If a person only knows how to live aimlessly, they might as well be a group of mental slaves, controlled by pride and self-respect.
Hedin Selland, the Hildrsleif wielder, born of the long-lived Elf race, still didn't understand why so many short-lived beings wasted their fleeting lives.
Making full use of limited time, constantly honing oneself, and reaching heights that inspire awe… isn't that a respectable pursuit?
Of course, Hedin wasn't rigid or dogmatic. He knew that people had different abilities, that the world was uneven, and that not everything could be generalized.
But…
An ordinary adventurer pushing themselves to reach Lv.2… that is competence.
A chef who meticulously crafts meals that earn endless praise… that is competence.
Even someone running a small flower shop, just to make their customers smile… that too is competence.
In this world, there are countless ways to demonstrate one's value.
Hedin despised those who constantly indulged in self-pity, making excuses to give up, the truly incompetent.
Conversely, he held those who dared to struggle in the highest regard.
It was this perspective that led him to an astonishing realization the first time he met Lumine…
Seven days and seven nights of mortal combat, achieving Lv.2 in just a week.
Defeating the Amphisbaena, and reaching Lv.3 in under a month.
The Twin Stars' recent achievements were nothing short of world-shaking.
Undoubtedly, to outsiders, this brother-sister duo were the kind of people whose mere existence made others think, "Being born in the same era as them… am I lucky or unlucky?" They were the perennial center of attention.
Yet these two rising stars…
"Have no goals?"
Yes. Hedin sensed something about the girl named Lumine. Outwardly confident, inwardly… she drifted too much with the current.
She had no true dreams of her own.
Seeing this, Lumine gave off the impression that she only acted because circumstances forced her to.
Hedin had seen many like her before.
If I were to describe them, he thought, they're like oxen that only plow when whipped.
These people rarely knew self-awareness.
They moved forward only when pushed by harsh circumstances.
And once the current 'crisis' vanished, they would quickly grow lazy… eventually falling into complete decay.
"You don't need to work hard anymore~"
This phrase was like an invisible poison, quietly shackling someone's potential.
To break it…
"If she has no self-awareness, then let me meddle and 'nudge' her along."
That day, the golden-haired white elf made the same choice as the deity she served.
==========
"BANG~"
Outside the camp, on a certain plain, the struggle (baptism) began without warning.
Right from the start, it erupted into a near-frenzied offensive.
On the battlefield, no one warns you, "I'm about to strike."
Expecting such fairness is already foolish.
At that moment…
[Fight eternally, immortal soldiers of lightning]
Hedin slammed his staff-sword into the ground. As he completed a short incantation, vast amounts of golden lightning arrows hovered around him.
Each bolt, the size of a human head, crackling with raw destructive force.
This short incantation spell clearly surpassed Lefiya's in power.
It could not be blocked directly.
And with so many arrows, dodging was extremely difficult.
The next moment…
[Caelus Hildr!!!]
The trigger-word of his magic, spoken in a deep voice.
"Swoosh swoosh swoosh~"
The dense lightning barrage surged toward the Twin Stars like a disciplined legion.
Facing this assault…
"Perfect timing. Let's test my newly developed ability."
Renjiro (Aether), temporarily transported to assist Lumine after she accepted the challenge, smiled eagerly.
He crouched low, his crystal ornaments transforming and glowing dark-gold as he slammed one hand to the ground.
"Earth Release: Tremor Core, "
"BOOM~"
The short, almost mocking incantation barely finished, yet the tremor from the ground completely drowned it out.
The ground beneath Renjiro and Lumine collapsed like pre-installed hidden platforms, forming seven-meter-square trenches that dropped several meters instantly.
"BANG BANG BANG~"
Though Hedin's lightning barrage was dense, it wasn't instantaneous.
If it were truly fast as real lightning, this attack would be unavoidable and unstoppable.
At this distance, the Twin Stars had enough time to react and counter.
So…
"Click click~"
Crater after crater appeared on the ground, some even showing signs of molten lava.
Hedin's first test strike seemed ineffective on the surface.
But the White and Black Knights were not alone.
Suddenly…
[Unleash, king of the magic sword. Compensation of reason, offering of fresh blood. Until the end of the banquet - slaughter]
Hogni, almost simultaneously with Hedin's strike, spread his black cloak and darted under the cover of the lightning barrage.
He leapt high, channeling Parallel Casting, muttering his own short incantation.
Dark streams of energy flowed along his black sword, charging up.
Finally…
[Dainsleif!!!]
"Humm~"
The black sword-wave shot down like a crescent moon from Bleach, straight toward the trenches.
Lv.6 magic could not be blocked by ordinary earthen walls. Renjiro had confirmed this via Elemental Vision.
Hence, he had used Tremor Core to evade unconventionally.
But now, the instant trench limited Lumine and Renjiro's movement space.
As the black sword-wave slashed straight down…
[Twin Stars, gather here]
"BOOM~"
The explosion in the trench from the dark blade caused immediate collapse.
However…
"Phew~ That was close!"
Nearby, three figures stood safely.
Among them, between Renjiro and Lumine, was Xiao, with teleportation ability.
"Fighting high-level Lv.6s is still a bit tough."
Renjiro thought privately.
"But I've roughly figured out their attack rhythm. Time to counterattack."