*Hiss...*
*Huuu...*
The panting of the Emperor's Blades continuously came from their metal respirators. However, unlike their previous composure, their current breaths were laced with a bit of... anxiety and tension...
Before them.
Patriot, stripped of all his armor, revealed the most primal side of a pure-blooded Wendigo.
Powerful...
"It is with great regret... Captain Buldrokkas'tee....."
The lead Emperor's Blade said slowly, forcing back the shock in his heart.
"We have tried a thousand words to persuade you, but... you remain so stubborn, even going so far as to side with the 'evil god' who intends to bring disaster to the Empire. We are very disappointed in you... Captain..."
"We admire your outstanding contributions in the past, and now..."
"We will represent Ursus... and execute you, that 'evil god', and everyone else except Talulah!"
"..."
At that moment.
The lead Emperor's Blade, along with the other Emperor's Blades, drew the longswords at their waists and charged at Patriot.
However...
The Patriot of today was no longer the same.
With a sudden stomp.
The most primal wave of Originium shook out, even materializing as a tangible barrier that slowed the Emperor's Blades' speed.
The golden light in the deep black pupil of Patriot's left eye gradually flickered.
[Noble Phantasm: Knight of Owner!]
Under the support of Patriot's ridiculously powerful Originium energy.
The long spear in Patriot's left hand was already covered in crimson patterns, transforming it into a high-level Noble Phantasm and bestowing upon it a new attribute: [Piercing].
*Boom.*
A loud explosion.
The ground under Patriot's feet completely shattered into a shallow crater under his immense power. The next moment, Patriot had already arrived in front of one of the weaker Emperor's Blades. Just as the spear was about to pierce through, it was intercepted by Patriot's own soul. The spear's tip was changed to its tail at the last moment, which then viciously whipped against the Emperor's Blade's chest.
In an instant.
Under the incredibly terrifying force.
This Emperor's Blade shot backwards like a meteor, plowing a long trench in the ground before crashing into a distant boulder and stopping.
Lucas: "Why can't we just kill them, Mr. Patriot?"
Patriot explained in a deep voice: "The most terrifying thing about these Emperor's Blades, aside from their strength, is that upon death, the Demon Fragment inside them will lose control and explode. The explosion of just one Emperor's Blade is enough to turn an entire village, or even half a small town, into a barren wasteland... And if we kill him directly, the others will die..."
"Tsk..."
Lucas clicked his tongue.
"Then what do we do, Mr. Patriot."
"..."
Patriot didn't speak; clearly, he didn't know either.
The death-detonation of the Emperor's Blades was their greatest killing move, and also their most troublesome feature.
Many powerful elite operators might be able to defeat an Emperor's Blade, but even in victory, they would ultimately die in the self-destruction, resulting in a one-for-one trade-off.
"Get these comrades out of here, fast! Go!!"
Patriot shouted, and the Shieldguards responsible for protecting the ordinary Infected quickly found a direction and led them to retreat.
"Hey man~ that soul that appeared in front of Mr. Patriot just now... could it be the 'evil god' these monsters were talking about?"
These ordinary Infected asked timidly.
In other words.
The very existence of a soul was an immense shock to an ordinary person. Let alone accepting it, not being afraid was already a blessing.
"Could Mr. Patriot really be..."
"Get lost!!"
This Shieldguard was furious. His large palm slapped the Infected's face, and in an instant, his cheek swelled up high.
"'Evil god'?! You people believe the nonsense of these 'Imperial demons'?!! Where did the food and vegetables you've been eating these past few days come from!! Why haven't you been threatened by any Infected Pickets these past few days!! Why were we able to receive intelligence in advance and avoid those despicable Imperial army groups!! Think with your pig brains!!"
Logically speaking.
As disciplined Shieldguards, they would never say such things to the comrades they were protecting.
But upon hearing this doubt.
A Shieldguard squad leader couldn't hold back his anger. Even if he were to be punished by the Captain later, he had to vent his frustration.
"Didn't Talulah say that the food and vegetables were provided by that gentleman who didn't want to show himself...."
As soon as he said that.
Everyone instantly understood. Could this gentleman be...
Just now.. they had actually believed the words of these 'Imperial Butchers' and doubted Mr. Patriot who had protected them for so long, and the soul gentleman who had fed them...
Able to feed them...
Never mind a soul, even a real demon would be ten thousand times better than these monsters in human skin from Ursus!
"Sorry!! Sorry!!!"
"I shouldn't have doubted Talulah, I shouldn't have doubted Mr. Patriot, and I especially shouldn't have doubted that gentleman!!!"
Many of the Infected who had initially been skeptical slapped themselves hard. And many more, after learning the truth, felt even more grateful towards the Reunion Movement.
The gratitude that had been suppressed until now was completely released.
From almost all the Infected.
A large wave of golden Prayer Power flowed into Lucas's soul...
"Hiss.. why is there so much more? Over ten thousand points of Prayer Power, that's already comparable to all the Prayer Power I've earned over the years. Could it be those guys..."
Lucas's lips curved up slightly.
The amount of Prayer Power provided by a person is related to their level of gratitude. And today, this huge wave of Prayer Power showed that these Infected were wholeheartedly grateful to Lucas, sincerely grateful to the entire Reunion Movement...
This was a good trade!
Patriot was now locked in a fierce battle with these Emperor's Blades.
Due to the special nature of the Emperor's Blades.
It was impossible to kill them, so he could only fight them head-on with his fists.
And although these Emperor's Blades were individually far inferior to the current Patriot.
The coordination they displayed when the six of them united still managed to inflict some minor injuries on him.
On the Wendigo's strong body, under the constant attacks of these Emperor's Blades, many new scars and wounds appeared.
However.
These attacks could no longer have much of an effect on the current Patriot.
"No!! Pursue them!! Don't let these ants escape!!"
One of the Emperor's Blades shouted anxiously. The six of them were completely tied down by Patriot alone and couldn't break free.
The only ones who could potentially break free now were the Emperor's Blade being held up by FrostNova or the one held up by Talulah. If any one of them got an opportunity, with the power of an Emperor's Blade, they could instantly break through the Shieldguards' defensive line and stop the Infected from escaping.
They naturally understood Patriot's current thinking.
He wanted to let the Infected escape first, and then he would go for the kill.
Even with their self-destruction.
They didn't have much confidence that they could actually kill the current Patriot.
"Like hell I'll let you people leave!!!"
FrostNova and the Yeti Squadron were holding back two Emperor's Blades, and the pressure on her was the greatest.
FrostNova roared.
In this moment.
She too broke through her own limits.
In her cold eyes, an incredibly dazzling red light flickered, and a blizzard seemed to swirl around her body. Even just standing there, the cold had completely frozen the ground. At this moment, even the members of the Yeti Squadron fighting alongside FrostNova couldn't help but feel an intense cold.
*Huuu...*
A wisp of frost escaped from FrostNova's lips.
Then she waved her hands.
The remaining Originium energy in her body surged.
With herself at the center, an incredibly violent and severe frost burst erupted. In an instant, FrostNova's surroundings turned into a world of ice, and the two Emperor's Blades were forcefully trapped there by the current FrostNova and the Yeti Squadron, unable to go and provide support elsewhere.
"..."
At this moment.
The six Emperor's Blades engaged in a fierce battle with Patriot were growing anxious.
This emotion was a first for them.
In the past.
They were the invincible butchers, the Emperor's Blade. Wherever they went, none were not afraid. They killed nobles who attempted to betray the Emperor and Ursus, and they slaughtered the armies of other nations. Wherever their hands passed, it was an extension of Ursus's territory. Wherever their black shadows passed, all things became a part of their black kingdom.
The fear of outsiders seemed to have made them forget what fear was.
And at this moment...
They were truly afraid of this Wendigo..
It was then that they finally realized that they... were still 'human' after all, not true demons...
"Use that technique!! Kill Buldrokkas'tee!"
An Emperor's Blade who seemed to be a squad leader gave the command, and the six Emperor's Blades instantly retreated to a relatively far distance.
They raised their hands in unison.
And from Lucas's spiritual perspective, the power of fear that had been hovering in the sky finally came into play.
Under the control of the six Emperor's Blades, this power of fear transformed into an incomparably terrifying force, condensing into a giant black sphere in their palms.
"....."
"This is..."
Patriot: "We must dodge... this is one of the Emperor's Blades' moves that is as powerful as their self-destruction. The power of fear will annihilate any object it passes over, even leaving behind a path of barren land..."
Lucas thought for a moment, then took a deep breath and slowly exhaled.
The divinity in Patriot's left eye flared, and the golden light was like a light of hope, incredibly dazzling.
"Then let's end this battle with this move, Mr. Patriot..."
Before Patriot knew what Lucas was planning to do.
Countless golden lights had already risen around Patriot's body.
The white ice field was now tinged with a touch of gold..
[Thirteen Restraints Released. Round Table decision, start.]
Around Patriot, several golden figures materialized. Following their chants, more and more golden particles appeared out of thin air, converging mid-air to form golden ribbons.
[This is not a battle against fae. Approved.]
[This is a battle for survival. Approved.]
[.....]
...
Following the chants of the golden figures.
The golden ribbons around Patriot continuously converged upon the long spear in his right hand.
In an instant.
Patriot's spear turned completely golden. And under the blessing of a special divine power, it was as if, in that instant, this spear could pierce through anything in the world.
[Ancient mysteries, fade away.]
[Naive riddles, all return to nothingness.]
From Patriot's mouth, Lucas's chanting voice emerged.
And, following Lucas's chant.
These golden lights, like balls of thread for weaving clothes, continuously twisted around the golden spear. And the golden spear's length instantly climbed from its original three meters to a full ten meters. The golden lights intertwined, and the prototype of an equal triangle energy spear condensed in Patriot's hand. Golden bands of energy wrapped around him.
He raised the spear high. At this moment... Patriot stood tall between heaven and earth.
[Holy Lance]
"Not good!!"
At this moment.
The distant Emperor's Blades' eyes widened simultaneously, because, from that golden energy spear, they truly felt a power of death. They would die...
Why..
Why would a Wendigo know such a technique?
Weren't Wendigos known for their physical prowess?
[Annihilation... Fear!!]
The power of fear condensed by the six Emperor's Blades was instantly released. Wherever the beam of energy passed, the ground instantly turned into the scorched earth of their [Domain]. This powerful energy rushed towards Patriot at an extremely fast speed.
[Weigh Anchor]
The golden energy spear was aimed at the incoming energy beam.
At this moment.
Both of Patriot's eyes bloomed with a golden, divine light.
The voices of Patriot and Lucas rang out simultaneously.
[The Lance that Shines to the End's End (Rhongomyniad)]
This time.
Relying on Patriot's power, Lucas completely unleashed the power of the Noble Phantasm projection. A golden beam of light, several meters in diameter, collided with the Emperor's Blades' power of fear. Instantly, the force of the collision between gold and black blasted a deep crater in the center of the snowy plain.
However..
Under the fully unleashed Noble Phantasm projection.
The Emperor's Blades' attack was instantly defeated. Looking at the counter-attacking golden beam of light.
The eyes of the many Emperor's Blades widened.
"Dodge!!!"
The group of Emperor's Blades escaped the Holy Lance's range, but there were still two of the weakest who failed to dodge in time. They were completely annihilated under the Holy Lance. Not only that, the power of the Demon Fragment in their bodies, meant for self-destruction, was also disintegrated by the power of the Holy Lance. They didn't even have a chance to self-destruct...
Complete silence fell over the field.
The many Emperor's Blades had never expected their self-destruction method to fail...
How is this possible!!
Just by merging with the [evil god], why has Patriot's power become so immense!
"All units! Retreat!! Mission failed!!"
This mission was a complete failure after sacrificing two Emperor's Blades. Relying on the remaining few, they were naturally no match for the current Patriot. They could only report back to their superiors that the current Patriot... had truly betrayed the Empire!!
With one command.
The remaining seven Emperor's Blades did not hesitate and retreated in a flash, not even looking back.
"We won..."
"We won!!!"
"We won!!!"
After a full few seconds of silence.
An immense joy erupted from the ranks of the Infected. They were celebrating, celebrating their survival from the clutches of the Imperial Butchers, celebrating joining the right side, celebrating... that at least the Infected still had hope for life.
Regaining life from the jaws of fear.
Many people even shed tears for a moment.
"Long live Patriot!! Long live the Reunion Movement!! Long live the soul gentleman!!"
At this time.
Talulah was so tired she sat down on the ground with a plop. Even with the help of the Shieldguards, contending with one Emperor's Blade had exhausted her. Alina ran over and hugged Talulah, and Talulah comfortingly stroked Alina's hair.
However, she was muttering to herself in her heart.
Since Mr. Reeve and Mr. Patriot are so powerful when they merge, then if he merged with me, could I also become incredibly powerful?
On the other side, FrostNova was also exhausted.
Forcibly pushing past her limits to fight two Emperor's Blades with the Yeti Squadron had drained all of her current strength. When the Emperor's Blades finally retreated, FrostNova couldn't hold on any longer and her body went limp, falling to the ground.
"We succeeded, Mr. Patriot..."
Lucas and Patriot separated.
Because a large part of his own spiritual power had merged into Patriot's body, Lucas's current spiritual power seemed to have reverted to its original state. It was worth it. There was one benefit to soul fusion: in the future, he wouldn't need Patriot's consent to merge into his body. After all, a fragment of Lucas's soul now resided within Patriot.
Conversely, Patriot's own strength had significantly increased after merging with Lucas's power.
Although after Lucas left his body, Patriot's own strength wasn't as great as when the two were one, it was still much stronger than during his own peak.