Melee

In that instant, Black grasped a brutal truth.

From the assassin’s build, he recognized her immediately—

Red Dragon, the female member of the Draconic Parliament.

Though her level was slightly below Yellow Dragon’s,she was still a solid Level 59 Assassin.

Level 19 versus Level 59—the gap between them was an unbridgeable chasm.

He couldn’t even slow her down.

A flicker of disdain flashed in Red Dragon’s eyes.

Her short dagger didn’t hesitate for a second.

She had no qualms about silencing this rising young pirate while she was at it.

The blade, still brimming with killing intent,lanced straight for Black’s heart.

【You have entered Flow State.】

At the critical moment, Black successfully triggered Flow State.

But almost immediately, he realized—against absolute power disparity,

Flow State was meaningless.

This wasn’t Seth, who’d suppressed his strength to Level 10.

Every move Black made was already predicted by Red Dragon.

Her reflexes outpaced his by miles.

This was pure, utter domination.

The moment Black blinked out of sight,

Red Dragon twisted her wrist—her black dagger already arcing toward his reappearance point,aimed precisely at his heart.

Too late.

For the first time, Black faced true despair.

He couldn’t trigger a second blink in time.

All he could do was watch the dagger close in.

At the last possible second—

Little Jinzi shot forward like a golden comet,

slamming its tiny head into the assassin’s arm with all its might!

THUD!

Red Dragon’s strike was deflected!

But though the blade missed his heart,it still plunged deep into Black’s abdomen.

“Ugh!”

Blood erupted from Black’s mouth as searing pain engulfed him.

His vision blurred instantly—

consciousness flickering like a dying candle.

Damn… it hurts…

So…

Is this really how I go out?

So… pathetic…

At least… let me make it to the prologue’s end…

“BLACK!”

The commotion finally snapped Alice out of her battle trance.

She turned—and froze at the sight of Black, blood gushing from his gut.

Her crimson eyes widened in shock and panic.

Her hands trembled uncontrollably.

This was the first time the composed princess had ever lost her composure.

Born royal, raised in discipline,she’d always mastered calm and restraint.

But seeing Black grievously wounded—her heart clenched like a fist,her breath catching in her throat.

“Annoying hatchling!”

Red Dragon kicked Little Jinzi aside like trash,then hurled Black’s limp body to the deck.

She yanked her dagger free and charged at her true target—Alice!

Alice stood dazed, barely raising Crimson Soul in defense.

One strike—and she was sent flying,her sword clattering away,her body crashing hard onto the deck.

“Farewell, Second Princess!”

Red Dragon seized the opening—her dagger erupting with dark energy,ready to deliver the killing blow!

But before she could strike—a massive blade cleaved down toward her from above!

“Tch!”

Frustrated but forced to react,

Red Dragon whipped her dagger up to block.

The full-force strike of a Level 65 Warrior slammed her to her knees, cracking the deck beneath her.

It was the vanguard ship’s captain.

His body was already crisscrossed with wounds.

The moment the assassins appeared,his veteran instincts had screamed their intent.

But he’d underestimated their strength.

Black Dragon—their leader—was a Level 70 Assassin,

and their duel had pushed him to the brink.

Only his Warrior’s natural tankiness had kept him alive.

And all while fending off sea dragons too!

Yet his priority wasn’t himself—it was the princess.

Letting assassins infiltrate his ship was already a grave failure.

If he failed to protect the princess,he’d have no choice but to fall on his sword in atonement.

So he’d taken a brutal slash from Black Dragonjust to break free and shield Alice.

And it worked—he’d interrupted Red Dragon just in time.

“Your Highness, run!”

“The hidden chamber—remember where I told you! Go!”

“We’ll hold them here!”

In a flash, Black Dragon reappeared like a shadow clinging to bone.

Now facing both a Level 70 and a Level 59 Assassin,the captain knew he wouldn’t last long.

So he activated his ultimate divine skill:

“Iron Bastion!”

Blinding golden light erupted from his body.

Spiritual energy condensed into a solid, shimmering barrier before him—so dense it warped the air.

With a roar, he stomped through the deck,using his own flesh as an anchor,sealing off all paths for Black and Red Dragon.

“You’d throw away your life just to protect a princess?”

Black Dragon scowled—

he hadn’t expected such reckless resolve.

A Level 65 Warrior couldn’t beat him,especially not with Red Dragon at his side.

But Warriors specialized in defense—and their class naturally countered Assassins.

“Iron Bastion” was a top-tier Warrior skill—its defense so overwhelming that even their combined assault would take precious seconds to break through.

And activating it drained most of a Warrior’s spiritual energy,leaving him vulnerable afterward.

That was exactly why Black Dragon sneered.

“Duty unto death—I have no regrets!”

The captain gritted his teeth, voice trembling with resolve.

BOOM!

Black Dragon’s dagger struck the barrier—sparks flying like meteors.

The Level 70 strike left only a hairline crack.

Hearing the captain’s roar, Alice snapped back to reality.

She wanted desperately to help—but she knew she’d only be a liability.

These assassins were far beyond her.

Right now, saving Black was paramount.

She rushed to his side, slung his arm over her shoulder,and hauled him up.

“Hold on, Black… we’re getting out of here!”

Her voice shook violently, her lips pale as snow,as she dragged him toward the ship’s interior.

“White Dragon! Indigo! Azure! Purple! Stop the princess!”

Black Dragon barked the order.

If Alice escaped, this entire operation was a waste.

The other assassins surged forward—but the Dragon-Slaying Guards threw themselves in the way.

“Your Highness, go! We’ll hold them!”

The Guard captains engaged the assassins in chaotic melee.

In seconds, the entire vanguard ship descended into pandemonium—sea dragons, guards, and assassins all clashing in a storm of blood and steel.

But the tide was turning against the royal fleet.

Outmatched by the assassins and still harried by sea dragons,

their lines began to crumble.

The sea dragons, of course,didn’t care about human infighting—they hungered only for flesh.

Same for the assassins.

Soon, bodies littered the deck—human screams and draconic roars merging into a symphony of slaughter.

The ship was drowning in chaos.