NOVEL NEXT Chapter 108: The Pathetic Thorn
Chapter: 106 The Pathetic Thorn
A few minute ago...
The guild attendants carried in a massive block of dense, iron-hardened wood — a testing material that had broken more than a few blades in its time. They set it firmly in place before Ethan.
The examiner, a seasoned swordsman with salt-streaked hair and a scar across his jaw, folded his arms.
"Step forward," he said. "All you need is a single, clean cut. If you cannot, then you're not ready for B rank."
Ethan walked forward, his boots echoing against the stone floor. He studied the block carefully, frowning. The surface was smooth, but the fibers looked tightly packed — tougher than steel in places. There was no way to gauge the exact amount of force required.
Should I hold back, or…? Ethan's eyes narrowed. No. If I want to make this convincing, I can't afford half-measures. I'll use everything.
He unsheathed his dark blade with a metallic whisper, stepping into stance. Slowly, he closed his eyes. His breathing deepened, steady and measured.
The adventurers watching from the stands blinked in confusion.
"What's he doing?"
"Is he… meditating?"
"This isn't the time for theatrics…"
The examiner tilted his head, but then his expression shifted. His sharp gaze caught the faint shimmer beginning to ripple along Ethan's arm. His lips curved into a knowing smile.
Ethan pushed his focus inward, recalling the fight with the Ironfang Serpent — the moment his body had burned with energy, his senses heightened, and golden threads had coursed through him like lightning through his veins. He retraced that path, one careful step at a time.
A spark ignited.
Golden threads coiled around the length of his blade like strands of sunlight being woven together. Then, in a breath, they flared outward. A radiant golden aura engulfed his sword, gleaming with a brilliance that seemed almost divine.
The spectators froze.
"Wh—what the hell?"
"Aura…! That's aura!"
"Look at the color! Golden aura—no way!"
A young archer leaned forward, wide-eyed. "I've only ever heard of golden aura in stories… or among royal bloodlines."
Another adventurer scoffed, but uneasily. "Don't tell me he's some king's bastard son or something…"
Ethan ignored the chatter. His eyes snapped open, sharp and unwavering. With a single motion — fast as a lightning strike — he brought his sword down.
SHRAANG!
The aura-coated blade sliced through the block as though it were paper. A perfect, clean cut — the two halves split apart and fell with a heavy thud on either side.
Gasps erupted.
He released his breath and let the golden energy fade, the aura dispersing like morning mist. A subtle notification pulsed in his mind:
[Longblade/Longsword Mixed Technique (Unnamed) – 23% Mastery (Advanced)]
…Good. I'm finally starting to get a feel for it. If I polish this more, soon I'll be able to use it freely in real battle.
The examiner's voice rang out, firm and booming:
"The test is over for you."
Ethan turned his head, blinking. "What about the combat portion?"
The man shook his head with a grin. "No need. Any swordsman who can manifest aura at will has already surpassed the requirements. You've more than proven yourself."
From the crowd, a gruff adventurer added with a sigh, "He's right. I've been stuck at B rank for months, and I still can't stabilize my aura."
"Yeah," another agreed reluctantly. "With that much control, he qualifies naturally."
Murmurs rippled through the guildhall.
"Damn, nobles really are different…"
"Not sure if he's noble, but he sure isn't ordinary."
Ethan sheathed his sword and exhaled softly. "Fine." A faint smirk tugged at the edge of his lips.
The examiner raised his hand.
"Congratulations, Ethan Cross. You are officially a B-ranked adventurer."
Polite applause followed, though laced with envy. Ethan barely paid attention. His eyes scanned the crowd instinctively, searching for the silver-haired elf who should have been watching.
"…Lirael?"
But she was nowhere in sight.
And without realizing it, he began moving, weaving through the murmuring crowd in search of her.
---
The translucent screen flickered before Ethan's eyes.
[Inspect: Veyron Thalmyr]
Name: Veyron Thalmyr
Age: 243
Race: Elf (Awakened)
Class: Thornwarden (perks – 10% Strength and 20% Constitution boost)
Level: 22
Strength: 28
Vitality: 31
Constitution: 24
Agility: 34
Stamina: 32
Intelligence: 29
Mana: 24
Ethan's eyes narrowed slightly as he compared the numbers with his own.
So that's his baseline… fairly balanced. Stats nearing mine, agility is higher than mine, but once I stack my buffs—25% across the board, plus the 50% strength and mana boost… he won't even come close. I don't need to waste energy worrying about him.
But...having this system is indeed a cheat, I am just level 11, but my stats compare to level 22...and I can increase it even futher with SP.
He dismissed the screen with a flick of thought, golden lines vanishing like shattered glass. His gaze locked on Veyron, who was still seething from the earlier insult, jaw clenched, aura trembling faintly.
Ethan stepped forward, each bootfall deliberate, carrying the weight of authority. His tone dropped, sharp as a blade drawn in silence.
"You said—I dare speak to you like that?" Ethan's voice cut through the tension like steel grinding on stone. A cold smile traced his lips as his eyes narrowed into slits.
"What exactly do you expect me to say… to someone so brainless they can't tell the difference between respect and harassment? Touching what doesn't belong to you—do you think that makes you powerful? No…" He leaned ever so slightly closer, his words like a knife pressed to the throat. "…it just makes you a fool."
A ripple of shock spread among the bystanders. A few gasped quietly, others pressed lips shut, holding back nervous laughter at the audacity of insulting an Awakened elf to his face.
Veyron's ears twitched, his knuckles tightening until they went pale. His aura stirred, hot and violent.
"You—human wretch…" he hissed, teeth grinding.
But Ethan didn't flinch. His hand remained calmly atop Lirael's head, fingers brushing through her hair in a grounding gesture, his presence shielding her like an unyielding wall.
"Relax," he murmured telepathically to her, voice steady and warm in her mind. I'm here now. Nothing will happen to you.