At night, Dawn Square was not as crowded with prospective sword-pullers as it was during the day.
Only a few people scattered about were trying their hand at drawing the blade.
The local residents had long gotten used to it.
That hilt practically welded to the rock—anyone who wanted to try could go right ahead. In the dead of winter, it was cold enough to freeze your hands off; no local would ever bother.
Right now, atop that boulder, the Sword of Heroic Resolve stood lonely and embedded, with no one else around.
Li Xiuman stared at the sword.
He knew that right at this moment, the sword was waiting for him as well.
“Sorry to keep you waiting.”
Step by step, Li Xiuman walked up and gently grasped the hilt.
“Behold the light of day once more.”
It didn't budge an inch.
Was it perhaps a little shy? It seemed this wasn't a Third Prince, but a Third Princess.
Li Xiuman exerted more force.
Hmm?
Still not moving?
How was that possible?
Li Xiuman figured he might just be holding the sword with the wrong posture.
So he switched hands and pulled again.
Had the sword rusted shut after years of wind and sun exposure?
Damn it, didn't the people here do any maintenance? Leaving his sword stuck here until it broke like this!
Li Xiuman adamantly refused to believe that the sword simply hadn't acknowledged him.
He pulled for a long time.
Finally, a horrifying possibility occurred to Li Xiuman. Could this sword... actually not acknowledge him?
Impossible! Absolutely impossible!
Crestfallen, Li Xiuman stepped down from the boulder. The Sword of Heroic Resolve remained stuck atop it, alone as ever.
He looked at the sign next to it.
“Only a true hero with a pure heart can draw this sword.”
“Bah!”
“To think there's such blatant deception!”
Desperate times called for desperate measures.
Although Li Xiuman didn't strictly need this sword, still...
This was the can opener for the Crystal Hero's coffin! He had to take it no matter what.
Since the proper way wouldn't work, he had to consider alternative methods.
Everything was for the Crystal Hero.
If he couldn't pull the sword out, couldn't he just carry away the entire boulder along with the Sword of Heroic Resolve embedded in it?
The Sword of Heroic Resolve might not acknowledge me, but I have immense strength!
Entirely feasible!
As for when to carry it off...
Li Xiuman looked up at the night sky. The stars were brilliant.
Wasn't right now the absolute best time?
Procrastination was a terrible habit, and besides, there was no one around right now.
Something so important didn't even have guards, as if they weren't worried about anyone pulling it out at all.
What a lazy bunch of people.
Li Xiuman stretched his joints and walked over to the base of the boulder.
Raising his wand:
“Tier 3 Magic: Crustal Upheaval!”
A brilliant yellow magic circle expanded, and the entire ground began to quake violently.
A few scattered passersby lost their footing and fell flat on their rear ends.
Several adventurers stared at Li Xiuman in utter shock.
This was Dawn Square in Dawn City!
What in the world was this guy trying to do?!
However, what came next left them even more dumbfounded.
They could guarantee that the sight that followed would haunt the rest of their lives.
The entire boulder holding the Sword of Heroic Resolve was hoisted out of the ground.
The massive stone looked practically like a small mountain.
And that unknown figure grabbed hold of the Sword of Heroic Resolve protruding from the rock.
Under everyone's shocked, dazed stares, he lifted the Sword of Heroic Resolve—along with the absurdly massive boulder attached to it—straight above his head!
“Th-Th-That... That...”
“...”
Speechless and utterly flabbergasted.
What kind of performance art was this?!
“I told you I could lift it!”
“The Sword of Heroic Resolve really does acknowledge me!”
“As expected of such a legendary sword—even its scabbard takes such a unique form!”
Li Xiuman tried to stash the Sword of Heroic Resolve into his storage space, only to find it completely impossible.
“Number Zero, cover my retreat!”
Before Dawn City could react, he had to make his escape!
Next, holding the Sword of Heroic Resolve aloft, Li Xiuman unfurled the Bone Wings from his back.
“Tier 3 Magic: Wind Spirit's Blessing!”
He soared into the air, flying straight toward the city gates.
The darkness of the night provided perfect cover.
Only after Li Xiuman had flown away did someone finally snap out of their shock.
Staring at the crater left in the center of the square, it finally registered in their minds—the Sword of Heroic Resolve had been stolen!
It was mainly because what they had witnessed was far too mind-boggling.
Incomprehensible and utterly absurd.
Was that really an action a human could perform? The creature capable of that couldn't possibly be human!
That guy had to be a monster wearing human skin!
What blatant slander!
Li Xiuman never wore human skin!
“Quick, quick!”
“Go report this immediately! Send people to intercept him right now!”
“If the Sword of Heroic Resolve is hauled off like this, Dawn City's reputation will be completely ruined!”
Someone shouted urgently.
“I'll pursue him!”
“I'll go report!”
“I'll... fill in the hole...”
“...”
Li Xiuman felt gleeful inside.
“Number Zero, I told you this sword wouldn't accept anyone but me!”
“It was just shy at first, embarrassed to let me draw it.”
“It really is a Third Princess, no doubt about it.”
As he spoke, Li Xiuman even waved around the grand—sword in his hands.
By now, he had already flown outside the city walls, continuing southward.
In any case, putting plenty of distance behind him was definitely the right move.
“Halt, little thief!”
Someone roared behind him.
“It's pursuers!”
Li Xiuman held up his grand sword.
“Are you sore losers?! Are you really being sore losers?!”
“It was agreed that whoever draws the sword gets to keep it! Trashy Dawn City, bah!”
Li Xiuman brandished the grand—Sword of Heroic Resolve as he looked back behind him.
Seeing the sword still stuck firmly in the boulder, veins bulged furiously on the pursuers' foreheads.
“Screw you, you filthy bandit! Return our sword!”
“In all my life, I hate sore losers the most!”
“Fine then, let's fight!”
“Behold my ultimate invulnerable magic: Super Invincible Army-Shattering Spear of Judgment!”
Magnificent magic circles overlapped layer upon layer.
“Quick! Defend!”
Seeing the menacing magic formation, the pursuers hastily set up defensive stances.
But then, Li Xiuman unleashed his spell without hesitation, detonating a massive cloud of smoke.
“Golem Creation!”
A horde of golems carrying identical giant boulders scattered in different directions.
“Shameless rogue, tricking us like that!”
“Catch him! Catch him!”
“Make sure you bring him back!”
Li Xiuman's speed surged once more.
However, to his surprise, the pursuers behind quickly dispatched all the golems and caught up to him.
They had high-grade area-of-effect destruction magic tools!
“Little thief, try this on for size!”
The earth split open beneath Li Xiuman's eyes, and a massive rock hand reached out from deep within the fissure to grab him.
Instant cast, Tier 4 Magic: Hand of the Earth!
Another magic item that could instantly cast spells!
Li Xiuman shot straight up into the air.
“Come forth, Deep-Sea Water Monster!”
The Deep-Sea Water Monster was summoned to shield him, its slimy tentacles coiling around the Hand of the Earth and giving Li Xiuman a chance to dodge the assault.
But immediately following that, the moonlight above went dark.
Looking up, he saw the massive phantom of a twin-winged Holy Light Angel thrusting a holy spear down at him.
With a single blow, it knocked the Sword of Heroic Resolve straight out of Li Xiuman's hands!
“Freeze!”
Spreading his bone wings, Li Xiuman lunged forward, drawing Crystal Orchid while raising his wand.
“Tier 2 Magic: Great Wave!”
A colossal wave submerged the twin-winged Holy Light Angel, which was then rapidly frozen solid.
An iceberg rose out of nowhere, freezing the lower half of the Holy Light Angel right inside it.
The dislodged Sword of Heroic Resolve, along with its attached boulder, was also frozen suspended midair.
“My Sword of Heroic Resolve!”
Still calling it by its full name at a time like this made it clear just how much Li Xiuman adored this Third Princess that recognized his noble character.
“Ignore him, get the sword!”
At this moment, Li Xiuman was farther from the sword, whereas the pursuers were closer.
His precious Sword of Heroic Resolve!
“Number Zero! Grab the sword!”
Li Xiuman shouted to Number Zero.
But Number Zero had already rocketed forward even before Li Xiuman issued the command.
At this moment, she was the closest to the blade!
There was still hope!
Right at this critical juncture, Number Zero tightly grabbed the hilt midair.
Then, she pulled!
A dazzling silver light illuminated half of the night sky.
Right there in midair, the Sword of Heroic Resolve was drawn out by Number Zero.
Number Zero—the true hero with a pure heart.
Rate on N.U.
