Chapter 230 – The Sudden Appearance of Allies
The Muradi, a branch of the indigenous Moors on the Iberian Peninsula, along with several different ethnic groups from North Africa, collectively formed the Moors.
The Elder’s body trembled with anger as he watched the black smoke left by the assassin’s departure. He now understood that his group had been used by the assassin. The assassin had instigated the dispute, waiting for an opportunity to assassinate his target, the Knight Captain.
They had been nothing more than tools, with no choice in the matter. Now that the assassin had completed his objective and fled, they were forced to face the Christians, who had gone berserk after their companion’s death, and the likely arrival of the patrol officers.
Compromise was no longer an option. Witnessing the Captain’s death, the remaining Holy Knights and missionaries were enraged. They wouldn’t listen to anything now and only sought revenge for their Captain.
The skirmish, which had been somewhat restrained moments ago, had devolved into a fight to the death. Casualties began to appear on both sides. This situation was becoming more chaotic by the minute. Although the Christians seemed to have the upper hand after losing their captain, their defeat was already sealed.
When the Moors gained the advantage and surrounded Jayad, it would be disastrous. We had to escape quickly. Under the slow siphon of my Blood Energy, the Moorish warrior facing Jayad was becoming increasingly slow, his footsteps faltering.
This put him at a disadvantage, not only because he was weakening but also because Jayad was getting stronger. Jayad was gradually adapting to his speed and even to the longsword in his hand.
Unfortunately, I couldn’t wait any longer. I increased the intensity, drawing a large amount of Blood Energy from the warrior.
The warrior suddenly felt a sense of emptiness and fatigue, as if his body had been hollowed out. His steps faltered, and he stumbled, nearly falling.
He immediately realized he had been ambushed. However, there was no time to find the assailant, as the last thing he saw was the silver flash of the longsword.
Jayad decapitated him with a single stroke, then, with unspoken understanding, turned and sprinted away with me in his arms. We were in sync, needing no verbal communication.
Several Moorish imams behind them watched their companion’s death with widened, furious eyes. They were also puzzled as to why a Holy Knight would turn and flee; weren’t they supposed to fight to the death?
They unleashed volleys of starlight arrows at Jayad, but they only struck his back, rendering them useless after being blocked by Holy Light. Jayad quickly vanished from their sight.
Explosions and shouts echoed from the tavern behind them, but Jayad and I paid no heed. He carried me out of the Dock Area and straight to a deserted clearing before stopping.
Looking around, especially behind them, Jayad, seemingly assured that there were no pursuers, finally put me down, panting, “I’m sorry, Parul. Today was just terrible luck. I shouldn’t have recommended that tavern. We got caught up in a bizarre fight.”
“It’s alright, Older Brother Jayad. This is just pure bad luck. Besides, there’s an old saying from the East, ‘Sai Weng Shi Ma,’ which means ‘Old Man Sai Lost His Horse.’ Who knows if it’s a blessing in disguise? Didn’t we get a free meal and a sword out of this?” I comforted him.
“Well, I suppose that’s true,” Jayad mused. He considered it more. The meal was supposed to be quite expensive, but because of the fight, all the customers had fled. The owner received nothing, and the tavern was destroyed. He probably felt heartbroken for a long time.
“Let me see the sword you got,” I said. Jayad handed it over. It was a delicate, shimmering silver sword, with Church runes carved into its blade, indicating it was exquisitely crafted and of superior quality.
“Wow, this is a silver sword! We really struck gold,” I exclaimed. Theoretically, silver, as a metal, should be quite soft, but this sword was as hard as steel.
I wasn’t sure if it was coated in silver, forged using a special method, or some kind of alloy. I really didn’t know.
Just as we were admiring the beautiful silver sword, I suddenly felt a shadow fall over me and the wind rush past my head. A sense of dread washed over me.
“Parul!” Jayad reacted with lightning speed, pushing me away. I reached out to grab him, but was flung aside, watching helplessly as a figure fell upon Jayad from above at an incredible speed.
The figure, clad in a black robe, was the assassin from before. He placed both hands on Jayad’s back. My soul nearly departed my body, as this was precisely how the Knight Captain had mysteriously died earlier.
“Brother!!!” I screamed, my voice filled with despair. Simultaneously, a furious roar erupted from beside me, “How dare you!”
It was a woman in a white dress. She was incredibly sacred, as if her body was subtly radiating light, like a Holy Mother or Saintess from scripture.
She had silver, long hair, skin as white as snowflakes, and deep Azure blue eyes as vast as the sky. Her gold-trimmed white robe was stretched high by her full breasts. Her slender arms wore white gloves that extended to her middle finger.
Her robe was open, revealing a short skirt below. She was tall, and the black stockings on her legs were her most striking feature, so beautiful they seemed to reach my waist.
I had never met her before; I had certainly never seen such a beautiful woman. I had no idea why she suddenly appeared at the alley entrance, nor why the assassin was pursuing and trying to assassinate Jayad. We were just caught in the middle, knowing nothing about him.
My mind went blank, and rage churned within me. Now, only one fierce thought remained: I wanted to kill him! To tear him limb from limb and scatter his ashes to the winds! To avenge Jayad!
“Tsk! Chasing this little Holy Knight, why are there more and more people? Fine, not a single Christian will be spared,” the assassin hissed, his voice raspy like wind blowing over sand dunes.
He stood up, blood dripping from his hands again. Jayad’s back had been pierced by him. Now, I had to fight alongside this unfamiliar lady. Only by cooperating could we possibly kill him and avenge Jayad.
But fate is often stranger than fiction. Just as the assassin stood up, another anomaly occurred. From Jayad’s back, two bone spurs emerged from the two wounds where he had been stabbed.
“Ah!” Even I was startled. The woman beside me, however, frowned. While also surprised, she seemed to breathe a sigh of relief.
The assassin’s reaction was swift. As the bone spurs shot out, he immediately transformed into a plume of black mist, intending to escape using the same method he employed in the tavern.
However, the bone spurs were incredibly fast, extending like switchblades. Before he could completely disappear, they pierced into the black mist, impaling the assassin.
The black mist dissipated instantly. The assassin, however, was pierced through his shoulder blades by two ghastly white bone spurs, dangling in mid-air, emitting muffled groans of pain.
From instantly killing Jayad to being inexplicably counter-attacked by bone spurs – it all happened in an instant. The turn of events was so rapid that it stunned my mind, leaving me unable to comprehend the situation. The only thing I cared about now was whether Jayad was still alive.
“Ah! Urghhh!” Jayad let out a pained cry. Despite the pain, it was undoubtedly Jayad’s voice. Thank goodness, he wasn’t dead yet!
But the next moment, I was terrified out of my wits. I saw Jayad stand up. From the rents in his clothes, countless eyeballs opened, all from the areas that had been cut earlier.
Then, the bone spurs on his back separated to the sides, tearing the assassin in half from the middle, showering Jayad with blood and internal organs.
