by Park Saenal
Natural State was something that Grid was familiar with. It was something Piaro had obtained a few years ago. Yet, so what?
“What should we do? Wait until he attacks first?” Grid asked with frustration.
Grenhal nodded. “We are far enough away from him that we can read his movements. Furthermore, we have the numerical advantage. It is better for us to prepare our battle lines to intercept him.”
“Hrmm…”
Certainly, it was true. There was no need to run into the rough waterfall and fight. The convinced Grid nodded.
‘By the way, the dukes are surprisingly cautious.’
The Seven Dukes were some of the most powerful people on the West Continent. Grid knew they would be terribly arrogant. He expected them to be emotional people who acted fearlessly in the world, but that wasn’t the case. The dukes knew they had to hold hands with an enemy king to overcome the crisis and had a thorough plan when they fought the strong. They were stronger and more cautious than Grid, who often only believed in his own power.
‘I try to be careful every time, but it doesn’t work when I’m excited…’
Amazing…
They definitely seemed like they were a cut above him. He thought it was necessary to be as wise as them if he wanted to be in the same class as the dukes.
“…”
After that, morning came.
“…”
Another day passed.
“…”
Two days passed by, but the follower in the waterfall continued to stand still. At this point, the dukes also became irritated.
“Why is he staying still?”
Staying in place for two days? The knights had been on edge for two days because they weren’t sure when the follower would attack, and now they were exhausted. The Overgeared members couldn’t hide their tiredness either. Beast King Morse insisted that it couldn’t continue, “I can’t endure it anymore. We will attack first as the Overgeared King suggested.”
Skunk gave a boost to Morse’s argument, “There is treasure beyond the waterfall. The follower isn’t leaving the waterfall because he is protecting the treasure.”
“Umm…” Grenhal couldn’t hold back anymore and turned his gaze to Grid.
Grid nodded. “We can’t leave him like this. Who knows if he will come after us and hit our backs?”
His decision wasn’t due to being greedy for an uncertain treasure. They had to take down the follower in order to move forward. After Grid spoke, Grenhal finally nodded. “I understand, but I can’t send you alone.”
They crossed the jungle together, and Grenhal was able to fully peek at Grid’s skills. It was frankly hard to understand how Grid had beat Sky King Rigal, but it was clear that he was quite powerful.
…Grenhal also didn’t feel so bad when he shook Grid’s hand. He couldn’t let Grid fight alone. This was a result of the synergy between Grid’s charm stat and his ‘easily recognized’ class characteristic.
“Come with us.” Grenhal, Morse, and Basara stood side to side behind Grid. The Overgeared members were thrilled by the sight. The empire was an enemy, yet these people—who were like beings in the sky that rankers couldn’t meet—seemed to follow Grid. Grid felt pretty good. The people who were the worst threats just a few days ago were now supporting his back in a wonderful and reliable manner.
‘Garam is different.’
Still, maybe it was like what Lauel said—the empire could be reborn as an ally without needing to fight. If that’s the case, the Overgeared Kingdom would be safe. Grid wouldn’t have to worry about when the people who believed and followed him would die.
“Okay. Let’s go.” The motivated Grid used Fly while the dukes followed behind him. Jishuka and Yura were at the pre-arranged sniping spots while Euphemina and Lauel cast magic. Faker, Chris, Pon, Regas, Peak Sword, Vantner, Katz, and Hurent followed Grid and the dukes into the valley. Additionally…
“Transcended Link Flower!” Grid, in Blackening mode, reached the waterfall first and fired 40 waves of sword energy.
“…” Simultaneously, the follower behind the waterfall slowly opened his eyes. There was a huge explosion, and the water falling down on the follower scattered in every direction. The follower’s body was very strong as he used the power of nature.
[The target has received 3,500 damage.]
[The target has received 3,320 damage.]
[The target has received…]
“…!?”
The follower who had learned 10 secret techniques boasted a tremendous defense. Transcended Link Flower dealt 122% physical and 20% magic damage, yet the follower only received 3,000 damage. It was a shocking result for Grid who had confidently compared his attack power to that of the Seven Dukes.
Grid’s body crashed into the valley. He was thrown out by the waterfall.
“Ah!”
Grid swam quickly and emerged from the water again. Combat was unfolding between the follower and the dukes. The colossal destruction was as spectacular as the four fused sword dances, and water columns rose in all directions. The attacks of the three dukes unfolded quickly, and the follower rushed to defend themselves. The follower might’ve learned 10 secret techniques, but it was too much to fight against three of the strongest people of the West Continent at the same time.
‘Why were they so worried about Natural State if they were going to win anyway?’
Why did the dukes shrink back? Grid clocked his tongue in a ridiculing manner and hurriedly started the sword dance for Linked Kill Flower Pinnacle. He was planning to use the marks left behind by Transcended Link Flower to deal a bigger blow to the follower. Contribution was important in order to get as many items and experience as possible.
At this moment, the 53 large and small waterfalls went against the laws of nature. The water falling down turned into living dragons and changed angles, pouring toward the dukes.
“Keuk!”
“Cough!”
The dukes were hit by thousands of rays of water, and they lost their health and collapsed. They couldn’t cope with the water pressure concentrated on them and started bleeding. It was the power of Natural State. Piaro was only at the beginning stages of Natural State and was able to replace some of his strength with the natural mana of the world. Meanwhile, the follower could control nature according to his will. The follower turned his gaze to Grid and declared, “You aren’t qualified to challenge me.”
Then he pointed to the dukes. “Empty shells who have already consumed all their talents.”
The follower’s finger pointed somewhere else. It was to indicate the hiding Faker. “Child who just started training.”
Then the finger pointed to a distant place. It was toward where Yura was in sniper mode. “A half-grown person who has yet to fulfill her duty and whose strength has been suppressed.”
Finally, the follower pointed to Grid who was standing right in front of him. “A blacksmith who has already exceeded his limits.”
“…!”
“All of you are weak. You don’t deserve to challenge me, a being who is walking on the path of true martial arts.”
This follower was capable of talking, unlike all other followers who had emerged so far. His words sparked anxiety deep in Grid’s heart. It was the anxiety created by the evaluation that he had already exceeded the limit. Grid noticed what the follower was saying and gritted his teeth to deny reality. “Exceeding my limits is bullshit. Do you think I’m an ordinary blacksmith? I am Pagma’s Descendant.”
In fact, Grid had been feeling uneasy since a while ago. The combat skills of a Demon Slayer blossomed over time.
“I can become stronger in the future.”
The Sword Saint was strong from the beginning.
“There is still a lot of potential left.”
Grid often felt that the class-specific combat power of Pagma’s Descendant was really shabby. He had been through all types of incidents and gone beyond the limits. Perhaps it was impossible to become s
tronger. He often had this thought. The anxiety of whether he would eventually come down from his hard-earned seat filled him, but Grid tried hard to ignore it. He remained hopeful that he could develop further. He tried hard to keep his hard-won present reality and to not fall into the past.
Yet, right now, the follower was denying those efforts.
“A blacksmith has no qualifications. Didn’t Pagma eventually know his limits and sign a contract with the great demon?”
“Shut up!”
The furious Grid fired Linked Kill Flower Pinnacle. The follower had five marks on him thanks to Transcended Link Flower and received great damage from this fusion sword dance. However, the boss monster’s defense and health were transcendent. The follower’s health gauge remained intact.
“You will eventually abandon the sword.”
At this moment…
[Zeratul]
“…?”
The name ‘war god follower with 10 secret techniques’ changed to a short word. It even resembled the name of the war god. The 53 waterfalls were in a frenzy. The screams of the dukes and the 10 meritorious retainers were heard as the confusion inside Grid soared to the extreme.
[Braham’s soul has woken up.]
Grid heard the nostalgic voice.
-Your tail is wagging all over the place. Since when did you receive attention from the war god? He is the one who isn’t worthy.
“…!”
It was a terrible indifference. The gaze of the follower watching Grid blankly changed. Braham calmed Grid down, -Let the trashy words flow out one ear. Don’t think about going astray. You are strong. You can become stronger.
Grid was different from Pagma. Unlike Pagma who had abandoned his friend and joined hands with the great demons, Grid had people he could rely on.
-I am by your side.
[A hidden piece has occurred.]
Chapter 1027
The children of Shizo Beriache had inherited one desire from her. Among them, Braham had inherited her desire for knowledge, endured the Curse of Idleness, and reached the truth of the world. Like his mother Beriache, he had peeked at the true nature of the gods.
That’s why in the past, he felt uneasy when Pagma confessed that he had met the war god. War God Zeratul—Braham had been convinced that this prideful and arrogant god wouldn’t pay attention to humans out of goodwill. It had been as he’d expected.
Pagma said he had gotten rejected by the war god. Then he confessed that he realized his shortcomings thanks to the war god and vowed to be more determined to gain the power to protect the world. This vow later returned to Braham as a terrible betrayal. Pagma killed Braham and took away his life span under the name of destroying evil.
-I still clearly remember Pagma’s eyes as he pierced my heart. There was no affection, regret, or pain in his eyes as he looked down at my dying self. He was only filled with a desire for strength.
-The followers aren’t noble truthseekers. They are just cursed slaves who will never reach the ultimate realm with their own talent, even if they are reborn several times.
-Don’t listen to the voice of the faithless. Those bullshit words will make a person crazy. Pagma who fought to destroy the great demons—he betrayed his friend using this pretext yet he ironically contracted with Great Demon Baal.
Braham’s voice continued ringing in Grid’s mind. Meanwhile, the words of the followers were entering his ears. “A demonkin is residing in your body. You have already gone beyond your limits, but you are still a weak blacksmith. Don’t be deceived by evil beings and face the truth.
“You are weak. You aren’t qualified to use the sword. Don’t be complacent and embrace a greater strength.
“Yes, how about absorbing the soul of the demonkin in your body? I will teach you how. I will give you a way to once again jump over your limits and become a master of absolute knowledge.”
The name of the follower changed to Zeratul again. Zeratul’s consciousness seemed to have temporarily descended by borrowing the body of his follower. It was called Receiving a Soul. However, Grid didn’t shrink back. He didn’t feel any more confusion. There was Braham by his side.
[Your affinity with Braham has already surpassed the maximum.]
[War God Zeratul is interested in you.]
[Braham is with you.]
[All conditions are met and the hidden piece has occurred.]
The name of the hidden piece was ‘Don’t Repeat the Mistake.’ It was a completely different name from the hidden pieces of Pagma’s Descendant. This was a hidden piece created purely through the relationship Grid had built up.
-I won’t repeat the same mistake. I won’t lose my only friend again.
Along with Braham’s declaration, Grid’s black hair started to fade. His tanned skin turned white like milk, and his eyes became red. Once the change in color was over, his body frame became thin and beautiful. Grid had assimilated with Braham. This was the event assimilation that he had experienced when he first met Braham, not the Assimilation skill. This was complete assimilation.
[Forced assimilation has been carried out under the influence of the hidden piece.]
[Your class will change.]
[Name: Braham Eshwald (Grid)
Class: Great Magician
Title: Duke of Wisdom
* The best intellectual of this time. The truth hasn’t been learned yet, so he is still obstinate. This pursuit of knowledge is very strong, sometimes acting as a poison.
* Intelligence has increased by 35%.
* There is a low probability of running wild.
Title: Title: One who Became a Legend
* Abnormal conditions don’t work well on you.
* You won’t die when health is at the minimum.
* Easily acknowledged.
Title: ???
*???
….
…
Level: 545
Health: 858,310/858,310 (Correction)
Mana: 13,964,000/13,965,000 (Correction)
Strength: 258 Stamina: 3,400
Agility: 1,009 Intelligence: 15,880+5,558
* In this human flesh, Braham Eshwald’s full strength can’t be drawn out. Most of his stats are sealed.]
A massive amount of magic power exploded.
“Mana Drain,” Braham said. Then the 53 frenzied waterfalls that were running wild as dragons, stopped in place. They lost their form and poured down like rain.
“…?”
The dukes, who were constantly beaten by the waterfalls, were lying on the ground in a bloody manner. The pain suddenly disappeared, and they slowly opened their eyes with wonder. Then they saw it. The arrogant war god follower was stepping back with a distorted expression.
“Bah, how lame,” the Overgeared King snorted while his arms were folded.
“W-What?” The dukes were stunned. Grid was overpowering the follower they couldn’t fight against. The dukes found it hard to distinguish between dreams and reality.
‘Braham!’ Grid was forcibly deprived of his physical body and cried out toward Braham. Rather, it was more like a scream. ‘Don’t overdo it! You are still weak!!’
He forgot to use honorifics as he expressed his worried heart. Braham just laughed as if he liked it. “Stupid. It is only this much because I am weak.”
This was the Red Sea. It was the original of the world where an infinite amount of mana gathered. Braham’s Mana Drain was like a cotton ball of infinite size. He continued to absorb mana, amplifying his strength and stimulating the fear of the follower. The follower kept shrinking back as Braham said, “Evaluate me once.”
“…” The follower was naturally silent. The opponent was a true legend. Braham was different from the still unfinished Grid and Yura. He wasn’t a target to be evaluated by a mere follower.
The follower wasn’t possessed by Zeratul anymore. He couldn’t stifle Braham if only part of his consciousness descended. In order to stop Braham, Zeratul had to descend directly, just as when he fo
oled Pagma.
“Grid, I was troubled for a long time.”
Braham pulled out the sword hanging from his waist.
[The conditions of use aren’t met.]
[This item can’t be equipped.]
[The characteristic inherent in the body’s original owner will alleviate the wearing conditions.]
The Sword Aiming at the Gods—the sword, which was able to produce an optimum efficiency, was reduced to a mere ornament in the white-haired man’s hand. Braham’s appearance was unrealistically beautiful as he raised the golden sword, making all the landscapes in the background look like a blur. Even the Gold Crown Basara, who always had her eyes closed, opened her eyes at the beauty.
“Is it right to give my magic to someone stupid like you?”
‘…’
“Will you be able to use my spells properly before you die?”
‘…’
“I admitted it in the end. Giving my magic to you won’t help you. It is pointless.”
‘What are you saying all of a sudden?’ Grid gulped. It felt like Braham was going to take back his magic. Was this a hidden piece that would cause him damage? Putting aside the spells that hadn’t been used yet because of his low intelligence, would he be deprived of Magic Missiles and the other spells that he had been using well?
Grid was filled with anxiety.
“Look.” Braham took out the formula of Pagma’s Swordsmanship. He held a perfect posture that was beyond greatness. It was easy for Braham who had watched the swordsmanship beside Pagma and Grid.
“I will refer to the pattern that Pagma used in each sword dance to imprint my magic formulas on the sword dances. In the future, you won’t need to use magic and swordsmanship separately. No matter how dumb you are, you can easily take advantage of my magic.”
Step. Step. Braham took a few steps closer to the follower while performing a dance. Flames reminiscent of the sun flashed around him.
“Don’t look down on me!” The follower noticed there was no more place he could withdraw to and flew straight forward. The person pursuing the ultimate martial arts chose to challenge Braham rather than run away. Some of the matter gathered by Braham scattered in the air as the follower shot forward like a ray of light.