Dragon's Breath (2)

Lucia hesitated for a moment before speaking.

"How could I ever bring you to the brink of death, Lord Yulian..."

Rozette's reaction was much the same.

"M-Me? Do that to you, Yulian? No way!"

They had already agreed to spar with me, but it seemed they hadn't expected me to ask for such extreme intensity.

Both of them like me too much. It's hard for them to truly attack me with full force.

But that wouldn't do. Time was short, and I had to master the breath within it.

Like tossing a cub off a cliff. I need the harshest training possible. Now that we've come all the way to the Primordial Forest.

This wasn't a joke. They truly needed to push me to the edge of death.

Only by drawing out my limits to the maximum could I extend the dragonkin transformation time that still fell short by thirty seconds.

Besides, both were powerhouses of the Pantheon, heroines of Fate Grade S.

If they came at me ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠in earnest, even I would feel genuinely threatened by their combined assault.

Both have improved dramatically since the Magic Alchemy War.

Lucia had fought a desperate battle alongside me against Reister. Rozette had battled Olivia's monster horde for days without sleep.

I'd seen Lucia's skill firsthand, and I'd heard Rozette's firepower had been astonishing.

Lilia's tactical commands had been brutally demanding.

But according to her, Rozette's mobility with the black magic staff and the immense firepower from her true blood witch lineage had taken down the horde.

And that wasn't all. I subtly checked the weapons ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠they carried.

First, Rozette's magic staff. The black staff—no, black magic staff—I'd personally made for her.

I wasn't in my right mind because of that voice... no, Knoya's curse...

That bizarre artistry I'd been obsessed with back then had actually helped block the curse temporarily, much like Eirin's service.

An artist's skill grows the more people appreciate their world.

Though my works couldn't be recognized as art in this era. Rozette alone had acknowledged that strange realm.

And so, the magic staff infused with my affection for her became the black magic staff.

It was no ordinary item.

Its grade had now reached Legend. A custom staff I'd made, yet it was like a mage's familiar.

Because it was molded directly from my precious possession.

Thus, as my fate to confront the foretold doom grew stronger, the staff seemed to gain power in tandem.

'Usable in various ways'... what does that even mean?

The system had even revealed the High Empire's special holy incantation and the nickname Rozette had secretly given her black magic staff.

Yuli? Way too cute for such a grotesque, dick-shaped staff.

It was undoubtedly a nickname derived from my name. Rozette probably cried out my name desperately every night while using the black magic staff.

Anyway, more importantly, the description before that. The black magic staff could temporarily buff the user's mana heart—a special item.

The staff perfectly replicated the bulging veins of my member, producing a unique enhancement effect like my own mana heart.

And Rozette herself has a special true blood witch lineage, like my Reinhardt blood.

So her training would undoubtedly be a huge help to me.

Rozette was currently a pure 5th tier mage. But with her unique constitution and the staff's buff, she could wield 6th tier power temporarily, just like me.

The power of a high witch.

In swordsman terms, equivalent to an Aura Master.

Of course, mana heart tier didn't define everything. Rozette's magical theory and proficiency were genius-level, earning her the title of all-time great.

Thus, she was not only the perfect training partner but also the ideal party member for infiltrating Grius's hideout.

Next up, Lucia.

I checked Lucia's sword the same way.

***

Lucia's sword had originally been a standard imperial sword.

Unlike my longsword, she used a rapier. But now she held a different blade.

Akierin.

Lucia had started carrying a special sword since the Magic Alchemy War.

Wanderer's Sword Akierin. As the system described, Legend grade meant it was no ordinary blade.

A special sword of ice crystal stone. And one that chose its master from previous owners.

Lucia rarely shares her personal history with me...

But I had a good idea where she got it. Before entering House Mei as an adopted daughter, Lucia had lived in the southern slums and had a swordsmanship master.

Lucia's mother, abandoned by Duke Pedro. An unnamed swordsman who fell for her mother and protected both in the slums.

I don't know who he is yet. But he's no ordinary man.

It seemed he'd gifted her this special sword.

But she only recently became able to wield it.

A Legend-grade sword wouldn't be easy. Her skills had skyrocketed after learning the Lucia Style with me.

And mastering Akierin would be a great boon for both her and me.

Ice crystal stone synergized perfectly with mana users, like manarite. Thus, Akierin had a mana acceleration effect.

Naturally, it was the perfect sword for her, who practiced the Lucia Style mana circulation.

Like Rozette, Lucia's current 5th tier mana heart would produce power beyond that.

So both could push me to the brink if they went all out. Even I, who could reach 6th tier without dragonkin transformation thanks to Sielertia.

Their combined assault meant I couldn't afford carelessness. If they were serious, I'd have to stake my life.

Perfect.

I said to them both.

"Grius's hideout will be extremely dangerous. Not just that Chris you saw, Lucia, but the Execution Squad's elites will be guarding him. So to sever Grius's head, I must master the breath."

They fell silent. At least a battle fiercer than the Magic Alchemy War was guaranteed there.

"So, will you lend me your strength? Let's all grow stronger together and return to the capital."

Their expressions turned serious. They could tell I meant it.

"Yes. Understood. I'll... not quite bring you to the brink of death, but I'll give my all in the sparring."

"Me too! I'll use everything I've got!"

I nodded. And for those two, I added one more promise.

"And if you push me properly to the brink. I'll make sure you both have very good dreams tonight. Meaning, in your dreams, I'll send you both to the brink."

"In dreams? What does that mean?"

While Rozette looked puzzled, Lucia seemed to grasp it immediately.

"I heard from Eirin that... since you bear the Demon King's blood, Lord Yulian, you can use incubus powers too..."

"Ah, that's what you mean."

Hearing Lucia, Rozette belatedly flushed.

Moments later, the two dove into training with me, utterly serious.

***

The three began training in the underground worship hall of Unir Temple.

Unir Temple had a unique shape. Like a small pyramid above ground. But the basement was that square pyramid inverted.

The tip of that inverse pyramid is this worship hall.

The priest had said the special structure focused the Primordial Forest's magi into the underground prayer room. Like a convex lens concentrating light.

Naturally, that magi affected the three as well.

So even in this short time, the mana and magi around me was incomparable to the capital.

Shwooooosh—

The buff from that magi affected Lucia and Rozette too. I barely dodged her swinging sword.

Lucia. Much faster than your usual swordplay.

Lucia had long surpassed formless swordsmanship, entering the realm of form. And the silver aura on her Akierin was undoubtedly aura.

The ice crystal stone's amplification makes its power absurd.

I'd barely evaded, but the chest ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠of my combat uniform was sliced by the blade's tip. And this wasn't just one strike.

It looked like a single thrust at a glance. But an astonishing speed thrust that stabbed ten times in an instant—a feint-filled variable sword.

Fall for the feints mixed in, and it's an instant lethal blow.

But in the form realm, even distinguishing feint from real attack was incredibly hard. I dodged instinctively, aiming a counter at Lucia.

A gap!

After evading nearly thirty thrusts, I created a counter opening. The black aura on Sielertia.

The moment its tip thrust toward Lucia.

Shhha-shhha-shhha-slash—

My strike didn't complete. A sharp slash flew from behind.

Damn!

Rozette's attack. I hadn't even sensed the mana movement. Only when the slash reached me did I notice, ducking my waist to evade.

A slash from the wind spirit!

Not a spell-cast magic. A spirit-empowered slash. Unlike normal spirits, it made no roaring wind sound.

A strike perfectly controlling surrounding air currents. Rozette's spirits had already neared spirit king level.

As a spirit contractor myself, I can tell.

Thus, their pincer attack continued. I couldn't relax for a second.

They had different instructors and no joint reserve squad experience. But in this worship hall, buffed by magi.

Both have womb tattoos. They can naturally absorb the magi.

So their movements were far faster than usual. Catch one gap, and the other exploits mine like now, preventing proper attacks.

Even at 6th tier with Sielertia. They're the same.

With black magic staff and Akierin buffs, relaxing even briefly meant not brink of death—but actual death.

Without dragonkin power, it's no walk in the park.

I'd intentionally excluded that power now. Pure Reinhardt blood. Human swordsman skill alone against them.

I needed to push harder to the limit. At that cliff's edge, my blood's potential would awaken further.

Especially the breath—it differed entirely from learning swordsmanship. Like unconsciously learning to breathe. My body needed to naturally awaken that massive power focus.

I must open all my body's senses. Only then can I absorb magi through my whole body for the breath.

But pinned on defense like this, I slightly regretted promising those wet dreams tonight.

Damn. Louiril and the Archduke of Gluttony are thrilled too...

Louiril anticipated a flood of lust in those dreams. I felt the two archdukes lending more magi through their womb tattoos.

At this ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠rate, I'd roll on the floor before sensing the breath.

Wait. Hate that.

No matter they're my future wives. I'm a Reinhardt. My instinctive competitive spirit boiled in this disadvantage.

I won't lose like this. That'd make me unworthy as a husband.

I gripped Sielertia tight. Then, unlike the current aura, magi rippled along the blade.