The Adventures of an Overpowered Knight in Another World Chapter 547- Blooming Delicia (4)

Unlike earlier attempts, the hammer now seemed liftable without any resistance. She sensed intuitively that it was no longer opposing her.

Panting heavily, she took a deep inhale, stepped one foot ahead, aligned her back straight, positioned her body properly, and applied her full force.

Right then, the event unfolded.

A clear, piercing noise echoed through the air. The shaft shifted, only a bit. Yet it did shift.

Up on the practice area, chaos broke out among the onlookers.

"What was that?! You all saw it, right?!"

"Impossible, absolutely impossible!"

"My goodness, it shifted. It really shifted!"

Several followers from the Temple of Light rubbed their eyes in disbelief. Some others bent forward without thinking, jaws dropped wide. Waves of incredulity rippled out, quickly covering the whole training area in an instant.

Even the Holy Knights struggled to contain their shock.

Bob, who was normally calm, stood rigid in place.

Marcus drew in a sharp breath, his face showing over-the-top surprise.

Grey’s gaze tightened, as if pondering deeply.

Zerina felt both startled and entertained by her competitor succeeding where she had failed.

"That wasn’t through any Transcendent State; she got it to react?" Grey muttered, challenging his own reasoning.

Down in the pit, ignoring the guesses flying around, Delicia concentrated solely on the hammer.

When she attempted to raise it this time, though it budged, she clearly sensed opposition. Sure, it wasn’t as fixed as before, but the pushback stemmed from the stubborn essence of the weapon spirit.

Similar to a mountain that recognized her but wouldn’t budge an inch.

Refusing to quit, Delicia gripped it with both hands for another try.

The hammer vibrated once more.

Then,

Before the stunned gazes of all present, pebbles under the hammer shook, dirt cascaded from the hammer’s sides, and it rose from the earth.

At last, the hammer came up.

Facing this astonishing sight, quietness fell, overtaking the earlier uproar.

The crowd remained frozen, eyes glued to the scene. Without question, the hammer had risen. Not merely tipped, but its whole form elevated a complete inch above the surface.

The effort wasn’t smooth or effortless at all; everyone saw Delicia straining hard. Still, the fact remained that she had raised the hammer which neither she nor the holy knights had even budged before.

In the depression, no longer able to keep it aloft, the hammer crashed back to the ground.

Stumbling back several paces, Delicia breathed heavily. Sweat drops fell from her chin to the rock beneath, and her arms tingled with numbness.

Even with the overwhelming fatigue from just raising it an inch, a grin of fulfillment and joy spread across her features.

She had succeeded.

Though she hadn’t fully earned the Hammer of Resolve’s approval, she had connected with it and spoken to its weapon spirit. She hadn’t let down the commander’s hopes.

Feeling content, she eased up briefly.

Right then, profound tiredness overwhelmed her frame, and her sight faded. Moments before passing out, she sensed firm, dependable arms catching her and the commander’s visage blurring into view.

"You performed admirably."

Those were the final words reaching her ears before blackness claimed her.

.

.

A pristine white met her gaze first. Soft white bedding, light drapes fluttering softly in the breeze, and the recognizable aroma of healing plants.

As Delicia’s eyes fluttered open once more, she realized she lay in the infirmary. She blinked repeatedly, her skull pounding mildly, like she’d collided straight into a barrier.

"I’m..."

"You’re awake now."

At that instant, a voice came from nearby.

Glancing over, she spotted Reinhardt seated on the stool, arms folded across his torso, looking completely at ease.

A brief flash of relief crossed his features before his typical composure returned.

"C-Commander!" Delicia moved to rise up on reflex.

But a steady hand pushed softly on her shoulder, halting her motion.

"Take it slow; you fainted from overusing your mana and stamina. Pushing now would double your recovery time here." Reinhardt said, assessing her state.

She agreed with a nod and flopped back onto the bed, staring blankly at the overhead.

Memories then rushed back. The pit, the hammer linking with her, revealing those images and testing her determination, and her effort to hoist it.

Ultimately, by straining to her utmost, she had hoisted the Hammer of Resolve a solid inch into the air. That was her final recollection before darkness engulfed her.

As it turned out, she had blacked out. But just prior, she had clearly seen the commander’s face, supporting her as she fell.

Considering how just an inch had depleted her so severely, she couldn’t fathom the toll of truly swinging the Hammer of Resolve.

Delicia mused, filled with awe and skepticism.

Drifting in her reverie, quiet lingered for some time.

Perceiving her mindset, Reinhardt commented. "Even with the hammer’s recognition, wielding it demands immense weight due to its nature. Having been with Tollivar Stout, it took in his techniques, knowledge, and might. Certain stat thresholds must be met to handle it at all."

That explained it; no surprise there. She inclined her head.

She had earned the hammer’s nod; yet her stats hadn’t hit the mark for normal use.

With her Intermediate (High) and Intermediate (Intermediate) levels, it burdened her frame greatly, causing rapid drain on her mana and vitality.

Delicia swallowed hard, her fingers clenching under the covers. "Commander, exactly as you mentioned, the hammer truly possesses a weapon spirit."

Reinhardt’s eyes intensified a touch.

More than a month prior, when Delicia first caught that odd hum and approached the area, the commander, who was there too, informed her it sought contact.

He noted that the Hammer had evolved to elite status, rivaling the Holy Sword. At the time, she harbored some doubt.

But after linking with the hammer and being examined by its spirit on her resolve, belief was unavoidable.

Upon her statement, Reinhardt eased back a bit, tension leaving his posture like shedding a burden.

"If you can perceive the weapon spirit now, the hammer has accepted you. Well done." He commended, a faint smile appearing on his lips.

His look toward her wasn’t that of a leader to a junior squire, but to a true knight treading the perilous road alongside him.

"So, have I not let you down?" Delicia gazed at him, her eyes fatigued from weariness and dread of failure, quivering slightly.

Reinhardt denied it with a shake, easing her concern.

"No, you’ve exceeded what I anticipated."

He spoke truthfully. Though he valued her [Prodigy] trait greatly, he saw he had lowballed her potential. Reinhardt had foreseen her syncing with the hammer on the first go.

But she surpassed that and actually raised it.

It’s worth noting that Tollivar Stout, the hammer’s original bearer, had every stat at Pinnacle max. Thus, to swing the hammer infused with the knight’s power and skills required Pinnacle-level stats.

Delicia, recovering her vigor, remained only at level 5.

"Keep this in mind: the Hammer of Resolve wields power to slay even ruler-class demons. Simple drive and power won’t unlock its full might. What’s essential for its use is this."

Reinhardt balled his hand and tapped his chest with his thumb.

"It demands a steadfast heart. The resolve to face hopelessness without faltering."

Delicia nodded firmly, glad and resolute that she hadn’t failed him.

As he wrapped up his words, sounds of clamor grew from outside.

Delicia’s squad mates—Kevin, Gwen, Silvia, Vangeance, and the rest—burst in upon learning she had stirred.

Suddenly, the serene infirmary filled with their lively chatter. They arrived thrilled by the reports and concerned for her well-being.

In that moment, seeing the fretful and caring faces of her companions, Delicia felt deeply moved. This was a far cry from years back, when she lay in the Silver Shields’ infirmary bed, isolated without allies or friends.

Now, however, surrounded on all sides, she had reliable friends and comrades she could depend on fully.

She was alone no more... her final barriers crumbled completely, and she felt liberated.