The Return of the Limited-Time Sword Master

Chapter 109: Noble Duty (1)

A world of pure whiteness, empty and barren.

Martin stood at the center of it, gazing upward.

Above him, Arelia von Adalbert looked down.

Swish.

She raised her right arm high, then moved her hand as though grasping something.

Next, she slowly pulled her right arm as if dragging something toward her, and finally, she flung her arm as if throwing it.

Shiver!

Martin felt a chill wash over his body.

He sensed a tremendous surge of mana shooting skyward.

*“What kind of spectacle is she attempting this time?”*

He had once experienced a whirlwind that felt like it would tear the world apart, and flames hot enough to melt everything. Though he thought he had seen it all, it seemed he was sorely mistaken.

And unfortunately, his suspicions became reality.

“…What is that?”

Martin’s face twisted into a mirthless smile.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

A massive rock, engulfed in a scorching red aura, plummeted at a terrifying speed.

Its size was colossal, with a diameter exceeding 100 meters.

“She’s using gravity to pull a meteor… Can someone who isn’t even a mage really do this?”

“At this level, the lines between magic and martial arts blur. Anything is possible.”

“No wonder people call those who reach the tenth circle ‘Absolutes.’”

“Precisely. Anyway, slice through that meteor. If you succeed, you’ll have passed the third chapter, ‘Field of Gravity.’”

“What’s next, I wonder?”

“No need to grumble. You’ve already grasped the essentials, haven’t you? You only learned this recently, yet here you are.”

“Well, that’s because I’ve come to understand the essence of Arelia’s swordsmanship.”

“Then pass this test with that so-called talent of yours.”

With that, Arelia clamped her mouth shut.

Letting out a sigh, Martin gripped his holy sword, Karadyl, tightly.

Then, he lowered his stance as much as possible, bending his knees.

“The core of the third chapter is division.”

In the first chapter, he learned to unify with great power through the wind; in the second, he amplified and released potent energy using flames.

And in the third, he learned to split and compress the overwhelming force derived from gravity to adapt to various situations.

Boom!

As Martin pushed off the ground with all his might, a crater formed beneath him as his body shot up into the air.

The speed was already tremendous, but that was only the beginning.

Martin applied Distortion of All Things to manipulate gravity.

As he did, three golden rings formed around him.

“Stage one.”

Boom!

The first ring exploded outward as though a mana engine had ignited, and his speed increased, causing his body to glow red-hot from the friction.

“It’s even bigger up close.”

Just looking at the meteor sent his heart racing. If that colossal mass actually fell, it would be enough to wipe out an entire city.

Keeping his composure, Martin activated the second ring.

His body, now glowing crimson, turned to pure gold.

“Ugh!”

Martin stifled a groan.

Although his body had recovered to half of his prime strength, it still struggled to endure the extreme speed.

As a golden streak of light, Martin hurtled toward the meteor.

The distance between them closed quickly, and at the right moment, he unleashed the power of the third ring.

“Stage three!”

While the first and second rings had only boosted his speed, the third was different.

A golden wave shot forward, pulverizing or deflecting everything in his path.

Simultaneously, he swung Karadyl with all his might.

Boom!

Karadyl collided with the meteor, and Martin barely suppressed a scream.

He used gravity to deflect the shock from the impact, pushing away the aftershocks.

But the pain felt as though his entire body would burst.

The scorching heat also threatened to consume him.

Yet, Martin did not falter.

“Haaap!”

With a repulsive force generated by gravity, he deflected everything he touched, using double acceleration to continue moving forward.

He kept swinging his sword.

Boom! Boom!

The meteor shattered repeatedly, scattering fragments everywhere.

How much time had passed?

Finally, Martin succeeded in slicing the meteor in half.

“It’s done.”

Martin trembled with exhilaration and joy.

Though he had passed several trials, the third one was special.

It was a trial of Gravitational Mastery, a unique ability only manifested by direct descendants of the imperial bloodline.

Even though overcoming gravitational manipulation directly was impossible, the fact that he could disrupt it held significant meaning.

“This will be a tremendous advantage in the upcoming civil war.”

Martin silently thanked Arelia for helping him manifest Distortion of All Things first.

—

Having exhausted all his power, he fell limply in midair, but he didn’t hit the ground.

Arelia lifted him, as if waiting for this moment.

“Well done. You’ve passed the third chapter, the Field of Gravity, and achieved extreme acceleration through division.”

“Huff… Huff… You don’t seem too surprised anymore?”

“I’ve seen your talent enough to grow tired of it. So, I decided to simply accept whatever you accomplish from now on.”

“Ha ha.”

Seeing Arelia’s genuinely calm expression, Martin chuckled sheepishly.

She shook her head with a gesture, and Martin’s body began to glow, his wounds healing.

“Dawn of the New Year has arrived outside. Does that pointless tradition still persist?”

“Goodness. You’re probably the only founder who considers the ‘Noble Duty’ a useless tradition. Doesn’t that duty justify the nobles’ authority?”

The Noble Duty.

At the New Year, each noble landowner was required to enter a dungeon and subjugate monsters.

They had to descend as deep as possible, accompanied by no more than three people.

This tradition began with the nobles of the Cracian continent, who originally saved people from monsters, including even emperors and kings.

Today, nobles saw this as an opportunity to demonstrate their prowess and often competed fiercely.

“And there’s a small event this time, though it’s minor.”

“An event?”

“After returning from the dungeon, I’ll receive my S-rank Adventurer License in front of the citizens.”

“For a noble who reaches a certain level, isn’t that license granted automatically? And haven’t you already proven yourself?”

“As you said, founding ancestor, but I thought a special start to the New Year would be fitting.”

“…Sometimes, I wonder if you’re really only nineteen.”

“I matured early due to many hardships in my youth.”

“You certainly have a way with words, though we both know that’s not all.”

As Arelia grumbled, Martin smirked.

After eyeing him, Arelia voiced a sudden thought.

“Once you return from the dungeon, you’ll head to the capital for the Founding Festival.”

“I suppose so. Ah, if only our founding ancestor had defeated the first emperor, it would be them coming to us instead.”

“Do you wish for death?”

“…No, ma’am.”

Seeing her stern look, Martin quickly lowered his head.

Arelia smirked.

“So easily frightened by a joke.”

“If an Absolute at the tenth circle gives a cold stare, everyone would react the same.”

“Not my concern. Still, the Founding Festival is an uncomfortable event for the Three Great Houses.”

“Indeed.”

Martin responded with a bitter expression.

It had been an unbroken rule for a thousand years that the imperial family and the Three Great Houses did not interfere with each other.

But the Founding Festival was an exception.

It celebrated the founding of the Altaria Empire, and on this day, every lord was required to travel to the capital, Raize.

Even the heads of the Three Great Houses.

For them, it was a painful reminder of defeat, an unwelcome tradition.

“If it were up to me, I would have preferred to win, but that bastard was a monster.”

“Aren’t you both at the tenth circle?”

“Yes, but he was something else. Be cautious when dealing with the Altarian royals. They’re strong, yes, but more than that, they’re unpredictable.”

“Could you give me an example?”

*“I’m not here to instill biases. See and judge for yourself.”*

“Hmm. Understood.”

“By the way, have you met the heads of the other Great Houses?”

“…Only once, though it wasn’t a pleasant experience.”

As a child, he’d met them in the capital, but they had all looked down on his father, deeming him unworthy of a Great House head.

“Well, my father was indeed weaker than even the heirs of the other Great Houses, partly because my grandfather passed away sooner than theirs. He didn’t want me to suffer the same humiliation, so he never took me to the festival again. Though I doubt this time will be much different.”

“It will be. You’re still the heir, not the head. Besides, even the Great House heads can’t ignore your talent.”

“That’s true. But I remember well how powerful they are.”

Although he hadn’t understood their strength as a child, he had sensed their greatness.

Not only did they far surpass human limits, but they exuded a kind of divinity.

“Soon enough, considering the empire’s current situation, you may have to face them.”

“I believe so. Though

I can’t win now, I’ll eventually surpass them. And when that happens, the Founding Festival will be held in Varehain City.”

“That would be quite amusing.”

Arelia smiled, pleased with her descendant’s bold resolve.

“Anyway, go safely. Don’t get hurt. Your body is no longer yours alone.”

“I understand. No need to worry. By the way, what will I learn in the fourth chapter?”

“The final chapter, the ‘Field of Space.’ It’s the foundation of Adalbert swordsmanship as we know it today.”

“I look forward to that day.”

“I’m less enthusiastic. Teaching you lacks the usual satisfaction.”

“Such words might scar your descendant’s heart!”

“Not you, of all people.”

“Ah.”

Martin clicked his tongue, then bowed to Arelia before leaving the Tyrant’s Chamber.

He had much to prepare.

“If I’m descending into the dungeon, I should make it as impressive as possible.”

Thus, the New Year began.