Ch 17: Fury Of The Silver Hound
Phia watched the Black-haired Man, clad in Silver Armor, stand before her, blocking the fatal blow. Her eyes welled up, and large tears rolled down her delicate face to the ground.
“Bal… Bal!”
Phia wept uncontrollably. Weak, she sat on the ground, supporting herself with her hands. Bal felt immense pity watching her. Bal turned around, raised his Long Sword, and pointed the tip at the Commander.
“Long time no see, warrior who slays demons, Silver Saint Hound Bal.”
“So you’re the renowned Dragon Knight Legion Commander. Are you the one bullying my cat?”
Rewind the time to the moment Phia just left the Inn.
In fact, as soon as Bal took his first bite of food, he noticed that the wine, food, and dishes were laced with Sleeping Pills. In the past, to conduct Surprise Attacks on the Demon Race, he often reversed his sleep schedule, and Sleeping Pills were his usual method. However, gradually, his body developed Drug Resistance, and now, a dose lethal to ordinary people wouldn’t make him fall asleep immediately. But he knew he couldn’t expose Udel’s Plan. Since school days he knew Udel was a meticulous planner; he certainly had a backup. To investigate and secure future peace, he decided to play along.
After a satisfying meal, Bal relaxed and pretended to sleep. He heard Udel and Phia’s conversation and knew Phia’s magic was bound by some Item. When the two went out, Bal still lay on the table. He knew Udel would send someone to watch him, which would allow him to easily glean information about the mysterious Item from that person.
Soon, two Soldiers came in. They exchanged glances, silently drawing their Weapons. Just as they were about to end Bal’s life, Bal suddenly leaped up, striking one Soldier’s chin with his palm. The intense impact knocked the Soldier unconscious. Before that Soldier fell, Bal kicked the other Soldier away, then, wielding a Dagger, severed the tendons in the arms and legs of the unconscious man. He turned and stepped on the hand of the kicked Soldier holding his Weapon. His movements were fluid, completing the series of actions in the blink of an eye.
“Tell me, what did Udel borrow to deal with me?”
Bal leaned down, one arm resting on the leg that was stepping on the Soldier’s hand, like a thug. But his sharp gaze and cold tone made him look more like a ruthless killer.
“I won’t… Aaahhhhh!!!”
“Stubborn, but you don’t have much time. If you don’t tell me something useful, I’ll kill you immediately. If anything happens to Phia, even a scratch, your family, friends, wife, and children will join you in Another World.”
“Binding Magic Lock! It’s a Binding Magic Lock! Lord Udel borrowed a Binding Magic Lock from the Lord! He also brought the Dragon Knight Corps! I’ve told you what you wanted to know. Please let me go, I don’t want to die!”
“Hmph…”
“Aaaaaahhhhh!”
After hearing the Soldier’s answer, Bal severed the Soldier’s right-hand tendons and the tendons in both legs, then abandoned the two and climbed out the window. He needed to reach the Lord’s Manor as soon as possible to find a way to unlock the Binding Magic Lock.
Late at night, he raced to the Lord’s Manor. Along the way, Udel’s Subordinates ambushed him several times, but they couldn’t slow Bal down. Bal countered with Throwing Knives, using magic to paralyze them; he didn’t kill anyone.
Bal leaped, his Magic-enhanced legs generating an astonishing jump. He landed on the roof of the Lord’s Manor and used magic to locate the Lord’s position. After confirming the Lord’s Room, he moved like a phantom behind the Guards at the door, quickly striking their spines to paralyze them from the neck down. After dealing with the Guards, he kicked open the door, threw the two Guards into the room, and punched the Lord hard in the abdomen, forcing him to kneel.
“Tell me, how do I remove the Binding Magic Lock?”
Bal stepped on the kneeling Lord’s shoulder; with a little force, he could break the Lord’s collarbone.
“I… I’ll tell you! Don’t kill me! Just use my Ring against the Binding Magic Lock. I told you, don’t kill me!”
Bal looked at the terrified man beneath him. He had long known the Lord was corrupt and tyrannical, so he drew his Dagger, killing him with two swift thrusts, one to the throat and one through the heart.
After obtaining the Ring, Bal broke the limbs of all the Soldiers who attacked him on the way back and brought them to his room. After locking the doors and windows, he cast a Barrier around his room to prevent anyone from escaping. Once prepared, he donned his Sacred Silver Armor, carried his Long Sword, and rushed out, praying for Phia’s safety.
After running for an hour, Bal arrived at the Forest. He stood where Phia and Udel had been. Meat Chunks were scattered on the ground; he couldn’t tell what they were. Not far away lay a still-breathing person. He approached and found it was Udel, his abdomen pierced by Phia’s magic. Udel was pale and lay on his back, his survival instinct leading him to plead for help.
Bal healed Udel’s wound with magic, severed his tendons, and tied him to a tree with Udel’s Clothes. After securing Udel, he continued into the depths of the Forest; he could sense Phia’s magic.
“Hold on, I’m coming to save you.”
Bal spoke involuntarily, pushing his body-enhancement magic to the limit. Finally, just before Phia was about to be executed by the Dragon Knight Corps Commander, he blocked the fatal blow for her.
Back to the present.
Bal narrowed his eyes; rage filled his body.
“Do you know the true Identity of the Demon Race you’re protecting? She is the Demon King, the evil king of the Demon Race. Just now, she killed my Subordinates. Are you going to betray Humanity to protect this Demon King?”
“I don’t care if she’s some damn Demon King, and I don’t care about your arrogant and conceited worthless Subordinates. I only know you made my most important person cry, and now you’ll pay with your life!”
With that, Bal vanished. The next instant, he appeared behind the Commander. The Commander was shocked. Even against the Demon King, he was confident in detecting her movements, but he couldn’t keep up with Bal’s speed. Bal then threw countless Throwing Knives and Daggers, all blocked by the Commander.
“So you’re just fast. With this level, you can’t defeat me.”
“Not necessarily. The one who can defeat me is her. She won’t let me down.”
Phia struggled to use the last of her magic to weave Support Magic for Bal.
Upon receiving Phia’s Support Magic, Bal’s expression brightened. He planted his Long Sword, clasped his hands, and began chanting magic.
“[God of Time’s Mercy, Divine Power surges, grant me power, sweep away all! ] Time Control!”
This was the magic Bal had grasped after receiving Phia’s intentions. Like a chant, its effects were incredibly powerful: it sped up the user’s time flow, allowing for acceleration and rapid recovery, and it could also slow down the time of an enemy the user targeted, ignoring all resistances.
“Ugh! I can’t move?! No, I can still move. Don’t underestimate me! Silver Saint Hound! [I offer my body, grant me infinite power!] Dragon Transformation!”
At his own cost, the Commander transformed into a five-meter-long golden Dragon. The Dragon’s roar dispelled the clouds obscuring the Moonlight.
Bal looked at the Dragon and smiled disdainfully.
“It’s just a flying Lizard. You deserve to die!”
With that, Bal drew his Long Sword, launching himself at the Dragon. The Dragon extended its claws towards Bal. Seeing Bal airborne, it felt smug, believing he couldn’t dodge in the air. But it was proven wrong. Bal, with an uncanny maneuver, dodged the attack and punched the Dragon’s head. The Dragon was shaken by the violent blow. It couldn’t comprehend what was happening, and in furious frustration, it gathered magic in its mouth—Dragon Flame, unique to Dragons.
Seeing the Dragon Flame, Bal moved, instantly landing on the Dragon’s back, as if he were the true Dragon Knight. His Long Sword shone brightly. A Sword Light flashed, and the Dragon’s wings were severed. Dragon Blood gushed out. The pained Dragon turned to spew Dragon Flame, but Bal remained on its head.
“What?! What kind of power is this?!”
The Dragon felt immense fear. It couldn’t understand Bal’s actions. He could have instantly beheaded it, but he didn’t. Bal wanted the Dragon to experience extreme pain before allowing it to die.
“Let’s dance, Lizard. You hurt my beloved, and I won’t let you die easily.”
A crazed smile appeared on Bal’s face. This was the true form of the Silver Saint Hound.
Night was ending; as the sun rose, this conspiracy would vanish.
