Just as the phrase “The Aurora Society claims responsibility for this” might identify a certain group, the moment Leon heard the words “The appointed time,” he immediately recognized the identity of these black-robed figures.
They were members of the Black and White Hand—a cult that prowled every corner of Ommissiah and could never be fully eradicated, no matter how many times they were hunted down.
They worshipped the gray mist, preaching that the continent of Ommissiah was destined to be consumed by it. They believed that only by sacrificing oneself to the gray mist could one atone for their sins in this life and find eternal peace in the next.
To put it simply, they were cultists who believed everything in this world was an illusion, allowing them to slaughter living beings indiscriminately while convinced they were saving them.
“The lunatics of the Black and White Hand... It seems you lot are the ones who sabotaged the Gray Mist Barrier device.”
Thomas swung his spear, a powerful surge of battle qi erupting from his body. The aura of a Silver rank Great Perfection, a half-step Gold rank, flared out.
Facing his overwhelming battle qi, the leader of the Black and White Hand didn’t show the slightest hint of panic. Instead, the corners of his mouth curled up as he shouted at the top of his lungs, “The appointed time!”
His voice carried a bewitching quality, causing everyone who heard it to look dazed for a split second. However, it had no effect on a Silver rank bloodline warrior like Thomas.
Thomas let out a disdainful sneer. He was about to speak when he suddenly spun around.
“Young Master, watch out!”
In the middle of the group, one of the nobles who had been following them suddenly lunged forward during that brief moment of dazed distraction.
“The appointed time!”
With a look of fanatical madness, he gripped a poisoned dagger gleaming with a cold green light. He suddenly rushed behind Leon, his muscles tensing as he lunged for Leon’s heart.
Thomas’s eyes widened. His battle qi surged to its absolute limit in an instant as he threw his black spear with all his might toward the noble.
However... his speed seemed to be half a second too slow!
Before the black spear could pierce the noble’s body, the poisoned dagger was already inches away from Leon’s back—
Clang!
The sound of clashing metal rang out as the poisoned dagger was jarred by a massive force, flying into the air.
Alicia stood there, holding a broken dagger blade in her hand, her emerald eyes burning with uncontrollable rage.
“You... dare!”
A powerful surge of artifice power erupted from her. This power already exceeded the Bronze rank, though it was still slightly short of the Silver rank.
Bolstered by this power and fueled by murderous intent, Alicia slammed the broken blade in her hand toward the treacherous noble.
Puchi! Puchi!
Two wet sounds of puncturing flesh echoed. Thomas’s black spear and Alicia’s broken blade struck the noble simultaneously.
The black spear tore through the noble’s body, leaving a gaping hole in his abdomen.
The broken blade pierced his neck, and a torrent of blood sprayed out like water from a burst pipe, staining Alicia’s noble gown a deep crimson.
Thud!
The light quickly faded from the noble’s eyes as he collapsed. The poisoned dagger that had been knocked into the air fell, clattering onto his corpse.
This entire sequence of events happened in less than a second. Even Leon only realized what had happened after it was over.
“Young Master Leon, are you alright?!”
Hearing Thomas’s voice, Leon looked at the poisoned dagger glowing with green light and let out a long breath to steady himself. “I’m fine!”
He looked at Alicia, who was covered in blood.
If Alicia hadn’t blocked that strike for him, he would likely be dead or dying right now.
After all, while he had predicted that the Gray Mist Barrier had been sabotaged and that the culprits might be hiding inside, he had never imagined that even an Imperial noble would be brainwashed by the Black and White Hand!
Giving up a perfectly good life as a noble to be a dog for a cult like the Black and White Hand—the man’s brain must have short-circuited!
Beside them, Baron Sori and the other nobles, who had finally snapped out of the shock, looked at each other in bewilderment. They exchanged glances, but everyone’s face was a mask of confusion.
Clap, clap, clap—
The leader of the Black and White Hand clapped his hands gently and said,
“That girl has impressive reflexes. She completely ruined our plan.”
The noble’s failure and his brutal death at the hands of Thomas and Alicia didn’t seem to disappoint the leader at all. His expression remained one of fanatical piety.
He turned his head, his gaze locking onto Leon.
“Lord Leon, do you know why, out of all these people, I chose him to assassinate you?”
Leon stared at him for two seconds before suddenly speaking, “Uncle Thomas, he’s stalling for time.”
The fanatical piety on the cult leader’s face froze.
Before he could speak again, a figure flashed before him.
Surging battle qi erupted from the figure, wrapping around a fist that descended like a burning meteor falling from the heavens.
Feeling the terrifying power and battle qi contained in that punch, the cult leader’s expression changed drastically as he retreated at high speed.
His unfinished magic incantation was interrupted, forcing him to strike out hastily against the charging Thomas.
【Ice Crystal Lance】!
A spear made of pure ice crystals shot from his hand, colliding violently with Thomas’s fist.
Boom!
The moment the fist and the lance collided, the ice spear dissolved and shattered like early snow meeting the warm sun, only managing to delay Thomas’s fist for a fraction of a second.
But that tiny delay was enough for the cult leader.
Several Black and White Hand members behind him surged forward together, forming a human shield to cover his rapid retreat, allowing him to escape the range of Thomas’s strike.
“Uncle Thomas, your weapon!”
Leon quickly leaned down, pulled the black spear from where it was deeply embedded in the ground after passing through the assassin, and threw it toward Thomas with all his strength.
Thomas reached out and caught it mid-air.
As soon as the spear was in his hand, it was as if a slumbering black dragon had suddenly awakened. A fierce and mountain-toppling aura erupted from the weapon.
Thomas’s gaze was as cold as ice as he glared at the cult leader. He had nearly failed in his duty to protect the Young Master.
The guilt of that near-failure would be returned in full, along with Thomas’s rage!
Thomas’s voice was as sharp as a blade as he gave his orders clearly.
“York, Aidan... follow me and engage the enemy. Everyone else, stay by the Young Master’s side and ensure his safety.”
“Yes!”
“Young Master.” Thomas looked at Leon. “I will hold them off. Use this time to fix the barrier.”
“Alright.”
Leon was always decisive. He immediately grabbed Alicia’s hand, bypassed the cultists blocking the way, and continued deeper into the manor.
He knew perfectly well that the enemy wasn’t just stalling to prepare spells; they were trying to delay the repair of the barrier.
Every moment they delayed, the Gray Mist Blood exposed to the fog would spawn more and stronger gray mist monsters.
To these fanatics of the Black and White Hand, their own lives meant nothing.
Even if they ended up in the bellies of the mist monsters, to them, it was merely “returning to the embrace of the gray mist.”
Leon had no intention of throwing his life away like a used rag.
...
“Thank you, Alicia.”
On the way to the device, Leon used his finger to wipe a speck of blood from her face.
“Is... the debt... for saving my life... paid back now?” Alicia asked cautiously.
Leon was taken momentarily aback, then gave a gentle smile. “It’s fully paid.”
A bright, sun-like smile immediately broke out on Alicia’s face. “That... is good.”
She breathed a sigh of relief inwardly. She had finally repaid the debt she owed Priest Leon for saving her life.
Furthermore, now that she had repaid him, perhaps Priest Leon wouldn’t suffer the same fate as Juliet.
Rate on N.U.
