Chapter 283 (1): Didn’t Expect This, Did You?

The black dragon shrank, transforming into a half-dragon, half-human form. Clad in a black robe and a mask woven from the power of Darkness, she stood behind the Darkness Knight. Then her body continued to shrink, her slender figure revealing that she was female.

𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

Facing the female elves’ adoration, Auston hadn’t refused or responded. He hadn’t done that because he was lecherous, but because he had to establish a distinctive persona as a newcomer with a hidden identity.

Given he hadn’t fully awakened and lacked sufficient power, he knew that he was absolutely no match for the chosen knights of Nature, Sun, and Moon. He was wary of them and feared for his life, so he had not dared to set foot in the Frozen Land.

Now that he had arrived, he had to create a persona with a noticeable weakness for those seeking to target him.

With weaknesses came desires, and those with desires were easier to manipulate and move against. That was true everywhere.

Auston had prepared several potential personas. Arriving here, he realized to his shock that there were plenty of beautiful female dark elves in the Land of Seal. He decisively abandoned the other imperfect plans and picked up the playboy persona he had used in Londan. He played it with such ease that it didn’t seem like acting.

He had to admit that he was a veteran actor quite skilled at playing a player!

Wayne similarly favored the pervert persona to pretend to have a weakness. Only he stopped pretending after a while and even claimed pitifully that he had gotten too deep into the character to recover himself.

Megan saw the beautiful dark elves approaching, clearly ready to offer themselves tonight. She took two steps forward to Auston’s side, unleashing a faint draconic aura to barely clear the area around them.

Silvia stared. Although it was the right move and what she had asked Megan to do, something felt off. She hoped that she was overthinking it.

Wayne was delighted. He spoke up as an impartial bystander, “How popular the Darkness Knight is. He came to the Church of Darkness’s base like he was coming home, Mr. Moula. He appears to be a pervert, and the female elves aren’t going to turn him down. Forgive my bluntness, but are you sure he will have any energy left to fight?”

Veins bulged on Silvia’s forehead. She wasn’t immune to such provocation.

“Don’t underestimate any chosen knights, Wayne. The Darkness Knight isn’t a pervert, as you said. He’s doing this deliberately. If you believe it, you’ll be falling for his trick.”

Moula smiled. “It’s best that you don’t come face-to-face with the Darkness Knight. I’ll talk to him. Don’t think too much of it. This isn’t the Chosen Land, and there is no conflict between the faiths.”

Once the chosen knights arrived in the Chosen Land, their primary mission was to guard the seal. Everything else could be set aside.

With that, Moula strode forward. His white armor of Nature stood out and immediately drew the attention of Auston and Megan.

Looking over, Auston spotted Silvia’s expressionless face in front of the cabin, and that little trash can’s shit-eating grin. How did they get here so soon?

Auston cursed his bad luck while feeling relieved that he had held back in his earlier performance. If Silvia had seen him holding women with both arms, not even clarifying things afterwards would save him from a beating.

I don’t care if you were acting. Did you touch them or not?!

“Nature Knight Moula. It’s an honor.” Moula wove through the group of dark elves and extended his hand to welcome Auston.

“I’m Darkness Knight. Your reputation precedes you, Mr. Moula.” Auston reached out for the handshake. Their black and white gauntlets clasped together.

Moula didn’t take the chance to probe. Smiling, he simply said, “You don’t have to hide your identity. The faiths are not in conflict in the Frozen Land. We share a common enemy.”

And what about after the common enemy is eliminated?

Auston shook his head. The mask was not only a protection for himself, but more importantly, a protection for his family. Forgive him for not being able to trust Moula.

Moula didn’t push. After a brief exchange with Auston, he dispersed the crowd of dark elves under the pretext of needing to have an important discussion. He pulled Auston aside and said, “You may think this is a test, Darkness Knight, but I have to know. How much have you mastered Twilight Despair?”

“Don’t rush to answer. This is important. The seal created by the goddesses includes five key parts. The Sun Knight, the Moonlight Knight, and I each guard our respective parts. I have to know your true power to make sure that the seal will hold at a critical moment.”

Auston was silent for a moment. For the greater good, he admitted, “I’m afraid I’ll disappoint you. I haven’t possessed Twilight Despair for long and cannot unleash its full power. The goddess is similarly dissatisfied.”

“Can you show me?” Moula extended his hand once again.

“Yes.”

They shook hands again. Darkness and Nature clashed. Unlike Auston’s surging black light, Moula remained calm and composed as his Life Armor stayed unchanged in color no matter how the blacklight tried to corrode it.

Darkness’s messenger had forcefully made Auston understand pain and grow stronger. Although Auston had not awakened, he had become significantly stronger.

Even so, the gap between him and Moula was impossible to bridge.

A moment later, Moula let go, his eyebrows furrowing deeply. This Darkness Knight was weaker than he had expected. He seemed to lack ambition.

He didn’t express his disappointment. Instead, he said, “The Sun Knight and Moonlight Knight have fought the previous Darkness Knight several times, and that knowledge will be helpful to you. You should seek them out for guidance. Since it concerns the seal of an ancient god’s apostle, they will help you master your power as much as possible.”

How? With fists?

The rejection was at the tip of his tongue, but when Auston caught sight of his family in the distance, he nodded and said, “Of course. As long as it’ll help me quickly master my power and help us overcome the crisis of the Frozen Land, I will happily endure any pain or torment.”

“Worry not. There will be no pain or torment. You’re an admirable knight, so they will certainly take a liking to you.” Moula made a promise, patting his chest. It would only be sparring, no one-sided beatings whatsoever. There would also be no ten-year grudges, personal retaliations, or private vendettas. None of the above would happen.

Auston pursed his lips. Fine. Compared to his true fear, those pains were insignificant.

His composure and easy acceptance impressed Moula. He said, “You’re an excellent knight. The Goddess of Darkness has chosen well. You may not compare to us now, but in the future, you’ll surpass us.”

Moula was the type of person who could easily disarm others. It wasn’t acting. His chivalry and upright character made Auston feel inferior in comparison. He even felt ashamed for lowering the chosen knights’ moral stand—oh, right, there was someone even worse than him. He was quite virtuous compared to that person, in fact!

Moula was a man of action. Without delay, he led Auston to the forbidden zone, but halfway through, he summoned Wayne.

“Let me introduce you. This is Wayne, Wayne Lando. He’s my successor and will become the next Nature Knight.”

Moula patted Wayne on the back and said proudly, “He’s exceptionally talented and lives in the same era as you. Watch out, Darkness Knight. Don’t let him surpass you.”

That would be difficult. I’m only the Darkness Knight, while he’s a four-in-one chosen knight of Nature, Sun, Death, and Darkness!

Auston extended his hand. “Wayne Lando, it’s a pleasure to meet you.”

Wayne blinked at the gauntleted hand, grasped Auston’s fingertips, and then shook the hand. “And you? What’s your name, Darkness Knight?”

“There are reasons I cannot say my name. Even if I give you something now, it’ll be a fabricated alias. Saying it makes no difference.” Auston easily deflected the provocation. “I don’t want to lie to the present and future Nature Knights. That would tarnish the noble friendship between us.”

Such nice words. Someone who doesn’t know any better would think you’re a good guy!

Wayne swallowed a scoff, annoyed that he had failed to trouble Auston and instead elevated his character. “Mr. Moula, isn’t it inappropriate to reveal my identity in front of the Darkness Knight? He’s from Londan just like I am. What if I go out at night one day and run into him... Don’t you think so?”

“It’s fine. I trust the Darkness Knight.”

Moula didn’t seem concerned. Besides, Wayne would become the true Nature Knight after this. Even if the Darkness Knight had any idea, Wayne could fight back with his own power. It might be beneficial for them to push each other to become stronger.

Wayne couldn’t say anything to that. He waved at Silvia and Veronica before heading to the forbidden zone with Senna.

Watching Senna saunter after Wayne, Veronica felt her heart burn. If her dragon blood had broken through its constraints, Wayne wouldn’t have needed Senna, and he would’ve been her exclusive dragonrider.

Silvia also felt a heavy weight on her head as she watched Auston and Megan leave, her heart cold. She suddenly remembered the fortunes the fortune teller had told. Veronica died, and Silvia was killed by the Death Knight. Wouldn’t that leave Megan and Auston the lone pair in the Lando family?

No way. Absolutely not happening!

x2

The two blonde women huddled together, exchanging similar looks.

“Mother, help me train. The four elements here are stable, so I may be able to advance further.” Veronica felt an intense sense of crisis. Under Senna’s provocation, her competitive streak reared.

Silvia had the same thought. She agonized over whether she should break through to the Legendary rank. She could do it, but fearing the curse of the dragon blood, she had refrained from doing it.