Chapter 395: Dare
Vale’s flying ships began to return fire. Although they weren’t military-made, they were still flying ships equipped with some offensive measures. But no matter the attack, it was simply shrugged off by the bird-like flying ship! It did not even bother to use a shield to block!
But the distraction was enough for them to close the distance between themselves and Valtor’s ship. The Radiant Sky ship did not stop there; it continued to fly forward at the bird-like ship.
Slya didn’t wait for the other ship’s counterattack as she instantly drew her sword and raised it high above her head. "Attack!"
Ninety-nine weapons were raised in unison. Silver light flashed, and beams of concentrated light flourished like angry rain.
Whizz! Whizz!
They crossed over and hit the bird-like ship like a hammer to the head. Ninety-nine attacks above the average Errant Knight rank. The ship instantly suffered; numerous dents appeared, the glass of one of the bird eyes was shattered, and some of the formations collapsed under the attack.
The ship performed a short-distance teleportation backward, appearing with a flickering translucent shield around it. And for the first time, Knights—Errant Knights and Knights—could be seen running around to fix things.
Vale nodded in satisfaction. But Slya still had surprises for him as she said, "I want to return the favor. How dare they kill our people? Archers, get ready!"
The Radiant Weapons were made in different forms, and among them were bows. The opponent’s ship was already beyond the reach of their ranged attacks, but that was only in terms of the beams!
Vale was interested in what she wanted to do. "That shield is at least top-tier Errant Knight rank, and I can guess that in terms of trouble, it could be boosted to Master Knight rank."
Slya grinned, her sword still raised. "That’s why you have to hit them fast!"
She brought the sword down.
And above the bird-like ship, a similar sword, but the size of three men stacked atop each other, appeared. The sword was made of black material, as if darkness had been given form. The edges, though sharp, still boiled like an angry volcano.
Everyone was quite surprised to see something like that appear! What’s more, the power within it was above that of an Errant Knight; it was as if a Master Knight was intentionally using the weakest technique they had.
Everyone, not to talk of the opponent, was caught unprepared.
The sword cut down and split the shield into two. At the same time, twenty arrows blew through the gap and hit the Knights, killing at least twelve of them and blowing their heads into nothing!
The ship quickly performed more short-distance teleportations until it finally disappeared.
Everything that happened took no more than two minutes!
Vale grinned with happiness. "The enemy’s ambush has failed. Valtor was the main target, but it seems they not only underestimated him, they looked down on us as well."
Then his face became solemn. "I want you to take care of those dead warriors’ bodies, find their families, and compensate them for the loss according to their ranks, or according to their last wills."
It was already a standard practice in the Clan, and if they had no families and left no will, then their wealth and resources would be absorbed by the Clan Leader’s family.
Vale then turned to Slya. "That was impressive, Slya. You’ve raised my view of the Radiant Sky higher. It won’t be painful to pour more resources into your squad in the future."
The Radiant Sky cost a lot and rapidly depleted Athrimir’s coffers to make, but the result was astonishing. If the Radiant Sky could equal a Master Knight or be strong enough to tie one down, then it was all worth it and more.
Slya raised her brow. "Vale, I’m your family now. I can shamelessly award more resources from our Athrimir Clan."
Vale was instantly rendered speechless. Fuck. He sighed but still couldn’t hide the small smile on his lips.
’...maybe that isn’t a bad deal, Slya. Maybe it isn’t...’
She wasn’t done. "I want short-distance teleportation too. Imagine what we could have done!"
Vale felt a sudden pang when he thought of the Tower that he lost. Eirikr had first nearly destroyed it, and the forced teleportation by the Old Man had totally destroyed it together with Takoda’s artifact.
"When we get Matsumoto, that ship will be yours," Vale said. He saw the value in developing the Radiant Sky. What if... what if he could turn the whole lot of them into Master Knights? The thought was fleeting in his mind, but it shook him to the core.
One hundred Master Knights with Radiant Weapons that could amplify their powers, concentrating all their powers into one single strike. How horrible, how terrifying, how powerful. Even the Grandmasters would be wary of such power.
As the idea took root, Vale couldn’t help but connect it with the idea of the Flagbearers. Instantly, an idea born on impulse came into his mind. Right there on the battlefield, he made a law. Although only Slya and Tiber understood the full extent of it.
"From today onward, only Athrimir family members can have the automatic authority to make a Flag, no matter their rank or personal power!"
Slya froze, and Tiber smiled as he understood that the law was made for Slya as a gift. It meant that she could turn her Radiant Sky into a Flag!
She bowed in silence, her face showing her sincerity.
They continued their journey, but now all the ships moved closer together. Vale also spread his perception to cover all the ships and keep an eye out as the only one who could potentially see through illusions.
But the bird-like ship did not ambush them again, and they successfully entered Matsumoto territory, passing the little villages until they could see the city with their own eyes.
Matsumoto City.
Vale saw the familiar towers, the first line of defense and offense, and unlike last time, all three towers were lit up instead of only one. Between the towers floated a bird-like ship, and around it were three other flying ships. Military-made.
"So it’s from Matsumoto after all."
Although they had already predicted it, it was also a good thing that they had made the final confirmation.
A voice rumbled from a tower. "Who are you? Why do you amass such force against Matsumoto?"
Vale did not reply. Instead, he turned to Gorge, but the man shook his head.
"I do not know who that voice belongs to. It’s new to me. The secret Master Knights must have taken command, as I predicted."
Vale accepted the explanation with a nod, still not saying anything.
Valtor, with his gravity power acting on him, floated upward. His voice, powered by essence, rumbled just as loudly.
"We have come in the name of Vale of Athrimir, Lord of Akatsuki and the Guardian of Matsumoto!"
Those words shocked all of them, even Vale’s men. They looked at him with bewilderment.
What? He’s already proclaiming himself as the owner of Matsumoto? Is that not too shameless? Isn’t that too arrogant? Why count your loot when you haven’t carried out the theft?
Someone seemed to agree with their sentiment, as another voice from the tower came through. This time, the voice was calm and steady, with just the right touch of arrogance. It was also filled with deep annoyance, as if a family member had suddenly woken up and called himself the man of the house. How unimaginative!
"Vale Athrimir... how dare you call yourself the lord of my city?"
Vale smiled. He spoke in a low voice that was clear for all to hear and yet not loud, as if he were speaking with someone in front of him.
"I dare by right of blood and conquest. I killed the Company Captains; their loot belongs to me. I dare, but the thing is, who dares to get in my way?"
Before the shudder could spread too much, Valtor repeated Vale’s words in a booming tone.
"His Lordship said: He dares by right of blood and conquest. He killed the Company Captains; their loot belongs to him. He dares, but the thing is, who dares to get in his way?"
The very air seemed to shake with shock and surprise. What Vale had just done—his words and actions through Valtor—proclaimed one thing: that he did not regard the other parties at all!
As if he was deeply looking down on them and couldn’t even be bothered to speak to them directly.
It was a blatant insult. Worse, he was asking them—yes, I said that. What are you going to do about it?
The air tensed as they waited for the other party to respond, but it was as if they were still trying to process what was happening. As if the image they had of Vale was different from what they were seeing!