"Ah….. So, this is how it feels…."

With that slight mumble, the supposed dead body of Thomas started twitching while blood started pouring through his veins….

"Wha-"

From his dumbfounded-faced brothers.

/THUD/

With that last twitch, he raised from the ground, standing again.

/CLANK/ /CLANK/

Seeing this, the leader of the knights didn't stay idle either, with his sword trying to penetrate Thomas again.

"Huh?"

With his enhanced strength and Thomas' wounds, he should have lost the confrontation, but at that moment, it was something different.

Because Thomas parried the attack with his Scythe at the same time pushing the knight back.

This made the knight surprised.

"What is this?"

And the scene around was rapidly changing.

The storm clouds that were filling the sky started pulsating while strong sounds of thunder could be heard from there.

In the air, there was flying blood that formed a wire which was flowing like a river toward Thomas.

"B-b…. Brother…."

"Thomas….."

Of course, that blood was being supplied by others….

It was the blood of his brothers….

The people he relied on to watch his back….

The people that were always on his side…..

""Why?""

That was the only thing Arthur and Finn could say at that moment….

"Isn't it better for me to live instead of all of us dying right here?"

The answer was something both of them didn't expect.

"Of course, I should live, not you."

/CLANK/

"YOU HERETIC! YOU SACRIFICED YOUR OWN BLOOD-RELATED BROTHERS!"

However, there were other people that had attached importance to the family and honor.

It was the knights' leader that would never overlook such a case.

With his sword shining, he started attacking more and more ferociously.

/CLANK/ /CLANK/

As he was confronting the man in front of him, he was trying his best to kill.

But something was different.

It was the strength of Thomas.

"Ah... It is so good…. This feeling….."

He was a lot stronger than before, and the knight leader knew that too.

He tried to conjure a spell.

"With the power of the World Tree-"

Starting the chant, he raised his sword.

/SWOOSH/ /SWOOSH/

But at that moment, suddenly Thomas appeared in front of him in an instant.

/CLANK/

With his scythe aiming to knight's neck.

Of course, Knight was able to block the strike.

"Heh…. This is what you have done, isn't it?"

But that was what Thomas wanted as well.

"Mallas, assist me!"

Seeing the environment rapidly changing, the Knight leader asked for assistance.

eαglesnovel`c,om "….."

However, the answer never came.

"Huh?"

Realizing this, he turned his head towards the side to see what was wrong.

And there, he saw the reason why…..

/CRUNCH/ /CRUNCH/ /CRUNCH/

Because a bunch of weird creatures was munching the knights.

"What?"

"How is it? Do you like my Blood-Hounds?"

At that moment, the knight commander was dumbfounded.

Seeing the hideous sight in front of him….

/SPLURT/ /SPLURT/

Blood was gushing out from the wounds of the two knights that had already lost the fight….

"Le-….. L-leader…."

The subroutine he brought with him to this mission because he trusted him was having his blood sucked from the wound by the monsters….

Seeing his subordinate that was begging for help, he couldn't hold his feelings any longer.

"YOU HERETIC!"

With a loud shout, the knight turned his head to the man who was responsible for the scene in front of him.

However, of course, he was not only acting with emotions.

'I need to protect the lady. I can't let him touch her.'

That was what was in his mind.

'I need to kill him.'

"Heh…. Come…. Let me taste your blood too…."

/SWOOSH/ /SWOOSH/

Both of them dashed toward each other, and the distance was closed in milliseconds.

/CLANK/ /CLANK/

With their weapons clashing, sparks were flying everywhere.

However, that was not all there.

Ground was rumbling, and the land they were clashing was also constantly being crashed, showing a lot of cracks….

It was itself proof of how strong their clash was.

"By the grace of the World Tree, I charge with the sword in hand. Magic courses through me, ready to make a stand."

Seeing the clash was not going anywhere; the Knight decided to take it to a higher place while also looking around to see the aftereffects of the fight.

'I can't let my lady get injured.'

That was what he thought.

The reason why the knight leader wasn't able to instantly overpower Thomas at the beginning was also related to that.

Because he also needed to protect someone, which in this case would not be possible with the aftereffects of his strength.

Therefore, he limited his strength, using his experience as a measure to limit it.

/SWOOSH/

With his sword shining bright green, he rushed the man again.

/CRASH/

But this time, Thomas, too, decided to use his magic.

With an earthen wall suddenly appearing from the ground, the charge of the knight was slowed.

/SWOOSH/ /SWIRL/

At the same time, the ground started burning as well, thanks to the fire mana that was started being released from the Scythe.

"Great World Tree, hear my plea. Bestow upon me a shield of destiny, a protection that shall forever be."

With his shield conjured, the knight confronted the attack.

However, if that was all there to see, then the knight would be able to defend himself because he had already seen these moves before.

But, no.

There was something else.

"By the blood of my enemies, I invoke the power of the dark arts."

With the blood swirling from there, Thomas started chanting while the blood of the dead knights started swirling around.

"Hey, are you going to use that?"

The sound of his weapon, the third person, was heard at that moment, but Thomas ignored it.

"By the blood of my beloved, I invoke the power of betrayal."

With the last drops of blood that belonged to Logan Brothers getting sucked, his body started pulsing with bright red scales covering his body.

As the swirl of flames subsided, the knight realized this attack would be the strongest attack that he would face today.

"MY LADY! USE IT!"

With the loud shout echoing in the alley, the knight said, trying to inform the person he was protecting.

And then he started conjuring his own move too….

'I guess this is how it ends….'

With that thought, he started mumbling.

"With each beat of my heart….."