Chapter 10

Mad Swordsman of the Shadow World (10)

“Are you really saying nothing happened?”

Berton asked as he looked at Palcote's group standing before him.

At that, Palcote nodded.

“I'm telling you, it's true. We admit our actions went too far. But we only wanted Theron's help gathering Moltir Flowers... We truly had no other intentions.”

“That's right. If that bastard hadn't provoked us, we wouldn't have attacked him like that.”

Another large boy standing beside Palcote spoke. But then.

“Bullshit. If you weren't planning to attack, why did you draw your knives, you bastard!”

Perka, standing nearby, shouted at them.

Tioren added another word.

“Chief Instructor. They tried to steal the flowers we gathered, and they threatened us with knives in the process.”

“That's right. And they threatened Theron to make him gather more flowers too.”

At the words of the three, Palcote and his group's eyes gleamed viciously.

Just from the way they looked, it was easy to imagine what had happened.

‘But...’

Conflicts between trainees inside the forest were common.

However...

“You said your name was Palcote?”

“Pardon? Ah, yes! That's right!”

When the chief instructor called his name, Palcote answered loudly with a strange expression that seemed both nervous and expectant.

Within the training camp, Berton held absolute authority.

In a sense, catching his attention could be quite a good thing.

Berton asked Palcote.

“Then after chasing Theron, nothing happened... and you simply lost him and came back?”

“Yes, that's right. If anything, we're the ones who were tricked. He made it look like he was trying to run off with the flowers...”

“Then did you return empty-handed?”

Berton asked while looking at Perka.

At those words, Palcote smirked.

They had gathered three Moltir Flowers, but hadn't Theron ultimately taken them and died?

These bastards had no choice but to fail the first exam as well.

But then.

“No. These three were the first to pass the exam.”

“...!?”

“What?!”

At Bengle's words, Palcote's group could not hide their bewildered expressions.

Bengle looked at Berton and said.

“All three gathered and submitted Moltir Flowers. Their condition was also top-grade.”

“I see.”

When Berton nodded, Palcote shouted in confusion.

“Th-That can't be! The Moltir Flowers they gathered were definitely taken by Theron!”

“You stupid bastard. Didn't you see Theron hide the pouch behind his back before he ran away?”

“What about it?”

“He switched it with mine then. Theron already knew you bastards were following us.”

Renil vividly remembered the words Theron had whispered into his ear while pulling him close.

—There are people following us. When I give you the signal, switch my pouch with yours. After that, I'll draw their attention...

He had spoken so quickly that Renil had no time to answer or prepare.

Everything had simply been part of the plan inside Theron's head.

“...We were able to pass the exam because of Theron, but one thing is certain. Something happened to Theron because of those bastards.”

“That's right. Their claim that they lost him could be a lie.”

At Renil and Perka's words, Palcote shrieked.

“What kind of ridiculous nonsense...!”

“Enough.”

As things became too noisy, Berton cut them off briefly.

At that single word, everyone clamped their mouths shut as though struck mute.

Berton looked at Palcote.

“Palcote.”

“Yes, Chief Instructor.”

“You clearly said that you lost Theron while chasing him...”

Step.

Berton took one step toward Palcote. And...

Grab.

“Urgh!”

Berton tightly seized Palcote's left arm with his right hand.

At that moment, red blood flowed down the boy's arm.

Rip!

Berton grabbed Palcote's sleeve and tore it away.

A clear wound was revealed beneath it.

“Why is there a wound from a blade here?”

“Th-This is...!”

Palcote probably knew well enough that nonsense about being cut by a tree branch would not work.

The flustered Palcote tried to say something, but.

“Take this one away and punish him. Naturally, he fails the first exam.”

He had to pay the price for lying to him.

“I-Instructor! Instructor!”

“We were wrong! We were wrong!”

“Instructor! Please give us one more chance!”

Palcote and the trainees shouted loudly at Berton as they were dragged away.

But Berton did not even glance at them and instead looked at Bengle.

Bengle, the instructor in charge of Section 5, spoke.

“Then... should we send out a search party to look for Trainee Theron?”

“Why bother with something so troublesome? If he's alive, he'll return. If he's dead... then that was simply the extent of his lifespan.”

At his ice-cold words, Perka, Tioren, and Renil unconsciously clenched their fists.

But Berton seemed unconcerned as he looked at them and said.

“Congratulations on passing. But if that wasn't your own ability... I wonder how far you'll be able to go.”

As Berton turned and walked away, the three merely bit their lips tightly.

—But if that wasn't your own ability... I wonder how far you'll be able to go.

Because those words pierced coldly into their hearts.

But right now.

‘...Theron.’

‘Where are you, Theron?’

‘Hurry back... Theron.’

They could only desperately hope that Theron would return.

______________

Deep inside the cave.

Red energy moved strangely as though it were alive.

The energy flowing like heat haze soon wrapped around the body of a boy seated at the center, heating the surroundings like a hidden furnace.

Drip... drip...

Something inside his body felt ready to burst.

Terrible heat surged inside Theron's body as though he had swallowed a red-hot lump of iron.

‘This is... the Blood Jade Fruit's true power.’

In his previous life.

His memories of the first time he encountered and swallowed the Blood Jade Fruit were faint.

Because he had swallowed it when he was on the verge of death from severe injuries and had lost consciousness.

That was why he had never truly understood just how immense the Blood Jade Fruit's power was.

Only now could he clearly understand it.

‘...Focus.’

Sweat poured from his body until it nearly pooled on the floor.

The enormous power, difficult even to endure, violently swirled through Theron's body as though it would tear him apart.

If he lost the struggle for control, or tried to confront it head-on and collided with it...

‘I could... die here.’

Forget revenge and everything else, he could simply die a dog's death.

Theron gathered every bit of his concentration and began controlling the Blood Jade Fruit's power.

Blood vessels burst, staining his skin red, while the pain of tearing muscles made it feel as though his bones were twisting.

It was a horrific situation, like being tortured while fully conscious.

Wooooooong!

Theron bit his lip tightly and endured the pain.

His previous life.

Compared to the path Theron had walked.

‘Pain like this...’

Was something he could simply endure with a smile.

Moreover, the more intense the pain became, the more vividly Castillo Valenruke's face appeared in his mind.

The bastard he had once considered his lord, only to discard those who had devoted their lives to him like worn-out shoes.

And as the faces of the comrades who had died helplessly alongside him came to mind.

Clench.

Theron focused even more deeply on the mana cultivation method.

Swoooooosh!

Despite the tremendous power of the Blood Jade Fruit, the Dark Tempest mana cultivation method swallowed it all and began forcing it down into his lower abdomen.

There were several perilous moments, but before long, the Blood Jade Fruit's power gradually came under control and was absorbed into Theron's body.

Crack, crackle!

As the Blood Jade Fruit's energy was increasingly absorbed into Theron's body, new changes began occurring within him.

Fwoooooosh!

The Blood Jade Fruit's pure energy reconstructed the pathways of his mana circuits, like refining impure iron in fire.

His narrow mana circuits became much thicker and sturdier than before, and the pathways widened, allowing far more mana to flow through them with ease.

And the muscles and ligaments beneath his skin repeatedly tore apart and knit themselves back together.

Each muscle fiber split and intertwined again, rearranging itself to become tougher and more flexible.

As the pain grew even stronger and his consciousness seemed ready to fade.

‘Not yet... not yet...!’

Blood seeped from his tightly bitten lips and ran down his chin.

It felt as though his consciousness might be severed at any moment.

Just as all sensation seemed to cut off and silence descended.

Paaaaaaat!

A soundless explosion erupted from Theron's body.

At the same time, a complex radiance of red, gold, and blue light flowing from his body instantly wrapped around the cave walls before scattering.

“...”

The heat that had been fiercely burning his entire body vanished, and silence settled over the entire cave.

Theron slowly opened his eyes.

“Hoo...”

With a long exhale, the last remaining heat dispersed.

His eyes had become clearer and deeper, and his vision sharper.

Even the air inside his lungs felt different.

Theron slowly stood up.

His eye level was somewhat different from when he had first entered the cave.

And when he lowered his gaze and looked at his own body, he could clearly see how different it had become.

“So this is... the Blood Jade Fruit's true power.”

His muscles had become firmer, and his skin carried a healthy sheen.

His previously short hair had grown considerably, and he seemed to have grown about a handspan taller as well.

But above all was the abundant mana he could feel inside his body.

Moreover, compared to before, the flow of mana throughout his body had become incomparably clean and unobstructed.

Naturally, the unpleasant sensation in his heart was gone as well.

The Death Sigil had disappeared.

Theron unconsciously raised the corners of his lips.

“It's done...”

With this alone, his starting point was already completely different from the past.

‘Now... I can become stronger.’

In his previous life.

He had reached the 7th Star, yet in the end he had still met a futile death.

But now...

‘8th Star.’

No, perhaps he could even reach the 9th Star realm said to be the ultimate.

Clench.

Of course, that path would not be easy, but he had no intention of giving up.

Theron organized his thoughts and stepped out of the cave.

By then, seeing the sun slowly rising in the distance, Theron's expression hardened.

“I need to hurry a little.”

The mana inside Theron's body instantly circulated throughout his entire body.

Bang!

Theron vanished from the spot in an instant.

His figure was already far away, racing swiftly toward the Shadow Forest.

_____________

The final day of the first exam.

Berton made his way toward where the Section 5 trainees were gathered.

After the exam began, he rarely went to any particular section himself, but.

“What happened to him?”

“He still hasn't returned.”

Bengle, who had been waiting in front of the Shadow Forest, lowered his head and answered.

He said Theron had not returned, but in truth, he already believed the boy was dead.

At those words, Berton looked toward the Shadow Forest.

‘...Was I mistaken?’

He had definitely felt that something was different.

Was he really the kind of boy who would die so futilely?

As Berton stood there with a hardened expression, Bengle cautiously approached and said.

“If he doesn't come by noon, we'll return.”

“...Do that.”

After that, he would be considered to have failed.

And the sun, which had slowly begun rising, quickly climbed overhead.

As noon approached, Perka, who had been waiting for Theron, clenched his fist tightly.

‘Theron... are you really dead...?’

Tioren and Renil standing beside Perka also stared toward the forest with anxious expressions.

And when noon finally arrived.

“Instructor.”

“End it.”

At Bengle's words, Berton turned around.

He had held out hope until the very end, but.

‘It was pointless hope.’

So this was as far as the boy would go.

Regrettable, but it seemed he would have to give up.

Berton was just about to leave.

At that moment...

“I-Instructor!”

Perka, who had been staring toward the forest, shouted loudly.

Beside him, Tioren's and Renil's expressions brightened.

“It's Theron! It's Theron!”

Someone slowly emerged from the darkness and stepped out of the forest.

Approaching while holding out a Moltir Flower in one hand, Theron spoke quietly.

“Am I late?”

Only five days.

At how completely different he looked from before entering the forest, Berton's eyes trembled.