340 - Regressor of the Fallen Family

Chapter 340 Thud, thud. “You've dug quite deep in just three months.” The echoing voice within the tunnel received no reply. Only the flickering torches danced shadows along the straight underground path, accompanied solely by the sound of footsteps. Logan refrained from rushing down in one go due to a nagging suspicion. ‘No one’s hiding here.’ Logan, finely attuned and scanning every corner as he descended the tunnel, halted when a stark white wall suddenly appeared. Woooong. The sacred light was so vivid that even an ordinary person would notice it. “Hmm...” From past experiences, Logan could tell that this was undoubtedly the ruins of the Magic Saint Jibrik Kassel. However, if it was like the incident with the Pope, this too was fake holy power. ‘...I still can’t differentiate them.’ Although Bishop Ilia had easily recognized fake holy power, it seemed Logan wasn't quite there yet. But. ‘Breaking it is a different story.’ There was no reason to dawdle. Shing. With newfound resolve, Logan unsheathed his sword like lightning, slicing at the barrier ahead. The blade was drawn with precision, wasting not a single ounce of strength. Just before striking the barrier, the sword, Lux, unleashed the condensed power of its aura. Boom! The white barrier remained unwavering, standing resolute without a hint of disturbance. “As expected...” Logan’s expression hardened. He had reached the state where his mind and body were completely aligned, allowing his sword to follow the path as his heart directed. Yet, even the pinnacle of destructive force he unleashed was ineffective. He was convinced that this barrier wouldn’t budge regardless of whatever technique was used to enhance his power. ‘Eventually, it seems I must follow the method the holy sword showed... Huh.’ Though reluctant, he couldn’t simply turn away. Determined again, Logan traced a golden arc with his sword. Flash. The dazzling golden light radiating from the sword slash consumed the area in an instant. And then. Crrrrk. The steadfast barrier, as if the light dimmed, vanished, surrendering to the golden blade. Poooosh. Logan controlled the sense of exhaustion that swept over him by taking a deep breath, stepping forward with a firm expression. As he did so, his disguise faded, returning his hair, eyes, and face to their original form. “Damn...” Logan clicked his tongue, letting out a small sigh. The wave that surged when the Sky-Splitting Blade shattered the barrier had broken Clayton's transformation magic device. It happened because he still lacked a bit of finesse. ‘Once I get used to it.’ This was the result of tirelessly moving immediately after mastering the Sky-Splitting Blade. A bit more training, and he felt he might break through the thin wall to the next level, but that had to wait. For now, clearing the ruins before his eyes took precedence. “Hm.” Beyond the vanished white barrier lay a solid wall. A gray wall, of an unknown material, had split alongside the barrier, revealing what lay inside. Upon stepping inside, Logan found himself in a long corridor stretching side to side, proving that the spot he had broken through wasn’t a formal entrance. Situated in the middle of this passage, spacious enough for ten people to walk side by side, vibrant murals covered both sides. ‘Dragons, humans, lizardmen... All ancient races, it seems.’ Despite the passing of time, no painting appeared faded, perhaps due to the unique pigments used. What immediately caught his eye was a mural depicting a giant dragon breathing fire, incinerating a vast mountain range, with various species of warriors standing before it. Several races, known to be arch-enemies, standing united against the dragon—a tableau of murals extending to both sides illustrated the events before and after this battle. Logan’s gaze naturally drifted toward the murals depicting the aftermath. Amidst the gruesome battle, with scales torn from the dragon and countless races dying, he wasn’t merely intent on admiring the murals. Whether these murals spoke of true history or were the creation of someone’s imagination piqued his interest, but he had no luxury of time to delve into their meaning. Instead, he followed the increasingly potent pull on his spirit, moving towards the source. ‘I must find the holy sword first.’ Though unsure of when, the Imperial forces were bound to return here, stronger than those he had previously vanquished. Before that happened, he needed to resolve everything and leave. Logan’s strides hastened as he delved deeper into the ruins. It was no coincidence that ancient ruins were often called dungeons; many were buried underground, filled with monsters or traps. Historians claimed that ancient transcendents or grand mages had deliberately set them up to prevent uninvited guests from entering their domain. But this ruin had neither monsters nor traps. ‘The absence of monsters is understandable...’ Monsters, said to originate from primordial darkness and live off the world's mana, had become scarce on the modern continent. Only two places existed where many monsters could still be found. One was the demonic beast forest of the North, covered with the magic left by the ancient demon king who appeared long ago. The second was the forbidden area of the South, the southern mountain range known as the Sea of Endless Mountains, where the creatures of that time supposedly disappeared. Moreover, the ruins brimmed with holy power that repelled and expelled the impure, making the absence of monsters plausible. But for it to lack even a single trap? ‘It’s like it’s inviting anyone to come in.’ His cautious steps sped up for this very reason. As Logan's steps began to slow, he was greeted by the sight of a vast plaza at the end of the passageway. The further he ventured, the more a kaleidoscope of brilliant colors at the plaza's far end dazzled his vision, heightening his vigilance. Even though there hadn't been any traps thus far, there was no guarantee they wouldn't appear later. Logan had been scanning his surroundings for potential traps when a section of the mural caught his attention once more. At the passage's end was depicted three dragons—red, blue, and yellow—alongside two members of the dragonkin, as well as figures representing an elf, dwarf, lizardman, and orc. All of them were encircled by radiant white halos, ascending towards the sky on clouds. Yet below them, one could see a human with a twisted expression watching their ascent. Something about this mural inexplicably drew Logan in. ‘What is this?’ Momentarily forgetting his search for traps, Logan found himself absorbed by the mural. It was as if he was on the verge of remembering something, an irritating tickle in his brain that refused to let him look away. He had never studied ancient history formally, and there were no additional images following the mural, yet it held his gaze. Eventually, reason returned, allowing Logan to shake off the vague feelings and refocus on his present circumstances. ‘There’s no time for this.’ Thankfully, his heightened senses detected no traps, and with his expression set, Logan cautiously stepped into the plaza. Upon entering, his eyes were drawn to an enormous pile of treasure, heaped up like a mountain nearly touching the ceiling. Ruins are often imagined as places where the ancients hid vast riches, and many excavations have indeed revealed such treasures. Historians speculated that ancient deities, wielding power akin to gods, amassed wealth within their residences—which was certainly the case here in the presumed ruins of Jibrik Kassel. Every kind of ornament, artwork, and weapon crafted from unknown eras shone with a dazzling radiance atop a hill of gold coins. The treasure pile was so vast it nearly obscured the path leading to the altar where the holy sword lay. Logan hadn’t expected this in the fleeting vision from his memories, which churned his stomach slightly. ‘To think I have to leave all this behind.’ He sighed, though the value of these riches was only a secondary concern. Tackling the initial cause that brought him here was paramount. Logan scanned the area meticulously. Aside from the holy sword on the altar, all he saw were treasures. Then... ‘Could the secret of the Divine Sword be here?’ A wave of frustration hit him, but finding the secret was imperative. He had to prevent the empire's formidable elite, who he'd soon face numerous times, from growing stronger by discovering the secrets of the Divine Sword or learning his weaknesses. Logan glanced toward the holy sword, let out a resigned sigh, and concentrated intensely. He couldn’t afford to dig through every part of the treasure mountain physically. Woooong. His core ignited with power, sending energy coursing through his six orbiting cores, amplifying it several fold. This energy formed into a web of forces that pierced the treasure pile according to his will. With closed eyes, Logan focused on the tactile sensations conveyed by the forces extending from his fingertips. ‘Not interested in anything else—books, especially.’ Given his status on the cusp of the highest tier as an aura user, only he could perform this task with his extraordinarily keen senses. The web shot through the treasure, seeking items similar to his specifications. But. ‘Nothing?’ Despite sweeping through the treasure mountain multiple times as if with a giant net, he found nothing resembling a book. ‘Impossible.’ Logan gritted his teeth and intensified his concentration, fine-tuning his power. Dismissing all extraneous thoughts, he focused entirely on the sensory input from the scattered forces. The webs, now sharper and more intricate, crept slowly yet meticulously through the gold and jewels. However. Repeated attempts yielded no hint of what could be the Divine Sword secret. “Sigh...” Had he wasted his strength? Wiping the sweat from his forehead, Logan’s facedarkened noticeably. ‘If it’s not here, where did they obtain the Divine Sword techniques?’ Perhaps Louis had been mistaken in the past life when he spoke of the divine sword and the secret. That scenario would be fortunate. ‘If it truly is here?’ If he simply couldn’t sense its presence? Such a valuable secret likely wouldn’t be left at the entrance, so if it existed, it was probably hidden here. Moreover, it could be magically concealed to prevent easy discovery. However, he neither had the time to painstakingly search, nor could he leave it behind. Thus. ‘I’ll just have to destroy it.’ He couldn’t let the empire seize what he couldn’t have. Resolved to obliterate what might be ancient secrets, Logan decided to demolish the relics thoroughly. Drawing his sword, he hesitated momentarily before pocketing a few gold coins, a finely crafted dagger, and an ornament. These items, small enough to carry without hindrance, might offer insights into the era in which these ruins existed. He couldn’t help feeling uneasy about destroying what were historical artifacts—records of history—for a descendant of mankind. Having discarded his last bit of hesitation, Logan then infused power back into his sword. – Divine Sword Secret Technique 6th Form, Origin Slice Adaptation: Universal Collapse. As the golden burst shot from the sword’s tip touched the treasure pile. The entire plaza was awash in golden ripples. Rumble. Flash. Crack, crack, crack. With a sound that seemed to ring through the air, the explosion of light reduced the treasure pile to dust. Ssshhh. In an instant, the mound of treasure vanished, leaving only a beach-like spread of golden powder covering the plaza floor. Gazing at the radiant golden dust, Logan wore a complex expression. It wasn't because he lamented the loss of wealth. Even as dust, the financial value of the treasure was incalculable, though not as much as when it was intact. Yet, riches he could never possess meant little to him. What weighed on his mind was something else entirely. ‘I couldn’t control it properly...’ His energy, depleted from using the Sky-Splitting Blade upon entering the ruins and the focus exhausted through his force exploration, prevented him from properly controlling the scope of Universal Collapse. The real issue was that, despite this, neither the walls nor the floor of the plaza showed any signs of damage. ‘Unless it’s an attack that splits the space itself like Sky-Splitting Blade, it doesn’t even leave a scratch? Just what is this...’ Glancing towards the altar, the inverted holy sword continued to exude a divine aura, asserting its presence unabashedly.