Chapter 204: Holy Blood Order (4)

The moment Kai secured his position within the Holy Blood Order, a notification appeared before him.

Ding!

[Congratulations! You have been recognized as the true Commander of the Holy Blood Order by its 300 members.]

[Special title acquired: Commander of the Holy Blood Order.]

[You can now manage the stats and conditions of the Holy Blood Order members in real time through the faction interface window.]

"

Hmm.

"

This was a title he hadn’t even received when high priest Albert appointed him as Commander of the Holy Blood Order, but by sincerely confronting the members, Kai was able to obtain this special title.

"Open title book."

[

Commander of the Holy Blood Order

]

Rank: Special

Description: A title granted to a commander recognized by their members.

Effect: +15% to all members’ stats when fighting alongside the Holy Blood Order members. (This effect remains even when title is unequipped.)

Kai’s eyes shone the moment he checked the title’s effect.

Even among special titles, there are different grades. With an effect like this, it must be at least high-grade, right?

A 15% increase to all stats. Though it could seem like it wasn’t very significant at first glance, it created an immense advantage in a game where even a small stat difference could determine superiority.

And while I hold the position of Commander, I’m also considered a member of the Holy Blood Order.

In other words, when fighting alongside them, his own stats would be boosted by 15% as well. However, this wasn’t the only gain from this sparring session.

[You delivered a speech that resonated deeply with the listeners.]

[The members of the Holy Blood Order, who listened intently to your words, have rekindled the spark of justice within their hearts. They will now be loyal supporters who lead the cause of justice across the continent.]

[The morale of the Holy Blood Order members has greatly increased. +10% to all their stats for one week.]

[Words spoken from the heart resonate deeply and have a lasting impact. The Solarian God Helik, who has been watching you, also smiles gently.]

[+15 Benevolence stats.]

[With the effect of Witness of the Sun, you have gained an additional +5 Benevolence.]

[Charisma skill proficiency greatly increased.]

[Charisma skill level increased.]

.

.

.

[Charisma skill reached Intermediate Lv. 1.]

His Benevolence stat, which had been difficult to raise lately, had gone up significantly just by speaking a few words to the paladins.

This should make up for using the Descent skill during the battle with the Death Dragon.

Although he felt a slight unease, sensing he might need to use it again soon, he shook his head to dispel the ominous thought, and checked the greatest gain from this sparring session.

[

Advanced Swordsmanship of the Dawn LV.3 Passive

.]

Rank: Unique

Does 300% damage when attacking enemies with a blade.

Attacks do additional holy damage based on Holy Power stat.

Regenerates a certain amount of Holy Power with each attack.

Proficiency: 97/100

Almost there. I feel like just one small realization could level it up...

The battle with the Death Dragon Sineras had contributed, but the main reason his proficiency suddenly increased so much was, of course, the sparring.

Come to think of it, I remember reading a post about how swordsmanship players train by sparring with different opponents.

They didn’t train simply because they had nothing better to do. Facing swordsmanship techniques they had never seen before increased their understanding of the sword, and the higher the level of the opponent, the greater the insights they could gain.

Indeed...

Kai scanned the members of the Holy Blood Order with a curious gaze. The talents before him were geniuses gathered from across the continent. Naturally, each of them used a unique style of swordsmanship. Under normal circumstances, sparring with paladins of this caliber would be nearly impossible.

One would at least need a close connection with an archbishop to arrange a sparring session with the Holy Blood Order.

Among the current players, aside from Kai, Minerva was the one closest to the church. Even she, however, was treated with a hint of disdain as an adventurer in the main church. In other words, no one but Kai could spar with them in this way.

Well, if the Pray guild members are sharp, they might convince one or two of them to spar.

However, they wouldn’t be able to manage it like Kai did. Their current level made it challenging for them to face even one paladin.

A total of sixty-four.

That was the number of paladins Kai had crossed swords with today. Moreover, he had granted each of them not three, but five initial attacks for the purpose of increasing his skill proficiency. Thus, it was only natural that his swordsmanship proficiency had risen at an impressive rate.

The insights he gained from this experience were priceless, things one couldn’t obtain with money.

They’re revealing so much.

Interesting. A stance that allows both offense and defense at once... It may not excel in one area, but it’s well-balanced.

Using his overwhelming stats, Kai casually deflected his opponents’ attacks, and absorbed their strengths and unique techniques. The Holy Blood Order members would have felt as if they had been robbed if they knew about this.

Well, sometimes ignorance is bliss. Anyway, my skill proficiency is at 97 already... That’s absurdly fast.

He hadn’t spent much time wielding his sword, only about two hours. With this, Kai confirmed his belief once more

As I suspected, frequency of use becomes irrelevant once a skill reaches the Advanced level.

Kai closed his eyes briefly and entered the realm of insight, replaying the insights he had gained while sparring with the Holy Blood Order members.

Sensing that Kai was experiencing some extraordinary revelation, the members of the Holy Blood Order quietly waited for his meditation to end.

A sword is a weapon meant to harm enemies.

But is it really something that’s only used against foes?

As shown today, it can also be used for friendly sparring with allies.

In that process, one can exchange sincerity and forge connections.

It can even make those who doubted me choose to follow me sincerely.

Another purpose for the sword. The realization of using a sword not merely as a weapon, but as a tool for communication! Like a tangled pair of earphone cords being unraveled, his thoughts began to come together. Finally, he reached a simple revelation.

Even a stone lying on the ground can become a weapon if wielded with intent, and a shield meant to protect someone can become a weapon if used with the will to attack. In the end, it all depends on the mindset of the person wielding it.

It was a simple truth that anyone could understand upon reflection. But in a game like

MID Online

, where players wielded swords and constantly fought monsters, how many would truly reach such a thought?

A burst of light burst above Kai’s head, and the sound of a fanfare followed.

[Congratulations! Your deep insight into the sword has elevated your swordsmanship skills to the next level.]

[Proficiency of the Swordsmanship of the Dawn skill has greatly increased.]

[Swordsmanship of the Dawn skill has leveled up.]

[Swordsmanship of the Dawn level has increased to Advanced Level 4.]

[The effect of Sword Wind has been enhanced.]

“

Wow

.”

Sword Wind was a Unique-grade skill that he acquired when his Swordsmanship of the Dawn reached Advanced Level 3.

I’ve only used it once, and that was to cut through clouds.

Despite its grand name, the physical destructive power wasn’t very high, but now that it had been enhanced with Swordsmanship of the Dawn reaching Advanced Level 4, Kai tilted his head.

Even if the wind pressure created by the sword is strong...

After all, it was just wind. As Kai stood there with a blank expression, the members of the Holy Blood Order approached one by one to offer their congratulations.

“Commander, congratulations.”

“You’ve broken down another wall.”

“It seems certain that the Solarian God watches over you, Commander.”

“You were born to be loved...”

As he accepted their congratulations with a slight nod, Kai dismissed them.

I should test it at least once since the skill has been enhanced.

The Sword Wind skill didn’t have a cooldown. However, each use consumed an extreme amount of mental energy, limiting its repeated use.

Kai looked at the massive wall surrounding the fourteenth training ground and lightly swung his sword.

Whoom.

Kai’s sword now emitted a faint sound, barely audible unless one had exceptionally sharp hearing. However, the noise created by Sword Wind was about twice as loud. Of course, its power was even greater than that.

Crumble!

Previously, Sword Wind could only stir up a brisk, chilly wind like that of early spring. But now, the force was so intense it could be felt on the skin.

“

Huh?

”

“Wh-what just happened?”

Caught off guard, the members of the Holy Blood Order were forcefully pushed a step or two back from the sheer strength of the force. They were only near the source of Sword Wind, not directly hit by it.

The outer wall of the training ground, struck directly by Sword Wind, was already reduced to rubble.

I see. The true power of Sword Wind only begins now that my Swordsmanship of the Dawn has reached Advanced Level 4.

Previously, it hadn’t been very practical as an offensive skill, but it had solidified as a perfect attack skill now.

Of course, the slight ache in his head reminded him that it wasn’t an easy skill to handle.

But I’ll have to master it.

Whether it was a skill, an item, or a person that came into his hands, Kai always sought to fully understand and maximize its efficiency. That was the method that had allowed him to survive tenaciously until now.

“

Phew

.”

As Kai lightly sheathed his sword, the scabbard didn’t make even the slightest sound.

The members of the Holy Blood Order got a hint of Kai's mastery from this action, watching in awe with their mouths agape.

Kai, with a smile, said, “Then, wait here for a bit.”

Leading the Holy Blood Order to rescue the dwarves was a good plan. But the problem was, he didn’t know where they were being held.

I need to bring the radar.

In the next moment, Kai vanished with the wind.

***

When Kai appeared suddenly out of thin air, the dwarf children looked at him in surprise.

“

Oh!

It’s the adventurer Camilla noona brought!”

“He disappeared in an instant before, and now he appeared just as quickly.”

“Is he a magician?”

“What? A thirty-year-old virgin?”

Who on earth was responsible for educating these dwarf kids?

Kai hoped he would get to see this person’s face as he asked the children, “Kids, do you know where Camilla is?”

“Just like that?”

Without hesitation, Kai pulled out a handful of candies and handed it to them.

“Camilla noona is in that open area around the corner, drooling over scales and bones and stuff.”

“Thanks.”

Guided by the kids’ directions, Kai approached the open area where Camilla was still entranced.

“

Hehe

, Sineras’s bones, Sineras’s scales, Sineras’s sharp claws... Wha—?!”

When the materials in front of her suddenly vanished, her eyes shook with the despair of someone who had lost everything.

“Alright, the free trial is over. From here on, you’ll need to pay for the premium service, ma’am.”

Camilla looked like she was about to hand over her entire inventory as she asked, “P-premium service? How much?”

“Well, I have plenty of money, so I don’t need gold. Anyway, where’s Sydney...”

“Then how am I supposed to subscribe?

Huh?

What do you want me to do? Just tell me.”

“I’m telling you, I don’t want anything.

Oh

, but when we get the dwarves back, could you connect me with them? I plan to entrust these materials to them.”

“

Huh?

Why would you give those to the dwarves?”

When she responded with a puzzled expression, it was Kai who tilted his head in confusion.

“Why ask? Dwarves are masters in crafting. They’ll make top-tier items from dragon materials.”

“No, I mean, why give them to the dwarves specifically? Leave them to me.”

Stunned by her confident tone, Kai shook his head. “I know you have a hidden class, and I know you’re probably skilled, but...”

Kai wondered if she could really be on par with the dwarves.

However, she looked at him seriously and said, “I don’t joke about things like this. If you give them to me, I’ll make you the best equipment in the world.”

“Why would I do that with the dwarves around?”

“Well, that is...”

Camilla raised a finger to the air and tapped her interface.

Ding!

[Camilla wants to share her information with you. Do you accept?]

“Accept.”

With a reluctant expression, Kai accepted her information, and his face quickly turned serious as he read through it.

[Camilla]

Class: Challenger Blacksmith

Level: 304

Title: Meister

HP: 45,100

Mana: 31,500

Stats

Strength: 529 Stamina: 451

Intelligence: 315 Agility: 37

Holiness: 10 Dexterity: 621

Advanced Material Fabrication LV.4

Advanced Equipment Crafting LV.7

.

.

.

“What do you think?”

Thud!

Camilla slammed the wall behind Kai with a forceful hand and jauntily said, “Don’t worry and leave it to this noona. I’ll create the finest equipment for you.”