The 9Th Class Swordmaster: Blade Of Truth [EN]: Chapter 289

195. Making a Scene

Can a human possess Dragon Mana?

It’s not impossible.

Caryl already knew of two beings among humanity who possessed Dragon Mana.

First, the mages known as the Council of Seven.

Aln Zabis said that they had been taught magic by dragons.

Based on Dragon Mana, they created many spells, from esoteric arts to White Mana Swords and ancient magic.

Second, the Digon clan of the South.

They, too, possessed Dragon Mana despite being human.

Also, uniquely, their power was innate, not learned from anyone.

However, this was only possible because they were a race blessed by the Golden Dragon, Tosca.

There were many speculations, from the story that Digon’s ancestor was a half-dragon between him and a human, but what was certain was that they were the only beings among humanity with a direct connection to dragons.

And lastly, Caryl.

He also obtained Dragon Mana by consuming the heart of the Flame Dragon, Lyseria.

Although they acquired Dragon Mana in different ways, their common point was that they could not obtain Dragon Mana unless they were related to dragons.

Kwell McGovern.

Why was he, who had not obtained Dragon Mana in his previous life, able to obtain it now?

In Caryl’s memory, that was the only time he had been associated with a dragon.

‘The future has changed. But the event remains the same. Nard Di Maugh must have taught Father Dragon Mana.’

Why?

Caryl’s mind was filled with questions.

In the previous life, Nard Di Maugh did not teach it, but in this life, Kwell McGovern learned Dragon Mana.

What singularity created this difference in outcome between the two worlds?

KWAH-AH-AH-AH-AH!!!

But before he could find the answer to that question, Caryl was knocked back by a heavy blow.

Tszzzzzz…….

Kwell, unconcerned with Caryl’s appearance, breathed out again and slowly took his stance.

“……”

Seeing that, Caryl’s shoulders trembled slightly without him realizing it.

Slowly raising the sword tip upward and turning the blade sideways, he covered his face with the guard of the hilt.

Caryl wondered if that swordsmanship felt so heavy now.

McGovern Family Traditional Swordsmanship, Third Form – Thunder Heat Blade.

Slowly.

As the sword tip, which felt like a huge rock, trembled slightly, the muscles in Kwell’s arms, holding Yulstone, swelled as if they would burst.

The sword moved.

The explosive speed, seemingly transcending human limits, seemed to completely break down the boundaries of heavy swordsmanship.

“Haaap!!!”

The blade slashing down from above.

It looked simple, but it was not.

The moment he raised his sword to block the raging first strike, Kwell’s sword would aim for Caryl’s waist.

“Hiss……!!”

Knowing well how the Thunder Heat Blade’s swordsmanship would target him, Caryl raised his gauntlet to block the sword and set his ice claws sideways.

The second strike followed as he expected.

As Kwell slashed down with his sword, he twisted his body to the right, contorting his waist.

Yulstone twisted sharply as if it were alive, and the sword strike aiming for his waist continued.

‘This is the feint.’

Caryl staggered from the fierce impact but did not lose his focus. Kwell’s sword was still chasing after him, as if looking for prey as he retreated.

The third strike, which made defense impossible by chasing one step further than the opponent and narrowing the gap, was the real attack of the Thunder Heat Blade.

“Caryl, drop your sword!! Or your arm will be cut off!!”

Kwell shouted at him.

Certainly, among the many existing swordsmanships, the McGovern family’s swordsmanship was by far the best.

When he reached the pinnacle of swordsmanship, even Caryl was impressed by the profundity of the swordsmanship.

‘But.’

Unfortunately, Kwell made a mistake.

Ironically, that mistake was that he had taught him his swordsmanship in his previous life.

It was unfair to him in this life, but Caryl had honed the many swordsmanships he knew against the monsters of corruption in Pharell.

Of course, that included Kwell’s swordsmanship.

That also meant that he knew how to break down that swordsmanship.

That was how the counterattack of the five sword stances was born.

First Stance, Crown Posture.

Caryl’s ice claws moved strangely in the narrow gap between the two.

As the ice claws slid down the blade of Yulstone, cold ice shards scattered in all directions.

Chijijijijiji……!!

Kwell’s body, possessing the magic of the fire attribute, seemed to be heated by the heat as he emitted Mana Blades, and the shattered ice shards melted and evaporated instantly with a loud noise as they touched his face.

“Hiss!!”

Caryl pushed with his ice claws, deflecting Kwell’s sword, and at the same time, he slashed his sword, aiming for the inside of his chest.

“……!!”

Paat―!!

Kwell hurriedly dodged the sword.

Wearing thick heavy armor, he moved so lightly that he didn’t seem to feel the weight of the armor.

Pagaek! Jjeojeok…….

He thought he had dodged perfectly, but Kwell’s armor was sharply cut off.

“Amazing. Not only breaking down the Thunder Heat Blade but also counterattacking me. Even Gordon Fabian wouldn’t be able to block this strike.”

Caryl said in a calm voice to his words.

“Didn’t you hear from the leader of the Gyo-do Mercenary Corps? He said he had already been defeated by me before.”

Kwell let out a low laugh at those words. But Caryl was just as surprised.

‘If I hadn’t experienced the special situation of Pharell and had simply remained at the level of my previous life, I might have lost in swordsmanship.’

Even though he had suppressed a Sword Master with only his sword and skills without magic, he felt a chilling sensation.

The current Kwell felt like he had improved not only in magic but also in swordsmanship compared to his previous life.

Was that simply the difference between having Dragon Mana or not?

“That magic… it’s not human.”

Caryl said quietly.

“How did you know?”

Kwell asked back with a surprised look at his words.

“As you know, I have the spirit energy of the Flame Tyrant, Raminu. Not only that, but I also have the power of Eteral, the Queen of the Tides.”

“……!!!”

As soon as Caryl finished speaking, he put strength into the hand holding the ice claws.

Jjeok…… Jjeojeojeok……!!

Then the blade froze white.

“To find the lost Spirit Kings of the Spirit Realm… this is something even the Imperial mages couldn’t do… Just what kind of child are you, always exceeding my expectations.”

Kwell said in a trembling voice, looking at the image of Raminu that appeared behind Caryl and the frozen blade.

“The spirits are saying. An alien power within the magic. They say it’s a dragon’s.”

Caryl asked cautiously.

Saying that he knew because of the spirit energy was a lie, but it was necessary to confirm Kwell’s Dragon Mana.

Fortunately, Kwell’s Dragon Mana was not yet so great that he could not completely grasp Caryl’s magic.

Just as an ant’s eye would see the leg of an elephant in front of it as a giant pillar, Caryl’s Dragon Mana was so powerful that Kwell did not know, unlike Caryl, who recognized Kwell’s magic at once.

If Kwell’s magic had been just a little higher, he would have felt Caryl’s magic and realized that his words were false.

‘That was dangerous.’

Showing the power of the Spirit King was not a good situation for Caryl. Especially when it came to whether to mention the existence of Eteral, he hesitated for a short moment.

But it was necessary to divert attention by announcing her appearance.

The reason he took the risk and unleashed his spirit energy was, in fact, to hide his own Dragon Mana.

“What happened?”

“After you left the mansion, I met a man.”

Kwell said to Caryl as if catching his breath.

‘Nard Di Maugh…….’

Caryl instantly sensed that he was the Platinum Dragon.

“He was a man with a strange swordsmanship. He asked me for a duel, and it ended with a few clashes without any special attacks. I haven’t heard from him since… After the funeral of Prince Cromen, he came to find me again.”

‘……Nard Di Maugh visited the mansion again?’

Caryl’s face hardened slightly at Kwell’s words.

It hadn’t happened in his previous life.

“Whether it’s unfortunate or fortunate, the planned Northern Expedition was canceled due to the mourning period for the Third Prince. Thanks to that, I was able to obtain an opportunity.”

“…….”

“He taught me a breathing technique. I had believed that there was nothing lacking in the family’s swordsmanship. But what was lacking was not the swordsmanship but me. When I trained according to his advice, my body became lighter, and new magic accumulated within my body. A condensed magic that I had never felt before.”

“Is that why you reached the rank of 6th class? The title of Sword Master would not be enough. Indeed, you deserve to be called a Grand Master.”

“That’s right.”

Ironically, Caryl knew that Kwell’s changed future was because of him.

As if to stop him from getting stronger.

Just as God created this situation to balance the power, the moment he thought there were no more rivals, a strongman appeared on the continent to face him.

And that opponent was Kwell McGovern, his adoptive father, whom he was most reluctant to face.

But…….

‘Something’s wrong.’

When Caryl heard Kwell’s words, he somehow felt that he didn’t seem to know that his magic was Dragon Mana.

‘Is he simply thinking of it as transformed magic?’

It wasn’t impossible.

Among the existing humans, only the Digon clan possessed Dragon Mana.

No one in the Empire had this magic.

Since no one had seen it, it was natural that they wouldn’t know.

Then the problem would be the man who taught him this magic.

‘Was there no need to tell him? Or did he deliberately not tell him?’

Unfortunately, Kwell’s explanation did not reveal whether he was Nard Di Maugh.

However, Caryl could not help but be surprised at Kwell’s understanding of awakening Dragon Mana with just that level of teaching in a situation where he did not even have a dragon’s heart. Even if he did not know the essence of magic, his ability to manipulate magic might be comparable to the Council of Seven.

“It’s a difficult power to handle… but its power is incomparable to what it has been. However, I don’t feel comfortable using this power against you. But.”

Click―

Kwell gripped his sword again.

“You will have to pay the price for your rudeness.”

It was then.

“Stop everyone!!!!”

The moment Kwell and Caryl were about to clash, a sharp voice was heard.

“To dare to engage in a sword fight in the sacred capital of Heim!! How audacious!! Can you even call yourselves followers of Yula [likely the name of a deity]!!”

“…….”

Kwell slowly lowered his sword at the sight of the bishop.

“The commotion ends here.”

Caryl shrugged at his words.

The combat priests still had tense expressions, but they aimed their weapons at Caryl as if emboldened by the appearance of the bishop.

“Even the Emperor of the Empire cannot draw his sword unless Yula permits it, but how can the king of a nation be so rude…!!!”

Kwaaah-ah-ah-ah―――!!!

At that moment, an explosion occurred in the inner building of Heim before the bishop’s roar could end.

“……!!”

“……!!”

The heads of everyone gathered there turned towards the destroyed building.

“I found it.”

Israfil shouted, pointing to one of the dozens of magic mirrors he had floated in the air.

Kwaaah-ah-ah―――!!

“D, dark magic……?! You must be crazy……!! How dare you do this here!! Immediately capture that corrupted one!”

The bishop looked at the superior Eye of Magic floating above Israfil’s head and slammed his staff on the ground, saying as if he couldn’t believe it.

[Hmph.]

Hwareureureuk……!!!

But before the priests could move, a blurry afterimage behind him darkened and revealed the figure of an old man.

As he waved his arm, inextinguishable blue flames erupted between Israfil and the priests.

“Ugh!!”

“Aaaagh……!!”

Aln Zabis held his nose as if he smelled something foul and looked like he wanted to get out of here right away.

“T, this…!”

Some of the priests struggled to put out Aln’s flames that had spread to their robes, but the soul flames containing the power of the spirit did not subside but rather swelled as if to devour them even more.

[Kekekekek…….]

Aln laughed lowly as he looked at them writhing on the floor.

Kwaaang……!!

At the same time, another explosion occurred in the building behind him. Another black afterimage moved quickly from within the collapsing debris.

[Is this the one you’re looking for?]

Unlike his smooth face, everyone was startled when they heard a voice that sounded like scraping metal, like a dead person, and this time their gazes were fixed on the doll.

“Where do you think you’re going……!!”

One of the priests raised his mace, aiming for the side of Jarka.

Seogeok―

But only for a moment,

The priest’s neck was cut off as it was. Blood dripped from the sharp thread wrapped around the doll’s wrist.

Caryl looked at them and chuckled as if it were the scene he had expected.

“The commotion is over, you say.”

Then, he looked at Jake, who was unconscious in Jarka’s arms, turned his head, and said quietly to Kwell.

“It’s just beginning.”