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"Report," the older man commanded.

The young man bowed slightly before speaking. "As requested, I have successfully dealt with the enemy forces. Just as predicted, the enemy did not send too strong forces, only an Awakened of stage one. This was the main focus of their strategy, to probe our defenses and weaken us gradually."

He hesitated for a moment, then bowed his head further. "I am sorry for not being able to save the soldiers."

The older man\'s gaze hardened as he looked into the young man\'s eyes. "Do not say things that you do not mean."

The young man nodded his head at this fact. "Understood," he replied, accepting the truth in the older man\'s words.

The older man then shifted his gaze to the sword Lucavion was holding, the Estoc still radiating a dark aura. "Was that to your liking, Soldier Lucavion?" he asked, his tone neutral but his eyes sharp.

Lucavion met his gaze steadily. "There were no problems with the weapon," he replied. "It performed as expected."

"I see." The old man replied. "I had given a good amount of funds to make it, but I guess it is not that exceptional."

As the old man replied, the young man stayed silent.

As the old man spoke, Lucavion remained silent, standing at attention. His demeanor was respectful, yet his eyes were unwavering.

"You have done well. This is your fourth mission, and you have successfully completed every one of them," the old man continued.

Lucavion stayed silent, waiting for the elderly man to speak further.

Colonel Morgan studied Lucavion for a moment before continuing. "With all the contributions you have made, you will be given an opportunity to consume a High Tier Mana Essence."

Lucavion bowed his head deeply. "Understood, Colonel Morgan. Thank you."

Colonel Morgan nodded. "Your dedication and skill have not gone unnoticed, Soldier Lucavion. The High Tier Mana Essence will enhance your abilities further. Use it wisely and continue to serve the Lorian Empire with the same diligence."

"I will, Colonel," Lucavion replied, his voice \'firm\' with \'resolve.\'

"You are dismissed," Colonel Morgan said, waving his hand slightly.

Lucavion straightened and gave a sharp salute before turning and leaving the command tent.

As for how he came to be in such a state, we need to look back for a little while.

*******

In the aftermath of Gerald\'s departure, Lucavion found himself alone in the forest, the night sky above a reminder of his promise. Determined to honor his master\'s legacy, he threw himself into his training with renewed vigor.

For the first few months, Lucavion focused on mastering the basics of the [Void Starfall Blade], the combat art Gerald had taught him.

He practiced relentlessly, pushing his body to its limits, refining his techniques, and honing his skills. His dedication and perseverance began to pay off as he felt himself growing stronger, faster, and more precise in his movements.

His mornings and afternoons were spent on the battlefield, fighting alongside his comrades in the Lorian Empire\'s army. Each battle was a test of his abilities, and Lucavion rose to the challenge, proving himself time and again. His unit, initially skeptical of the former noble turned-soldier, began to recognize his talent and determination.

Even Lyra, who had once doubted him, saw the potential in his swordsmanship and allowed him to fight with his estoc instead of the spear.

During the nights, Lucavion\'s training continued under the starlit sky. The memories of his master\'s teachings and the lessons he had learned guided him. He meditated, focusing on the flow of mana within his body, and gradually, he felt the pain in his meridians subside.

His connection to the stars deepened, and with it, his understanding of the [Devourer of Stars] technique grew.

The breakthrough came after months of relentless effort. One night, as he meditated under the stars, Lucavion felt a surge of energy within him. The mana flowed smoothly through his meridians, and he sensed a shift in his core. Concentrating, he channeled the energy, visualizing the formation of a second star within him.

The moment was intense, his body trembling with the effort, but finally, he succeeded. The second star was born, and with it, Lucavion reached the second stage of awakening.

With this newfound power, his abilities on the battlefield soared. He could strengthen his body with mana, making him faster, stronger, and more resilient, but that was not the end.

After reaching the second stage, the mana in his core was already strengthened to double at least, and he was also able to coat his blade with the mana of his technique.

But because of the constantly changing battlefield, he was finding it a lot harder for himself to find the opportunities to become stronger.

With the knowledge of the novel, he was already well aware of the fate that was awaiting this war, and he knew either he needed to desert or he needed to make sure that he was in good hands in the army so that he may be viewed as a valuable asset and could return from the war without being sacrificed.

\'Deserting is not a good option for the time being.\' he thought. Lucavion knew that attempting to desert would likely result in being caught, as there were formations and surveillance measures in place to prevent soldiers from leaving.

The consequences of desertion were severe, and the risk was too high, at least until he would become a fourth-stage Awakened.

The reason for this was clear: the formations and the protectors could only restrict the core and body of an Awakened up to stage two. From the third stage onwards, limiting such a strong Awakened would require immense resources.

Given the kingdom\'s current struggle in the war, they could not afford to allocate such resources. Lucavion learned that once soldiers reach the second stage of awakening, they will have a special imprint marked on them to prevent them from leaving the battlefield.

This was why Lucavion had been hiding his prowess all this time.

He needed to find the right moment to reveal his true strength, ensuring he was in a position where he could leverage his abilities to secure his safety and fulfill his promises.

While training with his sword, Lucavion discovered another unique aspect of his condition.

********

That happened after his master lost his life two years ago.

Lucavion sat alone in his tent, the flickering light of a single candle casting long shadows on the walls. He knew he had to find a way to conceal his master\'s sword style and protect himself from the scrutiny of the Duke. He was also one of the people to whom Duke put importance.

The urgency of the situation forced him to think creatively to find a way to blend in while harnessing his newfound abilities.

His mind wandered to countless different choices. Among them, two stood out: somehow being able to use the [Iron Will Spear Art] and his family\'s own [Flame Serpent Art].

Both were powerful techniques, but he needed to adapt them to fit his unique condition and his goal of concealing his master\'s sword style.

\'Perhaps there is a way,\' he thought, remembering his master\'s words about his unique condition.

"Your body and your core are a lot different. While many things that are effective for others will be detrimental to you, the reverse is also true. The limitations that other people have been put in….. There is a chance that they will not be the same for you.

If what his master said was correct, that would mean he would need to broaden his horizons.

\'If I can form more than one core in my body without damaging myself, I might be able to master multiple techniques and integrate them seamlessly.\'

With this realization, Lucavion decided to begin with the [Iron Will Spear Art]. He retrieved the manual from his belongings, studying the intricate patterns and movements described within.

He had two things that he needed to do. The first one was to change the breathing art to fit into his unique condition, and the second one was the fact that he had to convert the spear techniques into sword techniques.

For days, he immersed himself in the manual, dissecting each movement and adapting it to the sword. He referred to how his master had changed the way he originally cultivated to fit his unique condition. Slowly, he began to see the connections, the underlying principles that could be translated from one weapon to another.

Lucavion practiced tirelessly, his body moving through the motions with increasing precision. He visualized the mana flow within his reversed meridians, adjusting the techniques to harmonize with his unique condition. The process was grueling, requiring immense concentration and control, but he persisted.

One evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon, Lucavion felt a breakthrough. He moved with a fluid grace, the sword in his hand an extension of his will.

The [Iron Will Spear Art], now transformed into a sword technique, resonated within him.

He gave a different name to that style.

[Black Blade of Ironclad]

"Finally."

It was at that moment that he knew he could execute the plan he had in his mind.