Volume 3 Chapter 259
by Need_More_SleepVolume 3 + Chapter 259: Unceasing Voices
“I can’t do anything…”
Tia’s tears overflowed from her eyes, dripping down her cheeks onto the ground.
She lowered her head, staring at her trembling hands.
Whenever she closed her eyes, the scenes of Black Swan City would appear, impossible to forget.
Xia Yi stood in a pool of blood, surrounded by the corpses of humans.
It was like a nightmare, shattering the mental defenses she had maintained all along.
How should she face others?
What should she do?
What could she even accomplish…
A strong sense of powerlessness enveloped Tia. The beliefs she had upheld were destroyed, as if she had fallen into an endless ocean, her heart sinking deeper into the dark depths.
Even though she was a hero in the eyes of others, she could change nothing.
Why had things developed this way?
Although her heart was full of questions, no one could answer her.
Time continued to flow.
Her restless thoughts were like a tangled mess, impossible to unravel, she could not sleep.
Days and nights passed.
Her body had stiffened, numb, hunger and fatigue tormented both body and spirit, blurring the line between reality and illusion.
Tia felt golden particles of light fall onto her body.
She raised her hazy eyes and saw a slightly different scene.
The once ruined statue shone brilliantly, it no longer felt like a cold sculpture, but a real king standing there.
The blonde girl stood up, staggering forward, her fingers touching the statue of the human king.
It seemed that something flowed from the statue into her body, awakening her bloodline.
The holy spear imprint on one of her hands appeared, emitting a faint glow.
Meanwhile, her other hand quietly began to change as well.
In the depths of her mind, she seemed to hear a distant voice say something.
…
…
“It’s been almost half a month!! Why haven’t we seen the Knight Princess yet? Where on earth has she gone?”
In the Holy Land, the Fearless Knight was extremely anxious.
Including the two remaining Grand Knights.
Since returning from Black Swan City, Knight Princess had seemingly vanished without a trace, no one knew where she had gone.
She did not even appear at the most important funeral, from start to finish.
After some time, Knight Princess still had not returned to the Holy Order of Knights.
Within the Holy Order and throughout the Rhine Kingdom, rumors began to spread uncontrollably.
“Knight Princess should still be in the Holy Land… but we can’t find her anywhere. What should we do…”
Bang!
As the Fearless Knight panicked, the doors of the Holy Hall opened.
The Holy Knights looked up in surprise and saw a blonde girl.
Everyone was shocked—Knight Princess, who had disappeared for so long, finally appeared.
“Knight Princess!”
The Fearless Knight rushed forward immediately.
“Where have you been?”
“…”
Tia did not reply, remaining silent.
Her state was strange, she no longer exuded the righteous aura she once did, and her expression was unusually cold.
The Fearless Knight could not understand why Knight Princess was like this. He wanted to question her, but when he looked into her eyes, he froze.
In those emerald eyes, there were two intersecting golden imprints.
Like two indelible marks etched into a green gem.
Staring directly at those golden imprints, the Fearless Knight felt terror. He stepped back several times, and when he regained his senses, sweating heavily, he lowered his body in a gesture of reverence, instinctively expressing awe.
It was as if the being before him was no longer human, but a superior being beyond human limits.
“Let’s go.”
Tia said softly and walked into the Holy Hall.
“Knight Princess, what just happened to you?”
“I… don’t know.” The Fearless Knight shook his head.
He felt the pressure from Tia had far exceeded that of the Knight King.
Yet why such a change would appear in Knight Princess, he could not understand.
Others were also confused and followed her.
As if visiting the Knight King in past days, they entered the Holy Hall.
But the former “King” no longer sat upon the golden throne.
Now the throne was empty.
“You must have many things you want to tell me, right?” Tia asked.
“Yes, Knight Princess Princess,” the Fearless Knight saluted, “first, we must report the casualties in Black Swan City…”
“Knight Princess Princess!!”
Before he could finish, a voice interrupted.
Everyone turned to see Silver Edge Knight.
In the previous battle, he had been severely injured, pinned in the ruins, nearly dead. If not for the absurd alchemy of the doctor, he would have died.
Thanks to Rhine Alchemy, he had barely survived.
He should have been resting now, yet he had come here.
“Silver Edge Knight, you’re still alive?” Tia asked.
“Yes, Knight Princess. Rhine Alchemy used special techniques to keep me alive…”
As he spoke, he recalled previous events and became furious.
That damned evil dragon had truly betrayed humanity, slaughtering former allies.
“Knight Princess Princess, the Holy Order suffered massive losses in Black Swan City, all thanks to that evil dragon! We lost thirty thousand!! Those brave knights were all slaughtered!!”
In truth, Xia Yi had not killed everyone. Eventually, she seemed tired and left the city, and a few survived, plus those rescued from severe injuries…
Yet, to enrage Knight Princess Princess, Silver Edge Knight used this rhetoric.
He knew very well that Knight Princess Princess, as humanity’s hero, would surely be furious.
Thus, the goal was achieved.
“I see…”
“Also, Knight Princess Princess, the Knight King you most admire, used the holy spear to protect humanity, yet was severely injured by the evil dragon. Even though Rhine Alchemy tried desperately to save him, he still remained in danger, perhaps unable to awaken…”
Silver Edge Knight stood.
He believed Knight Princess would rage, there was no reason she could tolerate this.
“Knight Princess, I have a proposal!”
“What proposal?”
“Arrest all the fallen Sword Saint’s disciples! Execute them for betraying humanity to force her to appear!” Silver Edge Knight said confidently. “We cannot find the evil dragon’s whereabouts, she must be hiding, and we can fully exploit this!”
“Is that what you think?”
“Exactly!! Those who betrayed humanity and sided with dragons must not be spared, or how would you face the Knight King?”
Silver Edge Knight was certain.
As long as the Knight King was invoked, the Knight Princess would have no choice.
The Knight King had also commanded him to do so.
Tia was silent for a moment, then asked, “Silver Edge Knight, or any of you present, why do you think this situation occurred?”
“Isn’t it obvious? It’s all due to the evil dragon’s malice!!” Silver Edge Knight replied. “If the evil dragon hadn’t betrayed us, how could this happen? Knight Princess, do you remember what you said to the Knight King?”
“What did I say?”
“You said Wright Schubert is a human Sword Saint, unchanged in heart, always on humanity’s side. But look now!” Silver Edge Knight raged. “If he were truly human, how could he commit such bloodthirsty acts? This proves his betrayal! He is humanity’s enemy!!”
Tia stood on the steps to the throne, head lowered, bangs covering her eyes.
Why had Xia Yi betrayed humanity?
Why did Xia Yi leave the human world?
Why did Xia Yi slaughter the Holy Knights?
Tia lifted her head, scanning the Holy Knights’ faces, hearing each voice clearly.
“That’s right! If they hadn’t fallen, why strike so mercilessly?”
“Calling themselves humanity’s heroes, yet harming humans!”
“The Knight King only tried to protect the Sword Saint, yet she acted like this!”
Tia now understood.
All of this was caused by human malice.
If not for human malice, Xia Yi would not have been driven to this point.
She could have quietly returned to the dragons.
Silver Edge Knight used despicable methods to spread this, making Xia Yi despised by all.
Yet the Knight King betrayed his promise, conspiring with Silver Edge Knight, using her and exploiting Xia Yi’s compassion, ambushing at Black Swan City.
“Knight Princess, please issue the order quickly. If we do not execute the evil dragon’s companions, the people will not obey!” Silver Edge Knight urged. “We and the traitors, there will be no rest until death!!”
Tia looked at Silver Edge Knight.
From childhood, she had been taught by the Frost family to become humanity’s hero, protecting humans.
The Knight King had guided her to sacrifice personal feelings for humanity’s future, to give everything.
All along, Tia had strived and grown this way.
She firmly believed that if she were willing to sacrifice, her dreams could come true.
She thought Wright was her soulmate, someone who would walk alongside her.
Later, when Wright became Xia Yi, she still tried to hold her back.
She had blindly believed Xia Yi would stand by her, thinking Xia Yi shared the same sentiments.
But Xia Yi did not, she left the human world for the dragons.
Tia could not understand—why?
Now she understood.
Xia Yi’s experience was different, she had endured too much human malice.
She had never encountered this, naively thinking that following the Knight King was the right path.
Now, after all this, Tia abandoned such naivete.
“Silver Edge Knight, do you still want to deceive me?” Tia’s voice was full of icy menace.
“What?”
Silver Edge Knight was bewildered.
“What are you saying? I never deceived you, everything I said was true… Didn’t the Knight King tell you everything? This is known to all!”
“Pick up your sword, Silver Edge Knight. You must face judgment. If you believe you are innocent, withstand my strike and prove your honor through resolve.”
The golden imprints in Tia’s eyes glimmered faintly.
“I will not repeat this.”
Silver Edge Knight froze. He did not understand the change in Knight Princess’s attitude. Under her gaze, he felt guilt and instinctively drew his weapon.
Everyone watched as Tia raised her hand, a sacred imprint appeared above it.
It was not a holy spear imprint, but… a holy sword imprint!?
“Holy Sword, manifest.” Tia murmured.
A blue light appeared, the holy sword Balmung appeared in her hand, then slashed toward Silver Edge Knight.
Whoosh!
The sword cut through Silver Edge Knight’s weapon, piercing his heart.
“I…”
Under everyone’s gaze, Silver Edge Knight fell in the center of the Holy Hall, blood spreading, eyes wide open, lifeless.
Tia displayed power completely beyond human comprehension, astonishing everyone.
The four Grand Knights, so strong, could not withstand a single strike?
Could Knight Princess really do this?
She had slain one of the four Grand Knights, Silver Edge Knight.
“Knight Princess, what you’ve done… when the Knight King awakens, he might…” the Fearless Knight whispered.
Tia, holding the blood-stained holy sword, ascended the throne step by step.
Crimson blood slid down the blade, dripping onto the white steps with each step.
“The Knight King is aged, stubborn, foolish, and no longer suitable to remain in this position.”
Tia reached the throne and sat, coldly overlooking those below.
Now she understood—not all humans were worthy of protection.
“The Holy Order… no, the human world needs a new king.”
The Holy Knights were stunned. Some wanted to oppose, but they looked up and saw the golden girl’s hands bearing both the holy spear and holy sword imprints.
All were shaken to their core.
The Fearless Knight wanted to speak but was the first to regain composure, swallowing his words, kneeling, and shouting, “All hail the ascension of the new Knight King! Please lead us into the future!”
The other Holy Knights followed, choosing submission and witnessing the birth of the new king.
The cries for the king were unceasing.
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[Author’s Note: A late-night surprise extra chapter! Recently, the Swiss rolls have had additional chapters—shouldn’t you encourage it with a monthly ticket?]