Chapter 223: The Power to Decide One's Own Destiny

The more beautiful the plum blossom, the more desolate the black moon.

The lonelier the plum blossom stands, the more elusive the black moon becomes.

Charlot Mecklenburg had initially worried that Menielman Soumet, a newly advanced Saint rank, might not be a match for Princess May.

But he quickly realized that his understanding of Senior Menielman Soumet was far too shallow.

Menielman Soumet was definitely not a recent Saint rank.

She had merely been hiding her strength all along.

Across the entire Old Continent, both Menielman Soumet and Princess May Guillaume could be considered part of the first tier among Saints.

And if one were to consider only female Saints?
Well!

Charlot Mecklenburg, being somewhat inexperienced, could count only a few female Saints. Nonetheless, he believed that even Grandma Saint Karen paled in comparison to Senior Menielman and Princess May.

At this moment, if someone were to have a bucket of popcorn...

It would be utterly heartless.

Clair Bretagne and Ebner Soumet would absolutely pummel anyone eating popcorn right now.

Regardless of gender!

Irrespective of age!

Clair Bretagne suddenly remarked, "The combat energy Princess May is using is not Red Dragon Battle Energy."

Hartington Thunder and Storm University was renowned for producing Great Knights, whether Thunder Knights or Storm Knights, making it the premier institution of knightly traditions in the Old Continent.

Only Tubingen University, established by the Ebrelrahan Clan—the so-called First Vampire Knight Clan—could rival it.

However, this did not mean the Old Continent lacked other top-tier knightly traditions.

For instance, the Ingrima royal family's Red Dragon Battle Energy and the Lamorak family's Frost Dragon Battle Energy were both pinnacle knightly techniques. However, these techniques were no longer accessible to common folk.

Charlot, though a university graduate, was not well-versed in the affairs of nobles. He had always assumed Princess May practiced Red Dragon Battle Energy, even though its pinkish hue seemed slightly off. After all, they were in the same color family—surely close enough.

Hearing Clair Bretagne’s comment, he couldn’t help but ask, “It’s not Red Dragon Battle Energy?”

Ebner Soumet interjected, “Absolutely not.”

Taking a deep breath, he murmured, “If Clair and I aren’t mistaken, this combat energy is something Princess May developed herself.”

Clair Bretagne nodded in agreement. “That’s my view as well.”

“This princess is truly a genius.”

“No less remarkable than Menielman.”

Charlot could hear the faint tremor in Clair Bretagne’s voice as he made this statement. It was evident Clair did not wish for any woman to surpass Menielman.

Charlot chose not to dwell on such matters and instead asked, “Who will win?”

Ebner Soumet responded decisively, “I don’t know.”

Gazing at the sky, he added, “Menielman must have hidden her strength for a long time.”

“No one knows when she advanced to Saint rank, but it’s definitely not recent. Her Dark Breathing Technique is solid and refined, likely above the twenty-first tier.”

“Princess May’s strength is undoubtedly greater, but since her combat energy is self-developed, it has minor flaws that occasionally manifest during battle. For now, it doesn’t match the polished precision of the Dark Breathing Technique. However, in the future...”

Clair Bretagne supplemented, “The future is limitless.”

“This Princess May is destined to stand at the pinnacle.”

“As a knight, I feel somewhat ashamed.”

Charlot was slightly relieved. He certainly didn’t wish for Senior Menielman to come to harm.

Oddly, he didn’t want Princess May to suffer either.

The three men had no ability to intervene in this duel. They could only look skyward with bated breath.

Two streams of combat energy clashed and pursued each other in the air, tearing the clouds asunder. Whenever they collided, thunderous roars like summer lightning echoed.

Charlot’s neck grew sore from watching. Giving up, he lay flat on the ground. At that moment, a lovely face appeared above him, blocking the sky. Startled, he exclaimed, “Anastasia! Why are you here too?”

Anastasia smiled faintly and countered, “Why can’t I enjoy the spectacle?”

Charlot was at a loss for words.

Well, maybe she could?

This illegitimate daughter of Baron Feller, hands on the hilts of her dual swords, gazed at the sky with undisguised envy and deep excitement.

She kept imagining how amazing it would be if she were equally formidable.

Anastasia considered herself already strong—there weren’t many among her peers who could surpass her. Yet compared to Menielman and Princess May, she was still not strong enough!

Anastasia longed desperately for power.

She cared nothing for love. All she desired was the strength to control her own destiny.

Charlot glanced around and noticed most of his subordinates had also arrived.

By now, every one of Charlot’s followers had attained transcendent abilities. Even Dubin Alger had recently advanced to the second tier of transcendence, with his swordsmanship improving by leaps and bounds.

Following Charlot’s lead, his subordinates also lay down to enjoy this rare transcendent battle.

Clair Bretagne and Ebner Soumet, however, couldn’t bring themselves to follow suit—it was far too improper! Besides, as high-tier transcendents, they wouldn’t feel sore from looking up for a while. They maintained their standing postures with dignity.

The battle raged on for hours.

As dawn broke, the two streams of combat energy collided violently one final time before separating. From the ground, the combat energy glows in the sky appeared like distant stars, motionless for a brief moment. Then the pink energy streaked off toward Strasbourg.

A few minutes later, Menielman descended gracefully, shrouded in night’s veil. The moonlight intermittently illuminated her as she landed.

With her feet on solid ground, all signs of her combat energy dissipated.

The Empire’s First Rose said nothing, offering only a simple nod to Clair Bretagne, Ebner Soumet, and Charlot Mecklenburg before silently leading her team onward.

Clair Bretagne watched Menielman’s group depart before leading Ebner, Charlot, and the others back to their own group. They entered Silver Dove Castle in silence, each lost in thought.

Once inside, Charlot learned that Baron Febollet was absent—and, given the circumstances, could not return. His assets had been gradually stripped away.

The baron was left with only immovable property in Strasbourg. He had departed Silver Dove Castle in tears to plead with his Empress sister for a new domain.

Oddly, the baron had left his knight order behind at Silver Dove Castle, whether out of laziness or on the advice of a wise counselor.

With the castle’s master gone, Clair Bretagne unceremoniously took control of Baron Febollet’s knight order and placed it under Anastasia’s command.

At first, Charlot found this surprising, but he quickly realized the reasoning behind it.

Anastasia was a graduate of Hartington Thunder and Storm University, making her a direct junior of Clair Bretagne and Ebner Soumet.

Such academic ties often brought unexpected benefits.

Similarly, Charlot had gained Menielman’s favor, which had earned him a promotion.

Meanwhile, Dubin Alger, though also a second-tier transcendent, had no university background and remained stuck in the lowly position of a forty-seventh rank, third-class squad leader.

To date, he still hadn’t received any promotion orders.

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