Starting With an SSS-Rank Swordsmanship Talent

Chapter 587: Crimson Phoenix Knights Order

Bang!

Samanthaʼs head exploded like a smashed watermelon.

Everyone was shocked.

When Samantha unleashed her mana, they sensed she was a 3-Ringed Beast Beast Soul Master.

In Veronica, she could already be considered one of the peak experts. However, someone at that level actually died with just a snap of a finger.

It was an unbelievable sight that made everyone dumbfounded.

The headless corpse and the bloodied floor told them that everything was real. It took everyone some time to recover from their shock.

”Clean it up!” The Grand Commander shouted to his men. He couldnʼt help but give Alaric another look.

He was also a Mythical Knight, but he couldnʼt kill a 3-Ringed Beast Soul Master in such a manner.

The empress, Yskaela Veronica, stared meaningfully at Alaric.

That power… what kind of elemental is that?

She didnʼt recognize what power Alaric had unleashed. She only sensed a burst of mana when Alaric snapped his fingers.

Is that a new, undiscovered element?

She was curious, but this was not the right time to ask questions.

”I apologize for my conduct, Your Majesty. I didnʼt expect her to attack me so I acted out of instinct.” Alaricʼs nonchalant voice echoed in the throne room.

Yskaela snorted. She knew that Alaric had deliberately provoked Samantha so he would have the perfect reason to kill her.

It was a calculated move, but she didnʼt bother to expose him.

”You were only protecting yourself so you donʼt have to apologize.”

She already planned to kill Samantha anyway so it didnʼt matter.

At this moment, everyone looked at Alaric with added caution. This guy seemed so young and unassuming, but his strength was already beyond their comprehension. They told themselves not to provoke him so they wouldnʼt suffer the same fate as Samantha.

Yskaela stood up from her throne. ”I expect all your troops will be ready tomorrow. We will set off before sunrise!”

After saying those words, she walked down the throne.

”We will mobilize our troops at once, Your Majesty!” The generals and officials answered in unison, their voices rang loudly in the throne room.

Yskaela walked along the red carpet with an unusually serene expression. When she passed by Alaric, she sent him a look and muttered. ”I expect your presence tomorrow.”

She didnʼt wait for his response and walked away with the Grand Commander.

After she left, the generals and officials scrambled out of the throne room. They still had many things to prepare for the expedition tomorrow. They were pressed for time and they might not be able to get some rest tonight.

Looking at the scrambling officials, Alaric chuckled with amusement. He calmly left the throne with his hands behind his back.

…

The next day, before the sun had even risen, a large number of soldiers had already gathered at the rally location outside the capital.

Various martial and aristocratic houses led their troops to join the expedition commanded by the empress herself.

Everyone felt that it was an opportunity to rise so they didnʼt want to miss it.

At this moment, a loud roar echoed across the airspace. Everyone subconsciously lifted their heads in shock.

Rooarrr!!

A draconic lion swooped down and landed in the middle of their formation.

Some thought that it was hostile so they prepared to attack, but then they noticed that it was carrying a group of people.

Alaric smiled faintly as he jumped off Zephyrʼs back.

His subordinates followed suit, jumping off one by one.

Their dramatic entrance shocked everyone, while there were others who found it annoying.

”Your Highness!” A general came running to greet him with a respectful smile.

He was one of the high-ranking officials who were summoned to the throne room yesterday. He witnessed Alaricʼs might and it was deeply engraved in his mind.

A few more officials came to greet him.

Alaric politely responded to the group. Making friends with these people would be beneficial for his household so he took his time to chat with them.

”I donʼt see Her Majesty. Will she lead us in this expedition?” Alaric casually asked.

”I heard that Her Majestyʼs personal guards, the Crimson Phoenix Knights Order, were mobilized last night so there is a high chance that Her Majesty will be here.” A general quickly responded.

When they heard him mention this, everyone was stunned.

The Crimson Phoenix Knights Order was a group composed of female warriors. There were only fifty of them, but they were all Transcendent Knights. Furthermore, their commander and deputy commander were Mythical Knights!

They rarely appeared in public and they were only sent out during important missions.

Alaric rubbed his chin with a look of interest. He had also heard of rumors about this secretive Knights Order, but what he heard were just exaggerated rumors.

”I heard that all members of the Crimson Phoenix Knights Orders are great beauties and the most beautiful of them is their commander, Bai Seol-hwa.” Remarked a younger official with a cheeky laugh.

”Right. I heard that she is even more beautiful than Her Majesty. I wonder if thatʼs true…” Another official piped in with a dreamy look.

”What?! Is there really someone more beautiful than Her Majesty?!” Someone couldnʼt believe it.

Alaric quietly listened on the sidelines, looking intrigued by the topic.

Yskaela was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. Her beauty was on par with Yvannaʼs, but the empress had more charm and was also more elegant.

Now, they were saying that there was someone better than her.

Alaric found it hard to believe.

”Her Majesty, the Ultimate Ruler of Veronica, is here!” The loud voice of a messenger suddenly echoed.

Everyone turned their heads in the direction of the voice.

An entourage of female warriors dressed in crimson armor came into their view.

They all rode a Winged Scarlet Fox, a breed of fierce beast that was at the Disaster-grade at birth.

Leading the entourage was a white-haired woman with pale-white skin. She had refined facial features, like delicate porcelain, carefully molded into perfection.

Unlike common Veronicans who had brown irises, hers were red. Her unique eyes made her look incredibly stunning.

”So beautiful…” One official mumbled with an absentminded gaze.

Alaric used his Appraisal on the woman.

Bai Seol-hwa [Mythical Knight] EXP: 5722/10000

Potential: SSS

Traits: Immortal Beauty (L), Shield Mastery (SSS), Glaive Mastery (SSS), Close Combat (SSS), Horseback Riding (SS), Intuition (SS), Innate Divine Strength (S), Swordsmanship (S), …

Strength: 1221

Stamina: 1207

Agility: 1204

Vitality: 1288

Endurance: 1344

Mana: 1188

Ho…

Alaric raised an eyebrow upon seeing her attributes and traits.

As if sensing his gaze, Bai Seol-hwa glanced in his direction. They locked gazes for a moment, but she quickly looked away.

Alaric moved his gaze to the woman next to Bai Seol-hwa.

Using his Appraisal, he discovered that she was Kangjeon Geum-hwa, the Deputy Commander of the Crimson Phoenix Knights Order.

She wasnʼt a pure Veronican which was quite obvious from her looks. She had blonde hair and gray irises. She was also way taller than the average Veronican woman.

Kangjeon Geum-hwa was also a great beauty, but she looked ordinary with Bai Seol-hwa right next to her.

Her attributes and traits are at a high level too. These women are insanely strong!

Alaric was surprised. He then inspected the members of the Crimson Phoenix Knights Order. He found out that they were all powerful Transcendent Knights.

In the middle of this entourage of beauties was a carriage with dragon and phoenix carvings. It was the imperial carriage of the empress.

Everyone watched with bated breath as the carriage door sprang open.

Yskaela Veronica, dressed in her crimson battle armor, stepped out of the vehicle. She looked heroic, like the female warrior in myths.

”Greetings to the Ultimate Ruler of Veronica!” The soldiers greeted her with a salute, their voices reverberating across the landscape.

Yskaela scanned the troops, her eyes stopped on Alaric for a split second. Only the two of them noticed this.

The empress, ever so graceful, walked as she observed the soldiers with a sharp gaze. ”Today, we will march to Ulmunsan and take it back from the hands of the heretic cult!”

She paused her steps, and with her eyes narrowed, she spoke. ”This trip will be fraught with dangers so prepare yourselves!”

”Warriors of Veronica, set off at once! We will reclaim the land taken from us!” Her awe-inspiring yet angelic voice drifted into everyoneʼs ears.

”YES, YOUR MAJESTY!!!”

The soldiers answered with vigor.

Alaric could feel his blood pumping vigorously. He was infected by the atmosphere she created.

So this is the effect of Yskaela Veronicaʼs impassioned speech.

”Letʼs go.” He said to his subordinates as he jumped onto Zephyrʼs back.

”Yes, Lord Venerable.”

The Veronican troops led by the empress began their march.

An army with over three hundred thousand soldiers marched through the grassland, meeting the fresh rays of sunlight.

The cold breeze of the morning air swept through them.

It was time to destroy the heretic cult!