『Boreal Sea』
As the ship sailed across the vast Boreal Sea, Archibald spent his time getting acquainted with his new companions, Rubik, Taro, and Nermel.
Taro, impressed by Archibald's swordsmanship skills, and his lack of knowledge on [Spirit Armor] lent him a book on martial combat and swordplay.
Excited to learn, Archibald spent the night poring over the pages of the book, cupping an oil lamp in hand as he flipped through the ancient tome.
Under the flickering light, Archibald read through tales of legendary warriors, magical creatures, and epic battles.
He read about Saint Melcius, the greatest swordsman of his time, who single-handedly defeated the ferocious beast, Fafnir.
Archibald skipped over the more mundane parts of the story and focused on the details of Saint Melcius's fighting style.
"I've already read those before, so it's not important I guess.." (Archibald)
As the ship sailed towards their destination, Archibald became lost in the world of martial combat, eagerly studying every detail of the book.
Meanwhile, Lamperogue snoozed soundly beneath him, unaware of the epic tale unfolding right above his head.
--- More than 2,000 years ago ---
"In the ancient land of Serilion, it was said that the gods bestowed their blessings upon the worthy. The Mana God granted magical powers to the people, the Death God granted the ability to sense the dead, the Life God granted healing abilities, and the Creation God granted the power of invention and innovation. However, the Technique God never gave his blessings to anyone, as it was said that his gifts were too powerful and dangerous."
Flip.
"But one day, a child was born unlike any other. His name was Melcius, and his talent for swordplay was evident from the moment he picked up a wooden sword. His parents, who were both warriors, were overjoyed at their son's talent and trained him relentlessly in hopes he would become a great hero."
Flip.
"As Melcius grew older, he trained harder than anyone else. He sought to master swordplay, and he never faltered in his desire to become the greatest swordsman in the land. Day after day, he practiced, his sword whistling through the air as he honed his skills. His parents were proud of their son but began to worry. Melcius had surpassed them in fighting prowess, and they feared he would become arrogant and rash."
Flip.
"One day, they decided to take Melcius to the temple of the gods, hoping he would find guidance and humility there. They entered the temple, and Melcius fell to his knees in awe at the majesty of the gods. His parents prayed for guidance, and as they knelt, a ray of light shone down upon Melcius. Suddenly, the Technique God appeared before them in a shimmering aura. The parents trembled, for they knew of the power and danger that came with the god's blessings."
Flip.
"But the Technique God looked down upon Melcius with a smile and said, "Child, you have worked hard and surpassed all who came before you. You have a natural gift for swordplay, and I have decided to bless you with my gifts."
The Technique Godʼs gift — The ability to master anything.
Melcius was stunned. His parents could hardly believe what they were seeing. The Technique God touched Melcius' forehead, and suddenly, a burst of energy shot through his body. Melcius rose to his feet, his sword in hand. He felt a new fire burning inside him, and he knew that he had been given a gift unlike any other.
From that day on, Melcius became a legend. He defeated foes that no one else could."
Flip.
--- More than 1,600 years ago ---
"As Melcius continued to grow in power and fame, he began to attract followers. They were drawn to his incredible skill with a sword, but they also recognized something deeper within him. They saw a purity of spirit and a commitment to justice that was unparalleled in their world. As time went on, Melcius began to use his powers in ways that went beyond swordplay. He healed the sick, inspired the downtrodden, and spoke words of wisdom that seemed to come from beyond human understanding."
Flip.
"Eventually, a group of his followers now known as the Melcius Faithful began to refer to Melcius as a saint, and they started to worship him as a divine being. Melcius was initially taken aback by this, as he did not believe himself to be anything more than a mortal man with a divine gift. However, he soon saw that his followers found great solace and strength in their faith in him, and so he began to embrace his role as a spiritual leader as well."
Flip.
"Melcius began to preach a philosophy of compassion and humility, of using one's talents for the betterment of all, not just of oneself. His teachings resonated with people far and wide, and his faith quickly spread throughout the land.
Today, the religion of Melcism is one of the largest and most beloved faiths in the world. It teaches that each person has a divine spark within them, and that by practicing kindness and striving for excellence, they can cultivate that spark and bring it to its full potential. Melcism is a faith of hope and inspiration, its followers striving to live up to Melcius' example and bring light to a world that often feels dark and bleak."
--- More than 1,500 years ago ---
"Even though he acquired the Technique Godʼs blessing and created the Sword Saint school, he was rejected by the magi for being a swordsman, a class that many at that time considered outdated. But Melcius persisted and continued training, innovating and refining his sword skills until he finally discovered the technique that would change everything.
On a fateful day, he received a divine message, from the Technique God
"The only way to win an unwinnable fight is to become unbeatable."
This message inspired Melcius, and he began praying to the Technique God. Days turned into weeks, and weeks turned into months and months to decades with no answer from the deity. Melcius was on the brink of giving up when, finally, he received a vision from the divine. In his vision, he saw a faint outline of his body covered in a thin and almost transparent layer of mana, visibly increasing his strength, speed, and agility. From then on, he spent his time creating and perfecting the [God Saint Spirit Armor], pushing it beyond its limits until it became a true mastery of close-range combat."
Flip.
"As he gained mastery over the God Saint Spirit Armor, many other swordsmen began experimenting with it, developing various styles and techniques to use it in combat. However, it was only a matter of time before the Combat God intervened, vowing to develop an even stronger unarmed combat technique than the God Saint Spirit Armor. And as promised, he eventually developed the [Combat God Spirit Armor]. With this armor, the user could enhance their physical attributes more powerfully than the God Saint Spirit Armor, making it the ultimate unarmed fighting style."
Flip.
"As time passed, the legacy of Saint Melcius and the God Saint Spirit Armor lived on. Although the God Saint Spirit Armor is still called by its original name, some now refer to it as the Melcius Armor, a testament to the legacy of Saint Melcius, the second generational Sword God."
Flip.
--- More than 800 years ago ---
"After the discovery of the God Saint Spirit Armor, there was a lower version called the Spirit Armor. The Spirit Armor was a simple enchantment that could boost a warrior's physical abilities, though to a much lesser degree than the God Saint Spirit Armor. It was created by a group of magi who wanted to compete with the swordsmen and martials and their physical prowess. However, the Spirit Armor proved to be difficult for non-swordsmen and martials to use effectively, as it required a certain level of physical strength and agility to control."
Flap.
Archibald closed the book.
"So that's why Magi and Gunners can't use [Spirit Armor] effectively despite them being the ones who created it." (Archibald)
Archibald immediately recalled something Muramasa said.
Before she ghosted him that is.
"(Muramasa said something about me having the Technique Godʼs blessings... Well, there's no need to take that seriously I guess. And besides, it's not like she appears in my dreams anymore)" (Archibald)
He reclined his back on his bed and sighed.
His eyes slowly closed and he drifted off to sleep.
They'd arrive in Aalakhor Archipelago tomorrow.
He needed to rest.