It was noon by the ti he arrived at Black Stone Castle. The scorching sun baked the earth.
Raylo glanced at the sky, estimating that Vice Commander Luke and his party should be arriving soon.
He didn’t linger in the castle, not even giving Bishop Augustus the chance to co looking for him.
Rather than passively waiting to see what stance the Lord Bishop would take, it was better to pay him a "visit" first and preempt any accusations.
The Church Knights’ camp was pitched on an open field outside Black Stone Town. A dozen or so white tents were arranged in neat rows, the banners of the Light Holy See stirring slightly in the hot wind.
Church Knights stood guard at the camp entrance. Seeing it was Raylo, they didn’t stop him, rely announcing his arrival as a matter of routine.
Raylo walked toward the most ornate tent in the center of the camp, which served as Bishop Augustus’s temporary residence.
A guarding knight lifted the tent flap. Bishop Augustus was sitting upright behind a desk, a heavy to open before him. His expression was focused, as if he were studying so sacred doctrine.
Hearing the commotion, he looked up. Upon seeing Raylo, he raised an eyebrow almost imperceptibly.
"Lord Baron, to what do I owe this sudden visit?"
Raylo plastered a "sincere" smile on his face, his tone filled with "concern."
"Bishop Augustus, I’ve just received so rather unfortunate news and ca specially to inform you, Lord Bishop."
He paused, observing Augustus’s reaction before continuing.
"Back in the Duchy, the Duke has already learned of what happened in Baiyang Territory. It is said that the Duke is... quite angry about you, Lord Bishop, taking it upon yourself to judge and execute a titled noble of the Duchy. I have received confird intelligence that the Vice Commander of the Thunder Dragon Knight Order, Luke, is on his way under the Duke’s orders to ’hold you accountable.’ Lord Bishop, you see, this situation has beco quite ssy... I fear it will be disadvantageous for you."
"In my opinion, you should lead your knights out of the Thunder Dragon Duchy’s territory as soon as possible. This will prevent the situation from escalating and causing unnecessary damage to your reputation and that of the Holy See."
Raylo delivered these words with such "sincerity and earnestness," as if he were genuinely concerned for Augustus.
After listening, Bishop Augustus showed no sign of panic. Instead, a faint, mocking smile touched his lips.
He closed the to in his hands and slowly, deliberately, stood up.
"Lord Baron, I appreciate your ’kindness.’ However, everything I have done has been to uphold the glory of the Light Deity and to excise the malignant tumor hiding within the body of this Duchy."
"Viscount Baiyang colluded with an Evil Deity. The evidence was irrefutable, and his cri was punishable by death. As a Bishop of the Holy See, I acted in the na of the Light. What wrong have I done?"
"Can the Duke of a re secular duchy truly place himself above the will of a deity?"
His tone was calm, yet it was laced with an innate arrogance and stubbornness.
"If Luke cos, I will explain everything to him myself. I trust that even the Thunder Dragon Duchy would not dare to openly make an enemy of the great Light Holy See."
Raylo sneered inwardly. ’This Augustus is truly stubborn.’
’He really fits the stereotype of the Light Holy See’s clergy being rigid and arrogant.’
Just as he was pondering whether to "add more fuel to the fire," a series of rushed, slightly panicked footsteps sounded from outside the tent.
A Church Knight, without even waiting to be announced, flung open the tent flap and shouted with a tense expression.
"Lord Bishop! This is bad! Outside the camp... a squad of Flying Knights from the Thunder Dragon Knight Order has arrived!"
Almost at the exact mont the Church Knight’s voice fell, a high-pitched, piercing cry, filled with majesty and pressure, exploded over the camp like a clap of thunder!
"SKREEE!"
The sound seed to carry a physical force, causing the entire tent to tremble slightly. Ripples ford in the water cup on the desk, and from outside ca the distinct commotion of n and horses, along with low gasps of alarm.
’The show is starting.’
Raylo knew this was Luke’s show of force against Augustus.
He and Augustus, whose expression had visibly darkened, walked briskly out of the tent together.
In the azure sky, a giant bird with a wingspan of nearly twenty ters circled slowly, casting down a suffocating pressure.
Its body was covered in deep blue feathers, the edge of each one glinting with fine, silver arcs of electricity.
Its sleek, powerful body pulsed with explosive strength. Its sharp eyes, like two brilliant Thunder Pearls, coldly stared down at every person in the camp below, devoid of any emotion.
Every flap of its enormous wings stirred up powerful air currents, making the tents flap wildly, accompanied by the faint sound of thunder, as if the very sky was roaring for it.
This was the Tier Four Magical Beast—the Thunderbird!
Seated upright on the Thunderbird’s broad back was a middle-aged man clad in a full suit of gleaming silver Knight Armor, engraved with the Thunder Dragon Emblem.
His face was cold and severe, his features sharp, and his gaze was as piercing as a falcon’s. He radiated an intimidating aura without any sign of anger.
A simple, ancient-looking Knight’s Longsword hung at his waist. rely by sitting there quietly, he exuded the Iron Blood aura of a seasoned warrior who had slain generals and captured banners on countless battlefields.
This was none other than the Vice Commander of the Thunder Dragon Knight Order, the Domain Knight Luke, known as "Iron Blood" for his strict discipline and decisive actions.
Behind Luke and his Thunderbird mount followed ten knights.
They were all mounted on Iron Feathered Eagles, whose neck feathers were as hard as steel. They wore standard-issue Light Armor and carried Long Spears that glinted coldly. Their formation was perfectly uniform, and their movents exuded an air of elite, deadly efficiency.
These Iron Feathered Eagle Knights had calm gazes, like drawn swords, and together with Luke, they ford a deterrent force that could not be underestimated.
This small squadron brought with it the oppressive feeling of an entire army, instantly ratcheting the tension in the once-calm Church Knight camp below to its absolute peak.
Many Church Knights had already rushed out of their tents, hands on their sword hilts, looking up at the uninvited guests in the sky with tense expressions.
Their Pegasus mounts also seed restless, pawing the ground from ti to ti and letting out low neighs.
Augustus’s expression had now beco quite ugly.
He clearly hadn’t expected the Thunder Dragon Duchy to react so swiftly, nor that they would directly dispatch such a heavyweight.
Vice Commander Luke guided his Thunderbird in a circle above the camp, his gaze like lightning, locking directly onto Bishop Augustus below.
The Thunderbird beneath him let out a low cry, tucked its wings slightly, and began to descend slowly.
The fierce wind kicked up dust, making it almost impossible for people to keep their eyes open.
Luke leaped from the Thunderbird’s broad back, his heavy Knight’s Iron Boots landing on the ground with a CLANG.
Without even glancing at the tense Church Knights, he strode directly toward the ashen-faced Augustus.
With every step he took, the deadly Iron Blood aura around him grew stronger, as if an entire army marched behind him.
Raylo watched this scene with great interest.
"Bishop Augustus."
Luke’s voice was like colliding steel.
"By order of the Thunder Dragon Duke, I have co to read his decree."
He took a simple Sheepskin Scroll from his coat, branded with a vivid Thunder Dragon Emblem.
Bishop Augustus’s face was as dark as a storm cloud.
He snorted coldly but did not speak.
The Church Knights behind him all looked nervous, gripping their sword hilts tightly as if facing a great enemy.
Luke ignored Augustus’s attitude, unfurled the Sheepskin Scroll, and read aloud in a clear voice.
"Decree of the Thunder Dragon Duke: Bishop Augustus of the Light Holy See, without the permission of the Duchy, did willfully judge and execute a noble of the Duchy, Viscount Baiyang, within Black Stone Territory. This act shows contempt for the laws of the Duchy and violates its sovereignty, and ought to be severely punished. However, considering that the Lord Bishop’s actions were for the purpose of eliminating Evil God Followers, his intentions can be understood. Therefore, it is hereby decreed: Bishop Augustus and all Church Knights under his command must voluntarily depart the territory of the Thunder Dragon Duchy within ten days. If this deadline is not t, the Duchy will consider it an act of invasion, and all consequences shall be borne by you!"
Clearly, the Duke’s decree left so room for compromise, but the order to leave within a set ti was still tantamount to a resounding slap across the face of the ever-proud Light Holy See.
After reading the decree, Luke rolled up the Sheepskin Scroll.
"Lord Bishop, the decree has been read. If you please."
The camp fell deathly silent, with only the sound of the wind rustling the tents.
A muscle in Bishop Augustus’s cheek twitched a few tis. He took a deep breath as if to speak, but in the end, he only let out a cold snort.
Suddenly, a strange smile spread across Bishop Augustus’s lips.
He looked at Luke and said slowly.
"Vice Commander Luke, I have long heard of your reputation. I am also familiar with the ’Iron Blood’ moniker of the Thunder Dragon Knight Order."
He paused, his tone suddenly rising.
"Everything I do is for the glory of the Light Deity! How can a re decree from a secular duchy restrain the steps of a Divine Apostle?"
At these words, not only did the Iron Feathered Eagle Knights behind Luke show anger, but even Raylo was secretly speechless.
’This Augustus is as stubborn and foul as a stone in a latrine pit. Even at this stage, he still dares to be so defiant.’
"However..."
Augustus’s tone shifted, a glint of fighting spirit flashing in his eyes.
"Since you have co in person, Vice Commander, I have a proposal. Rather than waste our breath here, why don’t you and I have a little spar? What do you say?"
"If I am fortunate enough to win, I ask that you, Vice Commander, retract the Duke’s decree and allow to continue cleansing the remnants of the Evil Deity’s followers here."
His tone was casual, as if he were talking about so trivial matter.
These words left everyone around them stunned.
’Is Augustus trying to force a direct confrontation between the Light Holy See and the Thunder Dragon Duchy?’
If Augustus and Knight Luke really ca to blows, regardless of who won or lost, if one of them were to be injured or killed, the honor of both factions they represented would be lost.
Upon hearing this, Vice Commander Luke was montarily taken aback, but then a cold smirk curved his lips.
"Oh?"
He let out a low, guttural sound.
"Is the Lord Bishop suggesting we use our fists to decide who is right and who is wrong?"
Augustus declared proudly.
"The radiance of the Deity will naturally guide the way to victory!"
"Good! Very good!"
Luke laughed, his fury turning into amusent. His voice was laced with a chilling coldness.
"Since the Lord Bishop is in the mood, then I, Luke, will see this through to the end!"
Before his words had even faded, an imnse and unrivaled aura erupted from Luke’s body!
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