Mallos slowly raised his eyes, but seemed to be looking at everyone present.
The air seemed to be tightened invisibly, leaving no gaps.
"You will choose to sacrifice only if you believe that through sacrifice you can gain something more precious - a posthumous reputation, practical benefits, the safety of others, or pure self-satisfaction."
Mallos's words became more solemn:
"In other words, only after you know what you believe in, what you cherish more, and what you want to trade, can you have the right to choose and what to sacrifice legitimately, such as your life."
Thales remained silent. He seemed to have the illusion that Mallos had been staring at him.
The next second, Mallos turned around quickly, Patterson also raised his arm, and both of them whipped again——
Snapped!
This time, Toledo was too late to react, and the countdown could only catch up.
"Otherwise, your so-called glorious sacrifice," Mallos looked at the two people lying on the ground panting expressionlessly:
"It's just a hot-headed impulse, a foolish act instigated by manipulation, or even blind faith and self-abasement."
Snapped!
Another whip.
Glover dragged his chest up from the ground and gritted his teeth to hold on, while Doyle simply leaned back and knelt on his calves.
"I'm not punishing you, Doyle, because you made the wrong choice."
Mallos said coldly:
"When your father was kidnapped and the situation was tense and unclear, you seemed so heroic. You threw everything behind, drew your sword in your hand and went on a rampage, determined to fight and sacrifice your life to save your father."
Doyle was in a daze for a moment and looked at the watchman.
"But what do you want to sacrifice and what can you get in exchange? Father? Your Highness? Self? Justice? Loyalty?"
"Do you know, do you know?"
Mallos stopped looking at the confused Doyle.
"And you, Glover!"
The zombie straightened up with force and listened solemnly to the instruction.
"Whether you sympathized with Doyle and secretly let him go to save his father, or you wanted to prevent him from going to a duel, so you suggested a sneak attack from behind... It feels very kind, very noble, and very considerate of the friendship between comrades."
"But what are you going to sacrifice and what are you trying to get in exchange for? Comrades? Friendship? Conscience? Responsibility? Mission?"
"You know what? Have you ever thought about it?"
Marius showed his rare serious expression:
"What do you believe in? Why are you fighting? What are you sacrificing? Who are you saving?"
Doyle and Glover were both confused and didn't know what to do.
But they didn't have to answer, because they were greeted by——
Snapped!
Amid the miserable cries, their thoughts were once again interrupted by severe pain.
"No, you can't even tell me about it, you can't tell me sincerely, because you two have no idea."
Mallos's voice calmed down, but it didn't feel loose at all. It still had the same tension of tightening a bowstring.
Everyone in the guard was lost in thought.
"No, the reason why I punish you is not because you made the wrong choice, but because you don't see the choice at all!"
"You just resort to animal instincts when you are unclear and unexamined, move forward blindly, act impulsively, regret it later, and then pretend to be tough, wipe your tears and say 'necessary price', then...
Keep making stupid mistakes again and again."
"And you call that sacrifice?"
Mallos chuckled and shook the blood from his whip.
"Like two miserable chess pieces, they subconsciously make their own moves."
"Until His Highness, in His mercy, lifts you from the chessboard of certain death - along with the enemy's pieces."
Thales, who had been silent for a long time, suddenly shook.
He felt that many people's eyes turned to him.
d.d and the zombies breathed in a daze, as if at this moment, the severe pain of whipping could no longer affect them.
"The result is that your unexplained behavior not only harms you, but also endangers the mission, harms your colleagues, and threatens the overall situation."
"Both sides will not fare well, and nothing will be achieved anywhere."
There was sadness in Mallos's eyes:
"It's just so stupid."
The wind howled and whip shadows flashed.
Snapped!
Amid the screams of pain, the shadows of the two tortured persons formed uncertain shapes on the ground.
"If you are charging warriors, cannon fodder in the war, and death squads on the battlefield, then I may promote you and award you with honors to encourage the troops to continue to risk their lives. Whether you are willing or not, spread the word."
Sacrifice'," Mallos' voice dimmed along with his eyes:
"But you are not."
Mallos looked at everyone and said in a cold voice:
"You are the royal guard."
"Thousands of years ago, your name was—the emperor's imperial guard."
The whip wind sounds again.
Snapped!
But this time, Doyle and Glover just let out a stiff cry, and their figures shook together, but they did not fall down.
Mallos watched Patterson beside him silently put away the whip and handed it to Pezzarosi, and saw Toledo wink at him frantically, indicating that the amount was enough.
"You are not sacrificing yourself like this."
"You are not qualified to sacrifice like this."
The watchman said calmly.
"I'm tired, save your last whip," he turned around and handed the whip to Capone:
"Guard Guard Doyle."
As soon as the words fell, the two people who were standing up breathed their last breath and fell straight down.
Only the bloody back remains in the air, telling the story of the past.
A small commotion broke out in the guard, as if many people were breathing a sigh of relief.
Logistics officer Shi Tuo sighed and waved his hand, and several people who had been prepared rushed over to carry out stretchers, disinfection, cleaning, applying medicine, and bandages with great skill.
Flag Officer Hugo Fubi put away the small book he had been writing down during the execution.
"While you are recovering from your injuries, someone will take over."
"And those who were not whipped," Mallos glanced at the crowd from the corner of his eye, making the other twenty people shudder:
"learn a lesson."
The watchman took his weapon from Toledo and said, neither lightly nor seriously:
"Now, let's dissolve."
The next moment, the entire Xinghu Guards dispersed like loose strings of bows.
But right now.
"Lord, I don't understand," Doyle, who was lying on the stretcher with a pale face, ignored Piroga's stop and raised his upper body with force, speaking in a tired voice: "It is wrong to sacrifice, and it is wrong not to sacrifice."
"Then sir, what should I do?"
Many people were stagnant.
Mallos also gave a slight pause.
He looked at Thales in the distance, making the latter feel nervous.
"Since sacrifice is a deal."
The watchman spoke quietly:
"Then when trading, don't misjudge the value of both ends of the scale. There are too many things in the world - empty lies, sinister conspiracies, and unconscious habits - that can confuse them and trick you into making decisions.
Unfair deal.”
Mallos turned his head and looked at everyone.
"So, when you decide to trade," the watchman said calmly, but there was an emotion in his tone that Thales couldn't recognize:
"Make sure it's your own scale."
He said slowly:
"What is left on it must not be weights and scales that you blindly believe in even if you don't understand it yourself."
As soon as this statement came out, many people fell into deep thought.
Thales remained silent.
A few seconds later, the guard members on the training ground performed their duties and left one after another.
Thales came back to his senses and moved forward towards the two victims.
On the stretcher, Doyle, who sensed something, raised his head with difficulty. When he saw it was Thales, he showed a dying smile:
"Your Highness."
Thales felt heavy and didn't know what to say. He could only say:
"How is your father?"
D.D on the stretcher showed a bitter but brave smile:
"You know he's... quite scared."
"It should be honest for a while."
Thales was silent. After a few seconds, he patted Doyle's arm and nodded to Glover on the other side:
"Take good care of yourself."
Doyle and Glover were carried away.
Many people in the Star Lake Guard also passed by him and saluted Thales one after another.
The old Piloga who had sword duels with him, the left-handed swordsman Zonevid, the former security officer Konmuto, the tall guy Franzuk in the guard wing, the stupid Ferry, and the strong man Ba who just followed him.
Stia and young Nexi...
"Your Highness."
"Good day."
"Wish you good luck."
After spending several months together, familiar faces flashed before our eyes.
I don't know if it was an illusion, but after one night, the strange and disharmonious feeling that the Star Lake Guards gave Thales at first seemed to have dissipated a lot.
At least, their salutes seemed more respectful, yet more natural.
Except one person.
"You're early, Your Highness."
Mallos came to him calmly:
"The martial arts class will be there for a while."
Thales sneered.
"Each other."
Mallos seemed not to have heard the anger in Duke Xinghu's words, and turned around leisurely:
"That's right, let's warm up."
Thales took a deep breath.
"I said, every time I think my impression of you has improved, Mallos..."
He looked at the two stretchers going away and said coldly:
"You have to destroy it, right?"
"The captain of the personal guard I hate the most?"
Behind him, Bastia and Nexi looked at each other and stepped away in a tacit understanding.
Mallos nonchalantly picked out a practice sword and threw it to Thales.
"So, how many guards captains have you had?"
Thales snorted coldly, came to the training ground, waved his sword, and started to warm up:
"Only you."
"Hmm -" Mallos hummed a rising tone from his nose:
"I can rest assured that."
Thales laughed sarcastically.
"By the way," he looked at the watchman unhappily:
"Why do I always feel that you meant something when you said 'those who were not whipped'?"
Mallos smiled slightly, as relaxed as ever:
"Maybe you misunderstood?"
Thales pulled out a few sword poses, breathed faster, and stretched his body:
"Or not?"
Mallos shrugged and smiled:
"Then no."
His demeanor, neither salty nor bland, nor warm nor cold, made Thales choke.
"anyway……"
Thales said maliciously:
"Why do I feel that you are admonishing them not to make impulsive sacrifices? Not to be blindly loyal to the royal family?"
Mallos motioned for Thales to move bigger and said calmly:
"I told you, you misunderstood."
Thales sneered:
"Or not?"
Mallos did not answer the question.
"You might as well be more serious about your warm-up," the watchman seemed to have transformed into a dedicated martial arts teacher who loves his job. He said seriously: "After all, it is your own health."
"You have to take care of yourself."
Thales snorted coldly.
But then he remembered something less pleasant.
"Isn't anyone from Fuxing Palace here yet?"
"After all, last night..." Thales stopped talking.
This topic seemed to lower the temperature.
Mallos was silent for a while:
"No."
"But I guarantee you, they will come, sooner or later."
In a complicated mood, Thales finished warming up and felt hot and sweating slightly all over.
"Okay, what's today? Target shooting? Sword fighting? Or getting beaten?"
Mallos smiled and waved to the distance:
"Nehi?"
In the distance, trainee pioneer officer Niexi pointed at himself unexpectedly, and after receiving confirmation, he came forward feeling flattered.
Thales rolled his eyes and went to find his shield as if resigned to his fate, preparing to face - ahem, battle.
But this time, Marius surprised him.
"No, Your Highness, you don't need to end up," the watchman said with a smile, pointing to the seat: "Come, sit down."
"Today is a demonstration teaching and theory class."
Um?
Demonstration teaching?
Theory class?
Thales was stunned.
He looked at the heavy practice sword in his hand and said stupidly:
"Then why did you warm me up just now?"
Mallos smiled even more heartily:
"To... maintain good habits?"
Thales looked at him expressionlessly.
"Toledo," Mallos, unaware of His Highness the Duke's murderous eyes, happily summoned his messenger:
"Go up and practice with Nixi."
Thales threw down the practice sword angrily, sat down on the chair, and crossed his legs inelegantly.
In the field, Nixi and Toledo looked at each other, then glanced at Thales, and both walked towards the weapons rack.
"Wait," Mallos said calmly:
"Use your own weapons, real swords."
"I said, we don't want to be caught by Ms. Ji Ni again, right?"
The watchman said, looking at Thales intentionally or unintentionally.
After being together for so long, knowing that he was taking the opportunity to ridicule and protest, Thales did not respond and sneered a few times.
A few seconds later, Niesi and Toledo both stood on the training field.
"Your qualifications and level are higher than mine, do you want to go first?"
Young Nixi couldn't help but glance at Thales and Mallos, eager to try.
The long sword in his hand is light, agile and of extraordinary quality.
"No, I'm not used to being the first in line."
As one of Marius's most trusted old subordinates, Toledo just smiled modestly:
"You should go first."
Toledo's weapon is a scimitar. The strange thing is that his knife is put in a sheath but tied horizontally behind his waist, which looks very awkward.
Nixi also smiled, no longer modest:
"good--"
But the moment he finished speaking, Nexi's sword was unsheathed.
The sword light flashes like lightning strikes!
Thales' palm, which was still yawning, suddenly froze - the sin of the Hell River in his body suddenly awakened!
clang!
There was a muffled sound and metal collided.
At that moment, Toledo was able to draw his sword, and at the critical moment, he used an awkward posture to deflect the lightning-fast sword.
Thales looked at Nixi in surprise, comforting the power of termination in his body.
He thought back to the first sword strike just now.
This is too fast.
So far away, just by sight, Hell River Sin felt threatened, and was forced to activate an instinctive reaction.
But Nishi's offensive was not over.
His sword blade reflects a strange light, and he pursues the victory on the shortest route, straight to the middle!
clang!
Toledo was forced into a desperate situation and the defense was difficult.
"Your Highness, remember I told you that there are different martial arts schools in the kingdom?"
Mallos clasped his hands leisurely and watched the two subordinates fighting with real swords.
"Of course, there are the offensive and defensive factions in the north, the martial arts faction in the southeast, and the new trend faction that puts practicality first."
"You didn't just 'said'."
As Thales answered, he looked at Nixi's fast sword offensive in amazement. He found that it was not only the opponent's sword speed that was fast, but also his body skills and pace, which made him fly around like a phantom during the battle, appearing every time.
In the most uncomfortable place for Toledo.
Mallos nodded:
"And I also said that after you pass the sword target practice, I will introduce you to the other two mainstream schools."
"Now is the time."
The watchman narrowed his eyes.
"Seriously show some strength, you two!"
Mallos shouted:
"Your Highness is not here to see your sideshows."
After the words fell, Nexi's sword flashed again!
His pace and speed seemed to have increased several times in an instant, and the last sword even grazed Toledo's shoulder armor!
Toledo's defense became increasingly difficult and he had to retreat to dodge, so the battle gradually turned into one side chasing after the other side and the other side running away in panic.
Thales frowned as he looked at Toledo, who was at an absolute disadvantage.
If it were myself...
Thales shook his head secretly: No, he can't avoid it, and the loss will only be worse than Toledo.
But how old does Nexi look?
"In the kingdom, there is a special type of warrior."
Mallos's voice came from the side:
"They learned their martial arts from the same source, but their styles are completely different."
The watchman looked serious:
"Historically, there were scholars who specialized in martial arts schools, and they were collectively called - Temple Disciples."
Thales was stunned.
"temple?"
Temple disciples?
Mallos nodded and watched the sword shadows flying in the field and the sword light flashing, but he remained unhurried and unhurried:
"But today, because the name is too formal and too old, no one calls it out."
But his tone was extremely serious:
"But in reality, they are not only spread across the stars, but also throughout the entire Western Continent. They have flourished for thousands of years and have not declined to this day."
"Nate Niecy is one of the best."
Thales stared intently at Nixi, who almost transformed into a visual clone.
His long sword is swift, high-speed, and direct.
In one blow, the effect is astonishing.
Mallos took out his story-telling frame and continued:
"The place where they are taught martial arts is ancient and special. It has gathered the most diverse martial arts inheritance and finishing power for thousands of years. It has been continuously improved in different eras, taught and taught, and has become famous all over the world -"
But at this moment, Thales suddenly interrupted him:
"The Temple of Knights."
Mallos was startled.
The prince sat upright and said seriously:
"That's why they were called 'Temple Disciples' in history, right?"
Mallos frowned and looked at the boy, with a hint of displeasure at having his story interrupted:
"You, you know?"
Thales looked back at him and smiled slightly:
"know a little."
a little……
Mallos took a deep breath, looked at Nixi, who was constantly attacking, and tried to return to his previous tone:
"Okay, then you may not know that these people were the first to be -"
But Thales' words came in again:
"They were the first knights who originated in the north before the empire era, and they were the first to awaken to extraordinary power."
The young Duke watched the fierce fight between the two men carefully, as if he was reciting it unintentionally, with a lingering aftertaste.
Mallos was speechless again.
The watchman had to cough:
"Speaking of extraordinary power——"
"Through them, extraordinary power spreads among humans." Thales took over his words faintly:
"In wars with alien races such as the Battle of Saints and the Battle of Survival, they shined brilliantly, won victories, expanded and refined their immature extraordinary powers, and explored the boundaries and future of human potential."
Thales turned his head, looked at Mallos who looked unhappy, and kept talking:
"So, they gathered elites, gradually formed groups, and built their own creed and organization."
"It's for the 'Knight Temple'."
Thales took a deep breath, as if inhaling the scent of ink on a book:
"For thousands of years, it was the noble holy land of human martial arts and the sacred source of chivalry."
Mallos was stunned for a few seconds, a little caught off guard.
"Where did you hear that?"
Thales smiled:
"The north, to be precise, is the book collection of the Walton family in Longxiao City, "The Light of Humanity - The Beginning and End of the Knights Temple"."
Mallos pursed his lips.
The Yankee Book Collection.
The beginning and end of the temple.
Well, since we only go to the temple...
The watchman, who was interrupted again, cleared his throat displeasedly:
"Okay, but the glory of the Knights Temple will return to glory, but times have changed, until-"
"Until the Final Battle."
Thales's voice sounded again at an inappropriate time:
"Seven hundred years ago, the entire Knights Temple army was mobilized to fight against the disaster. In the end, there were heavy casualties, and not even one out of ten was left alive."
"Even the temple itself was destroyed and difficult to rebuild."
Under Marius's unbelievable expression, the prince's words were full of nostalgia for the past and the present:
"In the end, the survivors of the Knights Temple traveled far away and built a legendary tower."
"In that high tower, they inherited the legacy of their knight ancestors, collected, refined, and taught extraordinary powers—after that, they were called the Power of Ending. They spread various martial arts and guarded the hope of mankind."
"It's what's so famous today..."
"Tower of the End."
After saying this, Thales breathed a sigh of relief and looked at Mallos with a smile, who was interrupted several times by him:
"So, Nexi should be a student of the Tower of the End."
Mallos said nothing.
Thales blinked:
"What's wrong?"
Mallos looked at him gloomily:
"I'm waiting."
"Let's see what else you have to say?"
Thales raised his eyebrows:
"Well, there should be no more."
The prince looked happily at Mallos's deflated expression:
"Can you please correct me if I'm wrong?"
Mallos took a deep breath, and seemed to use all his strength to control himself and turn to the field.
"Didn't you eat?"
The watchman shouted coldly, showing the majesty of the guard captain:
"Play more seriously!"
The two people in the field were fighting fiercely, but they were slightly stunned when they heard the words.
Mallos turned around with an expression that looked like he had eaten a fly.
"Ahem - you were right just now."
"Nate Niecy just returned from the Tower of the End not long ago."
Mallos paused subconsciously and glanced at Thales.
It was only after confirming that His Highness the Prince was listening obediently and had no intention of stealing his words, that the watchman coughed:
"In the Kingdom of Stars, the 'Temple' sect, which takes the Tower of Ending as its standard, is what many people regard as a 'distinguished sect'. It has a long history and a long history."
Show knowledge.
Thales frowned slightly, remembering the many acquaintances he knew who had learned skills from the Tower of the End.
"Many nobles of the kingdom, if they expect to achieve success in martial arts and military exploits, will choose to send their descendants to the Tower of the End. On the one hand, they will receive inheritance and improve their skills, and on the other hand, they will expand their horizons and travel around the world."
You can also accumulate fame.
Or avoid disaster.
Mallos said in his heart.
The watchman pointed to the field:
"Unlike other martial arts schools that are positioned based on style, the styles and skills of the swordsmen who emerge from the Tower of the End are not uniform, or even completely different."
"As the successor of the ancient Knights Temple, the Tower of the End has kept pace with the times, summarized various martial arts, organized and classified the inherited skills, and further researched them, and finally separated out eight major schools."
Thales was stunned.
He has admired the name of the Tower of the End for a long time, but it actually has so many branches?
"Eight branches?"
Mallos nodded.
He spoke slowly with fear and respect, as if reciting a little poem:
"Pegasus sins, iron and blood shine. Rose storm, miracles in the world."