Dark clouds drifting from afar blocked the sun in the sky and covered the heavens.
Lightning flashed across the sky, darkened by heavy clouds, as rain began to fall steadily onto the ground.
Inside the grand royal capital, every household locked their doors and windows, refusing to go outside. Soldiers and knights patrolled the streets. Soldiers carrying repeating crossbows stood atop the tall city walls, waiting for the enemy to appear. Their clothes were quickly soaked by the rain. On this day, when a great enemy was about to arrive, they did not dare leave their posts without permission.
Suddenly, a faint blue ghostly figure shot vertically up from the city wall. The moment the soldiers noticed the figure, it disappeared from their sight in the blink of an eye. The soldiers manning the repeating crossbows felt a chill on their necks before collapsing to the ground one after another. Blood flowed from the wounds on their necks. A few of the soldiers' bodies strangely melted, releasing a pungent smoke.
In just a few seconds, all the soldiers operating the repeating crossbows on the wall were killed.
Nishi looked at the slaughter she had created, her chestnut eyes cold. She took a flag out of her inventory and forcefully planted it on the wall. As the strong wind blew, the Golden Lion Flag fluttered loudly!
Nishi quickly picked up the cards dropped by the soldiers and efficiently exchanged the repeating crossbows for Survival Points. After all, whether those three story characters asked her to bring the crossbows back or not, it was better to exchange them for Survival Points rather than leave them for the enemy to use. After finishing this, she took out the map of the royal capital, glanced at it, and quickly ran toward the place where the city gate could be lowered. If the gate wasn't lowered, the army wouldn't be able to cross the moat.
The people who had been lying in ambush outside the city saw the Golden Lion Flag on the wall and rushed out!
Under Nishi's control, the city gate dropped heavily with a loud crash, as if welcoming the army led by Arthur and the other two.
In the moat, crocodiles poked their heads out and watched the knights and soldiers running across the bridge, their eyes filled with desire. How they wished someone would fall in so they could have a feast!
Hearing the sound of the city gate being lowered, Horned Knights, Shield-Axe Knights, Greatsword Knights, and Sword-and-Shield Soldiers carrying round shields and large blades!
The knights and soldiers who had been patrolling inside the city charged toward the city gate!
An elegant swordsman wearing a mask on his face blended into the crowd!
"Rumble——!"
A brilliant flash of lightning tore across the sky, announcing that this battle, which would be recorded in history, had officially begun!
Arthur, Lancelot, and Percival led their army into battle against the enemy, fighting while pushing forward. They knew very well that the fastest way to end the war was to kill Archduke Garibaldi, the evil duke who had occupied the royal capital!
As long as he was killed!
The war would end!
Cyan looked at Nishi, who had changed into swordsman clothes and was wearing a mask, and said in a low voice, "I'm leaving it to you."
"Mm."
Nishi responded softly and moved nimbly through the crowd. Her only goal was to kill Bani in the chaos and complete the hidden quest!
"Don't waste time fighting here."
Cyan came to Asama Ai, who was in the middle of a fierce fight, and gave her a reminder. She then looked toward Arthur and the others heading for the royal palace and chased after them.
"Wait for me!"
Asama Ai raised her lance and put away her greatshield. A gust of wind appeared at the tip of the lance and wrapped around her. Her movement speed suddenly increased. Her sharp and heavy lance pierced through enemies who couldn't dodge in time, stringing them together like candied fruit!
"Don't get in the way!"
Asama Ai swung her lance irritably, sending all nearby enemies flying. Seeing that Cyan had already disappeared from sight, she grew extremely anxious. The more anxious she became, the more enemies surrounded her.
Asama Ai swung her lance wildly, turning into a giant meat grinder that shredded the enemies around her. Blood dyed the ground red. With blood splattered across her face, she looked like a female demon who had walked out of hell!
She shook the flesh and blood off her lance and ran toward the royal palace.
I should have brought Red Date to ride!
Asama Ai thought regretfully.
"Big Sister Kayako, I'm counting on you…"
Asama Ai leaned against Kayako's cold body and spoke softly, as if worried that the enemies below might hear her.
"Mm."
Kayako responded and flew toward the royal palace while carrying Asama Ai in a princess carry.
"Psh!"
The sound of a blade piercing flesh rang out. Bani looked at Nishi, who had lifted her mask and was smiling at him with clear malice. His eyes widened before he collapsed to the ground. Blood flowed out along with the rainwater.
[Hidden Quest: Find the traitor and avenge Royo.]
[Quest Completed.]
[Quest Reward: 1 Attribute Point.]
Cyan, who received the quest completion notification from the Survival Brand, paused for a moment before drawing her blade and cutting down a tiger that had pounced at her.
Stepping over enemy corpses along the way, the number of enemies clearly increased after they entered the royal palace, and their strength was also much greater.
However, in front of the demon blade, their armor was as fragile as paper. Cyan didn't need to use much force to break through their defenses with the demon blade and kill them!
The sound of chains rang out, accompanied by heavy rumbling. A massive Mechanical Knight suspended by chains descended from above. The chain hammer on its left arm smashed heavily into the ground in front of Arthur, creating a pit in the hard floor.
The Mechanical Knight's body almost completely blocked the passage. Its right arm held a massive spiked mace also suspended by chains. Through the opening in the Mechanical Knight's abdomen, a swaying control lever could be seen. It was clear that the person operating the Mechanical Knight was inside!
"Boom!"
The spiked mace smashed into the ground. A loud noise came from above, and several solid iron balls rolled down from overhead.
"HYAAAH!!!"
Arthur, Lancelot, and Percival shouted as they poured fighting spirit into their weapons and swung them to smash the rolling iron balls.
Infinite Style · Gale Slash!
Cyan jumped toward the spiked mace hanging from the chains and slashed with the demon blade, cutting the chains.
Ripple Dash!
Golden lightning wrapped around Cyan's arms. She swung the demon blade, and dense blade lights enveloped the spiked mace. Before it could even fall to the ground, the mace and chains were sliced into countless tiny pieces of scrap metal.
"Die."
Cyan rushed in front of the Mechanical Knight and drove the demon blade into the control lever. Demon Flame spread from her hand and covered the blade. A pained scream came from beneath the Mechanical Knight's feet as the person inside, now burning, collapsed to the ground.
A simple construct made of steel was nothing more than slightly thicker paper in front of the sharp demon blade!
Cyan sliced the Mechanical Knight apart piece by piece. She stepped over what remained — just two legs still standing — and charged toward the royal palace hall.
Arthur and the other two stared at the remains of the Mechanical Knight on the ground with shocked expressions. They could have cut the Mechanical Knight into pieces with their weapons, but they definitely couldn't have done it as easily as Cyan had.
------------------------------------
When Asama Ai rushed into the royal palace and saw the corpses on the ground, she followed the trail of bodies forward. She saw the pile of scrap metal and the two legs that remained of the Mechanical Knight and was filled with questions.
What the hell happened here?!
Asama Ai looked at the smooth cut marks on the pile of scrap metal and felt a bit dazed.
"Asama Ai, wait for me!"
Asama Ai ran over to Asama Ai, panting. After entering the royal palace, she had stopped having Kayako carry her while flying.
"What's that on the ground?"
Asama Ai stepped on a piece of scrap metal. Her foot twisted, and if Kayako hadn't reached out to steady her, she would have fallen.
"The big thing that got cut to pieces was probably Cyan's doing." Asama Ai looked at the cut marks on the two legs and continued running forward.
The corridor leading to the royal palace hall was covered with a red carpet with golden patterns. Archduke Garibaldi, wearing golden armor and a golden crown with a mask covering his face, stood quietly with a golden spiked mace resting on his shoulder. He was waiting for Arthur, Lancelot, and Percival to arrive. When he saw Cyan, a trace of surprise flashed in his eyes.
"So you're one of the outsiders? What does the affairs of this country have to do with you? Why are you outsiders interfering?"
Facing Archduke Garibaldi's question, Cyan replied coldly, "Lakota Village. You provoked us."
"I see…"
Archduke Garibaldi lowered his head and smiled. He suddenly swung his spiked mace, sending a razor-sharp fighting spirit shockwave flying toward Cyan.
Cyan, who had already been on guard, leaped into the air the moment she sensed Archduke Garibaldi's killing intent, dodging the sharp shockwave.
Infinite Style · Gale Slash!
Sword energy gathered on the demon blade. Cyan swung her blade, and the sharp sword energy flew toward Archduke Garibaldi, cutting into the neck of the warhorse beneath him.
Protected by some mysterious power, the warhorse remained completely unharmed. It shook its head and snorted, looking at Cyan with a hint of provocation in its eyes.
"It's… the power of the Holy Grail!"
Percival stared at the scene in shock.
"How can you use the power of the Holy Grail?!"
Arthur and Lancelot looked at Archduke Garibaldi in disbelief. They couldn't imagine how someone as vile as him could wield the power of the Holy Grail.
The Holy Grail… Was the power in his body granted by the Holy Grail?
Hearing what Arthur and the others said, Cyan frowned slightly. She had always thought the Golden Holy Grail was just a decorative cup. It seemed she had underestimated it.
"Hahahaha! Only those chosen by the Holy Grail can use its power! Didn't you know?! Only those acknowledged by the Holy Grail can become the king of this country! You foolish fools! Come and pay your respects to your king right now!!!"
If being chosen by the Holy Grail makes someone king, then what's the difference between that and drawing cards?
Choosing a king so casually… This country wasn't far from destruction.
Cyan pointed her demon blade at Archduke Garibaldi and said, "If you're the king, then so am I. Kneel and bow to me."
"Insolence!"
Archduke Garibaldi shouted angrily. He squeezed the horse's belly with his legs, and the warhorse leaped into the air with him on its back as he swung the spiked mace down.
Ripple Dash!
Golden lightning wrapped around Cyan's entire body. In an instant, she disappeared from Archduke Garibaldi's sight. From the corner of his eye, he saw a flash of golden lightning appear behind him. The warhorse seemed to understand his thoughts and kicked backward with its hind legs.
Infinite Style · Immovable!
Cyan blocked the warhorse's rear kick and slashed at its leg with her blade. Blood sprayed out. The attack that should have severed the horse's leg only left a deep wound that reached the bone!
She braced the incoming horse leg with her arm. With her left hand wearing Bloody Tear, Cyan punched the horse's leg. The sharp spikes pierced into the flesh, and she yanked hard.
The warhorse raised its head and let out a shrill neigh. One of its hind legs was torn off alive by Cyan. Blood gushed out.