Episode 199
Finally, the vessel for aura formed in Dale’s lower abdomen.
Shub’s tendrils acted as a ‘mana circuit’ connecting the heart and the lower abdomen, creating a pathway between the mana circles and the aura heart. In a way, it could be called a Dual Core.
Dale straightened his posture and took a deep breath.
With each breath, mana from the air was absorbed.
It flowed into the five circles, which could be called the heart of a mage. But the journey of the mana didn’t stop there. It traveled through the ‘mana circuit’ that Shub had connected, reaching the aura heart, the heart of a knight, before finally coming to rest.
A small amount of mana accumulated in the aura vessel, and Dale carefully took another deep breath.
He needed to process the mana stored in the aura vessel.
Not as magical power for a mage, but as ‘aura,’ used by knights to enhance their physical strength.
In truth, handling aura wasn’t new to Dale. Even though his senses had dulled while living as ‘Dale of Saxon,’ it was only in comparison to his prime as a hero.
Moreover, the days of being trained as the Empire’s hound weren’t easily forgotten.
Magic is a transcendent force layered over the world.
Aura, on the other hand, is a force layered strictly over the body.
Just as the night raven knights of the Saxon family wield black aura, and the master of the killing sword, Baro, wields a blood-red aura, aura is no different.
It’s a force that reflects one’s ideology.
And finally, Dale’s aura, imbued with the ideology of the Shadow Lord, began to shine from within his body.
In a body already infused with ancient darkness and the chill of the apocalypse, aura was now layered over it.
He could feel the power flowing through every vein and nerve, seeping into each cell.
And it was a power that required no complex thought.
As a test, he absorbed a bit more mana, channeling it through Shub’s tendrils toward the aura heart.
A little more than before. As Dale of Saxon, he couldn’t reach the heights of his past life overnight.
So he cautiously processed the aura, gradually increasing the amount and intensity to allow his body to adapt.
‘This should do it.’
Simultaneously, he unleashed the large amount of mana stored in the five circles toward the aura heart.
Dale had reached the level of a 5-circle mage, and even among them, his capabilities were unmatched.
Thus, the amount of mana he could accumulate or absorb far exceeded the norm.
A mass of mana, dozens—no, hundreds of times what a newly awakened aura knight could absorb, poured in explosively.
And Dale’s aura heart desperately functioned, processing the mana into ‘aura.’ It was a pain that felt like the aura heart might shatter at any moment, far beyond its threshold.
“Young Master…!”
Helmut, who knew exactly what was happening inside Dale, was not one to remain idle. That’s why the three swords were there, and just as Helmut moved in alarm—
“Hold it right there.”
Master Baro stopped him.
“Do you really want to see your young master drop dead from a little nudge?”
”…”
Helmut knew it too. As a loyal servant, it was unbearable to see the eldest son of the Saxon family engaged in such a precarious struggle.
“There’s no need to worry.”
The silent Wandering Sword spoke up.
“For our lord, this isn’t even worth worrying about.”
With unwavering certainty.
Having experienced the world of ideology shown by the Shadow Lord that day, he knew. The vessel that being possessed wasn’t one to crumble from a mere tug-of-war like this.
A pain like his heart being torn apart engulfed Dale’s consciousness. But the heart of a knight that Dale possessed wasn’t so easily broken.
While the five circles ceased their rotation and fell silent, the aura heart desperately operated, emitting ‘aura.’
Before long, it reached a point where it not only permeated every bone and nerve cell but also burst through the skin.
For knights, aura isn’t as strictly categorized as it is for mages.
The first stage of using aura is to circulate it within the body to enhance physical strength, known as an Aura Beginner.
Next is the ability to emit aura externally, to envelop a sword or use it as a shield, known as an Aura Knight.
And finally, the ability to overlay aura on a sword, armor, and body to wield an ‘Avatar,’ known as an Aura Master.
In other words, the fact that Dale’s aura was being emitted outside his body meant one thing.
The level of an Aura Knight.
With the creation of the aura heart and the initial processing of aura, Dale was achieving in mere seconds what even the most talented would spend a lifetime to grasp.
The aura began to coil around the black sword in Dale’s hand.
“Aura…!”
Seeing the color of the aura, Helmut gasped.
“Is our role just to be amazed and provide commentary?”
“It seems so.”
“Oh, wow! Truly astonishing. As expected of Young Master Dale.”
Master Baro exaggeratedly shrugged with an emotionless voice. But Helmut paid no mind to his rudeness.
He couldn’t hide his awe at the ‘Aura Blade’ enveloping Dale’s sword.
It wasn’t just one color.
Black, red, and blue aura—ancient darkness, flames burning like magma, and the chill of the apocalypse.
Three colors of aura were imbued in Dale’s sword.
Yet, they didn’t coexist simultaneously. It shifted from black to red, then to blue, and back to red.
‘He’s controlling the aura’s color like magical power, as needed…’
Helmut swallowed hard at the sight.
The Shadow Lord adjusted his grip on the sword. Without using any magical power, without accelerating the mana circles, purely as one who pursues the sword.
He entrusted himself to the flow of aura surging within and spoke.
“Stop talking nonsense and draw your sword, Master Baro.”
“Ah, I’ve been waiting for those words.”
Master Baro finally drew his sword.
The level of an Aura Knight. Not yet the level of an Aura Master who can use an ‘Avatar.’ Even if Dale could use an Avatar, it was only through magical power and the 『Book of the Black Goat』 overlaying the power of magic.
Therefore, to prepare for the test of the sword, Dale had only one goal.
The level of an Aura Master.
To project not the Avatar of the Shadow Lord, but solely ‘Dale’s Avatar.’
‘Fortunately, I managed to create an Aura Blade, but self-training will only get me this far.’
For that, Dale adjusted his grip on his Aura Blade, and the three swords of the continent were here.
What could be achieved through self-study was up to the level of an Aura Knight.
To open the path to a higher level, he needed to risk his life and engage in a life-and-death struggle with strong opponents.
“Come at me with the intent to kill.”
Dale said, and Master Baro nodded.
“Wait a moment. Young Master Dale!”
At that moment, Helmut intervened.
“Wouldn’t it be fitting for me, Helmut, to be your first training opponent?”
“Clashing swords with Sir Helmut will indeed be an essential part of the training process.”
Dale nodded.
“But as you said, Master Baro is known as the master of the killing sword, far from the nobility of a knight. He uses all sorts of despicable techniques to kill his opponent.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment.”
“Right now, that’s exactly the level of threat I need.”
“Forgive my ignorance, Young Master.”
Finally understanding Dale’s intentions, Helmut bowed his head.
“No, Sir Helmut. Your role is to protect me if things go awry.”
Dale smiled and turned his head. Master Baro stood there.
What Dale lacked as a knight wasn’t the experience of wielding a sword. Without even mentioning his time as a hero from another world, as the eldest son of the Saxon family, he had wielded a sword countless times, facing innumerable foes.
What Dale needed was something else.
To revive the sense of aura.
The sensation and memory of deploying aura and fighting as a hero from another world. To revive that sense, he needed a strong opponent worthy of it.
Not the pleasant pretense of training, but a genuine threat to his life that he had to face desperately.
In that regard, Master Baro, the master of the killing sword, was the perfect first training opponent for Dale.
“Brace yourself. If you end up crossing the river of death, it’s none of my business.”
“That’s exactly what I hope for.”
Dale adjusted his grip on the dark, azure aura blade and spoke. No sooner had the words left his mouth than Master Baro, without any preliminary movement, drew his sword and swung it.
Whoosh!
Even from a considerable distance, Dale could feel it vividly—the murderous intent swirling around his throat like a coiling serpent.
He quickly pushed off the ground, widening the gap between them. His body surged with explosive aura, but just then—
‘…!’
The overwhelming power of the aura, far exceeding his expectations, caused him to momentarily lose his balance. Seizing that moment, the deadly sword lashed out again.
“Ah, do you have a death wish? You’d better move quickly.”
Master Baro stood there, directing his sword as if conducting an orchestra, slicing through the air with precision.
Each time, the space between them seemed to warp, and Master Baro’s blade gleamed menacingly right in front of Dale’s nose.
As Dale staggered, an uncountable number of sword energies exploded towards him, forcing him to roll clumsily on the ground to avoid them. He scrambled back to his feet, regaining his stance.
“Damn it, were you really trying to take my head off?”
Dale cursed as he steadied himself.
“Ah, isn’t it a knight’s duty to bow to the orders of his lord?” Master Baro chuckled in response. Dale focused inward, contemplating.
‘I think I’m starting to get it.’
He was beginning to understand how to wield the aura, how to harness this explosive power within him in various situations.
“Brace yourself, you bastard.”
With that, Dale spoke, and before he knew it, the distance between him and Master Baro had closed.
”…!”
The ancient darkness imbued in his black sword swung forward.
He closed the gap and struck with incredible speed. But just then—
As his sword was about to cleave through Master Baro’s neck, an explosion erupted.
He had unleashed a burst of aura, and it meant only one thing.
“Well, well, if I’m not careful, I might lose my own head.”
Blocking Dale’s black sword was the avatar of Master Baro, one of the Seven Swords of the Continent, known as the Deadly Sword.