NOVEL WEB Chapter 132 - Sixteen Years Old
Translator: FenrirTL
Editor: Doodle
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< Chapter 132: Sixteen Years Old (2) >
“The essence of ‘Nibelung’ does not lie in how swiftly one swings or how many foes one cuts down.”
Theo was instructing Marti on the secrets of Nibelung.
It was his attempt to impart as much knowledge as possible before he would soon need to leave.
Marti, the captain of the knights who had long embodied the spirit of Kriemhild, listened with a rare glint of intensity in her eyes.
“Then, what is it?”
“How much magic power one can concentrate into the blade.”
“…?”
“The concentration of power. It’s about intensifying the force by focusing magic power into a core and axis within the blade.”
Seeing Marti still seemingly confused, Theo drew the Dragon Slayer Sword to continue his explanation.
He recalled the teachings from Kriemhild back in Mysteries.
Woooong!
As he channeled magic power into the Dragon Slayer Sword, it trembled lightly.
“This would be what we commonly refer to as ‘magic emission.’ And when this magic power is drawn out of the weapon and given form, it’s called ‘aura.'”
Tssss
Tiny droplets of magic leaked from the blade, linking together and flowing like waves that enveloped the sword, displaying a sharp intensity.
Aura.
Or sword energy.
It was a skill that one had to master to become an advanced swordsman.
It was from this stage that one was often considered to have entered the realm of a “master.”
“However—”
Suddenly, the previously chaotic sword energy swirling around the blade began to spiral inwards, merging into the center of the sword.
“Nibelung does not pursue such common aura. As I said, it demands concentration, but on the inside of the sword rather than the outside.”
The blade of the Dragon Slayer Sword shimmered, showing a new transformation.
From the center where the sword energy had merged, hexagonal patterns emerged, spreading quickly along the surface.
Shhhh!
The pattern resembled the scales of a dragon, a mysterious sight.
As the scales multiplied, the faint yet formidable aura emanating from the Dragon Slayer Sword grew steadily stronger.
“This… how is this even possible?”
Marti shuddered at the bizarre phenomenon, something she had never encountered before.
Theo grinned, as if expecting her reaction.
“Didn’t I mention? The core of ‘Nibelung’ lies in concentrating aura. You rotate the aura endlessly in a clockwise direction, concentrating it within the blade itself. This strengthens both the durability and power of the sword.”
“…!”
“Inner Aura. That’s what I’ve decided to call it.”
“Inner Aura….”
“Of course, it’s only easy in theory—it’s incredibly difficult in practice. Even the slightest mistake in controlling magic power, and—”
BOOM!
The scale patterns filling the blade of the Dragon Slayer Sword abruptly dispersed, causing a massive explosion to erupt outward.
Rumble—
The ensuing vibration was so intense that the temple shook violently.
“This is exactly what can happen,” Theo remarked.
Bang!
“Captain! What’s going on?”
The knights stationed outside burst in, visibly alarmed. They had thought a terrorist attack by Troyban might be underway.
Marti reassured them it was nothing and dismissed them before turning back to Theo with a question.
The Dragon Slayer Sword continued to tremble, still bearing the effects of the failed magic control. It seemed as though it might shatter at any moment.
“If there’s even the slightest lapse in control, the blade could explode, couldn’t it?”
“Precisely. Aura, by nature, is a highly efficient mass of energy. Forcing it to stay contained makes the shock all the greater.”
“This technique poses serious risks of injury to a swordsman or knight.”
“On the other hand, it can produce two or three times the power with the same amount of force.”
“…”
For Theo, forming Inner Aura was not particularly challenging.
As a Ragnar, he possessed a level of magic sensitivity that was incomparable to others. Additionally, since awakening the ancient dragon’s essence, his control over magic had increased exponentially.
But for others?
Mastering it would likely demand an enormous amount of effort.
Even Kriemhild, in her lifetime, had only managed to grasp it with the aid of the Sea King and surely had not done so without considerable hardship.
“To safely stabilize Inner Aura, one must implant a core within the blade.”
“By establishing an artificial force around this core, you can draw in the aura, keep it in rotation, and use centrifugal force to prevent it from scattering.”
“Exactly.”
“It may sound simple, but it’s incredibly complex to master.”
“But once you do, it becomes a formidable secret technique. Even if others learn of it, they will never be able to replicate it.”
Marti was initially puzzled but then understood his meaning.
“You’re saying that it can only be trained in the temple!”
“Indeed. Unless someone is born a genius, the difficulty of mastering Inner Aura is exceedingly high. However, the Floating Archipelago is a landscape forged by the Sea King’s magic, and the temple is the most concentrated point of this ascending magic flow. There are few places on the continent with such an abundance of magic, so it is likely only possible to train here.”
It was, in essence, a sanctuary.
A secret place known only to the Kriemhild Knights, a place that no one else would ever discover.
Marti clenched her fists tightly.
Wasn’t the Floating Archipelago far behind the continent in terms of swordsmanship and magic prowess?
But with the secrets of Nibelung, that disparity could be reversed in an instant.
“How in the world did Lady Kriemhild devise such a vision…!”
“Think of the beings she once faced.”
“Ah.”
“To pierce through the Sea King’s impenetrable scales and break magic and curses, she would have needed a blade with extreme durability and overwhelming destructive power.”
Marti nodded gravely.
Though she had never seen the Sea King herself, he was a being who had shaped the unique landscape of the Floating Archipelago with only the remnants of his magic. Such power was nearly divine.
And Kriemhild had defeated that being.
It was only natural that she, too, would be regarded as a divine figure.
This was why the temple in her honor existed.
‘Theo is the successor of Lady Kriemhild.’
If she followed him, the Floating Archipelago might truly be able to look down upon the continent one day.
That sense of anticipation filled Marti’s chest.
* * *
While Marti stepped away to review what she had learned, Theo steadied his breathing, lightly holding the Dragon Slayer Sword.
“Haa—!”
With his exhale, the Dragon Slayer Sword emitted a clear sword resonance, as a countless number of scale patterns appeared along the blade.
Zzeooong!
Shrrk, shrrk—
Just as the Dragon Slayer Sword’s aura intensified, filling with scale-like patterns, Theo took a deep breath and swung the sword in rapid succession.
A total of ten strikes.
This was Claw of the Nibelung enhanced by Dragon Flash.
Crash! Crash! Crash! Crash! Crash! Crash! Crash! Crash! Crash! Crash!
With each flash of the Dragon Slayer Sword, bolts of lightning struck down, and the thunderous sound repeatedly shook the temple.
Rumble—
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
Theo’s heartbeat grew as fast and thunderous as the sound itself.
“Hoo…!”
He exhaled heavily again, a bead of sweat running down his cheek.
Clap, clap, clap, clap!
A sound of applause came from behind him.
Theo turned his head. It was Selperd.
“You’re now able to execute ten sword strokes in a single breath? You’ve improved a lot.”
“It’s still not easy.”
Even pulling off ten regular Dragon Flash strikes was challenging enough, but executing ten strikes infused with the Nibelung technique?
Selperd’s face twisted in incredulity.
“Hey, hey. Maintaining that ridiculous Inner Aura or whatever it is, and managing to unleash ten sword strokes in a flash? That’s practically cheating. A single slip and anyone nearby could lose their head.”
Selperd, who had witnessed Theo’s grueling training up close, looked exhausted.
Out of curiosity, he had even tried Kriemhild’s technique himself a few times.
It was inhumane.
One wrong move could cause the sword to explode, injuring the user, and there was a high chance of magic backlash, making it too dangerous to attempt lightly.
Even here, in this sanctuary, the risk was undeniable.
Above all, the breathing technique was entirely different from Ragnar’s system.
‘And he’s doing that without any trouble.’
He was a monster who could casually absorb and handle the distinct styles of the
Selperd had long since classified Theo’s abilities as “beyond standard.” Otherwise, none of it made any sense.
“That aside, what brings you here?” Theo asked.
“A gift.”
“A gift?”
Surprised, Theo watched as Selperd handed him a neatly wrapped package.
“A New Year’s gift. Lady Cecilia and the Mistress of Plum Blossom Palace sent it together.”
Theo’s eyes widened as he accepted the gift.
Both of them, together?
It was an unexpected combination.
Inside the box, he found a neatly folded white ceremonial uniform.
“It’s a fine outfit,” Selperd remarked.
“…Yes.”
Theo ran his hand gently over the fabric, feeling a slight pang in his chest.
Selperd, finding Theo’s reaction endearing, chuckled and waved a slip of paper in the air.
“Since you’ve been sweating, try the outfit after you’ve bathed and refreshed yourself. Oh, and there’s another order here.”
Theo took a moment to gather his emotions, then looked up slowly.
“They want you to head north as soon as your task here is complete.”
“The situation at the front lines must not be going well.”
“Seems that way, with someone there who knows us all too well.”
Theo and his team had meticulously reported all the recent events on the Floating Archipelago to Winterer, detailing the disruption of Troyban’s plot. Winterer had praised them for their efforts in crushing Troyban’s conspiracy but also issued orders to prepare for imminent deployment.
They were on standby, awaiting a new assignment.
During this time, Theo’s group had been following the war between Ragnar and Troyban through various news outlets, albeit superficially.
.
<‘We will no longer remain silent in the face of Ragnar’s oppression and tyranny!’ The Red-White Mercenaries and the Rose House rise in rebellion.>
<‘Northern chaos solely Ragnar’s fault,’ declares the Black Mage Tower Lord with pointed criticism.>
.
.
Every article and editorial seemed to be filled with unfavorable news about Ragnar.
Selperd glanced at the stack of newspapers piled in one corner and continued.
“Besides, it’s not just the Sacred Demon Church that’s oddly joined forces with Troyban. Essentially, Ragnar’s facing a two-front war, so they’re likely stretched thin.”
Theo nodded silently.
This was something he had witnessed in his previous life as well.
‘There were always many who disliked Ragnar’s rule or wanted to check its dominance.’
Winterer would soon realize that this war wasn’t merely a dispute with Troyban but a battle against an alliance of anti-Ragnar factions.
Judging by the groups involved, it was already too large to ignore.
The Red-White Mercenaries.
The Rose House.
The First Sword Assembly.
The Black Shadow Sword Unit.
The Wandering Knights’ Alliance.
And besides former retainer factions from the Gathering of the Hidden Dragons,
There were also the Eastern Magic Tower,
The Southern Beastfolk Front,
And even certain margraves and great noble families seizing this opportunity to undermine Ragnar, reaching out from the shadows.
The lingering grudges that Ragnar had accumulated as the ruler of the North were coming to a head.
‘This, in the end, was the catalyst that ignited the flames of the Great War.’
But that was still a few years in the future, a conflict yet to come.
For now, Ragnar’s focus was on quelling the fires of the immediate war.
It was precisely for this reason that Theo and his companions were given the standby order—to curb any covert attempts to disrupt the battle.
Ragnar regarded this entire conflict as nothing more than a “rebellion.”
It seemed, however, that they now had a new mission.
“What are we supposed to do while en route?”
“Bingo.”
Selperd’s eyes deepened.
“They want us to bring back a young girl from some remote place.”
At that moment, Theo realized who this girl was.
‘So, it’s time for this already.’
Cassandra Edda.
A figure who would soon be known as the Sorceress Empress—
The first mage ever to ascend to the imperial throne.