Chapter 307: The Black-Red Blood Source Pearl
This bizarre scene was unlike anything Locke had ever encountered, making him uneasy. However, eager to gauge the enemy's strength, he fearlessly thrust his sword forward.
Clang!
Under Locke's skillful swordsmanship, his rapier transformed into thousands of sword shadows, each tip emitting a sharp whistle, resembling a hummingbird darting through the air.
The green sword shadows were as elusive as the wind, their trajectories difficult to trace. But as they neared the scar-faced knight, who was shrouded in a blood mist, the situation changed drastically. The boundless energy that formed the sword shadows melted away upon contact with the blood mist, just like ice under the sun. Even the rapier lost much of its infused energy as it struck the round shield, significantly reducing its power.
This unexpected turn of events left Locke stunned. Everything happening was beyond his understanding. His peripheral vision caught sight of an iron hook slashing toward him, enveloped in the ominous blood mist. Feeling apprehensive, Locke activated his Mystical Speed Power, retreating like a streak of green lightning to stand alongside Rhett atop the Earth Dragon.
Speaking rapidly, Locke said, "Rhett, the enemy has a terrifying ability that can erode and dissolve my energy. As long as they react quickly, my attacks will struggle to cause any real harm!"
"Could it be some new type of alchemical potion?" Rhett feigned suspicion, offering an explanation while his hands moved without pause. He reached into his spatial equipment and retrieved a longbow and a quiver, saying, "This was a gift I prepared for Laedros. You can use it!"
Locke's eyes lit up as he noticed the arrows coated in a potent poison, enough to trouble even a Sky Knight. Without hesitation, he swiftly took the bow and arrows from Rhett, moving so quickly it was almost imperceptible.
The next moment, the two remaining Pale Knights coordinated their attack, charging at the Earth Dragon from the left and right. One wielded a longsword wreathed in a holy flame, while the other's sword transformed into a blood-red serpent, with a hook hidden in its shadowy coils. As the Pale Knight neared, the hook lashed out toward Rhett's throat.
Facing the onslaught of holy flames, Locke nocked three arrows simultaneously, drawing the bowstring taut with a line of energy. With a twang, the arrows shot forth like scattered meteors, wrapped in Wind Energy, curving through the air in graceful arcs before splitting into three directions, aiming at the other Pale Knight.
The blood flames scattered in all directions like a fountain, covering a 360-degree radius. As the arrows pierced through, their glowing green light was stripped away, rapidly dissolved by the flames, slowing their flight. The Pale Knight then unleashed a burst of invisible energy, sending the arrows spiraling down to the ground.
Locke felt a subtle disturbance at his back, and quickly realized it was caused by the earth elements shifting to form a message. Rhett had communicated a tactical strategy to him. Acting on it, Locke charged forward with his sword, but this time, the effect of the enemy's blood mist on his energy was significantly lessened. The mist seemed to have less influence on his Mystical Power than on his energy!
Feeling encouraged, Locke initially planned to engage in close combat, but recalling Rhett's message, he decided to stick to the plan. He spun around, swinging his sword in an elliptical arc aimed at the Pale Knight's chest.
The swift sword caught the Pale Knight off guard, slicing through his light armor before he could react. The spatial distortion caused by Rhett's earth magic, Earthquake, trapped the Pale Knight in an invisible force field, making it impossible for him to control his movements, leaving him vulnerable in midair.
Slash!
Locke's sword cut through the Pale Knight's heart, leaving a vertical bloodline across his chest, from which dark purple blood droplets began to drip.
Locke was shocked—who had blood that was dark purple? But there was no time to dwell on this; he quickly turned to see Rhett getting struck by a sword.
Fortunately, Rhett's body was entirely protected by his Mystical Power of Dissolution. The sword passed through him without causing harm, but the blade's momentum carried it toward Locke.
Locke flicked his rapier, coiling it around the opponent's sword like a snake, and tried to disarm him. But the force behind the Pale Knight's sword surged like a tidal wave, knocking Locke's rapier away.
When the sword struck Rhett, though outwardly it seemed nothing had happened, Rhett knew differently. He was deeply surprised to find that resisting the corrosion of the blood power was extremely taxing, even for his fully mastered Mystical Power of Dissolution. The mental energy cost was several times higher than usual!
"We can't afford to drag this out. We need to finish this quickly!" Realizing his advantage was fading, Rhett's eyes grew cold, and a sense of urgency welled up within him.
After Locke's rapier was knocked aside, he chose not to attack the Pale Knight who was engaging Rhett but followed the strategy Rhett had conveyed earlier. He leaped away from the Earth Dragon, putting distance between himself and the battle.
In the next instant, the Earth Dragon became shrouded in the hazy glow of the Vibration Mystical Power, which covered every inch of its body.
From the start, Rhett and Locke had both revealed their Mystical Powers, much to the Pale Knights' shock. Sensing something amiss, one of the Pale Knights immediately detonated all the blood energy within his body. This caused the surrounding earth elements to be instantly obliterated, as if a massive, invisible maw had swallowed them whole.
Despite the barrier of the Mystical Power, the strange blood energy unleashed by the Pale Knight was still terrifyingly powerful, consuming the earth elements that made up the Earth Dragon's body.
Taking advantage of this opportunity, the Pale Knight pushed Rhett away and leaped backward in a frenzy.
Locke, who had anticipated this, intercepted the Pale Knight, seizing his moment of weakness. He unleashed an advanced combat technique, spinning rapidly like a blue whirlwind, repelling the blood mist around him as he charged at the Pale Knight, seemingly tearing through space itself.
Rhett had considered aiding Locke in finishing off the weakened Pale Knight but furrowed his brow as he noticed something strange. The first Pale Knight with the scarred face had crept under the Earth Dragon, moving stealthily within the shroud of blood mist.
"What is he doing down there?" Rhett wondered, but this simulation was meant to gather intelligence as well, so he had deliberately refrained from taking defensive measures against the scarred knight's movements.
At that moment, the scarred knight's crazed killing intent gave way to greed and urgency. He looked up, as if he could see through the Earth Dragon's thick belly to where Rhett stood atop its back.
Taking advantage of the Earth Dragon's instability, as its earth elements were partially consumed, the scarred knight tore open his own flesh and retrieved a black pearl identical in size to the Blood Source Pearl.
His eyes gleamed as he swallowed the pearl, and instantly, the dark purple blood within him began to boil, turning black-red. His skin darkened, resembling black obsidian, though these changes were hidden beneath his armor.
With a powerful swing of his sword, he unleashed a black crescent of energy that sliced upward, plunging the area below into darkness. With a resounding boom, the Vibration Mystical Power covering the Earth Dragon's belly faltered for the first time, as if meeting a formidable foe. The force of the impact bored a meter-wide hole through the Earth Dragon's abdomen.
In a flash, the scarred knight disappeared into the tunnel, reappearing behind Rhett. The blood energy within him had transformed him into a cold, silent assassin capable of killing in a single strike.
His sword, like a horned spear encased in blood mist, thrust straight toward Rhett, who was protected by a rock armor and a shield of stone.
Buzz!
The shield, infused with the Vibration Mystical Power, rippled under the assault, as if an indomitable surface of ice had been pierced by a drill!
Rhett looked at the scarred knight in horror. The man's strength seemed to have suddenly increased several levels. Based on his assessment of the other two Pale Knights, this one shouldn't have been able to break through the shield in a single strike. The Vibration Mystical Power should not have been so easily overpowered.
In the next instant, Rhett noticed the struggle on the scarred knight's face, but also the undisguised greed in his eyes. Rhett's brows furrowed as he realized that this man seemed to be specifically targeting him.
"Sand Wolf Howl!"
Since the Earth Dragon was too cumbersome to effectively restrict this opponent, Rhett used the opportunity created by the shattered shield to leap off the dragon's back. Three Sand Wolves formed from the earth in midair, one of which appeared directly beneath Rhett.
Rhett landed on the Sand Wolf's back as if riding it, speeding off to the side, while the other two Sand Wolves glowed faintly, their features obscured by the Vibration Mystical Power, making them difficult to discern beyond their rough outlines.
Thud, thud, thud
Boom, boom, boom
The speed of the Sand Wolves was several levels faster than the Earth Dragon, moving across the ground like walking bombs. The ground they passed over was left pockmarked by the Vibration Mystical Power. The scar-faced knight, facing the two Sand Wolves charging from either side, managed to evade their attacks with a slight bend of his waist, dodging them just in time.
He then continued his pursuit of Rhett. But what he didn't expect was that Rhett began playing a game of "King Qin Circling the Pillar" with him!
The massive Earth Dragon stood motionless under Rhett's control, while Rhett, riding one of the Sand Wolves, didn't flee in another direction but instead started running circles around the Earth Dragon!
The scar-faced knight furrowed his brow and instinctively began to chase after him. It was only a moment later that he realized just how devious Rhett's strategy was…
Despite the Sand Wolves' speed, they were still slower than the scar-faced knight in his current state, and he would soon catch up. However, to close the distance, the scar-faced knight was forced to stick close to the Earth Dragon's body. During the chase, the rocky skin of the Earth Dragon, like a broad wall, suddenly sprouted spikes, creating multiple hazards.
"Damn it…"
The scar-faced knight narrowly dodged a spike that nearly pierced his temple, slicing it in half with his sword. Staring at the retreating Sand Wolf, he cursed in frustration.
At that moment, Rhett noticed the knight's hesitation, turned his head to give him a mocking smile, and said, "If you've got the guts, keep chasing me, or else… you won't get what you want…"
Hearing this, the scar-faced knight's expression changed. A shock ran through him—had Rhett figured out his true objective?
"No, impossible! This secret must be unknown to outsiders; he's bluffing!"
After reasoning it out, the scar-faced knight calmed down but became even more determined not to let Rhett escape. He was an early follower of the Blood God Cult and had earned the Blood God's favor. After undergoing the Blood God's modifications, he now possessed blood energy that was highly effective at countering both energy and magic.
He had heard from the Blood God that devouring an extraordinary individual who had mastered Mystical Powers would grant immense benefits! The man before him had mastered at least two Mystical Powers—an exceedingly rare feat—and the scar-faced knight was resolved to claim his prize!
This time, as he pursued Rhett, the knight split his focus, keeping a close watch on the Earth Dragon's body for any emerging spikes.
Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!
Sure enough, spikes continued to emerge from the Earth Dragon's body at tricky angles and with perfect timing. If it weren't for the Blood Source Pearl he had consumed earlier, the scar-faced knight would have been overwhelmed by now. But in his current state, he managed to dodge each spike with precision, without a single mistake.
As the distance between him and Rhett rapidly decreased, the greed in the scar-faced knight's eyes intensified. A cruel smile crept onto his lips as he swung his longsword, now enveloped in a strange blood-red aura. Even the spikes, fortified by the Vibration Mystical Power, were easily cut down by the blood-soaked sword.
After circling the Earth Dragon twice, when Rhett reached its midsection, this time, he didn't continue running but instead steered his Sand Wolf into the gap beneath the Earth Dragon's belly.