Chapter 012: Blood Rose

Prince Fischer stood across from Francis, stroking a delicate ring on his hand as he said calmly, “It seems that not only is Du Fan in big trouble, but I’m in trouble as well!”
Francis glanced in the direction Du Fan and Ampere had flown off to and saw flames spreading across the sky. A hint of sarcasm flashed in his eyes as he murmured, “What a foolish man. He calls himself a forbidden magic master, yet doesn’t he realize that causing such a fuss will only attract everyone in the capital, with no other benefits?”
Prince Fischer smiled and said, “Perhaps this is what Master Ampere expects?”
Francis shook his head and sighed. “Well, since Ampere has already taken action, we can’t just stand here, can we? Your Highness, Prince Fischer, I’m truly sorry, but I will take your life today no matter what. Do you have any last words? Or any unfinished wishes you’d like me to help you fulfill?”
As he spoke, Francis slowly raised the legendary artifact, the Blood Rose, in his hand. The sword’s glow flickered continuously, as beautiful as a vivid rose!
“What a fine sword! What a beautiful blade!” Prince Fischer gazed at this famous artifact across the continent, his face filled with affection, as if a man were looking at his beloved woman. After a while, he withdrew his admiring gaze. “It truly lives up to its name—Blood Rose. If a rose lacks blood, how can it be beautiful? Just like a beauty without thorns!”
Francis’s eyes showed surprise. “Is that your last word, Your Highness?”
“Of course not,” Prince Fischer smiled. “I’m just reflecting on the fact that I get to witness this famous artifact across the continent. Although there are countless strong men in Roland Continent, those who have seen this sword drawn have mostly met their end at its hand. I’m just curious if I could be an exception.”
Francis sighed sympathetically. “Your Highness Fischer, it’s a pity… There are no exceptions before me, Francis, not even for someone like you.”
“Is that so?” Prince Fischer’s smile remained elegant as he stared into Francis’s eyes. After a moment, he sighed and said, “Your Excellency Francis, will you fulfill any last wish I have?”

“Yes…” Francis hesitated for a moment before answering in a solemn voice.
Prince Fischer smiled slightly and said, “Very well… My last wish is actually quite simple. If… if I die here today, I hope you’ll promise me that as long as you’re alive, no one will dare to touch a single hair of my elder brother’s. How about that?”
Francis was stunned and said, “Your Highness Fischer… You…”
Even someone like Francis could never have imagined that Prince Fischer’s last wish would be something like this!
Prince Fischer smiled faintly, with a hint of regret, and sighed deeply. “My elder brother is good in every way, except that he’s short-sighted. He can only see the present, not the future. If such a vast empire falls into his hands, I wonder how many more years it can survive… But still, if I die, he’s the only heir of my family… What irony!”
Francis’s gaze flickered, but he still spoke solemnly, “Alright, Your Highness Fischer. I promise you that if you die, I will ensure your elder brother lives a life free from worries…”
Prince Fischer nodded and said, “If that’s the case, I’ll be at ease…”
Francis let out a sigh, holding his crimson rose sword pointed at Prince Fischer. He said, “Your Highness Fischer, as a member of the royal family, I’ll ensure you die with dignity. Don’t worry—under my Blood Rose, even if your head is cut off, you won’t feel any pain. Moreover, even after your death, not a drop of blood will be shed, and your body will instantly turn to dust. To die without a single drop of blood is, I suppose, the most honorable way for a royal family member, right?”
As he spoke, a faint combat aura ignited in Francis. His aura was a plain gray, seemingly devoid of any special traits, but upon closer inspection, it seemed to contain a faint golden glow.
He raised his Blood Rose sword, its blade locked onto Prince Fischer’s life force, waiting only for him to lower the sword—then Prince Fischer would vanish from this world forever…

“To die without bloodshed? That’s indeed a dignified way to die.” Prince Fischer smiled. “But, Your Excellency Francis, I’ve said before—if you could kill me… just if… it shows that escaping from your grasp isn’t entirely impossible for me… After all, with such a vast empire in my elder brother’s hands, I’m still worried! I still have many things to do… and I certainly don’t want to die here!”

Francis smiled slightly and said, “Your Highness, it’s only fitting… Use whatever tactics you have… If you can escape from me, that will prove your skill!”

Prince Fischer sighed. “Yes… Escaping from Your Excellency Francis—what an interesting task.”

As he spoke, he removed the ring he had been holding in his palm. He reached out, grasped the ring, and brought it to his lips, giving it a light kiss.

The ring was uniquely designed and exquisitely crafted. Pure white metal encased a golden crystal, with patterns spreading up and down the ring, resembling sacred runes. These runes eventually formed the shape of a holy cross… Upon closer inspection, it seemed as though some liquid was flowing within the crystal…

Francis glanced at it, his previously indifferent expression suddenly changing. He couldn’t help but shout, “Guardian of the Holy Angels!”

“Yes, this is indeed the Guardian of the Holy Angels! As a renowned powerhouse on the continent, Your Excellency Francis is truly extraordinary!” Prince Fischer blew gently on the ring and whispered, “Your Excellency Francis, what do you think my chances are of escaping from you now?”

Francis’s face twisted in anger. Staring at the ring, he shouted, “How is that possible? Isn’t this artifact in the hands of the popes through the ages? How could you possibly have it!!!”

Prince Fischer smiled. “Your Excellency Francis, have you forgotten? I’m not only the Son of God but also the pope’s adopted son! In fact, the pope’s throne is meant for me in the future… My godfather—the current pope, His Holiness Madeline XVIII—since he plans to merge politics and religion, he naturally wants to keep me alive! I don’t know magic or combat energy… yet he gave me the Guardian of the Holy Angels! See… how much my godfather loves me!”

At this point, Prince Fischer hesitated no longer. He bit his tongue hard, and a gush of blood sprayed onto the ring in his hand. Then he threw it high into the air! With a loud explosion, a holy flame ignited in midair. The flame rapidly transformed and eventually formed a giant cross-shaped rune. At the center of the rune, a towering figure stepped forward one by one! Waves of murderous shouts echoed as a warrior whose entire body seemed to be made of light and fire descended from the sky, landing between Francis and Prince Fischer. His entire being was filled with holy flame, exuding infinite purity and pressure. He wore an exquisitely crafted golden armor, and from behind the armor, several strands of feather-like light stretched out—six in total! In his hand, he held a massive sword, almost as big as a person, its surface also ablaze with holy flames. Seeing this holy flame warrior emerge from the sky, Prince Fischer’s eyes burned with fanaticism. Staring at the warrior before him, he declared loudly, “Angel who has guarded the Holy Church since ancient times! First warrior of the War Angel lineage! Let us unite to fight against this great enemy before us!” The holy flame warrior seemed to sense Prince Fischer’s fanaticism. It roared toward the sky, and soon a shockwave radiated from it, crushing the surrounding plants and trees instantly. The snow and wind left by Ampere were also blown away in an instant! Faced with such terrifying power, even Francis, though strong, couldn’t help but change his expression and take a step back. At that moment, the holy flame warrior already swung his massive sword at Francis. Just a second earlier, it was still over ten meters away from Francis, but the next second, it appeared right in front of him, the flaming sword aimed straight at Francis! Francis’s face darkened. He gripped his sword with one hand, gray combat energy flashing on its blade, while the blood-red rose in his other hand, carrying a hint of bloodthirsty wind, met the incoming sword head-on!