novelkee Chapter 452 - 74: The Spread of Player Power, the Ghost-Slaying Alliance (2)
Chapter 452 - 74: The Spread of Player Power, the Ghost-Slaying Alliance (2)
But Trish was no ordinary person.
So, as she listened to everything her subordinate, Danielle, vice-commander of the Third Cavalry Corps, had said, her brow furrowed in grim seriousness.
"Danielle, I know what kind of person you are."
"But how can you expect me to believe something like this? How could I make the other high ministers of the Kingdom believe it?"
"After all, Danielle, you said it yourself—ordinary people can’t see these Shadows."
The moment Trish finished speaking, the Female Knight Danielle, still kneeling on one knee, looked up and spoke bluntly.
"Your Royal Highness, it isn’t necessary for anyone else to believe."
"In fact, the more people who know about this, the more danger we’ll be in."
"As for you, Your Royal Highness, I have a way to make you see the truth of this world!"
As she spoke, the Female Knight Danielle suddenly produced a silver ring from her hip.
She held it up with both hands. Trish was standing directly before her.
And so, she hesitantly reached out and took the ring.
"Your Royal Highness, please put on this ring."
"Then, you need only stand by the window and glance at the sky. You will understand everything."
Trish was already starting to believe the Female Knight’s words.
And so, with a heavy heart, Princess Trish, clad in her Light Armor, walked toward the window.
She pushed the window open, her gaze naturally drifting to the sky outside the Royal Capital.
And with that one look...
In the next instant, the ever-composed princess froze, her face a mask of disbelief.
’What was she seeing?’
High above the Royal Capital, the princess instantly saw a scattered flock of phantoms, like enormous birds of prey, assailing the sky above the city.
There weren’t actually many of these so-called Shadows.
But in pockets here and there, scattered Shadows could be seen, relentlessly assailing the canopy over the Royal Capital.
Unfortunately, their attacks were almost completely thwarted by an invisible, transparent Barrier in the sky above the Royal Capital.
Some of the larger Shadows even dissipated completely into wisps of smoke upon violently colliding with the invisible Barrier.
Without a doubt.
In this seemingly ordinary world, in a Royal Capital that appeared to be inhabited only by common people, there existed a defense specifically designed to repel the Black Prison Race.
It was simply unknown who had put such a measure in place.
Furthermore, based on the current situation...
There weren’t any large-scale swarms of the Black Prison Race in the sky above the Royal Capital of this mortal kingdom.
The members of the Black Prison Race currently gathered over the Royal Capital appeared to be nothing more than a few Low Tier individuals with questionable intelligence, who had wandered in from the surrounding Earth Realm.
They had been drawn by the abundant human vitality in the Royal Capital, but ultimately, they were completely unable to break through the city’s defensive Barrier.
"This... It’s really true?"
Trish stared blankly at the sky, her expression filled with utter disbelief.
Just then, the Female Knight Danielle, having risen at some point, came to the princess’s side.
"Your Royal Highness, of course it’s true."
"The Shadows have existed since ancient times."
"Many civilizations, many ancient Kingdoms, have all been destroyed by the greed of these Shadows."
"They treat us mortals as nourishment for their growth, raising us like livestock only to harvest us again and again, each time we prosper."
"The organization even provided a great deal of supporting evidence copied from ancient ruins to prove this point."
"They even claim that in our world, the Human Race could also become an Extraordinary Race capable of incredible feats."
"The reason we mortals can no longer do so is twofold: first, our civilizational lineage was severed by the Shadow Race, and second, this knowledge has become taboo among them."
"If anyone were to learn the truth and use the ancient cultivation methods to become Extraordinary, then powerful individuals from the Shadow Race—or even their Deities—would descend upon our world and initiate an early harvest."
"But things are different now, Your Royal Highness!"
"The ’Ghost-Slaying Alliance’—an organization they claim was founded by a group of ’archaeologists’ who discovered the world’s true history—has successfully developed a new path to power, one that doesn’t rely on ancient knowledge."
"By using Magic Power as a catalyst to awaken the ancient Bloodline within our mortal bodies, we too can possess Power beyond that of ordinary people!"
"I have already verified this myself!"
As she said this, the Female Knight Danielle suddenly opened her hand, revealing a ball of fire hovering in her palm.
Trish stared, dumbfounded, at the flame in her hand.
She glanced from the flame to the scattered Shadows in the sky.
Finally, the ever-composed princess could no longer maintain her serene expression.
"This is Extraordinary Power?"
"It allows mortals to control fire?"
Danielle shook her head.
"No, Your Royal Highness. Fire is merely one of the most trivial Skills among all Extraordinary Abilities."
"After awakening the Bloodline of our ancestors, those with Extraordinary Power can be categorized into many classes."
"But what specific Power we ultimately gain depends on which Elemental Power Attribute our bodies are attuned to."
"The knowledge is too vast and complex. In short, I can’t explain it all right now."
Hearing this, Trish’s mind reeled.
But she quickly suppressed her turmoil and began to rapidly consider all the potential implications and hidden details behind this affair.
Lost in thought, the princess slowly returned to her desk and sat down.
The Female Knight Danielle stood silently to the side, waiting.
Finally, Trish spoke again.
"Danielle, you’ve been cultivating this Extraordinary Power for some time, haven’t you?"
"Yes, Your Royal Highness. After those people contacted me, it took me about half a year to gain a preliminary grasp of this Power. Only after I had verified everything for myself did I come to inform you today."
"Is that so? You’ve been very thorough." Trish scrutinized the Female Knight before her, then continued,
"But, Danielle... even if the Shadows exist just as this mysterious organization claims, I imagine obtaining this Power must come at a price, yes?"
"Power? Money? Or something else?"
The Female Knight was direct in her reply, nodding as she spoke.
"Yes, Your Royal Highness."
"However, for now, the organization has made no other demands besides money and that we keep this matter a secret."
"In their own words, ’Everything is for the Human Race, everything is for our world.’"
"Even their requests for money, they claim, are only to provide the organization with more funding to research new forms of Extraordinary Power."
"Whether they have a grander scheme is impossible to know. So, regarding that, the decision is up to you, Your Royal Highness," the Female Knight Danielle said seriously.
"The decision is up to me, is it?"
"Danielle, if I’m not mistaken, you have already joined this organization, haven’t you?"
Trish looked at the Female Knight and smiled.
But her smile was unreadable, betraying neither pleasure nor anger.
The Female Knight didn’t try to hide it, nodding at once.
"Yes, Your Royal Highness."
"I have indeed joined the organization, but I have not betrayed you, Your Royal Highness, nor have I betrayed my Knight’s code."
"When I joined, they had only one core requirement: as a member, I must join the fight against the Shadows and defend the Human Race when called upon. Therefore, I do not believe it conflicts with my duties or my station."
"Furthermore, Your Royal Highness, there is more that I know, but I am not at liberty to tell you right now."
"However, I can swear on my honor as a Knight and on my family’s name that our organization will never harm any human, nor will it attempt to subvert the authority of any nation."
"Our one and only purpose is to fight against the great enemies of the Human Race who see us mortals as nothing more than livestock."
At this, seeing Trish’s direct stare, the Female Knight added hesitantly,
"Come to think of it... Your Royal Highness, you may not be aware, but our organization already has many members from the Nobility and even the Royal Families of other Kingdoms on the continent."
"It’s just that the time is not yet right, nor is it the optimal moment to strike back against the Shadows. That is why everything is being done in secret."
"I mention this so you’ll understand, Your Royal Highness. With no other binding requirements placed upon its members, the organization clearly has no political ambitions."
"...."