**Chapter 23. The Obsidian Fang **
The morning sun had barely crested the horizon when the clashing of steel echoed across the main courtyard.
I stood in the center of the dirt arena, my chest heaving, holding the dark blade loosely at my side. Across from me stood Sir Brandon, the Duchy’s Head Instructor and a hardened master of the sword. His sharp, scar-lined face was set in a stern expression, his own heavy broadsword held in a relaxed yet flawless guard.
From the raised balcony overlooking the courtyard, Mother sat gracefully, sipping herbal tea while her sharp eyes tracked our every movement.
"Again, Young Master!" Brandon called out, his voice booming across the grounds. "A soul weapon is not merely a tool; it is an extension of your own breath! If your heart hesitates, the edge will dull!"
I looked down at the dark blade. The pitch-black steel seemed to drink in the morning sunlight, giving off an ominous, refined gleam.
"
Erebos
," I whispered, bestowing its true name.
The moment the name left my lips, the sword shivered in my grip. A low, hum sounded from the pommel, vibrating straight into my palm like a satisfied purr. It was no longer just a piece of Mythical-rank metal—the soul bond was locked.
THUMP.
My heart beat in unison with the blade's residual mana.
"Let's go, Sir Brandon!" I yelled, stepping forward with violent speed.
I swung
Erebos
in a tight horizontal arc. The blade cut through the air so smoothly it didn't even make a whisper—it sliced the very atmospheric pressure around it.
CLANG!
Brandon parried the blow, but his eyes widened slightly as the sheer kinetic force pushed his heavy broadsword back an inch. "Impressive sharp edge! But let us see if it can handle your elemental core!"
"Don't just swing it!" Mother’s voice carried down effortlessly from the balcony, filled with authoritative guidance. "Do not force your mana
into
the sword, son!
Erebos
is a soul weapon—treat it like a secondary mana channel! Let your fire flow through it, not against it!"
Her advice clicked instantly.
Instead of shoving my mana forward like a blunt ram, I opened my core and allowed my fire affinity to thread smoothly down my arm and into the silver-wrapped hilt.
FWOOSH!
Crimson flames instantly enveloped
Erebos
, but unlike normal steel, which would warp or glow red-hot under such heat, the dark blade drank the fire in. The flames condensed along the sharp edge, turning from bright red to a violent, high-density white fire.
"
Fire Bolt—Ignited Edge!
" I roared, lunging forward.
I brought the flaming blade down in a vertical strike. Brandon raised his sword to block, reinforcing it with his own dense aura.
BOOM!
The kinetic impact of the Fire Bolt spell detonated directly upon contact with his guard. The explosive force kicked up a cloud of dust, forcing the veteran knight to slide backward three full paces, his boots tearing deep grooves into the dirt.
"Brilliant execution, Young Master!" Brandon laughed, his eyes ablaze with excitement. "Now, show me the lightning!"
Without giving him room to breathe, I channeled my second affinity. The white flames vanished, replaced instantly by crackling arcs of violent blue electricity. The lightning coiled around the dark wing-shaped guard of
Erebos
, buzzing like a swarm of enraged hornets.
I slashed horizontally.
BZZZZT!
The lightning didn't just stay on the blade—it shot out as a razor-thin needle of localized voltage. Brandon parried the physical sword, but the lightning arc leaped off
Erebos
's tip, striking his shoulder guard. His left arm violently twitched as the
Static Jolt
tried to paralyze his nerve path, forcing him to drop his shoulder guard for a fraction of a second.
"Good! Precise!" Mother called out from above, standing up from her chair with an approving nod. "Now! Drive the spatial distortion into the strike! Complete the harmony!"
Gritting my teeth, I tried to push further. I tried to pour my half-awakened Space affinity into
Erebos
, aiming to fold the distance between me and Brandon.
‘Ada, assist!’
[Engaging Spatial Channeling through Soul Weapon: Erebos...]
For a split second, the air around
Erebos
warped wildly. The light around the blade distorted, and I felt as though I could slash straight through the space separating us. But just as the spatial mana touched the blade's edge, a heavy barrier slammed shut inside my core.
GH-!
The flow blocked violently. The spatial distortion imploded into a puff of harmless grey smoke, and the recoil sent a sting of mana backflow down my wrist.
I stumbled back, gasping for air, using
Erebos
to prop myself up on the dirt.
"Still blocked..." I panted, wiping sweat from my brow.
"Do not be discouraged," Brandon said, lowering his sword and offering a warm, respectful smile. "To channel two distinct elements into a blade seamlessly on your first day of soul-bonding is a feat most high-tier knights spend years attempting. The spatial element will open when your vessel is ready."
Mother descended the balcony stairs, stepping onto the training grounds. She reached out, gently patting my shoulder. "He speaks the truth. You are exceptionally close. The seal on your spatial power is thinning."
I smiled faintly and called out mentally,
'Status.'
A translucent blue window materialized before my eyes:
[STATUS WINDOW]
Name:
[Host]
Rank:
E-Rank
Affinities:
Fire (Unlocked), Lightning (Unlocked), Space (Half-Awakened - Sealed)
Bound Soul Weapon:
Erebos (Mythical Rank - Soul Bonded)
Equipped Spells:
Fire Bolt (Tier 1 - Max Output), Static Jolt (Tier 1 - Neural Precision)
Special Skill:
Special Sense
Seeing
Erebos
officially registered under my soul status brought a deep sense of accomplishment. The sword felt light, natural, and lethally ready in my grip.
I sheathed the dark blade with a crisp
click
.
"Mother," I said, looking her dead in the eye with complete resolve. "I'm ready. When do we depart for the front lines?"