"The only one who could use all the ethereal arms within the kingdom was Nathaniel Heaven—no one else."
Shun's heart pounded unusually fast as he tried to form words, but his thoughts were too tangled. Elysia watched him with a curious expression, knowing that every word she had spoken was true. No one could wield another person's ethereal arm, not even her own mentor.
"W-what about the second complete ethereal warrior, Violet Remoria? What's her ethereal arm's ability?" Shun asked, struggling to push the words out. He was intrigued by the person who had wanted him as her apprentice.
Ignoring Shun's odd reaction, Elysia answered, "The second complete ethereal arm, Fell Paradise. Its ability is beyond words. Those who've witnessed its power often describe it as a 'realistic nightmare' or a 'temporal hell.'"
Shun's expression remained blank; the description was vague, offering little insight. He realized that Violet Remoria's abilities were something he'd have to discover on his own.
"For your information," Elysia continued, "the third complete ethereal warrior, Dominic O'Neill, had the ability to turn emotions into strength."
Shun's eyebrows lifted with interest. Elysia explained, "Dominic was once an old drunkard who wasted his life on alcohol until he met the Crusader King, Nathaniel Heaven. Dominic held immense significance to Nathaniel, being the first to stand up and support him during the dark ages. He received the third complete ethereal arm, which allowed him to alter the world with a mere shift in his emotions."
The conversation continued, with Elysia passionately recounting the abilities of the top ethereal warriors in Lordrixis. Shun listened intently, absorbing every detail. By the end, he had learned about the ethereal arms of Noah, who could teleport objects; Norton, who could manipulate time; Vergil, who could reanimate the dead; Ariel, who could enhance his sixth sense; and Vesanze, who could control all birds. And of course, Tom Smith, Osward White's instructor, was introduced to him—though it was simply a "strong heart."
Elysia mentioned that no one understood why Tom Smith's ethereal arm was ranked as the tenth, considering it was seemingly the weakest. It was so underwhelming that many mistook it for an instrument class ethereal arm. But Shun saw it differently. From Emilia Cylus's and his own experiences, he knew how much strength a strong heart could provide.
Eventually, Elysia got up to fetch herself a glass of water. Despite her youthful energy, even she couldn't talk for hours without needing a break. Shun took it as a cue to leave.
"Elysia, I'll be heading to the capital's outskirts. I'll come back to visit when I have time," Shun announced as he stood and moved toward the door.
Elysia nearly choked on her water, replying with surprise, "The outskirts? Do you know what kind of people hang around there?"
The outskirts were notorious, a place where the surrendered subjects of Tyrant Kolgwyn resided under the king's watchful eye. It was a place of filth, filled with outlaws and the remnants of battles. Although they didn't usually bother ordinary citizens or tourists, the people there lived in a constant state of savage warfare and betrayal.
Shun laughed heartily. "Of course not! I'm just planning to clear out some rascals from the sacred capital," he said, amusement lacing his tone. To him, the outskirts were a free and effective slaughterhouse—a place where he could collect ethereal arms without drawing the kingdom's attention. Even if King Eldran found out, Shun was confident he would turn a blind eye. After all, those living in the outskirts were never considered rightful citizens of Lordrixis, or even human.
Before Shun could step out, Elysia called to him, her tone serious. "If you're really going to the outskirts, look for a man named Dharma Layndra. Tell him who you are, and he'll keep you alive and safe at all costs."
"Shun, you're the only family I have left. We haven't had much time to get to know each other, so please, give me that chance."
Shun nodded, his expression sincere and equally serious. "Elysia, I've been through worse, without an ethereal arm, at a very young age."
"You're also the only family I have left. I promise that I'll always return to you, no matter what."
…
Shun's hometown, known as Waveston or Madland, was a small, uneventful town with few talented ethereal warriors. Despite the ruthless genocide that allowed Shun to harvest every ethereal arm, only a few were truly formidable and usable.
Among his collection, aside from his main ethereal arm, Imaginative Reality, there were only two more ascended class ethereal arms, along with the previous 86th ethereal arm, Frenzied Dream.
[Spears of Despair]
Class: Ascended
Weapon type: Spear
Ability type: Creation
When the spear is pierced into the ground, countless clones of it emerge, penetrating everything in the surrounding area. The summoning range is dependent on the number of living creatures nearby.
"They are the ones surrounded, not you."
And:
[Manhunter's Longbow]
Class: Ascended
Weapon type: Bow
Ability type: Stacks
The third arrow shot at the same target will be a guaranteed hit, ignoring all defences, evasion, or any other form of protection. (Complete class ethereal arms are immune to this ability.)
"No one can escape the hunt."
Shun shook his head slightly; these two ethereal arms were on the weaker side for ascended arms. However, he doubted that anyone could survive under the influence of Frenzied Dream.
As he approached the capital gate, a lunatic smile spread across his face. People might have mistaken his destination for paradise.
But how could Shun contain his elation?
Shun didn't kill for pleasure, but those ethereal arms belonged to him. He was simply going to reclaim what was rightfully his.