Chapter 3: Improved Magic Puppets
The reputation of the Heavenly Rank Knights was indeed well-deserved. For someone like Sorenberg, chosen among the best, to suffer such a crushing defeat under these circumstances—had it not been for his two successive rescues, Sorenberg might have ended up bedridden for months even if he didn’t die on the spot. Komer’s expression remained calm, while Vladkov’s eager demeanor was evident. Sorenberg’s fate not only failed to affect his mood but also further fueled his fighting spirit. The chance to compete against such a skilled opponent made this trip worthwhile; one could imagine how much experience and improvement such a battle could bring.
“Vladkov, do you want to give it a try too?” Komer frowned slightly. Sorenberg and Vladkov were roughly equal in strength, and the three Heavenly Rank Knights were likely at a similar level as well. Vladkov would likely be at a serious disadvantage against the casually confident knight in the middle. Yet the fanaticism in Vladkov’s eyes revealed his true thoughts. For dark warriors like them, the opportunity to improve their skills—especially against a Light Warrior—was more tempting than any desire to preserve their lives. He simply couldn’t refuse.
“Of course, Lord. Please allow me to try. I’ve long admired the Heavenly Rank Knights, and I can’t miss such an opportunity. No outcome can stop my determination,” Vladkov said proudly.
With a bitter smile and a shake of his head, Komer didn’t want to continue this. It would only let them fall into the opponent’s rhythm. If Sorenberg had fought alone at first, there might have been some hope of learning more about them, but now it made little sense. Vladkov could fight, and Shatima could too—but it wouldn’t be a simple fight. He needed to follow his own plan.
“Vladkov, since you value this opportunity so much, I’ll grant your wish. I hope you gain something from this battle. Shatima, it seems you can’t wait either. Go—that chubby dwarf knight will surely satisfy your curiosity.” Komer set aside his initial disdain. “Mihayovich, show off your best move. Work with Vladkov and Shatima—those three Heavenly Rank Knights are yours to handle. Newman, cover them from the side.”
His expression changed slightly as the lead Tier-1 Knight immediately realized that Komer didn’t seem intent on fighting them one by one as they had planned. Instead, Komer had sent two knights and a mage to challenge the three of them together, with another mage-like figure lurking nearby. Fighting them individually wouldn’t be difficult, but if they combined forces with the knights, the situation would be completely different. The organic combination of magic and martial arts could unleash unimaginable power. Even though the three of them were confident in their superior martial skills, accepting such a challenge was utterly pointless.
“Mr. Komer, this arrangement seems rather despicable. Is this your idea of nobility? I can’t imagine how you managed to gain noble status.” Even the knight in the middle showed signs of agitation. His silk handkerchief was already tied into an elegant pattern beneath the emblem on his chest, and his knight’s sword hung loosely at his side. The other chubby man, on the other hand, appeared more composed, constantly weighing the axe spear in his hands as if trying to assess the guy in iron leaf armor across from him.
“Whether it’s nobility or despicability, three Tier-1 Knights, our relationship now is one of life-and-death hostility. If you want me to show courtesy, that’s not impossible. Next time you come to the Caucasus, I’ll do my best to demonstrate gentlemanly behavior. But this time, I think I’ll go my own way.” By the time Komer said these last words, a fierce smile covered his lips. “Vladkov, Mihayovich, what are you waiting for?”
As soon as Komer gave the order, Mihayovich hesitated no longer. Almost before anyone else noticed, a metal puppet stood silently beside him. He gently stroked the motionless puppet with affection, his eyes filled with tenderness and regret. The skill level of those three Tier-1 Knights was far beyond what his group could match. His metal puppet might barely survive this time. But now that it had come to this, retreat was no longer an option. All he could do was maximize the puppet’s power while coordinating with the attacks of the two knights to ensure victory in this battle.
The moment the metal puppet appeared, it immediately drew the high alert of the three Heavenly Rank knights. A puppet mage? It was a type of mage they had never encountered before. Moreover, this uniquely designed and exquisitely crafted metal puppet made them realize that this war might not be as easily resolved as they had thought.
The silver-gray magic metal shone with an aesthetically pleasing elegance under the sunlight. The tips of its shovel-shaped arms had been modified—no longer straight as before, but instead composed of multiple joints that could be adjusted to any direction. The most striking feature was its icy blade, resembling bloodthirsty spikes. A sharp protrusion sat at the top of its flat head, and extremely sharp conical structures were distributed across its head, knees, wrists, elbows, and shoulders. Almost every key joint was protected by such special conical protrusions, which could also be used to launch sudden attacks in close combat.
Even Komer couldn’t help but narrow his eyes upon seeing this puppet. No wonder Mihaijevic hadn’t shown up much lately and had asked for another large piece of wisdom ink crystal—he must really have accomplished something significant.
Delivering such a huge surprise right from the start, this metal puppet was clearly far more powerful and adaptable than the previous one. Not only had there been significant changes to its arm attack mechanisms, but its defensive capabilities and passive offensive powers had also been enhanced. It was quite remarkable that Mihaijevic had managed to create a completely new puppet in just a few months.
While the three Heavenly Rank knights were distracted by this newly unveiled metal puppet, Shatima had already quietly prepared for battle. Knightly codes and rules held no restraint over her. Having finally gotten such a chance to fight, she wanted to thoroughly crush her opponent. However, the fate of Sorenberg had reminded her that to win, she needed to be even better prepared.