Throb!
Evelyn clasped her left arm with her right hand as a familiar phantom pain flared up.
It was an excruciating ache in her left arm.
Since receiving her steel prosthetic, she had thought she'd outgrown this phantom pain.
Nor had she been haunted by those tormenting nightmares.
"So, it’s you. The child who took Nereville’s name."
Even the nauseating stench of Wolfgang had faded from her memories.
"Despite being born with lowly blood, you do resemble that child from back then, particularly in beauty. Very well. From now on, you will be my pawn. Just as your mother was, you, too, will live for me."
Yet now, the nightmares began to resurface.
"It's the path to repay me for the noble blood that allowed you to be born into this world."
Twenty years ago.
Driven only by a desire to see her father’s face, Evelyn had come to Ragnar, only to turn her back on him after witnessing his depravity.
And in honor of her mother, she adopted her name as her own, wielding a sword to uphold it.
She clung to the singular vow that one day, she would avenge her mother and herself against the father who had abandoned them.
Yet, even after becoming a senior member of the White Armor Brigade and attaining the rank of high-level swordsman, that man was still out of reach.
It was a reality Evelyn found increasingly intolerable.
Julius, Theo, even Cecilia and Kirson—everyone around her went to great lengths for her sake.
She could not let herself be oppressed any longer.
"I..."
Clang!
Evelyn clenched her steel fist with renewed resolve.
"I will overcome this."
Raising her head, she reaffirmed her determination.
[Observing 'Theo Ragnar']
Theo Ragnar (Age 15 / Male)
This 𝓬ontent is taken from freeweɓnovel.cѳm.
Particularly notable was his [Intelligence].
At 75, it was nearing the threshold of 100.
He had directed all his additional stat points into [Intelligence].
The reason was simple.
[Intelligence]
Increases depth of thought and judgment. Enhances skill comprehension.
Recently, during his practice with the sword orb, Theo had discovered several additional functions in his status window.
One of these involved learning to harness each stat’s potential.
Just as [Strength] fortified his physicality and [Agility] accelerated his reflexes, [Intelligence] significantly improved his skill activation, making it his next logical focus.
As a result, Theo experienced a substantial increase in power within mere days.
[Activating Skill: Hatchling Sync – Enhancing latent thoughts within the sword orb]
In Theo’s vision, countless trails of sword paths began to form.
Fwoosh—
"Grip the sword."
"Swing the sword."
"The sword."
"The sword."
"Give me the sword."
"Wield me."
Countless unrefined voices clamored in his mind, causing a piercing headache, yet Theo persevered, maintaining focus on his skill activation.
The sword orb that Kyle had given him was imbued with the original owner’s identity—one entirely obsessed with, and consumed by, the sword.
This intense fixation granted Theo a profound understanding of swordsmanship, allowing him to gradually merge the various fragmented techniques he had absorbed.
The trails forming before his eyes were proof.
Simply by following these trajectories, he could unleash the explosive might of the Dragon’s Claw technique.
During this process, Theo experienced countless insights.
"So, this is why Father wanted me to use this orb as my stepping stone."
Kyle had gifted each candidate a sword tailored to their unique strengths, and for Theo, who had learned from numerous masters, this was the most fitting teacher he could have asked for.
"Who was this orb’s original owner? Even if I started with the basics, techniques like the Six Forms of the Dragon and 24 Plum Blossom Sword have such distinct characteristics that combining them shouldn’t be easy."
The mere fact that this orb contained the techniques of the Nine Dragons was testament to the original wielder’s extraordinary mastery.
Yet, no particular person came to mind.
After all, Kyle had defeated countless masters in his rise to power.
So, Theo set aside these thoughts, channeling his full attention into the sword in his grip.
"Perhaps I’ll find out someday."
Thump thump thump...!
[Skill: Fairy Buff activated – Applying a powerful blessing]
[Hidden effects revealed through ‘Blessing’]
[Skill: Worm Eater applied – Attack power increases in proportion to the opponent’s health]
[Skill: Lesser Drake’s Fear cast – Inducing dread to weaken the opponent’s will]
[Enhanced intelligence increases skill effectiveness across the board!]
With the sword orb and the skill buffs now active, combined with Ragnar’s blessed physicality, Theo could easily exhibit strength far beyond his current level.
Boom!
"Aargh! I’ll kill you!"
Beta’s face flushed with rage.
Not only was he losing to a mere practical swordsman, but he had also been momentarily overwhelmed by Theo’s imposing aura. Returning to the Council of Elders in defeat would be utterly shameful.
Desperation drove him to a frenzied assault.
Crash!
Theo’s powerful diagonal strike sent a thunderous crackle, shattering Beta’s sword and tearing across his upper body.
When the searing wave of energy finally dissipated...
“Gah... Guh...!”
Beta collapsed, a deep wound stretching across his torso as though struck by a dragon’s claw.
Thud!
“...!”
“...!”
“...!”
A mere soldier had defeated an Elder’s swordsman.
The spectators stared in stunned silence, mouths agape.
Theo, unfazed, lowered his sword and spoke a single word.
“Next.”
Such confidence infuriated Wolfgang and the elders, who trembled with shame.
The crowd, however, erupted in cheers.
"Did you see that?"
"He actually won...!"
"The Thunder Yaksha! That’s no rumor—he’s a monster!"
"The Storm Yaksha!"
"Storm Yaksha!"
Niel, observing as the mediator, asked, “Are you joining the second bout?”
“Yes. I’m hardly tired,” Theo replied, a smirk crossing his face.
Niel couldn’t help but chuckle.
Such words reminded him of Kyle in his youth.
Wolfgang, meanwhile, was seething.
"The crowd... they’re all rallying around that brat."
Ragnar traditionally respected strength and welcomed a strong fighter’s pride.
Theo embodied both traits.
His audacious confidence was seen as self-assured by the people and as arrogant by the Elders.
"Page."
“Yes... Yes?”
“You’re up next.”
“Me? Are you serious?”
“Is there another Page here?” Wolfgang’s piercing glare left Page with no choice.
"Storm Yaksha! Storm Yaksha!"
The crowd continued chanting Theo’s name.
If he went out there for the second duel, what would happen?
The Council could claim victory, but his reputation as an Elder would be shattered.
Nevertheless, Wolfgang gestured for him to go, while the other Elders ignored Page’s pleading eyes.
They had no desire to be in his position.
“Understood. I’ll restore the honor of the Council of Elders.”
Reluctantly, Page rose to his feet.
"Crush him decisively. No—kill him if you must. So he never lifts his head again."
Wolfgang’s whispered threat chilled Page to the core.
He had initially been ordered to only injure Theo, but now he was openly told to kill.
Page’s family would suffer if he failed to obey.
As he entered the arena, the crowd booed.
"How can an Elder fight a mere swordsman?!"
"Where’s the Council’s dignity?"
Ignoring them, Page focused, steeling his resolve.
"End him within seconds," he thought.
A prolonged duel could expose his intent, drawing intervention from Julius or the Plum Blossom Palace Lord.
“I am Page Grason, once known as ‘Divine Blade’ in my prime. As an Elder, I shall put an end to your arrogance.”
Theo nodded indifferently, lightly clashing swords with Page.
As the duel commenced, Page aimed a swift strike at Theo’s neck.
Just as his blade glinted with a deadly edge...
“I surrender.”
Theo abruptly stepped back, hands raised.
“...What?”
“I surrender. We concede the second bout. How could a young novice like me dare face an Elder? I’m sure your victory brings you great satisfaction.”
With a mocking grin, Theo turned and left the arena, leaving Page speechless.
The crowd was equally stunned.
"He surrendered?"
"Was he mocking him?"
"Ah! It’s clear now. He saved his strength for the final round with the Dragon."
Page’s face turned beet-red with rage.
He realized that Theo had played him from the start.
By surrendering the second duel, Theo had preserved his energy while effectively humiliating Page and the Council of Elders. Not only had they lost the first round, but they’d also been reduced to mockery in the second.
Meanwhile, Julius, preparing to rise for the third bout, watched the crowd cheering in Theo’s favor, as well as the fury building on the Elders' side. Wolfgang trembled with rage, unable to contain his anger.
“That brat...! Fine, if this is how they want to play, I’ll have no choice but to intervene myself!”
Wolfgang’s heavy steps echoed as he stormed forward.
Back in the Audience
Julius couldn’t help but recall Theo’s words before the match began:
"In front of everyone, I’ll make fools of the Elders."
Seeing the Council’s shame and Theo’s rising reputation, Julius smirked. This was exactly what Theo had intended, a spectacle that would be talked about for ages. The White Armor Brigade’s reputation had soared, overshadowing the Council of Elders.
"What a sly fox," he thought with pride. It was this cleverness that made him respect Theo so deeply.
Suddenly, he noticed Evelyn stepping forward, her steel prosthetic raised to block his path.
“Evelyn?”
Her gaze was steady, carrying a resolute fire he had rarely seen.
“For the third duel... please, let me go.”
Julius’s eyes widened in surprise.
Julius had always thought of Evelyn as a cocoon—a warrior poised to emerge, yet held back by unseen fears.
Now, he saw that cocoon beginning to break.
The young warrior before him was on the brink of transformation, spreading her wings for the first time.
At that moment, he realized something he hadn’t fully understood until now.
“Yes... I’ve always been captivated by this strength within her...”