Renato paid no attention to the mercenaries who had inexplicably scattered from the backyard. Their footsteps and hushed discussion soon faded into the distance, leaving the Swordsman alone in the courtyard.
His attention returned to the javelin in his hand. His fingers slowly traced its dark blue shaft, feeling the lingering heat deep within the metal.
The Thunder Cobalt Javelin still trembled faintly. Tiny arcs danced across its surface, and electricity coursed through its silvery-white markings, flickering as though it might break free and explode at any moment.
Renato adjusted his grip to settle the shaft more snugly against his palm, while noting the intervals and changing intensity of each tremor.
The Swordsman's breathing was slow and steady, as though he were listening to a rhythm only he could perceive.
He stood motionless, staring at the dark blue javelin in his hand. After a few seconds, its vibrations gradually weakened, and the arcs enveloping it dissipated. The white glow at its tip faded, and the shaft grew still again.
In the end, it looked no different from an ordinary metal javelin. Only a little residual warmth remained on its surface, slowly dissipating into the muggy air...
His grip tightened. The black-armored warrior suddenly twisted his hips and turned, channeling the strength of his waist, abdomen, and arm into another fierce throw!
The javelin left his hand and crossed the entire courtyard in a blink. Before the rush of air torn apart by its metal tip could spread, it had already pierced the farthest straw target.
Its shaft buried itself in the bull's-eye, knocking the target over with it. Its momentum undiminished, it pinned the target to the ground.
Soil lifted slightly and dust scattered, while the tail of the javelin gave a brief hum in the air.
Renato narrowed his