Chapter 1 The Knox Mountains on the Southern Border of South Wantina

The light gradually faded beyond the horizon, replaced by a red moon rising into the night sky, accompanied by a layer of light gray haze.

The blood moon of night hung in the sky, enveloping the mountains below in a dim and eerie glow. The entrance to the valley appeared particularly gloomy, like a gateway to another unknown world.

Each mountain peak was nearly a thousand meters high, almost touching the clouds, blocking the starlight and making the entire valley even darker and more indistinct.

Two figures walked into the mountains, unnoticed by anyone.

One was a slender figure walking ahead, as if she had just slipped away from a ball midway.

A tall figure followed behind her, his silhouette like a statue carved in darkness, his cloak and hood flapping in the wind.

"Thank you for stealing the key to the royal capital for us, Infiltrator."

She said with a beaming smile.

Soon, she covered her red lips lightly and apologized to the other party.

"Sorry, I think it's more appropriate to call you the Scion of Decay now."

"Call me whatever you want."

The tall figure didn't seem to care, and continued forward with ghostly steps, each step like the whisper of death.

The air was filled with dampness, mixed with the scent of soil and decaying leaves.

Among the plants, some special magical beasts could occasionally be seen moving silently, their shadows flickering, and low roars were heard from time to time, but they never dared to approach the two figures.

"We have received the sincerity of Bishop Decay, and we will also cooperate with the Decay Branch in secret."

Countess Sabellna returned to her original appearance, letting out a crisp laugh.

Her ability, [Blood Disguise], could completely disguise her as a touched target, and would remain until actively dispelled.

In the Kreteia Empire, she could play anyone she wanted to disguise, making her the most suitable special bloodkin to infiltrate enemy camps as a spy.

After her work was completed, her primary task was to ensure her own safety and evacuate in advance.

Entering the Knox Mountains was equivalent to a successful evacuation. Even a slight venture into the Knox Mountains at night was a place feared by ordinary people.

The dim light, complex terrain, and hidden ancient ruin traps made it a perilous area.

"Don't forget to give me three different Blood Moon Essences."

He reminded her abruptly.

"Of course, we will help you break through to the seventh rank, don't worry."

Countess Sabellna turned her head, gently placed her hand on his shoulder, and replied softly.

Only bloodkin of the seventh rank and above could condense the Blood Moon Essence, which could be used to create bloodkin retainers or as an excellent material for breaking through to the seventh rank.

"To be honest, it's a bit of a pity to leave like this. I'm really looking forward to seeing the look on your friends' faces when they find out that the traitor is actually you."

As she spoke, Countess Sabellna couldn't help but lean back and let out a silver bell-like laugh.

"Indeed."

The male figure simply followed her, revealing a slightly malicious smile.

Until they gradually disappeared into the depths of the dim mountains.

...

At the same time, a small-scale riot had begun in South Wantina, the lord's city.

The city's protective barrier, that translucent, invisible crystal light on the horizon, had always been the solid guardian in the hearts of the border residents, but just now, it had been forcibly shut down for unknown reasons.

After braking, restarting would take a little time, and this period would be extremely dangerous.

This sudden change immediately triggered a full-scale alert in the city. The originally peaceful streets were filled with alarms that echoed continuously, like ominous omens engraved on the walls, causing panic among the residents.

In the South Wantina Temple of the Goddess of Fate, the usually solemn priests came out in teams. With serious expressions, they held sacred staffs or ancient holy books in their hands, and quickly walked through the city, providing protection and guidance to the residents.

"You really have a blessed mouth, Stina."

Loren felt a splitting headache, looking at the short-haired female sentinel priest.

This kind of thing that might not happen once in a few years just happened to her after she asked about it on the train, bringing the priest investigation team.

Sensing that there was a problem with the barrier, Loren arrived at the city's control center and the count's mansion as soon as possible.

However, he discovered that there was no problem with the count's mansion, and the culprit had disappeared without a trace.

According to the records of the monitoring magic device, someone had unknowingly transformed into the count, infiltrated the count's mansion, and stolen the key.

Putting aside what exactly that stolen key from the royal capital was, because there was no time to investigate these already established facts, what was important was to deal with the real changes that would follow!

Reconstructing the huge city barrier would take nearly half an hour.

South Wantina has three energy main stations, located in the northwest, east, and south districts of South Wantina City, respectively.

Every time an energy station is damaged, the restart efficiency will slow down by one-third. If all of them are destroyed, it will take a long time to repair the three energy main stations before the city barrier can be reconstructed.

Just as the barrier was braked, the city's energy station on the northwest side had been destroyed simultaneously.

The enemy's plan was obviously organized and premeditated.

The next targets must be the other two energy stations on the east and south sides.

So Loren sent the power of the Goddess of Fate Church to help defend the safest east side as soon as possible, and left a temporary eighth-rank barrier, leading the priest investigation team to the most dangerous energy main station on the south side himself.

"Teacher, think on the bright side. Although we only have two-thirds of the efficiency now, as long as we defend the remaining two energy stations, we can restart the barrier in forty-five minutes. By then, no matter what conspiracy the enemy has, as long as you are here, South Wantina will never be lost."

The sentinel priest replied.

"Please stop talking, Sister."

The guardian knight and the healing priest quickly covered her mouth.

Loren sighed, covering his forehead. The lonely cold wind made him feel more uneasy.

Looking up, the starry sky that should have been full of stars was blocked by dim clouds.

Behind the four people, the light of the watchtower continued to illuminate the dark ground. The officers of the South Wantina Territory army were also fully armed, their armor flashing with a cold light in the night, holding their weapons tightly, ready to deal with any possible threats.

These experienced warriors quickly divided into several small teams, some responsible for patrolling the key areas of the city, and some tracking possible clues that led to the shutdown of the protective barrier.

The entire south side of the city was shrouded in a kind of urgent and tense cold air, and every corner was full of moving figures.

Further away, in the residential area, the streets were completely painted over in black. The high and low buildings were either tightly closed or carefully peeking out, or under the guidance of the city defense army and priests, they were heading to safer areas for refuge.

"Teacher Loren, what are you thinking about?"

The white-robed healing priestess observed Loren's expression and asked.

"Bishop Destruction, Ivanoth, and Bishop Decay, Farmer, haven't come... and they know that the mysterious bishop may have passed by here and could attract me, yet they still resolutely decided to launch a surprise attack tonight..."

Loren muttered to himself in a weary tone.

He felt that something was not right.

If the other party's goal was to fully attack South Wantina Territory, then Bishop Decay and Bishop Destruction themselves would not be so far away from South Wantina Territory. The signal given by the Rebirth Church was like telling Loren, "Whether you come to defend or not, the cardinal bishop has no intention of attacking now."

Then did the other party really need to completely destroy the energy main station?

Could it be that the other party wanted to lure the main force of the city defense to the south and east sides to guard the energy station.

And the other party's real goal was actually... to complete a certain project within the half hour that the barrier was restarting?

Suddenly, Loren felt a violent magical fluctuation erupt in the northwest side of the city.

He looked in the direction and only felt Farmer's magical power, but weaker than his own!

It should be a terrifying alchemical beast made by Farmer. An alchemical beast created by Farmer does not require magical power support, nor does it require the summoner to reach the eighth rank. It is not a magic card but a magic device!

There was also a seventh-rank magic source, which seemed to be the Scion of Destruction, Salomon.

Fortunately, there was also an unknown eighth-rank magic power fighting against them.

"Teacher Loren, what's wrong?"

The guardian knight became fully alert.

"No, we have to deal with Salomon and the alchemical beast on the northwest side of the city!"

Although Loren didn't know why there was a mysterious eighth rank helping them in the northwest district of South Wantina, maybe this was the target that the Rebirth Church was willing to destroy at such a great cost.

The energy station on the south side was not important at all. It didn't matter if the barrier took more than an hour to restart. What was important was not to let the Rebirth Church run wild on the northwest side and achieve their goals.

A cold wind swept past the few people in the distance of the watchtower.

Just as Loren was about to move, he suddenly seemed to have discovered something and pushed the three clergy members around him hundreds of meters away!

In the next moment, before the three clergy members could react in the mid-air gale,

they saw an additional figure beside Loren in their field of vision.

It was a muscular, grim-faced man with tightly furrowed eyebrows and a provocative smile squeezed from the corner of his mouth. He wore a simple gray shirt, which seemed practical and tough with camouflage pants.

His right hand stretched forward violently, hitting Loren's cheek squarely, full of explosive power and murderous intent, as if it would detonate the entire scene in the next moment.

As the explosion echoed through the southern border, the earth and dust flew up, and Loren was sent flying heavily.

The violent power overturned the entire building that Loren was in like a tsunami, and the collision was faster than thunder, shaking the entire southern district of South Wantina!

"Teacher Loren!"

In mid-air, cries echoed.

They had never seen Loren being successfully attacked!

Of course, part of the reason was that Loren, who could have reacted, was attacked by the enemy in order to protect them.

However.

The burly man stood on the spot.

His scarlet pupils instantly locked onto the three priests.

They felt their skulls go numb.

Under this man's power, there was no doubt that they would all be crushed into blood foam in less than a second.

Then, just as they thought that the terrifying burly figure would flash in front of them,

the next frame their eyes could capture had already turned into the mysterious man being severely injured by a sword-like aura.

In the hurricane rising from the ruins in the distance, Divine Era runes were densely packed in the mid-air. Loren stood up, and the surrounding wind seemed to turn into pure electric light, constantly causing electric cocoons to burst. He raised his finger, and the direction he pointed was connected to the sky, returning the punch to the mysterious man in its original form.

Loren's profile was depicted by sharp black and white contrasts, he was panting, his face was covered in blood, and blood was flowing from his cheeks.

"Run as far as you can!"

Loren shouted without looking back, using his thin back to block the powerful enemy for the city defense army and the residential area.

After receiving the order, the three priests did not hesitate and immediately disappeared from the spot.

Although the three tried their best to retreat, their eyes involuntarily followed the battle between Loren and the mysterious enemy.

This kind of battle that could make the High Priest Loren so embarrassed was definitely not something they could participate in. Staying here would only hold Loren back. They needed to evacuate the surrounding residents as much as possible. Otherwise, having to protect the residents while fighting against the enemy would be an absolute disadvantage for Loren!

Facing Loren, the mysterious man had his jaw tightly closed and his facial muscles distorted. He stood in a long channel drawn by his own footsteps, and everything around his boots was covered with gravel.

His figure was as straight as an unshakable mountain. The skin on half of his cheek was shattered from taking Loren's blow with his face, revealing his teeth, gums, and jawbone.

However, the wounds on it soon began to heal at a speed visible to the naked eye, quickly returning to their original state, as if Loren had not caused him much damage.

"Who the hell are you?"

Loren noticed this regeneration speed, and his pupils shrank slightly.

He had never seen such a mysterious and powerful enemy in all these years.

Regeneration was not terrible, what was terrible was that after the other party regenerated, he consumed very little magic power, and his aura hardly weakened.

This kind of thing could only remind him of the so-called ancient race, the "Bloodkin."

But in any case, if the city defense barrier was still there, neither the Bloodkin nor the demons would be able to rush in so directly from outside the country!

"Heh."

Marquis Somerset, the Eighth Progenitor, had his shattered cheek completely restored and had no intention of answering Loren's question.

His eyes were still as hot as lava, and the corners of his mouth were carrying a hint of madness. Every breath he took was like preparing for the enjoyment of the next second.

Coming to the Knox Mountains from the Kreteia Empire to wait was originally to deal with that unknown cardinal bishop and prevent the cardinal bishop from making trouble.

He didn't expect that today, the High Priest of the Goddess of Fate Church would also come to South Wantina Territory.

But it was the same to fight with anyone.

His arm suddenly moved forward, and scarlet eyes burst out with light. The power of the punch in his hand was like lightning in the night, determined to take Loren's life in this one blow!

Without giving Loren a chance to breathe, Marquis Somerset's huge figure arrived in front of Loren again.

At this moment, he revealed his murderous intent, his skin was surrounded by a faint red light, as hot and fierce as burning blood.

But this time, after Loren reacted, Marquis Somerset would not get his way so easily.

Marquis Somerset's fist was like hitting an invisible iron wall. The square magic crest on the emerald ground began to burst out with deep green rising air currents, and the metal buzzing sound and air waves were once again stirred up in circles.

Although the hasty Loren had taken a near-fatal blow up close just now, he was not fatally injured because he had many damage reduction spells and protective items.

"Don't think about getting past."

Inside the magic barrier, Loren wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth. The emerald and pure magic power cut out scars on the dim city ground like a blade, sealing all the space between Marquis Somerset and him.

Hearing this.

Marquis Somerset's fist still did not move away from the barrier for half a point, regardless of the skin on his fist being torn and bloody, he wanted to rush forward even more madly with an even more fanatical smile.

"There is no need to get past, fighting a strong man like you is my joy."

He moved his fist down and slammed it heavily on the ground, and the entire southern district of South Wantina shook like an earthquake!

Wide cracks opened on the stone street, collapsing step by step as if being swallowed. The exquisitely carved reliefs and glass on the buildings behind Loren were all shattered and scattered with the wind under the impact of Loren and Somerset's battle.

Many residents had blood flowing from their ears from the shock and screamed in pain.

"!"

Loren seemed to have sensed something, and a hint of anger rose in his eyes for the first time. He immediately covered the southern district with a wide-area healing magic that consumed a lot of energy. Holy light feathers fell in the night sky, gradually resolving the pain of the residents.

"If you want to fight me, don't involve those innocent residents!"

The veins on the back of Loren's hand bulged as he desperately resisted Somerset.

"Of course, I only like to win, or rather, to trample on my opponents."

Somerset added with a smile.

After Loren's magic power output was diverted, the barrier in front of him obviously showed weaknesses, gradually cracking on Somerset's fist, until Somerset's fist blasted into Loren's body, accompanied by a shattering sound in the ruins and flying sand and rocks.

"You are very good. If you didn't care about the life and death of the people in this city and let go to fight me, you might really be able to win, but now I am very sure that you are not my opponent."

Somerset shook his wrist. The bloody and deformed fist began to recover. He looked ahead and revealed an enjoying smile.

He was not in a hurry to fight again. At this time, attacking the mind was even more effective and more interesting than actual attacks.

Although this stupid human priest in front of him was very strong, and might even grow to a strength that could fight against the Bloodkin Grand Duke one day in the future, he had the inherent weaknesses of human beings and liked to protect those more fragile humans.

This was also the reason why there were dozens of human eighth-rank geniuses who died in his hands during the thousands of years of that blood moon heyday, if not hundreds.

"You won't forget that there is still a cardinal bishop in South Wantina Territory, right? Even if you survive from my hands today, will he kindly come to help you heal when he sees you weak and不堪?"

Somerset asked with pity.

He was waiting for the Rebirth Church to successfully assassinate Hibernia, and today the other party had no chance of winning at all.

"Start fighting, there's no need to try to communicate with me anymore, I can't reason with something like you."

Loren staggered to his feet from the ruins, blood flowing from his face.

He felt that the situation on the other side might be worse.

Farmer's alchemical beast was not something that anyone could stop. If that eighth-rank ally was also protecting something like him, he might be even more strenuous.

Although no cardinal bishop has appeared in South Wantina Territory so far, a bloodkin monster that had never been seen before had attacked. Loren had no time to take care of the attack in the northwest district of the city. He only asked that they could hold on there until the barrier was restored.

If he didn't stop this eighth-rank bloodkin, the entire city would be finished.

"Do you think you can stop a natural disaster?"

Marquis Somerset clenched his fist, his bones creaking, his eyes seemed to be laughing at Loren, an ant that wanted to protect an entire city in an eighth-rank life-and-death battle was too greedy and too self-righteous.

He believed that the other party had roughly seen that he was a Bloodkin. If the war of attrition continued, who would win and who would lose was obvious.

"If I see it, I have to stop it."

Loren threw away the blood-stained priest's white robe, leaving only the black shirt.

His eyes were like the coldest ice lake in winter, staring at his opponent through the sharpness of the wind blade.

On the southern border of South Wantina Territory, the gale roared under the blood moon, and the Divine Era-replicated war was about to break out again.

I updated 10,000 words today, and there is another big chapter "There Can Be No Two Suns, But There Are Two Lorens" that is still being written, and it will be finished before ten o'clock

(End of this chapter)