Strongest Swordman’s Re:START

r it didn’t seem like something Foldia would do.
Still, what a strange occurrence.

“Fufu, you look confused.
You’ve heard of the Principle of the Strong, right?”
“Principle of the Strong? Oh! That thing! It’s a quote from a professor who claimed that the strong are only strong since they are winners.
I’m not sure what the phrase means, but wasn’t it first introduced a few years before we beat the Falgaro?”

Astard nodded with a wry smile as Merc revealed her half-baked information from her prior life.

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“That’s right.
If we are to be precise, the theory was introduced by Dr.
Zoana Glodel in the Chulice Empire 20 years ago.
It states that, ‘the strong are strong because they acquire life force by killing others’ … In other words, whether you’re a human or a Magic Beast, killing your opponent earns you a significant part of their strength1.”

It had been a genuinely groundbreaking theory.

Prior to the discovery of that theory, it was thought that by practicing through repeated battles, one may develop skill, experience, and physical strength.

Dr.
Glodel’s research revealed, however, that when a living entity possessing Mana died, their Mana was absorbed as life force by others around them.
Naturally, the more powerful the entity slain, the more life force was gained.

In other words, those who defeated the strong got stronger, and they were able to continue winning without dying, accumulating even more strength.

“Oh, so it was like that.
And? Does this theory really matter?”
“You bet it does.
The reason that I and Foldia have ceased aging most likely has to do with defeating the Falgaro and acquiring its life force.”

Astard’s face flushed with pride, as if he’d just made a major revelation.
Merc gave him an exaggerated nod as she stared him in the eyes.

“I see, I see.
So, what does that mean?”

She then asked, immediately tilting her head.

“Good grief… Listen closely.
A living entity will die if their Mana is completely depleted.
As a result, we may conclude that Mana can also be referred to as Life Force.”
“I see.
So?”
“After we defeated the Falgaro, the enormous amount of Life Force it contained was inevitably shared through only a few people, considerably amplifying our power.
And a part of that increase of power is manifesting itself in the form of our aging.”
“Hmph.
I see.
I’m still not sure what you’re talking about, but if you say so, it must be true.
So, where does this leave me? I’m pretty sure I didn’t absorb that kind of Life Force, because I was reincarnated before I stopped aging in the first place.”
“I feel you’ve absorbed the Falgaro’s life force as well.”

Astard stated something unexpected in answer to Merc’s query.

“Huh? How can that be? I died, didn’t I?”
“Your fatal wounds most likely couldn’t be completely healed despite you acquiring the life force.
Foldia probably managed to kill the Falgaro before you breathed your last.
Then we absorbed the Falgaro’s life force, you included.
But, because your body had reached its limit, only your soul had acquired the life force and was kept together by it, left to wander this world, in the end resulting in your reincarnation as an elf2.”