Volume Four: Withering in the Human World Chapter 329: Secret Weapon

Human growth is about overcoming one's immature past.

---- Diablo

Every teenager has had this experience, right?

Holding the biographies of heroes—whether real or fictional—I read with great interest, deeply captivated by their heroic tales and immersing myself in the Light Sword of history.

Every teenager has had this kind of fantasy, right?

I was awestruck by the bravery of the generals who broke through enemy lines, impressed by the wisdom of the civil officials who devised strategies, and moved by the spirit of the martyrs who sacrificed themselves for the greater good. I longed for the kings who commanded the people and ruled the world... In the end, I wished I could become a part of the legend, defeat the enemy, lead the people, and achieve great things.

But that was ultimately just a boy's fantasy.

Those so-called heroic epics and legends of brave warriors are not such wonderful things.

It is not a motivational book.

This is not a historical reference.

It is not a literary work.

Ultimately, it's just a fig leaf.

Strip away the glamorous fabric, and what remains is the bloody reality.

The weapon in his hand was so heavy.

The mud on the battlefield was so cold.

The burning tents were scorching hot.

The ground was littered with corpses, and the stench was overwhelming.

The memories of chatting and laughing with my comrades seem so distant now.

The yearning for glory, the admiration for fallen heroes, the confidence in their own strength—all these past aspirations seem so laughable on the blood-soaked, scorching battlefield, like a child's cheap toy that shatters at the slightest touch. Only after the flames of war and the corpses have worn away the last vestiges of fantasy in their hearts will the young men accept reality, gradually transforming into combat units that pray to return alive, mechanically carrying out their missions.

Nid had already experienced all of this once, and that single experience was enough to shatter all his illusions. As the rightful heir of the Bredwich Family, his mission was predetermined from the beginning. He received the most rigorous elite education from childhood, possessed martial arts and swordsmanship to fight on the battlefield, military strategies to control the battlefield, charismatic leadership to unite people, and meticulous planning to stabilize the rear... he had it all.

Although Nid knew perfectly well that the best and strictest education he received was not to "cultivate a powerful Nid," but rather to "produce a qualified leader," Nid felt no resentment. He knew that countless young people dreamed of achieving heroic feats but never had the chance, while he possessed the best conditions from the outset—a stroke of luck he was determined to cherish.

Although this idea was almost completely worn away during his first battle. Not only was he shocked by the countless deaths, but he also found that he could not erase the faint sense of compassion in his heart and felt pity for the enemy.

In his second battle as a soldier, he deserted.

The first battle was a pursuit and annihilation battle in which our army had the advantage, while the second battle was a defensive battle in which the enemy was strong and we were weak.

Not long after he was caught in a fierce battle, his desire to "make sure he could prove himself to his sister this time" was completely shattered by the deaths of several of his friends.

Was it because of the cruelty of war? Or because of his own weakness?

Or is it because the thought of his future self plunging the Revolutionary Army into such a hellish state with just a few simple commands fills him with unbearable fear and disgust?

When he came to his senses again, he was already far from the center of the battlefield, far from the place where blood and flesh were splattered and thick smoke was rising.

She was still holding her best friend's head in her arms.

Everything that followed felt like a dream. It was a battle that was a strategic victory but a tactical failure, paving the way for an even greater victory with excessive sacrifices. When the battlefield was being cleared, he was found by the follow-up troops. He thought that as an important combat force, he would be severely punished for desertion. However, everyone thought that the young master had been separated from the enemy in the fierce battle and they were all celebrating his safety.

He was the only one who knew he had deserted.

The more this happened, the more painful it became. Although he maintained the composure of a future leader on the surface, the unease and guilt in his heart were already crushing him.

However, when his sister Loxue embraced him with tears in her eyes and kept repeating, "You're still alive, that's so good," Nid finally broke down.

That day, he wailed and told Loxue about his weakness, repeatedly repenting for his act of running away.

" --Nid, Nid! What are you thinking about?"

"Mmm... Ah!"

A gentle call brought him back to his senses. Seeing Little Ying's small, white hands waving in front of him, he couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed.

"Sorry, I was thinking about some things from the past and my mind wandered."

"That's so true! Nid is so dashing and dignified in front of everyone in the Revolutionary Army, but in private he always looks so clueless."

"Uh, I'm sorry... I hope you didn't find this amusing."

"Snort..."

Little Ying stared at him for a few seconds with her hands behind her back, then turned and wandered off as if she were bored, leaving Nid speechless with embarrassment. Of everyone present—himself, Loxue, Si Nan Ying, Uncle Brad, and Yun Can—only Little Ying called him "brother," and she seemed to be the only one younger than him.

"Well, Little Ying, don't take offense. Although Nid is very good at switching into leader mode in front of everyone, he's actually quite dull in private. In general, he's a bit of a slow-witted and introverted person." ← Loxue

"Indeed, and even when he's bathing with other men like me in the public bathhouse, he's still very reserved." ← Brad

"Hey, sis, it's Uncle Brad!"

"Ah, I'm blushing, I'm blushing. I never imagined that Nid would be such a cute person offstage." Yun Can teased her. She still maintained her mature and sociable personality, and no one would guess that she was actually just a ten-year-old girl.

"Cute? Me... well, objectively speaking, I'd say I have a more mature appearance."

"Yeah, he looks older than his actual age, and he's really handsome. With such a great face, he must have won the hearts of many girls, right?"

"No, how could that be...?"

"Alright, alright, stop teasing his little brother. This isn't the place we came here for." Seeing Nid becoming increasingly embarrassed by his awkwardness with women, Loxue finally couldn't help but step in to defuse the situation. Hearing her say that, everyone became serious as well.

"So, what exactly are you going to show us?"

"What is it...? Simply put, it's a secret weapon that only the leaders of the Blood Blade Knights are authorized to use."

In this command room where no one else was present, a metal box, roughly the size of a wardrobe and resembling the style of a Gundam hangar, was placed in the center of the room. It had a narrow slit on it that looked like a keyhole, but its size was quite unusual.

"Let me do it."

Nid gripped the Greatsword in reverse and forcefully shoved it into the hole. With a series of clicking sounds, the iron box clattered open. The sounds of various locks, hinges, and gears could be heard no less than a hundred times, and the number of safety devices inside the iron box was absolutely astonishing.

There are four swords inside.

Dark Blue Longsword with a slender blade but an astonishing length.

Rusty Great Cleaver with jagged edges and a menacing design.

Dark Gold Knight Broadsword with a wide, long blade and blunt, thick edges.

A long, slender, and flowing Silver Goose Feather Saber.

Each one exuded an astonishing Killing Intent, clearly a weapon that had been used in countless battles and killed many people.

"These are..." Little Ying curiously grasped the lightest-looking dark blue longsword, only to find that no matter how hard she tried, the sword wouldn't budge.

"These weapons can be considered the 'brothers' of my Greatsword."

The longsword that Little Ying couldn't lift even with all her might, Nid picked up with just a few fingers and twirled it gracefully in his hand. Nid loved these cold weapons; for him, the most reliable person in the world was his sister, and the second most important thing was the hard feel of the hilt of a sword.

"You're saying these are your younger brothers? Could it be—"

"That's right, the fragments of the Emperor Slaying Sword aren't just in this one Greatsword. The largest piece, about two-thirds of the blade, was fused into the Greatsword; the rest, along with other smaller fragments, were fused into these other swords."

"Then wouldn't all of these be your swords?"

"The only sword I actually use is this child; these four are only used in major battles where I must personally lead the charge."

"But you can only bring one more at most, right? You don't have five hands."

"No, these four, plus the child I'm carrying, make a total of five that I need to bring."

"... I'm glad you don't mind the weight."

Little Ying pouted, and then her eyes suddenly lit up, as if she had discovered a new continent.

"Huh? There's something else in the box--"

"Don't touch it!!!"

The hand that was halfway outstretched was grabbed by the Bradwich siblings at the same time.

"Don't touch this!"

"Why do you think it was placed under these swords and chains?"

"But it's so pretty... it's such a shame it can't move."

Little Ying sighed repeatedly as she looked at something at the bottom of the box, while Yun Can beside her was on edge.

"Hey, Loxue, could this thing be—"

"Ah, that's it."

"Does it really exist? It is said that more than 90% of the existing documents about the Saint Emperor's early life are just later people's imaginations."

"Fortunately, this thing is genuine; after all, only something like this deserves to be called our 'secret weapon'."

Cathedral of the True God, Pure Courtyard--

"Huh? Spirit Sacrifice-chan... are you still feeling unwell?"

"Yes, Lord Priest has been unwell these past few days and does not wish to receive guests. Please forgive him, Lord Prayer."

"It's okay, I just hope that Spirit Sacrifice-chan gets better soon."

Prayer looked at the small basket in her hand with a little disappointment. Inside were her newly baked cookies, all of which were her proud creations. It was such a pity that she couldn't share them with her good friend right away.

"Oh, right."

"What are your orders, Lord Prayer?" The guards outside the priestess's residence immediately straightened their backs. To be able to speak with the incomparably noble, sacred, and holy Prayer Goddess was a blessing that one could not attain even in eight lifetimes.

"Um... excuse me, where is Mr. Yu Jie? Is he taking care of Spirit Sacrifice-chan?"

"That should be the case, but we haven't seen the Chief Knight these past few days either." The guards' expressions became subtle when they mentioned the carefree Chief Templar Knight. "If nothing unexpected happens, he should be taking care of Lord Priest in his room these past few days."

"... Oh, I see."

"--!?"

The soldiers exchanged surprised glances.

Although it was only for a moment, it seemed that Lord Prayer uttered... a very gloomy sound?

"Well then, I won't bother you any longer. I'll head back now."

"Please be careful on your way!"

"I must have misheard," the guards immediately found a reason for their unease. The revered Lord Prayer, the embodiment of hope, was incapable of negative emotions; even if he were troubled, he would never show it.

And the Prayer, silently returned under the protection of the Brother Simon--

"As long as you think it's really a good thing."

That day, the Supreme God's last words to her, a whisper that sounded like a secret, echoed in her ears once more.

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It's a new month, and I hope you'll give me your guidance. I'll welcome any Monthly Votes passes and tips! (laughs)

Why didn't my September income include the 500 yuan attendance bonus...? Was it not included?