Chapter 252: Unworthy

Without breaking a sweat, Glorietta was able to knock the mana swords out of Dahlia’s grasp.

Her black dress remained untouched despite the onslaught of attacks the duchess was facing.

’Something’s strange...’

Although she was a Grand Warrior— someone at the Realm of Five Star— Glorietta never underestimated Dahlia.

’She’s not the type to repeat her mistakes... Once she knew that her approach wasn’t working, she would seamlessly switch to another technique...’

It was one of the aspects that she really liked about her niece.

Dahlia’s adaptability, resourcefulness, and judgement.

Despite her lack of talent, her potential was still enormous.

However, not an ounce of her outstanding characteristics could be seen right at this moment.

’Did she slack off in her training? Hmm, impossible.’

Glorietta immediately denied such a notion, as she believed that Dahlia felt it the most out of everyone—

—Regis’s overwhelmingness.

’Knowing that she wants to keep up with him...’

While Glorietta was in the midst of her thoughts, Dahlia’s attacks had never stopped.

In the past few minutes, countless manifested mana swords had already been knocked out of her hand.

Despite this, Dahlia’s expression never showed impatience.

Her face was filled with serenity.

Once again, mana swords manifested in her hands.

[Sword of the Lightning Sprite]

[Burning Sword Ember]

The two chants that left her lips caused her swords to emit powerful mana waves.

Orange flames and blue lightning intertwined as she charged forward.

Her figure was graceful as she drove her swords towards Glorietta, which showed the extremity of her swordsmanship.

With every spin of her body, with every pivot of her feet, Dahlia was able to launch consecutive slashes that seemed like an endlessly flowing river that became stronger with each rotation.

Despite her calm exterior, Dahlia’s mind was tumultuous.

’I know... that I’m not talented.’

She thrusted her burning mana sword towards Glorietta’s neck, which was easily redirected by her steel axe.

’I know... that everything I had right now...’

She spun her body while using her right foot as a pivot, driving her lightning mana sword towards her opponent’s temple.

Yet it was easily blocked once again.

’...is because of Regis.’

’And I’m grateful for it all, really.’

’But I also feel ashamed.’

’I’m nothing without my gift.’

Dahlia was painfully aware that, compared to people who really had talent, she was nothing.

If not for her Diamond-grade Goddess of Sword, she would have been killed by that demonic human back then.

She was sure of it...

...that she was unworthy of such a gift.

’I’m lucky... that’s all.’

Dahlia knew deep inside her heart.

How lucky she was.

Her luck that led her to Regis.

Her luck that led her to awaken such a powerful gift.

Her luck that led her to Doron.

...

And her luck that led her to who she is now.

Glorietta’s pupils constricted as she noticed the peculiarity of Dahlia’s current situation.

’This... could it be...’

The pair of pale-pink eyes seemed to be in a daze.

And yet, the young girl’s body never stopped using her swords.

’I’m unworthy... I know!’

’But I’m not giving up!’

Dahlia was painfully aware that she was lacking.

Her swordsmanship was purely because of her gift.

Other than that, she knew in her heart...

’I’m nothing without my gift.’

The exhaustion that was built up within her from her training and the stimulation of her conversation with Glorietta earlier seemed to explode at this moment.

Dahlia was merely a child of the slums.

She was not talented, only lucky that fortune smiled upon her after everything.

’I’m aware... so I took advantage of it.’

At that moment, a smile crept onto Dahlia’s lips.

It was a peculiar smile.

Filled with desperation, yet also brimming with determination.

’I can’t lose him, after all...’

She knew she was unworthy, and so she used everything in the book to utilize her gift.

Taking advantage of its every strength, studying it all the time to uncover more of its power.

For the unworthy knew that it was the only thing she could use to keep up with that one person.

Therefore, she was unwilling to let go of it...

...even if her hands bled.

She would do everything to bridge the gap that stood between her and him.

This time, a mana sword once again manifested in the unworthy’s hands.

However, unlike earlier, only a singular longsword appeared.

It seemed real— like mana itself that was about to materialize.

Witnessing all of this, Glorietta’s eye twitched as a smile crept onto her lips.

’This feeling!’

As the matriarch of the Grava Familia, a family of warriors, her bloodthirst had enough power to overwhelm those weaker than her.

That was why she had always restrained it.

After all, it was hard to live a normal life while constantly emitting bloodthirst.

However, there are certain times when her bloodthirst comes out uncontrollably.

It was when she faced a challenging opponent.

Thump— Thump— Thump—

Glorietta felt the beating of her heart, bringing her excitement.

’So this is her resolve to keep up with Regis, huh?’

She could still remember the avatar of that one peculiar child that could somehow bring out her bloodthirst.

’It would be insincere of me if I didn’t meet your resolve seriously.’

The five aura stars on Glorietta’s chest shone brightly as her deep eyes brimmed with the crazed tendency of a warrior.

Despite the pressure, Dahlia’s posture was steady.

"Hooo..."

As she exhaled, her figure also shot towards Glorietta.

CLANG—-!!!

"Show me your resolve, Sweetie!"

Glorietta shouted with an excited smile as her war axe collided with the longsword made of mana.

In the years she had her gift, Dahlia had uncovered more of its power.

[A sword held by the Goddess would never break]

The power that made the sword she was holding indestructible.

[The Sword Goddess would never be exhausted when wielding a sword]

The power that made it so that she would not consume mana when maintaining mana swords.

Of course, this also included her aura.

In the past, the consumption was only reduced.

But now, there was no consumption at all.

Anything involving swords, her stamina, aura, and mana was theoretically infinite.

The only things holding her back were her mind and body.

Taking advantage of this, Dahlia created an aura art.

At this moment, she and Glorietta had already undergone hundreds of exchanges.

"More! More! More! Show me everything, Sweetie!"

Her aunt’s crazed expression seemed to trigger something within Dahlia as she assumed a stance.

The blade of her mana longsword sat parallel to her face as it pointed towards her opponent.

Seeing this, Glorietta’s smile became wider, ’A big one’s coming!’

However, her smile froze in the next second.

In Glorietta’s peripheral vision, she could see countless mana swords surrounding her.

As a Grand Warrior, she instantly knew that these were the very exact mana swords that she had knocked out of Dahlia’s hands earlier.

’But there’s no way that it could have evaded my senses...’

There was no possibility that someone at the Five Star Realm would overlook something as basic as the battlefield itself.

"Interesting..."

Glorietta’s crazed eyes shot towards Dahlia, who still had the same dazed expression as before.

Dahlia’s face twitched as if she were hurt.

[The Goddess of Swords can call upon every sword she has held from the River of History]

This was one of the most powerful abilities she had uncovered from her gift.

However, since it was neither a magic spell nor an aura art, but an ability from her gift itself, the consumption was tremendous.

Nevertheless, a chant left her pale lips.

[Maximum Output]

The hundred mana swords that surrounded Glorietta seemed to move simultaneously at this moment.

[Art Fusion: Cleave of Destruction]

[Hundredfold]

Glorietta seemed to break out of her bloodthirsty state as a thought appeared in her mind.

’The mansion will collapse at this rate...’

Before she could think any further, the light of destruction had already rained on her.

However, a smile bloomed on her face in the next second.

"I’m proud of you, Sweetie."

With this, Glorietta could now be confident that Dahlia would be able to keep up to that boy... at least by a little.

Nevertheless, a single chant left her rosy lips.

Amidst the light of destruction, her movements were slow as she calmly swung her war axe in a horizontal motion.

[Dispergia]

Wooong—-

For a moment, the world seemed to turn black and white.

By the time it returned to each original color, the light of destruction, along with the hundred mana swords, was nowhere to be found.

The mana longsword in Dahlia’s hands also dispersed as she lost consciousness.

Fortunately, Glorietta’s figure flashed by and caught her in time.

"I’m proud of you, Sweetie."

She once again repeated the words she said earlier.

Though this time, it was quiet.

A gentle smile appeared on Glorietta’s face as she carried the unconscious Dahlia and laid her carefully on the nearby bench.

Her head then turned to look at the entrance.

There, three figures were standing, each with shock written all over their faces.