Pioneer Lord: I Have Conquering System

"Those are Demon Patterns unique to Debei. Alchemists inscribe them onto flesh using specific patterns and special Magic Materials to grant the bearer various kinds of enhanced Power."

"You can think of it as taking a complex and massive Alchemy Array, simplifying it, and shrinking it down so it can be applied to a person."

Fujero explained it to the uninitiated Lord.

"Got it." Levi snapped his fingers. "I’m guessing those Blood Swords are also some kind of unique alchemical creation. I was wondering how a Blood Sword could restore its wielder’s stamina after a kill. This Demon Pattern must be the medium for that conversion."

"Exactly," Fujero nodded.

"Otherwise, if an enemy got their hands on a Blood Sword, they’d be able to use it, right? Powerful Magic Equipment like this always has unique restrictions to prevent such accidents."

"Such a clever method," Mier remarked from the side, seemingly inspired.

"So, what kind of enhanced Power do these Blood Sword Demon Patterns grant?" Levi asked.

Besides being the key to controlling the Blood Sword, the fact that these Demon Patterns could also enhance the wielder’s Power made them all the more precious.

"That’s always been a secret, but based on the performance of the Lion Heart Red Swordsmen in battle over the years, people have managed to piece some things together."

"This Demon Pattern can enhance the Red Knights’ Power and speed, and even their stamina and Combat Qi, usually by varying multiples. The tell-tale sign of how strong the enhancement is... is their hair."

"Their hair?" The Lord looked perplexed.

"It’s said that the greater the enhancement, the less hair they have," Fujero said with a slight smile.

"Holy shit, doesn’t that make Mandela absurdly strong?" The Lord was stunned.

Compared to the other Great Swordsmen who still had short hair, Mandela’s head was completely bald, so shiny you could see a reflection, like a giant braised egg. It was the perfect real-life embodiment of the phrase, "I grew stronger, and I went bald."

The Lord had been nursing a little scheme of his own. ’If I got one of these Demon Patterns,’ he thought, ’my power could increase even more.’

But seeing the side effects, he immediately dropped the idea. ’Forget it.’

’My Power is already high enough. There’s no need to sacrifice my handsome hair for a tiny boost. I’ll just stick to diligently cultivating the Holy Word Treasure Manual. I shouldn’t be dabbling in these shady shortcuts.’

’Still, the Barbarians aren’t much to look at anyway, so it wouldn’t matter if they lost their hair. If I get the chance, I could have the patterns inscribed on them,’ the Lord thought to himself.

’Even without those Blood Swords, just the physical enhancement would be enough.’

The Beastman Warriors, who had been listening with great interest, had no idea that their hair was now in jeopardy thanks to a certain person’s passing thought.

"Isn’t there any way to avoid that side effect?" Levi asked, not ready to give up just yet. He wanted to press the issue.

"My Lord, nothing in this world is perfect. Everything has its flaws, to a greater or lesser extent." Fujero spread his hands and even sighed. "The Demon Pattern is a profound technology that every kingdom is researching with all its might. The side effects of Debei’s Blood Sword Demon Pattern are already considered some of the mildest."

"In the Eastern Persian Gulf Kingdom, their Demon Pattern Warriors are all Unblemished. That’s because their Demon Patterns would cause them to be consumed by lust, so they simply solve that particular side effect at its root."

All the men present couldn’t help but feel a chill run down their spines—and a bit lower. As proud, virile men, that was something they found completely unacceptable.

By comparison, the side effect of the Blood Sword Demon Pattern seemed minor indeed.

"Ahem... so, this Blood Sword Demon Pattern. Can an outsider learn how to inscribe it?" The Lord steered the conversation back on topic.

"Highly unlikely. It’s a core technology that the Royal Family keeps a tight grip on." Fujero shook his head, completely shattering a certain someone’s fantasy.

"Gentlemen, I’m afraid this discussion is over." Lancelot walked into the room, his armor battered and scarred. He held up a letter. "A message just arrived from General Mandela and Duke Fulina. It looks like we’ll be joining the fight."

The two exchanged a look and immediately went to assemble their troops.

...

The scorching sun hung high in the sky, while a gentle breeze swept over everyone without prejudice. Banners of every color fluttered in the wind.

The commanders at White Bone Fortress stood on the ramparts, gazing at the crimson line of battle teeming with bodies in the distance. Both sides were fighting desperately to push the front line.

Lives and blood were being consumed at an unimaginable rate. Not even a meat grinder could work that fast.

"Our main army has reached a stalemate with the Demon Army. They’ve deployed all their forces from the mountains, so Duke Fulina wants us to launch a flanking maneuver and deal them a heavy blow."

"Meanwhile, the Griffin Knights have taken complete control of the skies. General Mandela will take the Lion Heart Red Swordsmen and Master Bodoff deep into the Hengduan Mountain Range to close the Space Channel."

"Our job is to keep these Demons occupied for as long as possible, buying General Mandela’s group enough time to get around them and into the Hengduan Mountain Range." Lancelot explained the battle plan to the group. The strapping man, in his forties or fifties, seemed to have regained the vigor of his youth. His voice rang out with power. "Gentlemen, this is our chance to make a name for ourselves throughout all of Debei!"

No one objected.

After all, wasn’t this the very reason they were here?

Everyone, that is, except for Damon. The former Grand Marshal of the South was pondering his own future after the war.