Chapter 85

Chapter 85

Chapter 85

Chapter 85

An ideology is not a grand concept.

“A particular perspective on the environment, the collective, or existence.”

As long as human beings coexist, every individual will possess their own experience, and existence inevitably generates a doctrine.

Consider, for example, the Red Tower’s conviction that “power” represents the supreme merit in this reality.

Or the approach of the “King of Pigs,” who maintains that multiplying one’s offspring and ensuring the continuity of the lineage constitutes the highest purpose.

Likewise, there are the radical black mages who contemplate common morality as a mere impediment in their exploration of truth, evoking the nightmarish panoramas that the leaders of the Black-Red Order exhibited in the past.

For mages and knights, the “ideology” they imprint on the edge of their weapons or in the environment is precisely this principle.

The principles they defend, their stance toward the environment, their conception of existence… form the structured system of understanding that they build through their experiences.

Such a fusion between the pinnacle of swordsmanship and the arcane mysteries is what gives rise to the “Avatar” and the “World of Ideology.”

The Avatar: a knight projects their doctrine onto their steel, their protection, and their own being through “aura.”

The world of ideology: a mage projects their doctrine onto the environment itself through “magic.”

The manifestation of a grimoire, the Avatar, does not differ much within this panorama.

Snow particles floated in the darkness, on a snowy and gloomy winter night.

In that scenario, a blade of steel collided against the sacred sword Durandal.

The weapon of a combatant who had extinguished the lives of countless rivals, who at another time served as the hound of the Empire.

“Peacemaker.”

A contradictory name for a weapon that Dale currently wields, with the fourth circle revolving around his heart.

The domain of the fourth circle. The impediment shattered completely, revealing an unprecedented perspective beyond.

And in Dale’s hands, the combatant’s steel, Peacemaker.

It is not a piece of metal with material density.

A manifestation of doctrine, merely a “corporeal illusion” that a sorcerer overlays onto his reality.

However, in the world of ideology, it was far from being a fragile structure of sand.

Although it might be considered senseless and outlandish for a sorcerer to wield a bladed weapon just like a knight, Dale broke the mold.

He secured his grip on Peacemaker’s hilt, a perception that he remembered perfectly.

“Even so, I still remain unable to unleash the absolute power of this steel.”

I still require something more.

“This is my own environment.”

Dale gestured internally again, reiterating the precept incessantly.

This reality was not built solely by Dale. Dale’s environment was never limited to being “Dale’s environment.”

In his previous existence, Dale possessed multiple identities. The most prominent beast executor, the savior of an alien reality, the hound of the Empire.

For the vast majority, dedicating an entire existence to steel or arcane mysteries does not ensure reaching absolute mastery.

However, what happens to those who dedicate much more than a single existence?

That was what Dale understood, and such a revelation cleared the boundary of the 4th Circle.

The savior of an alien reality and Dale of Saxon.

Consolidating the doctrines of two existences into a unified reality. Contradictorily, by holding a bladed weapon, he increased his “sorcerer condition” even more.

He experienced an unusual sensation of joy.

Dale increased the space between them, staring fixedly at the “King of Pigs” who held the sacred sword Durandal.

“Do I have the capacity to win?”

Reflecting the combatant’s mastery in his steel, Dale advanced with determination.

The blade moved.

Without showing concern for the reality that it was impossible for him to use aura due to his condition as a sorcerer, he merely gripped the handle of Peacemaker devoid of an Avatar.

Clang!

The sacred steel and Dale’s weapon impacted.

Clang!

They collided, distanced themselves, and restarted the clash. With each impact, the latent force inside Peacemaker began to awaken.

The combatant’s memories emerged more clearly.

In parallel, Dale’s dark robes stirred, giving rise to blades of shadows. Increasing the speed of his four circles, he unleashed an incessant flow of dark blue mysticism.

“Shard Magnum.”

He materialized a barrier of frost and pulverized it, scattering ice splinters everywhere.

“Shadow Bullet, Gatling style.”

The shadow projectiles sprouted from the edges of his clothing. The power and speed of the mysticism multiplied in an incomparable way compared to the past.

Steel and mysticism.

Safeguarding his vulnerable flank, consisting of the inability to use aura alongside sorcery, he held a highly balanced contest against one of the most powerful warriors in the territory.

His body structure felt light. Surprisingly light, as if the environment had reduced its speed. The familiarity of holding a bladed weapon was such that he almost forgot his nature as a sorcerer.

Could this truly be the execution of a “knight devoid of aura”?

“I have the capacity to achieve it…!”

Dale’s thought was brimming with conviction.

It happened then.

“Amazing, boy.”

The sacred warrior with porcine features smiled, displaying his teeth.

“…!”

At that instant, the aura sprouting from the sacred warrior’s figure began to rotate violently like a storm.

The strength of a deity of combat.

While Dale prepared to evaluate his brand-new capacity against him.

— The instant has arrived.

Thump!

“Death” struck the surface with its bone staff. The entire panorama was paralyzed.

The sacred warrior and the Empire’s hosts dissolved like a mirage, with only Dale remaining.

An expanse dominated by a frigid helplessness and isolation.

In that place remained “Death,” with an appearance that evoked an English aristocrat of the Victorian period, along with the “Mother of Ancient Darkness,” resembling a high-society lady of the same era.

She no longer represented a girl devoid of malice, but a jet-black matron provided with two prominent dark antlers.

Primordial models in the foundation of the shared psyche.

Representations assimilated unconsciously by communities since remote eras, prior to the beginning of historical records.

Entities that transcend eras and territorial boundaries, functioning as the basis for multiple mythological stories and ancestral legends. Said original representations, their personifications, contemplated Dale.

Therefore, Dale inquired.

“Were you aware of my true origin from the beginning?”

— Certainly, we possess too much knowledge, boy.

—replied Death, holding its bone staff and carrying a cigar in the opposite extremity.

— The name of the most select cigar in this cosmos…

With the cigar between its lips, “Death” continued.

— And the way you eluded “my call.”

“…!”

Upon perceiving such statements, Dale held his breath. He prepared to speak.

However.

— Do not worry, there is no reason for alarm.

“Death” halted his intervention, giving the matter total unimportance.

— The end of life perpetually preserves its mysteries.

Thump!

At that precise moment, “Death” struck the surface again with its bone staff, keeping the cigar between its lips.

Dale’s reality dissolved. Suddenly, he found himself in a room of the Saxon ducal fortress.

“……”

The Duke of Saxon’s reading space. After inspecting the site, Dale contemplated his progenitor.

— It becomes evident that you have navigated his evaluation with success.

The Black Duke expressed himself, being unable to hide his pleasure.

“That presence…”

“Upon reaching the environment of the authentic, I established a commitment with ‘Death’.”

detailed the Black Duke.

“My grimoire, ‘The Heart’s Balance,’ finally managed to rescue a fraction of said presence.”

“Does that imply that the perennial Duke Frederick likewise…?”

“That is correct.”

The perennial Duke Frederick likewise managed to access the “environment of the authentic.” The “Book of the Black Goat,” which he wrote in his time and whose derivations were settled inside Dale, constitutes a corroboration of that.

“However, the presences that accompany us.”

The Black Duke continued.

“Constitutes simple ‘silhouettes’ reflected on the surface of the cave.”

They lack material reality, being mere fractions of the silhouettes generated by the authentic.

“This reality is an immense cave.”

“……”

“And we are captives who assume that the silhouettes on the surface of the cave represent the authentic.”

For that reason, sorcerers seek the environment of clarity that lies beyond the cave, the environment of the authentic (Idea). The absolute destination of the doctrine.

“It is perceived that this is somewhat complex for you to assimilate.”

After manifesting that, the Black Duke sketched a joyful gesture. It was a fully affectionate expression.

“My congratulations on accessing the domain of the fourth circle.”

The dark ramifications settled inside Dale intertwined around his fourth circle. Four circles. A consummate sorcerer, situated beyond that boundary.

Accessing the third circle upon reaching two decades of existence is valued as an extraordinary feat, and multiple individuals devoid of qualities never access the fourth circle, even after dedicating an entire existence of dedication.

However, Dale had reached said condition at the tender age of twelve.

A merit that exceeds any description, the authentic reason behind the renown of the “Black Prince.”

And with this recently acquired domain, the instant was approaching to prepare for the coming journey.

“Master Sepia.”

In those days, Dale, having accessed the domain of the Fourth Circle, gave an account of his advancement.

“… It becomes evident that I lack further knowledge that you transmitted.”

The sorcerer of the elf lineage belonging to the sixth circle sketched an expression of subtle irony.

“That is far from being real.”

Dale moved his head in a sign of denial, showing a joyful gesture.

“There still persist multiple knowledges that I aspire to acquire from you, Master Sepia.”

Although they shared a particular connection, Sepia continued to perform the role of instructor for the young Dale.

Likewise, the expertise of an elf sorcerer located in the sixth circle represented a considerable value.

Particularly the virtues that Sepia had exhibited on that day in front of the veteran of the Red Tower, “Walter the Bloody Flame.”

Spell cancellation.

“Is there any specific enchantment you wish to incorporate?”

Without wavering a single instant, Dale nodded his head responding to Sepia’s interrogation.

A prodigious figure of the fourth circle and a practitioner of dual mysticism who masters the manifestations of water and shadow.

“I aspire to incorporate mysticism cancellation.”

At dawn of the following day, Sir Helmut Blackbear tilted his face, immersed in confusion.

Dale, who habitually practiced wearing somber clothing, had determined to hold a knight’s steel, emulating their conduct.

“A real steel…?”

Impacted by this unforeseen panorama, Sir Helmut tilted his head once more.

“I wish to verify an approach.”

Dale replied exhibiting his characteristic temperance.

“To evaluate in what way a sorcerer devoid of aura can equal a knight.”

“Do you insist on fighting emulating a knight?”

Mysticism practitioners possess the capacity to enhance their corporal conditions up to a certain limit, but that turns out insignificant when compared to the physical condition of a knight who uses aura. It was perceived as nonsensical, reckless, and unrewarding.

Such represented the stance of Helmut Blackbear, one of the seven benchmarks of steel in the territory, however, in front of his gaze was the “Black Prince” himself.

“Agreed, my lord!”

Therefore, Sir Helmut dissipated any questioning.

“Do not belittle the steel of a sorcerer.”

Dale tightened his grip on the sword hilt, remembering the precious steel of his previous existence, now held in his extremity, while he accessed the fourth circle.

After consolidating the fourth circle, Dale’s path cleared completely.

Return to the primary foundations.

Exactly the same as when he began his instruction in the Duchy of Saxon.

Surrounded by the most outstanding instructors —the steel benchmark Helmut, the Black Prince, and the elf sorcerer Sepia— he polished his capabilities without keeping anything back.

And at this point, Dale was far from being the neophyte who had recently wielded a steel and constituted his initial circle.

Chapter 85