Chapter 179: Heritage Site of the Spirit Sword (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 179: Heritage Site of the Spirit Sword (2)
Beyond the dimensional gate lay a city.
Tantel stepped through the threshold and beckoned, and Jin followed close behind. Curiously, the moment he crossed over, the soft sand of the desert vanished, replaced by a solid floor beneath his feet.
Slosh.
Tantel uncorked a canteen hanging from his waist and offered it to Jin. Taking it naturally, Jin took a long swig, only to nearly spray the contents back out.
It wasn't water in the canteen; it was liquor.
It was a spirit so potent he had never experienced anything like it, even in his past life. It felt less like swallowing a liquid and more like gulping down a ball of fire. As Jin shot him a sharp glare, Tantel erupted into a boisterous laugh.
"Pwahaha! In our tongue, it is called Laprarosa. Humans used to call it the Black Light."
"Is that the name of this foul brew?"
"No, it is the name of this great city. Though, tsk, humans have never known how to appreciate fine alcohol, then or now. That is Jewel Liquor. It is made by refining diamonds through our own secret methods."
"Just give me some water."
Laprarosa, the Black Light.
What Jin was looking at was a city built during the golden age of the Pluto Tribe.
Laprarosa boasted a civilization so advanced it was hard to believe it had been constructed five thousand years ago. And it was extravagant.
A road of gold... I can see why so many adventurers braved the Great Desert in search of fortune, Jin thought, bringing a newly received canteen to his nose. This time, it was definitely water.
As he drank and looked around, he saw that the roads were paved with polished gold, and every building rising above them was adorned with gemstones. Usually, they were on the doors; every entrance was embedded with a jewel similar to the one set in Tantel’s chest.
"Tantel, what is that jewel on your chest? There’s an identical one on every door."
"A heart."
Tantel’s voice was tinged with a brief note of sorrow. Jin didn't press further and followed him down the golden street. What use was a city crafted from gold and jewels? Only two people, Jin and Tantel, walked the grand boulevard. No matter how brilliantly it shone, Laprarosa was a dead city—or perhaps a city frozen and forgotten.
The Pluto Tribe, who once boasted such a radiant civilization, had perished. Only a tiny handful had survived, barely drawing breath within a dimension created by Solderet. The jewels embedded in the gates of every house were the hearts that had once burned hot while their masters were alive.
After two hours of walking, the golden street came to an end. From where the gold ended, the ground became flat stone. On both sides of the road, massive stone statues commemorating the warriors of the Pluto Tribe stretched out endlessly.
"This path leads to the Fighting God Temple. As I said before, Jin Runcandel, watch your tongue in front of the brothers there. Understood?"
"I'll take it into consideration."
"Well, not all the brothers in the hall have earned the title of Fighting God or Fighting King."
"How many of the Pluto Tribe are left?"
"Seventy-seven, including the Fighting God and the Twelve Fighting Kings. All of them have been waiting for you within this frozen time."
"You sounded like you were ready to fail me just a moment ago."
"Even if it meant waiting even longer, we cannot teach those who do not meet the requirements."
The Pluto Tribe didn't seem to be a particularly honest race. Jin shrugged at the thought.
The Fighting God Temple...
A hall for the god of combat—an incredibly arrogant name. Nevertheless, Jin felt a surge of intense curiosity regarding the Fighting God and the Twelve Fighting Kings. It was because of the aura radiating fiercely from the Fighting God Temple, which was just beginning to come into view in the distance.
It can't dare compare to Temar’s aura, but it’s enough to send a chill down my spine.
Had it been before he trekked through the Great Desert, he might not have even perceived that chilling energy. Just by overcoming the three mirages, Jin had already achieved significant growth.
The Fighting God Temple was larger than any building Jin had ever seen in person. The outer walls, built from a blend of steel and stone, lacked a single extravagant decoration, yet the iron gates, as grand as castle walls, were embedded with countless hearts of the Pluto Tribe.
When Tantel placed his palm against it, the iron gate began to grind open.
Rumble...
"Oh!"
"Ooh!"
It wasn't Jin’s voice. The exclamations came from a group of the Pluto Tribe. They had been so anxious that they were huddled right against the gate, waiting for it to open.
"Has our disciple finally arrived?"
"Damn, he’s a cute one, isn't he?"
"It’s been a thousand years since Temar! A thousand years!"
Tantel pressed a hand to his forehead in embarrassment. It seemed the Pluto Tribe’s faces flushed red when they were embarrassed, just like humans.
Crazy... there’s no need to go as far as blushing.
Sparkle.
The eyes of the Pluto Tribe members staring at Jin were shining. Regardless of gender, they were all giants over two meters tall with sturdy builds.
"Brothers, how many times have I told you not to do this...?"
Despite Tantel’s words, the tribe members paid him no mind and showered Jin with attention.
"How old are you?"
"How do you like Laprarosa?"
"Have you eaten? What’s your favorite food?"
Seeing them chatter away in deep, resonant voices, it was hard to believe they were once the ancient overlords of the continent.
Surely there aren't any Fighting Gods or Fighting Kings mixed in among them. Well, I suppose there are talkative types everywhere.
While Jin was debating what to answer first, a woman suddenly hoisted him up. Jin tried to push her away, but he was no match for her raw strength.
What kind of power is this...!
He knew the Pluto Tribe was strong from stories and from his brief exchange with Tantel. But when he had crossed swords with Tantel, it hadn't been like this. Jin struggled with all his might to escape the woman’s grip, but she was as relaxed as if she were handling a small child.
Laughing heartily, the woman hoisted Jin onto her shoulders. This time, Jin couldn't help but turn a bit red, just like Tantel.
"The boy’s face is covered in soot! We must wash him first! Pelos, I assume the bathwater is ready?"
"Of course, 7th Fighting King!"
She was Belize, the 7th Fighting King of the Pluto Tribe.
"Let me down!"
Jin was about to shout, but he let out a sigh instead. Nothing good will come from resisting half-heartedly. Besides, everyone seemed to be genuinely welcoming him; there was no need to ruin the mood by throwing a fit. From now on, he had to inherit the 'Spirit Sword' from them. Jin had come to receive instruction, not to fight them.
"Excellent! Khaha! Who shall do the washing? Decide with rock-paper-scissors! The last one standing will have the honor of washing our historic second disciple!"
"Rock, paper!"
"Scissors!"
"Again, do it again...!"
They all seemed possessed by a strange madness. Tantel now had a dazed expression, as if he had given up. It was understandable, given they were meeting a new human—and the one to inherit the Spirit Sword, no less—for the first time in a thousand years. Though it was still hard to accept...
No, this isn't right. This is definitely not right.
If he left them be, one of these hulking giants would end up bathing him. Even at the age of one, Jin had hated being washed by Gilly.
"I will wash myself!"
When Jin shouted, the commotion stopped instantly. Every gaze turned simultaneously toward Jin, who was still perched on Belize’s shoulders.
"No, that won't do."
"And why not?"
"You are about to meet the Fighting God, and you cannot meet him in such a filthy state."
"You said the bathwater is ready, didn't you? I can wash myself just fine with that."
"Ah, it’s not enough. You must be perfectly clean, down to every single grain of sand in your ears."
"That’s right. Humans tend to be quite dirty. Humans are the type to wear clothes stained with filth and eat with hands covered in grime. They even eat spoiled food without a second thought."
Most humans in the Pluto Tribe’s memory were indeed like that. Their history had stopped five thousand years ago, and humans back then were far from hygienic.
"I am not like that."
Even as he answered, he felt the absurdity of the situation. Jin even had to spend some time explaining 'how well he washed,' while the Pluto Tribe listened intently, letting out skeptical hums.
"...You seem to know how to wash better than I thought."
"What shall we do, 7th Fighting King? He is resisting quite stubbornly."
"Hmm!"
Belize tapped her finger against Jin’s ankle. She was debating whether it was okay to let him wash alone.
"First, you will wash alone. Afterward, if you fail to meet our standards, you will accept our help without a word of complaint. Understood?"
"Understood."
He spent three hours scrubbing himself in the bathhouse located on one side of the Fighting God Temple. He bathed with such pathological thoroughness for fear of them finding fault, but in truth, Jin felt refreshed. It was his first bath since entering the desert, so it was only natural. The bathhouse was also stocked with fruit and traditional Pluto Tribe snacks, allowing him to have a light meal.
Looking around on his way back, the Fighting God Temple seemed to serve as a sort of plaza, contrary to its name. Most of the tribe members who hadn't come to the gate were gathered on the first floor, reading books or chatting.
"You passed."
Tantel said, handing Jin traditional Pluto Tribe clothing. It was an outfit tailored for the successors who would one day arrive.
"You wash well. I burned the clothes you arrived in."
"I never thought I’d be complimented on my washing skills here. Your kin are surprisingly noisy. I expected them to be like battle-crazed demons."
"We are people too. Time has been frozen for a thousand years since Temar, so everyone is just a bit excited."
As Jin moved to strap Bradamante to his waist, Tantel shook his head.
"Is it that I shouldn't carry a weapon when meeting the Fighting God?"
"That’s quite a leap. Do you really think carrying a sword would make you a threat to the Fighting God?"
"Then why?"
"Because you won't be using that sword here for the time being. I saw earlier that it seems to be a brother sword to the Barisada that Temar used, but you must use a different sword when learning the Spirit Sword."
"Why?"
"Because the sword will assist your spirit energy. You won't be able to train properly that way. We’re going to stop by the room where you’ll be staying before heading to the Fighting God, so leave the sword there."
The room Jin would use was simple. A bed and a small bookshelf were all it contained; unlike the city outside, the Fighting God Temple had nothing extravagant.
"When we go to the main hall, the 7th Fighting King you saw earlier will be there. But the atmosphere will be completely different, so don't be flustered and just answer what you're asked. As I said before, no unnecessary talk."
"When does the transmission of the Spirit Sword begin?"
"That is for the Fighting God to decide. The test you passed was merely the minimum requirement. The moment the Fighting God deems it too early, you might have to turn back the way you came."
Jin’s eyes sharpened at the thunderbolt of a statement.
"Everything about this is so arbitrary."
"Shouldn't you be prepared to endure that much to learn an arbitrarily powerful martial art? If we had faced the gods while possessing the Spirit Sword, the outcome would have been different from what it is now."
As they drew closer to the main hall, Tantel’s heart began to glow brighter and brighter. It seemed to be reacting to the aura of the Fighting God.