In the "Basic Sword Techniques Manual" published by the Adventurers' Guild, the introductory chapter begins with this sentence:

For complete novices who know nothing, the sword is definitely the best weapon.

When reaching a certain level of skill, one will discard the sword and seek more suitable equipment.

If one has already become a master, the sword is definitely the best weapon.

The truth is, whether moving in court circles or the underworld on the Western Continent, everyone knows how to use a sword to some extent because of its universal applicability.

Li Site was no exception - a few simple moves were more than enough for cutting people down.

In the mining chamber filled with cold, rusty iron.

The sword tip pierced through his palm, tearing open a massive gash as blood poured out like a fountain. Just the mere edge of the sword tip caused strange phenomena in the surroundings.

Eerie winds rose within the expansive platform, the torches in wall slots flickering between brightness and darkness, while a bone-chilling cold made one feel as if plunged into an ice cellar.

It wasn't a physical drop in temperature, but an intangible wind that pierced straight through the soul, a deathly cold killing intent swirling like an unending cursed resentment.

This bizarre scene made every pore on Edmund's body contract. Beast-like instinct made him act before he could even think - he had to kill this pirate with the fancy braided beard before that sword fully "unsheathed."

Edmund was far from a reckless fool;

his experience was extensive.

Whether in these past two thousand years or in ancient eras with lost historical records, malicious individuals would create evil artifacts using humans as "sheaths." Among these creators were exceptionally talented people whose creations became eternal, poisoning the world for millennia.

And this pirate was clearly the vessel for some powerful cursed artifact.

Even with armor covering every angle of his body like a tin can, it still weighed seventy or eighty pounds. Yet Edmund's agility far surpassed even Shadi and Sven's.

Each step covered two meters, closing the distance in less than a breath, fast as if he'd teleported. His afterimage formed a dark phantom as his broadsword descended from above toward Li Site's left shoulder with devastating force capable of splitting mountains and shattering rocks.

Shadi still hadn't cooled from his furious state. Though his weapon was broken, he desperately wanted to kill this Military Police officer. Edmund stood on the mine cart tracks.

One cart still carried piled raw Windrest Stone ore, likely left behind because its purity was too low - essentially just rubble.

The entire cart weighed six or seven hundred pounds. Shadi pushed with all his strength, using the wheel's momentum to charge violently toward Edmund.

A thunderous crash echoed as dust scattered everywhere.

Edmund staggered back one step from the impact, but just one step, then stabilized as if nothing happened.

"Obstinately persisting in error."

The broadsword slashed violently, cutting through air with thunderous sound. The mine cart's metal frame shattered on contact, the entire vehicle exploding into fragments.

Amid the flying rocks, Edmund spotted Shadi's figure - the dark elf was driving a pickaxe toward his head.

The severely wounded Gloria couldn't help at all, and Sven's thief skills were useless in this situation.

But the gap between the Arlan officer and Shadi's abilities wasn't small.

How could mining tools be used to kill? Edmund didn't even bother to block, his right hand drawing back to build momentum, about to run Shadi through.

Crack! Crack! Crack!

Three freezing ice spikes radiating cold energy shot from the chamber corner, embedding into Edmund's back before exploding and spreading icy threads. The attack interrupted his move, making him pause slightly.

The pickaxe struck Edmund's head but produced metallic clanging sounds. Shadi's hands went numb from the vibration, but it wasn't useless - it opened a wound that bled.

Edmund shook his armor, cracking the frost off onto the ground. He looked back to see the mysterious figure who'd cast the spell. Edmund himself didn't know who this person was - his superiors only said they were an empire's major criminal.

As Edmund's icy gaze fell upon them, the slender figure wrapped in robes fearfully retreated two steps.

Though described slowly, all this happened in the blink of an eye.

Li Site actually didn't need them to buy time at all. The Sovereign's Blade had endless marvelous uses - from the moment its edge appeared, it had already bestowed terrifying power.

"Where are you looking?"

Li Site swept the sword horizontally across the abdominal area of Edmund's armor. The sword's force was too horrifying, cutting through as if nothing was there while burning a gash that emitted strange black smoke.

If Edmund hadn't reacted quickly and retreated several steps, he would have been gutted.

The Sovereign's Blade was now held in Li Site's left hand. Though less flexible than his other hand, his left hand and the sword were "one entity" that couldn't be "separated."

This sword.

Was once bestowed by an emperor to declare grace and authority. Its appearance was exquisitely crafted, displaying magnificent grandeur that looked down upon the world. Despite centuries passing, it looked newly forged.

Where the blade touched, light twisted and vanished like heat haze, as if space itself fled from its cursed hatred and resentment.

Under its imposing manner, it truly reigned supreme, making all things kneel.

Li Site himself instead became like an accessory - his presence infinitely diminished under this sword's oppressive might.

"I wondered what it was."

Edmund possessed terrifying mental fortitude. Though shaken for a moment, he quickly regained composure. Li Site's posture showed he didn't even know how to hold a sword properly, his entire body full of openings, as ridiculous as the unemployed losers in the Adventurers' Guild.

The sword was indeed strange, but what use was it if it couldn't hit him?

"Die!"

Edmund abandoned all mockery and contempt, beginning to fight seriously. The magic rune construction on his armor activated to specialize power. The terrifying physical prowess brought by life alchemy at the cost of lifespan, combined with the supreme skills tempered through countless battles in the imperial arena - how could plundering pirate scum compare?

Seeing Edmund's power suddenly surge, Sven threw two daggers toward his vulnerable eyes.

Edmund simply waved his hand, deflecting them all.

The next moment displayed supreme swordsmanship as he moved to eliminate the greatest threat - Li Site.

"Be careful..."

The severely wounded Gloria used all her strength to shout two words. She had been defeated by this peerless sword technique of Edmund's.

Edmund's arms flowed like water as he unleashed nineteen sword strikes in an instant. The hurricane-force winds bursting from him extinguished nearly all torches in the mining chamber, plunging everything into darkness amid flying sand and stones. These weren't just flashy moves - each of the nineteen strikes carried immense force capable of reducing limbs to mincemeat.

Sword shadows assaulted like a storm, their edges like heavenly light through gaps. No retreat, no escape.

To Edmund, whose swordsmanship had reached perfection, Li Site's practiced moves were like a beginner's tutorial.

It's over.

Gloria thought so.

Because Li Site made no defensive posture, just waiting like fish on a chopping block. In less than a second he would explode into blood mist without even a chance to be seriously wounded.

Overwhelming clanging sounds nearly burst eardrums as sparks from clashing blades momentarily lit the dark chamber like polar day.

Li Site simply held his sword diagonally before his chest, parrying all nineteen strikes. Edmund's arms burst with blood that seeped through his armor gaps.

"This is impossible..."

Gloria couldn't comprehend it at all.

Cursed power, resentment.

Nineteen ghostly figures emerged from the void, appearing abruptly, vanishing abruptly.

Even as an Arlan Military Police Major General, how could Edmund have killed...

The thirty-two Radiant Knights who made the Empress reign over the continent? Even their insignificant yet eternal lingering resentment of hatred.