章 24: Chapter 24: The Power of Combined Alchemy
Su Nan stepped forward, deciding it was time to intervene. The seven Wolf Messengers had already expended significant stamina, and he couldn't afford unnecessary losses. The wheel formation tactics had done their job, forcing Gess Pasha to reveal all his trump cards.
In the burning remains of the military camp, Gess Pasha stood panting. His gaze lingered on Su Nan, and for a fleeting moment, he saw the shadow of the old Baron—Su Nan's father—whom he had served loyally for years.
Facing the baron's son, Gess Pasha's resolve wavered. His courage faltered, and his fury gave way to a pang of guilt.
"Baron Su Nan," Gess began, his voice steady but tinged with regret. "I underestimated you. I truly did."
"The Storm Prayer… there are seven in total. I only mastered two due to my limitations."
"The one I used earlier is called Storm Spirit Prayer. It enhances reaction speed, as you've keenly observed."
He paused, leveling his blade toward the sky as he prepared for his next move.
"Storm Knights draw strength from the blessings of the Storm God. These prayers channel our vitality to augment specific abilities—proof of the Storm God's favor."
A faint smile graced his lips, though it lacked warmth. "Over the years, I've actively stifled your access to knightly knowledge. When I saw you wasting time on useless tomes, I felt a twisted sort of joy. I thought you'd squandered your potential."
He laughed bitterly. "I was wrong. If you had trained as a Storm Knight, perhaps I wouldn't be in this position now."
With those words, he invoked his second prayer.
"Before the storm descends, I beseech the Storm God—"
"Grant me the sharpness of shadows and wings of victory. Let me move with the swiftness of lightning."
"I vow to vanquish all who oppose Your will."
This was Storm Shadow Prayer, designed to boost explosive speed for critical strikes.
Gess dropped one of his massive swords, gripping the other with both hands. In an instant, he surged toward Su Nan, his enhanced speed creating a blur of motion.
His intent was clear: eliminate Su Nan, the mastermind behind these infernal creatures. Without their commander, the beasts would be easier to handle.
But Su Nan stood his ground, a faint smirk playing on his lips.
Gess's blade pierced his chest, driving through his heart.
For a moment, Gess froze. His eyes widened in disbelief. "Why didn't you dodge?"
A moment later, realization dawned. He tried to withdraw his sword and retreat, but Su Nan's form began to change.
Su Nan had already activated his Alpha Werewolf transformation and Berserk Mode before the strike landed. The iron blade might have pierced his heart, but it was far from a death sentence.
In fact, the injury only fueled Su Nan's Sacrificial Hand ability, which converted damage into amplified psychokinetic power.
Gripping the blade with his clawed hand, Su Nan stopped Gess from retrieving it. His power, initially at 2.0, surged to 3.0 thanks to Berserk Mode. If pushed further, it could reach a staggering 4.0.
With a brutal swipe, Su Nan tore through Gess's armor, shredding the chainmail beneath.
Recognizing the danger, Gess abandoned his sword and dove for his discarded weapon nearby. This contingency had been part of his strategy—an experienced warrior's foresight.
However, Gess had underestimated Su Nan's next move.
Using Psychokinetic Grip, Su Nan lifted the abandoned sword into the air, hurling it toward Gess's exposed back.
CLANG!
The blade struck Gess's backplate with enough force to dent the armor, sending him staggering.
Su Nan's psychokinetic strength had doubled, rising to 3.6 due to the massive injury he sustained. The sheer force left Gess coughing up blood, his pride and confidence shattered.
Even as Gess struggled to recover, Su Nan casually removed the sword from his chest and slashed himself three more times.
The deep, self-inflicted wounds would have killed an ordinary man instantly, but for Su Nan, they only further amplified his power.
With his psychokinetic ability now at 4.1, Su Nan smashed two vials from his belt.
One contained the Soul Potion: Knight's Apprentice, and the other, Sleep Bug Potion.
The first vial's vaporized contents coalesced into a spectral vortex, pulling fragmented souls from the battlefield. From this swirling energy emerged a spectral knight wielding a shimmering blade, standing steadfast beside Su Nan.
The second vial released a cloud of purple gas that condensed into countless ethereal insects. These bugs swarmed toward Gess, crawling into his nose and mouth.
Immediately, Gess felt his senses dull. His enhanced reflexes slowed as the potion's effects took hold. Though the potion couldn't fully incapacitate someone with a physique above 3.0, it still hindered him significantly.
Su Nan observed his handiwork with satisfaction. "As expected, the Sleep Bug Potion doesn't induce full unconsciousness in Storm Knights, but it dulls their senses. Even with your prayers active, you're slower than usual."
Su Nan turned to the spectral knight at his side and commanded, "Charge."
The Soul Knight was unrelenting. Unlike mortal warriors, it felt no fear or pain, charging directly at Gess. The spectral blade it wielded inflicted both physical and spiritual damage, a devastating combination.
Surrounded, Gess could do little. The spectral knight pressed the attack while Su Nan's psychokinetically controlled swords assailed him from all sides. Behind him, the seven Wolf Messengers prepared for another assault.
For the first time, Gess Pasha felt the icy grip of fear. He had no strategy left, no prayers to save him.
Desperation contorted his face. "Su Nan… can I surrender?"
Su Nan tilted his head, his tone cold. "A subordinate of mine, surrendering? You've already disgraced yourself with this rebellion. If you weren't prepared to face the consequences, you should never have betrayed me."
Gess's expression twisted with humiliation and terror.
In the next instant, the Wolf Messengers descended upon him, claws rending flesh. The psychokinetically controlled swords struck like lightning, while the Soul Knight's blade pierced his chest.
Three minutes later, Gess Pasha was dead.
On the other side of the battlefield, Harlen the Knight faced a similar fate.
Flanked by Worick and Pella, supported by five Wolf Messengers, Harlen was overwhelmed. They had unleashed two vials of Sleep Bug Potion and one Soul Knight Potion, leaving him sluggish and vulnerable.
Despite his best efforts, Harlen succumbed to the relentless assault. Worick delivered the final blow, tearing out the knight's heart with his clawed hand.
As Worick held the still-beating heart aloft, a sense of triumph washed over him. The betrayal had been avenged, and the Peter Barony was united once more.
From his vantage point, Su Nan surveyed the battlefield.
"ZhinBrain," he commanded, "analyze the weaknesses in the Soul Potion's design."
The AI responded promptly:
"The Soul Knight exhibited insufficient durability. While effective in combat, its capacity to withstand sustained attacks was compromised."
"Suggestions for improvement include increasing the concentration of soul fragments or creating a specialized defensive variant."
"Additionally, data from the Storm Prayers could be used to enhance the Soul Knight's abilities, allowing it to emulate prayer-like boosts."
Su Nan smirked. "Using their god's blessings to empower my creations? Now that's innovation."
But even he p
aused at the thought. "This feels dangerously close to blaspheming the Storm God… Might as well commit if it works."
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