Chapter 197: House Frostbane [3]
Louis checked his status once more after observing it once to see his growth and stopping at Handy, who had shown some amazing growth over the past months. Through this entire time, Louis had endured immense and exhausting training without pause, determined to become strong enough to overcome every coming challenge. Naturally, just as he had checked on Handy, his Familiars had evolved. Thanks to his connections as a prince and his vast resources, and with enough training, he had successfully evolved Handy, Belladine, and Niflheim, something incredible by itself.
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Name: Louis Drakeheart Yggdrasil
Classification: Sinner (Dragon–Human–Anomaly)
Spiral: Hollow Spiral of the Ashen Wyrm, Spiral of Sadism, Desecrated Soul Spiral Fragment, Self-Flagellation Spiral Fragment, Malevolent Plotter Spiral Fragment, Entropy Spiral Fragment.
Tier: 7 – Hollow Flame
Fantasy Heart: Level 55/150
Vitality: 2,794
Strength: 2,665
Intelligence: 2.117
Dexterity: 2,235
Fantasium: 28,500
Fantasium Affinity: 98%
Madness Index: 16%
Bonds:
Dragon Family Bond – Mother Benladra (Bond Level 10/10)
Bond of Love – Mirai (Bond Level 10/10)
Bond of Brotherhood – Cardoon Zorba (Bond Level 9/10)
Bonded Entities:
Abyssal Mother’s Large Caressing Hand – Handy (Level 3 Entity) (Bond Level 5/10)
Adolescent Fairy of Light – Belladine (Rank 2 Spirit Familiar) (Bond Level 7/10)
Gardener’s Memento – ??? (Level 4 Entity) (Bond Level 2/10)
Abyssal Dragon Tree of Ruin – Nidhogg (Level 5 Grievance [Sealed]) (Bond Level 10/10)
Primordial Frost Sword Soul Heart Avatar Spirit – Niflheim (Rank 2 Spirit Familiar) (Bond Level 5/10)
Soul Gear/Treasure:
Celestial Spirit Soul Lance – Gungnir (Rank 2: 64%) (Slot 1: Rune of Slaughter) (Rank 3 Spirit Orb: Celestial Serpent, Heaven Phoenix, Salt Warden)
Demonic Spiral Sword of Death Chaos – Nameless (Rank 1: 77%) (Components: Zorba’s Desecrated Soul Spiral Stone & Mirai’s Burnt Bones)
Gardener’s Crystalized Heart (Rank 1: 83%)
Elemental Affinities:
Ash Element: A+++ Rank
Ice Element: A+++ Rank
Void Element: S Rank
Dragon Element: C++ Rank
Ruin Element: B+ Rank
Incarnation:
Gravewalker – Tier 7 (Growth: 17%)
Psychopath – Tier 8 (Growth: 6%)
Necromancer Fragment – Tier 9
Pugilist Fragment – Tier 9
Dark Knight Fragment – Tier 7
Devil Fragment – Tier 9
Spiralwalker Abilities:
Ashen Frost – Tier 7 (Growth: 18%)
Death-Sense – Tier 7 (Growth: 32%)
Breath of Ruin – Tier 7 (Growth: 41%)
Blood Feast – Tier 8 (Growth: 5%)
Pain Weaponization Fragment – Tier 8
Iron Body Fragment – Tier 9
Soul Enslavement Fragment – Tier 9
Malevolent Play Fragment – Tier 7
Devil’s Soul Fragment – Tier 9
Esper Abilities:
Telepathy – E+ Rank
Telekinesis – C- Rank
Mindscape Formation – E+ Rank
Psychic Aura Expansion – D+ Rank
Esper Spiritualization: Great Dragon King – C Rank
Bonded Abilities:
Healing Prayer Fragment – Tier 7 (Handy)
Painless Curse – Tier 7 (Handy)
Light Element Affinity – B Rank (Belladine)
Holy Spirit Blessing – Tier 8 (Belladine)
Soul Essence Restoration – Tier 7 (Gardener’s Memento)
Dragon Blood Forest of Ruin – Tier 7 (Nidhogg)
Divine Ice Dragon King Sword Style – Expert Realm (Niflheim)
Cultivation Methods:
Mana Breathing – Grand Perfection
Mana Body Reinforcement – Grand Perfection
Mana Consciousness Expansion – Grand Perfection
Heaven And Earth Essence Gathering – Grand Perfection
Heaven-Earth Harmonization Sutra – Grand Perfection
Five Elemental Spiritual Roots – Grand Perfection
Sword Breathing Technique – Second Step: Sword Master Rank
Holy Dragon Spirit Soul Vein Technique – Grand Perfection
Fake Dragon Heart Creation Method – Grand Perfection
Spirit Bond Method – Grand Perfection
Nirvana Soul Flame Furnace Method – Grand Perfection
Void Meridian Sutra Method – Middle Stage
Yin-Yang Rotation Core – Initial Stage
Five Elemental Spiritual Body – Initial Stage
Crystalized Spiritual Dragon Mana Heart – Initial Stage
♢♢♢♢
Afterward, his eyes landed on Belladine, his beloved fairy of the light element, much different than Handy.
Belladine had grown from a child-like fairy into an adolescent spirit, resembling a teenage fairy. She remained small and cute, but her face was now clearer and she spoke more fluently, though she still possessed the mind of a child. She had improved Louis’s Light Affinity to B Rank and awakened a new ability called "Holy Spirit Blessing," classified similarly to Spiral abilities but belonging to none. It resembled the natural abilities some people were born with. Louis, who had always been talentless in that regard, relied heavily on Spirals and bonds with his Familiars.
Niflheim had fully evolved into a realized spirit and reached Rank 2, becoming significantly stronger and better able to solidify her form. Louis could now summon her as a sword capable of unleashing her unique powers.
Anastasia, Tisha, and even this world’s Niflheim had seen him do it before. There was no clear explanation for how Louis possessed a Niflheim spirit, and he simply said they were "the same type of spirit." As a prince, no one questioned him too deeply, and most eventually forgot about it, except for the sword Niflheim herself, who remained slightly suspicious.
His Esper abilities had also improved, rising in rank. They were graded with letters rather than tiers, and he continued working hard to master them, though progress was difficult.
Satisfied with the updates, Louis summoned his new Soul Treasure, the Demonic Spiral Sword of Death Chaos – Nameless. Since it was a nameless soul gear, he needed to give it a name.
"I wish I could turn you into a Spirit Treasure, but it was not possible."
Agustina, who had learned much from her mother, had examined the wicked red-and-black bone sword and found no way to transform it. She said it was "too wicked." The power of two Spirals was sealed within it, making the weapon incredibly powerful yet dangerous.
"I’ll give you a name anyway."
Louis thought for a while as he watched Handy playing with Belladine and the other Incarnations and fragments while Niflheim watched over them.
"You were born from the sacrifice of both Zorba and Mirai..."
He closed his eyes, pondering deeply, then smiled bitterly. Caressing the sword reminded him of that time, the despair he never wanted to experience again.
"Calling you Mirai or Zorba would be too obvious, wouldn’t it?"
As he considered names, he recalled a legendary sword from Norse mythology, the weapon used by the hero Sigurd to slay the dragon Fafnir. It had originally been stuck in a tree by Odin for Sigmund, later shattered and reforged for Sigurd, becoming a central artifact in the Völsunga saga.
This sword existed in this world but had not yet been discovered. It would appear five months from now when a new Fantasy Realm, the "Dark Heroic Saga," emerged near Camelot. Twisted versions of monsters and characters from the ancient myth would come to life.
Such Fantasy Realms had appeared before, like "Shuten Douji’s Mountain" in Yamato or "King Arthur Pendragon’s Tomb" in Camelot. They were born from the dreams and fantasies of humanity’s past, usually after thousands or millions died from Fantasium Infection, releasing their energy and warping reality.
These realms existed separately from the Dimensional Labyrinth but could quickly merge with it. Entities and Grievances were naturally born inside them, shaped by the myths. They posed great danger to humanity but also contained immense wealth, resources, and relics powerful enough to found new countries, as had happened twice with Camelot and Mesopotamia.
"I suppose I can name you after a weapon that has not yet been born in this world. Gram. You are Gram."
FLUOSH!
The wicked sword of death and chaos surged with energy, becoming more refined and powerful. Dark energies and curses spread everywhere, resembling the souls of monstrous demons made of darkness and flames.
Although Louis wanted to smile at the sword’s power, seeing it always left him depressed. That was the point, however: to never forget their sacrifice and to wield the unbreakable power they had left behind. Soul Treasures could recover even if shattered.
"Gram... Let’s work together from now on— Hm?"
As Louis caressed the black blade, Gungnir suddenly appeared beside him, gleaming strangely. It floated around him, the jewel moving like an eye as it studied Gram.
Connected to the lance through his soul, Louis could clearly sense its emotions.
"After reaching Rank 2, you really became more expressive. Are you jealous?" Louis sighed with a faint smile. "Don’t worry. You are still my favorite. Gram will remain by our side from now on. She was forged from their sacrifice. I hope you can understand, partner."
Gungnir seemed annoyed for a moment but slowly calmed down. It approached Louis, and he gently caressed its cold handle, earning small gleams of contentment.
"Hah, are you a weapon or a cat?" he sighed, looking at the ceiling. "For now, both of you rest. I’m going to sleep."
Although he said he was going to sleep, energies continued moving and exchanging within him. The three new cultivation methods he had obtained worked constantly, enhancing his strength and internal energies with every passing second.
The Yin-Yang Rotation Core rotated Yin and Yang energies within his heart and spread them throughout his body, slowly creating balance, cleansing impurities, and strengthening him.
The Five Elemental Spiritual Body allowed him to assimilate the five elements more easily. With each heavy breath, his body glowed with chromatic light as Fire, Water, Wood, Earth, and Metal became part of him.
The Crystalized Spiritual Dragon Mana Heart beat rich mana, spiritual energy, and dragon energy through his body and soul, slowly awakening a once-dormant dragon power, one beat at a time.
"Slowly, I will ascend... no matter what..."
He understood better than anyone that only sufficient strength could stop the coming tragedies and change the future.
Thanks to the power he had forged through death and sacrifice, he had already prevented his kingdom from falling and saved many who were destined to die.
But this was only the beginning. There was still so much left to do.
Remembering all those who had died, all those who had been sacrificed, and even the times he himself had died, Louis steeled himself for whatever might come.
He gripped his fists tightly as he tried to rest, unable to shake the feeling that something could happen at any moment.
He was growing paranoid, yet the presence of his Familiars and Soul Treasures helped ease his worry.
Then...
Creaaak...
The door slowly opened.
"...!"
He sat up instantly, spear in hand, ready for whoever dared enter.
But his Incarnations watching over him remained silent and calm.
"Um..."
It was Mirai.
"Mirai?"
"I feel kind of lonely... It’s so scary, a new house and all... Can’t we... sleep together?"
"...Again?"
"Don’t you feel lonely too, Louis?"
"..."
Louis sighed and shook his head for a moment, making Mirai think he would send her away.
But then he nodded.
"Alright. Come."
She smiled sweetly, walked over with light footsteps, and sat beside him.
She pulled the blanket over herself and rested next to him.
"Hm... Much better~"
She smiled like the spoiled girl she was, and Louis felt his worries suddenly vanish with her beside him.
He gently caressed her hair in silence, making her blush with embarrassment.
"Louis?"
When she finally gathered the courage to speak, he was already asleep.
"Heh... You must have been tired. Goodnight, my sweet prince."
Mirai smiled, cuddled closer, kissed his cheek, and rested beside him.
That night, both slept soundly without any nightmares.
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