Kingdom of Night

Chapter 7: Into the Flames

From the Sumer Plateau of the Holy Kingdom of Oed, human civilization in the world of Aemera has stumbled forward for thousands of years. Gladiatorial combat is one of the few blood sports that have been meticulously recorded since the dawn of civilization.

This sport has evolved into an incredibly complex and vast competitive event, with increasingly detailed rules and a growing variety of competition types. One unwritten but crucial rule is that the event must be entertaining.

Simply put, the more evenly matched, hard-fought, and thrilling a match is, the more successful it is considered. Instant kills, one-hit victories, and lopsided battles are all major taboos. Today's audience is no longer satisfied with just blood and casualties; they seek brutality, intensity, and heart-pounding excitement.

To achieve this, organizers often go to great lengths to understand the combatants' strengths and ensure a balanced match through various means. In this environment, gladiators like Neo, who have survived for years without losing a limb or dying in the arena, often possess astonishing skills in wielding multiple weapons and armor, including some rare and specialized equipment.

Gladiators are undoubtedly more fitting for the term "jack-of-all-trades" than mercenaries. Since the rise of team battles and group gladiatorial combat over a century ago, veteran gladiators have also excelled in teamwork and battle formations.

In terms of team roles, Neo has reached the "universal" standard, meaning he can quickly adapt to any role in any team and perform exceptionally well. However, if given a choice, Neo prefers the role of a primary attacker, fighting alongside shield bearers and focusing on dealing damage. Specifically, he is a dual-wielding sword fighter, specializing in single-handed swords.

Dual-wielding single-handed swords is a path chosen by those with immense confidence in their reflexes, agility, strength control, and swordsmanship. The most famous dual-wielding professionals are the Elven Sword Dancers, whose top fighters can attack over a 300-degree range with the same power as a frontal attack, making them a nightmare in team battles.

However, it's extremely rare for a werewolf to follow the path of dual-wielding single-handed swords. Most werewolves have a natural talent for berserk combat—wild, straightforward, impulsive, and lacking in the nuanced perception and precise thinking needed for such a profession.

In simple terms, most werewolves are muscular but not very bright. On the battlefield, they often rely on bold, powerful combat techniques to win, epitomizing the ultimate strength among Aemera's intelligent beings. Professions like Sword Dancers or dual-wielding sword fighters are as unsuited to them as delicate embroidery is to a brute.

Compared to his peers, Neo's childhood and youth were quite unique. Growing up in the human world, with the foundation of a werewolf but living a life governed by the law of the jungle and survival of the fittest, Neo possesses both the ferocity of a werewolf and the meticulous thinking of a human.

The human world always felt somewhat uncomfortable to Neo, but that didn't stop him from saving a life when he had the ability to do so, even if half the population of Sols City wanted his head. Neo knew more about human history than most people, to the extent that he could join experts in solving historical mysteries. This knowledge made him well aware of the true purpose behind today's public trial and who the real masterminds and beneficiaries were. He didn't even hold genuine hatred for the woman who spat in his face. However, if given the chance, he wouldn't mind teaching her a lesson, simply because debts must be repaid.

Using a cloth to wrap his armor, Neo tied his swords and sheaths together, securing them on his back. He adjusted the position several times until it felt just right.

Neo heard the sound of burning flames and felt the dry, hot breeze. The number of fires in the southern district was increasing and spreading, suggesting that the dark forces were planning to burn the area completely.

"Is it to cover their true objective?" With too little information, Neo could only speculate. However, one thing was certain: there were many dark cultists in this area, and they were quite active.

As he ventured deeper, the threat from fire golems temporarily diminished. The burning heat created layers of invisible energy barriers, blocking the golems' detection of their targets. As Neo expected, the area was teeming with dark cultists, posing a new threat to him.

The Free Kingdom values commerce, and despite Sols City's long history, the commercial district undergoes major renovations every three to five years. The roads are accessible, the shops numerous yet orderly, and the burning flames illuminated the surroundings brightly. There were hardly any routes suitable for stealthy advancement or shadowy corners for hiding.

Neo quickly decided to disguise himself in the dark cultists' attire and proceed deeper into the commercial district. He remembered clearly that the first fires started in the core area of the commercial district. After hours of burning, most of it would be destroyed, collapsed, and looted, posing dangers like burning, smoke inhalation, and suffocation. However, it was still worth exploring.

Large bonfires have their uses, such as the well-known "blind spot under the lamp." The bright flames obscure distant vision and can serve as a visual barrier. Even with dark vision, the heat from the flames makes it hard to see clearly.

Circling the outskirts of the commercial district, Neo carefully searched for an opportunity, eventually targeting a pair of cultists. Observing some details, he confirmed they were manageable targets and chose an appropriate battlefield.

Finally...

"Blood Night, password!"

One cultist shielded his eyes from the flames, trying to see the approaching figure clearly. The other assumed that someone casually walking up and giving the correct password must be an ally and responded, "Extinguish Light!"

"The boss said to hurry up." As the words echoed, the figure vanished.

"Where'd he go?" the cultist shielding his eyes asked.

"He delivered the message and left," the other muttered, "Hurry, my ass..."

In the next moment, a shadow leaped from the flames like a cheetah, and two swords flew like bolts, targeting the cultists.

The cultist carrying supplies was caught off guard, watching in shock as a sword pierced his throat, blood spurting as he fell. The other cultist dodged the slightly high-angled sword but fell into Neo's trap.

Neo wasn't affected by the flames. Seeing the cultist dodge as expected, he launched a pre-prepared knee strike, hitting the cultist's lowered head. The knee guard's solid black iron, combined with the powerful strike, sent the cultist flying backward.

In mid-air, Neo switched knees and used his weight to deliver a follow-up strike. The cultist's body had barely hit the ground when Neo's knee came crashing down, accompanied by the sound of breaking bones. Blood spurted from the cultist's mouth as he died.

To ensure safety, Neo broke the cultist's neck and checked the other, who was now in his death throes. Satisfied, he extinguished the flames on his body and removed the burning cloth from his helmet. Using the helmet's brim and cloth strips, he made a temporary visor to shield his eyes from the flames, reducing their glare. Neo had learned this trick from an assassin, understanding its purpose due to his curiosity.

Retrieving his weapons, Neo quickly cleared the area. The cultists' clothing could be useful, not just the outer robes. Neo thoroughly replaced his own clothes with those of the cultist, even using a shirt from another cultist to wrap his armor.

Every individual has a distinct scent, and Neo aimed to use the cultists' scent to mask his own. He also cremated the bodies, and though there was no good way to clean the blood, he covered it with snow and placed burning materials on top. After a while, he kicked the burning materials aside. The freezing cold would solidify the melted snow, further masking the blood's scent.

Before leaving, Neo noticed the cultists' work: a cart and sacks of grain.

Stuffing some flour into a makeshift pouch, Neo pondered the significance of their actions. It was easy to connect it to a food shortage, but why not just burn the grain stores?

"Right, it's not just a one-time attack. The dark cultists and fallen ones will continue to hide among the populace. They need food, and this grain can be traded for more followers, surviving the winter and lean seasons. Sometimes, buying loyalty is that cheap."

Pushing the cart of grain to a less conspicuous spot, Neo checked the burning bodies one last time and quickly left the scene. The disguise would only aid him temporarily. The dark cultists operated in pairs, so he had to act quickly and decisively to eliminate obstacles before they could expose him.

Not long after Neo left, the sound of footsteps echoed as a fire golem arrived. After a brief inspection, it stepped on the frozen snow, letting the flames burn the ground and steam rise. It then walked into the fire, grabbed a charred corpse, and began chewing. Emerging from the flames, it paused, then locked its gaze in the direction Neo had gone and resumed its rhythmic pursuit.