Generally speaking, there are two major restrictions on the use of Imperial Arms:
One, those whose wavelengths do not match cannot use Imperial Arms. If they force its use, either the Imperial Arm's power cannot be unleashed, or it will harm the host itself. The user's first impression of the Imperial Arm is extremely important, which greatly limits the number of people who can use Imperial Arms.
Two, it is impossible to use two or more Imperial Arms simultaneously. The reason is that using one Imperial Arm already requires a great deal of energy, and using multiple Imperial Arms simultaneously would further deplete the user's physical and mental strength, thereby limiting the use of multiple Imperial Arms.
However, these two restrictions do not apply to Rin. Her ultimate martial arts, reaching the pinnacle of Unlimited Martial Prowess, allows Rin to masterfully use any weapon or tool. Therefore, no Imperial Arm would reject Rin's grasp; every Imperial Arm yearns for a master who can fully unleash its power.
As for the consumption of physical and mental strength, is that even a restriction for Rin?
The true form of the Imperial Arm Zhi Feng gave Rin at this moment was not actually a sword, but a suit of armor. It was an armor-type Imperial Arm made from the ferocious dragon-shaped Danger Beast "Tyrande" (Moon Priestess?). When summoned, sturdy armor would automatically materialize, enhancing the wearer's abilities.
It is an Imperial Arm that boasts ironclad defense, equipped with the auxiliary weapon, the red spear "Red-backed Shrike." Because it places an extreme burden on the wearer, an ordinary person would die upon wearing it.
Its hidden ability is to activate the biological characteristics of its material, allowing for short-term transparency. If the user is skilled, they can also conceal their presence.
"Tyrande" is a Super Danger Beast with extreme adaptability, capable of surviving in any environment, even after being made into an Imperial Arm. It can evolve infinitely based on all external factors. Due to the characteristics of its material, this ability was also preserved in the Imperial Arm. In the original work/canon, it could even become immune to "Mahapadma," which freezes time, and admirer's heavenly lightning!
To be honest, this was Rin's first true contact with the existence of Imperial Arms. When she held them in her hands, Rin felt that she had somewhat underestimated the wisdom of humanity in this world. Under the distorted world rules where mystery repelled humans, the fact that humans could still suppress various species and hold world sovereignty showed that the humans in this world were not simple.
Without magic or Alchemy, using artificial technology to perfectly preserve the abilities of Danger Beasts comparable to Phantasmal Species in tools is something Rin couldn't do without magic to perform Alchemy. Moreover, the ability to involve spatial manipulation without the aid of mystery, compressing a full-body armor into a single sword, shows just how superb the craftsmanship of this world's artisans is.
"Zhi Feng… after I take office, you should be my adjutant."
Rin looked at the Imperial Arm key in her hand and suddenly said something irrelevant. Zhi Feng was slightly startled, then immediately understood Rin's meaning and smiled knowingly.
"Yes, I look forward to it."
Only a General can have an adjutant… "Tonight, you must rest well and conserve your energy. Driving an Imperial Arm consumes a lot, so you must win!"
"Mm."
"Then I'll head back first. If I get caught and have points deducted from my graduation score, I won't even be qualified to be an adjutant, and that would be terrible."
"Be careful."
Rin quietly opened her room door, carefully confirmed that everything outside was safe, then gestured for Zhi Feng to open the door. Zhi Feng moved like the wind, disappearing from the doorway and out of sight around the corner.
It has to be said, this girl's strength is really quite impressive.
Rin was once again alone in her room. She returned to her previous spot, carefully examining the activation key for demons extract in her hand. In the depths of her being, she felt an incredibly familiar and safe emotion. As she held the Imperial Arm, that familiar feeling once again lit up from the depths of Rin's soul.
"Even across worlds, you still follow to protect me. What a dedicated knight…"
The next day, in the largest training ground of the Imperial Military Academy, over a thousand Imperial officer cadets and several Generals from the Imperial Military Department, including General Black, sat in the audience to witness the final battle of this year's Imperial Military Academy graduation assessment.
The entire training ground was circular, similar to a Roman amphitheater, with the audience seats rising in tiers from the inside out. The Generals sat in the VIP seats at the higher levels.
General Black watched the currently empty training ground with a somber expression. Today's battle, regardless of the outcome, would be an indelible stain of shame for the General Family that had dominated the Imperial Military Department for a thousand years.
Winning unfairly—that's what it amounted to.
"Facing a young female genius who is about to surpass his ancestors and his own son, I imagine the General must have already come up with some trump card for General Budo."
At this moment, a female voice from the same seating area suddenly spoke, ironically mocking the General. All eyes turned to see a one-eyed woman wearing a single eye patch and a Black leather catsuit, sitting to the left of the General in the center. Her face, which still showed traces of prettiness, was disfigured by several knife scars, and her age was likely nearing forty. Everyone who saw her couldn't help but shiver and shrink their necks.
That woman was the current chief instructor and head of the Imperial Assassination Squad, holding a rank equivalent to a General. However, the Imperial Assassination Squad did not belong to the Imperial Military Department but was directly overseen by the Minister, the head of the politicians. Therefore, she had no fear of the consequences of offending the General.
Years ago, she was also a graduate of the Imperial Military Academy. Although she ranked first in her class, she was assigned to lead the Imperial Assassination Squad by the Imperial Military Department, citing a lack of macroscopic command ability. For over twenty years, handling the empire's unsavory dirty work made her despise everyone in the Imperial Military Department. Whenever she received any hint of suspected officer rebellion, she would immediately order a complete purge! She was infamous in the circles of Imperial officers.
Logically, she shouldn't have attended something like the Imperial Military Academy graduation. However, upon receiving intelligence that a female officer cadet had achieved almost perfect scores, with the potential to break the academy's highest record and directly become a General, she became curious and came to observe.
But having been immersed in the empire's dark work for over twenty years, she understood very well that some people would not allow the talented young girl named Tohsaka Rin to reach the pinnacle.
His silence meant that General Black was in the wrong and couldn't refute her, which also meant she had hit the nail on the head. The Chief Instructor of Assassination immediately felt even more displeased.
"Oh, I didn't notice just now, but where is the Imperial Arm 'Thunder God's Wrath · admirer,' which the General has always used as his symbol and personal armor? It couldn't have been stolen by his mischievous young child to play with, could it?"
This statement was already a direct insult. The General's veins bulged on his forehead, and his clenched fists audibly cracked, making everyone around him feel a shiver of dread, as if they were sitting next to a live volcano.
"It's… it's starting, Your Excellency, General…"
The passageway of the training ground opened on both sides. Rin and Budo, each wearing uniforms of the same color from the Imperial Military Academy, walked onto the field. Budo held a palm-sized, rhomboid block of refined steel in his hand, while Rin had a sword tucked into her waist.
When they saw the rhomboid metal object in Budo's hand, no one at the Imperial Military Academy could fail to recognize it. If it weren't for the solemn military academy assessment and the presence of the Great General, the students watching would have booed in unison. Bringing out this item was equivalent to the General Family conceding defeat before even fighting.
However, many people also became interested in the single-handed sword wrapped around Tohsaka Rin's waist. It was well-known that in all of Tohsaka Rin's combat records at the Imperial Military Academy, she had always fought bare-handed, never using a weapon... Tohsaka Rin and Budo stood ten meters apart, observing each other's expressions. Budo looked at Tohsaka Rin as if he wanted to devour her alive, his right hand clutching the admirer, veins bulging on the back of his hand, showing how agitated he was. In contrast, Tohsaka Rin, knowing her opponent would activate a family Imperial Arm, maintained her calm and collected smile. This confident, composed, and leisurely demeanor further ignited Budo's fury!
"Damn savage barbarian from the border, you will utterly regret the disgrace you brought upon the General Family!"
Facing Budo's low, dark roar, heard only by the two of them, Tohsaka Rin merely maintained her serene smile.
"If my display of strength insulted your fragile self-esteem, then the so-called General Family is nothing more than that."
Her light and indifferent words, like a spark falling into a powder keg, instantly ignited Budo!
"You!"
"Student Budo! Before the official announcement of the assessment, neither party is allowed to make a move, otherwise, the first to move will be deemed to have lost!"
Budo, who was about to strike Tohsaka Rin, was promptly stopped by Great General Black, who was supervising the fairness of the assessment. If Budo's fist had truly connected with Tohsaka Rin, then even if Great General Black was unwilling, he would have no choice but to disqualify Budo, otherwise, the entire Imperial Military Department would lose all morale.
Watching Tohsaka Rin smile slightly with a hint of pity and gently shake her head, Budo's eyes were already bloodshot with rage.
"Your boy's eyes are already red with anger. If he didn't have that thing, he probably wouldn't even need to fight, right?"
The assassination chief instructor sneered gleefully, his single eye looking at Tohsaka Rin filled with regret. He secretly pondered whether he could recruit this girl after the assessment.
Watching this scene, Great General Black, as a parent, sighed inwardly, then stood up and formally announced the assessment rules:
"...Victory or defeat will be determined when one party is no longer able to fight or concedes! Any three or fewer self-provided weapons and equipment are allowed, but the weapons used must be declared before the start of the match. If hidden weapons are used during the assessment, all previous assessment scores will be nullified, and military law will be applied!"
As he read the last rule, Great General Black felt a burning pain on his face. It was clear that his own family was going to bully someone, yet he had to announce the rules himself. Nevertheless, he had to grit his teeth and continue with the process.
"Both parties, display your assessment armaments!"
Finally, this command came, and Budo, realizing he could turn the tide, eagerly clasped his hands together and held up the Imperial Arm core he held.
"Don't you dare surrender just because you see this! admirer!!!"
Blinding lightning began to flash in Budo's hands, followed by a thunderbolt striking the ground. The incandescent lightning temporarily robbed everyone of their sight. After a moment of blinding white, a set of Black heavy armor, flowing with electricity, was worn by Budo. On the armor's gauntlets, there were thin, cylindrical iron stakes, like electrodes, installed on each.
The highest symbol of the Imperial military! The Lightning Imperial Arm: Thunder God's Wrath - admirer.
The immense power brought by the deployed Imperial Arm filled Budo with absolute confidence. Just as he yearned to see despair, dejection, and resignation on Tohsaka Rin's face, he was astonished to find that Tohsaka Rin still wore that calm and collected smile!
Tohsaka Rin looked at Budo before her with the same gaze one would use to watch a monkey show at a zoo, her right hand resting on the hilt of the sword at her waist, murmuring in a voice only she could hear:
"Although it's not necessary at all, I don't want to be treated like a monster, so I'll activate it to conceal myself."
She then drew the Imperial Arm key wrapped at her waist, holding it inverted before her with the blade pointing downwards.
"demons extract: knight of the lake!!!"
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