The Demon's Eye.

Zero’s gaze pierced through the world, reaching a faraway, fantastical world.

This world had magic and numerous supernatural beings.

During the duel between two incredibly powerful beings, the sword of one of them suddenly disappeared.

“Hm?”

“Where’s my sword?”

The onlookers watching the duel were stunned.

“Nilstin’s Adamant Blade disappeared?”

“What method did Nicostin use to take Nilstin-sama’s weapon?”

“Nilstin-sama’s chances are slim…”

“No, based on historical records, Nilstin-sama’s Adamant Blade doesn’t cut down the old or the young. But it’s said he has another broken blade, specifically for cutting down the old and the young!”

“So, Nilstin-sama actually has another sword?!”

...

Zero’s eyes lit up. The image before him transformed back into the endless desert.

The massive monster’s power suppressed all resistance. At this moment, it was the strongest known monster, an insurmountable mountain for all of humanity.

“When I first became a soldier, I was afraid too. Afraid of dying on the battlefield, afraid of not having a chance to say goodbye to my family.”

“My squad leader told me that he was afraid too. That no one is unafraid of death. Heroes aren’t born fearless. They simply choose to be brave.”

“Those who die in battle will be remembered. Their names will live on for a hundred generations.”

“But I’ve never felt that being afraid of death was shameful. It’s because people are afraid of death that they struggle to survive.”

“Some say suicide requires great courage. That’s not true. Persistence is often harder than giving up.”

Hearing Zero’s words, Reinhard thought again. Okay…

Fear is not shameful. Survival is great.

But actually, Zero didn’t say one thing: A life without dignity is worse than death.

“Zero told me all this. Does he still have a trump card?”

Seeing Zero approaching the battlefield, Reinhard gritted his teeth and followed.

“Remaining Right Hand members, return to your units.”

As Zero finished speaking, several figures suddenly appeared beside them.

“So it’s just you left… Listen carefully, this is your final mission. Open the sealed entrance.”

The Right Hand soldiers nodded. A large number of Fish-Men blocked their path, covering the hills.

Zero’s target was still the cement-sealed entrance.

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

Reinhard, holding the Trident, stood behind him. “What’s the plan?”

Zero replied, “I’ll clear a path. You retrieve the Trident and help them open the entrance. Simple as that.”

“But what about the Sea King?”

“Let him be as powerful as he may. A cool breeze blows across the hills.”

With that, Zero drew his sword and charged at the Fish-Men.

A Fish-Man slashed at Zero with its claws, but something deflected its claws to the side!

And at that moment, Zero’s sword pierced through its head!

Splat!

Blood sprayed. The Fish-Man’s eyes widened!

Flames instantly ignited on Zero’s sword. “Bloodflame Blade.”

The Fish-Men screamed, their bodies engulfed in flames!

Then, Zero stamped his foot and struck forward with his palm, unleashing a violent gust of wind!

Boom!

A group of Fish-Men were swept up by the wind, creating a path.

Zero, having also trained his mental strength, could also use magic.

But he didn’t chant any incantations.

Yes, incantations were simply one example of mental power application. It was a means to an end, not an end in itself. The power resided within, not in the words themselves. Zero was a master of this power. He didn't need rituals or chants. His power was raw, untamed, and utterly terrifying.

For example, imagine a basic element, let your mental power burn like a flame, then establish the method of release, the intensity of the release, and the specific shape to unleash the spell.

Whether you chant the incantation or not, it doesn’t matter how you do it.

The incantation is merely a reminder, or a tool to help them imagine that concept.

This is how you use mental power, to prevent them from forgetting at critical moments.

The incantations Naira Sorkin and the others chant during training, as long as the meaning is there, they can chant however they want.

Zero used this method to teach them incantations simply to help them remember.

Reinhard followed Zero, his expression a little strange.

He never thought Zero could fight so well.

But he’d said earlier, “A cool breeze blows across the hills.” Didn’t that mean ignoring Chino?

Could they really ignore him?

Reinhard felt he needed to do something.

Although he hadn’t used any potions, hadn’t become anyone’s follower, and didn’t possess any Ancient Artifacts or split items.

But don’t forget, Death gave him a book.

《The Man Who Lost His Eyes》

Reinhard had just reached Chapter 3. It has five chapters in total.

After finally managing to read Chapter 3, Reinhard could barely remember the content.

The story was about a blind, wandering poet. His story is popular among high society.

High-society individuals often invited him to perform at their homes.

Among them were many women. Knowing he was blind, many even undressed in front of him, exposing their bodies to satisfy their exhibitionist desires.

Some high-ranking men even engaged in sexual acts in front of him, enjoying the feeling of being unobserved.

But as the prologue said, “Don’t let them know you can see.”

The blind protagonist in the story wasn’t actually blind.

He had eyes. He could see.

He just pretended to be blind.

This fulfilled the protagonist’s voyeuristic desires.

This led him down an irreversible path, a path with no turning back.

If those people in the story knew he wasn’t blind, they would definitely try to kill him because he’d seen things he shouldn’t have.

As for the ending, Reinhard hadn’t read that far.

He’d only reached Chapter 3. And those three chapters gave him three abilities.

First, the ability to speak through corpses (Chapter 1).

Then, the ability to see in the darkness with his eyes closed (Chapter 2).

And finally, the ability to create brief visual illusions (Chapter 3).

These three abilities were largely useless, but they were still somewhat useful.

But to activate these abilities, the book must be in his hand.

Reinhard carried a backpack. His book was inside.

This was the drawback of obtaining abilities through reading. Abilities obtained from books must be activated using the book.

Once the book is gone, so is the ability.

Reinhard didn’t know if this only applied to this book or all books.

Thinking about Death’s words that she would take back the book after three months, could this mean that the abilities were only borrowed?

After all, Mei never mentioned the ability to purchase books.

If books couldn’t be bought, only borrowed, then what was being borrowed wasn’t the book, but the ability.

Thinking this, Reinhard closed his eyes. He scanned the darkness, activating his ability, creating illusions for the Fish-Men!

Zero saw the disoriented Fish-Men and swept his flaming sword, cutting down a group of Fish-Men!

At the same time, he glanced at the eye-closed Reinhard.