Chapter 94
Chapter 94
A massive circular arena unfolded magnificently beneath the moonlight.
The pure white marble stands, capable of holding tens of thousands, rose toward the sky, and at the center lay a wide dueling ground made of granite.
“…I-it’s finally starting, right?”
“I’m so nervous. It’s my first time seeing this in person. Is it really okay for servants like us to watch this?”
“It doesn’t matter. As long as you belong to the Winterbell family, you have the right. Haha! This is already my third time seeing it.”
The dome-shaped roof was open, revealing the night sky in full view, while thousands of magical lamps emitted a soft glow, illuminating the space.
Ancient sacred patterns, passed down from antiquity, were engraved across the floor of the training ground, and they faintly shimmered under the moonlight.
In every section of the stands, nobles and knights from various nations took their seats. The golden flag of the Imperial Family, the red flag of Helios, and the white flag of Winterbell fluttered in the night wind.
“…Th-the atmosphere is no joke. What do I do? My heart is beating too fast. When in my life would I ever witness something like this?”
“I understand, but don’t make a spectacle of yourself. Even if you’re a servant, you still represent Winterbell.”
“I’ll keep that in mind!”
Around the training ground, the knight orders of each family stood in perfectly aligned formations. The Imperial Knights’ golden armor shone brilliantly under the moonlight, Helios’ knights let their red capes billow, and Winterbell’s knights wore frost-like, pure white armor.
“That’s the White Wolf.”
“Grandpa, what’s the White Wolf?”
“Shh! You mustn’t say that so loudly.”
“…Just what is it—”
Arkan Winterbell stepped out to the center of the training ground. His snow-white hair fluttered in the night wind, and his flawless features appeared even more imposing beneath the moonlight.
His deep blue formal attire swayed with his dignified stride. A chill had already begun to gather around him, and with each step he took, frost formed on the marble floor.
His deep voice echoed throughout the entire arena.
“The friendly match that begins now…”
Everyone held their breath as they listened.
Though it sounded as if he spoke softly, his grand and weighty voice struck everyone’s ears.
“…will be decided solely by swordsmanship. No aura, no mana—nothing of the sort may be used. This is a tradition begun by our ancestors, and the true spirit of a swordsman.”
A brilliant blue light bloomed from his body.
It was the moment the Makina of ice manifested.
A frost-like energy enveloped the entire arena, and as the cold grew ever more intense, the participants began to feel changes occurring within their own bodies.
Arkan’s Makina was not merely the power of ice, but a primordial chill.
An absolute cold wave that could freeze everything—that was Arkan’s Makina.
At first, a faint frost began to form in the air.
Then, gradually, the cold intensified.
As if time itself had stopped, droplets of moisture in the air froze one by one, reflecting the moonlight and creating a scene as though countless diamonds were floating in the sky.
A servant from the Imperial side spoke with a trembling voice.
“Th-that is…!”
“The power of a god… right before our eyes…”
“M-Makina…”
A young knight of Winterbell whispered.
“To actually witness the Patriarch’s Makina…”
Even a veteran knight of Helios felt as though his breath had stopped.
Though he had devoted his entire life to swordsmanship, this was his first time witnessing Makina—called the power of a god—with his own eyes.
“…Something I’d only heard of in legends…”
“So that’s the Makina of ice…”
“The air… it feels like it’s freezing…”
The nobles in the stands could not close their mouths. Everyone was overwhelmed by Arkan’s Makina. The moment they witnessed the power of Deus—of which only five existed in the world—they realized they had become witnesses to a historic moment.
“So this… is the Patriarch’s power…”
“To have seen this alone is an infinite honor…”
“I feel like I’ll never, ever forget this sight for the rest of my life.”
All eyes were fixed on a single point.
Before that power, so close to the domain of the divine, none could hide their awe.
An even greater change was taking place within the participants’ bodies. The mana flowing through their veins slowly began to freeze. The participants from the Imperial side felt their radiant power fading away, while those from Helios saw their flame-like mana extinguishing.
‘…So this is Makina. It truly deserves to be called the power of a god. It feels bizarrely alien.’
‘Freezing a human’s mana entirely… is that even realistically possible? Even a mage who has reached the pinnacle would not be able to wield such divine power.’
‘This is my first time seeing the Makina wielded by a Deus… Now I understand why they are called demigods.’
The participants from Winterbell also sensed their cold power being sealed.
The Chancellor silently observed the scene. There was a depth in his gaze, as though he was evaluating everything.
‘No matter how many times I see the power called Makina, I cannot get used to it. In the end, what divides the continent, what determines the national strength of an empire… is how many Deus they possess…’
The primordial aura of ice reached its peak. The entire training ground transformed into something like a massive ice palace. Countless ice crystals sparkled in the air, and the moonlight reflected off them, creating an even more fantastical sight.
The ancient patterns engraved on the ground were now trapped within the ice crystals, emitting a mysterious glow.
The nobles in the stands held their breath as they watched. The three great powers, each boasting centuries of history, had laid down all their strength and would now compete using only swordsmanship. This was not merely a match—it was a moment that demonstrated the true meaning of a swordsman.
The ice crystals began to shatter one by one in midair, like powdered crystal scattering down.
It was the signal that the freezing was complete.
Now, everyone present here could no longer use any power other than swordsmanship.
All were shocked by this act that defied common sense—freezing the mana within the body—except for Rayven Helios, who was also a Deus. Yet no one showed it outwardly.
Rather, most felt reverence.
A being that transcended humanity.
They were experiencing firsthand what kind of existence a Deus—called a demigod—truly was. Not only had he reached the ultimate pinnacle in swordsmanship, but he also wielded the power of a god, inspiring even the most prideful humans with respect.
Arkan Winterbell slowly lowered his hand.
“The sealing is complete. You will no longer be able to use mana. If anyone is experiencing any abnormalities, speak to me now.”
The participants examined their bodies.
Just as Arkan Winterbell had said, even when they tried to circulate the mana within their bodies, it felt as though something was completely blocked—only a cold chill lingered, and nothing happened.
Ran Winterbell, who was also a Deus, examined his body far more meticulously than the others.
‘So this is how the Makina of ice works. To think it’s possible to freeze the mana within the body… As expected of a primordial power. But if I use my own Makina, it might not be impossible to undo it.’
In the training ground where moonlight and the aura of ice intertwined, a true festival of chivalry—where victory would be decided solely by swordsmanship—was about to begin. Each sword carried its wielder’s beliefs and will, and that was the true meaning of this friendly match.
“I will assume there is no one.”
Arkan’s cold voice echoed across the arena.
“Look at your swords.”
Everyone in the training ground, as if entranced, lowered their gaze to their own swords.
“For thousands of years, we have staked everything on this single piece of steel. Mana, Makina, even the power of the gods… none of it holds meaning before the sword. The sword does not lie. The sword does not betray. It speaks only of the skill of the one who wields it.”
His gaze grew even colder. There was a strange force in his voice that drew in all attention. Everyone present listened to his words, filled with overwhelming authority.
“At this very moment, you have lost everything. The power you took such pride in, the mana passed down through generations—none of it is of any use now. What remains is only the sword. And that alone is true power.”
Arkan raised his sword. Moonlight flowed along its blade. His pale face reflected the cold silver light, and his eyes gleamed like ice.
“Fools worship mana and crave Makina. But true strength lies within this single sword. All of you who stand before me—you will now come to realize it. The sword is the absolute truth and the only judge.”
As he lifted his sword vertically, the moonlight illuminated one side of his face. His flawless features became even more distinct, and the cold smile lingering on his lips appeared even more chilling.
“Now… show me. The swordsmanship you take such pride in. Prove before everyone here whether it is truly yours—or merely an illusion built upon borrowed power.”
Arkan’s sword slowly descended, cutting through the moonlight. His chilling smile remained unchanged.
“The sword never lies. It speaks only the truth.”
He raised the sword horizontally and drew a circle in the air. The moonlight followed its path, forming a silver ring.
“See the essence. In this place, cast everything aside and prove only yourself. The moment you stepped into this friendly match, each of you became a single sword.”
Arkan’s blade rose vertically once more. His shadow stretched long beneath the moonlight.
His cold smile deepened further.
“Now, begin. Swords—show me the truth.”
Everyone fell silent.
Though countless people had gathered, the training ground was wrapped in an eerie stillness.
“……”
“……”
The reason they remained silent was not dissatisfaction with Arkan’s speech.
It was overwhelming.
They had been utterly overwhelmed.
Though he was but a single human—
Every word he spoke dominated the entire audience.
At that moment—
Breaking the silence, the sound of clapping rang out.
Clap. Clap clap. Clap clap clap.
All eyes turned toward the one applauding.
The man spoke.
“Why is no one clapping?”
At that single remark, the silent crowd began to applaud one by one. His tone was playful, yet not a single person present could defy him.
The man laughed heartily, as if satisfied.
“Yes, yes. That’s more like it. After hearing such a splendid speech, it would be rude to stay still.”
The man’s name was Rayven Helios.
A Deus, just like Arkan Winterbell, and the head of the Helios Family.
When Arkan Winterbell glanced at him, Rayven Helios smiled.
Arkan turned his head away and spoke.
“Then, from this moment, the friendly match will begin.”