Luca could not suppress his excitement at the rising exhilaration.

'I feel like I can do anything...!'

An overflowing power, a lightened body, and above all an oddly sharpened vision.His eyesight had never been an issue before, but now he truly felt like he was seeing the world more vividly.

'I'm not sure what's going on, but anyway, I guess I need to beat that man.'

Honestly, with this power, it felt like he could defeat Wylde, his older brother, even without Kryphi's help.

'For now, let's just treat it as a test of strength. If things get dangerous, I'll use my magic power.'

Having thought that far, Luca gripped his sword with both hands and leapt at Kryphi, who was standing silently, saying nothing.

Pop!

Truly appearing before Kryphi at lightning speed, Luca surprised even himself with a velocity that no one else could possibly react to, but on instinct he swung his sword at Kryphi's opening.

Cheng!

"!"

Kryphi deflected Luca's lightning-quick sword; although Luca was flustered, he swiftly attacked again from a different angle.

Zzap!

Sparks of lightning scattered as Luca's body left afterimages, attacking Kryphi from all sides.But Kryphi dodged and parried every attack with an air of composure.

"Ho, this is a stronger power than I expected."

"......"

He was utterly perfect at getting on someone's nerves, too.Luca gritted his teeth and unleashed an even greater surge of lightning energy.Seeing the lightning gather at the tip of Luca's sword, Kryphi shifted into a stance.

"It's true, it's an amazing strength... but still immature."

Whiiing!

Cutting through the wind, Luca's sword flew toward Kryphi.A lightning strike that destroyed everything in its path—Kryphi stood serene before it.

Kang!

"!"

Just before the lightning reached Kryphi, Luca's sword curved and struck the ground, unable to bear the driving force. His body tilted from the failed charge, and Kryphi seized that gap to grab him by the collar.

Thud!

"Khuk!"

"My, are you alright?"

Luca was slammed into the ground on the opposite side, and Kryphi reached out a hand to him with a worried look.

"I-I'm fine."

"I'm sorry. But Luca, your power was stronger than I expected. There was no other way to do this safely."

"?"

Luca didn't understand what he meant, but when he looked behind Kryphi, he caught his breath.

Buzz! Crackle!

Remnants of the lightning energy still lingered, and other than the circle Kryphi had drawn and the area immediately behind him, everything had been utterly devastated.

'This... is the power of lightning...?'

A power awe-inspiringly strong, but even more frightening was the realization that came next.

'Kryphi faced this without using any magic power? And the protagonist smashed someone like Kryphi?'

And one more thing.With vision boosted by the lightning's power, he knew.Not once, even as he subdued Luca, had Kryphi used magic power.

'How can he do that without magic power?'

Magic power was the all-purpose strength. It let humans surpass their limits.Because of it, humans could win against other races and monsters.But what was this man standing before him?He could face this overwhelming strength without using even a drop of magic power.

"You look deep in thought. I guess you're curious how I was able to face such tremendous power without magic power."

"... Is it the power of that sword?"

"Huhu, it's true this sword is enchanted, but I didn't use its power in this duel. Only a simple protection spell to keep it from being destroyed by lightning."

Kryphi spun his sword with flair and assumed a saluting stance.

"There are two reasons why I could face you without magic power, Luca. One is that you haven't yet mastered your strength. Had you controlled it properly, even I would have had to use magic power against you."

Still in the saluting stance, Kryphi slowly lowered his sword tip to point at Luca.

"The other is that you ignored my experience. On the battlefield, how many times do you think a swordsman like myself has had to face magic-wielders without magic power?"

"......"

Luca fell silent.He had, after all, underestimated Kryphi a little. In the original story, Kryphi refused to use magic power and was eventually defeated by the protagonist.

"Well, I do believe that proves my skills. So then..."

Kryphi sheathed his sword and extended his hand to Luca, speaking with confident authority.

"Kryphi Mosto: the Nightmare of the Battlefield. I dare say this to you—I will be your guide."

Luca looked up at him for a moment, then let out a long sigh. He took Kryphi's offered hand.

"... I concede defeat."

And with that, Luca became Kryphi Mosto's disciple.

* * *

After sending Luca away, Kryphi returned to his office, fetched a bottle from the cupboard, and sat down.

'Heh, I nearly died there.'

His arm was trembling slightly.Right up until the end, he hadn't used any magic power. He really could have died.

'I have a long way to go. Letting my pride get the better of me and taking such a risk...'

Kryphi took a swig straight from the bottle, wiped his lips, and sighed.

'As expected of the Traverse family... To think the second son, Luca, was hiding such power. Astonishing.'

His admiration for the Traverse family grew, even if it was a misunderstanding.Kryphi took another drink and leaned back in his chair.

'Still, even with such strength, it's probably impossible to beat the Second Coming of Fang, so perhaps they don't worry.'

The Second Coming of Fang—Wylde Traverse.Kryphi had heard all the rumors and had once seen Wylde fight in person.

'There were simply no words besides 'a difference in class'.

Give it ten more years, and he'll no doubt be the greatest swordsman on the continent.'

Kryphi had even thought he'd never have wanted to be born in the same generation.

'Even so, with someone like Luca, I think there's a chance.'

He recalled Luca's hand when he lifted him up—a hand rough and callused, mismatched to his gentle looks.So much training was etched into it.But not everyone could succeed through effort alone.Luca had the talent to manifest the fruits of his efforts—he just hadn't been wearing the right clothes.

'If he's got the determination, and I give him my guidance, nothing's impossible.'

Kryphi grinned, took another sip, and pulled out his notebook, starting to scribble something.Just then, his office door burst open with a crash.

Wham!

"Hey, brat. How've you been?"

Kryphi's eyes went wide as he recognized the person who'd entered. He let out a deep sigh, put down his bottle, and said,

"What brings you here, master?"

"What do you think? I was wondering if you'd finally given up your petty lust for power and were ready to wander the land as a true swordsman."

"......"

Kryphi fell silent at the words of the person he called 'Master'.But perhaps taking his silence as an answer, Kryphi's master spoke again with a touch of annoyance.

"Hmph. Fine. You only got to your current level because of your ambition anyway—guess that's your limit."

"No matter what you say, master, my answer won't change. However..."

"?"

Then Kryphi spoke. He recalled Luca and smiled slyly.

"I think I can finally understand a bit of your feelings now."

"What's this, brat? Don't tell me you've taken on a disciple...?"

Kryphi's master, looking slightly surprised, then broke into a grin.

"Hmph, well, you look better than you did a while back. Do your best."

"Thank you, master."

Kryphi himself didn't realize.Taking Luca as his disciple at this moment would bring about such enormous change.

* * *

After finishing his duel with Kryphi and returning to his room, Luca lay on his bed, staring at his hand.

Zzap!

A faint spark leaped—it reminded him the power of lightning was still there.

'He said I didn't control the power properly, huh.'

It was the first time he'd used the power of lightning properly.But the claim that he hadn't controlled it right felt a bit odd.

'What does it mean to control power?'

Thanks to the memories of 'Luca Traverse' and the circuits for magic power in this body, Luca could use magic power as easily as breathing.He could use lightning power just by willing it.Yet Kryphi said he wasn't controlling it properly.

'Is control of power different from control of magic power?'

The more he wondered, the less he understood.

'Tch, I'll just have to ask Kryphi about it tomorrow.'

One way or another, Kryphi was Luca's teacher now. It should be fine to ask questions.But then, someone whispered to him.

"Hmhm. So, do you want to control that power?"

"...?"

It was a woman's voice, but not Bella's. It sounded about Luca's age.Before Bella could burst in with 'Young master, to think you'd invite a girl to the dorm without telling me... Bella is so moved by your growth she could cry!', he had to find the source of the voice.

"Hmm..."

Luca looked around, but sensed no one's presence at all.The only thing in the room was Whistle, who had returned at some unknown point.

Unable to find the owner of the voice, Luca decided to use a sure-fire magic phrase that would always elicit a reply.

"Did I hear wrong?"

"You heard right."

"?!"

The reply came from the direction of Whistle—no, Whistle was answering.

"Whistle?"

"Hmph! To think you'd give one as noble as myself, a skybird, such a pathetic name... It brings tears to my eyes."

"Hah."

Luca gave a hollow laugh.The whole situation looked ridiculous.

A tiny bird, only slightly larger than a chick, with stubby wings.And in a cute girlish voice, speaking with words you'd only expect from some old martial arts master.

It was just laughable.

'Wait a minute. Could it be...?'

Rather than wondering how Whistle could talk, something else popped into his mind.

Luca immediately grabbed his phone and checked it.

[Skybird Growth Diary]

[Whistle]Species: SkybirdGrowth Level: Stage 1Available Power of the Sky: Lightning

Summary: Stage 1 growth is complete. Whistle has regained some memories of her previous life and can now think for herself. Keep feeding her things teeming with life, and she'll recall even more of her past abilities.

Sure enough, the app's content had changed.

'Regaining the memories of a previous life, huh. So that explains the way she talks.'

Seeing Luca eyeing his phone, Whistle grumbled,

"Are you looking at that weird board again? Pay attention to me instead!"

"?"

At the mention of 'weird board,' Luca blinked.He glanced between his phone and Whistle.

"You... You can see this?"

"If you mean that strange board, of course."

"Hah."

Luca was impressed.

'She can see something even made by the gods.'

No one else could see the phone, or even sense that he was looking at anything.This really wasn't your run-of-the-mill bird.

'Is this some unique trait not mentioned in the original setting?'

While Luca was getting curious about the powers of the Skybird, Whistle fluttered over and perched on his shoulder.

"A moment ago, I felt a longing in you to control your power. Am I right?"

"... You can read my thoughts?"

"Not perfectly, but I can sense strong feelings. The longing you felt was something my previous owners also showed, so I recognize it."

Whistle groomed herself with her beak as she spoke.

"It'd be troublesome for me too if my owner collapsed after borrowing a bit of life force just to digest 'that thing's' heart, so I need you to grow."

"'That thing'? Oh."

At her phrasing, Luca looked puzzled, then soon understood.

'Must be talking about the statue in Pia Forest. But what was it that it had a heart? Don't tell me I messed with a huge imperial secret...?'

As if reading his thoughts, Whistle shook her beak.

"Don't worry. It was little more than junk anyway, not even functioning. If anything, I stopped a ticking time bomb that would have exploded if forced to work."

"A ti...me bomb...?"

Luca had a blank look upon hearing 'time bomb.'It felt like the puzzle pieces in his head were coming together.

'Of all places, the automatons lab in Pia Forest, the open ground left behind a year later, the traces of demons...'

Just then, his phone chimed.

Ding!

― Criteria met: New application "Backstory" created.― Statue of Pia Forest"

Backstory unlocked.― Backstory unlock bonus granted.

-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=Skybird part of the harem?【ദ്ദി(⩌ᴗ⩌)】

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