Chapter 339: Want to Learn?
Upon hearing Aurelianne's introduction, everyone couldn't help but feel deeply impressed.
Another expert?
It seemed the Empire took this princess's diplomatic mission very seriously, protecting her thoroughly inside and out.
Not only was there this Council Member Viktor accompanying her, but she also personally brought a knight division.
The Kanter Kingdom had no knights.
As for the reason, everyone here knew very well.
The Kingdom worshipped strength, pursuing endless progress.
To them, honor, morality, and justice were merely empty concepts.
What they pursued was making their own power stronger, their bodies tougher.
Becoming a knight required faith in one's own justice and virtue.
And naturally, no warrior in the Kingdom would bother believing in such meaningless things.
Having big, hard fists was what mattered.
Therefore, the Kingdom never developed knights.
But that said, they fully acknowledged the strength of Imperial knights.
To become nobles and lords in the Kingdom, these fellows' muscles were certainly not lacking.
So when they saw Gwen and heard the Imperial princess's introduction, they couldn't help but feel itchy hands.
When seeing a strong person, one should dare to challenge them.
That's what they said, but they hadn't shown such attitude when seeing Viktor.
On one hand, Viktor was a mage, and moreover one of the twelve council members of the Mage Council, that top international organization.
They naturally had to show proper respect.
And there was another very important aspect.
Being lords, their heads weren't filled with just muscle.
They understood the difference between "might be able to win" and "impossible to win."
The Padalenbu Sea Battle had shown the world Viktor's nuclear-level combat power.
Who knew mages could fight like that?
These Kingdom warriors wouldn't dare claim they could take more hits or fight better than those overwhelming magical beasts.
Besides, just making a comparison was enough.
The Kingdom had so many warriors.
Yet their strongest five-star duke was a mage.
So the Kingdom's warriors generally held an inexplicable respect for mages.
As for Gwen, this knight from the Empire, that was different.
When sensing Gwen's ice-cold powerful aura, these noble lords' hearts were already stirring with excited thoughts—
Challenge.
Of course, most people present still remained calm.
Their strength had declined somewhat compared to their younger days.
Their muscles weren't as powerful as before, and their bones had become looser and more fragile compared to their youth.
Even old hidden ailments would occasionally flare up.
As everyone knew, the older a warrior got, the more severely their strength would decline.
Even if they really won against Gwen, it could only be said they had more experience and barely won.
If they lost, it would be truly humiliating.
But Hilda was different.
This young third-tier female warrior had been staring at Gwen since she appeared.
Because Gwen was around her age, and even the same gender.
So Hilda couldn't help comparing herself to Gwen.
After hearing Aurelianne's introduction, she almost thoughtlessly wanted to spar with this great knight.
But just then, the Empire's diplomatic ministers noticed the current atmosphere and blurted out:
"Oh right, our Empire's Great Knight Gwen has some connection with Baron Viktor."
"Indeed, they're engaged to be married."
"Even Great Knight Gwen's equipment was personally prepared by Baron Viktor."
"Hahaha, they're truly a perfect match!"
As these words fell, the atmosphere suddenly stiffened, silence enveloping the surroundings.
Only the wind blew gently, carrying a wisp of dust.
Even Hilda put away her sparring impulse.
Then, the diplomatic ministers' laughter came to an abrupt halt.
Somehow, the princess seemed to have glanced at them just now.
That ice-cold gaze made them feel as if winter wind was sweeping through their marrow.
When they came to their senses, the previous moment seemed like an illusion.
They saw Aurelianne smiling as she said:
"Indeed, I forgot to mention earlier."
"My teacher Gwen is also Teacher Viktor's fiancée."
Seeing this, King Augustus also went along with the atmosphere, chuckling lightly:
"I see."
"No wonder Great Knight Gwen and Sir Viktor have such similar temperaments."
Similar temperaments? Did he mean they were both equally expressionless?
Hearing Augustus's words, others couldn't help but secretly study Gwen and Viktor's facial features.
At this moment, Grand Duke Balo at the front of the group heavily struck his staff on the ground.
Bang!
That crisp sound produced endless echoes in the field, stirring waves in the hearts of all the nobles.
Everyone followed the sound, looking toward its source.
They saw dark green mist rising before Grand Duke Balo.
The hazy smoke began to spread, gradually surrounding the Grand Duke.
A huge deep green light point began to sway and flicker.
The light point kept expanding, its ghostly green edges spreading outward, while the black hole also grew enormous.
The deep hole began to tremble, as if something was about to emerge from the tunnel.
Under everyone's shocked gazes, Grand Duke Balo turned back and said to Augustus:
"It's getting late, Your Majesty."
"I should return early to rest."
Augustus nodded with a smile.
Balo's rest time had always been early, and once his scheduled time came, not even the king could keep him.
This point was very clear to all the nobles present, including the current King Augustus.
However today, because the Imperial princess came to visit the academy, it was already well past Balo's regular rest time.
But he had still accompanied them for so long.
To be honest, this had already given them enough face.
It should be known that Balo didn't even need to participate in this diplomatic event.
Augustus was already very satisfied. He smiled at Aurelianne and said:
"Well then, we should also take our leave."
"Princess, we'll meet again tomorrow."
Aurelianne nodded with a smile in response.
And in the next second after she nodded.
From the depths of that shocking dark green portal,
Countless skeleton war horses wreathed in black-green flames galloped out from the hole.
Each warhorse's neck bore a flowing, slender rein.
These warhorses had ghostly black-green flames burning even between their ribs.
Flames surged from their hollow eye sockets, appearing before everyone accompanied by deep neighs.
Their manes danced in the flames, and even their tails flickered like black-green fire.
The surrounding night sky seemed to be lit by these unique green flames, becoming bright yet eerie.
Following closely was a sturdy and huge carriage.
The carriage was pulled by twelve skeleton warhorses.
Built with deep brown finely crafted wood, with a green flame-flickering furnace lamp on top, it could accommodate more than ten people.
The same cold green fire burned on both sides of the carriage, containing killing intent.
Bone-white skeletons were intricately inlaid along the carriage edges, giving an eerie and intimidating feeling.
The diplomatic ministers stared dumbfounded at these skeleton horses and the flame-wreathed carriage, their hearts deeply shocked.
Making it this cool?
Is this the legendary necromancer?
The knights were equally shocked by the hellish scene before them.
My god!
These knights had known all kinds of horses since childhood, but they had never seen such cool skeleton horses.
Riding one of these would probably take years off your life, right?
Even the Kingdom's noble lords couldn't help but marvel when they saw this scene.
No matter how many times they saw it, Grand Duke Balo's necromancy could give them absolute shock.
A mage's power was truly great.
The nobles especially marveled in their hearts.
Since they definitely had no chance themselves, they began to fantasize.
If only their children could become mages, how wonderful that would be.
At this time, the carriage stopped in front of the twelve diplomatic ministers.
And that large group of skeleton warhorses also gathered before the knight order and demi-human guards, automatically lowering their bodies.
Whether ministers or knights, looking at the skeleton horses whose flames gradually weakened, they couldn't help but feel especially amazed.
At this time, a skeleton warhorse larger than the others slowly walked to Gwen's front.
Gwen looked at Viktor, as if seeking some opinion.
After seeing Viktor nod, Gwen mounted without a word.
Instantly, her body was enveloped by black-green flames from her feet, the flames rapidly rising, completely engulfing Gwen's form.
Until the flames stabilized, Gwen's figure appeared again.
Her entire body also burned with ghostly green flames like the warhorse.
Her eyes similarly blazed, as if transformed into an undead knight.
Seeing this scene, other knights excitedly mounted one after another.
In an instant, waves of black-green flames surged on the ground, surrounding all the knights and demi-human guards.
An army of undead burning with ghostly green fire appeared on the ground like spirits.
Although the demi-humans' skeletons differed from humans', their silhouettes had a unique majesty within the flames.
Under the fire, the fur on their tails seemed to burn away completely, revealing some unique tail bones and beast-like skeletal features.
The undead horse formation suddenly neighed, raising sky-shaking roars upon the earth.
Aurelianne looked around at the knights and demi-human guards transformed into an undead army, curious amid her envy.
Where was her horse? Where was her horse?
At this time, an even more luxurious bone carriage slowly drove out from the black-green tunnel, stopping before her.
This carriage was adorned with several delicate arm bones, its compartment becoming more spacious.
A green flame rope hung down from the corner of the carriage, suspending an iron cage.
An owl with ghostly green fire burning in its eyes was imprisoned within.
Just as Aurelianne was examining this carriage.
Grand Duke Balo had already come to her side, speaking calmly:
"You and Viktor, ride in my carriage."
Aurelianne was slightly startled, then quickly responded:
"Al-alright..."
...
The carriage procession burning with ghostly green fire advanced steadily, accompanied by the muffled sound of skeleton wheels striking the road.
The surroundings seemed locked in mist, the procession appearing to trudge through thick fog, showing only a monotone color scheme.
The deathly quiet skeleton horses carried the knights and demi-humans, following closely behind the huge skeleton warhorse carrying Gwen.
Emerald smoke continuously surged between the roads.
Wherever this green mist shrouded, the carriages and skeleton horses seemed to gain mysterious power.
They could ignore all obstacles and traverse directly through.
Aurelianne sat in the elegant carriage, her gaze penetrating the window lattice, attracted by the eerie green outside, she couldn't help exclaiming softly:
"How is this done exactly?"
Grand Duke Balo sat opposite, calmly explaining: "We are now walking between the 'Netherworld' and the 'Material World', ordinary people can't see us, and we similarly can't see them."
"This art can only be mastered by necromancers."
Aurelianne turned back, slightly surprised.
Originally, she was just casually asking Teacher Viktor beside her, but unexpectedly Grand Duke Balo would personally answer her.
The Duke slowly raised his head, those slightly cloudy eyes gazing at Aurelianne, his tone gentle:
"Maintaining constant vigilance and response will inevitably tire you."
"But this is something you must experience, and moreover something you need to learn."
"However here, you can relax a bit."
Aurelianne gently relaxed her neck, couldn't help briefly pondering.
Indeed, in this diplomacy between nations, the long-time pretense had exhausted her extremely.
She felt that every one of her smiles required special effort.
Hearing the Duke's words, a warmth flashed in her eyes, her lips curving into a genuine smile:
"Indeed, my mood is much better now."
"Thank you, Grandfather."
As these words landed, Grand Duke Balo's body imperceptibly stiffened for an instant.
However, this state wasn't noticed by Aurelianne.
Grand Duke Balo just steadily gripped his staff tightly with both hands.
Suddenly, he asked:
"Want to learn?"
Aurelianne was slightly stunned, feeling confused.
Grand Duke Balo slowly turned his head, looking out at the ghostly green, his voice somewhat deep:
"My necromancy."
"If you want, I can teach you."
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