The Divine Armor of the Old Century（Book 1）

Chapter 73

The black entity suppressed the blazing white flame, driving the demons into fearful retreat. They hid nearby, lurking like wolves, watching the battle unfold.

The intense heat did nothing to faze it. The deadly black sword, starkly visible in the pure white flames, pierced Ed completely.

"So... were you toying with me before?"

This was the power to turn the tide, the awakening of Lloyd's secret blood, rendering Ed utterly powerless.

"No, I just didn't see the need. Awakening the secret blood too much would alert the Gospel Church, just as you said. The Thirteenth Order is always active, and the Knights Templar will never rest until all the secret blood is reclaimed."

Lloyd simply found it troublesome. He had hidden well in Old Dunling for six years without anyone discovering him. No one had ever warranted him to awaken his secret blood to such an extent.

The Demon Hunting Order was dead, but the Gospel Church still existed. They had formed the Knights Templar in the name of faith, and every believer became their hounds. Secret blood was a precious treasure, and the Gospel Church would never allow it to remain outside their control.

"So, what now? Have I finally made you take me seriously?"

Ed gripped the sharp black sword, the rising heat trying to melt it.

Lloyd's face was completely hidden under his helmet, only the roaring flames flickering through the gaps, leaving white trails.

"Not really. There's just something more important waiting for me, so I don't have time to waste chatting with you."

He reversed his grip on the black sword and drew it out again. Burning blood splattered, and in the next moment, Ed raised his mottled spiked sword, slashing down fiercely.

The clash of metal resounded, sending sparks flying.

Ed was like a burning beast, his sword slashing wildly. More metal began to emerge from his burning body, protruding like spikes. The blazing white and pitch black collided, then slammed into the mass of flesh.

All around was the sharp warning sound, a cold, neutral voice, mechanical in nature.

It was the binding silver shackle, that damned thing screaming in his ears. It was a technology from the Order. Demon hunters were like hunting dogs, each needing their own collar.

Ed had surpassed the critical threshold. The secret blood within him was proliferating madly, spreading its power and ill omens throughout his body.

He slashed repeatedly, catching glimpses of Lloyd's state. His mind was now consumed by the act of swinging his sword. Every clash of metal brought him joy. He struck Lloyd. If he continued like this, no matter how hard the divine armor was, it would eventually break under his assault.

He was elated. Not only had Lloyd finally shown his power, but more so because of the source of this power. This was an authority Ed had never seen before. Perhaps it was related to the Night of Sanctity? He was getting closer to that nightmare-like answer...

A sudden pain interrupted Ed's delirium. His swinging sword halted in mid-air, frozen.

"So... what is this?"

He looked at the demon hunter before him. The black divine armor not only covered Lloyd's body but also extended outward, growing like wild branches. It merged with the mass of flesh, and black thorns whipped up from the ground at Lloyd's feet, lashing at Ed, leaving large bloodstains on his chest.

With a heavy sword strike, the helmet cracked slightly, revealing a cold, emotionless gray-blue eye beneath.

Lloyd's counterattack began. It was like a simple turn-based game, continuing until one side could no longer hold out. The thorns lashed up like spears, piercing through the flames.

Ed gripped his sword tightly and slashed down at the advancing Lloyd. The screeching clash of metal disturbed the air.

The burning figure charged forward, then slowly came to a stop. He had no will to continue the attack. He stood there alone, head bowed.

That sword had accompanied Ed through countless battles. Without the support of the Order, this mass-produced spiked sword was his only connection to the past. It had witnessed everything in Ed's insane six years.

But now, it was filled with cracks and finally broke today. Ed had known this for a long time. Swords were consumables. No matter how well he maintained it, it would eventually break, just like the demon hunters.

Slowly turning his head, he held the broken sword in his hand. His chest bore numerous small wounds. It seemed that in that moment of engagement, Lloyd had struck dozens of times with superhuman speed. But with Lloyd's strength, that was impossible.

It was the black sword.

The black sword in his hand hung low, wrapped in sharp thorns, like snakes slithering on stone pillars. It was the thorns that had wounded Ed in the engagement.

"Stop, Ed. You can't win against me. If you let the secret blood continue to grow, it will trigger the binding silver shackle's meltdown."

A heavy voice came from beneath the black armor. The iron armor seemed to encase a blazing white star, with weak flames seeping through the gaps, rising and falling like breaths.

"No... it's not over yet."

Ed gripped the broken blade tightly, ignoring the frantic warnings in his mind. More silvery metal exuded from his body, melting like molten iron in the purifying flames. It flowed down his arm, connecting the broken blade, solidifying into a new sword at the break.

【Warning: Secret blood awakening at 67%, critical threshold exceeded.】

【Binding silver shackle meltdown at 13%.】

【According to the Sheath Treaty, you have ninety seconds of action time. After ninety seconds, disarm yourself and await retrieval by the Knights Templar. Any resistance will be deemed hostile.】

The incessant chatter continued. The poison known as holy silver was spreading within him along with the awakening of the secret blood. Ed was on the verge of death, yet he had never felt so powerful.

At this point, he no longer cared. He just wanted the answer, the one that destroyed all beautiful dreams.

Ed loved his comrades deeply. They should have enjoyed glory and cheers, but they died in the shadows of history, unknown, unremembered.

【Warning! Warning!】

The purifying flames rose again, burning brighter.

The secret blood came from demons, and now the human part of Ed was diminishing. The effect known as erosion was acting on him, causing his flesh to mutate. In the end, the purifying flames would burn his flesh along with his blood.

【Warning! Warning!】

【Warning!警μπ&οξνρφ......】

As the final limit was breached, the damned voice finally ceased.

The black knight watched the burning figure, like a falling star, brightest at the moment before it vanished.

"How pathetic."

He whispered softly, diving down with his sword and thorns.