Imperial Throne

Chapter 24: Assassin

A blazing arc of orange-red flame traced a graceful curve through the air.

Yet, the searing heat it emitted was anything but graceful.

In the corridor shrouded by night, a sudden burst of dazzling firelight erupted.

Since the great fire on that mountain night, the only lesson Yam had deeply etched into his soul was caution.

He understood clearly that even if that faint noise had been a mere illusion, his current actions would at most be a waste of effort.

However, if that sound had not been a figment of his imagination, and a formidable intruder had indeed infiltrated White Forest Castle...

As the flames dispersed, Yam's eyes narrowed slightly.

He knew his caution had paid off.

Amidst the orange-red glow, a vague silhouette flickered in and out of view.

In the next instant, his longsword thrust forward!

This was not a combat skill, but the most straightforward and basic thrusting technique from the Kingdom's military swordsmanship.

The indistinct figure clearly hadn't realized how he had been exposed. He didn't even have time to curse Yam for being a lunatic. Hastily, he raised his short blade, turning it horizontally to block the oncoming sword tip.

He even felt a sense of relief that it was merely an ordinary thrust. Had it been a combat skill, he might have been injured.

But in the very next second!

As the sword tip touched the blade of the short knife, the assassin's expression changed instantly.

Intense flames ignited along the entire length of the longsword at a speed far beyond the eye's ability to follow.

In that moment, it seemed as if Yam wielded a sword made entirely of fire.

"Boom—"

An explosion rang out!

Though the blazing flames and the accompanying black smoke obscured Yam's vision, he felt the resistance at the sword's tip vanish.

Without hesitation, he stepped forward, his sword thrusting out again like a bone-chilling plague.

"Slash—"

Resistance was felt once more at the sword's edge.

But this time, it was different. The sword didn't feel blocked by a hard object; instead, it felt like it was pushing through a soft barrier.

The [Flame Stream] surged, and the flames on the sword intensified.

Yam soon heard a muffled groan, twisted in pain.

But immediately following was a sharp whooshing sound!

A flash of blade light pierced through the black smoke, transforming into a sudden cold gleam that shot out.

Yam cried out in pain, instinctively releasing his right hand, causing the longsword to fall.

Strangely, the flames on the sword did not extinguish!

"Damn!" the assassin exclaimed in shock. "This isn't the [Flame Hound]'s [Blood Flame]!"

The [Blood Flame] ability of the [Flame Hound] bloodline relied on the bloodline user, manifesting as flames burning on the body.

Weapons made of rare iron that had been in contact could also serve as extensions of the body, igniting with flames.

Once separated from the user's body, the flames would extinguish quickly, like a tree without roots or water without a source.

However, the [Flame Demon Hound]'s [Flame Stream] was different.

It manifested using the bloodline user's power as its energy source. Even when separated from the user's body, it could persist until the accumulated bloodline power was depleted. This was why the [Flame Stream] could form fireballs that could be thrown.

This assassin had clearly investigated Yam's bloodline, knowing it to be that of the [Flame Hound]. Thus, he had forced Yam to abandon his sword after his initial failure.

Unexpectedly, his intelligence was flawed!

Yam, upon hearing this, was deeply shocked.

He realized the enemy had come prepared!

However, despite his inner shock, Yam's actions didn't pause.

His right arm had been slashed, but the quick withdrawal minimized the injury, ensuring it didn't hinder his combat ability. He swiftly reached out to grasp the sword hilt again.

But now, with the smoke cleared, both Yam and the assassin faced each other directly, leaving no room for concealment. Yam's attempt to reclaim his sword was evident to the assassin, who wouldn't allow it. He immediately slashed with his left hand.

This strike was swift and fierce.

Had Yam not withdrawn, his right hand would have been severed at the wrist.

The assassin hoped for such a direct confrontation.

In just that brief moment, the intense flames had already roasted the flesh of his right shoulder, rendering his entire right arm nearly useless.

He had never imagined his mission would fail so inexplicably. Even now, he couldn't pinpoint where he had erred, leading to his exposure.

Normally, upon being discovered, he would have retreated. But suffering such a setback, and with his opponent disarmed, he was unwilling to leave without killing Yam.

Little did he know, this hesitation would lead to his demise!

Yam dodged the strike aimed at severing his hand.

As he withdrew, the [Flame Stream] activated again, sparks igniting in his palm.

A few sparks quickly transformed into flowing fire.

The fire swirled in his palm, coalescing into a flame that rapidly expanded into a head-sized fireball.

The entire process took less than a breath!

In the assassin's eyes, shock turned to awe, then to terror.

Before he could react, Yam raised his right hand, aiming the fireball at him.

The next moment, the fireball launched!

"Boom—!"

A violent explosion erupted.

Flames and shockwaves roared out.

Yam was blasted backward by the shockwave, crashing through the door behind him and landing in Giggs' room.

The assassin, now a charred corpse, was blown from the second floor into the courtyard below.

"Yam!" Giggs' exclamation finally rang out.

He had risen from his desk upon hearing the commotion, intending to confront the intruder.

Just as he approached the door, the battle outside concluded, and he caught the door-shattering Yam, preventing further injury.

"Master Giggs! An assassin!" Yam struggled to his feet, urgently reporting, "Their target is you!"

"Not good!" Giggs' face changed dramatically. "Lily!"

Yam's expression also shifted.

The assassin was formidable. If not for Yam's preemptive strike, the enemy's misinformation about his bloodline, and his advancement to a second-tier bloodline user, victory wouldn't have been easy.

Lily and Nika were both first-tier bloodline users. If the enemy wasn't alone, they were undoubtedly in danger.

Yam immediately rose, and with Giggs, rushed out, heading down another corridor.

"Lily!"

Giggs shouted as he ran.

His intent was clear: since the assassins hadn't openly attacked, their actions were covert. By calling out, he hoped to deter them, forcing a retreat.

He saw no value in avenging his sister's death by killing the assassin.

"Bang—"

As if responding to Giggs' call, a loud noise came from Lily's room, and the door burst open.

Lily rushed out, panic-stricken.

She clutched her abdomen, blood staining her clothes, indicating an injury. However, the wound was covered in frost, clearly to prevent worsening.

"Brother!" Lily cried out.

Behind her, a figure dressed like the previous assassin appeared.

Upon seeing Giggs and Yam approaching, his expression changed. He abandoned his attempt to kill Lily, retreated into the room, and soon, the sound of a window breaking was heard.

Giggs quickly embraced his sister, gently laying her down to examine her wound.

Yam rushed into Lily's room, finding it in disarray.

In a corner, he saw Nika, eyes wide in anger and fear.

Her right hand still gripped a rapier, while her left clutched her chest, unable to stop the blood flowing from her heart.

Sighing, Yam left the room and returned to Giggs' side, solemnly stating, "Knight Nika has fallen. The assassin escaped."

"Damn it!" Giggs growled. "Who dares to attempt an assassination!"

Yam glanced at the unconscious Lily and urged, "Our priority is to treat Miss Lily!"

"Yes, yes!" Giggs snapped out of it, quickly lifting Lily and hurrying off. "Her injury isn't severe. I've used frost to stop the bleeding. We need a physician immediately... Yam, fetch one. We'll meet in the main hall."

"Understood..."

"Boom—!"

Just as Yam responded, another explosion erupted at the main gate of White Forest Castle!

The intense blast left both Giggs and Yam momentarily stunned.