Chapter 384

Chapter 384: Chapter 381: "I Shall Sanction You in the Name of the Castle Knight Commander...

Su Ming’an had once thought.

Viewed as heroes, these brave and fearless Soul Hunters, in the eyes of the three leaders, are merely pawns that incite hatred, a spark for ongoing strife, the sharpest swords in their hands.

They were groomed to be full of justice and passion, brainwashed by the stories told by the people, to fight lifelong on this meaningless battlefield... and eventually become heroically sacrificed figures.

To be commemorated with a monument, to have their names sung in psalms, to leave a legacy behind, becoming iconic heroes of the Soul Hunters, and then inspiring the next generation to continue forward.

He had once thought this was utterly meaningless.

He believed that these people were merely living within the lies of those above, striving to maintain a balance.

...But now it seems.

...As he turned around, on this small boat, witnessing the brutal battle spread across the sky,

...he understood the meaning behind Aelas’s last words, "For it is only through struggle and death that we reclaim our dignity."

It indeed awakened the blood and dignity in people.

Aelas was no different. Su Ming’an still remembered the look in Aelas’s eyes just before his death, preferring suicide rather than becoming part of the Soul Clan.

The land of Pulaya has a unique spiritual legacy.

Belonging to the Soul Hunters, to the residents, to the Soul Clan.

This kind of legacy that awakens people’s blood and dignity cannot be cultivated in a land rooted in peace; it must be bred through blood and war.

And this kind of blood is something players find difficult to possess.

"Splash—"

He paddled the oar in his hand towards the edge of the Barrier, the sea surface unusually calm, the attacking sea monsters also dealt with by his spatial vibration.

But this could not last long, his mana points were ultimately limited, even if he continuously used potions, the potions have their cooldown time.

The number of sea monsters was increasing steadily, as the cracks in the Barrier widened, their numbers growing exponentially, nearly completely surrounding him.

Even the most powerful and wide-ranging spatial vibrations could not completely eradicate them.

The situation had become very critical, even the live stream comments in the upper-right corner were anxious for him.

All around, it was impenetrable, like a swarm of locusts, the sea monsters thronged.

A nearly suffocating sense of crisis permeated this area.

"Whoosh—"

The sea wind, ripe with the smell of blood, fiercely blew across the small boat, which could sink at any moment.

Su Ming’an looked at the Barrier nearby and suddenly felt something burning in his chest.

He placed his hand on his chest and saw a faint blue energy body that seemed about to burst forth.

At this moment, as he approached the overwhelming sea monsters,

he seemed to hear a gentle and moving call coming from deep within his soul.

"Welcome back."

"...my dear guest."

Outside the city walls, thousands upon thousands of sea monsters surged forward like a storm.

The running residents already wore expressions of despair.

They ran with all their might but could only watch as the barrier descended faster and faster.

Behind them, the sea monsters approached, with dozens of corpses already down, their necks gnawed bloody, many decapitated. Sёarᴄh the Novelƒire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

Despair pervaded this stretch of sand.

A red-haired girl ran with all her might across the sand.

Her steps were slow, her bones seemed to crackle with each movement.

She ran on the fine white sand, yet struggled as if slogging through a swamp.

Subconsciously, she fumbled inside her coat, wanting to use her Teleportation Pocket Watch, but suddenly realized she had given it away.

"...you got lucky, Rin," she said through gritted teeth, "This was my dowry. Make sure to bring it back to me..."

...at least to my grave.

She looked up at the distance ahead of her that seemed as vast as a chasm.

The radiant, somewhat blinding white barrier descended lower and lower before her.

With a boom, her entire body jolted.

Behind her, a pale blue sea monster suddenly embraced her body tightly, her Red Spear immediately lifted backward, and her wrist made an unnatural "crack" sound, as if a bone had dislocated.

The fiery red, long spear brushed past the charging sea monster.

At that moment, she knew she was at her end.

A translucent sea monster clung to her back, its sharp teeth touching her neck.

She turned her head.

It was a sea monster with a hint of pale gold in its hair, beautiful features.

Those bright red eyes mirrored in her own, like rising flames.

The distant horizon hung in her vision, the sky full of flames bursting like celestial fire.

The vivid red mixed with the sea like the pale blue sea monster, blending into one.

The scenery looked incredibly beautiful.

Through the distant snowstorm,

she saw a yellowish boat on the vast sea, atop it a shadow that also seemed to be looking back at her.

He seemed to be watching her.

At this moment, she wasn’t thinking of the treasure-filled Cloud City, nor the strange legends of Pulaya, nor the bright red long spear in her hand.

She looked at that tiny, swaying boat and was reminded of the Yate Vessel, the empire’s so-called "unsinkable gem."

She remembered that enormous ship, that young, proud, carefree herself.

She remembered that unpleasant dinner table meeting, remembered herself grabbing her bag, pointing at his nose, and scolding him.

...how extravagant she had been back then.

She missed home.

"Whirr—"

A somewhat heavy buzzing sound rang out.

A gigantic black crow, like a city wall, protected the fleeing residents.

The sea monsters crashed against it and were instantly scattered in disarray.

The crow flapped the wings on the side facing the coast, instantly stirring up a storm that pushed the incoming sea monsters fiercely backward.

Under its protection, the barrier closed exceptionally smoothly.

And in the moment before the barrier closed,

a figure in golden armor suddenly crouched down and burst through from below.

He violently closed in on Nailuo, who was a stone’s throw away from the barrier; tiny grains of white sand flew up from under his feet, and with a crisp "swish," the sea monster was forced back several steps by a single sword strike.

Upon seeing Sherrod, the sea monster’s movements oddly paused, and a hint of panic shone in its eyes.

Though most of the sea monsters lacked divine wisdom and knew only slaughter, this one showed genuine emotion in its eyes at that moment.

Holding the Knight’s Sword, Sherrod did not notice the sea monster’s expression; he lifted Nailuo onto his shoulders and ran back, and with a loud ’boom,’ the barrier rapidly descended behind him.

He took the unconscious Nailuo to the casualty aid station behind the city wall.

At that moment, the scene in the aid station was extremely gruesome. Many Soul Hunters had neck injuries, bleeding profusely. Even the priests who had come hastily from the Church could not stop their swiftly ebbing life force...

The number of deaths sharply increased.

Sherrod watched this scene, sighed, and marched up to the city wall.

Above the city wall, the remaining Soul Hunters dealt with a few stragglers; the battle was nearly over.

However, even though the barrier was closed, the sea monsters still ceaselessly attacked it. According to the minister, the barrier could last only one more day. If they did not find a new way to set up the barrier within a day, or if the King of Sea Monsters was not killed, then...

The players, nursing their Blood Bottles, looked at the terrifying scene outside the barrier and continuously expressed their complaints, having survived the ordeal.

"It’s all Su Ming’an’s fault. If it weren’t for him, how could we be so miserably trapped!"

"Where is he? Who knows where he has run off to now, probably sneaking around for some personal gain as usual. Disgusting."

"Big brother, why don’t you admit that you guys charged too far ahead? If you hadn’t been so greedy and had just stayed behind the barrier, would we be in such a mess?"

"...What’s the use? The barrier can only hold for one day. If the King of Sea Monsters isn’t dead, aren’t we still doomed?" someone retorted sarcastically: "You’re really defending him at a time like this."

"You’re only brave enough to run your mouth." A player nearby laughed: "If he stood right in front of you, you’d be nothing but a dog."

"Ha." The man laughed out loud: "Then let him stand in front of me, stand, yeah, since he’s nowhere to be found now, still you threaten me... uh..."

At that moment, a figure suddenly stood before him.

He looked up nervously, and then saw Sherrod’s glowing green eyes.

"Damn, it’s an NPC. You scared me." He patted his chest, instantly recognizing the well-known knight NPC among the players: "Anyway, NPCs don’t understand this kind of talk, what am I worried about..."

"You better apologize," said Sherrod.

"...Ha?" The player thought he had heard wrong.

"Apologize to Captain Su Rin," Sherrod said, "His real name in Otherworld is Su Ming’an, right? That doesn’t matter. What’s important is—you’ve slandered the reputation of a hero. Engaging in such petty acts of ridiculing others behind their backs, don’t you think you should be held accountable for the offensive words you used against him?"

"Damn! This NPC can understand this topic!" The player shouted, his voice drawing the attention of other players.

At this moment, the still shouting player had not realized what he was about to face.

"...Not apologizing?" For once, anger flickered across Sherrod’s normally gentle, smiling face.

Facing this very disrespectful stranger, he raised the sword in his hand:

"—For insulting the reigning King, I, as the Castle Knight Commander, must administer your punishment."

The player stared at Sherrod lifting the sword, frozen for a moment.

A white Defensive Barrier immediately appeared around him.

The other players still resting on the city wall turned their attention, watching.

"Swoosh!"

A light sound.

The Defensive Barrier was sliced open as if it were tofu.

The player’s head rolled onto the ground.

His eyes were wide open, as if he couldn’t understand how he, who had just survived death, could be killed over a few words.

Especially by a knight NPC who seemed so kind and had even saved lives.

...Simply because he had spoken ill of another player.

Sherrod sheathed his sword, holding it in one hand with the blade pointing upwards, positioned in front of him.

He muttered a somewhat obscure phrase, seemingly a command to conclude the judgment.

He sheathed his sword.

A subtle sense of fear spread among the players looking at each other.

Players who had been complaining shut their mouths instantly.

Sherrod was indeed a benevolent and just Knight of Light.

But being a knight did not equate to absolute kindness.

He also needed to learn judgment and execution.

Those who offended the lord should be executed. His shield represented the duty to protect the people, and the double-edged sword in his hand represented the side of justice and the responsibility to kill the enemy.

Offenders should die; knights are the ones who can stain blades with blood, kill enemies on horseback, not just prattle about so-called knightly spirit.

"Decisive enough, Knight of Light."

Having seen the incident, Duoya, limping, came over.

Her right hand still showed signs of burns, and her arm and calf, bitten by sea monsters, were wrapped in blood-soaked white cloth, but her smile was still hearty, as if she had never been injured.

"A friend of Su Rin?" she asked.

"Yes," Sherrod responded.

With a smile, Duoya looked toward the players standing dumbfounded nearby.

"Foreign Soul Hunters, I can tell, you seem very dissatisfied due to the ’injustice’ of the war," she said, staring at them. "—How? Are your indignation and grievances due to the disaster brought by His Majesty Su Rin?"

Countless gazes froze on her, even the local Soul Hunters looked over.

"Ridiculous," she laughed, walking with her somewhat lame step, up to a higher level of the city wall platform.

Looking at the people resting on the city wall, she suddenly raised her voice:

"—But have you ever heard of the legend of Pulaya from sixty years ago?"

"—Do you know how the longstanding peace of Pulaya, its defense barrier that blocks storms, came to be?"

The people glanced at one another.

Events from over sixty years ago, news blockaded by the royal family, remembered only by the older generation, were unknown to most.

Watching these perplexed people, Duoya spoke aloud:

"Sixty years ago, Pulaya was threatened by tsunamis and storms. Should a storm have landed here, all our treasures, history, and glory would have sunk beneath the sea, sparing no one alive. Let alone you standing here now."

"—However, who stood up at that time?"

"—Who observed that there were deities in Yun Shang City? Who dedicatedly built the airships? Who, leading half of our people, went to meet the legendary deity?"

"...It was the damned Su Rin you talk about."

"The defense barrier against storms is the one you see. Without it, Pulaya would have long fallen."

"Soul Hunters blessed by the deity, standing before you, if not for them, Pulaya would have already turned into a paradise ravaged by the Soul Clan."

"...Who initiated all this? Who selflessly went up to that city to plead with the legendary deity?"

"From where does Pulaya’s current peace and prosperity come? Why are so many treasure hunters flocking here?"

She raised her hand, pointing at the small boat on the sea.

"...That person."

"It’s the only individual who returned from Yun Shang City and came again to save us."

"He didn’t choose to stay in the safest Yun Shang City but came back when Pulaya faced disaster again."

"Young Soul Hunters, ignorant outsiders, I forgive you for insulting a historical hero."

"—But you need to understand, prosperity and peace do not arise without reason."

"They cannot exist without the sacrifices of generations, and even less so without the heritage of heroes."

"If I hear anyone speak lightly of this matter again, don’t blame me for being heartless."

Having said this, she lowered her hand.

People looked in that direction.

There, the small boat on the vast ocean, facing endless sea monsters, solid as a rock, swayed amidst the waves.

"...I’ve said it, how others strategize is their liberty; there’s no need to heed your feelings. This behavior of yours isn’t about blaming yourselves for being too weak, but blaming others for being too strong," a girl with a ponytail spoke softly.

As if she had been holding back for a long time, she vented her thoughts: "The sea monsters attacking the city, I think he’s under no pressure to survive. He could even directly achieve victory at the Maritime Banquet, so why bother about you lot?"

Her voice was very soft, yet it sounded loud on the city wall.

For a moment, a profound silence pervaded the top of the city wall.