Chapter 248
Chapter 248
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 249
Chapter Title: Surmounting the Wall
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Crackle!
'Urgh!'
Blood refluxed up from my intestines along my throat from the recoil surging within my body.
Even steel was useless against the shockwave my own body generated—it hit me raw and unfiltered, without a shred of mercy.
'Not... going to be easy.'
The wyvern's inner core.
It came from the one-eyed wyvern that had mocked Hatan's tribe and taken one of his eyes in their clash.
'Still... I have to make it work.'
I gritted my teeth and circulated the Earth cultivation method, wrapping the core's energy as I attempted to slowly chip away at it.
Hummm! Hummm!
My body jolted involuntarily from the core's resistance.
Storybooks claimed that if you got your hands on a dragon heart or something, it'd melt right in your stomach the moment you swallowed it. Total nonsense. Pure fiction, that's why it was possible.
These weren't ordinary monsters. They condensed their own energy to form mana hearts as potent as any.
No way they'd let some intruder waltz in and gobble up the power they'd nurtured so carefully.
If anything, they'd fight back against anyone trying to absorb it, just like this.
Even after taking so long to absorb it following the acquisition, I'd only managed to claim four tenths of it as my own.
And the problem was, I couldn't even properly utilize that four tenths.
The instant I tried to actively tap into the core's power...
The wyvern's innate ferocity flooded my mind.
That's why I hadn't used it.
I feared showing that aggression even toward my loved ones during my duel with Staat.
That's why I didn't want to use it.
I worried I wouldn't face Hatan's mock battle with a clear mind and would betray his expectations.
Drip...
A thin trickle of blood seeped from between my clenched lips.
But I never stopped circulating Earth.
'To break through my stalled growth and surpass my limits... I have no choice.'
That's right.
I had hit a plateau. My Heterogenous Power had already pushed past the realm I'd reached in my previous life and reached the end of its current stage—but that was it.
This wasn't some childhood fairy tale. There was no way I could casually smash through the wall I'd failed to breach even after a lifetime, just because I'd returned to the past.
The wall of the fourth stage was that thick... that high.
In frustration, I'd even asked Lamfang about it once, but the answer was always the same.
-I can't tell you anything, priest. Heterogenous Powers manifest every individual's unique path through myriad forms. The moment I describe how I overcame my wall, yours would grow even taller and more unyielding.
Straight out of the textbook, no surprises there.
So, I sought another path.
Taking the hint from Arandal's words about heart-mind-body balance when he defeated Darkan, I boldly halted my Steel training and honed Pankration and Earth.
But even then.
Even then.
Even then.
The wall of peak master level wouldn't crumble.
The path to the jade throne refused to let me take even a step.
It felt as if not just my Heterogenous Power, but my martial realm itself was telling me:
'You've only grown fast through shortcuts. With your talent, you'll never cross this wall.'
If I'd had more time, I could've absorbed the core gradually.
Maybe I could've grown stronger without pushing this hard.
But.
'I don't have time.'
This was something I had to do anyway—it had just come a little sooner than expected.
My instincts were telling me that fully absorbing the core like this would make me stronger, but it wouldn't break the wall.
Shudder, shudder!
My body couldn't endure the rampant energy from the remaining six tenths of the core and shook nonstop, as if battered by gale-force winds.
-Don't push it anymore. The moment you get greedy, your body will shatter without a trace.
It was as if the core itself was warning me.
But.
Crunch!
Blood streamed from my mouth, but I clenched my jaw so hard my teeth might shatter.
'I never once thought I could protect what's mine without the resolve to shatter.'
Steeling my determination, I kept the cultivation method running without pause.
Whether I died or the core was fully absorbed.
Until only one outcome remained.
* * *
The information hall on the main island.
Rustle! Rustle!
"Reporting, sir. The Eastern Spirit has sunk the Osiris Kingdom's navy and is currently returning to base..."
"The Western Spirit reports a shortage of supplies..."
"Pirate fleets under our command are slowly gathering at the main island one by one. As for those who ignored the summons..."
The information hall was, as always, busy sorting reports from spies across the continent.
"Mermaid Pirate Fleet's Vice-Captain Tessai has been absent for several days now. We're confirming his whereabouts..."
Bam!
"?!"
"!!"
A harsh sound, unfamiliar to Martel's ears, cut through the voices of the informants mid-report.
Thud, thud!
The one who entered the information hall without permission, shoes still damp, was a tall, handsome long-haired man decked out in jewelry.
"...Tessai. Where the hell have you been?"
Martel eyed the intruder coldly.
"Oh dear, oh dear. Just took a little trip out."
Tessai replied glibly to Martel's murderous glare.
"You know my nickname, right? Stuck among all these drab guys with this handsome face of mine—it's suffocating. So I popped over to the continent for a breath of fresh air. Haha."
Martel's expression didn't soften at Tessai's playful response.
"If it was a woman you wanted, we have plenty in the archipelago. Why go to the continent?"
"Oof, no romance in you. No love, that's the problem. Haha."
Swish!
Ignoring Tessai's cheeky answer, Martel turned her gaze to the last informant who'd spoken before he entered.
The man immediately continued from the back of his report.
"...but a man believed to be the vice-captain was spotted in the pleasure district of Philador Kingdom."
"......"
Philador Kingdom's pleasure district was a frequent haunt for Vice-Captain Tessai on his outings.
Given his wanderlust and love of women, there was no room for doubt.
"See? It's not like it's the first time. Why make a fuss now?"
Tessai shrugged exaggeratedly.
"...Everyone out except Tessai."
The informants glanced nervously and filed out one by one at Martel's stone-faced command.
The archipelago was outwardly calm but already in a near-wartime state preparing for next spring's war.
In this atmosphere, casually jaunting off to the continent for pleasure...
Even a vice-captain couldn't escape severe punishment.
Fearing any fallout, the informants scurried out en masse.
The now-empty hall drew a scoff from Tessai.
"Man, that's why I can't stand these ink-stained hall rats. A comrade's in hot water, and instead of helping, they bolt. No loyalty, no brotherhood whatsoever."
"Tessai, what are you thinking?"
Martel asked coldly, face still impassive.
"I clearly told you I was swamped with hall duties, so make sure the fleet runs smoothly in my stead."
"Aw, come on. With all this experience, why micromanage the kids? They're handling it fine on their own now. Not babies anymore."
"......"
Martel kept her silence even at the light joke, forcing Tessai to sigh.
That look on the captain meant no brushing it off.
"You already know everything, so why ask?"
"I've known for a while you planted decoys at Philador's docks to shake our informants. And I know you're no loose screw who'd hit the pleasure spots in this climate, no matter how much you love playing around."
"...Ha! Captain's always too sharp for her own good."
"...Planning to betray the archipelago?"
Martel asked quietly, watching Tessai click his tongue.
"Ha! After faithfully carrying out your orders more than anyone, how can you say something so hurtful?"
Tessai's playful facade vanished as he replied firmly.
"I simply chose the path to 'properly' run the fleet, as you commanded."
"Picking a fight with the king's chosen enemy is your idea of properly running the fleet?"
"Better than needlessly enraging that so-called king with your 'loyal counsel,' risking the lives of our near-family in the process."
"......!!"
For a fleeting moment, Martel's composure cracked. She smoothed it instantly, but Tessai was a master-level warrior.
He caught it.
"No idea what you're talking about."
"Come on, even a blockhead like me's served you long enough. I saw you biting your lip every time that king messed with the women he kidnapped from the continent after training. Think I missed that?"
This captain acted all cold and clever, but turned childish in spots like this.
Like a kid hiding her head, thinking hide-and-seek player won't find her.
A woman who read others' hearts daily, yet never considered her own might show.
'Or maybe she lets her guard down around family without realizing.'
That was this beautiful captain's charm, for better or worse.
"Are you really going to burn yourself out for him?"
"...It's only if Olivia as kindling isn't enough to change the king. If that absolute center falls, the archipelago reverts to scattered sands. Offering sincere, life-risking counsel to sway his mind—that's the only way to maintain our power and change the archipelago."
'This stubborn fool!'
After watching him corrupt over years with her own eyes, spouting such pie-in-the-sky nonsense.
If not for her feelings, she'd slap him awake.
"Is that so? Then cut my head off right here."
"Tessai!"
"I!!"
Tessai's eyes flashed as he cut her off.
"Won't live fretting when my chosen captain's head might roll for some pig whose change is iffy. Better die here than watch that."
Shing!
As Tessai drew his shamshir, the door burst open and men rushed in to restrain him.
"Heh, what's with this guy!"
"You said trust me and talk it out!"
"Let go, you bastards!"
A burly middle-aged man stepped past the flailing Tessai, arms pinned.
"Sheesh, tsk tsk. Such immaturity. Can't believe this fool's supposed to be above me."
"Boni...!!"
The hairy one was Mermaid Pirate Fleet's other vice-captain, like Tessai. Slightly less martially skilled but serious, virtuous, and well-liked.
"...Boni. You think the same?"
Martel seemed shocked that even Boni, born and raised in the archipelago for decades, shared the view—unlike hot-headed Tessai.
"Hmm, I get the gist... but it's tricky. Both you and the archipelago are precious to me."
Boni fidgeted with his chin beard, looking troubled.
"Ah! How about this?"
He lightly tapped his left palm with his right, as if struck by inspiration.
"For now, go with this fool Tessai's idea. If the plan fails, it warns the king of potential rebellion. If it succeeds, it brings the new wind you desire to the archipelago. Sound good?"
Unlike Tessai, his words were measured—but agreed with him.
Martel sighed.
"...If that fails, our fleet itself vanishes. Better I sacrifice my neck when the time comes..."
"Without you, the Mermaid Pirate Fleet has no reason to exist."
Boni rejected firmly.
"Success is a problem too. Without the king, our power crumbles fast. Those vaunted commanders will rampage to devour the archipelago each. Once we self-destruct, how do we face the continent's might?"
Boni's lip quirked up, unseen by others.
Her counter-question meant she was open to hearing them out.
"Then shouldn't we hear this fool's claim—no, Baron Jerome, owner of Olivia—and why he made such a bold resolve?"
Tessai, disarmed by his men, stood before Martel.
"Why take my weapon? Anyway..."
Stories from Olivia—of his talks with Jerome—began spilling from his lips.