Chapter 8
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Episode 2 - Inverted Heaven [2]
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After class, Rinna helped me shop for clothes and groceries.
At the end of the day, I said goodbye to her and went straight to the dorms.
By the way, in alchemy class, Rinna was kind enough to keep me company.
Once inside the training room in my room, I looked at the sword I held in my hand with a curious expression.
'Why exactly did it choose me as its owner?'
My thoughts have been revolving around this Mythic-rank sword.
Although my combat power didn't increase, it's still an almost indestructible sword with a unique mana conductivity capacity.
The sword is thin, with a black blade and a simple handle wrapped in something that looks like dragon scales.
"Inverted Heaven" is a sword made from the body of a dragon and the bones of a Lord of the Abyss, forged under a blood moon.
The creation of this sword is very special and unique: it has parts of a dragon and a Lord of the Abyss.
"After the defeat of one of the five Lords of the Abyss, Alice used parts of its body to create the hilt, while the blade comes from the body of the Ancient Black Dragon."
I thought about this as I observed the sword in my hand.
〖I've been watching you all day, but you really are a very strange person.〗
"...."
"What the hell... where did that voice come from?"
Startled by the sudden voice, I "looked" around, but there was no one there.
'Was that my imagination?'
But, as if to prove me wrong, the voice echoed in my head again.
〖It's not your imagination; I'm in your left hand〗
Startled once more, I looked all around, then at my left hand.
'The sword…'
As if to confirm it, the voice said:
〖That's right, I am the sword you're holding〗
I raised the sword and stared at it.
At first glance, there was nothing strange about it.
But when I focused my True Sight, I could "see" a strange aura emanating from the sword.
A white, almost transparent aura.
'Some kind of spirit.'
I wasn't sure if that was correct, but it was undeniable that there was something strange about the sword.
〖It seems you can sense me, can't you?〗
I nodded as I listened to the sword's voice.
By the way, the sword's voice was that of a woman.
'A woman… Hmm, I can think of one possibility…'
To confirm it, I finally spoke to the sword.
"By any chance… are you Alice Von Everblack?"
"..."
There was no immediate answer. The sword's voice remained silent for a few seconds before finally responding.
〖You figured it out fast〗
It seems this setting wasn't in the game.
'There definitely wasn't anything like this in the game.'
A spirit trapped inside a sword.
It wasn't something I remembered seeing in the game.
But still, there it was: a sword with a spirit.
"What do you mean I'm strange?"
In response to my question, Alice's spirit replied:
〖You can see, right?〗
"..."
〖I mean, you can't see like normal people. You have a different kind of unique vision… or am I wrong?〗
She figured it out pretty quickly. I nodded without hiding anything.
"That's right."
〖I thought you'd deny it, but unexpectedly, you confirmed it so easily〗
"I don't think I have any reason to hide it. Anyway… why did you choose me as the sword's new owner?"
In response to my question, Alice's spirit replied:
〖Do you know what the requirements are for a Mythic-rank sword to choose its bearer?〗
I nodded.
In fact, weapons of Special, Legendary, and Mythic rank choose their own owners.
In particular, the Mythic ones. However, they have unique requirements.
"One of them would be to have more talent than the original owner of the sword."
It might sound absurd, since the bearers of one of the five Mythic swords had monstrous talent.
However, the reason for these requirements is simple.
'Because they want to pass on their swordsmanship so it won't be lost.'
〖That's right. But there's also the specific attribute. However, the main reason, aside from those requirements, is simple〗
He fell silent for a moment.
〖And that is your Will〗
"My will… what does that mean?"
〖It's just as it sounds. I chose you because you have a strong Will… an unbreakable will. That is also the reason why I haven't chosen anyone in the last few centuries〗
Even if the other two requirements were met, she did not choose them as the new masters.
"So you're just looking for someone with a special will."
〖Exactly, that's why I chose you. Well, you also meet the other two conditions〗
"..."
I frowned at her last words.
"That means… the attribute requirement is the Dark attribute."
Alice's spirit replied:
〖Yes.〗
"..."
Something's off here. I remember the attribute requirement used to be something else, not the Dark attribute.
'Why did it change?'
I wasn't sure, but maybe someone made the change a long time ago and I didn't notice.
"So you were also a Dark attribute user."
Alice's spirit nodded and said:
〖That's right. In the past, Dark attribute users lived alongside everyone else, but ever since the Church of Ordeal appeared, everything changed. They began persecuting and killing Dark attribute users under the pretext that they were the evil of the world〗
'What…? That wasn't written in the game's story. I didn't even know something like that existed.'
Confused, I couldn't help but ask:
"What exactly do you mean?"
〖Basically, before the church came into existence, Dark-attribute users were considered perfectly normal. Furthermore, back then, aside from the Arklight House—which consisted of Light-attribute users—there was the Everblack House, made up of Dark-attribute users.〗
It was a story I didn't remember writing.
The backstory of the game
Therefore, I'm unaware of much of this world's history.
'But Arklight… there isn't a house with that surname today.'
As if reading my thoughts, Alice's spirit said:
〖The current Ordeal family used to be the Arklight House. I don't know exactly what happened to make them change their surname, but I think it has something to do with the Holy Church〗
Well, that answers my question, but anyway, changing the subject…
I looked at the sword and asked:
"So, since you chose me, that means you'll teach me your swordsmanship."
Alice's voice, this time, shifted to one of excitement.
〖That's right. I waited a long time, and since I died on the battlefield, I never found a disciple. So I entrusted my sword to choose the heir to my art, but as you can see, centuries have passed.〗
Honestly, I didn't know how to feel. Suddenly, I have a Mythic-rank sword with a spirit inside it.
Furthermore, this spirit turns out to be one of the Five Swords, the legendary heroes who protected the world from the Abyss.
"Alice's sword art is unique."
In the game, there was no event where you could inherit one of the Five Sword Arts.
Since the player who obtained it would have an absurd advantage and the balance of power would be broken.
"In fact, obtaining a Mythic-rank item would only be possible toward the end of the game."
Except for Inverted Heaven.
Shaking my head to clear my thoughts, I said:
"Then... uh, teacher, when do we start?"
〖Before that, I need to know what you're capable of. But there's no opponent here, so I can't get much information.〗
"I see."
I knew where to find an opponent, although that would take me outside the Holy Academy.
Leaving the Holy Academy is forbidden, since the cadets have everything they need here.
However, I knew a way to escape, though it might be difficult.
"I guess I'll go hunt down a villain."
***
In the slums of the Imperial Capital, death is commonplace.
The Knights of the Order are responsible for enforcing the law in the Imperial Capital.
However, they don't even go near the slums.
Naturally, there are people who take advantage of the lack of security in these areas.
A man sat by a pool table while a group of individuals wearing tunics marked with a symbol of hands holding the sun surrounded him.
They were waiting for him to speak.
"Will you come in, yes or no?"
The leader of the group spoke, drawing the attention of the man who was playing alone at the pool table.
"Let me see... You want me to join the Church of the Black Dawn, and also, for my Black Market to serve as a free pass to enter the Imperial City more easily. Is that correct?"
The leader nodded.
"Yes, that's all you need to do."
"What will I get in return?"
The leader responded immediately:
"A Class 4 Chaos Cube."
"... "
Humans known as villains are those who have obtained the Power of Chaos, which originates from the Abyss.
By accepting this power, mana is replaced; therefore, villains are no longer human.
The benefit they obtain is simple but extremely coveted:
Strength.
Laws and morality do not matter.
Only benefits and strength matter.
What matters is prestige, honor, or fame?
Simple things that humans seek to gain recognition.
However, those who consider that important and do not pursue a real dream are fools.
Villains follow their own path, pursuing ambitions and dreams that bring happiness to their lives.
"A Class 4 Chaos Cube... are you serious?"
"Yes. So, do you accept?"
The man thought for a moment; however, he couldn't help but accept the proposal.
"I haven't advanced to Class 4 in a decade... besides, the only way to level up is to go to the Abyss or get Chaos Cubes."
Both options are extremely difficult, and in the best case, impossible.
"Okay, then, when will..."
Just at that moment, as the man accepted the deal,
Clank!
The door to the room flew off and dust covered the entire room.
Instantly, the smell of blood filled the room.
The cultists retreated and screamed:
"What is this? Is this a trap you set?"
The man also retreated, not knowing what was happening.
"I don't know. I'm also wondering what's going on... however..."
When the figure appeared, both the man and the cultists couldn't help but frown, and one word came to mind:
"A blind..."