Read Novel Full Chapter 546- Blooming Delicia (3)
Chapter 546: Chapter 546- Blooming Delicia (3)
The training field soon became bustling, some heading toward the gates for patrol, others toward the armory or barracks.
Delicia also started to move. However, instead of heading for her duty, she walked toward the far edge of the field, where the ground dipped unnaturally, as if something immense had once struck the earth and never truly let it heal.
Needless to say, she was walking towards the crater, where the Hammer of Resolve rested. At some point, trying to lift it had become part of daily routine though not officially.
While the Commander did say that they should try to wield it, it was not a command. That being said, every member of the Temple of Light, from veteran holy knights to fresh recruits, had stepped into that crater at least once to lift the hammer.
They poured every mana, strength, faith and stubborn pride in their body, everything they had into that moment.
Nevertheless, the outcome was the hammer never budged from its place.
It did not shift, not even a tremor. Eventually, people stopped attempting and the hammer was mostly forgotten or more like it became a fixture, a part of the training field.
As such, when Delicia descended into the crater, only a few people glanced her way at first.
Then that person began telling that to his comrade and the latter to another.
"Hey, isn’t that Delicia?"
"Hey, isn’t that Delicia?"
Before long, a loose crowd formed at the crater’s rim. Among them were also knights and High Ranking Knights who had been about to leave and others who simply couldn’t resist curiosity.
They formed a wide circle around the crater, eyes fixed on the lone figure below.
"Dame Delicia huh, she’s talented, no doubt about that, but that hammer’s another matter."
"Didn’t even Sir Bob fail to lift it again a few days ago?"
"Not just Sir Bob, all the Holy Knights tried again and failed."
The discussion grew livelier as speculation took root.
There was no doubt that even with her talents sealed, Delicia’s performance up until now was fast and eye-catching.
Some sounded hopeful of her chances, caught up in the idea that maybe just maybe today would be different.
Others were pragmatic, dismissive even recalling her summon from a day ago.
Besides, the hammer was just too damn heavy.
Meanwhile, from the opposite edge of the field, four figures approached.
Seeing the crowd gathered, they walked over only to see Delicia giving the Hammer challenge a try.
Bob crossed his arms, brow furrowed as he peered down into the crater.
Marcus let out a low whistle, half impressed, half skeptical.
Grey’s expression remained unreadable, eyes sharp as he studied Delicia’s stance.
Zerina tilted her head slightly, her panther tail behind her curled in quiet thought.
"The Hammer of Resolve huh, even after mastering new skills and taking another step towards [Limitless] the hammer still remains out of our league."
Bob muttered, thinking about his attempt a week ago.
Marcus clicked his tongue, slightly annoyed.
"That thing isn’t just heavy. It rejects us. I swear, it feels heavier the more I try to lift it."
Grey from the side nodded. "It’s not about strength alone. Both stats or skills have failed to move that thing. The only option I could think of is higher stages of Transcendent States."
Ever since their Commander had placed that hammer in the training field and told them to lift it as a part of their training, they have been curious about the weapon.
Later, after having failed numerous times, they had sort of developed a competition amongst themselves as to who could lift the hammer first.
Their confidence stemmed from the fact that they believed only the higher stages of Transcendent State can allow one to lift the hammer.
This belief came from the fact that neither stats nor skill could lift it. Because if it could, they as the holy knights with the most powerful stats in the order wouldn’t struggle so much in front of the hammer.
The fact that they saw the commander lifting it further bolstered their belief that it could be achieved through the Transcendent States.
What they didn’t know was that while they were not wrong, they weren’t right either.
The Hammer of Resolve, an inheritance left by Tollivar Stout that could easily kill a high ranking demon with one swing, was a top caliber weapon comparable to holy swords like the Galgano and Durandal.
"I know Delicia, she isn’t a person who acts without thinking," Zerina commented in interest. This woman, who was quite close to their Commander, was not only a comrade, but also a rival in love.
Down in the crater, Delicia stood composed before the hammer, unbothered by the commotion around her.
In her world, the noise above blurred into a distant hum and only the hammer existed. Her hands hovered just short of the handle.
Reinhardt had told her last night to try and lift the hammer, if it’s the current her, she would definitely succeed. She didn’t want to let him down, she didn’t want to betray his expectation.
And so, inhaling slowly, Delicia made her resolve.
At that moment, the instant her fingers touched the cold handle of the hammer, the world seemed as if it had slowed down.
Delicia caught her breath; her heart felt like it was tugged by something.
BADUMP... BADUMP... Instinctively, her first reaction was to look around.
Seeing that no one reacted, she placed her attention back on the hammer. This time, along with surprise, there was also another emotion mixed deep within her, the emotion of realization.
It really is talking...
She tightened her grip around the handle. That’s right, her exaggerated reaction was due to the fact that the weapon talked to her.
[... who... touch...]
She focused her mind and once again heard that voice.
Fractured words arriving as broken impressions. From the voice, it was hard to tell whether they were male or female or what they were trying to convey. Though one thing was clear, the voice was ancient, as if it had seen through the tides of time.
Delicia focused her mind, trying to listen to the voice in her mind. At that moment, the voice became clearer.
[Is... it... you who... touched... me?]
"Y-Yeah," she whispered.
[I see.... so you.... are the one.]
Saying that, the hammer became silent.
Then after a short while ,it spoke again, probing her.
[Are... you the... chosen?]
Before Delicia could wander, a pressure descended onto her, probing her mana, her body, and her will.
In that instant, images flashed inside her mind. Visions of standing while donned in blood soaked armor, a battlefield choked with corpses. The scene was so nerve-wracking that it was outright despairing.
Delicia had the urge to puke. Some of the visions she saw were so bloody and gory that it fully captured the dreadfulness and the threat the demons represented in this world.
[Seen... many strong... all... broke... dead].
[When hope dies... when hands... bleed... when no one comes... will you... stand tall?]
Hearing the words of the hammer and seeing the scenes it had witnessed throughout its journey, she finally understood what it meant to be chosen.
She felt the weight, the consequences of failure. The weight of standing alone while others fell. The weight of choosing to rise when every reason screamed to stay down.
The weight of the hammer, it was not a physical mass like everyone thought. No, the hammer was heavy because not just anyone can lift it with a half-baked resolve.
To lift the hammer meant to uphold justice and smite demons, unfaltering.
Honestly, the weight of the hammer was so great that it made her knees tremble.
Bombarded by the questions, Delicia could only shake her head.
"I don’t know."
She thought of her summon. Of the commander’s words, his trust and expectation. She thought of the many failures and disappointments she carried like a brand on her back.
Yet, every morning, she put on her armor anyway. This showed her unbending will. The determination to fight against her fate.
"I don’t know if I can be the chosen one. However, I will never stop fighting. Even when it hurts, even when it feels pointless, I will keep moving forward."
The hammer hummed, as if weighing her answer.
[The... resolve of pain... good.]
[But... not enough].
[Time thin... Call... despair arrives.]
With that, the hammer fell silent again.
Holding the handle, Delicia stayed unmoved for a moment, trying to understand what the hammer meant. Although it was not completely clear, one thing was certain: she had gained its recognition.
Or else, it would not have initiated a conversation or shown her all those visions. The pressure engulfing her disappeared. At the same time, the world rushed back in all at once, voices, footsteps, the cold winter wind brushing her face.
Delicia gasped softly, coming back to reality. In front of her was the hammer remained exactly where it was, unmoved, unyielding. Her fingers were still holding onto the hammer, feeling its incredible weight.