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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 4
Chapter Title: Solar Absolute Meridian
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In dealing with the target, he couldn't use a dagger or poison.
Of course, even if traces of assassination were discovered, he was confident he wouldn't leave any hints pointing to the Shadow Unit. But there was always that one-in-a-million chance.
If his methods were ever exposed, it might cause trouble for his lord.
Besides, hadn't he already disappointed his lord once before?
So the shadow chose the most reliable method.
Infusing his aura into the Second Young Lord's body and shredding the mana roads inside.
On the surface, it would look like a natural death with no traces at all. Even if someone noticed, it would seem like the inexperienced Second Young Lord had mishandled his aura and caused it to run wild.
He gently placed his hand on Ian's head as the boy sat quietly.
'No pain for you, Second Young Lord.'
Even if he had to kill him, this was the Eldest Young Lord Alex Lichtenauer's one and only brother.
At the very least, he wouldn't inflict unnecessary suffering.
'Farewell.'
The moment the shadow tried to push his aura into Ian's body.
Grab!
"?!"
Ian snatched the shadow's wrist, his eyes blazing like an active volcano as he glared at the intruder.
"What are you?"
A one-in-a-million—no, a billion-to-one impossibility had occurred.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
A little while before the shadow ambushed Ian.
"Whew! Nice and toasty."
After soaking in the warm water for a good long while, Ian returned to his room, straightened his back, and perched on the edge of the bed.
"The original owner of this body, this Ian guy, had quite the interesting constitution, huh?"
To the eye, it was a body without a shred of muscle—a true weakling among weaklings.
But Lucas's soul wasn't too worried about that.
Muscles grew with good food and solid training.
Sure, innate bone structure made a difference, but proper training could bridge that gap.
Far more crucial were the mana roads.
Mana Road.
The path that accepted the blessing of the atmosphere—mana—and refined it into aura to empower the body.
This path couldn't be altered by mere effort.
Those without talent from the start were out of luck, and even among the talented, innate differences created clear gaps.
The owner of this body, Ian Lichtenauer, was a direct descendant of the Martial Clan—and astonishingly.
All his mana roads were completely blocked.
It was a miracle he hadn't died yet.
Daily movements must have been a struggle.
For Lucas, dreaming of revenge on Siegfried, landing in such a body should have been despairing.
Yet his face lit up with wonder, like someone who'd spotted a mythical beast in the flesh.
"Well, damn. Solar Absolute Meridian. I thought this constitution only existed in theory, but here I am experiencing it firsthand."
Solar Absolute Meridian.
A condition where the body was flooded with yang energy from birth, disrupting harmony among the organs and halting circulation.
Without internal balance, mastering the Martial Clan's fierce arts—which demanded intense movement—was impossible.
Ian Lichtenauer, direct descendant of the Martial Clan.
Had been cursed to never learn martial arts.
But.
"You're lucky, Ian. You met a guy like me."
No, in this case, maybe Lucas was the lucky one.
He knew the perfect martial art for Solar Absolute Meridian.
"Huuuuuuh..."
Regulating his breath, Lucas—no, Ian—turned inward, sinking into the depths.
'So this is Solar Absolute Meridian.'
Beneath the surface of consciousness.
As his inner form solidified, the energy clogging his body took shape before his eyes.
Nine strands of searing chains, hot as the sun, bound his mana roads tight.
"Solar Absolute Meridian—I've heard the name, but damn, it's twisted up like a bitch."
Peering inside, Ian thought.
The reason it was legend in Agena wasn't because it didn't exist, but because everyone who'd had it died young.
Surviving with mana roads this clogged was miraculous.
Probably no one in all Agena could unravel them.
Except him.
The Overlord of the Northern Continent, Lucas Alexei, had mastered the Blood Nether Iron Lock Technique—a art based on extreme heat.
In his past life, Lucas's mana road talent was average, but his innate yang constitution and divine strength made him mighty.
That alone let him wield the technique's full power and etch his name in continental history.
So then.
What if he unleashed Blood Nether Iron Lock Technique with the solar heat of Solar Absolute Meridian—the yang blaze said to embrace the heavens' fury?
What would its power be like?
'...I might not just avenge myself on Siegfried and his crew. I could surpass my past life's realm entirely.'
...Gulp!
Ian couldn't hide his excitement.
Were those infuriating chains starting to look like gift-wrapping ribbons?
'No, not just wishful thinking.'
This was certainty.
Woooooong!
Slowly.
Calming his swelling emotions, he began circulating the Blood Nether Iron Lock Technique's mental method, very slowly.
Not to bulldoze the mana roads with its destructive nature.
Trying to force through without untying those brutish chains would rip every mana road to shreds.
How much time passed?
Success at loosening one end of a chain—he felt a tiny rice-grain of energy gather in his lower abdomen's mana core.
'...Nngh!'
Just a slight tug on the chain's end, and it felt like his organs were shredding apart.
Even for Ian, who'd risen to Overlord of the North, the pain was hard to bear.
'...No wonder the kid couldn't even dream of martial arts.'
Descendant of the Martial Clan or not, this wasn't pain for the untrained.
But stopping here meant failure.
Quitting would leave him a powerless family disgrace, wallowing in lethargy like before.
'Not befitting a former Overlord!'
Grinding his teeth, he forced the technique onward.
Goal: fully unravel one strand of the nine.
Tiny as a pea, but in his past life, Lucas had woven chains that dyed the heavens red.
Suppressing the agony, he carefully directed energy at the first chain.
Fwoooooosh!
The chain blazed with world-scorching heat, menacing the feeble energy approaching.
A head-on clash would be instant annihilation—overwhelming disparity.
But Ian wasn't trying to subdue the solar energy.
Subduing could wait.
First, free the mana road hostage.
...Crack!
Sizzle!
A mere brush, and Ian's Blood Nether Iron Lock energy steamed away.
Dark night hid it, but a red mist like blood trailed from his nostrils.
'Damn... it's vicious.'
Urk!
Blood pooled in his mouth.
Ian—no, Lucas—had underestimated Solar Absolute Meridian.
No one in history matched his past heights.
Nor had anyone overcome Solar Absolute Meridian.
Why was that?
Ian needed to reflect.
Crunch!
His teeth ground as if to shatter.
'...Me, defeated by mere energy?'
No way.
I am the Overlord, Lucas.
I unified a quarter of Agena—the Northern Continent. The hero Siegfried, masked in hypocrisy, only felled me after rallying scum from across Agena.
That overwhelming madness let Ian endure the solar energy.
Clink! Clink!
As the chains ground together, Ian delved deeper into his inner world amid the back-and-forth struggle.
Just as the internal vortex spiraled out of control.
'...?!'
Mid-overheat, a passage linked from his head to the outside.
Only one reason for an external link during circulation.
Someone touching his body.
And only two reasons for that.
Help... or harm.
Which?
'Open my eyes and see.'
Grab!
Eyes snapping open, Ian seized the intruder's arm.
Staring at the black shadow filling his vision, he instantly knew the purpose.
The latter.
"What are you?"
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Yohan of the Shadow Unit, sworn to the Eldest Young Lord Alex Lichtenauer, couldn't comprehend the situation.
The Shadow Unit specialized in espionage, infiltration, and assassination from its inception.
Talent was mandatory; no skill, no entry.
Yohan was a standout, highly promising member.
Yet the infamous incompetent, Second Young Lord Ian Lichtenauer, had sensed his stealthy approach.
'Okay, sensing the approach—fine.'
But those eyes burned like world-engulfing flames.
Utterly unlike the Eldest Young Lord's icy chill—qualities no weakling possessed.
Prior action, assess aftermath.
Shadow Unit protocol for variables.
True to his skill, Yohan acted without hesitation.
Woooooong!
His surging aura dove straight for Ian's awakened head.
Or tried to.
"I asked a question—answer it instead of pulling this crap?"
Incredibly, Ian perfectly blocked Yohan's aura.
"!"
No—not just blocked. He counterattacked, shoving a massive surge of ultra-condensed, searing aura into Yohan.
Aura incomparable to Yohan's.
"Gaaaaaaaah!"
A agonized scream tore from Yohan's throat.
Shadow Unit missions often led to capture and torture.
Pain endurance training was mandatory.
But all that training felt worthless.
Unprecedented agony blanked his mind.
"Guhhhh..."
Hot.
Hot.
So hot he wanted to rip his hand off the Second Young Lord's head.
But.
"I'm asking—who are you?"
The Second Young Lord smiled casually, gripping Yohan's wrist tight.
That smile was demonic.
"Spill it nice and easy. Then I'll let you go painlessly."
A temptation to corrupt even gods.
"I... I'm..."
Under its pull, Yohan's mouth opened unwittingly.
...Crunch!
He bit his lip until blood flowed.
Couldn't speak.
Speaking would betray his lord, the Eldest Young Lord.
That he couldn't allow.
"Oh?"
Ian read Yohan's resolve clear as day.
"Fine. Die then."
No regrets, no hesitation.
Ian poured aura into Yohan's body.
Roooaaar!
"!"
Yohan gaped as his body burned alive.
The Second Young Lord—known as incompetent, too soft to swat a bug.
Even against an ambusher, his reputed temperament wouldn't torch a man without flinching.
Yes.
That was the widespread view of Ian Lichtenauer.
'He... fooled everyone...'
Revealing his true nature before the Gate Opening Ceremony could get him killed by wary rivals.
With no support base, the Eldest Young Lord or branch elites could eliminate him anytime.
But after? Different story.
As a formal Martial Clan member, he'd stand alone.
Seventeen years of suppression for this day?
Terrifying.
Truly terrifying.
'This guy's... dan...gerous...'
Had to warn them.
The deadliest threat to his lord was right under their noses.
With that thought, Yohan's mind ceased amid his ashen remains.