“You… obtained its recognition without even knowing its true name?”
It took Evelyn a moment to find her voice again, her tone a mixture of surprise and disbelief that left Nolan slightly embarrassed. She shook her head and sighed. “I didn’t think something like that was even possible. I really don’t know what Hoden saw in you.”
Only then did Nolan realize what she meant. Hoden was the name of the blade he held—the Mountain’s Resonance he had just awakened. He gripped the heavy one-handed sword and examined it closely; the ancient runes that had once glowed across its surface had faded, returning it to its original, unassuming state.
“So it even has a name of its own…” he murmured, then looked up. “Do holy swords truly have their own will? I always thought that title was just a way people praised the masterpieces of legendary dwarven craftsmen.”
Evelyn looked at him as though he had asked the most ridiculous question imaginable, her expression practically saying, You’re hopelessly ignorant. Nolan felt his mouth twitch.
“Of course they do.” Seizing the chance to educate a mortal, Evelyn lifted her chin proudly. “The six Elemental Holy Swords are gifts and expectations bestowed upon the mortal world by the six Elemental Sovereigns. They are both keys and authority. Without the approval of those sovereigns, what mortal craftsman would dare claim to have ‘created’ them?”
So there was another layer to this. Nolan frowned, recalling the vast presence he had felt earlier. “I did hear an ancient, heavy voice, but I couldn’t understand it at all. And when I was banished into another dimension, it broke the spell on its own.”
“That was the ancient language of Vaughn, as old as this world itself. It’s only natural that you couldn’t understand it.” Evelyn’s pride deepened as she spoke of knowledge beyond mortal reach. “Hoden means ‘Anchor of the Earth.’ You think a crude spell like that could banish it? Absurd. Unless the caster could throw the entire world into another dimension, it would never work.” She paused briefly before continuing, her golden slit pupils glinting faintly. “To gain the recognition of an Elemental Holy Sword, one’s soul must resonate with the fundamental nature it represents. The essence of earth is resilience and protection. That is likely what moved Hoden to acknowledge you.”
She did not say the rest aloud—that it had also sensed in him the potential of an Elemental King. Whether out of pride or reluctance to name another as king, the thought remained unspoken.
Hank, listening from the side, felt his heart pound. He stared at the sword in Nolan’s hand, his expression growing grave. “Nolan, this sword… is it truly that important?” His brow furrowed. “I always thought a ‘holy sword’ was mostly symbolic, but this seems far more complicated. If the mountain dwarves learn that the earth-element holy sword has reappeared and is in the hands of a human… the kingdom could be dragged into a serious diplomatic crisis.”
His concern was well-founded. To the dwarves, this blade was a national treasure, and now it rested in the hands of their long-standing enemies. That alone could become the spark for war.
“Stop looking so pathetic, mortal,” Evelyn scoffed. “Do you know why they are called holy swords? They can be destroyed, but they will never submit. They are the purest embodiments of elemental will itself. They choose their wielder, not the other way around. Unless their bearer falls or dies, no ordinary being has the right to lay a hand on them.”
Hank was left speechless. The arrogance ingrained in dragonkind left him feeling both frustrated and helpless. This dragon lady clearly possessed profound knowledge of the world’s fundamental truths, yet she understood nothing of the complexities of politics. Then again, it made sense. Beings as powerful and exalted as dragons had no need to concern themselves with such matters. Their strength alone placed them above any system of rules, while mortals remained bound within them.
Nolan noticed Hank’s expression and understood his concerns. Walking over, he patted the veteran on the shoulder. “It’s fine, Hank. If the Earth Holy Sword has acknowledged me, then legally speaking, we actually hold the stronger position.” He flashed a confident grin. “Which means we should focus on growing stronger as quickly as possible. As long as we’re powerful enough, we’ll be able to handle whatever trouble comes our way.”
As he finished speaking, he turned back to Evelyn, his expression shifting into something more awkward. There was a question that had been bothering him since earlier, one that left him feeling strangely uneasy.
【Dragonborn】.
“Miss Evelyn, I have one last question.”
Evelyn folded her arms and gestured impatiently for him to get on with it. Nolan cleared his throat.
“After you… treated me just now, I feel like my body is a bit… different.”
At that, Evelyn’s cheeks flushed instantly, though she forced herself to maintain her composure, masking the reaction with an even more arrogant tone. “Oh, that. It’s just a minor side effect of the ‘dragon essence.’ It’s beneficial to you, not harmful.” She turned her head aside, then faced him again, lifting her chin. “If you wish to express your gratitude, you may begin now, Nolan.”
“In your dreams. You knocked my head on the ground just now, so we’re even,” Nolan shot back, echoing her earlier words.
“You—!” Though she was a dragon, she was still a young girl; she huffed and turned away, sulking.
Hank glanced at Nolan, and in the flickering torchlight he noticed something strange. Beneath Nolan’s bare, well-built torso, faint streams of light seemed to move under his skin. Looking closer, he could even make out a thin, translucent pattern resembling dragon scales, appearing and vanishing.
Nolan, meanwhile, was staring at his system panel. For once, it offered no detailed explanation. Beside the 【Dragonkin】 label was only a single, vague line: 【A physique beyond mortals. You will feel a special affinity toward the kin who granted you this bloodline.】
A special affinity?
Nolan frowned and looked up at Evelyn. At once, a strange stirring rose from deep within his blood, a mix of trust, dependence, and an inexplicable urge to draw closer, completely beyond his control.
At that same moment, Evelyn was sneaking glances at his scarred yet well-defined upper body. Their eyes met.
She reacted as if shocked by electricity, instantly looking away, a blush spreading down her pale neck. With a sharp huff, she broke the awkward silence. “What are you two standing around for? Planning to live in this hole like burrowing rodents?”
This tsundere little dragon… what exactly did she give me, a blessing or a curse? Nolan muttered inwardly. For now, he suppressed the strange sensation. There were more pressing matters to deal with.
The half-dead cultist.
After briefly placating the impatient Evelyn, Nolan strode toward the unconscious man in the corner. Without hesitation, he drove a hard kick into the man’s severed thigh.
“Ahhh—!!”
The intense pain jolted him awake with a scream. His face was deathly pale from blood loss, his lips trembling uncontrollably, all the confidence he had displayed earlier completely gone.
Nolan looked down at him coldly. “Talk. What exactly is your Nihility Cult planning?” There was nothing in his voice but disgust. “Tell the truth, and I’ll grant you a quick death.”
Sign up to join the discussion...
Already have an account? Log in
No comments yet. Be the first to discuss this chapter.