HUFF. HUFF.
GASP.
BLEEEGH.
I looked at the members gasping for breath and dry-heaving, then took a swig straight from the wine bottle. Elder Yorite, who had been standing beside me with his arms crossed while carefully observing the Elves, slowly turned his head and spoke to me.
"This is not even training, merely a fitness test. I cannot help wondering whether you may be pushing them too hard… They are not members of the Guardian Unit or the Investigation Unit, after all…"
I took another swig of wine with my brow deeply furrowed and answered.
"The Special Operations Unit members don't seem to be in bad shape… but the others are utterly pathetic."
"Hmm… Even during Ranger training, we do not train them this recklessly…"
I glanced at Elder Yorite. He avoided my gaze and cleared his throat.
"Elder Yorite."
"Yes, Your Highness."
"Didn't you notice the difference during yesterday's banquet between those who possessed a Spirit's power and those who didn't when they used Energy Circulation to move their Energy?"
"I did. Unlike mine, their Mana Circles were, well… bound in chains. As Your Highness said, forcibly breaking the seal appears to be our most urgent task."
"The method?"
"First, they must draw mana up from the Dantian as though using magic, then let the mana flow through the gaps in the chains… And the place other than the Mana Circle from which mana is drawn up is, um…"
"The Lower Dantian."
"Ahem, my apologies. I understand the concept, but I am not yet accustomed to the terminology…."
It was true that seeing the members perform even worse than I had expected had put me in a foul mood. However, Elder Yorite was becoming embarrassed over something that was not even his fault, so I decided to stop tormenting him.
"Yes. To break the chains around the Mana Circle, the amount of mana in the Lower Dantian must increase. That is why they are undergoing physical training. If they can safely complete even this much, they may be able to work with me at the Branch."
"I understand what you mean."
"What of the Guardian Unit and the Investigation Unit members incorporated into it?"
"I am overseeing them. However, will the Covert Operations Unit, Special Operations Unit, and Supply Unit also be completely disbanded like the Investigation Unit?"
"Yes."
"Then working at the Branch truly will be…"
"I will accept volunteers. We cannot allow another traitor to emerge, can we?"
"I understand accepting volunteers, but I heard you also intend to screen them. What will happen to those who fail to meet the selection criteria?"
"Are there not many things they can do while remaining here, such as cooking?"
As I answered, I watched the members undergoing the fitness test on the training ground from atop the platform.
Some trudged forward half a step at a time with their shoulders hanging limp.
Some were on all fours, dry-heaving.
Others lay sprawled flat on their backs, gasping for breath. Not a single person could complete a mere four thousand laps without trouble.
I let out a faint sigh, stared at them, and shouted.
"Everyone, attention!"
At the sound of my voice, the members stopped running and gasping across the training ground and glanced toward me.
"This prince is deeply disappointed in every last one of you!"
HUFF. HUFF.
Only the members' ragged breathing echoed across the training ground. I looked at them and continued.
"Your resolve never to lose your families and comrades again! Your resolve never to suffer helplessly again! Your resolve to be reborn anew! Your resolve to grow strong because the powerless have everything taken from them and the weak are devoured by the strong! Were all those vows you made to me before training nothing but empty words?!"
Was their determination strong, but their bodies unable to keep up? Moreover, because they had not received a Spirit's power, their self-esteem had also fallen.
Most members of the Guardian Unit were in the Transcendent Realm. The former Investigation Unit members were weaker, but they were still in the Supreme Peak Realm. Since they continually trained their Spirit power, they had at least possessed a vague desire for greater strength.
However, the members of the Special Operations Unit, Covert Operations Unit, and Supply Unit had never been in circumstances that allowed them to crave strength in the first place. They had likely been dispatched to protect the kingdom simply because they were Elves, living their lives focused on adapting to new environments and societies, surviving, and completing their missions.
When someone powerless first gains strength, they instinctively begin craving even greater power, and their morale rises. This was the simplest method of raising morale and loyalty used not only by the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, but also by those bastards of the Righteous Faction. Since the Elves were already bound together as one race, their morale and loyalty would likely rise even faster.
However, the power they considered important was the power of the Spirits. That would only be possible once their sealed Middle Dantians were opened.
First, I need to instill powerful motivation and hope in them.
I had intended to select those who passed the fitness test and have them work at the Branch. But at this rate, no one looked capable of passing, so I would have to revise the plan substantially.
First, I would accept those with strong resolve as the initial volunteers and train them. Anyone whose mental fortitude faltered would be eliminated. Those who passed would be taught ways to increase their strength, including physical training, the basic postures of sword dancing, Energy Circulation, and magic.
If the first group selected managed to gather Internal Energy in their Lower Dantians, open their Middle Dantians, and receive Spirit power, even more people would volunteer.
In that case, I should give the first volunteers who passed the selection positions such as leader or deputy leader. Then I could train the later volunteers who possessed sufficient mental fortitude and take them to work at the Branch.
I looked at Elder Yorite beside me, but my gaze shifted to Rokiyan as he approached from behind the elder carrying wine.
"Rokiyan."
"Yes, Your Highness."
"Since I will be working at the Branch, will you also come to the Branch later?"
Rokiyan nodded with a determined expression.
"Then you will have to train as well."
"Excuse me?"
"The Branch will operate in Human territory, so it will be dangerous. Should you not possess enough strength not only to protect yourself, but also to defeat a Dragon if you face one?"
"Uh. Hmm… Can I become as strong as Your Highness merely by training? I do not possess a Spirit's power…"
Yes.
My prediction was correct.
The Elves relied far too heavily on Spirit power. Those without it had become withdrawn, just like Rokiyan.
I looked at Elder Yorite and spoke.
"Do all the members of the Covert Operations Unit, Supply Unit, and Special Operations Unit here lack Spirit power?"
"That is correct."
"What about everyone else without Spirit power?"
"Rokiyan is beside you… Do you mean the young ones who have not yet undergone their Coming-of-Age Ceremony?"
"Yes. Bring everyone without Spirit power onto the platform."
At that moment, Elder McGill was approaching from a distance, yawning as though exhausted from spending the entire previous night writing depositions.
"Elder McGill!"
At my call, Elder McGill snapped to attention, looked at me, and ran over.
"Did you call for me?"
"What of the Guardian Unit and the Investigation Unit?"
"Aside from those repairing the Barrier, they are all training in sword dancing with Elder Bardi."
"Call all of them to this training ground immediately."
"Ah… Understood."
STEP, STEP.
I watched the members of the Guardian Unit and the Investigation Unit assemble one by one before the training ground, drenched in sweat from devoting themselves to sword-dance training. Then I jumped down from the platform.
"How is sword training with actual swords instead of branches?"
"Good!"
"It is going well!"
"Everyone except the members of the Guardian Unit and the Investigation Unit, climb onto the training ground platform."
MURMUR, MURMUR.
Elder Yorite spoke in a dignified voice.
"Quickly, climb up!"
I looked around. The members of the Guardian Unit and the Investigation Unit stood on the training ground, staring blankly at me, while all the other members and those who had not yet undergone their Coming-of-Age Ceremony were packed tightly together atop the platform.
I looked at the Investigation Unit and Guardian Unit members on the training ground again.
"Why are the Investigation Unit members learning sword dancing and Energy Circulation?"
They whispered among themselves without answering.
"Speak honestly."
SWISH.
I pointed at those who cautiously raised their hands.
"Tell me."
"Because they are techniques Your Highness learned from a First-Generation Spirit…"
"And you?"
"Because I heard you killed a Dragon."
"And you?"
"Because the seniors of the Guardian Unit said they were learning them as well…"
I looked at the Guardian Unit members.
"Why are the Guardian Unit members learning what I taught you?"
"Yes, you. Answer."
"Using Energy Circulation has reduced my fatigue."
"That is true."
"It is rather fascinating."
MURMUR, MURMUR.
Those were not the answers I had expected…
"Yes. And you?"
"Because I witnessed you kill the Dragons myself."
Exactly!
That is a good answer.
"And you?"
"Because it allows us to use Spirit power even against a Dragon's Authority!"
"And you?"
"Because I want to become strong and protect someone, just as Your Highness does."
I turned my head toward those on the platform and spoke.
"Do you not doubt whether someone like me, who received no Spirit power, could truly become strong?"
"Th-that is not true."
"We do not…"
They murmured atop the platform and tried to deny it, but I appeared to have struck the mark. I looked back at the Investigation Unit and Guardian Unit members.
"You have only recently begun learning the Blooming Sword Dance, so exclude that. Use Bloom, magic, or anything else you please and attack me!"
"What?"
"How could we possibly attack Your Highness…"
"You could be injured."
WHISPER, WHISPER.
"I will use neither Bloom nor magic. If I am injured or bleed, it will be my defeat. If all of you are rendered unable to fight, it will be my victory."
"You cannot, Your Highness!"
"How could we endanger our future…"
"Please withdraw your order!"
MURMUR, MURMUR.
During yesterday's Energy Circulation, I had received help from the Flower of Death Spirit, my greatest fortuitous encounter. By connecting all three Dantians through the Upper Dantian and opening the Baihui Point, my Energy began circulating, allowing Spirit power to permeate me. I had undoubtedly become stronger than in my previous life. In my current state, I was even stronger than the Seventh Heavenly Demon, whom I respected above all others, so I could handle them even if they attacked together.
I looked at the Investigation Unit and Guardian Unit members, gathered Energy from the depths of my Dantians, controlled it, and released my Killing Intent.
THUD.
THUD.
GASP. GASP.
Every member of the Investigation Unit and Guardian Unit before me struggled to breathe and collapsed onto the ground.
I had not extended my Killing Intent as far as the platform, so those standing there did not know what was happening and began murmuring. I looked at the elders behind me and asked.
"Elder! Am I using magic or Spirit power?"
"No."
I withdrew my Killing Intent and steadied my breathing. I had not yet learned to harmoniously wield the pure, gentle Energy of the Spirits with the turbid, dark Energy of the Heavenly Demon Divine Art, so I was slightly short of breath.
The Flower of Death sent me a Sound Transmission with a brief sigh.
[Did I not tell you that it would be more effective to wrap your dark Killing Intent in my Energy?]
[I am no heaven beyond the heavens, so naturally I could not master it in a single attempt.]
[Even though I explained it so simply…]
I deliberately ignored him and looked down at the members of the Guardian Unit and the Investigation Unit.
"Now that you understand there is no need to worry, everyone, rise!"
They staggered or gasped as they climbed back to their feet.
"I will say this one last time. All of you will use Bloom and attack me by any means necessary. Understood?"
"Understood-!"
The expressions of the Guardian Unit and Investigation Unit members, which had been filled with concern for me only moments ago, instantly transformed into the gazes of warriors entering battle. They all activated Bloom at once. I looked at the multicolored petals swirling around me alongside their Killing Intent and shouted.
"Then let us begin."
[Blink]
"Formation Three, not Formation Two!"
"Just as we would drive a Dragon—Formation Three!"
"Formation Three!!"
They used Blink and Teleport in unison to surround me and establish a formation. Energy Projectiles mixed with flower petals flew toward me from every direction like a rain of arrows.