Chapter 1264 - Dying Out (1/2)

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation  Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

All the intelligence pointed to a dark and disturbing answer, and everyone who heard the news fell into silence. The information would soon cease to be a secret. Since Rudolph III chose to publish them in the room, it meant that the news had probably begun to circulate.

“There have been so many accidents to the heirs of kingdoms within a month, but the news did not come out until recently,” Grand Duke Loen broke the silence. “Every kingdom does not want the turmoil that happens at the top to spread, so they have kept it until it is impossible to conceal it anymore. This, in turn, has provided an opportunity for the believers of the Cult of Armageddon.”

Hao Ren frowned and said, “Do the cultists simply want to cause chaos and weaken the power of the various states? If so, they should find an easier way. It’s difficult to target the heirs of the Royal Family without being seen. Besides, their actions don’t seem to be very successful. Most of the heirs who have been attacked are not actually dead. Just like Ania, they just fell sick, a false alarm.”

“They don’t just want to cause chaos,” Alfred explained. “Their goal is the keeper’s blood. Their ultimate aim, I’m afraid, is to weaken the repression of Lockmarton and liberate the remnant forces of the evil giant.”

“The keeper’s blood?” Hao Ren was surprised.

“The royal family in every kingdom gets the ‘keeper’ inheritance,” Veronica explained. “This is not a real inheritance of blood, but a foreign inheritance. The dynasties in Collow have changed throughout the years. At the end of each war, some nations would fall, while others would emerge from the ruins. After the establishment of these emerging kingdoms, the first thing to do would be to seek the recognition of the Sanctum. Once recognized, the Sanctum would then carry out an inheritance ceremony for these new royal families. The power of blood from the ancient divine guard is injected into the veins of our founding kings and passed on for generations. This is the keeper’s blood.”

Hao Ren sat there in a trance. This was really something he had never thought of. It seemed that this ancient blood came from the “ancient divine guard”?

Veronica went on, “The keeper’s blood has the power to suppress Chaos and is necessary to light the Sunscorch Tower. During the last month of each year, the Sunscorch Tower needs to be re-lit. The tower, which holds the kingdoms together, is especially essential to the survival of a kingdom surrounded by Chaos. The royal members of each kingdom must infuse their blood into the energy core as they light the tower. Because of these keepers’ blood scattered throughout the continent, these kingdoms can maintain minimum Order at the border, and not let Chaos completely devour the world.”

Hao Ren nodded. Now he understood the meaning of “the keeper’s blood”.

The Light of Order was like a lighthouse in the dark, and the members of every royal family were the firewood for ignition. In their veins flowed not only noble blood but also fuel to sustain their own kingdoms.

He remembered that it was Veronica who lit the abandoned fire device with her blood in the desert—and this was the secret.

Hao Ren blinked as he looked at the old master and asked, “The purpose of the cultists is to destroy those who have the keeper’s blood? It doesn’t make sense: the heirs they’ve attacked are still alive.”

“But the power of the blood is lost,” Ania answered.

The princess stretched out her hand and pricked the tip of her finger with a silver needle. Red blood oozed out from her fingertip.

It was just ordinary blood.

“Ania, you…” Veronica looked at the blood in shock. Apparently, she just knew. She pricked her finger with a knife at once, and her blood oozed out with a faint gleam.

Obviously, the two kinds of blood were totally different. Ania had lost some kind of magic in her blood.

“Diseases can be cured, curses can be dispelled, but the power in the blood cannot be redeemed,” Rudolph III whispered. “It is true that many of the royal heirs who have been attacked are still alive, but the cultists have achieved their goal: to remove the power in the blood of these heirs.”