Cui Ciyou's casually delivered question-
It exploded like a thunderclap in Pax Shirone's ears.
"Who told you my strength was only at the level of a Sword King?"
What did he mean?
After a brief moment of panic, Pax calmed down.
He retorted, "Duke Ciyou, why keep up this futile resistance?"
"During the Displacement Incident two years ago, you were a Sword King."
"Even if you've now just reached Sword Emperor, this barrier..."
"You shouldn't be able to break through this barrier..."
Before he could finish, Cui Ciyou answered him with his actions down below.
Standing deep within the center of the Magic Circle, Cui Ciyou slowly closed his eyes.
Not the slightest ripple of magic power stirred around him.
He simply stood there in silence.
Just as Pax above began to think he was bluffing-
A powerful force erupted from within Cui Ciyou!
[Mental Power-Link-I am the sword, and the sword is me-Activate]
Cui Ciyou drew the Fine Steel Longsword from his waist.
With a single stroke, he slashed hard at the barrier.
Sizzle... szzzt...
A strange sound rang out.
The intricate magical inscriptions made from mithril and Magic Crystals covered the entire stone chamber.
They began flickering wildly.
Their deep blue light waxed and waned.
Crack... crack...
Then came the sound of the barrier breaking.
The energy structure forming the barrier was forcibly analyzed, dismantled, and finally annihilated!
"No... this... how is this possible?!"
Staring at the magical barrier below-
Every trace of color drained from Pax's face.
He watched as fine cracks began spreading across the Magic Circle.
His eyes filled with terror.
The trump card he took such pride in, built through the painstaking efforts of three generations of the Royal Family-
Before this man, it was as fragile as a child's sandcastle!
In