Warhammer Divine Throne-Chapter 443 - 189, Blood of the Holy Grail

"Clearly, this young knight has not grasped the true essence of the Eight Virtues of Chivalry." Laine said to Veronica, hiding behind a big tree, "Fighting for the lady does not mean recklessness; charging blindly at anything shows a lack of understanding of the virtue of bravery. Even after being given a chance for another challenge and spared by the opponent, he still insists on flaunting his strength, which means he hasn’t learned the virtue of humility."

"Isn’t humility in knightly virtues supposed to be loyalty and full of courtesy?" Veronica asked.

"Those who are brave yet reckless are merely foolhardy and not true knights. Dear, the Eight Virtues of Chivalry are a highly complex set of ideals and values, an ineffable core spirit of a true knight." Laine gripped the Warhammer with one hand, and mounted his horse: "That is why the Holy Grail is so sought after, only a Mission Knight truly possessing the Eight Virtues can find the Grail and drink the Holy Grail Water under the lady’s acknowledgment."

"This lad clearly hasn’t learned, yet I still want to save his life."

"What about me?" Veronica inquired.

"This is a battle between knights, dear. Just watch how your man defeats this Blood Knight!"

While Laine and Veronica were talking, the confrontation between the Blood Knight and the Ranger Knight was reaching its climax.

"Meet your end, demon!" The Ranger Knight drew his Longsword, and his warhorse seemed to gather courage alongside its master. Together, man and horse charged at the Blood Knight in the cold moonlit night. Cybot Le Shanggel could sense the strong impact force of the warhorse, rekindling some hope in the Ranger Knight’s heart. His Longsword carved a deadly and dangerous arc aiming directly at the head of the Blood Knight.

"Ah."

The Blood Knight responded with a long sigh.

He finally moved.

The Blood Knight’s silhouette on the warhorse began moving as swiftly as lightning; the remaining nightmare exhaled a green mist. In a flash, he was in front of the Ranger Knight. His hand, clad in black arm armor, precisely grasped the Ranger Knight’s sword-wielding wrist while his other hand halted the warhorse’s charge.

"Crack!" With a slight force, a sound of bones shattering echoed, dislocating the Ranger Knight’s wrist.

The Ranger Knight’s offensive was completely thwarted, leaving the young man with an incredulous expression. Bearing the intense pain, he raised his head and finally saw the Blood Knight’s eyes—eyes filled with deep and heavy histories, like a piece of decaying wood coming from ancient times or a fossil immersed in countless ages.

"This world is far more dangerous than you imagine, child." The Blood Knight spoke, then abruptly hurled the Ranger Knight away. Cybot Le Shanggel felt an immense force emanating from his wrist, launching him through the air. Then, the Blood Knight kicked him in the abdomen, sending him flying backward as he crashed into a tree trunk, collapsing hard onto the ground.

"Urgh, you... uh~" Cybot Le Shanggel’s mouth spilled blood. He held his stomach, trying to rise and continue fighting, yet found his body no longer obeyed him. Instead, his consciousness gradually blurred.

Until a voice emerged from behind: "Young man, this will be the most precious lesson from your birth until now."

A tall Holy Grail Knight appeared, the golden Holy Grail Knight Badge with wings gleamed proudly on his chest. He was mounted on a Pure-blooded Elf Warhorse, with black hair and blue eyes, holding the reins in one hand and a Warhammer in the other. He didn’t cast his attention on the Blood Knight but tenderly spoke to the young Ranger Knight: "This will benefit you greatly on your Path of the Holy Grail."

The young Ranger Knight mustered the last of his strength, nodding his head, imprinting these words deep in his heart before fainting.

Laine turned his gaze back to the Blood Knight before him, and the Blood Knight also stared at him: "You’ve been observing all along."

"You have no intent to kill; from beginning to end, you didn’t want to kill him." Laine, riding the Pure-blooded Elf Warhorse and brandishing his Warhammer, approached the Blood Knight to confront him.

"I never kill weak opponents, and I never engage in unequal battles." The nightmare moved, leaving burning hoof prints on the ground: "If he can complete his trial, perhaps I would be willing to fight him."

"...You come for me." Laine took a deep breath, speaking in a low voice.

"I seek a battle with the Holy Grail Knight; I look forward to a knight’s duel." The Blood Knight raised his Cavalry Lance, pointing directly at Laine’s face: "Encountering a Holy Grail Knight Commander and Divine Chosen Champion shows my luck is good. I’ve heard your name, you are ’Pious’ Laine Macado."

"This is not your fortune but your misfortune." Laine also raised his Warhammer, though he did not rush to strike: "Tell me your name, Blood Knight."

"My name is Richter, Holy Grail Knight." The Blood Knight opened his mouth, blood trickling down from his dull yellow Sharp Fang.

"You did not kill him not because he is exceedingly weak, but within your fallen and filthy blood, there remains something refusing to let you disgrace your knightly honor." Laine shook his head: "I do not know what it is, but I understand."

The Blood Knight’s eyes, filled with sagacity and weight, showed a ripple of emotion.