Overwhelming Firepower

Three months had passed since the new recruits joined Thornefang. They now each had their own arquebus and uniforms.

There had also been a few problems during training with Sir Thalos, and those two problems were Thrall and Daniel.

Thrall took any chance he got to challenge Sir Thalos. Of course, Sir Thalos agreed and defeated Thrall with overwhelming skill and strength.

The problem was that Thrall would attack Sir Thalos during training in unexpected moments. Sir Thalos liked Thrall quite a bit and found this kind of training for Thrall quite entertaining.

Unfortunately, for the other recruits, Sir Thalos and Thrall’s sudden fights during training would affect them.

As for Daniel, he had little to no motivation to train. In fact, Sir Thalos quickly noticed that he was doing the bare minimum of training despite having more room for growth.

Sir Thalos tried to make Daniel do more, but the other party said he would only train as much as the others.

It was unfortunate, but only a few recruits would be able to keep up if Sir Thalos raised the level of training to match Daniel’s skills.

Despite wanting to train Daniel harder, he could not force the other party to train more than the others.

***

In the workshops, Lucen and Robert were creating new things. Since they were so focused on offensive items before, this time they created defensive items.

They created Tower Shields with Gun Slots. The idea was that the Infantry needed to fire without completely exposing themselves.

Lucen, who had modern knowledge, started sketching out tower shields with a small sliding hatch or hole.

Robert improved it by having the idea of placing minor heat dispersion runes to make sure the shield would not weaken from repeated gunfire from the slot.

Since they were creating so many things, Lucen thought about tanks. A weapon that combined both defense and offense.

Unfortunately, with his knowledge, as well as the current rank of his Gun Knowledge, he would not be able to recreate it.

But he did remember a video he saw about something they called the medieval tank, the war wagon.

Wooden wagons reinforced with iron, which can form a moving fort. Arquebusiers can shoot from behind them.

With the strength of materials and some rune enhancements, Lucen and Robert were able to place at least three Thunderspears in the War wagon.

It was a great advancement. Now, if the future territory war does happen, or even if the monster waves become more powerful, Stellhart will be able to defend itself.

***

The days passed by quickly, and while Lucen and Robert were continuing to improve the War Wagon, the old butler Vahn came to the workshop.

”Young Lord, the sword ceremony of young master Cael is about to start.”

The second Lucen heard what Vahn said, he was startled. So much time had passed that Cael was now seven years old.

’This is the time when his backstory starts. The Thornehart’s sword ceremony, a tradition since before the first Duke’s time. I was the only Thornehart unable to awaken aura during his ceremony. On the other hand, I know for a fact Cael will do incredibly. To think I’ll be able to watch the actual scene of Cael’s sword ceremony, instead of just reading about it.’

Lucen was both excited and a little afraid. This event was the start of Cael’s storyline. The true genius of the Thornehart family. At this point, the Lucen of the original timeline would have already died from sickness.

He was excited to see the event that was only spoken about through text with his very own eyes, but at the same time, he was a little afraid since this was the start of the lonely journey his brother must take to become the greatest swordsman.

The journey that ultimately ends in many routes with the sacrifice of his life to protect his companions.

”Sorry, Robert. You need to continue the research without me. I need to attend this ceremony.”

”Tch, I thought you wouldn’t be interested in such antiquated things... I always forget that you’re from a warrior family. Fine, if you want to play with swords, you can go, while I’ll continue pursuing the future.”

”Sure, you go do that.”

Lucen waved his hand as he left the workshop and followed Vahn. The sound of hammers and Robert’s manic muttering faded behind him, replaced by the solemn toll of bells echoing through Ironhold’s keep.

The courtyard had been transformed. Rows of banners bearing the silver thorn crest rippled in the wind. Soldiers and retainers lined the edges, their polished armor gleaming in the sun. The atmosphere carried the weight of expectation.

There were many barons and knights present who were under the Iron Duke. These were people who protected the lands of the dukedom of Stellhart.

At the center stood a raised platform where a single sword rested on a stand. It was a simple sword that had been reforged multiple times for hundreds of years.

This was the sword that represented the very history of the Thornehart family. The sword that made a simple farmer rise up from his position to defend his home and become a warrior.

This was the very sword the first Thornehart to awaken aura once used, and now, after hundreds of years, all Thorneharts had held this sword in hopes of awakening their own aura.

Lucen’s gaze lingered on the sword. The metal bore faint scars from centuries of reforging, its surface uneven in places, but its presence was undeniable. It wasn’t just a weapon; it was the family’s heartbeat, pulsing with the weight of every ancestor who had raised it.

Lucen’s hand twitched at his side. The last time he stood there with the eyes of anticipation directed at him, he ended as the first failure of the Thornehart family since the Ancestor to have acquired aura.

The gathered barons and knights, the very men and women who had shed blood on Stellhart’s borders, stood with arms crossed, their sharp eyes fixed on the boy about to step onto the platform.

These were not courtly nobles who traded words in gilded halls. They were warriors bound to the Iron Duke’s banner, their loyalty paid in steel and blood.

To them, the Thornehart line was not just a ruling family; it was the bulwark that had kept the northern lands alive through centuries of waves and raids.

Lucen remembered their eyes on him years ago. The same men and women who now waited in stern anticipation had once stared at him with thinly veiled disappointment when he failed to awaken aura.

Even if they never spoke it aloud, he could still feel the sting of that judgment lingering like frost in the marrow of his bones.

Still, nowadays, the looks they gave him were no longer of pity or disappointment, but of pride and anticipation. Lucen stopped looking at them as he shifted his attention to the star of the show.

On the platform, Cael stood straight-backed. His small hands were steady at his sides, his expression calm, far too calm for a boy of seven. The gaze of his deep blue eyes never wavered as he stood before the sword of the Thornehart warrior.

Vardon stood in front of his second son the same way he stood in front of Lucen years ago. He had the same stoic expression as his son Cael. After a brief look at his second son, he spoke.

”By the Oath of the first aura user of Thornehart, by the very blood that flows through our veins. My son Cael Thornehart stands before the sword of oath, the sword of blood, the sword of the warrior. May the strength of our Ancestors recognize him. Now, Cael Thornehart, pick up the sword and show your worth.”

The courtyard fell into silence. Only the flutter of banners and the distant cry of a hawk broke the stillness.

Cael stepped forward without hesitation. His small hand closed around the hilt of the reforged blade.

The second he held the blade, he felt a sort of kinship towards it. He swung it a little bit and could sense the edges, despite not touching them.

He then remembered the stances that were taught to him. He got into a stance and started dancing with the blade. It was a beautiful scene to watch. The young boy was swinging the blade as if he were dancing under the Thornehart banners.

It was then that a burst of energy came from within him and then outward. He not only awakened his aura, but he was now at his first mantle. Even Lucen, who had awakened his aura a year ago, had not gained a mantle even now.

Yet his younger brother was able to reach such a state upon gaining an aura. This was something no one had ever heard of happening.

Everyone was speechless at the sight before them. Lucen, on the other hand, was a little emotional because this scene was something he had only heard from other people in the game, about Cael, but he never got to see it.

Witnessing the very moment the genius of the sword came to be was truly a sight any fan of the game would have wanted to see.

’This is the start of his story... The sword that protected the hero and his companions to the very end...’ Lucen thought to himself.

The silver aura wrapped around Cael like a mantle of dawn. He looked at his Father and brother with a rare smile on his face.

Vardon also had a smile as he nodded in affirmation of his son. Lucen, who was among the crowd, also showed a smile on his face, and even though he knew Cael wouldn’t understand what it meant, he gave him a thumbs-up.

The crowd of Barons and knights then erupted into cheers.

”Praise to the Genius Cael!”

”Glory to the Thorneharts!”

The sound of their cheering, clapping, and stomping of their feet echoed throughout the entire hall and even outside. Today was a day they would never forget; they had witnessed the start of a future legend.