Page 286

In the previous battle, Samantha was besieged by three "Holy Grail Knights" in the "Trinity Battle Formation." The three "Saint Ice Thorn Aura" rings opened and closed irregularly, constantly disrupting his balance of power and preventing him from breaking free. To make matters worse, his familiar weapon had been destroyed, and although the "Calamity Magic Axe" he wielded was the orc tribe's foremost divine weapon, it felt awkward in his hands, causing his attacks to lose some of their effectiveness.

However, just as the "Supreme Dragon Saint" rode a golden dragon into the battlefield, plunging into the towering stellar light column, the "Martial Emperor," who had been trapped, suddenly revealed a ferocious smile. His previously sluggish form became several times more agile, and the formation that had locked onto him instantly lost its effect. The awkward axe skills he had been struggling with now flowed effortlessly. In a flash, a shadow darted, and blood sprayed as Samantha disappeared from his original position, leaving behind the corpse of a bisected "Holy Grail Knight" and two survivors stunned by the sudden change.

Following the "Supreme Dragon Saint," Samantha also plunged into the stellar light column, riding the torrent of star power. Though he entered the column at a lower position and arrived slightly later, he still managed to catch up to the Dragon Saint from behind. In that short moment, the "Calamity Magic Axe" had achieved a perfect connection with him, recognizing him as its master. With man and axe united in strength, an overwhelming killing intent surged as he swung the axe down in a powerful strike.

The change was observed clearly by several sharp-eyed individuals outside the battlefield. If not for the complex interplay of stellar light and the thunderous roar that made it difficult for the "Supreme Dragon Saint" to perceive external changes, Samantha's ambush might not have been so successful. At that moment, everyone had only one question in mind—

How did Samantha break through to the "Sacred Domain"?

Chapter 110: The Hero's Lament and the Ghostly Hero

Warriors who have reached the "Sacred Domain" are the strongest fighters on this continent, although they are few in number. They have their own set of rules, particularly regarding titles.

Leinster, the founder of the Sword Saints, is now commonly referred to as the "Ancestor of Sword Saints," but during his lifetime, his true title was simply "Sword Saint." Similarly, Samantha's title was only "War Saint," a designation acknowledged by both orcs and humans alike. They relied solely on their own talent and effort to reach the Sacred Domain, and no further explanation was needed.

Other powerful warriors who ascended to the peak of the Sacred Domain with the aid of divine weapons must add a prefix to their title, such as "Burning Sky" or "Jade Profound," which describes their "Host Divine Weapon" and indicates the source of their strength. This also shows their respect and acknowledgment that they dare not compare themselves to the "Ancestor of Sword Saints." For some Sword Saints who lived long ago and were exceptionally skilled, people would sometimes omit their prefix when addressing them, using shortened titles like "Blade Saint" or "Flame Saint." This was actually a mark of great respect.

What has always puzzled me is the unique existence of the "Holy Grail Knight" and the "Black Ice Demon Knight." No Sacred Domain expert had ever used the title of "Knight" before, and over time, this usage became an unquestioned habit. Even if I wanted to ask someone about it, I wouldn't know who first came up with this convention.

Yet, as I watched Samantha ascend to the Sacred Domain, a vague guess formed in my mind.

The clue lies with the King of the Undead.

From what I know, over twenty years ago, the "King of the Undead" secretly left Necromancer Island for the Viking Empire. A year later, the "Black Ice Demon Knight" emerged out of nowhere. After another year, this necromancer was captured by the Pope on his way back to Necromancer Island and imprisoned in the Saint Spirit Mountain dungeon. Soon after, the "Holy Grail Knight" appeared before the world. Years later, after the "King of the Undead" finally escaped his confinement and arrived in the Orc Alliance, Samantha ascended to the Sacred Domain within just one year. Considering the War God Temple Pope's unusual sensitivity to the Sacred Domain and the vague hints from Leimen, what exactly is the secret behind all this?

While I pondered, the situation on the battlefield rapidly changed.

Orc King Samantha suddenly unleashed his power, breaking through the "Trinity Battle Formation" and killing a "Sword Saint"-level Holy Grail Knight before successfully exploiting a gap in the "Supreme Dragon Saint's" defenses. From behind, he swung his axe down in a deadly strike. The "Demon Dragon King" illusion that had been protecting the "Supreme Dragon Saint" offered no resistance to the Orc's premier divine weapon and was instantly shattered, leaving the "Supreme Dragon Saint's" vital spot completely exposed to the Orc King.

It became clear that Samantha had been faking his earlier struggle with the "Calamity Magic Axe." His strike utilized the "Six Supreme Arts of the Emperor," specifically the "Axe Supreme," demonstrating years of mastery and perfect coordination with the divine weapon. It was far from something mastered in a short time.

The "Supreme Dragon Saint," hailed as the strongest human sword saint, was caught off guard and fell into a disadvantageous position. However, thanks to his solid foundation, he managed to reverse the path of the "Dragon Slaying Sword" at the critical moment, turning to block Samantha's fatal axe strike.

The collision of two immense forces caused the stellar torrent connecting heaven and earth to churn violently. The "Supreme Dragon Saint," having acted hastily, spat out a mouthful of blood and was sent flying obliquely out of the light column. Samantha, affected by the recoil, was also sent flying out of the starlight torrent in the opposite direction. However, he was clearly unharmed. Letting out a fierce roar, he quickly charged back at the "Supreme Dragon Saint." Although the "Supreme Dragon Saint" was injured, his body had undergone a dual transformation through dragon blood, making him no less formidable than Samantha, the Lion Tribe king. He rallied his spirits for a full-force engagement, and at the same time, the golden dragon in the sky dove down, joining the fight against the Orc King. For a moment, violent combat aura raged across the battlefield, making it impossible to determine the winner.

However, through this exchange, I discerned Samantha's true level. Although he possessed the power of the Sacred Domain, he was not a self-reliant Sword Saint like Leinster. He had likely used some secret method to achieve this, meaning that while his power could rival the "Supreme Dragon Saint," he was far from reaching the level of a self-reliant Sword Saint like Leinster.