Golden Feather City to report on his mission.

Next, a portion of the people prepared to depart, while the knight regiments of Black Mountain Castle were counting the battle losses and simultaneously clearing the battlefield.

Whoosh—

Karlos flew back merrily, landing on an open space within the battlefield.

Its current mood was exceptionally grand; Elrond had completely eradicated the sorcerous soul power from its body, and it was entirely free.

Elrond scanned the battlefield, the lingering aura of sorcerous soul power causing him to furrow his brows tightly. He had not expected that after being reborn, he would still encounter such a large-scale alien invasion.

It appeared that the war of his past life would continue into this lifetime.

"Haha, Mister Elrond, you have arrived."

Rulance stepped forward to greet him warmly; toward this mage, he was immensely grateful.

"Marquis!"

Elrond bowed in greeting, "Where is Lord Ronin?"

"He is resting within the carriage, the battle just now was no small drain on him."

Toru stepped forward, saying respectfully, "Sir Mage, Count Ronin wishes for you to treat Melonica as well as some of those who are more heavily wounded."

Elrond nodded, "Please gather those who require treatment together."

As Melonica and the others gathered together, Elron cast his spell of purification.

Though it was a single-target incantation, Elron's mastery as a grand magus allowed him to broaden both its reach and potency.

Following the cleansing, he casually wove a healing charm, helping the vanguard swiftly reclaim their strength.

Melonica stood and tested his limbs; the corrosive force that had struck his chest was weak enough that his battle aura could suppress it, and he felt certain he could have purged it himself within three days.

Yet the magic worked instantly, leaving him entirely unburdened.

"My thanks to you, Elron!"

"It is only right."

Broll’s gaze lingered on Elron, recognizing that the display of spellcraft was anything but ordinary—was the mage before him actually a grand archmage?

A sudden shock seized him.

Since when had the Blackwood Fief grown so powerful?