Chapter 47 - 19: [Blood Steel and Nether Copper]

Chapter 47: Chapter 19: [Blood Steel and Nether Copper]

As the leather robe hit the ground, the figure transformed into a fluid arc of a blade, flashing with a sudden blood-red light!

"Not good!" Samael was startled. He barely raised his Nether Copper Kite Shield a split second before the crimson arc struck his body.

BONG! A deafening crash echoed like the striking of a massive bell!

His Nether Copper Body staggered. The ear-splitting boom reverberated within the hollow armor, as if his very frame had become a bronze bell ruthlessly slammed by a heavy hammer!

[Stamina: 75% (Recovering)]

[Body Status: Off-balance (Duration: 3 seconds)]

This single strike had shaved off nearly 25% of Samael’s stamina! Had he been using ordinary armor and an ordinary shield, he would have likely been cleaved in half. A deep fissure had been carved into the Nether Copper Shield, glowing with a faint blood-red light that made the metal appear to be bleeding.

[Biological Posture Detection: Charged Strike]

[Utilizes gravitational potential energy, sprint acceleration, vehicular charge, or centrifugal limb rotation to store energy in weapons, tools, or limbs, achieving a powerful heavy blow. Highly effective when paired with heavy weapons. Consumes significant stamina.]

[Database updated.]

[Recorded to "Artificial Biology - Biological Posture Material" database.]

[Available for body usage.]

Samael swayed and stumbled two steps back. In the next instant, the Bandit Leader Warrior seized the opening created by the imbalance, forcefully sliding past the shield to thrust his sword ecstatically into the gap between Samael’s chest and shoulder armor!

"Once the Blood Steel Sword pierces your organs, prepare to have your life drained!" the Bandit Leader Warrior thought, gripping the hilt tightly. He waited for the Magic Material Circuits within the Blood Steel Sword to absorb vitality from the wound and restore his own condition.

However, the moment the blade pierced the armor, he realized something felt wrong. There was no soft resistance of tearing skin and flesh, no sudden snag of the blade hitting ribs, and absolutely no restorative healing from the Blood Steel Sword draining life force.

It was completely hollow. There was nothing there.

A second later, the hilt of the Nether Copper Knight Sword slammed brutally into his shoulder. This was immediately followed by a familiar backhanded slap from the shield, sending him and his sword flying backward.

[Body Status Check:]

[Stamina: 92% (Recovering)]

[Body Status: Normal]

Samael silently raised his head, assessing the Bandit Leader Warrior who was barely managing to stay on his feet.

[Target Race: Human]

[Biological Structural Integrity: 83% (Minor injuries, mild muscle strain)]

[Stamina: 37%]

[Spiritual Energy: 52%]

[Status: Panicked]

The Bandit Leader Warrior stabbed his sword into the ground to steady himself. Another shield imprint had been slapped onto his face. He gasped for breath where he stood, staring at Samael, who had firmly regained his footing. For the first time since obtaining this Magic Sword, a trace of panic crept into his heart.

This strike had consumed a massive amount of stamina, and when paired with the indestructible Blood Steel Sword, it should have been enough to shatter a military formation or cleave through a city wall. He couldn’t fathom why it had turned out like this, nor why his opponent had only suffered a minor imbalance and stepped back.

Moreover, blood steel had the ability to drain life. Once the Blood Steel Blade inflicted damage, it should have replenished his condition through the sword’s Magic Material Circuits. Why hadn’t the life-draining effect been triggered at all?

Worse still, his opponent was constantly casting Identification Magic without pause! That invasive scanning sensation hadn’t stopped for a single second since the fight began. The Knight was like a perverted creep who enjoyed peeking at people’s underwear—clinging to his combat maneuvers, using that impalpable, groping gaze to frantically feel up every single one of his movements!

He couldn’t even figure out where this person had hidden the Rune Stone used for casting. Perhaps this terrifying, voyeuristic Knight had stuffed the Rune Stone down his pants to satisfy his own vulgar fetishes!

A sudden chill ran down the Bandit Leader Warrior’s spine. If he were defeated by a Bounty Hunter, being killed and having his ears cut off for a bounty would be one thing. But if he lost to this wretched, peeping Knight who spammed Identification Magic like a maniac, he might end up dragged away to some secluded place where no one could find him, forced to do horrific things to humiliate himself!

"What... what exactly are you?" he demanded, trying to weigh the situation. "What do you want? We can make a deal. Money? Magic Potions? Supplies? Powerful weapons? I can give you plenty—just stop humiliating me with your Identification Magic..."

Silence. The shield, the blade, and the towering figure behind them advanced slowly toward him. The overwhelming sense of oppression felt like the inescapable weight of fate itself.

"Think about those teammates you left outside the camp. They definitely aren’t as resilient as you! They... they are being besieged by my subordinates right now," the Bandit Leader Warrior threatened. "If you stop now, we can make a deal. I’ll recall my men so your teammates outside won’t die a gruesome death!"

The steady advance of the sword, shield, and armor paused for a moment. The Bandit Leader Warrior was overjoyed. "Did the threat finally work?"

A soft sigh echoed from the copper helmet hidden beneath the tattered hood.

"I’m not keeping an eye on her right now, so she’s probably having a very happy time killing," a melancholy yet sincere voice spoke from the cold shadows within the copper helmet. "I feel deeply sorry for you all."

"What...?" The Bandit Leader Warrior froze, failing to process the words. "You care about your teammates, don’t you? Aren’t you afraid that the teammates you left outside the camp will be slaughtered by my subordinates?"

"I’m really not afraid," Samael answered honestly.

Panting heavily, the Bandit Leader Warrior used one hand to pull a dark cyan vitality Magic Potion and a blood-red Healing Potion from his belt. As he retreated, he bit the small glass vials open and threw his head back, downing them in one gulp. His condition was already deteriorating, and he didn’t have many Magic Potions left. Yet, after struggling for so long, all he had managed to achieve was leaving a single sword mark on the opponent’s shield and briefly throwing him off balance.