Chapter 38: Golden Slash, Level 4; Ripple

So far, all of the breathing methods that Levi knows are related to various creatures, and these creatures often become the emblems of various families.

It seems that all breathing methods are related to creatures that exist only in legends.

To promote their noble lineage, some families invent various legends to form a narrative of their breathing method.

His father once told him that the Black Snake is destined to bring light and order to a chaotic and dark world.

Fiddling with the assassin’s dagger in his hand, he could see that it was about a foot long and that it was intricately crafted; the end of the dagger was curved and coiled like a snake’s tail.

“This dagger was dipped in poison… and it seems like some rare metals have been melted into the dagger,” Levi muttered as he studied the dagger. “I can probably re-smelt this to make it my own dagger.”

“This mask resembles the plague doctor’s mask, so it’s probably used to prevent gas from entering my system…”

“My god, thank god he didn’t use this, or I would be dead by now…”

Levi investigated the assassin’s belongings one by one and felt that these items were just becoming more and more unusual.

“When Knight Fred comes back, I need to ask him about these items…”

Levi couldn’t go back to sleep, so he spent the entire night training.

After experiencing his first assassination attempt, he became more vigilant.

He felt that it was too unsafe to sleep in such an easy-to-find bedroom. He decided to build a shelter in the castle that only he and Knight Fred knew about, stocking up on supplies and making an alarm system.

The morning came, and after Levi finished training, there was noise from the militia outside. He hurriedly went out and found a dead soldier’s body.

“My Lord, somebody killed Polk last night.”

The militia captain looked terrified and bewildered. A soldier dying under his watch on a cold, dark night without him knowing.

Levi knew that there was a high chance it was the assassin who had killed him while sneaking in.

“Cremate him. Send food and money to Polk’s wife,” Levi ordered.

“I expect more vigilant patrols at night!” Levi announced it coldly. “Otherwise, don’t blame me for what’s to come.”

He didn’t tell anyone what had transpired last night. He couldn’t guarantee that there weren’t any spies among his subordinates.

Levi became more and more aware of the importance of strength in this world.

If he didn’t become a qualified Knight, he would be dead by now.

It is precisely because of my training that I am alive today, he thought. ‘I need to become stronger…’

He plans to practise more breathing techniques to enhance his physical body, perhaps perfecting it by becoming an all-rounded warrior.

After two days of intense training, under the scorching rays of the training ground, Levi’s arm shook rapidly, swaying his sword through the air and creating ripples in the air.

Then, a force many times higher than his usual Vibrate was transmitted from Frostmourne to an iron plate half a finger thick.

Click.

And Frostmourne pierced through the iron plate like a hot knife through butter.

Frostmourne itself shook with violent strength as if it couldn’t contain the power within it.

[Golden Cross Slash Proficiency +4]

[Unlock a new special effect: Ripple (Beginner)]

Levi was overjoyed.

“The power of Ripples… I got it!”

This terrifying ability is equivalent to cutting through iron.

And it only took Levi three years to master it.

“I-it’s all thanks to my proficiency panel,” Levi stuttered, gracefully aware of how far his panel had gotten him.

Levi Snyder

Black Snake Breathing Method: Level 4 (56/20000), Special Effect: Defence

Golden Cross Slash: Level 4 (1/20000), Special Effect: Vibrate (Advanced), Ripple (Beginner)