Vladiark (2)

'What should I do...?'

The Heavenly Sword Lord found himself hesitating in front of the boy's determined resolve.

'Though it is something that boy is requesting, is it truly right to allow such a dangerous act for one not yet even of age?'

Even he, who stood at the pinnacle of all swordsmen, had nearly been devoured the moment he infused that monstrous sword with aura.

He had somehow managed to tear it from his hands, but as a result, both of his mana circuits were completely damaged.

He had only held it for a very brief moment, yet the amount of aura consumed was by no means insignificant.

Of course, in his case, he possessed an ocean-like reserve of aura, so losing that much was no issue at all. But if the boy had lost the same amount, he would've died or been left a cripple.

'But still...'

To determine whether the sword was attempting to devour only him because it chose its master, as the boy claimed, or if it indiscriminately consumed the aura of any wielder, the only way was to let the boy try infusing aura into it himself.

'Above all...'

That unwavering light in the boy's eyes.

Ian seemed to have no intention of backing down in the slightest.

If the Heavenly Sword Lord were to refuse him here, Ian would likely try it himself elsewhere—alone.

'That would be even more dangerous.'

If such a risky experiment was to be done no matter what, it would be better to have it happen in front of him.

Losing that boy to some accident would be a waste—he had so much talent and potential.

'So the answer was set from the beginning.'

The Heavenly Sword Lord made his decision.

"Very well, Ian. I will grant your request."

Since it was a danger that had to be risked anyway, the safest way would be with his supervision.

"I will keep watch to make sure nothing happens to you while you channel aura into that greatsword."

A glow of relief appeared on Ian's face.

"Thank you, Heavenly Sword Lord."

"However..."

There was no need to continue such a dangerous experiment in this forest.

"Depending on what happens, you could be seriously injured. Let's move elsewhere first."

Even if the boy were to lose both arms, it should be somewhere that could perform immediate emergency treatment and reattachment.

"Kelbian, open a portal. We'll go to my underground training grounds."

"As you command."

Kelbian pulled out the necklace hidden at his collar and gestured through the air.

― Bzzzzt!

Sparks erupted along the path of his hand, splitting space open.

― Bzzzzt!

As Kelbian waved his hand through the air a few more times, the rift widened, eventually revealing the Heavenly Sword Lord's underground training arena.

'Huh...'

Ian let out a silent sigh at the sight.

'To think a portal spell could be used with such a small necklace. It's an artifact of unbelievable power.'

Considering the massive size of modern warp gates, it made no sense that such a tiny necklace could open a spatial portal.

It was, simply put, the supreme version of a warp gate.

Unlike warp gates, it required neither enormous amounts of construction materials nor large tracts of land, nor did it necessitate the constant attendance of mages, and even its mana consumption was unmatched.

'I'd love to have one of those myself.'

But even if he acquired such an artifact immediately, he would hardly be able to use it right away.

'Only the ancient relics of the Luminari are capable of such insane feats.'

Only members of the Luminari could wield their ancient relics.

The Luminari—

A minority race marked by the beautiful gems inset in their foreheads.

Kelbian, too, although his hair mostly hid it, was a Luminari with a jewel in his forehead.

'Every Luminari artifact far surpasses modern magic by orders of magnitude.'

The necklace that allowed free spatial travel was impressive, but even more astonishing relics existed.

Magic stones capable of storing as much mana as a dragon heart.

Bracelets with protective barriers strong enough to withstand the aura blades of Sword Masters.

Single-use wands able to annihilate an entire legion with a single squeeze of a trigger.

According to old legends, the Luminari once rode giant, flying golems and waged war against dragons...

'Well, now it's all just ancient legend.'

The glorious rise of the Luminari ended thousands of years ago at least.

Some say they perished in a civil war, others that they migrated to another dimension, and some say they were judged after challenging the gods.

If such an ultra-advanced magical civilization had survived whole until today, wars with the demon grand dukes would have been a much different story.

Of course, since those grand dukes possessed nightmarish armaments themselves, using Luminari artifacts to their fullest might not guarantee 100% victory.

'Still, the course of war itself would have changed drastically.'

Even if victory couldn't be guaranteed, humanity wouldn't have been so ruthlessly trampled as in his previous life.

'In this life, I'll make sure to secure as many Luminari and their artifacts as possible. It'll be an invaluable asset in the war against the demon grand dukes.'

In his past life, he had no leisure to pay attention to the Luminari.

Even upon reaching the rank of Swordmaster, he had struggled desperately just to survive each day.

He couldn't protect the Luminari, let alone Yuria.

In the end, he met a wretched end in humanity's last war.

The Luminari must also have been wiped out by the demons then.

'But this life will be different.'

Having returned fifteen years into the past, he had more than enough time to prepare.

'The Luminari and their relics—I can secure them all ahead of time.'

Furthermore...

'If I use the Authority of Projection to copy the Luminari's forehead gem and transplant it onto myself...?'

Could he also wield Luminari super-magic artifacts?

Moreover, he could replicate the relics themselves with the Authority of Projection.

'If I duplicate the full-body barrier bracelet and wear several at once, or manufacture multiple of those single-use wands capable of blowing away legions and fire them indiscriminately...'

At that level, just wielding the Luminari relics alone would allow him to overwhelm most demon armies.

'Maybe I should try projecting one right now?'

Ian stared at the back of Kelbian's head.

A power that activated by simply resolving to project.

Target: 'The crystal gem embedded in the Luminari's forehead.'

― BZZT!

[Insufficient magical power. Cannot project this object yet.]

'Haaa... As expected.'

Ian let out a silent sigh.

Given that this was the highest-level racial trait, allowing one to use super-advanced magic artifacts, it seemed to require an extraordinary amount of mana to project.

But that was only a matter of time.

'All I have to do is secure enough mana.'

He would try again once he attained the rank of Expert.

It should be possible before he reached Master level.

An image of himself fully equipped with Luminari relics formed inside Ian's mind.

Standing beside him—Sophia, Yuria, and his old comrades, applauding and cheering.

'No need to be impatient. I just need to take it slow.'

His aura cultivation.

Luminari ancient relics.

And every other secret art and mythic weapon in the world.

'One by one. Just acquire them one by one.'

By diligently moving forward, when the day came to confront the demon grand dukes once again—

'I will use every bit of power I've accumulated and tear them all apart, one by one, with my own hands.'

The Grand Duke of Gluttony, who destroyed Yuria's dantian.

The Grand Duke of Lust, who threw Yuria's severed head in front of him.

And the other five detestable demon grand dukes as well.

"The portal is ready."

Kelbian's voice snapped Ian from his thoughts.

"Let's move immediately."

Kelbian and Darkhan crossed the portal first.

Ian and Sophia gathered their belongings and followed them.

The dense forest faded away, and a vast underground training ground unfolded before them.

"W-wow..."

Sophia involuntarily exclaimed in awe at the Heavenly Sword Lord's underground arena.

The ceiling adorned with masterpieces, the massive statues of knights lining the walls.

For the personal training hall of the Heavenly Sword Lord who stood atop all swordsmen, it lacked for nothing in grandeur.

"In this place, whatever happens, I'll be able to take immediate action."

The Heavenly Sword Lord looked gently at Ian.

"Depending on the situation, we may need to amputate your arm. Reattachment surgery is possible, but the pain will be severe. There may be aftereffects. I can tend to any physical aftereffects, but psychological ones may not be easy to overcome."

Frankly, bearing the risk of amputation at such a young age was too much to ask for any boy.

"And still you wish to continue?"

"Yes. My resolve is unchanged."

Ian, who had already tasted death in his previous life, felt no fear of aftereffects or consequences.

"... Admirable determination."

At Ian's unwavering response, the Heavenly Sword Lord's expression also turned solemn.

His hand was already resting atop the Patra, ready to sever Ian's arm if necessary.

"Begin whenever you are ready."

― Clack!

Without hesitation, Ian immediately began channeling aura into Vladiark.

― Wuuuuuum!

― Trrrrr!

As soon as his aura entered, Vladiark emitted a sword cry like a war horse's shrill neigh.

― Wriggle wriggle!

― Kkikikik!

A surprising and bizarre phenomenon unfolded at the same time.

As Ian's aura flowed, the tentacle patterns engraved on the sword's surface began to writhe.

"Gasp!"

"Hoo..."

Quite a grotesque sight.

Kelbian and Sophia grimaced at the scene, while the Heavenly Sword Lord's eyes sparkled with intrigue.

"This time, it isn't devouring aura. The reaction is totally different."

"... It's almost like a living creature."

"It might actually be alive."

It looked almost like twitching internal organs.

Indeed, it moved more like a living being than a sword.

― Kkikikikik!

Yet the sound emanating from the blade was a sure metallic screech.

Iron dust kept falling from the back of Ian's hand as well.

― Krunch!

With a sound like breaking bones, the writhing of the sword ceased.

At the same time, a subtle but undeniable enhanced energy emanated from the blade.

"E-Enhance energy!?"

Kelbian exclaimed in shock.

Enhanced energy was the mark of a Master.

"H-how can this be!? It's impossible!"

No matter how extraordinary the boy, reaching Master rank at his age was utterly impossible.

Ragnar Hisperion, the greatest Heavenly Sword Lord of the age, didn't manifest enhanced energy for the first time until he was eighteen.

Yet this 14-year-old was displaying enhanced energy.

Impossible. Absolutely impossible!

No matter how natural his talent, no matter how supreme his martial knowledge, it made no sense.

Even if the sword amplified aura to a ludicrous degree, it shouldn't be possible.

Enhanced energy could only be manifested not just through sheer volume of aura, but only with a deep enlightenment in its use.

There was no way such a young boy had already surpassed the wall of Master and attained the essence of enhanced energy.

"H-how...?"

Kelbian had no idea how to process the spectacle before his eyes.

"My god."

Even the Heavenly Sword Lord uttered a rare expression of awe.

"... That's my aura."

-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=

Vladriark chose his owner...

Huh...

【ദ്ദി(⩌ᴗ⩌)】