Peerless Blade

It wasn’t simply because he’d extracted spiritual power from Chimayos’s heart.

Pernok recalled the final moment.

The day spiritual power that had swelled uncontrollably brightly covered the world.

‘So it was because of that.’

Among the surging dead’s spiritual power was even included Magus’ high-purity mana. Moreover, since he’d swallowed even Mardo’s soul power, synchronization rate rising sharply was a natural progression.

Pernok clenched his fist.

The moment synchronization rate exceeded 90 percent, the body entered complete synchronization.

It overlaid the strongest body he remembered onto reality to reproduce past glory.

At this moment, body and soul that had defied providence were reestablished as if they’d originally been one.

Pernok fully savored the current rapture where everything became familiar.

Whoooong!

The artifact that had returned to ring form on his finger was also rejoicing.

He’d finally reached the final third awakening.

Pernok returned the artifact to sword form.

Grasping the sword that perfectly reproduced Peerless he’d used in the past, hot heat seemed to wander inside his body as if entering a battlefield.

Pernok breathed spiritual power into the artifact.

All senses opened to liberate The First’s final power.

Amplification.

Circulation Link.

Full Body Weaponization.

And.

Transcendence.

The First’s final form drawn out by the Knight King to protect the collapsing nation.

If until now The First had been a method of amplifying and liberating all power, Transcendence was static energy that endlessly condensed all power.

Since this condensed power to smaller than water droplets at a stage absolutely impossible in human realm with The First taking charge, it could be said to be the most excellent means for Pernok whose main body’s power was infinite.

Above all, the true value of gathering power rather than bursting out was that opponents had difficulty predicting what degree this power reached.

Because even the Calamity that mutually perished with the Knight King had no idea Transcendence condensed smaller than water droplets would not only penetrate his body but turn his entire body to dust.

Those with good instincts feel danger at Transcendence’s unreasonable condensation method.

And die trying to block it.

Power condensed with Transcendence was faster than sound and could break anything depending on degree.

There were two ways to beat Transcendence.

Press it down with higher-grade power than Transcendence like soul power, or offset it by meeting it with equal-grade power.

The Knight King condensed power to limits with Transcendence, but the Calamity’s mighty power equaled this and they mutually perished.

But Pernok had methods to offset these weaknesses.

Spiritual power.

Breathe the highest-grade power to the body’s limits to sweep away with overwhelming power.

To Pernok who needed a weapon to withstand his grown power, The First that achieved complete awakening was the best partner.

“Huff.”

He withdrew energy dwelling in the artifact while breathing deeply.

Though he wanted to test Transcendence and synchronization rate, this wasn’t a suitable place.

Looking around, Pernok realized this place was his residence inside the Floating Castle.

Familiar faces wandered beyond the window, and the Holy Kingdom’s flag fluttered beyond the castle wall.

‘Under repair.’

He traced back final memories.

Certainly, scenes surfaced where part of the Floating Castle had been damaged by spiritual power.

Though it had crashed near Rakis’s border and even deployed barriers, places throughout the Floating Castle were damaged as the price for being swept by spiritual power.

Even at a glance, repair didn’t seem like it would finish in a short time.

The problem was the Rakis side…

“…”

…The site where the border had been had transformed into a vast wasteland. No one would view that place as Rakis’s border anymore.

Was it because threats vanished?

The Holy Kingdom kept glancing at the Floating Castle, and some had already entered the castle.

Pernok felt a presence arriving at the room’s door.

“You may enter.”

The door opened and Arisha with a beautiful face without veil entered.

As soon as she saw Pernok, she wore faint blush on her face and smiled gently.

“I felt unusual waves, and as expected you’ve awakened.”

“How long was I asleep?”

“One week.”

Pernok looked at Arisha intently with eyes seeking explanation.

“One week ago, Your Majesty wore sacred radiance and brought peace to this land.”

“Radiance?”

“Yes. I mean the white light Your Majesty used.”

Pernok tilted his head.

Because he thought somehow Arisha’s attitude treating him had changed subtly.

If before it had been a businesslike appearance viewing capable talent, now it felt like desire to become more intimate seeped into her voice.

He thought it might be because he was still not fully awake since he suddenly rose and received situation reports, and listened.

“The sight where light covered the world was more magnificent than even the holy grail, like God bestowing divine revelation to the earth! The price of severe punishment was harsh! Rakis was annihilated including the main force and border, and enemy Magus groups vanished without traces.”

“What about Chris? I clearly remember Mardo helped him escape?”

“We searched the vicinity thoroughly for one week but couldn’t find Chris. But what’s there to fear with Your Majesty present?”

Arisha was evaluating Pernok more coldly than expected.

Even she, an S3 Magus, would mistake an ordinary person stood before her eyes if Pernok didn’t reveal power.

Pernok who’d exceeded 90 percent synchronization rate had risen to a position to guarantee victory even if Chris appeared with limbs attached.

“So how did the situation turn out?”

“While handling this place, we received reports from each region. The coast was perfectly conquered, and Duke Flemyr and Ludmila occupied three Rakis castles. Also, Tyr Kingdom forces advancing toward Barganta were blocked by King Salavan.”

“Did Salavan join here?”

“No. He advanced to Tyr with Barganta’s border army.”

Pernok nodded.

Because they’d arranged to do so from the start.

It was a situation where Tyr had difficulty occupying Barganta with only kingdom forces. Barganta also found it realistically impossible to retaliate against Tyr with only border forces.

But merely confronting Tyr created an anxiety factor at the rear, this was fact.

Therefore, he mobilized Salavan to resolve this.

Taking the Tyr Kingdom forces’ invasion as pretext, he’d ordered them to join with Barganta’s border army and conquer Tyr as is.

Fortunately, Salavan didn’t seem to harbor different intentions.

It felt like ominous thoughts of possibly siding with Tyr to strike Barganta were lifting from his head.

“And Barganta main force’s staff officer said he’d go to Tyr leading 5,000 soldiers. He asked to convey this when Your Majesty awakened.”

Good judgment.

Tyr’s downfall was a scheduled progression.

From now it was a matter of ownership rights.

If Rio, he could bring Tyr’s choice pieces from Salavan.

“Others also said they’d arrive here within two days.”

“Abandoning bases? Now isn’t the time to worry about me.”

“There’s concern for Your Majesty, but an important problem remains.”

“Is the war situation perhaps turning unfavorable?”

“No.”

That moment, sad light appeared on Arisha’s face.

“The Sacred Emperor has passed away.”

“…The Sacred Emperor in the Holy Kingdom died?”

Arisha shook her head.

“The Sacred Emperor had been together with this battlefield from the start.”

“Didn’t we have no such words?”

“The Sacred Emperor requested confidentiality.”

“Why?”

“He said since he didn’t know how Rakis’s Hegemon Emperor would move, he must block directly. I’d hoped it was merely an ominous prediction, but the Sacred Emperor’s prediction proved true. The Hegemon Emperor was leading the 13 Lords to bypass the battlefield toward Barganta simultaneously with war’s start.”

“…!”

“The Sacred Emperor blocked that path and tried to kill the Hegemon Emperor using our nation’s treasure. But…”

Arisha closed her mouth and shook her head.

“…A survivor joined here and explained the situation.”

“The Sacred Emperor’s remains?”

“I don’t know. The survivor only said he saw the Hegemon Emperor kill the Sacred Emperor.”

“So that’s why forces were tied here.”

“Yes. Since the Sacred Emperor might be alive, we had to dispatch priests. And if word spread that Your Majesty was asleep, there was high possibility the Hegemon Emperor would personally lead soldiers here. We had to construct positions and prepare for contingencies.”

Pernok showed condolences with a heavy face.

“The Sacred Emperor’s matter is regrettable. Paying respects to that excellent foresight, I’ll mobilize everything Barganta can to help the Holy Kingdom.”

“From the start, it was war where everyone could die. Everyone resolved themselves, and now we’re about to meet a new phase. We called people from each front line for a meeting to arrange the war situation, so please don’t be angry.”

“Not a bad judgment. However, the Sacred Emperor’s vacancy is concerning.”

“I was selected as temporary Sacred Emperor. Until war ends, I’ll move with everything of the Holy Kingdom entrusted to me.”

Whatever the reason, thanks to the Sacred Emperor’s death, Barganta could escape from the Hegemon Emperor’s surprise attack.

He thought it was right to show minimum courtesy.

“Is there anything you need from Barganta right now? If you want, I can give the Holy Kingdom Rakis’s coastal area.”

“Fufu, didn’t we promise from the start that land each nation conquered belongs to that nation? Don’t worry needlessly.”

“But…”

“If Your Majesty’s mind is truly uncomfortable, may I ask one thing?”

“…What?”

Arisha approached one step closer.

Beautiful eyes rippled on a face where sad light vanished.

“What on earth was that? This was my first time seeing Duke Chris defeated helplessly without even a chance. What on earth is it that you’ve hidden until now?”

Spiritual power.

Apparently Arisha seemed to have received deep impression from transcendent power.

Though yearning to use such power herself was glimpsed briefly, it was impossible.

Like that youth who’d possessed amber eyes in the past, unless one crossed the boundary of life and death, no method existed for the living to sense spiritual power and completely manipulate it.

“I’ve used that power all along. However, it was only maximized then by borrowing the Holy Kingdom treasure’s power.”

“You mean you cannot use power like then?”

“It’s difficult to produce that degree of might. But even if Chris returns alive, there’s no need to worry. Now I have means to take that bastard’s head without relying on the holy grail.”

Sharply risen synchronization rate and The First’s final awakening.

He didn’t need to focus on dodging with etherealization.

Whatever it was, he could handle it with Transcendence added with spiritual power alone.

“That wasn’t the meaning…”

“Hm?”

“…Never mind.”

Arisha wore a faint smile and retreated slightly.

“I was worried you wouldn’t awaken, but I’m glad you woke safely.”

“Is that all? Nothing else needed?”

“Don’t worry. The path the Sacred Emperor chose, we must proudly uphold it to the end without a single regret. I was just curious. About the secret of brilliant radiance even the holy grail couldn’t contain.”

“Isn’t this castle surprising?”

“I heard the term alchemy. Priests were shocked, but what’s important about that? Our Magus Arts are never inferior to this castle either.”

Pernok chuckled.

“I’ll come after completing my body before the meeting starts.”

“I’ll find out more about the Hegemon Emperor’s movements.”

Arisha who smiled gently left the room.

Pernok met with the Floating Castle’s persons in charge to confirm damage range and time until function recovery, then left for the wasteland.

Work was needed to precisely adjust the past body regained through complete synchronization.

This world without Guardian Spirit.

Pernok danced sword forms in the wasteland so he wouldn’t feel discord in techniques unfolded with soul power.

At first, techniques had fallen in delicacy to overflowing power, but they were sharpened keenly as time passed.

He felt it.

Those era’s sensations that had shared old glory.

“Huff.”

As if brushing away hot heat that had warmed up, he exploded spiritual power and liberated The First’s Transcendence.

Instantly, surging spiritual power condensed on the blade at abnormal speed.

Unlike the Guardian Spirit’s black energy, a pure white noble blade.

The Supreme General’s swordsmanship that had supported the kingdom long ago manifested in the present riding Transcendence.

A pure white crescent moon split the ground.

No roar burst out.

It cut out as softly as splitting down.

Though the area was only the blade’s size, the earth engraved with scars was hollowed deeply to underground depths with no visible end.

Pernok grasped the sword hilt tightly.

Finally becoming his complete self, he’d regained the Peerless Blade.