Episode 137: Warning (1)
The art of controlling a sword with one’s will, known as “Sword Mastery by Will,” was a technique that allowed a user to manipulate a sword freely in mid-air. At first glance, it might seem similar to telekinesis, but it was a far more advanced skill.
Historically, there were few master-class warriors who could wield this technique. It wasn’t a matter of skill but rather a question of direction. To use Sword Mastery by Will, one had to attain a certain level of enlightenment, akin to the universal insight of a Sword Saint or the deadly precision of a Grim Reaper’s blade.
The level of mastery required for Sword Mastery by Will was so rare that even someone like Damian had only heard of it, never witnessed it firsthand. Yet, tales of flying swords cutting down dozens of knights or coordinating attacks with their masters were legendary.
“Could they have tried to replicate Sword Mastery by Will with a relic sword?” Damian mused. It was unlikely they had succeeded completely. Achieving a master-class level was something only a genius could hope to reach after a lifetime of honing their skills. Even the technology of ancient civilizations couldn’t fully replicate such mastery. Still, even a mere imitation of Sword Mastery by Will could wield tremendous power.
“So, this is the relic sword Lady Frize is searching for,” Damian thought as he examined the paper in his hand. Just then, footsteps echoed from within.
Two ancient golems approached Damian, their bodies stained with blood, likely from having just slaughtered the Obter Mercenary Group.
“Victor! Ancient golems!” Tebo shouted as he retreated. Damian set aside his interest in the relic sword and gripped his sword, Dawn.
These golems were different from the ones they had fought earlier. They were larger, and more importantly, they wielded different weapons—one with an axe, the other with a spear.
Damian eyed the golems’ weapons and grinned. “These could fetch a good price.”
As soon as the golems closed in, Damian swung Dawn in a wide arc. The blade traced a half-circle, slicing through the necks of the golems. Headless, the golems crumbled to the ground.
“Wha—what just happened?” Tebo stammered, incredulous.
“Victor, are ancient golems supposed to be this weak?” he asked, bewildered. To Tebo, who knew nothing of swordsmanship, it seemed as if the golems had simply offered their necks to be cut.
“Of course not. My sword was just too fast for them to react,” Damian replied nonchalantly. It might have sounded arrogant, but Tebo could only nod, having witnessed Damian’s prowess firsthand.
“Now, let’s load these up. We need to head inside,” Damian instructed, and Tebo hurried to comply.
Damian explored every corner of the fifth floor. As it was an area for researchers, he found a variety of items—books, mysterious blueprints, and equipment in various stages of assembly. Unfortunately, most of the equipment had been left to decay over time.
“This is why it’s hard to find anything valuable in ruins,” Damian thought. Ruins were remnants of a distant past, and most artifacts were damaged or destroyed. Still, he managed to find a few intact relics.
“Strange that I haven’t encountered anyone despite wandering around for so long,” he mused. The occasional distant sounds and the faint scent of blood in the air suggested there were people on the fifth floor, but the area was vast, and he hadn’t crossed paths with anyone.
“With conditions like these, you’d expect Gasdal to show up,” Damian thought. But contrary to his expectations, Gasdal remained elusive.
“Why not? Could it be avoiding me?” he wondered.
Just then, Tebo’s strained voice called from behind. “Victor, we can’t carry any more.”
Tebo was burdened with a mountain of relics Damian had found. “Let’s call it a day,” Damian decided, realizing Gasdal was unlikely to appear.
As they emerged, the people nearby turned their attention to them.
“Look at that! I’ve never seen so many relics before,” someone exclaimed.
“Even those who claim to explore the fifth floor usually find just a weapon or two. How did they manage this?” others murmured in awe at Tebo’s load.
“Isn’t that an ancient golem beneath all that? Could it be a commander-class?” someone speculated.
“No way… Commander-class golems are tough even for mid-class knights. But wait, it really is a commander-class!” they realized.
To them, Tebo’s burden was like a treasure trove. People gathered around, marveling at the relics.
“A commander-class golem in perfect condition? The mages will go wild,” someone noted.
“Not just the mages. Knights would covet the weapons used by a commander-class golem,” another added.
Unlike the first day, no one dared to haggle. “Surviving an encounter with three ancient golems…”
“Don’t approach recklessly. Remember what happened yesterday? He beat Sir Hayden like a dog,” they whispered, wary after the previous day’s incident.
Thanks to that, Damian walked unimpeded, with no one daring to block his path.
It was then that three men stepped in front of him. All three wore armor and exuded considerable magical energy.
“What do knights want with me?” Damian asked. One of the men stepped forward, a large pair of glasses perched on his nose and a checkered cap on his head.
“I’m Sanchez, in service to Sir Duplis,” he announced, his tone haughty.
Damian merely stared at Sanchez, who repeated himself. “I said I’m in service to Sir Duplis.”
“So what? Get to the point,” Damian replied curtly. Sanchez frowned.
“To hear Sir Duplis’s name and not show respect… Just as I’ve heard, you’re an insolent man. Fine, I won’t waste words. I’ll deliver Sir Duplis’s message briefly,” Sanchez said, pulling a scroll from his coat.
“I, Duplis, am greatly angered by yesterday’s incident. Considering the humiliation you dealt to Sir Hayden, even beheading you and feeding your corpse to pigs would be insufficient,” Sanchez read, the words chilling enough to make the onlookers tense.
Damian, however, listened with a bored expression.
“However, I’ve heard of your considerable abilities. I have no intention of wasting talent. Therefore, I offer you one last chance. Come to me, admit your wrongdoing, and serve until your bones break. Then, I shall forgive your transgressions,” Sanchez continued, rolling up the scroll with a self-satisfied air.
“Isn’t he magnanimous? To forgive a sinner like you. Sir Duplis is truly a noble worth serving…” Sanchez began to praise, but Damian cut him off.
“What if I don’t go?” Damian asked, interrupting Sanchez, who glared at him.
“Why you’re curious, I don’t know…” Sanchez said, stepping closer to whisper in Damian’s ear.
“If you don’t come… Sir Duplis plans to use all his connections to ruin you,” he warned.
“Is that so?” Damian replied.
“Indeed. Sir Duplis is one of only two high-class individuals in this kingdom. Can you imagine the breadth of his connections? He could crush a wandering swordsman like you without lifting a finger,” Sanchez sneered.
“You might find a stray blade in the ruins. You might be barred from entering them altogether. You won’t find peace outside either,” Sanchez continued, his smile growing more sinister.
“If you wish to avoid such a fate, it’s best to humbly seek Sir Duplis’s forgiveness,” he advised.
Sanchez likely thought his warning was intimidating, but to Damian, it was merely an annoyance.
“I’m busy enough trying to find Gasdal. What a nuisance…” Damian thought, finding it absurd that someone would make such threats with only high-class status.
“I can’t reveal I’m high-class myself,” he mused. While not as rare as master-class, high-class individuals were still scarce, with only a few in each nation. If it became known that Damian was high-class, his identity might be exposed.
Then, a thought crossed Damian’s mind. “Wait a minute… I might be able to use this to draw Gasdal out.”
Gasdal was currently collecting souls for research. To achieve good results, he would need the souls of exceptional warriors.
“If I know Gastal, he’s probably found a way to gather information from the depths, no matter how isolated he is.”
If he clashed with the Duplis faction, Damian’s reputation would inevitably rise, and that would surely catch Gastal’s attention.
“Maybe I can provoke Duplis and lure them deep into the ruins.”
In the ruins, away from prying eyes, he could destroy Duplis without restraint.
“Why aren’t you answering?”
Sanchez’s question snapped Damian out of his thoughts.
“You’re eager for an answer, aren’t you?”
“Of course. Hurry up and decide. Will you accept Lord Duplis’s mercy, or…?”
Damian opened a pocket dimension and pulled out a club.
Sanchez and the two other knights recoiled in shock.
“Why are you bringing that out?”
“Oh, curious about this, are you?”
Damian laughed, slapping the club against his palm with a resounding smack.
“This is my answer.”
Sanchez and the knights hastily reached for their swords.
But before they could react, Damian’s club struck their heads with a swift, decisive blow.