Chapter 52: Beast Blade Art

The towering stone ramparts of Heaven’s Net Castle stood quiet beneath the afternoon sun, though the sky above remained far from tranquil.

Dark Sister moved in lazy, majestic circles across the clouds, her colossal shadow sweeping over the courtyards and surrounding lands.

Though her presence no longer sent the castle guards into an immediate, blind panic, her low, thunderous purrs still made the stone battlements tremble.

Having returned to his ancestral seat nearly an hour earlier, Craig had immediately retired to his private chambers to wash away the crusted black blood and soot clinging to his skin.

Thirty minutes after the young Viscount’s arrival, the heavy oak gates of the castle swung open.

Ser Hughway rode through on his armored stallion, leading a gruesome procession.

Bound behind heavy iron chains and drag-sleds were the butchered corpses of ten 1st-Tier Abominations from the northern sector—and towed in thick iron cages were three living Three-Headed Rhinos, heavily bleeding and completely unconscious.

A sudden, nervous commotion erupted across the front yard. Guards drew their spears and squires backed away in alarm as the iron cages rattled against the stone cobblestones.

"Calm your nerves!" Ser Hughway barked, dismounting smoothly from his stallion as he threw his reins to a nearby stable hand.

He turned his stern gaze upon the panicked infantry. "Transport these carcasses to the butcher halls immediately, and drag these three cages down to the deep underground prison! ℯ

You have no cause for fear—it will take at least three more hours before those beasts even open their eyes."

The frightened soldiers scrambled to obey, pulling the heavy cages down the stone ramp with hurried steps.

Satisfied with the security, Ser Hughway adjusted his broadsword and stepped into the cooler, shadowed corridors of Heaven’s Net Castle.

He set out to locate his young liege. Checking the private bathhouse first, Hughway found it empty, save for steaming water and discarded towels.

Moving down the eastern wing, he found the Viscount’s bedchamber locked and silent.

Following the faint, rhythmic traces of condensed mana flowing through the castle’s stone arteries, Ser Hughway eventually arrived at the grand library.

The massive, multi-tiered archive was silent, filled with the rich scent of old parchment, bound leather, and ancient blood seals.

Standing near the rear alcove, his back resting comfortably against a towering bookshelf, was Craig.

He was dressed in a simple, immaculate black tunic, his damp crimson hair brushed back, and his dark golden eyes fixed intently on a thick, dark-leather manual resting in his hands.

Noticeable air currents shifted as Ser Hughway approached, but Craig didn’t look up immediately.

He simply turned a page, a faint, relaxed smile touching his lips.

"When did you return, Hughway?" Craig asked smoothly, his voice echoing softly against the tall stone shelves.

Ser Hughway bowed his head with practiced respect. "Not too long ago, my Lord. Just a few minutes past. I have secured the ten carcasses and locked the three live specimens in the lower vaults as you commanded." Hughway paused, looking at the manual in the young man’s hands.

"May I ask what the Lord Viscount is studying so intently?"

Craig slowly closed the manual with a light thud, running a finger over the gold-embossed runes running down its spine.

"I am studying the foundational concepts of the Beast Blade Art," Craig answered calmly.

"It will serve as the primary true sword art I master before I move on to comprehending the Soaring Star Sword Art."

The ancestral vaults of the legendary Darkstar Ducal Family possessed over three hundred top-grade sword technique manuals within their vast archives.

However, among those hundreds, the number of true, high-grade True Sword Arts was significantly lower—fewer than fifty existed in total.

In accordance with ancestral tradition, only direct bloodline descendants were gifted a true sword art to refine upon completing their Dragon Calling Ceremony.

Furthermore, once a direct descendant successfully ascended into the revered Sword Master class, they were legally required to submit a complete, codified manual of the original sword art they had personally created and perfected back to the family archives.

Both the Beast Blade Art and the Soaring Star Sword Art held deep histories within the Viscounty’s collection, having once been forged and mastered by former direct descendants of the Darkstar line.

Now, these two manuals were assigned exclusively to Craig.

His elder siblings had already received their own designated sacred arts after their respective ceremonies, carving out their own distinct paths of martial supremacy.

In truth, thanks to his vast memories of the future and his past life’s experiences, Craig personally knew the complete execution steps to more than twenty top-grade True Sword Arts stored in the Ducal Family’s central capital archives.

However, he was far too wise to unleash any of those high-level, recognizable techniques right now.

Doing so would immediately draw the dangerous, prying eyes of his ruthless fellow successors—and worse, the mysterious, calculating Elders of the main house, who monitored all branch developments for anomalies.

To remain under the radar while building his absolute foundation, he needed to strictly master the Beast Blade Art and the Soaring Star Sword Art officially granted to him by the Duke.

Craig’s lips curled into a sharp, confident grin as he held up the manual. "The Beast Blade Art is quite fascinating, Hughway. It consists of twelve distinct, lethal forms.

Even at the Sword Apprentice class, I can officially unlock and utilize the First Form—and I must say, its physical offensive properties are remarkably tenacious."

Ser Hughway bowed his head lower, genuine satisfaction gleaming in his eyes. "I am deeply honored that the Lord Viscount finds the selection to his liking.

A technique that complements your raw physical density will yield terrifying results on the battlefield."

Craig nodded approvingly, stepping away from the wall to place the manual carefully onto a mahogany reading table.

But as he turned back, his expression subtly shifted.

The casual warmth in his golden eyes cooled, replaced by a sharp, calculating focus as his eyebrows furrowed slightly.

"That reminds me, Hughway..." Craig’s voice dropped an octave, carrying a cold, quiet weight that filled the quiet library.

"Have you managed to track down those three individuals I ordered you to locate?"