He Drew Sword First
163 He Drew Sword First
From South Street to North Street, the H.A.R.M. general walked straight out of town without stopping.
However, that familiar face sent the entire Pinewood County into an uproar. Even the cold stares of the patrolling agents couldn't silence the murmurings in the crowd.
Anil Patel thought he was dreaming, scratching his bald head so vigorously that it started to bleed. When reality finally sank in, he burst out jubilantly, "Can you believe it? This H.A.R.M. general used to work for me!"
Mr. Hightower, his belly protruding, stammered excitedly, "Tha-that's my daughter! That's Sergeant Kane!"
Ever since discovering that a fox vampire had infiltrated his home and replaced his daughter, he had grown far more cautious, never daring to mention his daughter's affiliation with H.A.R.M.
Yet, when Rose Hightower passed by and gave him a subtle wink, he could no longer contain himself!
"Why are you pushing me? Sergeant Kane loves my sandwich, he always eats two!" The street vendor, his face flushed, clung tightly to his cart, refusing to let go.
The officer pushed him back to the side of the street with a blank expression, then hesitated. "Let me try one."
… …
In contrast to the town's sudden bustle, the outskirts of the county remained quiet.
North Cliff didn't belong to vampire territory but was under the jurisdiction of Cascadia. However, the county had previously failed to report the vampire infestation, allowing the group of foxes to settle there peacefully.
Two personal attendant lieutenant generals followed behind the young man, their gazes fixed on his back, with conflicted expressions.
Johan Bergstrom had served under the old general for over two hundred years. Despite going through three Martial Abbey Cleansings, he was still in the process of crystallizing. Though he felt a twinge of emotion about the situation, it wasn't overwhelming.
Vernon Wells, however, was different. Having followed General Grant since his youth and achieved full crystallization, he now bore the marks of age—his hair and beard streaked with white, his face gaunt and withered.
Had Kane not appeared, he would have been the prime candidate to become the next H.A.R.M. general...
Sensing Johan's gaze, Vernon forced a smile, tightened his grip on his halberd, and whispered in a barely audible voice, "The old general has a good eye for people." It was unclear whether he was trying to reassure Johan or himself.
Composing himself, he quickly caught up. "General Kane, General Grant left instructions before departing—these fox vampires have powerful connections. We must proceed with caution. If possible, it's best to avoid fighting."
Gazing at the towering cliff in the distance, I nodded casually. "Got it."
Then, my hand brushed past the silver bell, and the Sun-Shattering Bow silently appeared in my palm.
"…"
Rose gazed at me thoughtfully. This was quintessentially John—he already had his own plan and would follow through regardless of what anyone else said.
He might have seemed impulsive, but Rose trusted his judgment. The night before, they had talked late into the night in each other's embrace, after sharing passionate intimacy. She had shared everything she knew about North Cliff and Fox Wonderland. Whatever decision he made, she knew, he made it with careful consideration.
The fox vampire who had studied in Fox Wonderland wouldn't stay in New Terra for long—there was nothing here it truly needed.
It was merely savoring its triumphant homecoming. Having risen from an unknown vampire to someone even H.A.R.M. had to respect, it would simply leave once the novelty wore off.
Yet respect is a currency—you can only earn it when others give it.
Being forced out of Cascadia versus leaving on its own terms—though the end result would be the same—carried two entirely different messages.
... …
Nestled among the high cliffs was a unique cave dwelling.
On a thick tiger skin draped over the stone seat, a middle-aged man in white reclined lazily between two beauties who massaged his shoulders.
The cave dwelling was lavishly furnished like a luxurious mansion. Inside, about twenty figures had all taken human form.
They didn't choose human form for comfort—rather, the Third Great-Uncle insisted on it, believing that appearing as a nest of foxes would diminish their dignity.
Indeed, he was an illustrious vampire who had journeyed across many lands.
While he remained here, the H.A.R.M. agents below could do nothing but stand guard obediently, like servants. With just one gesture, the Third Great-Uncle could send them into a panic.
"Great-Uncle, I wonder if our little ones might have a chance to follow you to Fox Wonderland to see the world," an old man said, kneeling on the ground and looking up with longing.
"We'll discuss that later." The middle-aged man in white yawned, a contemptuous sneer curling his lips.
These lowly First Realm vampires have the audacity to desire a place in the sacred Fox Wonderland.
"Now that H.A.R.M. has targeted us, if you leave... we'll all be in danger..." The old man trembled as he spoke, yet found the courage to voice his concerns.
The middle-aged man in white cast a dismissive glance at the vampires below and remained silent.
He cared nothing for the fate of these foxes dwelling in such a remote place.
He simply derived satisfaction from seeing the police officers' shocked and fearful faces when they discovered who he was.
He stayed only because he was waiting for a formal request. Someone of high status—either the Admiral of Cascadia or a H.A.R.M. general—needed to come and politely send him away.
If the etiquette was lost or the visitor's status was insufficient, he wouldn't bother to pay attention.
With this thought, the middle-aged man rose from his seat, stepping out of the cave dwelling, he stretched languidly.
He casually glanced downward, then his eyes turned white, growing brighter and brighter until his pupils blazed like miniature suns!
His expression turned grave as he clapped his palms together. "Soul Suppressing Bell!"
A palm-sized bronze bell at his waist suddenly released a spectral image, enveloping his form.
A blinding arrow of white light gathered, carrying boundless power as it tore through the sky and fiercely bombarded the high cliff!
Boom!!
In an instant, half of the high cliff crumbled in the white light, and the intense radiance flooded the area, dissolving every living being within its reach!
When the white light dissipated, the spectral image of the bronze bell had grown so thin that it was almost invisible to the naked eye.
The middle-aged man wore a gloomy expression, his lips twitching. When he turned to look at the cave dwelling, he found only a pile of rubble—not a single fox vampire remained.
Rage blazed in his eyes as he glared down at the figure holding the bow—a H.A.R.M. general clad in black armor and crimson cloak.
How dare he be so arrogant in this small corner of Cascadia!
Though indifferent to the fox vampires' fate, he couldn't tolerate their slaughter in his presence.
"Is this how H.A.R.M. Cascadia shows its courtesy to me?"
The middle-aged man in white stepped forward in the air, his voice as sharp as ice. "Ungrateful thing!"
The moment he finished speaking, a jade sword materialized and dropped at his feet.
From beneath the high cliff, I watched the figure in the air with calm detachment and said to the two lieutenant generals, "He drew his sword first."
Johan Bergstrom and Vernon Wells stood speechless, at a loss for words.
Without waiting for their response, I transformed into a gust of wind and swept across the sky.
The middle-aged man's pupils constricted at the sight, yet he calmly pointed his finger and commanded, "Celestial Dragon Sword! Go!"
The jade sword beneath his feet split into three blades—two of them circled to attack from the sides, their razor-sharp energy slicing through the air!
In that instant, I materialized as fierce demonic aura poured from my body, coalescing into two solid knight swords. A crimson glow swirled around them, radiating murderous intent!
The crimson knight swords slashed outward with overwhelming demonic power, shattering the two Jade swords like brittle bamboo and reducing them to wisps of smoke.
Then the knight swords shot upward through the air, their blades aimed straight at the middle-aged man's face!