While Ren and his companions were making their way back to Eupeheim by horseback, a different scene unfolded elsewhere.
At the center of a solitary island offshore stood a lonely shrine. It was a site dedicated to the Lion King—a sanctuary so remote that visitors were almost non-existent.
"Phew... I guess they aren't just lying around everywhere."
A girl’s voice drifted through the air. Wrapped in a jet-black robe, she stood on the isolated island and let out a weary sigh. In her hand, she held a treasure she had recovered from deep within a magically unearthed cavern inside the shrine. It was a mana stone.
The seals protecting the shrine’s interior were robust, designed to withstand even the most advanced modern intrusion, yet she had shattered them without a second thought.
The girl leaped from the hollow of the shrine and began to walk across the island toward the small wooden boat she had arrived in.
"I was hoping for more Hero Equipment... but I suppose it can't be helped. I'll have to search elsewhere."
She set the boat in motion with magic. After a few minutes of sailing, she spoke again.
"If I don't head back soon, the Sword King and the Witch will notice me. Fighting those kids is such a hassle."
As she moved further out to sea, a massive shadow glided through the water directly beneath her small craft. She pulled back her hood, allowing the sea breeze to toss her hair. It was silver, shot through with several thick streaks of black. A cool, knowing smile touched her refined features as she narrowed her eyes.
Her eyes were striking—mismatched odd-eyes that shone like polished jewels.
"Here, take this. Go and run wild, Apostle of the Giant God, Wadatsumi."
She tossed the mana stone she had plundered from the shrine down toward the immense shadow lurking beneath the surface.
The sea stretching out beneath the cape where Ren and his party traveled began to churn. The surface heaved irregularly before massive pillars of water erupted into the air. These pillars lashed out like whips, threatening to strike the very edge of the cliff.
"Please, step back."
Edgar moved to the front, drawing the twin swords from his waist. Both blades hummed with blue waves of energy, mirroring the absolute ice Edgar commanded.
Ren recognized the technique instantly. It was a special Art available only to those of the Sword Saint class. It was similar to the demonstration Lady Estelle had given him and Licia, yet fundamentally different. These Arts changed their nature based on the soul of the wielder.
"Do you truly believe you can lay a hand on my master while I stand here?" Edgar asked calmly.
He was one of the few true masters of the blade. His essence was absolute ice—a chilling Enshroud that froze anything it touched, perfectly representing the core of his magic.
In that heartbeat, a vision flickered through Ren’s mind like a passing memory of a life he hadn’t lived.
'Hmm... where did you learn the Strong Sword?'
'From a certain woman. She's incredibly strong.'
'S-Surely not from the Lion Sanctum—'
'No way. She's actually looking for me, since I killed Chronoa. The same goes for you, Edgar. It was someone else.'
The scene was set inside a dusty, ancient building. A different Ren Ashton was speaking with Edgar. They were clearly the versions of themselves from the alternate timeline Ren had glimpsed before.
'So, how about it? I was hoping you’d show me your Strong Sword Arts, Edgar...'
'As you wish. I shall show you my own unique Strong Sword.'
In that vision, the light had been a beautiful, piercing blue—exactly like the energy Edgar was manifesting now.
The vision ended in less than a second. It confirmed that even in the original Legend of the Seven Heroes, Ren and Edgar had been allies who traveled together. Ren didn't know the circumstances that had brought them together, and while he wished he could see more, there was no time for reflection.
The water arms clashed with Edgar’s blades and froze solid instantly.
"I'm here too, Edgar!"
Ren, having finally regained his focus, summoned his Red Sword—the Flame Magic Sword. He swung, meeting a newly surging water arm and vaporizing it into harmless seawater. The resulting heatwave was dispersed by the sheer pressure of his swing, blowing the frozen remnants back into the ocean.
Edgar glanced back at Ren and smiled. "Your skills have improved once again."
They had to use this opening to retreat toward the city. Positioning himself behind Ulysses to provide cover, Ren spurred his horse forward while keeping his senses sharp. At the same time, his mind raced to make sense of the situation.
Why was the Apostle of the Giant God, Wadatsumi here?
It was a monster usually found in the waters surrounding the Demon Continent—a servant of a much greater power. It was a formidable beast that was destined to attack the Imperial Capital in the future. Ren remembered seeing it in his dreams.
It was the same beast Vane and the others were supposed to fight in the seas of the Capital after Ren Ashton murdered Chronoa.
The King of the Sea. The Apostle of the Giant God. There was no doubt it was the same species, yet the timing was all wrong. Had Vane’s group already driven it off, or had it appeared here for a different reason entirely?
"Ren Ashton! It seems this is the monster we were warned about!" Ulysses shouted over the wind.
"Yes! But I don't understand why it's here!"
"The reason is irrelevant; it has invaded my territory! Fortunately, I've bolstered our forces for just such an occasion, but I never expected it to come this close!"
Battleships would likely arrive soon, but the jagged rocks of the cape were making the inland retreat difficult. The road hugged the cliffside, offering a clear view of the water below. Ren caught sight of a massive shadow swimming beneath the surface.
It didn't look injured.
If it hadn't been wounded, then it hadn't been repelled by Vane and the Leonard family. That left two possibilities: either it had bypassed the Leonard territory entirely, or—though Ren didn't want to believe it—this was a second individual. Given the lore that several Wadatsumi existed, he couldn't rule it out.
The guild ranked this monster as an upper B-rank. It was a perfect opponent for Hero Equipment.
Suddenly, a low rumble vibrated through the water.
'Oooooooo!'
A breath attack was building beneath the surface. It didn't look like a beast that had fled a previous battle; it looked fresh and hungry. Edgar, Ren, and the knights prepared to move, but Ren felt a sudden, jarring sense of wrongness.
Something was off. The Wadatsumi was powerful, yes, but it shouldn't have been this powerful. It was manifesting energy far beyond what the individual attacking the Leonard battleship should have possessed. It felt one, maybe even two tiers stronger.
This wasn't an upper B-rank. It was approaching A-rank. Its body was larger, its fins more luminous with mana.
Ren tightened his grip on the Flame Magic Sword. The blade responded, sending a familiar heat through his limbs—the same heat he had felt during his struggle against Asval. He had faced a legend; he would not be intimidated by this.
'Goooooooooo!'
The unleashed breath was terrifying, carrying more destructive force than any magical weapon. A torrent of water slammed toward the cape. Ren knew he couldn't stop this with a casual swing from horseback.
The Red Sword flared. Ren unleashed its power, vaporizing the leading edge of the attack into steam. The resulting shockwave caused the cliffside behind them to crumble, but the party remained safe for the moment.
The Wadatsumi fixed its gaze on Ren. It had initially been wary of Edgar, but it had now identified Ren and his flames as the true threat. Ignoring the shallow water, the beast surged toward the cape.
The impact of its approach cracked the stone. Massive water arms slammed into the cliff, isolating Ren from the rest of the group.
"Ren Ashton!" Ulysses cried out in alarm.
"Go! Get to safety!" Ren shouted back. "I'll withdraw once I've bought some time!"
He didn't intend to stay and fight to the death; he just needed to be a distraction. Ulysses hesitated, but he knew his presence would only hinder Ren. With a click of his tongue in frustration at his own helplessness, he spurred his horse and fled toward the city.
Now alone on the crumbling cape, Ren looked down at the sea. The opponent had every advantage in the water, yet Ren found himself surprisingly calm. His battles with Asval and the Sword Demon had tempered his spirit.
His horse neighed and reared back. The Wadatsumi surfaced, its eyes locked on Ren.
For a moment, they simply stared at each other—the boy on the cliff and the monster in the surf.
Then, the beast moved. Pillars of water erupted across the sea as it began to manipulate its domain. Ren raised his sword, a small smile playing on his lips.
"I guess I've gotten strong enough that this doesn't feel like a death sentence anymore."
The sound of the cape collapsing echoed like thunder. Ren’s horse, which carried the blood of monsters, didn't flinch. It leaped across the falling debris as Ren guided it toward the last stable sections of the cliff.
"Thanks for the ride," Ren whispered, stroking the horse's mane. "Get out of here. Head back to the city."
He leaped from the saddle, using falling boulders as footholds as he plummeted toward the sea, swinging his Flame Magic Sword to parry the incoming water arms.
"Haaaah!"
Crimson flames met the water, turning the limbs to mist. The Wadatsumi’s intelligence was clear now; its eyes widened in surprise as it realized the insignificant boy was far more dangerous than he appeared.
As Ren landed on a ledge of the half-shattered cape, a strange sensation washed over him. He heard a soft, melodic resonance—fohn... fohn...—like the distant song of a flute.
He didn't understand what it was, but he felt his Enshroud shifting.
"Burn it all!"
He pushed the Red Sword to its limit, creating a massive wall of fire that incinerated every water arm that dared to approach. The steam was blocked by the heat, protecting him. Yet, even as he held the upper hand, he felt a strange instability in his mana. The flute-like sound rang out again.
The Wadatsumi leaped from the water, its massive tail swinging like a battering ram toward the cliff. Ren braced himself with his sword, but the sheer weight of the beast was too much. He was sent flying backward. A stray pebble grazed his cheek, leaving a thin trail of blood.
Ren twisted in mid-air, landing on his feet and thrusting his blade into the stone to slow his momentum. He glared back at the monster. It was already preparing another breath attack.
Ren considered using that power—the technique that had been flickering in the back of his mind—but he hesitated. The strange resonance in his Enshroud made him wary of making a mistake.
He parried the next breath attack with the Red Sword, but the pressure was mounting. His clothes were shredded, and shallow cuts marked his hands and face. The Wadatsumi was relentless.
Finally, Ren made his decision. He couldn't win by playing it safe.
He dismissed the Flame Magic Sword and summoned the Mithril Magic Sword in its place. As the last of the cape gave way beneath him, he braced himself in mid-air.
"Bring it on!"
Water magic exploded around him from all directions. The spray soared into the sky, but as it did, the Wadatsumi also heard that melodic, flute-like sound. Then came the flash of light.
"I told you, Wadatsumi—I'm strong now!"
Ren caught sight of a group of young adventurers hiding behind some rocks near the shore. He couldn't let them get caught in the crossfire.
Lady Estelle and Fiona were racing toward the cape, having encountered Ulysses on the road.
"Fiona! Why are you out here?" Ulysses had demanded.
"Forgive me," Estelle had answered for her. "I felt it was safer for her to stay with me than to return to the mansion alone. Besides, she was already outside, helping the citizens evacuate toward the inland."
Fiona had performed her duties admirably, guiding the people of Eupeheim to safety under Estelle’s direction.
"You did well, Fiona," Ulysses said, his voice softening.
"I only did as Lady Estelle instructed," she replied.
As they spoke, a violent tremor shook the earth. Then, they heard it—the faint, melodic sound of a flute carrying on the wind.
Estelle’s expression shifted instantly. Her eyes widened with genuine shock, followed quickly by a look of profound amusement.
"Heh... that boy." She looked over at Edgar. "Edgar, did you hear it?"
"Without a doubt," the old steward replied.
The tension that had gripped the two masters vanished. They were suddenly as calm as if they were enjoying an afternoon tea.
"Fiona," Estelle said, "would you like to go and fetch Ren?"
Meanwhile, far away in the Leonard Territory, Vane was standing by a window at the Magic Ship Dock, looking at his hands.
"Vane? What's the matter?" Sera asked, coming up beside him.
"Oh, nothing," he replied with a wry smile. He was thinking about the power he had manifested during the battle and comparing it to Ren. "I was just wondering if I’ve finally started to catch up to him."
Sera smiled. "I'm sure you have."
The battlefield had shifted from the cliff to the sea itself. Ren had descended to the water, using his Great Tree Magic Sword to create sturdy footholds of roots.
"Run! Get to safety!" he shouted to the hidden adventurers. Once they fled, he turned back to the monster.
His Enshroud felt different now—perfectly synchronized. The flute-like resonance became clearer and more powerful. He was moving with a fluidity and strength he had never known before.
Fohn...
The Wadatsumi charged, its massive body cloaked in an armor of water. Ren met it head-on with the Mithril Magic Sword. He was no longer just buying time; he was dominating the fight. He dodged the beast’s lunges and carved deep wounds into its side.
Feeling its life in danger, the Wadatsumi’s instincts took over. It charged with everything it had, aiming to crush Ren against a nearby island.
Ren gritted his teeth as the sandy beach of the solitary island approached. The moment his feet touched the ground, he planted himself and shoved back with every ounce of his strength. The monster lost its balance, its massive head crashing into the sand and gouging out a deep crater.
The beast surfaced again, desperate. It conjured a massive vortex and towering pillars of water that threatened to swallow the island whole. But Ren was already prepared. He pointed the Mithril Magic Sword toward the sea.
The flute-like sound reached its peak—a beautiful, resonant note that seemed to command the world.
Back on the cape, Estelle and Edgar stood watching the offshore island.
"Can you hear it, Fiona?" Estelle asked. "That flute-like melody?"
"Yes... I can."
"A researcher explained the origin of that sound over a hundred years ago," Estelle said. "When an Enshroud reaches a certain peak, it stops growing for a moment to prevent the body from being destroyed. It’s a pause in evolution. To move beyond it, the body and the mana must synchronize perfectly."
Edgar nodded in agreement. "The membrane of mana outside the body and the mana within begin to resonate as they adapt to one another. It’s a struggle that lasts only a few moments."
"The melody," Estelle continued, her heart racing with excitement, "is the sound of that resonance. It carries through the air, riding the wind."
She looked at the island where Ren was fighting.
"Since ancient times, this phenomenon has been known by a special name."
Everyone held their breath, waiting for the master knight to speak the words of legend.
"The Sword Saint Sings."
The melody stopped.
Ren hadn't gained a new sword after the battle with the Sword Demon, but he had gained something else: its techniques.
Around him, rocks and debris floated in the air, held aloft by a dense field of mana. This was the same power that had nearly killed him and Licia at Roses Kaitas.
"Here we go."
Ren felt a surge of power unlike anything he had ever experienced. He thrust the Mithril Magic Sword into the ground.
"Wadatsumi!"
He unleashed a torrent of energy that swept across the sea, vaporizing the monster’s water armor and shattering its defenses in a single, thunderous blast. The beast was left vulnerable, its eyes glowing with a final, desperate rage as it made one last charge.
"This is the end!"
Ren summoned the Authority Sword—a power accessible only to a Sword Saint.
As the energy gathered around his blade, it manifested in waves of brilliant silver and deepest jet-black. This was his essence, the color of his soul.
He swung the Mithril Magic Sword.
A massive wave of silver and black energy tore through the air, striking the charging Wadatsumi with the weight of a god’s judgment.
'——...'
The monster’s eyes reflected the image of the young Sword Saint for one final moment before the life left them. Its forehead cracked with a sound that reached the heavens. Its massive body slumped onto the island, and the earth trembled one last time.
Particles of light drifted from the corpse, swirling through the air before being absorbed into Ren's bracelet.
Water Magic Sword (Level 1: 1/1)
It was the power of the Goddess of Water.
The battle ended there, punctuated by the birth of a new Sword Saint and the acquisition of a new blade.