Destroying someone's wealth is like killing one's parents

The small boat floated with the waves on the lake's surface. Apart from the faint cursing from the shore, there was only heavy breathing left on the boat.

Everyone was recovering their strength, while Daon huddled in a corner, falling into deep thought. Looking at the long sword that had hacked out quite a few gaps, his thoughts had already drifted to that reedy field.

The power of the Dragon Brood originated from the Divine Heir — an undying force. Daon stayed in that place for several years, trying every means to become the only one with the power of the Dragon Brood. Yet he only ended up being the object of envy for a worthless warrior.

Leaving the past aside for a moment, Daon, who had indeed experienced the power of the Dragon Brood, was full of questions.

"The essence of the Dragon Brood's power is to plunder the lives of the living to resurrect the dead, so too many deaths would plunge the Reed Name Country into a dragon cough tragedy. I've never heard of it being able to plunder other people's power through slaughter. Otherwise, with the Lion Ape's power, the Falconry's agility, and the Headless's spirit, I might not be able to resist until the Miyako Army landed."

He scratched the side of his face. The power of those Cuckoo soldiers and knights had indeed partially flowed into his body. This was not an illusion, but upon deeper inquiry...

Thinking of this, Daon suddenly leaned on the boat's gunwale. The lake surface was like a mirror, and he could see the golden light flickering in his eyes.

No, the people in the Transition Land were not ordinary humans at all!

In an instant, he thought of the enormous differences between the two worlds. Through the blessings of the Gold Tree, they possessed the so-called Rune Power, which blended with life. In a certain sense, it can be seen as a concrete soul, and it can also be used as a currency.

Daon's thoughts gradually drifted away. Even comparing between the two worlds, there was a significant difference: ninjas cannot improve their attributes, while the Faded can transform Runes into power through the Finger Witch.

'Am I plundering the power of the Runes? It's like having a witch built-in, only I can't freely add points. And I can only take away a part of it, the gap between ordinary soldiers and knights is also significant.'

Thinking of this, Daon cautiously glanced at the warriors on the boat. If this secret were revealed, he would likely be hunted down by the entire Transitory Land.

The Gold Tree even seals 'death.' If there were no wars, the Golden Children would not have the concept of natural death. When the time comes, they would return to the tree, creating a unique cycle of reincarnation. But now there was an external force plundering the Runes, the sin is indescribably heavy.

Cutting off someone's wealth is like killing their parents. The 'Supreme Will' will not let this go.

The mutation of the Dragon Brood's power brought some confusion. For Daon, there is a piece of good news and a piece of bad news right now.

The good news is that he brought the 'Dragon Brood's power' to the Transitory Land. Instead of discussing whether he can resurrect after death, just having the power to plunder could make Daon quickly become stronger. Without it, no matter how hard he trains, this body will soon reach its limit. Even if he works out excessively, it won't overcome the restraint brought by the bloodline. Blaize alone could easily crush him.

The bad news is that this power cannot be exposed. At least on the Gold Tree's side, it is an unforgivable demon, a presence to be annihilated at all costs.

'But I have a blessing on this body; will it be sensed by the Finger?' Daon felt a chill. He can't just end his own life now. Thinking things over, he decided to research slowly.

Firstly, to understand the effects of the mutated 'Dragon Brood's power,' and secondly, there is no need to think too much.

Being beheaded by a sword is death, and being blown to smithereens by the supreme will is also death. At least this power can help him get through the crisis at hand.

"Alright, let's go back." The voice of Blaize came. He looked around and didn't see any enemy boats.

Those who were resting quickly got up, grabbed the oar and started rowing north. This Lake Aerie didn't have any big ships, a typical small boat could make the opponent swim under the lake with a sword strike from the wolf man.

We won.

Blaize exhaled a stale breath. With just one person as the price, they wiped out an entire transport team. Thinking about the Cuckoos going hungry tomorrow, he grinned maliciously. Then, he turned around and fixed his gaze firmly on Daon.

"Who exactly are you?"

"Daon Light." The youth stood holding his sword and answered without any hesitation.

He felt the wolf man's gaze scanning his body inch by inch, like a blade, trying to dig through the surface and find something. But Daon wasn't afraid. With all the memories of the original body, he responded so fluently, dealing with all the difficult questions.

After a while, Blaize shut his mouth. As Lani's shadow, he was very familiar with the background of this magical apprentice, and since the other party had been staying in the fortress, there was no chance of a mix-up.

So, the question was, why did such a faint-hearted person undergo a drastic change? Daon's previous fighting performance wasn't particularly strong, but his courage and fierceness were undeniable even to Blaize.

No matter how imaginative Blaize was, he could never have guessed that this body had been taken over by another soul. He grumbled, "Why didn't you run away just now?"

"Do you wish I had run?" Daon answered lightly. Seeing the corner of the wolf man's mouth twitch, he broke into a laugh. "Sir Blaize, you can think of it as me having a realization. After eating so much food from House Calia, I really don't have the face to continue being useless."

"Yes, indeed. On my first time on the battlefield, I couldn't even hold the sword steady. Now, who doesn't call me a madman?" The sword and shield hand who survived chimed in, looking very empathetic.

"Being a madman is not a good reputation," said the archer, looking at his companion who made a rude gesture towards him and laughed, "In that situation, apart from swimming in the lake, Daon couldn't escape at all. I heard Mr. Igi say that when people fall into a desperate situation, they will always burst out with amazing energy."

No one starts as a warrior; these formidable soldiers also came from common people. It is only when they find the courage to strike down others that they truly enter this battlefield.

The soldiers have already recognized Daon, patting him lightly on the shoulder. However, Blaize always felt something was off. He chalked it up to Daon Light being extraordinarily talented, having an instantaneous shift in mindset.

"Even without your help, I could have taken care of the three cuckoos. But thank you, nonetheless." Blaize said somewhat haughtily, slowly raising his palm.

"I will report your merit. Let's fight for Calia together."

It should be 'fight for Lani.'

Daon corrected in his heart, raising his hand to grasp Blaize's slightly rough palm. From now on, Daon Light is no longer a coward; he has finally started his journey as a warrior.

...

The fire was extinguished, and bodies stripped bare were being tossed onto horse carts. Several tall horses stood by the lake, their hooves incessantly digging into the damp soil.

Several knights stared at the lake, their expressions severe. It mattered because the Cuckoo Knights were under a hundred, and three got cut down tonight. The entire transport team, except for two mindless hill trolls, were wiped out.

"Clean up the battlefield. Send out the second transport team before dawn. The front line's supplies are already insufficient." The knight in the middle was tall and sturdy, sitting on the horseback like a tower, with a long red plume on his helmet and armor full of scars.

"Yes, Sir Mathus." A knight took his leave, his rapid hoofbeats grew distant.

"Commander, we have confirmed that the assailant was Blaize. He led a five-person squad and wiped out the transport team before our reinforcements arrived."

"You wish to ask how we can guard against this?"

"Yes. There are no villages nearby for plunder anymore. If the supply line is threatened now, those suppressed demi-humans and Children of Platinum will bounce back. A stalemate is unfavorable for us."

Mathus fell into thought. The Calia Royal Family is trapped in a corner on the west bank, surrounded on all fronts. But Lake Leinia is too vast, and the mice that wriggle through the gaps are bothersome. And not to forget, the Royal House has allies, those lowly demi-humans, and Children of Platinum who are continuously attacking the patrol teams.

The Cuckoo Knights are limited in number, and they certainly can't withdraw a large number of troops to protect the rear. A few scattered soldiers could hold back tens of times their number in men, and maintaining a stalemate indeed isn't beneficial.

"Did I hear that the Calia Royal House is developing a defense spell?" He remembered something and asked in a deep voice.

"Yes, an area-covering automatic attack magic. Once complete, its fortress will be impregnable," the knight tightened the reins to control the restless battle horse, and whispered,

"Sir Mathus, should we retreat? There's really no need to take the chestnuts out of the fire for those people from the Magic Academy. We bust our guts on the frontline while they're enjoying the show in the academy. Don't they just want us to wear each other out with the Calia Royal House?"

"Wear each other out? Of course." Mathus sneered, removing his heavy helmet, revealing slightly graying hair and a face full of scars.

That face looked as though it had gone through a meat grinder, even missing a part of his nose. His drooping eyes were full of fierceness, and news has arrived from secret intelligence that professors from the Magic Academy were discussing closing their gates. Those damn magicians were planning to hide inside, watching them fight with the Calia Royal House.

"But we have to fight. This is the basis for the Cuckoos to stay in Leinia. Only by seizing the fortress and claiming the treasure of the Calia Royal House can we secure our foothold. However, high profits mean high risks—those magicians are waiting for us to be scattered all over the place, ready to stab us in the back."

Mathus' strong hand clenched into a fist, looking at the distant fortress, as if he had countless strategic plans hiding in his heart.

The knight didn't understand the power games of the high ranks or when this balance might be broken. He merely opened his mouth.

"But the Moon Princess ..."

"If she dares to come out, someone will deal with her. It is also the reason for the Cuckoos to insist on war," Mathus said, hinting of something cryptic. He pulled the reins, turning his horse head around. His voice came with the wind.

"Tell those magicians in the Academy, the Cuckoos are about to start operating independently. Let them send someone to reinforce us. If they continue to enjoy the show—"

"Let them fight with the Calia Royal House themselves!"