Sword Aura.

It was an entirely different concept from mana or any known form of energy in the world.

It was not something everyone could access, nor something that even existed for most people. Before a person could wield a weapon's aura, whether it was a sword, spear, axe, bow, or even a lance, it required years of relentless training. Concentration beyond what normal humans could achieve. A level of focus only a tiny minority ever reached.

That was why sword aura was unpopular among battle mages.

Most people chose spells, techniques, and mana-based abilities instead. Learning sword aura was an endeavor many would never complete, no matter how hard they tried. But for those who succeeded, it represented the pinnacle of a battle mage's strength.

To wield a weapon with such absolute focus that it birthed its own energy.

An energy born from a deep connection between wielder and weapon, making the weapon an extension of the self. Through that bond, one could access the true essence of the weapon, giving birth to its aura.

Very few knights in the world could do this.

Mostly the captains of the ten knight chapters. A handful of elite knights. And a few rare individuals beyond that. These people were regarded as true knights, not merely soldiers with swords, but beings whose status nearly rivaled magi and grand wizards.

Yet now, Raze was staring at someone who had barely used a level three battle mage spell and somehow appeared to be exuding sword aura.

That alone made Raze skeptical.

He activated God's Eye again, narrowing his focus and examining the energy more closely.

And that was when he realized the truth.

This was not real sword aura.

It was nothing more than a shaky imitation.

If true sword aura had been unleashed here, Raze would not even be able to breathe under the pressure. Only someone like Fey would be capable of standing against a genuine sword aura user.

What this man possessed was a crude mimicry, a borrowed shell that barely enhanced his power.

Raze frowned.

The knight burst into laughter.

"Did you really think you could defeat me?" the man sneered. "Now that you've seen my aura, my sword aura, you're cowering in fear, right?"

He lifted his sword and pointed it at Raze.

But Raze's expression twisted into pure disgust.

"A select few people train their entire lives for that power," Raze said coldly. "Years. Decades. Some go fifty years without ever mastering it. They sacrifice everything just to wield it properly."

He took a step forward, anger rising with each word.

"And you dare imitate it so cheaply? You take borrowed strength and claim it as your own, making those who truly earned it look like fools."

His voice sharpened.

"If you cannot study something, if you cannot truly understand it, then you are not worthy of using it."

He continued forward, his gaze burning.

"There are many things I can overlook. But I will never overlook someone trampling on the hard work of others. Hard work is proof that we lived. That we existed. That our lives meant something."

The knight's face twisted in fury.

"Shut the hell up, kid!" he roared. "I'll kill you for speaking to me like that!"

He exploded forward, moving so fast it looked like teleportation.

His sword thrust straight through Raze.

The knight smiled when he saw the blade pass through.

But he felt no resistance.

No flesh.

No body.

His eyes widened.

An afterimage.

Raze had already teleported into the air, standing atop a high stone outcropping. His eyes were locked onto the knight with cold fury.

"Die," Raze said.

He pointed his bat downward.

Fireballs erupted into existence, each one the size of a human head. More than fifty formed at once, raining down like meteors.

The air shook as explosions followed one after another, the impacts deafening and relentless.

When the smoke cleared, the knight was on his knees.

His body was badly burned. His armor was scorched, warped, and glowing with heat, searing his skin. He could barely move, his eyes wide with disbelief.

Such a simple attack had brought him to ruin.

Raze landed calmly beside him.

"You think imitation gives you the right to do whatever you want?" Raze said quietly.

The knight struggled to lift his head.

"You know nothing," he rasped. "I struggled my entire life. I gave everything to learn sword aura, to become a great battle mage, to stand among the knight chapters. I failed."

His breath shook.

"The Viscount was the only one who offered me a solution."

Raze looked down at him.

"I don't want to know," he replied.

He swung his bat once.

The knight collapsed unconscious.

Raze turned toward the gate.

"I think it's time we beat up the Viscount," he said.

Fey nodded and followed after him.

The Viscount watched from the manor, his face twisting in anger as he saw the knight collapse. His rage caused him to punch the wall.

"Arghhhhhhhhhhhhhh!" he roared in fury. To be outplayed and outmuscled by a kid was a disgrace beyond measure. He watched as Raze and Fey walked into the compound. Raze looked up at the exact window where the Viscount was standing and winked at him before continuing to walk.

The Viscount frowned at that, his rage rising even more. The door of the room swung open, and a guard walked in.

"My lord, your wives and children have left, but Erik and Kase have refused to leave," the guard said.

"Get out of the way."

A voice came from behind the guard before he was pushed aside. Two young men, no more than twenty, walked in. They both looked like their father, the Viscount.

"Father, allow my brother and me to take on these intruders and secure our family," one of the boys said.

"Erik, this isn't an enemy you can handle. Leave and meet your mothers, both of you," the father ordered.

"No, Father. My brother and I are both seniors in the Thunderbird Academy. We are skilled enough for whatever they have," Kase said with confidence.

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