Grandia Castle was now within viewing distance, still quite far but the destination was in sight. It was the endpoint of the Latias counteroffensive led by Duke Sterling Valentine. The snowstorm made it so only the rough shadow of the castle could be seen. Above it, five flying fortresses hung like levitating mountains.

Many expected it, but the reality that the mighty Latias bastion had fallen to the Empire's hand was still a blow. Now it was up to them to recapture the strategically located stronghold. As it was a matter of national security, having it remain in the grip of the Empire was out of the question.

But the battle hadn't started yet.

The Latias army had pushed through many of Harkelan's roadblocks to reach this point. Some rest was needed for the troops to recover their Victa and injuries.

Battles were a source of nourishment for Pathseekers. There was no substitute for real-life experience. Pathseekers clashed against one another using the skills and powers they refined so far. They were put to the test whether they were satisfactory, adequate, or found wanting.

The lucky ones of the last category managed to survive their ordeals. Many were not so lucky.

To the survivors who passed their trials, came the opportunity to grow. A lot of Ascensions were going on in the safety of the war camp.

Both the Empire and the Kingdom were using this grace period to bring the most out of their forces. Gathering combatants from all over, ten thousand Pathseekers stood on the Latias' side. Scouts reported that the Empire had at least fifteen thousand but it was expected to rise.

The Harkelan Empire's territory was much bigger than the Latias Kingdom's. The number disparity was expected.

Viers was more concerned about the numbers of the Level 5 combatants but the information was kept very tight. Understandable, since the existence of a single Level 5 was a strategic asset.

Duke Valentine was a given but was there anyone else? What about the Empire's Level 5? Viers only hoped if the little guys got affected by the fights between experts, he wouldn't be the one among the collateral damage.

But thinking about it wouldn't help. It was more productive to sharpen his fangs.

The next battle would be big, even bigger than the Magisterium Tower battle and Viers wouldn't enter the battlefield unprepared.

Viers and Sakuya, one of the two newest members of the Arcanum Club, were sparring in the Grid. The virtual reality built using the remnants of an MC's system was a top-tier training ground. Sakuya's first usage of this feature let Viers explore her capabilities. They even had a serious spar.

If I had to rate her battle strength, I would give it an A-. If I remember correctly, during the Book World my rating of her was a B. Nice growth. A bit lower than Boram, Paina, and Farley. They are A grade. However, Sakuya's specialty is assassination so it's not fair to only take account of her battle strength.

Clarissa is either A+ or S or higher. It's hard to gauge her true depths since I can't tell if she really went all out or not.

Measuring himself objectively, Viers would put himself at battle strength A+. If his Horizon multiplier was factored in, S grade or above.

Only those with a battle strength of at least A+ would be able to combat a Pathseeker with a higher Level. Of course, this grading was entirely Viers' personal opinion.

"Rin, Pyo, To, Sha, Kai, Jin, Retsu, Zai, Zen!"

Each word was accompanied by a different hand seal. This was the requirement for Sakuya to unleash the strongest attack in her entire skill set.

Viers wanted to see this. It was his own proposition in the first place. Her double-palm strike of destructive energy met with Viers' strongest defense.

With a crushing sound, it tore apart Viers' defenses, pushed him back ten meters, and forced him down to his knee.

"Subarashii."

Viers smiled despite the blood coming out from the edge of his mouth.

"My apologies, Viers-sama! Aaah, treatment! Treatment!" Sakuya approached with a panic.

"It's fine. You can't die in this imaginary world. More importantly, it was a magnificent technique. Probably equal to the strike of a Level 4 high."

"Thank you for the praise, but as you can see, there are a lot of steps before I can use it."

"The hand seals and that mantra. I see, I see."

"Viers-sama, are you familiar with hand seals and mantras?" Sakuya asked.

"Of course."

The hand seals might be popularized by Naruto but I'm pretty sure it has been around long before that. The Mudra have roots from Hinduism and Buddhism if I remember correctly.

"Your clan must have brought that from the eastern continent. On this side of the world, we have something similar, like magic circles and spells."

Viers elaborated further. Whether it was a witch's magic spell or a ninja's hand seals, they were all the same. All were used to make Artes work smoothly.

There were other variations too. Magic circles, sigils, crests, inscriptions, runes, tattoos, rituals, and so on.

Taking Sakuya's earlier technique as an example, she was able to unleash it after making the appropriate hand seals and mantra. A more skilled user might not need to use such crutches.

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But it wasn't always crutches.

The Water Slash Arte, an elementary water Arte that Viers learned as a Level 0, Viers could use it as easily as he breathed now. However, if he put in the work of reciting a suitable magic spell or other extra steps, the Arte would get stronger.

Therefore, it was also a booster.

When people shout the name of their Arte, something that even Viers did quite often, it was a kind of magic spell. It helped to mentally imagine and produce the supernatural phenomenon. Totally not for showing off to the enemy.

Monster cores could also be used as an Arte supplement or booster. One could use a fire monster core to empower their fire Arte as one-shot ammunition or upgrade their Arte permanently with a suitable monster core.

The latter required much higher skill. Viers did it on his Ghost Hazard Arte that he first unveiled in the Magisterium Tower battle. He killed a defense-specialist Level 4 Pathseeker in one hit. It was so powerful because he used the Rank 5 Soulterror Banshee's core that Ciel gave him for being her fake boyfriend. It was plenty powerful before the monster core was added, now it was Forbidden Arte tier.

"I see. Now I understand," Sakuya said.

"By the way, what's the name of your technique from earlier?"

"Ninpo - Bishamonten. The variation that I learned, at least."

Hm, that's the name of one of the Four Heavenly Kings, Viers kept his thoughts to himself.

"When my father used this technique, a phantom avatar of a fierce god appeared. I still haven't mastered it completely."

"It's plenty powerful," Viers patted her shoulder. "You'll get there in time."

"Hai!"

To Sakuya who looked like a happy puppy by being praised, Viers wanted to give her a treat.

"To good girl Sakuya, I'll give you a gift. An Arte. It's called Senbonzakura."

"Senbonzakura... A thousand cherry blossom trees. Ufufu. I've never seen that many sakura trees before. My homeland probably only has a hundred. It's a small island."

Viers felt a bit of regret that he hadn't had a chance to tour Sakaki village. After the Book World, using Dia's Gate Plant seed that Sakuya carried, he went to her island, only to be confronted by the Sakaki Matriarch, a Level 5. Not willing to risk it, Viers left after only a greeting. He had not stepped a foot there since. The Gate Plant was no more anyway.

He grabbed Sakuya's hand to make direct contact, making her flustered. Then the image of the Arte, formula, Victa composition and calculations, all essentials to construct an Arte, were directly transmitted using the soul.

Since Sakuya was a Wood Pathseeker that closely related to flowers, Viers figured Kuchiki Byakuya's power would make a good match for her.

"Sugoi..."

Sakuya muttered as she witnessed the Arte's full potential that existed in Viers' mind. She digested the new knowledge and tried to replicate it.

"...It's very hard."

"Conjuring the thousand petals, maintaining the shape, controlling them as one seamlessly... This Arte is not simple indeed," Viers nodded like a sage.

The complexity is on par with the Rasengan-inspired Vortex Nova Arte.

Unlike the all-pink sakura petals, Sakuya's version was of many colors, all colors of flowers. For now, it was mostly just harmless, soft flower petals that Sakuya clumsily swung around like a ball of rainbow clouds.

"Is it really okay for me to use such great Arte?"

"It's fine. I can't use it anyway."

Viers couldn't use his water or soul affinity to replicate the technique. Perhaps he could do it if it was in his soul space but it was quite impractical.

Only an Arte nutjob like Viers would create an Arte of such complexity that he couldn't use because for one reason: it was cool.

Sakuya continued practicing while Viers gave advice from the side.

***

In anticipation of the battle ahead, Croix led his new Red Dragon Unit on a hard drill against Prince Lutz's Yellow Dragon Unit.

The unit had been replenished to a full one hundred. Croix could push for promotions to be a two-hundred-man commander but he opted to strengthen the unit's strength and unity.

He trained the unit's cavalry charge. It was no mere horse-charge. Latias had a long tradition of knight culture and one of the most fearsome in the battlefield was the Latias cavalry charge. It involved a special Arte that every cavalryman in the charge used and linked with his fellow knights.

Simple but effective. Croix had gotten this Arte that was a military secret and wanted to make good use of it. For that, he needed practice.

"Oooh! Everyone's looking motivated."

"Miss Ciel," Croix smiled at the unexpected guest. "Welcome. Sorry for the mess. A war camp is hardly a fitting place for a lady like you."

"Oh please. I have been a recruit of the Silver Legion. I lived at the tent barracks for a time," Ciel laughed while her two bodyguards looked a bit uncomfortable.

"Ahaha. What brings you here?" Croix got down from his horse and wiped his sweaty forehead.

"I'm bringing your war merit rewards. There is plenty for everyone!"

The men who heard cheered.

After giving Croix and his men time to get ready, Ciel wandered the camp looking for someone. She sensed Boram's Victa and went there. Viers' Victa was much harder to detect but Boram was usually near Viers.

Boram was training.

He was lifting a massive rock while doing squats. The rock was ten times his size and Falmerion was napping on top. An impressive display of skill for a Level 3 peak fifteen-year-old.

Woah... Viers' disciple is quite a monster too. He might have the blood of the giant race but isn't that too much?

After greeting him, Ciel found Viers. He was with Sakuya, both meditating in front of each other.

They looked happy.

Ciel felt a prickle in her heart.

She looked at the foreigner girl that had a history with Viers. Ciel didn't know much about Sakuya but she knew enough that Sakuya loved Viers. She journeyed far to meet Viers again.

Her card is called the Lovers... Mine is the Justice.

Ciel softly put a hand on her chest.

Viers and I are just pretending to be a couple. There's nothing between us... After saying that to her, if I go back on my word, it would be terribly unjust of me, huh?

Seeing Ciel just standing at a distance without approaching, one of her bodyguards spoke up.

"Do you find the girl an eyesore? Should I educate her to not be too close to someone else's lover?"

"No! Don't do anything unnecessary!"

Society knew Avel and Ciel were a couple. Most didn't know the truth that Ciel had invoked the ancient custom and married Viers. She gave him a part of her soul.

After that, Ciel and the Duke hadn't really broached the subject. Their relationship remained chilling-cold but the Duke no longer pushed Ciel to marriage. Plus, there was a war going on.

The truth remained. Ciel married Viers involuntarily and that was why she felt guilty about it.

What would their relationship become from here? Ciel didn't know.

What she did know was that she shouldn't trouble Viers anymore.

This feeling she had... She should excise it. No, she should kill it!

Yes... I should. That is the right way.

Ciel left Viers and Sakuya's reward nearby and left the two in peace.

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