Shoulder Armor, Animus
"Ah, no, even if you're a spirit user, this is too much. Picking a transcendent weapon with no mana or magic-related stats? Isn't it half-baked? Think it over one more time."
The Bingyeom Archmage, Tiness, fidgeted as if it were his own affair, repeatedly urging Tiny to take the Wind Sovereign instead.
"No, this Animus is perfect for me."
Tiny didn't waver. Setting aside all other abilities, a permanent boost to soul power? For someone who suspected that advancing beyond Aura User to Aura Master depended on soul power, that single stat alone made Animus irreplaceable.
Reading the resolute determination in his eyes, Tiness finally sighed and shook his head.
"Well, can't be helped then. But remember I tried to stop you."
"Of course."
Tiny flashed a reassuring smile, but Tiness still hesitated as he slowly drew out the Emperor's seal entrusted to him.
Thud.
Vrrrrm.
The moment the transparent case was removed, Animus emanated mana and radiated an even more intense presence.
"Ho, as expected of a transcendent weapon, huh?"
Even Tiness couldn't help but gasp in admiration.
And in that instant, as Animus revealed its presence, Tiny instinctively understood how to use it.
Pop.
With a light flex, the upper half of his ceremonial robes burst apart.
And soon.
Vmmm.
As his soul power stirred at his will and Animus floated lightly to settle on his shoulder.
Vmmm.
'Nice to meet you.'
A satisfied smile spread across his face, as if he'd reunited with a long-lost partner.
And at that very moment.
Zzzzzing.
"Hup!?"
A mystical sensation rippled through his mind like electric tingles, euphoria flooding his body. The world around him flashed pure white, and he felt his soul expanding dramatically.
It felt both brief and eternal—a realm of utter freedom and peace.
- Awoooooooo!!!
Wolrang appeared in the white space with a joyful howl, far larger than his current materialized form—back to his full, living glory.
The two souls gazed at each other, reveling in spiritual freedom, smiling as they overlapped.
Flash.
His vision whited out again, and he returned to reality from the blank void.
- Yip! Yip!
As Wolrang whined in lingering regret from the soul realm, Tiny grinned proudly at the weightless armor.
Vrrrrm.
Clenching his fist made the air tremble; a casual punch into empty space burst the surrounding atmosphere.
Bang.
'Roughly double the strength. This is insane.'
It wasn't just raw power. His body felt tougher, his senses sharper. Even his soul power had surged noticeably.
And that wasn't all.
Animus's true value lay in how its stats would grow alongside his as a spirit user.
Already at 3rd stage spirit arts, his physical abilities had more than doubled.
'Wearing requirement is 1st stage spirit arts, so maybe 50% boost per stage. Truly a transcendent weapon!'
A 50% base boost plus another 50% from his stage would explain the current amplification.
This alone exceeded the worth of any transcendent weapon.
He already possessed absurdly superior physical prowess. Adding Animus's power?
'If I can neutralize aura's destructive authority, I might even face a regular Aura User head-on.'
And on top of that.
Vmmm.
His mana body, Nian Ti, pulsed constantly, rejoicing at the skyrocketing mana recovery.
From experiences in Carun and the palace battle, he'd confirmed his soul power let him endure mana exhaustion to some degree.
'At this level...'
Now, he could unleash full power repeatedly without overdrive backlash.
'If I use this right, I might even resist aura...'
Unable to hide his joy, his lips twitched into a grin, erupting into laughter.
"Hahahahaha! Awesome!! This is too good!!"
Watching him, Tiness kept glancing regretfully at the other transcendent weapons, but Tiny felt zero regret over his choice.
* * *
"Armor, huh... It suits you well. Does the transcendent weapon mold perfectly to your build?"
"Yes, Your Highness."
"Ho, fascinating. Seeing that sturdy figure makes the gift worthwhile. It fits perfectly. So... feral is the word."
"I am truly grateful, Your Highness."
Tiny's expression brimmed with sincere thanks, drawing a natural smile from the Crown Prince.
His words weren't mere flattery.
For a knight, Tiny was short, and with his robes torn, exposing his bare torso save for the shoulder pauldrons and short cape—it should've looked ridiculous. Yet it exuded a strangely rugged strength.
Perhaps due to Animus, now subtly glowing with sunset-hued mana assimilated into Tiny's own.
"I hoped, but seeing a non-Aura User or mage wield a transcendent weapon is astounding in every way. I look forward to how you'll surprise me next."
"I won't disappoint you, Your Highness."
"Good, that's the spirit. No matter where you go, remember you're of the Empire."
"Of course, Your Highness."
Their exchange skipped much, but both nodded in satisfaction.
This wasn't their first private meeting.
When Tiny returned the holy relic Amor to the palace, as reward for his feats, the Crown Prince offered title and land. Tiny shared part of his plans.
- I make hunting demon worshippers and crushing their plots my calling.
A half-twisted goal, but the Crown Prince accepted it readily. The disaster's unimaginable toll had heightened vigilance against demon worshippers.
"I look forward to the day you cleanse that filthy scum from the continent. May that transcendent weapon aid your path."
Tiny bowed with a broad smile at the Crown Prince's well-wishes.
"It will help more than enough."
He hadn't expected such lavish rewards originally, but this surpassed the initial offer.
A transcendent weapon outvalued petty lands or titles.
'I should thank the Sword Emperor separately.'
Tiny's heart bloomed like a garden.
Then the Crown Prince said something unexpected.
"And I've prepared an intangible reward, so feel free to anticipate it."
...Intangible reward?
Unclear what he meant, but no harm in accepting.
"Your benevolence humbles me, Your Highness."
Tiny bowed sincerely once more.
* * *
In the name of the Imperial House, we re-knight Tiny, who received the title of Free Knight in Carun, and bestow upon him the transcendent weapon Animus. None in the Empire or Carun shall bar his path.
The Crown Prince's official proclamation ignited the world, centered on Asrian.
No title or land granted, yet it effectively declared Tiny equal to high nobility.
Those aware of transcendent weapons pondered Animus's nature, but most focused on the Radiant Knight's feats.
He'd claimed the greatest role in Asrian's demon-worshipper disaster.
Saving Carun and now Aslan from ruinous calamity.
The continent's Seven New Stars must now be Eight.
No—placing him among prospects was wrong. He was already the pinnacle hero.
Such rampant rumors inevitably sparked curiosity about Tiny.
One question dominated.
- Just which house is this legend from?
Rumors swirled: slum rat to Valentia knight.
Then "black hair, black eyes" spread, along with garbled tales from the arena, birthing a fateful rumor.
"Heard he mentioned House Morse before the next Emperor?"
"Morse folk had black hair and eyes."
"Then...?"
"Exactly!"
"So his real name's Tiny von Morse—or just Tiny Morse if cadet branch?"
Word spread that Tiny was a scion of the fallen noble House Morse.
Of course, Tiny—rushing preparations at Valentia mansion for Elvenheim—could only gape in disbelief.
"...This is nuts."
Scratching his head irritably, Garen beside him chuckled and clapped his shoulder.
"Hahaha, so what? Knights are semi-nobles anyway. Claiming a lost house's legacy won't hurt."
"It will."
"Why?"
'Cause when the truth outs, the world's top assassin might slit my throat.'
Instead of spilling, Tiny just sighed.
Garen asked more seriously.
"Hard to share with me?"
"...Just personal."
"Hm... Well, youth means fretting, clashing, growing. If you don't wanna say, fine. But if you do, spill anytime. Sharing lightens the load."
"Thanks, Sir Garen."
"No biggie—friends, right?"
Tiny watched Garen's retreating back with a faint smile, struck anew by the depth beneath his Blue Wing vice-captain's casual, almost flighty demeanor.
'Like Sir Drexler—Sword Emperor's got an eye for people.'
From overwhelming talent like North Wind Knight Jenas, one of the Seven New Stars, to his vice-captains.
Regardless of skill variance, their character alone made them reliable allies.
'No wonder he befriends elves.'
Shaking off stress with a sigh, Tiny caught up.
"Sir Garen, how'd you befriend the elf escort anyway?"
Elvenheim's partner and key—he needed the story.
"Hm? Men connect heart-to-heart, no? We knew at first sight we'd be friends."
A utterly absurd reply.
"...Pardon?"
"That's it."
"Come on. You didn't just say 'friends?' on sight."
"We did."
"What?!"
"The talk was more involved, but big picture holds."
"..."
"Thought you'd get it—we became friends the same way."
...We did? When? Does he twist every memory his way?'
A uneasy thought, but Sword Emperor wouldn't assign flippantly.
'Definitely odd.'
Worried, but his help raised odds of averting Elvenheim's disaster.
Tiny dropped questions, trailing quietly at a distance.
And around then.
In some dark chamber, a conversation threatened to upend Tiny and Sword Emperor's plans from the root.
"Cancel Elvenheim—or postpone indefinitely. Instead..."