Chapter 38
Chapter 38
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 38
Chapter Title: Chapter 7: Underground Enemy (4)
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The Rustal family's rebellion.
An unprecedented monster wave.
Each one was a burden too heavy to bear, and now they were happening one after another.
Naturally, the priority should be resolving the crises.
But that didn't mean he could completely neglect his set duties or the strength befitting a family head.
No, in fact, this situation demanded even more attention to those matters.
'Even so, this is a bit much...'
Martin stared ahead with a look of utter disbelief.
Boom boom boom!
Countless whirlwinds tore mercilessly across the wasteland.
The wasteland itself had been reached via the magic circle in the Tyrant's Chamber, but the apocalyptic scene had been created by the power of a single individual.
'This is the power of a 10th Circle master.'
Of course, she wasn't exerting her full strength.
It was just an avatar to begin with, so it fell short of a true 10th Circle powerhouse.
Even so, the sheer impressiveness of the being before him was undeniable.
-The test is simple. Manipulate the atmosphere to pierce through all the whirlwinds, then stand before me.-
Even amid the raging whirlwinds, her voice rang out clearly.
Martin looked up into the sky.
Aurelia von Adalbert, the founding family head—or rather, her avatar—hovered there. Her aloof expression as she gazed down at him was striking.
The words themselves, however, were hard to agree with.
"Hmm. It seems the founding matriarch and I have different ideas of what 'simple' means."
-If you're scared, you can give up. You can challenge it anytime, after all.-
"Nah, I can't do that."
As Aurelia smiled provocatively, a grin tugged at Martin's lips.
Give up before the revered founding matriarch?
His pride wouldn't allow it.
'I'll pass it in one go.'
He resolved to astonish her.
Steel ing his determination, Martin first circulated his mana.
Hum.
Mana surged from the mana cores in his abdomen and head, flowing toward the blade of his treasured sword, Kaizen.
In response, an aura blade flared up, enveloping the sword.
Next, he activated Distortion of All Things, adding the power of wind to the aura blade.
Whirr!
Golden winds began swirling around him.
They were incomparable to the whirlwinds Aurelia had summoned, but their presence was undeniable.
'Size doesn't matter.'
If Aurelia kept pouring mana into those whirlwinds, he'd never win.
But she had already let go.
Even so, it was devastating enough to rip the earth apart, though not utterly insurmountable.
The key was the essence.
No matter the unique ability used to summon the wind, it all came down to manipulating the atmosphere.
Disrupting that flow and seizing control—that was the core of the swordsmanship Aurelia had created herself.
It was incredibly difficult.
But he was confident.
'No one sees flows better than I do.'
One of the few benefits bestowed by the Dragon's Curse.
And indeed, he could see it clearly.
The mana flows rampaging wildly within the whirlwinds.
"Hah!"
With a resounding shout, Martin kicked off into the air.
Then, gripping Kaizen with both hands, he swung it horizontally.
The golden-wind-wreathed blade clashed directly with the whirlwind charging from the right.
Boom boom boom!
The moment the two forces collided, a storm raged, and a powerful shockwave spread outward.
"Urk!"
Martin instinctively groaned.
Sticky blood trickled from between his clenched lips, and his body felt like it might shatter at any moment.
But he gritted his teeth and focused on the swing.
As the wind spun furiously, the mana flow shifted accordingly—and he had to hold it with his sword.
If he retreated, the flow would shift elsewhere, wasting his effort for nothing.
He couldn't drag it out, though.
Even holding it with his sword had limits.
Rooaaar!
Martin poured maximum mana into the blade.
The golden edge slowly burrowed into the whirlwind, while golden mana began infiltrating its interior.
Aurelia's eyes gleamed at the sight.
'His judgment is exceptional.'
His swordsmanship talent was one thing, but his intellect was terrifying.
"Uwaaaah!"
Unaware of her thoughts, Martin roared—a cry almost like a scream—as he slashed the sword upward in a diagonal arc.
Finally, the whirlwind was severed by the blade and dissipated.
In the process, a portion of its massive power gathered into Martin's sword, expanding the scale of his golden wind.
But he couldn't relax yet.
Plenty of whirlwinds remained, and even without Aurelia's intervention, they were influencing each other, growing stronger.
Martin kept kicking off the air, ascending higher.
'Not enough.'
He needed to go faster.
And stronger.
Rooaaar!
The golden wind around the blade spun even faster, and in response, the golden gales swirled in a circle, dominating the space.
Then, it hit him.
There was one thing missing from Aurelia's teachings.
Intentionally omitted.
"Really, you left this out on purpose."
-A test is a test. You should be able to figure out the applications yourself, no?-
"Well, technically... but I'm not sure if this counts as a simple application."
Martin gave a wry smile as he activated Distortion of All Things.
Whirr!
Winds ceaselessly gathered, enveloping his body.
Then, imagining himself merging with the wind—and the space itself—he kicked off into the air.
A massive roar erupted as a golden explosion bloomed, as if the world itself were screaming.
Thus, Martin became a streak of light.
Kagang!
The flash met a new whirlwind, sword clashing with gale.
And that was it.
The golden blade extinguished the massive wind outright.
As before, the power flowed into Martin, bolstering his momentum.
'Guuh!'
Martin's face twisted.
The forcibly seized power rampaged within him.
Releasing it outward to accelerate to his limits was fine.
The problem was the friction heat.
His body burned red-hot from the ferocious heat, suffering burns in places.
'Even so!'
Compared to the ordeals he'd endured so far, this pain was nothing.
Martin unleashed all the mana accumulated from the Dragon's Curse.
The vast quantity was poured entirely into controlling the atmosphere, speeding him up further.
The golden streak darted about, slicing whirlwinds one by one.
As a result, the wasteland filled with whirlwinds dwindled to just over ten in a mere five minutes.
That was when it happened.
Aurelia, who had been watching silently, flicked her right hand.
Boom boom boom boom!
The remaining whirlwinds merged into one.
The roar that followed was like the heavens and earth screaming in unison.
"Whew. If it weren't for you, Ancestor—or if I were just a bit stronger—I'd be unleashing a torrent of complaints."
-Enough with the whining you can't back up. You've already figured it all out.-
"Yeah, I suppose."
Martin grinned.
The test wasn't just about perceiving and seizing flows.
There was one teaching Aurelia had deliberately omitted, and he had fully grasped it.
"Haat!"
Shouting, he squeezed out more mana.
Until the mana core, never once depleted due to the Dragon's Curse, hit bottom.
Crack.
Something shattered in his head's mana core.
But ignoring it, Martin charged and collided with the final whirlwind.
Baaam!
A huge explosion erupted, erasing both light and gale.
And Martin's sword was aimed at Aurelia's throat.
Steam rising hotly from his entire body.
-What did you realize?-
"Resonance. Beyond perceiving and seizing the flow, you must become one with the power itself."
"Damn talent gap. It took me over a year to realize that."
Aurelia shook her head with a sigh.
She had recognized the last descendant's extraordinary talent upon their first meeting.
Teaching him swordsmanship over the past month had brought many surprises.
She thought she had fully gauged his potential, yet here was another shock.
It was absurd, but also joyful.
To have contributed to blooming such talent.
-Congratulations. You've perfectly mastered the first chapter of Aurelia Swordsmanship, 'Chapter of the Wind.' Now you can proudly say you've learned Aurelia Swordsmanship.-
"Thank you. Though I doubt I'll have much occasion to say it."
Martin sheathed his sword as he spoke.
He opened his subspace and chugged potions like mad.
As expected of the highest grade, they rapidly healed both external and internal wounds.
While checking his condition, he nearly let out a cheer.
'The path to 4th Circle is open!'
Cracks had formed throughout his head's mana core.
It was the stage leading to the next level.
With a proper breakthrough, his swordsmanship would be followed by his unique ability reaching 4th Circle.
'I failed before regression, but this time, definitely!'
Martin burned with resolve.
"What's the second chapter?"
"You'll learn swordsmanship that handles flames. More precisely, manipulating heat."
"You really did a ton of research."
-To beat that first emperor bastard, I tried everything. It stung that all my hard work got buried so quickly, but thanks to you, I can finally lay that regret to rest.-
"If you're grateful, maybe go easier on the training..."
-I'll push you to your limits. Enough to break the record for youngest 8th Circle swordsman.-
Aurelia's eyes sparkled.
Overwhelmed by her intensity, Martin smiled awkwardly.
"Eek. Well, I'll be off then."
-Go on. You've pushed yourself hard—head back and rest.-
"I'd love to, but it's not that easy."
-Something come up?-
"Well..."
Martin explained the monster wave occurring now.
He added that it was unprecedented.
Aurelia let out a quiet sigh.
-Sigh. Monsters eating monsters to grow stronger... the world is truly unpredictable. I've lingered on this land for over a thousand years, yet this is the first I've heard of it.-
"I know dungeons are unknown territory, but this feels excessive."
After the Alteria Empire was founded, humanity began seriously delving into dungeons.
Over a thousand years had passed since, and humanity had ushered in the mana-tech era through dungeon byproducts.
Yet, despite civilizational advances, knowledge of the dungeons themselves remained limited.
They hadn't even determined how many floors they had.
At best, two hundred years ago, an adventurer failing to find the 51st floor confirmed there was something beyond the 50th.
Thus, dungeons remained the ultimate unknown.
-But more than the dungeons, it's your condition that worries me.-
"Me?"
-Yes. Just days after suppressing the branch family's rebellion, another ordeal hits. Can your body handle it?-
"Thank you for your concern. But no need to worry too much. I've been through worse."
-I wouldn't think to say that with such a bright smile...-
"This one will be solvable too."
"I can't even begin to imagine the fate you bear. All the children I've watched had their own troubles, but none compare to yours."
"Even awakening my unique ability late gives my life meaning. As for what's ahead, I'll bear it as the one who'll become Adalbert family head."
Aurelia shook her head in exasperation before speaking.
-Mark my words: you'll be among the greatest family heads in history.-
"Hmm. I figured that was a given..."
Aurelia von Adalbert chuckled at the sheepish Martin.
The family's sole direct descendant wasn't just talented in martial arts or unique abilities.
Young as he was, he possessed remarkably steadfast mental fortitude.
Even she, watching him, was impressed.
-I can't keep a busy child any longer. I won't tell you not to work, but remember to take care of your health. The family's fate rests on you.-
"I'll keep that in mind. Farewell."
Martin bowed politely.
And left the Tyrant's Chamber.
* * *
Two days after Martin called the grand assembly.
The red-haired beauty, Kallain Gustin, stared grimly at the magic circle before him.
Flash!
A brilliant light bloomed, splitting the space above the circle.
From the rift stepped a man with long red hair and a beard.
Kallain immediately bowed respectfully.
"I greet the family head."
Mateus von Gustin.
The only branch family head said to rival Vincent nodded.