Chapter 305 - The Rejected Holy Sword
The capital of the unified southern empire, after experiencing a turmoil that resembled the descent of a god and the fall of its own emperor, fell into a brief power vacuum and panic.
In particular, Leggett's dying shout, which resounded throughout the city, stirred up an undercurrent beneath the capital.
The news that Kurtz the Godslayer was still alive spread rapidly.
The main characters of the incident, Kurtz and Serie, did not leave immediately after killing Leggett.
Some of Leggett's die-hard supporters, blinded by so-called loyalty or recklessly trying to use it to climb the ranks, launched futile attacks on the two of them like moths to a flame.
The result, of course, was death, which was inevitable.
Kurtz didn't even use the power of the Holy Sword; a casual wave of magic was enough to make these guys disappear completely.
Many nobles and ministers huddled in corners, not daring to even breathe loudly, for fear of attracting the attention of these two menacing figures.
What Kurtz found even more absurd and laughable was that some terrified fellows, trembling with fear, pleaded with the legendary Kurtz to stay and ascend the throne as the new emperor of the unified southern empire.
The sincerity of the words made it seem as if this was something that was perfectly reasonable and what everyone expected.
Kurtz crossed his arms. Of course, Kurtz rejected the suggestion without hesitation, and he didn't even bother to explain why.
If he truly harbored ambitions to become king or emperor, why would he have allowed Norn to establish the Kingdom of El a thousand years ago?
He wasn't some power fanatic. All he needed was to be with Serie.
On the other hand, the aftereffects of Leggett's last words were beginning to show.
Some magicians, blinded by the allure of immortality, began to conspire in secret, attempting to obtain the secret of eternal life from Kurtz by any means, including ambushes and poison.
Kurtz's response to these reckless harassments was bloody and straightforward.
He identified all the masterminds and perpetrators behind the scenes and executed them in front of everyone in the capital.
No matter how famous a mage you are or how great a nobleman of the empire you are, in Kurtz's eyes, there is no difference. After all, he had already eliminated the highest authority and the strongest mage of the Southern Unified Empire, so these remaining scoundrels couldn't possibly cause a ripple!
He wanted to declare, in the most direct way, that coveting power that did not belong to them would cost them their lives.
After temporarily suppressing the most unstable element within the empire with an iron fist, Kurtz and Serie did not linger.
Whether this vast empire would fall apart or a new emperor would emerge was no longer of concern to them.
During this time, Serie casually inquired about the aftermath of the Southern Empire.
Kurtz glanced back at the increasingly distant capital and said calmly, "Perhaps it will split into several countries, just like it has in the last few centuries. Beneath the surface of unity lies the aggregation of countless interests. Leggett used the benefits of war to bind these people together, and now that he is dead, collapse is only a matter of time."
"Aren't you going to handle this… a little better?" Serie raised an eyebrow, assuming that Kurtz would at least put forward a relatively moderate proxy to keep the empire going.
"I don't have the mental will, nor is it necessary." Kurtz shook his head. "In my opinion, as long as the survival of the entire race is not threatened, I don't need to interfere in internal disputes and changes."
Afterwards, Kurtz and Serie carefully searched for the aura they had sensed earlier near the capital.
Leggett's death seems to have not only shaken the foundations of the empire but also brought to light ancient traces long obscured by the long years and the chaos of human life.
After several days of searching, Kurtz set his sights on a remote mountain peak about a hundred miles southwest of the capital.
As the two unleashed a wide-ranging detection spell on the mountain, the extremely high-ranking divine energy became even more pronounced and even subtly connected with the holy swords they carried.
"It's astonishing that it was hidden in such a place." Serie surveyed the narrow opening covered by vines, sensing the magical aura emanating from it, so out of place with the chaotic surroundings.
She never imagined that the legendary sword of heroes, Esterian, was actually located not far from the capital of the unified southern empire. The magicians in the capital have been so incompetent all these years, yet they haven't been able to detect the unusual magical fluctuations here.
She shook her head. "They're really useless."
The two easily pushed aside the obstacles and entered the cave.
At first, it was extremely narrow, barely wide enough for one person to pass through, but after several dozen steps, it suddenly opened into a bright, spacious area. The cave interior was much more spacious than it appeared from the outside, with natural, magical minerals on the ceiling radiating pure light that illuminated the central area.
There were no ornate decorations or complicated seals there, only a natural stone platform with a sword stuck diagonally on it.
Its design is extremely ancient, with a dark gold blade covered in naturally formed patterns. The hilt is a simple double-winged guard. If it weren't for the ancient yet powerful aura it exudes, probably no one would guess that the holy sword in front of them is the legendary sword of the hero...Esterian.
Kurtz stepped forward, and he could clearly feel the immense power contained within Esterian, far surpassing that of holy swords like Orger, as well as a nascent self-awareness.
This is a truly spiritual object, and could even be described as a sacred relic of the world, possessing a certain degree of wisdom.
He reached out and grasped the dark gold hilt of the sword.
However, just as his fingers were about to touch the hilt of the sword—
Buzz!
The blade of Esterian trembled almost imperceptibly, and a gentle yet incredibly resilient force field suddenly appeared, pushing Kurtz's hand away.
At the same time, a flash of light appeared on the sword, conveying a clear intention.
Rejection.
It is not hostility, but a rejection based on its very nature.
It sensed the heretical aura deep within Kurtz's soul, one that did not belong to this world, and therefore refused to be drawn out by Kurtz.
Kurtz's hand froze in mid-air, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes before he understood.
"Pfft!"
"Ha-Ha-ha" Serie, standing beside him, couldn't help but laugh out loud, her golden eyes full of mockery. "What a rare sight! So you've finally been rejected by the Holy Sword?"
She and Kurtz had been together for so many years, and this was the first time she had ever seen a holy sword in the world that neither of them could pull out.
Both the dwarf Orger and the elf Athos had drawn their weapons without the opponent expending any effort.
Kurtz reluctantly withdrew his hand, shook his head, and looked somewhat troubled.
He honestly hadn't expected Esterian's spirituality to be so profound. Although he couldn't yet engage in conversation, he was already keenly able to discern the abnormalities in the essence of his soul.
This wisdom far surpasses that of the other holy swords.
"It seems we'll have to resort to other methods." Kurtz looked at Esterian, who was still quietly stuck on the stone platform, and his tone became calm.
He stopped trying to pull it out by force and instead faced the holy sword as if speaking to a being with its own independent will and slowly spoke:
"Esterian, I know you understand what I mean."
"You were born in accordance with the will of the world and bear the responsibility of saving the world. You should be able to sense that the world is facing an unprecedented threat."
"That newly born demon kin-I mean, queen, and the corrupt divine power within it filled with depravity and destruction, will inevitably engulf the entire world once it is unleashed."
"I have a way to solve it, and a way to seal it completely. But my current power is not enough. I need to gather the power of all the holy swords, and I also need the power of the world's will. And you, Esterian, your power is crucial."
He paused, his tone carrying an unquestionable air, even a hint of implicit threat: "You can choose to stay here, remain your maverick, and continue to reject me."
"But if the seal fails due to your lack of power, and the corrupt divine power within the Demon King runs rampant, dragging this world into the abyss... then what is the point of your so-called persistence?"
"Will you stand by and watch the world you're meant to protect crumble, or will you give your power to me, someone capable and willing to solve the problem? The choice is yours!" Kurtz's voice wasn't loud, but it clearly stated a brutal either-or question.
Having obtained the holy sword forged by Leggett, he is now 70% confident that he can completely seal away the corrupt divine power within the demon king's body.
If one were to resort to any means necessary and sacrifice multiple holy swords, the probability would be even higher.
But Kurtz couldn't bear to part with it.
He planned to use Leggett's holy sword as the foundation for the seal, thereby casting a sealing spell against the Demon King. In this way, the holy sword, as the foundation, would naturally be integrated into the magic.
If you want to increase the success rate and strength of the seal, you only need to invest a few more holy swords.
But Kurtz couldn't bear to part with either Orger, Athos, or the Light of El, so he had no choice but to set his sights on Esterian.
With the other party's help, at least he won't need to sacrifice another holy sword.
A deathly silence fell over the cave.
The invisible force field on the sword Esterian rippled slightly, indicating that its inner will was undergoing intense contemplation.
Rejecting Kurtz, a soul that does not belong to this continent, is its instinct, but protecting the world is the fundamental meaning of its existence.
Kurtz's threat was very effective.
Without it, the seal might fail, and the world might be destroyed. It cannot afford this cost. After a long silence, the force field slowly receded like the tide.
The blade of Esterian emitted a low hum, which was no longer a refusal but more like a helpless sigh.
It gave in.
It's not for recognition, but for responsibility.
Kurtz reached out again, and this time he grasped the dark-gold hilt with no resistance.
Upon acquiring it, a tremendous power surged into his body, but unlike when he obtained other holy swords before, this power carried a subtle barrier. It was willing to provide power, but it did not fully accept Kurtz as the sword wielder.
Kurtz didn't care about this.
He gently pulled Esterian out of the stone platform.
"A wise choice." Kurtz weighed the Esterian in his hand, felt its power, and then spoke.
Serie walked over, looked at the Holy Sword, then at Kurtz, and raised an eyebrow, saying, "I really didn't expect this to work! Can it understand what we're saying?"
"It doesn't fully understand; after all, it can only be considered to possess a portion of spirituality at best," Kurtz replied calmly. "It only needs to know that it can help me complete the seal, and that's enough."
He put Esterian away and left the ancient cave with Serie, secretly memorizing the location.
He hadn't forgotten that once everything was cleared up, he would return the holy sword to its rightful place.
Of course, he would also ask the dwarves to forge some longswords that could last longer, which he would then weld onto the sword.
But that's a story for another time.
[End of Chapter]
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