Chapter 93
Chapter 93
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 93
Chapter Title: The Spirit Kings' Ring
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"It's the Ring of Spirits."
Parsia appeared before the two men.
Noble aura flowed from her, beautiful and awe-inspiring.
Arthur asked,
"What is the Ring of Spirits?"
"Before facing the Demon King, the Spirit Kings made one request of Lord Rumakas. In case they came close to annihilation while battling the Demon King..."
Parsia recounted the hidden history of the Spirit Kings.
Once she finished, Arthur looked at the ring on his finger and asked,
"So, the three great Spirit Kings are slumbering in this ring?"
"The Spirit Kings of wind, fire, and earth are sealed within."
"What about the Spirit King of water?"
"...It perished."
"I see."
He didn't show it outwardly, but the Demon King's power left him deeply unsettled.
Not only had it overwhelmed the combined might of Spirit Kings whose strength rivaled that of dragons, but it had annihilated one outright.
And that wasn't the end—there had been attacks from Rumakas and Tehran as well, hadn't there?
To think he'd believed a sniper shot had taken down such a monster. How pathetic.
Arthur let out a sigh and asked,
"How do I unseal it?"
"It responds to Lord Tehran's energy."
"Then it should be possible now."
As Arthur gathered his mana to focus on the ring, Parsia shook her head.
"Unless you possess energy comparable to Lord Tehran's power at that time, it won't be easy."
"Hmm."
That meant he needed to reach 8th rank to break the seal.
He trained diligently without fail every day, but since advancing to 4th rank, there had been almost no progress.
"This won't be easy."
"There is another way. If you can prove that you carry on his legacy, it should work."
"Prove it how...?"
Arthur gathered his mana and focused on the ring.
He poured mana into it for a long while, examining it closely, but there was no reaction.
With his current power, it seemed impossible.
"No good."
"Perhaps the Spirit Kings aren't ready to awaken yet. They were nearly annihilated, so they may need a long time to recover."
"A hundred years have passed, so they must have recovered by now. It's probably because my power is too weak to elicit a response."
Arthur's face hardened.
If he could gain the Spirit Kings' power, it would not only help in the war against the emperor but also close the gap with Marquis Valtre.
A sudden curiosity arose.
"Do you know the extent of a Grand Sword Master's abilities?"
"There was one long ago."
"Not Tehran, I take it."
"It was a figure who existed before he was even born, strong enough to command dragons as subordinates."
"One more question."
As Arthur opened his mouth to speak, Parsia beat him to it.
"You're wondering about the color of their aura, right?"
"You've been following me, so you know everything I've been through. Is Marquis Valtre truly a Grand Sword Master?"
"Since he didn't sense my presence, he's not a Grand Sword Master. His ability to freely control his aura is likely due to a special constitution."
"What a relief."
The tension eased slightly from Arthur's face.
If Valtre had reached that legendary realm, even awakened Spirit Kings wouldn't give them the edge in a power comparison, and to face the Demon King, they'd ultimately need to ally with him.
But with his ambitions, he wouldn't see Arthur as an equal—he'd try to subjugate him as a subordinate.
If that happened, the entire Grada Territory would fall under his rule.
Arthur didn't want that.
He wanted the territory's people to live freely, under no one's dominion.
The solution to all problems was, as always, to grow stronger.
Arthur turned his gaze to Skevin.
"Have you rested enough?"
"It'll take more time for my mana to fully recover."
"It's not completely drained?"
"Not quite. It's about half recovered."
"Good enough."
Arthur turned around and eyed the dense forest.
As many foes as they'd faced on the way here would come charging again.
And with daylight breaking, the danger had doubled.
Arthur summoned the Benelli M1 in his right hand and the Sig Sauer in his left.
"You take point on the way back."
"Understood."
As Skevin gripped Excalibur tightly, Parsia appeared before Arthur and said,
"It seems it's time for us to part."
"When can we meet again?"
"When you obtain Lord Tehran's true power, I and all the spirits of the world will appear before you."
"Got it."
Arthur's eyes flashed with fierce determination.
Staring at Skevin's broad back ahead of him, he continued,
"Charge like I'm not even here!"
"Argh!"
Skevin roared in response and bolted forward like an arrow.
Once he vanished from sight, Arthur followed at a leisurely pace and tossed one last remark to Parsia.
"I won't keep you waiting long."
***
"Hmm."
Millerph stood atop the walls, watching the western mountains.
He knew Arthur had gone there with Skevin to awaken him.
But as dawn broke and they still hadn't returned, unease crept in.
He was debating whether to tell Helot to ready the knights when—
Arthur's figure slowly emerged in the distance.
"You're back...?"
Millerph started to smile, then froze.
Arthur was dragging something by the hand—or rather, someone.
He activated Hawk Eye for a closer look.
It was Skevin.
"What the—!"
His eyes widened as he cast Feather Fall and leaped from the walls.
Arthur spotted the distant castle, released Skevin's foot, and stopped.
"Hoo—."
He exhaled deeply and looked at Skevin.
Now awakened, Skevin gazed at the sky with moist eyes.
"I will never forget this grace."
Tears welled in Skevin's eyes.
The return journey had been indescribably grueling.
Caked in monster blood, he'd swung his sword without respite, depleting all his mana and strength to the point where even holding the blade was a struggle.
He'd fallen into a trance, facing a life-or-death moment.
Suddenly, mana erupted from his depleted mana core.
It surged through his body in an instant, inflating him like a balloon.
Veins and tendons bulged prominently.
Terror gripped him as his limbs felt crushed by his armor, on the verge of bursting.
Amid it all, new sensations emerged, and an overwhelming energy sought to take root in his mana core.
Instinctively, he realized it.
The wall had crumbled. He was entering a new stage.
After several minutes passed like this—
He shed his old self like a snake's skin, reborn anew.
Fierce energy churned in his mana core.
It wasn't entirely uncontrollable, but any lapse in focus might let it seize him, costing his consciousness.
Like a ticking time bomb, Arthur had held him steady, and now the mana had somewhat stabilized.
Yet a tremendous—no, ferocious—energy still raged within.
'So this is the power of a Sword Master...'
Skevin couldn't hide his shock and awe at the force far beyond his expectations.
Arthur silently watched him, recalling the transformation.
Initially alarmed by the unfamiliar sight, he'd sensed the immense energy surging from Skevin and instinctively understood.
He was stepping onto the path of Sword Master.
Monsters surrounded them but, intimidated by Skevin's intense presence, didn't dare approach—instead retreating.
After a long while—
The aura veil around Skevin dissipated, and he opened his eyes.
Arthur would never forget that gaze.
It blazed with intensity that pierced to the bone, then faded.
Now, his eyes emitted deep, piercing light.
An unapproachable aura flowed ceaselessly, independent of his will.
Truly befitting the realm knights dreamed of: Sword Master.
They'd gained much from this.
It proved that awakening potential in a short time was possible by endlessly overcoming limits. The western mountains' true nature was revealed, making it ideal as a knightly awakening training ground.
Above all, through Parsia, he'd learned the ring's secret and that Valtre wasn't a Grand Sword Master.
Until yesterday, it felt like trudging alone through a pitch-black tunnel.
But now, it was different.
With Skevin entering Sword Master realm, the burden lightened, and knowledge of the Spirit Kings showed a ray of hope piercing the tunnel walls.
A faint smile played on Arthur's lips as he asked,
"How long to fully control it?"
Skevin stood, looking troubled.
"It's hard to say."
He'd broken through walls and awakened before, but never felt such ferocious energy.
"You know we don't have time. Hurry as much as you can."
Skevin rose with effort and bowed deeply.
In the distance, Millerph approached on a white horse.
"He's spotted us."
Arthur grinned at him.
"Finally here?"
Millerph dismounted, greeted them warmly, then inspected the pair.
Arthur was covered in monster blood but unscathed.
Skevin, however, was different.
His armor was tattered from fierce combat, scratched countless times by sharp claws.
Yet his presence had utterly changed.
His once-white hair had turned golden, his eyes blazed fiercely.
Above all, the sturdy aura emanating from him.
Not quite Helm-level, but similar.
"No way?"
Skevin smiled faintly and nodded.
"The line of Sword Masters continues. Well done."
"It's all thanks to Young Master."
As Skevin credited Arthur entirely, Millerph smiled at him.
"Truly impressive."
"I didn't do anything special. He did it himself."
Arthur patted Skevin's shoulder encouragingly and headed for the castle.
"Healing magic."
As Millerph prepared to cast Heal on Skevin, Skevin raised a hand, shaking his head. He then turned to Arthur with a resolute expression.
"Young Master."
"...?"
Arthur stopped and turned.
Skevin stared piercingly into his eyes, then knelt on one knee.
"As promised, I have become a Sword Master."
Arthur smiled and stepped forward.
Skevin placed his right hand over his heart and bowed his head.
He felt his heartbeat through his palm, the rhythm echoing in his ears.
He'd waited for this moment forever.
Extreme tension and excitement crashed over him like a tidal wave.
Seeing Skevin tremble, Arthur asked,
"Will you serve by my side?"
Skevin clenched his fist, lifted his head. His deep, noble eyes burned fiercely.
"I, Skevin Maximus, swear to serve Arthur Julius as my lord until my dying breath!"
Arthur responded solemnly.
"I, Arthur Julius, accept you."
"Thank you!"
Overjoyed, Skevin bowed deeply.
Arthur turned to Millerph, who quickly knelt beside Skevin and bowed.
"Speak."
Arthur looked at them firmly and declared,
"I command you two: If you ever leave me alone in this world, I will never forgive you."