LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 18
Chapter 18: Adalbert Swordsmanship (5)
Martin hadn’t even fully manifested the spatial sword yet.
Nevertheless, he already felt the reward of forcing his awakening after consuming the Dragon’s Blood.
Normally, using Aura and All-Distortion simultaneously caused severe strain, but now he didn’t feel even a hint of pain.
A smile almost crept onto his face, but he held it back.
It wasn’t too late to smile after fully unleashing the spatial sword.
“Haaap!”
With a powerful shout, Martin let out a burst of energy.
At that moment, the golden Aura began to seep into the surrounding space.
‘It worked!’
Martin trembled with excitement.
The first time he had attempted the spatial sword, his mana had backfired, causing a violent rejection.
But this time was different.
As if they were always meant to be one, the Aura smoothly fused with the space.
A soft golden light slowly spread out, covering a radius of about 5 meters.
It formed into the shape of a perfect cube.
At last, he had succeeded in manifesting the spatial sword, and Martin felt a shiver of awe.
But his joy was short-lived as a sudden realization struck him.
“Ugh.”
As soon as the technique completed, a groan escaped his lips.
It wasn’t because the Dragon’s Curse was flaring up.
‘Is the sword… heavier?!’
It had become so heavy that it was difficult to hold.
He instinctively reached out with his left hand to grip the hilt, barely preventing the sword from slipping out of his grasp.
Startled, Martin turned to look at Arelia.
Heh.
She let out a small laugh, her expression playful.
—Space is the world itself. Bearing its weight is never an easy task.—
“The larger the range, the heavier the burden, I assume.”
—You’ve got it. That’s why the direct descendants of the Adalbert family must continuously train their bodies. If you become drunk on your overwhelming power, you won’t even be able to handle it properly.—
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
His confusion cleared up.
Martin gripped the sword even tighter.
Clench.
Bearing the weight of the space wasn’t easy, and as if to prove it, the internal injuries that had just healed flared up again.
Though his body had grown significantly stronger, the strain was still evident.
“Hah!”
With a short shout, Martin slowly began to move the sword.
His entire body screamed in protest, but he ignored the pain.
Grinding his teeth, Martin gave it his all, bringing the ora-clad blade down from above.
Shhhhhh!
As the sword cut through the air, golden Aura was unleashed from the blade.
‘This feeling…’
Watching the Aura cleave through the empty space, Martin was struck by a strange sensation.
Though there was some distance between him and the ora, he felt an invisible connection between them.
It was as if there was an unseen thread linking them.
Not even during his time as a Sword Master had he felt anything like this.
‘They say the spatial sword can change its form and position based on one’s will.’
That’s why it had earned the nickname Mind Sword.
He had always wondered about the underlying principle, but now, he felt like he finally understood.
‘Bend!’
Martin’s strong will flashed through his mind.
In response, the ora, which had been moving straight, suddenly veered to the right.
He then envisioned the Aura disappearing—and, once again, his will manifested in reality.
The space distorted, and the Aura that had been flying around the room was sucked in.
‘Appear!’
Wooong.
Martin focused on the left side.
At that moment, about 4 meters to his left, the golden Aura reappeared.
‘This is the spatial sword.’
Now that he had wielded it firsthand, he fully grasped the incredible potential of the spatial sword.
The ability to freely control Aura within the space he dominated sent a thrill coursing through him.
—Stop! That’s enough. You’ll seriously hurt yourself if you continue.—
Arelia’s tone was firm, and her gaze was just as stern.
Martin knew ignoring her would only damage their relationship, so he dispersed the ora.
He also acknowledged that his body had already reached its limit.
“Hah… hah…”
Not even a minute had passed, yet his clothes were already drenched in sweat.
Blood dripped steadily from his nose, staining his face and clothing, and the fatigue from overexertion made his entire body feel weak.
Still, a bright smile spread across Martin’s lips.
The joy of success outweighed the fatigue and pain.
—How does it feel to have used the spatial sword for the first time?—
“I noticed that the power of the Aura weakens.”
—Exactly. That’s the result of merging the Aura with the space. So don’t get complacent just because you can wield the technique. You must train diligently to maintain the full power of the Aura even when using the spatial sword. Well, knowing you, I’m sure you’ll master it quickly.—
“Thank you for the compliment.”
—Compliment? Hardly. Anyway, congratulations. With this, you’ve mastered the basics of Adalbert swordsmanship.—
“Now, it’s time to learn Arelia swordsmanship.”
—Indeed, but for today, that’s enough. There’s no benefit to pushing yourself any further.—
“Then, when should I come back?”
—Visit me once a week from now on.—
“Yes. I look forward to your guidance, Ancestor.”
—Good.—
With those final words, Arelia waved her hand, signaling for him to leave.
It was as if she was eager for him to be on his way.
Martin respectfully bowed, and soon, a flash of light enveloped the room as her form disappeared.
Clench.
Now alone, Martin clenched his fist.
The reason he had entered the chamber of the Overlord was to confirm whether he could master Adalbert swordsmanship, especially the spatial sword.
Martin didn’t just confirm his ability to wield the spatial sword—he had completely mastered it.
His physical abilities had skyrocketed after drinking the Dragon’s Blood, and with the success of his awakening, he had regained much of the strength he once held as the Sword Master.
‘I’ve obtained everything I wanted… no, more than enough.’
By manifesting his unique ability, he had proven his worth as a direct descendant and secured his legitimacy to become the head of the family.
Additionally, with his newfound power, he could now establish his authority as the rightful head.
Now, all that remained was to show the world his transformation.
Creak.
Feeling his heart swell with excitement, Martin opened the door.
There, Sien was waiting for him.
“Sien?”
Seeing her, Martin immediately turned his head toward the window.
When he had entered the Overlord’s chamber, the sunset had colored the sky a brilliant red.
But now, the morning sun was rising.
He had unknowingly kept Sien waiting all night.
“I’m really sorry! If I had known it would take this long, I would have come out sooner.”
“Why are you apologizing over something like this, Martin? I’m your bodyguard. This is what I’m here for.”
“Honestly, if it weren’t for you, I think I would’ve suffocated in this place.”
“Come on, don’t exaggerate. Besides, Kalain’s by your side too. If he hears that, he might feel hurt.”
Though the mention of that name irked Martin, he didn’t show it.
Unlike the head of the Gustin family, who remained ambiguous in his stance, Kalain had been a close friend to Martin. Naturally, Sien had a favorable view of Kalain.
It was best to change the subject now.
“Was there any trouble while I was in the Overlord’s chamber?”
“There was. The Rustal, Fezek, and Bitenfeld families have formally raised objections. They claim that, since you haven’t been officially recognized as the successor, sitting in the White Dragon Seat is an act that undermines the foundation of noble society and insults the imperial family.”
“I understand the first part, but why bring up the imperial family? The head positions of the three great families, including ours, are beyond the reach of imperial influence.”
“They’re just trying to stir things up. They’ve even called for an official grand assembly.”
“A grand assembly, huh…”
It was a meeting where everyone related to the Adalbert family gathered to discuss only the most important matters. Even Martin’s 100-day training had been decided at one such assembly.
“They’ve made up their minds to bring you down. When’s the date?”
“In two weeks.”
“That’s quick, even with portals. Not like those people to move so fast.”
“Of course. After all, you caused such a big commotion. There’s no way they’d sit still.”
“Well, that’s true.”
Sien scolded him lightly, and Martin responded with a sly grin.
“It must be unsettling for them. They all thought I was worthless, and now I’ve claimed the White Dragon Seat. Even if I’ve secured my legitimacy and qualifications, it’s hard to ignore.”
“This isn’t a laughing matter, Martin. Those three families have considerable strength. If they go crazy and try to overpower you, it’ll be dangerous. Most of the main family’s retainers are acting independently as well.”
“It was dangerous before I entered the Overlord’s chamber. But not anymore, Sien.”
“What do you mean…?”
Rumble!
Sien couldn’t finish her sentence.
She was overwhelmed by the sudden burst of energy Martin released.
As if that weren’t shocking enough, what truly startled her was Martin’s sheer power. She was utterly overwhelmed just by his aura, unable to even move a finger.
Her shock was understandable.
When two people are at the same level, such a phenomenon shouldn’t occur.
Feeling this degree of pressure meant there was a significant gap in strength between them.
“That… that power… What happened? Before you entered the Overlord’s chamber, you weren’t this strong!”
“I gained new insights inside the chamber.”
“But it hasn’t even been that long since you had your revelation in the dungeon!”
“Oh, this time it’s not swordsmanship—it’s my unique ability.”
“That doesn’t make it any less absurd. You only recently awakened your unique ability!”
“Insights don’t care about time.”
Sien shook her head in disbelief at Martin’s words.
“It sounds so simple when you say it… You’re impossible. So now you’ve reached the sixth circle, right? Your unique ability must’ve jumped to the second circle.”
“No, not quite. I’m at the third circle.”
“…”
Sien gaped, speechless.
The shock was so overwhelming that she was left frozen, mouth agape.
Calling it a leap beyond common sense felt inadequate. Martin’s growth rate was truly astonishing.
After a long pause, she finally regained her composure and managed to ask.
“What… exactly happened in the Overlord’s chamber?”
“I learned Adalbert swordsmanship.”
“I know that’s impressive, but no one grows that much just by learning it… If that were the case, the Adalbert family would’ve replaced the imperial family ages ago. You have to explain in more detail. And tell me why your clothes are covered in blood.”
“Well, I almost died a few times.”
“That’s not something to laugh about!”
“Hey, the results turned out well, so let it go, Sien. Oh, and I didn’t just awaken—I also took an elixir, so my lifespan has increased.”
Martin smiled throughout, showing no signs of losing his lighthearted attitude, which made Sien shake her head.
There was no point in pressing him further.
In the end, she decided to change the subject.
“…Reaching the seventh circle puts you in the top ranks on the Cracian Continent. Are you sure it’s still useful for me to remain as your bodyguard?”
“Of course. Even though the seventh circle is impressive, it doesn’t make you invincible. Who else could I trust to guard my back if not you?”
“…”
“Besides, I believe you can reach the seventh circle—or even beyond—any time now.”
Martin reassured Sien, sensing her doubts.
It wasn’t just empty words.
In fact, she would reach the seventh circle within the next five years, at the age of 28.
“I hope so.”
Sien nodded softly, her resolve strengthened to train even harder.
“You’ve had a rough day. Go get some rest, Martin. You can’t meet the heads of the branch families looking like this.”
“I’ll do that… but could you ask the head of the Igreet family to come to the main estate as soon as possible? Preferably within three days.”
“If it’s my request, he’ll agree. But why do you need my father?”
“I need to have a private conversation with him. Please, Sien.”
Martin was thinking of a particular individual.
Vincent von Igreet.
The head of the Igreet family, one of the five branch families, and Sien’s father.
He was the only one who had consistently supported Martin within the Adalbert family, which was riddled with internal enemies, until he lost his life in the process.
“Alright. It won’t be a problem. But how much should I tell him about you when he asks?”
“Just keep my exact strength a secret. You can share the rest.”
“Got it. I’ll contact him right away, so go get some rest, Martin.”
“You too.”
After exchanging farewells, Martin turned away.
‘Last time, I reached out to the head of the Gustin family.’
He had chosen the wrong partner, and the consequences were disastrous.
This time, he wouldn’t repeat the same mistake.
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