Chapter 297
Chapter 297
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 297
Chapter Title: Chapter 6-4. Azure Spear Knights
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Instead of chatting leisurely during their break, they each leaned against nearby trees to soothe their weary minds and bodies and fill their empty stomachs.
The lunchbox stored in the <Bag> was still warm and tasted great. While eating the food from the lunchbox with a fork carved from wood, he checked the messages he hadn't been able to read earlier and had dismissed.
'Nothing to check for Yakal.'
He had simply been recognized as its owner, with no special stat increases. Instead—though whether it could be called that or not—he had learned a swordsmanship called [Sword Demon's Secret Technique].
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[Sword Demon's Secret Technique (Growth)] - Rank: A / Proficiency: 1/10
Before creating the fragments, Perlnen was once called the Sword Demon.
To fight with a frail human body and limited mana, he needed to maximize efficiency with minimal movements, and fortunately, he had as much talent for wielding tools as he did for creating them.
Over time, he completed his own unique swordsmanship.
However, the skill obtained as a fragment infused with his memories and experiences is incomplete.
All swordsmanship power increases by 15%, but the user's defense decreases by 10%.
When using this swordsmanship with a fragment, power increases by an additional 10%.
└Thrust, Single Point
└Linked Technique, Ascension
└Vertical Slash, Falling Moon
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For now, it was just a decent skill, but with only three techniques available—and those being extremely simple ones—it wasn't all that appealing. Of course, if [Sword Demon's Secret Technique] were fully grown later, it would live up to its fame as a swordsmanship created and used by a lord, rising to SS Rank. However, the process to grow it that far was tricky and difficult. He couldn't even fully master his current Shadow Swordsmanship and Heresy Arts, so there was no need to go wandering everywhere—and even risk crossing into the demon world—to complete this one.
He speared some food with his fork and put it in his mouth as he checked the other messages.
"......"
A cascade of messages flooded in, completely blocking one side of his vision. Because even unnecessary ones were popping up, he tidied them once and pulled only the essentials to the side.
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[You have acquired the twelfth fragment, Gaia's Earth!]
[Your current location has been automatically saved.]
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[You, as one of Perlnen's fragments, have learned several secrets, including the most important one! And you've even been able to speculate about that secret! Knowledge increases by 3.]
[You have defeated Basilisk di Deanol, the powerhouse of the Byron Empire, captain of the emperor's guard, the Spear of Judgment! Even though he had aged, the fact that he used the fragment's hidden power proves he was undoubtedly a very powerful foe! Stamina increases by 2, Charisma and Leadership by 3 each!]
[Level increased by 3.]
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「Status Window」
[Name: Judah Arsher]
[Title: Honorable One (5)]
[Level: 65]
[Job: Black Claw _ Shadow Magic Swordsman (Hidden A)]
[Revival Count: 27]
[Strength: 72 (B) / Potential A]
[Stamina: 63 (B) / Potential S]
[Agility: 82 (A) / Potential SS]
[Mana: 54 (C) / Potential B]
[Mana Resistance: 72 (B) / Potential S]
[Charisma: 43 (C) / Potential A]
[Leadership: 33 (D) / Potential S]
[Sense: 66 (B) / Potential B] ◀ Special
[Knowledge: 31 (D) / Potential B] ◀ Special
[Luck: 89 (A) / Potential S] ◀ Special
[Remaining Points: 6]
[Achievement Points: 2]
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[Defeated the Spirit Sword owner and absorbed part of his soul.]
[When summoning Shadow Heresy Arts, 9th Form - Dancing Wraith Knight, you can imbue it with Basilisk di Deanol's soul.]
[Shadow Heresy Arts 9th Form - Dancing Wraith Knight]
└ Spirit Sword owner soul: Quake, chieftain of the Red Bear Tribe (greatsword _ two-handed sword)
└ Spirit Sword owner soul: Ort, Platinum Plate mercenary (sword _ longsword)
└ Spirit Sword owner soul: Spear of Judgment, Knight Captain Basilisk di Deanol (spear _ halberd)
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Despite it being nothing special, messages kept piling up. Judah swallowed the food he'd been chewing for a while and let out a breath. It felt like he'd gone through a lot of hardship, but for all that effort, it seemed like he hadn't gained much.
'Just my imagination?'
Thinking it over carefully, he'd not only gotten the fragment Rudmillan he'd originally aimed for, but also the one Basilisk had, plus slight boosts to other stats... And from this incident, he'd confirmed the existence of hidden power in the fragments and the severe shortage of mana. So he'd definitely gained a lot. The lingering unease was probably just a mood thing, or maybe because tricking Organ and Karikteser once wasn't enough.
Judah finally checked the stats of the twelfth fragment he'd obtained by defeating Basilisk: Gaia.
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[Name: Twelfth Fragment - Gaia]
[Grade: Legend_Myth]
[Equipment: Halberd]
[Attack Power: 155]
[Effects]
Strength +10, Agility -5, Stamina +3, Mana -3, Mana Resistance +3
Stamina recovery speed +20%, stamina loss -30%.
Mana consumption +30%.
Attack speed -10%, movement speed -5%.
[Description]
The twelfth spear created among Perlnen's heart fragments. A single swing can split the earth and cause earthquakes like natural disasters, making it a highly powerful fragment. However, it is significantly heavier than a normal spear and consumes more mana compared to other fragments. Perlnen rarely used Gaia compared to the others. The authority granted to the heart fragment is "Earth."
'It's heavy...' - Perlnen's words after completing the fragment, Gaia.
-Tracker (Active): Slam the ground to unleash three slashing waves. The slashes track the target like living beings. Consume additional mana to unleash up to six slashing waves.
-Giant's Hand (Active): Create a hand of stone and earth to attack the opponent.
-Judgment (Active): Slam the spear into the ground. An intangible shockwave shoots out in a straight line, tearing the earth apart left and right.
-Battle Continuation (Passive): Grants the will to continue fighting even if arms or legs are severed.
-Stun Immunity (Passive): Immunity to stun from external attacks, pain, or mental shocks, excluding stamina depletion.
-Earth Armor (Passive): Reduces physical damage taken during battle by 30%.
-Earth Authority (Passive): Consumes significant mana but allows control of the earth at will. Depending on mana consumed, from shaking the ground by stomping to tearing it apart like an earthquake.
-Spear Mastery (Passive): Perlnen's memories and experiences of wielding the spear remain in the fragment. Makes wielding spears more proficient. Proficiency increases the longer you hold a spear.
└Sword Demon's Secret Technique (Hidden): If learning this skill, it can be used with spears instead of swords.
-Demon Hunter (Passive): When fighting demons, weapon attack power +25%, and all stats including special stats +2. However, boosted stats cannot exceed 99.
-Slayer (Passive): Against medium or large giant beings, damage dealt +20%, and general stats increase starting from the lowest: +4, +3, +2, +1. Stacks with Demon Hunter, but max stats cannot exceed 99.
-Twelfth of Perlnen's Twenty-Four Hearts (Passive): The power of the twelfth heart among the twenty-four is "Earth."
-Inheritance (Passive): Collect all 24 weapons made from Perlnen's heart to inherit Demon King Perlnen's power.
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'Hmm...'
He read the fragment description several times, but there was no mention of the power Basilisk had used. The only thing was that Sword Demon's Secret Technique could be used with a spear instead of a sword.
What was it?
The system message had indicated hidden power in the fragments, so there must be some setting he didn't know about. It might be good to ask Sian if he met him, but he didn't seem like the type to answer. Judah slowly retraced Basilisk's actions.
Chewing on the wooden fork with his teeth, Judah paused at 'crunch crunch?' Then he remembered: Basilisk had thrown off his helmet and dumped something from his pocket into his mouth. He hadn't seen what it was, but given the crunching sound, it was probably not a pill.
'Then what effect did that pill have on his body?'
"Judah. Not hungry?"
As he pondered, Arhil spoke up from beside him. She tilted her head, eyes wide, staring quietly.
"No, it's not that..."
About to speak, he glanced at Arhil's lunchbox and saw it was completely empty. His own was still half full. She was the slowest eater, so if she'd finished, Iris and Lime must have been done long ago.
Turning to look, Iris held two empty lunchboxes. It didn't seem like much time had passed, so Judah picked up his fork again.
"Sorry. I was just thinking for a bit... I'll eat quickly, so wait a moment."
Judah hurriedly emptied his lunchbox.
"Eat slowly."
Arhil smiled beside him, and Judah nodded. He figured his face looked exhausted, but hers was bright, showing no sign of it. Earlier, when he'd seen her expression stiffen while watching him and Iris massacre the Azure Spear Knights and soldiers during the escape, he'd worried, but now that the tension had eased and she was smiling, she seemed fine.
Then Iris offered water from the side. Judah had his own, but she lightly shook the bottle as if urging him to drink.
"Thanks."
Unable to refuse, he took and drank the water she offered. Lime watched, chuckling.
"Man, I'm jealous. Getting attention from two ladies like that. If I'd brought my wife, I wouldn't be getting side-eyed watching this."
"W-what are you talking about!"
Arhil flushed red and yelped. Iris showed no reaction, simply pulling out a notepad and pencil, scribbling something, and showing it to Lime.
"......"
Lime, smirking smugly, read the note, then nodded with a slightly stiffened face. Judah and Arhil were curious, but Lime said nothing, and Iris didn't show the notepad. She zigzagged over the words 'I don't like being teased, so if you want to see your wife alive, stay quiet' with the pencil to erase them.
After finishing the lunchboxes, Lime roughly dug a hole in the ground with magic right there and buried the empty containers and utensils. Being wooden, they'd rot on their own anyway.
"Ah-"
Letting out a long breath of satisfaction, he turned to look behind. Some time had passed since the teleportation, but no pursuit from the Byron Empire yet. Come to think of it, he hadn't seen any warlocks. They probably thought Karikteser's fragment, Moonlight, was enough to handle it, so no warlocks were brought along.
With Basilisk dead and Judah and Iris having killed quite a few Azure Spear Knights and soldiers, they'd need time to handle the aftermath, so they wouldn't chase immediately. Of course, Organ and the saint's group might move independently without caring, so caution was needed.
'If Metatron is watching me, he might let me know my position.'
Suddenly, Judah clapped his hands sharply, drawing attention. Then he smiled brightly and said,
"Alright, let's go."