章 13: Two Moons, A Thousand Sword Swings
Kelvin examined the sword beside Asher with squinted eyes. Upon seeing the tome, his eyes went wide.
"How did you get that tome?" he gaped.
Asher looked at him with a raised eyebrow. "Haven't you seen it before?"
A wry smile appeared on Kelvin's face. "I last saw it in Zachary Ashbourne's hands."
Asher's eyes widened in realization. "My grandfather was the last person to practice this Battle Force Art?!"
"Yes. I wanted you to see the palm print and ask questions, but I never knew Sirius was already a gold-ranked beast," Kelvin admitted, his tone respectful.
Asher leaned back, contemplating the significance. "So the prerequisite to entering that room is to nurture my pet beast to the gold rank."
"It is," Kelvin confirmed. "After your grandfather and his pet beast died, the barony began to decline. A baron must have a gold-ranked knight to qualify as a true baron by the standards of the Eternal Immortal Empire's laws, and that was the same criteria for obtaining the family's ancient art."
"So without a gold-ranked knight, I'm not recognized?" Asher asked, a frown creasing his brow.
"The wastelands are abandoned, and we haven't been able to produce anything worth trading, so the low-class nobles here aren't recognized."
"I see," Asher said, rising to his feet.
As he was about to leave, Kelvin stopped him. "Before I forget, My Lord, Jon is on his way to the high plains. He should leave the wastelands in two weeks' time."
"I'll await the good news," Asher replied, a small smile playing on his lips as he left for the study.
...
In the study, Asher sat behind the stone table, having selected the book that contained the information he sought.
As he opened it, his eyes paused on the heading: Eternal Immortal Empire's Fall. If this world mirrors the virtual game, then beyond the mountain range lie the ruins of the once-powerful Eternal Immortal Empire, he thought, his curiosity ignited.
Before he knew it, Asher was deeply engrossed in the book.
Time slipped away unnoticed, and by the time he turned the last page, the sun had long set. He rested his chin on his arms, reflecting on the vast knowledge he had just absorbed.
While he had no prior understanding of this backstory, it was both magnificent and awe-inspiring. According to the book, the Eternal Immortal Empire was the first to rise after the fall of the mages.
Within the empire, several extraordinary individuals stood by the ruler's side, with one figure emerging as the most renowned: Zenas Ashbourne, the two-faced shura! As the grand general, he had been tasked with defending against the abyss creatures that emerged 500 years ago. As a result, a catastrophic war ensued, wiping out entire races. Dragons and countless mystical creatures vanished from the continent, leaving only a handful of surviving species.
The North, once celebrated for its prosperity, crumbled into a desolate wasteland, devoid of any resources. In contrast, the Eternal Immortal Empire, far greater than the other two empires, was torn apart by internal conflict, ultimately fracturing into dukedoms and kingdoms.
The capital, however, remained under the control of the imperial family. Sadly, the nobles had rebelled, reducing the imperial family's authority to the capital alone.
Asher's attention was drawn to one particular detail: the size of the wastelands. It was two times larger than the largest dukedom, and yet, it was unclaimed. Originally, the land had belonged to the Ashbournes, but that was 500 years ago. Over time, the family had lost their grip on the land—not due to its seizure, but because they lacked the power to defend it. The dukedoms had purchased parts of the land, dividing it into multiple territories.
"Even those with no rightful claim to the land are using it to enrich themselves," Asher muttered under his breath, a deep frown forming on his face as he closed the book.
Knock! Knock!
"My Lord," a soft voice interrupted his thoughts. Asher glanced up to see Mary standing in the doorway. "Sir Kelvin requests that you eat and prepare for your training."
"Requests? Training?"
It dawned on Asher that he had spent far more time reading than he had intended, particularly considering the thickness of the tome. He stood and headed for the dining room, but then noticed that Sirius was not in the sacred hall.
"Where is Sirius?" he asked, turning toward Mary.
"It went to hunt."
"Oh."
Asher wasn't concerned. Sirius, being a gold-ranked beast, was a top predator in the forest as long as it stayed within the mountains' borders.
….
After a quick dinner and a short nap, Asher found himself standing in the training field, the cool evening air brushing against his skin.
Kelvin, Alex, and Alec stood outside the raised stone platform, their eyes fixed on him. The two moons, one silver and the other a haunting shade of purple, hung in the sky, casting their eerie light down upon him.
Asher was dressed in a sleeveless white shirt and black pants that were looser than those he wore during the day.
The chill from the cold stones seeped into his bare feet, but he paid it no mind. His hands gripped the hilt of a finely crafted sword, an extension of his will, its weight steady and reassuring.
"Attach the stones," Asher instructed, his voice steady with determination. Kelvin quickly ascended the platform, securing the stones to his arms and legs. Each stone weighed about 20 kilograms.
Asher gritted his teeth and lifted the sword, swinging it downward with controlled force.
"One," Alex counted, his voice steady.
Another swing.
"Two."
Another swing.
"Three."
….
"600."
"601."
….
"990"
Asher could barely hear Alex as he panted heavily. Sweat had drenched his body so much that the surface of the stone platform was wet.
His eyes were on his sword, even as his muscles were trembling.
Hu Hu~
He lifted his sword up, and it felt as if he lifted a massive stone. The weight made him stagger to the right before he regained himself.
His vision was blurry, and he could barely see Kelvin, Alex, and Alec watching him.
'I can do it!' Asher clenched his teeth. "C… count!" he spat forcefully.
With sheer determination, he did nine, lifted the sword with all his might, and swung it down the last time. The sword hit the stone platform, cleaving through it while he fell backward. The last thing he remembered was his subordinates' alarmed voices.
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