An indescribable, fierce wind pressure surged from ahead, marking the arrival of a black spear tearing through the air at incredible speed.
The Black Knight Commander, Mecaphes, had finally unleashed his assault upon them.
“Ice…”
Before Noelle, a shimmering shield of ice materialized once more.
Yet this very ice shield, which countless magic-infused arrows had previously failed to pierce, proved as fragile as paper before the incoming black spear; unable to withstand even for a moment, it was brutally shattered.
The immense force sent both Noelle and You’er hurtling backward.
“Noelle!”
You’er clutched Noelle tightly in his arms, using his back to absorb the brutal impact of their landing.
Pah!
Both individuals, having fallen, spewed forth blood, with crimson streaks oozing from the corners of their mouths, a sight of utter desolation, like flowers on the verge of wilting.
“Noelle! Noelle! Are you alright, Noelle!…”
You’er staggered to a sitting position, pulling Noelle’s limp body closer.
She had borne ninety-nine percent of the previous blow’s full force alone, and combined with the relentless pursuit, the excessive depletion of her physical and magical energy left her face even paler and devoid of color, making her appear utterly fragile.
“Tell me, isn’t the taste of plummeting from hope into despair simply exquisite?”
Mecaphes raised a hand, drawing the black spear back into his grasp.
He spurred his warhorse, slowly approaching, and gazed down at You’er and Noelle from above, a smile of malicious pleasure playing on his lips.
Facing such a predicament once more, and meeting such a gaze, You’er’s expression contorted into a ferocious snarl.
This bastard had destroyed Angus Village, slaughtered its inhabitants, brutally murdered Marlene, and caused him to be separated from Lilinai.
Now, he was here to snatch away his hope once more.
“It’s you! You bastard!…”
Gazing up at Mecaphes, You’er’s voice, gritted through his teeth, was laden with an ocean of hatred.
“Heh heh, that’s right, it is I, the one you utterly despise.
You swore an oath to kill me, didn’t you?
But now, this pitiful worm-like appearance of yours seems even more wretched than before.”
Mecaphes’s warhorse vanished into thin air without a trace, and he strode forward, his voice dripping with utter mockery.
Still speaking with that condescending tone and that contemptuous demeanor, he seemed to crush You’er beneath his heel.
“Let him go!”
At that moment, the previously silent Noelle suddenly erupted, a sword of cerulean ice materializing from her power, which she thrust towards the Black Knight Commander’s chest.
“Meddlesome.
Begone!”
However, with just a single cold word, the Black Knight Commander shattered the ice sword and viciously kicked Noelle in the stomach, sending her flying once more to violently collide with the wall.
“Bastard! Don’t you dare hurt her!”
You’er roared, lunging at the Black Knight Commander, only to be casually kicked aside.
The Commander then strode directly to the fallen Noelle.
“You, it seems, care for her deeply, don’t you?”
The Black Knight Commander bared his teeth and chuckled sinisterly.
As he watched You’er, he simultaneously raised his leather boot high, mercilessly bringing it down on Noelle’s waist, causing her beautiful, delicate face to contort in agony.
“Stop it! You bastard, stop it! Stop!” You’er charged at the Black Knight Commander like a madman.
However, the formidable Black Knight Commander merely lifted an arm, and his seemingly slow fist struck You’er’s abdomen with surprising speed, causing You’er’s body to instantly crumple to the ground, emitting a fragile, helpless moan.
“See?
See…? Nothing has changed.
You are nothing but a pathetic worm, a stray dog, utterly devoid of power.
You cannot protect anyone.”
Right before You’er’s eyes, the Black Knight Commander brazenly stomped on Noelle, seemingly relishing You’er’s expression, which was a tormented mixture of self-reproach, helplessness, and furious resentment.
From their first encounter, he had recognized You’er’s unyielding spirit.
Now, he sought to break You’er’s mind and will, to erode his resilience, to turn him into a complete waste, to render him no longer a threat to himself, and to make the royal figure lose all interest in him.
Throughout this process, the Black Knight Commander found it exceedingly amusing.
“Damn it! Damn it! I’ll never let you harm her again! Never!”
You’er shrieked, his voice a raw roar like a beast in agony.
He did not charge at the Black Knight Commander again, but instead, just before the Commander could land his next blow, he interposed himself between the Commander and Noelle, clutching her body tightly, holding her close, using his own back to absorb the heavy impact in her stead!
“Hm?
You want to take her place, do you?
Very well, I shall grant your wish!”
The Black Knight Commander had not expected You’er to possess such backbone.
So, he decided to see just how long his resolve would last.
Each ‘thud’ of his descending foot was heavier than the last, and the smile on the Black Knight Commander’s face grew increasingly chilling and bone-piercing.
Clear tears streamed from Noelle’s eyes.
So utterly powerless, she could only watch, helpless, as her master endured such torment for her sake.
She gently touched You’er’s almost twisted face with her palm, her heart feeling as if it were being sliced by razor blades.
She had once believed she was helping him purely out of gratitude, but now she understood it was more than that.
Through countless interactions with You’er, each time she touched his cheek, each time she kissed his lips to feed him, she had deeply felt the warmth within You’er’s heart.
Her feelings for him had already transformed.
“Tsk, you stubborn brat, utterly sickening!”
Never hearing You’er’s submission or pleas for mercy, not even the faintest whimper of pain, the Black Knight Commander finally grew bored.
His final kick finally unleashed his true power!
This single kick sent You’er flying, and with him, Noelle, whom he had protected with his body.
You’er, sprawled on the ground, found himself unable to rise.
Yet even now, the Black Knight Commander had no intention of letting him go.
He pressed the sole of his leather boot onto You’er’s occiput, his words utterly cruel, assaulting You’er’s very soul.
“It’s time you resigned yourself to fate, time you admitted your weakness and powerlessness, isn’t it?
Fragile as you are, you don’t possess even the slightest ability to resist me!
You pitiful worm, you stray dog… Do you know, because of you, tonight, both you and the one you wish to protect… will die!”
The Black Knight Commander’s words pierced You’er’s heart like thorns, leaving his spirit as desolate as a stone slab beneath his nose, trampled for too long, its luster worn away.
Yes, he had implicated Noelle; because of him, Noelle would also die!
It was all because of him!
Within You’er’s chest, a profound, deep rage accumulated, enveloped by thick, heavy clouds of despair.
An indescribable, profound sense of despondency began to fester within his heart.
The Black Knight Commander was absolutely right.
He still hadn’t changed.
He was still so powerless, unable to do anything, unable to protect anyone…
Thump-thump, thump-thump.
At that moment, low, resolute footsteps suddenly echoed.
Noelle, supporting her trembling body with a short sword condensed from ice frost, staggered towards the Black Knight Commander and You’er.
“Master You’er is not a pathetic worm.
Master You’er is not a stray dog.
Master You’er is strong.
Though Master You’er is vulnerable now, he is constantly fighting with all his might against fate!
I, Noelle Noah, believe.
I believe in my one and only master in this life, he…”
Noelle, unable to utter a sound, opened her mouth, expressing her thoughts with sheer will.
“Noelle…”
Tears welled from You’er’s hollow eyes.
“Boring.”
The Black Knight Commander sneered, lifted his foot, and once again kicked Noelle’s delicate body, sending her flying to violently collide with the wall again.
But she rose once more, staggering back towards You’er, revealing a tragic yet beautiful smile, like the setting sun.
“Master, you will never surrender to fate, will you…?”