Chapter 57: Ludenberg Opened His Eyes
Ludenberg Lavante opened his eyes. Once again, the world of trials unfolded before him. The panorama of a ruined city. And once more, a highest-grade erosion beast the size of a massive building tore through the sky.
How's your condition? Think you can win today?
"Guess I'll find out when I try. By the way, Raha, I've got a question."
What are you curious about?
"Is this world of trials I'm in right now... the era when the Six Heroes were active?"
...How did you figure that out?
"Stumbled on it by chance. There was a painting of this era in the Sun Tower, and it matched the area I was fighting in exactly. The state of the destroyed buildings, everything was identical to what's right in front of me now."
The Sun Tower... I see. Yes, that's right. The time you're in now, when the Starting Knight was at his peak—that's exactly when the Six Heroes were active.
"Then in this world, can I encounter the Six Heroes?"
Ludenberg asked Raha in a rare excited tone.
Yes. But you shouldn't get too excited.
"Why not?"
Because it'll be quite different from what you imagine. Anyway, focus on what's in front of you. It's starting again.
As Raha said, the highest-grade erosion beast seemed to spot Ludenberg and stomped down toward him with one massive foot. It was the same attack as before.
But that didn't mean the next one would be identical.
Ching!
Last time, it had ripped pillars from its body and swung them. This time, it was chains. It had used chains before too, but only from its arms and shoulders—not wrapped around its entire body like now.
"Damn. Over every mountain, another one."
Ludenberg knew full well how vicious those chains were. After all, they'd been the reason he'd lost to the highest-grade erosion beast last time.
But if anything, that was good. If this were real life, he'd despair. But it was just a trial. He had plenty of chances.
Excruciating pain? He could endure that.
'Chains or pillars—go ahead, swing away.'
He swiftly dodged the foot stomp, and the beast began firing the chains coiled around its body at him.
Countless sharp, unbreakable chains surged toward Ludenberg, but he didn't blink. He fixed his gaze on them.
The next instant, he focused on the sword in his hand.
The key to facing this thing was the power and technique to sever its chains and tentacles. He recalled the sensation from slicing its leg last time.
He had to maintain that feeling throughout the fight.
Channeling power into his sword, he remembered the swordsmanship his future self had demonstrated. Savage swordplay focused on obliterating visible enemies—strangely familiar to this body.
Every step aimed to crush the foe's throat. This hyper-aggressive technique unfolded from Ludenberg's hands, slicing apart every chain that entered his range.
Slash—
'Good. Time to close in.'
The moment he severed the chains, Ludenberg leaped toward its leg.
Kagagak!
Behind the charging Ludenberg, countless chains and tentacles slammed down. He ignored them all and kept running.
His target: the legs. Sever both, and regeneration would take longer. The body would tilt.
That brief opening was what he aimed for.
'With this body I'm moving in now, I can climb it the instant it tilts.'
The legs were drawing closer. It lifted one to stomp, but Ludenberg nimbly evaded and targeted the other.
Concentrating on his sword, he swung at the leg just like before. No resistance—the erosion beast's limb cleanly severed.
Having done it once, there was no mistake.
As its balance faltered, Ludenberg sliced the other leg too.
Groooar!
The grotesque screech echoed as it toppled backward, beginning to regenerate. But Ludenberg didn't miss the gap.
He kicked off the severed leg rolling on the ground, leaped, and landed on the beast's tumbling torso.
It noticed and lashed out with chains, fists, and tentacles, but Ludenberg dodged and deflected them with unbelievable speed, climbing higher.
Finally, its legs fully regenerated, and the colossal body regained its posture.
Still, Ludenberg didn't stop. His original body couldn't have done this, but this was the flesh of humanity's strongest knight.
He imposed no limits on it. Actions and movements impossible for his own body—he trusted this one could handle them and executed flawlessly, reaching the chest in one go.
Unknowingly, his movements had evolved further, and he absorbed the sensation fully.
In that moment, Ludenberg realized it. He hadn't fully utilized this body yet.
Even his overwhelming talent hadn't gauged the Starting Knight's flesh properly.
He expanded his senses. The expansion he'd felt upon first entering paled compared to the torrent now flooding him.
He could even hear pebbles scattering on the ground far below, vividly.
Yet amid the sensory wave, Ludenberg maintained calm, extracting what he needed. Thanks to Raha's trials.
Thump.
Thump.
A drum-like pounding in his ears. Clearly the heart.
Location: right in front of him. Dead center of the chest.
How to pierce it? No long deliberation.
He trusted the Starting Knight's body.
Chains rained from everywhere toward him. Without hesitation, he thrust his sword where the heartbeat pulsed.
Something hard resisted, but the transcendent flesh pierced through.
Pfuk.
A deceptively simple sound. But the result was profound.
The swarming chains froze. Collapse began from the chest center.
Ludenberg swiftly retreated from the crumbling point.
Once he sensed the erosion beast's total annihilation, he collapsed to the ground.
Fatigue hit hard. Even this sturdy body struggled to kill a highest-grade erosion beast without taking hits.
Through the exhaustion, he finally felt real: he'd slain it.
He'd done it. Only possible borrowing the inscrutable Starting Knight's body, but he'd controlled it. Pure joy filled Ludenberg.
Incredible.
Raha's admiration rang in his ears.
"You were right. The Starting Knight... unreal. How does a body like this even exist?"
You're amazing too. Achieving this right after borrowing his body... Honestly, I think you're the unbelievable one.
"Is that so."
Yeah. Adapting to and moving a body far stronger than your own is usually impossible. The sensations are on another level. Even passing my trials, what you did is practically impossible. I figured you'd die dozens more times... I underestimated you.
"Don't overhype me. I've got a long way to go. So, is the trial over now?"
Raha shook her head at his question.
Not yet. You still have people to meet. And what you just went through is merely the starting point of the first trial. There's still a long way to go. I'm just sending you back for your mental strength and daily life.
Ludenberg let out a hollow chuckle at her words.
"Starting point of the first trial... Horrifying. Slaying a highest-grade erosion beast is just the beginning? And the people I have to meet—who are they?"
Snap.
The moment he voiced his doubt, Raha snapped her fingers, and his vision went black.
When Ludenberg opened his eyes again, he stood before the altar with Raha's jade throne.
"You'll find out soon enough. For now, let's call it here. The next trial will be in a different place. Even harsher, tougher. For the time being, remember the sensations from today's trial and train your body. That's the only way you'll endure the next one."
"Got it."
"Good work, Ludenberg. See you at the next trial."
"Yeah."
Ludenberg felt his consciousness fade and blacked out.
Ludenberg checked his body immediately upon waking. As expected, vitality surged through it. His flesh had grown stronger.
A body that should ache with pain felt none.
Come to think of it, he'd skipped personal training yesterday. The thought spurred him—he washed up instinctively and stepped out of the dorm.
The dim pre-dawn greeted him. He headed to the training grounds, sword in hand.
He recalled the sensation of moving the Starting Knight's body and tried to replicate it.
"...Ugh!"
But it didn't work right. His body creaked, movements faltering.
'Still not yet. Then this time...'
He attempted the swordsmanship from the dream, replicated in the Starting Knight's body.
Stepping forward, he thrust a precise yet ferocious strike.
'...It works!'
It did. The technique he'd struggled to perfect now manifested fully in his hands.
Weaker than the Starting Knight's version, but the form and muscle flow matched the dream exactly.
'Thanks to the trial. Without moving in that perfected body and sensations, I'd still be fumbling.'
His trial-enhanced flesh helped too. The persistent vitality let him match the aggressive motions.
His sword moved freer, steps lighter.
Ludenberg swung endlessly, entranced. Until dawn broke into morning.
Yet his body showed no fatigue.
Thus, he took another step forward.
A pleasantly windy night by chance. Martin Taylor, a somewhat sentimental knight who enjoyed night breezes, often took evening walks.
They let him witness amusing sights: knights reflecting on defeats to steel themselves, lovers comforting each other with stories. Sometimes fights too—the night's darkness stirred emotions.
He quite liked it all.
Reconciliation follows fights, victory defeats. And stories make them memorable.
What would he see today? Solemnute's daily vistas never grew old—subtle changes hid in the familiar.
Someone would fight, taverns buzz. Watching, enjoying, sometimes drinking... observing the diligent. It all converged on one thought:
I want to protect them.
How beautiful ordinary lives were. A trivial musing, yet it pierced a knight's core as conviction.
That was Martin's belief.
Anyway, night stroll. He'd seen joys; time to head in. Days end, days rise.
Passing the training grounds, he glimpsed a scene.
A boy with dark gray hair. Ludenberg.
What desperation drives you to swing that sword so?
Martin watched but didn't approach. Night training was solitary.
He simply observed the boy who'd stunned him before.
In his gaze, Ludenberg's swordsmanship shone—evolved.
No hesitation in thrusts, utter confidence in every action.
More astonishing: it surpassed the technique from days ago.
A realm of mastery. By swordplay alone, top among knights.
What the...'
Martin could only marvel.
What was swordsmanship? Endless training, trial and error, defeats—then growth.
Not just swords; all martial arts.
Yet mere days. Not months or weeks—days since their spar.
How?
If he hadn't gone all-out before, maybe. But Martin was certain: Ludenberg had.
That desperation couldn't be feigned.
Then growth in days? Incomprehensible.
Inscrutable. And watching, Martin realized:
'I'm ordinary too.'
Ordinaries can't grasp geniuses. Genius thoughts leap beyond.
But no jealousy for Ludenberg's talent.
Geniuses had their ways; ordinaries theirs.
Martin wasn't petty enough to envy a boy.
Just anticipation. For the wondrous swordsmanship the youth would forge.