Chapter 550 – Elemental Prep.

Robert stood in a well-lit chamber, his breath steady as he adjusted to his new form. The room was large, resembling a sterile underground warehouse with long fluorescent lights that provided bright, even illumination, something rarely seen in this world of swords and magic. Roland stood before him with his arms crossed, analyzing him with a scrutinizing gaze.

“Now, go ahead, why don’t you try starting with that ‘Vow’ skill.”

In the middle of the chamber, there was a training dummy made out of special iron wood. Robert took a deep breath, centering himself. The transformation he had undergone was still fresh, and his body felt unfamiliar, almost too powerful for his own control. But this was what the training was for. Roland stood a few paces away, as always wearing his runic armor and looking like the lord from within his ascension ritual space.

Robert focused on the skill he had seen in his system, ‘Rune Arch-Knight Vow. ’ He wasn’t entirely sure how it would manifest, but he understood that knightly vows required conviction. He thought back to the battles he had fought, the struggles he had endured, and the promise he had made to himself to protect those he cared about and grow strong enough not to be a burden.

“I swear upon my blade and my strength… that I will never falter in my duty to protect the ones I hold dear…”

‘Something like that?’

Skills became ingrained into the very being of those who possessed them, so he had a general sense of what he was supposed to do. However, the vow had to be spoken aloud, with real emotion and conviction behind it. If he simply muttered random words without meaning them, the skill would not activate.

The moment he spoke, something within him clicked. A surge of energy coursed through his body, and he was suddenly bathed in a soft, ethereal glow. The runes covering his armor, as well as those on his practice sword and shield, began to shimmer and pulse. The energy coalesced around him and the runes, enhancing their power exactly as the skill had described.

“I see… interesting.”

Roland nodded, his arms still crossed. Robert wasn’t sure what his brother saw on that visor of his, but it was probably important information. Roland wanted to create a new suit of armor for him, and for that, he needed to understand all of his new skills.

“Good. Now, let’s test how far this vow enhances the rune skills. Strike the dummy when you’re ready.”

Robert nodded and took a step forward, raising his sword. He felt the shift in his stance, his movements were heavier, yet strangely fluid, as though his body had adapted to a new rhythm. The moment he swung his sword, the runes on the blade flared to life, resonating with the power of his vow.

A sharp crack echoed through the chamber as the sword connected. The impact was instantaneous and devastating. Instead of merely denting the training dummy, the ironwood splintered and shattered outward, sending fragments flying across the floor. A gust of force followed, as if the very air had been displaced by the sheer magnitude of his strike.

“That was more than I expected. It seems your vow affects the magnitude of the amplification. Perhaps the length of the words also matters. We’ll have to perform a few more tests. Maybe try mentioning someone specific.”

Roland stepped over to one of the shattered pieces and picked it up. This was not the first time Robert had used the skill, but it was already his second attempt. Previously, he had made a shorter speech, something more general and with much less weight behind it.

“Someone specific?”

“Yes, like perhaps your mother… or Lucille.”

“L-Lucille?”

Robert’s words got caught in his throat as his face reddened slightly. His brother might have been smirking, but it was hidden behind his helmet. Roland was always a step ahead and if he said that it would work, then there was a high probability that it would.

“You’re telling me that the skill responds to personal connections?”

Robert asked, trying to steer the conversation back to something less… embarrassing.

“A knight’s vow is usually tied to their honor, duty, or an individual they swear to protect or serve. If this skill is anything like traditional vows, invoking a specific person might enhance its effectiveness. You don’t really have someone you serve, so choosing someone close to your heart will probably work best.”

That made sense, but his brother seemed to be forgetting something. A vow of vassalage already existed between them, so in theory, he should be able to direct the skill at his brother. However, if this skill reacted to emotions, then perhaps his one true love, Lucille, was the best choice.

The only problem was that she was right there with them, watching from the sidelines and using her own skills to study examining magic.

“…G-go ahead, Robert. Don’t mind me.”

“I…”

Robert swallowed hard, feeling the weight of his brother’s words and Lucille’s presence to the side. He took a deep breath, focusing on the surge of emotions within him. The vow skill had a short cooldown but burned through half of his mana. Only through the use of mana potions could he realistically use it multiple times.

“I swear upon my blade and my strength… to stand as Lucille’s shield, to never waver, to protect her from harm, no matter the cost.”

The moment the words left his mouth, something inside him ignited. A surge of energy rushed through his veins, stronger than before. His armor and weapon flared brilliantly, the runes pulsing with an intensity that surpassed his previous attempt. The glow from his body shifted, becoming steadier, more resolute, as if it had found its true purpose.

“I was right. The conviction in your words strengthens the effect. Your runes are burning brighter, more stable. I suppose it’s the power of love?”

“Hey!”

Robert blushed even deeper as his brother ended the sentence with a mocking tone. However, this also seemed to be part of the test, as when his emotions were riled up, the runes on his practice armor started flickering.

“As I thought, under emotional turmoil, the skill weakens… You’ll have to watch out for that, Robert. Now how about we move on to that ‘Invoke Rune’ skill…”

*****

‘Quite the particular class this is, it has a lot of potential… I wonder.’

Some time had passed since he had examined Robert’s Arch-Knight class. The skills his brother showcased were intriguing but also somewhat limiting. He did not receive the specific knight skills that a Champion Swordsman would gain, but he could still learn them. Once he reached Tier 3, his swordsmanship was elevated to master rank along with many of his other skills.

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‘With the right equipment, it’s going to be much stronger than a Champion, and that stat multiplier can’t be ignored.’

Roland started typing. Before him was the monitor in the lowest level of the workshop. He had managed to create something resembling a personal computer from his original world, and even the keyboard he made was identical. His fingers moved across the keys with ease, a testament to his old life.

It felt a bit strange for him to create a file on his own brother, but he needed to save the data he had collected. Besides the ‘Vow’ skill, the most interesting ability allowed Robert to invoke certain runes, even on pieces of armor that had not been touched by a runesmith. Robert only knew a few basic runes, mostly granted through the knowledge transfer from his ascension ritual. However, there were ways to learn more complex rune structures, ones that Roland could customize to fit his fighting style.