Torry ignored the current situation and sharply waved his hand. Two elite retainers dismounted instantly, their heavy broadswords dragging across the ground with grating sparks. “Baron Garay is suspected of illegally activating a forbidden altar. Adjutant Kuhn died in the line of duty. As the sole survivor, you must return to the castle for questioning. Take him!”

  The two retainers approached with grim smiles. They didn’t believe a freshly awakened brat could stir up any real trouble; what just happened was merely an animalistic fluke.

  However, the instant the two stepped within three meters of Del,

  “Chip, switch core energy source to ‘inward convergence mode.’ Lock Black Wind Sword algorithm to deep consciousness zone—do not activate without highest-level command.” Del issued the final tuning instruction in his mind.

  Perfect—he would test just how effective this inherited battle-qi truly was.

  Then Del moved.

  He didn’t draw his sword. Instead, he sank his shoulder and stepped forward, slamming into the left retainer’s chest like a collapsing mountain.

  Bang!

  It was a thunderous crash of heavy impact. The chainmail-clad elite retainer flew backward like a broken kite, knocking over two cavalrymen behind him. Blood sprayed from his mouth, mixed with dark-red sparks—the shattered remnants of organs crushed by Bedrock battle-qi.

  “This level… really isn’t enough.” Del stood in place, feet sunk half an inch into the soil, his entire body radiating a despair-inducing solidity.

  Torry’s face turned ashen. He had intended to humiliate Del, but never expected the boy’s Bedrock battle-qi to have reached such refinement.

  “Damn you… that’s your father’s bloodline power! You’re not qualified to show off in front of me!” Torry fiercely drew his longsword; blue wind-element battle-qi coiled around the blade. As a mid-tier knight, he held absolute confidence in himself.

  He spurred his horse forward, using the mount’s momentum. His longsword became a streak of blue light aimed straight at Del’s throat.

  Del’s gaze was cold as ice. In the chip’s field of view, all of Torry’s movements were broken down into countless slow geometric nodes.

  “If using Black Wind Sword, I can sever his carotid artery in 0.3 seconds,” the chip offered the optimal plan.

  “No—continue using Bedrock Ash.” Del rejected the temptation.

  He sharply drew his cross-shaped sword. The blade lacked a swordsman’s nimble grace; instead, it resembled a heavy iron hammer.

  Clang—!

  The moment the blades met, Torry felt as if he had struck a silent extinct volcano. The heavy, high-temperature recoil force traveled up his sword and numbed his tiger’s mouth.

  Del grunted, staggering back three steps. His face turned deathly pale; a trace of blood seeped from the corner of his mouth.

  “After all, it’s just awakened…” Del gave a self-mocking smile. Though his voice was weak, it sent an inexplicable chill through Torry.

  To onlookers, this looked like Del struggling under a mid-tier knight’s heavy blow. But in Del’s calculations, it was the perfect “injury camouflage.” He needed to give Torry the illusion that “though stronger, he can still be suppressed.”

  “Kill him!” Torry roared in humiliated fury, feeling his dignity gravely challenged.

  This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

  The cavalry roared and charged.

  In the center of the chaos, a faint dark gleam flashed deep in Del’s eyes.

  “Due to excessive targets and visual blind spots, Black Wind Sword activation permitted.”

  Just as three cavalrymen closed in to surround him, Del’s movements changed. The originally heavy, sluggish Bedrock battle-qi bizarrely paused for a tiny instant.

  An instant inexplicable by any physical rule.

  Del’s figure vanished in that fraction of a second. Not truly vanished—but moved at a frequency beyond human visual capture, tracing an arc through the gaps between the three cavalrymen.

  A wisp of black light trailed from the cross-sword; its speed so extreme it produced a teeth-grating buzz through air friction.

  Pfft—

  The three cavalrymen felt no pain. Only a cool sensation at their throats—then massive fountains of blood. Clutching their necks, they fell from their horses in terror, dying without ever understanding how a boy who seemed heavy as a mountain could unleash such light and lethal strikes.

  By the time everyone could see clearly, Del had returned to his original spot, half-kneeling on the ground, right hand braced on his sword, breathing heavily. His body once again radiated that heavy, nearly extinguished dark-red battle-qi.

  “Cough cough… the Garay family bloodline… truly unstable…” Del coughed up blood, weakly lifting his head to flash Torry a provocative smile.

  It was a perfect performance.

  In that moment, even Torry on horseback believed Del had merely triggered another bloodline berserk flash of brilliance—not mastered some otherworldly sword art.

  “Damn monster…” Torry looked at the bodies littering the ground; for the first time, retreat rose in his heart.

  At that moment, a low cough came from the village entrance.

  Ian, in his gray robe, had somehow appeared under the distant tree shade. His all-seeing eyes lingered half a second on the corpses’ wounds, then casually looked away.

  “Captain Torry, if you intend to carry out a meaningless massacre in my territory, I suggest you first ask the castle inquisitors whether they’re willing to pay for your recklessness.”

  Ian’s voice was soft, yet carried unquestionable authority.

  Torry gritted his teeth and sheathed his sword. He knew he wouldn’t kill Del today.

  “Del Garay—this isn’t over. The baron’s matter will receive a ‘fair’ conclusion from the castle.” Torry waved his hand, leading his remaining cavalry in a disgraceful retreat.

  Only after the group vanished into the forest did Del slowly rise. He brushed off the dust; the weakness on his face vanished instantly.

  “Uncle, you’ve been watching the show for quite a while.” Del turned, speaking respectfully in a low voice.

  Ian approached Del and tapped a corpse on the ground with his staff. The wound on its throat was extremely narrow and precise—not at all like the product of battle-qi eruption.

  “Can that ‘mutated’ Bedrock battle-qi really produce such a sword strike?” Ian stared into Del’s eyes.

  “Even if you don’t believe it, you should believe the battle-qi that erupted,” Del replied—he truly couldn’t explain.

  He couldn’t just say he had transmigrated—that was his cheat.

  Ian stared at him for a long time, then let out a helpless sigh. He reached into his robes and tossed Del an exquisite sapphire ring.

  “This is the ‘Eye of Silence.’ It will conceal those unsettling energy fluctuations on you.” Ian said softly, his tone carrying the weariness and care of an elder. “Return to the castle, Del. Don’t kill indiscriminately there—at least… not outside my line of sight.”

  “Thank you, Uncle. I’ll be a proper Bedrock knight.” Del caught the ring and bowed slightly.

  Late night, inside the cabin.

  Baron Garay could now sit at the bedside and drink porridge. He watched Del wiping bloodstains, silent for a long time before speaking:

  “Del… those people outside just now… did you really take them down alone?”

  “It’s our family’s power, Father—I’ve said it twice already.” Del looked up with a wry smile toward his father. “You’ve asked twice now—surely Uncle Ian’s approval is enough to dispel doubts?”

  Garay looked at his son. He realized Del was now like a bottomless ancient well—its surface reflecting the family’s glory, yet no matter what, he would always believe in him.

  “Do as you will, you brat.” Garay sighed. “As long as you remember your surname is Garay, remember you’re my son.”

  Del didn’t reply. He looked down at his left hand. Beneath the sapphire ring’s concealment, the chip was frantically pulsing data deep in his consciousness.

  Black Wind Sword algorithm optimization complete.

  Current compatibility: 12%.

  Recommendation: In the upcoming castle life, continue resource plundering centered on ‘Bedrock battle-qi’ until physical strength can support full-power Black Wind Sword.

  Del’s lips curved slightly upward.

  It seemed that even trinkets or toys around a wizard were valuable—the chip could clearly absorb energy from them. If this could shorten most of the time, it would be incredibly beneficial for his growth.

  Since transmigrating, Del had always believed he should live as an ordinary person. Everything he did now was for self-preservation; he constantly needed more power to protect himself and his family.

  He looked around the house once more. For a wizard, entering without a door as if it didn’t exist—that alone was stimulus enough for him.