Chapter 266: The Mage Assassin
"This is...!?"
Friedrich could no longer remain calm and cried out in shock. With his experience and strength, he could clearly feel the terrifying power contained in this sword, far exceeding that of ordinary magical weapons. He even vaguely sensed a trace of something akin to the laws of nature within it.
This is something that no ordinary craftsmanship could create!
Seeing his teacher's shocked expression, the emperor's face grew even prouder and more satisfied. He walked to the stone platform and stared at the holy sword in the box with almost obsessive fascination, as if admiring a perfect work of art.
"Teacher, how does it feel?" he said loudly, his voice echoing in the secret chamber. "This is the Imperial Holy Sword that I, the emperor, commissioned those arrogant dwarf masters to forge for me, using the resources of the empire accumulated over several years!"
He reached out, seemingly wanting to touch the sword, but restrained himself and withdrew his hand just before his fingertips touched it, as if afraid to disturb its power.
"Leggett, just how much did you give them?" Friedrich dared not think about it. His voice wavered slightly. "How much reward would you have to offer to get the dwarves to forge such a holy sword?"
"A mere price to pay," Leggett scoffed, dismissing the question with a wave. "Countless treasures? Mountains of rare ores? Those are insignificant!"
He turned back to the sword, his expression hardening. "What truly pains me is the permanent allocation of the empire's two largest rare mineral deposits to those ugly dwarfs!"
He spoke with a hint of gritted teeth at the end, but then his tone changed and became excited again. "But judging from the results, they are still trustworthy!"
He gestured expansively toward the sword. "Not only did they use the finest materials accumulated by the dwarves over thousands of years, but they also invited several fossil-level masters who had long since retired from worldly affairs to join forces. They even incorporated materials left behind from the forging of the holy sword Orger."
His voice rose with pride. "Finally… finally, this legendary holy sword, no less powerful than the El sword of the Land of El, has been forged for me!"
He began to circle the platform slowly, gesturing as he spoke, as if displaying a trophy. "Teacher, look, the main body of this sword is based on Eternal Ore, with a large amount of Star Silver and Mithril incorporated into it. These two materials are extremely rare, and their refining methods are a closely guarded secret among the dwarves."
He pointed to the hilt. "The gem at the center of the sword hilt was no ordinary object; it was a complete, highly concentrated magic ore, containing enough energy to support the casting of a teleportation spell."
His eyes gleamed with fervor as he leaned closer. "More importantly, the forging process not only employed the refining techniques of Somo, one of the greatest kings in dwarven history, to remove the last trace of impurity from the materials."
"Furthermore, it referenced the manuscripts and notes left behind by Master Duller, who forged the El sword, giving it the ability to contain magical power."
Leggett straightened, his voice becoming resolute and full of unquestionable confidence. "It can be said that this sword has reached the limit of what current world forging techniques can imagine! It is comparable to those legendary holy swords, and even the dwarves would not be able to replicate a second legendary masterpiece within a thousand years."
He faced Friedrich directly, his gaze blazing. "This is my strongest reliance for achieving future unification and hegemony!"
As Friedrich listened to the emperor's account and gazed at the holy sword that exuded awe-inspiring power, his heart was already filled with turbulent emotions.
He never imagined that the emperor was secretly carrying out such a shocking plan.
Forge your own holy sword!
This scale and ambition far exceeded his imagination. He carefully sensed the aura of the holy sword and had to admit to himself that it was indeed a divine artifact with terrifying power. Its energy level and the power of its laws that can cut through any defense are something no mage can resist.
After a long silence, Friedrich asked the most crucial question. His voice was steady but carried undertones of concern. "Your Majesty, though the Holy Sword is powerful, it ultimately needs someone to wield it. To whom do you intend to entrust such a divine weapon?"
This is the core issue.
A holy sword that no one drives, no matter how powerful, is just a magnificent decoration, like the El sword, forever relegated to a shelf.
Emperor Leggett seemed to have anticipated his teacher's question. A knowing smile appeared on his face, and he nodded slowly. "Rest assured, teacher, I already have the candidate in mind. However..."
He changed the subject, taking out a scroll from his robes. He moved to hand it to Friedrich with deliberate ceremony.
"Just as the Holy Sword needs to be forged through countless trials, those who can wield this Holy Sword must also undergo the most rigorous selection process."
He gestured to the scroll. "The one hundred people on this list are candidates with exceptional talents, carefully selected by me from countless elites within the empire."
Friedrich took the scroll slowly, as if it weighed far more than parchment and ink. He unrolled it carefully.
The document contains a dense record of one hundred names, along with brief information and talents. With just a cursory glance, Friedrich felt a chill run down his spine.
It turned out that everyone here possessed magical abilities.
Coupled with the trace of law power within this holy sword that can sever everything, His Majesty's thoughts are already crystal clear. He wants to cultivate an entity specifically designed to target mages.
That is, a magician assassin!
Friedrich's hands trembled slightly as he held the scroll. His eyes widened with the realization of what was being proposed.
Looking at his teacher's expression, Leggett continued. His tone turned icy, cutting through the air like a blade. "These people are not only exceptionally talented, but more importantly, each of them has an irreplaceable weakness that is firmly held in the hands of the Empire."
He walked closer to Friedrich, his voice dropping lower. "Whether they are my closest relatives or my dearest loved ones, I am not worried about their loyalty. Of course, I need a backup plan in case these people betray me, so I will need your help then."
Leggett's gaze returned to the sword, and a bloodthirsty glint flashed in his eyes. "And when they are equipped with the Holy Sword," he spoke slowly, deliberately, "the Holy Sword's ability to tear apart any magical shield and destroy most magical artifacts, combined with their own strength…"
He paused for effect. "They will become the empire's sharpest blade, enough to kill anything that stands in its way."
Leggett turned, looking north, towards the direction of the Land of El. His entire posture shifted, becoming predatory. "Even the elven saint Serie, even if she used the highest-level magic shield, could not withstand the attack of the holy sword."
Friedrich listened to the emperor's cold words and looked at the names on the list. He said nothing for a long moment, his aged features frozen in calculation.
After a measured pause, he asked one last question. His voice was barely above a whisper. "Your Majesty, there are one hundred people on the list. But there is only one Holy Sword."
Upon hearing this, Emperor Leggett showed no sign of distress. Instead, a cold, almost indifferent smile appeared on his face. He began to walk back toward the platform, his footsteps echoing in the chamber.
"Therefore, they still need to conduct a final round of selection." His voice was casual, yet carried a chilling meaning that made the very air seem to chill.
"These one hundred candidates will be thrown into a battlefield. There are no rules, no allies, only killing. The one who survives will be the true master of the Holy Sword."
He stood before the sword one final time, gazing down at its white-gold radiance.
"Only the strongest are worthy to wield the Holy Sword. Go and take the head of that elven saint for me."
The words hung in the chamber like a death sentence, and Friedrich felt the weight of them settle upon his shoulders like an immense stone.
[End of Chapter]
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