The Next Day
Licht sat in class, half-listening to the droning of the instructor while skimming through the files Ashford had sent.
He had already read and morised everything yesterday night, so even this skimming was redundant. The information on the Valtier Sword Style was more comprehensive than he’d expected, so Licht had absorbed it easily, but despite this, one thought kept nagging at him:
[ Would you like to use your Enlightennt Points to upgrade your understanding of the Valtier Sword Style? ]
When Licht first completely read the technique files, that was the notification he had received
Surprisingly, though, Licht’s first instinct wasn’t to upgrade the Valtier Style at all. Instead, it was to enhance his Valemont Sword Technique.
In Licht’s mind, if he could push his only S-rank technique,『 God’s Descent (S)』, to SS-rank, then for five minutes under the effect of his 「Infinite Copy Eyes」, he’d be almost unstoppable.
No different from a famous Caped Baldy... and to make things better, he’d still have his hair
But unfortunately, this ambition was destined to be short-lived.
Valemont Sword Technique has reached its current maximum level. To further upgrade, you must deduce the next stage.
[ The Enlightennt Points required are insufficient and cannot be used. ]
[ Requirent to bring down Enlightennt Point cost: Knowledge of the technique’s origin and theory ]
Licht sighed.
So this is the system’s limit...
The S-rank was currently the highest classification of techniques he had encountered. If deduction or original knowledge was required to push them further, this Enlightennt point system was practically useless until then.
Still, information was power.
He looked up from his panel. Another lecture was already underway.
Licht didn’t know if it was because the rumours of his confrontation with the previous instructor had spread, but this new lecturer seed to be willfully blind to his presence and ignoring him entirely, no matter how blatant his lack of attention was.
"As I ntioned earlier," the lecturer continued, "Gates are structured dinsional portals. They are doors that open into controlled otherworld zones. They can be ranked, monitored, and cleared, so risk clearing these is relatively controllable.
Licht leaned back in his seat, finally giving the lesson so attention.
"But Rifts..." the instructor paused, "They are sothing else entirely. They are raw tears in the world’s fabric of reality. Because of this, the laws of reality inside rifts can be extrely fluid. Ti bends and Space twists. Sotis, even stepping wrong or failing to follow so erratic rules could lead directly to your death
Licht’s fingers tapped against the desk absently.
Both Gates and Rifts were caused by fractures in the barrier separating this world from the Void. It had long been observed that fighting monsters within Rifts could greatly accelerate a person’s growth in both physical strength and mana, effectively levelling up.
But there was a cost.
The more you drew power from a void, the more it drew from you.
If done recklessly, the fighter would slowly lose their sense of self... until they were no different from the demons that crawled out of the Void.
The instructor continued on with the lecture, now talking about survival tactics and Rift entry theory, but Licht had already tuned out.
He glanced back at his panel.
System, Use Enlightennt Points to upgrade progression in the Valtier Sword Technique.
Licht saw his enlightennt points drop and closed his eyes as a flood of refined thoughts poured into him.
These mories contained countless years of effort practising and mastering the sword.
In Licht’s mories, he never stopped swinging the sword.
For Licht, the sword surpassed anything else and beca his very purpose for existing
Day after day, rain or shine, Licht barely even rested and was constantly swinging his sword.
Once. Twice. A thousand tis.
In the ory days turned to years and Licht grew from a dashing young man into a old weathered grandpa. His back bent and his breath grew thin, but still he did not stop swinging the sword.
For the sword, Licht gave up his riches. He gave his titles. He even gave up his na. titles.
With nothing but his sword, He wandered the frozen tundras of the Valtier holand like a forgotten spectre for several more years, never forgetting to swing his sword.
And then, at the age of 90, with calloused hands and hollow eyes, Licht found himself surrounded.
Without realising it, a group of skinny and starving wolves erged from the mist.
In his pri, they would’ve been nothing.
But now, weak and exhausted, even these half-dead creatures were deadly.
They circled him with their teeth bared and eyes empty as s feeling of hunger remained thick in the air.
There was no dignity left in Licht now. In old his old age there was no strength or sword swing could save him now.
In his youth, Licht would have slaughtered them with ease. But now, with trembling arms and frostbitten fingers, he could lift his blade to face one or two but in front of a group, in front of pack,
Licht was prey.
A weak pathetic creature to be surrounded and rcilessly hunted.
And in that helplessness... he saw it.
Not with pride or power, but instead with the clarity of fear.
The wolves didn’t strike with strength. They struck with coordination and patience, bringing with them an all-consuming feeling of inevitability.
And now, Licht understood what it was to hunt asa pack.
A ragged, feral howl tore from his throat and bones as he lifted His sword out of instinct.
『Valtier Sword Style — Hunting Pack! (A)』
And just as the sword strike began, Licht woke up.
Licht sat in the quiet room again, breath steady, heart thudding like war drums.
It had only been a few minutes, but his mind felt like decades had passed.
Licht’s eyes shimred with a strange light.
"It takes years to prepare the mind, and only a mont to awaken."
At first, Licht had thought Enlightennt Points were just a fancy na for ga chanics, but now... it was sothing deeper.
This wasn’t just a system anymore.
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