CHAPTER 18: CHAPTER18-STRIKING IT RICH

As for the remaining 600 Emperor Points, Aurek had no intention of squandering them on himself. Instead, he deliberately set aside 500 points to further strengthen the artifact that symbolized his imperial authority—the Emperor’s Scepter.

[Emperor’s Scepter: Activated]

[Current Level: 6]

[Remaining Emperor Points: 110]

[Current Troop: Elemental Assassin (Cost: 1 point)]

[Level-Up Reward: Element Affinity (SS-Rank), Shadow Swift (SS-Rank)]

Aurek’s eyes lit up. Leveling up grants extra rewards? He had half-expected nothing more than a boost in raw stats, but this was far beyond his imagination. He quickly opened the detailed descriptions, his heart pounding with anticipation.

[Element Affinity (SS-Rank): You now share the Elemental Assassin’s elemental affinity. You can merge with the elements themselves.]

The emperor’s breath caught in his throat, his heartbeat skipping two beats in stunned excitement.

By the gods... the Emperor’s Scepter is too powerful! It actually bestows upon me the ability of Elemental Affinity itself!

He knew very well why the Elemental Assassins were feared across the battlefield. Their greatest strength was their ability to blend seamlessly with elemental forces, slipping into fire, wind, or shadow until they were practically undetectable. That was why they could assassinate even Awakeners without leaving a trace.

And now, Aurek had inherited this ability himself.

He willed the power to activate, and in the next instant his figure vanished. It was not the crude invisibility of illusions, but a profound merging with the surrounding elements. To himself, he still felt as if he stood in place, unchanged. But to any observer, he had melted into thin air, becoming part of the environment itself.

The sensation was marvelous—like stepping into a higher order of existence.

Aurek chuckled under his breath. This skill is extraordinary.

He then turned to the second reward.

[Shadow Swift (SS-Rank): Instantly exchange positions with any Elemental Assassin under your command.]

The emperor froze, his breath catching once again. Then his eyes widened in sheer exhilaration.

Shadow Swift... this is without a doubt a divine life-saving ability!

If a fatal strike ever came his way—something unavoidable, something impossible to block—he could instantly switch places with one of his assassins. In a blink, he would be whisked out of danger, leaving his loyal soldier in his place.

Today truly is my lucky day. Aurek could not help but feel that fortune was smiling upon him.

At that moment, a sudden gust of wind stirred the courtyard. Before him appeared twenty Elemental Assassins, materializing out of the shadows. Their forms, however, were not pristine. They were ragged, scratched, and some bore injuries that seeped dark blood.

They knelt together.

"Greetings, my liege!"

Aurek’s gaze swept over them, noting their battered state. He could easily imagine the intensity of the battle they had just endured.

One assassin spoke, his tone respectful but weary.

"My lord, Expert-Rank Awakeners are indeed formidable. Their vast reserves of energy make them exceedingly difficult to handle. Yet our agility and patience prevailed—we drained him until he collapsed."

Aurek nodded lightly, understanding dawning in his mind. Elemental Assassins specialized in concealment and attrition. In a war of endurance, they could slowly chip away even at an Expert-Rank opponent. It would take time, but victory was inevitable.

If any outsider had been present to witness this, their jaws would have dropped in disbelief. The emperor—without lifting a finger—had orchestrated the death of an Expert-Rank Awakener. And not through equal combat, but through the terrifying coordination of his subordinates, effectively achieving a cross-rank kill.

Among Awakeners, such a feat was considered nearly impossible. Each major rank represented a gulf in strength as vast as heaven and earth.

Another assassin stepped forward and presented a bundle.

"My lord, these are the belongings of the Expert-Rank we slew."

Aurek opened it, curiosity gleaming in his eyes. Inside he found manuscripts on energy control, training methods, and several manuals detailing sword techniques. Judging from their seals, these had been treasured heirlooms of the Brown family.

Besides those, there were several mana stones and two mysterious artifacts.

The emperor’s lips curled upward in satisfaction. Excellent. This is exactly what I needed.

In this world brimming with supernatural power, Aurek had long harbored the desire to become strong himself. But his court and retainers were, frankly, inadequate. Even William, the most capable of his side, had reached Expert Rank only thanks to the resources lavished upon him by his noble family. His strength was shallow, not comparable to someone like Butler Brown, whose power was honed through genuine combat.

But now Aurek possessed Butler Brown’s spoils—especially the sword techniques. They were priceless treasures to him.

One technique in particular caught his attention:

[Sword’s Purgatory (S-Rank): A sword technique of devastating might.]

Just from the description, Aurek could sense how terrifying this move must be. To him, it was a godsend.

Almost instantly, he resolved his future path. He would study these techniques, master them, and rise as a true combatant.

Then he examined the two mysterious artifacts. As soon as he touched them, glowing text appeared before his eyes.

[Awakener Tools: Equipment made exclusively for Awakeners. Each tool carries unique power.]

[Sleeve Blade (C-Rank): A deadly hidden weapon, controllable through energy manipulation.]

[Sealing Stone (B-Rank): Upon energy infusion, temporarily suppresses an opponent’s abilities.]

Aurek raised a brow. So this Expert-Rank had indeed prepared contingencies. Had he lived long enough to activate these Awakener Tools, perhaps the battle’s outcome would have been very different. But for whatever reason, he had been slain before he could unleash them.

And thus, all of it now belonged to Aurek.

He let out a soft laugh, the corners of his mouth rising. His gaze then drifted to the pile of mana stones.

[Energy Stones: Stones infused with raw energy. Can be absorbed to strengthen an Awakener’s power.]

Aurek exhaled in delight. Tonight, I have struck gold. Truly, I have fattened my coffers in a single sweep.

After savoring the victory, he schooled his expression back into calm authority and issued new orders.

"Continue monitoring Nock."

He had spared the minister’s life not out of mercy, but because he had other plans for the man.

His tone softened slightly as he addressed his weary assassins.

"Those of you who are injured—rest and recover well."

With that, he dismissed them and withdrew into his residence.

Now, more than anything, he was eager to begin studying the newly acquired sword techniques. Especially Sword’s Purgatory—its description alone made his blood burn with anticipation.

What’s more, he had just gained Shadow Swift. If he combined that with Sword’s Purgatory, he could unleash devastating feints—appearing here, striking there, trading places with his assassins in a dizzying flurry. It might well become his ultimate trump card.

Yet when he sat down to begin, he quickly realized the challenge ahead.

Awakeners classified all skills into strict tiers: from SSS-Rank at the top down to D-Rank at the bottom. The reason Sword’s Purgatory had caught his eye was that it was an S-Rank technique. But lofty rank also meant extreme difficulty.

Sure enough, when he attempted the forms, he found it gruelingly complex. His body resisted the flow, and progress was painfully slow.

Unnoticed, the night slipped away in endless practice.

Meanwhile, beyond the tranquil halls of Valoria Palace, the city of Eryndor was in turmoil. A storm of rumors swept through the streets.

The Minister of War of the Crossbridge Empire—one of the realm’s highest officials—had been annihilated overnight, his entire household erased from existence.

The news shook every faction to its core. Spies, envoys, and mercenaries scurried in all directions, desperate to uncover the truth behind this massacre.

And in a secluded fortress near the palace, a secret meeting was underway.

Inside the dim chamber sat Troy, one of the empire’s shadowy figures. Across from him was a man of immense presence.

"Honored Captain Aris," Troy said with deference, bowing his head. "Tell me—what assistance can I render you?"

The guest did not speak immediately. He exuded power without effort, his very stillness radiating oppressive strength.

For this man was none other than Captain Aris, vice-commander of the Leap Mercenary Corps—and himself an Expert-Rank Awakener.

Though he deliberately concealed his energy, his presence alone weighed upon the chamber like an invisible mountain.