Soul of Searing Steel - Chapter 545

Chapter 545: Do You Plan to Give Me Something?

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation  Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

Through identification, the System repetitively provided Joshua with important information. In turn, the warrior discovered that the way in which the information was conveyed had extremely similar aspects with his Steel Strength resonance. In the very least, the way the System was linked to him was just like how he was linked to Syndicate. It might be why he could not find the true form of the System, which in turn explains why the System rarely appeared the more powerful he became—his power disturbed the conveyance of the system’s information.

Although it was a mere guess it was an important path of thought. When the System appears next time, Joshua would experiment that particular direction, but now Steel Strength was more important.

It was without question that Steel Strength was a fundamental power, and as a cornerstone of the world it would contain substantial information. As the King of Searing Soul of this generation, each time Joshua arrived at an unfamiliar world he would see that world’s past, which was caused by him touching the information hidden within the Steel Strength of that world. Inversely, Joshua sensed that he now could also place messages he wished to deliver into Steel Strength and direct it to others. It was precisely because the balrog had a little residual Steel Strength on himself that Joshua could deliver those techniques to it across worlds.

Having gained an unexpected inspiration from Syndicate, Joshua promptly began to experiment around the liege’s residence. He activated his own Steel Strength with a tinge of interest and poured all kinds of messages within—it was a curious sensation, as if materializing his own memories and placing them into a chest. Others just have to use energy to connect with him and gain part of Joshua’s memories and sensations.

However, Joshua quickly noticed that if the Steel Strength did not have anything to latch upon such as his own body or a being like Syndicate, it could easily develop unstable undulations in the external world and in turn destroy the information carried within. A solid state must be chosen to store part of the message with stability, a concept which Joshua tested multiple times—he ascertained that matter similar to metals and gems are the most suitable for storing Steel Strength information, with adamantine and diamonds being the best medium.

“That way… isn’t it a little like those Legacy artifacts or weapons placed within caves in cliffs that are stored for a thousand years, waiting for a fated person to come along?”

Simply stating some memories of his preexistence, Joshua kneaded a piece of adamantine without really paying attention. The immeasurably sturdy rare and virtually indestructible metal was molded into a variety of shapes in his hand like plasticine, before being finally shaped into a thumb-sized twenty-face dice which the warrior nonchalantly placed on his desk. “I probably could instruct a variety of Kokyu-Ho with a slap of my hand… Come to think of it, my genetic information could also be placed within.”

But it would be indecent, the warrior thought, shaking his head after considering it seriously.

“That’s enough. Now is time to experiment!”

Having grasped a little application for his newfound ability, Joshua left the hall and started to wander the entire liege’s residence. Just as he walked past a corridor, Black was walking towards him from the opposite direction, an orb on her head.

“Good afternoon, Master!”

“Ding-ring!”

Black and Light who were returning from their training outside greeted him simultaneously. The black dragon girl appeared to very lively thanks to having a companion, with the horns over head appearing to glint much. It was a spirited state she never showed before in the liege’s residence—before this, Black would either sleep, yawn or basically lie down in some random spot and sleep, showing no energy apart from going out for a stroll.

Light appeared spirited as well; its radiant body was flashing. Joshua could guess that it was probably because it did not have to use its own strength to levitate, and that the top the black dragon’s head was definitely a comfortable resting place for it.

“Right, you still don’t seem to understand human language.”

An idea suddenly came to Joshua’s mind as he watched the two joyous beings, therefore reaching out and patting the top of the luminous orb, a pale silver light glinting.

“What a coincidence, time to try it out.”

After the luminous orb made a puffing sound, it shuddered once and quieted. Its pure radiance turned dull while the core inside it also rapidly turned turbid as if undergoing high-speed processing. Still, Joshua did not stop there and reached out again, the same silver light glinting and clapped upon Black who was blinking puzzledly. “You too. Train better.”

The black dragon girls’ body paused abruptly as well. In Black’s mind, huge sheets of principles and methods on how to adjust bloodline ability in order to encourage growth and metamorphosis were appearing out of the blue. Those were things the warrior once pulled the black dragon girl into a room and explained away for a day that she never understood. At present, though Black still did not understand it, she at least remembered it—it would stay there as long as the Steel Strength Joshua kept in her body was not withdrawn or dissipated.

Leaving the Black and Light combo who froze where they were, Joshua went upstairs to the study.

Inside, Ling was holding and frowning at an official document. Joshua could clearly make out the words that those were plans regarding the new eastern city zone. Due to the discovery of some subterranean air bubble and fragile layers, they must delay construction and wait for dwarven professionals to arrive and finishing repairing it—the period of work postponement and profits were probably the reason the youth was troubled.

“What is there to think about? Just transfer two Gold-class knights from the legion over. One will dig, the other will fill the ground—it’ll take about two hours to finish.” Joshua shook his head, heading over and patting Ling’s head. “There must be some champion spirit. You must learn to use extraordinary power when you have it, although what you must do now is rest.”

“Eh, Master?” Ling only reacted when Joshua spoke. However, the warrior’s hand had already touched his head—the black-haired youth could only manage a groan before lying down on the table and sleeping soundly.

This time, Joshua did not use Steel Strength—merely pure strength. Of course, he left a little in the youth’s body, living a little energy that could protect him during dire moments.

Joshua was supremely excited after having learned that unique way of applying Steel Strength. He arrived at the top floor of the liege’s residence where he saw Ying reading a book on the battlements, a sight which pleased him. He truly never thought that the girl would deliberately try studying by herself—when he had specially found a teacher for the girl to instruct her on knowledge regarding being a lady, it ended up futile.

If there was no way she would become a lady, being a literature girl was fine too.

But when Joshua took a better look, he frowned and closed his eyes. Unlike what he thought, the book that Ying was reading so intently was neither some cultured literature nor some historical volume, not even newspaper—it was a dark intrigue novel that was wildly popular around the entire Empire, the contents of which narrates several inspectors solving cases from different layers of society and catching any traces of cultists who were behind the incidents.

It was assuredly a novel with quality, taking most of its materials from the cultist disturbance during the berserker dragon plague a few years ago. Most were adapted from actual events, and the way the three protagonists investigated one huge incident from different angles, as well as how the method was finally revealed was definitely meaningful—it would not be unusual that Ying would like it.

“Well, reading books is not a bad thing.”

Shaking his head, Joshua did not disturb the happily-reading Ying. He merely did the same thing he did with Ling and gave the girl a little self-defense Steel Strength through some distance. Incidentally, he had read that book before when he was bored—he could use the threat of spoilers to force Ying to study attentively in the future.

Just as he went down the stairs and arrived at the second-floor corridors, layers of magical energy ripples appeared. Between breaths, a vivid mana projection appeared beside Joshua.

“Joshua, what were you doing just now?” Zero-Three asked in curiosity once her projection stabilized. “I was just placing observation circles around the liege’s residence and found that you have acted four times, as well as seeing you touch Black, Light and the others… is there anything that requires my assistance?”

“It’s nothing, just giving them a little help.”

Joshua smiled. As he studied Zero-Three’s projection, another idea crossed his mind—if the mana projection was just an extension of the runic crystal core that was Zero-Three’s true form and that there was an information channel linking the two, would that information be thrown back to the other’s body if he gave that projection a little Steel Strength?

“Oh?”

The artificial intelligence girl narrowed her eyes a little at Joshua’s answer, her blue eyes glimmering with a curious light. Watching the warrior’s reaction, Zero-Three appeared able to see something. She approached Joshua, lifted her head to look at him and smiled.

“Since you gave it to them… What about me?”

“Do you plan to give me something?”

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Chapter 546: It’s Time to Leave

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation  Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

Zero-Three’s gaze was rather playful when she spoke. In fact, she did not want to help or some gift, but was merely interested in seeing what sort of reaction Joshua would have under such a situation. Naturally, she never expected that the warrior would nod seriously after some thought.

“I definitely have something to give you, but it would be I who help you instead of the other way around.” Joshua crouched to stick his face close to Zero-Three so that he could speak secretly and smoothly. His expression was solemn, and yet his tone was earnest. “Come to think of it, you might be the only one who could help me on this.”

“Then… Then do tell.” Facing the warrior who suddenly approached her with such a serious expression, Zero-Three who had intended to tease took one step back uncomfortably instead. Her voice became a little panicked and also rather quiet. “What do you… need my help with?”

“I can’t tell.”

Joshua chortled once at Zero-Three’s promise and reached out to press his hand on the artificial intelligence’s illusory mana projection. Silver light flashed, flowing along with magical circuits, while the warrior’s palm appeared as if it touched a physical body. “Either way, I’m counting on you.”

Her head being pressed down upon, Zero Three’s eyes glinted with substantial pale-blue mana runes as countless data poured like a waterfall. After a brief moment, Joshua withdrew his hand, his face rather pale whereas Zero Three’s showed a clearly agonized expression. She clasped her own head and quietly moaned a few times in anguish, before looking at the warrior in disbelief.

“Joshua, you—what do you think you’re doing?!”

Though she appeared to want to continue, she was stopped by the warrior’s gaze.

“Experimenting with a possibility, which also counts as preparation for the future.”

Joshua merely smiled at Zero-Three’s question. Without saying much, he rose and lifted his gaze towards the pyroxene lights that were glimmering in the center of the second-floor corridor in the liege’s residence, his gaze calm as if nothing happened. “This is a secret between you and me, it’s best to not tell anyone… I believe you could help me.”

“Since you said so, I certainly would act as if nothing happened.” The artificial intelligence girl could only reluctantly lower his head and mumble softly. “But… if that’s so… is there a need for it? I believe things won’t deteriorate to such a state!”

“There are no absolutes, Zero-Three.” Joshua started to move towards another end of the liege’s residence while replying Zero-Three who was keeping up solemnly. “Everything is possible.”

“For victory, the worst must be defeated.”

*****

The dwarven settlement by the edge of the Great Ajax Mountains.

Deep underground, the dwarven city was abuzz with activity

In the natural subterranean karst, thousands of sinewy dwarves trod upon the even surface—sturdy paths made by transmuting mud with spells that stretches out of the heart of the city, reaching every corner of the settlement. One of the paths extended, stopping by the foot of a large-scale stair-shaped building. There was an opening over the top of the pyramid that resembled a chimney, incessantly ejecting materialized mana and steam, while the foundations of the building were deeply entrenched beneath ground, absorbing energies from lava and supplying the operation of the colossal machines within.

The steel giant Unit Zero-One was digging the foundations opposite the building. It was aware of the function of the building before it—a second-generation runic enchantment factory built due to the advent of the Great Mana Tide. Compared to first generations factories, not only could it produce widely used magical equipment such as enchanted armor, it could also manufacture core parts of Aerial Battleships. Zero-One also knew that the Northern Runic Dwarves had recently received a large order from the Imperial Army, but the production capacity was insufficient which was it was entrusted to excavate the foundations of the second runic factory.

“How is it going, Zero-One? If you feel tired, rest for a bit!”

In front of the huge crater dug up for the new factory, the new leader of the Northern Dwarves Tanya stroked his long dark-yellow beard and the copper rings over it was bellowing. “We aren’t in a rush!”

“Bzzt-bzzt.”

There’s no need—I won’t feel tired over simply physical logistics, Zero-One replied honestly and kept working. However, the dwarves beside it could not understand the Steel Elemental at all, and was only able to shrug helplessly.

The Steel Elemental was like an elemental being that survived by absorbing the mana elements in the atmosphere around it. To Zero-One, rare metals were in fact just delicious snacks, materials that assist it when it transformed. At present, it was in the vicinity of an enchantment factory—the excess mana that the building exuded was enough to make it comfortable. Zero-One believed that the dwarves treated itself very well and did not need to pay him any extra attention, while itself was very willing to contribute its own strength for these down-to-earth people.

In that very moment, however, Zero-One’s thoughts suddenly stopped for an instant, and the giant steel being abruptly dropped its work and stood aloft to look towards the distance. It was as if the Steel Elemental was struck by lightning—substantial electric currents were streaming over its body, with massive amounts of information coming out of nowhere through a unique link it could not sense.

“What?! Zero-One?!”

Tanya had been prepared to leave with his guards in tow. After all, he was extremely busy after having recently assumed his father’s leadership—apart from visiting Zero-One, he still had to inspect factories located throughout the settlement. Still, having seen the bizarre circumstances suddenly happening to the Steel Elemental, Tanya quickly arrived by the edge of the crater, ignoring her obstructing bodyguards, worriedly asking after Zero-One as the currents over its body dissipated.

“Are you alright? What just happened?”

Tanya was filled with anxiety over present factors beyond earnest worry. It should be noted that Zero-One was not merely a source of living metals that the runic dwarven craftsmen treasured or a labor for large-scale construction projects, it was most importantly a subordinate of the Legendary liege—the runic dwarves were merely entrusted with its care, while the orders for the aerial battleships was also awarded to them thanks to him. If something happened to Zero-One, he might have to resign despite recently assuming leadership!

“Just hold on, I’ll quickly call for the craftsman and let them have a look!” At the very thought, Tanya made a resolve inwardly—turning and prepared to leave and search for the craftsman who was very familiar with Zero-One’s body, who was in fact an important character that once delved deep into the elements realm and held intricate knowledge of all foreign species. However, before the young dwarf could leave, a voice that was at once familiar and unfamiliar wafted behind him.

“Bzzt … There’s no need—I’m fine, Tanya.”

The dwarf slowly turned in astonishment at the mention of his own name to find the gargantuan Steel Elemental lowering its head slightly and leveling its gaze at him.

“The pronunciation of human language… bzzt … I’ve learned it,” Zero-One added with a little mirth. “This is Father’s… power!”

The little uproar in the dwarven settlement over how Zero-One suddenly learned the common tongue quickly calmed. Most were unfettered by the bizarreness since most adult elite elemental beings had the intelligence of language, with elder elementals bearing incredible ability of thought that did not lose out to humans. As a Steel Elemental, Zero-One had considerable intelligence even if its species was unique, so it was not too unusual that it would suddenly gain the gift of language.

It was only some of the higher-ups who would remember the unusual phenomenon that appeared over Zero-One’s body before it learned to speak, and the ‘father’ it mentioned.

Did Count Radcliffe attain some new power? Such a seemingly trivial guttural information spread discreetly, collected and compiled by some concerned beings who were dutifully gathering information regarding Zero-One and the Legendary Count, before conveying them to higher authorities and into the hands of their masters.

“The ability to grant intelligence? Zero-One has intelligence in the first place—it’s just that it learned to speak now.”

In the Imperial Study within Morlaix Palace that stood upon the Imperial Capital, Israel shook his head and pushed the report before him aside. “Nash, there’s no need for your lot to keep gathering intelligence related to Noble Radcliffe day after day. To learn his abilities, you just have to knock on his door and ask directly with my name, claiming that I must learn what threshold his power had reached for the stability of the Empire. I know him—he would tell as long as you asked straightforwardly, just as I would if he did the same thing. There is no need for some sneaky confidentiality between champions, nor is there any grounds for intrigue beneath the power of Legendary.”

“The Shadow faction should not gather in the North either. It’s meaningless, what you should be doing is paying attention to those corrupt southeastern nobles. And I believe that Noble Radcliffe has already learned about your little moments—the reason he did not squash you peeking insects was entirely because he is willing to obey order, and not simply murder my lackeys.”

“Yes… Yes, Your Majesty!”

The cavalier in black clothes and black armor promptly sweated buckets at Israel’s words. Having been enlightened, he swiftly realized how dangerous it was to spy on a Legendary warrior—if the target was just a tinge upset with the Imperial Family, he would die ten thousand times before he was spared, which made it even more fortunate that Count Radcliffe was broad-minded and did not fuss over his presence.

Nevertheless, it was not right to blame him entirely over such matters—the purpose of Shadow’s existence was to collect any information that could threaten the Empire after all, and what larger threat was there compared to a Legendary champion? Vigilance against an overpowered individual was a reasonable instinct, which was why Israel merely muttered to himself for a while instead of scolding his loyal subordinate too much.

“Nash Worthard. You were once a brave soldier who killed in the battlefield too—it’s my fault for having you to stay too long in the Shadow business that grinds away your heart.”

Rising behind his desk, Israel spoke softly as he walked over to the cavalier. “There’s no good death working such a job… When you have finished handing over your post in a few years, come and captain my personal guard.”

With those words, Nash, who was completely downhearted looked up at Israel in surprise, only to sense his impudence and quickly lowering his head again. “Thanks for your kindness, Your Majesty!” he said immeasurably earnestly.

If it were any ordinary person, they would certainly be puzzled. A Shadow who held leadership over the most important central intelligence agency within a nation would certainly not dull in importance to a typical vice-commander, while his opportunity to meet the Emperor himself at any given moment outshining many other important positions. Therefore, why would Nash be so happy since he was stepping down from that post to become a mere captain of the Emperor’s guard? It was a huge drop in position no matter how one thought about it.

Still, that was not quite the truth.

Just as Israel had put it, the leader of Shadows would never meet a kind end. Those nobles whose secrets had been glimpsed upon would exhaust all efforts of get rid of that damned bastard who was aware about most of their scandals. They had such diverse moves that not even Nash could completely evade them all. However, since Israel was willing to have him as his personal guard, it meant that death by vengeful assassination was ruled out—no noble was foolish enough to ambush someone clearly under the protection of a Legendary champion, especially one who could very well arrive at Supreme in days to come.

It was indeed something that eclipsed all treasures, trickery and authority in this world of extraordinary individuals.

“It’s alright, you’re not off duty yet.”

Giving the cavalier who followed him since the days of the war against the orcs a little kick out of slight annoyance, Israel paused for a while before speaking again. “But you’re right, he must have learned something new again… Nash, go and get someone to find Dimore and Arlwa.”

“Tell them… it’s time to leave.”