Novel Full Chapter 431:Sword Intent Awakening
Chapter 431:Sword Intent Awakening
“What do you mean what I am doing?”
Ray’s breathing turned heavy.
“Why do I have to work so hard while you enjoy everything? Why are you still young while I became old and frail?”
Ethan narrowed his eyes slightly.
“Oh,” he said calmly. “It is because you are the firstborn. You were born when I was weakest. That is why you are the weakest of all.”
The words pierced deeply.
“Why?” Ray shouted, his voice cracking. “Why do I have to suffer because of this!”
His vision blurred as rage and despair mixed together. Reality and illusion began collapsing into each other.
Then the whispers returned.
You are useless, Ray.
You are nothing but trash.
A piece of shit destined to hit a wall and stop growing.No matter how hard you try, you will always fall behind.
Ray clutched his head as darkness wrapped around him. His thoughts became chaotic, and anger threatened to swallow his sanity completely.
But suddenly—
Another memory appeared.
A battlefield.
His father standing before overwhelming enemies.
The moment Ethan unleashed the Order of Eternal Blade.
That overwhelming determination.
That desperation.
Ray’s breathing slowed.
Since when… did Father ever behave like this?
Among all siblings, he was the one closest to Ethan. He had seen the exhaustion hidden behind smiles. He knew how worried Ethan had always been since rising from a mere Baron. His father feared that one day someone stronger would crush their family without mercy.
That was why Ethan worked endlessly.
That was why he carried everything first before passing responsibility to them.
If after protecting everyone for years… his father wished to rest and smile…Then what was wrong with carrying the burden himself?
Potential?
Talent?
He no longer believed in that bullshit.
Strength was not inheritance.
It was a choice.
Ray slowly stood up.
The illusion cracked around him.
His eyes burned with fierce clarity as he roared.
“Those who stand before me will be annihilated!”
His voice thundered across the collapsing world.
“Anyone who dares to block my way will be killed!”
Outside, Ethan had no idea what kind of battle Ray was facing within his mind, yet worry slowly crept into his heart as time passed.
According to everything he had learned, when someone consumed a Sword Intent Potion, the greatest obstacle was not physical pain but the inner demon they encountered. The stronger the warrior, the more terrifying the illusion became.
There was an old saying among swordsmen.
The stronger the inner demon you defeat, the purer and stronger your belief becomes afterward.
That difference decided the quality of aura a person would awaken.
Ethan watched silently.
Ray was kneeling on the ground, breathing heavily as if every breath required effort. Sweat soaked his clothes, and his face had turned pale. His fingers trembled slightly while his body shook from exhaustion.
Ethan frowned.
“If even Ray is suffering like this…” he murmured inwardly.
He could not help but think about Miranda and Herion. Compared to Ray, their hearts were softer and far less tempered by life-and-death battles. If they failed to overcome their inner demons, they could still advance through a pseudo path, but that shortcut would permanently seal their future growth.
That was something Ethan absolutely did not want.
Just then—
The sword lying beside Ray suddenly trembled.
A thin and unstable aura flickered along the blade’s edge like flowing mist.
For a brief second, the ground beneath Ray cracked slightly, and a burst of wind spread outward from his body, lifting dust and loose stones into the air.
The phenomenon lingered for a few moments before silence returned.
Ray remained kneeling, breathing roughly while sweat dripped onto the stone floor.
Ethan did not interrupt.
He simply waited.
After several long seconds, Ray slowly opened his eyes.
They were different now.
Clearer.
Sharper.
Filled with conviction.
“…I felt it,” Ray whispered hoarsely.
A faint smile appeared on Ethan’s face.
“Quickly discern it,” Ethan shouted immediately.
Ray nodded firmly and grabbed his sword.
The moment his fingers wrapped around the hilt, a silver hue flowed across the blade. The aura moved freely like calm water, gentle yet unwavering. It was completely different from Ethan’s crimson sword intent, which dominated and suppressed everything in its path.
Ray took a deep breath and began executing a series of movements.
Each strike carried intention and each motion of the sword flowed naturally.
The sword hummed softly as silver light traced through the air, marking his first true step toward the Master Realm, the threshold separating strong warriors from real powerhouses.
Ethan watched quietly with satisfaction.
Ray had crossed the line.
…
The awakening of Ray’s sword aura caused an immediate stir inside the estate.
Especially for Sophia.
“Wuu… Wuu…” Sophia rushed forward the moment Ray returned and grabbed him tightly, pulling him into a suffocating embrace while crying loudly.
Ray’s face twisted in pain.
“Mother… I know you are happy, but don’t cry like this,” he said helplessly. “People might think father bullies you.”
“It’s not father… If you…” Sophia sniffed loudly while holding him even tighter.
Ray tried to comfort her, but before he could finish, Sophia suddenly lifted her head with shining eyes.
“Even you have unlocked your sword aura, so when the hell will I unlock mine?”
Ray froze.
“…Wait,” he said slowly while staring at her in disbelief. “So you aren’t crying because you are happy for your son, but because you are sad?”
Sophia immediately bit her lip after being exposed.
“How can that be!” she shouted defensively. “I am very happy!”
She crossed her arms proudly and added, “By the way, ask your father to give me some potion so I can break through quicker and help him deal with enemies. Go.”
Ray felt a headache forming instantly.
He rubbed his forehead while silently praying.
Father… you really shouldn’t have let mother know about the potion.
Now you are in deep trouble.
Not far away, Ethan, who had just arrived, suddenly felt an inexplicable chill run down his spine.