Chapter 45: Sky’s Secret

I nodded before asking an important question. "What if someone recognizes that I have a legendary-rank item and tries to steal it or even kill me for it?" Carmilla smiled reassuringly. "The legendary-rank item I created naturally has defensive mechanisms to prevent such situations. The aura will always be concealed, no matter what detection methods are used. Also, you will need to consume each secret art once it becomes available. You see the gem that’s glowing? That means you’re able to absorb that technique and receive it directly into your mind, as for the those that aren’t glowing, it means you are not able to and you are not ready to consume it yet." I looked at her in confusion. Why did she need to go through all this complexity? She could have just stored these techniques in a storage ring or something similar. I voiced my inner question. Her response was reasonable. "No storage ring you possess could contain such powerful technique, and neither could your mind handle them directly. Otherwise, I would have just instilled everything into your brain immediately. A powerful vessel was required to safely contain and regulate the transfer." I nodded in understanding before asking, "So I won’t get any direct boosts to my physical capabilities or anything like that?" Carmilla shook her head. "You won’t receive stat increases. But you will gain access to the secret arts each time you rank up, and you can absorb one right now. Each secret art will massively increase your combat effectiveness, even if it doesn’t necessarily boost your base statistics." I nodded, beginning to grasp the incredible value of what she was offering. Combat techniques at each level could make me far more dangerous than my rank would suggest. Looking at the pendant with its single glowing gem, I grabbed it with my right hand before shoving it into my mouth. ... Looking at the pendant with its single glowing gem, I carefully extracted the luminous drop and placed it on my tongue. Gulp! Information suddenly flooded into my brain all at once. I frowned briefly at the sudden sharp pain before it was regulated and became manageable. I began to comprehend the vast amount of knowledge flowing through my consciousness. The sword art I had just received was called Sky’s Secret Sword Art. The name certainly sounded powerful, and I didn’t expect anything less from an Overlord-rank technique. The first technique taught me the foundational form within the secret art. [Sky’s Secret Sword Art] [First Secret Art — Null Strike] [Description: Though deceptively simple, this form establishes the core principle of negating opposing forces rather than overpowering them.] The concept was fascinating, rather than using brute force, the technique focused on eliminating resistance entirely. It was an elegant approach that could make even a relatively weak strike devastatingly effective. Carmilla, observing my amazement, explained further. "You will be able to use the form you consumed, but only after proper training. You won’t be able to execute it simply by possessing the knowledge, you’ll need to practice the form extensively to master it. However, you now have the foundation of the technique. You just need to train consistently to perfect it over time." I nodded in understanding. This made perfect sense, theoretical knowledge was vastly different from practical application, especially for something as complex as an Overlord-rank sword art, even if it was broken down into smaller stages. "How long does it typically take to master the first form?" I asked, curious about the learning curve. "That depends entirely on your dedication and natural aptitude," Carmilla replied. "Some might achieve basic proficiency in months, while true mastery could take years or decades. But remember, even partial mastery of an Overlord-rank technique will make you far more formidable beyond your current rank." I nodded my head in understanding. The pendant no longer displayed seven blood gems, but only six, and they were all dormant now. I looked at Carmilla before asking, "Is there anything else you could give me, you know to help you. Like some powerful items, or anything of that sort? Maybe some of your blood for later use?" Carmilla shook her head firmly. "I don’t have anything else to offer you, do you think my enemies would leave me with powerful items? As for my blood... I know what you’re thinking, and you would be committing suicide if you attempted such a thing. My blood isn’t like that of people at your rank, it has some sentience and fights back against foreign hosts. Once you leave my proximity, it could very well destroy you from the inside if you dared to consume it, or tear you apart from the outside if you tried to weaponize it." I stared at her in shock. "Do you mean that your blood could have practically killed me if you hadn’t controlled it when I...drank your blood earlier?" "Yes," Carmilla nodded a smile on her face. I gulped, feeling a chill of retroactive fear. I had almost died without even realizing the danger I was in. "Alright, I should get going now. I will return once I’m strong enough to actually help you," I said, preparing to leave this mysterious realm. Carmilla nodded, maintaining that beautiful smile. "Take care and... see you soon." I nodded in response before channelling my mana as she had instructed earlier. "See you soon," I muttered. The realm immediately responded to my intent, forming a red portal that would transport me back to my own world. As I stepped through the gateway, I caught one last glimpse of Carmilla watching me with those captivating violet eyes. Back in her prison, Carmilla stared at the fading red gate with a melancholic smile gracing her beautiful features, the hundred chains still holding her captive. "When was the last time I was able to speak to someone like this? He is an interesting one... I like him," she murmured to herself, licking her lips as if savouring the lingering taste of Adrian’s blood. The portal closed completely, leaving her alone once more in that eternal imprisonment, but now with something she hadn’t possessed in ages, hope.