Chapter 100: Rebirth (Nine)
Ding! Ding! Clang—
The clashing of blades rang out three sharp and ear-piercing sounds. The Captain of Knights, cloaked in a barrier, charged forward without hesitation, swinging his sword at Carlos with three rapid strikes. The blade sliced through the corners of vision, aiming straight for his vital points, but the man smoothly parried all of them. The Captain stumbled back, a flash of purple light flickering in his hands as he readied a fourth attack. However, in the next moment, Carlos’s right leg transformed into a whip—a speed that nobody could anticipate—as he swung it around with a “whoosh” towards him.
Boom—
That kick hit the Captain square on his left side, bending his body awkwardly at a 45-degree angle. His sword flew out of his hand, not even a grunt escaping his lips as he was propelled away, landing about seven or eight meters from where he started, rolling a bit before propping himself up on his elbows, panting and seemingly unable to get back up in the short term.
“At this point, is there any need to say we’re sorry…”
Carlos stood there, retracting his leg, one hand lightly placed on his chest, gazing towards the chaos, murmuring to himself. Then a noise came from behind him, prompting him to turn around.
In the distance and near him, more knights dismounted their beasts, gathering alongside over a dozen golden-glowing clerics, unsheathing their swords and cautiously closing in.
“Carlos Gonzalez!”
From the outskirts of the ruins, Aresta shouted loudly, “Please put down your blade and retreat right now! There’s still time! Don’t try to stop us anymore! Just surrender quietly, nothing is over yet! I promise I’ll plead for you in the church court! You’re already injured badly; there’s no need to continue like this, right?!”
“Right, Mr. Carlos…”
As the shouts continued, the knights, now much closer, had grave expressions, showing signs of hesitation as they tried to reason with him gently: “We… really don’t want to fight you. If there’s a necessary reason for your actions, please just let us know. Why push things to such extremes…”
No sooner had they finished speaking than a strange humming sound resonated from the side, a miraculous golden light bursting forth as Rariks shouted in a thunderous voice, “Lock him down!!”
Clank, clank, clank, clank—
In the next moment, a series of metallic clinks filled the air as several golden chains shot up from the ground around Carlos’s feet, flying towards him at breakneck speed. A blinding white cross rose from the light, but at that critical moment, Carlos’s entire body crackled with lightning yet again. With a ‘zzap,’ he burst through the gaps in the chains, appearing right in the midst of the knights in the blink of an eye.
In that instant, everyone’s eyes went wide.
The man’s movement was simply too quick; the knights couldn’t react in time. Many were still adjusting their stances, swords raised, gazing at the spot where Carlos had been standing. The golden chains missed their target and began to fall back to the ground while a voice named Rariks yelled frantically, “Act now! What are you waiting for—”
“He’s already injured!!”
“Squad Two, report! Surround him—”
That last shout came from the Captain, who was struggling to stand. As soon as his command left his lips, the knights turned around, two clerics lit up with golden glows, but at that same moment, Carlos, still amidst them, took another step. In a flash of electric sparks, he disappeared once more, and when everyone finally reacted, he had already appeared right in front of the clerics.
“Restrict him—”
Boom!
Lightning surged, a brilliant blue arc striking out in all directions, coursing through numerous light barriers, the blinding brilliance forcing the knights to shield their eyes, squinting. The golden light of the clerics was instantly suppressed, and just as the Captain had finally managed to stand upright, he failed to comprehend what had just happened. All he heard were muffled thuds and people groaning in pain. When the light finally faded, only Carlos remained standing.
“Cough.”
Carlos turned towards the crowd, one hand resting on his chest, letting out a light cough, while the five or six clerics around him lay sprawled on the ground, all their barriers shattered—some were groaning, others appeared unconscious.
“How about we talk this over…”
Carlos scanned the stunned and confused faces of the knights, and after a moment, he seemed to break into a smile. “Why don’t you go persuade that esteemed Pope to retract the orders and withdraw from the town, and just wait for me for half an hour… no, make it an hour.”
“If after an hour I still haven’t come out, or if something big has changed here, then you can reconsider your options on whether to stay or go… Perhaps that’s the only way to clear up the greater issues at play, don’t you think? Think it over.”
“He’s just stalling for time…”
From the ruins, with a grim expression, Aresta dismounted from his beast, hearing a nearby cleric mutter, “Your Holiness, there’s no need to waste any more time; let’s just take action.”
The young Pope didn’t reply, merely pondered for two seconds, gazing out towards where the old Sword Saint had flown off, watching the rolling black clouds in the sky, before nodding his head.
“Ah—”
Clang!
On the other side, the Captain—the first to react—charged once more at Carlos, but once again his strike was blocked. The two’s eyes met, one indifferent, the other furious. The Captain had removed his heavy helmet, wearing a fierce expression, gripping his sword hilt with both hands, pushing forward with gritted teeth. “Why are you doing this…”
Buzz—
Suddenly, a tumultuous wave of miracles surged from the distance, dazzling light instantly engulfing them, illuminating the entire area. Carlos squinted from the brightness as the pressure from the Captain’s sword vanished, and he could hear the fading footsteps of the retreating knight.
In that next moment, the humming of miracles in his ears sharply intensified.
“Mr. Carlos, be careful!”
He faintly perceived someone shouting nearby, the sound of chains rattling “clink clink clink” arose again from beneath his feet. Reacting just in time to the light, he was wrapped in electricity, ready to step back. But then, suddenly stumbling, he furrowed his brows, his legs giving way under him and nearly collapsing.
“Cough—”
He spat out a mouthful of bl**d, grasping his chest tightly, the pain becoming increasingly visible on his face.
The burn injuries he could hold on through…
But his lungs were badly torched…
Clank, clank, clank, clank—
In that brief moment of delay, he felt chains wrapping around his legs, and above him, there seemed to be an even more intense commotion, accompanied by a tremor in the air—a dangerous sensation washed over him.
He managed to raise his head.
In his line of sight, amidst the dazzling burst of light, countless white orbs quietly gathered in the wind, white feathers spiraling down like fluffy snowflakes, with one landing on his bl**d-stained shoulder.
In that sight, Carlos’s eyes suddenly went wide.
