Under the sun, the two hostile people faced each other silently.

One fell to his knees and gasped, weak.

One person stood stunned, and his heart shook.

Finally, Tails exhaled: the after-effects of the forcible use of the Prison River in his body slowly subsided.

Compared to six years ago, when he fainted every time the sin of the River of Hellland struck, Tails smiled with relief.

See.

Although it can't be improved......

But proficiency and habituality can still be done.

Under the sun, Nicolas remained motionless.

It seems to have fallen into the biggest confusion in this life.

I saw that the meteorite was stiff and gasped in disbelief: "How could it be...... That is, that's me on the battlefield...... It's only on the battlefield that you can occasionally awaken ......"

"A twist of fate...... Even the name is it, it's all made by him temporarily......"

"You're only ...... in training sessions"

Right now.

Tails roared!

"Ahhh

He threw his sword away and rushed at Nicolai with a fierce expression!

Nicolai shuddered slightly, although he was still immersed in shock, but the battle consciousness that had been trained countless times allowed him to react without delay.

"Bang!"

Nicolas coldly waved his arm and opened Tyres's fist.

In the next moment, the Meteorite came out with both hands!

"Boom!"

At the end of the crossbow, Tails only felt a pain in his chest, and the momentum of the forward rush stagnated, and in the next second, Nicolai's ascension saber appeared on his throat.

After six years, feeling the faint coolness of the same weapon attached to the same part, the weak Tails could only sigh slowly.

"What the hell is going on?"

Nicolas retracted his shock, and he looked coldly at the prince in front of him: "Fate is broken...... It's completely different from the finishing power that any system has been trained in, and you can't learn it from any swordsmanship or move!"

The breeze swept through the quiet world, scraped over the rocks, and brought a mournful howl and scattered birdsong in the distance.

"Huh," Tails grinned reluctantly, "Is it that weird?"

"After all......"

He leisurely raised his trembling hand and flicked the blade in front of his neck as if it were just a pleasant outing.

"I'm a disciple of the Starfaller, and I'm beaten by you once a week...... Good student. ”

Nicola's expression froze.

He withdrew the blade and lifted Tails by the collar.

"I'll warn you one last time......"

At that moment, Tails suddenly raised his finger and interrupted him.

"Shhh

"The bird's call—it's the sound of a gray magpie. ”

Nicolas was slightly stunned.

"What?"

But in an instant, a terrible shiver erupted all over Nicolai's body!

The face of the Meteorite has changed drastically!

That's the instinct of a battle-hardened warrior.

He was about to turn around subconsciously!

But Tails didn't think so.

The prince, who had been prepared, suddenly raised his hands and firmly clasped the shoulders of the meteorite!

Don't let him get out of place!

Nicolais, who was halfway through the turn, was suddenly detained, and his face changed sharply: "You-"

He didn't go on.

A terrible muffled sound suddenly appeared in the ears of the two:

"Whew!"

Tails was pleased to see that Nicolai in front of him shook violently at the sound of the sound, and his face froze.

The Starfaller's expression twisted from shock to hideousness, and then from hideous to furious!

"Bang!"

He threw a punch with his left hand, leaving no stone and slamming it into Tails' chest!

The prince was knocked into the air like a punching bag, and fell with a thud.

Then, with a distorted expression, Nicolai fell to his knees and opened his lips to let out a frantic and painful roar:

"Uh-uh-"

The Meteorite seemed to stiffen his right body, trembling as he dropped the Rising Sun Saber.

He clenched his fist with his left hand and struck hard, hammering it on the rock next to him!

"Boom!"

"Knock! knock!"

Punch after punch, Nicollai, who was kneeling on the ground, had a hideous face, as if he had a grudge against the rock beside him, and slammed the ground desperately, while continuing to roar in anger: "Ahhhhhh

As if enduring some pain.

Tails spat out a mouthful of blood, endured the sharp pain in his chest, and shook his head.

He was relieved to see that a thin arrow shaft suddenly appeared on the back of the meteorite.

The thin arrow sank deep into Nicolai's right back, piercing his chest with a hideous, sharp arrow, dripping with blood.

I saw the meteorite raise his head suddenly, and a terrible flame shot out of his bloodshot eyes, and he hissed and roared:

"Ahhh

"You son of a bitch!"

His roar echoed through the rocky ground, echoing through the crevices of the rocks.

I don't know when the birdsong has disappeared.

Only the sad wind remains.

Tails took a breath and closed his eyes, completely relieved.

In this duel between him and Nicollet, he won.

Grab everything and hold on to every chip......

Tails coughed up a mouthful of blood in pain, then laughed dumbly.

Yes, the prince's only chance of victory in this duel was that Nicolai's opponent was never alone.

The Starfall's roar turned into a groan of pain and a muffled grunt, and he tried to reach for the arrow—but the wound was too awkward for Nicolai to reach.

"Tut-tut......"

Behind the rock, I don't know which rock, came a gong voice that was incomparably familiar to both of them, hoarse and gloomy: "Be careful, Lord Nicolet, don't move, especially your right hand—it's a barbed arrow." ”

"The more you move, the more you hurt. ”

The hidden man let out a low laugh.

Nicolais, who was kneeling on the ground, still trembled his right arm, he supported the ground with his left hand, stared at his red eyes, and gritted his teeth fiercely: "Big mouth!"

"You can't run away!"

"We'll tear you apart!"

Monty's cold laughter came from behind the rock out of nowhere: "Oh?

"You're talking about Lum and Gayla, half a mile to the north, as a support outpost......"

"Or the northeast, those two newcomers to the guard that I don't know?"

Nikolai's eyes froze.

Monty, who was hiding in the shadows, laughed, "Don't worry, I've 'taken care' of the four of them - and left a mark for the people further back, they won't be coming here." ”

The meteorite shook suddenly, and a chill ran in his heart:

"Care?"

Tails gasped in pain, feeling a little better, and struggled to sit up, reaching for his sword and shield.

A whistle rang out all around.

Monty's voice flickered near and far, and seemed to be constantly moving: "Thorn Head, you said that you have strengthened the reconnaissance and scout training of the guards, and reduced the content of the battle against the enemy, right?"

Nicolai tried to reach for the wound again, but failed, and could only let out a groan of pain.

"Thank you so much—those soldiers are not very skilled," Monty's voice had a heart-palpitating rhythm, "When I intercepted, it saved me a lot of trouble." ”

"Ah!" said Nicolais, howling in rage, and pounding the ground again.

Monty's laughter was staccato, but anyone could tell the intransigence and ill-intention.

"Fortunately, the guards still use the scout formation passed down from 'Coward' Laiken......"

"Guess what, within a radius of a hundred miles, the person who knows best, knows best, and is most familiar with Laiken's twelve scout formations, so he can intercept them in the shortest time and with the fastest speed—who is it?"

Speaking of which, there was a triumphant laugh from somewhere:

"Hahaha-"

Tails frowned slightly.

"Monty," Nikolai's eyes grew more and more terrifying.

The double pain of his heart and body tortured him enough.

"You're a son of a bitch. ”

A long sigh came, and it seemed to be the death crow sighing.

"Yes, Thorn," he seemed to pity, "Now, it's just me and you." ”

The Meteorite kneeling on the ground clenched his fists.

"Ahem...... At ......this time, Tails coughed lightly, "You forgot about me?"

The voices of the Death Crow and the Starfall rang out in unison, unceremoniously:

"Shut up!"

Tails raised an eyebrow, closed his mouth, and continued crawling to find his weapon.

It's past noon, and the sun is beginning to set west.

"Listen, Thorn. ”

"This is the barren rocky land of Qiyuan City, the border of Exeter, and a little further south is the terrible Great Desert," Monty's voice sounded coldly, "fainting in the wilderness, but it's very dangerous." ”

Nicollet let out a low growl.

"Give me this boy and let me take him to the city of Qiyuan," the death crow said.

"We're clear, and the four of them can survive. ”

"How's that offer?"

Tails' expression moved.

The air was quiet for a while.

For a moment there was only the gasps of Nicolas and Tails.

"Proposal?" the meteorite jerked his head up, his eyes wary, scrutinizing almost every rock around him.

"Why. ”

"Why do you have to have him—this prince?"

A strange laugh came from all around.

"You know very well that he will play a key role in the war against the Freedom Alliance in the city of Qiyuan. ”

The words of the Death Crow were fierce:

"We need him more than you in Longxiao City. ”

"Get out of our way. ”

Tails scratched his head with a headache.

Old drama bone Monty, you're enough, wow!

There was silence again.

"Big mouth," Nicolai whispered:

"Do you remember eighteen years ago?"

The voice behind the rocks fell silent for a moment.

"I don't want to catch up with you. ”

Monty's voice came coldly, "You know I hate this the most. ”

But at this time, Nicolai, who had just been out of shape and roaring, threw up his head and laughed out loud.

Strangely, this time, the Dead Raven didn't interrupt him.

"That year. ”

The Meteorite seemed to have laughed enough, and said quietly: "Prince Suril and his wife were assassinated, and the first king was angry, and all the White Blade Guards were punished. ”

Tails' scalp tightened—he heard it again.

I only heard Nicolai say weakly: "Old Coleman took responsibility for me, the acting captain, and resigned, Isaiah was disheartened and left the guard, and many brothers were implicated—and you, Monty, were on other tasks at the time, and rushed back to Longxiao City overnight to fight for them. ”

"The negotiation was fruitless, you simply didn't even give the king face, and the next day you threw down the white blade and left Longxiao City neatly. ”

Monty didn't speak.

There was still only the sound of the wind blowing through the cracks in the stones, sad and sad.

Nicollet burst out laughing.

"No, Big Mouth, I know your character from the time you were on duty when you were young and you secretly took me to prostitution. ”

"You're not the kind of person who can say a word for a lord and break his leg in front of the saddle and after the horse, even if it's the king. ”

"Not to mention that for the sake of the Grand Duke of Yuancheng, I chased all the way from the Chaotic Stone Tomb here," Nikolai's voice carried a faint sadness: "No, you are not. ”

The Meteorite straightened up sharply and looked around fiercely:

"Ned Monty. ”

The Raven remained silent.

But Tails frowned.

"But now I understand," Nikolai's anger turned into a sneer: "Hahahahaha, you, you!"

"You!"

His voice contained unspeakable resentment, echoing among the rocks.

Spread the word.

After several seconds, Monty, who was hiding in the shadows, spoke quietly.

"Thorn Head," the Dead Raven said lightly:

"What do you know?"

Nicolas snorted coldly.

He took a breath and let out a long sigh, the sharp pain in his chest and back that made him frown from time to time.

But Nicolas gritted his teeth and said softly:

"His Excellency Lord Ned Monty......"

"A few days ago, as the so-called Forerunner, you came to Longxiao City earlier than anyone else than the official envoy of Qiyuan City. ”

"When the overall situation was decided, you brought the news of the movement of the Star Kingdom on the border, and arched the prince to the front of the stage. ”

Tails closed his eyes slightly.

The dead crow did not say a word.

Nicollet's words continued, every word, every word, with a deeper, deeper chill:

"The female eldest prince tried her best to protect the little prince, but you fanned the flames at a critical time and forced Longxiao City to send him to Qiyuan City. ”

"After the disappearance of this prince, at the same time as the opening of Longxiao City, you arrived even earlier than us, as the head snake of the land, and intercepted him. ”

"Hehehehehe......"

The Meteorite sneered: "Everything you have done in the past few days has made me who knows you puzzled...... For the sake of Qiyuan City, you must have done too hard, right? In this chess game, you are too coincidental, right?"

Monty interrupted him.

"You don't understand," the dead crow's words seemed to be a little emotional: "Thorn, you don't understand." ”

Boom!

The badly injured Nicollet punches the ground!

"yes, I don't understand!"

He shouted angrily, "But I understand now!"

The eyes of the Meteorite have never been so terrifying, even more terrifying than when they saw Rumba: "Thanks to this little prince, it was he who just reminded me: I underestimated the secret department." ”

Tails' face froze.

The air fell silent for a split second.

Nicolai's voice was furious, and he almost gritted his teeth, and uttered the following words: "Eighteen years ago, Prince Suril and his wife were assassinated, and the assassins of the stars were like no one, and no one saw him sneak in, and the strict defense of the White Guards was useless. ”

No one responded to him.

Except for the wind.

"No!"

The Meteorite shouted angrily, "Six years ago, even a tyrant like Rumba had to rely on calamity to lure us away and weaken us—he knew it. For each more White-Bladed Guard, the Assassin was less sure, and the likelihood of a coup d'état was one point lower. ”

"And the assassin eighteen years ago was able to bypass the elite defenses of hundreds of white-bladed guards, and planned carefully and smoothly to assassinate the prince of the first power in the Western Continent?"

At this moment, Nicola's face was extremely distorted.

"There's only one possibility. ”

His left fist clenched tighter and tighter: "In the White Blade Guards...... Out of a traitor. ”

There was still no response in the air.

Tails lowered his eyes and looked down at the ground.

Nicollet bit almost every word out between his teeth: "Over the years, I have doubted many people: Byrne Mielke, who was close to protect the prince, Coleman Sr., who was the first to arrive that day, Justin, who was on patrol on the perimeter, and even doubted Isaiah, who was in charge of protecting the Black Sand Consulate at the time......"

The Meteorite took a deep breath as he said this.

There was still silence among the rocks.

It seems that even the stream will be cut off.

"But you just reminded me, old friend. ”

When Nicolai said this, a flame of pain and hatred seemed to emerge from his eyes:

"In the White Guards back then, especially on the day of Prince Suril's assassination...... The person who knows the inside situation best, knows the scout formation best, is the best at evading reconnaissance, is the most familiar with the defense loopholes, and can make it most convenient for the assassins......"

"Actually, it's a guy who wasn't there at all. ”

"An expert in stealth and assassination. ”

"A ...... lurking in Exter, lurking in Longxiao City, lurking beside the king, lurking in the White Blade Guard for decades"

"Star Spy. ”

The air couldn't be stiller anymore.

No one answered him.

It was as if everything around him had fallen into an eternal dead silence.

The Starfall was still on his knees.

But he didn't bother with the crossbow arrow behind his back, but trembled all over, his eyes struggled, and his facial muscles twitched slightly.

It seems to be about to scream, and it is like it is about to roar.

His eyes were incomparably complex: disgust, pain, regret, resentment, sorrow, sadness, despair...... Endless, hybrid.

Finally, Nicolas shuddered and took a deep breath.

A mouthful of the coldest air in the middle of summer.

Thinking of this, Tails couldn't help but tremble slightly.

"What do you say?"

He whispered to the man behind the rock, "Big Mouth, Ned, Monty...... Come with me into the ...... of the White Guards Brother Blade Oath. ”

The former commander of the Whiteblade Guard, Lord Seri Nicolai's voice grew flatter.

Finally, he restored his expression to the most cold, indifferent, ruthless, and competent version:

"Or, I should call you ......"

"From the Secret Branch of the Stars—the Dead Crow?"

Tails gently grabbed his longsword.

He sighed slightly from an angle that no one was seeing.

Silent.

There was still silence.

Another breeze blew.

The whistling between the crevices grew more and more sad.

Until a less harmonious voice broke the silence: the sound of a crossbow winding sounded crisply.

"You know, about that proposal — I changed my mind. ”

The voice of the dead crow came, and it still sounded steady, leisurely, and easy.

"Thorn ......"

But this time, his words were chillingly murderous:

"You die here. ”

(End of chapter)