What is Dawn's Ballad in The Beginning After the End? The secret of Arthur's new weapon, explained

One of the major highlights of The Beginning After the End episode 11 was Arthur Leywin acquiring a new weapon called Dawn's Ballad. During his visit to the Helstea auction house, Arthur, accompanied by Sylvie, was allowed to choose a weapon of his liking. Unable to find a suitable blade, he noticed Sylvie digging through a pile of weapons.

Interestingly, Arthur discovered a rather shabby-looking black rod under the pile. After closely inspecting it, Arthur realized that it was a sword. However, it didn't unsheathe until the boy activated his Beast Will. The blade emerged from its dark scabbard, exuding a teal hue. Soon, Arthur realized that it wasn't an ordinary blade, but a mana sword that could bond with its user.

Moreover, a close inspection revealed that the blade had the words, "Dawn's Ballad W.K.IV" inscribed on it. Arthur didn't know what it meant, but he decided to own the blade. So, what is the Dawn's Ballad in The Beginning After the End, and what sort of mystery does it hide?

According to The Beginning After the End webnovel and webtoon, The Dawn's Ballad is a special blade, forged by Wren Kain IV — an Asura of the Kan Clan. Wren considered the blade a failure and threw it in the Beast Glades during one of his trips to collect minerals.

Disclaimer: This article contains spoilers from The Beginning After the End webnovel, webtoon, and the anime

Unraveling the mystery of the Dawn's Ballad and its creator in The Beginning After the End

Wren Kain IV, as seen in the webtoon (Image via Tapas)

According to The Beginning After the End chapter 162 (webtoon), Wren Kain IV, an Asura, forged the Dawn's Ballad as one of his experimental swords. It was originally meant to be a sword that could adjust its weight and shape to accommodate its user. Yet, Wren considered the sword a failure because it wasn't as powerful as the other blades he forged.

In other words, Dawn's Ballad didn't meet his "standards." That's why Wren tossed the blade into the Beast Glades during one of his trips. Afterward, an elderly person collected the blade and tried to open it. However, the person couldn't unsheathe the sword from its hilt felt it was "incompatible" with him.

The Dawn's Ballad sword (Image via Studio A-CAT)

Eventually, the sword came into Vincent Helstea's possession, who kept it for auction purposes. Yet, he was willing to give it to Arthur, who coerced him into it. Meanwhile, the Dawn's Ballad could only be used under one condition: The wielder had to have the power of an Asura. So, the question may arise, "Why could Arthur wield the Dawn's Ballad in The Beginning After the End?"

Briefly speaking, it's because he activated his Beast Will, i.e., Sylvia's powers. According to the webnovel, Sylvia was the daughter of Lord Kezess Indrath and Myre from the Indrath Clan — the strongest clan among the Asuras. Since Sylvia was an Asura, Arthur having her Beast Will meant he could unsheath the Dawn's Ballad blade.

Arthur's father checks the sword (Image via Studio A-CAT)

In the narrative of The Beginning After the End, Arthur discovered that Wren Kain IV was the Dawn's Ballad's creator when the Asura had become his third mentor. Wren was assigned to train Arthur for the upcoming war against the Alacrya and the Vitra Clan. Wren was intrigued that Arthur held onto his blade for so long.

The abilities of the Dawn's Ballad in The Beginning After the End

Arthur wields the blade (Image via Studio A-CAT)

While the Dawn's Ballad wasn't a satisfactory forging of Wren Kain IV, it was nonetheless a beautiful blade possessing interesting powers. Unlike the other swords in the Helstea Auction house, the Dawn's Ballad exuded a translucent teal hue. It was a double-edged sword, with a narrow and thin blade, making it perfect for slashing and thrusting-type attacks.

Moreover, the blade's tip was sharpened. After absorbing Arthur's blood, the Dawn's Ballad became bonded with him. Arthur observed that the blade's balance perfectly matched his body. In other words, the blade changed its size and weight according to Arthur's body, making it a formidable weapon to be used in a battle.

Arthur demonstrates the Dawn's Ballad (Image via Studio A-CAT)

Being lightweight meant Arthur could easily maneuver it. Arthur Leywin fought a lot of battles using the Dawn's ballad, including in the War. However, during the battle against retainer Jagrette, the sword's tip had melted away due to the enemy's corrosive abilities. Eventually, the blade was shattered by Cadell, the scythe of the Central Dominion of Alacrya, who worked under Agrona Vritra.

Conclusion

Arthur Leywin's acquiring the Dawn's Ballad was one of the integral moments in The Beginning After the End. Wielding a powerful weapon forged by an Asura had set Arthur's fate into motion. Even though it was an "experimental" sword, it was key to the beginning of Arthur's journey.

Also read:

• The Beginning After the End episode 11 full highlights
• The Beginning After the End season 2 announced for Spring 2025
• The Beginning After the End anime complete release schedule

Edited by Apratim Chakraborty