I am Humanity's Last Hope?

Chapter 5: Chapter 5 - Training



[Report on the Authority "Sun Chariot" of the Sixth Campione, Compilation of the Greenwich Assembly]

The first Authority confirmed to have been usurped by the Sixth Campione, Adam Victory, was named [Sun Chariot], presumably usurped from the Celtic Sun God Lugh.

It was confirmed by the Millennium Magical Organization that the Sixth Campione arrived in Berlin driving a solar chariot, causing panic among the city's people when they saw a second sun appear in the sky — extensive use of memory-wiping magic on citizens was required.

Although the Celtic God Lugh made no mention of using a chariot, he had a magical boat capable of moving across land, sea, and sky. The Authority [Sun Chariot] is presumably based on the associations that the God Lugh had with other deities — the Greek Apollo, the Roman Mithras, and the Persian Mithras, all solar deities famous for driving the sun in their chariots.

The [Sun Chariot] can move through the air and on the ground, drawn by two divine beasts in the form of flaming horses, leaving a trail of fire in its wake. Its speed appears to be near the speed of light, as it was able to cross the distance from Ireland to Germany in a very short time. The limits or conditions on the use of this Authority remain unknown.

Furthermore, this marks the Sixth Campione as the second to possess an Authority focused on transportation rather than battle, the first being the Black Prince, Alexandre Gascoigne, with his Authority [Black Lightning], usurped from the Fallen Angel Ramiel.

Due to the fact that the Authority [Black Lightning] has an attack mode known as [Black Thunder], it is possible that the Sixth Campione's Authority also has offensive capabilities, even if only in the form of running over his enemies with the chariot.

— Report by Hime-Miko Branca, Alice Louise, former leader of the Council of Sages and current advisor to the Wittenagemot.

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One week later...

The morning in Berlin began to awaken with a sacred touch. The sky, a deep blue slowly blending with the golden tones of the rising sun, illuminated the city that was both modern and historical at the same time. The gentle morning breeze carried the scents of the damp earth and local vegetation, with a subtle hint of fresh coffee coming from the cafés and markets in the busy streets. The fresh air contrasted with the heat of the day to come, creating a tranquil and invigorating atmosphere.

The training field was located on the outskirts of the city, in an open space that offered a panoramic view of Berlin. In the distance, the concrete and glass buildings reflected the soft light of dawn, while historical landmarks like the iconic Brandenburg Gate and the Reichstag rose as witnesses to the past and the city's transformation. The trees and parks spread out in the background, creating a harmonious fusion between nature and urban architecture.

It was a true fortress of resources, a reflection of the grandeur and power of the Millennium. Spread across the terrain, archery targets stood out, placed strategically as if waiting for the precision of experienced archers. The distance between them varied, testing the range and skill of the warriors who ventured there. Each target was well-marked and used, with traces of arrows that had been shot with great force and precision, leaving small cuts on the wooden structures.

The field itself was vast, with the ground covered by a mixture of hard earth and gravel. The terrain was marked by signs of intense use, but the open space provided freedom for the warriors to train with strength and skill. Around the field, a few trees stood, their green leaves reflecting the sunlight in a soft, serene glow. The sound of the leaves moving in the wind created a melody that blended with the stillness of the dawn.

In the background, the city of Berlin seemed at peace, with the first sounds of daily life beginning to echo – the murmur of vendors' conversations in the market, the sound of footsteps on the cobblestone streets, and the soft ringing of bells in the distance, marking the start of the day. The training field, however, was a sanctuary of discipline and focus. Small wooden posts were scattered across the field, used for precision training, and there were signs of wear in various areas, indicating the tough training that had taken place there.

The sound of the nearby stream, winding its way through the rocks and stretching around the field, added a touch of serenity to the atmosphere, as if nature itself was accompanying the silent and constant battle of the warriors who stood there.

That peaceful atmosphere was shattered by the battle taking place in the middle of the field.

The metallic sound of blades clashing echoed across the training field, a rhythmic melody of steel against steel filling the air. Adam Victory, with his focused emerald eyes, blocked every blow from the Grand Knight with impressive dexterity. The force of each impact reverberated through his arms, but he kept his posture firm, his feet anchored to the ground, as if he were part of the earth itself.

His opponent, a towering man over forty years old, was a fierce sight. His blue eyes gleamed with the wisdom of many battles, and his graying hair was a testament to decades of accumulated experience. Wielding a double-edged Western sword, the Grand Knight, Erich, handled the weapon with both hands, the blade gleaming under the morning sunlight.

Every strike he made was powerful, a combination of raw strength and refined precision. The sword sliced through the air with a threatening whistle before meeting Adam's blade. Erich's muscles tensed with each swing, displaying the strength that came from years of training and discipline.

Adam, on the other hand, was a contrast of youth and agility. His movements were fluid, almost dance-like, each step carefully calculated to maximize his advantage. He slid across the field, dodging and blocking attacks with a grace that seemed almost supernatural. His sword, though smaller than Erich's, was wielded with surgical precision, as if it were an extension of his own being.

And so, the duel continued, a dance of blades and strength, under the clear sky of the training field, where tradition and innovation met in a display of skill and honor.

Around them, Knights, magical researchers, and other staff watched the fight with interest, keeping a respectful distance.

"King Adam! Is that all you've got?" Erich shouted with a grin on his face as he swung his sword.

Adam wielded a long Eastern sword, a katana made from the finest steel; due to another of Lugh's usurped authorities, the Celtic God, he was essentially a master in everything he did. Able to achieve instant mastery in any weapon or combat style he practiced, his title was [Master of a Thousand and One Skills], which came from the myth of the God of Light possessing numerous skills in various fields. It granted him the effect of learning anything about a subject almost instantly; the only limitation was that the harder it was, the longer it would take. There was an enchantment to make learning instantaneous, but it came at the cost of a severe headache.

Well, he used this authority to go from an ordinary, normal young man to a master of countless fighting styles and to dominate all the weapons someone could know in just one week, also gaining rich combat experience due to constant battles.

During that week, he also discovered that the body of a Campione, with its natural resistance to physical blows and bones as strong as steel, could be further reinforced with magic, making his bones as strong as titanium and his skin as hard as flexible iron armor.

The two continued to fight.

The metallic sound of swords clashing echoed across the field, each strike a masterpiece of technique and precision. Adam moved with the speed of the wind, his sword dancing in his hand as he attacked with a mix of agility and strength. Erich, however, did not fall behind. He anticipated Adam's movements with an almost supernatural skill, blocking each attack with impressive grace.

The fight intensified, the swords drawing luminous arcs in the air. Both combatants displayed sublime mastery, each movement carefully calculated, every strike full of purpose. It was as if they were dancing a deadly choreography, where every step could be the last.

The battlefield became the stage for an epic display of skill.

Adam advanced toward Erich, seeing the speed of the attack, he quickly reacted and initiated the [Agile Steps] magic, his body glowing slightly red as he jumped and landed on the other side of the battlefield at a supernatural speed.

Adam followed right behind him.

Erich analyzed.

Although his speed was faster than most cars at over a hundred kilometers per hour, his opponent, as a Campione, was even faster than him. Furthermore, he couldn't use magic because he was also resistant to most forms of magic, able to easily ignore magical spells. Even the most powerful spells often failed to harm him with his body as strong as iron, which became a huge disadvantage for someone like him who incorporated magic into his sword strikes.

Although his [Agile Steps] magic was slower than Adam running, he managed to use his experience and skill to his advantage to strike with his sword while moving, making Adam's advance toward him slower than it should have been for defense, giving him time to activate his second spell, a variation of [Agile Steps] called [Griffon Wings], which had a three-line aria.

But Adam, having predicted this, stopped him with an unexpected move.

"Tsk!" Erich gave up trying to cast the spell that would give him the ability to leap over fifty meters and double his speed from [Agile Steps], opting instead to stop and grab his sword with both hands, striking it on the ground to create a small blue shield dome, a simple magic he had in his arsenal and could resist most modern weapons with ease.

But this powerful shield was broken by Adam's first strike, using the attack to maneuver and send Erich's sword flying from his hands. Then, he gave him a knee to the body, stopping the sword just a centimeter from his neck.

"I... I surrender," Erich choked as he fell, trying to bring oxygen into his lungs. He coughed a few times.

The exchange lasted about a minute and thirty seconds.

If Adam were a normal person and not a Campione, the exchange would have lasted longer since his specialty was the offensive type of magic that reinforced his blows with magic.

However, as he was a Campione, most of his offensive magic was unavailable, and thus Adam easily defeated him.

Adam stood up and extended his hand to Erich after he stopped coughing, which Erich accepted gratefully.

"Have you mastered the Eastern sword now?" He said, a little out of breath.

"Yes, thanks to your teachings and duels, I've reached the level I desired," Adam replied, quickly supporting him and beginning to walk out of the arena.

"I still don't understand why you needed a lesson from me," he muttered, clearly frustrated by his loss in the duel. "I mean, you're a Campione, so you should be able to beat me into paste with just a touch of your pinky finger if you used your Authorities..."

Adam sighed, adjusting Erich on his shoulders as he walked across the training field. The weight of the defeated companion didn't seem to bother him, but his words carried undeniable seriousness.

"Erich, I don't want to rely solely on my Authority. It would be like depending on crutches. If my Authorities aren't enough against a specific god, then my other skills need to fill that gap. I need to be able to defeat any enemy, with or without them."

Erich was somewhat astonished, while at the same time, his pride was hurt more than any physical injury. He had always been a fierce warrior, competitive to the core, and losing to Adam, who was a Campione without using his authorities, was hard to swallow.

Reaching the stairs, Adam carefully placed Erich sitting down, adjusting him so he could recover. Without further words, he turned and began walking toward the exit, the setting sun casting long shadows behind him. There was no need for elaborate goodbyes. His gesture of carrying Erich already said it all – respect, camaraderie, and the unwavering will to become stronger.

He was grateful to the man who had helped him so much during that week of training.

Erich watched as Adam walked away, feeling a mixture of admiration and frustration.

As he sighed, a Knight approached Erich.

"Your fight with the [King] was wonderful, Sir Erich," the young knight said to the Grand Knight.

"You think so?" Erich commented.

"Yes, I must say that our [King] is terrifying," the young knight said with a sigh.

It was understandable.

It had been just over a week since the Grand Knight started training with Adam, something that was done after the Campione requested someone to train with him, and then the High Priestess Lavinia arranged everything after becoming the King's assistant.

Adam used all kinds of weapons during the week, and he didn't gain an advantage against him even once. Although his [King] said it was his first time wielding any of the weapons he used, it was still hard to believe because of his incomparable mastery. Aside from hand-to-hand combat, he was absolutely formidable. If it was as he said, it was terrifying...

"Considering who you are, the performance of the [King] is truly terrifying." The young knight rephrased his words.

Erich was simply the greatest Knight in Germany. Not only that, he was a Great Knight famous worldwide for his first-class skills.

Among all beings on earth — excluding the Heretic Gods and Campiones, of course — there were only three people capable of representing any danger to the Great Knight. These three were the only ones he was unable to defeat.

The first was Paolo Blandelli, the Leader of the Italian Magical Organization [Copper Black Cross] and the current [Diavollo Rosso], considered the Strongest Knight in Europe.

The second was Sir Iceman, the man with the heart of ice, a Knight who served the Fourth Campione, the Black Prince of England.

And lastly, Saint Rafaello, one of the greatest Knights of Europe, famous for using two magical swords of immense power.

These three were considered the strongest humans in the world, capable of even facing Divine Beasts on equal footing. And Erich, although not as powerful as these three, wasn't far behind...

Paolo Blandelli was famous for getting involved in conflicts alongside the White Princess against the Black Prince of England.

Among humans, there was no doubt that these Three Great Knights were at the top of the food chain.

That is, excluding the absurd existences that were the Campiones.

For this reason, the man known as Adam was simply terrifying.

If it was as he had claimed, mastering so many forms of combat during one week to levels that even someone talented training for decades would not reach in an instant, he was simply a monster that few people in this world could face in this area.

If there was anyone to rival Adam in skill, one could only think of the Demon King of China, known as the Greatest Martial Artist in the World.

Even in the field of magic, something none of the Campiones sought to understand because they were immune to any magic below the power of the Gods, his [King] mastered dozens of different magics. Wasn't this kind of talent monstrous?

"Most Campiones are nothing special before they become [Kings]. They often don't even know the supernatural side of the world or about magic."

"The Devil of Balças, the Mysterious Queen of the Caverns, the Prince of Black Lightning, none of them had anything that set them apart from mortals. Perhaps the only exception was the Ruler of the Martial Kingdom."

"Even so, they were relatively common until they managed to kill a God by luck or folly."

"But I believe King Adam is different. Despite being a Fool's Child, I believe he could have reached such a position even without the 'foolishness,' using nothing but his own abilities."

In the eyes of these knights, Adam was a genius who defied the norms of the world, a human being who, with his mortal body, had the potential to rival the gods themselves.

It was terrifying to think that the young King, a Campione for just over a week, had already reached a level that the greatest magicians and Knights pursued throughout their lives. While others devoted decades of hard training and study to try to reach a fraction of the power he possessed, he casually picked up a weapon and mastered it.

Unknown to them, there was a secret behind Adam's rise, a hidden power beyond what the eyes could see. It was due to one of his Authorities, a skill he mastered with silent mastery, allowing him to grow at a frightening speed. While many attributed his success to innate talent, no one knew it was because of his authority, which gave him the essence of the myth of Lugh, the God of many things.

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