I hesitated for just a moment, then thought, 'Yes.'
The gem's light exploded outward.
It wasn't blinding, but it was intense, a black radiance that seemed to absorb rather than emit light. The core in my hand began to dissolve, its substance flowing into the gem like water being absorbed by a sponge. Within seconds, the core was gone, completely consumed.
The light receded, and I felt a pulse of satisfaction from the saber. It had been fed.
Then a new message appeared.
[The Einsworth Family Saber has consumed: Novice Beast Core (Crimson Maw)]
[Analyzing core properties...]
[Ability extracted: Poison Resistance (Passive)]
[You have gained: Poison Resistance (Basic) - Your body is now more resistant to toxins and venoms. Effectiveness: 15% reduction in poison damage and duration.]
I blinked, then checked my status screen instinctively. Sure enough, under my skills, a new entry had appeared.
'The saber can give me abilities by eating cores? That's... that's incredible.'
My discomfort evaporated, replaced by eager anticipation. If one core could grant me poison resistance, what would the others give?
I grabbed the second core and pressed it against the gem without hesitation.
[Feed this core to the Einsworth Family Saber?]
[Yes / No]
'Yes!'
The same process. The light, the dissolution, the consumption. When it finished, another message appeared.
[The Einsworth Family Saber has consumed: Novice Beast Core (Crimson Maw)]
[Analyzing core properties...]
[Ability extracted: Savage Slash (Active)]
[You have gained: Savage Slash (Basic) - Channel mana into your blade to execute a devastating cutting attack with increased power and speed. Mana Cost: 5 per use.]
A combat skill. Something I could use actively in battle. The knowledge of how to perform it flooded into my mind, settling there like it had always been part of me.
'Two cores, two abilities. Let's see what the others give.'
I pressed the third core against the gem.
[Feed this core to the Einsworth Family Saber?]
[Yes / No]
'Yes.'
The light consumed it, but this time, the message was different.
[The Einsworth Family Saber has consumed: Novice Beast Core (Crimson Maw)]
[Insufficient unique properties to extract new ability.]
[Core energy has been absorbed. Weapon awakening progress increased.]
[Current awakening progress: 0.005%]
'Awakening progress? What does that mean?'
Before I could ask, another message appeared.
[Weapon Quality System:]
[Soul-bound weapons are classified by tiers that reflect their inherent power and potential:]
[- Common: Basic weapons with minimal enchantments or special properties.]
[- Uncommon: Weapons with notable enhancements or single specialized abilities.]
[- Rare: Powerful weapons with multiple abilities or significant magical properties.]
[- Epic: Exceptional weapons that can influence battles. Often have unique characteristics.]
[- Legendary: Weapons of immense power with sealed potential. Can grow alongside their wielder.]
[- Mythical: ???]
[The Einsworth Family Saber is classified as Legendary-tier. Such weapons typically have their true capabilities sealed, requiring specific conditions or resources to fully awaken. Your saber can be strengthened by consuming cores, artifacts, and other sources of power.]
I pressed the fourth and final core to the gem, eager to see what would happen.
[Feed this core to the Einsworth Family Saber?]
[Yes / No]
'Yes.'
[The Einsworth Family Saber has consumed: Novice Beast Core (Crimson Maw)]
[Insufficient unique properties to extract new ability.]
[Core energy has been absorbed. Weapon awakening progress increased.]
[Current awakening progress: 0.01%]
A new message appeared below.
[Note: Full awakening of a Legendary-tier weapon requires immense resources and time. Current progress indicates you are 0.01% toward complete awakening and revelation of the weapon's true potential.]
[Warning: The path to awakening is long. Legendary weapons do not yield their secrets easily.]
I stared at the number. Zero point zero one percent. That was barely anything. A fraction of a fraction.
'How many cores would I need to feed it to reach even one percent? Hundreds? Thousands?'
But even that tiny progress felt significant. The saber hummed contentedly on my hip, sated for now, and I could feel through our bond that it was marginally stronger than before.
'Two new abilities and progress toward awakening. Not bad for my first day with a soul-bound weapon.'
I looked around at the corpses, now missing their cores, and felt a grim satisfaction. I'd turned my enemies into resources. Their deaths had made me stronger.
'That's what I need to do. Keep fighting. Keep growing. Until I'm strong enough to face whatever comes.'
I checked my wounds one more time. They were still healing, but they'd hold. I could make it back to the estate if I moved carefully.
'Time to go. Time to face Duke Eamon and hope the saber's acknowledgment is enough to keep me alive.'
I started walking, following Kaine's memories of the path they'd taken into the forest. The sun was already beginning its descent toward the horizon, painting the sky in shades of orange and gold.
I needed to reach the estate before dark. The Saber Garden was dangerous enough in daylight. At night, with my curse drawing every predator in the area, I wouldn't last an hour.
My thoughts churned as I walked, weighing options and outcomes. Duke Eamon was a warrior. He understood strength. If I could demonstrate that the saber had chosen me, that I'd succeeded where generations had failed, maybe he'd see value in keeping me alive.
'Maybe. Or maybe he'll kill me anyway out of grief and rage.'
It was a gamble. But everything about my situation was a gamble now.
I'd been walking for perhaps twenty minutes when I heard voices ahead. Human voices, calling out in the distance.
'Search party? Already?'
I moved toward the sound, my hand instinctively checking that the saber was secure on my hip. Through the trees, I caught glimpses of movement. People in armor. Knights bearing the Einsworth crest.
And with them, a woman in servant's attire.
They hadn't seen me yet. I could still turn back, disappear deeper into the forest, try to escape this life entirely.
But where would I go? What would I do?
'No. I have to face this. Running won't solve anything.'
I stepped out from behind a large tree and into their line of sight.
One of the knights spotted me immediately. "There! Someone's coming!"
The group turned as one, and I saw their expressions shift from alertness to recognition to joy.
"Lord Abel!" the maid cried out, her face lighting up with relief. She started running toward me, her eyes brimming with tears. "Thank the heavens, you're alive! We were so worried when you didn't return, and—"
She stopped mid-sentence, mid-stride, as she got close enough to see my face clearly.
The joy drained from her expression like water through a broken dam.
"You're... you're not..." Her voice trailed off, confusion and disappointment warring on her features.
The lead knight stepped forward, his hand dropping to his sword hilt. His eyes narrowed as he took in my appearance. The torn clothes. The bloodstains. The legendary saber hanging at my hip.
"Kaine," he said, and the name sounded like an accusation. "Where is Lord Abel?"
The other knights moved to flank him, their expressions darkening. The maid took a step backward, one hand covering her mouth.
I saw it in their eyes. The shift from hope to dread. From relief to suspicion.
They'd been expecting Abel, the golden son, the hero candidate. Instead, they'd found me. The disappointment. The screw-up.
And Abel was nowhere to be seen.
The lead knight's grip tightened on his sword.
"I'll ask you one more time," he said, his voice low and dangerous. "Where is Lord Abel?"
The air grew heavy with tension, and I realized with sinking certainty that my gamble had just become much more complicated.