Chapter 8
───────────
Episode 2 - Inverted Heaven [2]
─────────────────────────────────
After classes, Rinna helped me with the shopping, both for clothes and food ingredients.
At the end of the day, I said goodbye to her and headed straight to the dormitories.
By the way, in alchemy class, Rinna fortunately kept me company.
Once inside the training room in my dorm, I looked at the sword in my hand with a curious expression.
'Why exactly did it choose me as its owner?'
My thoughts had been revolving around this Mythical-rank sword.
Although my combat power did not increase, it was still an almost indestructible sword with a unique mana conductivity ability.
The sword was slender, with a black blade and a simple hilt wrapped in something resembling dragon scales.
'Inverted Heaven… it is a sword made from the body of a dragon and the bones of an Abyss Lord, in addition to being forged beneath the blood moon.'
The creation of this sword was very special and unique: it possessed parts of both a dragon and an Abyss Lord.
'After the defeat of one of the five Abyss Lords, Alice used parts of its body to create the hilt, while the blade came from the body of the Ancient Black Dragon.'
As I thought about it and observed the sword in my hand—
〖I've been watching you all day, and you are certainly a very strange person〗
"...."
'What the hell… where did that voice come from?'
Startled by the sudden voice, I "looked" around, but there was no one there.
'Was that my imagination?'
But, as if to deny it, the voice echoed in my head again.
〖It's not your imagination, I'm in your left hand〗
Surprised once more, I looked around everywhere before finally glancing at my left hand.
'The sword…'
As if confirming it, the voice said:
〖That's right, I am the sword you are holding〗
I raised the sword and stared at it intently.
At first glance, there was nothing unusual about it.
But when I focused my True Sight, I could "see" a strange aura emanating from the sword.
A white aura, almost transparent.
'Some kind of spirit.'
I was not sure if that was correct, but it was undeniable that there was something strange about the sword.
〖It seems you can sense me, can't you?〗
I nodded while listening to the sword's voice.
By the way, the sword's voice was that of a woman.
'A woman… Mhm, one possibility comes to mind…'
To confirm it, I finally spoke to the sword.
"Could it be… are you Alice Von Everblack?"
"..."
There was no immediate response. The sword's voice remained silent for a few seconds before finally answering.
〖You figured it out quickly〗
It seemed this setting did not exist in the game.
'Something like this definitely did not exist in the game.'
A spirit trapped inside a sword.
It was not something I remembered ever seeing in the game.
But even so, here it was: a sword with a spirit.
"What do you mean by saying that I'm strange?"
In response to my question, Alice's spirit answered:
〖You can see, right?〗
"..."
〖I mean, you can't see like normal people do. You have another kind of unique vision… or am I wrong?〗
She noticed it quite quickly. I nodded without hiding anything.
"That's right."
〖I thought you would deny it, but unexpectedly, you admitted it so easily〗
"I don't think I have any reason to hide it. Anyway… why did you choose me as the new owner of the sword?"
In response to my question, Alice's spirit answered:
〖Do you know the requirements for a Mythical-rank sword to choose its wielder?〗
I nodded my head.
In fact, Special-, Legendary-, and Mythical-rank weapons choose their own owners.
Especially those of the Mythical rank. However, they have unique requirements.
"One of them would be having more talent than the sword's original owner."
It might sound absurd, since the wielders of one of the five Mythical swords possessed monstrous talent.
However, the reason for those requirements is simple.
'Because they want to pass down their swordsmanship so it won't be lost.'
〖That's right. But there's also the specific attribute. However, the main reason, aside from those requirements, is simple〗
She fell silent for a second.
〖And that is your Will〗
"My will… what does that mean?"
〖It's exactly what it sounds like. I chose you because you have a strong Will… an unbreakable will. That is also the reason why I didn't choose anyone during the past centuries〗
Even if the other two requirements were fulfilled, she still did not choose them as the new owners.
"So you're only looking for someone with a special will."
〖Exactly, that's why I chose you. Well, you also fulfill the other two conditions〗
"..."
I frowned at her final words.
"That means… the attribute requirement is the Dark attribute."
Alice's spirit responded:
〖Yes.〗
"..."
Something is different about this. I remember the attribute requirement being something else, not the Dark attribute.
'Why did it change?'
I wasn't sure, but perhaps someone made the change a long time ago and I simply never noticed it.
"So you were also a Dark attribute user."
Alice's spirit nodded and said:
〖That's right. In the past, Dark attribute users coexisted with everyone else, but ever since the Church of the God Ordeal appeared, everything changed. They began hunting and killing Dark attribute users under the excuse that they were the evil of the world〗
'What…? That wasn't written anywhere in the game's story. I didn't even know something like that existed.'
Confused, I couldn't help but ask:
"What exactly do you mean?"
〖Basically, before the Church appeared, Dark attribute users were seen as something normal. Furthermore, back then, aside from House Arklight, who were Light attribute users, there was also House Everblack, made up of Dark attribute users〗
It was a story I didn't remember writing.
The past of the game
Therefore, I know very little about the history of this world.
'But Arklight… currently, there isn't any house with that surname.'
As if reading my thoughts, Alice's spirit said:
〖The current Ordeal family used to be House Arklight. I don't know exactly what happened for them to change their surname, but I believe it has something to do with the Holy Church〗
Well, that answers my question, but anyway, changing the subject…
I looked at the sword and asked:
"So, since you chose me, that means you'll teach me your sword art."
Alice's voice, this time, changed into one filled with excitement.
〖That's right. I waited for a very long time, and since I died on the battlefield, I never found a disciple. So I fused myself with my sword to choose the heir to my sword art, but as you can see, centuries have passed〗
Honestly, I didn't know how to feel. Out of nowhere, I now have a Mythic-rank sword with a spirit inside it.
On top of that, this spirit turned out to be one of the Five Swords, legendary heroes who protected the world from the Abyss.
'Besides, Alice's sword art is especially unique.'
In the game, there was no event where you could inherit one of the five sword arts of the Five Swords.
Because any player who obtained one would gain an absurd advantage, and the balance of power would completely collapse.
'In fact, even obtaining a Mythic-rank item would only be possible near the end of the game.'
With the exception of Inverted Heaven.
Shaking my head to clear my thoughts, I said:
"Then… uh, teacher, when do we start?"
〖Before that, I first need to know what you're capable of. But there's no opponent here, so I can't gather much information〗
"I understand."
I knew where to find an opponent, although that would require leaving the Holy Academy.
Leaving the Holy Academy is forbidden since, technically, cadets already have everything they need inside.
However, I knew a way to escape, though it might be difficult.
"I guess I'll go hunt a villain."
---
In the slums of the Imperial Capital, death is something common.
The Knights of Order are responsible for maintaining law within the Imperial Capital.
However, they do not even go near the slums.
Naturally, there are people who take advantage of the lack of security in those areas.
A man sat beside a pool table while a group of individuals wearing robes marked with a symbol of hands holding the sun surrounded him.
They were waiting for his answer.
"Will you join us or not?"
The leader of the group spoke, drawing the attention of the man playing alone at the pool table.
"Let me see… you want me to join the Church of the Black Dawn, and on top of that, you want my Black Market to serve as a free pass to enter the Imperial City more easily. Is that correct?"
The leader nodded.
"Yes, that's all you need to do."
"What will I get in return?"
The leader answered immediately:
"A Class 4 Cube of Chaos."
"..."
Humans called villains are those who obtained the Power of Chaos, which comes from the Abyss.
By accepting that power, it replaces mana; naturally, villains cease to be human.
The benefit they obtain is simple, yet extremely coveted:
Strength.
No one cares about laws; no one cares about morality.
Only benefits and strength matter.
What's the point of having prestige, honor, or fame?
Simple things humans seek in order to gain recognition.
However, those who consider such things important and do not pursue a true dream are idiots.
Villains follow their own path, chasing ambitions and dreams that bring a touch of happiness to their lives.
"A Class 4 Cube of Chaos… are you serious?"
"That's right. So, do you accept?"
The man thought for a few moments; however, he could not help but accept the proposal.
' I haven't advanced to Class 4 in over a decade… besides, the only way to advance through the classes is to enter the Abyss or obtain Cubes of Chaos.'
Both options are extremely difficult, almost impossible at best.
"All right then, when will we—"
Right at that moment, while the man was accepting the deal—
Clank!
The door to the room was blown away, and dust covered the entire area.
Instantly, the smell of blood flooded the place.
The cultists stepped back and shouted:
"What is this? Is this your trap?"
The man also stepped back, unable to understand what was happening.
"I don't know, I'm also wondering what's going on… however…"
When the figure appeared, both the man and the cultists could not help but frown, and a single word emerged in their minds:
'A blind man…'