The Cornflower Witch

Book 2: Chapter 149: The White Knight of the Cornflower

Vol 2 Chapter 149 The White Knight of the Cornflower

"How could... this happen."

Those accompanying her murmured as they looked ahead at the sea of flames, the countless charred corpses and rubble-strewn inferno, the terrifying colossal beast facing them and the magnificent ritual array. They were all shaken by the scene.

The one who had just fired the beam to interrupt that dagger was the Demon Contractor trailing behind Sylutia. He too stared at the sight in disbelief, then looked up as layer upon layer of pale-blue arrays rose into the sky, slowly opening and rotating.

"You don't know what the Sect Leader is activating?" Sylutia asked, tilting her head.

"Sorry, Lady Arrival, I don't know." He bowed his head in shame. Even as a core member of the sect, he still didn't understand many of its secrets.

This battlefield had already become an extremely dangerous zone. Frenzied Alien Star and Dead Embers energies wandered about. Ordinary people who lingered nearby for even a little while would become ill, and even those with Aspect ranks would be suppressed and driven insane if they approached the central area, crushed by that powerful Alien Star presence.

At a time like this, merely watching the battle rather than trying to stop either side was extremely hazardous.

Sylutia tugged the reins. The Windtrust horse beneath her pawed anxiously.

Should she go, or turn and flee? Two thoughts flashed through Sylutia's mind, but without hesitation she chose the former.Now was not the time to retreat, she told herself.

Not for some vague ideal, nor for sudden expectations and duties, but simply because she felt that going there was worth it.

"When you believe something matters, it gains value."

She had her likes, her preferences, the scenes she wanted to see, so she did not think the night's actions were meaningless. Even with the extreme danger ahead, she wanted to try.

Perhaps this impulse came from hatred of constant yielding and compromise.

Everyone pursued transcendence, and doing so was meant to shatter those repeated concessions. If you always yielded, why pursue growth and the extraordinary at all?

"This battlefield is no longer for you to join. Stay where you are, do not advance."

"Yes."

Those watching saw the figure ride forward and suddenly understood what she intended.

"Lady!" someone tried to call out to the girl, worried she would be swallowed by the inferno.

The girl ahead raised her arm to stop their objections, then lightly flicked the reins, rode down the slope, and charged alone toward the battlefield.

At first, the white Windtrust horse did not run fast, as if constantly adjusting its state, stepping over the searing blackened ground.

On the horse, Sylutia's silhouette was shrouded in a soft glow. Her thin black dress was replaced by a suit of white battle armor. Flower patterns traced the pauldrons and skirt armor. The silver-white armor was exquisitely crafted, fitting her form, as she advanced through the night.

Then the girl took out a badge again, affixed it to her chestplate. A pure-white halo appeared and spread, enveloping her body.

[Knight Badge] (Third Tier - Castle); a symbol awarded for competition victory. When sanctified through investiture, it can temporarily grant the Third Tier - White Knight state protection for ten minutes, conferring the White Knight's various abilities. (Usable once every seven days)

At that moment Sylutia's Aspect temporarily shifted from Verdant Nectar to Castle.

Name: Sylutia Meizhalansi

Race: Human (***)

Status: Healthy (no abnormalities)

Talent: Star [Unknown Tier], Cornflower's Affection [Rare Tier, upgradable]

Fate Card: [Cornflower's White Knight] (Third Tier - Castle)

'Wearing cornflower ornaments, the white knight galloping across the burning battlefield, her armor and shield as pure and steadfast as her virtue.'

- Effect [Discernment Eyes Lv.5]: From special talent and constitution, you can distinguish fourfold colors and aspects of things ordinary people cannot perceive. (When you upgrade the Fate Card's tier, this ability also improves.)

- Effect [Cornflower's Blessing Lv.6]: While wearing cornflower ornaments, you gain the blessing granted by that cornflower. (Higher cornflower quality and tier strengthens the blessing.)

- Effect [Bloodline Advancement]: Upon entering the Third Tier, all your abilities receive comprehensive enhancement and you are immune to many lower-tier effects.

- Profession [White Knight Lv.4]: Temporarily conferred profession that can construct armor to block curses and erosion, resisting various negative effects. (Pure White Shield · Fearless Lances · Gallop Lv.4)

Core Card: [Champion Knight] [Castle]

'You once defeated nearly a hundred fighters of the same tier alone in the arena, earning cheers and the crown of glory.'

- Influence: [Crown's Charge], when you charge alone before the masses, you receive Castle Aspect power. (The more people who worship, admire, or love you, the stronger the bonus.)

Ability Cards: [Lunar Radiance Breathing Technique Lv.5] [Spiral Spear Lv.5] [Amos's Sword Lv.5]

...

Under the pitch-dark sky, within the boundless sea of flames on the desperate plain, that white figure urged her horse forward, from slow to fast, from almost invisible to a striking white comet, roaring across the inferno.

Sylutia's speed increased. Everything around her blurred into afterimages, a thin straight line slicing through the endless blaze.

[Gallop Lv.4] (Castle): Resonating with the ridden steed, you gain a massive charge speed bonus and form a powerful windwall at your flank to block arrows and other ranged attacks.

The airflow before her and the horse compressed into an invisible windwall, parting the flames. As she charged through, the sweeping gusts blew aside the scorching fire, leaving a clear track.

The closer she got to the fight's center, the higher the temperature rose. Suffocating waves of fire engulfed everything. High-tier Dead Embers Aspects, like pestilence and potent toxins, corroded nearby living beings.

Pale light surfaced on Sylutia's armor, gradually relieving the oppressive Dead Embers aura, isolating the surging fire from her and sheltering the girl as she closed in on the center.

At this moment, the ember-like sparks caught in the girl's hair slowly stripped away the black makeup that had masked her. Her hair returned to its original pure silver, and her previously hidden face emerged in the high heat and sparks. Only her eyes remained crystal clear and unwavering.

Amid the beast's roaring, Sylutia guided her mount nimbly to avoid the spewing black flames, then raised her lance. The cedar shaft twisted spirally through the air, forming complex, beautiful patterns.

A streak of electricity flashed from the spear tip, the lance instantly slicing through the air, breaking flames and gusts, and struck down beside Princess Mursa in the inferno. Golden electric light poured onto the ground, dispersing the encroaching fire.

With Princess Mursa's shocked gaze lifted, the white-armored knight and her horse vaulted high together, leaping over the dangerous blaze, landing beside the princess. One hand dragged her up onto the saddle, holding her in a protective embrace, then grabbed the spear planted in the ground and charged forward through the fire.

By now the massive three-headed hellhound had fully focused on the figure racing beneath it. All three snarling heads dipped and breathed distorted searing flames from different angles, sealing off any retreat for Sylutia.

As the two were about to be swallowed by the black-red inferno, Sylutia's horse accelerated again, but this time their direction pointed to the ritual array behind the barrier.

Countless eyes watched the scene, everyone holding their breath, thinking the pair would crash into the barrier and be devoured by the flames. But in that instant, the white visor's eyes flashed with strange starlight. The barrier before the knight automatically opened an entrance, allowing them to pass through.

Immediately the cerulean barrier closed again, blocking the tidal wave of boiling fire.

Inside the ritual array, Sylutia carefully set Princess Mursa down. Her armor was scalding hot, the edges of the skirt armor slightly deformed. If the armor had not been so excellent, it would not have withstood the hellhound's terrifying flames. That beast's strength was now nearing Fifth Tier. Had the ritual been more perfect, and had Carkis understood Dead Embers better, it would have already advanced in tier.

To protect Sylutia and even spare strength to shield Princess Mursa under such a huge tier gap was the limit of what it could do.

As Mursa sat up on the ground, still too stunned to ask the white knight's identity, she saw a tall, strange humanoid descending nearby—once Prince Jabers. His gaze fixed on the two with hostility, his pupils glowing a purplish-red.

"Jabers, don't!"

A purplish-red beam engulfed the pair, blinding Mursa with white light. She did not die immediately; seconds later the light dimmed and she could see again.

A curved pure-white shield appeared, covering her and the white knight. The fierce purplish-red beam struck the shield and was scattered and deflected into surrounding space.

Soon the shield shattered. The white knight again dragged Princess Mursa to the side, avoiding the residual beam.

The grand cerulean array still slowly climbed in the high sky, layers of patterns opening and transforming. Under the majestic beacon of light, the tiny white silhouette continued to move about, the battle still raging.