My monster cards can evolve infinitely.

Chapter 36 Blood and Tears

Xiuqi slowly turned around.

I see,

A team, like a long, awakened snake, meandered along the dark gray path.

The farmers dressed in coarse cloth were the main members of the group, with a few people dressed in fine silk robes mixed in among them.

Not far away, crimson flames shot into the sky, and thick smoke drifted over with the monsoon, causing everyone to cough.

A woman in a white floral dress stood behind him, looking at him with a gentle, loving smile and a concerned expression.

"Xiuqi, my child!"

The woman's voice was as gentle as a summer breeze, instantly dispelling all his worries and sorrows.

She stood there, a few clover petals from the Shire estate still clinging to the hem of her skirt—her favorite flower.

His long, golden hair shimmered softly in the night mist, and the gentleness in his eyes was exactly the same as he remembered. Even the slight movement of the hair at his temples when he spoke was identical.

"Go quickly...go and lend your father a hand..."

He needs you more now!

"He doesn't need it! ... Joshua is already by his side."

The sixteen-year-old boy pouted, still acting like a spoiled young master even in this desperate situation.

Are these words really coming from my own mouth?

It seemed as if the deepest part of one's soul was questioning itself.

How long has it been since you last spoke in this tone?

It must have been...almost two years.

He needs you, child!

No one can replace you in his heart!

The sixteen-year-old boy remained silent, two figures flashing through his mind—

A tall, silent man, clad in black armor, rode a magnificent black warhorse and resolutely galloped in the exact opposite direction from the rest of the group.

Beside him stood a similarly tall young man, dressed in the white armor of a prefectural knight, whose icy, sharp eyes gave him a deep look.

"Please take good care of Mother; I'm leaving things here to you!"

"My father and I... will be back soon..."

After saying that, the young man squeezed his legs together, and his tall steed reared up and galloped away, closely following the figure of the black-armored knight in front.

The boy's eyes dimmed instantly, but he gripped the long sword at his waist even tighter.

"My swordsmanship is inferior to Joshua Ram's; going there would only be a burden to them!" the boy murmured, his voice extremely low.

But the blonde woman heard it clearly. She smiled and wrapped her arms around the young boy's shoulders, embracing him tightly.

"My child, you are stronger than anyone else; you must believe in yourself!"

"Joshuram is six years older than you. In six years, you will be as powerful as him!"

So please don't be discouraged! Always believe in yourself!

Looking at the blonde woman's loving smile, the boy felt a surge of inexplicable emotion.

He gazed at the billowing smoke behind him and the Wright Manor engulfed in flames, then at the woman beside him and the long, serpentine procession of villagers, unable to make a decision for a long time.

"If I leave too, who will protect you?" There was still a hint of hesitation in the boy's eyes.

"The butler and guards are with me, so you don't need to worry!"

"Go quickly...follow your father!"

"And then, everyone has to come back!!!"

The woman's words solidified the boy's resolve. He nodded slightly, seemingly preparing to agree, when suddenly—

call out!

That was the sound of a sharp object tearing through the air.

A streak of gray light flashed through the gray mist behind him, cutting a perfect arc and silently shooting toward his back with a high-speed whistling sound.

However, just as the arrow was about to pierce through, an invisible ripple spread out around it, as if it had hit an invisible wall or been gently deflected by an unseen hand, causing the arrow's trajectory to deviate slightly.

puff-

The arrow, which was originally meant to strike the back of the heart, grazed the boy's left rib, tearing a corner of his gray robe and sending up a shower of fine fabric scraps.

The arrow, its force undiminished, pierced the hard earth beneath his feet in an instant, its fletching still trembling.

The boy turned around, looked at the middle-aged man in front of him who was holding a longbow and whose face was covered in tears, and shook his head with a sigh.

"I'm going to take care of a small problem first... then I'll be back!"

Xiuqi gazed at the blonde woman's face, which was filled with endless gentleness and love, his eyes also filled with endless longing and reluctance.

......

......

From the direction in which the orc Shattered Bones and the dwarf Bucky disappeared in the forest came a chilling commotion.

The heavy footsteps pounded on the meadow, accompanied by panting sounds like those of an old bellows.

"Gold...shiny...it's all mine..." Shattered Bones' greedy voice was amplified to the extreme.

Then came a sharp, urgent sound. The dwarf's face was etched with exhaustion, and his once clear eyes now showed terrifying bloodshot veins.

"Wake up, buddy! There's no gold, only me and your teammate Bucky!"

"Get out of my way, you little dwarf!" The orc's crimson eyes scanned his surroundings, as if searching for something, and he roared furiously.

"I saw it, it's on you, you shameless, stupid thief!"

"Are you crazy? I have nothing on me!" The dwarf's voice was weak, and the clarity in his eyes was being slowly eroded by scarlet.

At this moment, the orc was clearly not going to listen to any advice. His eyes were filled with a fierce light as he stared at the dwarf in front of him as if he were looking at a lamb.

"Hand it over now! Or I'll chop you up!"

A heavy whistling sound suddenly rang out; it was the sound of a giant axe being swung.

With a sickening "crack" sound, it seemed as if something hard had been struck, like a tree trunk or something.

"Damn it!" A curse rang out, but the owner of the voice didn't have time to utter a second one. He quickly leaped lightly through the woods, dodging the opponent's attack.

"You idiot, open your eyes and look at me! I'm Bucky, the guy who drank with you at Old John's Tavern!"

"You still owe me three copper coins!"

This shout, which should have awakened memories, instead further provoked the orc, who had completely descended into madness.

"Ha...ha, you still owe me gold coins, a lot of gold coins..." The orc's voice was hollow, completely unlike his usual tone.

"Kill you, and all the gold coins will be mine, ha ha..."

In an instant, the once quiet woods seemed to be swept away by a sudden storm—

Fluttering branches and weeds, fallen tree trunks, and a small, leaping figure constantly shifting and bounding.

"Ding!"

It was a crisp, metallic clang, followed by the tearing sound of a sharp blade slicing through flesh.

"Ugh!" came a cry of pain, seemingly from a dwarf.

He lay on the meadow, bright red blood slowly dripping down his chest.

A tall, muscular figure stood in front of the dwarf, casting a huge shadow over him.

"Gotcha, you little mouse!" The orc opened his blood-red maw, a neurotic smile on his twisted face.

hiss-

Another burst of rapid, close-quarters combat sounds rang out.

It sounded like a dagger slicing through flesh and the dull thud of a body being struck, mixed with the heavy roars and panting of the two men.

"Let go!...You idiot!" Bucky's voice was no longer sharp; it sounded like a weak whisper.

"Die! Die!" Only endless madness filled Shattered Bones' eyes.

Finally, a particularly heavy "plop" sound rang out, and everything was about to come to an end.

That was the terrifying sound of an axe blade cutting deep into flesh.

The noisy woods instantly fell into a deathly silence.

"Ha...ha...all the gold is mine!" The orc let out a strange laugh, but the laugh quickly turned into a painful groan.

"It's so cold...why is it so cold..."

The dwarf Bucky stared wide-eyed at the orc, a mocking smile playing on his lips as crimson liquid oozed from them.

However, at this moment, he could no longer utter a sound.

His hands hung limply at his waist, and the blood-stained, dark blue dagger fell onto the meadow.

The orc's breathing grew more and more rapid; his exhausted legs could no longer support his heavy body. He slowly sat down beside the dwarf.

"It's poison!"

His gaze swept over the fallen, dark blue dagger, a bitter smile appearing on his lips. The madness in his eyes faded, replaced by a clear, lucid gaze.

He stood close to the dwarf's short body, his back straight, trying to look up at the sky.

Slowly close your eyes.

At this moment, it seemed as if—

A young orc boy with a youthful face lay on the grass beside a tribal tent, gazing carefree at the starry sky.