Chapter 44: Sheffield

At the same time as the Rose Legion launched its attack on human territory, the Bloodkin Legion itself was facing a major crisis internally.

“Roar——!!!”

A scorching black pillar of light suddenly erupted from a palace overgrown with rose vines, shattering countless stone pillars.

Crushed stones, laden with white dust, scattered everywhere, like crashing waves against the shore in a storm.

A lean yet tall human figure swiftly retreated from the dust, landing lightly on a broken wall. The young man’s lips curved into a cold, mocking smile, his hands tucked into his jeans pockets, his eyes filled with disdain.

He was the leader of the S-rank vanguard elite squad [Phantom Squad], the young man code-named “Sheffield.”

“Oh dear, Blood Dragon King-sama seems to have quite a temper recently. Just a few words make you so furious, the power is truly astonishing,” Sheffield said flippantly, with a hint of playfulness.

From the smoke-filled palace, a colossal black figure slowly emerged.

With each step, the earth trembled. Scarlet pupils pierced through the dust like blades, fixing directly on Sheffield. Before he could speak, the Blood Dragon King suddenly spat out a gigantic laser, sweeping across the surroundings, unstoppable!

Sheffield’s expression was calm. With a light tap of his toes, his body leapt up like the wind, easily dodging the fatal blow. Behind him, continuous explosions narrated the Blood Dragon King’s terrifying power, deafeningly loud.

“Human! I will never hand over the Rose Legion to you! Even if the setting sun’s legion falls, it retains its last glory; it will never allow a human to defile it!” The Blood Dragon King inhaled and roared lowly, his voice like thunder, shaking the surroundings, fully displaying his rage and defiance.

“Hahaha, stop struggling.”

Sheffield sneered, his gaze like winter frost, “This world is inherently about the survival of the fittest. Your wings have been severed, leaving you a broken-winged dragon, and Vice-Commander Diva has fallen.”

“What the current Rose Legion lacks is a strong leader with absolute dominance to take over.”

Facing the enormous and intimidating Blood Dragon King, Sheffield showed no fear, every movement radiating composure and ease.

“I have heard of you, human,” the Blood Dragon King’s voice was deep and angry, “You are the ace of the Seraphim Legion. But don’t forget, the Second Progenitor will stand with us. The Seraphim Legion cannot hope to easily defeat us!”

“Oh?” Sheffield narrowed his eyes, looking at the Blood Dragon King with interest, a slight smirk on his lips.

“Furthermore, your power was merely stolen through betraying former comrades! Despicable betrayer, the Rose Legion will never fall into the hands of someone like you!” The Blood Dragon King’s words were like daggers, stabbing directly into Sheffield’s heart.

In an instant, the smile on Sheffield’s face abruptly vanished, his gaze turning cold and still.

The Blood Dragon King had touched a taboo that should not be touched.

After a long silence, Sheffield slowly spoke, his voice deep yet carrying a complex emotion:

“So what? My beliefs and path had long since diverged from theirs. Power will be used by the strong. You wouldn’t understand that, in that situation, seizing his power was the only option for both him and me.”

“Otherwise, this power would simply vanish from the world… I had to preserve it, as humanity’s last ember.”

He gently rested his hand on the sword sheath at his waist, a trace of loneliness in his eyes: “Phantom, I will always remember that title. But he is no longer in this world, and the only one worthy of inheriting his power is me.”

“Heh, a betrayer dares to make betrayal sound so righteous?” The Blood Dragon King sneered, his voice full of contempt.

“Blood Dragon King, you need to soberly realize—humans are far more fragile than you imagine, and far stronger than you imagine.” Sheffield’s voice was as cold as ice, carrying an undeniable authority.

“Swish——!”

In an instant, sharp sword energy burst forth from Sheffield’s sword sheath, sweeping across the sky!

He infused Exterminator power into his swordsmanship. A ghostly blue Exterminator aura coiled around the blade like a spiritual serpent, and monstrous pressure erupted from behind him, like a roaring tiger, devastatingly sweeping through the broken walls and ruins in front of the palace.

Merely standing there made the Blood Dragon King involuntarily retreat several steps.

“This power, how is this possible… you actually…” The Blood Dragon King’s scarlet eyes widened, staring in shock at the aura emanating from Sheffield, like a demon god descending.

“This is his power and mine combined,” Sheffield said coldly, “Goodbye.”

Dark clouds rolled, and muffled thunder boomed.

The Blood Dragon King’s eyes were bloodshot, his rage boiling, as he gathered all the power within his body, vowing to fight Sheffield to the death!

“You are nothing but a despicable wretch who betrayed comrades and stole others’ power! I will fight you with the arrogance of the Rose!” The Blood Dragon King let out a sky-shattering roar from deep in his throat, filled with endless contempt and fury.

In a flash of lightning, both sides engaged in an earth-shshattering battle in front of the Rose Palace.

“Sheath Drop, Sakura Slash!”

A confident and cunning smile curved Sheffield’s lips.

The instant his blade returned to its sheath, countless dazzling pink sword lights bloomed across the Blood Dragon King’s massive body. Innumerable sakura petals drifted down from the air with a soft “swish-swish,” gently falling upon the Blood Dragon King, beautiful as a painting.

However, in the blink of an eye, these scattered petals transformed into incomparably sharp energy blades. With a flick of the sword, ten thousand blades fired at once, instantly piercing through the Blood Dragon King’s internal organs!

“Sakura falls, moon by the steps.”

The blade remained unbloodied, all things returned to stillness, and the falling sakura marked the end.

This was Sheffield’s consistent combat style, cold and elegant.

He sheathed his sword, standing quietly beside the Blood Dragon King’s shattered body, his gaze as deep as a sinking moon, and whispered: “You are too weak. Your anger is like a blunt knife; it cannot even cut my shadow.”

“Be fortunate, otherwise—before the true Phantom, you would only die an even more gruesome death.”