Chapter 518 - Birth of the Sunlight Warriors (2/2)

After trudging on for so long, the young man was already close to fainting. Still, his legs persevered on instinctively, and he would probably have walked himself to death if Jacker had let him do so. This was indeed a Warrior of unwavering resolve.

Allen smiled weakly back at him. He then hunched over to prop himself against his knees, as he took in huge gulps of air.

At that moment, their surroundings shifted. They now found themselves in a spacious hall, where the other Warriors were lying on square platforms.

After regaining a bit of his strength, he lifted an arm to wipe the sweat off his forehead. He then saw a black-haired Magician on the far side of the great hall. Though he could not clearly see his face, the figure exuded an indescribably oppressive air, as if he was the center of the universe himself.

That must be the Lord of Ferde. Allen’s heart shook with excitement. Without warning, he felt his body being lifted up into the air, and then he landed on one of the stone platforms.

A clear voice resounded in the great hall. “Warriors, do you see the vial beside your platform?”

Allen turned and saw a trough beside his platform. A crystal vial with a cork on it was placed in the trough.

The voice spoke again. “This is the Seed of Sunlight. It will restructure and strengthen your body once you drink it. You will all be endowed with Sunlight Power.”

Allen’s eyes widened with amazement upon hearing this. Some of the more impatient Warriors had already uncorked their vials and drank its contents in one gulp.

Allen was a bit more cautious than the rest. He hesitated for a moment. His limbs still sore from his journey, he feared that his grip would not be firm enough and that he might accidentally spill the Seed of Sunlight from its vial.

After hesitating for half a minute, Allen finally decided to take the crystal vial. He uncorked it and poured the fragrant, light blue liquid into his mouth.

Once the liquid slid down his throat, Allen felt an inferno raging down his throat and into his stomach. From there, the heat spread out rapidly to all parts of his body.

At first, Allen only felt his body temperature rising. Soon after, he could feel a sharp pain cutting through flesh, bone, and blood vessels like a knife.

There were now shrieks of pain around him. Some of the Warriors roared out in excruciating agony. Someone had fallen from their stone platforms onto the ground, where he rolled around as if trying to put out an invisible fire around him. Suspecting that they were all given poison, a few others angrily mumbled curses into the air.

Though he could still withstand the pain, Allen too felt a sense of suspicion rising in him. Could it really be poison?

At that moment, the voice resonated once more in the great hall.

“Warriors, power does not come out of thin air. The strong do not simply descend from the heavens. Only through fire can steel be forged; only through countless battles and bloodshed can a Warrior’s spirit be nurtured.”

An epiphany came over Allen. That’s right, one must experience great pain to become strong. How will any of us be able to attain greater power if we all fall under the weight of this ordeal right now?

Resolve filled his heart once more. He gritted his teeth and lay on the platform, letting the invisible knife carve through his body.

Only one thought surfaced in his mind. Our lord would not lie to us. I will make this power mine… I will succeed, I must succeed…

Time passed. After what seemed like an age, Allen felt that the pain in his body had subsided altogether. He now felt lighter and more at ease.

A mysterious power now lay within the depths of his body. This power was as fiery, domineering and passionate as the afternoon sun. When Allen first felt its presence, he also sensed that all the pain in his body had fled from him. This new power rapidly spread out in him, at the same time rejuvenating his weary body.

“Is this Sunlight Power? It’s really powerful!” Excitement sprang from Allen’s heart. Around him, he could hear shouts of joy and surprise from the other Warriors. They too had received this great power.

The power within their bodies grew from their chests and then to all four limbs. At last, a power circulation network had taken form inside their bodies.

The power in them continued expanding as it circulated through their bodies. Half an hour later, Allen could feel that the power’s rate of growth had started to slow down and stabilize itself.

Still, Allen felt that he was now a few times more powerful than before. He could also feel that his new power seemed inexhaustible and that he did not need to worry about using it up.

The clear voice spoke up again in the great hall. “Congratulations! Most of you were able to endure the experience and received Sunlight Power as a reward. From now on, you are now the Sunlight Warriors of Ferde.”

In the air, runes shaped like a golden sun appeared and drifted down slowly to the wrists of every Warrior who had successfully attained Sunlight Power.

There was a sizzling sound, and Allen felt a sharp pain from his wrist. Panicking, he lifted his sleeve and saw that a golden rune was branded on his wrist. The rune’s design was complicated, but he was able to make out the shape of a sword on it. The sword was in turn surrounded by a number of golden stars.

Allen counted six stars on the rune. He turned to the Warrior beside him and saw that the rune on his wrist bore four stars on it. Out of the Warriors in the great hall, only Allen had six stars around his rune.

Just then, Allen noticed that his sight had improved tremendously. He was able to see the little points of light on the wrist of a Warrior standing ten feet away.

The voice spoke again. “Allen, you possess incredible willpower and have endured the most pain out of anyone else. As your reward, I have bestowed upon you the strongest Sunlight Power among your squadron.”

A pale golden sword floated in the air towards him. Under the envious gaze of the other Warriors, Allen accepted the sword with both hands.

He saw that the light glinting off the sword was as clear as a stream, the runes on it elegant like a master painting. He grasped the sword’s handle, and the sword instantly resonated with the Sunlight Power in his body. Golden light shone out from the sword. On it appeared a row of golden words which read, “May sunlight illuminate the world.”

Allen’s chest swelled with pride. He rose up and held his sword up high.

Everyone looked at him with admiration and envy. With the sword in his hand, Allen had nothing to fear. He could sense that the Lord of Ferde was also looking at him, his eyes filled with encouragement.

I, Allen, will become the strongest Warrior in Ferde! Allen swore adamantly to himself.