As the flames that resembled molten gold surged upwards, the oppressive heat of the secret chamber was instantly drawn in, enveloping Ye Ming completely.
He could clearly feel a current of icy will seeping from the depths of his body, pushing back against the intense heat and preventing him from being burned to ashes. Under the confrontation of these two extreme powers, his body began to undergo a strange transformation.
The Lie Blade hummed, and Ye Ming felt as though the Protector Blade in his hand had come alive. In his spiritual world, a colossal mirage of the blade was fighting fiercely, threatening to turn his mind into a scorched wasteland. Yet, through a battle of wills more grueling than any war of the gods, and despite the backlash he had to endure from the blade, Ye Ming's consciousness remained perfectly clear, even as he watched his spiritual world nearly burn to ruin.
After what felt like an eternity, the soaring flames in the chamber finally subsided, and the immense pressure on his mind and body vanished without a trace.
Pale-faced, Ye Ming lowered his head and looked at the longsword in his hand. This Protector Blade, forged from the divine essence of a Valkyrie, was not a sword in the conventional sense but a weapon born from pure, concentrated grudge. This was the very reason the "Lie" blade had to be sealed within its scabbard.
In its unsheathed state, "Lie" would endlessly radiate scorching flames. Only a special seal could suppress its intense heat. But now, in Ye Ming's hands, the blade's power was contained. His body and spirit were no longer being roasted by the high temperature. Using "Lie" in battle would still exert immense pressure on him—on a normal day, its heat would melt common steel into slag, a price no ordinary person could bear.
"'Lie' has accepted me as its master," he realized, "and I don't feel any signs of rejection."
"Ye Ming, did you... succeed?" Raiden Mei's concerned voice came from nearby.
"Yes, I succeeded," Ye Ming replied, sheathing the flaming blade and turning to face her. "Thank you for your concern, Miss Raiden." He then asked, "As I became the master of 'Lie,' a stream of information appeared in my mind—it seems to be the blade's past experiences. Is this a normal part of the process?"
"Mmm," she confirmed. "The first time a wielder gains a Blade's recognition, they always receive a similar message. What you're describing sounds like a confirmation." Hearing his words, Raiden Mei carefully looked him over. After confirming he was unharmed, she let out a sigh of relief, though she couldn't hide her surprise at his incredible talent.
A second surge of a Blade's power was not something to be taken lightly, as it placed a heavy burden on the wielder's spirit. Among all the candidates she had found, most only passed the Blade's recognition trial after a second attempt. Ye Ming was only the second person on record to succeed on the first try.
The first had been her.
'Valkyrie Warrior...' Ye Ming thought, carefully sensing the information that had flooded his mind. The Protector Blade 'Lie' was forged from the divine skeleton of a Valkyrie—not some mere phantom, but a high-ranking god from Takamagahara named Ame-no-Uzume, the goddess of fire and ancient gods.
As he sifted through the memories connected to 'Lie', Ye Ming saw visions of its past wielders. Most were scenes of scorched, ruined cities, with a few flashes of a house engulfed in flames. Along with the images came a torrent of emotions: initial confusion, terror, and sadness, which twisted into anger, hatred, and finally, a deep despair that gave way to a boundless, world-ending killing intent.
When the calamity from Takamagahara descended, was it not only monsters and evil gods, but also humans who were once capable of feeling? The thought left Ye Ming looking dazed.
Raiden Mei watched his stunned expression, a strange feeling stirring in her own heart. The silver-haired boy before her possessed the talent of a sword genius and a powerful spirit, yet his personality was far more mature and steady than his peers. He lived an ordinary life, lacking the burning ambition to become stronger that she saw in so many others. Without that powerful desire, she wondered how he could have developed such a determined will.
And yet, this same young man had just effortlessly mastered one of the most powerful Protector Blades, a trump card among trump cards. This meant he would become her partner, fighting by her side.
Thinking of this, Raiden Mei felt a sense of happiness. Among the wielders of the Protector Blades, there was finally someone younger than her. She finally had a junior, making her the senior. More importantly, his lack of overwhelming ambition was a relief. Compared to wielders driven by rigid ideology, a desperate need to be a hero, or an obsession with power, his calm demeanor was a pleasant change.
With someone like Ye Ming, she could finally let her "big sister" aura shine and take the lead. Just the thought of it made her look forward to their days together. The future, she thought, seemed bright and reassuring.
"Hmph. Ye Ming," Raiden Mei began, placing her hands on her hips in a playful, sisterly pose, "although you've successfully mastered the Lie Blade, don't get arrogant. You must always be mindful of your physical and mental state. Never be careless."
"By becoming a Blade's protagonist," she continued, "you are now a protector of Izumo, destined to fight powerful evil gods. It's incredibly dangerous, but don't worry too much. As your senior, I will protect you."
As she spoke, a genuine smile bloomed on her face, and she extended her hand to him. "Ye Ming, from now on, we are partners in battle. Come on, shake my hand."
Ye Ming looked down at the slender, jade-like hand she offered. He remained silent for a moment before shaking his head.
"I'm sorry, Miss Raiden," he said softly. "Shaking hands... I'm afraid I can't do that anymore."
"Huh?" Raiden Mei's smile faded, replaced by a look of confusion.
Meeting her puzzled gaze, Ye Ming explained with the same calm he'd had all along, "In the process of mastering 'Lie,' my body has changed. My constitution was already inclined towards cold, but now... it has become one of extreme cold. From now on, I can't shake hands, hold hands, or make any other kind of skin contact."
Hearing his explanation, Raiden Mei froze.
She tentatively reached out, wanting to touch him, but as her fingers drew near, she felt a bone-chilling cold radiating from him. The smile vanished completely from her face. She stared blankly at the calm boy before her, the chilling aura leaving her at a complete loss for words.
[System Message: You have successfully mastered the Protector Blade "Lie".]
[System Message: Under the scorching heat of "Lie," your yin constitution has been further stimulated, evolving into an extreme-yin constitution.]
[System Message: In the confrontation between extreme heat and cold, you have obtained the power to command ice and snow. However, your body has also sustained irreversible damage. It will forever remain in a state of extreme cold, rendering you unable to make physical contact, such as holding hands or hugging, with ordinary people.]
[System Message: You have permanently lost the right to feel the warmth of another's touch.]
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