Trenches, Guns, and Magic

Perhaps the system defined the two high-tier vampires, Ferdinand I and Queen Marie, as magical creatures or unconventional spellcasters. Anyway, after scoring these two "key kills," Morin gained a massive, long-overdue amount of spellcaster experience, bumping his spellcaster level up three consecutive tiers to Level 12, Circle 6.

Is this terrifying?

Yes, it is.

This PVP leveling speed far outpaced Morin studying spells on his own. Under normal circumstances, no other spellcaster could level up as fast as him. Of course, under normal circumstances, no other spellcaster could defeat a rare enemy like Ferdinand I.

As for Ferdinand I, Morin didn't know how to judge the man.

Until his dying breath, the guy never realized he was merely a tool consumed by Vlad III's legacy. He treated the Bucharest civilians he originally sought to protect as fuel for the "Blood River."

From another perspective, as a distant royal relative pushed to the front lines as a pawn, his psyche might have shattered long ago upon discovering he was a puppet from start to finish. His starting point might have been good, but his execution was dead wrong.

However, Morin was 100% sure of one thing— this guy's talent for "stir up a trouble" rivaled that of the "King of Stirring the Pot" Sun Yifeng*. Even as the Holy Sword blew him apart, he still remembered to stir the pot between Morin and Cleric Cristiano. He used his last breath for a "global broadcast," wishing everyone in the city could hear him scream "Kingslayer Friedrich Morin."

After I die, let the chaos come. Ferdinand I truly embodied this sentiment to his core.

As for the title "Kingslayer," Morin accepted it quite quickly. Well... it was a rather "rare" title with strict acquisition requirements. Earning it cost one "monarch." What man could refuse such a thing?

Besides, Morin already had plenty of titles. One more wouldn't hurt. When his "Mage Killer" moniker spread earlier, the Saxon Empire mages didn't exactly tremble in his presence.

Morin knew certain factions within the Empire might use this "Kingslayer" title to make a fuss... He stood at the center of the storm. Being this high-profile, drawing attention was perfectly normal.

Given the Saxon Empire's unique system, "Kingslayer" was an eyesore politically, but context mattered. During wartime, a frontline commander taking out an enemy head of state was a massive achievement. Anyone trying to use this against him had to weigh the risk of public backlash first.

So rather than stressing over the title's implications, Ferdinand I's dying words about the growth of supernatural power weighed heavier on Morin's mind.

"When you grow so powerful that everyone fears you, what kind of fate will you face?"

It was a valid question, but a long-term one. Standing on these ruins today wouldn't yield an answer. Judging by the current moves of the Empire's higher-ups, Albert II, the Crown Prince, and the military brass still had clear heads. As long as the war continued and his power grew, the harmony between monarch, subjects, and generals would hold.

When the war ended... that would be a headache for the future.

"Colonel Morin."

A gruff voice from behind broke Morin's train of thought. Cleric Cristiano stepped up to him, reaching up to remove his signature hound-faced helmet.

The standard tough-guy face beneath the armor wore an unprecedented, complex expression.

"What's wrong, Your Excellency?" Morin raised an eyebrow at his bitter expression. "Don't tell me Ferdinand I's words actually got to you?"

Cleric Cristiano smiled, the scars making his expression look somewhat harsh.

"My faith remains unshaken, Colonel Morin." He tucked the hound-faced helmet under his arm and turned to the fleshy ruins slowly carbonizing and decomposing. "But I must admit, Ferdinand I's point about supernaturals... is worth considering. Honestly, to me, it's completely different from the situation with spellcasters."

Morin stayed silent, waiting for him to continue.

The cleric's tone turned serious. "According to the Holy See's own statistics, and discussions with various governments before the war... the percentage of newborns exhibiting spellcasting talent and magical affinity is rising every year."

"A significant jump?"

"Relative to the global population, the percentage remains negligible. However, the upward curve of the ratio itself is very clear." Cleric Cristiano paused. "Holy See researchers believe that large-scale, long-term mining of radiant crystals, coupled with the increasingly dense use of magitech equipment and spellcasting, is slowly altering the planet's overall environment."

Morin couldn't help but nod. He had heard variations of this "radiant crystal environmental alteration" theory from Master Haber, Master Röntgen, and Patricia. It seemed academia and the religious sector had reached a rare consensus on this conclusion.

"And during the arms race, nations have pushed the exploration of supernatural soldiers further than ever before." Cleric Cristiano continued, "In the past, nations running similar experiments would secretly confer with the Vatican, offering guarantees regarding 'ethical issues'. But now..."

He shook his head.

"Now those 'ethical issues' have been tossed into the trash. All research has gone underground. Nobody can guarantee that another country hasn't created a second Ferdinand I."

The cleric paused, pointed at the ruins below, and gestured toward the northwest.

"The undead scourge in Paris, the vampire crisis in Bucharest... Less than a year separates these two massive supernatural outbreaks." He turned to look at Morin and grinned. "And Colonel Morin, you happen to have personally experienced both. So you must have pondered these issues much earlier than I did."

Morin remained noncommittal, giving a slight nod. "You make a fair point, Your Excellency."

He then looked the blood-soaked macho man up and down, amused that they were discussing "sociological topics." A teasing edge crept into his voice. "I didn't expect a Vatican cleric to overthink things this much. I assumed you Paladins spent all day praying and lifting weights."

"Stereotypes are inadvisable, Colonel Morin."

Cleric Cristiano corrected him with a straight face, adding proudly, "During my studies at the Vatican seminary, I majored in Theology and Canon Law, and minored in Engineering, Sociology, and Ethics... graduating with top honors in all subjects."

Morin's eyes widened. He stared at the Church brute exuding "meathead" energy, shocked to find he was actually a top scholar.

"The Papal State boasts talents across all fields." Noticing Morin's surprise, the cleric explained, "How else do you think we rapidly transitioned to the radiant crystal industry while advancing magitech? Our dreadnoughts didn't fall from the sky."

Morin had only one thought in response: Clergy must be educated, and the Pope must command a few divisions...

While they talked, several Paladins began sweeping the battlefield ruins. Soon, a Paladin trotted over, holding a longsword in each hand.

In his right hand rested Vlad III's pitch-black sword, its dark red patterns mostly faded. In his left hand was Queen Marie's broken sword. The fleshy tissue gluing it together had sloughed off, leaving it in two pieces tied with cloth by the Paladin.

Morin's gaze immediately locked onto the two magic weapons. Even without the "Blood River's" blessing, their foundation remained. Vlad III's dark sword was a legendary magic weapon matching the 【Thorn of the Sacred Remains】, and Queen Marie's broken sword, once reforged, would only be slightly inferior.

Noticing Morin's reaction, Cleric Cristiano smiled.

"Colonel Morin, custom dictates these are your 'spoils of war.' You landed the killing blow; the kill belongs to you without dispute."

Hearing this, Morin put on a cheeky smile and waved his hands repeatedly. "I couldn't possibly. Even as spoils, they should be handed over... It's highly inappropriate for a mere colonel like me to keep them."

He spoke politely, and Cleric Cristiano played along.

"Based on my past dealings with the Saxon military, it's quite common for campaign commanders to keep spoils... especially since you personally killed the enemy head of state."

The cleric inadvertently revealed a piece of information— his special Holy See department had military collaborations with the Saxon Empire in the past. Morin kept this in mind but didn't pry. He turned to the Paladin holding the swords and spoke politely, "Then I must trouble you, Sir Paladin, to deliver these two swords directly to the Saxon temporary command post... Just find Lieutenant Colonel Kleist or Lieutenant Colonel Manstein. Tell them I sent them."

Though the Paladin's expression was hidden beneath his helmet, his slightly stiff posture suggested he was stunned. Cleric Cristiano laughed heartily. This post-battle downtime was the most the macho man had laughed all day.

"Wait a moment, Colonel Morin." The cleric stopped the departing Paladin and pointed at the broken longsword. "If you agree, I'd like the Holy See to take Queen Marie's broken sword back to the Vatican first."

Morin paused.

"This sword was modified by fleshy tissues. Prolonged human contact isn't safe... And now that the 'Blood River' has collapsed and the binding tissue has sloughed off, the blade's structure is much more fragile." The cleric's tone sounded genuine.

"We need to study it, purify it, and then reforge it... The Saxon Empire clearly lacks our expertise in this field. It's better if we handle it and formally return it to you later."

Morin couldn't find a flaw in this reasoning. He nodded.

"Alright, take the broken sword for purification first." He then asked a follow-up question, "What about Ferdinand I's weapon? Need to purify that too?"

Cleric Cristiano shook his head.

"Although it is Vlad III's sword, it is fundamentally a magic weapon. We'll give it a quick purification and cleaning for you shortly. You can use it right away."

Morin relaxed. But before he could speak, the cleric added another sentence.

"However, the 【Thorn of the Sacred Remains】 in your hand... Colonel Morin, that sword must return to the Vatican. It is, after all, one of the Holy See's Holy Swords."

Morin's mouth twitched, but he unhooked the scabbard from his back and sheathed the Holy Sword, joking, "I'm supposed to be a 'walking Saint,' isn't it perfectly normal for me to carry a Holy Sword?"

It was half-joke, half-probe, but the cleric simply smiled and shook his head, ignoring the bait.

Morin sighed and obediently detached the 【Thorn of the Sacred Remains】 from his waist. In truth, the moment it pierced Ferdinand I, Morin felt a complex emotion from the 【Thorn of the Sacred Remains】, like an experienced veteran letting out a profound sigh. Then it seemed to fall into a deep slumber, offering no more responses.

Morin handed the 【Thorn of the Sacred Remains】 to the cleric.

Cleric Cristiano accepted the Holy Sword, wrapping it solemnly before speaking: "Since you can resonate with the 【Thorn of the Sacred Remains】, Colonel Morin, it proves a destined connection between man and sword... It's only a matter of time before you wield this Holy Sword again."

"Furthermore, the intensity of this battle was too high. The 【Thorn of the Sacred Remains】 clashed heavily with the Dark Sword multiple times and executed several burst outputs. The blade has sustained significant wear. The Church needs to enshrine it for a period to restore its holy power, along with some 'maintenance work'... In this regard, the Holy See is also more professional than the Saxon Empire."

With the weapon matters settled, Morin actively steered the topic in another direction.

"By the way, Your Excellency." Morin's tone suddenly turned serious. "Regarding this 'Kingslayer' title... let's try not to spread it widely, shall we? You must be aware of the current situation in the Saxon Empire."

Cleric Cristiano nodded. Just as Morin said, he was well aware of the dynamics among the Saxon Empire's higher-ups. The power struggles between different factions within the Empire never ceased. An officer like Morin, rising meteorically on the battlefield, was naturally a prime target for all sides.

"I understand your meaning!"