Ch.124Chapter 124: Transmission

“What? You crazy bastard! Are you telling your big brother to just die?”

“I never said that. Is something wrong with your ears, brother?”

“What? This punk, when did you get so shameless? Has your Gerung blood taught you to lie?”

“If we’re talking about lies, it’s the ones you’ve been telling Father since you were young.”

“Wow, this kid doesn’t back down at all!”

“And I don’t lose fights anymore either.”

Two large men wrapped in bandages were receiving treatment.

They were Valt and Ruktan.

After Valt’s body slam, both Valt and Ruktan had been reduced to rags. Eventually, Arias and several healers rushed in to treat them, and two more of Valt’s mermaid tears were consumed in the process.

‘Hmm… becoming a meteor myself is still too much. That could have ended badly.’

Even with the Blood Demon Gauntlets and various defensive magic energies, he couldn’t fully absorb the impact of falling from the sky.

‘Hehehe, magic is truly fascinating.’

The freedom to try whatever comes to mind and see the results.

The characteristics and abilities of physical magic were like an exciting toy for Valt.

While most physical magic worked according to Valt’s thoughts, some were double-edged swords, and others were completely unusable.

But even that was tremendously fun for Valt—not only growing stronger through physical magic but also the joy of making each technique his own.

Discovering bizarre but incredible techniques was part of that process.

Grace, who had been watching the two, slapped Ruktan hard on the back.

SMACK!

Ruktan’s broad back meeting Grace’s hand created a crisp sound effect.

The Master’s back smash.

Seeing that, Valt had no desire to experience it himself.

“GAHK!! D-darling, if you hit me now, I’ll die!”

“What are you saying?! Didn’t I clearly tell you not to get hurt and not to overdo it?!”

When angry, Grace’s polite speech disappeared, revealing her true personality.

“No! It wasn’t me, it was Valt!”

SMACK!

“I told you! That person-throwing technique is dangerous and not to use it! That’s why Valt is in this state too!”

Having been thrown by Valt once before, Grace had previously forbidden Ruktan from using that technique except in actual combat.

“O-okay! I got it! Why do you always scold only me!”

Lisa, watching this scene, had an amused expression.

“Pfft, Brother Ruktan, are you already whipped?”

Lisa’s comment made both Ruktan and Grace blush.

“A-ahem! Lady Lisa, don’t you think that comment is a bit much?”

“Your Highness, it’s too late to start using such formal speech now.”

“Haha, this is embarrassing. They say a man should listen well to a woman’s words. Lisa, was it? Please don’t be too hard on our darling.”

The two quickly made up.

“Hahaha, anyway, it feels good that my little brother has surpassed me. Brother, at this rate, couldn’t you even match up against Father?”

That’s impossible. That battle demon wouldn’t have left Blood Magic, which forms a soul contract with King Bladir, untouched.

By now, something must have developed from it.

In fact, when Valt returned to Geruntia with the vampires, he was much stronger, while Kwan’s skills remained the same as before. Yet Valt couldn’t imagine defeating Kwan.

The outcome might be different in an actual fight, but Valt’s instincts told him otherwise.

And now Kwan had learned Blood Magic? Honestly, Valt didn’t have confidence in defeating Kwan.

“That’s impossible. Who could handle Father after he’s learned Blood Magic? Have you ever seen Father use magic?”

Ruktan’s expression began to fill with terror.

“Don’t even mention it… He’s my father, but I’m afraid to even call him human anymore. It was like… a blood-red aura? Whatever it was, it started wrapping around Father’s great sword… it was truly horrifying. I knew if I got hit by that, I’d be out in one blow.”

“Did you actually see its power?”

Ruktan thought for a moment, then shared an interesting story.

“Ah? You know where the vampires live, right?”

Majes Canyon.

The southern ravine that had become the homeland of vampires.

“I know it. Why?”

Ruktan continued, trembling again.

“Well… King Bladir came one day and asked if he could change the terrain a bit.”

“Yes, and?”

“Well, it was good for vampires to live there, but there wasn’t enough flat land, so it needed some reshaping.”

Lisa was the one who responded to Ruktan’s words.

“Come on, you’re not saying he changed the terrain with his sword, are you? A canyon at that?”

“Hehe, Valentine’s sister is sharp. Father personally went to change the terrain.”

*Gulp*

Everyone listened intently to Ruktan’s story.

“Honestly, changing terrain isn’t that big a deal. With enough people, it can be done in a few months.”

Gerung warriors are masters of field fortification. Their physical abilities produce work effects that surpass magic.

“But listen. Our Gerung warriors would need at least two months with thousands of men to change that terrain, but he transformed it with just three sword strikes!”

“Oh, come on, Brother, stop joking. How could three sword strikes change terrain? Didn’t he just break things up so they needed to be leveled later?”

Lisa and the Gerung warriors seemed to get along well. At some point, Lisa’s natural friendliness had made her and Ruktan develop a brother-sister relationship.

“I’m telling you! The first strike caused collapse, the second shattered everything, and the third… annihilation? And then the canyon became flat land! For almost 2 kilometers!”

It sounds unbelievable, but for Kwan, it’s entirely possible.

Even Valt could drop a meteor to change terrain if he pushed himself, so there’s no reason Kwan, who Valt sensed was stronger, couldn’t do the same.

What’s astounding is that Valt couldn’t control terrain so perfectly to make it completely flat.

Yet Kwan had flattened a canyon with just three sword strikes.

This meant Kwan had transcended mere physical strength and reached a level of his own enlightenment.

Those who can perform miracles that defy nature as humans are called Masters, beyond simple destruction.

No matter how far Kwan had pushed the limits of physical ability, perhaps the end point is the same for everyone, as they say all paths lead to one.

“What about you, Brother? Didn’t you learn Blood Magic?”

“Nah, what’s the use of learning that? I didn’t learn it.”

“Why not? You could become much stronger with it.”

Ruktan looked affectionately at Grace as he spoke.

“Brother, I strongly agree with the vampires who say soul contracts should be made with the person you intend to marry. Father might think of it as a brotherhood between men, but isn’t that funny too? How could such a deep bond form between people who never knew each other?”

Having heard that soul contracts were meant for spouses, Ruktan chose not to pursue it.

“I chose Grace as my partner. How could I form a soul bond with someone else? That’s impossible. My soul is with Grace. That’s my conclusion.”

Hearing Ruktan speak this way, Grace’s face flushed with embarrassment.

“Ahem, y-you’re good in many ways, but sometimes you say such embarrassing things so casually. How shameful. Sigh…”

But his words affected two people in particular.

Arias and Liris.

‘I-I’m connected to Valt through my spirit communion. Spirits are souls themselves. In a way, our souls are already connected.’

Arias was rationalizing with forced logic, while Liris’s face turned extremely red, not knowing how to react.

“I-I wouldn’t mind…”

At Liris’s sudden voice, everyone turned to look at her.

She seemed to have spoken without thinking.

“Ah! N-no, that’s not it! I meant the food! The food is good, that’s what I meant!”

Though she was flustered, everyone understood what she was really talking about.

“Hehehe, my brother has good taste too. Now go. I want to spend some quality time with my darling.”

When everyone gave Grace suggestive looks, she became extremely flustered.

“Hey! Are you crazy? You’re making everyone misunderstand, you rascal!!”

SMACK!

Valt couldn’t understand Grace’s inconsistent personality.

“Hmm… Brother, then are you interested in learning something else besides magic?”

“Huh? Something else? Is there anything else a Gerung warrior can learn besides Blood Magic?”

“Excuse me for a moment.”

Saying that, Valt placed his hand on Ruktan’s solid triceps.

Having reached a certain level of proficiency, Valt could now examine mana by infusing his magic power into another’s body.

‘As I thought… all Gerung warriors are the same. I’m not the only special one. Brother also has mana overflowing in each of his cells.’

“Yes, there is.”

Ruktan is a great warrior. That means he has both interest and talent in combat.

While being Kwan’s bloodline can’t be ignored, only seven of Kwan’s descendants have become great warriors.

“What? There’s something that can make me stronger? What is it?”

“Aura.”

Hearing Valt’s answer, Ruktan’s surprised face quickly turned gloomy, and he waved his hands dismissively.

“No, that’s impossible. Even Father couldn’t learn it, how could we? We were just born unable to use aura. Otherwise, there would have been at least one Gerung warrior who could use aura in our long history.”

But Valt grinned, showing his white teeth.

Then he raised his arm and executed something.

WOONG-

Aura gathered in Valt’s arm, shining with a golden light. Seeing this, Ruktan was startled.

“W-what is this?! This isn’t magic!! Darling! This is the aura you use, right?!”

Grace was surprised by Ruktan’s intense reaction.

“Y-yes, but is it that special?”

“Special?! You lucky bastard!! Where did someone like you come from?! This settles it—you should be the next Kwan! Quick, teach me! Hurry!”