Chapter 390: Bloody Battle (Part 1)
The morning mist seemed to have lessened slightly, but the sky remained overcast, with occasional drizzles of snow falling. They landed on the maiden’s silky silver-white hair and also on the giant scythe in her hand, which glinted with a cold light, sounding “clang, clang,” as if it were the tolling of bells from the praying church.
Behind her were refugees who had been surrounded. Under the instructions of the doctors, they were forced to huddle in the hospital. People were stacked on top of each other, appearing extremely crowded, like piles of small shrimp. However, for the refugees who had suffered for over a month, this was nothing.
Pairs of brown pupils looked out with curiosity. The first thing that caught their eyes was a large, crimson flag blocking the only entrance to the hospital building. They understood it was the national flag of one of the five permanent members, but could a single national flag truly deter those people?
Or perhaps…
Her.
Their gazes shifted further out, landing on the maiden leaning against the scythe handle, her eyes closed. The black feathered cape had returned to her clothing, and her long black skirt fluttered in the wind and rain, as if phantom crow feathers were rising.
The colonel opposite her had a very grim expression on his face but dared not make a move, even slowing his breathing frequency significantly.
After a moment of silence, someone asked, “What is a Night Watcher?”
The term was too distant for them, but the figure on the side reminded many of the one who had cleaved a path, delaying the Yela army by six hours. The two figures continuously overlapped, giving many people an answer in their hearts—
“An Angel?”
Some doctors nearby also looked puzzled. Before they could ask, Katherine shook her head, looked up with reverence, and a ripple appeared in her coffee-colored eyes. She then slowly said, “No, Night Watchers are the dark night travelers of the ancient Eastern country. They stand guard on the Great Wall, responsible for eliminating all those who violate the will of the Dragon Country, be they humans or monsters.
“And the Elders are the cream of the crop among them. Each Elder possesses the strength of a High-Rank Battle King, enough to protect us without worry.”
Katherine’s words exploded like a bomb in the crowd, and everyone looked up in shock, gazing at the back intertwined with black and silver.
The strength of a High-Rank Battle King, a powerful individual sufficient to protect their region—it was the peace-loving Eastern great nation exerting its power, dispatching the strongest to deter Yela.
The doctors who knew Su Jiu’s background were even more astonished and speechless. So, the Night Watcher Elders were the true identities of this girl participating in the world; what a talented individual!
At the age of 18, her High-Rank Battle King strength had already truly matched the holy sons and daughters of the world’s super-first-class powers, matching those [prodigies] who remained aloof from worldly affairs.
Leaning against the scythe once more, Su Jiu slowly opened her eyes. Then, with a “bang,” small bat wings unfurled from her back, and she whispered to the colonel opposite, “Please retreat three hundred meters outside the safety zone.”
“Chief Commander…”
The colonel trembled; he did not speak, casting his gaze towards Kyoungde. He could feel Su Jiu’s aura and knew he was no match for her, so he could only obey Kyoungde’s orders.
Kyoungde pondered for a moment, a hint of killing intent gradually appearing in his eyes as he looked at Su Jiu. Raising his white-gloved hand, he shouted to the surrounding crowd, “All Battle Kings assemble! Attack!”
The various war crimes they committed here absolutely could not be discovered by the Dragon Country’s inspection team. After all, although that great nation was known to the world for its peace and moderation, was a country that could nurture Night Watchers truly a white dove with an olive branch on its head?
If these war crimes were exposed, the Dragon Country, deceived at the United Nations, would inevitably adopt a series of high-pressure policies and resolve the peace issues with an iron fist.
“Unite!”
As soon as his voice fell, Su Jiu’s eyes snapped open. The phantom of a female swordsman emerged behind her. The female swordsman of the Blood Clan placed one hand on her head, bestowing her true strength.
Immediately, a bloody glow erupted from her, and she became hidden and profound, like a swordsman in misty rain.
This battle might be unprecedentedly difficult.
“Chief Commander!”
At his command, several figures swiftly arrived beside him, all radiating the aura of Battle Kings. They each summoned their weapons, looking solemnly at the figure leaning against the scythe.
Then, someone whispered, “If she is truly an Elder, none of us combined could be her match. Chief Commander, why don’t we wait for new orders from above…”
“Although she is a true Night Watcher Elder, I recognize her. She is the mysterious Blood Clan who blocked our advance that day! Her strength is absolutely no match for an Intermediate Battle King!”
Not far away, Kyoungde suppressed his fear, his eyes gradually turning cold. He narrowed his eyes and said in a low voice, his powerful external Qi surging from his body.
“—I’ll go up first, you wait for an opportunity!” A roar followed.
White external Qi, as cold as ice, directly caused small ice shards to appear on the ground. He lightly clenched his fair hand, and a long spear materialized within it. The spearhead, rendered by the white cold Qi, appeared extremely sharp.
“Let me see what the renowned organization of the Dragon Country, which even AIC cannot match, is like.”
Then, the spearhead stabbed towards Su Jiu, tearing through the air. The sharp whistling sound made many people, who had just relaxed, tense up again.
“He is very strong, not a High-Rank Battle King who is not adept at combat.”
Sensing an aura stronger than that of the professor in Death Forest, a hint of solemnity appeared in Su Jiu’s eyes. She took a step forward, her body suddenly tilting. A silver-white spearhead, carrying a chilling intent, grazed the ribbon on her collar with a sharp gust of wind.
Her gaze swept over any part of the opponent that could be attacked.
The opponent was at least a Mid-Stage High-Rank Battle King. Only by cutting open any part of the opponent and using Blood Surge could she have a chance of winning.
“Are you really planning to stand against my Dragon Country?” Lightly dodging the fierce attack, Su Jiu pushed the scythe handle upwards again. The scythe’s blade, enveloped in golden-red sharpness, swung towards Kyoungde’s face.
Seeing Su Jiu’s ability to counterattack so quickly, Kyoungde was momentarily stunned, clearly surprised by her rapid reaction.
“I originally had no intention of opposing your country, but it’s just that you know too much, and your country meddles too much!”
However, this momentary lapse lasted only an instant. His eyes suddenly sharpened, and the long spear blocked the sharpness with a “clang!” Then, the spear, like a fierce sea dragon, swung horizontally.
“Crescent Moon!”
Squinting, Su Jiu’s giant scythe also stirred up a huge wave of energy to meet it. With a “clang!” the massive vortex shattered the glass of the hospital building. The fragmented glass instantly turned into dust.
The impact force pushed Su Jiu’s figure back several steps. Only by driving the scythe’s long handle into the ground did she stabilize herself. She glanced at Kyoungde, who had only retreated two steps, and saw a white mark on his chest. Her eyes flickered with thought.
The white mark was neither too deep nor too shallow; it seemed to be because the opponent’s skin was too tough. With a few more attacks, she would surely be able to pierce through!
Witnessing Su Jiu’s exchange with Kyoungde, and seeing Su Jiu at a disadvantage, those inside the hospital couldn’t help but look worried. Xu Wutong looked at Robert beside her and asked with concern, “Old Director, is Doctor Su no match for Kyoungde…”
“I don’t know…”
Robert shook his head, his gaze fixed on the distance. His wrinkled hand tightened slightly. As long as Su Jiu held on a bit longer, her old friend would arrive.
He then took out a formation guard that Su Jiu had just handed over and pressed it. Immediately, energy shields capable of withstanding an Initial Stage Battle King’s attack emerged around the hospital.
This was something Su Jiu had obtained from the High-Rank Battle King Crow A-3; it was a worthwhile use of the item.
The Yela military personnel who were feigning combat showed triumphant expressions. Soon, the colonel walked out and said with great pride, “The Chief Commander has an S-class bloodline, the Snow Barbarian Giant. Not to mention attacks like tickling, even opponents of the same level would find it difficult to break his defense. It’s useless for you to activate the shield. After the officer defeats her, only destruction awaits you.”
Since the pretense had already been torn down, he was too lazy to conceal anything. He simply crossed his arms and sneered.
“Butterfly Blade!”
Ignoring the surrounding chatter, Su Jiu’s eyes flashed with a bloody glow. Her body “bang!” transformed into countless golden butterflies, shooting towards Kyoungde like bullets, their wings seemingly flashing with the light of blades.
[Butterfly Blade] is Su Jiu’s first Blood Clan bloodline skill after her bloodline mutation. She can transform into butterflies, using their wings as blades to inflict dozens of light cuts on enemies. She learned this by mutating Bairnis’s [Gluttony] skill.
The blades of the butterflies only targeted the initial scratches from Crescent Moon. Every time the blade light flashed on Kyoungde’s chest, it stirred up specks of snow. He narrowed his eyes, thinking of hitting the butterflies, but found it impossible to touch them. He could only use external Qi to block the butterflies’ attacks, and he marveled in his heart, “Such speed… but the damage is too low.”
“It seems the elite organizations of the Dragon Country are not that great. Even my ordinary S-class bloodline makes it so difficult for me.”
He then let out a cold laugh and looked down at his chest. The first scratch had only deepened slightly, and nothing had happened. He snorted in disdain.
After several more collisions, Su Jiu suddenly seemed to be attempting a sneak attack. From behind Kyoungde, she transformed from butterflies back into human form. Kyoungde smiled contemptuously and suddenly turned around, his spear spinning around his waist as he thrust it towards Su Jiu: “Heh heh, a petty trick!”
Looking at the sudden change in offensive posture with an unrippled gaze, Su Jiu smiled inexplicably. Her body shrank, narrowly dodging the fierce blow. With sharp blades protruding from her left fingertips, she suddenly clawed towards his chest. With a sound like colliding ice shards, several ice-blood particles were kicked up.
As a metallic sound rang out, Su Jiu’s hand pressing on the opponent’s chest was blown away with a “boom!” She reversed her grip on the scythe, her legs dragging on the ground as she retreated about ten meters before stopping. However, a crazed smile appeared on her lips beneath her silver-white hair—”It’s broken through the skin.”
“Does this Elder lady not know my bloodline is the Snow Barbarian Giant? Does she think such attacks can cause any damage?”
Kyoungde, however, patted the torn cloth on his chest and chuckled mockingly as if nothing had happened. But he did not realize that the blood on his chest could not be stopped and began to gush out…
