Charlot Mecklenburg was unaware that the two detectives from the Fierce Horse Detective Agency were spying on him. At this moment, he was especially grateful that he had completed the Agility Rune for the Swiftstep Technique yesterday.
“Unfortunately, I haven’t broken through the fifth tier yet. If I had also mastered the Spider Spirit Rune for the Spider Technique, this monster wouldn’t stand a chance against me.”
To Charlot, Warden Magru Trell had already ceased to be human—this former superior had invoked Cursed Armament, and there was no returning to his original form.
Charlot refrained from using the Blood Rose. In his view, it wouldn’t shift the tide of battle and would instead expose one of his trump cards. Better to hold it back for now.
Holding an Alchemical Cane in his right hand and a Vampiric Axe in his left, Charlot occasionally threw a weapon as well. While he hadn’t gained the upper hand in the fight, his dazzling and varied attacks made the scene appear far from dull.
From a distance, Reggie Asu observed the battle intently. As a swordsmanship master himself, he had once admired Wells’ swordsmanship, ranking him among the top three swordsmen in the detective agency. Yet Charlot’s free-flowing movements, combined with the versatility of the Vampiric Axe and the exquisite transformations of the Alchemical Cane, clearly surpassed Wells’ abilities.
This diviner, though killed by Charlot with just a glance, had been regarded as a rising star within the Fierce Horse Detective Agency, earning the respect of many senior detectives.
Not only was he a diviner, but he also possessed a secondary profession: he was a second-tier knight. His most prized ability was predicting the trajectory of bullets, but in truth, he could also predict the flow of swordsmanship. His excellence in one area merely overshadowed his relative weaknesses in others.
Wells, within the agency, had even defeated some fourth-tier veteran detectives in swordsmanship.
Reggie Asu murmured to his companion, “Charlot possesses at least two Extraordinary Abilities: Bloodflame Aura and the Swiftstep Technique. Even without them, his swordsmanship alone allows him to challenge and defeat many fifth- or sixth-tier knights.”
Karenda Modi took a deep breath and replied, “We’re lucky we came here and witnessed this fight. If we had gone to the dueling ground instead, neither of us would have been his match.”
“Especially since he has several Extraordinary Weapons.”
“It’s infuriating! Are government officials this rich? We’ve worked hard for years to save up for a single Extraordinary Weapon, and its quality isn’t even guaranteed.”
Reggie Asu, watching the fight intently, added with some confusion, “Why does the other side of the battle look like the Warden Magru Trell? Isn’t he the one who hired our agency?”
Reminded by his partner, Karenda Modi also recognized the figure. “It is Warden Magru Trell. I heard he fell from power and lost most of his fortune to blackmail. Why is he here again?”
“Perhaps Charlot’s Extraordinary Weapons were originally part of Magru Trell’s fortune.”
Neither detective was particularly well-informed, so their wild speculation remained far from the truth.
Charlot wielded the Alchemical Cane continuously, parrying Magru Trell’s giant axe, his body surging with Bloody Glory, which coursed like boiling blood. He moved deftly among the surrounding Blood Vortices, his fighting spirit growing ever stronger.
Charlot thought this was just a normal state of battle—until one moment, when his block faltered, and he failed to redirect the force of Magru Trell’s giant axe. A tremendous force slammed into him, sending ripples of pain through his chest.
Sensing danger, Charlot tried to retreat desperately, but at that moment, the Blood Vortex near his heart suddenly spewed forth a strand of Bloody Glory, connecting the other three Blood Vortices.
An indescribable sensation arose within him. The Vampiric Axe, fueled by the Bloodflame Aura, whined with an eerie hum, its speed increasing by thirty percent. In a single strike, it shattered Warden Magru Trell’s protective combat energy.
Magru Trell’s Life Essence gushed forth uncontrollably. With a roar, he erupted with combat energy, flinging the Vampiric Axe away. He swung his giant axe fiercely at Charlot, but his movements had slowed slightly, the attack grazing Charlot’s cheek and smashing into a thick high wall, reducing it to rubble.
Charlot narrowly escaped death, his heart pounding wildly. The sensation from earlier was now etched deeply into his mind. The Bloodflame Aura Rune quivered, sending another surge of Bloody Glory to the other three Blood Vortices, recreating that same sensation.
The control of the Vampiric Axe became nearly twice as agile as before, and its power increased by forty to fifty percent—stronger even than the previous blow.
“So this is the true usage of Bloody Glory.”
Adjusting his method of controlling Bloody Glory, Charlot again shattered Warden Magru Trell’s mysterious protective power with the Vampiric Axe. As the warden reached to grab it, Charlot recalled the weapon with a flick, preventing it from falling into enemy hands.
Controlling weapons from a distance wasn’t without its flaws—if an enemy managed to grab hold of the weapon, it could easily be taken away. To prevent this, Charlot targeted the neck, back, and other vulnerable areas with his strikes.
Enraged, Magru Trell swung his giant axe like a windmill, denying Charlot any openings.
Having landed two decisive blows, Charlot calmed down. He suppressed his desire to attack and began to contemplate. If Bloodflame Aura could be amplified through the Blood Vortices, could the other three Blood Runes work the same way?
Taking a deep breath, Charlot channeled Bloody Glory from his left leg into the other three Blood Vortices. His body immediately felt three parts lighter.
He leapt into the air, surpassing his usual height by a meter or two, his speed increasing by another thirty percent.
Magru Trell pursued furiously, but each swing of his axe struck only afterimages.
Overjoyed, Charlot thought, “So this is how Bloody Glory is meant to be used! Why didn’t I find this trick in the Protagoras Breathing Technique?”
Charlot didn’t know that most Bloody Glory apprentices only began practicing the Bloodfeast Meditation after unlocking six or seven Blood Vortices. By that stage, they naturally discovered how to channel Bloody Glory across multiple vortices. Charlot’s unconventional approach—mastering one Blood Rune per vortex—meant he had missed this beginner’s trick.
With his newfound mastery of Bloody Glory, Charlot’s combat strength soared. Seizing an opening, he darted toward Magru Trell. The Blood Rose emerged from his palm, striking at an unnatural angle and piercing his former superior’s head.
Even with the Cursed Armament, a fatal wound to such a vital area, combined with the Blood Rose’s vampiric nature, caused Magru Trell’s face to collapse visibly. Moments later, his head exploded into a mist of blood.
Charlot retrieved his Magical Rapier as Magru Trell’s headless body collapsed. The backlash of the curse caused his body to disintegrate inch by inch before crumbling into ash. Charlot sighed softly.
“He didn’t have to die, nor did he need to fall to this point. But he chose to align himself with one side and meddle in the conflicts of the great nobles…”