A Sword Reached the Sky (4)
“At least, I’m sure he hasn’t learned the Heavenly Sword.”
Garhan affirmed.
“Because he hadn’t completed the Valtara’s Fighting Spirit.”
The battle against Nakterion confirmed the fighting spirit of the Sword King Felard.
“Given the explosive power and injuries to his body, it looked like around 90 percent complete. Of course, he’s almost there, but…”
He didn’t master it.
Its completion was important.
“Diastima must have a perfectly pure flow over the whole body. If any impure flow intervenes, it cannot be triggered. That’s what Baotolt said.”
It wasn’t just a matter of Aura amount.
If even an inch of uncontrolled fighting spirit remained in the body, it would result in a failure.
The minimum condition for training the Heavenly Sword was the perfect Valtara’s Fighting Spirit.
“Unless his fighting spirit is perfect, he can never use Diastima.”
Genovia raised her eyebrows.
“… What if Felard’s pretending to be a failure when he can actually control it perfectly?”
Han-bin could have just disguised his actions to fake that he couldn’t use Valtara’s Fighting Spirit to induce their carelessness.
“I’m sure he’ll expect us to be watching.”
Garhan shook his head.
“That can’t be true. I can be certain of that.”
Even the founder, Baotolt, deliberately failed to control the fighting spirit after completing it. That was how it was supposed to be.
But Genovia still seemed suspicious.
“Just because Baotolt couldn’t do it doesn’t mean he can’t do it, does it?”
Garhan smirked.
She was definitely a genius. Unlike himself, a Magic Swordsman, he had shallow knowledge of martial tactics.
That was why she could have that kind of doubt.
“That means that the young Sword King is a true superpower who has reached a point Baotolt couldn’t even reach in his later years.”
If the new Sword King was so powerful, why would the incarnation of darkness be moving in that way?
They would’ve come running right now and kick both of them to end the situation.
“Ah…”
Only then did Genovia’s expression brighten up.
“He wouldn’t be a problem if he doesn’t have Diastima.”
Garhan’s expression hardened.
“But it’s not a good idea to let your guard down. You don’t want to be like Hollien, do you?”
The absence of the Heavenly Sword did not mean that the new Sword King was an easy opponent.
His last attack knocked down Nakterion.
“Did he call it Cross Impact? It was a pretty good skill.”
“Isn’t it just swinging the sword three times faster? It seemed like a basic skill.”
“Simple and powerful skills are the best. It’s a problem.”
Of course, there was no such thing in a fight.
Perhaps he might have mastered the Heavenly Sword.
No, maybe he was holding something else comparable to it.
Neither person ignored that point.
Genovia suddenly looked sorry.
“I wish I could recreate Transcendence.”
Hollien’s unique spiritual art allowed the body to be ‘removed’ once activated. She couldn’t help but envy her.
She tried to implement it similarly through magic, but it ended with half a success.
“Well, in the worst-case scenario, is there a way?”
Garhan raised an eyebrow at Genovia’s words.
“Are you going to use that trick?”
They had some last resorts.
But that was all it ever would be.
“Wouldn’t it be better to just lose than to do so?”
“Defeat is shameful. Still, do you think it’s better than dying?”
“Um…”
Garhan shut up.
People said that death was sometimes better than life, but they didn’t agree.
That was why they had put everything on the line.
“Yeah, I’ve come all the way to this point. It would be too unfair to just die.”
Genovia shrugged at Garhan, who sighed.
“You’re not going to die. They can’t deal with both of us at the same time, even with their full power.”
Nevertheless, they had insurance as a precaution.
If Manakiras became a level 140 Ancient Dragon, she could respond to even unexpected
“The calculations are not wrong. Numbers don’t lie.”
* * *
Conference room in Fort Fieldrocks inner castle.
That day, Leon Hart was reckoning furiously.
“Um…”
It had already been a few days.
He stayed up all night checking the situation
But the conclusions were always the same.
“As expected, numbers don’t lie…”
They lacked power.
The main force of the current enemy was three.
They were the Thunder King Garhan, the Archmage Genovia, and a level 140s Ancient Dragon whose identity hadn’t been confirmed yet.
“For convenience, we’ll call the new Dragon as Nakterion MkII.”
“That’s very convenient indeed.”
Ignoring Han-bin’s smile, Leon Hart continued.
“This Ancient Dragon is the problem.”
Ryu Han-bin was responsible for either the Thunder King or the Archmage.
They had to fight first to see whom he would deal with, but…
“Perhaps there’s a good chance that the Thunder King will come out.”
The Archmage would be reluctant to fight against Ryu Han-bin.
Hollien, the same long-distance fighter, had already been defeated, so they would want to rule out have.
And Ryu Han-bin was also more comfortable dealing with the Thunder King.
It wasn’t like he beat Hollien with his skills.
in the first place, so of course, it was better to fight a person who used a sword.
“Both interests coincide, so that will be the match.”
It was concluded that the Archmage should be dealt with by Leon Hart, Kibie, Effir, and Artis.
Currently, Leon Hart’s level was 121. Kibie’s level couldn’t be measured, but she was most likely around that level as well.
Artis also became level 115. Above all, Effir grew by leaps and bounds.
Her current level was 120. In just a few days, she had gone up five levels more.
“Nakterion was nutritious.”
Feeling proud, Effir grinned.
Artis grumbled with a trembling face.
“Can you stop treating Ancient Dragons among Ancient Dragons as healthy food?”
If the four joined forces, they might be able to barely deal with the Archmage.
Of course, that didn’t mean they could win.
The level difference was far too severe in the first place.
The condition for winning was that while Ryu Han-bin was dealing with the Thunder King, they had to hold on.
What if another level 140 Ancient Dragon appeared in the battle?
“I don’t have the power to deal with Nak 2. That’s the problem.”
Han-bin tilted his head at Leon Hart’s words.
“Nak 2?”
“Nakterion MkII is too long.”
“… You’ve made an abbreviation for the sake of convenience.”
No one except Ryu Han-bin could fight a level 140 Ancient Dragon alone.
At least two of them had to work together.
“Effir and Artis might be able to get by.”
Which meant Leon Hart and Kibie would be left to deal with the Archmage.
Leon Hart shook his head.
“There’s no way that would be possible. We won’t even be able to hold out. The others can’t help, either.”
They would still be destroyed by magic even if multiple low-level warriors joined in.
In addition, the Knights of the Fairy Kingdom and other Templar Lords already had different duties.
There was no spare power to send even if they wanted.
Effir sighed.
“In other words, there needs to be one more powerful individual in the level 120s to level the playing field, right?”
“Yes.”
Everyone had a grim look on their faces.
Even in the center of the continent, there were few combatants above level 100 in the world.
But they needed a superpower over level 120?
Unfortunately, Ryu Han-bin murmured.
“It would have been nice if the Fairy Queen’s power had remained the same. She’s cooperative enough, for now, so she’s become a great help…”
Kibie corrected his illusion.
“Then we’d have one more great enemy. Don’t forget, Han-bin. Hollien’s coming out so obediently because she’s lost all her strength, and there’s no turning back.”
“I know. I just said that with wishful thinking. You said my mission was to talk nonsense as much as possible, right?”
No matter how much they thought together, no additional troops fell from the sky.
Nobody could find a solid solution. Hence, they dismissed the meeting.
A few days later.
Additional troops fell from the sky.
* * *
A man visited Fort Fieldrocks.
Dressed as an ordinary traveler, he was a skinny, gray-haired old man.
The man, who had a crest of the Allendia Kingdom, asked for a meeting with the Sword King without revealing his identity.
Curious, Ryu Han-bin and Kibie greeted him.
When he saw Han-bin, the old man was amazed.
“Are you the new Sword King? Your body is as great as Baotolt.”
Then he knelt politely towards Kibie.
“I greet you, the incarnation of darkness.”
“… And you are?”
The old man held out a letter bearing the seal of the Strauss family.
“It’s a message from the Fairy Queen.”
The letter was as followed.
[I’m no longer helpful, but I’m sure the kid will be a big help. -Hollien]
“… Kid?”
In bewilderment, Ryu Han-bin saw the old man again.
He had aging spots and wrinkles on his face. He looked like he was around his 70s, but Hollien called her a kid?
The old man grinned.
“It’s because I studied under the Fairy Queen when I was a kid. The Nymphs have lived so long that this happens often.”
Han-bin belatedly confirmed his stats with the Guideline, leaving him surprised.
[Race: Human. Spiritist Lv. 121]
‘Level 121? Was there such a powerful Spiritist in Latna?’
Just in time, Leon Hart entered the hall.
He came after hearing that an unidentified guest had come.
As soon as he saw the old man, he was surprised.
“Oh, my God, what brings you here? I hope you are doing well.”
Seemingly knowing each other, the old man greeted him back gently.
“Long time no see, Leon Hart. You’re still young. I envy you. You are indeed Blessed by the Goddesses.”
Han-bin and Kibie glanced at them, hoping he would tell them who he was.
Leon Hart pointed to the old man.
“Let me introduce him. Plater Cabane, head of the Sages, the Spiritist Guild Headquarters.”
It finally dawned upon them.
There was one more powerful being above level 120 in the current Latna.
He wasn’t well-known because he preferred to grow old silently, but he was a skilled Spiritist who was on par with Leon Hart in terms of levels!
Of course, Kibie already knew of his existence.
How could she ignore such a high-level person?
Nevertheless, she had excluded him from the list of options they had.
“You are the Guild Leader of the present-day Spiritists.”
Her eyes grew cold.
“Why did you suddenly change your mind? Didn’t you ignore the Church’s request all this time?”
Seemingly apologetic, the old man bowed his head.
“I’m sorry, incarnation of darkness. This body was foolish enough to turn a blind eye to the truth.”
He was a direct disciple of the Fairy Queen Hollien, who succeeded her as the Guild Master of Sages.
For him, Han-bin’s party and the six denominations were the bitter enemies who had defeated his beloved teacher.
Hence, there was no way he would cooperate.
He concluded that Kibie was a fake incarnation and cut off exchanges with the Churches.
Thanks to that, the current Spiritist Guild was divided into three factions: the Church, Guild, and neutral groups.
“Recently, my teacher told me the truth.”
Since then, he had put everything aside.
In the meantime, he did not forget the meticulousness of hiding his identity purposely.
If he joined the war, it would be known to the Thunder King and the Archmage.
The old man knelt.
“Dear incarnation of darkness, give your humble servant a chance to wash away his sins.”
Kibie’s expression relaxed.
He had a fully understandable attitude.
And in fact, she expected that much.
“I accept your atonement.”
With solemnity, Kibie reached out.
Holding her hand, Plater lifted himself.
Leon Hart didn’t hide his joy.
“Thank you, Lord Plater! Thanks to you, I see hope!”
The old man mumbled, feeling awkward.
“I’m not as familiar with combat as you, Leon Hart. So I am not sure how helpful I will be…”
“Enough. The spiritual arts of Lord Plater would be a great help.”
He didn’t mean to sound nice.
He was just telling the truth.
“We managed to get the numbers right.”
Looking back at Kibie, he smiled brightly.
“All that’s left is to carry out the operation.”
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