Chapter 80: Uninvited Guest (1)

The way back was just as long as the way there.

Before that, he couldn't just leave Erebus as it was.

Damian decided to stop by the city's blacksmith to see if there was any suitable equipment for a spear.

"I'd like it to be as sturdy as possible, even if it's heavy."

Erebus had the effect of corroding nearby objects even when left alone.

Currently, only the handle remained, so its corrosive power was weak, but it would grow stronger as it was restored.

In his previous life, when the restoration rate was 70%, just taking out Erebus would cause everything nearby to crumble into dust.

"Something heavy and sturdy... How about this?"

The blacksmith brought out a long pole from the back.

"It was ordered by a lord near the city to use as a flagpole. When it was finished, he said it was too heavy and didn't take it. Damn it."

Damian tried lifting the pole.

It was so heavy that he couldn't lift it with one hand; he had to use both.

He tried gripping it with both hands and applying force, but it didn't bend at all.

"Isn't it impressive? It's made by compressing steel for several months."

It was extremely heavy and didn't bend easily. It was the worst item to use as a spear, as it was originally intended to be a flagpole.

Still, Damian really liked this pole.

The heaviness was good for training, and the compressed steel would likely withstand Erebus's corrosion for a long time.

"I'll take this."

Damian asked the blacksmith to also sell him several bundles of steel wire.

Once outside the city, Damian took out Erebus.

Erebus, stored in a tattoo, emerged at Damian's will.

He placed the handle of Erebus at the end of the pole and tightly wrapped it with the steel wire.

He channeled the Beast Spirit Light and mana, putting all his strength into wrapping it. As a result, Erebus and the pole were firmly fixed together.

"It doesn't look great, but it should be usable."

Erebus was a greatsword, incredibly large. The blade at the end of the handle was also very wide and thick.

As a result, it looked more like a broken blade than a spear.

Damian infused mana into the pole. Even with a small amount, an aura enveloped not only the broken blade but the entire pole.

'As expected, the essence remains.'

Erebus had countless powers, one of which was mana amplification.

Even a small amount of mana would multiply several times. No one knew how this was possible, not even Dorgo.

The amplification increased as Erebus was restored.

In his previous life, he used Erebus to create a massive, sky-reaching aura blade that cut through an entire army in one go.

'One more thing to check.'

Next, Damian stabbed Erebus into the ground. A black aura spread from the spear, affecting everything within a 1-meter radius.

The plants that turned black soon crumbled into dust, including the tall trees.

This was one of Erebus's main powers, 'Black Collapse.'

Black Collapse corroded and destroyed the structure of anything it touched.

Currently, its range and power were limited, but they would increase as the restoration rate rose.

In his previous life, no one could approach Damian due to Black Collapse. Any living thing that came close would turn to dust, and even long-range magical attacks were ineffective.

Only Master Class could resist Black Collapse, and even then, they had to continuously expend mana to resist the corrosion.

"Still, it's too dangerous."

Damian muttered, turning Erebus back into black smoke and absorbing it.

Interestingly, the pole also turned into black smoke, another minor power of Erebus.

"Now, it's a straight line home."

Damian headed towards the Haksen Manor.

* * *

As he got closer to home, Damian couldn't help but feel anxious.

"I don't know if Father has calmed down."

Over two weeks had passed since he went to and from the Longquist Mountains. In that time, the rumor of Damian reaching Mid-Class must have spread widely.

Father must have heard the news and might still be furious.

Despite this, Damian arrived at the Haksen Manor.

The moment he entered, he felt a sense of unease. No one was in sight, not even the servants or family members.

Damian spread his senses.

He detected multiple auras in the living room on the second floor. Focusing, he could see the heat signatures of people through the walls.

Damian moved to the living room and opened the door without hesitation. There, he saw his family, frozen in place.

They were all sitting on the sofas. The problem was the hooded men standing behind them, weapons in hand.

"Damian..."

Father spoke with a face full of fear. Just as Damian was about to respond,

"You've come."

One of the men spoke. Like the others, he wore a hood, making it impossible to see his face.

The man stepped forward, and two others placed two chairs.

The man sat down, and one of the men stood behind him, like a bodyguard.

"It's a pleasure to see you in person. Please, have a seat."

The man, sitting, spoke with a deep, resonant voice.

Damian obediently sat opposite him, in a position with his back to the door.

"What do you want from me?"

Leaning back in his chair, Damian asked. The man smiled, seemingly pleased with his calm demeanor.

"You're not in a hurry. Is it confidence, or are you just putting on an act?"

"Stop talking nonsense and get to the point. What do you want from me?"

At Damian's words, the man beside him stepped forward, clearly irritated. The man raised his hand to stop him.

"Such an impatient character. Or do you not want to talk to me?"

"Both. So, get to the point."

"Ha ha ha, I see. I have no choice."

The man chuckled and then spoke to Damian.

"Damian Haksen, I'm here to verify a rumor."

"Rumor?"

"According to the rumor, you helped the church eliminate a black mage and have already reached Mid-Class."

The man crossed his legs and continued.

"To be honest, I find it hard to believe. As far as I know, you were just a useless troublemaker a few months ago. For someone like that to reach Mid-Class in less than half a year... it's impossible."

It was a reasonable doubt.

Being promoted to Low-Class within a year of learning swordsmanship was considered a once-in-a-lifetime genius.

Yet, Damian Haksen had reached Mid-Class in less than half a year.

"It's not unprecedented."

"True, there have been a few cases throughout history. In other words, your growth rate is that exceptional. That's why it's hard to believe."

The man picked up a teacup from the table.

"Most people who heard the rumor don't believe it. I'm one of them. That's why I'm here to verify it."

The man snapped his fingers. The hooded men behind the family members struck the ground with their weapons, making the family members flinch.

"Let me make it clear: you can't refuse. If you do... you know what will happen."

Damian clicked his tongue. His irritation was reaching its peak.

"What a bunch of scum."

At this, the man standing like a bodyguard beside the other man stepped forward again.

"Watch your mouth. This is not someone you can speak to so casually."

"Why would such a noble person do such a despicable thing?"

A burst of energy erupted from the man's body, striking Damian's face and body.

'A Mid-Class.'

He looked young but had already reached Mid-Class. He was no ordinary talent.

"I'll teach you to bow your stiff neck!"

The man lunged forward, grabbing his sword hilt. Damian, still seated, stepped on the hilt with his foot.

This prevented the man from drawing his sword. Meanwhile, Damian leaped over the chair.

'Fighting here could harm my family.'

Damian opened the door and rushed outside. The man followed a moment later.

The man chased Damian, swinging his sword. The blade, infused with aura, cut through the air at a fierce speed.

Damian blocked the attack with the iron sword he used in the Longquist Mountains.

'This guy is causing a ruckus in someone else's house.'

Avoiding the attack was easy, but doing so could put his family in direct danger.

Damian blocked the attacks while gradually leading the man outside the manor.

"How long do you plan to run?"

The man, clearly frustrated, increased his mana.

A Mid-Class, capable of turning the tide of war, was about to unleash his full power.

The surrounding objects began to fly from the sheer force of the mana.

Damian couldn't help but frown at the sight.

"Is this guy crazy?"

When a Mid-Class used their full power, the surrounding area often turned into a wasteland.

If the man unleashed his full power, the manor and the fields would be completely destroyed.

Damian already felt guilty for what he had done to his family. He couldn't let the manor be destroyed.

Damian activated the Beast Spirit Light.

The first effect of the Beast Spirit Light activated. His body temperature rose sharply, and his muscles and senses were activated.

His senses were heightened to the extreme. The world seemed to slow down, and the sweat droplets from the man's forehead floated in the air.

One step.

He moved forward, blocking a horizontal slash aimed at his neck with his sword.

The Sword Saint's realm, 'Ten Thousand Streams Insight,' activated. The trajectory of the blade twisted. The blade, which was swung horizontally, suddenly shot upward.

The blade slipped from the man's grip and flew far away.

"!"

The man, realizing the situation, was taken aback. Damian didn't hesitate and kicked the man's abdomen.

"Ugh!"

With a sickening sound, the man's body bent forward and flew backward.

He rolled on the ground several times, clutching his stomach in pain and unable to get up.

Damian pushed off the ground and swung his sword at the man's neck without hesitation.

Just as the blade was about to reach the man's neck,

"Whoa."

Someone intervened at the last moment. Five fingers grabbed Damian's iron sword, stopping it.

Damian looked at the person holding the sword. It was the middle-aged man from the living room.

"You almost killed someone. Isn't that a bit too much?"

"It's your side that's too much."

Damian sheathed his sword and retorted.

"A High-Class person playing such a game."

"Hmm? You figured it out already? That's no fun."

The man removed his hood, revealing a middle-aged face covered in a beard.

"I was going to introduce myself impressively after the fight. But the situation got complicated."

"I know you were faking the threat to my family."

"You figured that out too? That's no fun at all."

The man said with a disappointed look.

"Let me introduce myself properly."

In fact, Damian already knew who he was, not because of his memories from his past life, but because any citizen of the Apple Kingdom would know.

"I'm Liam Bluegreen."

One of the three High-Class in the Apple Kingdom.

A man who pledged loyalty only to the king stood before him.