54 - Testing the Sword and Gaining New Students

POV: Laws

The battlefield was a pandemonium of slicing wings and devouring jaws. A cloud of locusts spread through the air like a living plague, a swarm of hundreds of giant insects, each the size of a hunting hound, resonating in an infernal cacophony. The deafening buzzing transformed into an incessant vibration in the chests of the dwarven warriors fighting for their lives.

The ground was covered in mutilated bodies and blood, both from dwarves and the insects themselves. Dented shields, broken axes, screams of pain and despair filled the apocalyptic scene. The dwarven caravan, now reduced to half its original size, held firm in a defensive circle, desperate to resist until the horde passed.

"Hold the formation! The horde must be close to passing! Do not retreat! Anyone who separates from the group is as good as dead!" roared the dwarven leader, his hoarse voice cutting through the chaos.

Among the dwarven warriors, a blond half-elf moved with deadly precision. Laws, with the refined eyes of a hunter, positioned himself strategically behind an overturned carriage, each arrow he fired a precise strike, saving lives at the last moment. His fingers were slick with sweat and blood, a deep bite from a locust throbbed on his shoulder, but he did not stop. He could not stop. Every second counted.

"Damn it! What rotten luck! Could Sylphy or Liena be nearby?" I thought, gritting my teeth as I pulled another arrow and pierced the head of a locust preparing to crush a young dwarf. The boy looked at me with wide eyes, filled with fear and gratitude, before returning to the fight.

The battle seemed endless, a never-ending nightmare, until the wind changed.

At first, it was just a strong gust, enough to make the insects' wings vibrate erratically. Then, the first locusts began to be lifted off the ground. Some tried to resist, their legs gripping onto rocks, bodies, anything to keep them anchored, but the force of the wind was overwhelming. A whirlwind began to form around the caravan, and soon it became evident what was happening: a colossal tornado spun around them but did not touch them directly. It was as if an invisible barrier protected them while the fury of the storm devoured their enemies.

The sky, once darkened by the swarm of insects, began to clear. Amid the whirlwinds of dust and blood, Laws saw a figure atop a hill. A beast woman stood with her arms crossed, observing the scene below, while a red-haired girl stood at her side. But it was the third figure that truly made Laws hold his breath, gripping a shining blue sword pointed at the hurricane.

Amid the chaotic sky, a young warrior of the beast race hovered in the air, manipulating the natural disaster with surgical precision. His face was expressionless, eyes refined like those of a predator coldly analyzing the fate of his prey. His hands moved lightly, like a conductor guiding an orchestra of destruction.

POV: Rygar

Rygar observed the scene below with calculated attention. The caravan group was alive, though reduced and wounded. He had decided to come early as a precaution, but he would never have predicted a locust horde attacking at such a scale. The chances of such an event happening were incredibly low. Those dwarves and Laws were truly unlucky.

His eyes analyzed the insect storm, now spinning faster and faster within the tornado. Their jaws clicked, shrill cries mixed with the howling wind. It was almost a symphony of chaos. But it still wasn't enough.

Raising Tsukikage, his blue sword, Rygar began gathering more mana. The blade of the sword glowed faintly, and then small wind blades appeared around him, dancing and spinning like death's heralds for his prey. He waited for a moment, feeling the storm reach its peak. Then, in a single fluid motion, he swung his sword in a horizontal arc.

"Saint-Level Original Spell: Tempest of Wind Blades."

The initial cut was silent, but a second later, dozens, perhaps hundreds of blades spread from the strike, slicing through everything inside the tornado. Each wind blade cut through the locusts' bodies like a scythe harvesting wheat. The swarm was ruthlessly massacred, and the sound of cutting filled the air, accompanied by the agonized screeches of the insects being torn apart.

Dark blood rained from the sky.

The mutilated bodies of the locusts fell like dead leaves, staining the ground crimson. Rygar slowly dissipated the tornado, leaving only a trail of destruction behind. The forest was silent. The surviving dwarven warriors stood frozen, eyes wide at the apocalyptic spectacle they had just witnessed. Laws lowered his bow, breathing heavily, staring at the young beastman in the sky with disbelief.

High above, Rygar landed smoothly on the hill where Ghislaine and Eris waited for him. 'That was much easier than before.'

A small redhead bounced excitedly, her eyes shining with admiration.

"Rygar! Teach me magic!"

Rygar sighed, observing Eris with a mix of exasperation and amusement.

'I already knew she wanted to learn, but she never asked, and why would I offer out of nowhere? I gave plenty of chances… But after seeing large-scale magic, she finally couldn't hold back, huh?'

He looked at the young redhead in front of him, who crossed her arms with a determined expression, a slight blush still on her cheeks. Unfazed by the girl's pride, Rygar nodded slightly and replied:

"I can teach you, just say 'please'."

Before she could respond, he turned to Ghislaine, adding:

"Actually, I can teach both of you. Some spells are extremely useful, even if you can only use the elemental form. But it requires patience, and above all, you need to know how to read and write. Are you willing?"

Eris, who had looked eager until that moment, immediately hesitated, as if "reading and writing" were some kind of dark curse. Her sour expression gave everything away.

Ghislaine, on the other hand, surprised Rygar by responding without hesitation:

"I would like to learn to read and write. Actually, even math. But do you think I can learn?"

Rygar raised an eyebrow, looking at her for a moment before smiling slightly.

"Of course you can. It's never too late to learn something. As long as you have an open mind and diligence, almost anything can be learned."

He then turned toward the remaining caravan, leaving the conversation behind as he moved with quick steps. When he reached the survivors, he immediately began casting healing spells, treating the wounded with efficiency and precision. The members of the caravan looked at him with respect and admiration.

The group's leader stepped forward with a tired but sincere smile.

"Thank you... Rygar, right? I will be eternally grateful. Perhaps this would have been our end if you hadn't arrived. Hahaha! It's a shame that so many of ours had to fall before your arrival…"

Rygar kept a neutral expression and responded naturally:

"Don't worry about it. The Iron Legion is already allied with the dwarves. Of course I would help. But…"

He then turned toward a man with half-elven features, pale skin, and short blond hair. His refined eyes were akin to those of a seasoned hunter.

"You there. The half-elf. Your name is Laws?"

The half-elf blinked, confused by the sudden approach.

"Huh? Yes, my name is Laws… Do I know you?"

Rygar chuckled, crossing his arms.

"I don't think so. But I ask that you come with me."

Without further explanation, he turned away, leaving a perplexed Laws behind. The half-elf hesitated for a moment before following Rygar, feeling that he owed that much to his savior.

As they walked, Ghislaine and Eris approached. Eris, in a dramatic manner, crossed her arms and declared:

"Alright! I'll learn to read, write, and do math in exchange for you teaching me magic... please!"

Rygar blinked a few times, surprised by her sudden change of heart. His eyes slid to Ghislaine, silently pondering what she might have done to convince Eris. However, he decided to push that thought to the back of his mind for now.

As he approached Laws, he gave a brief introduction:

"Supposedly, this is Laws, from Buena Village in Fittoa."

Laws turned to Ghislaine, studying her for a moment before furrowing his brow in recognition.

"You are... Ghislaine Dedoldia? Were you teleported as well?"

Ghislaine blinked, confused.

"Do we know each other?"

Laws let out a light chuckle and shook his head.

"Not really. But I saw you once when I was in Roa with Lord Philip Boreas Greyrat. I recognized you. Where were you when it all happened?"

Ghislaine's expression grew serious.

"In Roa. At the Lord's mansion."

Laws' eyes widened before his brows furrowed deeply.

"That means... all of Fittoa was affected?!"

He was shocked, absorbing the implications of this information. It took him a few seconds to compose himself before asking urgently:

"Alright... Did you see a little elf girl with green hair? Or a beast woman like you on your way?"

Ghislaine shook her head in denial.

Laws lowered his gaze, visibly dejected.

Eris, who had remained silent until now, suddenly seemed restless. Her gaze shifted between Ghislaine and Laws, tension clearly written on her face. Ghislaine, noticing her hesitation, asked the question that haunted her as well:

"Did you see Lord Sauros? Or any other member of the Boreas Greyrat family?"

Laws hesitated before letting out a heavy sigh.

"No... I didn't see any of them. But I did see a man's corpse a few kilometers from where I appeared. He had already been partially devoured by wolves. I don't know who he was."

They then discussed the details of the incident, sharing what they knew. Rygar listened attentively, trying to piece together the mystery behind this event.

Finally, he turned to Laws and spoke seriously:

"Laws, I am the leader of an organization called the Iron Legion in Millis. Given the scale of this incident, searching for your wife and daughter alone would be unproductive. The most likely fate of those who appeared in unknown places is either starving to death or becoming slaves."

He paused for a moment to let him absorb his words. "I saw that you're skilled with a bow, so you must have been a hunter. When I return, I intend to form a group within the Iron Legion to search for the missing. Of course, the rescued individuals would have to join the Iron Legion, either temporarily or permanently, and I'd like you to lead this group provisionally. Do you accept?"

Laws remained silent for a moment, processing the proposal. Finally, he slowly nodded.

"You're right."

He then bowed deeply.

"I accept, and thank you very much for your help."

Rygar shrugged.

"Don't worry about it. I have my own interests in helping as well."

Even so, Laws maintained his bow.

"Still, I believe this action will save many lives."

Rygar simply nodded before turning to Ghislaine and Eris.

"Do you agree to travel with the caravan?"

Ghislaine shrugged.

"I don't see a problem."

Eris was silent, a really rare thing.

And so, the group joined the caravan, continuing their journey toward Tinaver.

---

Eris Boreas Greyrat positioned herself in an improvised arena. The compacted dirt and stones had been shaped with magic to create a combat space, a small circle marked by raised earth. Around it, a group of dwarves watched with great interest, exchanging bets and animated comments about the duel's outcome. On the other side of the arena, a burly dwarven warrior held his axe firmly, his gaze determined as he faced his young opponent.

Eris advanced without hesitation. Her low, aggressive stance, characteristic of the Sword God style, indicated she was about to attack with ferocity. The dwarf grinned, clearly pleased with the challenge, and raised his weapon in preparation. As the fight began, Eris moved swiftly. Her first strike was a fast horizontal slash, forcing the dwarf to step back and block with his axe handle. But she didn't stop there. Spinning on her heels, she launched an upward slash, forcing her opponent to take another step back.

The dwarven warrior tried to respond with heavy swings, but Eris was simply too fast. She circled around him, her precise attacks seeking openings in his defense. With each passing moment, her advantage grew. The spectators began murmuring excitedly. Finally, with a fluid and fierce movement, Eris slid inside the dwarf's reach, dodging a downward axe strike, and struck her opponent on the side of his armor with enough force to bring him to his knee. The dwarf gasped for air and raised a hand in surrender.

The dwarves erupted into applause and cheers, clinking their beer mugs together and praising the young warrior's skill. Eris, sweaty and panting, raised her sword, satisfied with herself, but soon her gaze drifted to the tent nearby. Inside, Rygar sat beside Ghislaine Dedoldia, holding a letter in front of her.

"These letters together form the word 'sword'," Rygar explained, pointing to the characters on the sheet of paper.

Ghislaine, brows furrowed and eyes fixed on the paper, murmured the word softly, tracing the strokes in the air with her fingers. Her concentration was so intense that she didn't notice Eris had won the match. The young redhead then shifted her gaze to Rygar, who smiled and casually praised her:

"Well done, Eris."

She immediately turned her head to the side and huffed, "Naturally."

As if his approval meant nothing. But Rygar just chuckled softly, returning his attention to Ghislaine, who continued practicing the characters.

The days passed, and the journey continued with few incidents. Occasional attacks from wild beasts occurred, but nothing posed a real challenge. With Rygar and Ghislaine protecting the caravan, any enemy seemed ridiculously weak.

Initially, Rygar intended to teach magic and basic studies only when they returned to the Iron Legion, but his plans changed the very same day he suggested the idea.

Ghislaine appeared at night, holding a notebook borrowed from one of the merchants.

"I'm ready to start the lesson," she said seriously.

Rygar blinked a few times before shrugging—he wasn't going to refuse her now that she was already here. "Very well. Let's begin."

And so, the days became a routine of learning. He taught Ghislaine and Eris how to read, write, and even basic mathematics. Although she struggled at first, Ghislaine's dedication was impressive. Eris, on the other hand, only agreed to learn after Rygar asked Ghislaine to convince her, which she did by telling various stories of her time as a solo adventurer—stories Rygar was also interested in hearing.

Additionally, he taught them elemental magic. His initial focus was on fire, water, and healing, as they were the easiest to apply. If they showed enough progress, he would expand the lessons.

When he wasn't teaching, he trained personally with Ghislaine, testing different combat styles. Eris, even though she was already adept in the Sword God style, absorbed some of his instructions—though she would never admit it directly.

In his free time, Rygar also hunted with Laws, the half-elf from Fitoa. He recalled how hunting had been fun when he was younger, but as he grew stronger, the activity lost its challenge. Even so, he enjoyed observing Laws in action, learning his stealth techniques and his incredible precision with a bow.

The days turned into weeks, and the caravan finally approached Tinaver. Soon, the horizon would be dominated by the city's towering walls and white spires. With their destination in sight, everyone's journey was about to take a new step forward.

Night Hunter

Creator: Godbard of the Splendid Celestial Peak

Material: Erathium, Rank B Magic Stones (Six-Legged Panther, Earth Serpent)

Magic Efficiency Amplification:

Earth: x5

Barrier: x4

Water: x4

Fire: x3

Wind: x3

Lightning: x3

Healing: x2

Detoxification: x2

Abilities:

Earthborne Venom – Each cut releases a subtle poison that, over time, hardens blood vessels and turns them into sand, causing organ failure and death.

Unknown ability.

Tsukikage

Creator: Yulian Jalisco

Material: Bones of the Dragon King Kajakut, Rank S Magic Stone from the White-Eyed Blue Mutant Dragon

Magic Amplification:

Fire: x9

Earth: x7

Wind: x7

Lightning: x7

Barrier: x5

Healing: x5

Detoxification: x4

Water: x4

Modifiers:

Brightstone of the Deep Earth

Abilities:

Flaming Soul – The more heat, the sharper, keener, and more resilient it becomes.

Unknown ability.

Ghislaine Dedoldia

Age: 30 years and 6 months

Mana Reserves: Saint Level

Combat Skills:

Sword God Style: King Level

Battle Strength: High King-level

Intellectual Skills:

Learning the common language

Practical Skills:

Always choosing the right option between two choices, Magic Eye

Eris Boreas Greyrat

Age: 9 years and 5 months

Mana Reserves: Intermediate Level

Combat Skills:

Sword God Style: Intermediate

Battle Strength: Intermediate

Intellectual Skills:

Learning the common language

Practical Skills:

Infinite energy, Greeting in the Boreas style

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