Chapter 144

“Could I borrow a boat?”

The unexpected request from Aint, who as usual had come to visit Silver, made Fernan finally understand that the moment had arrived.

“A boat?”

“Yes. I’ve found a lead on the First Emperor’s preparations.”

“And it seems to be out at sea?”

“For now, yes.”

“You don’t know how to sail, so I’ll assign you a couple of discreet sailors.”

“Thank you.”

Fernan provided him with the best small ship—fast, stable, and crewed by veteran sailors.

“And when will the ship be ready?”

“Go to the port right now.”

“Huh? Right now?”

“It’ll take about twenty minutes to prepare. Walk around the port in the meantime.”

Aint was able to set sail in just twenty minutes. The prepared ship swiftly carried him to his destination.

‘…I didn’t think he’d actually come this quickly.’

— I told you, when it comes to things like this, no one beats the Pellenbergs.

In anything that could be resolved with money, the Pellenbergs had no equal.

“This is it. Stop here.”

The ship came to a halt between the two islands Gardner had mentioned.

‘Are we sure this is the place?’

— Yes. Although centuries have passed and their shapes have changed a bit, they’re the same islands. Beneath these waters lies an underwater cave. Enter through there.

Aint broke the breathing scroll Fernan had given him and plunged into the water.

Descending into the depths, he spotted a small cave.

“Ugh…!”

Upon entering, solid ground and absolute darkness greeted him.

“…It’s pretty dark.”

But natural darkness didn’t hinder his vision. Aint slowly made his way through the tunnel.

“So, this is where the true swordsmanship of Armian lies?”

— They’re all true. What’s hidden here is a version the Emperor perfected at the end of his life with a new level of understanding.

Gardner had spoken of “one more step,” but considering it was the greatest emperor and knight in history, that “step” could be immeasurable.

‘Will I be able to obtain it?’

It wouldn’t be enough to merely see or mimic it—he had to make it his own.

Yes, he had grown, but he had barely surpassed the level of a regular Academy student.

Aside from the Light of Armian, his special power, he was only at the level of the best in the Academy.

And though that was already exceptional—since the average at the Academy surpassed that of many royal knights—Aint didn’t think it was enough against demons.

‘But I have to. I need to become stronger.’

If he didn’t become stronger, he’d never be able to face demons.

He had already come close to death at the hands of a Schwaben assassin.

He had to become stronger—stronger than anyone.

That’s why he needed it desperately.

It wasn’t “Can I get it?” but “I must get it.”

If he couldn’t, he had to find a way to make it possible.

And before Aint appeared a massive block of ice.

Inside, a monster was trapped.

“…What is that?”

— Ah, I forgot to mention. There’s a guardian at the gate.

— The Emperor said that if you’re not capable of defeating it, then there’s no point in learning the swordsmanship.

“Why are you telling me this just now?! Did you really forget?”

— If you knew beforehand, it would be pointless. That is a chimera.

— It was created by the First Archmage and Pope of the Dragon God Cult, Eargrat. The Emperor said that if you can’t defeat it alone, you don’t deserve the swordsmanship.

And although Gardner brushed it off as “pointless,” Aint couldn’t argue—he’d feared exactly that the entire trip.

“…So if I defeat it, I’ll obtain the technique?”

— I can’t guarantee that.

— But I know it won’t be an easy fight. It’s superior to you physically and technically. And since it’s neither demon nor corrupt creature, the power of Armian won’t help much.

He had to defeat the chimera in a pure duel of swordsmanship.

— That is the trial the Emperor left for you. Prove your worth.

— And if you’re afraid, you can turn back.

“…Come all this way just to run? Impossible.”

Demons didn’t allow retreat. Though unexpected, Aint decided to face it.

“Just one question.”

— What?

“You brought me here because you believe I have a chance to win, right?”

— I don’t think it’s impossible.

“That’s enough.”

No matter how strong it was, it couldn’t be more than a demon.

Aint poured his blood on the door. The ice cracked and the chimera awoke.

Crack—

No words were needed.

The ice shattered completely, and the moment their eyes met, both charged at once.

───!

The thrust aimed at the chimera’s heart was blocked by its arm.

An arm that seemed like a sword itself; it traced the edge of Aint’s blade to his fingers.

Clang—!

Aint deflected the attack and stepped back, but the chimera immediately pursued him.

A greatsword imbued with white aura came crashing down on him.

It was too powerful to block—Aint rolled on the ground to evade it.

The impact shook the ground, sending debris flying into his body.

“……!”

With just one exchange, a chill ran down his spine. This was more dangerous than any opponent he had ever faced.

He remembered Andromalius, summoned in weakened form. The same pressure choked him. The same terror enveloped him.

Crack— yet Aint gripped his sword and resumed his stance.

The chimera, as if mocking him, grinned and swung its sword again with overwhelming brutality.

Boom!

Though he deflected the blow, the force sent him flying into the air.

That moment of weightlessness—the chimera did not waste it.

In a single breath, it unleashed dozens of slashes like crashing waves.

Aint’s eyes widened and he responded with his sword.

He blocked, deflected, dodged—and accepted small wounds when unavoidable.

That way, he avoided a fatal strike.

His heart pounded, on the verge of bursting.

“Haaah… haaah…!”

With burning breath, he unleashed his aura in a counterattack.

Boom! A direct hit forced the chimera to stagger back, and Aint lunged after it.

The tide had turned—now he was the one attacking.

But there was a difference—what the chimera could execute in a single breath, Aint needed three.

And while he barely avoided fatal wounds, the chimera blocked everything without a scratch.

Then it opened its mouth.

A ray of compressed aura shot out like an arrow.

Clang—!

Aint deflected it just in time, but the impact sent him flying like a broken doll into the wall.

“Khahk…!”

He coughed up blood.

The chimera’s eyes curved like a crescent moon, then it sat down, beckoning with a finger.

As if inviting him to get back up.

“…Ha… am I not even worth killing?”

He gritted his teeth, drank part of the potion Fernan had given him, and poured the rest over his wounds.

The crushed flesh and broken bones quickly regenerated.

— It’s not that, Aint.

— That chimera is inscribed so it cannot kill the blood of Armian.

Aint leaned on his sword and stood up.

“…So it knew from the beginning I’d lose like this.”

— I’m sorry.

“It’s fine. Now I understand why he did it.”

That wasn’t the important part.

In fact, he was even glad.

For someone who still couldn’t imagine fully defeating a demon, having the chance to face such an overwhelming enemy was a gift.

“So this place is a secret training ground for the successor, prepared by the First Emperor.”

He steadied his breath and sharpened his senses.

Aint charged again.

The chimera responded.

Clang—!

The battle resumed.

That day, Aint fought three times.

And he was defeated all three.

He used up six top-grade potions.

***

“Could I use the boat a little longer?”

“That’s fine.”

“And, even if it’s shameless… I’d need a few more potions. I’ll pay you back, I promise.”

“I don’t know what this is about, but if you need it, just ask anytime.”

Aint took the potions right after class and vanished.

Fernan watched him go and recalled what was written in the book of prophecies.

The chimera prepared for the descendants was terrifyingly strong, and Aint would suffer dozens of defeats.

But he wouldn’t give up. He would keep challenging it, over and over, until he finally brought it down.

And the fruit of that victory would be a mountain of treasures.

‘At least with the potions, I shortened something that would have taken dozens of days otherwise.’

Yes, those treasures would be the payment for the potions.

Maybe the price sounded outrageous, but the value of things is always decided by the seller and the buyer.

He had set the price, and Aint accepted and paid. Therefore, it was fair value.

‘Good luck.’

That he would grow even stronger and become the hero who would defeat all the demons.

***

─!

──!

The cave trembled. Fragments of the ceiling, unable to withstand the impacts, fell to the ground.

Blades of white aura clashed and shattered in violent collisions.

Neither Aint nor the chimera retreated a single step.

‘How many times has it been now?’

He’d fall, drink potions to recover, and fight again.

If he couldn’t win that day, he’d try again the next.

He no longer remembered how many days had passed, nor how many times he had fought.

And yet, his mind grew sharper with each duel, like a blade forged to its limit.

His body adapted to pain and injuries, while his sword and movements became more precise.

— Watch out!

The chimera didn’t aim to kill him, but that didn’t mean he was safe.

Its aura was so lethal that it could take his life at any moment.

If he couldn’t endure, he would die.

He was afraid.

But Aint didn’t back down.

As strong as the chimera was, it was still weaker than the demons.

It wasn’t scarier than them.

And compared to the enemies he’d have to face in the future, this was nothing.

If he couldn’t even defeat this, then he had no future.

So he fought.

Even though he was afraid, instead of stepping back, he moved forward.

He clashed swords.

Dodged fangs.

Wounded and was wounded.

And at some point, the chimera vanished.

In its place stood a colossal wall.

Tall, imposing, as thick as a mountain.

Aint struck it with his sword.

Crack— crack—

Tens, hundreds, thousands of times.

At first, it didn’t leave even a scratch, but slowly, cracks began to appear.

And at the moment that wall shattered—

“Ah.”

Behind it appeared the chimera’s heart.

Aint’s sword pierced through it.

Krrrk…!

The creature spewed blood.

Its sword grazed past, a hair’s breadth from cutting Aint.

— Cut its neck! Never underestimate a chimera’s vitality!

Aint raised his sword and struck without hesitation.

It was over.

From heart to crown, the chimera’s torso was cleaved in two and fell.

“…Did I win?”

— Yes, you won.

Aint collapsed to the ground, breathing heavily.

“…Really?”

He couldn’t believe it.

After such a life-or-death battle, ironically, his body felt full of strength.

Everything felt new.

He felt he could control his body and aura better than ever before.

“I feel light.”

— You broke through the wall. Congratulations.

“The wall…?”

He recalled that gigantic wall.

Was it real, or just a construct of his own mind?

“…I really won. I did it.”

“Pfffahaha!”

Aint burst into laughter. He had never won such a hard-fought battle, which made the joy even greater.

“I have to thank senior Fernan. Without his potions, I wouldn’t have made it.”

— Most likely.

Aint healed his broken body with another potion and stood up.

“Then… do I have the right now?”

— You always did. Go. Obtain the Emperor’s final secret.

“Yes.”

Aint opened the door.

Rumble—

The interior was revealed.

And there…

“……”

— ……

There was nothing.

Only darkness, deep and absolute, filled the massive chamber.

— What… is this?

Then, something brushed Aint’s foot.

An old, tattered piece of paper.

“This is…”

[Defeating the chimera is not enough.]

— What?

— …Good heavens, Emperor… you deceived even me?

The message was clear.

There was nothing there.

The First Emperor’s “preparation” was a lie.

“…Haha.”

Aint laughed bitterly.

“…I think I understand now why senior Fernan looked so empty when he captured Andromalius.”

After all that suffering, and there was nothing.

Well, not nothing.

Through countless battles with the chimera, he had brushed death again and again.

In that process, he gained insight and broke through his inner wall.

Perhaps that was the true preparation of the Emperor.

Still, he couldn’t help but regret that there wasn’t anything more.

— I’m sorry.

“You don’t have to apologize, Mr. Gardner. And thanks to this, I was able to surpass my limits and gain confidence. That’s enough.”

Aint smiled.

He was never one to cling to what didn’t exist.

And the fact that the First Emperor had left behind a chimera that taught him so much was already a great gift.

“In this jousting tournament, I’m going to win no matter what. And that’s how I’ll obtain another of those preparations. No matter what it takes.”

Most likely, he’d have to face Luina in the final.

‘Senior, this time I’ll win.’

Aint steeled his resolve.

***

The day after Aint finally defeated the chimera, the cave received a new visitor.

“I knew it!”

The corners of the visitor’s mouth curled upon seeing the chimera’s corpse, still cleaved in two.

“Aint Armian. I knew you wouldn’t take this with you.”

Hehehe.

“A chimera’s core or corpse like this can’t be ordinary. I wonder what it’s made of, what it could be used for, or how much I could sell it for. I have high expectations.”

The visitor stored the corpse in their subspace and disappeared.