The Extra Who Stole the Hero's System
Chapter 61: Azurine Blade

Chapter 61: Azurine Blade

"Hey," Herald said, his voice calm, "I have a gift for you."

My brow furrowed in surprise. A gift? From Herald? The non-chalant warrior, the centuries-old avenger who had just casually beheaded my adopted father and slaughtered his guards? The man who spoke of violence and vengeance with such dispassionate clarity? The idea of him giving a gift was so out of place, so utterly out of character, that it almost made me laugh. It felt like a wolf offering a lamb a bouquet of flowers.

Herald, seemingly oblivious to my internal bewilderment, reached into a small, nondescript box that had been resting on a nearby crate. From it, he pulled out something that looked utterly out of place in this medieval setting. It was a small, sleek object, no larger than my forearm, resembling nothing so much as a sword hilt nestled in a minimalist, almost futuristic sheath. The sheath itself was made of a dark, smooth material that had lines that were clean, almost impossibly precise. It looked like something from a sci-fi movie, not a fantasy novel.

Herald held it out, his eye fixed on me. "The cult is strong, Disciple. Very strong indeed. And I may not always be around to protect you. That is why I am giving you this." His voice was devoid of any warmth. "Make no mistake, this is not an act of kindness. See it, rather, as a general equipping his soldier with a superior weapon, so that he may be more effective at killing the enemy. This blade will make you better at fighting the cult."

My gaze was fixed on the strange hilt. It felt... alien. Powerful. My mind, still reeling from the unexpected nature of the ’gift,’ struggled to comprehend its purpose.

Herald, with a swift, practiced motion, unsheathed the hilt from its minimalist casing. And then, something truly intriguing happened. From the back of the hilt, where a blade shouldn’t have been, a shimmering, ethereal blue light erupted. The light fused, solidifying, forming into a blade. It was like glowing blue glass, coming together, piece by piece, forming a perfectly proportioned sword. It pulsed with an inner luminescence, a vibrant, almost living blue.

Mudrel, who had been leaning against a rough-hewn table, suddenly straightened, his eyes wide with a rare display of genuine awe. "It’s an S-tier sword artifact!" he breathed, his voice a low, reverent whisper. "The Azurine Blade!"

My jaw dropped. An S-tier sword artifact? My mind reeled. I already knew Herald possessed the Mythic Dragon’s Eye, an S-tier artifact. But to be given another S-tier artifact? This was overkill. Why would he give me such a weapon? A weapon of this caliber was continent-shaking. It was a power that could turn the tide of wars, capable of unimaginable destruction. It felt like giving a child a nuclear launch code.

Mudrel, seemingly oblivious to my internal shock, walked towards the Azurine Blade, his gaze fixed on its shimmering form. "You may not know this about me, Kai," he began, his voice filled with a strange, almost nostalgic pride, "but before I led the revolution, I was something of a treasure hunter. For artifacts, of course. This blade... it was my finest keep. The jewel of my many years of hunt." He reached out, his calloused fingers hovering inches from the glowing blade, as if afraid to touch its ethereal surface. "For me, it’s the perfect offensive and defensive weapon. I, in my years, wasn’t able to bring out the full potential of the Azurine Blade. But under Herald’s tutelage, I am sure you will."

Herald, holding the now fully materialized Azurine Blade, turned and offered it to me. The blade pulsed with a soft, inviting hum, radiating a cool, almost comforting energy. I reached out, my fingers brushing against the hilt. It felt strangely light, perfectly balanced, an extension of my own hand. The blue glow illuminated my face, reflecting in my wide eyes.

"This sword is capable of many things," Herald stated, his voice flat, "but its true potential can only be unlocked by a wielder at a higher sword realm. Currently, your realm should obviously be Novice."

My mind immediately remembered the novel’s lore on Sword Realms. I knew about them. The sword practitioners in this world didn’t just gain strength through physical training; their very mana cores, the secondary organs adjacent to their hearts, could ascend to new states, new ’realms,’ after various breakthroughs. These breakthroughs weren’t just about raw power; they were about mastery, about understanding the flow of mana, about truly comprehending the blade. It was a journey of enlightenment as much as it was one of combat. Mastering specific sword techniques, achieving a profound understanding of mana manipulation, or even experiencing profound personal growth could trigger these ascensions. Each realm brought not just increased physical prowess, but also a deeper connection to their mana, allowing them to wield more complex and powerful sword arts.

The realms, as I recalled, ascended from Novice to Apprentice, then General, Master, Sword Sage, Sword Prince, Sword Saint, and finally, Sword Sovereign. Each realm brought a significant leap in power and skill. Herald was clearly a Sword Sovereign, perhaps even beyond. Lord Sapphire, was likely General or Master. And I, with my raw stats and rudimentary training, was a Novice. A complete beginner. The Azurine Blade, an S-tier artifact, was clearly meant for someone far beyond my current capabilities. It was a tool for a master, not an amateur.

"Novice," I repeated, the word tasting bitter on my tongue. It was a stark reminder of my current limitations. I lacked the raw power, the refined skill, and the mastery. The Azurine Blade was a promise of future power, a goal to strive for, but not an immediate solution to my current predicament.

Herald watched my reaction, his eye unblinking. He seemed to read my thoughts, my frustration, my understanding of the vast gap between my current realm and the blade’s true potential.

"This blade will be yours," Herald said, his voice firm, "when you are ready. When you have ascended beyond the Novice realm. Until then, it would be a wasted tool in your hands."

He then reached out, his hand surprisingly gentle, and took the Azurine Blade from my grasp. The glowing blue light of the blade seemed to dim less as it left my touch, its ethereal form becoming less vibrant. He then placed it back into its sheath, and the blade instantly dematerialized, leaving only the sleek hilt. He then placed the hilt back into the small, nondescript box.

From a nearby rack of weapons, Herald pulled out a simple, steel blade, a standard training sword, similar to the blunt one I had been using. He tossed it to me. It felt heavy, mundane, after the ethereal lightness of the Azurine Blade.

Herald then took a stance, his movements fluid and precise, utterly devoid of wasted motion. It was the front Guard, the same stance he had taken against Lord Sapphire. His eye fixed on me.

"Now," Herald said, his voice calm, yet utterly definitive, "let us begin your true training. Show me what you have learned. Show me you can go beyond the Novice realm."