The Duke, led by his knight, was fleeing deep into the imperial palace, his head throbbing from the series of events unfolding.
“Did the palace just get attacked?”
Truth be told, this didn’t deliver a significant shock to the Emperor.
There are limits to being bold, and this was well beyond those limits.
This was no ordinary palace, and the vast empire imposed upon the land wasn’t established by mere luck.
While it might be a bit disappointing compared to Camilla, there were three knights known as Sword Masters.
Not far from the palace, there were five Great Magicians capable of using 5th Circle spells.
In simple terms, unless the Demon King’s army invaded, there was no way this place would fall.
After all, one of the knights guarding him was already a Sword Master, right?
Plus, the leader of the Black Lion Order, who would help suppress the situation and evacuate the nobles, was right there too, so the attack was not a big deal.
So, why was the Duke in such a state of distress?
“…It was definitely the Imperial Decree.”
The issue was none other than Cheon Ha-rang, who wielded the Emperor’s authority.
Humans are born into this world with different talents in their hands.
And these talents aren’t limited to just being smart; there’s also the existence of unique magic.
Powers are a step further than that concept.
Powers aren’t inherited like unique magic; they’re something you must accumulate through ‘karma’.
Using the Imperial Decree as an example, if one accumulates karma to become an Emperor or Crown Prince, they gain the power of the Imperial Decree.
To explain further would require getting into religious discussions and bloodlines, so he would skip that.
Yes, this is common knowledge.
A common knowledge that existed before the church became powerful and before the empire was founded.
Yet, there was one who had been rejecting that common sense without a second thought.
“Cheon Ha-rang.”
Her ability seemed impressive, catching the interest of wanting to connect her with her son.
She was an individual that needed to be taken more seriously than expected.
“Tsk… I misbuttoned my first button.”
If he had known this would happen, he should have approached more cautiously.
No, how could he have seen this coming? It was an unfortunate accident.
If she sets her mind to it, she could use the Imperial Decree to shake the foundations of the empire, causing factions to divide and blood to spill within.
“…”
For now, he could only pray, hoping she hadn’t been offended by his actions.
As he internally prayed and contemplated how to positively develop his relationship with Cheon Ha-rang, the Emperor suddenly halted at the sound of an explosion.
-KABOOM!
Followed by screams from those around and the sound of something collapsing.
The Duke felt a chill of sweat running down his back.
*
Nameless took off his white jacket and neatly folded it on the floor, then closed his eyes, gripping a wooden sword.
His stance shifted, and his legs spread apart.
The muscles in his back leg swelled as if they would burst, bending with the strain.
Similarly, he positioned his right arm behind him, palm facing the sky.
With his center of gravity shifted backward, he extended his left arm forward to balance himself.
“Hmm-”
As he continued to control his internal energy, the energy nestled in Nameless’s dantian spread throughout his body like an imitation.
“Ha…”
Eventually, it came to a specific stop.
“…Not bad.”
He couldn’t help but express his honest feelings, squinting to observe Nameless’s stance.
Now was the time to fulfill his duties as a master.
If Nameless were to misuse his internal energy and adopt the wrong posture, he’d end up harming himself.
It was best to prevent any misfortune.
“Hmm…?”
Watching Nameless’s stance, a sudden curiosity arose within him.
The way Nameless executed his technique was somewhat different from his own.
The Divine Slaying Sword Technique he used had the intention of killing the opponent solely for self-protection.
In other words, it was a technique for a single blow to kill.
But Nameless’s approach was slightly different.
While it surely held the same extreme posture,
“Are you trying to show off that you have a lot of energy…?”
Was it a slight alteration in how he controlled his internal energy?
Instead of compressing energy layer by layer to add weight to his muscles as Lucius or Camilla would, it seemed he inflated it as if to burst.
As a result, a giant dark wind swirled around Nameless.
“…What the hell is that?”
“Do I look like I know?”
Despite the urgent situation of the palace being attacked, everyone in the hall stood dazed, merely gazing at the marvelous and beautiful sight that Nameless created.
“Hmm.”
With a slight chin scratch, he continued his thoughts.
Nameless was perfectly capable of following in his footsteps.
So why was he choosing to perform it that way?
Was he simply trying to show off his enormous internal energy?
Well, whatever.
He shrugged his shoulders slightly.
“Doesn’t matter.”
What Nameless chose to do was his own business.
Plus, there was nothing harmful in it, so there was no need to intervene.
In fact, maybe this way of doing things placed less strain on his body.
With various thoughts racing through his mind, as Nameless’s center of gravity shifted to his back, it transferred to his front foot.
With that, he stepped on the ground to increase speed and weight, slashing the sword down toward the ground as if to strike the sky above the palace.
Nameless’s version of the Divine Slaying Sword Technique—First Technique: Falling Sky.
“Fall!”
-BOOM!
The sound created from the contact between the wooden sword and the marble floor echoed, leading to a brief moment of silence.
“Ah, run away!”
“What is that…!?”
The dark energy scorched across the sword, scattering as the ceiling of the banquet hall began to collapse, cracks forming in the sky visible beyond.
It struck true.
A satisfied smile spread across his face as he clapped his hands together.
“Truly excellent.”
Though a bit different from his own, this too was Falling Sky.
The sky was falling down.
*
A massive line began to appear in the sky, gradually widening.
In an attempt to mend the wounds upon his body, the sky started to absorb everything around it.
A gigantic hurricane began to form,
The pieces from the collapsing ceiling soared skyward.
People, possibly fearing they could become victims of this catastrophe, were pushing each other aside.
“Get away!”
Panicking, they scrambled to flee the scene as quickly as possible.
Their minds were already far away from the attackers who stormed the palace.
Perhaps it was only natural.
If a stranger wielding a knife was chasing after you, but behind them a natural disaster as fierce as a hurricane was barreling down,
A sane person would flee the disaster, not the attacker.
In fact, the attacker was likely running away too.
“Hmm…”
What unfolded before my eyes was exactly that scene.
The knights suppressing the attackers and everyone in the hall were all fleeing from the falling sky.
If I were to continue Nameless’s technique, it would be all in vain, as the sky would soon return to its place anyway…
Aware of this fact, I shook my head slightly and cast a glance toward Nameless.
“Nameless, what on earth were you trying to accomplish?”
After using such a significant technique, I held Nameless in my arms to help him up and let out a deep sigh.
No matter how much I asked, there was no response from Nameless.
“…”
All that came back was the rhythmic sound of his breath, rising and falling as if he were asleep.
“Ugh…”
If only he had said what his intentions were earlier, I could have handled things more smoothly after he collapsed.
Now that the one in question was down, I was frozen in fear that I might ruin whatever plan Nameless had in mind.
Gingerly lifting my head, I glanced around to seek help.
The Cheonma Church children intermingled with the spies who had likely initiated the attack.
They must know something.
“Tri-Sword!”
“Greetings, Cheonma.”
As I called out, one of the people mixed among the crowd came forth, bowing his head.
A man with red hair, someone I recognized well.
“Jack.”
“Yes, Cheonma.”
Upon calling his name, Jack slowly looked up to face me.
…Has he been crying again? Why are the corners of his eyes so red?
But the smile on his lips felt contradictory to the sadness of crying.
Well, whatever.
That’s not important.
“Have you heard anything from Nameless regarding what to do next?”
As I tilted my head and asked, Jack, sporting a confidence that hinted he had heard something, opened his mouth to reply.
“Nothing.”
Hmm?
“…Nothing?”
Perplexed, I repeated my question, and only then did Jack exclaim, “Ah!” and continue speaking.
“Except for the spies of the Academy and their group, we attempted to erase our traces and leave.”
“…Hmm.”
Even with that, I felt lost.
I furrowed my brows and sighed deeply, continuing,
“…Did you hear anything at all?”
“Well, I did hear one thing…”
Why didn’t he say that earlier?
“What is it?”
Narrowing my eyes, I urged him to answer.
After hesitating for a moment, Jack finally managed to speak.
“Cheonma told us not to interfere with whatever you do.”
…What am I supposed to do with that?
