The spirit of a Knight is to protect Kazimierz—perhaps a small number also think about protecting the citizens of Kazimierz, but they are ultimately a minority.
However, a small number of Knights, led by the Nearl Family, are a pure exception.
Regardless of past or present, they have never viewed Knighthood as a class division, but as an extremely heavy responsibility.
"To fear no darkness, that is the motto of the Nearl Family, but besides that, the Nearl Family has another duty—impressive, this reminds me of Zofia's whip-blade, but it's not enough! Young man!"
A loud gunshot echoed in his ears, and Marse instantly raised his shield, attaching a dazzling radiance to it, extremely vigilant and wary.
Bang—
A loud gunshot rang out, and the old Knight tilted his shield without hesitation, deflecting the projectile along with the radiance to one side, but his arm still recoiled.
The power was terrifyingly great; if a common Crusader Knight were standing there, the old Knight wasn't sure if they would be knocked directly to the ground by the immense impact.
This type of firearm, even the old Knight, who had fought for decades and even faced Laterano mercenaries, had never seen.
At close range, this weapon was several times more powerful than ordinary firearms, and combined with Goki's agile, almost gun-fu-like quick reactions, every close-quarters slash and shield bash from the old Knight was immediately stopped.
"That firearm isn't your weapon, but your shield, isn't it—no need to go easy on my old bones, aim directly at my torso and shoot, that's where you can stop me better, you've subconsciously aimed there many times, haven't you!"
After several close-quarters assaults were repelled by Goki deflecting his blade with the firearm, the old Knight keenly understood that the firearm was not Goki's spear, but a shield for defense!
It could be called outlandish, yet it was perfectly reasonable, after all, the power of a gunshot was much more efficient than a brute force collision—but to be able to grasp the weakest point of each of the old Knight's attacks, his keen insight was arguably unmatched.
[Perhaps, he really is what the ancestral teachings spoke of—push him harder!]
"You usually deal with enemies beyond human—your weapons are huge and terrifying, they are definitely not weapons for fighting humans, I am becoming more and more certain of your identity!"
Looking at the huge axes, serrated machetes, and spears lying on the grass nearby, which clearly belonged to those who fought beasts and monsters, and the several dents on his light armor, the old Knight had just deeply understood the strangeness and terror of these weapons.
Marse guaranteed that if time were rewound thirty years, when he was in his early forties and had just become a Grand Knight, he would definitely have been tricked by this young man's technique.
However, now, Goki only had a somewhat slender staff left in his hand.
"But, you've used up all your tricks, haven't you? What other tricks does that Victoria civilization stick have? Surrender now, and I can spare you from falling flat on your face in front of Margaret—like a dog eating mud!"
Stomping his foot fiercely again, Marse radiated a brilliant golden glow around him and charged once more—of course, he had never used his full strength, otherwise, if it got out, an over 70-year-old Senior like him bullying a young man would be too embarrassing.
Facing the old Knight who charged like a collapsing mountain, a single person seemingly commanding a thousand troops, Goki put away his firearm and took out a bone blade with a peculiar green tint.
[Witch Doctor Bone Blade
A bone sword stained with terrifying spinal fluid, used by ancient labyrinth guardians, especially those responsible for presiding over rituals.
When it strikes a target, the spinal fluid temporarily numbs the target's senses, affecting their motor skills.
A blunt sword is not conducive to combat; the skin must be broken for the toxin to take effect.]
"Ha, old man, I have many more tricks up my sleeve~~ This is a dagger covered in potent poison—"
Of course, Goki didn't lick it.
The next second, Goki gave a fierce flick, and the Hunter's staff transformed into a long whip-blade, upon which a raging flame ignited, like a fiery silver serpent dancing.
And in his eyes, a moon-like radiance shone, discerning the calculable weak points within the old man's almost impregnable charge.
Looking at those pale eyes, Marse's eyes widened, but the sword in his hand did not slow down one bit, smashing straight down.
Boom!
Flames and flashes erupted simultaneously, obscuring the figures of Goki and Marse.
To the side, Zofia subconsciously reached for her waist, finding her famous whip-blade still there, and an unusually strange expression appeared on her beautiful face.
"Huh? This guy—how many new weapons does he even have?"
Meanwhile, Margaret, whose wrist was held by a starry-eyed Maria, focused intently on the duel between her grandfather and Goki, afraid of missing anything.
After a while, the smoke cleared, and the three girls found that Goki and the old Knight had separated.
"Hiss… that's really poisonous, you kid. You fought fair and square for a long time, then suddenly started using poison, and even injured yourself. What a little lunatic."
Grimacing, the old man pulled a twisted bone blade from his shoulder, clenched his fist, crushing the bone blade, and at the same time, forced out several streams of green liquid. His body burst into golden light, and he began to heal his wounds.
Marse was now completely scorched from head to toe; the burning whip-blade had pierced into the joints of his light armor. By self-detonating and injuring both himself and his opponent, he nullified the Nearl Knight's Originium protection, allowing the bone blade to penetrate his skin.
"Times have changed, old man. Hunters don't need to abide by Knightly virtues—this is how Hunters fight. To confront those madmen, you must be crazier than them."
Goki looked even more battered than the old Knight; his charred left arm had a rather gruesome gash from a sharp longsword, with flesh torn open and blackened by the scorching flames.
Blood, shimmering with a faint golden light, trickled out, which Goki directly sealed within his blood vessels—his blood was too dangerous; a slight oversight could cause Originium contamination.
"Cough, hahaha, there's some truth to that, but did you forget that the Nearl Family Knights are best at not offense, but protection and healing?"
Laughing a few times, the radiance on Marse's body softened from blinding to gentle, and he began to continuously repair his wounds.
"As for you—let my precious granddaughter treat you, Margaret, don't just stand there!"
The grave gaze shifted from Goki's pale eyes; after this fight, the old Knight's impression of Goki had greatly changed.
However, Margaret merely shrugged, not intending to cast a healing Spell, but still came to Goki's side with some concern.
"Grandpa—Goki doesn't need my help, really."
Seeing his granddaughter's stubbornness, Marse sighed.
"Oh, you—Grandpa doesn't remember raising you like this, never mind anything else, hurry up and… what?"
Turning back, Marse's brilliant golden eyes suddenly widened—now, he was even more surprised than when he first saw those three-meter-tall Wendigo foreign warriors during the Uka War.
On Goki's leg, a needle filled with black starry blood had already been injected, and the wounds on his body were regenerating at a visible, rapid pace.
"Alright, I understand. Our granddaughter really did bring back an extraordinary person—you passed, no, at this point, whether you passed or not no longer matters. Indeed, it's just as that old geezer Gaixie said."
With a bitter smile, Marse put away his weapon and looked at Goki with a serious expression.
"I said, besides fearing no darkness, the Nearl Family has another Family motto… to await a Hunter with pale, moonlit eyes, who recovers himself through blood, to seek us out."
Rather than a Family motto, it was a somewhat terrifying prophecy—Marse still couldn't believe that this prophecy was true.
Goki raised an eyebrow, and Margaret beside him also saw the man's pale, bright eyes.
She sensed that he might not be aware of some of the Nearl Family's secrets.
"Grandpa, you never told me about this—what's going on?"
To this, the old Knight merely gave a helpless smile.
"Actually, in the past, I myself thought it was just a story to fool children. It seems… the Nearl Family's millennia of waiting have finally borne fruit—this is the sacred mission passed down from the Knight King to the Nearl Family."
With that, the old Knight took off his ruined armor and removed a necklace from his neck.
"I think the Nearl Family has many things to tell you, and something to give you—that is what our only King left for you, and other things are still kept within the Nearl Family."
Goki's eyes widened slightly; he saw what the necklace truly was.
It was a—dangling sword shimmering with a pale glow.
[Shining Sword Hunter Badge]
Goki now knew that the Nearl, this millennia-old Family, was indeed extraordinary.
However, Marse was not in a hurry to reveal the mystery.
"But before that, I want to make a request to you, Mr. Goki…"
"Old sir, please speak."
Extremely curious about the Nearl Family's secrets, Goki immediately nodded, agreeing to the old man's request.
"Then… Mr. Goki, I see my precious granddaughter is also interested in you—are you interested in becoming my grandson-in-law? I now feel that you and my granddaughter are a perfect match."
A cunning smile appeared on Marse's resolute face.
This fight just now was a double assessment; the first was to confirm Goki's identity, and the second point… he, who was very popular with young girls before marriage, a handsome young man from ten miles around, couldn't he see his precious granddaughter's feelings?
And the next second, a brilliant golden light, several times more dazzling than the magical aura the old Knight had just emitted, filled the entire lawn.
"Grandpa! You're too much!"
Blushing, Margaret, without hesitation, went all out and launched another charge at her grandfather.
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