Reunion with the Sword Maniac
The sky carriage departing from Gladiheim arrived at the warp gate beneath the Blade Mountains.
Normally, using a warp gate to travel abroad involved starting with exit inspections and a slew of complicated procedures, so showing up out of the blue meant you couldn't just hop on. But their destination, the Balian Kingdom, was an ally of the Empire, and someone of the Alastor family head's stature could bypass exit formalities with sheer authority.
Thus, Julius and Kyle were assigned a warp gate immediately upon stepping out of the carriage.
"Have you ever used a warp gate before?"
"Of course not. This is my first time riding one—with you, Grandpa."
Kyle added,
"Honestly, this is my first time venturing this far out too. I lived cooped up in the Rose Mansion until I was five. Then I came to the Sword Tower."
Julius's eyes narrowed at those words. It was meant to be a fond remark about sharing a new memory with his grandson, but Julius muttered lowly,
"You never left that mansion until you were five? Arian must be out of her mind."
"Uh... it's not Mom's fault. I didn't want to go out."
It wasn't a lie. The Kyle before age five couldn't even control his own body properly, so he had no desire to show his pathetic state to the world outside.
If they went back now, Arian was bound to get an earful about her parenting, so Kyle did his best to defend her.
"Young kids get mana sickness their first time on a warp gate. But you won't have any issues."
Mana sickness only afflicted children unaccustomed to mana.
"Things'll get annoying once we reach the Balian Kingdom, but it won't take long."
"Because you're amazing, Grandpa?"
"Exactly."
Julius nodded with a stoic expression. He was the lord of Vigrid, the castellan of Gladiheim, and head of the Alastor family. Moreover, Julius himself was the Thunder Emperor, one of the continent's Ten Strongest.
He was the Empire's sharpest sword and strategic weapon. Even without Gladiheim's full forces, Julius alone could shift the tide of war. If he willed it, he could seize the royal castle and behead the king the moment he arrived in Balian.
With such a transcendent figure arriving via warp gate, Balian would naturally receive him with pomp—and wariness.
"Normally, even I need the Emperor's permission to cross borders."
While the warp gate was being prepared, Julius and Kyle waited in a lavish reception room.
"So you can't take me along?"
"As long as you don't cause trouble. The Emperor has that much flexibility."
Even speaking of the continent's mightiest empire's ruler, Julius's tone was nonchalant.
"I'm more worried about you, actually. I've been shut away for thirteen years, and now I'm out with my grandson, heading to Balian. The world will learn all about you."
"Will I be in danger?"
Kyle's eyes sparkled as he asked, his face showing not a speck of fear.
"I can't say no one would dare threaten a pureblood Alastor. Plenty in this world hate our family."
Julius chuckled, stroking his beard.
"But you were the one who said you didn't want to remain a flower in a greenhouse."
"Should I carry a sign around?"
Kyle chuckled back.
"'Monster Treasure Proclaimed by Thunder Emperor Julius Alastor. Owner of Chaos Flower. Kyle Alastor (11 years old).'"
The warp gate was ready amid their silly banter.
Warp gates normally operated on schedules with groups riding together, but Julius's presence made exceptions. He and Kyle entered alone.
*
The warp gate's transit was instantaneous.
After entering a chamber etched with indecipherable complex magic circles and waiting a dozen minutes or so, the door opened to announce their arrival in the Balian Kingdom.
Outside, just as Julius had predicted, a crowd awaited.
In place of the king stood the kingdom's duke, prime minister, and crown prince. They offered to escort Julius and Kyle to the royal castle, but Julius sliced through their proposals with blade-sharp precision.
"This is personal business."
"What...?"
"I said personal."
"S-sorry. Then allow us to escort you ourse—"
"No need. We'll take another warp gate from here anyway. If you insist on helping, open the nearest one to Levar Territory. Have a sky carriage ready there too."
"Pardon? Y-yes... understoood."
As the sweating prince stammered, the duke and prime minister swiftly relayed orders to prepare the gate.
"Is Dad in Levar Territory?"
"It's Aslan's hometown. Know anything about his background?"
"No. I deliberately didn't ask Mom, figuring it'd worry her. So most of what I know is from you today, Grandpa."
"Aslan's from a fallen noble house that barely kept its name. Lost his parents to illness young, entered officer school to make a living."
Officer school was the typical path for down-on-their-luck nobles with nothing but a name and their bodies.
"There he discovered his sword talent—and bolted because he loved it too much to swing one half-heartedly. Afterward, he wandered the world honing his blade. Took mercenary gigs when money ran dry."
"Huh."
A fallen noble doing mercenary work? Despite their pride. Kyle's fondness for his father ticked up another notch.
"He had nothing but his body and sword skills. Arian hated living in the Sword Tower, so they returned to his hometown."
"Mom must've bought that house too."
"Spot on. That's why Aslan's such a bastard."
Back in the Sword Apex Hall, Julius hadn't breathed a word against his son-in-law. But now, traveling with his grandson to confront the man, the loathing poured out nonstop.
"You really cherish my mom, Grandpa."
Julius paused en route to the prepared warp gate, shooting Kyle a glare.
"Arian's my daughter. Is it so special for a father to love his child?"
"It'd be nice if you showed it in your actions as much as you feel it inside."
"Brat. I've done my best in my own way. I respected her choice not to wield a sword despite being my child. When she showed talent in spirit arts, I supported her studies. I permitted her sudden marriage to Aslan, let her leave the Sword Tower, and gave her all the dowry she wanted."
Even this transcendent ruler of Gladiheim had pent-up grievances. Resuming his steps, he spat,
"When she returned to Vigrid after a year and secluded herself, I didn't drag her out. Even knowing she'd borne a son, I waited for her to bring you to me—no force. When she came back after five years, I didn't berate her much and let you and her live in the Sword Tower. What more 'actions' do you want?"
"Uh, sorry. You're right, Grandpa."
Kyle scratched his head sheepishly. He had to concede the point. Julius might not have been the perfect father while Arian lived in the Sword Tower, but she hadn't been the ideal daughter either.
"Good. Now you get it."
Julius sighed shortly. He felt a twinge of self-reproach for unloading everything on his grandson—yet oddly comforted by their talks.
Being domestic travel, the warp to Levar Territory was quick.
"To Aslan Antares's mansion."
As requested, a sky carriage awaited at Levar's warp gate. Julius instructed the coachman and boarded first.
"What'll you do when you meet Aslan?"
As Kyle followed, Julius—arms crossed—asked.
"Tell him to end his seclusion and return to the Sword Tower."
"That's it?"
"Well, I'd love to thrash him with a wooden sword too."
"If you're scared he'll resist, I'll make sure he can't."
Julius scowled fiercely.
"No, it's annoying even having to step in. If Aslan has any conscience, he'll grovel and take your wooden sword like he deserves."
"Think he'll even recognize me?"
Kyle chuckled. Aslan Antares had entered seclusion without knowing Arian was pregnant. Would he really identify his long-lost son on sight?
"He will."
Julius replied with conviction.
"If not, his eyes are worthless. I'll pluck one out myself."
"I don't particularly want to see my dad become a cyclops."
"Won't happen. He'll recognize you."
"Do I look that much like him?"
"Of course. But it's not just looks..."
"My sword talent?"
"No. You're far superior to Aslan there. What I mean is... something instinctive. Parents just know their children."
Was that true? Kyle tilted his head. He'd never had kids even in his past life, so he couldn't relate. But coming from a father of nine, it rang credible.
The sky carriage descended to the ground. They'd arrived.
Wife run off, husband holed up in seclusion—yet the mansion was impeccably maintained. A minimal staff still resided there.
Approaching the firmly shut front gate, Julius skipped knocking. With a flick of his finger, the lock sliced cleanly, and the doors slid open.
"Wh-who—gasp?!"
The servants blocking the garden path spotted the Alastor crest on Julius's clothes and dropped to one knee, gulping.
"Where's Aslan?"
"Th-the m-master is... in seclusion..."
"Think I don't know that? Where is he secluding?"
The hesitating butler sighed and rose.
"The master is in the training hall in the backyard. I'll guide you."
The training hall door they reached was, predictably, sealed tight. Arms crossed before the iron door, Julius glanced at the butler.
"He hasn't come out once in twelve years?"
"Yes. Not once."
"Food and water?"
"There's a well inside. And decades' worth of Bellayer Workshop pills."
"Even substituting meals with Bellayer pills, surviving twelve years on them alone would ruin the body."
Julius's eyes narrowed.
"If he's unscathed, it means he's broken through a long-standing wall."
Once the upper dantian opens, humans transcend physical limits. Most life needs sustenance for survival, but with the upper dantian open, mana can substitute.
Ignore hunger, cultivate mana—you live. Expectation flickered in Julius's eyes, soured by the journey.
Last he'd seen, Aslan teetered on Intent Realm completion. Yet most lauded geniuses never reach Extreme Realm in a lifetime. Even Julius's own children struggled at that wall.
If Aslan had breached it even slightly, glimpsing beyond...
"Hm."
Julius shook his head. As a fellow warrior, it'd be worth celebrating. But today, he wasn't here for the swordsman Aslan Antares—he'd come to berate the dog of a son-in-law who'd abandoned his daughter for twelve years and drag him out.
"Hold on."
As Julius reached for the door,
Kyle stepped forward, stopping him.
"I'll go in first."
"Why?"
"It's my first meeting with Dad. I wanna see his face one-on-one."
He was curious if the man would recognize his unannounced son.
Kyle drew the wooden sword from the Sword Tower. Crackle! Purple aura coiled around it amid sparking currents, forming sword aura. He compressed the thin aura like paper, then slashed through the door crack.
Shhink!
The razor aura slipped precisely inside, severing the lock. No effort wasted on control to avoid deflection. Julius murmured admiration at his grandson's precise swordsmanship and mana control.
"Call me if you need me, Grandpa."
The unlocked door swung open with a push. Ignoring Julius's reply, Kyle entered and shut it behind him.
"Whew..."
Beyond the door lay a living space. Kyle's gaze first went to the rags piled in the corner—martial robes untouched for twelve years. The stench hit without approaching.
Opposite stood several large jars. Urinals? But too big, no smell. Steeling himself, Kyle peered in.
Finger-length pills filled them. Aslan's meal substitutes during seclusion.
'How'd this guy handle the bathroom?'
Kyle opted not to dwell.
The door in the back wall. Heart pounding, he approached.
No mental prep needed. He opened it without hesitation.
Thankfully unlocked. The instant he stepped in—
Whoosh!
Dense mana slammed into him, then sucked back in. A storm-like flow. Vision blurred like thick fog.
Kyle narrowed his eyes, forcing through the mana gale. The haze cleared gradually, revealing a man seated proudly at the storm's eye.
His hair, white as snow, jutted wildly like a lion's mane. Gray beard engulfed half his face.
His body, gaunt from years of seclusion like old bark, exuded no frailty. Each inhale drew dense mana in; each exhale burst it out, inflating his loose robes taut and shaking the space.
Kyle watched briefly, then boldly stepped into the mana storm. The man's eyes snapped open.
Flash!
Piercing gaze impaled Kyle. He gripped his wooden sword instinctively. Unlike Julius, this man showed no mercy. A first for this life.
Chilling thrill. Spine-tingling chill. Fist clenching the hilt unbidden. Kyle smirked, staring back.
Then another sensation hit. A pull... like being drawn in. Not battle excitement—a different heartbeat.
"You..."
The man.
Aslan Antares spoke. His voice rasped, long unused.
"Could you be... my... son...?"
As Julius said, Aslan recognized Kyle instantly.
Kyle felt something uncanny.
Even without knowing, he'd have sensed it upon meeting—this was his father.
Kyle didn't answer. No nod.
Instead, he raised his wooden sword. The feeling was odd, but no match for anticipation, thrill, excitement.
He circulated his incomplete Mixed Origin Sword Scripture at full power.
[Master?]
Yormungand stirred in his heart.
'Yorm.'
Kyle's lips twitched upward as he commanded.
'Kill that bastard.'
Not that he could right now.
With lethal intent commanded to Yorm, Kyle charged Aslan.