Chapter 1: Flight Through the Snowy Night

In the distant reaches of the universe lies a beautiful planet named Hilans! This lush green world is divided into three landmasses. However, the only habitable land for humans is the northernmost continent, which its people call "Kashu Continent"!

It's not that humans don't want to venture to the other continents, but the oceans between these three landmasses are perpetually shrouded in thick fog, serving as a natural barrier that completely separates them.

Legends say those two other continents have all manner of exotic flowers and fruits, the ground is paved with gold, rivers flow with grape wine, and beautiful angels sing endlessly in the skies. It is said to be the land of the gods, where only those chosen by the gods can reach and enjoy such wonders.

Others claim those continents are barren, with nothing but deserts and rocks, inhabited only by demons and evil creatures. Anyone foolish enough to approach would be slain by demon gods and served as dinner. Regardless of what truly lies on those two continents, whether it is the land of gods or demons, humans can only speculate. Because no one has ever crossed the fog-shrouded seas, and no one has ever seen those mysterious lands with their own eyes.

Legend has it that humanity's ancestors were threatened by demons. The benevolent Heavenly God commanded his attendants to steer a massive ark to carry humans away from the demons' grasp, leading their ancestors to this fertile land. However, the god's attendants never imagined that this land possessed a mysterious power that prevented them from using the divine power bestowed upon them, rendering the powerful ark unusable once more. Even more unforeseen was that on this land already lurked the claws of demons—the Demon Race and Demon Beasts.

Faced with this immense threat, the divine emissary did not abandon humanity. He used his own power to grant humans the ability to survive, teaching them to use magic! In the decades that followed, he employed unprecedented power to ensure that every human, from birth, would possess their most loyal companion—the Summoned Beast!

With his help, humanity was finally able to thrive on this land and to overcome all evil with their own strength, becoming the masters of the earth.

However, once the reassured divine emissary returned to the side of the gods, the once-united humans revealed their greedy and evil nature. They forgot their purpose of reclaiming their land, forgot their mission to liberate their brethren from the demons' grasp. In order to seize more fertile land and become kings ruling over other humans, war broke out again and again.

Oppression and resistance, like darkness and light, continued endlessly. For the sake of their respective beliefs and ideals, group after group of humans sacrificed their lives. This has persisted to this day, seemingly without end...

After nearly three thousand years of evolution, Kashu Continent is now divided into three major human nations and dozens of smaller human states. However, no matter how proud humans are, the western half of the land remains a forbidden zone for humanity, for it is inhabited by vast numbers of the Demon Race. Any human who ventures there meets only death!

But humans are not so weak either. The Demon Race dares not easily attack large human cities, for in the face of powerful Summoned Beasts, the Demon Race would also pay a heavy price!

This peculiar balance has created a distorted peace between the two races. If the Demon Race possessed intelligence equal to humans, perhaps humanity would quickly perish. However, the Demon Race, still living in a primitive society, spends its days fighting inter-tribal wars just for food. Although humans also fight among themselves, whenever Demon Race forces launch large-scale attacks on human cities, armies from any human nation would unite to launch all-out attacks against them. This is perhaps the key to humanity's survival to this day.

In the human world, the entire northern half of the land is owned by the "Relkes Empire." With a population of 300 million and a regular army of 3.5 million, its strength already ranks first on the continent. Yet they possess an even more terrifying power: the super Summoned Beast passed down through the family of Imperial Marshal Bolt—"Eight-part Dragon King" Royeskdel!

Fortunately, this ancient empire has always adhered to the philosophy of peaceful governance. For thousands of years, no ruler has been a warmongering tyrant. The massive army was established solely to resist attacks from the Demon Race, and the few wars on record were mostly acts of self-defense and counterattack. This is perhaps the good fortune of other humans.

The human nation bordering the Relkes Empire is called the "United City-States Alliance." This alliance has existed for less than a century. It is a union of nearly thirty small nations, politically independent but militarily allied, with all military forces under the jurisdiction of the Supreme Military Council.

Its population exceeds 90 million, with a standing regular army of 700,000. The alliance of these small nations is not a new phenomenon in the continent's history. Numerous small states, in order to secure living space in the cracks between major human powers and to resist the savage Demon Race, saw such a union as inevitable.

Of course, the combined military strength of this alliance is primarily defensive, lacking strong offensive capabilities. Moreover, it is prone to disintegration during wars as each member pursues its own objectives.

To the south lies a crisscrossing landscape of large and small nations. To the west is the military powerhouse, the Karanth Empire, with a population nearing 100 million but a military of 2.5 million. To the east is the major commercial nation of Feijiansi, leveraging its advantageous port position to engage in maritime trade with Relkes and other countries. Although its population is close to 50 million, its economic power ranks only below that of the Relkes Empire.

Scattered across the land between Karanth and Feijiansi are over a hundred nations of varying sizes! Major states may hold two or three fortified cities, while minor ones might have only a few thousand citizens and two villages. However, they serve as a buffer between Karanth and Feijiansi, forcing both major powers to consider how to deal with this messy middle ground before attacking each other.

As the saying goes, "Heroes emerge from the grassroots!" Although that land is the most chaotic place in the entire human world, whenever major wars erupt, famous generals and brave warriors often hail from there. Its chaotic politics make it a paradise for bandits, and these bandits, in turn, create more opportunities for mercenaries and bounty hunters.

For a time, gold prospectors, merchants, mercenaries, bounty hunters, and criminals all flocked to that golden land, bringing more vitality and dynamism to the people living there.

The Demon Race lives to the west of the human world. In truth, the Demon Race is not inherently savage. They are merely peculiar creatures formed through different evolutionary histories. Their primitive intellect keeps them living in a state akin to humanity's ancient past. In search of more food and fertile land, these creatures naturally advance toward the human world. However, their strange powers and bizarre, strong bodies make them unacceptable to humans. Thus, war erupts in this context.

Living on the lands south of the Demon Race are the Forest Elven Clan and the Dwarven Race, the true masters of this planet. They have lived here since before the appearance of humans and the Demon Race. Even after humans and the Demon Race emerged, they continued to live there as before. It seems everything outside is irrelevant to them; whether it's war or peace, they do not intervene. This is also the sole reason they have avoided the ravages of war for thousands of years.

Whether the Demon Race is truly savage, or whether elves and dwarves are aloof from worldly affairs, humans continue to live in their own world. Using their wisdom, employing their abilities, protecting their homeland, building their nations, and using all their strength to create a better life!

Kashu Continent Calendar, Year 2982, December

In this deep winter, the capital of the northern Relkes Empire, "Pangbaike City," was already blanketed in heavy snowfall. Late at night, the Imperial Marshal's residence in the city's west was still brightly lit.

The current Imperial Marshal, the thirty-seven-year-old Duke Res Bolt, anxiously paced back and forth outside the bedroom door. None of his personal guards following him dared make a sound.

"My lord, you don't need to be so nervous. I believe the lady will be safe and sound!" A young knight standing beside the duke, dressed in silver armor, with delicate features and silver hair cascading to his shoulders, comforted the duke.

This man was named Xiu Lante Bolt. Although he shared the duke's surname, they were not related by blood. He was the adopted son of the previous duke and the closest and most trusted subordinate of the current duke.

"Ah... Xiu Lante, how can I not worry? You'er is only eight months pregnant and about to give birth. Think back three years ago, the Left Prime Minister's wife also had a premature birth, and then... ah!" Duke Bolt said, his face full of worry, growing even more anxious as he spoke.

Although he was only thirty-seven, years of military life had already streaked his black hair with silver. The crisscrossing wrinkles on his forehead and his dark, rough skin made it hard to imagine he was still so young. Yet his bulging muscles and burly physique made it clear at a glance that he was a master of martial arts.

"It won't happen! The lady is gentle and kind; heaven would never treat her that way! Please don't worry, Duke. Perhaps we'll soon hear the baby's cry!" Although the duke's words made Xiu Lante's heart sink, at this moment he could only force a smile and reassure the duke he respected most.

"Ah... I hope so!" Duke Bolt sighed again, then clasped his hands behind his back and looked up at the snow-filled sky.

Although Xiu Lante wanted to say more to the duke, when his gaze fell upon the duke's figure bathed in the swirling snow, his throat choked up, and for a moment he was speechless.

Time passed in this suffocating silence until a loud cry rang out...

"Duke, listen!" Xiu Lante excitedly rushed close to Duke Bolt, calling out to him loudly.

"It's... it's born!" The long period of worry finally ended with that cry. Knowing his beloved wife was safe was his greatest relief.

"Duke, congratulations, congratulations! The lady has blessed you with a son!" The midwife opened the bedroom door, strode over to the duke, knelt, and announced.

"Haha, good! How is the lady? Is the lady alright?" Although overjoyed at the birth of his beloved son, the duke was most concerned about his wife's safety.

"This is the lady's first childbirth, and the young master was premature, but heaven has blessed them; both the lady and the young master are out of danger! However, the lady is quite weak now and needs more rest," the midwife continued.

"True God be praised, thank you for keeping You'er safe!" The duke suddenly made the sign of a cross over his chest and whispered a prayer. Then he turned to Xiu Lante and said, "Xiu Lante, come with me to see You'er, and to see my beloved son!" Without waiting for Xiu Lante's reply, he strode toward the bedroom.

Upon entering the bedroom, the first thing that reached their noses was a faint scent of blood. It seemed the duchess had lost quite a bit of blood during childbirth. At this moment, the duke paid no mind to such odors; his thoughts were entirely on his beloved son and wife.

"You'er, you've worked hard!" Walking softly to the bedside and tightly grasping his beloved wife's sweat-dampened jade-like hand, Duke Bolt said with deep emotion.

"Res, for you, I am willing to do anything," You'er gently shook her head and said to Bolt.

"Haha, let's not talk about that. Let me first see my precious son!" Duke Bolt was about to pick up the little boy sleeping beside the duchess.

Seeing the duke's movement, the duchess's face instantly turned pale. She hurriedly blocked Duke Bolt's large hand and said, "Res, no... don't disturb him. He's sleeping soundly right now!"

"Hmm?" Seeing the duchess's strange reaction, Bolt suddenly sensed something was amiss.

"Why not? I won't disturb him, don't worry! I just want to see the Summoning Gem in his hand." Bolt still reached his hand toward the little boy in the swaddling clothes.

Hearing Bolt's words, the duchess's face grew even paler. She blocked Bolt's hand more forcefully and said, "What's so interesting about a Summoning Gem? No matter what kind of gem it is, he is our child!"

"Haha, my lady, how can you say such a thing! You know perfectly well that our Bolt Family inherits the Seven-Colored Diamond. The Summoning Gem we possess can only be the Seven-Colored Diamond!" Sensing something was wrong, Bolt deliberately laughed at the duchess. Taking advantage of her momentary distraction, he lifted the swaddling clothes with one hand and quickly pulled out the little boy's left hand.

"No!" Amid the duchess's startled cry, the Summoning Gem, inborn and embedded in the back of the human left hand, came into Duke Bolt's view!

"Duke, what happened?" Xiu Lante had been waiting in the outer room. Hearing the duchess's cry, he rushed in, holding an unsheathed sword, and loudly inquired.

Duke Bolt paid no attention to Xiu Lante's entry, merely muttering to himself, "How can this be? How can this be? A child of the Bolt Family can only possess the Seven-Colored Diamond. How can it be this?" The Summoning Gem embedded in the infant's left hand, connected by flesh and blood to the tiny life, was unmistakably the lowest grade—a white crystal gem!

"How can this be! Impossible! Absolutely impossible!" The frantic Duke Bolt could not believe what he saw, nor could he believe that his own flesh and blood would be a 'waste' inferior even to ordinary commoners! His face flushed red, and he suddenly clenched his fists with force, tightly gripping the infant's slender arm, as if he wanted to crush the white crystal Summoning Gem along with his son's arm.

"Stop it...!" Seeing Bolt's expression and actions, hearing the infant's cries of pain, the duchess, as if mad, desperately clung to Duke Bolt's arm, hoping to rescue her child from his heartless father's grasp.

"Duke, what are you doing! Let go!" Seeing the situation turn bad, Xiu Lante beside them hurriedly sheathed his sword and reached out to grab the duke's arm. However, the strength exerted by Bolt, whose emotions were somewhat out of control, was extraordinary. For a moment, Xiu Lante could not pry open the duke's fingers.

Seeing the tender blood vessels on the infant's left arm bulging, it wouldn't be long before the entire left arm would be crushed by Bolt. In great urgency, Xiu Lante shouted, "Duke, forgive my offense! Hah!"

A red light flashed from the gauntlet on Xiu Lante's left hand, and a powerful force swiftly struck Duke Bolt's right elbow. Struck by this blow, Duke Bolt's right hand instantly went limp, and he had no choice but to release his grip.

"My child, my child!" Snatching her child back from Bolt's hands, the duchess, tears streaming down her face, tightly hugged the loudly crying infant to her chest, fearing Bolt might again harm the little life.

"Duke, what's wrong with you? Why did you harm the young master?" Xiu Lante stood between Duke Bolt and the duchess, separating the angry duke from her and the child.

"Xiulante, why did you stop me? Go and see, that child... that... what he possesses is... is actually a white crystal!!"

"What?!" Xiulante was greatly shocked. He never expected that a member of the Bolt Family, which had passed down the super Summoned Beast "Eightfold Dragon King" for generations, would possess the lowest-level Summoning Gem!

"My son should possess a gem like this!!" The furious Bolt forcefully removed his left-hand gauntlet and raised his hand high above his head. A seven-colored diamond the size of a walnut instantly released rays of various colors, filling the room as if it had entered a rainbow world. The seven-colored light cast an eerie glow on the expressions of everyone present.

"What does it matter if he doesn't have a seven-colored diamond? What if he has no Summoning Gem at all? Does that mean he isn't our child, or that you aren't his father?!" The Duchess, who had collapsed crying on the ground, suddenly roared at Duke Bolt.

"That's right! He is not my son! Nor is he your son! He has no relation to us at all!" Upon hearing his wife's words, Duke Bolt showed no remorse whatsoever. Instead, he exclaimed excitedly, as if he had discovered a new world.

"You'er, think about it. If His Majesty the Emperor learns that our child has lost the ability to inherit the 'Eightfold Dragon King,' won't the glorious history of our Bolt Family come to an end? For my sake, for the honor of our Bolt Family, give me the child. As long as we eliminate him, when we have another child, he can possess the seven-colored diamond! Come, hand him over to me!"

As he spoke, Duke Bolt, with a sinister grin, slowly approached the Duchess, extending both hands with an expression that sent shivers down one's spine, step by step closing in on her!

Facing the maddened Bolt, the Duchess shook her head and slowly retreated backward. "You're insane, truly insane! You're not the Res I used to know, not the Res I loved!"

"I am insane, driven mad by this little demon! The Super Summoned Beast can only be inherited once. If I don't kill him, even if we have another child, he won't possess the 'Eightfold Dragon King'! No matter what you think, for the honor and power of the Bolt Family, I must kill him!" Res Bolt, the Imperial Marshal renowned for his benevolence and love for his soldiers as if they were his own children, was now consumed by the demon of power.

Looking at the unfamiliar husband before her, You'er Fonkdo understood for the first time what "change" truly meant! Her heart was now shattered. Gazing at the innocent infant in her arms, unaware of the world, and then at her maddened husband, she suddenly made a decision.

"I understand! I'll give you the child!" The Duchess stopped retreating and lowered her head to speak to Bolt.

"Really? You truly are my most beloved wife! Come, give me the child." Bolt excitedly walked toward the Duchess.

"Here... take it!" Suddenly, the Duchess threw the swaddled bundle into the air. Just as Bolt was stunned, the Duchess, filled with anger and disappointment, flashed a silver light from her left hand and struck Bolt squarely in the chest! Although Res Bolt had spent years in battle, he never expected his most beloved wife to launch such a sudden, vicious attack. Completely unprepared, he was sent flying several meters, staggering as a mouthful of blood sprayed out. Knowing she was no match for her husband, the Duchess, seeing her surprise attack succeed, did not linger. She leaped to catch the slowly falling swaddled bundle and, despite her postpartum weakness, crashed through the wooden window, vaulting into the courtyard. The sudden change left Xiulante, standing nearby, caught off guard. Yet, even if he had been prepared, what could he do? On one side was the Duke he respected most, and on the other was the Duchess who had cared for and loved him like family for years. How could he intervene in their conflict?

The Duchess, leaping through the window, moved like a highly skilled assassin. She vaulted toward an ancient towering tree in the courtyard, using it as a springboard to leap onto the roof. Then, raising her left hand high, she loudly chanted: "Free winds, lend me your power. By your strength and in my name, I summon the messenger of the blue sky—the Green-clad Angel, Renas!"

As the summoning incantation ended, the "emerald Summoning Gem" on the back of her left hand instantly radiated brilliant light. Within this green glow, a mid-tier angelic, flying support-type Summoned Beast appeared before her. It stood about three meters tall, with long green hair, wearing a flowing green robe, and a pair of white wings on its back.

"Renas, carry me southward! Fly as fast and as far as you can!" The weakened Duchess was in no condition to use a Summoned Beast, but to protect her child, she was prepared to pay any price!

The green angel seemed to understand the Duchess's intention. Nodding slightly to her, it immediately flew close, tightly embracing the Duchess with both hands, then soared into the sky, speeding southward. In an instant, it vanished into the snowy night sky.

Meanwhile, with Xiulante's help, Duke Bolt, having caught his breath, stumbled out of the bedroom and looked up into the night sky, searching for the Duchess's figure.

"Damn it! She actually got away!" Gazing at the Duchess's gradually disappearing figure, Bolt spat out another mouthful of filthy blood. He suddenly turned to Xiulante and said, "Xiulante, go after that woman immediately. You must bring that little brat back to me! She's very weak now and can't have gone far!"

"..." Hearing Bolt's words, Xiulante did not move, standing motionless behind the Duke.

"Why aren't you going? Do you want to rebel too?" Seeing Xiulante's reaction, Bolt couldn't help but fly into a rage.

"...Duke, what if the Duchess resists with all her might?" Xiulante looked up and asked.

"Hmph! If that woman still doesn't know what's good for her, you may use any means necessary! If need be, even 'casualties' are acceptable!" A fierce glint flashed in Bolt's eyes, clearly showing that he no longer considered marital feelings at all.

After hearing Duke Bolt's words, Xiulante lowered his head in silence, showing neither an agitated reaction nor any preparation for action. However, this silence made Duke Bolt feel an indescribable sense of danger.

"Why aren't you going? Do I need to summon the Eightfold Dragon King? Heh, don't forget your identity—you will always only obey me!" A slightly uneasy Duke Bolt masked his feelings with a roar, loudly ordering Xiulante to carry out his so-called mission.

"...That's right, I am merely a loyal dog of the Bolt Family! My lord, wait. I will do my utmost to bring the Duchess back!" After a long silence, Xiulante seemed to make up his mind. A sharp light flashed in his eyes as he spoke his decision word by word.

Immediately, without chanting any summoning incantation, a red light flashed from his left-hand gauntlet, and a pair of pale red wings instantly appeared on his back. When the red wings, spanning over four meters, fully extended, Xiulante soared into the sky, flying southward at high speed and vanishing into the snowy night in the blink of an eye.

"...Wings of No Thought! I never expected his 'synchronization rate' with the 'Flamebird' to have reached such a high level. Xiulante, oh Xiulante, have I always underestimated you? Heh, but you're right—you will always be a dog I raised! If you dare harbor any disloyal thoughts, I will make you know what true terror is! Hahaha..." Amidst this burst of maniacal laughter, Res Bolt, Marshal of the Relkes Empire, turned and walked back into the now-empty bedroom.

The snow continued to fall without end, but the person could hardly move an inch. Already extremely weak from childbirth, the Duchess, after forcibly using a Summoned Beast to flee to the "Dark Forest" in the southern part of the Relkes Empire, could no longer hold on. If not for the small infant she held in her arms, she might have already fainted.

The "Green-clad Angel" Renas quietly crouched beside her master, watching the large amount of blood flowing from her master's lower body, its emerald-green eyes filled with sorrow and helplessness.

"Renas, you... go back! My strength can no longer support your energy consumption. If this continues, you will vanish from this world after exhausting your power!" The Duchess, enduring immense pain, spoke to her loyal Summoned Beast.

However, the speechless Renas merely shook its head calmly. As a loyal Summoned Beast, how could it leave its weakened master now? How could it let its master remain alone in this Dark Forest filled with magical beasts?

Seeing Renas's reaction, the Duchess knew that no amount of persuasion could change its mind. Summoned Beasts, originally meant only as weapons of war, had somehow gained autonomous consciousness at some point. Since that day, loyal Summoned Beasts would never leave their master's side as long as they had even a shred of strength left. To them, their master's life was above all else! To protect their respective masters, they were willing to be utterly destroyed, even if it meant their own annihilation!

"Sigh... Then I'll trouble you to guard me for a while. I need to rest and recover my strength." The Duchess looked at Renas and spoke. Only after Renas nodded firmly did she close her eyes with relief.

Perhaps due to extreme exhaustion, or perhaps because of her absolute trust in Renas, for the next three hours, neither the cold snowflakes gathering on her body one by one nor Renas's repeated battles with low-level magical beasts attempting to ambush them could make her open her eyes. Until a slender figure appeared in the sky above the Dark Forest...

"Duchess, you've had a hard time!" Xiulante, expressionless, looked at the magical beast corpses scattered on the ground and spoke to the sleeping Duchess.

"I never expected he would send you to hunt me down! Sigh... It seems ten years of marital affection truly can't compare to the power of an Imperial Marshal!" Still holding the infant and with her eyes closed, the Duchess spoke.

"...Madam, there's no need to say anything more. Since you already know who sent me here, please return to the Duke's mansion with me!" Expressionless, Xiulante approached the Duchess.

Just as he lifted his foot to take a step forward, the "Green-clad Angel" Renas suddenly moved in front of the Duchess.

Its slightly fearful yet furious green eyes seemed to tell Xiulante: "No matter how powerful you are, if you want to take my master away, you must first defeat me completely!"

"Impossible! The child is mine. He has just come into this world, and no one has the right to take him from me! No one!" The enraged Duchess suddenly stood up and roared at Xiulante. As for Xiulante's formidable strength, perhaps even Duke Bolt was not as aware as the Duchess. Although she knew she was no match for Xiulante, her maternal instincts as a woman drove her to prepare for a fight to the death! Looking at the loyal Summoned Beast and then at the furious Duchess, just as Xiulante was about to say something, his gaze was drawn to the puddle of blood at the Duchess's feet.

"...Madam, why must you suffer like this? You know you cannot escape the Duke's grasp, so why flee? Give me the child. I swear on my life and honor that I will not harm you!"

These words were the greatest concession Xiulante could make, and they were also his way of assuring the Duchess that he would not harm her life. Indeed, assigning Xiulante the task of pursuit was perhaps Duke Bolt's cruelest order.

Since the Duchess entered the Duke's mansion ten years ago, she had cared for and loved Xiulante like a younger brother. Having lost his family from a young age, Xiulante deeply felt this warmth and was immensely grateful for the Duchess's familial treatment. However, today he had no choice but to follow Duke Bolt's command and bring the Duchess back to what had become a hellish mansion.

"Hahaha..." Upon hearing Xiulante's words, the Duchess suddenly burst into wild laughter. Faced with this hysterical laughter, Xiulante's expression grew even more grim and sorrowful.

"This is my life! My life is this tiny being! Are you asking me to hand over my own life to you? Xiao Feng, do you really want me to give you my flesh and blood, my life?" The Duchess lifted the small infant in her arms and suddenly called out Xiulante's childhood nickname.

That "Xiao Feng" was like an invisible blade deeply piercing Xiulante's heart. Warm memories from the past suddenly flooded his mind. To advance or retreat? To follow emotion or command? To uphold humanity or loyalty? One contradiction after another made it difficult for Xiulante to decide. Finally, his foot stepped forward. Though it was only a small step, that small step plunged the Duchess's heart into the depths of despair!

"You have finally chosen him. You still follow your loyalty! Xiulante, come! My life is right here. Let me see how much power you have to take my life away!" The despairing Duchess knew that only through battle did she have a chance to escape. Regardless of whether her body could still fight or how powerful the enemy was, at this moment, she knew only one thing: as long as she had a breath left, she would fight to the death for her child!

Xiulante did not say another word. He merely moved slowly, gradually drawing the silver longsword at his waist! As he advanced, the "Green-clad Angel" Renas suddenly let out a low cry. Its massive angelic wings instantly spread open, and a deep green light cast an eerie glow on the surrounding withered trees and weeds. Countless wind elements gathered around Renas.

As Xiulante approached, Renas gracefully moved its form. The countless wind elements already gathered around it transformed into numerous wind blades, launching a collective attack on the advancing Xiulante.

Watching Renas's attack, the Duchess knew it was a futile resistance. Not to mention that Xiulante possessed the holy beast-type upper-level offensive magic Summoned Beast "Flamebird," even with Xiulante's own abilities, how could these attack spells from an auxiliary-type Summoned Beast possibly harm him?

If Duke Res Bolt's Super Summoned Beast, the Eightfold Dragon King, was the strongest Summoned Beast in the Relkes Empire, then in terms of personal combat ability, Xiulante was the strongest warrior in Relkes!

However, a sudden change occurred. Xiulante, who could have easily avoided the wind blade attacks, merely raised his hands to protect his head, allowing the merciless wind blades to strike his body. The emotionless wind blades instantly carved numerous wounds of varying sizes on Xiulante's slender frame, then sent his body flying several meters away.

Faced with this situation, not only the Duchess but even the deeply perceptive Renas was stunned, standing dumbfounded on the side. With the heightened perceptual abilities of a Summoned Beast, Renas had known from the start that the Summoned Beast on Xiulante was several times more powerful than itself. Its earlier desperate attack was solely out of loyalty to its master, never truly expecting to defeat such a formidable enemy. But now Xiulante was indeed severely injured by mere wind blades—a situation the Duchess had never anticipated!

"Xiulante, you..." Looking at the bleeding Xiulante, the Duchess said in confusion.

However, the expressionless Xiulante, after struggling to stand up, loudly declared: "Due to misjudgment of the enemy's capabilities and overconfidence, resulting in combat failure, Imperial Dragon Knight Commander Xiulante Bolt was defeated by former Duchess You'er Fonkdo! Henceforth unable to continue the mission, can only allow the enemy to escape!"

It turned out that Xiulante, torn between loyalty and affection, chose to use his own body as the price to avoid fighting the Duchess while not disobeying the Duke's command!

"Xiao Feng..." Instantly, the Duchess could no longer control her emotions. Tears of gratitude welled up from her beautiful eyes and streamed down her face. The Duchess rushed toward Xiulante, hoping to use her healing abilities to treat his wounds.

Seeing the Duchess running toward him, Xiulante suddenly shouted: "Stop! We are enemies now. As a glorious Imperial Knight, I need no pity or sympathy from any enemy!" After saying this, Xiulante endured the pain in his body, sheathed his longsword, then removed three diamond ornaments from his person and threw them toward the Duchess, adding: "These are items lost in battle. I suppose they will be picked up by the enemy and sold to fund their escape!"

Seeing all that Xiulante had done, what more could the Duchess say? Perhaps this was a moment when heaven briefly opened its eyes, ensuring that the kind-hearted Duchess would not perish in a foreign land.

Watching the Duchess slowly pick up the diamonds from the snow, Xiulante summoned his Summoned Beast once more. As the red wings spread open, he took a deep look at the Duchess and softly said: "Madam, only in the chaotic zone between the Karanth Empire to the south and the Fijines United Kingdom can you evade the Duke's pursuit! Duchess... take care!"

Having said this, Xiulante, without further hesitation, spread his wings and soared into the sky, flying toward the distant imperial capital, leaving the Duchess alone on the silver earth, her face wet with grateful tears.

On December 21, 2982 of the Kashu Continent calendar, You'er Fonkdo, Duchess of Relkes Empire Marshal Res Bolt, died due to difficult childbirth. Subsequently, Duke Bolt remarried the daughter of the Right Prime Minister. The continent was about to turn a new page...