Chapter 217: Pointing to Two Heroic Spirits

Chapter 217: Chapter 217: Pointing to Two Heroic Spirits

After Lance turned and left without the slightest hesitation, a light patter of footsteps soon echoed through the tranquil canyon.

A figure clad in a silver-blue armored Battle Skirt pushed aside the hanging vines and slowly walked toward the water.

Elvira stood by the lake, her emerald eyes filled with a hint of confusion.

A moment ago in the Star Realm Corridor, she had indeed been guided by a powerful Treasure.

But according to the records left by past kings in the Royal Family’s secret archives, once the trial of the Heroic Spirit Baptism officially began, the Trial Taker was usually teleported directly to the core area where the Treasure was located.

’Yet it seems I was tossed outside the valley.’

The Treasures displayed in the corridor were all spiritual manifestations in this Star Realm of Legendary items from the Material Realm.

The Heroic Spirit Baptism had a secret benefit known only among a few Great Nobles.

Namely, while a Trial Taker underwent the trial by channeling the will of a Treasure, they would form a faint connection of fate with the actual item left behind in the Material Realm by the corresponding ancient Heroic Spirit.

With this special bond, if Elvira were to search for and seek the approval of those remaining Holy Relics in the real world in the future, the difficulty would drop precipitously.

Of course.

For all Trial Takers who entered the Star Realm, the greatest benefit was still the Heroic Spirit Protection obtained after the trial.

It was completely different from the effects of the Low Tier Protections rumored among Ordinary Adventurers in the outside world.

The highest-grade Golden Legend Protection even held the power to cause a Professional’s Talent or bloodline to undergo a metamorphosis.

Elvira pushed aside her distracting thoughts.

She stepped lightly on the protruding rocks on the lake’s surface, making her way toward the massive round stone in the center of the lake.

When she got a clear look at the ornate Cross Sword thrust into the stone, its hilt carved with a bird totem, the young woman’s heart couldn’t help but pound in her chest, a surge of joy welling up inside her.

’This sword’s magnificent design is identical to the one in the oil paintings in the Royal Family’s collection!’

King’s Choice Sword

The personal sword of the Founding Monarch, Clovis Pendragon.

This sword, a symbol of Royal Authority, had frighteningly high standards; in the Royal Family’s several-hundred-year history, very few descendants had ever managed to truly resonate with it.

And those royal ancestors who had been fortunate enough to gain the Holy Sword’s recognition during their Heroic Spirit Baptism had, without exception, all become wise and ambitious monarchs.

Elvira took a deep breath, calming her racing heart.

She stepped forward and, with hands clad in Silver Arm Armor, gripped the cerulean hilt tightly.

The moment she exerted her strength, she could feel the Holy Sword vibrating violently within the stone.

The feeling...

...was as if it had been provoked by some pent-up frustration and was desperate to break free from this blasted rock that bound it.

Elvira gritted her teeth, put a sudden burst of strength into her arms, and pulled the Longsword from the fissure in the rock, inch by inch.

"Protect the weak of the world, and demand nothing in return..."

As more of the blade was freed from the rock, the Holy Sword’s voice echoed in her mind.

The five harsh conditions of kingship were listed one by one by the Treasure’s will.

Elvira showed not the slightest hesitation.

’This is the responsibility a monarch should bear.’

In her heart, she agreed to all these tenets without hesitation.

As the last inch of the blade left the stone with a clear ringing sound, a dazzling golden light instantly illuminated the entire canyon.

However.

Just as Elvira was preparing to receive the details of her trial, the Holy Sword suddenly made a request in her mind that she couldn’t make heads or tails of.

"Go and utterly defeat that despicable spear-wielder for me!"

A flash of shock and bewilderment crossed Elvira’s emerald eyes.

’A despicable spear-wielder?’

’Didn’t the Royal Family elders say that the trials of the Heroic Spirit Baptism were all completed solo?’

’How could another Trial Taker have appeared here in the Star Realm?’

...

「Meanwhile, in another desolate canyon.」

Lance stood on the edge of a cliff, a heavy spear held firmly in his hand.

The spear’s design was simple, even a bit crude.

The fearsome Dragon Head carved on the butt of the spear and the dark red cracks along its shaft were identical to the weapon he had seen in the "King of the North" fate-track vision.

Lance didn’t think there was anything wrong with having just shoved that King’s Choice Sword back into the stone.

’In my opinion, when you’re running a dungeon, you should always pick the most suitable equipment. Being selective is just normal player behavior.’

And he certainly didn’t think a Justice Envoy would suddenly pop out in a solo dungeon to get revenge for that stupid sword.

Lance gripped the spear’s shaft with one hand, applying a little pressure with his wrist.

He watched as the once-faint scarlet patterns on the shaft suddenly lit up, as if blood were flowing through them.

Immediately after, a heroic voice boomed directly in Lance’s mind.

"HAHAHAHAHA!"

The voice laughed with wild abandon.

"It seems you gave up on that sword in the end!"

The Treasure’s will seemed extremely pleased; one could even detect a note of schadenfreude at seeing its old rival get snubbed.

"Looks like I didn’t pick the wrong person. With that sword’s prideful, face-saving temper, it’s probably so mad right now it wants to shatter its own blade."

After the laughter, the Gun Spirit’s voice quickly grew serious.

"Not only do you share a remarkably similar path of fate with Leonidas, but your personality also destined you to be the one to draw me!"

"Listen well, young man."

"My name is Ascalon."

"My trial is always straightforward. There is only one requirement."

As soon as the voice faded, a blue notification light-screen popped up on Lance’s retina.

[Spear of the Lake: Overlord’s Creed (Reputation Acquisition Protocol Activated)]

[Equivalent Protection: A Dominator never bestows cheap pity. When you grant protection to the weak, provide a safe environment, or help them resolve a crisis, the weak must offer wealth, supplies, or absolute loyalty of equal value as a "tribute" in exchange for your mercy.]

Seeing this straightforward rule, Lance couldn’t help but let out a loud whistle in his mind.

’This is great!’

’This reputation acquisition protocol is perfectly to my taste.’

’Get paid for services rendered. A clean transaction, no debts owed.’

"The trial requirements for us Heroic Spirit Treasures are actually formed from the legends passed down by word of mouth in the Material Realm over hundreds of years."

Ascalon’s bold voice continued to explain in Lance’s mind.

"That sword’s legends are the most widespread in history. The common folk embellished its tales, making it out to be too noble and righteous, which is why the requirements forced upon it are the most numerous and cumbersome."

"I, on the other hand, am much freer in that regard."

Ascalon snorted coldly.

"The legends about me are mostly confined to the northern ice fields, so naturally, I’m not shackled by so many nonsensical rules."

"But remember this."

"As Legendary Treasures both belonging to the Golden Tier, the Heroic Spirit Protections we represent are absolutely equal in rank. They are both among the highest tier available in the baptism."

At this point, a clear note of pride entered Ascalon’s tone.

"And there is one thing where I definitively surpass that piece of junk sword."

"I exist as the exclusive Treasure of two top-tier Heroic Spirits simultaneously!"

"One is the first King of the North, Leonidas, who accomplished the great feat of slaying a dragon."

"The other is ’White Dragon’ Lotar Nibelungen, who later vied with Clovis Pendragon for dominion over the world."

"No matter which of the Protections they left behind you obtain, you will gain immense Power."

Ascalon paused for a moment.

"Of course, because of that sword’s forceful intervention in this trial, the gaze of White Dragon Lotar will certainly be drawn here more frequently."

"He might grant you a suitable Protection based on your performance in this world."

"Now, have you made up your mind, kid?"

After hearing all this, Lance answered honestly, "I’ve mostly made up my mind, but I’ve always used swords or Body Techniques before. I’ve never properly learned any Spear Technique."

"What kind of trivial crap is that?"

Ascalon laughed dismissively.

"During the trial ahead, I’ll naturally teach you myself, bit by bit."

"In that case, I have nothing to hesitate about."

Lance made his decision without any delay.

Ever since the fate track of the [Spear of the Lake] was forcibly grafted onto him, he had actually been considering whether he should find a reliable school of Spear Technique to train at once he returned to the real world.

Now that the will of a Legendary Treasure was willing to be his personal trainer for free, only a fool would refuse such a golden opportunity to get Skills for free.

Besides, after listening to Ascalon’s introduction to the Treasure’s background, the once-fuzzy clues in Lance’s mind suddenly connected as if strung together by a single thread.

He finally understood.

Back in the Star Realm Corridor, why had his perpetually half-dead secondary Profession, [Jhin, the Virtuoso], suddenly acted up at the last moment?

It didn’t just forcibly interfere with his choice; it had blocked the rightmost option, the one symbolizing the [Flawless Sword Scabbard].

All of these abnormal actions could be understood by looking at the core condition for taking on the [Jhin, the Virtuoso] Profession.

The fundamental theme of [Jhin, the Virtuoso], from beginning to end, was "to see through falsehoods and resist a manipulated fate."

And for something to provoke such a strong repulsive Trait even before he had officially taken on the Profession... it could only point to one deeply terrifying truth!

The blocked [Flawless Sword Scabbard] was very likely the predetermined path that the mastermind hiding behind the scenes had meticulously plotted for him to choose!