Chapter 295: A First Step to Go Down in History (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 295: A First Step to Go Down in History (1)
Alexander's eye twitched.
The more he read the invitation, the harder it was to control his emotions.
[...We have organized this event to reveal that the 'Aura Emission Method' developed by Alexander, the Emperor of Kronos, is fundamentally flawed. Here, we will redefine the system of Aura and present a new direction for swordsmanship. We hope you will all attend and witness this historic moment together.]
In an instant, his expression contorted like a demon's.
Aura was Alexander's ultimate taboo.
If he had been a great Murim master instead of a mere ignorant fool—or if he had at least properly learned martial arts—Alexander's life would have been different. He would have had no reason to accept an unknown power. Like the figures he once revered, he could have conquered the Salamander Continent with a single sword.
People did not know the truth.
They did not know why Alexander, the creator of Aura, had abandoned the path of a pioneer and chosen the path of a mage.
It was not merely due to Aura's limitations.
Alexander had revealed Aura solely for political leverage, yet he was instantly revered as a pioneer of a new power, seizing absolute wealth and fame. That was when the problem began. At first, Alexander certainly displayed the overwhelming growth expected of a trailblazer. But the Salamander Continent had its own share of geniuses. They quickly mastered Aura without Alexander's guidance, and through their own contemplation and research, they forged entirely new branches of it. Even the method utilizing the 'powerful explosion of Aura'—which Roman Dmitry had once acknowledged—was actually the culmination of years of research and development by others, not Alexander.
Then, Alexander realized the truth.
He was nothing but an ignorant fool who had barely scraped together his current fame using a mere shred of stolen knowledge. Eventually, he would fall.
The cracks forming in his mind plunged him into deep anxiety, allowing the devil's whisper to take control of him all too easily.
And now, Roman Dmitry was outright denying the pioneer's achievements.
Roman's actions ripped open the old, painful wounds of his inadequacy, twisting Alexander's face into a fierce scowl.
"Roman Dmitry... Do my achievements look so trivial and worthless in your eyes? So much so that you dare call them fundamentally flawed?!"
This presentation...
He simply could not understand it.
Alexander had been forced to reveal Aura to secure the emperor's throne, but if he were in Roman Dmitry's position, he would have kept his martial arts an absolute secret. It was a one-of-a-kind power. Monopolizing it was an immense advantage. Even without holding some grand swordsmanship presentation, the world would have no choice but to recognize Roman Dmitry's absolute superiority. Even if they tried to deny it, those who pursued traditional Aura would naturally fall behind. Simply by hoarding his knowledge, Roman Dmitry had already secured an insurmountable advantage.
So why on earth was he holding a public presentation?
Alexander had wracked his brain and hoarded the ramblings of a third-rate martial artist like a priceless heirloom; he couldn't even begin to fathom the decision to openly discuss such a profound technique. And to do so while directly inviting the Kronos Empire—the very empire that had produced the pioneer of Aura! While Alexander had desperately sent dozens of spies to steal the secrets of martial arts, Roman was casually counterattacking with a mere 'presentation.' An indescribable cocktail of emotions boiled within the Emperor.
Inferiority.
Anger.
Envy.
It was a chaotic mess.
But one thing was certain: Roman Dmitry was arrogant.
Alexander didn't know what kind of existence Roman had been in his past life, but the man's actions completely defied common sense.
'Fine. I will keep my eyes wide open and watch your little presentation very closely.'
On that day, at that so-called historic moment, Alexander would be there to watch.
* * *
At that same time, the Swordsmanship Academy was thrown into an uproar by Roman Dmitry's actions.
"Look at this! Roman Dmitry has dared to deny His Majesty Emperor Alexander's achievements and sent an invitation to hold a swordsmanship presentation, as if to mock us all! Does this make any sense? Aura is the foundation of the continent! Regardless of nationality, people truly respect Emperor Alexander as the first to discover it. The entire Continental Ranking system is rooted in Aura! So what on earth is Roman Dmitry thinking?!"
"Exactly! This is a direct challenge to all Aura Swordsmen!"
The people protested fiercely.
Just as there was a Magic Academy, the Salamander Continent also had a Swordsmanship Academy.
Headquartered in the Kronos Empire, it wielded considerable influence and maintained branches in every nation. Its sole purpose was the advancement of the blade. Upholding the will of Alexander, the first pioneer, the Swordsmanship Academy developed new techniques and fiercely advocated for the rights of Aura Swordsmen.
Although they claimed to be a neutral faction, in a situation like this, they had no choice but to bare their fangs to protect their vested interests.
Sergei, the president of the academy, spoke up.
"Roman Dmitry has denied the very foundation of 'Aura.' If we idly stand by and watch him shake the roots of our power, the Swordsmanship Academy will eventually lose its standing. Everyone, this is no simple matter. Following the war with Kronos, people are already saying that Roman Dmitry has forged a new path. The public's anticipation is massive. If he meets their expectations even slightly at this event, the great tower we have spent years building will crumble in a single day."
This swordsmanship presentation put the academy's very survival at stake.
For those who revered Alexander like a god, staying quiet was out of the question.
"The moment His Majesty's teachings are denied, cracks will form not only in the Kronos Empire but across the entire world of Aura Swordsmen. Therefore, contact every branch immediately. Emphasize how dangerous Roman Dmitry's actions are. Smear his name and disparage this event. And we will personally attend. If there is even a single flaw in his presentation..."
His voice dropped to a deadly whisper. His sharp eyes gleamed with naked hostility.
"We will trample Roman Dmitry's reputation in front of the entire world for the absolute nonsense he is spouting."
* * *
Things proceeded exactly as the Swordsmanship Academy intended. Agitators acting on their orders took to the streets, raising their voices to sway the masses.
"Everyone! We must beware of the heretic, Roman Dmitry!"
"According to Dmitry's own people, just a few years ago, Roman Dmitry was a pathetic loser known as 'The Fool of Dmitry'! Yet, he supposedly made a miraculous leap in progress, growing into a master strong enough to defeat Hannibal in the war against Kronos. Does this make any sense to you? Do you truly believe this 'new future' Roman Dmitry claims to present will explain his rapid growth? No! Roman Dmitry is simply trying to deny His Majesty Emperor Alexander's achievements and steal his glory!"
In Kronos, Valhalla, Redford, Hector, and every other nation outside of Dmitry, members of the Swordsmanship Academy's branches sowed seeds of doubt.
Roman's trajectory was certainly absurd. Even for prodigies who displayed ridiculous growth rates like Ares, looking back at their pasts always revealed supporting evidence—they were either recognized as geniuses from childhood or possessed a formidable martial background. But Roman Dmitry was different. Dmitry was a territory famous for iron mining, not swordsmanship. Regardless of their vast wealth, Roman Dmitry's sudden development defied all logic.
Thus, they raised questions. Because he had dared to touch the very foundation of Aura, those who depended on it had no choice but to push back.
"Roman Dmitry must have dabbled in a forbidden power! Otherwise, his growth cannot be explained by common sense. And what about his subordinates? Chris was a swordsman only known in a rural backwater like Dmitry, Kevin was nothing but a boy from the slums, and none of his other followers have any special background. Yet they, too, achieved the same rapid growth as their master. True growth requires innate talent, yet all of them progressed at the same terrifying speed. They have surely touched a dangerous power that defies human limits!"
They raised their voices, denying his legitimacy and disparaging his name. The single statement claiming that the foundation of Aura was flawed had been enough to enrage the masses to this extent.
Just as the Swordsmanship Academy intended, the public grew deeply suspicious. They demanded that Roman Dmitry properly explain himself.
And while the world was in an uproar, voices of concern began to emerge even within Dmitry.
* * *
The people of Dmitry believed in their liege.
Having personally experienced and mastered the new system Roman Dmitry had developed, they knew that no matter what nonsense the public babbled, everything would be overturned the moment the presentation concluded. The problem lay in the presentation itself. They could not understand why he was inviting other nations, including the great empires, to witness an achievement that should belong solely to Dmitry.
Viscount Conrad spoke up.
"The continent is in an uproar over the news of the presentation. But is there really a need to convince them, My Lord? Your techniques have already been proven; we only need to show them the results on the battlefield. If Aura is redefined through this presentation, the leakage of our techniques might actually bring about unfavorable consequences for us."
"I agree. I don't see any reason to leak Dmitry's exclusive techniques to the outside world."
As his subordinates voiced their opposition, a memory suddenly flashed through Roman's mind.
Back when he had conquered the Murim and announced that he would partially reveal the Demonic Cult's martial arts to the public, the Cult's leadership had been completely flustered.
"Why on earth are we opening the Demonic Cult's martial arts to outsiders?"
"It is far too dangerous. Enemies who master our arts might point their blades at our throats at any moment!"
An uproar had ensued. Looking down at them, Baek Joong-hyuk had simply asked:
"What is it you fear?"
The elders were taken aback. Their trembling eyes turned toward their leader.
"The future I desire is not one where we reign through mere suppression. Do you truly believe the rest of the world will surpass us just because we reveal a mere 'fraction' of the Heavenly Demon Cult's teachings? Keep this in mind. We conquered the Murim. We became the public enemy. Because every faction is desperately trying to analyze us inside and out, the Cult's martial arts will eventually be dissected without our knowledge anyway. That is why we will reveal it proudly—to show them exactly who we are, standing untouchable at the very peak of the Murim. With the information we disclose, the world will take a step closer to the terrifying reality of the Heavenly Demon Cult."
The law of nature was the survival of the fittest. If the strength of the Heavenly Demon Cult ever waned, no amount of secretive suppression would save them anyway.
"In the history of the Heavenly Demon Cult, there have been countless 'Heavenly Demons.' They lived the same lives as me and mastered the exact same martial arts, yet they did not produce the same results. Therefore, partially revealing the Cult's martial arts is a necessary step toward absolute dominion. The more they learn about our martial arts, the more they will have no choice but to revere us. Realizing that our achievements cannot be attained by just anyone, they will never dare to encroach upon the Demonic Cult's domain."
Those who know the truth are bound to be far more cautious than the ignorant.
The world only knew that the Heavenly Demon Baek Joong-hyuk was strong; they did not truly comprehend the unfathomable depths of his realm. Opening the Cult's martial arts was a process to force that understanding upon them. The moment they dipped even a single toe into the demonic arts, they would realize that the Heavenly Demon Baek Joong-hyuk was a godlike, untouchable existence.
Fear stems from imagination. And imagination expands based on how much one actually knows.
Baek Joong-hyuk was setting fire to that fear. He wanted the world to learn and study the Cult's martial arts, only for them to realize how utterly suicidal it was to try and bring down the Demonic Cult.
"Keep in mind that we conquered the Murim not because the Cult's martial arts are inherently special, but because we ourselves are strong. Opening our martial arts will serve as a harsh whip to keep us from falling into complacency."
Roman returned to reality.
Before his eyes, the nobles of Dmitry were expressing the exact same concerns his old subordinates once had.
Roman Dmitry spoke.
"What I intend to reveal through this swordsmanship presentation is merely the basic foundation. I will redefine Aura and usurp the fame Alexander has built. This is no simple matter. The world currently views Dmitry as a mere offshoot nation that originated from Cairo. But the moment we write a new history, Dmitry will establish the stepping stone required to leap forward into an empire. Let me ask you all a question. Do you think your past selves from a few years ago, who had barely grasped the basics, could defeat your current selves who have continuously developed? What we gain through this presentation is not a precarious future for Dmitry, but the cornerstone of a new era that entirely eclipses Alexander's achievements."
The basic foundation.
He would reveal the truth to the ignorant masses. He would force them to look up to Dmitry, allowing his nation to ascend to entirely new heights.
"The flow of the world cannot be halted by mere human strength. The system of Aura will inevitably change. I am simply accelerating that timeline to engrave Dmitry's name onto the very first page of this new history. Latecomers will never overtake us. They will only ever grasp a fraction of the truth, while the true essence remains Dmitry's exclusive domain."
It was pure arrogance. Roman Dmitry possessed the absolute confidence that even if his enemies stole his teachings, they could never surpass him.
True dominion meant becoming an existence the world could only look up to in despair, even when handed the truth on a silver platter.
"I do not hoard power merely for the sake of having it. Do not fear revealing ourselves to the world. By doing so, we are the ones who will dictate the rules of an entirely new playing field."
It had always been this way. At every crossroads, he never hesitated to reveal his hand. No, rather, he laid his cards bare, looking down on his enemies before utterly crushing them.
Hearing his shocking words—words conveying a grand vision that ordinary minds could not even begin to fathom—the nobles of Dmitry were left in absolute awe.