The Infinite Sword Archive stood still.
Millions of legendary blades remained silent as Kael’s hand rested upon the golden chains.
The ancient voice echoed once more.
“So…”
“You chose me.”
The chains trembled.
Unlike Astra’s elegant awakening…
Or Scarlet’s dramatic entrance…
The sword before him radiated a quiet, almost solemn presence.
Astra stepped forward.
“Master.”
“This blade isn’t meant for destruction.”
Scarlet folded her arms.
“Which is exactly why it’s troublesome.”
Kael looked at them.
“Who is it?”
For the first time since meeting him, Scarlet answered without her usual teasing.
“One of the oldest Sovereign Blades.”
“The sword that carried humanity’s hope through the Age of Ruin.”
The chains slowly dissolved into particles of golden light.
A longsword emerged.
Its blade was pure white with veins of shimmering gold running through the metal.
Unlike the countless ornate weapons in the Archive, it had no jewels, no decorations, and no extravagant aura.
Its simplicity made it feel even more majestic.
A gentle voice spoke.
“Greetings, Successor.”
A young man materialized beside the sword.
He appeared to be in his early twenties, dressed in white robes with golden embroidery.
His expression was calm, his amber eyes warm.
Kael blinked.
“…You’re a man?”
Scarlet laughed.
“Oh, this is priceless.”
“I thought all Divine Swords looked like Astra and me.”
The young man smiled.
“We take forms that best represent our nature.”
He bowed politely.
“My name is Solis.”
“Third Sovereign Blade.”
“Bearer of Dawn.”
A new message appeared before Kael.
Divine Sword Registered
Name: Solis
Attribute: Light
Synchronization: 0%
Primary Ability: Radiant Dominion (Sealed)
Outside the Archive—
Another Shadow Knight emerged from the Gate.
Then another.
And another.
The professors were being pushed back.
The Headmaster parried a strike but was forced several steps backward.
“Fall back!” he shouted.
“Protect the students!”
It slowed the monsters…
But only briefly.
Cracks spread through the magical shield.
BOOM!
A Shadow Knight’s sword pierced the barrier.
One student screamed as the creature charged toward the evacuation route.
Mira froze.
Her legs refused to move.
Kael opened his eyes.
The Infinite Sword Archive faded from view.
He was back in the cavern.
Astra stood at his right.
Scarlet leaned casually against a pillar of crimson light.
Only Kael could see them.
Solis rested a hand over his heart.
“Master.”
“You already know what must be done.”
Kael nodded.
“I do.”
He stepped forward.
One.
Two.
Three.
Each footstep echoed through the cavern.
The nearest Shadow Knight noticed him.
Its crimson eyes glowed.
It charged.
The professors shouted.
“Student!
Get back!”
Kael ignored them.
Instead of summoning Astra…
Instead of choosing Scarlet…
He reached toward Solis.
A warm white light gathered in his hand.
Not blinding.
Not explosive.
Simply…
peaceful.
A plain white sword appeared.
It looked almost ordinary.
Scarlet smirked.
“They’re going to underestimate that one.”
The Shadow Knight swung.
Kael raised Solis.
CLANG!
The black blade stopped.
Not because Kael was stronger.
Because the Shadow Knight’s sword refused to move any farther.
Golden light spread across the corrupted weapon.
The dark mana surrounding it evaporated like mist beneath the morning sun.
The monster staggered backward.
For the first time…
Fear appeared in its glowing eyes.
Solis spoke calmly.
Kael took one step forward.
He slashed once.
A clean arc of white light crossed the cavern.
The Shadow Knight stopped moving.
Its armor cracked.
Then dissolved into countless golden particles that drifted harmlessly through the air.
No explosion.
No destruction.
Only silence.
Everyone stared.
The Headmaster lowered his sword.
“…Purification.”
Professor Elena whispered,
“I’ve never seen magic like that.”
Lucien watched Kael with a thoughtful expression.
“So…”
“You’ve awakened another one.”
His words were quiet enough that only Kael heard them.
Kael glanced at him.
“You know more than you should.”
Lucien gave a faint smile.
“And you know less than you think.”
Before Kael could ask what he meant, Lucien turned toward the Gate.
“Something stronger is coming.”
As if responding to those words…
The entire Gate trembled violently.
The remaining Shadow Knights immediately dropped to one knee.
Not in surrender.
In reverence.
A deep horn echoed from beyond the portal.
The sound rolled through the cavern like thunder.
Even Fenrir’s ears flattened.
“Impossible…”
“He awakened this early?”
The black mist slowly parted.
A gigantic armored figure emerged.
It stood nearly four meters tall.
Its obsidian armor was engraved with ancient runes, and a massive greatsword rested across one shoulder.
Unlike the Shadow Knights…
Its eyes burned with calm intelligence.
The giant looked directly at Kael.
Then planted its sword into the ground.
“My name…”
“…is Darius.”
“The First Commander of the Fallen Legion.”
It bowed with the dignity of a veteran knight.
“I seek a duel with the Master of the Infinite Sword Archive.”
The cavern fell silent.
Kael tightened his grip on Solis.
He could feel it.
This opponent…
…was stronger than every enemy he had faced since returning to the past.
And somewhere beyond the Gate, hidden in the endless darkness, another presence watched with great interest.
A pair of silver eyes slowly opened.
“So…”
“The Sovereign’s successor has finally begun his journey.”