Achilles' heel

In the midst of everyone's shock, Freyr suddenly ran forward a few steps. Andrew, terrified, tried to pull his master back, but one of the griffins, seeing Freyr step out, immediately charged at him. Andrew attempted to intercept, but the griffin's body struck him, knocking him aside. In the next moment, the griffin's claws easily pierced Freyr's slender frame as if it were paper.

!!!

The Russell family guards felt their hearts sink, and Andrew nearly fainted. The weakened knight screamed and collapsed. Watching Freyr's body thrown aside like a leaf by the griffin, everyone felt despair wash over them.

It was over! Their young master was dead, and their own lives were forfeit. Even if they returned home alive, they would be executed for failing to protect him.

Andrew sat on the ground in shock, unaware that his sword had fallen from his hand. In that moment, the knight felt utterly defeated.

"Hehe..."

An eerie laugh echoed through the air, and then, miraculously, Freyr's "corpse" began to shakily rise from the ground! Everyone's eyes widened in disbelief. Freyr's body was a bloody mess, with a gaping wound in his chest that nearly pierced through him. Blood continued to gush out, but Freyr simply frowned, glanced at his wound, and then smiled. "This really does hurt a lot. Haha... it feels almost real!"

He touched the blood at his wound, brought his hand up to his face, sniffed it, and muttered to himself, "Hmm, it really is quite convincing. The blood even smells real..."

The scene was bizarre. Freyr stood there with horrific injuries; the massive wound in his chest was so deep one could see right through it. Blood flowed freely, yet he seemed completely unfazed. He staggered a few steps, and as everyone watched in shock, another griffin pounced on him, knocking him to the ground. Its sharp claws slashed him, and fresh blood sprayed out.

"Master!" Andrew's eyes reddened as he rushed forward, but Freyr's small frame had already climbed back up. He wobbled slightly, yet a cheerful smile remained on his face, an expression that felt strangely out of place in such dire circumstances.

The young boy lifted his head, looking at the griffins flying above, and suddenly laughed. "If this is a dream you've created, then I've had enough of it. Let the dream end, if you will!"

Andrew charged forward, his sword transforming into a streak of light aimed at the nearest griffin to Freyr. The loyal knight unleashed all his internal power without reservation, pushing beyond his body's limits. His muscular frame bulged, veins popping as if his skin might tear open.

The sword, imbued with internal power, cut through the air and pierced the griffin's tough feathers, sending it crashing down from the sky. Andrew reached Freyr, holding him tightly and exposing his own back to the sky.

"Andrew," Freyr panted, blood dripping from his mouth as he smiled. "Listen, we've been tricked. None of this is real." He pointed to his own wound, laughing. "Look at this. Such a wound would have killed anyone else. But..."

Andrew, not being a fool, began to sense something was wrong. Freyr's words made him realize the abnormality—how could a frail boy survive such a mortal wound? Even a strong warrior would be dead by now.

"My mental strength is higher than average, so the dream they created can't fully deceive me," Freyr explained, catching his breath. "Unfortunately, I don't know how to break this dream. It must be some kind of mental magic or illusion."

"Illusion..." Andrew pondered, then shouted, "Ryan! Ryan, come here!"

The Wizard, protected by soldiers in the rear, responded to the call.

Andrew, holding Freyr, dodged another griffin's attack from above, gaining more wounds on his back as his armor was shredded, leaving him bloodied and battered.

"Figure something out! Master says we're under an illusion!" Andrew shouted.

Ryan, drenched in sweat, replied, "I don't have a solution to break the illusion... But maybe if we kill all these creatures, it might end, just like when we killed the rhino and the demon wolf earlier."

Andrew cursed, "That's easier said than done!"

Freyr suddenly smiled and whispered, "Andrew, I have a question... It's said that every knight who practices internal power has a vital point. Where is yours?"

Andrew was stunned, not expecting such a question at this moment.

"Quick, tell me," Freyr insisted. "I have an idea."

Each knight who practiced internal power indeed had a critical point. When they used their power, their strength could surpass their physical limits several times over, but this weak spot was their most guarded secret.

Andrew glanced at his bleeding master, his heart trembling. He gritted his teeth and said, "It's under my right chest, beneath the fourth rib..."

No sooner had he spoken than Freyr's eyes flashed with a strange light. The weak boy, gathering unknown strength, rolled out of Andrew's arms, pulled a dagger from the knight's leg, and stabbed at Andrew's chest!

Andrew could have dodged, but as a loyal knight to the Russell family, he hesitated, for the strike came not from an enemy but from his master. His armor, already torn from the battle, offered no protection. The cold blade pierced under his right chest, below the third rib. Andrew could feel the odd sensation of the dagger slicing into his muscle...

Everyone was stunned to see their master suddenly stab the knight.

Andrew was the most shocked, staring in disbelief at his master. He couldn't fathom why the one he protected would attack him now. But Freyr's eyes were calm, even comforting.

"Don't worry, Andrew. This is just a nightmare."

With Freyr's reassuring words, Andrew groaned and collapsed, letting go of his internal resistance...

Andrew closed his eyes and fell to the ground...

As the crowd gasped, Freyr slowly stood up. His dagger still seemed to be dripping blood, and as all the Russell family guards stared at him in astonishment, Freyr smiled. He dropped the dagger and said softly, "The dream is over."

Just as Freyr's dagger had pierced the knight's chest, all the griffins in the sky suddenly let out a chilling howl! Then, as if driven mad, they all charged at Freyr from all directions, their sharp claws seeming ready to tear the young Freyr to shreds!