The Former Holy Knight. Having Lost My Job and Childhood Friend, I Decided to Start a Dark Guild - Chapter 50

Bursting out of the cave, the sight that unfolded before my eyes froze my heart.

The ground was littered with numerous knights, bloodied and fallen. Marks of being pierced by something sharp were evident on their armors, and some were lifeless.

I rushed to a knight who was still breathing. “What happened!”

Wounded and gasping for breath, the knight said, “It was Lord Nadale. He suddenly turned on us and attacked.”

At that moment, another scream echoed from the forest. The sound of armor being penetrated and bone shattering entered my ears.

“Lilith, we must stop Nadale at all costs!”

“I don’t need a former low-ranking knight to tell me that!”

“Your wounds haven’t healed yet! Are you sure you’re okay?”

“So, a former low-ranking knight and a thief is concerned about me?!”

Lilith and I rushed toward the source of the sound. Along the way, we passed several knights who were no longer breathing. Such a scene was unprecedented. A look of astonishment was visible even on Lilith’s always composed face.

When we reached a rocky area with a small stream, which allowed for a better forest view, Lilith raised her voice.

“Nadale! What are you doing!”

Around Nadale were knights lying in pools of their blood. Like the knights we had seen earlier, there were marks as if they had been impaled.

Nadale looked at us.

“Good timing. After I killed all the knights, I planned to head your way next.”

“Why would you do something like this despite being the deputy captain!”

“With the recent events, my chances of being appointed as the commander of the Holy Knights and taking control of the order have been dashed. We should weaken the knights’ force as much as possible.”

Saying that Nadale casually kicked the head of a groaning knight on the ground.

Lilith drew her sword. “Even if you are the deputy captain, I will show no mercy!”

Lilith kicked off the ground and charged towards Nadale, swinging her sword at him. However, Nadale easily dodged the slash.

Lilith continued to swing her sword, but all her attempts were effortlessly avoided.

It seemed Lilith had sustained more severe injuries than I had anticipated. Her movements and speed were entirely unlike the Sword Saint Lilith we were accustomed to. Above all, the vile condition of her subordinate knights appeared to have made her lose her composure.

I said, “Lilith! Stay calm! We’ll fight back in sync together!”

I drew my sword, but Lilith, while swinging hers, shouted, “You leave this place! It’s my responsibility as the leader to deal with this!”

True to her words, Lilith continued to launch slashes alone. Yet, her movements were slow, and she didn’t even graze Nadale.

As Lilith leaped high into the air with her sword raised, Nadale muttered softly without moving an inch.

“Ancient tree’s tendrils. Bind the fool.”

The instant those words were uttered, something like plant tendrils sprang from the ground, swiftly wrapping around Lilith’s limbs as she swung her sword toward Nadale.

In the brief moment of her leap, the tendrils entwined around Lilith’s body, halting her movement while she was suspended in mid-air.

“What have you done!”

“Do you not comprehend? You are already under my dominion. Whether you live or die depends solely on my whim. However, you are fortunate. For quite some time, I have desired to claim you, someone with a spirited and defiant nature who refuses to submit to me as my own.”

The plants growing from the ground slipped into Lilith’s armor, acting like Nadale’s obedient limbs, beginning to strip her of her armor. Eventually, Lilith, now in her undergarments, raised her voice angrily.

“What are you intending to do? If you’re a knight, fight with honor and sword!”

“Unfortunately, I don’t possess an ounce of chivalry. Breaking the vow of purity will significantly reduce the powers of a Sword Saint.”

Nadale, still smiling, manipulated his fingers in mid-air. The plant tendrils began to entwine around Lilith’s silk undergarments. Lilith screamed.

“Stop! Stop! Stop!”

I lunged at Nadale, sword raised high. Nadale spoke.

“Leon Stein, you dance alone while I am entertained. Let me advise you, the moment you stop moving, you will end your life.”

I then realized that vines had started wrapping around my ankles. I slashed at the vegetation with my sword, but they grew back too fast for me to keep up.

Amidst my struggle with the plants, Lilith’s cries of rage reached my ears.

“If you’re going to do this, then kill me quickly!”

Hearing the normally composed Lilith’s voice filled with unprecedented fury made my heart feel like it was about to burst. I found myself shouting in anger while swinging my sword.

“Nadale! Stop! Don’t lay another hand on Lilith!”

At that moment, what exactly happened was unclear, but the growth speed of the plants slowed, allowing me to cut through them swiftly. Seizing when the obstructing plants were gone, I lunged towards Nadale.

For some reason, Nadale looked at me with a surprised expression. Seizing the opportunity, I slashed at him with all my might, but green vines wrapped around my blade just before my sword could touch Nadale’s neck. I pulled the vines off with all my strength and slashed at Nadale again, but the vines interfered again, preventing my attack from reaching him.

With wide eyes, Nadale said,

“Leon Stein… was that, by any chance, a royal command?”