Gospel of Blood

The blinding light shone on the altar in the center of the square, dazzling and brilliant.

Seeing the bright light, the nobles who supported Prince Henry, those who opposed him, and even those who were just there for the spectacle, were all stunned.

“This… this… does it mean we have wrongly accused His Highness? Does he actually possess pure Romanus blood?”

“No, no… can pure Romanus blood be this bright?”

“No… something’s not right. I remember decades ago when the last direct descendant of Romanus, the ‘Fool’ Henry, underwent the recognition ceremony, the light wasn’t this strong…”

“Henry II? But he didn’t have the Contract Book at that time!”

“But isn’t the Contract Book supposed to require even stronger blood?”

“Could it be… could it be that His Highness’s bloodline is not only pure but actually very strong?”

“This… it’s possible. If he truly is the descendant of the union between the Red Lilac and Purple Lilac families, a throwback in bloodline isn’t impossible! After all… the light of the contract doesn’t lie.”

“It seems… we might have truly misunderstood His Highness.”

“This is promising! The light is so intense… it seems the Roman Sword has a high degree of recognition for His Highness!”

“Could the Contract Book be fake?”

“Impossible. If it were fake, how could the light of the contract be activated?”

Looking at the dazzling altar, the nobles had varied expressions and engaged in heated discussions.

Meanwhile, on the viewing platform, Duke Conte, “Countess Castell”, and Prince Henry at the altar all had equally vivid expressions.

Good heavens…

Countess Castell’s bloodline… is actually this strong?

Duke Conte’s eyes widened.

He couldn’t help but glance at the “Countess Castell” beside him, who just shook her head vigorously, indicating that she knew nothing and was merely a mercenary hired for the job.

As for Prince Henry in the center of the square, he began to feel uneasy.

The reaction of the Contract Book far exceeded his expectations, making him somewhat nervous.

However, upon hearing the nobles’ discussions, his mood gradually calmed down.

Fortunately…

Fortunately, no one thought he was cheating!

In everyone’s understanding, the direct bloodline of Romanus had long been extinct with the death of Henry II.

And those who knew Countess Castell’s identity were either controlled by the royal family or silenced.

Maybe some nobles in Castell knew this secret, but so what?

As long as he could successfully marry Countess Castell later, all gaps would be sealed!

No one would find a flaw, and as long as there were no flaws, no matter how astonished they were by the light of the contract, they would only attribute it to the peculiarity of his bloodline!

After all… he was the only nominal descendant of the union between the Red Lilac and Purple Lilac families, and though rare, throwbacks in bloodline had happened in history!

With this self-comfort, Prince Henry’s anxious heart gradually calmed down.

He straightened his back, raised his head proudly, and adopted an air of confident arrogance.

Seeing Prince Henry’s confident demeanor, the observing nobles began to believe in the possibility of his bloodline throwback.

However, on the second floor of the small building in the square, Duke Yorok, who had witnessed Romanus drawing the divine sword from the stone, couldn’t sit still…

“No… this is definitely not some bloodline throwback. When Romanus drew it, the light wasn’t this strong!”

“This… this is resonance! Divine artifact resonance!”

“But… how is this possible? Even if Romanus’ descendants could cause resonance, how could the resonance surpass Romanus, the artifact’s master?”

Duke Yorok stood up abruptly, his expression changing constantly.

His gaze fell on Yurst beside him, and he was slightly stunned.

He saw that Yurst was also staring at the blinding light, dumbfounded, but there seemed to be a hint of resignation in his expression, as if he had expected this.

Duke Yorok felt like he had grasped the key to the problem.

He grabbed Yurst, his face serious, and said,

“Yurst! Are you hiding something from me?”

Yurst was startled.

Facing Duke Yorok’s serious gaze, he was about to lie when he saw a dark red glow in Duke Yorok’s pupils.

Oh no!

It’s the Blood Law Truth Spell of the Mental Path!

Yurst thought he was doomed.

He had forgotten that the bloodborne elders could forcibly cast this innate divine spell, which was comparable to the Holy Court’s True Sight, on their descendants!

Under Duke Yorok’s gaze, Yurst felt an irresistible spiritual will descend upon his soul. From now on, every word he said couldn’t be a lie. More precisely, he couldn’t disobey the spiritual will and lie.

He panicked instantly.

However, just as Yurst thought he was done for, a golden-red light suddenly flashed in the depths of his soul.

In his mental world, the Thorny Rose symbol slowly emerged, shining brightly and enveloping Yurst’s soul, while Duke Yorok’s spiritual force for control was swallowed up without a trace, like raindrops falling into the ocean.

Yurst was stunned for a moment, then realized.

This was the protection of the Blood Contract!

He was already a blood servant of Her Excellency the True Ancestor, and under the protection of the Thorny Rose, no one could forcibly control him with mental magic!

Especially not Duke Yorok, a blood descendant, whose Blood Law Truth Spell didn’t even trigger an alarm before being absorbed by the protective power of the Thorny Rose!

Realizing this, Yurst was both shocked and delighted.

Shocked that Her Excellency the True Ancestor’s suppression of the bloodborne’s bloodline far exceeded his expectations, and delighted that his secret was finally safe.

Honestly, he wasn’t too afraid of what Duke Yorok would do to him if the truth was discovered.

What he feared was disrupting Her Excellency the True Ancestor’s plan and facing severe punishment from Her!

That was a far more terrifying possibility, even if Her Excellency seemed different from the historical figure She once was.

“Duke… Duke Yorok, I… I’m not hiding anything from you…”

Under the suppression of the Legendary bloodborne, Yurst stammered in response.

Duke Yorok frowned as he looked at Yurst, whose expression didn’t seem to be faking it. He was unsure for a moment.

“Strange… Could it be that Countess Castell’s bloodline is really that strong? Or maybe… she has another bloodline that interests the Roman Sword?”

Duke Yorok was bewildered.

Seeing Duke Yorok in a daze, Yurst breathed a sigh of relief. However, as he secretly observed his superior, another thought inexplicably formed in his mind.

Wait…

Even within the clan, Lord Yorok has always been a moderate and conciliatory figure towards the “God” behind the Castell family.

Could it be possible… to also pull him onto the True Ancestor’s side?

Yurst was startled by his own idea.

However, once the thought emerged, he couldn’t contain it anymore.

One of the orders given by the True Ancestor was to infiltrate the Nez Clan.

What could be more satisfying to the True Ancestor than recruiting a Legendary Bloodborne?

Moreover, this was his superior!

If he could recruit him, it would benefit his side!

Of course, Yurst remained cautious.

Even with such a bold idea, he knew how difficult and risky it would be to execute.

Duke Yorok had no idea that while Yurst was sneaking glances at him, he was plotting to drag him into the fray. Staring at the dazzling light of the contract, Yorok suddenly realized something, his expression changing.

“No! Quick! Activate the backup plan! Forcefully stop the ceremony!”

“We cannot let the Roman Sword fully awaken! It must not be fully awakened now!”

Duke Yorok shouted, his voice changing with urgency.

Yurst opened his mouth to respond but suddenly felt a jolt and looked toward the Roman Square.

He swallowed a mouthful of saliva.

“My Lord Duke, I’m afraid… it’s too late.”

As he spoke, the contract light on the square changed again. In the shocked gazes of the onlookers, a silver pillar of light shot up from the altar, piercing through the clouds in the sky!

The ground trembled slightly as an indescribable energy wave spread from the altar.

Then, a huge, nearly hundred-meter-tall ethereal figure slowly emerged above the altar.

It was a divine sword.

The blade was silver with ancient and strange patterns, and the hilt was golden with decorations and magical texts of ancient elven style.

It looked somewhat illusory and damaged, but even so, its mysterious and unique aura, transcending the mundane, was unmistakable.

Upon its appearance, it seemed to become the sole focus of the world!

“This is… the projection of the Roman Sword!”

“By the Gods! Prince Henry has truly summoned the Roman Sword through the contract book!”

On the viewing platform, the nobles were in an uproar.

The Roman nobles couldn’t forget this image.

The projection of the Roman Sword had been summoned many times in history, with many paintings depicting it, all matching the ancient, worn divine sword before them! Seeing the appearance of the Roman Sword projection, the onlookers cheered, but Duke Yorok, in the second-floor small building, had a completely different expression.

In his eyes, that illusory sword was not a projection but a gradually solidifying entity!

Damn!

That’s not a projection!

That’s the real Roman Sword!

What is with Countess Castell’s bloodline?

The genuine artifact has been summoned by her bloodline!

She… she… Did she really only use her blood?

Or did she receive help from the God behind the scenes?

Looking at the gradually solidifying sword, Duke Yorok felt a headache and uncertainty.

But soon, his expression changed again.

In his vision, the worn divine sword was gradually enveloped by a layer of golden-red light.

That golden-red light looked familiar, but Duke Yorok couldn’t recall where he had seen it.

However, seeing that light, even from a distance, he felt an indescribable power.

Then… something strange happened.

With the golden-red light flashing, the worn exterior and numerous scars of the sword began to fade, replaced by a gleaming blade and restored patterns.

In an instant, the sword was rejuvenated and fully solidified.

At the same time, everyone felt an ancient and vast will slowly descend…

“Thud…”

“Thud…”

“…”

The ordinary onlookers felt an overwhelming, suffocating sense of heart palpitations.

That aura, accompanied by the ancient, vast will, appeared with the sword and intensified as the sword “revived.”

With that will’s arrival, the onlookers and nobles all collapsed weakly, trembling under the divine pressure.

On the second floor of the small building, Duke Yorok felt the immense pressure as well.

But staring at the solidified sword, he looked as if he had seen a ghost.

“Restored…?”

“The Roman Sword has been restored?”

Of course, no one could answer that question.

Everyone present was already trembling under the divine pressure of the sword.

Prince Henry was no exception.

In fact, being closest to the altar, he felt even more pressure than the others.

Yet, despite this, he still managed to straighten his back and look excitedly at the divine sword in the sky.

It worked…

He really did it!

Prince Henry was ecstatic.

At the same time, the giant sword in the sky retracted its divine light.

A subtle mental wave radiated from the sword, and everyone heard a youthful yet mature voice in their minds.

That voice… seemed to carry a joyful tone, speaking in an archaic and convoluted manner.

“Who is the noble one who has awakened Roman from endless slumber?”

“Your great kindness! Roman is eternally grateful!”

Hearing this voice, Prince Henry’s spirits soared.

Suppressing his excitement and anxiety, he hurriedly shouted.

“Lord Roman, it is I! I have awakened you from your slumber!”

“I am Henry Roman! I am the descendant of Romanus, the successor of the Roman family!”

“I summoned you, hoping to gain your recognition and complete the ancient Roman family ritual!”

“Is it you?”

Hearing Prince Henry’s words, the sword’s light flickered, and the voice seemed surprised.

A subtle mental wave swept over Prince Henry.

Then, that youthful, joyful voice turned cold and mocking.

“What lowly creature? Your bloodline is so thin that your sword ancestor almost didn’t recognize you, yet you dare to desecrate the Gods in the name of Romanus?”

Hearing the sword’s words, Prince Henry’s expression froze.