Chapter 8: The Power of Will
Standing on a small hill not far from the fortress, Kili Uranus supported the half-conscious Zolgen, standing beside the white-haired mage Von Lawrence, staring dumbfounded at everything before them.
As a Silver Peak warrior and mage, Kili and Von's insight and analytical ability were not comparable to those city guards who were cheering because their lord had slain a golden giant beast. Although they often argued over various matters, the three of them were actually old partners who had worked together for many years and had followed the previous old lord to slay several golden magical beasts. Because of this, they deeply understood the power of the Gold Rank.
So when the warrior clad in black armor dragged a crimson light ribbon that tore through the sky and clouds, plummeting straight down from the heavens, they knew that this battle was actually already without suspense. This was power of an entirely different realm. Even at full strength, the golden giant beast might not have been able to defeat Joshua, who wielded his sword with one hand.
Unlike the rumors, their new lord was not at all a novice who had just entered the Gold Rank and couldn't even control the various sublimation abilities of Glory Force and the transcendent body. On the contrary, Kili and Von saw an incredibly seasoned veteran with battle skills so skilled that he brought the power of Gold to its fullest expression.
Everyone had underestimated this young lord's strength. He was far more powerful than any of them had imagined.
High-speed flight, Battle Qi burst, Qi-charged slash and air blade, mobilizing the strength of every muscle in his body—no matter which aspect, Joshua had achieved the ultimate. When engaging the golden giant beast head-on, he saw through its weakness in an instant and, without any hesitation, exploited it to shatter its strongest attack. The two who had seen the old lord fight felt that even if the old lord were reborn, he could not have executed such a smooth kill.
But even so, they would at most sigh with admiration, saying things like "each generation surpasses the last" and "we're truly getting old."
What truly shocked them was the scene before their eyes.
Not far away, the battlefield, which had become scorching hot from the battle between the golden warrior and the giant beast, was gradually cooling down, covered with a thin layer of white frost. The strong wind blew drifting snowflakes from afar, fine snow dust scattering in the frigid air, a vast expanse of white, spreading like mist.
But within this snowy mist and icy dust, there was a huge cylindrical void.
That was the trajectory left by Joshua's Battle Qi tearing through the air in a single slash. The burning crimson Battle Qi followed this path, carrying a hurricane that shattered the giant beast's ice tide, surging upstream to slay it.
And this void had still not disappeared to this day.
When flying snow drifted to this spot, it was as if the air here was not air at all, but scorching hot steel. It was rapidly evaporated, turning into water vapor that dissipated into the air. So much time had passed, yet the residual power still lingered, refusing to fade.
"The power of will..."
The white-haired mage spoke softly. The old man of the Northern Lands, who usually seemed irritable and completely unlike a spellcaster, now resembled a true scholar, observing seriously and solemnly, and asserted: "This is the remnant of Glory Force."
"How long has it been since the lord advanced to Gold, and he's already mastered Glory Force?"
Kili was clearly startled. The magical patterns on his face flashed with several rays of light. The blond knight he was supporting was still unconscious. This half-elf warrior looked at Joshua, who had already put down the giant beast's head and was returning to the fortress, and asked subconsciously: "Then, does that mean the lord's Glory Force is related to the aspect of will?"
"I'm not sure."
Von shook his head, then revealed a gratified smile: "Regardless, the old master has a perfect successor..."
Meanwhile, Joshua dragged the massive head of the golden giant beast, walking across the corpse-strewn land. Blood had solidified due to the low temperature, forming patches of colorful ice layers. He could even sense complex magical fluctuations surging back and forth within them.
Glory Force.
For some reason, the same term suddenly flashed through his mind.
The warrior looked at his left hand, which held the Abyss Derivative. Crimson radiance surged out, burning fiercely, but it had no effect. The silver-white egg was extremely tough; this bit of Battle Qi couldn't harm it.
After thinking for a moment, he withdrew his Battle Qi. A moment later, a dark red glow mixed with a trace of black energy rose in his palm.
"Squeak—!"
As if splashed with sulfuric acid, the Abyss Derivative, which had still been faintly pulsating, let out a piercing cry, then suddenly shrank. Its entire body shimmered with silver light, as if entering a defensive state. But even so, on the spots where the dark red Battle Qi had touched it, black marks resembling necrosis appeared.
Nodding thoughtfully, Joshua withdrew the power in his palm and stopped tormenting this pitiful little thing.
In truth, his Glory Force had not yet been awakened.
Just as people in this world, after advancing to a new realm, needed to obtain this unique power through contemplation and training, the black-haired warrior with the system also needed to raise his level to 35 to see the full picture of his ability. But before that, he could still slightly exert some effect of this power.
"Wisdom, will, faith, the world... In my past life, my Glory Force was a purifying power related to faith. I wonder what it will be this time. Judging by this effect, I'm really looking forward to it."
Nodding, he opened the system and looked at his attribute panel.
[Name: Joshua Van Radcliffe]
[Level: lv33 · Gold Glory (Challenge Level lv31) 170/]
When he last advanced to the Gold Rank, he had immediately slain Moze, a Gold-rank warrior of the same rank who was at least five levels higher than him. After that, he hadn't stopped training, always accumulating daily experience. Adding to this, the aftermath of his descent had blasted countless frenzied beasts to death, and he had also slain a giant monster that had just advanced to Gold. This abundant experience allowed him to level up twice. He was still two levels away from the level 35 needed to truly obtain Glory Force.
"Not bad. But this system only makes its presence felt when I level up. I almost forgot I had this thing."
Closing his eyes briefly, he shut the system. Joshua sighed: "It's also thanks to cultivating the Steel Armor Breathing Art. Otherwise, falling straight down from the sky like that—forget about stomping the golden giant beast's spine; if the landing position was bad, I might have ended up with both legs shattered."
This statement was absolutely true. A Gold-rank warrior was, after all, only the first step of a transcendent lifeform. Falling from a height of a thousand meters, from where the clouds drifted, would still result in severe injury. If not for the Steel Armor Breathing Art, which enhanced his physical constitution, that momentum-assisted strike might have ended in mutual destruction with the enemy.
Approaching the ruined city wall, Joshua couldn't be bothered to go around to the main gate and take the proper route. He simply used Battle Qi to break through the rocks and soil blocking his path, clearing a road.
Suddenly, the warrior turned his head.
Behind him, the three-man group, covered in wounds, was hurrying toward him.