The Return of the Limited-Time Sword Master

Chapter 103: Scene of Harmony (3)

Martin looked at Barthez and Alexandre and spoke.

“What do I need to do?”

“Among our kin and the dwarves, there are some with spatial abilities. However, none have manifested a unique ability strong enough to break through the distorted barrier,” Barthez explained.

“That’s why you need me, Grand Elder Barthez. I possess Spatial Domination, the pinnacle of spatial abilities.”

“Exactly. Across the vast Cracian continent, only you can resolve this.”

“You’re free to decline. There’s a risk that you might be attacked by a wyvern strengthened by the World Tree’s mana,” Alexandre added.

“But if I refuse, the alliance will be off the table, correct, Grand Elder Alexandre?”

“Of course. We won’t force you; the choice is yours.”

With that, Alexandre and Barthez fell silent, their eyes fixed on Martin, awaiting his decision. Armand, Paolo, and the others gathered in the hall also watched him closely.

‘They’re giving me time to consider. I suppose that’s reasonable; an ordinary person might hesitate to accept such a task,’ he thought. After all, it could indeed be dangerous, as the Grand Elders had warned.

But Martin felt no hesitation.

In fact, he was invigorated by the challenge.

“I’ll do it. Even if it’s risky, I’ll take it on if it means earning your trust.”

“…Thank you for accepting our request, young master. In return, I give you my word: once the barrier is restored, we will work to ensure seamless exchanges among the three races,” Barthez replied with gratitude.

“That’s all I needed to hear.”

Martin smiled, though there was one thing he hadn’t shared with them.

He didn’t just plan to restore the barrier; he intended to hunt the wyvern as well.

‘Since I’m here, I may as well make the most of it.’

The World Tree was renowned for its essence of life, holding the purest mana.

The wyvern had been absorbing this mana and was growing stronger because of it.

‘There may be stronger wyverns in the dungeon, but none this rare.’

Five years from now, the creature would have completed its growth. But for now, it hasn’t yet reached its full potential.

While it might not be as formidable as it would become, the fact remained that it had absorbed the World Tree’s mana.

He could confidently assume that such a unique creature couldn’t be found even in the dungeon.

Considering the World Tree’s unique properties, the effects of dragon blood on this wyvern would likely be exceptional.

‘The more rewards, the better.’

Martin was pleased with the plan he’d laid out in his mind.

* * *

As soon as Martin accepted the request, he and his group headed to the World Tree.

They weren’t alone, of course.

In addition to Barthez and Alexandre, Armand, Paolo, and several other elders accompanied them.

Others, like Solenne, who had ties with Martin, also joined.

“Aren’t we moving too quickly? It’ll be night soon; wouldn’t it be better to wait until tomorrow?” Sien asked.

“There’s a reason for this,” Martin replied.

“What is it?”

“The entire Altair Forest depends on the World Tree, but with the wyvern draining its mana, it’s causing issues.”

“So we need to resolve this quickly, before things get worse?”

“Exactly.”

The forest’s ecosystem would deteriorate, and the wyvern would eventually break free, but that would happen five years later.

Only Martin knew this detail.

For the elves, sensing the severity of the situation, quick action was the only option.

“Are you sure restoring the barrier is all we need to do? There’s no other danger?” Sien’s face was tinged with worry.

To reassure her, Martin smiled.

“There’s a chance we might be attacked while handling the barrier, but that’s just a possibility. No matter how much mana the wyvern has absorbed, it can’t possibly overpower two 9th-circle elders.”

“Plus, there are four additional 8th-circle masters with you…”

“With our current forces, I’d say we could even face a dragon. So don’t worry; nothing major will happen.”

“Alright.”

Sien finally looked relieved, seeming comforted by Martin’s words.

Watching the two of them, Solenne chuckled softly.

“Even back in Akela City, you two seemed very close.”

“Well, we’ve been together for a long time. Since childhood, I’ve had to keep an eye on her and take care of a lot for her.”

Martin protested immediately at Sien’s sudden comment about their past.

But his complaint went unheeded, as Solenne leaned in even closer to Sien.

“What was Martin Adalbert like as a child?”

“From the moment he picked up a sword, his talent was evident. Just by watching others practice, he could mimic their techniques flawlessly. But outside of swordsmanship, he was pretty much a mess.”

“In what way?”

“People doted on him because of his talent, so he became spoiled. I was assigned by the former family head to ‘fix’ that.”

“Oh? And how did you do that?”

“Like this.”

Sien clenched her right hand into a fist and gave it a little shake.

Solenne nodded in understanding.

‘Well, now…’

Martin chuckled bitterly to himself.

Sien’s story was mostly a fabrication.

He hadn’t really matured until he was about fifteen.

At that point, having failed to manifest any unique ability, he became the subject of ridicule and learned to keep his head down.

He’d come to understand that hardships truly do build character.

Sien was the one who had supported him through those tough times, and in his previous life, she’d even sacrificed her own life to save him.

“We’re almost there,” Barthez announced.

At that moment—

Rumble!

A terrifying force and pressure washed over the group.

Simultaneously, Martin’s body reacted, as the dragon blood within him responded instinctively.

‘This level of power… It’s not quite like the Basilisk King.’

Even so, it rivaled the power of a monster lord from a dungeon’s fortieth floor.

Considering that it hadn’t been long since it began absorbing the World Tree’s mana, its growth rate was astonishing.

Hum.

At Barthez’s gesture, a light shimmered in midair.

The space split vertically, opening wide.

Martin and the others were awestruck as the sight unfolded before them.

Though the wyvern’s presence continued to pulse ominously, the view was so magnificent that it temporarily overshadowed any sense of threat.

“…I didn’t think such a tree could exist,” Martin murmured.

“I understand why the elves hold it sacred.”

Sien and Martin gazed up at the World Tree.

Though the trees of Altair Forest were all quite large, the World Tree itself defied comparison.

The World Tree stretched so high into the sky that its top couldn’t be seen. Each branch and leaf surpassed all conventional size, radiating a pure mana that embodied nobility itself.

But the moment of awe didn’t last long.

“GRAAAAR!”

A fearsome roar echoed, asserting its presence.

Martin, unfazed, turned toward the origin of the sound.

And there he saw it.

A dragonkin, a wyvern, with a pair of hind legs and a set of wings.

Its scales gleamed like steel armor, and with each breath, crimson flames leaked from its maw.

Perched atop the World Tree, its razor-sharp claws dug into the bark as it glared down at them.

‘The wyvern is an issue, but that space… it’s in utter disarray.’

He concentrated mana into his eyes.

The world around him was bathed in a radiant blue, revealing the black currents that shrouded the space surrounding the wyvern.

“The distortion in the barrier is clear. And it’s severe.”

“Can you fix it, young master?” Barthez asked.

“I believe I can, but the process may damage the World Tree. Are you alright with that?”

“I swear upon my name; even if the World Tree sustains damage, we won’t hold you responsible. Please, focus on restoring the barrier.”

“Understood.”

With Barthez’s assurance, Martin drew the holy sword Karadyl from his personal space.

‘I’m grateful I reached the 4th circle in Omni Distortion.’

The barrier’s distortion was severe, despite the wyvern having taken residence not long ago. Had the scale been smaller, it might have been manageable, but that wasn’t the case.

Frankly, the power of the 3rd-circle Omni Distortion wouldn’t have sufficed. Timing, it seemed, was on his side.

Vrrrrrm!

A gale whipped up around Martin, swirling toward Karadyl’s blade, which transformed into a fiery vortex.

And he didn’t stop there.

He summoned a golden aura blade, merging it with the flames until a blade of mixed gold and crimson was formed.

“Hahp!”

With a shout, Martin drove the blade into the distorted barrier.

CRACKLE!

As soon as the blade touched the barrier, intense sparks erupted, and a fierce backlash struck Martin.

“Guh!”

A groan escaped him as he struggled against the impact, sustaining internal injuries from the force.

His hands, gripping the hilt, felt as if they’d shatter, and blood seeped from his lips.

“Hahp!”

With a resolute shout, Martin endured the pain and forced the sword deeper into the barrier, managing to pierce a hole through the distortion.

‘Not yet.’

The gap began closing quickly.

To counter it, Martin slashed horizontally, his blade of light merging with the space around it.

A brilliant flash of gold and crimson light burst forth, forming a perfect cube.

The moment the technique representing the Adalbert family’s mastery, Spatial Sword, unfolded, Martin managed to seize partial control of the distorted space, blocking the wyvern from advancing.

And there was something else to celebrate.

‘It feels lighter than before.’

Back when he was at the 7th circle, he could barely withstand the weight of the Spatial Sword, struggling to swing it even once without dropping the hilt.

But now, he was confident he could swing it at least five times at full power.

He was pleased, too, by how much clearer the blade’s colors appeared.

Slash!

Martin brought his sword down from above, slicing through the barrier and creating an opening large enough for two grown men to pass through.

Without a second of hesitation, he stepped forward and called out with all his might.

“Christian Havertz!”

“Yes!”

Christian, who had been watching anxiously, leapt forward at the sound of his name, grasping Martin’s left hand firmly.

“Martin?!”

“Young master, what are you doing?!”

Shouts came from behind, but Martin ignored them as he entered the barrier with Christian.

With that, he withdrew the Spatial Sword, and the opening sealed shut.

* * *

Hunting dragonkin is notoriously difficult, regardless of species.

Endless stamina, physical strength that matches their massive size, and a virtually inexhaustible supply of mana placed them on a level all their own.

And each species possessed unique characteristics, which only made them more vexing to deal with.

‘Among them, wyverns are the most similar to true dragons.’

In both appearance and combat style, a wyvern was practically a replica of the legendary dragon.

And this particular wyvern had been absorbing the World Tree’s mana, reaching the level of a monster lord.

“Grrrr!”

The wyvern bared its fangs, its gaze fierce enough to make the weak-hearted drop dead from sheer terror.

But Martin was unfazed.

Compared to the pain of dragon blood coursing through him and the true death he had once faced, this creature’s glare was nothing.

Christian, however, overcame the situation in his own way.

“…I’m already dead, thanks to you, young master.”

“Are you really that dramatic? You’ve fought plenty of monsters at this level.”

“It’s not the monster that’ll kill me, but Lady Igreet. She’s bound to take all her anger at you out on me.”

“Well, I’ll get an earful myself… but, hm. Sorry.”

“Sigh. What can I do? This must be my fate. Anyway, it’s an honor to fight alongside you again since the Basilisk King. Let’s make this count.”

“Same here. Let’s give it our all.”

ROOOAR!

In unison, Martin and Christian released their auras.

And then, they charged forward.