Chapter 145
Chapter 145
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 145
Chapter Title: Iron Lord
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The energies that had filled the tower's space vanished in an instant.
All that remained was a faint warmth.
But that had long since turned to ash and settled on the floor.
A single thrust of the sword.
With that, he had achieved it.
It was no careless strike.
A single sword strike containing everything he had ever possessed.
In the midst of unleashing it.
His time had briefly stopped.
The unified energy.
Now, all that he possessed had merged into one with the sword.
With the sword and I become one, my imagery gained will, fusing with new energies as I intended.
A phenomenon akin to magic.
The fire blooming from ash burns the core.
"The dragon seizes nature and wields it."
The fairy transforms nature and wields it.
The god unifies it.
Man becomes the vessel and thrusts it forth.
What was contained in his single sword strike was indescribably vast, profound, and delved into realms beyond comprehension.
Yet that was Kallias.
The sword aura of Flower Breaking Path cloaked in sword beam was the will of his imagery; its altered nature was fairy power, and its seizing and tearing was dragon force.
The ash Kallias created took the form of Flower Breaking Path, yet it was different.
It held heat, but not the property of fire.
It was a technique blending highly compressed sword beam, fairy power, and dragon force, ceaselessly ripping from the body's core.
Cells torn at high speed generated heat, making it seem as if it were burning away.
"As expected."
He had merely infused Flower Breaking Path and White Mist, along with Piany Blossom and Hundred Cuts Blossom, into one.
All of it into a single strike.
All energies into a single strike.
The wills contained within them into a single strike.
Only that.
Thus, Kallias transcended limits and forged his own imagery.
He became a transcendent and a master.
Transcendent, for surpassing the bounds of his kind.
Master, worthy of the respect of all.
Swordsman, limited to the sword.
Kallias opened the world.
At last, he faced it squarely.
Stepping into the realm of transcendence, he felt profound satisfaction.
[You have transcended the limit of qi...]
[You have transcended the limit of body...]
[Your core has rapidly grown...]
[Balance of the core-body has been achieved...]
[You have ascended to the transcendent realm.]
[You have defeated [Weeping Fallen]. Rewards are granted.]
[You have conquered the tower's darkness. Rewards are granted.]
Kallias dismissed the alert windows and stepped forward with steady footfalls.
The throne where he had stood was long gone.
All that remained was a sword floating in the air.
Kallias sheathed Roas and gazed at it briefly.
A slightly oversized bastard sword.
Its blade was well-balanced, its crimson edge ominous.
The crossguard was unusual—one side extended like a wing, perhaps symbolizing Titeo's severed hand.
Yet it posed no issue in use.
『Iron Lord』
Grade - Fallen
Soul Within - Weeping Fallen
Unique Ability - Fallen Redemption.
「Fallen Redemption」
-The fallen one who became a sword itself extends a hand of salvation. If there are bones and souls of the departed, it revives them as iron knights.
「Iron Knight」
-Saves flesh and soul, raising them as iron knights. Newly born, they wield only half their former strength. Hand them their possessions from life, and they gradually regain power.
「Growth」
-Iron knights can grow.
「Demonic Sword」
-A sword made of the fallen. A demonic sword that corrupts its wielder.
【List of Possessed Knights】
Total Grand General ￣
Grand General ￣
Upper General: 2
General: 12
Elite Knight: 241
Regular Knight: 932
"As expected. They remain."
The corner of Kallias's mouth curved upward.
The reasons he had set out on pilgrimage to the holy site were these.
His own growth.
Knowing he was mere steps from master, and to prepare for the war years away, Kallias knew he must grow stronger than then.
Knowing the Empire now truly intended to eradicate Karpe.
He viewed masterhood as the minimum qualification and departed on pilgrimage.
And next was the Iron Lord.
Weeping Fallen.
Titeo.
Obtaining him.
Titeo was a rare merciful fallen one, kind-hearted.
Among true demonic swords, he was the easiest to acquire.
A true demonic sword.
One forged from a slain fallen one.
Demons must be hunted.
But how could one not even a master hunt demons? True demons were no force to underestimate.
'Had it been a thousand years ago, perhaps.'
Then, they spared nothing, corrupting all into demons.
Lowly, base things abounded.
But not now.
After the Dragon-Demon Great War.
Demons expelled the lowly.
Numbered, confined to the land of corruption, they fought among themselves to grow stronger.
Only one demon remained on the continent now.
Weeping Fallen.
Titeo alone.
He awaited one to hold him and his comrades; not defeat, but proof was needed.
Moreover, 『Iron Lord』
Contained within the sword were the reverse-turn heroes who shone a millennium ago.
"Now, war with the Empire holds no fear."
With the Iron Lord alone, war with the Empire became feasible.
Of course, victory was not assured.
At best, they were equals now.
'War isn't fought alone.'
In any case, his mood was excellent.
Kallias promptly summoned the iron knights.
"Awaken."
Thud.
Gripping it in reverse grip and stabbing the ground.
Black energy permeated the area.
Soon, soldiers rose from it.
'Not very iron-like.'
But unlike before, their forms were different.
Perhaps because it was not demonic energy infused.
"Better than corpses."
They appeared as knights armored in black steel.
At least, not walking skeletons.
Like black knights.
Just like regular knights.
Gray energy faintly visible between helmeted faces and armor gaps, but no major issues.
"Maintaining them is burdensome, as expected."
Sustaining over a thousand knights was quite the load.
Yet half a day seemed possible, and with divine power evolved beyond limits, no great problem.
[We greet the new lord.]
[We greet the lord.]
Startled by their sudden speech, he did not act rashly.
"Upper generals."
[Yes. I am Niol.]
[I am Garcia.]
Niol and Garcia.
Upper general knights, surely exceptional in skill.
"How strong are you?"
[With time to adapt and proper swords, we are confident we won't fall easily even to a master.]
Time to adapt and proper swords.
Without them now, they could not face a master.
Even with, only confident not to fall easily—like slightly better than the orc warlord met in the north.
Most iron knights held swords, but mere common gear.
'I'll need to procure weapons for them.'
Gather corpses for them in spare moments.
Lacking their lifetime weapons was regrettable, but sufficient.
"With you two together, you could hold one master."
[Depending on the foe...]
[Possible.]
Personalities differed.
Niol cautious, Garcia bold.
'As expected. Distinct.'
Just as anticipated.
Kallias vaguely recalled Niol and Garcia.
Those who guarded Titeo to the very end.
Most generals similar, but these exceptionally skilled.
Masters in life.
Now weaker than then, but he cared not.
They could grow.
And.
'They don't die.'
Exhausted in battle, they revert to the sword and merely sleep.
A tremendous advantage.
Undying means repeated life-and-death trials for growth.
Regaining former strength, of course.
Even surpassing it.
"You're Bladilo."
[Yes.]
He responded, but as a general, emotionless.
Other generals similar.
"Take it. It's yours."
[This is...]
Four-Directional Sword - Laituba.
Handing him the one from the 2nd floor elicited an emotional gasp.
[Thank you... Thank you.]
"Better now."
Seemed he lost some memories when his sword was taken in life.
Returned, he would grow more.
Afterward, he spoke to elite and regular knights, but little difference.
Elites understood, nodding and acting accordingly, though mute.
Regulars mute entirely.
"Regular knights are pointless."
Just consuming divine power for headcount, burdensome.
Kallias nearly released their souls but paused.
'Not mine to claim.'
Could not act freely.
Though their skill dissatisfied, all followed Titeo.
At least these.
'Must carry them to the end?'
For Titeo who entrusted himself.
Kallias bore the duty.
"No choice."
He merely unsummoned them.
Elites, regulars, even generals—reverting to the sword.
Ready to emerge at his call and fight valiantly.
"Niol, Garcia—stand guard."
Niol and Garcia seemed almost human.
Bound to the sword, they could never betray Kallias.
No need for doubt.
[Understood.]
[As you will.]
Satisfied with the sword's details, next: assess gains and body.
Quest rewards aplenty, transcendent master now—time to deeply examine growth.
「Kallias von Jervan」
「Title」 - Hero of National Salvation
「Class」 – Pilgrim
「Divine Power」 – Grade 2
「Sacred Power」 – 17905/32104
「Talents」 – 【Blessing of the Bard】 【Instinctive Intuition】
「Traits」 - [Gratitude] [Noble's Duty] [Death-Time Insight] [Church's Black Sheep] [Big Eater] [Three-Color Eyes] [Spirit Fragrance] [Fairy Power] [Dragon Force]
「Constitution」 - 『Bone Fusion』
「Stats」
Strength – 102 (30) ▶ 201 (30)
Agility – 86 (30) ▶ 186 (30)
Technique – 22 ▶ 52
Vitality – 89 (30) ▶ 232 (30)
Faith – 95 ▶ 100
Divine power quality reached grade 2.
Stats nearly doubled overall.
Vitality surged especially.
Technique notably improved.
'Due to dragon force and fairy power.'
Influenced, it seemed.
And traits.
'Fairy power and dragon force as traits.'
Likely from Bone Fusion during their fusion.
No trace of fairies' presence in the lower core.
Instead, one of the Manhwabongyuk buds formed.
If colored, merely silver—now one purple, one red.
The massive bud atop turned gray.
'Changed upon reaching the fourth bud.'
Unclear details.
Memory of breaking walls hazy.
Surrendered to sensation alone.
Presumably.
"In the blending, they dyed one by one, forming the foundation for the fourth bud."
Likely so.
From lowest core upward: first, second, third buds slowly ascended; fourth bloomed in mid-core.
'Total mess.'
Divine power, fairy power,
Dragon force jumbled chaotically.
Barely not repelling each other.
By core-body, qi overly vast, imbalanced.
Like a bomb implanted, ready to burst.
Manhwabongyuk totals six buds.
Fourth bloomed—increase fairy and dragon force proportions for harmony, priority.
'Fairy power fine, but dragon force too meager.'
Dragon force urgent.
With one dragon bone, extract and absorb its force—not bad.
Insufficient; long-term proximity to dragons and fairies to grow both.
Frankly, no backlash using dragon force via Bone Fusion was boon enough... but instinct warned against leaving as is.
'Still, no backlash worry is good.'
Gray sacred power.
Likely unique to him in this world.
"For a while, I must stabilize the energies."
The holy site's tower.
Agatodo's depths, endpoint of giants' spears. With Titeo gone, sacred power brimmed more than anywhere.
Ideal for training.
Time flew; a month passed.