[Chapter 223] It’s Wartime? It’s Wartime.

I look around at my surroundings for a few moments when I suddenly hear Sky pop into my head, "Thank the gods your alright! I was truly worried that you had entered a standing coma or something."

I quickly shake my head, 'No, I simply had been somewhere else mentally.' I say with a hint of uncertainty. Technically, I was somewhere else mentally, but it is more literal this time than it is usually used for.

She doesn't respond so I take the moment to look at the blade, seeing if there are any differences to it than my blades. But after moments of looking, the only main difference I can visually see is the runes which coat the entire hilt and on closer inspection, form the flower on the blade. So then I use Absolute Shadow to create some dummies, I take up a stance with the sword, my passive, 'Weapon Proficient,' coming into very good use.

I place a foot in front of me as I begin to channel mana into the blade, the runes covering its entirety beginning to glow brightly with a pale greenish blue light. The muscles across my body explode with strength as I swing down, my aim being the shadow statue of a target.

The blade bursts into green flames as I slice into the dummy, the flames suddenly exploding as they stream through the shadow. They spill across the courtyard like water from a hose, drenching the courtyard in a sea of green flames.

But after a few moments, I realize nothing is burning. Instead, the plants begin to grow at a monumental speed. Grass reaches for the sky, rocks around me are broken by flowers, and tree roots grow everywhere. Blossoms suddenly grow across the dummy in front of me, before they suddenly bulge in size, tightening around the dummy before crushing it into pieces.

I stare in shock for a moment before glancing down at the blade. I stop adding the little mana I have as the flames disappear, a small feeling of wooziness coming over me. But I know it is just mana sickness so I ignore it, focusing on the current horror.

I had made these two dummies anatomically like a person, so they practically were just cadavers. The issue is is that they crumbled into rubble to flowers, if that was a person, it would of been a set of bloody fireworks with bone confetti.

I shiver at the thought, no matter how many I have killed, this would be a horrible death. I look at the other dummy as I sheathe the blade in a makeshift holster temporarily. I hold out both my hands as I ask myself, 'What is the strongest sword I can make?'

After a few moments, I have gone over thousands of blueprints, choosing one out of a pile that suits my needs. The shadows dance about around me as they coat my hands, layering on top of eachother into a smooth, double edged blade.

I grip the handle tightly as I turn towards the other dummy, untouched by the green flames. The black blade glows white as jets of white flames slowly cover its surface. I take the same stance as before, glaring down at the dummy before steeping forward, swinging down with the full intent on destruction.

The blade cleanly cuts through the dummy as the blade flies through, hitting the ground beneath in a torrent of flames. Moments later, I feel the ground shake beneath me as a chasm opens in front of me, rapidly growing to cover the entirety of the garden. I quickly pull it out of the ground as the opening begins to reach the castle walls, barely stopping just in time.

I sigh in relief as I look at the blade in my hands and compare the damages before coming up with an assessment. Both blades are horrifyingly dangerous, one opens a chasm while the other causes plants to become violent and grow at a hyperactive speed.

I walk over and place the legendary blade back into the container, the light solidifying as the pedestal renters the ground.

That's when I suddenly hear a voice at my side, "S-sir?"

I whip my head to the side as I see a shivering knight, his fear barely hidden by the mask. 'Damn! I need to find a way to counteract that unintentional stealth they have, it's creepy!

I quickly clear my throat as I ask, "What is it?"

He slowly and cautiously takes a step forward as he announces in the loudest voice he can muster, "The battle will be taking place in 40 minutes sir, it is urged that you begin your journey to the battlefield now."

I glance at my watch and realize it's almost dusk, as if planned. 'Do they not enjoy sunlight very much?' I ask myself as I slowly follow the guard, my sword resting in the sheathe at my hip.

After walking to an elevator, I am slowly taken back up to the surface as my blood slowly begins to boil. I have been underground's for the last few days which isn't an issue thanks to my other passive 'Dragon Sight.'

But I missed the sunlight on the surface and the grass beneath my feet, after all, they only have barren fields down there. I'm assuming that courtyard was an exception though as I did see grass and plants there.

I little while later, I feel a cool breeze brush past me, causing me to breath in the fresh air. It fills my lungs fully as a smile uncontrollably spreads across my face, 'It's good to be back!' I think as I look at the woodland around me. The sun is just setting across the horizon as the flurry of colors begins to be overtaken by the midnight sky.

I hear a deeper voice to my side as I gaze at my surroundings, "Please follow me to the battlefield…still can't believe she decided this so suddenly, what makes you so special that the Queen only sends you?"

I look over to my left to see an older looking man, a scar running across his face as it tucks into his armor. He has silver hair and wrinkled skin, but his eyes scream a wisdom of age and experience.

'This guard has clearly seen a lot, but I'm about to show him something new real soon.' I think as I lean in close to his face, "You think she chose this fight. That's laughable. I did, and I'm going to show you why."