Turning Chapter 947

When thinking simply about the concept of balance, the easiest analogy is a scale or a seesaw. Kishiar, too, was constantly mindful to maintain equilibrium among the four forces that occupied his inner vessel. He always used those forces evenly, taking care that none became excessive or deficient.

To consume something in order to empty and restore balance.

The fissure that vanished after the lives and power spent on the day of hail.

Two seemingly unrelated events — yet when expressed this way, didn’t they strangely resemble one another?

If so, then when they once again faced an event like the day of hail, the best thing they could do might not be so different from precisely balancing both sides of a scale.

Kishiar had once spoken of this idea to Yuder — back when he had finally awoken after sleeping for a long time following the day of hail. It had been buried among the many stories he shared to help ease Yuder’s tension, but Yuder seemed to have remembered it well.

How could he have remembered that so clearly, when his body was so fatigued he would drift off into unconsciousness without realizing it?

Kishiar’s lips curved faintly into a smile, then smoothed again.

So, asking him to balance the scale means...

To achieve unshaken balance on a scale, one must never hastily remove the burden. Only by slowly, carefully relieving the load from the heavier side, and holding the lighter pan steadily, could one finally achieve the goal.

In this case, what they had to remove wasn’t the lives of allies or innocent people — it was solely the power and life of the monsters that had crossed over through the fissure.

However, unlike the day of hail, the monsters they now faced were completely different — that was the variable. On that day, the creatures that had escaped the fissure were numerous and individually small, such that even mages lacking in strength had been able to handle them with ease.

But now, the creature that was trying to emerge from the underwater fissure with tremendous vibrations was a massive monster — so massive that even Steber had shuddered at the sight of it.

But Yuder judged it could be done.

Kishiar found the basis of that judgment in Steber’s report.

According to Steber, the colossal monster attempting to come through the fissure was “a lump of seemingly countless things clumped together, with no consistent form.” The tentacle-like limbs that attacked them hadn’t even been real legs. The creature, with its inconsistent, dough-like body, had been forcing its immense form through the narrow fissure, and only a portion had managed to emerge — hence the shape.

Others may have imagined various things upon hearing that description, but that wording wasn’t Steber’s own idea. Among those who descended to the seafloor, only Yuder had actually seen the monster lurking within the fissure. Steber had merely repeated what Yuder had told him as faithfully as possible.

There were some people who, consciously or not, would insert personal assumptions or unnecessary details when relaying information — but Steber wasn’t one of them. With a background in long-time trade, he had a polite manner and a deep understanding of the weight words carried.

And above all...

The Yuder Aile Kishiar knew was not someone who embellished his reports with artistic metaphors. His reports were always made up solely of what he had seen and heard himself. Therefore, the phrase “a form like countless things clumped together” wasn’t poetic — it was literally what Yuder had seen.

Countless things. Clumped together.

Why hadn’t he specified what those countless things were?

If he hadn’t known what they were, Yuder would have described them as “unknown things.” That meant the opposite must be true: he had recognized them, but there were too many to specify — thus making it meaningless to list them.

Combining that interpretation with the information he had, Kishiar could draw only one conclusion.

If those countless things were recognizable, but too many to list, then what if it were possible to deliberately separate them out, one by one, using their own will?

If a method existed to divide that massive monster into smaller, individual entities — and if Yuder had guessed or discovered such a method — wouldn’t it be worth trying the balance technique Kishiar had once spoken of?

It was obviously far easier to prepare for a tangible enemy than for an inexplicable natural disaster.

If Kishiar’s thoughts and judgments were correct, then when that monster stirred again during the next tremor, they would find out the answer for sure.

Amid the tension, everyone moved to their assigned positions. Steber had also returned after completing a check-up at the temporary medical tent.

“Are you alright, Steber?”

“Yes, Commander. After receiving Priest Lusan’s divine power, I feel like strength is surging through me. I’m ready to go back.”

When Kishiar nodded, Steber saluted and immediately dove into the sea. Unlike before, when he had departed more leisurely, this time his silhouette vanished at a speed that left the others silently watching in awe.

Once Steber’s figure had disappeared beyond the sea fog, Kishiar stepped forward and drew his sword. The churning waves lapped and receded at his feet and hems, but he paid them no mind.

His crimson eyes and the tip of the divine sword Orr unwaveringly aimed at the water.

Though rough, the waves had been relatively rhythmic — until suddenly, without cause, they trembled ever so slightly.

“......”

Droplets collided and splashed upward, confused by the shift in current. One after another, the waters began to churn more violently in similar patterns.

Kishiar grasped the hilt of his sword with both hands and slowly raised it. The position he took — the very first stance from the swordsmanship manual — was one that Yuder Aile had once seen and deemed perfect.

As he paused in that posture and drew in a deep, soundless breath, his chest expanded and a brilliant blue energy began to shimmer around the blade.

That’s Swordmaster’s Aura...!

From a distance, Jimmy Ocker swallowed hard. Too young for direct combat, he was in charge of gathering and relaying information. Instinctively, he glanced at the small sword strapped to his waist.

He, too, could envelop his blade in a similar blue energy. Everyone said it was no different from Aura, and Jimmy had believed that. The fact that he had joined the Cavalry at such a young age and possessed power comparable to adult Awakeners had made him quietly proud.

But now, seeing the true Aura of a Swordmaster with his own eyes, Jimmy realized it was something different.

The Aura, so concentrated it looked like the blade might explode under the pressure, was terrifying enough to take his breath away. What would happen if he tried to face that with his own power? No matter how he imagined it, he couldn't see any way to win.

The proof of a Swordmaster’s presence, shining resplendently before the sea, felt so surreal it was almost beautiful — though it wasn’t the time to be thinking such things.

To think that the figure holding a sword, and the young aura-wielder like himself, could both inspire fear and awe this way.

In the moment the boy was lost in confusion, Kishiar moved his arms and swung the sword.

At first, it looked slower than expected. But in the final instant — when Jimmy blinked — a massive aura, whose origin he hadn’t even noticed, shot toward the sea like a bolt of lightning.

— KWAHHHH!

A light bluer than the sky, colder than darkness, painted everything in view.

Much like the moment the Swordmaster's slash had once marked the ground of the Emperor, the blade energy now split the sea horizontally. It was as though that force had been stabbed straight into the empty water. As everyone held their breath in that frozen moment—

The ominously churning ocean suddenly fell silent.

And then—

“Th-there! Something’s surfacing!”

At someone’s shout, strange objects began to rise from the sea.

Transparent and small lumps, their forms hard to distinguish through the water.

They looked like a grotesque mix of all the world’s trash.

But they simply floated, scattered and lifeless, bleeding greasy fluids into the sea — unmoving. Slain by the blade.

Dozens, then hundreds, emerged and swiftly covered the sea’s surface while no one said a word. Only then did Kishiar exhale and lower his sword. His eyes turned to those on standby.

Without a single word, all the Cavalry members instinctively flinched. The spectacle had been so overwhelming that their minds went blank — but those who realized this wasn’t over yet tightened their grip on their weapons.

“They’re still coming! Get ready!”

With that shout, the ocean began to churn once more.