1099 Pursuit and Traps Part 1 (1/2)

The 12 powerful holy masters wore calm expressions. All the 160 gold-armored warriors rode level four horses. The warhorses were clad in golden armor from top to bottom.

At level three, warhorses were deemed fit enough to follow their masters into battle without fear of arrows. When clad in armor, the horses were strong enough to withstand attacks from mid-level human swordmasters.

Furthermore, mid-level swordmasters lacked the endurance of the magic beast warhorses, which were able to scale mountains like they were running on flatlands.

Warhorses originated from another plane, which were captured by humans and bred with many types of horses. Not only were they strong, the difference in their guts and the guts of common horses was like heaven and earth.

Such level four warhorses became rather rare about a thousand years ago. They were made steeds of elite troops of all sorts. Now, only high level generals rode them. Empires used them mostly for breeding purposes.

The gold-armored warriors surrounded the 13 holy masters, waiting for further orders in the storm.

The old holy master wore a black robe. He was short and looked common. However, the energy vibrations emanating from his body looked as if they did not belong to a human, like he was an evil dragon trapped in the dark, threatening to devour all life.

He had dark red eyes, only his pupils crystal clear with thin purple lines.

The old holy master pointed at the pathway that Saleen had once opened, after peering about for a bit. ”There, but… the man is long gone.”

”Sir, shall we pursue?” a young holy master near the old holy master asked.

All 12 of the holy masters wore long robes and shone with holy light. No rainwater was able to wet their clothes. The only difference was that each of their black robes was etched with a holy runes from one to twelve. The rune on the robe of the young holy master who had just spoken to the old holy master meant 'one'.

”No need for that. Let's just see what they were doing here.”

”Yes, sir.”

The young holy master got down from his horse and took out a ring, casting weak green light. If Saleen had been there, he would have been surprised to see a holy master from the Holy See also armed with a Ring of Gifts, and furthermore, able to activate the divine spells stored within.

”Sir, shall we inform the two head inquisitors and try to block them off?” another young holy master asked quietly. They both shared a very close relationship with the elder. Not anyone would be able to state their opinions or give suggestions with the elder in front of them.

”There is no need for that. Just let them keep an eye on Misty City. With so many people eyeing Daliang City, I really can't understand why Saleen would sneak out. There should be something more important than Daliang City. The fellow wouldn't just leave his wives behind otherwise.”

From the elder's tone, one would be able to tell that he held a lot of power in the Tribunal. He would not have talked about the other two head inquisitors in such a tone otherwise.

Only the great head inquisitor would be able to talk in such a manner in the Tribunal, and the great head inquisitor was the most powerful person in the Tribunal, for he was a level ten holy master.

The young holy masters said nothing more. They were able to tell how much importance he placed on the matter, given that the great head inquisitor decided to move personally and bring all 12 of them along.

The second and third head inquisitor did not participate in the battle of Daliang City, and that was a product of the great head inquisitor's decision.

The great head inquisitor wanted to go to Daliang City himself, but news came that the king of Kingdom of Metatrin, Saleen, who was also a level nine sorcerer, had left Daliang City and was nowhere to be found.

The Tribunal had captured massive numbers of mages in its earlier days, but it did not mean that the Tribunal would underestimate mages. The greater the number of powerful mages they capture, the greater the respect they have developed for the mages.

A level nine sorcerer would be the most powerful among powerful ones, even if power levels across the entire mainland were raised.

The great head inquisitor was a level ten holy master who had just broken through recently, and there was no certainty that he would win against a level nine sorcerer at the pinnacle of his level.

The difference within the level was so huge that in the eyes of many, it was deemed insurmountable, but the great head inquisitor knew that some level nine sorcerers carried very powerful equipment.

The equipment left behind from ancients was capable of making up for half of the differences in a level, which when used by a level nine sorcerer at their peak, would enable them to kill any powerful ones below level 12.

There had been reports regarding Saleen. The great head inquisitor had developed some level of knowledge of the person. Saleen would definitely be armed with super powerful equipment.

The army that was sent to take out Metatrin City before would not have been wiped out otherwise. Be it the Tribunal or the Pivotal Council, everyone thought Metatrin City would be taken down. Because someone among the powerful ones had a level ten thunder dragon.

Even a level ten thunder dragon ended up dead and the golden grand swordmaster turned to dust, so there was simply no way the great head inquisitor would let his guard down against Saleen.

The group that pursued Saleen consisted of himself, the great head inquisitor of the Tribunal, and 12 of his most trusted adjudicators. All of the 12 adjudicators were originally level eight holy masters, who all received blessings by the descended oracle and advanced into level nine without difficulty.

The great head inquisitor was able to advance to level ten right away, becoming a level ten professional ahead of Theisio.

The gold-armored warriors were high-powered forces of the Tribunal and were only deployed when the great head inquisitor decided to move personally. No one else, not even the pope, was able to command them.

All of the equipment was crafted according to the specs of the equipment used by the Heaven Knights all those years ago. The secrets of the equipment were known only to members of the Holy See.

A young holy master opened the pathway leading to the temple using the Ring of Gifts and the gold-armored warriors rushed inside. They returned soon after.