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"Very well, your majesty. I am sorry for taking so long, but I am ready."
Robert stood tall in the center of the training grounds. A small crowd of several dozen knights had gathered during their daily routines, drawn by the sight of the old veteran War Priest returning to action. He wore his full set of white-and-gold armor and carried a massive spear forged entirely from the golden divine metal Orichalcum.
"Hoh, so that's the armor and weapon of a War Priest at your level, Robert?"
Louis assumed a relaxed yet impenetrable stance, holding a sword in one hand and a spear in the other. The combination looked strange—few could wield both weapons simultaneously—but Louis blended the styles almost seamlessly. He still insisted he was merely a novice who had yet to grasp the true essence of these weapons.
"That's right!" Robert answered with a bright smile. "Ahh! I always dreamed of the day I would teach you! Now that you're finally willing, I will make sure to ingrain the principles of the Holy Dragon Mother Goddess Church into your soul!"
"The principles?" Louis asked.
"First! Kindness!"
RUMBLE!
In that instant Louis' senses flared. Robert vanished from his spot, replaced by a golden blur of light rushing toward him. Louis had only a second to react. He instinctively raised a barrier of Ashen Frost.
BOOOM!
The barrier shattered as the golden spear pierced through, but the brief delay allowed Louis to avoid a direct hit. He darted behind the War Priest and pressed his sword to Robert's neck.
"Is this your kindness, Robert?"
"Gahahaha! No, this isn't all of it yet, your majesty! Get ready! The next teaching is... Humility!"
TRUUUM!
"Ngh?!"
An immense magical pressure crashed down from above. Robert unleashed his Aura, forcing it upon Louis with such weight that it tried to drive him to his knees.
"Hah, so this is Humility, huh?"
The prince refused to yield. He would kneel before no one except his own mother.
"I am sorry, Robert, but a prince must carry himself with pride!"
Louis rose, releasing his own Aura. It overwhelmed Robert's pressure and shoved the veteran backward. Robert laughed heartily, then swung his spear forward, channeling his Aura while blending it with both Ki and Mana.
"Holy Lance Style!"
"First Form!"
"Heart-Piercing Kindness!"
"...!"
Louis saw the attack coming yet felt he could not evade it in time. The lance seemed alive, moving faster than the old man himself.
With no room for hesitation or fear, Louis pushed forward, pride and arrogance fueling him. His sword and spear merged their power as one.
"Dragon Fang Spearmanship!"
"First Form!"
"Dragon Rising!"
"Sword Aura!"
"Blade Storm!"
He fused Dragon Rising and Blade Storm. His Aura erupted, dozens of coiling dragons surging outward to meet the impossible-to-dodge strike.
"Dragon Blade Dance!"
CLASH! CLASH! CLASH! CLASH!
RUMBLE!
BOOOM!
Sparks flew in dozens of bursts. A violent explosion of energies erupted, cracking the ground beneath them and shaking the entire training area. The watching knights stepped back in awe. When the smoke cleared, two figures remained, weapons locked in mutual resistance.
"I am in awe!" Louis laughed. "You are stronger than I imagined, Robert! Why... why did you retire when our kingdom now desperately needs warriors like you?!"
"I've heard that you and your father are working on a mission to eliminate a threat to the country, but I am no longer capable of helping you in that regard, your majesty!" Robert replied.
"With this strength?!" Louis gritted his teeth. "Don't make me laugh! Come at me!"
Louis charged. His body moved almost on instinct as Robert intercepted the combined sword-and-spear assault with his Holy Lance techniques.
"Dragon Fang Spearmanship!"
"Second Form!"
"Coiling Dragon!"
"Sword Aura!"
"Blade Energy!"
"...!"
Robert stared in amazement. He had never encountered a talent like Louis—someone who could wield two entirely separate weapon styles simultaneously and even fuse them.
"Coiling Blade Dragon!"
"ROOOAAARR!"
From within Louis' dual attack, a roaring dragon emerged, manifesting from pure Blade Energy—a refined form of Sword Energy, channeled Aura composed of Mana and Ki, sharpened and hardened like a blade.
"Hah...! Hahaha! You're... you're a prodigy, your majesty! Then please, allow me to answer with sincerity as well!"
Robert roared, channeling his full power and unleashing it through his Holy Lance.
"Holy Lance Style!"
"Second Form!"
"Blossoming Sincerity!"
"...?!"
Louis watched Robert's spearmanship shift in an instant. The old man became incredibly agile. His spear slipped past the initial wave of draconic attacks, striking Louis' side and slamming into his ribs. Fortunately, Louis wore armor this time, or his ribs would have shattered.
BOOOM!
"Nngh! Haaa!"
Even as the explosive force threatened to hurl him away, Louis kicked off the air with released energy, spun mid-flight, and countered with the same combined technique. A giant dragon of blade energy coiled around Robert and sliced across his armor, leaving deep gashes and bruises.
"Your majesty, you wield the spear and sword as if conjuring spells! Your control over internal energy is impressive!"
"Tell me why you refuse to help your country, Robert!"
"The answer is simple... I am no longer good enough!"
"Bullshit!"
Louis pressed the attack, targeting Robert's shoulders and arms with spear and sword to halt the veteran's strikes. He leaped into the air, kicked Robert's helmet, and drove the huge man downward.
As Robert fell, he swung his spear forward, piercing a gaping hole through Louis' chest plate and sending the prince flying dozens of meters before he crashed into the ground.
"Haaa... Hahahah... that was impressive. You fight like a madman!" Robert laughed, coughing blood. "Never have I met someone so compatible with my fighting style...!"
"What?" Louis rose, glaring at him angrily.
"D-Didn't you know, Louis? I guess we never told you," Catrise called from the distance. "Sir Robert was known as the Mad Lance of the Holy Dragon Mother's Church!"
"Mad Lance?!" Louis repeated. "What sort of ridiculous name is—"
"EEEEAAAAH!"
A piercing war cry rang out. Robert charged, reaching Louis in an instant and striking his helmet, shoulders, and legs with the holy lance. Golden light surged as dozens of explosions erupted across the prince's body.
"Don't lower your guard in front of this old man, your majesty!"
"I didn't!"
Bleeding heavily, Louis thrust both sword and spear toward Robert, striking simultaneously. He rapidly manifested a new martial technique by unleashing the explosive Ki accumulated within him.
"Draconic Wrath!"
"Hoh?!"
BOOOM!
Robert flew backward dozens of meters, rolling across the ground before coming to a stop. He gasped for air, laughing while vomiting blood.
"R-Robert!"
Catrise rushed to heal him. Louis loomed above, placing his foot on the old man's chest.
"Why won't you help us?!"
"It's... because I... would you allow me to show you? Can you move your foot, please?"
"..."
Louis stepped back. Robert removed his chest plate, revealing the horror beneath his white shirt: a terrifying scar resembling cracks and runes, skin missing in places, never fully healed.
"This was where I held my Mana Core," he explained. "I come from a lineage of humans originating in Yggdrasil. We are naturally born with a Mana Core. Mine was taken and shattered. I nearly died."
"...When did this happen?" Louis asked quietly.
"It was years ago, when your mother fought that Entity that appeared out of nowhere, threatening our country," Robert said. "She did not fight alone. Many of us fell while trying to aid her against that monstrosity. Ultimately, your mother risked her life to force the thing through a Dimensional Rift and seal it. I would have died if she hadn't healed me in my final moments. But she could not restore my Mana Core."
"So you fought alongside my mother and risked your life," Louis said, nodding slowly. "I see... Stand up."
Louis extended his hand. Robert stared in surprise at the sudden gesture of kindness.
"Come on."
"Your majesty..."
Robert took Louis' hand and rose. Louis brushed the dust from the old man's armor and clothes with an annoyed expression.
"I understand how it is," Louis said. "I suppose you truly cannot help us, but you served this country well, Robert... thank you."
"...!" Robert's eyes widened. Tears threatened to spill after hearing Louis' sincere words. "Your majesty... I don't deserve such words."
"The Holy Lance Style, huh?" Louis mused. "I want it. Teach me that technique while we still have time before next week. It might help supplement what little I learned of the Dragon Fang Spearmanship from my mother."
"Of course...! Gladly, your majesty!" Robert nodded eagerly. "Ah, look at the time. Excuse me, Catrise—thank you for the healing—but I must prepare. A merchant from Zipangu is arriving, and I want everything presentable."
"Oh! Of course, let me help, Robert," Catrise replied. "Your majesty, I recommend you take a shower... and change your clothes."
"Right." Louis noticed he was once again covered in blood.
As Louis walked away, Robert smiled softly beside Catrise.
"Catrise, was it you?" he asked.
"Huh?" Catrise looked confused.
"Were you the one who taught the prince these things?" Robert wondered. "I could swear that two weeks ago he wasn't like this... but he has certainly changed."
"I don't think I did much myself, but I believe his experience in the Dimensional Labyrinth must have been truly shocking. He has been trying to pull himself together since then," Catrise said with a gentle smile. "And I believe he is managing it."
"Haha, is he now?" Robert laughed heartily. "Well, I can't wait to see his genius talent learning the Holy Lance Style...! I will finally have someone to inherit the teachings I learned from Queen Benladra."
"The Holy Lance Style..." Catrise murmured. "And the Dragon Fang Spearmanship... Wait...!" Her eyes widened as realization struck.
"Yeah, I suppose this is fate! Hahaha!" Robert laughed. "Maybe, just maybe... finally... her son can truly inherit a part of her legacy."
♢♢♢♢
The Zipangu merchant arrived just in time for lunch. He was an extravagant figure in colorful robes adorned with golden accessories. His face was painted white, with bold black and red makeup around his eyes that made him appear both strange and intimidating. Long, fiery red hair spiked like thorns reached his waist. He carried a large wooden crate covered in bags and trinkets.
"It is an honor to meet the king and crown prince of the Frostbane Kingdom de gosaru!"
Louis, now dressed in a fresh ceremonial tunic embroidered with silver threads and bearing the family crest, stepped forward with a composed expression. His Aura remained restrained but faintly visible to those sensitive to Fantasium. He extended his hand. To his mild displeasure, his father had also been invited by Robert.
"The honor is mine," Louis replied. "You must be the famed trader from Zipangu, Master Kenzaki of the Thousand Trades. You must have a busy schedule. Thank you for coming today."
"Hai, de gosaru ka!" Kenzaki bowed deeply, his crate rattling with enchanted trinkets and rare metals. "Sa sa! I bring the finest wares from the Eastern Realms. My Queen herself instructed me to offer our best to the heir of Frostbane."
Gustaf, standing nearby with a tablet, raised an eyebrow. "Your Queen? You mean Empress Himetsuru, the current Ruler of Yamato?"
While Zipangu was Kenzaki's origin, he now served as a citizen of Yamato—the nation that emerged when Japan forged a powerful bond with Zipangu after the Dimensional Convergence, with parts of the country even merging with the Fantasy World.
"Correct!" Kenzaki declared proudly. "She sends her regards and a gift—one forged in the sacred fires of Mount Akagane."
With a flourish he opened the crate and unwrapped a long, cloth-covered object. A slender spear emerged: blade of crimson steel etched with runes that shimmered like falling sakura petals, shaft wrapped in red salamander hide, tip pulsing faintly with Fantasium.
"This is a Kōryū-no-Yari, the Red Salamander Spear of exceptional quality, de gosaru ka," Kenzaki explained. "It was crafted by a renowned weaponsmith of Yamato, a good friend of mine! I heard from your butler that you favored the spear. The Queen sends this to you, Prince Louis, as a symbol of alliance and respect."
Louis stepped closer. The moment his fingers touched the shaft, Fantasium spiraled around him. This was no ordinary magic spear or mechanical weapon; it had been forged specifically for Sinners or Spiralwalkers.
"…It's compatible," Louis murmured. "It's not Soul Gear yet, but it's close. I can feel its potential. I'll use it... Thank you, Kenzaki. I don't know how I could ever repay such kindness."
Robert, who was bringing food to the table with Catrise, noticed the special spear. His eyes gleamed. "An interesting spear. It seems crafted with unique materials from Zipangu. Hihi'irokane, is it? The Blazing Iron, sometimes called Scarletite."
"Indeed!" Kenzaki confirmed. "Volcanic Divine Iron extracted from the blazing maws of Mount Akagane. The Queen hoped it would be compatible with you. I am glad it is, de gosaru ka!"
"It is. I appreciate the gesture," Louis said. "Now please, sit. My chefs prepared some dishes from your country, but there is also food from ours so you can try new flavors."
"Oh! What a banquet for humble me! Thank you so much!" Kenzaki exclaimed. "Now, if you will excuse me..." He suddenly began praying. "Thank you for the food you've given me, oh great Empress of the Eternal Sun, Amaterasu-sama, may the light of..."
Louis waited silently until the merchant finished.
"Thank you for waiting," Kenzaki said, sipping wine. "Are you curious about my religion, Prince Louis? I noticed your interest."
"I know very little about Zipangu myself. Yamato is well known, but the realm you originate from remains a mystery to many," Louis replied.
"Yes, the great Empress of the Sun, Mother of all Life, Empress Amaterasu created it. It is said that with her divine powers she birthed the entire world into existence, along with all the Kami, Bodhisattva, Oni, Rakshasa, Asura, Akuma, and Yokai!" Kenzaki nodded enthusiastically.
"Yes, I've heard that much... but I also heard it has a history of wars and tragedy," Louis said, sipping white wine that paired perfectly with the grilled eel and white rice—a Yamato dish he had wanted to try for some time. It was exquisite.
"Oh yes, thousands of years ago... our great goddess was betrayed by her brother, the Kami of Storms and Swordsmanship, the despicable Susanoo!" Kenzaki continued. "He, created by his beloved sister, betrayed her after being influenced by the Demon King of the Sixth Heaven, Ha-jun!"
"Hoh..." Louis nodded, rubbing his chin.
"However, through a twist of fate! Zipangu and Yggdrasil intermingled! The last fragments of the Goddess reincarnated in Yggdrasil, becoming one of the Dragon King's most beloved consorts, Lady Yuki!" Kenzaki went on.
"...What?" Louis had not heard this part.
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