Chapter 21: Before the game

Meilina asked, her curiosity piqued, “What is it?”

“Have you noticed that the tribes of companion spirit weapons here vastly outnumber those we’ve encountered at the academy?” Sephilia mused, making a comparison.

“It feels as though the academy only ever introduced us to a handful of tribes: the Radiant, the Abyssal, the Blazing, the Flowing, and the Whirling.

All of them corresponded to elemental systems like light, dark, fire, water, and wind, but here…”

Melo explained, “The Crag Spirit (TL Note: Referring to a spirit associated with rock walls or cliffs) also falls under the elemental category, as do Thunder Spirits.

Elemental Spirit tribes are divided into seven major groups: Earth, Water, Crag, Wind, Dark, Light, and Thunder.

Beyond these seven, there are also highly unique types like the Glimmering Spirits.

Furthermore, there are two Spirit Kings, Heavenly Sword and Blazing Sun, who exist independently of all other Spirit tribes; they belong to no specific lineage.

However, these particular Spirit tribes are exceedingly rare; either an entire tribe consists of only a few members, or, like Heavenly Sword and Blazing Sun, the tribe is comprised solely of themselves.”

Sephilia blinked, clearly surprised. “The academy only ever taught us about elemental Spirit tribes.

Are there really non-elemental ones too?”

Meilina’s face was alight with curiosity, this being new information to her as well. “Melo, have you encountered any of the others then?

Like Heavenly Sword and Blazing Sun?”

“You’re currently witnessing a Glimmering Spirit.

As for other non-elemental Spirit tribes, I’ve seen the [Pure Life] and the [Abyssal Death]; they were bitter rivals, in fact.”

“Just by their names, it’s clear these two tribes symbolize life and death, wouldn’t you say?” Sephilia commented.

“Indeed, and their power is frankly beyond comprehension.

As for Heavenly Sword and Blazing Sun… those two have always been shrouded in mystery; I’ve only ever heard the Radiant Knight mention them.”

“Are they even stronger than you?” Meilina couldn’t help but ask.

In her understanding, or rather, in the understanding of all humanity, the Radiant Knight was already the most formidable Spirit Master from ancient times to the present.

His standard 100% resonance rate was, in fact, a level that most other Spirit Masters could only ever dream of achieving in their entire lives.

With only a slight increase in focus, he could effortlessly reach 200%, and at his absolute limit, he could sustain a 500% resonance for a full ten minutes.

If anyone could be said to transcend the limits of understanding, it was certainly the Radiant Knight, who had already surpassed the comprehension of nearly everyone.

Excluding the Radiant Knight, the strongest Title Knight, the Godslayer Knight, who bore the title of “Godslayer,” possessed a maximum resonance rate of only 201%, and even then, he nearly lost his life breaking past the 200% threshold.

And this didn’t even account for the 1000% resonance rate the Radiant Knight unleashed in a desperate state during what the world believed to be his final battle.

People simply could not fathom what kind of state that truly was!

According to common knowledge in this world regarding Spirit Masters and companion spirit weapons, a resonance exceeding 10% was required for a companion spirit weapon to manifest as an [Exoskeletal Armor].

The [Exoskeletal Armor] was, in essence, merely a partial manifestation of the [Spirit Art Battle Armor].

The [Spirit Art Battle Armor], on the other hand, required the Spirit Master and their companion spirit weapon to achieve a 50% resonance rate for its complete materialization.

Its appearance was that of a “half-covered exoskeleton armor.”

This was also a level attainable by the vast majority of Spirit Masters in this world.

When the resonance rate reached 100%, it was referred to as the “Ultimate State”; at this point, the Spirit Master could finally unleash all the power of their companion spirit weapon, and the Spirit Art Battle Armor would evolve into its ultimate form—the [Spirit Energy Regalia].

The Spirit Energy Regalia was the complete form of the Spirit Art Battle Armor, immense in size, with both offensive and defensive capabilities far surpassing the Spirit Art Battle Armor; it featured an internal cockpit, where the companion spirit weapon would revert to its humanoid form, requiring both the spirit weapon and the Spirit Master to pilot and operate it together.

As for resonance rates above 100%, which represented the maximum achievable by Spirit Masters other than the Radiant Knight and was the standard level for Title Knights, people referred to it as the “Transcendent State.”

In this state, the Spirit Energy Regalia’s size would not increase further; instead, it would shrink to approximately three meters, and the companion spirit weapon would transform from a physical entity into a spiritual one, existing within the cockpit.

Even when the Godslayer Knight reached 200%, there were no further changes in its form.

Thus, the true state of the Radiant Knight at 500% resonance was known only to those who had fought alongside him.

For instance, his five Title Knight teammates who had betrayed him.

As for 1000%, not only was it unknown to others, but even Melo himself had no clear recollection, as he had been in a dazed and muddled state at the time.

After listening to Melo’s account, the three remained silent for a long while.

It was quite some time before Sephilia suddenly spoke. “Hey, what do you think?

Haven’t we just stumbled upon some of the world’s most fundamental secrets?”

After speaking, she turned to her companion spirit weapon, Huiyao, and asked, “Huiyao, do you know anything about what she just said?”

Little Huiyao’s head was filled with question marks.

‘They don’t even know what their own Spirit Art Battle Armor looks like, so how could they know all that?’

Meilina, too, couldn’t help but dream of what the future might hold.

She pictured herself and Melo piloting a colossal mech together, soaring across the battlefield, and the mere thought filled her with an irresistible yearning!

“Stop daydreaming for now; there seems to be some activity over there, which likely means the competition is about to begin.”

Wynn, who was standing nearby, interrupted their fantasies, pulling them back to reality.

After all, things like the Spirit Energy Regalia were still far too distant for them.

Though the two had successfully raised their resonance rate to 20% in a mere ten days, the higher the resonance rate, the slower the progression became.

After all, the so-called “telepathic understanding” was largely achieved at a 10% resonance rate.

How to advance further beyond that point, once such a connection had already been established, relied entirely on the gradual exploration and refinement between each Spirit Master and their companion spirit weapon—a process that even Spirit Master training institutions like the Knight Academy could not teach.

Following the sound, everyone looked towards a high platform in front of the forest, where a man now stood.

He was clad in a red and white knight’s ceremonial attire, his posture tall and straight, his features handsome.

His shoulder-length, wine-red hair was subtly curled, his eyes seemed to gleam with divine light, and a faint, almost imperceptible smile played on his lips, giving him an air of dashing elegance and heroic charm.

“What an ostentatious show-off,” Sephilia whispered, leaning closer to Meilina’s ear.

Meilina offered a dry chuckle, not particularly impressed by the man on stage.

In her words, he couldn’t even compare to the dead skin on the Radiant Knight’s heel.

“Greetings, everyone, and a good afternoon to you all.

I am Roswell Lien, the chief judge for this Knight Tournament’s Youth Division preliminary round.

Please, feel free to address me as Judge Lien.”

He appeared exceptionally refined, exuding an air of nobility.

“Next, I shall outline the rules for this competition.”

No sooner had he spoken than an impatient voice rose from the audience. “Isn’t it just a battle royale?

What’s there to explain?

Just start already!

I’m sick of waiting!”

A youth with a rooster-like hairstyle struck a haughty, arrogant pose.

Lien, whose speech had been interrupted, showed no sign of annoyance, maintaining his faint smile. “Not quite.

The rules for this competition are a little different.”

He scanned the crowd. “If it were merely a battle royale, it would be all too easy for weaker individuals to avoid combat and simply coast by, which would be unfair to those strong participants who are eager to fight.

Therefore, for this competition, I have decided to add an extra rule.”

“That doesn’t seem right,” another voice interjected, cutting Lien off. “Adding rules on the fly—surely that’s against regulations.”

“Exactly!”

“How can you just add rules on the spot?

That’s far too casual!”

“Is this really a legitimate competition?”

A chorus of agreement rose from the crowd.

Sephilia pursed her lips, muttering, “Hmph, those are clearly the ones who want to coast by.”

Lien on stage, naturally aware of their intentions, allowed his expression to turn cold, his tone losing its previous geniality. “As the judge for this competition, I am the rule.

If anyone disagrees, they are free to withdraw.”