Chapter 147
Chapter 147
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 147
Chapter Title: Ashen Blossom
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Kallias had clearly entered the first floor.
But the place he emerged from underground was a little ways from Agatodo.
Some sections of the ascent to the surface had collapsed, probably due to age.
Thanks to that, it was full of sand, so rather than searching for stairs, he made his own.
He created ice stairs with Lament and climbed right up, emerging a short distance away—which was how he ran into Philo and Aldu, who were trading in Agatodo.
"I see. So Philo struggled on the 24th floor, and Aldu on the 30th."
The 20th floor trained the body among the heart-qi-body triad, while the 30th delved deeply into training both qi and body.
'I figured a dragonkin like him would breeze through the 20th, but that's unexpected.'
Even Aldu was a surprise.
He thought Aldu would clear at least the 30th, so was the tower's difficulty higher than expected?
'That might be part of it, but...'
It was simply their level.
Honestly, reaching around the 30th floor was respectable.
It meant they possessed skills slightly superior to typical captain-level knights.
Considering the continent's state and timeline, their level wasn't low at all.
It was perfectly appropriate.
By this point, Kallias's own explosive growth was the anomaly.
'Well, I didn't expect to convince Titeo this quickly either.'
When he first set out from Karpe, he'd allotted quite a long period.
Three years to master level.
He planned to wander the continent, build his strength, reach his limits, and then challenge it.
But acquiring fairy power changed his thinking a bit.
The enlightenment from the Golden Lion, Lloydren: the secrets of Golden Lion Aura and Piamhwa.
Then, hypothesizing a technique to infuse fairy power and dragon power into divine power within a single strike—and ultimately realizing it with conviction.
Piamhwa was originally a technique that unified two opposing forces.
He believed full dragon-fairy incarnation could handle it, allowing him to contain it all in one strike.
'It was probably mostly intuition.'
The thought that it was possible.
In other words, his intuition had surfaced like evening haze.
Of course, just because it was possible didn't mean he could attempt it recklessly.
After several trials, Kallias gradually gained confidence in his idea.
And finally.
The technique that had existed only in his mind was perfectly recreated at his fingertips.
It was the result of all his sword insights interlocking and fusing.
Kallias took great pride in the new technique he'd birthed and the realm he'd achieved.
He, who had relied on his past life's knowledge just to survive pathetically.
This was a realm and power he'd achieved himself, not gnawing away at the story's setups like a rat.
How could he not be proud?
'Of course, it's still unstable.'
In terms of sheer volume, divine power dominated.
But in purity or total output, it was different.
Dragon power, the most domineering, was minimal in capacity but overwhelmingly fierce.
A power hard to control.
Unlike dragon power, fairy power lacked that ferocity.
It was fluid instead.
Yet that made it unpredictable.
Like a brute who blindly unleashes power versus one who seems obedient but suddenly pranks you.
A power that erupted ceaselessly or shifted endlessly.
Divine power wrapped around them both, controlling and soothing—that was the remnant.
A unique energy only Kallias could create in this world.
He named it remnant, hoping it would linger forever.
It suited the swirling ash too.
Remnant was powerful.
But problematic to wield at present.
'Remnant is strong, but hard to handle.'
Kallias had never seen a more potent energy. He trusted it utterly, yet it could only be sustained briefly.
'If remnant's balance falters, it can only be used once.'
A trump card for a single use in battle.
Flower Breaking Path in remnant state.
'No, hard to call it Flower Breaking Path.'
Similar form, but not worthy of the true name.
Compared to Stella's Flower Breaking Path a millennium ago, it was entirely different.
A new name...
Ashen Blossom (￣擩華)
A flower dyed ashen.
In its current state, using Ashen Blossom was limited to once.
More could make the tri-forces dwelling in his unstable full dragon-fairy incarnation run rampant.
His frail heart and body in heart-qi-body couldn't endure it either.
With his current heart power, Ashen Blossom was once at most.
Of course, growing and mastering dragon and fairy power would change that.
It was a newly breakthrough technique with many constraints.
"Kallis, so you haven't even entered a floor yet?"
Snapping from reverie at Philo's voice, Kallias nodded.
"I broke through the first floor, gained enlightenment, and retreated to a nearby cave to review it. I achieved much thanks to that."
"Ooh... congratulations!"
Aldu stroked his beard, rejoicing as if it were his own, while Philo tilted his head and scratched his.
"I don't see much difference."
To Philo, Kallias's aura seemed unchanged.
If anything, less present.
'He looks weaker.'
Weaker than before.
When he first appeared, Philo wondered if he was injured.
Yet stronger...
Hard to believe easily.
"He's approaching master level. As he builds his presence, he grows more like nature itself. That's why we can't sense his aura well."
"I-is that so?!"
That made it impressive.
As Philo gazed admiringly, Kallias chuckled and passed them.
"Where you headed?"
"Agatodo. Since I'm here, I should take on the tower's trials."
"Want some of this?"
Philo offered meat wrapped in leaves. Kallias's eyes flicked between the meat and Philo's tail.
"Your tail?"
"Yeah. Salted, tastes great. No charge!"
He offered it generously, but Kallias felt awkward.
His moniker: tail-cutting Philo.
Tails regrew.
Not all dragonkin, but Philo's regeneration was exceptional—perhaps a trait.
'Useless trait...'
Thinking that far, Kallias accepted the tail meat.
No intent to eat, but refusing looked bad.
Philo grinned satisfied, Aldu chuckled stroking his beard.
"If you're climbing, let me check your sword?"
"Hm. Here."
Kallias handed over the Devouring Sword.
Its teeth had all fallen out fighting Bladi, so Aldu the dwarf could tune it up neatly.
Left alone, it'd recover absorbing blood, but Aldu could make it better.
"Ooh, no ordinary sword."
He seemed to recognize the half-demon sword.
Half or not, a demon sword was a demon sword.
But Aldu didn't mind. Church doctrine varied on demon swords.
Kallias headed straight for the tower.
"Conquer it all while you're at it!"
Receiving Philo's send-off, he flung open Agatodo's gates once more.
"For now..."
Straight to the 60th without rest.
The tower relied mostly on wooden puppets overall.
Puppet quality rose with floors, costing the tower dearly.
'Not my concern.'
Anyway, wooden puppets aided challengers' training.
Kallias would use them to.
'Grow the Iron Lord.'
All knights within the sword.
Could grow.
* * *
Days later.
"Haha! Hahaha!!"
40th floor.
The Empire's Spear candidate, who'd spent most time there, brimmed with ecstasy.
The 40th trial was heart.
Awakening imagery—infusing will into weapons.
No different from nearing master: he'd mastered heart.
Luteon had done it.
His face shone, as if rewarded for efforts.
"Now I can infuse will into my spear."
"Yes. Thanks to you, Layer Lord."
Luteon bowed gratefully to the 40th Layer Lord.
"Your talent shines. Thanks to the gods suffice."
The Layer Lord praised his diligence.
No one cleared the 40th this fast.
A genius from youth himself, but Luteon's dwarfed it.
Under a month.
First time seeing such a youth awaken heart so quick.
"41st onward just tempers heart. Easy for you."
Hard part from 50th.
Then true heart-qi-body balance trials.
After that, 60th.
Master-only floor.
"Sorry to ask again, but no black-haired youth my age in the last month?"
"Yes. Haven't seen one matching your description in years."
Clenching his fist, Luteon exulted.
That guy can't beat me.
No matter how he bragged, a dullard grew limited. A shabby sword changed nothing.
This climb held much meaning for Luteon.
Doubts of self.
Uncertainty in path.
Rooted in jealousy, inferiority—but now overcome.
'I surpassed him.'
He's no rival now.
I'll stand with Empire's Spears.
'And...'
Then, to the Saintess.
Finally with pride.
"Hm? What..."
The Layer Lord's face twisted touching the communication orb artifact.
Mumbling, but nothing for Luteon.
Better not eavesdrop—leave politely.
As he reached for the door.
Kwang!
[Bow your heads.]
[Our lord processes.]
Two black knights in front.
Then steel-armored knights pouring in.
Numbers fit to call an army.
Luteon and Layer Lord froze, stunned.
'Strong.'
High overall caliber.
But the lead two especially.
Could duel Luteon evenly.
'What are they.'
Wondering identities.
As black knights lined left and right, one walked slowly at center.
At his entrance, Luteon's face twisted viciously.
Black hair flowing, impassive face, ashen eyes.
Owner to whom one-man-army knights bowed and pledged.
Luteon knew him well.
"Kallias!!"
Luteon charged.
Post-40th breakthrough, further grown.
Light feet crushed ground, spear hand weighed heavy.
No words.
Spear-thrust first—Layer Lord gasped at aggression.
But Kallias calm.
Luteon's single spear thrust.
Ferocity like dragon, will brimming.
Yet.
Whoosh! His spear missed Kallias. Vain whoosh through air.
Kallias's huge palm backhanded Luteon's cheek.
Slaaap!!
Whish! Kwarang!!
Slapped into wall, Luteon shuddered from impact.