Ch.190Chapter 190: New Connections (2).

# Chapter 190: New Connections (2)

Lisa boldly stepped in front of Valt to block his path, but Dwarf Princess Taryn Jeph paid little attention to the short-statured girl.

Instead, she looked Lisa up and down before making a rather peculiar assessment.

“Oh, little ground miss. Are you perhaps from the dwarf tribe too? You’re as short as I am! But looking at your skinny frame, your muscles are quite pathetic. When you’re short, you need strength to survive underground! You should eat well and exercise more, tiny one!”

Victor and Robin burst into laughter at Taryn’s unexpected “dwarf-style” advice.

“Lisa’s secret origin has been revealed.”

Even Arias and Liris slightly furrowed their brows, seemingly bewildered.

Lisa herself cleverly brushed off the comment.

“What are you talking about? I have perfect proportions! And I’m actually a bit taller than you!?”

“But my muscles are bigger!”

Lisa sighed.

“Why am I surrounded by so many muscle-obsessed people?”

“Alright, lieutenant, let me ask you something. Can you tell me the secret behind Valt’s power?”

“Are you stupid? Why would I tell you that?”

The dwarf princess’s eyes lost their playfulness, now shining with serious curiosity.

She turned to look at Valt again.

“Well, I don’t need to talk to you then. Valt Gerung. I don’t care about anything else, but that earth-shaking power of yours! I came here personally because I’m curious about its source. Rumors say you buried tens of thousands of orcs underground in one go—is that true? We dwarves are the race closest to the earth. So how can you, who isn’t a dwarf, handle such power? Is it some kind of ‘Earth Resonance Art’ that only exists in ancient records? If you tell me just that, I’ll gift you dwarf-made weapons and armor! Tempting, isn’t it? These are dwarf-made, mind you!”

Taryn made no attempt to hide her pure technical curiosity about Valt’s earth-related powers.

It seemed she was more interested in the essence of that power than in having a duel.

Just then, Mermaid Princess Roshuwin Tian, who was standing nearby, gently grabbed Taryn’s arm to restrain her.

“Hehe, Taryn, you’re too hasty. Look how flustered Prince Valt is.”

She sent Valt a secretive yet enchanting gaze, whispering in a mesmerizing, languid voice.

“My reasons are a bit different from Taryn’s, Prince Valt. Of course, I’m deeply interested in your marvelous power and… the vigorous life force pulsing within it. It’s quite different from the vitality of the sea—something more primal and intense.”

Roshuwin took another step closer with delicate gestures. She emanated a subtle ocean scent along with a mysterious aura.

“But the real reason I’ve come is… I have a very secret request that requires your help, Prince. It concerns a critical matter related to our sea kingdom. This doesn’t seem like the right place to discuss it… If you don’t mind, perhaps tonight, under the beautiful moonlight in a quiet place, just the two of us… we could have tea and engage in some adult conversation?”

At her flirtatious final words and blatant gaze, Arias unconsciously swallowed hard and gripped Valt’s clothes more tightly, while a chilling coldness emanated from Liris’s body.

Even Victor and Robin seemed to be barely restraining themselves from whistling at her seductive manner.

But Valt remained unshaken.

He calmly spoke, understanding both princesses’ proposals, the different intentions behind their gazes, and the subtle atmosphere among his companions.

“I appreciate your interest and offers, but I’m afraid I don’t have time right now. I’ve only recently returned from the East and have many matters to attend to.”

He paused briefly, then added while looking at each princess in turn:

“If the opportunity arises later, we can set up a formal appointment and talk again. I’m quite interested in both the Dwarf Kingdom and the Mermaid Kingdom.”

It was a polite response with a clear refusal.

Taryn pouted in dissatisfaction but soon nodded as if accepting the situation.

“Tch! Fine! But keep your promise! I must see that earth-flipping power of yours with my own eyes!”

Roshuwin, still wearing an enigmatic smile, responded gracefully.

“Hehe, very well, Prince. Then… I’ll be waiting. Until you come to find us again. And please don’t forget our ‘request.'”

The two princesses left with meaningful parting words, each departing in their own way.

“What’s with them! They’re total players, players! Especially that mermaid!”

Lisa fumed indignantly, but Valt ignored her comment and led the group away.

“Let’s go. Let’s have dinner first.”

After finishing a simple meal at a restaurant near the academy, Valt returned to their lodgings and told his companions to rest while he headed straight for Professor Leman’s research lab.

His mind was filled not with thoughts about the two princesses he had met earlier, but with questions and anxiety about the “Five Elements Fusion Fist,” his final strike that had defeated the Death Knight.

Professor Leman’s research lab was still chaos incarnate.

Various magical tools, weapon designs, and unidentifiable components were scattered throughout the room, with stacks of documents precariously piled on the desk, looking ready to collapse at any moment.

“Oh, you’re here? Hero of the East?”

Professor Leman, buried in paperwork, asked gruffly without even looking up.

There was something oddly endearing about his sarcastic tone.

“What trouble have you caused this time? The rumors are quite sensational. A Death Knight? Did you really defeat that black monster? Isn’t that Grand Master level? What kind of creature are you?”

“I was lucky. I merely delivered the final blow. That’s why I came to ask you about the technique I used against it…”

Leman’s expression filled with curiosity.

“Oh? A technique that blew away a Death Knight in one hit? I’m very curious. Tell me.”

Valt got straight to the point.

He explained in detail how he had condensed five core energies (physical force, magic power, elemental power, life force, and aura-magic fusion energy) into a single fist, the tremendous power wave and uncontrollable instability he felt during the process, and the extreme backlash that made every cell in his body scream after casting it.

Of course, he concealed the crucial reason that he had desperately thought of this method because of his “Do No Harm” trait.

Leman’s expression, which at first seemed disinterested as he listened with folded arms, grew increasingly serious as Valt’s explanation continued.

He was an unrivaled expert in aura and magic fusion and combat theory, but the “Five Elements” fusion Valt described was completely beyond his knowledge and common sense.

“…Wait, wait a minute. Are you… serious right now?”

Leman dropped his quill pen and stared at Valt.

His eyes were filled with shock and disbelief.

“Strength, magic, elemental, life, and on top of that, your unique unstable fusion aura… you crammed all five into one fist? Hey! That’s not fusion, it’s a bomb-making recipe, you fool! Theoretically, each energy should collide and cause a chain explosion! If it had been anyone but you, their body would have exploded the moment they tried to combine those forces!”

Leman jumped up and paced around the research lab nervously, shouting.

“And you succeeded with that, and used it to defeat a Death Knight? That absurdly tough creature even without regenerative abilities?”

“…Yes. It was successful in the end. But… the process was too unstable, and it put tremendous strain on my body. I almost… couldn’t endure it.”

“Hah…! You crazy bastard… truly a monster beyond help….”

Leman lost his words for a moment and took deep, rough breaths.

His scholarly curiosity and concern as a mentor seemed to be in violent conflict. After pondering for a moment, he stood before Valt with determination.

“…Damn it, I can’t believe it without seeing it with my own eyes. But it’s dangerous. Really dangerous… Alright. Just a tiny, tiny bit. Show me just a hint of that energy with the five forces mixed together that you’re talking about. Just the tiniest amount!”

Valt hesitated at his mentor’s intense gaze and warning, but he desperately needed his help to understand the nature of this technique.

Valt took a deep breath and began to carefully, cautiously condense the five forces above his fist in a very minimal amount.

Golden, blue, green, red, and formless energies mixed unstably above his fist, creating a small flame that pulsated violently as if alive.

Even from that small flame, an enormous pressure and dangerous aura emanated that seemed to distort the surrounding space.

Leman swallowed dryly as he closely observed the unstable energy condensation.

He employed all his senses and magic detection abilities to grasp the essence of that energy.

As time passed, the wrinkles between his brows deepened, and his face grew increasingly pale.

“…That’s enough, stop! Stop right now!”

Leman shouted urgently. As Valt immediately withdrew the energy, Leman staggered and leaned against the desk.

He spoke while sweating profusely, like someone who had just watched a terrifying horror film.

“Listen, Valt. Remember my words.”

“Yes, Professor.”

“What you just showed me, and that technique you said you used. It’s… practically a power created by grinding away your life force. It feels different from the life force in your cells—it’s like using your very existence as fuel.”

“……!”

“I don’t know how it’s possible! Maybe it’s a complex interaction of your extraordinary physique, unique aura, elemental contracts, vampire connection… all of those things! But one thing is certain! It’s not the kind of power you can control! You might have succeeded somehow this time, but next time, your very existence will be consumed by that power! This isn’t mere speculation—it’s a certainty.”

Leman gripped Valt’s shoulders firmly and spoke almost pleadingly.

“So… don’t ever think of using that technique again. Never! This is a strict order as your mentor. If you value your life, or if you care about those around you, forget about that technique immediately!”

His mentor’s desperate warning and curse-like declaration.

Valt felt chills running down his spine.

The Five Elements Fusion Fist. Behind the glorious technique that defeated the Death Knight lurked a terrible danger that could destroy even himself.

Leman added weakly with a sigh:

“First, properly recover your physical condition, and then we need to re-examine the fundamental aspects of your power. Instead of that unstable fusion technique, find ways to handle your existing powers more stably and precisely. That’s your path to survival.”

Valt looked down at his fist.

Inside it, remnants of an incomprehensibly vast power still seemed to writhe.

His mentor’s warning weighed heavily on his mind.

He nodded gravely.

“I understand. I’ll keep it in mind.”