Nobilis of War novel Chapter 61

Elsa was startled by Darren's strength. It was completely beyond what she could have imagined.

"Darren, how could you..." she stammered, still grasping with the reality of the situation. "How could you become so powerful?" Elsa's eyes were wide open with astonishment and perhaps even admiration.

"Elsa, let's find a place to have a conversation," Darren said calmly. "I also have some questions for you." He was not surprised at Elsa's shocked expression as she watched him.

"Sure." Elsa responded. She kept her eyes at Darren as if she was looking at a god that had just flown down from heaven.

They walked slowly and sat down in a relatively quiet place where no one would bother them.

"Darren, you surprise me. Normally, you would have been seriously injured by now with your training. You were supposed to discontinue cultivating once you ate those seeds. However, you have grown stronger. Have you found some kind of counterbalancing method?"

Elsa continued without waiting for an answer, "Not to mention, those disciples rescued by a master of Wonder Realm in the Barren Wasteland said that you were killed by a fiend. How did you manage to escape safely?"

Elsa looked at Darren eye-to-eye. Somehow Darren was mysterious to her. Where did his power come from?

"Those two seeds injured my meridians. But as for the reasons why my strength improved..." Darren paused. He was unwilling to say more, for he could not afford to disclose his secret to anyone.

"I understand," Elsa said and did not push him for the answer. "You must have travelled your own journey. But the blade intent seed and the sword intent seed are still threatening your life, aren't they?"

"Maybe." It was challenging to explain everything explicitly. There were many reasons for this, not least of which was the need to keep his secret safe. So Darren chose to give an answer that would sound believable.

"They like to talk irresponsibly when it comes to fiend killings," Darren said. "I also managed to escape from the fiend's cave with the help of a master of Wonder Realm. Then I returned home to heal myself. That's why I returned to Ilmen Sect late." He watched her, checking to see if she would accept his lie. He would not tell the truth about his fiend feature, his transformation and the bronze coffin.

Elsa nodded at Darren's seemingly reasonable explanation. It was pure curiosity that drove her to ask him her questions. She did not intend to interrogate him.

Darren went on to describe the details about the dangerous moments when the fiend chased after him. Elsa was frightened upon hearing these.

"It must have been terrifying." Else could imagine how horrible it would be to undergo a fiend attack.

"It does not matter now that I have survived it. No reason to dwell on the past," Darren said with a calm smile. "Elsa, now let me ask you. How could those idiots harass you like that? The School of Blade Skill will bear heavy consequences if you tell Elder Thomas about it."

Elsa smiled bitterly, and her expression froze upon hearing this.

"Would he lift a finger to help me? I will not tell him. He only cares about talent and capability. He is indifferent to someone like me, who is a good-for-nothing. Ha-ha."

"Is there a misunderstanding between you and Elder Thomas, Elsa? Could you tell me about it?" Darren was curious.

Elsa's eyes grew sad as she looked away. She shook her head and sighed faintly. "It's not worth talking about. Darren, you should know what he is like. He examined your talent before you joined us. That day he was very delighted and wanted to teach you in person. But how did he treat you when he found that you lost your talent?"

"Elsa, do you mean that your talent was in a higher rank than the ninth level of Yellow Degree?"

Elsa held her breath and looked up at Darren with a nod. It seemed she had not intended to reveal this to him.

"You are smart. You found the hidden secret when others would have taken the opportunity to complain about my father. Yes, I was treated the same way as you were. He changed completely after my talent was damaged. Heh."

"I care more about the truth." Darren moved closer to her. "Could you tell me how that happened, Elsa?"

Elsa hesitated for a moment before she continued. "Alright. Let us talk about it then, since we've already come this far. Do you want to hear about the first half of my life?"

Darren nodded. The two began to chat.

They spoke for hours upon hours until the sun dropped below the horizon and the moon rose high overhead, casting its silvery light across earth against a tranquil night.

Darren poured out his soul, describing his childhood and the many humiliations he suffered. The bitter past was especially touching on such a silent and peaceful night. Elsa, normally a strong-willed girl, could not help but wipe away tears several times throughout his story.

Yet Elsa's experience was equally tragic.

She had performed outstandingly when her talent was in the Black Degree. But an accident happened three years ago when she traversed Black Cliff of Sword Intent. It damaged her talent. Her cultivation base regressed, and she had been unable to regain her standing ever since. There were rumors about a diabolic beast's treasure in the Barren Wasteland that could cure her of her ailment. So she went there in the hope of finding the treasure.

But she realized it was a ridiculous task once she arrived at the wasteland. How could she fight a diabolic beast when she could not rival even a normal one?

"Elsa, you said your talent was damaged when you accidentally went to the Black Cliff of Sword Intent. Where is it?"

Elsa had told Darren that she found a piece of a holy sword three years ago. The holy sword piece took her to a place called the Black Cliff of Sword Intent. She nearly died there.

"It is a long story. The place is related to sword intent. You will be taken to the Black Cliff once you tint the sword piece with your blood essence. There you will encounter the inheritance test." Else fished out a small wooden case from her pocket and opened it. A tiny piece of the sword with the size of fingernail lay in the case.

Darren felt a strange power moving across his body the moment the case opened. The internal force of sword in his meridians responded and raced wildly.

"It's strange. I feel a strong force of the sword skill." Darren could not restrain himself.

"Yes, that is the force of the sword intent. It is the supreme evolution of the sword skill," Elsa explained. "The inheritance test of the Black Cliff of Sword Intent is related to sword intent."

"The inheritance test of the Black Cliff of Sword Intent... What exactly does it entail?" asked Darren.

"Ho-ho." Elsa shook her head and smiled bitterly, clearly remembering her tragic experience at the cliff. "It is dangerous. I would rather you didn't know about it. Let us talk about something else.

I thought it was a treasure. But look at what it has brought me." Elsa stared at the sword piece with an intensive hatred in her eyes.

Darren, however, was eager to hear more about the Black Cliff of Sword Intent. His instincts told him he needed to know more. He wanted to pursue his question. But then he felt two strong powers approaching.

"Who is there?" Darren exclaimed loudly.

"Ha-ha. So it is you, little bastard. What treasure are you two talking about? Turn it over to me immediately or face the consequences."

A figure stepped slowly into the moonlight. It was none other than Dalton, the son of Elder Alan of the School of Blade Skill. Dalton was one of the few foes Darren had engraved in his mind.