The Man with the Backpack
Lucentia, the capital of the Empire.
Dazzling sunlight bathed the grand, towering buildings of the city.
The streets bustled with crowds of people, their faces filled with hope and excitement.
Among them walked a young woman.
Luna Silvertone.
Even amidst the dense crowd, her beauty stood out effortlessly.
She possessed flowing silver hair, a striking face, and an elegant stride.
Her clear, deep blue eyes and delicate features drew gasps of admiration from everyone she passed.
The gazes of the passersby naturally gravitated toward her.
Young and old, men and women alike—none could help but stare, utterly captivated.
"Good heavens, who is that young lady? She is absolutely stunning."
"She's dazzling... It takes my breath away. A goddess must have descended to earth."
Though exclamations of awe erupted from all sides, Luna had no time to pay attention to their reactions.
She simply kept her eyes forward, continuing her steady march.
Before long, towering spires and grand fortress walls came into view.
The Lucentia Imperial Academy—the Empire's premier military academy and the cradle of knights and mages.
It was a sanctuary where only those who possessed both exceptional skill and honor were granted entry.
Luna directed her steps toward this very institution.
Her heart was a turbulent mix of anticipation and anxiety.
She felt the thrill of finally entering the academy of her dreams, yet she also harbored dread for the upcoming entrance exam.
Normally, Luna was not one to worry.
After all, she was a born genius of the sword.
The clashing of blades used to echo across the training grounds.
Ignoring the sweat trickling down her forehead, Luna would fiercely thrust her sword at her opponent.
With swift movements, she would exploit any opening and pierce the target's vital point with a single, precise strike.
"As expected of Luna. With that level of skill, joining the knighthood is only a matter of time!"
"She truly is the rising star of our family. I can already picture the day she becomes the Knight Commander!"
Basking in the daily praise of her master and family, Luna had never once doubted her own talent.
She possessed the ability to manipulate vast amounts of mana at will, exceptional physical capabilities, and a delicate yet lethal swordsmanship.
Luna had believed in her genius more than anyone, confident in a brilliant future.
But all of it had crumbled in a single, fleeting moment.
An accident during a sparring match.
Luna collapsing, losing consciousness.
A sword plunged into her chest.
Her Mana Core had been severely damaged—an injury that even high priests could not reverse. Now, she could squeeze out only a meager trickle of mana.
As she lay in her hospital bed, all hope had vanished from her eyes.
Like blood draining listlessly from a wound, frustration and despair slowly consumed her mind and body.
I am finished. Now that I have lost my mana, I am nothing but an empty shell...
For a long time after that, she had shut herself away in her room.
Day after day, her past glory haunted her like a recurring nightmare.
Yet, Luna rose once more.
No matter how weak her mana had become, the core of her talent still breathed within her.
Yes. When it comes to swordsmanship, I yield to no one. I can start over with this talent alone!
Rather than trying to unleash devastating power in a single blow, she resolved to make a name for herself in the Empire once more through a swift, agile style of fast-sword techniques.
"I can do this."
From that day forward, she trained like her life depended on it.
"I reached this level through blood, sweat, and tears. I will definitely enter the academy with this swordsmanship. I will show everyone my true worth!"
Luna grit her teeth, steeling her resolve.
Entering the academy was a monumental challenge, but also a grand opportunity.
Even if she could only harness a mere handful of mana compared to before, she was confident she could earn recognition through her swordplay alone.
Still, the academy exam is clearly a major event.
The streets leading to the academy were flooded with a diverse crowd.
Every single one of them exuded an extraordinary aura.
"Hey, look over there. I heard that guy won the Northern Regional Sparring Tournament."
"Really? The winner of that famous tournament?"
"Yeah, that's him. I guess the academy really does attract the best of the best."
Two young men whispered to each other, pointing toward the tournament champion in the distance.
Their eyes burned with rivalry.
On the other hand, there were men clad in shabby armor, their bamboo hats pressed down low.
Despite their plain appearance, they radiated a strange, oppressive pressure.
They were likely from assassin guilds, or commoners who had forged themselves through countless hardships.
Of course, not everyone was like that.
"Hmph, a sparring tournament? Please. I am a direct descendant of the Linus family. Getting into the academy will be a walk in the park!"
Another young man scoffed, boasting loudly.
His fine attire and luxurious accessories made his high status obvious.
However, to Luna's eyes, his skills did not seem to match his big words.
Aside from him, there were several others who relied solely on expensive equipment without honing their actual abilities. None of them carried the presence of the truly strong.
As Luna scanned the crowd while walking down the street, her gaze suddenly locked onto a specific spot.
A woman clad in a red robe, and a man in black clothes brushing past her.
The magic tools hanging from the woman's waist exuded an unusual energy.
Upon closer inspection, the staff in her hand also looked extraordinary.
It was undoubtedly a high-grade magical artifact.
Yet, the woman herself did not seem to possess the mana to match it.
That woman is carrying items far too expensive for her actual skill level...
Just as the thought crossed Luna's mind...
She spotted a man striding purposefully toward the woman.
His eyes gleamed with greed like a beast stalking its prey, and his hand shot out with blinding speed.
A pickpocket!
In the blink of an eye, the man snatched the woman's belongings and bolted. The woman, realizing what had happened a moment too late, scrambled to give chase.
An ominous aura emanated from the fleeing man.
I must follow them. There is definitely something wrong here...
Without hesitation, Luna began to pursue them.
"Just as I thought..."
Reaching the back alley, Luna was met with the exact scene she had anticipated.
The woman lay collapsed on the ground, and the pickpocket was rummaging through her belongings.
"Oh? What do we have here? Today is turning out to be quite a haul," the man sneered, casting a sidelong glance at Luna as his lips curled upward.
He drew a dagger, radiating a cold, murderous intent.
"If you value your life, I suggest you put those items down immediately," Luna said, her voice calm and polite yet carrying an unmistakable edge of authority.
Sssring—
Luna slowly drew her sword, exerting a heavy pressure on her opponent.
The man scoffed and lunged forward.
"Try and make me!"
The distance between them closed in the blink of an eye.
Their blades clashed in midair.
Clang!
A sharp, metallic ring echoed in their ears.
In that split second, Luna vanished from the man's line of sight.
The thief panicked, as if his opponent had evaporated into thin air.
What...? She's gone?
As the man looked around in confusion, the sudden rushing of wind snapped him back to reality.
Whoosh!
With a swift movement, Luna materialized low to the ground beneath him.
Her sword thrust forward like a flash of lightning.
Her target was none other than the man's wrist.
It was a precise strike aimed at a vital point.
Before the man could even think of dodging, the blade pierced straight through his wrist.
"Aaargh!"
The man screamed, collapsing to the ground.
He rolled on the dirt, clutching his wrist in agony as his dagger clattered away.
"It is over," Luna said, looking down at him with cold eyes.
As she sheathed her sword, the blue sparks scattered around her began to fade.
Luna approached warily, but the man lay limp, having already lost consciousness.
She retrieved the stolen items and walked over to the fallen woman, gently helping her to her feet.
"Thank you... Thank you so much."
"Are you alright? Are you hurt anywhere?" Luna asked with concern.
The woman shook her head.
"No, I am fine. Thanks to you, I got everything back."
"Wait, there is another one."
Another figure emerged from the depths of the alley.
Luna quickly stepped in front of the woman, shielding her.
"Please run while I hold him off. It is dangerous, so hurry!"
The woman hesitated for a moment, but soon nodded and quickly fled the alley.
Luna watched her go, feeling a sense of relief.
Good. He doesn't seem interested in chasing her.
Luna tightened her grip on her sword, her body tense.
The newcomer was a man clad in a black robe, his eyes cold and sharp.
He held a longsword in his hand, and on his back hung a massive backpack—an accessory entirely unfitting for a swordsman.
Could that bag be filled with stolen goods?
Anger flared within Luna.
He must have plundered those items in the exact same manner.
"You there! I will ensure you never do this again!" Luna declared, leaping forward to close the distance.
"Wait! That's not it—"
Before the man could explain, Luna lunged at him with swift, fluid movements.
She swung her blade with lightning speed, aiming to disarm him in a single strike.
Clash!
The moment their swords collided, brilliant sparks erupted in all directions.
Luna staggered backward from the sheer impact.
An unbelievable force had traveled up her arm.
Such power... What on earth is this force radiating from his sword?
The man also stumbled, barely managing to block Luna's fierce onslaught.
"Please, just listen to me for a second! I think there's a misunderstanding—"
Though the man desperately tried to explain, Luna's attacks showed no signs of stopping.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Faced with Luna's relentless, high-speed thrusts, the man was gradually pushed back.
He was managing to deflect her strikes, but he looked heavily strained.
There! Now!
Seizing a momentary opening, Luna brought her sword down with all her might, aiming to shatter his guard and send his weapon flying.
Crash!
A deafening roar rang out as the two blades collided once more.
A blinding flash of light scattered in all directions.
But in that split second...
Snap.
The sound of something breaking echoed.
Luna's blade snapped in two, the broken half clattering onto the stone ground.
Unable to withstand the violent impact, her sword had shattered completely.
"T-This cannot be..."
Stunned by the sudden turn of events, Luna stood frozen, staring blankly at her broken weapon.
It had shattered instantly upon clashing with a sword that possessed no magic, nor even a reinforcement spell.
And to make matters worse, it had broken against the sword of a man who had done nothing but defend.
To Luna, this was utterly incomprehensible.
She had never seen her sword shatter like this before.
Not even during her basic training days long ago.
What on earth is that sword?
She stared at the man's blade.
A powerful, overwhelming energy was radiating from it—an aura she had never felt before.
It was an intimidating presence that no ordinary weapon could ever hope to possess.
Luna's face turned deathly pale.