Soul of Burning Steel

Fendal will never forget that afternoon in the early spring of Starfall 833.

It was an unremarkable day, sunny and slightly cold, and he patrolled the palace as usual until dusk, when he received a message from the gate of the city wall that there was a "visited guest".

Naturally, the red-haired knight was ready to lead the way as usual.

(Earl Radcliffe is visiting, he wants to find Master Nostradamus-I think, the master is now sorting out ancient books in the library of the Black Swan Palace.)

Thinking about his mission casually in his mind, Fendal set out towards the gate of the palace. For many years, his work has always been like this. Put him at the Palais Morlaix.

Joshua Van Radcliffe, the name Fendal has heard a lot recently, recalled some rumors about this name, and he couldn't help but make his expression a little more serious.

Kuroshio, time and space gate, dragon slaying, demons... This person is different from ordinary distinguished guests, if other people rely on their power or rich financial resources to make them, the palace guard knights, cautious and dare not offend , then Joshua undoubtedly relied on this extraordinary force to make everyone cautious.

"A high-ranking gold man in his twenties, haha." When he came to the gate of the palace, Fendal couldn't help laughing. He is almost thirty years old now, and his strength is at the peak of silver. He still hasn't touched the extraordinary barrier, just like his cousin Brandon, the gap between people is so big that the red-haired knight doesn't even have the heart to be jealous.

"There will always be some extraordinary people or things in this world, and I should learn to adapt."

He whispered to himself that not long after, Fendal met the warriors.

To be honest, when he saw Joshua for the first time, he was a little disappointed.

This is just an ordinary black-haired man, dressed in ordinary clothes, and looks masculine and tough, but he can't be regarded as an impressive type, not to mention the extremely powerful warrior in the rumors, like a ghost warrior. Fendal saw it at a glance He didn't even think that the other party was an earl-level nobleman. Although he could sense the strength of the person in front of him through his breath, it didn't make people feel shocked.

——Ordinary, it is too ordinary, even if it is strong, it is only ordinary strong.

Of course, even if the image of the other party is far from what he imagined, the red-haired knight will not show such disappointment. He still shows a warm smile and guides the way for the other party.

This is work. Fendal understands very well that although the rumors may be exaggerated, he will never say something without a reason. Joshua indeed has not shown a strong oppressive force now, but who knows if this is the power of self-restraint? Many people like to do this, and he only needs to serve with all his heart.

Along the way, the red-haired knight kept trying to talk to the warrior, and his impression of Joshua gradually changed.

The Earl of the Northland is very easy-going. He is not like the group of great mages. His eyes are high above the top, and he treats everyone as a fool. He is not like other nobles. , Joshua's words are simple and direct, without arrogance or arrogance, and without hidden deep meaning. When talking to him, you don't need to think too much about the words you use, and you don't need to worry about what honorific title to use. All in all, it's very relaxed and enjoyable.

——Maybe Joshua is such a powerful and relaxed person?

Fendal couldn't help having such thoughts in his heart, but he immediately realized that he was wrong.

In the last aisle leading to the Black Swan Palace, a group of monks from the church passed by them. The red-haired knight didn't care. The other party had been in the Palace of Morlaix for two weeks, and he even brought them After several trips, I have already gotten used to the presence of these church personnel.

But the fighters behind Fendal didn't think so.

He frowned, and took a 'serious' look at the team of monks.

Immediately, the red-haired knight felt a layer of solid ice clinging to his back, and the cold feeling penetrated and spread from the skin to the bone marrow, piercing the soul.

Looking back at Joshua tremblingly, Fendal saw the tip of the iceberg of the warrior's true face hidden behind the shadow and easy-going appearance.

Just a glance, the red pupils that seemed to be able to see through everything left an indelible imprint on his heart, just the peripheral vision from the corner of his eyes gave the knight an illusion that all the thoughts in his heart were It has long been seen through, whether it is the superficial humility or the wanton comments in the heart, all of them have been seen through. To this warrior, I have long since had no interest in keeping secrets.

In order to break the fear that was gradually spreading in his heart, Fendal took a step back, took a deep breath, and involuntarily pressed his hand on the saber at his waist. The weapon gave the knight courage to force himself to speak.

"What's the matter, my lord?"

He tried his best to hide the dryness of his throat and asked in a normal tone.

And Joshua didn't seem to care about the inner movement of the red-haired knight, he just glanced at Fendal casually, and then motioned him to continue leading the way: "Why are there people from the church here?"

The words are also simple and direct, and the tone is also easy-going and ordinary. The glacier-like, mountain-like aura disappeared in an instant. An ordinary man like a passerby in the mist, unable to leave any deep impression on others.

But Fendal no longer dared to discuss the image of the other party in his heart, and he didn't even dare to think about other things. He just answered Joshua's question with a very serious attitude, and respectfully sent him all the way to the imperial royal palace in the Black Swan Palace. The library, and then... Almost can't wait to leave quickly.

——No one would like to stay at the crater of a volcano, standing on the edge of a cliff, even if it is a dormant volcano, and there are railings on the edge of the cliff, the same.

That is irresponsible for one's own life.

"...he's gone far away."

Leaving the Black Swan Palace slowly, until he walked out of the palace gate and confirmed that he was really far away from Joshua, Fendal began to tremble, he grabbed his arms, his teeth and body kept shaking like a sieve, Streams of cold sweat flowed from his forehead.

Only then did he realize that his back was already drenched in sweat, and his body's instincts were one step faster than his brain's reaction to danger, but the knight didn't notice this. Fendal was not dissatisfied with this, he I'm just sincerely thankful that I didn't show any disrespect in my performance.

"The rumors are indeed true... this oppressive force..."

But before Fendal finished expressing his emotions, he suddenly felt the ground shake.

It was as if the entire palace was shaking with the ground, and there was an obvious vibration. The maids around and the servants serving in the entire royal library all raised their heads in panic. They glanced left and right nervously, and then looked at the ground.

"earthquake?!"

"Impossible, this is above the Three Sacred Mountains, how could there be an earthquake?!"

Although the vibration stopped quickly, everyone started to discuss. They frowned, and then they all prepared to leave the library. Fendal was no exception. He walked quickly, preparing to move away from the Black Swan Palace, but halfway through , Two inexplicable breaths were swept by a cool wind, and one of them was very familiar, which made Fendal look back suspiciously, looking at the black palace that had stopped, and beside the knight, in the garden The plants are blown by the cool wind, the flowers are closed, and the grass leaves are slightly curled up, as if they are in fear.

"Could it be..."

Fendal muttered to himself, unable to believe his own judgment.

Inside the Black Swan Palace, magic circles lit up one by one, and obvious ripples spread in the air, like a lake with waves. With the operation of the magic circle, invisible magic power strengthened the building one after another, stabilizing the slightly shaking hall.

But on the first floor, in the already deserted lounge, the source of all the vibrations is still continuously sending out the aftermath of power.

"Di Moore, like your father, you like to recognize people with your fists. Compared with a ruler, you are a warrior first."

A deep and clear male voice came, and from the slightly smiling tone, it could be heard that his master was doing everything he could with ease, as if he hadn't tried his best at all: "This is a good habit. For fighters, fighting spirit is their own life and will. It can completely represent a person's soul, at least more real than words."

"That is, of course! Only the emperor with power..."

The other voice was not as relaxed as the other one, and what he said seemed to come out word by word, but even so, he still uttered a complete sentence in a cold tone: "There is no way in this world. , live through the night!"

After finishing speaking, the owner of the voice seemed to put all his strength into it, not talking nonsense.

The fluctuations from the lounge became even stronger, it even turned into a gust of wind, sweeping away the tables and chairs in the hall, and the decorations and portraits in the corridor were also blown away by this force, rolling away into the distance.

In the hall of the lounge, two men can be seen sitting face to face at a table, their right hands are clasped tightly, as if they are wrestling wrists, the man with black hair has a relaxed posture, except for the dark red on his arm There was no fluctuation of strength in his body, but the other man with dark golden hair had already clenched his teeth, and most of the fluctuations of strength came from him, and the pale silver fighting spirit penetrated the man's body. The whole body makes the wind more bitter and colder.

"You should use your full strength from the beginning, otherwise you won't have the slightest chance."

The black-haired warrior, Joshua said, he stared at the second prince opposite him with great interest, and patiently explained: "Whether it's fighting or just playing with arm wrestling, the enemy will not give you that." You play slowly and then give it your best chance to come back.”

Beside him, Ying, who sat a little further away, frowned strangely and said, "Master doesn't seem to be able to talk nonsense with so many personalities, what's going on?"

"It's probably because I met someone I know, so I'm a little happy."

Rin shrugged: "He also talks nonsense for a long time when he lectures Hei."

At this time, Di Moore fell into a bitter battle.

He came here just to see what kind of person Joshua was, who was praised by Israel as a warrior who would become a legend. As a frontline knight, he voluntarily joined the army since his youth. Di Moore is naturally proud of those who have fought and survived to this day. There has never been any prince or princess who has had his experience and will. His determination is unshakable and he can overcome everything.

For this, his father, the Emperor Israel, also appreciated it very much. He once said to him that only Di Moore was like his real child, but even so, His Majesty the Emperor did not say the word "best". word.

This is the greatest regret for the second prince who aspires to be the strongest and wants to be the best in everything, and now, this praise is given to Joshua.

"who is he?"

"Why would father give this evaluation?"

"Is he stronger than me? Stronger than me, who has returned with honor from countless battlefields?"

This idea has always been lingering in Di Moore's mind, and a decision made by Israel during the celebration made him even more determined to see the power of the warrior who was rumored to be like a ghost, even if he came When I went to the library and prepared to quiet down and read a few books, this idea was still lingering in my mind.

And just in time, Joshua came to the library in order to find Master Nostradamus.

destiny? Or providence? Di Moore didn't know, and he didn't care. The second prince of the empire only knew that if he wanted to challenge, it was now, and he couldn't suppress the fighting spirit in his heart.

He decisively issued a challenge.

And the result.

is completely suppressed.

"Strong...really strong."

The muscles in the arm swelled, and the light silver cold fighting spirit even completely exploded the right arm of the military uniform. The surrounding air instantly felt like winter, and layers of frost condensed on the ground and walls. Joshua, who had a silent expression, paused every word, and spit out a complete sentence through the gap between his teeth: "Your age is similar to mine, but you have the power to completely surpass me..."

This kind of powerlessness, like the feeling of facing an unstoppable beast, has been experienced before... When did it happen?

By the way, it was that time.

At this moment, Di Moore recalled his memories of the Northwest Plains a few years ago.

The battle of the Sade Plain was extremely bloody and turned countless people into bones and flesh.

Tens of thousands of violent orcs rode stone-horned rhinos, crossing the field with an unstoppable momentum. They waved their flails and giant hammers, roaring and smashing all the fortresses, fortifications and obstacles they passed into pieces. At that time, the dust fluttered and turned into smoke that covered the sky, as if to engulf everything.

Di Moore was at the forefront of the battlefield at that time. It was the worst situation and the most dangerous battlefield he had ever encountered. Countless stone rhinoceros knights were like living siege engines. The imperial army that was raided didn't even have a single heavy equipment, so they were completely powerless to stop the orcs' offensive, and everyone might die at any time.

And now, it's the same.

The palm of the black-haired warrior, like a galloping stone rhinoceros or a meteorite about to fall, is full of unstoppable power. Even if he tried his best, he could barely maintain it, and was even pressed down bit by bit. Feelings spread throughout Di Moore's body, and he knew that it was impossible for him to win this challenge.

Joshua's strength is comparable to a battle. Whether it is grudge, strength, skill or will, heart and determination, Di Moore doesn't think he can beat the opponent. Strength, little by little use of skills to gain an advantage, the second prince suddenly realized at this time, although the strength of the other party seemed to be only high-level gold, but this was only the appearance of showing, Joshua's real strength, maybe already Beyond that limit, reached a higher state of advancement!

But he can't turn back anymore, Di Moore gritted his teeth and made up his mind, even if he wants to lose, he must lose completely. He also has a secret method that can stimulate potential, which can temporarily increase strength, although it will cause a great burden on the body , and may not be able to defeat Joshua, but this is already the only way.

And just when the second prince of the empire was about to use the secret technique, an old and steady voice came from the entrance of the lounge.

"Enough, you two."

There was a hint of helplessness and annoyance in this voice: "This is the Great Royal Library, not an arena for you!"

Chapter 2 merged... Let it be!