“Give back the territory you stole, you barbarian.”
“……It has been a long time since I last saw you, Your Majesty.” Even at the sight of the Emperor, who hurled insults right to his face the moment he saw him, Dunadan, the chieftain of the Great Plains, offered a polite greeting with a blank expression. He looked incredibly accustomed to this, as if this were nothing new. Indeed, despite a major diplomatic blunder unfolding in real time, no one around seemed to be making any attempt to stop the situation, merely offering a wry smile. Regardless of whether he had stolen it or not, that territory had originally been personally ceded by the Emperor to a tribal confederation that had served as a steadfast ally throughout the war.
“How is the Empire’s current contingent? Are they in good health, as usual?”
“They have thinned out a bit compared to before. Towards the end of the war, a little…” The Emperor paused for a moment.
“……Because various things happened.”
“…….” Dunadan, understanding what the Emperor was referring to, smirked. There truly was one terrible incident. The event in which the Empire’s greatest star fell.
“-Someone will be able to fill the position of the Protector of the Nation, Your Majesty. The Crown Prince will also one day return to his former self—”
“Enough. How about your warrior corps?” At the Emperor’s voice, which cut him off abruptly, Dunadan inwardly smirked once again. He knew all too well that this was not an incident that could be consoled with just a few words. It would be best to go with the flow.
“I have selected mainly young warriors who are full of vigor and have a strong will to fight.”
“You are trying to sugarcoat these rookies.”
“Knowing that, why did you send someone like that out?” Dunadan’s gaze looked up at the stage where the duel was scheduled. In contrast to the dozens of warriors from the tribal alliance warming up before the battle, the Imperial contingent was incredibly small. A single woman sitting still with her eyes closed, as if meditating. And that alone seemed to scatter a presence in all directions that made even the surrounding air feel heavy.
It was truly the majesty of a predator.
“Aren’t you taking this a bit too seriously? To think of Lionheart for a mere exchange event.” At that voice, which held a hint of awe, the Emperor chuckled and chewed on a cigarette.
“It’s just one person, after all. It’s not like I don’t know how well the Alliance warriors fight.”
“……You are exaggerating too much.” Dunadan said, looking down at the area below the stage. With the sparring match about to begin, Lionheart could be seen mobilizing his ki while taking a deep breath. The white energy billowing from his heart soon formed a dome-shaped force field enveloping the entire arena. It was a safety measure.
It was intended to prevent any aftermath of the fight from spreading nearby. Even so. The sight of a mere human creating such a massive hemispherical force field was almost majestic. No matter how superior Ki is in output compared to other supernatural abilities, it was a feat that would normally require an entire corps specializing in such tasks.
“… … It is ridiculous, indeed.” Entrusting such a task to a human who is about to fight over there is nothing short of preposterous. Nevertheless, not a single person here protested against this fact. In a way, the atmosphere was filled with a sense that it was only natural. The reason is simple.
The human named Sajasim is a monster "worthy of being treated that way." "Pure White Energy." Dunadan scanned the energy composing that hemisphere with his eyes. The pinnacle of the energy that every knight in the Empire can wield. The reason Sajasim can function as a human-shaped "supernatural power plant" is entirely due to the supernatural ability possessing that special nature. "She is a talent known as a one-woman army even on battlefields where such warriors fell like mere blades of grass. Isn't one person more than enough?" A mischievous smile appeared on the Emperor's face. "Strictly speaking, she isn't alone." "Huh?" "She hasn't come up yet, but there is one more.
I'm curious to see what he will show us." Undoubtedly. It was a voice filled with anticipation.
* * *
… … I was so nervous I went to the restroom. How did things end up like this? His gaze shifted forward. His field of vision was filled with menacing men who were the very embodiment of the image of a 'barbarian warrior'—someone who seemed completely out of place in an era where concrete buildings, black-and-white TVs, and telephones were commonplace.
'Are you telling me to fight with guys like that?' It was a situation where he would consider it worth sacrificing a year of his life if there were a negotiation table to avoid this. It was not an empty remark; it was the truth... "...I am sorry for dragging you into this, Mr. Aiden." And it was clear that Aiden wasn't the only one aware that this was a difficult situation. Just looking at Noel whispering that apologetically was enough.
No matter how much she viewed Aiden as someone hiding mysterious powers and a past, forcing him into such a dangerous situation was a whole different matter. He looked guilty, too. The problem, however, was that Noel likely had no excuse to strongly refuse. It was only recently that Aiden had crushed a high-ranking combatant with power just below that of a Knight in a single blow, and likewise annihilated a member of the royal family of the Holy Kingdom who wields divinity.
Judging by the fact that the Emperor went out of his way to orchestrate this, he must have carried it out after hearing all those facts.
“However, you won’t need to do much yourself. I’ll just ask you to do one simple thing.” Fortunately, she possessed more than enough ability to resolve such a situation herself. Before Aiden could even ask what she meant, the sign in the center of the training ground changed color from red to blue. It was the signal to 'start the duel.' At the same time.
“O Orb, O Lotus, radiate your light!” A fierce battle cry erupted among the Alliance warriors. Then, characters emanated from her body in unison. A bright aura burst forth, spreading outwards in countless clusters, and among them, several spheres of light coated with such light rose into the air.
“Is this your first time watching?” At the sight of Aiden, whose eyes widened at first glance,Noel tilted her head and spoke. She appeared completely at ease, even with such menacing figures standing before her.
“It is magical power. The warriors of the Great Plains place restraints upon themselves and are granted power in return.” It is the authority bestowed by Urgan, the chief god of the tribal alliance, the <God of Ascension>. Those who serve him receive this power by adding a sort of 'prohibition' to themselves.
“He is a worthy opponent to prove his worth, Your Majesty.” As she continued speaking, a pure white aura billowed from her heart. It was a familiar sight to Aiden as well. He had already experienced firsthand just how powerful that energy was. '… … Is this person alright?' However, despite this, it was true that worry weighed on him.
That was because the intimidation emanating from the warriors before him was truly ominous. Even if one wields such ki, facing a warrior of that caliber one-on-many is a completely different matter. However, making such worries seem futile, Noel strode forward nonchalantly in front of Aiden and pushed him back. And as if that were a signal, the warriors of the Tribal Alliance surged toward them in unison, letting out a roar that sent shivers down one's spine.
It was a terrifying charge, enough to make one's knees tremble just by watching it. Although it was clearly a human charging, it felt like facing a massive vehicle hurtling at full speed. And yet, despite this. The human facing it remained completely at ease. "Shall I give you a demonstration?" Then, the pure white ki drawn out began to furiously swirl through Noel's entire body, centering on his heart. "-Rhythm." Then, those words flowed reverently from Noel's lips. "I swear." A consecration offered directly to a god—in other words, one of the methods of 'communication' with a deity that enhances supernatural abilities.
It could be described as a main prayer dedicated to Karba, the chief god of the Empire.
“Victory in battle.” The celestial divine power responded to the vow offered, and pure white energy filled her arm with a much more ferocious intensity than before.
“Supernatural abilities become much more sophisticated when imbued into a shaped ‘matter’ like this. You can hold it in your body like this, but it is more efficient to store it in a weapon.”
“......Aha.”
“Of course.” The action Noel took after speaking so calmly was a straight punch delivered while standing still, just as Aiden had done a few times before. However, unlike then, it was performed with much greater skill.
“If you can handle pure white energy, you can do this much even with your bare hands.” It would be fair to say that the entire body served as a launcher, firing a cannonball called a fist strike. Starting from the foot, the leg, then moving up the waist axis to the back, and then the arm, gathering into a single point and shooting out with the tip of the fist. And. The result of making the pure white energy—the purest of all energies, which, thanks to that purity, generates explosive power in instantaneous [output] that even all supernatural abilities combined cannot match—even more powerful through fortification was... ---!! ----!!!!
Aiden gaped his mouth wide open. It would be fair to say that the entire front was being 'pushed away.' The air was torn apart. The force field spread around the stage tingled and shook, and screams erupted from the stands. In an instant, as if a storm had arisen, the entire landscape around the training arena was tossed about in unison.
Without even being struck directly by a fist, the warriors of the Tribal Alliance, who had been charging furiously toward him solely by the wind pressure emanating from the tip, were blown to the far side of the arena screaming. Like an 8-ton truck with broken brakes, he had pushed back all the superhumans who had been charging with destructive power, solely through the 'aftermath' of a punch delivered while standing still.
“…….” Aiden stared blankly at Noel in front of him. Is this... even human...? “Do you understand?”
“…….” Unfortunately. The question Noel asked, after turning to him expressionlessly following such an act, was enough to leave him even more dazed. It was as if he felt this was truly nothing… … . '… … I don’t understand?' What on earth was he supposed to notice right then?
He could clearly sense more than enough that Noel and Aiden were different from the very beginning.
“I suppose if you just follow this much, it would more than be enough to fulfill the ‘proof of value’ Your Majesty speaks of.”
“……Yes?”
“If you can use pure white energy, this is nothing special. You know better than anyone the potential that ‘color’ holds, but this time, I would like you to show us just a fragment of it.”
“…….” Follow that just now? Aiden himself? “-!”
“--!!” Before he could fully register the dizzying sensation, the warriors of the Tribal Alliance in front of him were sprang to their feet. Since he had merely been struck and sent flying, it was only natural that he sustained no serious injuries, and therefore, it was only natural for him to stand up like that. The bad part is that it is clear they themselves feel ashamed of what just happened to them. Thick veins were bulging on their foreheads, as if they were furious to the point of bursting.
They probably think Noel is toying with them. And unlike before, Noel doesn't seem to have any intention of stopping them as they charge at him again. "... ... This is my fate." Aiden barely managed to think that as he clutched his dizzying sanity. "Still, I have to do what I have to do..." After all, ever since he was entangled in this woman's fake marriage, he had braced himself from the start that he would get involved in some kind of dangerous situation. That is why he told the Emperor that he would jump in himself.
He doesn't have the confidence to replicate exactly what Noel just did, but there is one thing he can trust. He quickly brought up the status window. What he intends to use is Noel's Skill Copy Ticket, which he had one use left over from before. -System Message ▶ Copying 'Qi Enhancement: Fortification'. The exact same method of manipulating Ki that Noel had used.
As soon as he learned the skill, the 'method' naturally entered his mind. It felt as if someone were typing letters into his head, one by one.
“……Rule. I swear.” Facing the warriors charging fiercely toward him, Ki surged out near Aiden’s body.I noticed Noel, who had been watching from the side, giving a slight nod. It was as if he had naturally expected him to pull it off. All he had to do was wield that energy and replicate exactly what Noel had done.
There was absolutely no room for things to go wrong. At least, that was what Noel seemed to think. Although Aiden himself was thinking something a little different.
“…….” He turned his head to look around. He looked at Noel. He also took in the Emperor and the Chieftain, who were watching from the upper stands. If things went well, he would receive a direct reaction from those people over there, too.
What if things didn't go well? '… … I’ll just have to figure it out when the time comes.' After all, this was the only thing he had left to rely on right now. He parted his lips to finish the consecration. With that mere act, a pure white energy surged out from his heart, and he felt a heavy, oppressive pressure binding his entire body.
Even though it was a message unilaterally sent from this side up to the heavens, it was immediately palpable that the being on the other end of the communication was truly divine. It felt as if I was hearing ceaseless whispers telling me to speak my wishes, to offer a vow. However, instead of continuing the conversation, Aiden was preparing to do something slightly different. 'Please, let me be devoured...!' With a heartfelt thought bordering on a prayer, 'Divinity' bloomed from his body.
Colorless flames. It was a supernatural ability he had taken from the princess of the Holy Kingdom, whose face he had never even seen. He noticed Noel's face turning pale beside him. "That, Divinity...? No, how on earth did you—" But before such a reaction could even follow, he thrust it into the pure white energy emanating from his heart.
The colorless flames rising from his feet clashed hotly with that energy. Exploring each other as if to devour one another, the two energies soon intermingled as if melting into one another. "...Mr. Aiden...?" And, from the side. The voice of Noel, who had been watching the scene, is heard.
She looks as if she cannot believe what on earth she is seeing. Her pale complexion and trembling eyes support this feeling. It feels as though she is eloquently revealing just how surreal the phenomenon she is witnessing is. God's 'power'.
It has mixed. Two realms that should never have been mixed have fused. And regarding this phenomenon, a series of messages appeared before Aiden's eyes. <System Message> [ Divinity purifies the backlash of the consecration. Qi and Divinity fuse! ] !!
System Message !! [ Uses two supernatural abilities simultaneously. ] [ <Unique Trait: Omnipotence> is unlocked. ] … He takes a deep breath and scans them with his eyes. Since these things have come to mind, it seems he has succeeded in his objective for now. -Skill Info ■ Omnipotence [ Locked ] The skill is locked. Unlock the first stage by wielding two or more supernatural abilities simultaneously. …This one, you mean. It is an ability I had vowed to use at all costs ever since I saw it last time.
The problem, however, is just how much power the resulting creation actually possesses. [ <Unique Trait: Omnipotence> effect; a new effect is developed when each ability is combined! ] [ By synthesizing <Heart of Pure White> and <First Vow>, you have developed <Guardian's Flame>! ] …Fortunately. It seemed I didn't need to worry too much about that part. The Divine Power wielded by the royal family of the Holy Kingdom takes the form of achromatic flames that bear no color. Befitting an ability bestowed by Shia, the God of Purification, it should be said to take on the purest form, untainted by anything.
And, right here now. As if pure white energy had mingled with such flames, a 'White Divine Power' had spread out around Aiden. The flame, which had risen from divinity, was imbued with 'color' due to the influence of another supernatural ability. It burned so intensely that a vacuum spread around it, making it look as if someone had cut out a landscape and crumpled it up by hand.
“…….”
“…….” Aiden blinked blankly. … Somehow. It looks somehow more dangerous than he had imagined. Indeed, even while the sparring was in full swing, it was clear that no one was paying attention to the continuation of such a thing. Not Noel, not the warriors of the Tribal Alliance, not even Dunadan, the judge.
As soon as the flame flared up, no one moved. —… … ! And, the next moment. --------------------!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! A massive pillar of fire soaring from Aiden struck the hemisphere spread widely around the stage, shattering the defensive force field Noel had set up into pieces with great force.