Chapter 199

The vessel of aura was finally formed in Dale’s lower abdomen.

Shub’s tentacles functioned as a ‘mana circuit’ connecting the heart and lower abdomen, forming a lifeline linking the mana circle and the aura heart. In a sense, calling it a Dual Core wouldn’t be far off.

Dale finally straightened his body and took a deep breath.

With each breath, the mana in the air was absorbed.

To the five circles that could be called the wizard’s heart. But the mana’s cycle did not end there. Only after traveling through the ‘mana circuit’ Shub had connected, reaching the aura heart that could be called the knight’s heart, did the journey finally cease.

A small amount of mana accumulated in the vessel of aura, and Dale took a very careful deep breath.

To process the mana contained within the vessel of aura.

Not as magical power for a mage to wield, but as ‘aura’—the form knights used strictly for strengthening their bodies.

Truth be told, wielding aura wasn’t new to Dale. Even if his sense of power had grown faint during his time as ‘Dale of Saxony,’ that was only compared to his prime as a warrior.

Moreover, it wasn’t just a day or two; living as a hunting dog bred for the empire, that sense couldn’t easily be forgotten.

Magic is the power that overlay the world.

And aura is not a force overlaid upon the world, but one thoroughly overlaid upon the flesh.

At the same time, whether it’s the Saxon House’s Night Raven Knights imbued with black aura, or the Blood Blade Master Baro imbued with crimson aura, aura is aura—there is no difference.

The power to project thought.

And finally, Dale’s aura, imbued with the Shadow Lord’s ideology, radiated light from within his flesh.

The aura finally enveloped the body, already imbued with primordial darkness and the chill of the apocalypse.

He could feel that power seeping into every nerve and cell, traveling through the fine veins and bloodstream of his entire body.

And it was a power that required no complex thought whatsoever.

As a test, he absorbed a measured amount of mana once more, channeling it through Shub’s tentacles toward the aura heart.

A little more than before. As Dale of Saxony, he couldn’t reach the same level as his past life overnight.

Therefore, he carefully refined his aura, gradually increasing both its quantity and intensity so his body could adapt to it.

‘It should be ready soon.’

Simultaneously, he poured the massive amount of mana accumulated and awaiting refinement within the five circles all at once toward the aura heart.

Dale had reached the pinnacle of a fifth-circle mage, possessing capabilities that dwarfed those of an ordinary fifth-circle mage.

Therefore, the amount of mana that Dale could accumulate or absorb within his body also far exceeded the imagination of standard specifications.

A mass of mana, tens—no, hundreds of times the amount a knight who had just awakened their Aura Heart could absorb, poured in once more like an explosion.

And Dale’s Aura Heart began desperately functioning, processing the mana contained within into ‘aura’. Far surpassing the critical threshold it could handle, in agony so intense it felt like the Aura Heart might shatter at any moment.

“Master…!”

Moreover, it wasn’t Sir Helmut who didn’t know what was happening inside Dale’s body. That was why their three swords were there, and it was just as Sir Helmut was flustered and tried to move.

“Whoa, hold on there.”

Master Baro stopped him.

“Do you really want to see your young master get whacked and drop dead like that?”

“……”

Lord Helmut knew it too. It was unbearable that the eldest son of House Saxon, whom he served as a loyal vassal, was engaged in such a perilous tug-of-war.

“There’s no need to worry.”

At that moment, the silent Wandering Sword spoke.

“For our lord, this is not even worth worrying about.”

With unwavering conviction, not a shred of doubt.

That day, having experienced the world of thought the Shadow Lord had revealed, he finally understood. The vessel that being held within—it was not the sort to collapse from such a mere tug-of-war.

A pain like his heart being torn apart engulfed Dale’s consciousness. Yet the heart of a knight that Dale possessed was not something that could be shattered so easily.

As the five circles ceased their rotation and fell silent, the Aura Heart desperately maneuvered, spewing forth ‘aura’.

It had already permeated every bone and nerve cell in Dale’s body, now pouring out through his skin.

For knights, the distinction of aura is not as strict as it is for mages.

Circulating aura within the body to strengthen the physique is the first realm of aura usage: Aura Beginner.

The next level is Aura Knight, where one can channel aura outward to envelop a sword or utilize it as a shield.

And that final stage is the aura master, who can wield an ‘avatar’ by enveloping sword, armor, and flesh in aura.

In other words, the act of Dale’s aura being emitted outside his body signified one thing.

The realm of the Aura Knight.

Alongside the creation of the Aura Heart, he was processing the primordial aura and displaying the ultimate secrets—secrets that even the most talented would spend their entire lives striving to grasp—in mere seconds.

Following the jet-black magic sword in Dale’s hand, the released aura began to coil around it.

“The aura…!”

Furthermore, seeing the color embedded within that aura, Lord Helmut gasped.

“Is our role here to stand around gasping and interjecting?”

“It certainly seems that way.”

“Oh, my goodness! That’s absolutely astonishing. Truly, Lord Dale.”

Master Baro shrugged exaggeratedly with an emotionless voice. Yet, despite his rudeness, Lord Helmut paid him no mind.

He could only stare in awe at the ‘Aura Blade’ wrapped around Dale’s sword.

It wasn’t a single color.

The aura of black, crimson, and azure—primordial darkness, magma-like blazing flames, and finally, the chill of apocalyptic cold.

Three-colored auras were imbued within Dale’s demonic sword.

Yet they did not coexist simultaneously. Black would shift to red, then suddenly turn blue, only to revert back to red.

‘He manipulates the aura’s color like magic power, according to need…’

Seeing this, Baron Helmut gasped.

The Shadow Lord repositioned his grip on the sword hilt. As one who pursued the sword itself, without using any magic power, without accelerating the mana circle.

Surrendering his body to the surging flow of aura within, he opened his mouth.

“Cut the nonsense and draw your sword, Master Baro.”

“Well now, I’ve been waiting to hear you say that.”

Master Baro finally drew his sword.

The realm of an Aura Knight. It is not yet the realm of an Aura Master who can wield an ‘Avatar’. Though Dale can use an Avatar, it is ultimately a force of magic and sorcery overlaid through the power of magic and the 『Book of the Black Goat』.

Therefore, in preparation for the Sword Trial, there was only one thing Dale must pursue.

The realm of an Aura Master.

Not the avatar of the Shadow Lord, but the projection of ‘Dale’s own avatar’.

‘Fortunately, I managed to generate an aura blade somehow, but self-training will only take me this far.’

For that purpose, Dale re-grip his aura blade, and three of the Seven Swords of the Continent are here.

What could be attained through self-study reached only the realm of an Aura Knight.

To unlock realms beyond that, one must walk the tightrope of life and death with the strongest, staking their very lives.

“Attack with the resolve to kill.”

Dale said, and Master Baro nodded.

“Wait, just a moment. Young Master Dale!”

Just then, Baron Helmut interjected.

“Would it not be fitting for me, Sir Helmut, to volunteer as your first training partner?”

“Crossing swords with Lord Helmut will undoubtedly be an essential part of the training process.”

Dale nodded.

“But as Lord Helmut says, Master Baro is far from the nobility of a knight—he bears the name of the Killing Sword. He wields every vile sword technique imaginable to slay his foes.”

“Well now, I’ll take that as a compliment.”

“For me right now, that level of threat is just right.”

“…Forgive my ignorance, my lord.”

Lord Helmut, finally grasping Dale’s intent, bowed his head.

“No, Sir Helmut. It would be your role to protect me in case of an emergency.”

Dale smiled as he spoke, then turned his head. Master Baro was standing there.

What Dale absolutely lacked as a knight was not experience wielding a sword. There was no need to even bring up his days as a hero in another world. As the eldest son of House Saxon, how many times had he gripped a sword to the point of utter weariness, facing countless enemies?

Therefore, what Dale needed was something else entirely.

It was the task of reviving his aura’s senses.

The sensation and memory of deploying aura and fighting as a hero of another world in the past. To revive that sensation, above all else, a worthy opponent was needed.

Not some hollow pretense like a training exercise, but a true adversary who made him feel mortal danger and forced him to fight desperately.

In that regard, the Sword Master Baro was the perfect candidate as Dale’s ‘first training opponent’.

“If you bite down too hard, I won’t be held responsible if you suddenly cross the Three Rivers.”

“I’d love nothing more.”

Dale gripped the aura blade of the Black-Red-Blue once more and spoke. Before the words had even left his mouth, Master Baro had already drawn his sword and swung it without any preparatory motion.

Whoosh!

Though the distance was considerable, he could feel it vividly. The killing intent whirling around his throat.

He quickly pushed off the ground and created distance. He moved, exploding the aura embedded within his body, but it was right then.

‘……!’

The absurd power of the aura, the speed far exceeding expectations, made his body momentarily lose its center and stagger. Seizing that opening, the assassin swung his blade once more.

“Oh ho, so eager to lose your head? Best you move a bit quicker.”

Standing still, he slashed at nothingness. As if conducting an orchestra.

Each time, the distance between them warped, and Master Baro’s blade flashed blue-black right before Dale’s eyes.

As he staggered, an incalculable number of sword energies exploded toward Dale’s body. He collapsed, rolling grotesquely across the floor, then regained his stance as best he could, avoiding the deadly sword wind.

“Fuck. Did you really try to cut my head off?”

Dale cursed as he regained his footing.

“Well now, isn’t it a knight’s duty to bow his head to the command of his lord, who is like the heavens?”

Master Baro chuckled in reply. Dale refocused his consciousness within his own body and thought.

‘Now I get it.’

I was starting to get a feel for how to use the aura. How to wield this power, which felt like it could explode inside me at any moment, in any given situation.

“Grit your teeth, you bastard.”

That’s why Dale spoke. And before the words had even finished echoing, the distance to Master Baro had already closed.

“……!”

The black sword, imbued with primordial darkness, swung.

He closed the distance and swung his sword in one swift motion, moving far too fast. But then.

Just as the swinging blade was about to cleave Master Baro’s neck, an explosion erupted.

He temporarily unleashed an explosion of aura, and it meant only one thing.

“Huh, well now. If I don’t watch myself, my own head might end up flying off.”

There stood the avatar of Salgeom Master Baro, one of the Seven Swords of the Continent, blocking Dale’s black sword.