episode_0098

Eyes of blue light.

Even though night had fallen, those glowing blue eyes were clearly visible.

Among the enemies, this one seemed the most dangerous.

‘Who is that?’

A terrifying strength radiated from them.

My skin prickled. Every nerve in my body sharpened, and my heart pounded violently.

The blue eyes gleamed with an eerie light.

“……This isn’t what I expected. There’s someone quite interesting here.”

A voice that made it impossible to tell if it belonged to a man or someone androgynous.

At the sound of that voice, So Yeon-hwa frowned and stepped beside me.

-Be careful.

A cautious whisper reached my ear.

It was So Yeon-hwa’s voice.

-That person… they’re from the Empire.

From the Empire, huh?

I kept my gaze fixed on the opponent while recalling the Crown Prince.

Most likely, this was someone who had come with a high probability of trying to kill him.

I drew my bloodstained sword.

No matter what, that being was my enemy.

At least one thing was fortunate.

‘Arme and Veronica are here.’

Veronica specialized in both offense and healing.

As long as the Crown Prince didn’t die, there wouldn’t be a problem.

‘I can leave that to Arme and Veronica.’

Though Veronica excelled in healing and attack,

her basic defensive and support skills were also exceptional. Rozenta was well-rounded, but in no aspect could she surpass Veronica.

The difference in levels and gifts was that stark.

Well, that wasn’t the important part.

I kept my eyes locked on the enemy.

The one with blue eyes seemed the most dangerous,

but the ones beside them didn’t look easy either.

“This isn’t good.”

“If we don’t finish this quickly… that ridiculous old man they call the Sword King might catch up.”

“That woman over there—isn’t she the Empire’s so-called ‘Genius Killer’? I’d like to see her swordsmanship for myself.”

The two spoke as if we weren’t even worth their attention.

But the one with blue eyes watched me warily.

“Then you take the Genius Killer. I’ll handle the one in the middle.”

The blue-eyed swordsman looked at me as he said that.

“Purple eyes… and black irises. The hottest prospect in the cradle right now, aren’t you? Han Yu-seong, was it?”

“Then I’ll target the Crown Prince… Tch, with the Saintess of the Church involved, a quiet end is impossible now.”

They clicked their tongues as they looked down at us.

“This is unfortunate.”

“If you’re sorry, treat us later.”

“Huh?”

At my words, the Crown Prince let out a dazed sound before bursting into laughter.

“Of course. I’ll treat you properly. Ah, here—try using this.”

I felt something flying toward me.

Without even looking back, I caught it with my sword hand.

‘A sword?’

It was a blade with a blue sheen, engraved with what looked like a dragon coiling around it.

It looked incredibly well-made, so I accepted it without hesitation.

First, appraisal.

[Item] Thunder Dragon Sword (A) A legendary sword said to house the spirit of lightning. Its power amplifies based on the wielder’s affinity for lightning or specific gifts.

◇All attacks gain lightning attribute. ◇Converts mana into lightning.

A simple description.

I gripped the sword. Now that I thought about it, I’d been with the Blood Sword for a long time—maybe it was time to part ways.

“I’m glad you seem to like it.”

Had I been that obvious?

Feeling slightly embarrassed, I held the new sword and stored the Blood Sword in subspace.

“Not bad.”

Beside me, So Yeon-hwa nodded in agreement.

……Just how good is her sword that she calls this ‘not bad’?

Well, given that the Empire was determined to raise her, it wouldn’t be strange if she had an S-rank sword.

‘But I have the Holy Sword.’

Shaking off thoughts about So Yeon-hwa,

I focused ahead.

The blue-eyed being had locked onto me.

As if I were their only worthy opponent.

‘Annoying.’

I twisted my lips and swung the sword.

A pleasant sensation coursed through my grip. Crack— Lightning began sparking along the blade.

-Hmm.

The moment I gripped a different sword,

a familiar voice reached me.

The Holy Sword.

What, why was it waking up already?

‘You said you’d sleep for months.’

Not even a week had passed, and it was already stirring.

-How long was I asleep?

‘Not even a month—just a week.’

-What?! I only slept for a week?!

The Holy Sword sounded utterly shocked.

‘More importantly, what level do you think that blue-eyed guy is?’

-After all that chaos, you’re already in another mess. You really are like a warrior, huh?

‘……’

What kind of insult was that?

-If we’re talking levels, around 6. But by your standards, it’s a 6 with maxed-out experience. It wouldn’t be strange if they leveled up to 7 at any moment.

‘They seem weaker than I expected.’

-Level 7 is a whole different realm. That’s when one begins perfecting their own path—they’re called ‘Completionists.’

‘Completionists?’

The Holy Sword spoke cryptically.

Just as it was about to say more—

Thud.

My heart pounded.

The blue-eyed being began radiating killing intent.

Indiscriminately.

Without regard for friend or foe.

Two enemy soldiers nearby collapsed, foaming at the mouth. Others didn’t look so good either.

“Y-you! What are you doing?!”

“Pull back your killing intent now!”

Two figures who seemed like allies shouted,

but the blue-eyed being ignored them, staring only at me.

“I usually dislike this kind of thing… but I don’t think I can beat you without it.”

Casually speaking,

the blue-eyed being vanished—

CRAAASH!!

An earsplitting noise.

It was hard to believe it was just two swords clashing.

-Instant Step! Oh-ho, wielding a heavy sword yet possessing movement techniques. Quite an amusing opponent!

The Holy Sword muttered with amusement.

I frowned, keeping my guard up.

‘What kind of strength…’

A single clash, and my bones were already tingling.

I glared at the enemy and moved my sword.

Swoosh—

A slow, almost splitting motion—

Then, in an instant, acceleration.

KWAANG!

Aimed straight for their neck.

“Oh? Unusual swordsmanship. Not orthodox—a mix of everything.”

“Sorry, but it is orthodox.”

“Hm?”

They dodged the strike aimed at their neck,

but a flurry of slashes followed immediately.

Six strikes in total.

Purple lightning crackled with each slash.

“Hup!”

The enemy twisted their body in panic, barely avoiding the attacks.

I stepped forward.

A step that pressured the opponent—Tyrant’s Advance.

THUD!

The blue-eyed swordsman’s movement halted for a split second.

“What kind of absurd swordsmanship and footwork is this?!”

The blue eyes widened in shock.

I channeled mana into the sword and swung.

Even to my own eyes, my hand and sword blurred.

Startled by the sheer speed, I slashed.

-Did you gain too much power at once? You’re not swinging properly—

Before the Holy Sword could finish,

I adjusted the sword’s trajectory.

[Skill: Swordsmanship level has increased.]

Knowledge I’d only held in theory

was now being embodied. Even mid-battle, I could manage that much.

-Wait… less than a week? Just how much stronger did you get?

I agreed with the Holy Sword.

I felt at least three times stronger.

The swordsmanship and footwork he’d taught me,

the gifts gained from leveling up, and the power from synthesis—

Purple sword energy merged with lightning.

Afterimages formed. Countless purple lightning bolts danced like petals forming a flower,

pressing down on the enemy.

-Yes, that’s it! Instead of aiming for a single fatal strike, wear them down! Their swordsmanship may be stronger, but if you strike ten times before they land one hit—!

A method of gradual erosion.

A sword that forced the opponent to focus solely on defense.

And when the enemy wore a resolute expression,

ready to trade injury for injury—

‘Eyes willing to give and take bone for bone.’

The blue-eyed swordsman’s gaze right now.

They raised their sword high and swung down.

Blue sword energy intertwined like threads,

condensing into a single light.

A sword strike like falling starlight—a meteor shower.

-Now!

The moment the Holy Sword cried out,

I moved.

‘Phantom Step.’

A single step to evade the attack.

“What?!”

The blue-eyed swordsman looked utterly stunned.

I passed by them as if strolling—

and brought my sword down on their neck.

“…….”

Silence filled the surroundings.

The enemies wore expressions of disbelief. They hadn’t expected the blue-eyed swordsman to lose.

I glanced around. The ones held back by Arme and the so-called ‘Genius Killer’ were immobilized.

‘Well, then.’

The one who’d wanted to fight the ‘Genius Killer’ was being pushed back by So Yeon-hwa.

“What, I worried for nothing.”

Veronica grumbled as she approached from behind.

A halo-like light floated behind her, and in critical moments, spears of light shot out to protect allies.

“Were they famous?”

“Famous? That’s an understatement. You really don’t know how strong you are, do you? …Heh, my eyes weren’t wrong after all.”

Veronica flipped her hair back, smiling confidently.

I gave her a disbelieving look before turning my gaze upward.

Since earlier—

from the moment the blue-eyed one closed the distance, I’d felt another presence watching.

“What do you think?”

“Calling him my disciple wouldn’t be an exaggeration.”

Volkan grinned as he spoke.

“But people think one way, and I think another.”

“What do you mean?”

“I barely taught him anything. He grew on his own. Calling him my disciple now feels like a joke.”

He sighed deeply.

I could understand his concern. From his perspective, it probably felt like he hadn’t contributed much.

‘But the swordsmanship I used just now was based on Volkan’s and Arme’s styles.’

I’d borrowed heavily from Volkan’s techniques.

Arme’s swordsmanship wasn’t bad either,

but—

‘I don’t think copying hers will do me much good.’

Arme’s swordsmanship was textbook-perfect, balancing offense and defense.

But the higher my level rose,

the more her style felt like…

‘…A dance, I guess?’

It might sound disrespectful,

but it carried a ritualistic feel—as if offering something to a ‘god.’

-That’s probably it. It’s not orthodox—closer to heresy. Leaning on a god… How pitiful and hopeless that path is, they don’t even realize.

The Holy Sword mocked Arme’s style.

‘You sound like someone who got betrayed by a god.’

As that thought crossed my mind,

Volkan moved.

THUD!

I hadn’t sensed it,

but my eyes caught the flow of killing intent.

‘How is he so good with killing intent?’

I thought I was decent,

but Volkan was on another level.

With a single surge, he restrained over fifty people.

“What will you do now?”

He looked at me as he spoke.

“I’m not fond of attention… but at this point, clinging to denial is pointless. If I need a halo, I’ll borrow yours.”

“Then from now on, you’re my disciple.”

Volkan smirked.

“Now that I’ve accepted you, I should show you my swordsmanship.”

He raised his sword.

The atmosphere shifted. The air itself changed. Just watching him lift his blade—

‘I can’t breathe.’

It was surreal.

“I told you before, didn’t I? Killing intent and mana are just primary forces. Let me show you what lies beyond.”

Volkan’s sword burst into flames. No—not just the sword. His body, his beard, his hair—all turned into fire.

What the hell was that?

-Will.

The Holy Sword answered my unspoken question.

-The world has its laws. Dry wood burns easily; wet wood smokes but doesn’t ignite. But those who awaken ‘Will’ can defy that.

‘Defy?’

-For example, they could light a massive fire in the sea or summon a lakeside in a volcano. Of course, only a rare few can do this… Will is the power to manifest what one truly desires.

I watched Volkan burn as the Holy Sword spoke.

-That man must have wanted to burn everything. He scorched his own flesh for a goal.

The Holy Sword’s tone carried a hint of bitterness.

Then—

Volkan’s sword descended.

A flaming slash, despite no enemy being there.

But—

WHOOSH!

The flames scattered.

Then, like rain, they took shape.

‘…Flowers?’

Petals. Blazing petals.

No—not petals.

Everyone around stared in shock.

“……Sword energy shaped into petals?!”

-Ridiculous. Burning his own flesh, yearning for something… yet choosing harmony in the end.

The Holy Sword sounded almost amused.