The 9th Class Swordmaster: Blade of Truth-Chapter 453: Taking the First Step (1)

“Monsters are emerging en masse in the Piasta region, around five kilometers from the harbor!”

Whrrrrr...!

Anthem Howard quickly flipped through the map on the table, as if scanning the pages of a book. The map was filled with numerous markers denoting corrupted zones.

“Beikan, take the Free Army and rush to defend Piasta. Also, have the Blue Knights stationed in the north join the defense.”

The soldiers in the command room exchanged tense glances.

“Understood. We shall join the defense immediately,” replied a deep, steady voice.

“Sir Kuwell...” one soldier murmured.

“He’s finally...” another whispered, awestruck.

Just a few words from the legendary MacGovern swordsman were enough to quell the unease in the room. Though Kuwell was no longer hailed as the continent’s greatest swordsman, his presence and leadership—along with his Blue Knights—remained a symbol of unshakable stability.

Many of the soldiers here had once served the empire, so to them, having the Blue Knights—who had long been the guardians of the northern frontier—move to action was almost a guarantee of victory.

Please, secure the vanguard. A solid first strike will turn the tide of battle in our favor, Anthem thought as he watched the forces mobilize.

“I’m glad,” Tiren said, breaking his train of thought.

“Sorry?”

“I’m glad the Tarak emerged in the location you anticipated. It’s the area with the highest chance of victory among the deployed forces, isn’t it?”

Tiren’s words mirrored Anthem’s unspoken thoughts, prompting a faint smile.

“I’d rather there were no Calamity at all,” Anthem admitted. “But if they do appear, I’d prefer they emerge where they’ll cause the least harm.”

“It seems you’ve predicted this one, considering the evacuation of Piasta’s citizens was already underway.”

Anthem nodded. “Since the Calamity began, I’ve been working on several hypotheses about them. The first two incidents weren’t enough to draw conclusions, but after the Third Calamity appeared and we dissected two of the Tarak, some of my theories gained traction.”

“What theories?”

“For one, I believe the Calamities have elements. Blood emanated poison, but the way it unleashed that poison was explosive, like fire. And Hekqet clearly had some sort of affinity for water.”

“Hmm...” Tiren nodded thoughtfully.

Whirrr—

Anthem gestured with his hand, summoning a small mirror that displayed two sealed corpses side by side.

“Lice emerged where the Silverwing Fleet was stationed, a strait surrounded by water. At first, I thought Lice shared the water element and that my hypothesis was wrong. However...”

“Its blinding speed... The Third Calamity represents wind,” a new voice interjected.

Both Anthem and Tiren turned to see Darryl Harian come in with a faint smile, offering a polite nod of greeting.

“You assisted in the examination of the two Tarak. Your insight contributed to the first hypothesis as well,” Anthem acknowledged.

“You flatter me. The Golden Cross Association has always been dedicated to exploring the unknown,” Darryl replied modestly.

“I hear there’s progress in your research on Divine Beasts?”

“Yes, though we’re still in the early stages. I hope to show you meaningful results soon,” Darryl said with a nod.

“Fascinating,” Anthem remarked.

“Restoring an extinct Divine Beast is akin to bringing it back to life. Revival is no small feat. It’s far beyond even the complexity of alchemy. Isn’t it, in truth, a forbidden art?”

Tiren’s comment was sharp, just like his gaze.

“There seems to be a misunderstanding. When we say restoration, we don’t mean the birth of new life,” Darryl Harian clarified.

“Then what?”

“We mean restoration in the truest sense. Like bringing back what already existed.” Darryl’s voice was calm, but his words carried weight.

“Sir Tiren, you said Divine Beasts were extinct, but who exactly decided that? Just because they’re invisible to human eyes, don’t make the mistake of assuming they’ve vanished entirely.”

He smiled faintly, his gaze unwavering.

“They’ve always been here, just like the spirits Karyl had brought back from the fading Spirit Realm.”

Tiren said no more, his expression tense. Anthem, observing the exchange, could only offer a wry smile.

He still doesn’t trust those from other nations. Not that it’s surprising, as most of the soldiers here feel the same. That’s why I sent Sir Kuwell out first, to rally their morale.

Winning the hearts of the people was as vital as any battle plan, though Anthem couldn’t deny how difficult it was to actually bridge such deep divides.

“So how did you know the monsters would head toward the harbor? Just because they have an affinity for wind?” Darryl asked, brushing off Tiren’s lingering hostility.

“I didn’t pinpoint Piasta specifically,” Anthem replied. “At first, I only deduced that these monsters, having a wind affinity and being more or less unaffected by terrain, could appear anywhere across a broad area.”

“But you found a pattern,” Darryl noted.

“Yes. They’ve chosen the battlefield themselves, not based on their own constraints, but on areas where they can exploit their opponent’s limitations.”

“Unreal...” Tiren muttered. “You’re saying those things employed actual tactics?”

“I wouldn’t say they’re using advanced strategies, but they’re certainly behaving differently from what we’ve seen before,” Anthem replied.

Darryl and Tiren exchanged glances, each processing the implications.

“If that’s the case, there’s only one conclusion to draw,” said Darryl. “From Blood to Hekqet and now Lice, these aren’t simple monsters. Each one is more intelligent than the previous.”

“In other words, if the Tarak keeps emerging, we won’t just be fighting mindless brutes anymore,” Tiren concluded grimly.

Anthem nodded. “Then it becomes a battle of wits.”

Darryl’s voice dropped, his tone heavy. “It will only get harder. To prevent that, we need to strike preemptively, before they can adapt further.”

“Sir Tiren, I may not fully grasp our lord’s grand vision, but whether someone is from the empire or the Free State makes no difference to me,” said Anthem. “If they have the energy to complain like a child, I say they should use it to fight instead.”

Tiren’s expression stiffened at the pointed remark.

“The sharp blade is already prepared,” Anthem went on. “Our task is merely to act as the shield, holding the tide at bay until that blade can strike true.”

He stared at the map, where more and more red markers began to appear, indicating the spread of the Tarak. The resurgence of the Calamity had begun.

Starting with Piasta Harbor, Sir Kuwell MacGovern gazed far out over the ocean, scanning the horizon.

At Maron Gorge, Ganeth Avelant stood atop a wyvern, watching swarms of insects pour through the ravine.

At the northern peaks, the immigrant tribes led by Hwarin and Lilliana braced themselves against the biting cold, shielding their faces from the frigid winds.

By the Kivell Coast, Karl Mack piloted the Mana Ship with utmost focus. Onboard, Kinu Mukari’s Flying Bow tribe and Thompson’s mana battalion began chanting their spells in unison.

In the southern desert, the army of the tribes, led by Digon’s Three Sisters, raced forward, kicking up a storm of dust in their wake.

Anthem lightly tapped his forehead as he turned to Tiren.

“In the battles to come, our wits have to be as sharp as our blades.”

***

“The Calamity has begun.”

Karyl slowly opened his eyes. In his hand lay an old book, its cover so worn by time that the inscription had faded beyond recognition. The tome seemed to have endured centuries.

“What of Suan and Aidan?”

“No word from either of them. The airship of the Guidance Mercenary Gang is still docked in the forest behind the capital.”

Karyl nodded slowly at the shadowy figure.

“And the preparations for the Moonlit Night?”

“Ready at any time.”

A sharp glint of steel reflected in the darkness. Zigra’s masked figure exuded an aura as sharp and polished as his blade.

“You and your unit will now guard Anchar. Under no circumstances is she to come to harm before Aidan reaches her.”

“Do you truly believe Aidan can handle the Thunderlord’s power? Using mana with such opposing elements is tantamount to suicide,” Zigra asked, though cautiously, as he himself didn’t possess mana.

“If there’s a chance, it lies in his origins. He hails from the Eastern Land, a land across the sea close to the Forbidden Land, the Dragons’ Sanctum. Their studies of colorless draconic mana have long led to unique techniques, such as mana transformation and body modification.”

“Hmm...”

“Ultimately, it depends on his capabilities. The critical thing is that Anchar’s power is essential to stop the Third Calamity. Even if he can harness Kungen’s power, without her ability to control the swarm, capturing the core of the Lice won’t be easy.”

“Understood. We will protect the Wildling,” Zigra replied, bowing before disappearing into the shadows.

“And what about us? I assume we’re to accompany this hulking fellow?” a voice chimed in after Zigra had left.

The speaker was Yurin Huygar, casually nudging the towering Hawat, who carried an enormous shield on his back.

“...”

The shield gleamed faintly in the dim light. 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

“It’s finished,” Karyl remarked, his eyes fixed on the shield glowing in the darkness.

The Aegis of Meteoric Iron was a sacred relic once bestowed by Yula upon the first apostle who founded the Church. It had long been sought by Yurin Huygar.

“So this is who the shield is for,” Yurin remarked with a soft chuckle.

When the Aegis was first brought from the Church, everyone had assumed it was meant for Hawat, given his size. But when it was found sealed within yet another massive case, even that assumption wavered.

Now, the shield had been heavily modified. Using Toska’s bones taken from the Church, Calypson had reforged the Aegis, layering it with Clear Distilled Water, then melting Toska’s bones over it.

Originally large, the shield had grown so enormous that only someone of Hawat’s stature could wield it now.

“You two will take this to Wingel Hart at the front,” Karyl instructed.

“Wingel Hart...” Yurin echoed, a faint smile spreading as realization dawned.

“Ascalon,” Karyl went on, watching Yurin’s expression shift to understanding.

Yurin turned his gaze back to the Aegis on Hawat’s back.

“So that’s it. A shield like this is no longer meant for human hands. But giving it to a golem... I didn’t see that coming. Still, this Calamity involves creatures so small they’re almost invisible. Even with a golem’s abilities, will this be effective?”

“Don’t worry. Ascalon isn’t meant to fight Lice. He’s going somewhere else.”

“...What?”

The Aegis, known as the ultimate defensive tool, seemed destined for a purely defensive role. But Karyl’s plan defied all expectations.

“Petty foes aren’t worthy of a Giant. Hawat here needs a challenge worthy of his stature,” Karyl explained, his voice low and steady.

“Ascalon is going to Pharel.”