Again, light has returned.
The sun rising from afar.
Right after waking up, this time, there were no notifications regarding achievement rewards in front of Duke Yuma.
There was a reason for that.
Having already received achievements as a stronger Black Dragon than King Ades of the Giant Tribe, the probability of meeting the achievement conditions seemed low.
‘To achieve further stat growth, will I ultimately have to use the Dragon Heart?’
The Dragon Heart obtained from the cave in Rubelt’s territory, which served as the Dragon Lair of [Elcam─Acreon].
‘I’ll have to resolve the issue of the throne succession first before I think about it.’
I needed to secure the auxiliary materials required to consume the Dragon Heart. And those were things that didn’t exist in this Intermediate World.
Organizing his thoughts, Yuma donned his black coat and stepped outside.
The White Night Clan was busily moving around since morning.
Tap… Tap… Whoosh!
Yuma looked at the massive giant, Ades, being consumed by the thick flames.
Woosh!
Puff!
Whump!
The warriors of the White Night Clan were piercing their swords into Ades’s body with white flame-like sword energy.
If the actors weren’t the White Night Clan and the target wasn’t Ades, this scene could have looked rather brutal.
But what these people were doing felt very noble at this moment.
It was the settlement of a burden that had oppressed their clan for over 400 years.
The giant, who seemed like he would never disappear from this land, was slowly fading away, engulfed in white flames.
Even if they wanted to use the leathery remains, they couldn’t. Just as befitting the last moments of the God Race who had lost their divine power, the flesh was slowly decaying.
The members of the clan, unable to bear witnessing the God of War Ades naturally rotting away on this land, were burning him with their own hands.
It was an act of settlement from their burden and a sign of the clan’s new beginning.
The warriors pierced their swords one by one.
Standing as the last warrior with a sword was Bell.
White flames erupted from Bell’s sword.
A sonorous sound reverberated.
The mages amplified the power of the raging fire beneath the giant.
Ending the burdensome past.
The White Night Clan watched as the giant disappeared into the red flames.
Yuma stood back, observing the scene until the end.
Swoosh─!
Swoosh!
The warriors of the White Night Clan lifted their swords vertically.
“The White Night Clan walks a new path!”
Luke’s shout resonated across the land of the White Night.
The liberation ceremony came to a close.
*
Yuma looked at Bell, who had approached him.
Bell’s pink eyes pierced through Yuma.
“God of War.”
Bell spoke softly.
“They say that’s what you’ve been called all this time.”
Yuma nodded.
It was a title that always felt very cringy to hear.
“…It’s deserving, as that counterattack yesterday was—truly a high-level technique that could only be called the work of a God of War. To turn the opponent’s attack back just like that. How on earth can such an ultimate martial art be realized?”
Duke Yuma’s expression didn’t change on the surface, but inside he was utterly impressed.
No one had ever completely grasped the principles of [Absolute Counter] until now.
‘Well, well.’
[Bell, Level 125]
Innate Traits: Genius, Sword and Body as One, Celestial Martial Body
Those ridiculously unreasonable traits were the real deal.
Bell slowly continued speaking.
“And it’s not just about perfectly reflecting your opponent’s attack… You send it back infused with even greater power. The sword energy is chillingly precise and immensely strong… am I right?”
She had figured out the principle of [Absolute Counter], and on top of that, realized that the moment of retaliation added ten times the attack power.
Yuma slowly nodded.
“That’s correct.”
Bell had firmly mistaken that the way to amplify attack power was through sword techniques.
Yuma resolved that the next time someone asked, he’d respond just like this.
Bell gazed intently at Yuma with her pink eyes.
“How on earth did you do that? Huh?”
Her eyes were brimming with curiosity and awe.
This time, Yuma shook his head.
As if he could explain the principle.
“You can’t do it.”
“…So you’re saying that even if you explained it to me, I still couldn’t do it?”
“Exactly.”
Bell narrowed her brows.
It sounded like a very stern verdict.
─It’s not a sword path that someone of your caliber can demonstrate.
That’s how it felt.
But Bell couldn’t deny that statement at the moment.
No matter how much she swung her sword, sliced, or stabbed…
The man standing before her had killed the God of War, Ades, with a single strike without even taking a scratch himself.
The sword of Ades, which fell like a death sentence in an instant.
And the divine aura that nonchalantly reversed it.
Just recalling that moment still gave her goosebumps all over.
And that serene face, simply looking up at the sky while demonstrating such martial prowess.
‘Beyond that level of sword…’
How many enemies had he slaughtered to achieve such power?
It could be in the thousands, or even tens of thousands.
She thought she had finally grasped what martial prowess was. However, everything she had built up, thinking it was common sense and knowledge, felt twisted in light of Yuma’s divine ability shown yesterday.
Bell slowly parted her beautiful lips.
“From now on, I’ll call you ‘My Lord’. Just know that, My Lord.”
“Call me however you wish.”
Yuma said this while slowly walking away to retrieve his belongings prepared in his quarters.
Bell stared at Yuma’s retreating figure intently.
‘I will reach you.’
Even if it takes years.
Even if it takes decades. No, even if I can never reach you. I want to go as far as I can.
As close as possible to the God of War.
As close to the God as possible.
The heavenly genius of the sword made a vow while looking at Duke Yuma.
*
Yuma stared at Luke, who appeared before him, having packed all his belongings.
His face showed a noticeable improvement compared to when they met for the first time yesterday.
The burden of his clan rested on his shoulders.
With that burden lifted, it was no wonder a person could change overnight.
“All members of the White Night Clan will become your sword, Yuma.”
Swish—
Luke drew a single sword and humbly held it up with both hands while looking at Yuma.
It was a sword still sheathed.
“This is just a gift from a benefactor.”
Yuma accepted the sword.
Swish…
As he slightly pulled the blade from its sheath, a clear resonating sound echoed through the space.
“This is a sword called Requiem.”
Requiem.
The blade reminded one of the frost of midwinter.
It was a legendary sword on par with Aksion, whom Yuma had been using frequently lately. A durable legendary sword was always a welcome addition.
“Thank you.”
Yuma placed [Requiem] into his Spatial Pocket.
“Are you departing today?”
“Yes.”
It was a matter involving the succession to the throne.
Delaying would bring no benefits. He had collected all the keys to the oracle. Now, all that was left was to bring it before Princess Brigitte and see the outcome.
“In about a week, we should arrive at the imperial palace of the Astes Empire. Please make sure to contact Bell when the time comes.”
Luke nodded vigorously.
“Thank you. Well, I believe my daughter will adapt well wherever she goes, so I’m not too worried.”
Yuma thought the same.
Bell was so bright that she couldn’t be considered trapped in the limited space of the White Night Clan for 20 years.
That was possible because the bond of the White Night Clan was strong. Their trust in each other was unbreakable.
Yuma spoke again.
“I’ll let the upper echelons of Pineon know about the clan’s presence on the way up. Some of those who were close to Conqueror King Kament might have received hints about the White Night Clan.”
Don’t touch the White Night Clan.
That was what Yuma intended to convey.
“Don’t worry.”
A faint aura emanated from Luke’s body. Now that Yuma had become his superior, it seemed he was tempering that aura.
“Those who dare to touch the White Night will merely witness its terror.”
Indeed, they were beings who could display such confidence.
They were just overshadowed by the remarkable talents of House Lord Luke and his daughter Bell.
Among the 60 perfectly prepared warriors of the White Night, there were virtually none below the rank of Sword Expert.
A staggering 10 of them were Master-level warriors, to say the least.
Thud thud thud—
Weighty footsteps echoed in Yuma’s ears.
Before long, more than 60 warriors who had lined up behind House Lord Luke knelt on their right knees and assumed a stance of loyalty, placing their swords beside them.
Luke assumed the same stance.
“God of War Yuma, from now on, you are the master of the White Night Clan, this sword.”
After Luke’s words, all the warriors opened their mouths.
“I pledge my loyalty, my lord.”
A heavy resonance reached Yuma’s ears.
A military group capable of annihilating a small kingdom? That was the White Night Clan.
And that White Night Clan had now joined Yuma’s ranks.
Yuma slowly opened his mouth.
“Enjoy this world until you’re sick of it. Call for me when you need.”
“Yes─!!”
Yuma briskly exited the scene of the loyalty pledge.
“Ugh, so cringy.”
It was disgustingly cringy.
Breakfast was served.
Since they wouldn’t see each other for a while, the clan members flocked to Bell.
“Bell, take good care of Yuma!”
“No passing position!”
“Tone it down a bit… got it?”
“Keep Yuma safe! Sister!”
Everyone, regardless of age or gender, was more concerned about Yuma than about Bell.
“Ugh! I can handle it myself!”
Amid Bell’s annoyed shout, an old woman’s voice calmly flowed in. It was Dilike, the elder of the White Night Clan.
“I’ve heard that the God of War has come to this land to take you away.”
Dilike’s characteristic gentle voice echoed in everyone’s ears.
“In many ways, you are a blessing to our clan, Bell. You’ve protected countless clan children with your swordsmanship.”
A young girl, who had been sitting quietly next to Dilike, raised her hand.
“…Yeah, she saved me. Big sis is like a blessing.”
She was usually a quiet and introverted girl. She had stepped forward without realizing it at the moment of farewell to express her gratitude to Bell.
Bell smiled brightly.
“…Thank you, Dilike.”
Then she approached the young girl.
“Yohena.”
She gently patted Yohena’s blue hair.
Dilike raised her right hand, her palm facing down in a humble gesture, pointing at Bell.
All 120 clan members raised their right hands and pointed at Bell along with Dilike.
“May the blessing of frost always be with our precious Bell.”
Starting with Dilike’s words, every clan member chanted.
“May the blessing of frost always be with our precious Bell.”
With the clan’s respectful farewell, Bell lowered her head.
“I’ll be back. Everyone.”
Then, standing up, Bell slowly walked forward.
There were Yuma, Cloney, and Hestia.
“Did you say your goodbyes properly?”
Bell replied to Yuma’s question.
“Yeah, we’ll meet again soon.”
“Right.”
Though it seemed like there was still a lingering feeling about the farewell.
Yuma walked ahead.
Cloney and Hestia followed behind.
“What a good clan.”
Cloney nodded in agreement with Hestia’s comment.
“Indeed.”
After a moment’s pause, Bell waved back at the clan children who continued to wave at her, then ran toward Yuma’s group.
“Let’s go together, my lord!”
And just like that, another member joined the party.
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