Parallel Vol. 4 [LEGACY EDITION]

Chapter 45.2: Conviction

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9:50 a.m. 18th Banem 1092.

Hektor, sweating profusely, panted heavily as he examined his right arm. A terrifying tribal mark occupied the entire arm, pulsating with power that greatly shocked the young man. He finally understood what the sword spirit meant when it said he had not received the full inheritance. Comparing the presence of the current mark to the previous, was like comparing an elephant to an ant, or the heavens to the earth.

Hektor circulated his ki, and to his surprise, the moment his ki flowed through his right arm, a stream of information piggy-backed on the ki flow to his brain, giving him a full understanding of the benefits and drawbacks of the mark. Hector immediately closed his eyes to digest the information, seemingly momentarily forgetting about the two realm-shaking figures waiting on him.

The light frown on Sram's face deepened when she saw this. "He's truly just like him when he was young," she muttered, and although she did not look at the sword spirit, they both knew who she was talking about.

The sword spirit shook its head and turned its attention to the struggling youth. However, his concentration was once again broken by Sram.

"Why are you helping him?"

The sword spirit turned to look at the war goddess. "I am afraid I do not understand your question. The child is taking a test like everyone else. I am not helping him."

"Liar," Sram snorted with a snort. "You might be able to fool him, but not me. These bones," she said, pointing at the tiny mountains. "Even though hundreds of years have passed, I can still sense powerful mana and ki in some of them. These people were surely top warriors when they were alive. Do you expect me to believe there's a test they can't pass that this kid can?" Sram folded her arms and glared at the spirit. "You failed those people on purpose, but you are letting this child have a go. Why don't you drop the pretense, and surrender. The outcome's going to be the same anyway."

The sword spirit raised a brow. "You must have been lonely the past millenia. I do not recall you being this talkative."

"You!" Sram bellowed as a duanting aura exploded outward. Luckily, she managed to retain the presence of mind to isolate Hektor from its effects as she glared at the sword spirit. "You want to die!?" She roared through gritted teeth.

The sword spirit's red eyes flashed with excitement and clear bloodlust as it challenged, "It's not clear which of us will die."

Sram absolutely lost it. To think a mere sword spirit would be this cocky in her presence! Furthermore it was the sword spirit of the man she hated most! "Die then!" She roared and had already thrown the first punch when Hektor suddenly grunted.

The young man's grunt as he opened his eyes awakened the war goddess from her rage. Sram's fists abruptly stopped inches from the sword spirit's chest. At the same time, her eyes narrowed as she looked to the side and saw the fist that had stopped inches from her face. As expected of Razznik sword spirit. It didn't hold back in the slightest despite facing a woman. Sram knew that if Hektor had not interrupted them, she would have been forced to eat that punch.

Of course, the sword spirit would also be forced to endure her punch, and in terms of damage value, her punch would definitely be much higher than the sword spirit's. However, there was something intrinsically humiliating about being punched in the face compared to the chest, and that was what the sword spirit had been aiming for.

Its thought process was clear. Even if you kill me, you too will die of humiliation and shame.

Sram harrumphed and returned to a neutral position as Hektor opened his eyes. She glared at the sword spirt who had similarly returned to his previous posture and sent a mental message. "I see you're still good at provoking others."