Even if one breaks through to the Sixth Rank and greatly elevates their life level, they will not gain immortality.
Typically, it only extends their lifespan to roughly three times its original length.
Humans and orcs live around 300 years, dwarves 900, and elves 3,000.
Olubet was human, so even as an S-rank powerhouse, he could live at most 300 years.
What if the one he awaited still hadn’t appeared by the time his lifespan ended?
The forbidden power had already awakened. Even the unintended afterglow of its energy would bring curse-like effects. When he was alive, he could suppress these effects by guarding the seal. But if he died,
this power would inevitably leak out. Eventually, the world would become aware of its existence—and the entire world would be plunged into unprecedented conflict......
To prevent this from happening, and to ensure the one the forbidden power truly awaited could meet it smoothly,
Olubet abandoned his human form, gave up his life, and became an eternal spirit to guard this place—until......
......
“......I never imagined such a secret existed in the world.”
After Olubet explained the entire story, Hulim remained stunned for a long time.
The tale he’d told her was far beyond her previous understanding.
Even though she’d learned many secrets of the world from Semiris, she’d never heard of a forbidden power that could directly determine the world’s future.
“Twelve years ago......”
Olubet spoke again.
“The awakened forbidden power suddenly ended centuries of inaction and began to fluctuate violently. Unprepared for this turn of events, the seal here was damaged.”
“Though I repaired it in time to stop the afterglow from spreading further, I could only confine its influence to the entire mountain range—I couldn’t suppress it completely again.
Fortunately, confining it to one mountain range wouldn’t attract too much attention in the short term......”
“More importantly—”
Olubet’s eyes lit up with excitement as he looked at Hulim.
“The fact that it fluctuated means the one it’s been waiting for has appeared!”
“Tha—that’s great, but why are you so certain it’s me?”
Hulim asked.
“It must be you!”
Olubet said firmly.
“The mere fact that you’re here is proof enough! Fate awakened it, and fate will surely guide you! No matter where you are or what status you were born with, fate will lead you here!”
“Moreover, the magic circle above can only be fully activated by someone with my bloodline!”
“......”
So that’s why it needed my blood......
“And......”
Olubet glanced up and down at Hulim’s height.
“You’re twelve now, aren’t you?”
“......”
Alright......
Hulim had nothing left to say.
With so many signs, even she began to doubt.
Could she really have been guided here by some kind of fate?
Thinking back,
she’d come here because Irus had told her about her ancestor. But if she’d never met Irus, she would never have embarked on this journey to the south.
Recalling the circumstances of her meeting with Irus, it really did feel like fate had intervened......
This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.
“Ancestor...... Actually, the main reason I came here was to find you.”
Putting aside fate and forbidden powers, Hulim hadn’t forgotten her original purpose.
“Irus told me you left the last two stances of the Heyerar Swordsmanship. I came here to find any traces of you so I could learn them.”
“Oh, so fate guided you in this way? No wonder you’re here at twelve......”
“......”
Is this fate topic never going to end......
“Speaking of Irus...... What a nostalgic name. Is that old friend still traveling?”
Come to think of it, her ancestor and Irus had been friends.
“No, Irus isn’t traveling anymore. She runs a magic potion shop in Langard—without even a signboard.”
“That sounds just like her...... Of course you can learn the swordsmanship! In fact—”
“Everything I accumulated in my life, I left for you the day I gave up my human life. Come with me.”
With that, Olubet walked toward a corridor.
Hulim hurried to follow.
After some time, Olubet led Hulim to a grand hall.
The floor and walls were paved with the same gray stone bricks, supported by four massive stone pillars at the corners. In the center of the hall stood a stone platform, and embedded in the platform was a pitch-black sword.
“......Helkem, your new master has arrived.”
Olubet looked at the pitch-black sword, his voice filled with complex emotions.
“Ancestor...... That sword—could it be......”
“Yes.”
Olubet nodded gently.
“That was my former partner, the Demon Sword—Helkem, one of the strongest demon swords in the world!”
“Go, Hulim. Pull it out.”
“Huh?! Me??? Am I capable?!”
“You absolutely are!”
Olubet affirmed.
“I left it here specifically waiting for you.”
“......”
Hulim walked forward, stopping in front of the Demon Sword Helkem.
She took a slow, deep breath.
Then she reached out with both hands, gripped the hilt, and began to pull upward, trying to extract the sword from the platform.
As Hulim pulled, Olubet stood in the center of the hall, his gaze fixed intently on Helkem.
Helkem, respond to her......
For our promise, and for this world......
Hum——!
“Huh?”
Hulim let out a sound of surprise.
The Demon Sword Helkem, which she was gripping tightly, suddenly erupted with a dazzling white light.
Its pitch-black surface quickly faded, transforming into a pure white, sacred holy sword. The mysterious runes shimmering on its blade added an extra layer of mystique.
Clang!
The moment the sword radiated light, Hulim felt all resistance vanish. She pulled it out of the platform effortlessly, and a sense of mutual understanding surged from the sword.
“......”
Hulim stroked the sword gently in her hands. That feeling of connection was as if she held not a weapon, but a living being.
“Helkem......”
As Hulim whispered its name,
the holy sword emitted another burst of dazzling light.
At that moment, the contract between them was sealed.
From now on, Hulim Heyerar would be the new master of the Demon Sword Helkem!
