Chapter 145
Academy’s Gumiho is a Magic Genius – Chapter 145
The pitch-black mental space shattered.
Space split apart in the direction of my downward sword stroke, and soon Termiya beyond it took the full slashing blow with her entire body.
Something that should never have been possible.
Mental worlds or inner realms are just that: inside the mind. No matter what you do there, there's no solid form, so it's only natural that nothing can affect the real world. That's basic physics.
But the sword I just swung...
It stood above that so-called natural law.
Young master! How did you do that?! Was it a mind sword?!
'If you're talking about the Swordless Sword in Hand, Sword in Heart path to the mind sword, then no.'
Swordless Sword in Hand, Sword in Heart ( ).
No sword in hand, but a razor-sharp blade honed in the heart.
Path to the Mind Sword ().
The realm every swordsmanno, every martial artistdreams of.
What I just unleashed wasn't anything that grand.
Then what the hell was it?!
'Someone once said that sufficiently advanced science is indistinguishable from magic.'
What does that have to do with anything?
'Same logic. Swordsmanship honed to the extreme becomes so refined it's hard to tell apart.'
What I just performed was the formless sword, without shape.
Formless Sword ().
No physical substance.
Because it lacks form, it can become anythinga shapeless blade born from the mind, suddenly unleashing a massive slash from empty air.
"A massive slash flying out of nowhere? Is that magic?!"
"Look, he's saying the exact same thing I am."
"......Who are you even talking to right now?"
The snake head nodded at my words.
"Are you communicating with someone right now?"
"And if I am, what then?"
"Daring to divide your attention with me right in front of you. I don't know the principle behind your high-speed movement, but once I adapt to your speed, you'll regret it."
"Why? Are you so loyal to the viscount that you couldn't even get communication gear?"
Ah.
Maybe that's it.
"You've been abandoned by the viscount, haven't you?"
"......Impossible."
"I wondered why a knight commander would be stuck in a place like this. Now it all makes sense. The viscount doesn't trust you."
What a ridiculous situation.
A loyal dog turns a blind eye to knightly honor, waiting only for its master's command. And what it gets in return is distrust.
Ha ha, things are getting interesting.
'Nobles would never miss the fanaticism and loyalty directed at them.'
Knight Commander Termiya's status ailments Loyalty to Sovereign and Patriotism () and Fanaticism () match her disposition perfectly.
The object of her fanaticism is her master, Viscount Epots.
The nation she loves is the land ruled by the viscount she serves.
For him, she could cast aside knightly honor.
So why leave her here?
Maybe the sewers were a key strategic point worth leaving this much firepower idle. Whatever the truth, the fact remains that her loyal knight commander was abandoned here.
"Abandoned loyal hound. No funnier phrase exists."
"No! That's impossible!! I am his sword!!!"
Her voice rose, clearly furious.
A pure white wave rippled from the knight commander, whose tattered armor dangled loosely.
The wave soon engulfed the radius around her.
[Skill, Divine Inviolability designates the area as an inviolable domain.]
[In this domain, the law of inviolability applies to those who do not serve the divine one!]
[Skill, Sanctuary of the Liver reinforces the Divine Inviolability domain.]
[Skill, Blessing of Loyalty supplements owner 'Termiya's' fanaticism.]
[Skill, One Path () selects the direction. Owner 'Termiya' can only move straight ahead.]
"!!!"
For an instant, my pupils turned violet.
Sensing instinctive danger, a divine insight manifested.
[Heavenly Eye Insight].
This supernatural vision that sees even what shouldn't be seen revealed the prelude to her activating her skill.
'My body won't move. It won't even let me draw up mana to resist. A fitting ability for Divine Inviolability.'
Knight Commander Termiya's divinity is directed toward the viscount.
Every action I take viewing the viscount as an enemy is blasphemy against that divinity.
At this rate, I'll die without even resisting.
"I shall judge you for the sin of wagging that wicked tongue!!"
And Knight Commander Termiya charging at me was far faster than before.
Because her armor was half-destroyed?
Inversely proportional, her speed had noticeably increased.
'This won't do.'
No way out.
Trait, Conditional Sword Saint.
I'd received it, but hadn't fully utilized its power.
I was wary of the side effects.
'But now, fully embracing it is my only flash of brilliance.'
All the advanced magic I knew, the progenitor's spells.
Even using every intermediate spell I'd mastered, I couldn't beat an ogre's body armored in faith like Knight Commander Termiya.
I could buy time, but that's not my goal.
Complete the main quest.
Reach 50% or more progress in the sub-world to shatter the Egg of the Apocalypse and save countless lives.
For that, I can bear the side effects.
A life for the people.
That's what my master wanted for me.
[You have used Trait, Conditional Sword Saint.]
[Analyzing permissions granted to the trait based on the pre-set 'Eight Laws'.]
[For the first use, it functions even if not all activation conditions are met!]
[The Sword Saint awakens!]
* * *
If the trait had only been half-active until now...
Now, with all conditions fulfilled, every gear meshed perfectly, driving a masterpiece mechanism.
[Temporarily restoring authority, Wave of Star Clusters.]
[Temporarily restoring skill, Heavenly Star Sword.]
[Temporarily restoring skill, All Streams Return to the Sea...]
[!]
[!!]
[!!!]
[Temporarily restoring permissions for all possessed skills!]
[Your heart forcibly draws up body and energy. In exchange for injuries and disabilities, all physical abilities transcend 'B+'.]
First-year average stats: C-rank.
Far exceeding that average, my body reaching B+ was enveloped in an omnipotence beyond compare.
"......So being above average feels this exhilarating."
The constant heat and pain I'd felt daily vanished completely.
It felt like I'd returned to being 'Baek Seung-woo'.
'Even this doesn't reach 10% of my original body's performance.'
But for now, this is enough.
The familiar sensation of being my true self was as comforting as my mother's heartbeat.
In that comfort, I unknowingly closed my eyes.
A blue light flickered across Seung-woo's closed eyelids.
[Sword Saint Baek Seung-woo has been reborn.]
A single line.
One that wouldn't appear in anyone else's view.
The moment it rose for one person alone, the world changed.
"A power that ends it with one solid swing. Not bad."
"!!!!"
Pure Step
Baek Seung-woo had already flanked Termiya.
True to her title as the North's finest knight, she swung her monstrous strength to crush the sudden intruder.
But "Where are you looking? No afterimage lingers there."
Pure Step
Her speed fell just short of capturing Seung-woo, who lightly trampled space, appearing and vanishing unpredictably.
Clack, clack.
His dress shoes leisurely clicked against the rough northern road.
Termiya began stepping back little by little at the sight.
'That confidence right in front of me. What is he thinking? And that invisible speed?'
Her mind filled with questions.
But they evaporated the moment she saw Seung-woo's face.
"......Are you mocking me right now?"
"Not at all."
"......Then explain those closed eyelids!!"
Fighting with eyes closed.
For anyone but a blind man, it was suicidal. Knight Commander Termiya's brow furrowed.
"Did you awaken some mind's eye?"
"I've long opened the eye of the heart, but sadly, manifesting it with this body is impossible."
"Then what the hell is your game!!"
What else?
The reason Seung-woo closed his eyes was simple.
"Just wanted to test it. Me with a sword, eyes closed. You basking in inviolability under divinity. Whos stronger between us?"
That wasnt the only reason, actually.
There were several.
But the biggest was that his eyes couldnt keep up with his bodys changes.
Your eyes hurt a lot, huh? You okay?
'Until my eyes adapt, I have no choice but to fight relying on my other four senses.'
But why suddenly?
'Simply put, its overwhelming the resources my eyes can handle.'
The Demon Eye that peers into the flow of soul, spirit, mana, and wrongs.
A type of supernatural insight, the pinnacle of human vision that lets you see the unseen: [Heavenly Eye Insight].
Just these two had pushed Seung-woo's eyes to their limit. Then, regaining his old power caused eye-related abilities to clash with them.
His eyes, short on spare capacity, couldnt fulfill their role now.
No choice but to close them and use it to provoke her instead.
And in return came...
Kwaaaang!!!
A dump truck-heavy fist strike.
Kwang! Kwaaang!!
Every punch whipped up sonic booms, swirling wind with devastating power. And the speed...
Pure Step
The footwork folding space.
Overwhelming leg strength chased the Pure Step that surpassed the concept of speed.
"......Found you."
"!!!!"
Following Seung-woo's path, she kicked off the ground and closed in instantly.
Before he could react, she drove her fist down short and hard.
Kwang!!!
A short, heavy blow.
His left arm's bones shattered as a result.
Destructive force far beyond what his body's strength and durability could handle.
Yet outwardly, no anomaly.
Thanks to the Trait, Conditional Sword Saint.
"Pawning my future self to empower the present me. No method more inefficient. Utterly barbaric."
Even as bones crumbled and blood vessels tore, no pain cried out, no change in arm movement or power.
Mystery incarnate.
"Pain relief beyond adrenaline. No recovering from this in a day or two. But as a trump card, perfect."
No better means if you pay the price.
Two months pouring everything into magic, yet I still hadn't pierced advanced realm.
Though I'd deliberately delayed advancing to ripen into a more mature advanced mage.
Considering Magic Saint granted cheat-like talent only for magic.
'I, who had talent surpassing even Magic Saint for pure technique, invested a lifetime into the sword. How incredible it must have been. Makes me proud anew.'
Comparing the two is impossible from the start.
My sword cleaved skies and natural disasters.
Magic? At best, an efficient fire starter.
"Good thing I took the sub quest."
The price still nagged at me.
But if this power overcomes obstacles no matter the cost, it's a steal.
At least by my values.
Definitely.
"......The hit landed clean, but he's moving fine?"
"Yeah, quite the spicy punch."
So spicy his bones, vessels, and muscles were wrecked.
But his body, inching toward peak, gifted omnipotence over pain.
This damage couldn't touch me now.
Let alone...
"You took it spicy, so now it's my turn to return the favor."
"What?"
Now fully accustomed to this flesh, even more so.
She should be the worried one.
Sriing.
He raised the sheathed blade.
Reinforcing his badly injured right hand's muscles with mana, he swung the sword fiercely.
Blood dripped from Termiya's chest.
Pshuk!
She looked down at her chest.
A deep gash from the sword.
A bit deeper, and it would've hit heart, lungs, and organs.
Razor-close.
"!!!!!"
The moment he swung, she'd definitely thrust her fist to block.
Yet she hadn't fully stopped the incoming slash.
'What technique is this sharp?'
As she marveled...
The wound's maker leisurely swung his sheath.
Utterly different from before, when he'd maximized damage avoidance.
Openly exposing gaps, a smile played on his lips.
Seung-woo had now perfectly adapted to his trait-altered body.
He felt unbeatable.