Reborn As The Villain-Chapter 333: SS - 18 Part 1: Former Prince

A continuous sound of thumping resounded in a quiet courtyard of an abandoned training facility located in the slums, on the very edge of Old Town. At first, there would be no light coming from this dojo except for the occasional hobo's campfire. As of late, there had been several people going in and out of this place for the past week.

A beauty with silver hair was also spotted many times. Normally this isn't a safe place for such a sheltered girl but she was always accompanied by a tall young man with the same hair color.

The people living on this street didn't know what the former prince and princess looked like so they didn't pay this any mind. It's not rare for foreigners to try and make it big in this big empire only to become broke and seek refuge in abandoned places like this.

While Kohana was inside discussing the plan with Chief Soryu and the other people she managed to recruit, Rasuke was outside punching straw puppets.

He wasn't punching with any finesse or grace, just barbaric fashion to test his speed. He'd punched the straw puppet 749 times, with three punches being thrown every second.

'Arnold can probably punch 100 times—no, probably way more than that in one second.' Throwing a punch with sufficient striking power was a difficult thing to do for normal humans. Any human can punch five times or more per second but is there any power behind those punches? No. if the first punch were to land, it would release all the striking power you put into it then the subsequent punches will lose more power with each one thrown.

Martials, however, are capable of what humans are not. They can wind up their punches and put sufficient striking power into their hands. Throwing five punches "per second" like that is considered a feat.

Maybe Arnold doesn't need to wind up his punches since he's so powerful. A single finger could probably knock Rasuke, at full power, out.

"—You'll feel immense pain if you rest after pushing yourself like this." A voice came from beside Rasuke. Rasuke's fist was about to hit the straw puppet but stopped inches away because of that familiar voice.

Looking to his side while breathing deeply, he saw a cloaked figure.

"Lord Arnold...?"

"Why are you still pushing yourself?" Arnold lowered his hood, revealing his white silver hair that looked brighter than Rasuke's hair.

"..."

"You don't need to fight Ko anymore. You should be cheering up your sister because the fate of your empire rests in her hands alone."

"Haha, she doesn't need my help with that. My elder sister is the most reliable person I know. She'll know what to say."

"She'll know what to say to a being that can destroy your empire with a flick of a finger? Has she dealt with people like that before?"

"N-No. Wait, can that person seriously do that?"

"Yes." There was no attempt to jest. His expression was serious and tone sincere, "Are you thinking of going with Kohana even after you called her the most reliable person you know? Don't bother. You'll be like a leaf blowing into his face."

"..."

"All she can do is use her words."

Arnold didn't know if it will be possible for Kohana to persuade "that person" but it was worth a try. His heart probably won't be swayed by her suffering and the struggles she had to go through with her brother.

Well, even if she fails, he could offer something else to "that person". It coincides with the deal Arnold already has with him. With Arnold's current power, it should be possible to pull it off.

"If someone like that, who's probably stronger than Ko and Funiji combined, decides to just destroy this empire along with those two, there would be nothing I could do." Rasuke sat on the ground and looked up at the night sky, "Chief Soryu always says I'm one of the most talented martials he's trained in his life. I don't feel special at all so I can't agree with him."

"And what do you think that word means? Who would it suit better?"

"..." he looked over at Arnold. He didn't say anything, just looked at him for a second before sighing to himself.

"I see. Well, you're right that I am special but the power I have is not as a result of hard work or dedication, merely a gift from a friend."

"Eh?" confusion on his face, Rasuke looked back up at Arnold.

A white energy surrounded Arnold. It grew into a cloud of smoke that hovered above him. That cloud of smoke quickly turned into the martial spirit he received from Gederick, the God of War.

-"You should know that each second I am in the material world, I suck out more of your internal energy, human." In a voice belonging to Gederick, the muscular floating spirit spoke with authority.

"D-Did it just talk? Wait, what is that anyway!?" Rasuke jumped to his feet.

"How can you not know what it is? It's a Martial Spirit or do you call it something else here?"

"M-Martial S-Spirit!? But legends say only Divine Daos can summon their spirits because anyone below that would have their lifeforce instantly drained to sustain the spirit in the material world!"

"I don't feel any different compared to a moment ago." Arnold shrugged. Maybe Aether and the Ascension Pill's pure internal energy are to thank for that.

Or maybe... he really is at the level of or above a Divine Dao.

Sensing people gathering around them, he glanced behind Rasuke. Probably alarmed by the shining radiance being emitted by the spirit, Kohana, and the band of nobodies they recruited, came outside. Chief Soryu was amongst them, as was his wife and a few villagers Arnold knew by their faces.

"M-Mighty Sword God—Could it be!? A Divine Dao has graced our land!" the Chief tell to his knees as he stared up at Gederick's spirit.

-"All of you kneel! You are before a demigod!" Gederick's spirit roared with a smirk.

Maybe it was the strength in his authoritative voice but everyone hurriedly got onto their knees without a thought.

"Did that spirit just say demigod...?" Kohana blinked blankly.

Arnold sighed, "Stand up. Don't listen to the talking ghost."

-"Y-You! I am no mere ghost! I am—" the spirit's mouth suddenly vanished with a thought from Arnold.

"You must've been wondering why I'm so strong, right? Well, here's your answer—Equilibrium."

"Something obtainable only to martial god candidates..." Chief Soryu walked a little closer and stared at the spirit, "Magnificent."

Soryu cleared his throat and knelt again, his eyes unwavering on Arnold. "To attain Equilibrium... You're not merely strong. You're destined. The heavens must have chosen you."

"Destined. Huh..."

Such a thing would only suit Luke and—though he hated to admit it—Arthur.

Kohana also stepped closer, her expression that of disbelief. "Lord Arnold, if this is true, doesn't this mean... you're beyond human limits? Maybe even beyond mortal comprehension?"

-"You must already know the answer, human girl." Gederick's spirit spoke again. It seems Arnold couldn't keep it quiet for long, "He has demonstrated to you lot in that pathetic excuse of a tournament how powerful I have made him. If he were in a real tournament where warriors often die by the hands of their opponents, he could've crushed them all, the emperor included."

Everyone gasped.

-"The power he wields is a hundred times what that weakling emperor is capable of. And it is all because of this great me!"

"We get it, you're amazing," Arnold waved his hand, making the prideful spirit's mouth disappear again.

Expressions of disbelief and silent stares were all he saw in the crowd after hearing what the spirit said. Truth be told, Arnold wasn't aware how strong he was compared to the emperor. Both of them are at the level cap and Arnold was certain the emperor also had Aether.

Maybe the difference was that only one of them had achieved Equilibrium.

Arnold looked at Rasuke who was staring blankly at the spirit.

"Instead of aiming for strength, you should seek equilibrium. When the mind, spirit and body become one, strength automatically follows because you reach an understanding of what true strength is."

Rasuke snapped out of his daze, his brows furrowing. "Equilibrium... Mind, spirit, and body as one? That sounds almost impossible for someone like me."

"If all you're after is power for the sake of being stronger, you'll never get there. Strength doesn't come from swinging harder or faster—it comes from understanding its purpose."

Rasuke tilted his head, confusion flickering across his face.

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"Purpose? You mean to protect the people we care about? To save lives?" Rasuke's eyes sparkled. If someone like Arnold affirmed what he knew about strength then it will mean he's on the correct path to strength.

At first, his sister was the only person he wanted to protect. The two only had each other after the palace was invaded by Ko's soldiers. The two of them were chased down relentlessly by Ko's soldiers so they had to live in forests and caves and since neither of them had any survival experience at that young age, they struggled to survive outside the sheltered walls of the palace.

Fortunately, they didn't endure that lifestyle for long because they were found by the Chief who wanted to rescue the two. They're this empire's only hope of being restored to its former glory. In the end, a revolution was started with the two of them at the front of it all.

That all ends tomorrow.

Rasuke's mind returned to the present, eager to hear Arnold's response.

Arnold's eyes narrowed, his voice cutting through the air like a blade.

"Strength is for killing."

"E-Eh?"

"What? Did you think I was going to say the point of getting stronger is to save your loved ones? How can you aim for something like that when you're still weak? Don't listen to the fancy words your clans and sects teach you, strength is just meant for killing."

Everyone suddenly looked up at the spirit after hearing what Arnold said.

Noticing their expectant gazes, he decided to give the spirit its mouth back.

"The purpose of strength has always been to kill. It is only humans who have twisted its meaning into something soft—something idealistic."

The spirit's glowing eyes swept across the gathered crowd, silencing their murmurs.

-"Do not deceive yourselves. You do not strive for strength to protect or save. You strive to kill. For only by killing can you end the threats that endanger those you love. That is the essence of strength, and it always has been."

Everyone then looked back at Arnold, who glanced at Rasuke:

"If you can accept that truth then congratulations—you're one step away from achieving Equilibrium." He then faced Kohana, "Let's go over the plans for tomorrow."