The thick smoke from the burning gods dyed the starry sky gray. []
The girl and the virgin, the warrior and the craftsman, the secretive lady with sapphire eyes, the old man with a gold-plated beard, and even the thief hiding in the shadows have all been exposed to the sea of ??fire. The statue's yellow sandstone and its countless layers of paint glowed with a burning, hungry red light. The heat was rising, and it enveloped them thickly and densely. In the twisted smoke, the faces of the gargoyles and succubi on the stone walls were blurry, as if they were separated by a curtain made of beads. From Leo's perspective, those monsters seemed to be trembling and ready to move.
"What a sin." Rosie couldn't help but mutter in a low voice.
"Be silent." Leo said, "Instead of feeling pity for the stones, it's better to look at them." Under the dancing firelight, the red-robed monk and Brandik faced off with swords. The latter's face was distorted, like a gangster with a sinister face, and there was obvious madness and ferocity in his flashing red eyes. There is no doubt that he will kill him. Whether it's for me or Ashbern
Dozens of believers gathered outside the closed church door. They looked at the sudden flames and screamed in panic. The smell in the air was very unpleasant. Even the alchemists watching were deeply disturbed by such an disrespectful act against the gods they had worshiped all their lives. They were shouting outside, the Desert Warriors were banging on the door outside, and Mario Monk's questions rang out. Everyone forgot their oaths Leo felt that the gods in the fire were even more uncomfortable.
"Everyone, get out of here, don't come in!" Ahiburn shouted loudly, "Whoever comes in, just wait to be punished! Also, shut your mouths and don't forget your oath!"
"Monk Ashbern?"
"Mario Monk, watch them." Ashborn told the other party, "This is me and him, a battle between the two of us." The flames burned them. "Leo, just watch. Unless I die, it won't be your turn to take action."
"My teacher, you still have such strong confidence in yourself." Brandik took two steps forward and approached Ashbourne. "But do you really think you can beat me?"
"We won't know until we try." Ashbourne smiled slightly, "We won't know until we try, Brandick."
¡°Then come!¡± Brandik shouted.
However, Ashbern¡¯s face was as calm as water, unmoved at all. "Come on!" Brandik shouted again. The former squatted slightly, holding the scimitar, his eyes calm, as if he was not performing an act of life and death, but just a very ordinary performance. "What are you waiting for?" The desert warrior's loss of reason affected his emotions. He is no longer calm.
Ashborn suddenly took a step forward, and Brandik immediately tensed up. But in the blink of an eye, the former took it back again, as if it had never moved. He controlled his steps carefully, moving his legs alternately in a semicircle. He stepped forward and then took a step back. He was always outside Brandik's attack range. Every step is trying and tempting. He is like a patient hunter, waiting for his prey to reveal its flaws.
"Is he really a mercenary?" Rosie whispered in surprise.
Leo feels that he is less like a mercenary and more like a master tactician.
His steps confuse Brandick and dazzle Leo even more. He can hardly see the other person's trajectory, can't figure out his plan, and can't predict his next step. Relying on the fast and slow movement speed, Ashbourne successfully exhausted Brandick's patience and made him more and more manic.
"Didn't you say you wanted to kill me?" Brandik gritted his teeth and shouted angrily, "Aren't you planning to clean up the house? Then come on! Don't wait! This is not like you, my teacher!"
"This doesn't look like you, Brandik." Ashbourne was like a cheetah arching his body, the scimitar reflected the firelight, and under the control of the monk, it stabbed Brandik in the eyes. "Patience and waiting, you have completely forgotten, Brandick, you are the loser."
"Then come!" He opened his chest.
Ashborn took three steps forward quickly, and then stopped forcibly. The latter's ax brushed against his forehead. "A clumsy scam." He distanced himself again. "Just like a woman who deceives you, only you believe it."
"Shut up!" Brandik said angrily, "She won't tolerate your slander!"
"Sooner or later we will know the truth." Ashbourne said calmly, "But obviously you won't know."
"Really?" Brandik raised the long-handled ax with a ferocious smile, "It's not me who is destined to die here." He squatted slightly, then jumped up without warning and launched an attack. Ashbourne didn't even raise his sword to block, but just made a light and half spin to dodge the move. Attack of the Desert Warrior? Opening and closing, the sound of an ax breaking through the wind rang in Leo's ears. The red-robed monk tapped his toes, dodged Brandik's series of attacks, jumped to the side, and once again distanced himself on guard.
"He has changed." Even Rosie could see it.
Leo nodded in agreement. The desert warrior strikes with all his strength, and every move is a slash without leaving any room for defense. His flaw is in the whirlwind of the ax blade. It is obvious, like a piece of tempting cheese, placed in the living room. On the dining table, anyone can taste it. "Mr. Knight, how sure are you?"
"Half to half." The knight caressed the sword unconsciously, his whole body trembling like a beast about to move. Under the firelight, his face was distorted, even more than Brandick's, as if there were scarabs crawling under his face. His eyes were full of pain, and a low growl came from his throat. what happened to him? Leo felt uneasy in his heart.
On the high platform, the burning gods seemed to be wearing flaming robes of changing colors, changing from red to orange and then to yellow, emitting beautiful light. Leo wondered why the stone statue burned like charcoal, or was there some magic in the fire? The girl opened her arms and spit out tongues of fire. The flames licked | the Virgin's cheek, as if kissing her. A cloak of flames replaces the veil of the Secret Lady, and a dagger frivolously peels off her clothes, revealing a bare head. Flames danced on the leather grip. Leo watched as the thief's fingers became tangled, gradually blackened, and finally peeled off, turning into bright red coals.
The acrid smoke made them cough repeatedly, but the two people fighting were not affected at all. Brandik's offensive was like a tidal wave, and the ax enveloped Ahiburn like a whirlwind. The ax was swung out again and again, but every blow fell into the empty space, and every blow missed by just a hair. This made the desert warrior uncontrollably agitated, and he couldn't help but curse¡ª¡ª
"Fight back, old guy! Are your bones rusty? Don't you even dare to block?" He no longer showed respect for his teacher, he was like a stranger, a robber who ignored the etiquette of the world. , a devil. "Or is your body so weak that it breaks at the touch of a clay pot?" He mocked and attacked, but to no avail.
Ashborn took a step back, stepped to the side with his right foot, feinted a shot, then retreated to his original position, dodging to the left. The scimitar is held in the palm of the hand, like a poisonous snake ready to strike, or a patient hunting spider. "Are you trying to provoke me?" The monk's face was as calm as water. "I was just as impulsive as you at your age. I only knew how to attack blindly, which cost me a heavy price. But obviously" He bent down to avoid it. The ax struck and the scimitar thrust forward for half a minute, then quickly retracted it. He was still oppressing his disciples, Leo realized. "You haven't suffered enough -" He suddenly punched out quickly, hitting Brandik in the elbow socket. The latter groaned and backed away in shock.
"Why don't you use a blade?" The desert warrior stared at Ashborn with squinted eyes.
"There's no need to deal with a guy who only has the instinct of a beast." Ashborn put the scimitar on his belt, put a pair of fleshy palms on his chest, and assumed a fighting posture.
"ThisLeo" Rosie said in disbelief, "What is this? How can this compete with the sharp steel blade?"
"You should ask Yue Wu." Leo told her that this is the case with Eastern warrior monks.
However, Brandik's anger erupted like lava, "Are you insulting me?"
"I don't think a guy who gave up his own glory is worthy of my insult." Ashburn was as calm as ever, "Look clearly, Brandick, and think about it carefully. On the first day I taught you, you questioned me. , what did I say to you? Ah, you forgot. I tell you, for monks, our bodies are also indestructible weapons."
"But you are old." Brandick sneered, "And I am no longer the person I used to be."
"It's you who changed, Brandik." The red-robed monk walked in the beating flames, the tongues of fire licking his skin, but he seemed to feel no pain. The body is a weapon? Leo felt unbelievable. He travels in the flames as fast as lightning. "I have never doubted my faith, so I am fearless and invincible. You are not!"
He jumped into the flames, and the bright red light trailed a dazzling trajectory behind him. Brandik blocked with his axe, but Ashbourne deceived the latter with a feint. He kept walking around Brandik, and brought up afterimages when he struck with his fists, confusing him. Looking at the latter's eyes. Brandick swung the ax in a hurry, but it revealed more flaws. The monk's palm penetrated the whirlwind caused by the ax blade and hit him in the chest. A strong force caused him to stumble backwards.
"How is this possible?" He was shocked.
"Nothing is impossible." Ashbourne stared at him, "I had hoped that you couldGot it, but now, I don't think you'll ever get it. "
The red-robed monk moved the giant ax with his fist, and snatched away the weapon with his bare hands under Brandik's horrified eyes. Then he suddenly took a step forward, put his shoulder on his chest, flicked his arm, and slammed the latter to the ground. Brandick groaned, his eyes finally showing despair.
¡°Brandick¡ª¡± Ashbourne said, ¡°name that woman. Have you become her puppet, the traitor to the Sanctuary of Silence? The informant?¡±
"No." He replied through gritted teeth.
"If it's not you, who is it?" The red-robed monk stood beside Brandik and asked loudly. The latter fell into a sea of ??fire. The pained and confused eyes of the gods seemed to belong to Ashberon. They stared at the once loyal warrior, their faces stiff and distorted. Fire and pain tortured them.
"You should ask that man!" Brandik shouted, trying to get up, but Ashbourne stepped forward. "Then tell me that woman's name." He put one foot on Brandik's chest and clenched his right hand into a fist. Leo guessed whether he wanted to hit the desert warrior's head directly or break his neckor maybe he couldn't do it.
"I won't tell you."
Brandik struggled like a trapped animal. He clapped his hands violently, grabbed the red monk by the back of his knees, and swung his teacher aside. The red monk briefly lost his balance, but before Brandik could get up and find the ax again, he rushed over again and knocked the desert warrior to the ground again with a powerful straight punch. This time, the red-robed monk didn't hold back. He grabbed Brandik's collar, lifted him up, and punched him several times quickly. Each punch was filled with rage and inexplicable grief. " Ah, say her name!" cried Ahiburn, "say her name!"
Brandick leaned softly on the edge of the high platform, blood spilling from the corner of his mouth. "She will come to you. I promise." He said with a sad smile. "You will know her name, and she will burn these false gods with fire."
"Tell me, what exactly did she say to you?" This is also the answer Leo wants to know. "It actually made you question your past, vetoed your beliefs, and turned you into a fanatical lunatic so easily?"
"She just told me what she really wanted and showed me what an oracle is!" Brandick laughed loudly, but the blood foam spurting out of his throat choked him. He coughed and showed a terrible smile. He said with difficulty, "I should have believed the white devil's words earlierA single obsidian can forge everything. Do you still want to deceive me and think that I don't understand anything?" ?" He struggled on the ground, twisted his stiff neck, and looked mockingly at the gods who were wailing silently in the fire. "They're long dead."
The red-robed monk looked at him calmly. "Are you done, Brandick? I already knew what you said -" "She is indeed right. If the gods were alive, you should be the blasphemy sinner, not me!" En was not interrupted by his shouting, and he continued, "¡ª¡ªFaith is not that simple, Brandick."
"What is that?" the latter snorted disdainfully.
His face was pale and his chest was sunken. Leo knew that he didn't have much time. There was no way that woman could save him. "Power." So, the alchemist told him bluntly. "Power beyond your imagination."
Ashborn nodded, "If you pass the test and become a paladin, you will understand." He said, "I will teach it to you. But you disappoint me too much"
He coughed a few more times, and more blood foam poured out of his mouth. Brandik looked even more depressed, his fire of life was dying like a candle in the wind. "So, I won't know until I die?" he said bitterly.
The red-robed monk did not answer, but he opened his arms to show his intention. In the sound of his whispered spells, the magic power gathered into water droplets at his command, forming a breeze, extinguishing the flames, kicking up dust, and sweeping away the wreckage in Brandik's surprised eyes. But the idol whose flame has faded can never be restored to its original appearance by magic. All that was left of them was their naked bodies and their bare heads.
"This is the power of faith, Brandik, you destroyed him with your own hands." Ashborn said with regret and pain, "So, after you die, you should also repent for this." He walked towards his disciple, and behind him In the sight of the person who couldn't explain clearly, he pressed his palm on his chest. "I'm sorry, I can't let you live. This is the best knot-"
A fierce gust of wind suddenly swept across the red-robed monk: a black-red shadow hit Axiburn like a speeding carriage. The latter was thrown up high and hit the sighing Zhu Xing hard.?. He slipped off it like a rag, fell to the ground and twitched a few times.
Leo knew who the shadow was, "Tario!" the alchemist shouted,
The black-red shadow turned its head, revealing a hateful face that was slowly changing into a demonic form, grinning at it. He was growling lowly at Leo, with thick saliva dripping from his mouth. He held the sword awkwardly and danced ugly.
"Damn it! What on earth is going on?" Rosie yelled angrily while triggering the crossbow.
The crossbow arrow accurately penetrated his face. The latter covered his face and whimpered in pain, black blood flowing from his fingers. "He was the one who killed the monks and the boys, not Brandik." Leo stared closely at Knight Tario who had turned into a demon. That kind of wound was definitely not caused by a giant axe. "He is the traitor, and he is the one who was deceived"
"Butthey"
"The sun is everywhere." Facing the roaring demon that rushed up like a wolf dog, Leo quickly condensed the remaining outline of the seal, "The black one is also there." He shouted, and the magic power poured out.
The blue arc of light collided head-on with the speeding demon. In the balance of power, the demon fell into a disadvantage. Even though the body is covered in flesh and covered with fleshy armor, it keeps stumbling back
¡°Brandick¡ª¡ª¡± the red-robed monk struggled beside the statues of the gods, ¡°think about the glory you once insisted on.¡± He tried to get up, but fell to the ground again. Brandik's face was filled with expressions of struggle, hatred, pain, and self-blame. He was trembling all over, his eyes flickering back and forth between the demon and the red-robed monk. "No matter what, Brandik, first of all, you are a warrior." The red-robed monk suddenly shouted, "You are a warrior, not a coward!"
As if he was having a flashback, Brandick suddenly jumped up from the ground, grabbed the ax that fell to the ground, and roared suddenly, and Leo could hear his chest cracking. "Devil!" He threw the ax with all his strength.
The giant ax whirled and hit the devil between the eyebrows. Then, the desert warrior and the demon fell to the ground at the same time. Blood spread from under their bodies, like two bloody tears of regret.