NOVPUBChapter 488: Chapter 428: The Knight Defeats the Evil Dragon
The Traveling Poet was startled by the sound.
All he did was give it a light push—not even using much strength, but the two doors burst open as if they were hit by a torrential beast!
The Traveling Poet couldn’t help but suspect that this was one of the Witch’s tricks, as in Alex’s memories, these sorts of pranks were common during his time in the Castle, which made him increasingly jittery and fearful.
Indeed, instead of developing a stronger heart, Alex had become more and more sensitive.
The only unwavering thing was his relentless belief in his need to escape.
“Persistently haunting thing!”
The Traveling Poet looked towards the source of the voice and his pupils shrank slightly when he saw the sight within the palace.
Steward Armand Ray seemed gone mad, the Abyss Darkness continually surging out from his body, and beside him, there was a girl shackled in an armchair, her breath faint.
...
At that moment she saw him, a glimmer of light sparkled in the girl’s eyes, but her face was full of worry and unease.
With difficulty, the Traveling Poet turned his gaze away and swiftly surveyed the situation inside the palace, which appeared similar to the main hall.
However, on the right side, there was a thicket of black roses encircling a limestone-colored statue lying at the center.
The statue resembled a young girl, the only colorful part being the deep red rose at the heart’s position, although the petals were spotted with some black.
The archaeologist said the energy nexus was in the Tall Tower…
His gaze lingered there for a moment, and the Traveling Poet contemplated the flower thoughtfully.
And the next moment, he suddenly raised his cross-shaped heavy sword!
“Bang!”
The attacking black vine struck the sword and turned to dust upon contact.
Although the power of the cross-shaped heavy sword had been exhausted, it was in itself a Holy weapon and mere slashing had a suppressive effect on those evil forces.
The Traveling Poet looked emotionlessly at his attacker, then drew his sword and strode towards Armand Ray.
His face gloomy, he advanced threateningly!
Armand Ray raised another wave of darkness, which swept towards him in an overwhelming tide!
The Traveling Poet rushed forward, his sword parting the darkness, quickening his steps as he approached Armand Ray, then suddenly he spun the tip of his sword to block a blow from his side.
“Clang!”
The Double-edged Flying Dart that attacked from the side was deflected, the Traveling Poet’s feet never stopping, and as he reached Armand Ray, the latter gathered the flying wheels in his hands, colliding head-on with the Traveling Poet!
However, Armand Ray was utterly no match for the Traveling Poet’s strength and his flying wheel was sliced through by the unstoppable sword!
The silver blade reflected the darkness, its sharp edge gleaming as if to damage the eyes!
Even without the glow of holiness, the majesty of the Holy weapon was beyond question!
“As destiny decrees, all that happens is just!”
The Traveling Poet coldly looked at Armand Ray before him, restraining the sword of darkness and stabbing forward, but just as he was about to touch Armand Ray, his body suddenly turned into a pool of sticky black substance and spilled on the ground.
The cross-shaped heavy sword stabbed into empty space, and the Traveling Poet, startled for a moment, then lowered the tip of the sword to poke the darkness on the ground.
The darkness that touched the sword evaporated rapidly into a black mist, but there was nothing special about it, no sign of Armand Ray.
The Traveling Poet frowned.
He didn’t believe that Armand had died just like that; that method of escape seemed more like Abyss Stealth.
“Alex…”
At this moment, a gentle call came from the side.
When he heard this voice, the thinking of the Traveling Poet blurred familiarly for a moment; he then turned to look at the girl bound with black vines on a chair not far away.
Although the girl’s face was pale and fragile, her eyes sparkled, viewing the Traveling Poet with happiness.
Facing such a gaze, the Traveling Poet felt oddly uncomfortable, and he walked over with an averted gaze.
“How are you?”
As he spoke, he raised his cross-shaped heavy sword ready to cut her free, but before the sword could strike, he heard a frightened gasp from the girl.
The Traveling Poet paused, and seeing the nervous, scared expression on the girl’s face, he again looked at his cross-shaped heavy sword.
Oh, I almost forgot, Cerys is a witch who uses evil powers.
“Sorry.”
The Traveling Poet placed the cruciform greatsword on the ground and then took out a thin metal sheet to cut the black vines.
The girl’s arms had been permeated by the breath of the Abyss Darkness, leaving a startling black line on her pale as parchment skin, as if ink had been splashed on Xuan paper.
Her skin was excessively white and clear, like jade, so translucent and fragile that the red veins beneath could be faintly seen.
No, human veins should be blue.
The Traveling Poet’s thoughts jumped for a moment as he stared at the girl’s arms for a long time before suddenly realizing something and looking up to meet the girl’s unfathomable gaze.
Probably, like the look she gave him that time he insisted on “going to see her sister’s room.”
The Traveling Poet: “…”
He shifted his gaze away in a fluster and asked hesitantly, “So…
how are you?
How did you end up trapped here by that steward?”
Upon hearing this, Xu Shuo exhaled a melancholic sigh, “Steward Armand Ray became infected with that darkness at some point.
He turned the castle into a trap, attempting to attract creatures and then devour them.”
“And you…”
“I have a Soul Contract with Armand, and Prague Castle is nearly irreplaceable without him, so I cannot stop him.”
“Is that so…”
“But, as he’s been infected for longer and longer, he’s become increasingly terrifying.
I fear that one day I might be completely devoured by him.”
Xu Shuo blinked, her eyes brimming with tears, “Alex, that thing is really too terrible!
I can’t understand…”
The Traveling Poet nodded in complete agreement, “That thing indeed defies understanding.
Its corruption is extremely difficult to eradicate because it changes your consciousness and perceptions subtly and also leads to further degradation.”
The pitiable Xu Shuo who received no comfort: “…”
Oh, I almost forgot, this one is a fool.
He immediately retracted the mist from his eyes and looked at the clump of black roses, saying, “Alex, Steward Armand Ray won’t give up.
He’s planning to sacrifice the entire Prague Castle as his source of power.”
The Traveling Poet followed his gaze, “That place is?”
“Um, that place is connected to the underground…
Energy Pool, which maintains all the power that keeps Prague Castle alive,” Xu Shuo furrowed his brows, “But now the energy has been infected by Steward Armand Ray, too.”
“Do you still have control over Prague Castle?” the Traveling Poet suddenly asked.
“It’s not very effective.
If Armand fights me for it, I’m completely defenseless.
His power is just too terrifying,” Xu Shuo shook his head with worry.
“I’ll take a look over there.”
“Just, don’t harm the rose.”
As the Traveling Poet turned around, Xu Shuo suddenly grabbed his sleeve and said.
The Traveling Poet paused slightly, looked at the girl, then at the only colored rose on the gray statue.
He nodded, “Okay.”
With that, several thin metal sheets appeared between the fingers of the Traveling Poet, who then stepped towards the Rose Garden.
Xu Shuo cast a glance at his retreating figure, then turned back to look at the entrance.
The archaeologist had already come in dragging the unconscious student.
At this moment, seeing Cerys glance her way, she gave a subtle signal with her eyes, glaring at the girl without a word.
Xu Shuo curved the corners of his lips, lifting his right hand which was hanging at his side, clutching a roll of parchment.
The archaeologist breathed a sigh of relief, came over to put down the student, and then extended her hand towards her, signaling for the exchange.
However, Xu Shuo flipped his hand and put away the parchment, turned his head towards the location of the Rose Garden, tilted his chin to indicate, and finally shrugged helplessly.
The archaeologist: “…#!”
The item was still in this fool’s hands, she would endure!
The two of them performed a silent drama behind the Traveling Poet’s back, and finally, the archaeologist walked towards the Rose Garden resentfully, intending to inspect the situation with the Traveling Poet.
And quickly deal with that damned steward!
…
