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In the spacious Training Grounds within his residence, Rex swung a greatsword, its blade whipping through the air. Combat techniques in Azeroth were not particularly elaborate, with no vast array of sword forms. Swordsmanship here consisted of only a few basic moves, such as upward cuts and thrusts. This was inevitable: although there were no intricate sword forms, there were skills. Developing sword forms was nowhere near as worthwhile as harnessing the miraculous power of those skills.
"Commanding Seal!" At Rex's low roar, surging Holy Light erupted around him, instantly enveloping his entire body. He brought the Greatsword down hard on a rock before him, its surface covered in marks from countless slashes.
The surging power of the Holy Light poured forth, along with every ounce of strength in Rex's body, all concentrated into this single blow. Crack! The Greatsword sank deep into the rock, splitting the meter-thick stone in two in an instant. As he pulled the Greatsword free, the two halves toppled apart with a crash.
Looking at the chip in the Greatsword he had just withdrawn, Rex flung it away with one hand. It plunged straight into the earth some distance away. Quite a few other Greatswords had met the same fate and stood embedded there. They all shared one feature: their blades were chipped to one degree or another. Rex shook his head slightly. He no longer held out any hope for the quality of Gilneas's smithing.
Even finding a suitable weapon was this difficult. Rex's demands were not particularly high. He did not expect it to slice through gold and jade or cut iron like mud, but it at least had to be sharp and durable enough. Even infused with Holy Light, this Greatsword had chipped while cutting through a rock. And this was already a weapon Rex had commissioned from the finest master smith in Gilneas. It seemed he would have to put forging the Ashbringer on his agenda.
"Alexandros Mograine," Rex murmured the name over and over.
Alexandros Mograine was the first wielder of the Ashbringer. Now, before the Ashbringer had been forged, the Black Crystal that would become the weapon—a crystal whose evil aura radiated irresistible power—was in Alexandros Mograine's possession. Obtaining it would not be easy for Rex. During the Second War, Alexandros Mograine had been one of the commanders of the Alliance of Lordaeron and one of the Paladins of the Order of the Silver Hand.
He was no peripheral member, but a true member of its inner circle, one of the very first Paladins when the order was founded. He also bore the title of Highlord. With the Kingdom of Lordaeron now at the height of its power, things might have been easier if Rex were the king of Gilneas. But he was only a prince. Even as the Heir Apparent with the right of succession, he would not command much attention from the man. Obtaining that Black Crystal from him would be no easy task. Still, however difficult it was, Rex would have to try. He already regarded the Ashbringer as his exclusive possession and would never allow anyone else to lay a hand on it.
It was a weapon capable of standing against Frostmourne. Most importantly, it was powered by the Holy Light. That suited Rex perfectly, as though it had been made for him from the start.
Rex took a Greatsword from the weapon rack and left his residence with it in hand, striding toward the royal palace. Rachel, the only Hero Rank expert remaining in Gilneas, was stationed there. Before Rex reached the palace, he had already put the weapon into his Spatial Ring. No one would wander through Gilneas's capital carrying a Greatsword.
With a Spatial Ring available to store weapons, assassination seemed much easier. Someone like Jing Ke, who had tried to assassinate the King of Qin, would no longer need to go to such lengths to conceal a weapon. In reality, however, things were not so simple. Spatial Rings were powerful, but their use was forbidden in certain important areas of places like the royal palace, including King Genn's bedchamber.
King Genn had clearly made his preparations well in advance. When Rex arrived, he wasted little time on idle talk and led him straight to the palace Training Grounds. These grounds were where the children of the Greymane royal family trained, and Rex had practiced diligently here as a boy. Now the grounds seemed rather empty, with scarcely anyone around.
The Greymane Family had always had few children. As Rex grew older, he had also come here less often. The main reason was simply that it was too much trouble. There were too many restrictions in this palace. He had not minded as a child, but as an adult, he naturally had no desire to be constrained at every turn. As a result, King Genn was now the only one who came to these Training Grounds from time to time.
In Azeroth, kingdoms were founded on martial strength. Many kings were far from frail and were formidable warriors in their own right. Daelin Proudmoore of the Kingdom of Kul Tiras was even a Hero Rank expert. He had distinguished himself throughout the Second War, and his renown was now unrivaled. He was a legendary hero of humanity.
King Genn had lived a remarkably long life, having inherited the throne well before the Second War. None of the men of his generation had outlasted him. He was the very embodiment of growing stronger with age, and in the future, he would still charge into battle for the Alliance. These were naturally benefits of his strength.
When Rex reached the Training Grounds, he saw no sign of Rachel. Rachel held such a high position in Gilneas that even King Genn had to bow respectfully upon meeting him.
This was not merely a matter of strength. Rachel was also the sworn brother of Rex's maternal grandfather. Like Rex, King Genn had received his guidance from childhood. Although neither had formally become his disciple, both addressed him as their teacher.
"Rex, it's been years since we last sparred as father and son. Let me see what your training has accomplished these past few years." King Genn strode majestically to the weapon rack and drew out a two-handed greataxe. He swung it forcefully through the air, tested it with another couple of swings, and looked satisfied. Then he turned to Rex and spoke in a deep voice.
"All right." Excitement spread across Rex's face. Opportunities to beat up his old man fair and square did not come often, especially when he still harbored some resentment over the matter of Gilneas sending troops.
(End of chapter)
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