Chapter 61: Evan’s Aura Blade

Evil mana tightly wrapped around Evan.

It pressed as if strangling his throat, threatening to kill him instantly if he destroyed the totem.

“A curse…”

Evan snorted.

His current Holy Power exceeded 5,000.

Such a curse was nothing but a joke to him.

Without hesitation, Evan slashed the cursed totem with his sword.

The totem’s head flew off, and at the same moment, wicked mana engulfed Evan’s entire body.

[Hostility towards the: Nervan Cult has increased.]

[You have been afflicted with a: life-draining evil curse.]

[Maximum health: reduced by 50%.]

[Strength: reduced by about half.]

The power of the curse was indeed immense, but it only lasted briefly.

[The curse has been lifted.]

Evan’s Holy Power quickly dispelled the curse.

No, it didn’t even affect him at all.

At the same time, as the totem’s power vanished, new messages appeared before Evan’s eyes.

[The power controlling the: Ogres has been removed.]

[You have found one clue related to the Nervan Cult: (1/3)]

‘So it really was their scheme.’

This confirmed that the Nervan Cult was plotting something here.

‘No, not just here—they’re probably active elsewhere right now as well.’

At the very least, he had to stop them in the Talin Region he belonged to.

‘I’ll have to report to strengthen the defenses.’

The tasks ahead suddenly became much heavier than expected.

***

Having completed his mission, Evan returned with the knights.

He immediately went to where Andre was waiting.

“I just heard the news! You really reclaimed the gorge…”

Evan showed no interest and got straight to the point.

“Enough. I have urgent reports to make to the higher-ups.”

He shared some of the information he had uncovered—about the Nervan Cult’s activities and the prophecy the priestess Jena had told him last time.

The Baron’s Territory was now in danger.

“W-Why would that happen? How did those fanatics set their sights on this place?”

The reason was clear: information from the Baron’s family had been leaked due to Heres and Hilton.

But Evan couldn’t say this carelessly.

“That’s internal family business. I can’t tell you.”

It wasn’t good for the Hilton and Heres incidents to become widely known.

Looking back, it was wise that Clyd quietly handled the matter.

Besides, the people involved with Heres and Hilton would eventually find out anyway, but it was best to keep it as secret as possible.

With enemies everywhere, all members of the Baron’s family had to clean up the mess caused by Hilton and Heres, without exception.

“A troublesome lot to the very end.”

“What? Troublesome?”

Evan waved his hand dismissively.

“No, it’s nothing. Just write up the report quickly. And take care of the Ogre corpses.”

“Yes! I’ll handle it right away.”

“Oh, and after that, organize all the key points we need to capture next, and schedule everything.”

“You don’t mean the territorial expansion plan…”

Evan roughly pointed at the map.

“As long as I’m here, all annual goals will be achieved. So you need to give it your all too.”

Andre wore a solemn expression.

Normally, he would have dismissed it as nonsense.

But after seeing Evan’s performance here, he trusted him.

He took care of the traitors and protected the knights.

He even solved the long-standing Ogre problem and truly reclaimed Aspa Gorge.

An impregnable fortress-like stronghold.

He found the Ogre stronghold and cleared it out completely.

It was unbelievable news, but the corpses of the Ogres he brought back proved it.

He was trustworthy.

“However, I found something a bit strange. It’ll go into the report, but I want to confirm it first.”

“What is it?”

“I heard from a subordinate knight that there was an Ogre attack during a past incident. Tell me about that.”

“An Ogre attack?”

Andre frowned as he recalled.

Then he seemed to remember and spoke.

“There was an attack back then. It was probably the first time Ogres appeared. That day was hectic with many things happening…”

“Many things?”

“Yes. That week, Hilton came for a border patrol. He always took charge personally. But that day, it wasn’t scheduled. He just showed up suddenly. I had to scramble to prepare and reported the border status while escorting him.”

“Unexpected patrol…?”

Evan pondered briefly, and Andre continued.

“The Baron’s Territory was pushing a territorial expansion plan, so Hilton said he came to inspect. But strangely, he ordered a search party that day, and for the first time, they were attacked by Ogres.”

***

After Andre finished, Evan nodded as if understanding.

Now he knew how the Talin knights lost half their strength.

‘Hilton probably formed that search party. He must have placed some of the leadership inside.’

Hilton was quite meticulous.

While pretending to carry out the territorial expansion plan, he was plotting his own schemes.

‘He’s pretty clever.’

Evan ordered Andre.

“Record every place Hilton visited in Talin without missing any.”

They might find something else investigating Hilton’s movements.

Evan decided to invest his remaining time in training after the mission.

He sat cross-legged in the middle of the empty sparring ground.

Closing his eyes, he began to sense the mana within his body.

‘At this aura level, it’s worth trying.’

After hunting the Ogres, Evan felt the need to raise his Aura Mastery further.

His Aura Mastery level had recently passed A and reached level 9.

Through training and battles, his aura control had improved significantly.

But now, he faced a plateau.

It was the first wall commonly met at the mid-level Sword Expert stage.

Every swordsman meets this wall at least once, but he couldn’t afford to be stopped by it.

‘My aura retention time is decent, but I can’t settle here.’

The next stage.

‘Aura Blade.’

A refined aura shaped into a sharp blade—a highly sophisticated technique.

It requires aura density, retention time, concentration, mental strength, stamina, and mana conversion all at once.

The biggest gap between mid and advanced Sword Expert was precisely the difference in aura blades.

Advanced users could mimic aura blades with aura, but there was still a huge difference.

‘It’s whether or not you can use aura blades.’

And beyond that, the difference between advanced and top tier was whether you could wield a powerful aura blade.

Between the two wasn’t just a wall—it was a mountain.

Of course, for Evan, who had already reached the top once, it was nothing.

The real task now was how fast he could break through his physical limits.

He would take the shortcut, recalling his past experience.

Moreover, this time the mana operation method was different.

Thanks to the Mana Diviner skill, he fully understood mana’s essence.

And he could precisely control mana based on the power of the soul.

He would quickly master aura control by applying this method as is.

But he had never handled converted aura directly with soul power.

‘Aura or mana—they’re essentially the same.’

Theoretically, it was entirely possible.

Evan slowly steadied his breath and began manipulating mana.

Through soul power, he moved mana, increasing its density until it transformed into aura.

He then focused on controlling the aura in that state.

‘I feel like I can handle it soon.’

He started controlling aura through soul power.

Gradually, it moved; normally, moving aura felt like moving feathers.

But now, aura felt like moving a solid iron lump.

Evan opened his legs, picked up an iron sword, and concentrated to form an aura blade.

He started refining aura and breathing it into the sword.

Controlling it precisely was excruciating.

‘Damn it! Move.’

The aura wouldn’t obey his will.

Sweating profusely, Evan controlled the aura through soul power with all his might.

***

After struggling for a while.

A faint bluish aura flickered from the blade.

Because it was refined aura, the sharpness was even more vivid.

Just as the aura blade was about to take shape,

“What’s going on all of a sudden?”

Celia entered the sparring ground, breaking his concentration.

The aura blade vanished without a trace.

Of course, it was a success, but Evan was left frustrated that he hadn’t yet swung it once.

He narrowed his eyes and looked at Celia.

“Did I do something wrong?”

Celia scratched her cheek nervously, sensing Evan’s slight displeasure.

He seemed uncharacteristically uneasy.

Evan shook his head.

“No. More importantly, where are Alan and Reynold?”

“They’re following behind me.”

Celia pointed behind herself.

Evan had ordered them to come here.

Whenever there was no other order, they had to come to the sparring ground.

When Evan trained, his subordinates were no exception.

The three who were dragged here looked at Evan with different expressions.

Alan and Reynold wore familiar expressions, as if this was nothing new.

Celia looked tired.

‘Shouldn’t she rest on a day like this? They just had a fierce battle against the Ogres. Training immediately after?’

‘Did Evan read her thoughts?’

“I told you already, get used to it. Physical training must be steady. I’ll only increase training from now on.”

“I won’t decrease it, so be prepared.”

Saying that, Evan raised the sword in one hand and beckoned with the other.

“From now on, all three of you, come at me. I’ll keep sparring until you win. So give it your all.”

“…Yes?”

Celia’s pupils trembled as if an earthquake hit.

Reynold grinned, showing his teeth.

“Got it! Looking forward to it!”

Alan sighed and shook his head.

“But, sir, are you really okay? Three opponents, not two.”

“I’m getting used to facing you guys. It’s better this way—one more than two.”

“Don’t underestimate our growth.”

Celia chimed in.

“Three on one? Are you mocking me?”

Evan smiled, pleased.

“Then prove it.”

He pointed to the practice swords.

“Use iron swords.”

Though they were made for practice, the swords were still made of iron, so they were blunt but heavy.

Celia was about to say it was reckless, but Reynold picked up the largest iron sword, designed for greatsword wielders.

Alan picked up a long sword suitable for himself and swung it once.

“W-What? You’re really doing this?”

Celia hesitated, flustered.

But Evan wasted no time and gave the starting signal.

“Then, let’s go!”

“Sir, we’ll give it our all.”

Alan and Reynold raised their aura.

Without a moment’s hesitation, they charged at Evan.

Clang!

Reynold’s large iron sword clashed with Evan’s blade.

Surprisingly, Evan blocked it effortlessly, showing no reaction.

He lightly absorbed the overwhelming destructive power as if it were nothing.

“Reynold, didn’t I tell you not to rely too much on strength? Your aura control is still lacking.”

Evan parried Reynold’s sword and immediately blocked Alan’s strike one after another.

“Alan, you’re a mid-level Sword Expert, yet your aura control is still at that level?”

Evan leisurely critiqued as he defended against their attacks.

Celia couldn’t hide her astonishment.

‘No matter who you are, that’s impossible.’

She’d seen his skill fighting Ogres, but a duel between knights was on a completely different level.

A duel between swordsmen depended on swordsmanship, aura, technique, skill, and experience.

Swallowing nervously, Celia picked up an iron sword.

She drew up as much aura as possible, wrapping it around her body.

She swung her sword aiming for Evan’s opening while he was busy with Reynold and Alan.

Clang!

“Hah!”

Her attack was completely blocked.

It was terrifyingly unreal.

Even seeing it with her own eyes, she couldn’t believe it was possible.

“There’s no time to be distracted.”

With Evan’s brief remark, a powerful blow landed on her abdomen.

“Ugh!”

Celia was sent flying far away.

Without the aura around her, she would have taken significant damage.

At the same time, Alan and Reynold were also knocked down.

Evan smirked and gave them advice.

“From now on, if you don’t give it your all, it’ll be tough.”

Soon, a faint aura blade began to form on Evan’s iron sword.