"Tsk!"
The Black Knight had always been a loner. Whether in Kazimierz or in the city of Kawalerielki, she never formed deep connections with anyone.
It was a conscious decision—meant to keep others from getting dragged into trouble because of her, and to avoid being held back herself. In Kazimierz , she understood all too well: anything you possessed could be taken away at a moment's notice by the Business Federation.
She had set out in the afternoon, but the moment she stepped outside, she sensed it—murderous intent, thin and veiled like a curtain of rain.
Were they really planning to kill her now, just to ensure the Light Knight's victory?
She didn't need to think. She already had her answer.
The long sword in her hand was the answer.
Some called her a natural-born warrior. Others scoffed, calling her a second-rate Leithanian who couldn't cast spells. The Black Knight had taken those words to heart. If she couldn't wield Originium Arts, then she would rely on pure strength and masterful technique to crush her foes.
"Whoosh!"
Dozens of arrows screamed through the rain, almost invisible in the downpour. The Black Knight relied on the wind's whistle to judge their trajectory. She rolled swiftly, slashing several bolts from the air with her sword and dodging the rest.
She had been ambushed not long after leaving her home. A sharp pain flared at her waist—though the bolt hadn't pierced her, the impact through her clothes left a deep, burning ache.
Hidden in the sewers, the assassins stalked her. Rain drenched her golden hair, which clung to her back in long, wet strands. But her steps never stopped. Not for a single moment.
She wanted to hunt down every one of those vermin hiding in the shadows and eliminate them. But these killers were skilled—disappearing the moment an attack failed. The relentless rain erased all traces: no scent, no footprints.
'Professionals', the Black Knight thought grimly.
She broke through an old street entrance, long since cordoned off by the Chamber of Commerce. There were no bystanders here—only her, walking alone in the rain-slicked silence.
Every assassin she had faced so far wielded a crossbow. Were they too afraid to confront her in close combat?
A dozen more bolts glinted through the rain, illuminated by faint light. The Black Knight didn't parry—she ducked and slid behind an abandoned vehicle for cover.
Boom!
A violent explosion tore through the street. The ground split open, rubble flying. The blast sent the Black Knight tumbling into the debris. Her waist stung where she had been grazed—numbness began to set in. Poison? She didn't have time to confirm it.
She looked up.
At the edge of the blast crater, a dozen crossbow-wielding assassins now stood in formation. Helmets masked their faces, and their uniforms were unmistakable.
If Felix were here, he would immediately recognize them: killers from the Armorless Union, specialists in eliminating knights who refused to comply.
Silently, they raised their crossbows in perfect unison. The bolts shimmered with a strange white light.
Aimed squarely at the lone Black Knight—
They pulled the trigger.
Violent explosions once again echoed through the district, sending smoke and debris into the air.
"Where's the Black Knight?"
"She's gone."
"That means she escaped." The lead assassin from the Armorless Union spoke calmly. "Group A will follow me into the underground sewers. Group B will take the shortcut to the arena's entrance to intercept her. We must not let her reach the arena."
His voice turned cold.
"The order from above is clear—bring her back dead or alive. She's been hit with paralytic toxin. She won't get far."
At the command, the assassins swiftly vanished into the night.
. . .
'So, are you finally done with the mask of false smiles?'
The Black Knight clicked her tongue in irritation. Half of her body was numb—fighting like this wasn't impossible, but the sluggishness in her reactions weighed her down. As a warrior, that delay could prove fatal.
This was clearly the Chamber of Commerce's retaliation.
But even in the oppressive darkness of the underground sewers, her golden eyes gleamed with defiance. If they thought they could bring her down with just this—
—they were gravely underestimating her.
Suddenly, she heard a sound ahead. Faint at first, like rustling—no. Upon focusing, she realized it was mechanical. The grinding hum of machines.
The Black Knight gripped the hilt of her sword tighter.
This place was beneath the Kawalerielki base. She had never been here before, and had no idea what might lie hidden in its depths.
"Who's there?"
From the shadows, two metallic objects emerged—flying through the air. The Black Knight narrowed her eyes. She had never seen machines like these before. Small aerial units hovered overhead, seemingly military-grade.
Given that the Chamber of Commerce held sway over Kazimierz 's entire economy, it wasn't surprising that such weapons existed. Still, the Black Knight's gaze sharpened. Her stance lowered.
She was ready to strike.
"—Black Knight, it's me."
A soft golden light filled the sewer.
Out from the shadows stepped a Sankta—a golden halo hovering above his head. He wore a coat of black with white trim and was tapping something on a screen strapped to his arm. As he looked up, the glow illuminated his face.
"It's you!" the Black Knight exclaimed, lowering her sword—but only slightly.
Felix noticed and chuckled lightly. He took a few steps forward, but stopped at a cautious distance. Reaching into his coat, he pulled out a small vial.
"Drink this," he said. "It'll neutralize the toxin."
The Black Knight caught the bottle with one hand, bit off the cap, and downed the contents in a single gulp.
"We've got twenty-five minutes to get out of these sewers," Felix said, glancing at his watch. "According to the rules of the Knight Tournament, contestants are allowed to be late once the match begins. But after thirty minutes, it's an automatic forfeit."
He met her eyes.
"We don't have much time."
"I can lend you a hand. These two Rangers beside me are reliable allies," Felix said, gesturing to the hovering machines. "After some modifications, they're now equipped with lightning arrow modules and thermal imaging systems. Basically, they can shoot electrically charged crossbow bolts, and thanks to thermal imaging, I can see enemies even in total darkness…"
He paused.
He had been explaining in detail, but the Black Knight's unchanging expression told him she wasn't following any of it. With a sigh, Felix muttered to himself, "I'm talking to a wall."
The Black Knight slowly propped herself up. Her body still burned from the earlier explosion, but the numbness was beginning to fade.
"Why are you helping me?" she asked, her voice calm but probing.
"Because you shouldn't die here," Felix replied, his tone level. "If the Black Knight is to die, then let it be on the battlefield—not in some back alley, cut down by assassins. Wouldn't it be a waste for someone like you to die like that?"
The Black Knight smirked faintly. "I never realized you were so eloquent for someone so young."
"Don't forget, I'm also a businessman. Just… not a particularly successful one," Felix said with a wry smile. "Let's move."
They proceeded, the Black Knight leading and Felix following close behind. His two Patrol units flew ahead, cloaked in stealth mode. In this state, their mechanical hum was softened to a whisper, though the trade-off was reduced flight agility.
Gradually, the underground tunnel gave way to flatter terrain. They emerged into the basement of a construction site, filled with steel beams, scaffolding, and scattered building materials.
"There. Two assassins patrolling, one on each side up ahead… wait."
Felix held the Black Knight back just as she prepared to charge forward. He tapped swiftly on the screen strapped to his arm. The two Rangers aimed, a black aperture opening beneath each drone.
Thwip!
Two arrows charged with lightning shot through the air. The patrolling assassins collapsed instantly, unable to react. Though the arrows avoided vital areas, the paralyzing current ensured the two would remain unconscious until morning.
[You defeated Armorless Union Assassins. Gained experience: 1000] ×2
"…Are those weapons your own creation?"
The Black Knight had silently observed the entire engagement. As she turned to Felix, her voice was calm but laced with interest.
"Yes," Felix nodded. "Since I don't have exceptional physical ability, or unmatched martial skill, I have no choice but to rely on technology to make myself stronger."
The Black Knight shook her head slightly and said, with surprising sincerity, "That's still your strength. Don't underestimate yourself."
Felix smiled.
Coming from the Black Knight, those words had weight.
But their moment was cut short by a sound in the distance. A child's cry echoed faintly from further ahead.
Felix's ears perked up, and the Black Knight's expression instantly darkened.
"Why is there a child here?"
Felix's expression darkened. This part of the underground was a known refuge for the infected within the city. With no infected knights present to protect them, and considering the Armorless Union's longstanding policy of extermination, he already knew what they were walking into.
"It's the infected," he said grimly.
"They deserve to die."
The Black Knight's voice was ice cold as she rushed ahead, sword drawn. Felix immediately activated the Patrol units, switching them to target-search and lock-on mode, and followed her closely.
What they encountered could only be described as hell.
Dozens of infected civilians lay sprawled across the ground, pierced by arrows, bleeding profusely. Most were already on the verge of death. They wouldn't die instantly—because when the infected passed, their bodies could erupt into Originium dust, much like a "corpse explosion." The assassins from the Armorless Union knew this well; they were careful not to let the bodies detonate within city limits, preferring a slow death to preserve containment.
Among the carnage, several children wept bitterly, clinging to their parents' bodies draped in worn, pale linen. Their sobs echoed hollowly through the ruins as they begged their mothers and fathers not to fall asleep.
Felix clenched his fists, his jaw tight. To those in power, the lives of the infected meant nothing. They were denied dignity, denied human rights. This—this was the cost of silence. This was reality.
His eyes narrowed coldly, and without hesitation, his two Ranger drones opened fire on the assassins, striking with ruthless precision.
"Who's there?!"
Two of the Armorless Union assassins dropped, convulsing from the electrified bolts. The remaining agents scattered in alarm—but the Black Knight was already among them, moving like a shadow of vengeance. Her sword glinted under the flickering industrial lights, and her steps were relentless.
Archers could fight in close quarters—but none could rival the Black Knight's fury.
"You…"
The final assassin gasped as he crumpled beneath her blade. The Black Knight's sword had tasted blood again—for the first time in a long while.
Felix stepped forward, surveying the aftermath. "Keep heading forward. You'll find more small infected settlements up ahead. Go to them. I've set the Rangers to escort and protect you. The arena isn't far."
"What about you?" the Black Knight asked, turning sharply.
Felix offered a faint smile. "I'll stay behind, to help them pass peacefully. They deserve that much. As for their bodies, the local settlement can take care of the rest."
"You…" She hesitated, words caught in her throat.
"It's a shame I won't get to see you win the championship, Black Knight," Felix said, his smile widening. "But I'm rooting for you. I'm your fan."
To the Black Knight, in that dim and tragic place, Felix's smile was like a small sun rising from the depths of darkness.
He extended his fist toward her. "Go, comrade. Don't let the Chamber of Commerce's schemes succeed. Win the final championship."
The Black Knight gazed at him in silence, then slowly raised her fist and bumped it against his.
A quiet smile formed on her lips. "See you later."
"I'll come find you after you win the championship," Felix said meaningfully. "This trouble hasn't been completely resolved."
The Black Knight chuckled. "You're so young, yet your words and actions are as calculating as an old man. It doesn't match your face at all."
She gave him one last look. Her brilliant golden hair swayed as she turned, and the sound of her footsteps quickly faded into the distance.
After assigning new directives to his two Rangers, Felix turned and headed toward a fork in the path.
Another Ranger descended from above the open shaft, its lights switching on to serve as illumination beside him.
Despite the brevity of recent battles, Felix had gained significant rewards. He had already "incorporated" these machines into his unit before engaging, and now, as a formal team, the Rangers shared the benefit of team bonuses.
Once he had enough mechanical units, he could begin leveling up his support role more efficiently. After all, he was clearly a support—yet all the skills he'd trained were auxiliary specializations. If the support system had emotions, it would surely be weeping right now.
After walking a few more steps, Felix found a group of infected huddled in the shadows, trembling in fear.
Among them were individuals wounded by the Armorless Union assassins, but fortunately, their injuries weren't severe.
Raising his hand calmly, Felix spoke. "I mean you no harm. The assassins outside have been dealt with. One of your companions is badly injured."
Perhaps it was his rare and intimidating race, or maybe the floating Ranger beside him that looked ominously advanced—but the infected didn't question his words. Several young men quickly followed Felix back to the intersection of the pipes. When they saw their companions lying in pools of blood and a child who had fainted from crying, their expressions contorted with grief.
Though they held back their tears, they kept a respectful distance from Felix as they quietly began cleaning up the heartbreaking scene.
They showed no gratitude, but neither did they show hatred—only a subdued, numbed silence.
Felix didn't say anything more. Standing back, he watched in silence, placing his hand over his chest in a quiet sign of respect.
Suddenly, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed behind him. Felix turned and saw a group of a dozen assassins from the Armorless Union charging toward him through the dimly lit corridor.
He didn't flinch.
"Half of you, deal with that Sankta!" barked the assassin captain. "The rest, take out the infected!"
Felix simply shook his head and tapped several times on the interface on his wrist. Under the cold glow of the moonlight pouring in through the gaps above, dozens of Rangers hovered silently into position, forming a wall in the air.
"What... what is this?! Military-grade weapons?!" The terrified cry of the assassin captain was quickly drowned in a hail of precise and merciless fire from the Rangers.
A taste of their own medicine—appropriate, since these assassins favored crossbows. So, it was only fitting they died by them as well.
Lacking proficiency in close combat, the assassins became easy targets. Under the coordinated assault of the Ranger drones, they screamed and fell one by one, reduced to nothing more than moving targets.
Ignoring the rising experience points, Felix turned and looked toward the direction of the arena.
'Black Knight', he thought, 'use your sword and mace to cut down all the thorns in your path.'