A pure white light filled his vision.
Alex stood in the center of the platform, feeling no discomfort. However, this didn't reassure him, because he knew from the memories he inherited that this world's power level was very high.
He had read online novels where "rule-based" powers were ultimate weapons mastered only by top experts. But in this world, people had even learned to use certain "rule-based" powers as weapons and tools!
This platform's magic array, for example, utilized the rule-based powers of "Order" and "Purification," which were most hated by cultists.
Such powers were irresistible to cultists because they were fundamental laws of this world. To oppose them was to oppose the entire world.
Alex's concern was what effect this power might have on him.
He wasn't a cultist and had no interest in the chaotic beliefs stored in this body's mind.
However, Alex wasn't sure if his transmigration would cause any disturbance in this world's order.
It's like antivirus software—if it's just "virus removal," it's simple: find the "virus" that harmed the system and eliminate it.
But sometimes the firewall alerts you that "unknown software is trying to modify system settings."
"Ding."
Good news never comes easy. Just as Alex had this thought, a clear system notification sounded in his ear, and a line of text appeared before him.
[Order Parallel Port Detected]
[Activating Port "Order"]
'What the heck, wait a minute, tell me what this is first!'
Alex was stunned by the vague message. Before he could figure it out, the line of text vanished with a "whoosh," and he suddenly felt the pure white light around him begin to tremble.
"What is this…?!"
The elderly priest looked up in surprise at the platform. Before him, the pure white beam of light grew even brighter.
Furthermore, the order magic array carved below the platform began to glow with golden light. These lines of light silently appeared around the white beam, transforming into sacred runes.
"This is… Rule Resonance!!"
"Whoosh—"
The white beam of light vanished instantly, leaving Alex standing alone on the platform. Everything seemed like an illusion.
If not for the sudden system prompt, Alex wouldn't have thought anything was amiss. But now… Seeing the old priest's shocked expression, Alex didn't feel any better.
Aren't cheat abilities supposed to be for the protagonist's advantage? Why does this system keep causing me trouble?
"Is there a problem?"
Cursing the system internally for causing him trouble, Alex feigned curiosity and looked at the old priest. The priest shivered at his question, then stared at him in astonishment.
"By grace of Order, I never expected you to trigger Rule Resonance!"
"Rule Resonance?"
Hearing this term, Alex was baffled, having no idea what it meant. But judging by the priest's expression, it didn't seem to be a bad thing.
"Yes, sir, please follow me…"
The priest's attitude had become much more respectful, now addressing Alex as "sir" instead of "child." Leading Alex inside, he explained Rule Resonance. Through the explanation, Alex understood what it meant.
In simple terms, Rule Resonance wasn't about being a savior or a legendary hero. Instead, it was a sign that the person who triggered it wasn't rejected by Order but welcomed by it. It indicated that Order welcomed his presence and believed Alex would benefit its principles.
It's like drawing a "Good" fortune slip—not as great as "Excellent," but certainly better than "Bad."
"I remember the last person who triggered Rule Resonance was a brave warrior who helped us eliminate the necromancer at the Black Tower… It was a tough battle…"
The old priest excitedly recounted his past as they walked. Hearing this, Alex relaxed a bit. Although he didn't fully understand Rule Resonance, it seemed to be beneficial… probably.
"… I understand your intention. Normally, it would be difficult to find a mentor for you. But thank goodness, Grand Knight Stone is here, and I'm sure he'll be interested in a candidate who triggered Rule Resonance!"
What the heck!!
Alex's face turned pale at the priest's words. A Grand Knight was a rank above a knight, representing high-level combat prowess in this world.
Alex had just planned to join the temple as an ordinary apprentice knight and take on some basic tasks. But now, it seemed they intended to assign him a mentor?
And a Grand Knight, no less?
Alex couldn't guarantee that the higher-ups knew about his existence. What if they recognized the identity of his current body and drew their swords on him the moment they met?
He originally planned to take the low-key route! But now, it seemed that his plan had to change again.
At this moment, the old priest led Alex to a training ground on the side of the temple. The area was empty, except for a tall figure wielding a long sword in training.
It was a middle-aged man with golden hair and a strong, Western physique, standing at two meters tall.
He was shirtless, vigorously swinging a two-handed greatsword. The sword was as wide as two palms and taller than a person, yet it moved with the man's swings as lightly as a willow branch.
Alex could barely follow the sword's trajectory. After a while, the blond man suddenly stopped and stepped back.
At that moment, a powerful burst of sword energy exploded, shattering the surrounding wooden stakes into pieces.
'Is this the power of a Grand Knight?!'
Seeing this, Alex was deeply moved. Such immense strength was truly overwhelming!
"Hey, Huck, what are you doing here?"
The man turned and looked at the old priest beside Alex, grinning proudly.
"What, are you here to spar with me?"
"Not me, I'm too old to handle your intensity, Stone."
The priest rolled his eyes at Stone's words and then gestured to Alex.
"I'm here to introduce him to you."
"A noble pretty boy?"
Stone glanced at Alex dismissively.
"Why bring him to me? He's not some noble lady."
"He wants to join the temple as an apprentice guardian knight."
"Can't you handle that? You're the expert at dealing with useless noble brats."
Stone clearly had no interest in Alex, which wasn't surprising. Alex's body was not particularly strong, even bordering on frail.
To Stone, he seemed like another pampered noble, someone he typically despised.
However, the old priest was unfazed by Stone's remarks. He simply smiled and offered a hint.
"He just triggered Rule Resonance."
"Oh?"
Hearing this, Stone finally stopped, squinting as he took a closer look at Alex.
"Kid, you want to become an apprentice guardian knight?"
"Yes."
Facing Stone's question, Alex nodded. Having come this far, there was no turning back. Stone's face twisted into a mocking smile.
"If you want to become an apprentice guardian knight, you should know that everyone must pass an assessment, right?"
"Of course."
"Good."
Stone stood on the training ground, swinging his greatsword again, and looked at Alex with a half-smile.
"Then come on. You're lucky—I'll personally oversee your assessment. How does that feel? Honored?"
"Uh…"
Staring at the muscular man in front of him, Alex was momentarily speechless. The old priest frowned.
"Stone, don't go too far."
"It's no big deal, old man."
Stone waved off the priest's complaint.
"You said he triggered Rule Resonance, right? I want to see what this weakling can do to cause such a phenomenon!"
Indeed, being treated differently comes with a price.
Sighing inwardly at Stone's words, Alex thought for a moment, then walked down the steps onto the training ground. Seeing this, both the priest and Stone were taken aback. The priest looked worried, while Stone whistled.
"Well, kid, you've got some guts. Are you ready? Show me your full strength, let's see your limits."
"Of course, Sir Stone."
Alex slowly drew his sword, Decapitator, from his waist. Given the situation, his plans had to change. If he couldn't take the low-key route, he would showcase his strength and take the high road. With "Rule Resonance" as his advantage, it would be acceptable for him to exhibit some extraordinary abilities as the chosen one.
Moreover, Alex wanted to experience the power of a true warrior in this world.
"Please guide me."
He whispered as he looked at Stone, then suddenly vanished. His sword flashed like lightning, thrusting forward!
(End of Chapter)
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"Whoosh!"
As Alex unleashed his sword strike, the surrounding air pressure seemed to be swept up in that moment. His sword, Skybreaker, flashed, and a golden light shimmered on the blade, transforming into a golden sword beam shooting straight at Stone.
"Oh?"
Seeing the strike, Stone's previously casual demeanor immediately vanished. He raised an eyebrow, gripped his two-handed sword tightly with both hands, and swung it down forcefully.
The seemingly ordinary greatsword perfectly intercepted the incoming golden beam. Stone's body trembled.
"Boom!"
The holy light-formed sword beam shattered instantly, and the massive explosion shook the ground around them.
Damn, what a monster!
Seeing Stone effortlessly block his attack, Alex cursed inwardly. He was using the Royal Cross Sword Technique, an evolved version of the Crusader Strike, enhanced by the Soulrend's proficiency.
Alex had started with Judgment, a common Paladin move, but its power and form had changed significantly with the "Royal Limited Edition" enhancement.
Despite this, he hadn't expected Stone to react so quickly and block his surprise attack.
But Alex had no time to dwell on the world's formidable strength. His body moved on instinct and battle experience. As Stone blocked the Judgment, Alex advanced, pointing his sword at Stone.
Sword of Justice!
"Boom!"
A massive, radiant crimson sword of light erupted from the ground, shooting straight at Stone. The unexpected move caught Stone off guard, but his battle-hardened instincts kicked in.
He swiftly retracted his greatsword, blocking the giant sword of light that had emerged from the ground.
Meanwhile, Alex closed the distance, bringing Stone within his attack range!
Raising his sword high, Alex swung it down forcefully at Stone. Skybreaker cut through the air with a fierce whistle, splitting the dust and debris before it, and surged towards Stone like a flash of lightning.
"Interesting!"
A smile appeared on Stone's face. Despite Alex's powerful strike, he had the composure to whistle.
"Come on! Show me your strength!"
Before he finished speaking, Stone gripped his greatsword and swung it upward.
For a moment, Alex thought his eyes were playing tricks. He had clearly seen Stone holding the greatsword horizontally in front of him, but in the blink of an eye, it seemed to have teleported, suddenly appearing in front of Alex, aiming straight at his chest.
Where did that come from?!
Startled, Alex reacted instinctively, altering his sword's trajectory to meet the unexpected thrust.
"Clang!"
The swords clashed, and the massive recoil sent Alex flying backward. He rolled on the ground, feeling a numbing sensation in his right hand from the forceful impact.
But Alex didn't panic. The Crusader Strike was just a basic energy-gathering move. He felt the holy power surging and boiling within him, ready to be unleashed.
"Whoosh!"
The greatsword appeared before Alex again, moving so fast it was nearly invisible to the naked eye. Behind it loomed Stone's massive figure, a smug smile on his face. But the next moment, Stone's expression changed dramatically.
He saw the young man crouching on the ground grip his sword tightly and swing it forward.
Just a gentle swing.
As Skybreaker swung, the sword light transformed into a massive, overwhelming wave, crashing towards Stone like a furious tide.
"Oh?"
"Whoosh!"
Seeing the oncoming wave of light, Stone's expression changed slightly. He abruptly stopped, raising his greatsword, and an invisible whirlwind erupted, clashing heavily with the light wave.
"Sword of the Tempest!"
Witnessing this, the elderly priest standing at the door turned pale. He knew that Stone was one of the strongest warriors in the region, renowned for his unparalleled storm swordsmanship.
The wind symbolized freedom and wildness, as well as fearlessness. The fact that Stone resorted to one of his strongest moves from the storm swordsmanship indicated that the young man had indeed pressured him.
"Boom!"
The wind and the wave collided forcefully, causing both fighters to stagger. Alex took three steps back, while Stone only retreated one step.
As a seasoned Grand Knight, Stone seized this fleeting opportunity. Before Alex could recover from the impact, Stone's greatsword came whistling toward his neck.
Feeling the cold edge of the sword, Alex shivered. He quickly raised his sword with both hands, preparing to block the strike.
However, to his surprise, the force transmitted through the greatsword was not as strong as he had anticipated. It felt like cutting through a willow branch with full force.
Not good!!
An alarm bell rang in Alex's mind. He wasn't sure why, but he knew something was wrong.
All his strength was committed to countering the expected blow, and he couldn't pull back.
At that moment, a flash of silver light appeared on his left side as the greatsword silently thrust towards his body.
No way to dodge this!!
Gritting his teeth, Alex considered using the Paladin's Blessing to become invincible. But within a fraction of a second, he dismissed the thought.
This strike might pierce his body but wouldn't be fatal. There was no need to reveal his trump card.
The ten-second invincibility and escape technique was a Paladin's ultimate skill, not something to waste in a duel.
Then, an unexpected event surprised both Alex and Stone.
A radiant longsword suddenly appeared, intercepting the greatsword. Simultaneously, they heard the old priest's terrified cry.
"Pray to the Goddess!"
"What?"
Stone turned in surprise to see who had intervened in this trial. To his shock, it wasn't a human.
An angel stood behind Alex, her beautiful and divine face framed by glowing wings.
The holy light reflecting off her pristine armor made her appear surrounded by divine radiance. She lifted her head, coldly staring at Stone, her sword shining with pure light.
[Skybreaker (One-Handed Sword): Increases holy damage by 100%, enhances holy skill damage by 15%, and has a chance to summon an angel to fight for you in battle).]
At that moment, Skybreaker in Alex's hand began to shine brilliantly. Previously, Alex had not activated its true power, so to the priest and Stone, it seemed like an ornate, hollow sword.
It turns out, special effects are the best way to improve appearance.
Brilliant light emerged from the hollow grooves in Skybreaker's hilt.
Alex raised the sword without hesitation, and holy power coalesced around him, forming several massive cross-shaped swords that spun and crashed towards Stone.
Divine Storm!
"Boom!"
The impact was so intense that the temple guards outside turned their heads in astonishment.
If they didn't know Stone was inside, they might have thought the temple was under attack by cultists.
Well, technically, it wasn't wrong.
Stone leaped back, his greatsword shattered into pieces. He raised his hand, shouting loudly.
"Stop! That's enough! I admit, you are stronger right now!"
"...…"
Hearing Stone's words, Alex couldn't help but twitch his eye. Nonetheless, he lowered his weapon.
Couldn't you have chosen a less ominous line, Grand Knight?
🌟 Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! 🌟
Hello, beloved readers and supporters!
I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you'll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including:
📚 Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn't have to wait!
💬 Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do.
👏 Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey!
patreon.com/anish_44
Your gift is the motivation for my creation. Give me more motivation!
Creation is hard, cheer me up!
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Like it ? Add to library!
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