Lord: I can see loyalty.

After reaching an alliance with the Cooper tribe, Vio and his companions did not linger in Mount Loba.

After leaving some men to help Albright consolidate his power and establish an outpost in Savannah, he quickly returned to Bordeaux with the main force.

He also wants to develop the newly discovered magic vein deep in the desert.

Upon returning to Bordeaux, Vio immediately prioritized the application of magic ore.

Mining at the desert camp accelerated dramatically. With Valentine's magical protection, truckloads of unrefined ore were continuously transported back to the newly established forging district in the city.

This place brings together the best blacksmiths in the South: the blacksmith camp of Bordeaux, several jewelers hired by Valle, and the well-established system of Cavill Fortress...

Having gained experience in forging the greatsword for Glenn, the subsequent forging went much more smoothly.

Vio commissioned custom-made new weapons for his core members, each one inlaid with a meticulously cut core of magic ore:

Jimmy obtained a "Decapitator" longsword, with a slender and long blade that was made of magic ore to enhance its hardness, and amethyst was inlaid at the junction of the blade and the hilt.

When used properly, the flowing purple light can not only slightly enhance the user's explosive power, but also add a slight magical vibration when the longsword is swung, which is particularly effective against heavy armor that is usually difficult to deal with.

Gina's weapon is a broadsword with a blade that is longer and wider than before. Magic ore is inlaid on both sides of the sword, which greatly enhances the user's perception and speed when used, and also adds a certain armor-piercing and exorcising ability to the blade.

Ansquie obtained a "Hound" longsword, standard in design but perfectly balanced, with magic ore placed in the center of the hilt.

Its ability is the most basic: it can greatly enhance the user's stamina and make the sword itself more robust.

Xavier wielded a swift sword and a lightweight arm shield that could be strapped to his forearm. The sword was agile and focused on increasing the speed and penetration of thrusts, while the arm shield, though small, was sufficient to mitigate the impact of the heavy hammer.

Vio also had his sword completely reforged. The new sword, named "Southern Will," retained the flexibility and sharpness required for Dune swordsmanship.

A high-purity magic ore the size of a pigeon's egg is embedded in the hilt of the sword, surrounded by intricate runes. It does not possess any special abilities, but rather acts as an amplifier of Vio's power.

While arming the core personnel, Vio also ordered the mass production of standardized weapons for several captains of the Azure Peak Knights and distinguished veterans in the militia.

While not as good as the custom-made weapons Vio and his crew had, they were still far superior to ordinary weapons.

……

Bordeaux, the study of the Château de la Count.

As the tedious tasks came to an end, night had already fallen.

Vio sat alone in his study, with the sparse lights of Bordeaux gradually appearing outside the window.

On his table lay copies of the Knight Academy's manual, purchased from the capital, as well as notes on magic provided by Valentine.

Weapons are important, but Vio himself also needs to make breakthroughs.

After he arrived at the Dune Swordsmanship Advanced Class, he had not trained in swordsmanship for quite some time.

It wasn't that Vio was being lazy, but rather that after breaking through to the next level, he couldn't find room for further improvement.

A "superior" level knightly swordsmanship expert is one in a hundred within the kingdom's military system, qualified to serve as a commander of elite troops.

But above all that lies a vague yet alluring realm: the Great Knight.

It is not a formal noble title, but rather a title of respect bestowed by the kingdom upon knights who have honed their bodies, skills, and will to the pinnacle of mortal achievement and are on the verge of reaching the extraordinary.

According to records, the Great Knight possesses stamina, strength, and speed far exceeding those of ordinary people, enabling him to maintain high-intensity combat for extended periods and even resist low-level spells or mental erosion to a certain extent.

On Vio's system panel, he was already at the peak of the "Sand Dune Swordsmanship (Advanced)" level, and occasionally, prompts such as "Physical strength nearing its limit" and "Mental perception breakthrough" would appear in the "Status" section.

He knew he was standing at the threshold, but he couldn't find a clear path to push the door open.

Valentine's notes, while offering some magical ideas, also mention related content: "...The human body itself is a can of magic energy; magic and battle aura are both transformations of magic energy in different forms... To break through the limitations of the mortal body, one cannot succeed simply through constant training; one needs to form a more efficient 'breathing' with external magic energy..."

As for the content taught by the Royal Capital Knight Academy, there is no need to elaborate. Such extraordinary power is naturally not something that these knight novices would learn.

Vio stared at his screen, lost in thought.

The panel quantifies his swordsmanship and physique, but it doesn't seem to offer a direct way to upgrade.

"Could it be... that we're going the wrong way?" Vio muttered to himself, his fingers tapping the table unconsciously.

He closed his eyes and began to recall every detail of his battles with Ronan, the barbarian warriors, the warriors under the command of the God of Eclipse, and even his own body, remembering the feeling of completely condensing his spirit, body, swordsmanship, and breath into one.

At first, there was no movement, only a slight soreness in the muscles and fatigue from mental focus.

But when he cleared his mind of distractions, stopped deliberately pursuing breakthroughs, and instead immersed himself in the battle scene, the panel suddenly flickered slightly.

A new, pale gold notification quietly appeared:

[Detection indicates your Knight Swordsmanship has surpassed the advanced level... Your physical body has reached its limit... You may learn Knight Breathing Technique]

[Integration and analysis in progress...]

[Derive your potential advancement path and probability...]

[Path 1: Gravel Breathing Method (emphasizes speed and endurance, significantly improves physical fitness and stamina recovery), 88% compatibility]

【Path Two: Sword Tail Flower Breathing Technique (emphasizes strength and appearance, enhances overall qualities and move variety), compatibility 45%】

[Path 3: Insufficient data available...]

Vio suddenly opened his eyes, a hint of surprise flashing in them.

Although the system cannot directly grant power, it can find a way for Vio to advance based on his fighting style, namely the Knight Breathing Technique!

The sand breathing technique... This perfectly matches his dune swordsmanship and consistent fighting style, with a compatibility rate of 88%... This might mean that the probability of breaking through in this direction is the highest.

As for the Sword Tail Flower Breathing Technique, you can tell from the name that it is probably a breathing technique learned by the Royal Capital Knights.

He immediately got up, went to the small training room next to the study, took off his noble clothes, and grasped the hilt of the sword "Southern Will".

This time, he no longer blindly practiced knightly swordsmanship, but instead calmed his mind and focused on the connection between his breath and body.

At the same time, he diverted a portion of his attention to observe the rapid changes in his own status on the system panel and the new interface about breathing techniques that appeared.

His body began to tremble slightly, not because his core was unstable, but because the power within him was looking for an outlet.

The air was filled with the magical aura from the crafting of magic ore weapons throughout the city, which seemed to be drawn to him, forming an almost imperceptible current around him.

[Advanced path available]

【Path 1: Gravel Breathing Method】

【Path Two: Sword Tail Flower Breathing Technique】

Vio suddenly opened his eyes, and after a moment's pause, he silently recited in his heart without hesitation.

Path 1: Gravel Breathing Method!

As he finished reciting the mantra, the surrounding energy surged into his body! Vio instantly felt much more agile, and even the sword in his hand felt lighter!

【Features: Advanced peak of basic swordsmanship, advanced peak of dune swordsmanship, beginner level of sand breathing technique】

He understood that the moment he fully mastered the breathing technique would be the moment he pushed open that door and stepped into the realm of the "Great Knight".

And this day may come before the final battle against the Haro barbarians and the black mud monster.