Escarnia, Valley of the End.

WHOOOOSH—

The storm sweeping across the wilderness carried an air of corrosion and decay.

The armored man stood beside the military camp at the entrance of the canyon, his pitch-black armor seeming to swallow the light itself.

If anyone had caught a clear glimpse of the man's face, they would have been shocked into stunned silence.

Vortigern.

The despicable king who had usurped the throne, plunging Escarnia into the mire of war.

According to Scout reports from the Knights Alliance Forces, Vortigern should have been holding court in the Royal Capital of Escarnia. However, he had unexpectedly appeared on this battlefield in the borderland wilderness.

CRACK—

The sound of dry leaves being crushed came from nearby.

This was a gentleman dressed in luxurious, seemingly elegant and composed attire, but the pallor of his face was distinctly inhuman, betraying his identity as a member of the Blood Tribe.

Moreover, the fact that he could appear so calmly beside Vortigern indicated his undoubtedly lofty status within the Blood Tribe.

A Blood Prince of Legendary Rank.

"Flandre, how are things with the Dawn Church?" Vortigern asked indifferently, without turning his head.

"The same as always. That Cardinal's spiritual power is still locked onto the Royal Palace. He obviously still believes Your Majesty is sitting inside the palace," Flandre reported. "He's just an ordinary Cardinal, after all, one who only reached the Legendary Rank by relying on the Dawn's Divine Blessing. A subpar Legendary like him, created through external forces, will be confined to that level for life. He couldn't even detect that a semi-entity with Legendary combat power had been split off from Your Majesty right under his nose," Blood Prince Flandre said, a cold laugh in his voice.

Since ancient times, the Blood Tribe and the Holy See had been eternal enemies, sworn to relentlessly hunt each other. The Blood Tribe always firmly held the top spot in the Dawn Church's heresy hunting order.

Therefore, it was only natural that Flandre found that Cardinal particularly distasteful.

"Speaking of which, this mere rebel alliance of nobles... I never expected Your Majesty to take them so seriously," Flandre said, his words laced with disdain. "A rebel leader who hasn't even reached Legendary Rank, who scraped together a following only through some so-called 'Kingmaker Sword,' dares to assume the title 'Knight King'? How utterly ridiculous."

In the circles of the Legendary, the title of King is exclusive to those who have crossed the Throne realm boundary.

"A lion uses its full strength even when hunting a rabbit," Vortigern replied, his voice devoid of disdain. Although this was merely a semi-entity, the pressure this despicable king exuded was in no way inferior to that of the Legendary Rank Blood Prince.

"According to the feedback this land has given me... that self-proclaimed Knight King, Artorigus, truly has the capability to threaten my current rule. Moreover, the Sacred Sword he obtained from the lake is also far from ordinary. Of course, what concerns me more are 'Daybreak' and that Black Knight, 'Cain'."

As he spoke of this, a hint of solemnity finally touched Vortigern's dull, withered eyes.

Although he had seized the throne through despicable means, once he became King, he still gained the authority and protection of this land. He was also privy to certain information inaccessible to outsiders. The Knight King was indeed powerful. Moreover, the origin of the Sacred Sword, with its immense and hidden mysteries, secretly alarmed even Vortigern. But that was merely individual valor. As the King of this land, he was confident in suppressing all external threats.

What was truly frightening was the human heart. It was the ideals spread by the organization known as 'Daybreak'. Rebels might collapse if their leader is killed, but if the ideals of the Daybreak Organization persist, then even if one rebellion is suppressed... Without a Knight King, there would simply be a Conqueror King, or a Hero King... As long as the ideals of Daybreak endured, the fires of rebellion would never truly be extinguished in Escarnia.

"Remember, the most crucial targets in this encirclement are Artorigus and Cain. The other Great Knights, nobles, and those commoners can be disregarded," Vortigern stated. "I will deal with Artorigus myself. Cain is yours, Flandre. I hope the Blood Prince will not disappoint me."

His calm words hung in the air. He was even prepared, should Flandre fail to deal with Cain, to abandon killing Artorigus himself. He would personally see to Cain's elimination. Cain's importance was simply too great. As long as Cain lived, Vortigern knew he would never be at ease.

"Cain is merely at the fourth or fifth Ring... not even Titled Rank." Flandre looked at Vortigern with some confusion, clearly not understanding why the latter was so concerned about Cain. "If I act personally, he won't stand a chance of survival."

However, with Vortigern's strength and status before him, he said no more. "Since we've chosen to cooperate, I will naturally give it my all. I just hope... when all is said and done, Your Majesty will keep your promise to help us hunt down the fugitive True Ancestor, 'Black Princess'… That is not just my personal wish, but also the will of our Blood Tribe's progenitor, the Crimson Red Moon."

"Of course," Vortigern glanced at Flandre beside him.

In today's chaotic Western Continent, Religious Orders were beyond count. And Flandre, as a Blood Prince, likewise had his own significant power base supporting him.