Chapter 438: 16 Year Old Inglis and the Highland on Distance Sea (47)
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"Impressive! That was a magnificent strike!"
However, a lingering concern tugged at Inglis' mind—the cost of weaponizing a Hyrule Menace. The process drained the wielder's life force, dispersing it and slowly eroding their vitality. If this battle dragged on too long, Maxwell’s life would eventually burn out. But there were exceptions.
When Rochefort weaponized Arles, he had been stricken with a terminal illness, already teetering on the edge of death. With no life force left to give, Rochefort had been able to wield Arles freely.
The saying went, "You can't give what you don't have." This principle proved that a Hyrule Menace’s weaponization didn’t always require the wielder’s life force. Even someone with no vitality could activate its functions. This safeguard was likely designed to prevent knights bearing the highest ranks from turning against the Highland.
From the Highland’s perspective, such a mechanism was logical. They could not risk being defeated by the very weapons they had bestowed. However, if a weapon lacked the strength to oppose the greatest terrestrial threat—the Prisma—the land would fall, disrupting the flow of food and resources from the Midlands and jeopardizing the survival of the Highlands themselves.
In short, this balance was a calculated compromise. But it left the suffering of Hyrule Menaces like Eris and Ripple—who bore the guilt of draining their wielders’ lives—largely ignored.
Still, Maxwell’s strength in this moment was undeniable. Inglis couldn't allow him to push himself too far if she hoped for a rematch. Even now, his life seemed to be slowly slipping away—
"Hmm…? No, something’s off!"