Capítulo 16: Chapter 16: Ruthless Resolve
"How is this possible?"
The sudden turn of events left everyone stunned.
David, however, paid no attention to their reactions. Sword in hand, he charged into the midst of the mercenaries. Each step claimed a life, as no one could withstand even a single strike from him.
Without even activating his Frostwolf Bloodline or utilizing Frostwolf Swordsmanship, his sheer physical prowess as a Tier 3 knight was already overwhelming for his enemies.
"A full-fledged knight! And more than just Tier 1!"
The Blood Moon leader was shocked beyond words as he watched his comrades fall.
A chilling realization dawned on him: the Frostwolf Duke had awakened his Frostwolf Bloodline and reached Tier 2!
"He's been hiding his true strength!"
Panic surged through the Blood Moon leader. He no longer had any intention of fighting. He needed to escape and relay this information to Duke Icebear immediately.
Blessed with a Blood Bat Bloodline and mastery of a speed-oriented breathing technique, he dodged the Grey Wolf Knight's attacks in a flash, darting toward the forest edge.
But just as he began to flee, a wave of icy energy enveloped him, freezing his body and stiffening his muscles.
Looking up in terror, he saw a glint of silver light—a split second later, David was upon him, his knightly sword driving straight for his chest.
"Frostwolf Swordsmanship!"
The Blood Moon leader barely shifted his body in time, narrowly avoiding a fatal blow. The sword grazed his heart, but the impact left a deep wound that sent searing pain throughout his body.
Blood spurted from his mouth as he looked up at David, his gaze dull and filled with disbelief.
"You…"
The remaining mercenaries gasped in unison.
Their infamous leader, a Tier 3 knight of the Blood Moon Mercenary Corps, had been nearly slain in a single strike.
Even the Grey Wolf Knight was taken aback, his eyes wide with astonishment. He had underestimated the sheer extent of David's strength.
A Tier 3 knight, reduced to nothing more than a momentary obstacle for his lord.
The Grey Wolf Knight knew better than anyone what this meant. Only two months ago, David had yet to awaken his Frostwolf Bloodline, and now he was capable of effortlessly dispatching a Tier 3 knight.
Such rapid growth was unheard of across the continent. Even the Silver Moon Kingdom's famed Third Prince couldn't compare to this meteoric rise in power.
David is a prodigy—a genius without equal!
For a moment, the Grey Wolf Knight questioned whether his relentless efforts to secure an heir for the Frostwolf family had been misguided. With talent like this, why waste time on mundane matters? With more time, David could undoubtedly ascend to Tier 4 as an Earth Knight.
"Capture the remaining mercenaries for interrogation," David ordered, his tone calm and decisive.
The knightly attendants, brimming with pride for their lord's unmatched strength, eagerly complied. They swiftly restrained the stunned mercenaries, who offered no resistance.
The interrogation yielded little.
While the ordinary mercenaries knew very little, they confirmed that the Blood Moon Mercenary Corps had been secretly funded. David was almost certain that the Icebear family was behind it.
"I'll settle this debt in due time," David muttered coldly, ending the prisoners' lives without hesitation.
"Bring the bodies. We're heading back to the camp."
On their return journey, David's enhanced senses, courtesy of his Frostwolf Bloodline, picked up a faint scent of blood.
Advancing further, they discovered the corpses of over a dozen individuals dressed as refugees, all armed with various weapons.
"These must be the wandering knights and mercenaries hiding in the camp," the Grey Wolf Knight said grimly, recognizing one of the messengers among the dead.
"But who intercepted them?"
"It seems there's a hidden master among the refugees," David remarked, his tone neutral.
"What should we do next?" the Grey Wolf Knight asked, his demeanor now even more deferential.
"Leave them be," David replied. "If they've chosen to eliminate these threats, they mean no harm."
Gathering the corpses, the group returned to the refugee camp.
The sight of David's group hauling the bodies back caused a stir among the refugees.
As they recognized the corpses as those of infiltrators, their expressions darkened with anger.
Despite receiving shelter and food, these individuals had sought to assassinate their benefactor, enraging the refugees. Without prompting, they quickly identified other suspicious individuals in the crowd.
The exposed wandering knights and mercenaries were dragged out, some resisting but swiftly subdued by the Grey Wolf Knight and his men.
David ordered the captives to be executed publicly by the newly formed militia.
One by one, the militia members stepped forward, hesitating but ultimately carrying out the executions under David's watchful gaze. The refugees, who had initially seen David as a kind and merciful lord, now saw the steel behind his kindness—a man whose wrath was as terrifying as his generosity was reassuring.
Afterward, the Blood Moon leader and his men were displayed along the main road leading to Frostwolf Ridge, their corpses a grim warning to any who dared harbor hostile intentions.
With everything settled, David led his group back to Frostwolf Ridge, their silhouettes fading into the glow of the setting sun.
From the edge of the camp, Princess Crystal Song let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding.
Among the corpses was one of the men Roman had killed earlier. Since David hadn't mentioned it, it seemed he had tacitly accepted their actions.
Roman, however, stared intently at the body of the Blood Moon leader, his expression grim.
He recognized the man as a Tier 3 knight and the notorious leader of the Blood Moon Mercenary Corps. That such a figure had been so thoroughly defeated was unsettling.
Princess Crystal Song's gaze also lingered on the leader's corpse.
Then her eyes narrowed, catching a faint glimmer of silver light emanating from the body. Her e
xpression shifted to one of shock as she whispered to herself, "So… it was the Frostwolf Duke's doing."
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