Betrayal Knight's Joyful Faith

Chapter 335

The frost sparkled silver in the sunlight.The unfamiliar chill unsettled Nikephoros.

Nothing about this situation pleased him.

The fact that he dared to wield the sacred relic of the Chernion religion as a weapon, his fluid, unwavering movements, his cool golden eyes, and even his lips that held an arrogant sneer.

“What insolence.”

Nikephoros answered coldly.

“There is no need for such things when serving a great person.”

Arendt quickly retreated from the surprise attack.

.

Nikephoros’ claws pierced the ground where Arendt had just been.

Debris from the shattered ground flew in all directions, obscuring his vision for a moment.

The moment he sensed the danger, the next attack was already flying straight at him.

Arendt hastily blocked with his sword, but the tremendous impact slammed into his entire body.

“…!”

By the time he came to his senses, his body was already airborne, then crashed hard into the ground.

As he barely managed to cling to consciousness that nearly slipped away in an instant, blood surged up and spilled from his mouth.

“Cough, cough!”

Before he could even recover, he felt Nikephoros charging toward him again.

Just as he was about to force himself to move, Laius intervened and blocked Nikephoros’ path.

!

The Holy Sword and Nikephoros’ scaled arm clashed head-on.

“Get out of the way.”

“I refuse.”

At the cold command, Laius replied stiffly.

Taking advantage of the time the captain had bought, Arendt quickly made his escape.

‘Wow, this is really tough.’

Even though he had only taken a single hit, it felt like his entire body was about to shatter.

He realized just how much Lexion had been tolerating his ‘Arendt’- like reckless behavior all this time.

Arthur, who had come in a hurry, helped him up as he staggered.

“Hey, are you okay?”

“Am I okay? This damn dragon.”

Arendt wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and flashed a venomous smile.

“Still, well, it’s quite a sight to see him properly riled up.”

“This bastard is really…”

Arthur let out a tired sound.

But there wasn’t much room to relax.

The surviving ghouls began to lunge at the two people.

“Oh, damn!”

Arthur pushed Arendt behind him and then confronted the ghoul.

!

The arm that the orc ghoul was swinging was cleanly cut off by Arthur’s sword. Taking advantage of the ghoul’s pause, Arendt jumped out from behind Arthur and activated the Frosty Touch.

The moment the ghoul froze, Arthur delivered the final blow.

The shattered remains of the ghoul came crashing down like chunks of ice.

But that wasn’t the end of it. The commotion on this side caused the remaining ghouls to start flocking in.

Arthur growled, adjusting his grip on his sword.

“You’re in trouble later.”

“Uh huh.”

Even the answer he got back was unpleasant.

Arthur glanced at Arendt’s back as he leisurely left.

His hair, tied in a ponytail, was dyed black all the way down to his neck.

This meant that there wasn’t much time left.

A surge of anger rose within him.

“That son of a bitch.”

His swings used to deal with the ghouls grew progressively more brutal.

“Don’t get in my way, just get lost!”

On one side, Laius and Nikephoros were facing off.

Every time Laius and Nikephoros clashed, a terrifying crashing sound swept through the battlefield.

Of all those present, only Laius was capable of dealing with Nikephoros.

Maybe Zakar could lend a hand here and there.

Arthur couldn’t control his nervousness as he focused on the ghoul in front of him again.

‘That’s only possible under the premise that no one should be killed.’

There was no way a human could do anything against a dragon that could destroy a territory.

Arthur paused as his thoughts reached that point.

“Uh?”

One thing that everyone had forgotten in their exhaustion suddenly came to mind.

He quickly turned his head towards Arendt.

Before he knew it, Richt had joined him.

Richt, who easily dealt with the rushing ghouls, tried to smack Arendt on the back of the head but failed.

It was because Arendt, who was quick on his feet, had slipped away.

“Ha, I’m going crazy, damn.”

Arthur muttered in bewilderment at the sight.

A burst of laughter broke out.

“That fucking bastard…”

Everyone here was being toyed with by that son of a bitch.

!

As Laius repelled Nikephoros’ attack, a tremendous thunderous roar swept through the battlefield.

Laius’ hair, soaked with blood and sweat, shook.

Beneath it all, his piercing blue eyes remained unwavering, even while facing the powerful enemy, the dragon.

Nikephoros raised his eyebrows, momentarily forgetting the situation.

“Hoo.”

Laius de Winfried was stronger than he had imagined.

Although he was still no match for the former heroes in their prime, if he continued to grow at this rate, he may soon catch up with Khan.

‘It’s annoying.’

Nikephoros, furrowing his brow, struck Laius with force.

Nikephoros’ golden magic clashed with the Holy Sword, sending shards of light flying in all directions like sparks.

Laius, who was pushed back, quickly ducked. Nikephoros’ claws just barely passed over him.

The moment he thought he had dodged, the next attack came flying in from the left.

Laius quickly twisted his sword to block the attack, but he could not fully handle the dragon’s power.

Laius was sent flying helplessly, losing his balance and crashing straight into the ground.

“Cough!”

Nikephoros, having struck Laius away, walked towards Arendt again.

It seemed like a change of plan was in order.

‘He’s not some kind of hero’s follower.’

Arendt was a kind of human being he had never seen before.

Although he seemed to share the same views as Laius, it seemed a bit ridiculous to say that he followed him.

Because it seemed like even Laius couldn’t stop him.

No power, no hero, no dragon, not even a god could control him.

So, was there really a being on this earth that could rule over that apprentice knight?

“Ha, that’s interesting.”

A cruel smile appeared on Nikephoros’ lips.

Golden magic engulfed him in an instant.

When his vision returned, he saw the apprentice knight standing right in front of him, halting at the sight of him suddenly appearing.

“This nonsense ends here.”

“…!”

Arendt instinctively stepped back, and then Richt intervened.

“Where do you think you’re going?”

But Nikephoros merely waved his hand without even looking at him.

A strong blast of golden magic pushed Richt back.

Richt, his body struck all over, coughed up blood and tumbled across the ground.

Without a moment to check his own condition, Richt coughed up blood and hurriedly pushed himself up.

“Arendt!”

Arendt tried to respond quickly with his sword, but Nikephoros was faster.

!

The attack, which came without giving him time to prepare, easily knocked Arendt’s sword away with a loud clang.

“Ah…!”

As the sword flew out of his grasp, a look of bewilderment crossed his previously expressionless face.

Nikephoros reached out and grabbed Arendt’s wrist, which had lost its weapon.

“Have you had enough fun now?”

An ominous voice came from just above his head. Arendt tried to counterattack by drawing on the power of the artifact, but…

The horrifying sound of his wrist bone snapping rang in his ear.

“Ugh!”

Arendt almost screamed, but he bit his lip tightly and swallowed the pain.

It seemed like his colleagues were yelling around him, but he didn’t have time to pay attention to it.

Nikephoros yanked Arendt toward him. His vertically slit, green eyes glared down at him, as if binding him with their gaze.

“It looks like the game of tag is over, brat. Are you satisfied now?”

“…”

Arendt raised his head and looked straight at him.

Arendt’s face had become somewhat pale, but there was no change in his expression.

After a brief pause, Arendt opened his mouth.

“…I have to admit, it was pretty satisfying. Seeing the great dragon you claim to be all worked up and anxious like that.”

Before he knew it, Arendt was smiling bitterly.

“It seems like it was quite a new experience for you too. What do you think?”

“…”

The green eyes looking down at Arendt grew cold.

“I’ve seen all sorts of things in my life, but this takes the cake.”

From the wrist held by Nikephoros, faint smoke began to rise as a bright red burn mark started to form.

Even as his flesh burned away, Arendt still did not bat an eyelash.

“I guess it’s rare to find someone this talented. Take a look around.”

“I think I won the bet, Arendt von Eckhart.”

Nikephoros said bluntly.

As time passed, the darkened skin gradually regained its natural color.

Nikephoros began to forcibly suppress his magical power.

Arendt’s face turned even paler as his magic calmed and his stomach turned.

But Arendt did not stop talking.

“…Seems like you’re quite pleased with yourself for beating a kid, huh? I told you earlier, didn’t I? If you’re a dragon, you’d better start acting like one and keep your dignity intact.”

“As I said earlier, when serving Him, dignity doesn’t matter.”

Nikephoros replied blandly.

“As long as I can serve Him, it doesn’t matter what happens. And…”

The green eyes that stared at Arendt quietly gave off a cold light.

“You’d be wise to stay out of it, no matter what price I have to pay. If I’m not permitted to kill, keeping you locked away in a dungeon forever wouldn’t be a bad option. I don’t care what punishment I receive from Him.”

He gripped Arendt’s already fractured wrist with even more force, completely crushing the bone.

As if to represent Nikephoros’ anger, the burning heat also grew stronger.

“First, I will kill all the humans here one by one before your eyes. I will make you realize firsthand that the price for mocking a dragon is by no means light.”

“…”

The apprentice knight, who was silent for a moment as if swallowing the pain, finally spoke again.

“…Well. It’s not a bad idea. There’s only one thing I can say.”

Arendt chuckled, his face dripping with cold sweat.

“If you can, give it a try.”

“What?”

“When someone gives you advice, you should know how to listen carefully. I told you clearly. Don’t lose your dignity.”

Arendt continued speaking, facing Nikephoros, whose brow was furrowed.

“Regardless of if you are a god, if you don’t, you’ll just end up a laughingstock.”

Nikephoros didn’t understand him for a moment.

But soon, he finally realized something was wrong.

Still holding onto Arendt, Nikephoros quickly turned to glance toward the rear.

He had been so focused on this brat that he didn’t even notice it, but he couldn’t feel the presence that should have been there.

‘No way.’

A chill ran down his spine.

It also made no sense that ‘he’ had not come forward until the situation had become like this.

Nikephoros muttered absentmindedly.

“…Since when?”

“From the beginning, idiot.”

Arendt responded, clearly enjoying himself.

And as if in response to those words, dark magic surged right behind Nikephoros.

“Why don’t you take that hand off right now, you crazy old man.”

Along with the familiar presence, an irritable voice that was unmistakably sharp and annoyed also rang out.

Nikephoros turned around, feeling as if he had been momentarily bewitched.

As the mist-like dark magic dissipated, bright-red eyes, as if soaked in blood, were revealed.

It was Lexion.