Chapter 524 Final Countdown
With the reappearance of the Cardinal of War and Flame, the final stretch of the Fiend's training underwent a change of pace.
While Kieran had not been lax in his efforts to galvanize the Fiends, he could never truly compare to the Cardinal in that regard. He was too proficient in the Way of the Fiend, bringing it to a consummate level that Kieran aspired to reach.
The old man was a genuine Archmaster and carried a presence forged in the hellish crucible of war, tempered by the peril of the Land of Ruin and honed by the march of time. Kieran had felt the effects of Cardinal Weiss' presence firsthand. It provided clarity and grounded those in its scope by painting a grim perspective — either battle without fear or restraint… or prepare for your demise.
Kieran could not compare in any of those elements, but he had his specialties.
Of all the Fiends, Kieran frequently received praise from the Cardinal of War and Flame, especially on his last strike against that large Fiend.
That attack embodied the finality of a guillotine and fell with earth-shattering might. Had it not been for the Cardinal's intervention, the Order would likely have been down a Fiend by now.
That strike had the potential of becoming a Skill in itself, given its ability to gore and rive an opponent, but it wasn't up to par, and it was far from unique. Many other Fiends could accomplish just that, so it failed to meet Kieran's criteria for his remaining objective.
'If I'm being honest… I drew inspiration from my Esoteric Skill, making it even less likely to be considered a Unique Skill.'
Though he regained use of most of his arsenal through imitation, Kieran remained divorced from abilities like his Secret Art and Aspect. Those two abilities alone could likely result in an upheaval of the entire Trial, but Kieran found himself loathing their return.
After experiencing triumph in many areas of the Trial, despite his frequent suffering, Kieran welcomed the challenge it provided.
It reminded Kieran of his strength, not physical might but adaptability. He was more adaptive than any Fiend thus far.
But that adaptability also paved the way to his current newfound power.
While Kieran had achieved control over that power, it was tough to act with restraint. It was an addictive power that compelled him to go all out when he could. But an all-out assault from someone of his caliber was bound to lead to irreparable damage and heaps of destruction.
He had been one move away from ruining a Fiend, which reminded Kieran of the Flame's comment. It was easy for them to ruin things. It was sometimes an inadvertent effect of their actions.
As Kieran expected, though, with the unity of his blood and physical prowess, he would trounce the other Fiends if he didn't limit himself. Though he had refined the Blood Rune to become the Testament of a Fiend's Defiance, absorbing lessons from how the other Fiends fought was still viable.
The days passed in an enjoyable blur.
Kieran engaged in nonstop combat, stimulating the Fiends to the point they began experiencing growth.
According to Cardinal Weiss, it had been decades since any of the higher-ranking Fiends made progress.
Their presumably exhausted potential was, in fact, wrong. They just lacked proper motivation.
A newcomer suddenly soaring through the rankings to become the undisputed second in command was undoubtedly an unprecedented impetus, which is why the Flame designated Kieran as their leader.
It likely prophesied Kieran's presence would spur a final extraction of their almost spent potential.
However, all that joy vanished once Kieran felt a shift in the atmosphere of the Temple. It couldn't be perceived with senses but instead understood with instincts.
Kieran found his mood becoming low and his shoulders growing tense, and the Cardinal all but confirmed his suspicions when the man pulled him aside and brought him to his subterranean forge.
When Kieran arrived there, the old Cardinal of War and Flame held a weapon wrapped in pristine cloth and tied with a crimson rope in his skyward-facing palms. A melange of poignant emotions was present in his somber expression — contentment, dread, faith, ambivalence, and dignity.
Some had to do with the creation of the weapon in his grasp, but the rest related to the events to come.
"Valdu… you are the youngest and most inexperienced Fiend but carry the gravest weight. It is an unfair fate, but it is an honor and burden you must bear all the same."
As the Cardinal of War and Flame spoke, he moved his hands to Kieran's chest. The action gave him pause, and during that hesitance, something inside the Cardinal flowed out of him, lost to him forever.
Then, he intoned gravely.
"We are coming upon a time where not many will survive. Many lives will be sacrificed, a war will be fought, and glory will be found. But during this time, you must remember your vows. Fulfill your duty to the Flame and carry out its purpose."
Kieran listened intently, his gaze trained on the clothed weapon in the Cardinal's grasp. Despite its cover, Kieran felt apropos dread emanating from that weapon, which added gravity to the severity of Cardinal Weiss' words.
The Cardinal seemed conflicted and confused as he stared at the weapon for a second.
"I don't know what compelled me to forge such a weapon that borrowed up ancient and lost times… but I must warn you. No, I need not warn you. Touch it, and it will commune with your soul."
Kieran listened, grabbing the blade from the Cardinal's grasp without removing the cloth.
He was confounded by its weight.
Its dimensions spoke to an austere longsword, but the weight… it was absurdly heavy even for his might as a Fiend, but Kieran had felt this kind of heft before.
It was a heft capable of suspending a world or defining a Realm — Significance. More importantly, the Cardinal's personal Significance and a few added touches Kieran couldn't place.
Seconds later, an ominous admonition poured into his soul. It deterred him from impulsively wielding the blade. It was a weapon only to be used in a crisis, or he risked crumbling his soul to dust.
Kieran brooded over the possible "lost methods" applied to this blade to allow it to speak into his soul. It reminded him of a specific kind of an item — a Relic.
His knowledge of those was sparse, but he had come in contact with quite a few and could discern the presence of one. The covered Heartsbane indeed felt like a Relic, but Kieran didn't know if it would behave like one.
"The purpose of that blade will reveal itself. That is what my moment of inspiration told me. Guard it well and keep it close until your duty must be performed."
The Cardinal of War and Flame patted Kieran's shoulder before leaving him with a message. Kieran didn't understand it yet, but he would eventually.
Kieran's expression grew sullen and dark as he stared at the pristine cloth covering Heartsbane. His mental preparation seemed insufficient when the onset of the end was upon them.
He sighed deeply and followed behind Cardinal Weiss.
'The final days have begun…'
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