Chapter 148: The Truth – Part 1
Upon hearing Miranda’s introduction, Leon’s eyes widened in surprise, and he looked at her with astonishment.
“What did you just say? You’re the embodiment of the sword spirit of the Great Sword of Chaos?” Leon asked, bewildered.
In this fantasy world, besides the dragon, demon, elf, and human races, there were many others, including the spirit race.
According to ancient records, the spirit race was very powerful and renowned for their ability to control the weather and nature.
However, this information was solely derived from ancient texts, and the spirit race, shrouded in mystery, had not revealed themselves for 7,000 years, leaving Leon unable to verify the truth.
Furthermore, Miranda’s assertion that she was the sword spirit of the Great Sword of Chaos only added to Leon’s confusion.
In this world, only three weapons were known to harbor spirits or consciousness—the Holy Sword of Zenith, the Holy Bow of Celestial Frost, and the Holy Spear of Soaring Dragon.
So, what was this Great Sword of Chaos that he had never heard of, and how could it have a spirit?
The more Leon thought about it, the more confused he became, making his gaze at Miranda even more curious.
Upon hearing Leon’s question and noticing his confused expression, Miranda smiled softly. As she slowly sat back down, she replied, “Yes, I am the spirit embodiment of the Great Sword of Chaos. The reason I summoned you here is because it’s finally time for us to meet after 7,000 years.”
Miranda paused for a moment before continuing, “In fact, we have met before, you know?”
Leon narrowed his eyes slightly and looked at her strangely. “Met? When and where?” he asked.
“In the Hall of Glory,” Miranda replied, giving a seductive wink.
As soon as Leon heard “Hall of Glory,” his expression hardened. The memory of the statues of the Demon Emperors bowing their heads and the mysterious black sword on the altar, which resembled the Holy Sword of Zenith, came rushing back to him.
With a face still filled with astonishment, Leon asked doubtfully, “Is the Great Sword of Chaos the black sword lodged on the altar in the Hall of Glory?”
A beautiful smile bloomed on Miranda’s lips as she heard Leon’s words, and she nodded eagerly.
“Bingo! You’re right!” Miranda exclaimed with excitement, continuing, “The Great Sword of Chaos is indeed the sword you saw on the altar, and I am the embodiment of that sword spirit; so, in a way, I am the Great Sword of Chaos myself.”
Listening to her words, Leon took a deep breath to suppress the shock churning within him.
He truly hadn’t expected Miranda to be the embodiment of the sword spirit from the black sword embedded in the center of the altar in the Hall of Glory he was visiting at that moment.
In fact, he had initially believed that everything he had witnessed in the Hall of Glory, including the sight of the black sword embedded within the altar, was merely a dream. Yet Miranda’s words served as undeniable proof that it was all real and true!
‘So, was the Hall of Glory I visited merely another facet or perhaps a distinct dimension of the true Hall of Glory?’ Leon pondered to himself curiously.
However, after a while, he quickly dismissed his curiosity. Whether it was another dimension or not, what mattered now was Miranda’s presence before him.
Leon snapped out of his reverie swiftly, turning his gaze towards Miranda, who maintained a radiant smile as though engulfed in happiness.
“So, Miranda, now that I know your true identity, could you start explaining why you summoned me here and why you mentioned waiting for me for 7,000 years?” Leon asked calmly, taking a sip of coffee from the table.
At Leon’s question, Miranda instantly snapped into focus, her expression turning graceful yet serious as she met Leon’s gaze.
“The real reason I summoned you here, Master, is for one purpose—to fulfill a task and a 7,000-year prophecy,” Miranda stated solemnly, yet with gentleness.
Leon felt a twinge of embarrassment when Miranda addressed him as ‘Master’. However, as he listened to her words, his eyebrows lifted slightly, and he carefully set his coffee cup into the saucer.
“Fulfilling a task and a 7,000-year prophecy… what exactly do you mean?” Leon asked, his curiosity thoroughly piqued.
“It’s the task you’ll undertake to save the world from destruction in the future,” Miranda replied calmly, taking a sip of her coffee.
As her words sank in, Leon narrowed his eyes and frowned slightly.
“Save the world? Save from what, and why me?” Leon asked hesitantly, with a hint of caution.
For some reason, after hearing Miranda’s words, he felt a growing unease, as if he were about to be burdened by something unusually heavy, making him wary of her once again.
Observing Leon’s wary expression, Miranda simply smiled and let out a small sigh before asking, “My master, may I pose a question?”
At first, Leon hesitated, but eventually he gave a small nod.
“My master, what are your thoughts on the 7,000-year war between the human race and the demon race?” Miranda inquired.
“Why are you asking about a 7,000-year war between the human race and the demon race all of a sudden?” Leon inquired, his expression tinged with curiosity.
“It’s alright, just share your opinion,” Miranda urged.
After a brief moment of silence, Leon responded, “In my view, the conflict between mankind and the Demon race is a predestenied battle since the arrival of the three Holy Weapons tasked with slaying the first Demon Emperor, Amon Crimson.”
“I refer to this war as cyclical because it persists until one of the races—either humanity led by the three heroes or the Demon race led by the Demon Emperor—is eradicated or obliterated,” Leon explained solemnly.
“If neither side falls, I can’t guarantee an end to this war.”
As Leon continued to speak, his expression darkened, his thoughts consumed by the impending war set to unfold the following day—the war of the era!
As a sword hero, he was expected to stand by the side of the Holy Empire of Elysium and defend humanity, yet he harbored no intention of doing so.
How could he willingly aid Velix and his subordinates, who had already conspired against him?
Even if his actions in aiding the Demon Race would later incur the wrath of the gods and lead to curses upon him, he felt no fear whatsoever!
If he failed to seek revenge in this lifetime, he would not be worthy of the name Leon Kruger, but rather Leon Coward!
As Miranda listened to Leon’s explanation, she smiled softly, her chin cradled in her palms.
Only when Leon paused did Miranda straighten up, ready to speak.
“My master, after you’ve expressed your opinion, have you ever considered, even once, throughout this 7,000-year war, that there might be something peculiar or unusual?” Miranda inquired, her smile faint but discernible.
“Huh? Something strange or unusual?” Leon blinked several times, then a memory surged, and he continued, “If you’re talking about peculiarities in the 7,000-year war, I’ve certainly noticed plenty.”
“Oh? Could you elaborate?” Miranda’s beautiful smile widened even further.
Glancing at her, her expression filled with curiosity, Leon felt a slight sense of puzzlement but didn’t dwell on it as he replied, “The peculiarities in this 7,000-year war between the two races are numerous and intriguing. Yet, one of the most interesting aspects is the consistent defeat suffered by the Demon race and the inevitable demise of the Demon Emperor at the hands of the Three Heroes of Humanity, which I find utterly absurd.”
Leon paused for a moment, sipping his coffee, before continuing, “During the era of the second Demon Emperor, Morgan Crimson, the Demon race was so advanced and powerful that it would be no exaggeration to say they were unbeatable.”
“However, in reality, the supposedly invincible Demon race suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of mankind, led by the three heroes. Moreover, the Demon Emperor, Morgan Crimson, also falls at the hands of the three heroes of mankind, an outcome highly improbable.”
“This incident has always left me with a sense of unease and confusion, as if something is awry and unsettling.”
Leon paused and sighed, taking another sip of his coffee to soothe his dry throat.
To be honest, there were still some peculiarities he hadn’t explained, such as the recurring cycle of the birth of the three heroes of mankind and the inevitable emergence of the Demon Emperor, always resulting in a battle that concludes with the fall of the Demon Emperor and the victory of the three heroes.
Isn’t this too strange and absurd?
With these various peculiarities, Leon began to think that this 7,000-year war didn’t seem based on hatred alone but also like a curse—a curse that doomed the two races to fight each other forever.
Furthermore, the enigmatic disappearance of the 7,000-year history involving the first Demon Emperor and the first generation of three heroes, along with the ambiguous origins of the three holy weapons, blankets everything in an impenetrable fog of darkness—a puzzle seemingly without a solution.
“Pfft!”
Suddenly, Miranda’s laughter rang out, causing a slight twitch at the corner of Leon’s mouth.
“Why are you laughing? Did my statement strike you as humorous?” Leon inquired, a hint of dissatisfaction tingeing his voice.
Miranda quickly shook her head and clarified with a smile, “No, it’s not that. I’m actually very impressed with your ability to think like that. It makes me feel amazed and proud.”
Upon hearing her praise, Leon simply chuckled and shrugged.
“Well, actually, it’s just my suspicion, and I don’t know if the peculiarity I feel is true,” Leon said lightly, about to continue, when Miranda suddenly cut him off.
“No… You are right, my master. What you perceive about the peculiarities in the war spanning 7,000 years holds truths with hidden secrets.”
Leon’s expression froze slightly as he gazed at Miranda, who returned his look with a smile playing on her lips.
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