Chapter 144: The Ascension of Guren to Become the Sword Hero - Part 2 (Last)
"So, bow down to me!"
*Boom!*
Suddenly, a surge of holy power erupted from Guren's body, causing the Holy Hall of the Three Heroes to tremble violently.
The star mark on his forehead, symbolizing his hero's destiny power, shone with an unusually bright light, causing the space within a 10-meter radius to tremble and warp.
*Buzz!*
The Holy Sword of Zenith, held by Guren, thrashed wildly, its light brilliance flooding the entire hall as it fought to break free.
Unfortunately, the four golden chains binding it grew stronger with each attempt, rendering all its efforts futile.
"Hahahaha! Give up, give up! There's no point in trying to fight back!" Guren exclaimed, laughing maniacally as he suddenly intensified his holy power and hero's destiny to their peak.
Consequently, the entire contents of the Holy Hall of the Three Heroes, including the towering statues of the three heroes of mankind and the colossal gold and silver pillars supporting the hall's structure, trembled as if on the brink of destruction.
Twenty meters behind Guren, Velix observed as Guren went all out to conquer the Holy Sword of Zenith, his expression maintaining a nonchalant facade devoid of any trace of emotion.
Yet, the cold smile on his lips seemed unable to conceal the joy in his heart.
'Hehehe... Even if you, Leon, are still alive, what good are you without your holy sword?' Velix muttered with a slight sneer.
Initially, he had refrained from intervening or resorting to such methods, believing that Guren could easily conquer and earn the recognition of the Holy Sword of Zenith.
However, the Holy Sword of Zenith's rejection of Guren and Jim's repeated assertions about the possibility of Leon's survival left Velix uneasy, stirring a slight fear within him.
Ultimately, this compelled him to intervene directly, and fortunately, the Holy Sword of Zenith was caught off guard, enabling him to easily secure it with the golden chains specially designed to restrain the three holy weapons.
'With this, things should proceed as before, and Leon has no chance,' Velix whispered coldly, his face indifferent, though a faint smile played on his lips.
At the edge of the hall, Jim and Rain, witnessing the scene, failed to mask the shock etched onto their typically composed and indifferent faces.
They witnessed firsthand Guren's repeated failures to gain recognition from the Holy Sword of Zenith, resulting in severe attacks as a consequence.
However, Velix effortlessly resolving the issue and seizing control of the Holy Sword of Zenith surpassed their expectations by far.
"Jim, could you enlighten me about the abilities of the golden magic staff His Majesty always wields?" Rain glanced at Jim beside her and posed her question, her tone devoid of emotion yet tinged with unmistakable curiosity.
She was intimately familiar with the golden magic staff always wielded by Velix, along with its storied history.
Legend had it that the staff had been present since the establishment of the Holy Empire of Elysium, earning its status as the empire's most revered national treasure.
However, when it came to the capabilities of the golden magic staff itself, Rain remained in the dark; she had never seen Velix earnestly employ magic with it or demonstrate its potential.
Moreover, there is no specific manuscript that documents its abilities, aside from trivial details that hold little importance or practicality.
Thus, when Rain beheld Velix unleash the full potential of the golden magic staff, rivaling the Holy Sword of Zenith—a revered holy weapon—she was naturally gripped by profound surprise and disbelief.
After all, holy weapons were considered the strongest weapons in the world, unmatched by any other.
As Rain posed her question, Jim kept a composed demeanor while his gaze lingered on Guren, who was still fervently subduing the Zenith Holy Sword in the center of the hall.
"His Majesty's Golden Magic Staff, known as the Seven-Crystal Aurora Magic Staff, possesses a remarkably potent and formidable ability.
However, as for the specifics, even I am not privy to them," Jim explained with a slight shake of his head before continuing, "Nevertheless, I once came across an ancient manuscript in the palace library that mentioned His Majesty's Seven Crystal Aurora Magic Staff having a unique capability—to suppress the three holy weapons."
As soon as Rain heard this, her eyes widened slightly, and a serious expression, seldom seen on her face, emerged.
"Are you serious, Jim? Having the ability to suppress three holy weapons... it's impossible, isn't it?" Rain asked, her tone a blend of astonishment and hesitation, as if she couldn't quite believe Jim's words.
The three holy weapons were said to be unparalleled, supposedly gifted by the gods to combat the first Demon Emperor, Amon Crimson, once considered immensely powerful and invincible.
While it remained unverified whether the three holy weapons were truly bestowed by the gods, over the span of 7,000 years, they had demonstrated their formidable prowess through the three heroes of humanity in the struggle against the Demon race under the leadership of the Demon Emperor.
"Well, I didn't believe it myself at first, but as you can see," Jim responded nonchalantly, gesturing towards the center of the hall. "If His Majesty's Seven-Crystal Aurora Magic Staff doesn't possess the same power as the Holy Sword of Zenith and has the ability to suppress it, then how was His Majesty able to counter the Holy Sword of Zenith's attack and capture it with the four gold chains?"
Rain remained silent, blinking her eyes a few times as if lost in thought.
Jim glanced at her, offering a slight smile and a gentle shake of his head: "Honestly, it doesn't matter what abilities the seven-crystal aurora magic staff possesses, because ultimately, as His Majesty's subordinates, we will reap its benefits, won't we?"
"You're right," Rain replied with a slight nod, dismissing her curiosity.
Just as she prepared to pose another question, a deafening explosion erupted from the center of the hall.
*Boom!*
The explosion, ignited by Guren's holy power, surged upward, enveloping the hall's ceiling and swirling like a formidable tornado.
"Hahaha! Finally, I've done it!" Guren exclaimed from the hall's center, a star mark adorning his forehead and his eyes shining brightly as he gazed upon the Holy Sword of Zenith now in his grasp.
*Buzz!*
The Holy Sword of Zenith, which had previously emanated a brilliant light in aggression toward him, now merely buzzed softly and emitted a faint glow, devoid of any hostility toward him.
This demonstrated his successful conquest of the Holy Sword of Zenith, officially heralding him as the new sword hero of this era, supplanting Leon!
Velix offered a faint smile to Guren, who had finally conquered the Holy Sword of Zenith despite the numerous obstacles he faced.
"Congratulations, Guren," Velix remarked in a casual tone as he approached slowly.
Upon hearing Velix's words, Guren snapped out of his reverie, his eyes lighting up with excitement as he looked up at Velix.
"Thank you, Your Majesty. My success is thanks to you." Guren quickly bowed his head, his tone solemn.
He knew that without Velix's intervention, gaining recognition from the Holy Sword of Zenith would have been impossible.
Velix nodded, acknowledging Guren's gratitude, then turned his gaze to the Holy Sword of Zenith in his hand.
"Though you've gained its recognition and successfully conquered it, the Holy Sword Zenith hasn't fully embraced you yet. As a sword hero, it's your duty to forge a deeper connection with your holy weapon," Velix explained in a relaxed tone.
"Of course, Your Majesty, and thank you for your advice," Guren replied with a smile, nodding vigorously.
*Clap! Clap!*
Suddenly, the sound of footsteps and applause echoed from behind Velix.
"Marquis Guren—no, Sword Hero Guren, congratulations to you," Jim approached with Rain, a smile adorning his lips.
Upon hearing Jim's congratulations and the new nickname bestowed upon him, Guren smiled widely, his expression brimming with gratitude as he addressed Jim, "Thank you, Prime Minister. Without your assistance all this time, reaching this point would have been exceedingly challenging for me."
Jim smiled lightly and waved his hand as he quipped, "You're welcome, Sword Hero Guren. Maybe someday I'll be the one seeking your aid."
"In that case, Minister Jim, I'll gladly assist," Guren replied confidently, earning a small smile from Jim.
After conversing with Jim, Guren's gaze swiftly turned to Rain, a provocative smile playing on his lips despite the blood and wounds still evident on his face.
"Great Mage Rain, don't you want to offer your congratulations?" Guren remarked, his tone tinged with teasing mockery.
Initially, Rain doubted his claim of being summoned by Velix to become a sword hero.
Though he didn't show it outwardly, a trace of annoyance lingered within him.
Hence, upon his ascension as a sword hero, he couldn't help but indulge in taunting her.
Observing Guren's provocative gaze, Rain felt a slight annoyance, though her indifferent expression remained unchanged.
"Well... congratulations," Rain uttered in a casual tone, devoid of any flattery, causing Guren's smile to freeze and green veins to appear on his forehead.
Had he not been basking in his success in obtaining the Holy Sword of Zenith and becoming a sword hero, Guren wouldn't have minded teaching her a lesson she wouldn't soon forget.
Meanwhile, Velix, observing the strained dynamic between Guren and Rain, had no intention of intervening to reconcile the two.
After all, having subordinates who occasionally clashed could prove beneficial in certain situations.
Taking a deep breath, Velix regarded Guren with a calm expression. "Guren, now that you've successfully obtained the Holy Sword of Zenith, you must not squander this night's opportunity."
Upon hearing this, Guren's mind raced to the transcendent night, filling him with joy.
"Yes, Your Majesty!" Guren responded, his determination evident even on his handsome, wounded face.
Velix nodded, then, with a wave of his hand, vanished and reappeared in a corner of the hall alongside Rain and Jim.
Observing their departure, Guren's gaze shifted to the Holy Sword of Zenith in his hand, a malicious smile spreading across his lips.
"Hahaha! Let's begin!"
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A/N: Don't forget for your support! Thank you and stay tuned!