Wharton

Biodata

Power Progression

Appearance

• Height and build: Stands 2.2 meters tall, with broad shoulders and a heavily built frame 34 35.
• Face: Strongly resembles Linley, though his features are more rugged 34.
• Hands: Bears thick calluses from years of saber practice 35.
• Clothing: Wears close-fitting warrior's clothing and carries an enormous saber on his back. His clan formalwear is black, embroidered with an azure-dragon emblem 34 38.
• Dragonblood form: Develops jade-green scales, a sharp forehead horn, dragon claws, and a blue-green tail nearly two meters long 36.

Personality

Wharton is proud and determined, but willing to acknowledge defeat. Before facing Blumer, he asks Linley not to make excuses if he loses. Afterward, he plainly accepts the result rather than blaming Blumer's forbidden technique 36 37.

He distinguishes his rivalry with Blumer from Nina's right to choose her husband. Although he accepts the duel, he rejects the idea that its winner should automatically marry her 35. He also remains deeply attached to his family: he remembers Hogg, openly embraces Linley at their reunion, and values the return of elders who can oversee his wedding 34 35 37.

His concern for Linley can override caution. Despite warnings, he approaches his brother during cultivation because Linley has gone twelve days without eating or drinking. Once the resulting injury reveals Linley's defensive breakthrough, Wharton's alarm turns to excitement, and he immediately orders the area secured 49. Linley later considers him the steadier brother and better suited to kingship 66.

History

Academy Success and Reunion

Wharton grew up in the Baruch family at Wushan Town. Linley remembered him as a sturdy six-year-old who followed him around calling him “big brother”; the brothers then spent many years apart 34.

At seventeen, Wharton became famous by defeating an eighth-level warrior in O'Brien Academy's year-level tournament. The emperor personally granted him the title of earl. News of his success prompted Linley to head toward the imperial capital to find him 20.

Wharton later reached the final ten in the War God Sect's honorary-disciple selection but was not chosen; Blumer secured the place instead. By then, Wharton's relationship with Nina was public, and comparisons between their suitors' political backing complicated their prospects of marriage 29.

Linley finally found him at his residence on Fushi Road in Chiyan City. Wharton rushed from the training ground to greet him, and the brothers embraced after their long separation 34.

Rivalry with Blumer

Wharton and Linley petitioned Emperor Joanne to approve his marriage to Nina. Joanne delayed the decision for one month while weighing the revived Baruch Clan against Blumer's support from Olivier and the War God Sect. Outside the palace, Wharton accepted Blumer's challenge to a public duel 35.

During the following month, Linley trained him against faster opponents. Rather than chasing afterimages, Wharton learned to cover approaching enemies with his saber, legs, and tail 36.

Their duel drew eighty thousand spectators. Wharton's transformed strength and defense initially overwhelmed Blumer, but Blumer used a forbidden technique that temporarily multiplied his attack power at the cost of bodily damage. His sword pierced Wharton's left palm and chest, injuring his lung. Wharton retaliated by breaking Blumer's left arm, but could no longer continue fighting 36.

When Blumer attempted a further strike at Wharton's throat, Linley intervened. Joanne declared Blumer the narrow victor, then honored Nina's choice and announced her betrothal to Wharton despite his defeat 36.

Recovery and Marriage

Light-element magi treated Wharton's wounds, and Doehring confirmed that he had suffered no lasting damage. He was forbidden from transforming or practicing his saber for half a month. During his recovery, Wharton and Nina learned that Doehring had once existed as a soul inside the Coiling Dragon Ring and promised to keep the secret 37.

On September 14, Year 10009 of the Yulan Calendar, Doehring presided over a private Baruch family ceremony. Wharton and Nina honored the clan's ancestors and Hogg's memorial tablet. Doehring then gave Nina an azure stone plaque bearing the clan emblem and the couple's names 38.

They married at the imperial palace the following day. Wharton promised Joanne that he would protect Nina and listen to her, and the couple exchanged wedding rings 38.

From Imperial Earl to King

When Linley departed for the Chaotic Territory, Wharton and Nina remained in Chiyan City to protect the Baruch Clan's imperial interests. Wharton pledged to maintain its foundations and help relay intelligence through Yale and the Dawson Chamber of Commerce 52.

He later managed the troubled lands around the Baruch Mountain Range whenever Linley was absent. Over ten years, Linley's campaigns unified the region into the Baruch Kingdom, and Wharton took its throne. Under his rule, the formerly divided territory stabilized and its various peoples gave him their allegiance 66.

After miners discovered a vast magic crystal deposit, Wharton sent troops to guard it and begin extraction. The Radiant and Dark Churches jointly seized the mining towns, but the kingdom recovered them after Bebe summoned rat hordes to rout the occupying armies 67.

Wharton subsequently chose the Fire Element cultivation path. He remained behind when Linley's force sailed against Holy Island, and Doehring later promised to protect him and the kingdom while Linley pursued greater strength in Gebados 91 92 97.

Abilities & Skills

Dragonblood Warrior Transformation

• Physical power: His tail strikes shatter Blumer's protective battle-qi and throw him across the arena 36.
• Scaled defense: Ordinary attacks from Blumer's Ice Dream Sword leave only superficial marks on his scales 36.
• Natural weapons: Uses his claws and tail alongside his saber, including catching an enemy blade directly 36.
• Vitality: His Dragonblood constitution aids recovery from a pierced palm and injured lung 37.
• Limits: Blumer retains the advantage in speed, and his forbidden technique penetrates Wharton's scales 36.

Saber Combat

• Heavy strikes: Favors powerful cuts capable of breaking the arena's defensive formation 36.
• One Blade, Certain Death: A named downward strike that forces Blumer to evade rather than block 36.
• Close-range coverage: Coordinates saber attacks, kicks, and tail sweeps to restrict an opponent's approach and retreat 36.

Governance

• Administration: Manages the Baruch lands during Linley's absences 66.
• Kingship: Brings the newly unified kingdom into stable order and wins the allegiance of its different peoples 66 67.
• Resource security: Dispatches troops to protect the kingdom's newly discovered magic crystal vein 67.

Equipment & Items

• Carnage / Massacre Warblade — The Baruch Clan's ancestral war saber and Wharton's principal weapon. He uses it against Blumer and presents it before Hogg's memorial tablet during his family wedding rites 36 38.
• Clan formal attire — Black ceremonial clothing bearing an azure-dragon emblem 38.
• Wedding ring — Exchanged with Nina during their imperial wedding 38.

Relationships

• Linley Baruch — Older brother and clan head. Supports Wharton's marriage petition, trains him for the duel, and saves him from Blumer's attempted killing blow 34 35 36.
• Nina — Wife. Chooses him despite his defeat, helps supervise his recovery, and supports the clan's interests alongside him 36 37 38 52.
• Hogg Baruch — Late father. Wharton preserves his memory and addresses his memorial tablet before marrying Nina 35 38.
• Doehring Cowart — Respected family elder. Examines his injuries, oversees the Baruch wedding rites, and later undertakes to protect him during Linley's absence 37 38 97.
• Hiri — Long-serving Baruch family retainer. Helps arrange Wharton's betrothal and family ceremonies 37 38.
• Joanne — Imperial ruler and Nina's parent. Initially delays the marriage, then accepts Nina's choice and blesses their union 35 36 38.
• Blumer Achisoren — Rival in the War God Sect selection and for Nina's hand. Defeats Wharton in their duel, then attempts to kill him after he can no longer fight 29 36.

Notable Quotes

“Marriage is not a matter of which of us wins or loses.” 35

“A loss is a loss.” 37

“Father. I'm getting married tomorrow. Nina is wonderful. Big Brother is back too. The Baruch Clan's line hasn't ended.” 38