We live at the foothills of Dragon Peak.
A sacred flow that fills the world.
If we let our guard down even for a moment, the Spirit Current Sword would absorb all our power, down to the last drop.
These twin swords are utterly inconvenient to use.
Still, there must be a hidden meaning in me possessing the Spirit Current Sword at this moment.
I brace the Spirit Current Sword, which feels heavy as I regulate the amount of Dragon Vein power I draw from it to counteract the Dragon Energy remaining in my body, preventing it from being completely absorbed by the Spirit Current Sword itself.
Speaking of which, I wondered if there was a limit to the absorption rate, and if so, would a technique with a greater output power activate. The question popped into my mind, and I immediately decided to try it out.
My greatest Dragon Art is the Storm Dragon Arts!
I quickly refine the surplus Dragon Energy that wasn’t absorbed and convert it into Dragon Arts.
A small storm seed is born, centered around me.
It’s difficult to perform the Dragon Sword Dance while holding the Spirit Current Sword, which feels like a binding weight beyond its physical mass, in both hands. But, I thought, a Dragon Art storm should be fine! It was right after that thought.
As if the Spirit Current Sword had a will of its own, strongly asserting, “I will absolutely not let that technique activate,” the Dragon Energy I had refined for the Storm Dragon Arts was completely sucked away in an instant.
“Grumble, so no matter what, I can’t activate the technique?”
“Ara ara ara, you tried it after all? As you should have realized through prior experience, the technique cannot be used, so you may exert your full strength as much as you like?”
I was convinced by my current attempt that Lord Reed had spoken the truth, without any falsehood.
So, what should I try next?
The Spirit Current Sword’s ability to absorb power and techniques was far more potent than I had imagined. If I try to use a great technique, it possesses the absorption capacity to drain it instantly.
I’m sure the absorption power changes according to the state of the one holding the Spirit Current Sword.
However, the Spirit Current Sword cannot distinguish the type of power it absorbs, so once it starts absorbing, it takes everything – be it techniques or inherent power – without discrimination, down to the very last drop.
Of course, this time too, all the Dragon Energy I had been recovering was absorbed.
The Spirit Current Sword becomes unresponsive once it has absorbed all of the wielder’s power and techniques.
I restored my depleted Dragon Power anew and continued to ponder further.
What am I supposed to do?
The Spirit Current Sword, whose weight I felt not just in my arms but throughout my entire body.
If I continue to just swing the sword without any ideas, I will absolutely find no meaning in it.
Lord Reed surely doesn’t want to observe my pathetic state either.
“Hmm. Spirit Current Sword… A sword that learns the Dragon Veins. …Ah, speaking of which?”
Since my fated encounter with Sleigsta (Old Man), I have been continuously touching the Dragon Veins.
Sometimes in meditation. Sometimes through the Dragon Sword Dance. And sometimes, through the Spirit Tree.
And just recently, I felt a new connection, didn’t I?
When I visited the deep sea of the North Sea with Alice (Female) and the others.
The Spirit Tree, quietly growing behind a giant shell, told me.
The Dragon Veins flow like a great river deep within the earth. However, they actually exist not only deep within the earth but also on the ground, in the sky, and in the sea.
I don’t know if it was because I was immature, or because I had the prejudice that Dragon Veins only flowed deep within the earth, or perhaps because I had subconsciously registered them as natural flows, like air.
But, if I focused my consciousness, I could certainly feel that flow.
And, very close by.
When Spirit Tree (child) enthusiastically absorbed the Dragon Veins and scattered the tree’s power from the tips of its branches and leaves, a clear flow different from the wind spread throughout the world.
That was undoubtedly the flow of Dragon Veins in the atmosphere!
The Dragon Veins, flowing like a great river deep within the earth, spread to every corner of the world, like the flow of life that fills it, nurturing all living things with sacred energy.
Perhaps we are unknowingly receiving the blessings of the Dragon Veins flowing on the ground, in the sea, and in the sky.
Thinking that way, I suddenly recalled past experiences.
Speaking of which, the Pegasi traveled underground by riding the flow of the Dragon Veins, didn’t they?
That experience gave me a fresh shock.
I never imagined that we could melt into the flow of the Dragon Veins and move like magic beasts.
But haven’t we, in reality, already experienced countless similar travel experiences?
We rode the flow of the Dragon Veins deep underground and moved through the earth.
Conversely, we rode the Dragon Veins on the ground and in the sky to travel through the great heavens.
Yes, on the backs of Nimia (Female), Asher (Male), Lily, Revalia, and Yugra, who are of the Ancient Dragon Species.
In other words…!
We have been experiencing it all along, on the backs of dragons that flew by riding the Dragon Veins flowing in the sky!
Most winged beings, other than birds, have clouds as their maximum flight altitude. Even the most capable dragons among all races cannot fly above the clouds.
Then why can Ancient Dragon Species like Nimia fly higher than clouds? Why could Revalia and Yugra overcome the limit altitude when ordinary wyverns and winged dragons cannot?
I vaguely accepted it with “Ancient Dragon Species are different from ordinary ones,” or “Revalia and Yugra are special,” without thinking deeply. But if my thoughts are correct, just as the Pegasi moved strangely by riding the underground Dragon Veins, Nimia and the others were using a special form of movement by riding the Dragon Veins in the sky!
With that realization, I focused my consciousness.
I tried to sense the Dragon Veins flowing on the ground, concentrating my consciousness deeply.
I am accustomed to sensing the great river of Dragon Veins flowing beneath the earth.
However, I am not accustomed to sensing the Dragon Veins flowing on the ground, in the sea, and in the sky.
Therefore, I need to concentrate intensely to grasp the flow.
But, if I can sense it…
If I can place the Spirit Current Sword into the flow that allows Pegasi to meld and giant dragons to soar higher than clouds…!
First, I felt a faint ripple in the air, different from the wind, that didn’t rustle my hair.
Gently, I grasped a soft presence, like when Ares-chan flies by my ear.
A gentle wave, like a singing voice flowing into the depths of the forest, touched my skin.
I carefully followed the faint clues.
I dissolved my consciousness deeply into the world.
As I did so, my consciousness and vision began to perceive the colorful world where the spirits reside. The atmosphere, colored red, yellow, and green, mixed strangely like paint dropped onto water, swirling complexly. Spirits swam joyfully through it. Then, the colors filling the world mixed even further. But I could also feel a flow there.
The sway of the Great Tree, the soft presence, the gentle wave, the mixing colors. Tracing each one led me to the flow that filled the world.
I gently placed the blade of the Spirit Current Sword onto the flow of the Dragon Veins.
“Ah!”
Though it had been so heavy that even raising it was difficult until now. The Spirit Current Sword, placed on the flow of Dragon Veins on the ground, raised its tip lightly.
“Tch!”
Lord Reed and Lady Aria stared at the blade of the Spirit Current Sword I had swung, their surprise evident.
“The secret to the Spirit Current Sword’s weight. This twin sword can only be swung when placed on the flow of the Dragon Veins, can’t it?”
“Ara ara ara ara, to improve so much with only a little time and a few clues!”
“As expected, your past experiences have become your firm foundation.”
Lord Reed smiled with pleasure, and Lady Aria praised me.
However, this spar is not intended to surprise or please Lord Reed and the others, nor is it the end goal.
“Now that I can place the Spirit Current Sword on the ground’s Dragon Veins, the spar truly begins, doesn’t it? From now on, I have to swing the sword while keeping it on the Dragon Veins?”
“Can you do it?”
Lord Reed returned a meaningful smile, and I responded with a bitter smile.
“It’s absolutely impossible to do in a day or two! Because I have no idea how to swing the Spirit Current Sword while keeping it on the Dragon Veins!”
“Right!”
Let’s compare it to a river.
It is possible to float a leaf on the water flowing from upstream to downstream.
However, to freely control that leaf and make it cross from the near bank to the opposite bank is not easy. If you make a slight mistake, the leaf will be immediately swallowed by the river’s current, sink, or be carried downstream. Similarly, even though I can place the Spirit Current Sword on the Dragon Veins, I instinctively felt before swinging it that it would be very difficult to actually swing it towards Lord Reed.
“Ara ara ara, this is where the real challenge begins, isn’t it?”
Lord Reed patiently watched my growth.
“Gah. Nevertheless, I have to take action to move forward!”
And so, I swung the raised Spirit Current Sword downwards. The tip moved and descended, closing the distance between Lord Reed and me. But with just that simple action, I realized my intuition. The moment it deviated from the Dragon Veins’ flow, the Spirit Current Sword became heavy again! With the sudden load on my hand, I lost my balance and fell forward.
“Hahahaha! Lord Elnea!”
Laira rushed to support me.
“Laira, thank you.”
“Are you alright?”
“Yes, I’m alright. But this is difficult…!”
The Spirit Current Sword becomes light when placed on the flow of the Dragon Veins. However, the moment you take an action that goes against the Dragon Veins’ flow, it immediately becomes heavy. How can I swing the sword while keeping the blade on the flow of the Dragon Veins?
“How do Nimia and the others ascend to the sky above the clouds by riding the Dragon Veins?”
Laira tilted her head and answered my question.
“By flapping their wings?”
“Yes, that’s right… That’s right, Laira!”
It’s obvious, but a fundamental point that is easily overlooked. Flying dragons and winged dragons always flap their wings when flying in the sky. Of course, it’s the same when ascending above the clouds. And Revalia had her Dragon Energy surge into her wings when ascending to the sky above the clouds.
“In other words, I should channel Dragon Energy into the Spirit Current Sword and slash through the Dragon Veins’ flow on the ground!”
However, all my power, channeled through a surge of excessive Dragon Energy, was completely absorbed by the Spirit Current Sword in an instant.
“Oh, ara ara ara ara? That’s not beautiful. Was Lady Faruna’s sword dance that forceful?”
I gasped.
That’s right.
I mustn’t forget this either. The Spirit Current Sword was the twin sword Lord Reed used when he apprenticed under Lady Faruna, and this training leads to a sword dance that captivates everyone, like that of Sword Saint Lady Faruna. Lady Faruna never used rough movements or techniques. She always maintained her elegance, no matter the situation or attack, captivating us until the end. There was no unsightly brute force there.
But the swing I just executed was a forceful one that disrupted the flow of the Dragon Veins.
“Still, then how…?”
To swing the Spirit Current Sword, it seems the method of Nimia and Revalia ascending above the clouds won’t work. One difficulty gone, another arises. No, this is undoubtedly a multitude of difficulties!
Dropping to my knees for the third time today due to sudden weakness, I began to lose consciousness pathetically, enveloped in Laira’s embrace…
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