Journey to Become the Zenith

The Transmigrator Before Him

The Marquis wasn’t that shocked by the instant movement Victor displayed. What shocked her the most was that Victor didn’t use mana to do that move. Instead, he used Ki.

Ever since Evelyne had taken over the body of Evelyn Elmhart, she had never seen anyone use Ki before.

That fact alone was enough to make her expression change.

The underground fortress had already fallen into a strange silence. The sounds of battle that had filled the cavern moments ago had faded, leaving only the faint crackle of torches and the distant echoes of frightened soldiers moving through the corridors.

Evelyne stood several steps away from Victor, her fingers tightening around the hilt of her sword.

She stared at him.

Not at his face.

Not at his clothes.

At the energy surrounding his body.

It wasn’t mana.

She knew mana.

She had spent enough time in this world to understand its basic laws. The people here cultivated mana, infused it into weapons, reinforced their bodies with it, and shaped it into spells and techniques.

But what Victor had just used was something else.

Ki.

A power she had known from the world she came from.

Her thoughts raced.

’How is this possible?’

Most of the residents in this world relied entirely on mana. Even the strongest warriors she had encountered had never demonstrated the ability to manipulate Ki.

Yet this man had just crossed the distance between them as if the space itself had been folded.

And he hadn’t even looked particularly serious.

That was what unsettled her most.

Victor, meanwhile, seemed far more interested in her sword.

His golden eyes moved slowly over the blade, taking in its shape, its edge, and the faint energy flowing across its surface.

The sword was unusual.

It wasn’t simply a weapon enhanced by ordinary mana.

There was something more refined about it.

Something familiar.

Victor’s lips curved upward.

His curiosity finally overcame his restraint.

”So what kind of transmigator are you?”

Evelyne’s eyes narrowed.

Victor continued before she could answer.

”Are you the type that level-ups, claiming that this world is a game?”

His tone was almost conversational.

That somehow made it worse.

”Are you the type that has read the events of this world in a novel, claiming that there is some kind of protagonist?”

Evelyne’s grip tightened.

Victor’s smile widened.

”Are you perhaps the type that claims to be an immortal from some high and mighty clan?”

The woman remained silent.

”Are you perhaps just some poor sap that got unlucky and came into this world by chance?”

Victor tilted his head slightly.

”Or perhaps you’re a different kind of transmigator?”

His golden eyes sharpened.

”So tell me which are you?”

For several seconds, only silence answered him.

Evelyne didn’t bother to answer Victor.

Her eyes hardened.

Then she moved.

The Long sword in her hand flashed.

There was no warning.

No declaration.

No hesitation.

She stepped forward and swung directly toward Victor’s neck.

The blade cut through the air with a sharp whistle.

Victor simply shifted his body.

The sword passed beside his face.

A few strands of his black hair were lifted by the pressure of the passing blade, but the edge itself never touched him.

Evelyne immediately followed with another slash.

Victor leaned backward.

The blade passed over his chest.

Another strike.

He stepped aside.

Another.

He turned his shoulder.

Neither of them said anything for several breaths.

Their movements became faster.

Evelyne’s sword began to blur.

She poured more of her Ki into her body, forcing her movements beyond what an ordinary warrior could follow.

Her feet struck the stone floor.

Her sword swept through the torchlight.

Victor’s golden eyes followed every motion.

Then his expression changed.

He had been testing her.

Now he was interested.

Victor gathered his own Ki.

The moment it spread through his body, his movements accelerated.

Evelyne’s eyes widened.

’He’s faster.’

The thought barely formed before Victor was already there.

She swung.

Victor blocked.

The impact exploded through the cavern.

Their weapons collided with a sharp metallic crack.

For a brief moment, neither moved.

Their blades were locked together.

Evelyne stared directly into Victor’s golden eyes.

”So you’re not going to answer?”

Victor’s smile remained.

Instead, he asked another question.

”How are you able to utilize Ki, are you the same as me?”

Evelyne’s brows drew together.

”Ki?”

Victor’s expression became amused.

”Oh, do you mean Zenith Aura?”

The moment those words left his mouth, Evelyne’s pupils contracted.

Zenith Aura.

So that was what this world called Ki.

Interesting.

Victor noticed the tiny change in her expression.

He didn’t miss it.

He continued casually.

”Well, why should I bother answering your question if you don’t want to answer mine?”

Their swords remained locked.

For a moment, it seemed as though the two were simply standing there, each waiting for the other to reveal something.

Then Victor’s expression changed.

His foot moved.

Evelyne’s eyes widened.

Victor suddenly kicked her in the abdomen.

The blow landed cleanly.

”Ugh!”

Evelyne was sent flying backward.

Her boots scraped violently across the stone floor before she managed to regain her balance. She dug one foot into the ground, stopping herself several feet away.

The surrounding soldiers stared in disbelief.

Their Marquis had been pushed back.

Not by some ordinary knight.

Not by a mage.

But by a man who seemed almost amused by the entire confrontation.

Evelyne slowly straightened herself.

Her expression was no longer curious.

It had become focused.

At first, she had been slightly curious about Victor.

How did he know she was a transmigrator?

How did he know about Ki?

Why had he come here?

Those questions had occupied her mind since the moment he revealed that knowledge.

But now?

She didn’t care anymore.

This man had obviously come here intending to fight.

And if he had already sent an assassin after her people, then why should she stand around having a friendly conversation with him?

’There’s no point.’

Her fingers tightened around the sword.

’If he wants a fight, I’ll give him one.’