System vs Rebirth

The elders couldn't help but furrow their eyebrows when they sensed the strength exuding from the bodies of these two humans. They still covered their bodies and faces, but they could feel that even if all of them fought them, there was a high chance that several of them would die in the process. That was what their animal instinct was telling them.

Noel and Anna were also looking around, assessing the situation and the elders' strength. Still, the one piquing his interest was the man in the middle. Six people, no seven people were sitting on the opposite side, including the phantom who had led them here. But the weakest person was actually sitting in the middle, as if he were the one leading them.

This person had the complete body of a lion, but he was able to stand on two feet like a human.

"Thank you for inviting us here, Old Ru. However, I'm still unable to understand the reason for your sudden invitation…" Noel lowered his hood. He didn't greet them since they were in equal positions. In addition, he had been invited all of a sudden, so it would be better to focus on the matter at hand.

Old Ru smiled. "I think you have guessed the reason already."

"Ardagan…" Noel squinted his yes. "No. Something related to my ancestors?"

The lion squinted his eyes. He opened his mouth. "This is surprising. Even though there is supposed to be no record about it, you are able to guess it."ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

Obviously, Noel was clueless if he didn't meet Vivi. She told him that his ancestor's inheritance actually resided in the Beast Kingdom. He instantly linked it with Old Ru's invitation.

"It's merely a guess." Noel shook his head.

"The reason I call you is exactly for that reason. In the past, there was a prophecy. In the future, the slumbering divine blade will wake up again. It's not the sign of protection, but the mark of counterattack."

Noel frowned. "The mark of counterattack…"

He never thought that the prophecy was accurate. If he managed to survive this ordeal, he wanted to explore the world while cutting down some demons along the way.

Of course, what he could do was try to survive this whole time. He wasn't at the level where he had the leeway to strike back.

"So are you going to give me the inheritance just like that? Not that I'm complaining, but if that's the case, I don't think you will gather all of them here." Noel glanced at the other elders.

"Indeed." Old Ru nodded his head.

The lion stood up. "In the past, my ancestor followed the Great Commander Alexander Simeon, who later changed his name to Alexander Ardagan."

"The ninth commandant…" Noel muttered.

The lion looked surprised. "You know about him? I don't think this is just a mere guess. After all, from the record I've been keeping, there's no record about his identity left behind in the Ardagan family."

They could only think of one possible reason. The one who knew about it was Ardagan. Yes, Aradgan might have told him about the reason and their identities.

Noel shrugged. "I have my own ways."

The lion paused for a moment before continuing, "Once he retired, he chose to form this country. I believe you already know the reason why this country was formed in the beginning, right?"

"Yes. To create a home for the people who had been affected by the experiments." Noel nodded.

"Indeed. It was only due to your ancestor's help that it was possible. In order to repay his kindness, our ancestor had given us three orders." The lion raised three fingers. "To protect the legacy, consider the demons as our mortal enemies, and break free from the curse bestowed upon us."

"The curse…" Noel felt like he understood what he wanted to say. If it were that easy to give him the legacy, he wouldn't call him here. Hence, that reason must be related to this curse.

"I don't know if you are aware of it, but… we are unable to have a spirit in our body."

"Huh?" Noel couldn't help but furrow his eyebrows. "Unable to have a spirit in your body?"

Anna couldn't help but glance at Old Ru and Andreas, who had a time spirit and a soul spirit respectively.

The lion waved down his hand, asking him to calm down and listen to his explanation. "During the experiment, they fused humans with animal genes. It looked like there was no trouble at first, but they later learned that not a single one of them had a spirit in their body.

"Why? The simple answer is the demon. You should know that the demons are able to infect the animals easily, turning them into beasts, right?"

"Don't tell me…" Noel frowned.

"Yes. They infused corrupted genes into us, combining us with animal traits and demon powers to empower us. As a result, we are unable to receive the blessing of the spirits."

"That doesn't make sense. If that's the case, why would they be able to have spirits?" Noel asked.

It was clear who the people he mentioned were. Old Ru stood up and put down a box on the table. "Because of this."

Old Ru opened the box. There was a single thing inside that box, and Noel somehow felt an attachment to it.

"A scabbard… scabbard?" Noel noticed the meaning behind that scabbard. "Is that…"

"Yes. Ardagan's scabbard." Old Ru confirmed it with a nod.

The lion added, "According to the record, the demon king broke the great commander's heart. However, the battle against him tore apart Ardagan."

"!!!" Noel widened his eyes in shock. The fact he could summon Ardagan and recall it back inside his body had made him not think about this possibility.

For a complete sword, even if he was a spirit, Ardagan should have a scabbard just like any other sword, especially with the fact that he was forged by the spirit god.

"The battle against the demon king broke Ardagan into three pieces: the sword, the scabbard, and the core.

"I believe what's written in your family's record is that Ardagan will only choose a worthy heir to fight against the demon king.

"However, that's not entirely true. Ardagan is a magic sword. If that's the case, why would Ardagan not have the power that can amplify your power like the staff that humans love to use?

"The answer is simple. Ardagan is not complete. In that battle, the scabbard was gone. After the relentless efforts of our ancestor, he managed to recover the scabbard. Instead of accepting it, your ancestor told ours to keep the scabbard here and gave those three orders.

"As for how he was able to receive a spirit blessing, he would explain it later. I want you to know about the core first.

"At first, we couldn't believe it, but it seems that the demon king has the core."

"Are you telling me to defeat the demon king to get that core? And how is it going to affect you? I mean, erasing your curse."

"The core is with the demon king to keep him in check. In fact, it's not that Ardagan woke up from his slumber because he chose you. Instead, it was because of the core that he woke up.

"Still connected, the energy core transmitted that energy to Ardagan, which woke him up and chose its owner… to once again fight the demon king. Of course, half of these were just speculations. You should ask the spirit itself.

"As for how to remove the curse..."