Chapter 21
Chapter 21
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 21
Chapter Title: King of All Weapons (7)
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***
—The evolution of a Trait.
No one had fully uncovered the precise reasons why Traits evolved and their levels increased. This was because over a hundred different Traits existed, each with wildly varying properties, meaning the conditions for evolution were just as diverse.
Thus, while opinions on evolution were divided, the most persuasive theories shared a few common points.
When one overcomes a crisis.
When one possesses an endless desire for improvement.
When one's spirit remains unbroken in any situation.
When one attains a special enlightenment.
…….
There were countless other clues about evolution. But among the many, there was one common requirement.
A strong heart.
The moment the Trait wielder's heart wavered, the blessed light enveloping their body would vanish.
Even if they managed to emit that blessed light, countless people saw it fade away in vain, never fully blooming.
And the moment Leonhardt evolved his Trait, unleashing that mighty blue light…
The blessed light enveloping Han Cheon-seong’s entire body also flickered out for a moment.
It was because his heart had been greatly shaken.
But even so, Han Cheon-seong was able to accept reality.
The absolute strength of heart to face forward without yielding to reality.
He already possessed that within himself.
Moreover, he didn't envy or feel jealous of his opponent. Instead, he acknowledged and accepted his rival, striving to move forward.
And so, looking at Leonhardt, he could accept the reality of the situation.
Not by despairing at the vast difference between them, but simply by accepting it.
Immediately after.
The fact that an even greater blessed light erupted to envelop Han Cheon-seong was, perhaps…
Simply an 'inevitable' outcome.
…
“This is…”
It entered my vision, leaving me dazed.
A brilliant blue radiance, intense even to my own eyes.
And the fact that this light was completely enveloping my body. The sensation of my body feeling as light as a feather, as if it could fly, was only the beginning.
Something even more astonishing came next.
Vast amounts of knowledge, principles, concepts, and countless experiences of wielding a spear were injected into my mind, and I understood them all instinctively.
At that, my spear-wielding stance naturally changed.
Into a stance that was more natural, more comfortable for me to use. A stance that could channel even greater power into the spear.
In an instant, I understood just how wrongly I had been handling the spear until now.
“Han Cheon-seong…”
As I heard Leonhardt's surprised voice, an unbidden laugh escaped me.
I knew without even needing to look at my status window.
‘I’ve reached it.’
Trait Level 4.
A level I had thought I could only reach in another six months, at the earliest. It was hard to believe, but I had reached it.
I immediately used the mana that now filled my entire body.
*Fwoosh!!*
The blue radiance enveloping me was instantly painted over by mana and faded away.
What I was about to show was a completely different style of spearmanship, one born from reaching Trait Level 4.
It was a power so immense that I could face Leonhardt, who had reached Level 3 with his Legendary Trait and was unleashing tremendous strength.
I naturally focused all the mana I emitted into my spear.
*FWOOSH—!!*
Even after enveloping everything from the spearhead to the shaft in mana, there was still some left over. I could feel the vast reserves of it, a blue light swirling around both my arms.
I could feel how much my stats had risen with the evolution of my Trait.
The blue light, on a completely different dimension from the meager amount of mana I once possessed, captivated my vision with its splendor.
‘I can reach him.’
With my spear as it is now, I can reach him.
Leonhardt, who had deflected every assault like an impregnable fortress. Confidence bloomed within me—that I could land a blow on the protagonist of this world.
In the world of Traits, 'level' signified great power.
It was the only power that could surpass the 'grade' one was assigned at birth.
However, the lower a Trait's grade, the harder it was designed to be to raise its level, making the point effectively moot.
A higher grade meant greater power and easier growth.
But if one could raise the level high enough, the situation could change completely.
*Swish!*
True to my earlier words, I said nothing and aimed my blue-glowing spear at Leonhardt.
At that, Leonhardt finally raised his sword.
The composure he had before was gone from his eyes.
His eyes, curved into crescents, seemed to hold a strange mix of joy and excitement.
Seeing those blue eyes, I just had to laugh.
He had tried to end the duel earlier, but it seemed he, too, had some regrets.
It seemed he, too, felt that a proper conclusion to our duel was necessary for it to have meaning.
*Shnk.*
The moment his sword, which shone even more brilliantly than my spear, was finally aimed at me.
I kicked off the ground without hesitation.
*Thump!*
Even my footwork was completely different from before.
I understood it all—how to plant my feet when pushing off the ground to perfect the power of my thrust and make it faster.
The moment I pushed off the ground with the balls of my feet, I was already rotating on them, unleashing a powerful thrust.
*CLAAANG!!*
The moment Leonhardt blocked the spear, a shockwave, far too powerful for a mere clash of sword and spear, swept through the training grounds.
*Swoosh!*
A fierce wind whipped past, sending my hair flying, but all I could do was laugh.
As the pure energy of the Sword of the Azure Sky and the pure mana of my spear canceled each other out, dazzling sparks filled my vision. Yet my heart felt strangely refreshed.
This time, my spear wasn't violently knocked away like before.
*Shhhk.*
Retrieving the spear was as fluid as flowing water, and there was almost no strain on my body.
‘This is good.’
This was the proper way to retract a spear.
Furthermore, I finally felt that I was standing on the same level as Leonhardt, engaged in a proper duel.
*Shuuk!*
The speed at which I thrust the spear again was incomparable to before.
The force concentrated on a single point held the destructive power to pierce through anything.
The speed of its advance was simply overwhelming.
*CLANG-CLANG-CLANG-CLANG!!*
Amidst the ceaseless barrage of strikes, the hand wielding the spear felt light.
It was as if I were wielding a brush, ceaselessly painting pictures in the air.
And following my hand, a dazzling festival of countless blue waves etched in the air captivated the eye.
Riding these blue waves, my spear advanced and surged endlessly.
Towards the protagonist of this world, the one who would overcome any and all adversity.
I was now throwing down the gauntlet.
With my spear!
Then, my gaze was suddenly drawn to it.
“……”
I saw the smile playing on Leonhardt’s lips.
Even as I launched a fierce offensive, as expected, the protagonist was the protagonist.
Leonhardt, who was receiving my assault—which was at least twice as strong as before—still showed no openings.
He softly received the spear with the energy of the Sword of the Azure Sky, and amidst the intense sounds, the movements of his sword-wielding hand were as light as if he were taking a leisurely stroll.
It gave off a bizarre feeling, as if he were embracing everything that rushed towards him.
Whenever I thrust my spear with an intensity that could pierce through anything…
Leonhardt would simply deflect it or let it flow past him.
‘Let it flow…?’
And in that moment, I could feel it.
Leonhardt, who had only been batting my spear away until now, was gradually starting to receive it softly, as if redirecting it…
“Ha.”
A dumbfounded laugh escaped me.
But strangely, I liked it.
It meant I didn't have to hesitate in my thrusts at all.
Even if I unleashed my spear with all my might, Leonhardt would be able to take it all.
In his eyes right now, there wasn't a single trace of fear, anxiety, or hesitation.
Only enjoyment, elation, pleasure… those were the only emotions I could see.
And I was probably making the same face as him.
*Shhhk!*
I suddenly rotated on my forward foot, twisting my body for a full spin.
Breaking from the pattern of fierce thrusts, I spun once and launched a surprise stab.
A move that delivered a stronger blow, thrusting the spear along a path the opponent couldn't predict.
*Shuk!*
The spear shot forward without a sound, its trajectory like a single point being fired.
Countless blue points connected to finally form a single line as it shot out.
*BOOM!!*
As if deciding this was one blow he couldn't redirect, Leonhardt caught the spear on the flat of his blade and was pushed back, his feet dragging across the ground.
The massive explosion of blue light and the deafening roar that resulted were also unlike anything before.
As I retrieved my spear… I couldn't help but feel it.
I had been sure my spear could reach him.
But there was a small, truly minuscule gap.
The speed at which Leonhardt’s sword was now tracking my spear. It was getting faster and faster.
The spear tip aimed for his side. I had thought for a moment that he wouldn’t be able to react in time to block it with his sword.
But.
He had blocked it.
‘What insane talent.’
It was a crazy level of adaptability, enough to make me wonder if this was what it took to be a protagonist.
And in that instant.
“…What.”
Leonhardt slowly lowered his sword, and for a moment, it felt as if his form had vanished.
***
People often say it.
—No talent can surpass a Trait.
They say that no matter how great your talent, it's useless if your Trait's grade doesn't support it. Such a phrase always followed those few figures known as tragic geniuses.
They possessed such outstanding talent, but their limits were visible because of their low-grade Trait.
Meaningless words like, 'If only their Trait had been one grade higher, their name would have shone even brighter.'
And that was a sentiment that constantly followed someone Leonhardt knew.
So, Leonhardt wanted to deny those words. For that person's sake, he wanted to say that such talk wasn't right.
But he couldn't.
Because the Trait bestowed upon him by this world was of the highest grade. He had been given a Legendary Trait.
But now, right before his eyes, was someone proving just how hollow those words were.
He was feeling it keenly.
That there was someone who could achieve what he himself could not.
‘Talent has surpassed the Trait.’
And to an incomprehensible degree.
The talent Han Cheon-seong possessed in spearmanship vastly exceeded his Trait.
There was no other way to explain this duel.
A strength that was truly off the charts.
He knew that reaching Trait Level 4 meant gaining a concrete understanding of power, along with a wealth of knowledge.
But the spear he was facing now was more than that.
Simply knowing things vaguely and being able to display this level of strength were two entirely different matters.
‘Ha…’
It was a ridiculous thought, really.
He had reached that level because he displayed the potential to advance to the next stage; the strength gained afterward was merely a reward for it.
So, I thought I had to show my true, heartfelt effort as well.
The pure energy of the Sword of the Azure Sky that I could unleash at Level 3.
Imbuing my sword with the energy of the Sword of the Azure Sky wasn't the end of it.
If I could turn that powerful energy back into my own body and apply it, something more was possible.
As I continued the duel, constantly thinking of ways to receive Han Cheon-seong’s spear, I naturally learned how to use that energy.
And the single move to end this fierce duel was also…….
*Flicker!*
The sword I thrust as I leaped seemed to cross space itself, having already reached its destination.
The neck targeted by my sword's tip was already drenched in sweat.
This meant that despite his body having recovered upon his Trait’s evolution, Han Cheon-seong had pushed himself to the limit, thrusting his spear countless times in such a short period.
“…”
I gave a faint smile as I watched Han Cheon-seong stare blankly at me.
“The duel is now over.”
As the instructor's voice rang out, I lowered the sword from his neck, feeling satisfied.
Han Cheon-seong.
That unusual name, among all the countless cadets…
was a name worth remembering.