Chapter 603: The Sword Saint is No Match for One Arrow

Liszt didn't have to wait long.

Five vampires had already flown back from Ice Pear City, bringing their findings.

Bloody Mary quietly usurped the dominant position among the vampire servants and reported, "My lord, Earl, we didn’t dare approach the Clearwater Sword Saint, but we accidentally discovered him in the castle’s great hall, hosting three individuals dressed as mages. From the Clearwater Sword Saint’s demeanor, they seemed to be of equal status."

"Equal status?" Liszt raised an eyebrow. Mages who could stand on equal footing with a sword saint were likely great mages. "Any other information?"

"From what we gathered, it’s quite interesting—the Clearwater Sword Saint didn’t seem to know about your impending attack beforehand. The defenses of Snow Pear Fort were quite lax."

Before Bloody Mary could finish, Peggy suddenly cut in, "But midway, a suspicious-looking man entered the great hall and spoke to the Clearwater Sword Saint. After that, the Clearwater Sword Saint quickly ordered the castle to go on high alert, and many supplies from Ice Pear City were transported to Snow Pear Fort."

Liszt nodded in understanding. "So, the rats tipped them off. Snow Pear Fort is now prepared."

Lee William frowned. "Three great mages, and the Clearwater Sword Saint is on guard. Liszt, how do you assess this battle?"

With a faint smile, Liszt replied casually, "Father, there’s nothing to be alarmed about. We’ll form up and attack at dawn! Snow Pear Fort has one sword saint and three great mages, but with you and me joining forces, plus the Blizzard Beast Squad, they stand no chance against us!"

Seizing the moment, Bloody Mary added, "My lord, don’t forget your Crimson Servants. At dawn, we should still be able to perform at the level of great mages... Though blood magic lacks powerful area spells, helping you kill one or two great mages shouldn’t be difficult."

Confident in Liszt’s strength, she took every opportunity to express her loyalty.

The other four vampires were somewhat reluctant, but pressured by Bloody Mary, they had no choice but to echo, "The Crimson Servants are at your service, my lord."

Liszt glanced at the five vampires. "Your awareness shows you’ve accepted your situation—that’s good. However, I don’t want you exposing your identities. You may follow the knights and observe the battle, as backup."

Before he finished, another thought struck him. "Also, the name ‘vampire servants’ doesn’t sound appealing. From now on, you shall be called Crimson Servants."

The five vampires exchanged bewildered looks.

What was the fundamental difference between "vampire servants" and "Crimson Servants"? They couldn’t follow Liszt’s train of thought.

...

Dawn arrived in silence.

The Tulip fleet swiftly disembarked, and the knights strapped on their armor, mounted their warhorses, and formed up on the shore. Liszt rode atop his mount, Loki (a large bird), joining the knights as they charged toward Snow Pear Fort.

They made no attempt to conceal their movements.

They advanced openly and boldly toward Snow Pear Fort—Liszt no longer bothered with tactics. He was like a high-level player power-leveling newbies, where the bosses they feared were mere mobs to him. Newbies had to strategize positioning and kiting, but a high-level player could simply steamroll through.

The patrol knights of Snow Pear Fort soon spotted the approaching force, churning up dust clouds, and fled back to the castle like the wind to report to the Clearwater Sword Saint.

Thus, when the knights drew near Snow Pear Fort, they were met by a silver-armored knight standing on the castle’s rooftop balcony.

It was none other than the Clearwater Sword Saint, Yevich Shui Huasheng.

Once a Dragon Knight hopeful.

Watching the Coral Island Knights charge relentlessly, his eyes glinted icily. "Not even two years of peace in Ice Pear City, and now Sapphire pests come to snatch our prize! But this time, you’ve picked the wrong opponent. Let me, Yevich, show you what pain means!"

He stamped his boot.

A voice immediately called out from below the balcony, "Rest assured, Viscount Yevich! We’ve prepared a combined spell. If the Sapphire knights dare charge, we’ll make them quake in the magical barrage! Though after one volley, the surrounding magic will be shredded, and the rest is on you, Viscount Yevich."

How magicians perform in battle.

They are roughly equivalent to one-use spell scrolls, getting off one spell volley before being spent—this is because the knights' concentrated mana completely scrambles the ambient magic energy in the surroundings, perfectly counteracting magicians who rely on sensing and drawing upon it to cast spells.

In this continent ruled by knights, the decline of spellcasters is no coincidence.

Yevich knew this well.

Yet, he also believed that the opposing knights of the Sapphire Duchy were unaware that three great magicians had arrived at Pearlfort. As long as the enemy launched an assault, a single coordinated volley from the great magicians would undoubtedly land the finishing blow.

However.

He soon noticed that the Coral Island Knights had pulled up short outside the fortress. At their forefront was a knight clad in silver armor and a red cape, mounted on an ostrich-like bird, holding a spyglass up to his eye.

After a brief pause, the leading knight lowered the device, and the knights resumed their charge toward Pearlfort.

A dust cloud erupted as the charge reached magical range. Yevich slammed his foot down. Without needing his signal, the three great magicians hiding in the room below the balcony raised their hands, beginning to cast. A carefully prepared spell barrage was about to be unleashed.

A sneer twisted on Yevich’s lips.

Water-attribute mana seethed with readiness within him, waiting for the moment to strike. The knights inside the fortress also gripped their weapons, ready to pounce on the vulnerable enemy.

…

On the opposing side.

The Coral City Knights, under Liszt’s complete command, advanced.

His Magic Eye never wavered. Through the telescope, he had long pinpointed the positions of the three great magicians—and the flashy Clearwater Sword Saint, who stood out like a sore thumb.

Under his direction, the knights charged.

Liszt kept his gaze fixed on the great magicians. The moment he saw them raise their hands to begin casting, he swiftly drew his Swift Shadow Bow and let fly three arrows at the window.

Arrows infused with Dragon Aura.

They tore through the air with a shriek.

Spotting this, Yevich on the balcony sprang forward to block the arrows—he had no time to wonder how Liszt had detected the great magicians inside the fortress or how he had aimed so precisely to strike them mid-casting.

KA-BOOM!

Water-attribute mana clashed with fire-attribute mana.

The three arrows exploded violently, their Dragon Aura erupting into three fireballs that sent him flying. He crashed into the fortress wall with a scream.

A conqueror’s grin spread on Liszt’s lips, pride swelling in his chest—so much for a sword saint, unable to even block a casual shot from him!

He stowed the Swift Shadow Bow and raised a whistle to his lips.

"Wheee!"

The shrill sound pierced the ears of the charging knights.

In the next instant, the knights, who had been charging with full momentum, collectively turned tail and fled halfway, retreating in orderly fashion—even faster than their initial advance.

Right at that moment, the three great magicians unleashed their combined spell, a devastating magic coalescing along the knights’ charging path.

But to the magicians’ utter dismay—the charging knights had already fled halfway. Their carefully timed spell had resulted in a complete whiff.

Even worse, the Clearwater Sword Saint had just been plastered against the wall by a single arrow.

And the knight on the giant bird had already raised his bow again, aiming straight at their window.