The Sword Emperor Transmigrates

“…Is it true that you’ve already reached that level at your age?”

When Demian saw Leonard in person after a long time, his face briefly reflected disbelief then settled on mild perplexity.

He couldn’t help it. Breaking through to the Transcendence Tier before the age of twenty was already an extraordinary feat, but to begin ascending the steps to the Demigod Tier? That was incomparable. It was a tier that could take someone decades, even over a century, to reach—assuming they had the necessary talent and fortune.

Leonard had already drawn attention as a promising prodigy with multiple unique traits, but now, with his potential breakthrough into the Demigod Tier, his value had skyrocketed beyond measure.

“What do you mean by ‘reached that level’?” Leonard asked, seemingly unaware of his own transformation.

Demian scratched the back of his head, then replied, “You must have experienced a phenomenon where your awareness field expanded outward significantly, haven’t you? That phenomenon indicates that your Mindscape is transforming into a unique law, which is essentially proof that you’ve nearly reached the Demigod Tier. As the barrier between your soul and body fades, the natural limits imposed on your mortal body will also begin to fade.”

“Fade? So, the barrier doesn’t completely disappear?”

“Of course not. If the distinction between soul and body were to vanish entirely, transforming your existence into pure law, what would you call that?”

Realizing the foolishness of his question, Leonard let out a soft “Ah.” He then answered quietly, “…A god.”

“Exactly. The state where a being sheds the constraints of mortality to attain immortality—that’s what we call the Deification Tier, the realm we’ve been longing to reach for hundreds of years.”

A Deification Tier being, an entity who’d elevated their self-conceived laws to the same status as the laws of the world itself, was considered a peak warrior. This was why those who achieved the Deification Tier were spoken of in the same breath as gods.

The transcendental species, the gods who’d dominated the ancient era, were born with the portions of the world’s laws assigned to them as their inherent authorities. That was what made them so powerful.

A Deification Tier being, however, was a being who became powerful by acquiring part of the world’s laws through their own efforts.

“If you want a simpler analogy, think of it like this: the gods are nobles born into power, inheriting their lands at birth. Deification Tier beings, on the other hand, are commoners who carve out their own lands through sheer effort and ability.”

As Demian discussed the unreachable Deification Tier, the tier no one after Ancestor Cardenas had achieved, his expression stiffened involuntarily. Memories of the meeting that had stretched from the previous night to just moments ago replayed in his mind.

The information brought by Sigrdrifa, the Valkyrie Queen, had proven its worth. It revealed that the Arcadian Empire could possibly need to prepare for its first all-out war in centuries—a worst-case scenario that they had only just begun to comprehend.

Leonard, whose Dragon Eyes had sharpened further when his consciousness expanded, noticed even the faint disturbance in Demian’s expression.

“…Looks like I’ve shown you an unsightly side of me,” Demian muttered, forcing a bitter smile.

Leonard’s growth was remarkable, but he still lacked the control to delve into another’s mind. He was merely sensing the surface thoughts that leaked through, rather than deliberately intruding into the mind. Nevertheless, it was enough for Leonard to tread carefully with his next words.

“Is this something I shouldn’t know about?”

“For the most part, yes. Still, there are parts I can share with you,” Demian replied after some deliberation.

“Yesterday, we signed a non-aggression pact with the Celestials. The Valkyrie Queen herself came to negotiate. As a result, the Order of the Blue Dragon has lost its purpose, and what was once a five-front war has now been reduced to four.”

“A non-aggression pact? How long will it last?”

“Permanently. I can’t divulge all the details, but I can guarantee this: we won’t ever be at war with the Celestials again.”

Leonard couldn’t help but feel puzzled. He had asked out of concern, wondering if something bad had happened, but the news seemed overwhelmingly positive.

If one frontier has been resolved, then there couldn’t be a better scenario for the Arcadian Empire and the Three Nobles Houses. So why does the leadership seem so somber, as if they’ve uncovered a grave threat?

Noticing Leonard’s skepticism, Demian chose not to explain further.

He said, “If things had gone as planned, your next assignment would have been with the Order of the Blue Dragon. But with the Celestial frontier resolved, you’ll likely be assigned elsewhere.”

“There’s only one place left, isn’t there?”

“Correct. You’ll almost certainly be sent to the Order of the Green Dragon.”

Having already hunted Void Deities with the Order of the White Dragon and breached the Corroded Realm with the Order of the Red Dragon, Leonard could deduce the next logical step.

With the Celestials out of the equation due to the non-aggression pact, the Order of the Blue Dragon had lost their enemy. If so, then the Order of the Green Dragon was the only other place he had no prior experience with, making it the only remaining option.

He’d heard of the Order of the Green Dragon once before, but aside from their enemy’s name, Leonard knew nothing. The Order of the Green Dragon was more secretive than any other knightly order and was entangled in high-level classified information.

The Spriggan.

Even Demian, the White Dragon Commander, had only ever seen their name mentioned in reports.

The tales told during the Empire’s founding and those about Ancestor Cardenas herself offered faint clues. The Spriggan were described as “a collective of spirits corrupted by the malice of the World Tree.”

“I see you’ve remembered. Then let me fill in the blanks,” Demian said with a smirk, as if reading Leonard’s thoughts. He explained, “You’ve been to Nastrond, haven’t you? It’s ruled by the Outer God Nidhogg, the one who poisoned the World Tree, Yggdrasil, during the God-Slaying War. That bastard is deeply tied to the birth of the Spriggan.”

“…So, it was the poison of an Outer God that corrupted the World Tree?”

“Oh? Connecting the dots, are you? Exactly. Nidhogg’s venom doesn’t merely rot its victims; it reanimates them as Undead. In Yggdrasil’s case, the process took a long time and resulted in an imperfect form, but her powers as the World Tree far exceeded expectations—even Nidhogg’s own.”

The World Tree, a once-great incarnation of nature from a bygone era, had served as both the bridge between the Spirit Realm and the Middle Realm and as the core that maintained the cycle of natural forces.

But as an Undead, Yggdrasil’s influence turned grotesquely unnatural.

“Nidhogg never intended this outcome, but Yggdrasil became a catastrophe of her own. Within the range of her influence, ‘death’ is considered natural, while ‘life’ becomes unnatural.”

Even air and sunlight were lethal to the living within her influence. From weeds to insects, she attacked everything that breathed.

The land was already harsh enough that surviving without the ability to maintain an augmented energy shield was unthinkable. But the danger escalated even further in areas where the Spriggans had begun to operate.

The term Spriggan referred to none other than ancient spirits. The Spriggans were powerful beings of the Spirit Realm that were distinct from its natural hierarchy. Tied to the Middle Realm rather than the Spirit Realm’s structured order, they were anomalies—spirits of extraordinary strength and independence.

“Normally, spirits can’t become undead because they’re defined by presence and absence, not by life and death. But Yggdrasil’s twisted powers broke this rule. The Spriggan became abominations, possessing the traits of both spirits and the Undead. They fuse with corpses to amplify their power, transforming into spectral horrors.”

From weeds to insects, there were countless corpses that the Spriggans could possess, so from an enemy’s standpoint, potential threats were scattered around the whole world. A person couldn’t even properly bury their fallen comrades.

If they failed to burn or completely destroy the remains on the spot, it was unimaginable how terrifyingly powerful a Spriggan could become if it took control of the corpse of a Transcendence Tier knight.

“What’s even more troublesome is that Yggdrasil continues to exert her influence, even in her corrupted state. Wickelines with High Elf bloodlines can’t even get close. And if a Class 9 Grand Magus is dominated by Yggdrasil’s influence, like a Spriggan is—”

“An Arch-Lich will be born,” Leonard interjected.

An Arch-Lich was a being elevated to the Demigod Tier from a lich, one of the most powerful Undead. It was a monster that had shed all the weaknesses it once possessed.

Corrupted by mana from the dark dimension, even the virtuous could not escape falling into depravity. This was why the Order of the Green Dragon faced unending hardships on their frontlines.

“And that’s why the Jehoia family is critical in the war against the Spriggans. Yggdrasil’s authority, after all, has little effect on non-living entities, and Spriggans can’t possess such hosts either.”

The descendants of the Dvergr, the Jehoia family, were a race renowned more for their technological prowess than their combat skills. They primarily provided logistical support in the other frontiers maintained by the Three Noble Houses, managing the production and maintenance of gear for the Seven Great Orders and supplying strategic assets like the Aeroships of the Order of the Blue Dragon.

However, the one battlefield where they were directly engaged in frontline combat was alongside the Order of the Green Dragon—fighting against the undead World Tree.

“They were the ones who undertook the grand mission to prevent Yggdrasil’s roots from spreading further. They also developed the Autonomous War Machine, the Titans, that kept the frontlines intact. While I mean no disrespect to the Order of the Green Dragon, they wouldn’t have been able to hold the line without the Jehoia family’s assistance.”

“Indeed,” Leonard agreed.

“And now,” Demian continued, his tone shifting as he began to address the true purpose of the conversation. “Listen carefully. Soon, three Knight Commanders will be deployed to reinforce the Spriggan frontier. Oh, and the Order of the Blue Dragon will be joining as well.”

The commanders in question were Wade of the Order of the Red Dragon, Audrey of the Order of the Black Dragon, and Grace of the Order of the Blue Dragon. With Grace now idle due to the non-aggression pact with the Celestials, it was clear that every available knight commander was being mobilized.

No matter how formidable the Spriggans and Yggdrasil’s power, they were a force capable of pushing the frontlines forward decisively.

“What about you, Commander Demian?” Leonard asked.

“I’ll remain in the reserves, to be deployed in an emergency. My abilities aren’t well-suited for dealing with the Spriggan. That’s why only commanders with the firepower to completely annihilate the hosts along with the Spriggans are being sent.”

“No way,” Leonard muttered softly, understanding Demian’s intent.

Demian didn’t deny it and nodded solemnly.

“That’s right. The Empire plans to use this opportunity to completely wipe out both the Spriggans and Yggdrasil. Before the Demoniacs and the Outer Gods learn of the void left by the Celestials, we intend to end this in one swift, decisive campaign.”

It was a bold decision, almost audacious. If the Demoniacs or the Outer God worshippers discovered the gap in the Empire’s defenses, even leaving one Knight Commander in reserve wouldn’t be enough to handle the aftermath.

The loss of a few Golden Dragon Knights could escalate the situation to the point where the Ancestor herself would need to intervene. Yet despite being fully aware of these risks, the Empire’s leadership had decided to seize the fleeting chance for victory.

If the operation succeeded, it could possibly delay the world’s inevitable decline by centuries.

“And that brings me to you,” Demian said, his expression hardening as he rested his hand on the hilt of his sword.

Leonard instinctively stepped back a few meters, gripping his own weapon. It wasn’t a joke; the clash of their consciousnesses had made it abundantly clear. Though Demian had no intent to kill, he had no reservations about fully unleashing his power.

The reason was simple.

“Sending you to the Order of the Green Dragon might help you grow further, but it would also unnecessarily increase the risk to your life. You’re already on the cusp of reaching the Demigod Tier just by continuing your training.”

This wasn’t a campaign aimed at maintaining the status quo. It was a war with the sole purpose of annihilating the enemy. Even Knight Commanders had to be prepared for death.

When driven to the brink, even a rat would bite a cat. No matter how many Knight Commanders or entire knightly orders were deployed, casualties were inevitable.

Leonard was someone destined to ascend to the Demigod Tier, and he even showed potential to reach the Deification Tier. Sending such a promising figure to a hazardous battlefield without a compelling reason was foolish.

“Show me your strength. If I find that your abilities are insufficient to protect yourself, I’ll ensure you remain here, unable to leave for the foreseeable future. You’re not the kind of person who would listen to reason, after all.”

“…So there’s no room for debate, then.” Leonard chuckled dryly at Demian’s bluntness and drew his sword.

They weren’t at a proper training ground but near their quarters. However, as long as they didn’t unleash their full power, there was no need to worry about collateral damage.

Demian, a Demigod Tier powerhouse, was more than capable of restraining his strength.

“Last time, you failed to break through my nullification skill. Can I expect better this time?”

Instead of answering, Leonard raised his sword.

“Hah, good answer.”

Thus began Leonard’s second duel with Demian, the Cardenas family’s White Dragon Commander.