A Sword of My Own
"Family Head."
Nelia, who had been lost in thought for a moment, spoke up.
"We can't hide the spirit root awakening forever, but it might be best to keep the middle dantian opening under wraps for now."
"That sounds wise."
Julius nodded in agreement.
It was unprecedented. An absurd talent that defied all common sense. To the Alastor family, who revered the sword above all, it was a tremendous blessing. But to those who opposed the Alastors, it would be a thorn in their side.
And perhaps— no, undoubtedly— even within the Alastor family, there would be those grinding their teeth at Kyle's irrational gift. His own children were a prime example. Among those burning with ambition for the throne, eyeing it hungrily, was there truly no one who would envy a young nephew's talent?
"As for the young master's future training..."
"Kyle."
Before Nelia could finish, Julius fixed his gaze on Kyle.
"Your spirit root is extraordinary. What kind of sword... do you wish to master?"
Kyle didn't answer right away, simply meeting Julius's eyes. It wasn't the silence of hesitation, but Julius continued without waiting.
"I possess a thunder spirit root, and I channeled thunder into my sword."
Julius deliberately raised his hand to the side. Crackle! Purple lightning coiled around it, stretching out into a blade. It was a divine technique Julius had never shown Kyle before.
"The cultivation method is the Heavenly Thunder Ultimate Art. The sword art is the Nine Heavens Thunder Punishment Sword. Both are pinnacle martial arts you couldn't master right away, but if you desire it... I will pass everything I know to you and guide you."
Arian's eyes widened at those words. None of her siblings had ever heard such an offer from their father, Julius.
At best, they were occasionally summoned to the Sword Apex Hall to show their swordsmanship and receive advice. Yet now, the head of the Alastors and one of the Ten Strong, the Thunder Emperor, was offering to bequeath everything to a 10-year-old child.
"Grandfather."
Kyle, who had been staring at the lightning in Julius's hand, finally spoke.
"Is that thunder... a sword too?"
"It is a sword."
"Are all Grandfather's swords like that thunder?"
"They are."
"Grandfather."
Kyle grinned.
"Do you want me to wield only thunder as my sword?"
Julius's eyes flickered slightly. When he didn't reply immediately, Kyle pressed on with a smile.
"You and Lady Nelia said it earlier. My spirit root is the world itself. It encompasses everything and can become anything. Wouldn't it be a waste to limit it to just thunder?"
Just thunder.
Arrogant. Insolent, even. It had to sound that way. After all, Julius held that "mere thunder" in his grasp right now.
But he couldn't scold his grandson. Kyle's golden eyes— sparkling like pure gold— weren't captivated by the thunder Julius wielded. To everyone else, it was a spectacle to marvel at, but to this child, the Thunder Emperor's thunder sword was just... a sword.
"...We also said it wasn't harmonious."
Julius broke the silence. Kyle chuckled and nodded.
"That's what makes it fun, right? If it's not harmonious, I can make it harmonious."
"Mastering even one is difficult."
"I'll master just one."
Kyle held up a single finger demonstratively.
"One sword."
Chaotic spirit root or whatever— he didn't care about the details. This body harbored an irrational talent beyond comparison. And it wasn't just the spirit root and circuits; Kyle even had affinity for spirits and goblins.
He intended to use it all as a foundation for the sword.
"Is my sword dissatisfying to your eyes?"
The corner of Julius's mouth curved up. Not in reprimand for the cheeky boy, but more like a pout at his grandson's lack of awe for the sword he'd proudly displayed.
"No. Grandfather's sword is incredible."
It was sincere, not flattery. Kyle had long known Julius was a swordsman of profound realm, but this was the first time he'd seen the real thing— not the playful demonstrations of before.
Sword aura perfected into a blade. Sword gang far beyond that realm. Julius Alastor was truly worthy of being called this era's superhuman.
'Different from the sword gang I achieved in my past life...'
Without knowing Julius's full power, comparison was tough. But from what he sensed, this era's sword gang seemed more versatile. Greed flickered in Kyle's eyes as he beheld the thunder sword.
"It's incredible, but I'm not satisfied with just that. And there's another reason I won't inherit Grandfather's sword."
"What reason?"
"Has anyone among my uncles and aunts inherited Grandfather's sword?"
"No."
Julius shook his head.
"Only Katarina, Dante, and Serros awakened thunder spirit roots to begin with."
"Why didn't you pass it to them?"
"They didn't measure up."
"Hmm."
Kyle chuckled, crossing his arms.
"If I fought Aunt Katarina, Uncle Dante, or Uncle Serros right now, do you think I'd win?"
He'd never met Serros, who had been away from the Sword Tower for five years, but Kyle asked anyway. Julius replied with an incredulous look.
"Of course you'd lose."
"Then why offer to teach me?"
"Because your aptitude is special."
"Grandfather, it's been five years since I came to the Sword Tower. I know the family motto and rules well enough now— Alastor or not."
Kyle cleared his throat and spoke in a solemn tone.
"Here, power is everything. My current aptitude or future potential doesn't matter much. That's all future talk."
"..."
"For all I know, I could trip and die in the mansion today. Or catch a deadly illness in a year. I could make enemies boasting about my talent and get killed, or ruin my body rushing my training."
"Hah..."
Julius chuckled softly, shaking his head.
"A mere 10-year-old lecturing the Alastor family head on our rules?"
"I'm pureblood Alastor too. Anyway, my point is, I haven't proven anything yet."
"Is that why you refuse my sword?"
"One reason. There's another."
"Speak it. What's the other?"
"If I inherit Grandfather's sword, I'll know it inside out."
"Naturally."
"Then when I duel you later, won't I have too much of an advantage?"
Arian and Nelia's jaws dropped.
Julius didn't gape. Instead, he stared blankly at Kyle. Amid the shock, Kyle shrugged.
"So I won't inherit it now. It wouldn't be fair for our future duel. I haven't proven I'm better than my uncles and aunts yet. And I want to wield swords beyond thunder."
"You could wield this one alongside others."
"If I focus more on other swords than the one you taught me, could you stand it?"
"No."
"See?"
Julius couldn't help but laugh at Kyle's giggling face.
Laughing,
he posed a heavy question he shouldn't ask smiling.
"Do you want to become family head?"
"Not wanting an advantage means... you intend to beat me for real."
"'Beat' sounds brutal among family. Let's say surpass."
"That sounds even more brutal to me. Do you know what surpassing me means?"
"I do. It means becoming family head."
"Exactly."
"I'll think about that when the time comes."
Truth be told, Kyle had little desire to lead this massive, magnificent Alastor family. It was in his nature from his past life.
The Sword Ghost thrived on freedom. Living as he pleased, swinging his sword freely, battling the strong— that was his way. He'd even abandoned leading the Crow Mercenary Corps, shaking off followers whenever he could.
But that nature didn't hold forever. Eating alone was fine, but sometimes sharing a meal was tastier. Drinking solo had romance, but occasionally boozing with a crowd was rowdy fun.
So later— if the mood struck to try being family head.
"No need for an answer now. I haven't proven anything yet."
Kyle was only 10. He'd just celebrated his birthday and awakened his spirit root. Even if that talent was a guaranteed future, he hadn't proven it now.
So he'd fill it step by step, stack it proof by proof.
"..."
Julius gazed at him with calm, sunken eyes.
A treasure of a monster.
A monstrous treasure.
"Monster" felt harsh, but he wouldn't change his impression. If anything, the conversation had deepened it.
An odd child. Precocious at five, but now at 10— he didn't seem like a child at all.
Most kids would be enthralled by Julius's sword. They wouldn't speak of qualifications or proof. They certainly wouldn't boldly declare intent to surpass the Alastor head.
For a 10-year-old, those words weren't maturity or boldness— they were ignorant bravado. Rude. Blasphemous.
Yet Julius felt none of that toward his grandson. Those golden eyes rang too true? The confidence backed by brilliant talent? No— something else. His words carried a transcendent air.
Could "transcendent" suit a 10-year-old?
"Kyle."
Julius smiled faintly.
"I thought of raising you like a flower in a greenhouse. Your talent would bloom there, and you wouldn't wither. But greenhouses don't suit you."
Kyle waited, grinning, for more.
"I'll grant privileges befitting your aptitude. But I won't shield you unconditionally. You want proof, after all."
"What does 'no unconditional shielding' mean?"
"I won't exempt you from danger. I won't always protect you from rivals who see you as competition or try to crush you."
"Perfect."
Kyle answered crisply.
"I'd rather be a weed blooming anywhere than a flower in a greenhouse."
Rivals. Crushing.
Competition for the throne. Julius refusing "unconditional" protection was exactly what Kyle wanted. He had no intention of hiding behind Grandfather forever.
"From today, you may read all books up to grade 3 in the Great Archive."
"What about higher grades?"
"They're meaningless at your current realm. Opening the middle dantian is impressive, but... as I said, keep it secret for now."
"Got it."
Grade 2 and up must require middle dantian. Kyle nodded. With his mana shortage, he needed to build capacity steadily anyway.
"If there's a middle dantian, is there an upper one too?"
"Yes."
"Maybe here?"
Kyle grinned, pointing to his head. Julius looked surprised for a moment, then nodded.
"How did you know?"
"What else is higher than the chest but the head?"
Just as I thought. Kyle was pleased.
'The world has changed a lot, but the path from swinging a sword leads to the same place.'
Though this era didn't produce flames or thunder with swords like his old one.
But they could be wielded.
"Did you place a sword in your head too, Grandfather?"
An innocent child's question? Or something deeper? Julius answered first.
"I did."
To his satisfied grandson, he added,
"Opening the upper dantian is the gateway to transcendence."
Kyle's smile deepened.
*
Leaving the Sword Apex Hall, they ran into relatives, but didn't get held up. Rather than question Kyle and Arian, they chose to enter the hall themselves.
'Mana cultivation methods, huh.'
Kyle boarded the elevator with Arian.
He had permission for grade 3 Great Archive arts, but wasn't heading there yet. Nelia the librarian was still in the hall, and he wanted to check his body's state more clearly first.
Arian glanced at her son, deep in serious thought.
His special spirit root wasn't just cause for joy.
Today, her son had entered the Alastor succession race. It wasn't up to her will. His talent was absurdly extraordinary, he had the family head's favor, and he himself insisted on "proving" himself in the competition.
'Sigh...'
What could she do? What should she do? Arian bit her lip quietly. Her son sought pride through proof, but she was his mother. She'd support him in every way.
'I need to resume my own training first.'
She'd set it aside after marriage. But to help her son, she had to restart. Her damn husband was still in seclusion after a decade.
"I'll think in my room."
Back at Rose Mansion, Kyle dashed up the stairs.
Inside his room, he opened the desk drawer. Inside were mana stones used as spirit feed.
Crackle...!
Electricity sparked from the thunder crystal, and a purple snake peeked out. It blinked at Kyle, but he pressed its head with a finger.
"Later."
Body check before spirit contract. Kyle plopped on the floor, spilling mana stones within reach.
'Let's see how freakish this body really is.'
Kyle swallowed and reached for a mana stone.