Chapter 6
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Episode 1 - Holy Academy [6]
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"Exactly. So, how do they function across the different specializations?"
At Professor Evangeline's question, one of the cadets raised his hand. His voice came out firm, but not arrogant.
"In the Swordsman specialization, attributes are mainly used to strengthen the physical body and enhance sword arts."
Evangeline gave a slight nod.
"Continue."
"Reinforcement isn't just brute force. Depending on the attribute, it can also improve speed, endurance, or even awareness of the surroundings during combat."
"Well observed."
The cadet took a small breath before continuing.
"As for Mages… their attributes are more versatile. They allow them to shape mana with greater precision. For example, they can create artificial structures, temporary weapons, or alter the properties of their spells according to their affinity."
"And Elementalists?"
"They use their attributes as a medium of resonance to attract and communicate with spirits. They don't just summon them, but establish a connection with them to amplify their abilities."
"Summoners?"
"It's similar… but more focused on materialization. Summoners use their attributes to maintain entities stably on this plane, not just interact with them."
A brief silence followed.
Evangeline smiled.
"That was quite a complete answer."
It was undoubtedly a good answer, but it was still superficial.
'The use of attributes is far more complex than it seems.'
For swordsmen, it wasn't simply about strengthening the body. Even with the same number of stars, two people could achieve completely different results depending on their control, their understanding, and the nature of their attribute.
Evangeline stepped forward.
The cadet's answer was enough to satisfy Professor Evangeline.
"Good. However, these uses are merely superficial or the most basic ones. Remember that the use of attributes is far more complex and filled with many different applications."
The cadets nodded. They knew that as well; however, they were unaware of what other forms of usage attributes possessed.
"And something interesting: Mages and Elementalists have fairly similar uses for attributes, such as magic and spiritual arts."
There were some Mages and Elementalists who attempted to use both magic and spiritual arts.
As Professor Evangeline said, Mages and Elementalists have similar uses for attributes.
Both are similar to each other, with the difference being that one uses mana, while the other uses spirits and feeds them with mana.
In any case, the class ended shortly afterward, and Professor Evangeline left.
The next class, according to what I heard from the other cadets, was Weapon Mastery.
"I am the professor's assistant. Everyone, please follow me; we will be heading to the Hall of Relics."
Hall of Relics.
It was a place filled with high-ranking items. Since the Holy Academy had a history spanning more than a thousand years, it would be strange if it had not accumulated incredible objects during all that time.
This was also an event known in the game as
Inside the Hall of Relics, players could not simply take any weapon or item they wanted.
The weapons and objects themselves chose their owners; naturally, each one had its own conditions.
These conditions were fulfilled without you even realizing it, as the weapons themselves decided whether you met their requirements.
'It's also an event where the main characters cause quite a commotion.'
In any case, while the assistant guided us toward the Hall of Relics, the cadets were excited. They, of course, already knew about this class thanks to the upperclassmen.
All new cadets entering the Holy Academy visited the Hall of Relics during their first week.
Some were lucky enough to be chosen by high-ranking weapons, while others had the misfortune of being chosen by low-ranking ones.
Anyway, after some time, we finally arrived at the entrance to the Hall of Relics.
The exterior resembled an ancient Roman temple. The assistant pointed toward the entrance and guided us inside.
Every relic stored there was at least Unique rank, and a few were Legendary rank.
However, there was one in particular that was Mythical rank.
'I don't expect to be chosen by that sword, but still…'
Any weapon that chooses me will be better than the one I currently have.
Once inside the Hall of Relics, the professor in charge of the Weapon Mastery class was waiting for us.
As soon as I entered, the first thing I looked at was the surroundings.
There were no visible weapons; the entire place was a completely empty space.
However, thanks to my True Sight, I could sense the mana filling the room.
And it was overwhelming.
"Today's class will simply be called Weapon Selection. Once you approach a weapon, if you are lucky, it may choose you."
The rules are simple: you approach, and you are either chosen or not.
That was all.
'It's just that, in reality, only a few will be chosen by the weapons.'
The main characters, in particular, would be chosen by Special-rank or Legendary-rank weapons.
There were a total of five legendary weapons, twenty special weapons, and one hundred unique weapons.
And there existed a single secret weapon that no player had ever noticed.
'A Mythic-rank sword. If a player met certain standards and requirements, they could be chosen by it. However, no one has fulfilled those requirements so far.'
Naturally, the players believed it was impossible to obtain Mythic-rank items.
However, no one realized there was one right at the beginning of the game.
'Even so, I don't think I meet the requirements. At most, I could obtain a Special-rank sword.'
Clap! Clap!
At that moment, the professor clapped.
At the same time, the entire room filled with different swords, spears, bows, axes, and more.
They floated in the air while slowly moving around.
"Very well, now approach any weapon that catches your interest."
The cadets looked at the professor for a moment before turning their attention to all the weapons floating around them.
***
Lumina looked around when the weapons appeared out of nowhere at the professor's applause.
At that moment, without hesitation, she approached a slender sword with a simple design.
The sword she currently had was a Special-rank weapon; however, the sword she sought out...
Was a legendary sword once wielded by a Sword Master in the past.
'What makes this sword special is the way it absorbs Lunar-attribute mana.'
As Lumina approached the sword, a silver light enveloped her, and instantly...
The sword flew toward her. Lumina grabbed it by the hilt.
'Silver Thorn.'
That was the sword's name, a legendary-rank blade.
'Adel…'
At that moment, Lumina looked toward where Adel was standing.
He had not moved at all.
'Tsk, those bastards changed their attitudes just because he has the Dark attribute.'
Yesterday, Lumina felt disgust toward the people who started looking at Adel differently after his attribute was revealed.
At that moment, she simply wanted to beat them all up and shut them up.
However, she held herself back; she had not been any different back then.
She had even thought about killing him because a variable strong enough to possess the Dark attribute had appeared out of nowhere.
She thought he might become an enemy, but since she did not know the extent of his strength, she chose to observe that variable first.
And it didn't take long for her to change her mind; just a few days later, she realized he wasn't a bad person.
'Everyone's expression back then, including mine…'
The weapon selection class was complete chaos.
Since the five legendary-rank weapons had found their owners and...
'The only Mythic-rank sword found its owner.'
Just when everyone thought...
"Impossible, the five legendary-rank weapons already have owners."
"As expected from the five great houses."
"The only one who wasn't chosen by a legendary-rank weapon was the Saintess, since she's a mage and there isn't a legendary-rank wand or staff for mages."
"However, the Church definitely has one."
Aside from the Saintess, Princess Clana also did not obtain a legendary-rank weapon.
Because she already has one, known as the Sword of Ordeal, a legendary-rank weapon.
And just when the cadets were in a frenzy of excitement after seeing the five great houses obtain legendary-rank items...
At that moment, an unexpected glow drew everyone's attention.
Naturally, it came from someone quite famous throughout the Holy Academy.
"I-impossible…"
"That's…"
"A Mythic-rank sword, the only sword that has remained ownerless for centuries, even before the foundation of the academy."
The only Mythic-rank sword that exists within the Holy Academy.
It had already existed long before the Holy Academy was founded.
The previous owner of that sword was a swordswoman who left behind a great legend throughout all of humanity.
Back then, she was known as one of the five strongest swordsmen in the world.
The other four swords were also Mythic-rank; however, one of them belongs to the imperial family, another to the Moonlight family, and the third to the Starlight family, while the last one...
The last one's whereabouts are unknown, so only four of the five Mythic-rank swords are still seen within the Empire.
"Holy God Ordeal."
Even the professor was tremendously shocked.
Lumina, upon seeing this, mocked all of them inwardly.
'So what if my Adel has the Dark attribute? If they still keep looking at him the same way as before, they'll simply be ignorant fools.'
According to the words of the Third Saintess...
No matter what attribute someone awakens, nobody should look at another person differently just because of a different trait.
In this case, Dark-attribute users.
Lumina looked at Adel, who wore an expression of disbelief.
'Heh, an incredulous Adel… how cute.'