The 9th Class Swordmaster: Blade of Truth

Chapter 10: Only the Deprived Can Obtain

"Flame Finger." Kaye Aesir flicked his fingers, igniting small flames on each fingertip.

"Ignition." The tiny flames suddenly grew into a fist-sized fireball, and began circling around his arm.

"Heat." His incantation continued. He lifted his other palm, turning it a fiery red, as if scorched.

[Using fire magic against a Red Dragon... That's quite bold, Kaye,] Riseria mused, with her chin resting on her massive paw, as she observed Kaye’s spellcasting.

Feeling her gaze, Kaye nonchalantly shrugged. "I can't help it. My element is fire. But you, a dragon, wouldn't fear my flames enough to use magic of a different nature," he remarked.

[You despicable creature, out of all people, to talk of elements,] Riseria said scornfully.

"That's a given, since I’m a human," Kaye responded.

[Really?]

Their banter resembled less a deadly battle and more a conversation between old friends.

Kaye's hand, aglow with red, gripped a sharp sword. Interestingly, he wielded a sword instead of the common magician's staff. The green gemstone on the sword's hilt began to glow, absorbing his red aura.

"Fire Release." Kaye unleashed the five fireballs orbiting him at Riseria. With a loud explosion, Riseria, the Red Dragon, stomped on the incoming fireballs, obliterating two of them instantly.

"Fire Arrow." Unfazed by the dragon’s nonchalance, Kaye continued his chant. He pulled his arm back, and the remaining fireballs elongated, transforming into fiery arrows.

Such rapid casting... Karyl marveled. A magician who can invoke magic instantly with just an activation word and no incantation is indeed a rarity.

The fiery arrows pierced Riseria's tough scales, exploding upon impact. Surprisingly, the skin under her burnt scales turned black, as though seared by the fire.

Riseria had perhaps underestimated the magic's power. She roared, her massive fangs bared in a growl.

That's 1st Class magic? Impossible!

Flame Ball and Fire Arrow were basic fire magic that condensed fire into a sphere for explosive impact or aimed for a precise explosion. In terms of power, they were not much different from the fire arrows used by regular soldiers. However, their greater magical power requirement made them seldom used.

Though not a magician himself, Karyl, who had fought against many magicians, knew this well. He had never seen such a formidable Fire Arrow in his lifetime.

Yet, before he could even fully process his astonishment, black smoke billowed from the dragon's eyes. Riseria's agonized screams echoed, sharply contrasting her earlier growls.

"Maybe I should increase the power a bit more." Kaye mused, as flames sprang from Kaye's fingers again. His veins bulged as if about to burst, his entire body surging with magical power.

An indiscriminate barrage of fire arrows rained down. Initially, the Fire Arrows glowed red with flickering flames, but they gradually turned blue, striking with the intensity of a flash of lightning, precisely targeting Riseria's vulnerabilities. Astonishingly, each explosion caused the dragon to falter, struggling to maintain balance.

With just magic?

When Riseria unleashed her breath attack—a powerful wave of heat that shook the earth—Kaye faced it head-on without flinching. Or rather, he deflected it.

As the breath drew near, flashes of brilliance erupted, splitting the attack in two, causing it to dissipate into nothing. Kaye, unscathed, removed his scorched robe and faced Riseria calmly.

Is that even possible? Karyl couldn't believe what he was witnessing.

"Classifying magic into Classes is foolish. If you pour the power of Class 5 magic into a Class 1 spell, can it still be considered Class 1?" Kaye pondered aloud.

This should be impossible. Classes were defined by the maximum amount of magic that could be condensed into a spell. The absolute amount of magic required, increased with each Class.

Yet, Karyl had seen it. If he hadn't been synchronized with Riseria's body, he wouldn't have been able to comprehend, let alone counter Kaye's magic. He had fought many magicians during the imperial wars, but none like Kaye.

Were we wrong to think there were limits? Karyl pondered. He had only heard and believed so. Any magician hearing this would likely react with incredulity. But Karyl, having never used magic himself, could entertain such doubts.

If Kaye Aesir's words were true, it would overturn the entire existing system of magic. Karyl swallowed hard, considering the implications.

[Why do you hunt dragons? Aren't we of the same kind?] Riseria asked.

"Of the same kind? How could humans and dragons ever be the same?" Kaye answered, chuckling at her words. Yet Karyl felt those words were making Riseria's heart race.

[Just one question. Does my death bring about a new turn for you?]

"Of course," Kaye nodded. "But my magic ends with my generation. My essence..."

Before Kaye could finish, a tremendous explosion resembling a massive flame erupted from Kaye's sword. The meteors in the sky began to ignite. "...lies there."

Karyl couldn't hear the rest of his words due to the explosion but instinctively felt it. This was the last moment of the Flame Dragon, Riseria, in her lifetime.

Suddenly, everything turned black.

***

"Young master, young master!" Ruben's voice reached him. Karyl slowly opened his eyes. He was no longer in the musty and moldy library of Einheri but in his bed. Waking up, Karyl felt unfamiliar with his own body.

"Are you alright? Do you recognize who I am? No, wait, I’ll inform the lady immediately!" Ruben exclaimed, his voice laced with concern.

Was it because he had synchronized with Riseria's body? No, something had changed. Karyl noticed the veins on his outstretched palm glowing faintly.

"Wait," he commanded, stopping Ruben who was about to rush out. He didn’t want to create any disturbance; he just wanted to focus on this moment in silence.

The power he felt within, it was a foreign energy he had never experienced before, but something he instinctively understood. How long had he waited for this moment? Karyl clenched his fist tightly, a faint smile appearing on his lips. He had finally obtained the Magical Power he had long sought.