Zaos jumped back and then swung his sword, but Drian reacted fast enough to dodge it. Once again, another group of soldiers tried to attack Zaos from the sides and behind, but Zaos electrocuted them again.

"The effect still is working, so why Drian wasn't shocked?" Zaos wondered. "Is it because that is a magic spear?"

Zaos didn't remember a time where he used his combined skills against a magic weapon, so he didn't know that, but it seemed that magical effects of magic weapons cancel each other… even though Zaos's sword wasn't actually a magic weapon.

Before the effect of the enhancement could disappear, Zaos attacked the group that tried to surround him once again. The soldiers could see their allies' necks being broken one after the others, but they didn't lose the will to fight. That was a bit weird, but…

Before Zaos could find an explanation for that, he suffered the first scratches. It was only obvious that would happen sooner or later. Still, Zaos clicked his tongue anyway because he felt a weird smell coming the spears, and the system notified him of that.

Your Poison Resistance has reached level 35.

Zaos felt the parts hit a growing number, so he recognized Vitalar's poison. He quickly countered the effect by using Cleanse, but that didn't calm him down all that much.

"Knights using poison… This kingdom is really full of hypocrites," Zaos said after a long sigh.

"We will use all means necessary to protect the kingdom…" Drian said. "You are just too naïve to realize we have to go that far to keep the kingdom running. All our ancestors did that for thousands of years."

"I guess that is an excuse as good as any other," Zaos said. "Come on, keep trying. I don't have all night to play with you."

Although Zaos said that, no one fell for his taunt. They were obviously waiting for the reinforcements to come, and once the garrisoned soldiers of the town join the battle, things will only get harder for Zaos in all senses. Thunder Blade was useful, but in the end, it wasn't deadly against so many enemies, it was actually, but it would take too long to kill them. So, Zaos decided to change his strategy.

When the mana in his weapon dissipated, Zaos enhanced it with fire. He did that again and again… it was the first time that he succeeded in enhancing a weapon with the same element thrice, and the result had been insane… Zaos' Fire Blade was even making him sweat due to the heat. The enemy soldiers and Drian barely could look at the weapon. Thanks to that, Zaos dashed toward them and attacked. This time, his weapon easily cut down shields and soldiers at the same time. The flames melted the shields like they were made of ice. After twenty or so soldiers were cut down by the weapon, the others couldn't help but hesitate. Drian decided to step forward and recover the morale of his soldiers.

"That is better," Zaos said.

Before Zaos could attack, Drian tried to stab Zaos's face numerous times. Zaos blocked the thrusts, and this time, he didn't feel his weapon being damaged. However, he was having a hard time assuming an offensive stance. Drian would step forward and try an extra powerful thrust that would make him move backward upon impact whenever he moved his arms to do that. 

"I hate this strategy…" Zaos clicked his tongue.

It was the same strategy a certain enemy used on him in the past, and there was no way to counter it since Zaos's had to prepare more since his weapon was bigger. Not only that strategy was good enough to prevent Zaos's attacks, but it was also excellent to make him waste mana.

Drian suddenly prepared a big swing, but in the end, he only jumped backward, much to Zaos's surprise. Then his soldiers dashed to attack Zaos from all sides. In the end, Zaos decided to make a bet… he threw his sword toward Drian and then clenched his teeth. Thanks to the armor, the soldiers' spears pierced his body in several points, but the wounds weren't that deep. However, before they could attack again, Zaos dashed toward Drian, who just blocked his Flame Sword. 

Drian succeeded, but the heat of the flames so close to his face made him flinch and close his eyes for a single instant out of reflex, and when he opened them again, he saw Zaos's fist approaching his face. Zaos' punch on the left side of his face made Drian stagger, but he didn't fall only after that much, even though Zaos's enhanced his fists with magic. However, he didn't resist after getting punched on the ribcage on the left side and on his stomach. Drian's body bends forward, and then he falls unconscious.

Zaos quickly grabbed his sword to finish him off since the soldiers were dashing to protect Drian. Zaos will have time to finish him off, but the soldiers will cause more damage this time. Still, that was a risk Zaos was willing to accept. However, before he could do that, someone threw a smoke bomb in the area. The smell made Zaos feel quickly relaxed, and the soldiers around began to fall asleep one by one.

"What is the meaning of this?" Zaos asked while he was using Cleanse to stop the effects of the smoke.

Zaos found the assassin right behind the fallen Drian. It seemed that she came to help, but Zaos didn't need that. She still wasn't emanating any bloodlust, but she obviously came to prevent any more deaths.

"There is something else you need to hear about Ameria," The assassin said. "However, I won't reveal that if you kill him. If you do, then that will prove that you aren't the person she thinks that you are."

"I already cut all my ties with this kingdom," Zaos said. "What Ameria says or thinks is no longer my concern. Since she knows what is going on and still lives in the castle, she is untrustworthy, just like her father."

"Ameria is pregnant, and she is also sick," The assassin said. "Both her life and of the baby are in danger, and she thinks that only you can help her."