Kingdom's Bloodline, page 12
What Thales did not know was that Jala was also very surprised by his performance, too.
Right from the start to the end, even if they were trailing behind a Sleepless, even despite the risk of being spotted if the sentry did turn his head around, Thales remained still—his heartbeat was calm, and even his breathing kept to a barely discernible level.
In regards to a seven-year-old boy's self-control, he was already behaving in a manner that was far too outstanding.
Of course, if Jala had not used her bizarre movements to mask Thales' breathing perfectly with the rhythm of her footsteps, his so-called 'indistinct' breathing would have been heard a long time ago.
But it was already impressive that he could do this.
'This child is definitely not an ordinary person. Is it a psionic ability or his blood? Or could it be it's because of both?
'He can't possibly be born with this talent, right?'
Thales' original plan was to have Jala lure away these patrols (It was the first time Thales heard about the Sleepless unit—his regard for the Brotherhood had been too shallow), and also risking herself to exposure. But now, it would seem that he had underestimated this female bartender. She was not just someone who was agile and skilled with the blade.
"We're here."
In a corner of the intersection, Thales slid gently down from Jala's back (reluctantly?).
Right before him was Red Street Market, enveloped with the night. His episode with the female noble in the velvet dress a few days ago still flashed vividly in his mind.
The area and size of Red Street Market was not smaller than Black Street, the name exactly as implied. This was a famous place to find entertainment in the Western District.
In truth, there were quite a few nobles who would come here. They would either come in disguise or waltz in, looking to engage in relationships that surpassed friendships from adorable and dim young girls and boys, who might or might not be willing. These nobles range from first rank dukes to low class lords from villages—lords who were uncouth and whose mannerisms were too inappropriate for them to appear in public lest they make a fool of themselves. Needless to say, there was a tacit agreement that had existed for years between the nobles of Eternal Star City and the Blood Bottle Gang.
On this night, Black Street Brotherhood stretched their hands into this place.
But it was a pity because the hand that received them was a sinister trap.
"This doesn't look good," Jala whispered.
Even Thales could see it.
At the entrance to Red Street Market were corpses lying all over the ground. Some of them had their arms broken, heads cracked, bodies twisted, intestines ripped out, or the sternum bent outwards. Their blood dyed Red Street Market a deep red in the dark.
From a distance, there were at least thirty bodies lying on the ground.
Even Thales, who had just killed someone, could not help but suck in a deep breath when he saw the corpses littered all over the ground and in all the various ways they died. He tried as hard as possible not to think about it.
Faint sounds of battle echoed in the distance.
Jala calmly stretched out her hand and pressed down on Thales' shoulder until he was squatting down.
"The last time I killed someone, I seemed to have run into you as well," Jala said with a little cheerless tone.
Thales could not see her gaze behind the protective goggles, but he suddenly felt that Jala had become more serious.
"Brat, from now on, you owe me a favor."
Thales was stunned, then he saw Jala touch the blades on her boots.
Then, the female bartender used an incredibly faint voice, like a mosquito, and left strict orders to Thales.
"Don't speak, don't move. There's a real elite up ahead. He's not of the Sleepless sentries."
Thales' hairs rose, he did not even dare breathe too deeply and felt frustrated. He had wanted to enter Red Street Market alone during all that chaos and escape from the Brotherhood, but this was just the first station, and if there was already… Ah, he was still too naïve.
In the next second, Jala suddenly took out a thick black cloth from the left side of her abdomen and pressed it gently over Thales' mouth and nose.
"Use this to breathe and muffle your voice."
Jala did not say more, with those protective goggles on, her expression was indiscernible. She slowly drew the blade from her leg.
Thales pressed the black cloth over his mouth and nose. This was a good item; he had no respiratory difficulties from breathing under the black cloth, and the sound of his breaths was also masked.
If this was in a game, it would definitely be a class-level equipment that gave "Stealth +20"!
Thales automatically ignored Jala's faint fragrance from the cloth.
But the next moment, he could not allow himself to relax anymore.
"I found him." He heard Jala say.
Then, she shot up like a bolt of lightning. With one stomp on the wall beside her, she pounced on the corpses at the fork like an arrow fired from a bow!
The only thing that was faster than Jala was the Wolf Limb Blade she threw.
At that moment, as he breathed through the black cloth, Thales noticed one of the thirty-something corpses—with its intestines spilling out of its body, and some of those intestines were even separated from its body—to his shock, the corpse moved.
*Ting!*
A freezing ray of light suddenly shot out from behind the corpse and knocked that Wolf Limb Blade off its trajectory!
But the second Wolf Limb Blade was already in its master's hand, and it charged forward with Jala as she approached the corpse rapidly.
With her right hand holding onto the blade in a reverse grip, she instantly cut at the corpse!
*Sha! Dang!*
Thales recognized that sound. That was the sound of metal piercing into flesh.
But before he even had time to register what was happening, his vision blurred and he saw a person staggering out from behind the corpse before he lunged forward. Immediately after, a rapier fell to the ground with a clatter.
Jala had already landed on the ground nimbly. She was positioned in a half squat, with her left hand planted on the ground. The blade in her right hand was covered in blood.
That person who lunged out from behind the corpse swayed before he fell to the ground.
He did not move.
The female bartender picked up the Wolf Limb Blade she had thrown with a backhand grip and stood up quietly.
It was just a few short seconds. Thales felt his jaw fall slack as he watched.
He knew that Jala was very strong.
Except for the dog-slaughtering incident all those years ago, he only now truly came to understand just how powerful the female bartender was after seeing how she had swiftly ambushed and killed today.
But Thales still did not make a sound, nor move a muscle.
He had a faint feeling that Jala had just become much more solemn.
"What an eye-opener. Among the ordinary class, you must be considered an outstanding assassin."
As the sounds rang in the air, a tall, bald, and fierce man walked over from afar, carrying an exaggerated spiked penta-mace over his shoulder. He did not even spare a glance at his deceased comrade—he only glared at the female bartender standing in the middle of the corpses.
"You know that your Brotherhood is over, right? Everyone's in the trap, all your forces are wiped out. You won't be able to predict just how terrifying the people we've sent tonight are."
The fierce, bald man let out a snort, "Our task is vigilance or stopping all possible reinforcements from the Brotherhood, but I didn't expect that the formidable Black Street Brotherhood would send over a little girl playing with knives."
The large, bald man walked into the light of the setting sun.
Thales could see his face clearly. The man was missing half his nose. His nostrils were flipped outwards in a terrifying manner, and he looked like a skeleton.
Thales suddenly recognized who he was.
He was the bald Sven.
Blood Bottle Gang's leader in illegal businesses.
One of the famous Strongest Twelve in the Blood Bottle Gang.
Chapter 10: Jala's Blade (Two) |
Twelve years ago, when the kingdom was in chaos and blood covered the lands, that terrifying swordsman, wielding his blade without emotions or principles, sliced out his own territory in Bgenelack Street. The newly born Black Street Brotherhood and the capital's well-established Blood Bottle Gang were like two evil dragons that would not rest until they died. For the hegemony of Eternal Star City and Constellation's underworld, they started fighting in a battle to the death.
As time passed, Black Street Brotherhood grew up gradually from an infant dragon into a fierce, gigantic one that had sharp fangs and claws, especially during the recent years. They were on equal footing with the Blood Bottle Gang, who originally had the upper hand.
From thence, during the fight that lasted ten years, the two gangs had gathered together a group of terrifying people outside of the kingdom's gaze and stirred up a great surge formed by blood in the underworld.
During this battle, a dozen or so powerful fighters from the Black Street Brotherhood and another dozen skilled fighters from the Blood Bottle Gang became the people standing at the frontlines of the battle, representing the group of young men that possessed the greatest hope for their future and the younger generation that possessed the greatest promise.
Compared to their seniors—the three mysterious legendary Assassins along with the six Powerhouses, who rarely attacked from the Brotherhood, the two terrifying Mystics, together with the eight strange Psionic Warriors in the Blood Bottle Gang, the names of these powerful youngsters were much greater, even the child beggars were familiar with them.
The bald Sven was the most mysterious of the Strongest Twelve in Blood Bottle Gang, a name given to them by gossipers to name the twelve young aces since there was only twelve among the new generation now. He was in charge of collecting the illegal accounts in Blood Bottle Gang. He rarely showed his face during large-scale fights, that was why no one talked about how great his fighting prowess and skills were. However, he had not stumbled in the five years of harsh and bloody fights between the gangs. Simultaneously, most of those who had been his enemy are now skeletons, and they were all once elite fighters of outstanding abilities in the Brotherhood.
Jala did not say anything, she merely exercised her wrist slightly.
"Dorno is an idiot. His idea of using corpses to lay an ambush is also despicable, but I still have to be grateful for his death, or else I wouldn't have known that we would have an important guest who came here quietly, and uninvited."
Sven gave an ugly smile, brought down that terrifying spiked penta-mace from his shoulders, then started swinging it back and forth with his hands while looking as if he was not exerting any effort in doing so.
Jala suddenly disappeared from her spot.
The bald Sven smiled without a care, then turned around and swung his arm fiercely!
*Cling! Clang!*
The spiked penta-mace, twice the size of a normal person's arm, crashed into two Wolf Limb Blades causing Jala, who had suddenly laid an ambush by rushing to his lower left side, to lose her balance before she was sent flying backward!
Thales' heart clenched!
Fortunately, Jala gained her balance mid-air and performed a beautiful backflip before she landed on the ground.
The bald Sven gritted his teeth and swung his weapon as if he was swinging a baseball bat from Thales' previous world.
'What terrifying strength.' Thales was suddenly slightly curious. If he just had enormous strength, then why was it that Sven was rumored to be so mysterious?
"What fearsome speed, but if I knew about your existence, I can just rely on my instincts in battle, and blocking you isn't really that difficult."
Sven's hideous nose looked terrifying as it trembled due to his laughter.
Jala did not speak. She only disappeared from her spot again. In the next moment, she appeared before Sven's left leg with her body bent.
Both blades were brought out.
But Sven only made a light tap with his foot and moved his body sideways before he acted on habit and brought his mace crashing down again!
*Bang!*
The spiked mace crashed into the stone pavement and debris flew in all directions!
Jala rolled out of the dangerous spot and avoided that fatal strike.
"So there is a blade that's created in such a curved manner? It's an uncommon weapon, that's for sure. Come, lassy. It doesn't matter whether you are a killer or an assassin, that ambush you are so proud of is useless against an enemy who is prepared."
Jala crouched down on the ground as if she was thinking of a strategy.
"What would you do? You wouldn't be thinking of charging forward, right?
"After all, this is the only way for you to enter Red Street Market."
Sven continued using words to interrupt Jala's thoughts.
Thales grew even more nervous in his heart. He knew that Jala was currently his only hope in getting through Red Street Market and escaping from the Brotherhood, but he was even more concerned about Jala's safety.
He was also worried about Sven's mysterious reputation.
Jala's expression was hidden behind her protective goggles, but she seemed to have come to some sort of conclusion as she stood up slowly from the ground.
'It has been many years.' Jala laughed bitterly at the bottom of her heart. 'Do I still have to use this skill?'
Thales swallowed nervously. He had borne witness to Jala's agile, phantom-like movements and her terrifying speed, but would her Wolf Limb Blade be effective against the bald Sven, who had clearly had grown perceptibly in terms of physical strength.
Within the next moment, Jala flipped the Wolf Limb Blades in her hands at the same time and made it so that she was holding the blades in a forehand grip.
And then.
Jala no longer disappeared.
She charged straight towards Sven.
Thales almost cried out.
One of the blades was positioned in front and the other right behind. The one in front went straight for Sven's throat, and the blade at the back seemed directed to the spiked mace.
"Frontal assault? You're just asking for death!" Sven shouted in excitement and swung the mace towards Jala!
*Hu!*
The spiked mace carried the sound of wind and went charging towards Jala's waist as she continued dashing forward!
'Later, I'm going to enjoy myself with this pretty wench… Hmm?'
Sven noticed to his surprise that this time, Jala did not block nor did she retreat!
At the moment the mace arrived right before her body, she stretched out her flexible body at an impossible angle!
While facing the spiked mace before her, Jala did a forward somersault that made Thales so shocked that his jaw fell slack and marginally avoided that incoming spiked mace!
Even Sven was shocked.
'This movement… How did she do it?'
Her attack had not ended.
The female bartender pressed the blade positioned behind the other on the spiked mace and, using Sven's huge strength, jumped onto the bald man's left shoulder!
Then, she swung the blade positioned in front downwards swiftly!
The modified curved edge of the blade allowed the Wolf Limb Blade to cut towards the left side of Sven's neck with faster, stronger, and even fatally than a normal blade.
*Rip!*
Sven roared as he retreated. During that critical moment, he managed to avoid getting a mortal blow. However, blood still gushed out from his left shoulder.
'This woman… has she completely given up on defense and is using risky evasions for frontal assaults?
'Doesn't she know that if she makes even a single mistake, she'll die?'
But Jala did not relent in her attacks. With a single tap of her foot, she continued her assault!
Right before their eyes, she turned her body in the air and dodged the tip of Sven's mace with just a few millimeters between them.
The Wolf Limb Blades in her hands followed their master and sliced towards Sven as they spun.
Blood light shone in the air once again, and this time, Jala had cut open the right side of the bald man's ribs!
Then she struck again!
When she attacked head-on, she perfectly displayed her agility and flexibility. As she faced Sven's terrifying attacks, she would move and dodge every single time the mace almost struck her. There were several times where Thales even saw the tip of her nose almost grazing the rusted spikes on the mace.
At the same time, the rhythm to Jala's attack and her speed did not slow down even a single bit. In fact, she was even deadlier than when she was trying to ambush Sven.
On the other hand, while Sven roared furiously with an intimidating presence, she continued attacking tirelessly and exposing herself to extreme danger. Even Thales could tell that Sven was continuously injured, and blood continued pouring out of his wounds. He was already having trouble coping with the situation and was struggling.
'I can't continue like this!' Sven thought in panic. 'How could she not make a mistake while dodging minimally?'
*Clang!*
Sven roared and used all his strength to block the attack. With a disheveled side roll, he dodged it and rapidly widened the distance between them. Now, imagine a big man built like a bear being forced to roll on the ground by a slender girl only two thirds his size.
"This… This is Swift Killing Blade!"
This sentence was like a stone that struck the surface of the water and interrupted Jala's continuous onslaught, causing her to stop moving.
"The skills you used to kill Dorno previously should be the Assassination Blade and the Instant Kill Blade!"
