Chapter 297: A First Step to Go Down in History (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 297: A First Step to Go Down in History (3)
A heavy silence descended.
Faced with the sheer power of martial arts—a force originating from the 'Dantian,' a storage space for mana—the audience could only stare with wide eyes, utterly speechless. Most of those present had been skeptical. From the moment Roman Dmitry invited the Kronos Empire, they never imagined he would actually reveal a secret exclusive to Dmitry.
Yet, the truth was shocking.
No matter how much they tried to deny it or turn a blind eye to reality, the swordsmanship revolution that would tear down the existing system had already begun.
Roman Dmitry spoke.
"I will now take questions."
From one side of the audience, a man raised his hand. When Roman gestured for him to speak, the man stood up.
"I am Sergei, the president of the Swordsmanship Society. I was deeply impressed by the theory you just presented. Utilizing the Dantian as a storage space for mana, much like mages do, is indeed an excellent concept. However, there is a practical issue with your presentation, Lord Roman Dmitry. How on earth do you plan to guide mana into the Dantian and bind it there? Mana is a free-flowing force. Unless anchored by the life force of the heart, it cannot form a storage space like a circle. If you cannot resolve this issue, then no matter how plausible the theory sounds, it is nothing more than a delusion."
It was an aggressive remark. He had wracked his brain to find any loophole to undermine the presentation.
However...
"That question can be easily resolved if you consider why the Dantian was chosen as the storage space for mana in the first place," Roman replied. "Mana circulating through the body naturally pools at certain points for a period of time. I classify these locations into three areas: first, the upper Dantian in the brain; second, the middle Dantian in the heart; and third, the lower Dantian below the navel. Anyone who has delicately handled and studied mana would know that binding forces naturally manifest at these three points. While the upper Dantian directly affects the brain and is thus unsuitable as a storage space, the lower Dantian is different. It provides ample, secure space."
His answer was seamless. Stymied by this flawless logic, Sergei quickly changed the subject.
"...T-Then! Rather than flatly declaring Emperor Alexander's method of utilizing aura to be wrong, what do you think about using the Dantian to emit mana and amplify its explosive power instead? Harmonizing both methods could yield a positive synergy."
"No. Your premise is flawed from the start. The reason I say Alexander's method of utilizing aura is wrong is because the sheer waste caused by reckless emission cuts the aura's power in half. Once the Dantian is formed, mana obeys your control perfectly. There is no need for reckless emission. Simply preventing mana from leaking allows one to wield a highly powerful aura with a mere sliver of mana. That is why I can confidently state that Alexander's theory is wrong."
Martial arts.
It was the culmination of the history of the Central Plains Murim. A mere 'imitation' created by Alexander could never win this debate.
Sergei felt a sense of impending doom. Realizing that the Swordsmanship Society would collapse the moment this presentation concluded, he desperately blurted out the question everyone was dying to ask.
"Understood! I admit it is an incredibly impressive theory, but why on earth are you revealing this to everyone? If this theory is truly flawless, shouldn't the Kronos Empire—which was Dmitry's enemy until very recently—be excluded from this presentation?"
In that moment, Roman let out a soft chuckle. Bypassing Sergei, Roman Dmitry looked directly at the representative of the Kronos Empire and spoke.
"There is no grand reason. Since the Kronos Empire keeps sending spies to steal Dmitry's technology, I prepared this event so they wouldn't have to go through all that trouble. Dmitry is not a closed nation. The moment we teach 'martial arts' to ordinary soldiers, it is only a matter of time before information spreads to the rest of the world—just as Alexander's aura once spread across the entire continent. Therefore, through this event, I hope all nations, without exception, will adopt and develop this new system."
It was astounding. Since the truth would eventually come to light anyway, Roman Dmitry had chosen to open up a new world right before everyone's eyes through this public announcement.
"This concludes the presentation."
And with that, the moment he brought his presentation to a close...
The audience, without even realizing it, leapt to their feet and erupted into wild, ecstatic cheers.
* * *
Amidst the cheering crowd, Chris stood frozen.
Thump, thump.
His heart pounded. What had started as a faint tremor had, at some point, grown into a violent, uncontrollable thrumming.
"Let me ask you one thing. While climbing to your current level, did you ever once question your training methods?"
Those were the words Roman Dmitry had spoken to him on the day Chris first taught him about aura. At first, Chris had been angered by what seemed like a dismissive remark. But when Roman asked why he blindly believed in the system when the very first person to create aura was also just a human, Chris felt as if he had been struck in the back of the head. From that moment on, Chris questioned and analyzed everything. He applied Roman Dmitry's teachings only to the extent that they suited him, developing his own techniques and carving out a domain that belonged entirely to him.
And now, his blood boiled with heat.
Only one person in the world.
Only Roman Dmitry had questioned Alexander's theory, and he had proven what even Chris had once thought absurd to be an undeniable reality. Look at the cheering crowd. They, too, had harbored doubts about Roman Dmitry's claims just like Chris once had, but now that the presentation was over, they accepted that the system of aura had been completely redefined.
He clenched his fists tight.
A being who dictated the flow of the world. A being who did what he believed was right, regardless of the prevailing trends.
That was none other than the lord he served.
He was certain.
'If I can surpass you, that position will undoubtedly be the strongest on the continent.'
Roman Dmitry was Chris's ideal, his most respected figure, and the ultimate goal he aspired to surpass.
* * *
After the swordsmanship presentation concluded, the representatives of the Kingdom Alliance, including Roman Dmitry, gathered.
Watching Roman Dmitry spark a swordsmanship revolution through this presentation, the representatives of the Kingdom Alliance realized that the continental situation had crossed a point of no return. Roman Dmitry had shattered Alexander's reputation. For Dmitry to survive in the future landscape, their only option was to build a power that could rival the Kronos Empire.
The King of Umberto, speaking on behalf of the representatives, asked, "Let me ask you directly. What on earth is your intention, Lord Roman Dmitry? To say this was merely to oppose Kronos's tyranny makes no sense; today's presentation was a blatant provocation against them. I admit that martial arts will inevitably become widespread. History proves as much. But if you truly cared for the safety of the Kingdom Alliance, it would have been proper to share this information with us first, leaving the Kronos Empire to play catch-up. So please, tell us your true feelings. Is the Kingdom Alliance a group meant for the survival of weak nations, or does Dmitry have another ambition of its own?"
Through the swordsmanship presentation, Roman Dmitry had usurped Alexander's prestige. While he had created a stepping stone for Dmitry's leap forward, it could not be said that this directly correlated with the survival of the Kingdom Alliance.
Dmitry or Kronos.
From the perspective of the Umberto Kingdom, both were predators. In the way Roman revealed the secrets of martial arts as if mocking Kronos, the King of Umberto caught the scent of a predator.
If Dmitry wished to leap forward and become an 'empire' after defeating Kronos, would the Kingdom Alliance be able to restrain Dmitry then? Would they end up experiencing yet another subjugation? For the King of Umberto, facing a giant like Roman Dmitry whom he could not hope to control, he had no choice but to probe his intentions.
Roman Dmitry spoke.
"I do not know how you view Dmitry, but Dmitry has never fought merely for survival from the very beginning. The Kingdom Alliance is simply the result of our mutual interests aligning. I intend to bring down the Kronos Empire and ensure Dmitry stands as the strongest nation on the continent. Because you wish to survive the Kronos Empire, we have temporarily united under the banner of the Kingdom Alliance."
"...In the end, does that mean you intend to walk the same path as Kronos?"
"If walking the same path as the Kronos Empire means ascending to the 'pinnacle,' then yes, that is correct. However, the future the Kronos Empire desires is different from what I pursue. When Dmitry defeats Kronos and rises to the pinnacle, Dmitry has no intention of oppressing other kingdoms and demanding sacrifices like Kronos did. What we desire is a single fact: the acknowledgment that Dmitry is the pinnacle of the Salamander Continent. That is all. While respecting the sovereignty of each nation, we wish to become the foundation that supports Salamander."
It was a staggering declaration.
At his ambition of becoming the strongest on the continent, several representatives showed shocked expressions. The King of Umberto swallowed hard. His judgment had been correct, and Roman Dmitry's words about becoming the strongest on the continent did not sound like an empty boast.
"A supreme nation that does not oppress or demand sacrifice... If Dmitry remains neutral and becomes the foundation of the continent as you say, Lord Roman Dmitry, that might indeed be the utopia we desire. But how can we believe that? Whether it was Kronos or Valhalla, before they possessed power, they were mere kingdoms like us. Once they gained power, they took it for granted to prey upon others as predators."
History had proven it. The strong demanded their rights as the strong. Because that meant the unilateral sacrifice of the weak, Roman Dmitry's actions triggered a sense of crisis among them.
Roman Dmitry spoke.
"I will not offer any more sweet talk. The Kronos Empire's ambition has reached its peak, and a moment of choice is inevitable for us. If the Kronos Empire falls, someone must take control of the landscape. It is impossible for everyone to be equal in a world of humans, and as you mentioned regarding the nature of 'predators,' King of Umberto, history proves this. Dmitry does not wish to be an equal entity. As the supreme nation, we intend to support the Salamander Continent in a different manner than the Kronos Empire. From this point on, it is a matter of trust. Will it be the Kronos Empire, or Dmitry? Depending on your choice, Dmitry will decide whether to maintain the 'Kingdom Alliance' in the future. If our pursued goals differ, there is no reason for us to remain bound in an alliance, is there?"
He had handed over the choice. A matter concerning the future of the continent.
The representatives of the Kingdom Alliance fell into deep contemplation.
* * *
To survive together, or to have Dmitry take the pinnacle in exchange for aiding their survival.
The implications of his words were entirely different. They pondered for a long time. Roman Dmitry's ambition was not a matter that those who had lived as kings of weak nations could easily resolve.
Finally, breaking the silence, Edwin Hector spoke.
"I do not believe this swordsmanship presentation was merely a message to the Kronos Empire. Lord Roman Dmitry has proven that Dmitry seeks to reveal rather than hide. Anyone else in this room, had they known of 'martial arts,' would have tried to monopolize the first-mover advantage as much as possible. Yet, Dmitry boldly made the information public. I believe that speaks to the caliber of Dmitry. In the future, Dmitry is not destined to remain a mere kingdom."
Just as he said, Roman Dmitry's actions were deliberate. He did not look at just a single picture; he anticipated the various outcomes of the presentation and acted accordingly.
"A moment of choice is bound to come anyway. While Kronos has shown us a clear precedent of committing evil deeds, Dmitry has at least given us trust. It is a simple matter. If we cannot escape Kronos's tyranny without Dmitry's help, then Hector wishes to entrust its future to Dmitry."
He opened the floodgates. Following Edwin Hector's firm declaration, Daniel Cairo and the King of Redford added their voices.
"Cairo has been in the same boat as Dmitry from the very beginning. We will trust and follow Dmitry to the end."
"Without Dmitry's help, Redford would have lost its meaning as a nation in the first place. If we need a supreme nation to support the continent in the future, I believe that entity must be Dmitry."
They threw their weight behind him. Faced with the majority opinion, the Kings of Umberto and Frank had no choice but to accept reality. They were not merely swept away by the trend. Edwin Hector's words had truly moved their hearts.
It was, indeed, the moment a true Kingdom Alliance was born.
* * *
At that moment...
Alexander's eyes suddenly snapped open. Having watched the swordsmanship presentation through a sculpture, his eyes were wide with absolute shock.
Roman Dmitry.
His words and actions had plunged Alexander into deep shock.