The old man with white hair had shown up.[Zarok Azure Dragon - A-rank, 3rd circle]I only had to take one look at him to assess him, and his strength matched the memories. The third circle seems to have been the old man's prison for a very long time.Zarok, an A-rank fighter who belonged to the Azure Dragon family's older generation, served as the base's administrator.The old man's face was outraged as he fastened his gaze on me, his eyes glistened with violent intentions."A rat dares to come here!"The air echoed with a voice that was a little raspy. Zarok unleashed a strike out of nowhere, his form quickly shifting. He travelled several meters in less time than it took me to take a breath before he was in front of me."The Fist of the Golden Dragon!" He roared.He didn't employ a skill, but rather a technique. Mages utilize spells with their mana, whereas warriors or knights employ techniques with their mana.The majority of the time, the method employed by knights or warriors ar
I gave the old guy a glance.I didn't anticipate him to start clapping all of a sudden.Pa, pa, pa!Clapping his hands, the old man gave me a curious look as he turned to face me. He chuckled and remarked, "Quite excellent, very good! Your proficiency with a sword is amazing! If I'm not incorrect, you've already begun to explore sword intent, and it won't be long before you've mastered it."All of my excitement about battling a real opponent vanished. Even the distinction between sword intent and sword aura eluded this elderly guy. He was under the impression that I was enhancing the sword's intent with my aura.If sword intent corresponds to B-rank power, sword aura corresponds to A-rank power."One with the sword" is the name given to the last sword intent variation. In terms of power, it was similar to the S-rank.I recognized the old man from Number 11's memories. If the earlier old guy served as the secret base's commander or supervisor, this guy, a 4th circle specialist, was its
The mobility skill of Aamon was not even close to the Disaster tier.Slam! Thump! Bang!Wham!Crumble!The burning dragon aura, which was orange in colour, and the normal aura, which was blue in colour, were continually swirling in the air as we traded blows, backed by a concussive eruption of aura.Aamon's eyes became increasingly wide as the battle continued. The edge their family possessed over regular soldiers or knights appeared to evaporate in the presence of this guy.They always had the upper hand in combat thanks to their orange Burning Dragon aura, which was ranked higher than regular aura.Aamon was unaware that my strikes were also augmented by other factors besides aura. Every time I traded blows with him, I activated Super-Enhance and Ultra-Amplify.Damn, I would already be defeated if I were a common knight or warrior. I swore.This world is incredibly unjust.The might of these unique lineages was too great for common soldiers to defeat.Not to add that thanks to all t
Throughout the base, there was a strong stench of burnt flesh. Many times I felt like throwing up because of it. The base would have been plastered with puke if I hadn't become accustomed to such things.It was advantageous that I had such a powerful flame. In a handful of minutes, my pure fire consumed every drop of blood and every corpse. It took nearly a minute to completely burn to ashes all of the bodies since there were so many of them.The nasty odour has also vanished. The once-reddened, blood-stained secret base was now completely black, burned, and all of the structures had been reduced to ashes.I eventually entered the jail and opened the cages."Go outside!"There were no reassuringly soothing words said. I scowled and yelled at the individuals still cowering in the cages."Those who refuse to leave the cages will die shortly!""Ahh!""Run!"The shrieks persisted.Everyone instantly exited the cages and stood in front of me without my having to prod them again. They were
"Has she responded back?" With a groan, I inquired.I might have forgotten about her if it hadn't been for the fact that my so-called fiancée was quite the beauty.To be honest, I was fairly foolish back then. Why couldn't I just take care of her enemies instead of becoming her fiance and save myself all this trouble?Err… However, she had seduced several guys, making it difficult to get rid of them all.Forget about it. That's all there is to it."Yes! She promised to arrive in a month. She also stated that due to their family's quest for a crystal mine, she had been and would continue to be occupied for at least another month.""Alright." I nodded."A crystal mine?"Undoubtedly, both that daughter and her father are ambitious.I did the math in my brain. I should have ample time to care for Count Zerome in a month. It was perfect.But I have to tread carefully. The foundation and history of the Azure Dragon family were strong and profound."Mother, I have to go see if the young girl
The family of Azure Dragons struggled to readily display their abilities.It was due to their power consuming their lifespan!Even though Zarok, Aamon, and Cang all appeared to be elderly, they were just in their 40s!The ageing process would be clearly visible if an Azure Dragon family member activated their bloodline powers. This would demonstrate that their bloodline was flawed.They would undoubtedly come to be hated by everyone as a result of the rumour that was spreading as well.The count may use his soldiers to put an end to the rumour if it was spread in a city or a small village. The rumour had, however, spread far too quickly. It had already made it to the capital in a matter of days.Slam!Under Count Zerome's hand, the table's ancient wood frame, which was hundreds of years old, crumbled into pieces."Who is it?"The Azure Dragon family would already be aware that the rumour was disseminated on purpose if they weren't so foolish. Because of the great distance between the
The next day.A massive announcement swept through the empire.In the north, a tomb belonging to an old emperor had been discovered.Everyone was interested in the news as soon as it was announced, but no one knew who broke the news. It spread more quickly than the bloodline rumours did, and soon, no one was talking about bloodlines at all.The word reached even the barren Ice Demon city on the northernmost boundary of the northern area.It was said that the person circulating the rumour had gone to great lengths to spread it.When I first learned about it, I was perplexed.The individual who came to Ice Demon City to convey the news was an information merchant. These traders exchanged information rather than goods. They might be employed to bring news to any location throughout the empire.The report was that an old emperor's tomb had been discovered 500 metres beneath the surface in the Azure Valley.The title of the emperor had already been discovered. The Emperor of Ancient Gold w
Hearing Rui's comments, the black-robed guard nodded. He had been a devoted follower of the monarch ever since he became one of the monarch's minions.But, right now, he had the impression that the human being he was tasked with protecting was an even greater fanatic!"Master stated that as long as Guan is removed, he will reward everyone."The moment they heard the word "prize," everyone's eyes glowed."Ahem…Do you have any idea what kind of reward it might be, sir?" One of the clan leaders couldn't help but inquire."It should be a skill, I think. The master regards earthly matters as unimportant. He is primarily interested in acquiring skills and techniques." Perhaps for the first time, the black-robed guard is speaking so extensively.His previously dull eyes had a profound brilliance that only seemed to reek of an unnatural atmosphere.Everyone in the room held their breath.The ability to establish an entire clan depended on how effective the skill or technique was. For any fami
"Hey! Why should we listen to a brat like you?" The interjection came from the back of the crowd, a young soldier, his face flushed with anger, his eyes blazing with defiance. The rest of the soldiers turned to stare, their expressions a mixture of curiosity and apprehension.A genuine smile spread across my face. Finally, someone had the audacity to speak up. A flicker of satisfaction ignited within me. This was exactly what I had been hoping for, wasn't it? Didn't this feel like the natural order of things?I had anticipated this moment from the very beginning. There was no way these esteemed scions of nobility and battle-hardened knights would meekly submit to the commands of a mere child. The moment I was elected commander of one of the three mighty armies, I knew this tension would inevitably arise. After all, who among these talented warriors would willingly follow a teenager with little to boast of in terms of accomplishments? And let's not forget the shadow of my less-than-st
Ladia couldn't help but castigate herself for her lapse in judgment. How had she not seen it before? If the involvement of the magic towers would significantly aid the Empire, then the impact of the very person who had defeated the magicians of the tower participating would be monumental.The princess's heart thrummed with the realization, chiding herself for taking so long to come to this epiphany. Was Ethan's proposal the correct course of action or not? She no longer dwelled on the question.With a steely gaze, Ladia announced, "I have reached a verdict."The room fell silent as all eyes turned to the princess. The final decision lay in her hands, and she was ready to reveal it. The anticipation hung heavy in the air, and Ladia took a deep breath before continuing. "I have decided to accept Ethan's proposal."A murmur of surprise rippled through the room, but Ladia held up her hand for silence. "I believe that Ethan's plan, with a few modifications, is the best course of action for
My suggestion ignited a firestorm of debate among the upper echelons of the capital. The princess convened her officials in the grand throne room, where the air was thick with tension and uncertainty as they deliberated their next course of action. Ultimately, the march toward the City of Aran was postponed by a full day, a delay that weighed heavily on everyone present. The officials found themselves divided, caught between two stark choices: should they attempt to reclaim the nearby City of Aran from the Beast Kingdom, or should they focus their efforts on retaking the more strategically significant City of Northfall?"But, Your Majesty," one of the officials interjected, his voice rising above the murmurs of the assembly, "as we stand now, we cannot afford to risk an attack on the Northfall Fortress! I have heard reports that the beastmen have fortified their walls and laid even more traps to ensnare us! If we allow this farce to continue, we will be nothing more than lambs led to
A chill snaked down Ryle's spine. Ethan's suggestion hung in the air, heavy and suffocating, like a shroud woven from despair. To attack City of Aran, a fortress city now bristling with tens of thousands of Beast Kingdom soldiers, felt like a declaration of utter annihilation. Even Lance, their most valiant commander, had fallen captive within its walls.Ryle's brow creased into a deep furrow. He, too, was a commander of the Initiation Army, a man who had tasted the bitterness of defeat and the sting of loss. He couldn't fathom how Ethan, this newly appointed leader, could so blithely propose a course of action that reeked of self-destruction."I cannot, in good conscience, agree with your plan," Ryle stated, his voice laced with a mixture of disbelief and frustration. "As we stand now, attacking Northfall City is a fool's errand, a suicide mission. We are scattered, depleted, and outmatched. We must first rally our remaining forces, regroup along the borders, and then, and only then,
"Ryle Green, step forward!" the Royal advisor said, seeing Ryle was in a daze.Ryle coughed and stepped forward, his heart pounding with excitement as he knelt before the Princess."Ryle Green, you are hereby granted authority over fifty thousand soldiers," the Princess said, her voice like a melody that soothed the soul. "You shall be the commander of the Vanguard Army!"With a snap of her fingers, the Princess bestowed an insignia upon Ryle's shoulder, its glow of light like a beacon of hope in the face of the looming threat of the Beast Kingdom."I will crush those beastmen for you, Your Highness!" Ryle said, his voice filled with determination and resolve.The Princess smiled, her eyes filled with pride and hope. "We have faith in you, Ryle," she said. "Together, we will defeat the Beast Kingdom and restore peace to our lands."Princess Ladia nodded, a hint of a smile playing on her lips. "I expect a lot from the younger generation, Ryle," she said, her voice laced with both encou
The Dwarven Kingdom, a land renowned for its glittering wealth, held its breath. The Brightwing Empire’s meager offer, a desperate plea for aid, was all they had to entice the notoriously hard-drinking mercenaries. Even if their weapons were outdated, their reputation for unmatched effectiveness in battle preceded them. Surely, that would be enough.“Your Majesty,” a guard murmured, his voice barely a tremor in the air. “They have arrived.”Princess Ladia, lost in a labyrinth of thought, startled slightly. She had wrestled with the decision for what felt like an eternity, but finally, a solution had emerged. All that remained was to face them, to meet their gaze and offer her hand in this desperate alliance.Viscount Lamiel, a man whose arrogance was only surpassed by his thirst for gold, strode into the royal garden, flanked by a legion of equally boisterous mercenaries. Princess Ladia recognized most of them – the nobles summoned by the crown, their faces etched with a mixture of g
The scene unfolded with brutal efficiency. Several soldiers, their faces grim and resolute, descended upon Drew and the other soldier, their movements swift and decisive. There was no struggle, no desperate pleas for mercy. They walked away with heads bowed, accepting their fate with a stoic silence that spoke volumes of their resignation.Ryle, his expression a mixture of weariness and amusement, ran a hand through his hair, a sigh escaping his lips. "What a waste of a perfectly good sleep," he muttered, his voice laced with a hint of exasperation. "Young men like myself need our rest, yet everyone seems determined to disrupt my slumber over such trivial matters."His gaze shifted to me, and a playful smile curved his lips. "Allow me to introduce myself," he said, extending a hand towards me. "Ryle Green, third son of Count Green, and as you might be able to tell, the future commander of this very army." He spoke with an air of unwavering confidence, his words carrying the weight of
Two soldiers from a rival camp, their boots crunching on the gravel path, happened upon the conversation. One soldier, his face contorting with barely suppressed mirth, clamped a hand over his mouth, desperately trying to stifle a chuckle. His companion, sensing the impending eruption, jabbed him in the ribs with an elbow, a silent plea for decorum. But the laughter, like a trapped spring, was too powerful to contain. Tears welled in the soldier's eyes, threatening to spill over as his shoulders shook with silent mirth. Finally, with a strangled cry, he burst into a full-blown guffaw. "Hahahaha! If it's the Young Master leading us! Hahaha! We'll be able to… Pft! Hahaha!"The sound of his uncontrolled laughter echoed through the camp, drawing curious glances from nearby soldiers. Gaston, his face a mask of confusion and irritation, turned to the source of the amusement. "Excuse me, but what's so funny?" he demanded, his voice laced with displeasure.The soldier, still gasping for br
The unyielding army of the Ice Demon City had been journeying for a considerable number of weeks, traversing a multitude of cities and towns along the way. During our sojourns, we would occasionally restock our supplies, find respite in taverns, and often in the great outdoors, before resuming our arduous trek.Given the unfortunate circumstances, we were informed that the Ice Demon City was the most distant of all cities from the capital. This reality meant that we were among the last to receive the urgent message, compelling us to join the ranks of the other nobles and their armies in the capital.It was in the fourth week of our relentless march that we finally arrived in the grand and magnificent Capital city. The journey had been long and arduous, but our determination never wavered, as we knew our presence was required in these critical times. I had already surmised that the majority of the other nobles and their forces would have already amassed in the capital, readying themse