Chapter 167 : The Gathering of The New Generation (Part 2)
Exactly 5 hours ago.
"Alright! Let's go to your hometown! My disciple!" Ignia announced enthusiastically towards Rei who's currently training with Doldain.
Her cheeriness confused him and Doldain, which made them stopped training.
Doldain also looked at her quizzically, "My King, are you being serious?"
It was such a sudden announcement that it interrupted their training.
"Well, surely it's a nice change of pace isn't it?" Ignia suggested with a big smile.
"That is true..." Doldain replied.
"Besiiides!! My disciple!" She pointed at Rei accusingly, "You had barely rested ever since that fight!"
Rei lowered his axe and frowned, "That's not true...I did take a good rest."
"Sleeping during the night and resting to recover are two different things!" Ignia scolded.
'Since when?' Rei asked himself while staring at her.
"So, I want you to take a full rest, not just by sleeping it off or by doing some hobby."
"But a full rest, which allows you to relax your mind and body." Ignia spoke.
"So, visiting my family counts as resting?" Rei replied.
"Indeed, and it's been 7 years, I bet you haven't been in touch with your family ever since you started your training here, right?" Ignia pointed out the thing that he had been dodging all this time.
"Ugh." Rei felt like being stabbed with guilt.
"You have also been presumed dead ever since that fight, I bet your family will be very sad to know you are still alive and kicking without them knowing." Ignia stabbed him with another fact to make him feel even more guilty.
"Umm." Rei looked away, he couldn't deny any of it.
"And I bet you and Houston felt the same, you both are worried after not seeing them for 7 years, right?" Ignia continued.
'That's true, I have been sleeping for 7 years...and I'm still thinking about them.' Ray admitted.
"See?" Ignia grinned then leaned closer towards him.
Rei backed off a bit after being relentlessly attacked by her facts, which made him gave up, "Okay okay! I understand!" He sighed.
"I already planned to go back home after I finished my training." Rei exclaimed.
"But I don't know if I have the right, after having disappeared for many years." Rei muttered.
Doldain looked at him for a moment before replying to his question, "Then you should go, before it's too late."
"Doldain?" Rei looked at him, curious about his words.
"It's okay to be late than never, so you won't regret it later on." Doldain spoke while tapping his shoulder.
"Doldain..." Rei looked at him and started to gather up his courage.
"I understand, I will go home." Rei finally made up his mind, after 7 years of disappearance.
Ignia regarded him with a warm smile, "Now, get ready to wear your armor."
"Because, we will be going on something simple." Ignia suggested.
Upon hearing those words, Rei and Doldain knew what she is going to do.
******
Finally, they began their journey towards Rei's hometown, the Blumund village.
*SWOOSH*
Rei and Doldain knew exactly what to expect she said simple method to go to his village.
With blank expressions, the two of them were now riding on something and soaring through the sky.
"Yeah, I expected this."
Rei muttered quietly. He wore his new black armor, which he forged himself. A new beast helmet and gauntlets, as well as various weapons, were hidden in his [Inventory].
=======================================
[The Overlord Armor, Vidar]
Grade: Legendary
Type: Armor
VITALITY: +500
AGILITY: +200
Durability: 100%
An armor that was forged from the scales of a [Ancient Evil Dragon] who once controlled the Northern region. With the evil force that remains on its scale, it can protect and absorb any type of attack before striking back with double the amount. Using the name of a specific [God], [The God of Vengeance], the evil power intensifies, potentially creating an unimaginable force.
Skill:
[Vengeance]
Passive Skill
The armor bears the evil power that came from [The Ancient Evil Dragon]. Everytime the user loses 1% HP, they will gain 1 to 100 stack, [Dragon Rage]. (1 [Dragon Rage] increased the user [Strength] by 10 and doubled the damage towards)
[Dragon Morph]
Passive Skill
When the user uses [Dragonification] skill, the armor will start to adjust its size with the user's body. When the user cancels the skill, the armor will turn back to its normal size without taking any damage.
[Vidar Star]
Active skill
MP Cost: 1000 MP
Duration: 10 min.
Cooldown: 5 min.
With the name of [The God of Vengeance, Vidar], the user gained the power of the star that increased both [Strength] and [Agility] by 75%.
=======================================
And now, the thing that Rei and Doldain currently riding on had finally revealed…
*SWOOSH*
A giant red dragon that began to emerge from the clouds, revealing its actual form and spreading its wings, carrying two people on its back.
"Haaahh~ it's been so long I spread my wings this wide~" The red dragon–Ignia sighed blissfully.
"Well, good for you." Rei was sitting on her back, using magic around his body to keep himself from falling.
Doldain laughed boisterously, "Hahaha! It has been a long time since I felt such warm weather!"
"....." Rei took a brief glance at Doldain who sat next to him before returning his attention to the blue sky above him.
"Yeah, indeed." Rei muttered and closed his eyes and relaxed, enjoying the warmth that he had forgotten after 7 years of training.
'Indeed, indeed!! Hahaha!' Until someone interrupted his peaceful daylight.
Which came from within his body.
'To think I would see the blue sky again! Such luck I have!' A familiar guy, who was supposed to be sleeping or dead after his heart was absorbed by Rei…
[The Ancient Evil Dragon, Fafnir].
Was currently staying within him, together with [Ray Houston].
Rei sighed, 'I thought you're gone forever, Fafnir.'
'Well, it seems your body is more compatible with me than I thought. I finally had a place to relax.' Fafnir replied as he laid down within that empty space.
'Why do you sound like you're homeless.' Rei muttered.
'Hey! Don't say that! didn't I promise you both that I will teach you my skills?' Fafnir spoke.
'Besides, if it wasn't from me, you wouldn't be able to learn [Iai Mastery] by using my memories and Muramasa's.' Fafnir scoffed.
Rei couldn't refute his words and sighed once more.
It's true that so many things had changed ever since he absorbed the [Ancient Dragon Heart] and acquired the [True Flame].
It reflected on his status, and he also acquired new skills.
=======================================
[STATUS]
NAME: Kiritsuka Rei / Ray Houston
JOB : Blacksmith/Dragon Knight !!NEW!!
TITLE : [The Reincarnator], [Time Traveler], [Quick Learner], [Beast Slayer], [Die Hard], [Jack of All Trade], [The Warrior Might], [The Monster Slayer], [Blessing of the Fire Spirit King], [The Dragon Slayer], [The One Who Stand Alone], [The New Myth Creator], [Chaos Descendants], [The Destroyer], [Incarnation of Destruction], [The Flame Bringer], [The Successor of Muramasa], [The Dragon Conquerer] !!NEW!!; [The One Who Become Fire Itself] !!NEW!!, [The Strongest One] !!NEW!!
[Level: 185]
[HP: 41500/41500]
[MP: 109,650/109,650]
[FATIGUE: 0]
EXP: 0/4,000,000
STATUS POINT : 450
____
STRENGTH : 651 (+545)
AGILITY : 375(+525)
VITALITY : 370 (+535)
INTELLIGENCE : 475(+10550)
SENSE : 360 (+525)
[SKILL]
Blacksmith Mastery LvMax; Swordsmanship Mastery Lv9; Battle Instinct Lv9; Super Growth LvMax; Fire Magic LvMax; Aura LvMax; Cooking Mastery Lv8; Knitting Mastery Lv8; Alchemy Mastery Lv8; Pain Resistance LvMax; Spearmanship Mastery Lv9; Archer Artillery Mastery Lv9; Shieldmanship Mastery Lv9; Dual Wield Lv8; Soul Emergence LvMax; Fire Resistance LvMax; Axemanship Lv9; Haki Lv8 =>Dragon Haki LvMax !!NEW!!; Berserker Lv9; Magic LvMax; Dragon Magic LvMax; Weapon Mastery Lv1; Iaido Mastery Lv1; Dragon Haki Lv1 !!NEW!!; Dragon Art Mastery Lv1 !!NEW!!
Fire LvMax
Blacksmith Flame LvMax
Hell Flame LvMax
Divine Flame LvMax
True Flame LvMax !!NEW!!
Sword Arts: Horizontal Slash LvMax
Sword Arts: Vertical Slash LvMax
Sword Arts: Nine-Heads Dragon Lv8
Sword Arts: Moon Fang Lv8
Sword Arts: Dragon Claw Lv8
Sword Arts: Sky Decapitation Lv9
Persona LvMax [Locked]
Magic Sword: Kagutsuchi no Ken Lv9
Shukuchi LvMax
Weapon Breaker Lv9
Intimidate LvMax
Sprint LvMax
Focused Block LvMax
Spear Arts: One Strike LvMax
Spear Arts: Gungnir Lv9
Spear Arts: Falling Dragon Lv7
Spear Arts: Deadly Strike Lv7
Spear Arts: Gae Bolg Lv7
War Cry Lv9
Archery Artillery Arts: Artillery Strike Lv9
Archery Artillery Arts: Cracker Lv9
Archery Artillery Arts: Homing Missile Lv8
Archery Artillery Arts: Silent Destruction Lv8
Archery Artillery Arts: Nuclear lv7
Weapon Fuse Lv8
Shield Arts: Bash Lv9
Shield Arts: Rush Lv8
Shield Arts: Reflection Lv9
Shield Arts: Grand Cross Lv8
Shield Arts: Fotress Lv8
Shield Arts: Guardian Will Lv8
Shield Arts: Brawl Mode Lv9
■■■■■■■ Lv■■
Armor of Flame : Agni Lv9
Axe Arts: Smash Lv8
Axe Arts: Wide Swing Lv9
Axe Arts: Spinning Wheel Lv8
Axe Arts: Brutal Impact Lv8
Axe Arts: Mountain Wave Lv8
Axe Arts: Mountain Cleaver Lv8
Magic Missile Lv8
Fire Lance Lv9
Fire Wall Lv8
Fire Arrow Lv9
Fly Lv7
Telekinesis Lv8
Dragon Magic: Dragon Dominance Lv2
Dragon Magic: Dragon Breath Lv3
Dragon Magic: Ignis Prominence Lv2
Dragonification Lv2 !!NEW!!
Dragon Eyes Lv1 !!NEW!!
Iaido Art: Quick Draw Lv1 !!NEW!!
=======================================
Rei took a peek at his status board, 'Yes, that's true, but....'
'Why are you so relaxed?!' He raised voice in an accusatory tone at Fafnir who's currently sitting beside Ray as they laze around with a table and pillow on them.
'Come on! Ignia told us to take it easy! Ever since you absorbed me, you have barely taken any rest!' Fafnir replied loudly, he was more energetic than he used to be.
'Ugh.' Once again Rei couldn't deny it, he's right.
'Besides, you missed them, right?' Fafnir spoke.
Rei was silent the moment he brought up his family.
'Of course....I miss them.' He answered, after a while.
Fafnir smiled, followed by Ray, who heard his words.
'But I'm surprised that Ignia couldn't hear your voice nor see you inside me.' Rei mentioned.
'Who do you think I am? I'm the Great Ancient Evil Dragon, I am much stronger and older than her.'
'So, of course I'm capable of hiding my soul in front of the King of Dragon herself, which is ALSO my former title, mind you.' Fafnir explained proudly.
'I see.' Rei replied, then muttered quietly, 'But...you did lose to Muramasa, didn't you.'
As if hurting the pride of this Ancient Evil Dragon.
'That's totally uncalled for!! I mean, he is the [Hero] with the power equal to God alongside [Saintess]!!'
'Didn't you hear what Ignia told you?' Fafnir retorted back heatedly, because it was the truth.
'I have [Evil] trait, and the [Hero] has the power to strike down anything that is connected with [Evil]. Like [Darkness] and [Demonic Energy] for example.' Fafnir replied.
'Which is why, if he doesn't have that kind of power, he wouldn't be able to defeat me.' Fafnir argued.
Rei could tell that he was being petty about his loss, but there's a question that he had in mind.
'But...Fafnir, if you were a former [King of Dragons], why did you fall and become [Evil Dragon]?'
'—?!' But Fafnir was surprised by the sudden question, 'I...cannot tell you about that.'
'Huh?? What do you—' But before Rei could ask him more, Ignia shouted at him
"My disciple! We have arrived!" She pulled his attention back to reality, they finally arrived at the border that connected the [Human Realm] and [Demon Realm].
They could see the line that separated their world.
"...?" When Rei turned to look around, he noticed something big, a strange building standing near the border.
"Is that...?" As he muttered, he focused his eyesight to see what it was.
What he found was a big fortress, made from solid rocks that protected a village inside.
Rei laughed for a moment, "Hahaha...I think 7 years is a long time for the village to change like that."
It was the same old yet new [Blumund Village], which had changed over the previous few years while Rei was training in seclusion.
"That's a well made fortress!" Doldain complimented as he watched it beside him.
"Indeed, it seems your village has made it big, at least enough to have a fortress to keep them safe." Ignia joined the conversation.
"Yes, given that there's a lot of threat when having a village near to the border, I believe there is plenty of time to build those walls after 7 years." Rei replied.
"But Master, I think we need to go down, pretty far from there." Rei spoke to her.
"Hm? Why is that?" Ignia asked.
"I don't want to shock everyone with the appearance of the mighty King of Dragons before them." Rei answered.
"Agreed." Doldain nodded.
"Huh?! But isn't this the epic moment where you surprised them with your new appearance!" Ignia argued back.
"Master, your appearance and aura, already enough to make normal people faint." Rei spoke.
"But-!" Ignia insisted but Rei cut her off sharply.
"Master." Rei was pretty irritated this time.
"Ughhh fine!" Ignia pouted like a child, despite her appearance as a dragon.
Just like that, Ignia landed on the ground that was pretty far from the village.
"Geez~ who would have thought that my disciple is a party pooper!" Ignia huffed as she returned to her human form after Rei and Doldain climbed down from her back.
"Master, you have to remember that my village is not your people." Rei replied to remind her.
'I mean...those dwarves are pretty strong to endure her pressure.' While he thought that.
"Yeah yeah…" Ignia rolled her eyes and fixed her hair for a while before turning to him with a pointed finger towards him and a big grin on her face, "Okay! Now that I listened to your request, you have to listen MY request!"
"Huh??" Rei wasn't expecting her to say that. "What request???"
******
It was just like any other peaceful day in the village when this blue haired uncle went to work.
He's the guard of the [Blumund Village], who had been guarding this village for so many years.
He went to his post in front of the gate to change shifts with other guards.
His name was [Nel Shubert], who's also known as the former [Spear Master] in the past.
"Thanks for your good work!" Nel spoke towards the other guards who were standing side by side in front of the main gate of this fortress.
"Yes sir!" The guards spoke simultaneously, and respectfully.
"Don't be too stiff, I am just your regular old man." But Nel responded to them with a relaxed tone.
Many years had passed, and he had grown several gray hairs, which also mellowed his personality.
"Now then, let me take over the shift and you guys go back and rest with others." Nel spoke while taking over their spot.
"Y-yes sir!" They felt awkward but still grateful for being allowed rest.
The two guards moved away from their posts and left him by himself.
Nel smiled for a moment, before sighing and looked up towards the sky above him.
"How peaceful...." Nel muttered while closing his eyes, "but to think you would be gone first before me..." he suddenly remembered a certain boy who hung out with him everyday in the past.
"Seeing my friend sad and forcing himself to work everyday, it makes me feel guilty.f" He sighed and muttered to himself, "...if only I had stopped you that day when you left the village."
The boy who had been calling him, "Uncle Nel" almost everyday and greeted him with a big smile flashed across his mind.
It had become quieter without him now, especially after the news of his disappearance.
"So come back, and let me hit you once." Nel spoke in frustration, but the boy was already long gone.
And then...
"...?"
Nel felt a presence before him.
"—?!"
And it caught him off guard when someone came into view and stood rather far away from him.
'Who?!—' Nel immediately grabbed his spear that he was holding, then immediately took his stance.
It was a knight, wearing full plate black armor with his face hidden with that beast-like helmet.
'—no...since when he was here?! I couldn't sense it at all!'
Then the knight began to approach him.
"Who are you?! State your name!" But Nel didn't back down and aimed his spear towards him.
"..." The knight didn't answer him, but instead...
He summoned a black spear through thin air into his hand, then lifted it up to aim at Nel as if to challenge him.
"...?!" Nel was surprised when the knight suddenly took out his weapon.
'A spear? That means...he is a [Spearman] just like me.' Nel made an educated guess.
"To think...someone like me who had become the first [Spear Master] in the Kingdom, being challenged by another Spearman like you." Nel muttered while lifting his spear as well.
"I don't know who you are, but this place is off limits." Nel spoke firmly while spinning his spear around his hands.
"And I'm here to stop you." As he declared such a bold statement, he released his greenish aura from his body to intimidate the knight.
But the knight continued to approach him and began to increase the pace.
'He's coming!—'
Before Nel could move…
*SWOOSH*
The tip of the black spear that the knight used was now approaching slowly in front of his face.
'—?!'
*SWOOSH*
Nel managed to tilt his head aside, letting the spear pass through beside him.
He was taken aback as the knight who had just been approaching him from a distance suddenly appeared in front of him.
'There's no sound, nor any wind movement...he just teleported himself in front of me, like magic!' Nel thought when he matched his gaze with the knight.
But he took this opportunity to strike back.
*SWOOSH*
By thrusting his spear towards the knight's head within this distance.
The knight fearlessly charged towards the spear that was fast approaching.
"—?!"
Nel was taken back once more when the knight used minimal movement to avoid the attack by shifting his head to the side, letting the spear pass through before he thrusted his free hand towards his unguarded opponent.
'Ugh—?!'
When he's about to reach him…
*SWOOSH*
Nel decided to back away and took a few distances away from him.
'Did he...try to capture me—?!'
The knight immediately reappeared again on his left.
"—?!"
*SWOOSH*
Then he thrusted his spear towards Nel's left abdomen.
Nel was a bit late in responding, but...
*TSSSKKK*
He managed to use the shaft of his spear, to redirect the knight's spear to pass through his strike to the side before it could hit him.
The knight drew his spear and twisted his body around to strike him again.
*SWOOSH*
Then swinging it towards Nel's head.
"Hm—?!"
Nel straightened his spear up.
*TING*
Then blocking it with the shaft of his spear, but his body got pushed away from the gate as he let the knight stand there.
'Dammit...he has been trying to hit my head. What am I supposed to do, not block it??' Nel grumbled as he got back to his stance.
'...he pushed me away from my spot and took over it as well.'
'He made me look like the challenger here! With strength and speed like that...the world is truly vast.' Nel spun his spear to take his momentum while staring at his opponent.
The knight lowered his spear after that, then stared back at him.
"—?!"
To his surprise, Nel saw the knight lift his free hand and taunt him to come at him.
"Hah—don't get cocky!" Nel released his fierce wind aura this time.
Causing a storm of winds to gather around him, which made a lot of noises that could be heard by the villagers and the other guards behind that fortress.
The guards who left to take a break, began to gather at the watchtower to see the commotion, they could see Nel was releasing his full power in front of an unknown knight that appeared out of nowhere.
"It's sir Nel!" The guard shouted as the other guard began to ring the bell, to alarm the whole village.
"An enemy!! Everybody hide in your house now!!" The other guard warned them who was working as usual.
The villagers were panicked to hear the alarm, but they knew the protocol and immediately dropped everything to run to their house.
The wind started to turn into a hurricane that surrounded this one person.
"My apologies for underestimating you, now...I will be getting serious." Nel spoke while taking his stance once again.
"....." The knight didn't answer him, but took the same stance as Nel while giving off a dangerous aura around him.
Then finally....
They began to move.
*SWOOSH*
They jumped straight at each other, the knight and Nel were about to clash, swinging their spears against each other.
*TING*
The blade of their spears clashed for a moment before the two went past each other.
After that, Nel started to turn around and did a light jump towards the knight's back that was open.
"Hm—?!"
Then he thrusted his spear at him.
*TING*
Just to get blocked right on the tip of his spear, the knight used the shaft and shifted it to his back. The block was perfect and it couldn't reach his body.
Upon knowing this, the knight responded by spinning his body to let the spear pass to his side.
*THUD*
Then he grabbed Nel's spear by wrapped it around his right arm.
'He caught my spear—?!'
*SWOOSH*
Before he thrusted his spear towards Nel who got his weapon stuck on him.
'Ukh—?!'
Nel barely dodged the spear that approached him by shifting his head to the side, 'I won't let you—!'
Then Nel twisted his spear, releasing a wind current from it, to force the knight to let go of Nel's spear that he caught.
The knight backed off, before thrusting his spear again towards him.
Nel responded by thrusting his spear as well.
*TING*
The tip of their blade clashed, creating a strong shockwave of their auras, trying to overpower each other.
'Ugh—!'
*TING*
Nevertheless, it was Nel who lost in terms of aura and strength, which caused him to be pushed back to his spot at the front of the gate.
But Nel didn't want to give up just yet, he went back and rushed forwards as he thrusted his spear.
'[Tre-Hive]!'
*SWOOSH*
He shouted and performed three thrusts at once, striking him at full speed with the spear covered in wind aura.
The knight didn't move from his spot, but…
*TAP*
He took a step forward and lifted his left hand.
*TING* *TING* *TING*
With the same speed, he deflected his three strikes effortlessly using the back of his left hand.
"—?!" Nel was taken aback once more, but then he gritted his teeth, "—I'm not done yet!!!"
He spun his body and jumped up, while taking a full swing of his spear from above.
'[Hammer Fall]!' Nel used the same technique that he used long ago.
*SWOOSH*
But this time, the tip of his spear was covered in a whirlwind that turned into a giant club of wind that could shred anything that it touched.
*TAP*
The knight approached once again, then encased his spear with his red aura.
*SWOOSH*
After that, he thrusted his spear in the direction of the incoming attack.
'That's—?!' Nel recognized the skill that the knight used to counter his own.
*TING*
Then their techniques clashed clashed together.
*TSSSKKK*
Creating strong shockwave around them.
.
.
.
.
.
.
However....
*TING*
Even after using this skill, Nel's spear was thrown back and the giant club of wind was detroyed due of the difference in their strength.
"Ugh—?!" Causing him to tumble back once more to his spot, but Nel immediately got back on his feet.
'In terms of strength, speed, aura and even technique...this guy excels in everything.' He observed.
'And that skill he just used to counter [Hammer Fall]...he used [One Strike], the most basic skill among Spear skills.' Nel admittedly strongly.
Then his gaze fixated on his spear, 'And here I am, boasting to be the strongest Spearman in the world any chance I get, but....' he chuckled defeatedly in his mind
'Like a [Frog in the well]...that's who I am now.'
"But I have something to protect...." He muttered while glancing at his own spear, the spear that was forged by a certain boy who left the village long ago.
"I made my promise to him...to protect this village with my life!" Nel shrouded himself with his wind aura once more.
"I shall defeat you with my all!!" Then he gathered all the wind towards his spear.
The knight remained silent at the sight, but his lips curved up into a smile behind that helmet.
To respond to his declaration, this time...
His spear began to be clad in red flame while he released a bigger amount of aura that was incomparable with Nel's.
Nel laughed, "Hahaha...thank you!"
He could feel the sincerity and respect towards this old man from the knight.
.
.
.
.
.
.
As the two got on their stances.
.
.
.
.
.
.
"Come!!" Nel shouted.
He jumped at the knight, and thrusted his spear from above.
"[Spear Arts: Gale Thrust]!!"
He shouted, his body and spear surrounded by a strong tornado.
.
.
.
.
.
.
The knight looked up towards him and finally said something for the first time since their battle started.
"Thank you...Uncle Nel."
Nel was surprised by the familiar voice, "—?!"
"You are..."
Then the knight's spear suddenly shone bright in the tornado that caged both of them.
The red flame began to lit up and his spear started to crystallize from his red aura.
"This is the skill I developed...using [One Strike] as its base." The knight spoke.
"And the name is...."
The knight positioned himself.
"[Spear Arts:...."
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
"Gae Bolg] (Demon Spear)."
The knight used the same technique as [One Strike] skill he used to have.
But this time, when he thrusted his spear.
It didn't even reach Nel.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
The spear began to elongate into a red line that flew towards Nel.
"—?!"
*TING*
It canceled his [Gale Thrust] which forcefully threw his spear away from his hand after it was hit by a seemingly invisible attack.
[If [Gungnir] was a spear that pierced everything, then [Gae Bolg] was a spear that could hit the enemy instantly with the speed of light].
That's how the skill [Gae Bolg] was born.
Nel fell on the ground, defeated with his technique that was rendered useless by this knight.
But his face…he's unexpectedly happy and relieved.
"To think you had grown into quite a man yourself..." He recognized the knight.
"[Ray]."
The knight stood in front of him and took off his helmet, revealing his identity.
The young man who went missing long ago, had come back with unimaginable power.
And now reunited with his family and his hometown.
"I'm home."
[Kiritsuka Rei] and [Ray Houston] finally returned to their hometown.
To be continued...