Imprisoned for a Trillion Years, I Was Worshipped by All Gods!-Chapter 514 - 70-A Sword to Split Mountains

Inside Sirius Academy—

Gayle walked in, holding a bottle of tequila. As he approached the group gathered around a fire, feasting on roasted meat, he made his way directly to Alan's side.

"What happened today… was a bit too impulsive."

Still tending the meat, Alan replied without looking up,

"Strike hard with the first punch, and you won't need a hundred more later. People naturally prey on the weak—Lioncrest Academy even more so. The only way to make them back off is to make them hurt, make them fear. If not, they'll keep pushing."

Gayle said nothing.

Francis quietly continued eating, while Fort nodded in agreement.

"People aren't so different from beasts. In the jungle, if you don't kill the predators, the predators will eat you. The only way to survive is to strike first—or become strong enough that no one dares come close."

He glanced at Alan and grinned.

"Besides, today's fight was damn satisfying!"

Francis chimed in, clearly still fuming.

"Yeah! Those Lioncrest guys act like they're the gods of the world. What the hell makes them so smug?"

Gayle gave them a look.

"If you all think it was the right call, then rest up and recover. Tonight—meet me at the mountaintop."

With that, he turned and left.

Blanche rubbed her belly and pointed at her mouth.

"I'm still hungry!"

Alan glanced at the big eater.

"I figured as much. I saved some just for you."

Blanche's eyes lit up, and she teased,

"Thanks! If you weren't gay, I might actually be falling for you!"

Alan: "…"

Soon after, the group finished their meal and dispersed.

Alan stayed behind, cleaning up with his sister Isabella. But suddenly, his senses tingled—he turned his head and saw, standing behind him as if from nowhere, a woman.

She was missing one arm, and a glowing crimson scar pulsed on her forehead—its eerie movement putting Alan instantly on guard.

"Shall we talk outside?" the woman asked calmly.

Alan sensed no hostility—only unfathomable depth in her presence. He nodded.

She led him to the front steps of the hall.

There, under the warm sunlight, she pulled out a golden token and handed it to him.

"This is a royal gift from His Majesty. From this moment on, you are the new Duke of the Plantagenet Kingdom."

…What?

Me?

A Duke?

Alan couldn't believe his ears.

A Duke, while perhaps mostly honorary, ranked just beneath the royal family—above countless others. The privileges it entailed were unimaginable.

How the hell did I become a Duke?

"Senior… I can't accept this," Alan said, pushing it back. "I haven't earned such a title."

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Though it would be a massive advantage, Alan knew this title wasn't something he could take lightly—not yet. Not while he still stood in Alice Duke's shadow.

"His Majesty was very impressed by your actions in Ironblood City," she said.

"Just for that?" Alan frowned. "That was ages ago. And even then, it wasn't worth royal recognition."

"…Is this because I killed Lioncrest students? Is the king using me to balance them out—giving me this title as a political tool?"

The woman met his eyes—neither confirming nor denying it.

Alan spoke seriously,

"I don't want to be anyone's chess piece."

The woman replied evenly,

"The moment you chose to join Sirius Academy and stand against Lioncrest Academy, you were already swept into the storm. Whether you wanted to be or not—it's to the death now. And yes, we like that. But you're right—the Duke title is more than politics."

"You still have loyalty in your heart. You love this kingdom. Many born within it… no longer do."

She placed the token in Alan's hand.

"As Duke, you'll receive the best treatment and support in any corner of the Plantagenet Kingdom."

Then she turned and left.

…

Outside the valley, Gayle was already waiting when she emerged.

"Headmaster Gayle," the woman greeted with a slight bow.

Gayle didn't reply.

After a pause, she spoke again.

"You understand our intent. Yes, there's some maneuvering involved—but we're also helping him. It's mutual benefit. There's no malice."

Gayle sighed.

"Being a Duke is like becoming a full moon—far too conspicuous. Alan isn't ready for that kind of attention."

The woman nodded.

"Then we'll go with whatever Headmaster Gayle advises."

…

Later that night, under the dim moonlight—

Alan, Francis, and Fort climbed to the mountaintop together.

Gayle and Blanche were already there.

"Hey, you shrim—ahem, Headmaster Gayle. What are we doing here this late?" Francis asked.

Gayle smiled cryptically.

"Why, I'm here to teach you a few killer techniques, of course."

"Really?!" Francis's eyes lit up.

He'd enrolled in the academy to hone his skills and master his magic—finally, this mysterious old man was showing signs of actually being a teacher.

But just as he finished speaking, Gayle whistled.

The sharp sound echoed, and a moment later, the forest rustled—and a massive, ferocious tiger leapt into view.

It was enormous, like a walking fortress. Its fangs gleamed with lethal menace.

"A tier-gold saber-tooth tiger?!" Francis yelped.

Gayle nodded, then waved his hand.

The tiger roared, shaking the trees—and lunged straight at Francis.

Its speed and explosive strength were terrifying. In an instant, it was right in front of him.

A huge shadow of death fell over Francis.

"Damn it, you old midget—are you trying to kill me?!"

Francis cursed as he activated his gravity element, lightening himself and narrowly dodging the beast's jaws.

A second slower and he would've been swallowed whole!

The tiger roared again and charged after him.

Though Francis could temporarily dodge with his gravity magic, the saber-tooth was a spellbeast with immense mana and a monstrous body. In a drawn-out fight, Francis would lose.

Fort looked on, unmoved.

He'd grown up fighting spellbeasts daily in the jungle.

But just as he relaxed, a golden seal shot from Gayle's palm and wrapped Fort in glowing chains.

His powerful Sharp Metal Bloodline and all his mana vanished—sealed away.

Gayle then yanked him by the legs and hurled him into a nearby deep lake.

Splash!

The lake looked calm, but under the surface, it was a raging vortex.

Without his bloodline and mana, Fort was just a strong normal human—and the currents battered him mercilessly.

Alan winced just watching.

Then Gayle turned to him.

"Your foundation is solid—possibly on par with Duke Alice. You don't need basic training…"

Alan smiled humbly.

"So we'll try a different method," Gayle said, grinning with clear mischief.

He led Alan to the ruins of an old Sirius Academy fortress.

It was a massive wall, built from steel and stone. Though timeworn, it still loomed like an unshakable mountain.

"You've grasped Blade Spirit. Let's see you slice this wall in two."

"…What?"

Alan stared, baffled.

There was no way he could even scratch that wall, let alone split it.

"Oh, and use one of these wooden swords," Gayle added. "And if you can't break it… leave. Take your sister and go. Sirius Academy doesn't train mediocrities."

He handed over a few wooden training swords.

Alan wanted to protest—but when he thought of Isabella, he bit his tongue.

He took the sword, stepped forward, and began swinging.

Again and again, he slashed at the wall.

His Blade Spirit shone—but the wooden sword only left faint white marks on the iron.

Nowhere near enough to even dent the structure.