The Book Eating Magician Chapter 321:
Chapter 321 - The One who Inherits, the One who Maneuvers Behind the Scenes (4)
He stepped on the bodies of the demons at his feet and stood at the top . This was a man truly worthy of being called a hero .
Theodore realized the name was correct and became thrilled again . This was a war hero from the history books, a person from before the era of the magic towers . It was an era that had occurred thousands of years ago, at the end of the Dark Ages where darkness survived and evil swung its power .
The sand dragon, Azi Dahaka, was the crystal of destruction that the evil of Dark Ages had created . It was a monster that could spray all types of breaths with its three heads, as well as use the ultimate magic . Azi Dahaka had burned half of the continent in a week until a great hero stood before him .
‘Oh, my **** . You really are Reynolds Spencer . . . ?’
This wasn’t an exaggeration . Reynolds was a hero who had once saved the material world! Theodore had met several great men thus far, but he couldn’t help feeling in awe of Reynolds . This impression was conveyed, and Reynolds couldn’t help chuckling . “Hahahaha! Indeed, this is amazing . The world still remembering me after a thousand years, there is no greater honey for a hero!”
‘ . . . Honestly, I thought your story was fiction . ’
It was unclear if Reynolds was a warrior or a magician, and his achievements had spread throughout the continent . Anyone who knew history would come to the same conclusion as Theodore . Demons didn’t leave a corpse behind . Therefore, oral stories were the only records that could be used as evidence . Azi Dahaka was a monster, and it had collapsed because of this person . The grounds for Reynold Spencer’s story couldn’t be found anywhere .
“Well, it is probably a good thing,” Reynolds removed Theodore’s doubts with a few words . “A hero’s role is to shine a light on darkness and give hope to those who are in despair! It is fine if I have fulfilled that role . ”
In a sense, it was a contradiction . He was so pleased that his story had been passed on after thousands of years that the authenticity didn’t matter . . . ? Somebody might be suspicious of his personality .
However, because they shared a body, Theodore could tell that Reynolds’ mindset was different from that of others . He didn’t care about personal honor . All he desired was for justice to be alive on earth, giving power to those who were facing adversity .
This was the real role of a hero that Reynolds had carried out all his life .
“In the end, the world doesn’t turn away from righteousness . Your life is someone else’s strength . So, don’t lower yourself before me, hero from the future . ”
‘ . . . Yes . Thank you, Sir Spencer . ’
“The introductions are up to here . Shall we cut to the chase?” Reynolds spoke like he knew everything . “You want to learn Soul Calibre?”
‘Yes . ’
“The theory is simple . Magic power is refined and discharged out of the body . The magic power takes the form of a blade that interferes with the astral system, but it doesn’t manifest like the theory . Isn't that right?”
Theodore answered in a puzzled tone, ‘Huh? I succeeded until the formation of the blade but . . . ’
“I thought so… What? You succeeded?” Reynolds’ eyes widened . This person who wasn’t even shaken by a high-ranking demon was greatly shocked by this .
Was Theodore that remarkable?
Reynolds read Theodore’s thoughts and explained, “Soul Calibre is a type of special magic that has nothing to do with the abilities of a magician . The sword can only be manifested when the soul is used as a core . It is easy for the Spencer family to use because we have trained in it since childhood, but I have never seen someone outside the family use it . . . ”
After muttering a monologue Theodore did not know the meaning of, Reynolds raised his right arm and pointed to the sky . Then a shining sword appeared in his hand . It was the fully manifested Soul Calibre .
“Haap!”
Reynolds cut through the sky with the sword .
Kiiiing-!
It made a terrible noise . Theodore blocked his ears unconsciously and realized that he had escaped from Reynolds’ body . He didn’t know how, but Reynolds had separated Theodore from his body . The noise from before was probably this forceful separation . Real hearing did not mean much in the mental world .
Theodore asked Reynolds with a confused expression, “Why did you suddenly do this, Sir Spencer?”
“I want to check something . Use Soul Calibre . ”
A great hero wouldn’t speak nonsense . Theodore wasn’t sure about the reason, but he complied with Reynolds’ demand .
‘Soul Calibre . ’
It might be different for other magicians, but astral magic wasn’t an unfamiliar concept for Theodore . The Umbra imprint glowed, and a soft green sword rose from his right hand . Of course, the strength and radiance were lacking compared to Reynolds’ version . However, the shape of the blade could be seen clearly .
“Hoh . . . !” Reynolds said admiringly, “You can certainly form it . Moreover, the green light symbolizes life and hope . I haven’t seen such a beautiful light in a long time . ”
“Ah, thank you . ”
“But it is as I expected . Look closely . ”
Reynolds took the white light sword in his hand and used it to touch Theodore’s green light sword . The moment that the two lights touched . . .
Kakang! Theodore’s Soul Calibre broke with a cheerful sound .
“Ah?”
It broke like a **** . The blade, which was made of a considerable amount of magic power, had broken easily . Theodore looked at Reynolds for an explanation . Reynolds showed his Soul Calibre and opened his mouth, “You can manifest Soul Calibre, but you can’t reproduce the power . I’m not trying to dismiss your magic . It was like this from the start . ”
“Like this from the start?”
“Soul Calibre is literally a sword of the soul . Its strength is determined by the power of the soul that forms the blade . Magic power can make it take the shape of a sword, but it doesn’t compensate for the underlying strength . ”
It was like a pavilion formed out of granules of sand . The smallest repulsive force would break it . That was why Theodore’s Soul Calibre was broken . Theodore had been inspired by Umbra and managed to succeed in creating Soul Calibre with his eight circles . However, unlike Reynolds, Theodore wouldn’t be able to cut a high-ranking demon with it .
“This is why my family, the Spencer clan, quench their souls for several generations before handing it over to future generations . I am the final result . ” Compared to Reynolds’ calm voice, the contents of what he said were fearsome .
A soul being made into a sword, and a clan that handed it down for generations, repeating this process over and over . . . It was a history that couldn’t be revealed to outsiders . Reynolds was Spencer’s descendant . Theodore soon realized why Reynolds had asserted this . After all, Reynolds shouldered the responsibility of his ancestors who had given up their souls .
When the weight of the responsibility dawned upon Theodore, his face paled . Meanwhile, Reynolds just laughed and shrugged . “Don’t worry about my past . Shouldn’t you be paying attention to how to complete your imperfect Soul Calibre?”
“ . . . Is there a method to do so?” Theodore asked in a quiet voice .
“I don’t know,” Reynolds responded instantly, without any hesitation . “If there were such a method, my family wouldn’t have needed to inherit Soul Calibre from previous generations . The special magic, Soul Calibre, exerts its power when it is built up through time . There is no way to master it other than to train it thoroughly . At least, I don’t know of one . ”
“But there is no time . ”
The fundamental structure of Soul Calibre needed a few generations to build up like the Spencer family . Jerem’s invasion was a month away, and Theodore had too much to do to only focus on Soul Calibre . Reynolds, who received Theodore’s memories through Synchro, couldn’t help complaining, “I’m sorry that I can’t be helpful . If possible, I would like to lend a hand directly . . . ”
A warlock who had contracted with Nídhöggur, a villain trying to swallow up the world tree . . . There was no better enemy for a hero to punish . If Reynolds were still alive, he would’ve run to Elvenheim instantly . However, Reynolds Spencer died a long time ago . This was just a fragment of his soul .
Theodore was feeling frustrated when he suddenly had a thought .
The dead, a fragment of the soul . . .
Soul Calibre was a sword of the soul .
It was a technique inherited from generation to generation .
Reynolds Spencer . . .
Several puzzle pieces hovered in Theodore’s mind and settled together in a suitable shape . It was an idea that was worthy of applause if another magician saw it . Theodore didn’t hesitate to speak his idea . Shortly after that . . .
“ . . . Are you a genius?” Reynolds was amazed .
* * *
Less than half an hour later, Theodore woke up from his synchro with Reynolds .
Paak!
He jumped up like he didn’t want to waste a minute, moving to an empty spot without any ents or dryads . Theodore was worried that someone might up caught up in the aftermath of his magic . Theoretically, there weren’t any errors . However, a magician should always be cautious when practicing .
“Huoong . . . ” He took a few deep breaths and relaxed his body . His blood circulated in his muscles, and shortly after that, his stiff muscles stretched and his joints became flexible . Theodore finished his brief preparatory exercises and closed his eyes . For a magician, vision wasn’t a problem . However, embedded habits were surprisingly helpful for concentration .
‘Umbra,’ he summoned the imprint on his right arm . There was a glowing light, and Theodore’s spiritual senses reached another realm . Simultaneously, a sword rose from his right hand .
“Okay, there is no problem so far . ”
Soul Calibre, an astral magic that interfered with the soul, was a magic that Reynolds had evaluated as a power that couldn’t be used in practice . However, this time, there were some differences from the sword Theodore had made in the mental world . This sword shone brilliantly, and Theodore’s right hand cut at the empty space before him . Just like Reynolds had shown him, it was like a lightning strike across the sky .
Kiiiing-! The space was separated .
For a moment, the special space used in the techniques of the 2nd Sword, Zest Speitem, was revealed . There was a wall of darkness that no physical force could pass, a joint that connected space . Theodore’s Soul Calibre cut that joint . It was an eerie and destructive power .
Theodore erased the white sword and grinned . ‘I can’t exactly call it my Soul Calibre . ’
Theodore muttered strange words as he looked down at his right arm . No, he was just talking to someone who couldn’t be seen . “How about it, Sir Spencer?”
Reynolds’ voice was conveyed from Theodore’s right arm . To be precise, it was the engraving on his arm .
[Good! It is a bit lacking compared to my prime, but the undead won’t be able to go against it . ]
“It is really great . ”
That’s right . Rather than forming Soul Calibre with his own soul, Theodore shifted Reynold’s soul to Umbra and had him manifest Soul Calibre .
It was only a fragment of the soul and couldn’t be compared to when he was alive . However, Reynold’s Soul Calibre had been tempered over several generations and was much stronger than Theodore’s . It was sufficient to play a role in the fight against Jerem .
Theodore had used a shortcut of intervening with the soul using Umbra’s power .
‘One means of attack has been determined . Sir Spencer’s Soul Calibre can kill Jerem . ’
Among the warlocks who were outside of the framework of ordinary life, the necromancers had especially strong vitality . Despite being injured by Mitra’s power previously, ordinary attacks wouldn’t hurt Jerem even if he were hit by several Infernos . Thus, Theodore needed to acquire an attack that would work against Jerem .
“Please take care of me, Sir Spencer . ”
[Yes! Will you inherit the name of my family? This is guaranteed by Reynolds Spencer!]
It was a bonus that Theodore added one more talkative person to his household .