Vol. 13 - Chapter 777 - Preparation for Conquer Day #3 - Sword God’s Reward

The First Angel Kelvin announced the outcome just as Sword God had prepared herself to deliver the final blow.

"I, I am really glad..."

"Sophiarone-sama!?"

Though, for Sophia, the sight of Allen's arm being severed, and blood dripping from them, was a sight too ghastly to withstand, and nearly blanked out. Formar immediately rushed to support her.

«I see, my hair is still a part of me.»

(Nice judgement, Refree!)

Allen rejoiced as he saw several of Sword God's hair falling before him.

«...Come on, the match is now over.»

"Wha—?!"

(Still, even if I had been stacked to the limit, ruffling merely two or three hairs of Sword God is the best I can do, huh. Well... whatever! It's just a duel of swords after all!!)

Allen was a bit disappointed that not even with «Possessed Fusion», plus buffs from his comrades, and a sword imbued with Earth God's divinity, could be a challenge to Sword God. But he didn't linger in melancholy.

He might have been using a sword as his weapon, but his essence ultimately lied in Summons! Against someone like Kurena who had devoted their entire life to the sword art, it was clear he could never match them.

As soon as Allen reached that conclusion, he felt as if the thread holding were suddenly cut-off.

«Allen-dono!»

*Thud*

First, it was his sword that hit the ground, falling from his mouth. He was about to follow the same suit when Graham immediately materialised himself, and supported Allen from falling.

"Good grief, you really played one heck of a reckless move... And all that to help us."

Dogora and Keel each picked one of Allen's arms, and brought it closer to his severed section. Before long, they fixed themselves to his elbow, and before long, even the scar was healed like they never sustained any wound.

Sword God made her way through his crowd of friends as they surrounded him in concern.

«The match was fair. Hey, Kurena! I am going to drill my ultimate technique in you before the battle with Demon King. And it's not going to be easy!»

"Y-Yes, I understand!"

(And the rest, too. The promise was not just for Kurena after all. Hmm, this is going to bring our vanguard and midguard's strength up by a notch.)

The reward was meant for Dogora, Formar, and Ignomas as well.

"I am counting on you to tell the other Armament Gods."

«This would depend on their decision. You heard the situation. We're currently in a crunch! There's no deadline, just drill your technique as much as possible.»

Then Sword God issued her command to the Armament Gods. They, too, had been present to witness the outcome.

(So, it's finally over, safely. Hmm?)

Just as Allen was relieved, going over his next schedule for the day, he captured Kurena running toward him, her expression resembling the volcano at the verge of eruption.

"I can't believe it! Just how reckless you can be, Allen!!"

"Huh? W-wait a minute. I, I am injure—"

She pushed aside others, and grabbed Allen by his collar, lifting him so high his legs dangled into air. Kurena was furious, her eyes trembling with tears. It was a match where any mistake was bound to end in doom.

"You're right. I had never asked him to lay his life for me."

"I know, right. We almost lost our chance to rescue Lupto-sama."

Neither Dogora, nor Keel showed any intention to stop her.

(Hey, I am not asking for gratitude, but help this poor soul—Sword God?)

Just as Allen was running his gaze around for help, he realised Sword God was no longer glancing at him.

«Hmm, now that I see it, there is a reward meant for you.»

"I appreciate your efforts, but I fear I am far from the person who can train in Sword God's ultimate techniques and bring them to use in a short timeframe."

Kurena mistook Sword God's words as if they're addressed to her, and remarked, but stopped when she saw Sword God's attention was somewhere else. Though it calmed her down, she finally lowered Allen from her clutch.

Sword God stood in front of Graham, behind Allen.

«Hmm? I?»

«......There are quite some odd holes in your soul. It's as if they need to be filled with power....Is this Lupto's intention? Interesting.»

Sword God chuckled to herself as she looked up at the 15 meter tall silhouette of Graham. Then, she slowly reached out for his waist, touching it.

(This scene looks so familiar. Right, it's just like Luvanka's situation...)

Allen felt a deja-vu when he saw Sword God reaching out her hand for Graham's waist. It was just like the situation where Wind God Viz had helped unlock the seal of Luvanka. Back then, Shea had been training in the temple of Beast God Gran when it happened.

«Are you saying you're conferring power to me...?»

«Indeed, so be grateful for it. Use this power to protect your master from taking foolish action. I have witnessed your loyalty, and it's impressive.»

It appeared Sword God had seen through Allen and Graham's exchange. One making a reckless move, the other trying to stop him.

*Gulg*

Divine power condensed on Sword God's hand as she brought it closer to Graham, and then, channeled it into him, as if piercing through his belly.

«Aargh!? W-what's...?! My power! It's overflowing!!»

*Crack-Crack*

Like a crack emerging emerging on a coccoon, and rays of brilliance seeping out of it, a newfound power surged within Graham. His spiritual body, wrapped in pale ghastly flames, shone in golden radiance. It was like lifeforce had been vigorously coming out from him

*Fwoosh*

Suddenly, Grimoire appeared before Allen, and a new entry took its place in silver letters, appearing striking against the jet black paper.

«Spirit S summoned beast's awakening skill, «Knight's Loyalty», has been unsealed.»

"Pfft!? Graham's awakening skill is finally unlocked?!"

(Uh-huh. So, in the end, the condition was to overcome the trial of a higher god and earn their recognition.)

After Old Wind God Viz precedent, Allen had visited other elemental gods, and the one he was familiar with, and had requested if they could help in unsealing the skills of his S-rank summons.

"It's not something we can meddle in. However be relieved, you will know when conditions are ripe,' this was the reply he had got from them.

And, now that he had a second example, Allen was confident the crux of the matter wasn't 'god.' It had to be 'Higher God.' The Old Wind God, too, was a higher god after all. The trial with Sword God brought in a new power.

"What're you doing, Allen."

"Shut up, Kurena. I am currently busy. Return back to your training!!"

«Allen has a point. To make sure you learn my ultimate arts by deadline, we may have to increase our pace. Kurena, you're forbidden from dinner if you failed in learning them.»

"Waah?! This is the second time I am missing out on my meals!!"

Kurena shrieked, taken aback by Sword God's announcement. Regardless, she reluctantly followed the rest, and shifted to Sword God's Martial Hall.

(Now then, I need to return back and focus on Creation Skill. I can analyse Graham's awakening skill then.)

«What's going on...»

"Oh, hey Kelvin-san. I appreciate your judgement."

«Well, yeah. It was a fair and square match at the end....I, too, request you to rescue Lupto-sama.»

He lowered his head in request to Allen.

"Don't say the obvious. We're going to bring her back to the Divine Realm."

After assuring him with a smile, Allen, too, returned back to the Sword God's Martial Hall for further analysis.

The time flew like a fleeing dream, and before long, the clock ticks closer to renew the day in just a short while. Late at night.

«Haa... haa... I am at my limit. I haven't even had my dinner."

Kurena lay sprawled in front of Sword God, like she was a child. In this realm, perhaps Kurena alone had the audacity to act brazen in front of the god revered by countless swordsmen of the Human Realm.

«You're a hopeless one, you know. Fine, take a six hour break, but I want you here in the early morning sharp. And this means all of you!!»

«Well, you heard her. Dogora, have a meal and take a rest. Tomorrow is going to be an even more intense day.»

«Yeah, Dogora. You're my apostle. Just keep up the pace.»

"I, I know..."

Soon, even Dogora was brought to the brink of exhaustion, so much so that he couldn't even tell who was speaking to him.

He was being trained by Axe God, in-between Fire God would encourage him. With exhaustion seeping deep into his bone, he barely managed to shoulder Kagutsuchi, and dragged himself to the resting area outside.

"Feel free to have your fill with Kabuco's «Nutritious Food». There's no limit!!"

Ignomas and Formar, too, adjourned their training till the morning, and dragged their exhausted body toward the base.

The group's meal was taken care of by Grass H. Grass H's «Emergency Ration», shaped like turnip, was enough to fill the stomach for one whole day. On the other hand, the awakening skill «Nutritious Good» could bring up 100 people's share of food.

It tasted sweet, required no cooking, and could be stored for a long time without fearing it turning rotten. In fact, even though its skins were edible, there was no wastage, which made it perfect for the field ration.

There was a whole mountain of turnips in the diner of their base magic tool.

"I need ten of them..."

"I want 12..."

Kurena and Dogora replied to Allen, too exhausted to even bother a glance at him.

"Well... I think you should take a rest, too, Allen-sama."

"Hmm?...Oh, I know. I am just about to be finished here. I will take my break then."

Sophia urged him to take a rest, but citing just a bite more, and he would be done, he urged Sophia to leave ahead. Sophia showed a reluctant expression, but ultimately heed his word, and returned back.

Once Sophia had left, Allen immediately returned back to his analysis of Graham's new skill. And not long after that, Allen had finally finished the analysis of «Knight's Loyalty»—Graham;s awakening skill.

(Woah. This... this is quite a game changer skill for the upcoming war! The power up is crazy!!)

Allen's eyes shone with sparkle as he went over the details in the Grimoire.

—Graham's status with «Knight's Loyalty»—

[Race] Spirit

[Rank] S

[Name] Graham

[Endurance] 4,000/40,000

[Mana] 40,000

[Attack] 40,000

[Resistance] 50,000

[Agility] 40,000

[Intelligence] 50,000 + 100,000

[Luck] 40,000

[Blessing] Resistance 5000, Intelligence 5000, Clear Mind

[Abilities] Soul Severance Blade Rev., Soul Cursed Flame Explosion Rev., Magic Eater Rev., Soul Saber Rev., Warrior's Howl Rev.

[Awakened Ability] Possessed Fusion, Sacred Sphere Generation, Knight's Loyalty

[Awakened Skill «Knight's Loyalty» Effect]

1. Activates when Endurance is 1 or below.

2. Improvised Mediation with Sword God Techniques ※5 times.

3. Grants Physical Resistance (Extreme)

4. All techniques are improvised, denoted by "Rev.". Their power is increased by two fold.

5. Intelligence 100,000

6. Grants Physical Resistance (Strong) to allies within a kilometer radius.

7. Recover Mana and Spiritual Aura at +3% per second (May superimpose with Phantasmal Beast Form)

8. The effect may overlap with Warrior's Howl effect and Possessed Fusion.

9. The effects last for one hour.

10. The cooldown is one day.

(Wow, that's a lot to unpack... I guess that se...ttles our tomorrow... schedule——)

«......Good grief.»

Merus murmured in exasperation.

It was late at night. After overexerting himself all day long, Allen's consciousness automatically blacked out just as he was done with Graham's analysis. He apparently didn't even bother returning to base, and was about to plant his face into the field.

At the end, it fell on Merus to carry the fainted Allen on his back, and return to the base.