Chapter 330
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 330
Chapter Title: Krash Receives His Title
Ixion's Auric Realm went berserk.
As a result, the Empire suffered the greatest casualties in its history.
Ordinary citizens devoured by the Auric Realm had no way to fight back.
Even beyond ordinary citizens, several nobles met their ends as well.
Most of them were provincial nobles from lands far from the capital.
In the midst of the Empire's chaos.
Reinforcements arrived for the rampaging Auric Realm that no one could control.
It was none other than the Valheim Knights—an order long known as the Empire's sworn enemies.
Valheim direct descendant Lilish Valheim and the Guardian Sword themselves led the knights into battle.
They charged straight for the Auric Realm and forced it into submission.
In the process, Sephira—the specialists in World Erosion—joined the fray, working to bring the Auric Realm under control.
Was it because the Valheim from rival kingdom Staron had stepped up?
Ironically, nations around the world began sending aid to the Empire.
Those who had initially watched from afar, thinking the Empire's downfall would suit them just fine.
Now felt a real sense of crisis as even Valheim and Sephira mobilized.
The response from Ixion's side was one of utter bewilderment.
Originally, Ixion had planned to topple just one empire.
But they never anticipated that even nations on poor terms with the Empire would lend support.
The tide of battle decisively turned in the Empire's favor.
The Auric Realms began to stabilize far faster than Ixion had ever imagined.
The spark that was Valheim ignited far more change than anyone expected.
Ixion's scheme to destroy the Empire had failed, forcing them into a hasty retreat.
But some whispered otherwise.
Wasn't Ixion pulling back too quickly, almost as if they had accomplished their true objective?
Either way, the moment the final Auric Realm ceased its rampage.
The Empire at last regained its peace.
But peace came at a cost.
One of the Empire's Ten Strongest Under Heaven.
Fierce King Guon Bakra had thrown himself recklessly against the Auric Realm and a World Erosion beast, meeting his end.
His heroic stand deeply moved the hearts of all, solidifying Ixion as the Empire's undeniable foe.
Provincial noble factions seized the moment, most clamoring to join the central noble powers.
With a colossal force like Ixion liable to strike again at any time.
They needed to align with the central nobles to safeguard their lands and lives.
Especially the death of Fierce King—the pillar of the provincial nobles—heightened their fears.
While scholars debated that the Empire hadn't purely suffered losses in the affair.
One hero's name rose above the rest in an unexpected quarter.
Mary Diana.
The woman who, in the past, had fallen to World Erosion and plotted to assassinate the princess.
She appeared out of nowhere and roamed the Auric Realms, saving countless citizens.
Though branded infamous as the princess slayer.
She had once been selected as a candidate for the Empire's spear.
As if her selection hadn't been for show.
She wielded power far beyond her years.
The sight of her diving alone into an Auric Realm to confront it left onlookers stunned.
People reevaluated her, claiming Mary Diana had turned over a new leaf.
In truth, she had simply heard of Krash's arrival in the Empire.
Grabbed her spear on a whim, hoping to lend even a little aid.
But with no way to know that, the masses sang her praises.
And unlike Mary, one name shone brightest as the new hero.
The man who slew the notorious Mad Dog and its kin—World Erosion beasts that invaded the Ragren estate.
Who appeared at the embattled palace in crisis and shielded the emperor alongside Sigrin Epania's sacrifice.
Krash Valheim.
A name that had long stirred the world into frenzy.
This time, amid the Empire's peril, it echoed louder than ever.
An feat no less than safeguarding the emperor.
Though bound by engagement to the imperial family.
He remained framed by Staron and Valheim.
Yet he cast off those chains and drew his blade for the throne and Empire alike.
This won him the fervent support of countless imperial citizens.
To a populace reeling from crisis, it made for captivating gossip.
Storytellers invoked Krash's name daily.
Rumors swirled that the Valheim Knights had mobilized at his persuasion.
That he confronted Valheim, arguing even an arch-enemy Empire's people couldn't be abandoned to death, dragging the knights along.
His heroism moved foreign powers to follow suit. And so on.
Tales ballooned wildly with each retelling.
Truth be damned—once on the public's lips, stories inflate.
Yet one truth held firm.
Krash Valheim's heroism.
On that, all accounts aligned.
Krash had already made his mark through prior upheavals long ago.
But this crisis etched his name indelibly, on a grand scale.
In the end, the people declared.
Krash Valheim deserved a title.
And they piled on.
With Fierce King's death leaving a vacancy among the Ten Strongest Under Heaven.
No one among them boasted such feats.
Shouldn't he claim a seat among the Ten Strongest?
The chatter showed no signs of stopping.
Of course, not everyone welcomed it.
As the Auric Realm crisis wrapped up, December passed, ushering in a new year.
Krash Valheim was now seventeen.
Was it right to grant the Ten Strongest seat to one so freshly adult?
Voices warned it might breed bad habits if bestowed too soon.
Others countered that the Ten Strongest honored skill and deeds above age.
Ignoring him for youth alone would harm the world's standing.
Debates raged over an undecided matter.
But on one point, all agreed.
One of such deeds warranted a fitting title.
And so, amid eager anticipation.
After heated deliberations, Krash Valheim's title emerged.
The Valheim hero who saved even the White Dragon-blooded imperial house.
No moniker could suit him better.
Sword Dragon
Among those later dubbed the Generation of the Sky.
This marked the moment Krash—excluding Charlotte—first earned his title.
* * *
Raheln Academy's infirmary.
A man with deep steel-blue hair lay there, eyes closed in sleep.
"Sword Dragon, how long are you gonna sleep?"
A woman with sunlit golden hair roused him.
Astria Stigma Freeman.
The woman once hailed as saint gazed down at the youth.
Sensing her stare, Krash cracked his eyes open.
"Don't call me that."
"Why not? You earned the title—gotta use it plenty to get used to it."
"Wipe that grin off your face first."
Astria shrugged at his jab.
Then plopped her hips onto the edge of his bed.
"You really stirred up a storm everywhere, didn't you? What's your plan now?"
"Just did what needed doing."
"And that's why your body's a wreck?"
Krash averted his gaze from her piercing stare.
She wasn't wrong—his condition was a disaster.
The backlash from tapping into his aura core had shredded his body in places.
Sigrin had wagered her future on a killing blow.
To overpower her, Krash had thrown everything he had into the fight.
Even spoiled bonito held power—and Sigrin had once stood at the pinnacle as a regressor.
Krash briefly recalled Sigrin, her head sent flying.
Was it their tangled karma?
That moment lingered deep in his mind, unshakeably.
This ordeal also drove home Ixion and Abella's threat once more.
'Ixion's set on becoming the world's enemy.'
Perhaps this chaos was meant to stoke the world's hatred for World Erosion beasts.
Drawing them to Ixion's side in turn.
Word from Crimson Garden and Evel Ask confirmed as much—many World Erosion had already joined Ixion.
Ixion's doing, yes.
But it had the world viewing World Erosion as foes more than ever.
Hiding spots for World Erosion dwindled by the day.
'Does this mean war with World Erosion is inevitable?'
Krash gnawed his lip.
He couldn't fathom what drove madwoman Abella.
'Then I need to meet the Sword Sovereign fast.'
Fail to sway him, and every World Erosion would flock to Ixion.
War would be unavoidable.
"...You remember what I said? A full week of rest."
Astria cut in, having clocked his state.
She peered down intently, so Krash cleared his throat awkwardly.
At that, she hopped up—only to straddle his thigh firmly.
The blanket did little to dull the soft pressure; Krash's eyes flew wide.
Astria fixed him with a stare, her earlobes flushed crimson.
"Try sneaking out in the meantime. I'll pin you down so hard you won't budge."
"Astria, easy. I really do plan to rest."
Undeterred, she clamped his shoulders, staying mounted.
"Hmph, like I'd buy that? You always push too far."
"Come on, even I recover before moving."
"Doesn't matter. My heart skips every time the guy I like drags in like this. Show a little consideration."
He did feel bad about that.
Astria always faced him at his absolute worst.
"No worries. But there's one guy I gotta see if I can manage to move."
"...Haring Ragren, right."
Processed swiftly, Haring had been sent straight to Astria.
Midnight surprise patient or not, she'd begun treatment without a second thought.
Now stabilized, Haring slumbered deeply.
The brutal fight had ravaged his body beyond shrugging off the poison alone.
His flesh demanded rest to heal.
Krash needed to face him upon waking.
"Sigh, fine. Up to that, I allow."
His apologetic look drew a brief sigh from Astria.
No beating that face.
Petulance prickled her.
Her pulse raced just being this close.
Yet Krash seemed utterly at ease.
"...You know how hard I busted my ass healing you this time, right?"
"Yeah. Always grateful."
"Then reward my hard work."
Reward made him blink.
Astria extended her left hand smoothly.
"I want one too."
Krash wasn't dense.
He knew exactly what she craved.
"...Astria, I'm married."
Still deep in newlywed bliss.
Situation chaos had cut time with Bianca short, true.
But asking a honeymooner for a ring?
She huffed at his response.
"Who doesn't know? I officiated."
"And you do this to someone you know?"
"That's why I cleared it with your bride first."
Krash recalled Bianca dragging Astria along.
"Told her straight: as long as I can keep healing you and stand by your side, any role's fine."
Astria swore it was Bianca's earnest face.
Krash went blank for a beat.
He'd heard from Bianca, but hadn't dreamed she'd broadcast it.
Had she told the others too?
As he spaced out, Astria flicked her eyes to the ceiling before dipping low.
Her lips brushed his forehead; she sprang back up.
"That was a quick-heal spell!"
Her cute ploy left her face beet-red once more.
"Next time, have a ring ready! Or I'll make healing hurt!"
Never one to threaten skipping treatment, Astria bolted from the room.
Krash watched her go, sighing softly.
The path ahead felt a touch daunting.
Krash glanced outside.
Winter had yielded to blooming spring.
He was now a third-year at Raheln Academy.
Meaning some would graduate and depart soon.
'Graduation ceremony.'
The class above his.
Krash's sister, Charlotte Valheim's graduation loomed near.