Chapter 61: The Colorless Air Sword

Chapter 61: The Colorless Air Sword

"What is this place?"

[This is a training ground, a space where sorcerers trained during the Magical Era. It's a virtual space created by magic.]

Karyl took in the vast expanse before him. Though he had conquered the Gray Training Ground in his past life, such a wide open space was unfamiliar to him.

[The Platinum Dragon knows the layout of this place. We skipped unnecessary areas and came directly to the place where the Freezing Talons are stored." Allen continued, almost as if he had anticipated Karyl's curiosity before he even voiced it. "Or perhaps, it was to kill me quickly.]

Karyl chuckled, finding Allen’s self-deprecating words amusing. "To kill a sorcerer of your caliber without anyone knowing. It’s a reminder that Narh Di Maug is truly a dragon."

[Indeed, that's the creature you’ll be facing. Keep it in mind.]

"I'm still keeping my options open. Just because I've made a contract with you doesn't mean I'll definitely take your side."

[Hmph, we shall see.]

Karyl couldn’t help but doubt Allen’s confidence. Are his claims really true?

After the Revelation of the Oracle, when all the dragons turned their backs on humanity, it was only Narh Di Maug who fought alongside humanity. However, according to Allen Javius, it wasn't simply from his concern for humans.

[Focus.] Allen's voice broke through Karyl's reverie.

Karyl tightened his grip on the Freezing Talon.

[The Gray Training Ground, as its name suggests was a space where sorcerers were trained. There were many sorcerers there, each with their own unique characteristics.]

During the Magical Era, the time when Allen was alive, magic flourished far more than the present. Even for the same element, they created countless unconventional spells instead of just standardized ones. Perhaps the origin of the magic used by Kaye Aesir 250 years ago might have been first discovered by someone from the Magical Era.

[And even among them, there was one particularly unique individual.]

"I see." Karyl could tell, even without Allen Javius's explanation.

The training ground was littered with countless traces of magic. However, among them all, something stood out conspicuously.

"Sword marks."

The traces, ancient and chaotic, remained all over the walls and throughout the training ground.

They are not from just one person... That must have been the reason why they seemed chaotic. Over time, new traces overlaid the original sword marks, merging and mixing to the point of being indistinguishable.

[What I’m trying to say is not that I don’t want to make you into a Sword Master. The swordsmanship we must pursue is not just about imbuing the sword with mana to increase its power.]

"Then?"

[At best, the magic a swordsman can use is limited to buffs for enhancing one's physique, shields, and imbuing their weapons with elements to make a mana blade.]

Karyl nodded in agreement with Allen Javius's words.

[While there are limits to physical swordsmanship, there are no limits to magic. What if a person with sword master-level skills had the magical power of a great sorcerer?]

"Hmph..." But this tie Karyl scoffed instead. "That’s a narrow-minded view from a sorcerer's perspective. Limits to swordsmanship? According to whom? I'd like to see if they've truly reached the pinnacle."

[Haha... Yes, you can certainly see it that way. I don't know much about swordsmanship, but I do acknowledge that I’m talking from a sorcerer's perspective,] Allen said with a slight chuckle.

Allen struck the ground with his blurred staff, causing the numerous sword marks to disappear, leaving only one.

[What I want to tell you is not about whether sorcerers or swordsmen are stronger.]

"..."

[It’s just that there was something that man said.]

"What was it?" Karyl asked, yet his eyes remained fixed on the remaining sword marks.

[The swordsmanship of a swordsman and the swordmanship of a sorcerer are clearly different.] Rêạd new chapters at novelhall.com

Allen Javius could tell that Karyl had grasped something from the sword marks.

With a tone as if sharing a secret, Allen whispered to Karyl, [You're no longer bound by conventional standards. You don't plan to remain just a sword master, do you?]

"So?" Karyl asked with a slight chuckle.

"A unique existence capable of using the abilities of both a great sorcerer and a sword master."

"Welcome Back!!"

When a shout from outside made him open his eyes, shattering his brief moment of respite.

"Are we already there?"

Reminiscing his time at the Gray Training Ground, Karyl murmured with a tinge of regret.

[Is that him? The one you mentioned.]

Seeing Mikhail rushing over, Karyl felt a sense of homecoming. Behind Mikhail stood Aidan Hamil and Bargo Sira.

"Yeah, that’s him. What do you think?"

[Now I see why the Platinum Dragon said that. The meridians connecting his magic blood to the mana points are shorter than those of others. Such a physique makes it easier to learn magic.]

"Is that so?"

[Hold his hand for a moment.]

Stepping out of the carriage, Karyl grasped Mikhail's hand as Allen had suggested.

"Huh?!" Mikhail looked at him in surprise due to the unexpected handshake.

[Hmm, excellent. The thickness of his meridians also makes the circulation of magic easier... What a blessed physique. If trained properly, he might even rise to the ranks of a great sorcerer of your era.]

That much?

[Hmph. In my era, such talent was a dime a dozen.]

Karyl chuckled at Allen's lingering pride in his era. But it was clear now. Unlike Karyl's mere speculation, Allen Javius had precisely discerned Mikhail's talent and physique.

[Well, of course, that's assuming he can earn to that extent.]

It was truly a shame. Someone with the potential to become a great sorcerer had lived the life of a slightly above-average mercenary in Karyls’s previous life.

It's remarkable how fickle fate can be.

Of course, this applied to Karyl as well. Who would’ve thought that in trying to find the freezing talons, he would end up meeting an ancient sorcerer in the Gray Training Ground? And now, here he was, with that very sorcerer.

Well, with you as his mentor, what’s there to worry about?

Karyl conveyed his thoughts to Allen mentally. Since they had formed a contract, they could communicate without uttering a word.

[You want me to teach this greenhorn now? Oh my, this lad.]

Despite his grumbling, Allen's voice carried a hint of excitement. It was only natural. Whether alive or dead, he was a sorcerer. Nurturing a promising disciple was as gratifying as delving into magic himself.

We'll need him. I can’t tackle Narh Di Maug's lair alone. Plus, teaching Mikhail would probably be more enjoyable for you than teaching me.

[Hmm...]

"Once we wrap up here, we'll head out immediately. There’s plenty of time. How about we properly train him up before we reach the lair?"

Honestly, for Allen, nurturing a sorcerer would be far more enjoyable than training a swordsman like Karyl.

[Okay, but I have a condition. Teaching him will take quite some time. I'll leave the timing of our arrival at the Platinum Dragon's lair to you. In return, can we make a detour to the Blue Road along our journey?]

"The Blue Road...?" Karyl furrowed his head at the unfamiliar name.

[Well, the people from this era call it...] Allen continued, retrieving a word from Karyl's memory. [The Abyss Rock.]

Karyl's expression stiffened.

[Ah, yes. It’s a place you likely don’t want to visit. It's where the tower, through you which you returned to the past, was erected. And also the place where...]

"Enough."

Karyl cut Allen’s words off.

Of course, Karyl knew that place. How could he not know? How could he forget?

After all, it was the place where he had killed Emperor Olivurn.