Chapter 28
Chapter 28
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ace
Chapter: 28
Chapter Title: The Galaxy Sword
-----------------------------------------------------------------
I climb the inverted tower.
Thankfully, the tower had an entrance and stairs inside, so the catastrophe of having to scale its walls was avoided.
Its exterior was more peculiar than any structure I had ever seen in my life, but the interior was surprisingly ordinary.
Compared to the outside, it wasn't too shabby.
Though it was a bit dusty.
“When was this tower built?”
[It was erected before my death, so it must be at least 2,000 years old.]
“It’s amazing that a 2,000-year-old tower is in such good condition.”
[The form of a truly great structure does not lose its luster even after five thousand years of weathering.]
“So this building has another 3,000 years left.”
[That’s just an expression.]
The tower was quite high, and climbing it was not easy.
Under normal circumstances, it would have been no problem, but right now, I was utterly exhausted.
I had used up not only my internal energy but my vital energy as well, and after the Whitening state, my body had slowly begun to ache all over.
To be honest, I wanted to pass out right this instant.
[Keep it up, my disciple. Just a little more to go.]
“I think you’ve said that at least five times already…”
[This time, I mean it. Look.]
At the Martial God’s words, I lifted my head and saw a dim light.
A hole in the ceiling.
A staircase led up toward it, likely to the rooftop.
“…It’s true.”
[Why would I lie about something like this?]
I nodded and pushed off the remaining steps.
The rooftop, or summit, of the tower was finally revealed—an open space without any trivial decorations.
And plunged into the ground, almost dead center, was a shabby-looking sword.
“Is this it? It looks different from the Seven Sins Sword I know.”
[It is. It has just lost its original form for now.]
“What do you mean by that?”
[I will explain the details later. We don’t seem to have the luxury of time.]
*Rumble…*
The cave seemed to respond with a tremor.
I brushed the dirt from my shoulder and gripped the hilt of the sword.
“Is there a scabbard, by any chance…”
[Of course not.]
“…Right.”
I nodded and pulled the sword.
It slid out so easily that the considerable strength I’d put into it felt wasted.
“It just comes right out.”
[What do you mean?]
“You know, things like legendary swords require some sort of qualification to be drawn, don’t they? There’s also the saying that a great sword chooses its master.”
[You speak strangely. A sword is merely a tool. Not to wield it, but to simply draw it—why would that require a qualification? The very idea of a sword choosing its master is absurd.]
“…”
He’s a god, so I guess he has no appreciation for the dramatic.
Heroic novels must not have existed 2,000 years ago.
Hiding my disappointment, I roughly stuck the Seven Sins Sword I had drawn into my belt.
Thankfully, the blade was so rusty that it didn’t seem very dangerous.
“Is that everything? I’d really like to get out of this dreadful cave now.”
[There is one more thing.]
“What is it?”
[Go to the altar from before, place the sword upon it, and then make an offering to me.]
“An offering? I don’t have anything…”
I rummaged through my pockets for a moment and found a half-eaten piece of beef jerky.
“Would this be—”
[Food is not necessary. You need only place the sword on the altar and offer a short prayer.]
“Ah. I understand.”
I quickly descended the tower.
It was more difficult than climbing up, as my body was not in a normal state.
If I let my guard down, I felt like I would collapse on the spot.
And I have to pray in this condition.
I might just close my eyes and pass out for good.
…Hiding such thoughts, I stood before the altar, brought my hands together, and slightly bowed my head.
What mindset should I have for prayer?
Although I wasn't an atheist, I didn't follow any religion. I had no god I believed in.
The reason was childish: I had never received a god’s blessing.
This pride was also why I hadn't sought a god even in the moment I faced death.
Though I was now interacting and communicating with a divine being… there was still nothing like faith in my heart.
In that case, how should someone without faith pray?
Besides, my current actions—hands together, a silent bow—were not the universal method of prayer in this world.
I simply closed my eyes and mouth, remaining silent, and a little time passed in that state.
It was then that I felt a gentle breeze from somewhere.
A wind warm enough to make one forget the season.
And within that wind, the Martial God’s voice was nestled.
[You may open your eyes now.]
I opened my eyes.
And there, beyond the altar, I saw a whitish silhouette.
It had a human form, but it didn't feel human.
To me, it looked like a bright shadow, making it impossible to guess its features, age, or even gender.
[Hmm. It seems a complete manifestation is impossible, as your faith is still lacking.]
“That form…”
[I told you, my disciple. I would teach you the Galaxy Sword.]
“You don’t have to teach me so urgently…”
[I do this because I do not know when the next opportunity will arise. With this forgotten altar, I can manifest, even if only in an incomplete form.]
So that was the reason.
[Watch closely. I will now demonstrate it for you.]
Reaching out a hand to grasp the Seven Sins Sword,
the Martial God’s silhouette took a stance.
“…”
The names of martial arts often subtly hide their secrets and true meaning.
The White Sun Eclipse I learned was a martial art inspired by the brilliantly blazing sun.
Because of this, the mind cultivation technique developed for it—the Flame Arts of the Greatest—excels in explosive power, endurance, and recovery.
Then, the profound principle contained within the Galaxy Sword…
“…”
The Martial God’s movements were a demonstration filled with consideration.
Literally, they were motions meant to be slowly shown and taught to someone.
If he hadn’t unfolded it so slowly, I would not have gained any enlightenment from his movements.
But now, I could faintly feel it.
It was as if I had barely managed to grasp a single petal among the countless ones falling all around me, but still, I could understand a little about the essence of the Galaxy Sword.
‘It’s vast, and grand.’
That was the characteristic of the Galaxy Sword as I felt it.
It was only natural, considering the source from which this martial art originated.
Forgetting fatigue, forgetting time, I became completely absorbed.
I tried not to miss a single small movement.
In my current state, I couldn't interpret even one percent of these movements, but just embedding them in my mind would surely be a great help someday.
“…”
Finally, the Martial God’s movements came to an end.
It felt as if a very long time had passed, and yet also like a mere instant.
I remained silent, still unable to easily escape the lingering impression the Galaxy Sword had left on me.
[The galaxy refers to the collection of countless stars spread across the night sky.]
The Martial God spoke in a calm voice.
[My disciple, are you aware that from a broader perspective, the sun is nothing more than a single star?]
“Hm. Those who worship the Sun God would foam at the mouth if they heard that.”
[I have no intention of belittling their faith. I am merely speaking the truth of all creation.]
“…”
The Martial God’s silhouette placed the Seven Sins Sword back on the altar.
[What did you feel upon seeing the Galaxy Sword?]
“It was magnificent.”
Then I added.
“I think I was a little intimidated, too.”
[Intimidated?]
“I mean… I was afraid.”
[Hmm.]
For some reason, at my honest confession, the Martial God let out a laugh as if he was pleased.
[You are honest. Even if you are young, you are a martial artist. It is not an easy thing to readily admit fear…]
“…”
[In truth, it is only natural. Humans are bound to feel fear before a massive existence that transcends their comprehension.]
“You mean beings like giant gods?”
[I am not speaking of gods alone.]
The Martial God’s voice continued.
[My disciple, have you ever considered the age of the very earth you stand on?]
[Who were the rulers of the ancient past, of which no literature or records remain?]
[Conversely, what will the world look like hundreds of millions of years from now?]
As if seeing my expression, the Martial God spoke with a gentle laugh.
[It seems you have never thought deeply on such matters.]
“That’s right.”
[Why not?]
“They are too distant. My life has always been focused on taking the next step, so I never had the leisure to turn my gaze to things so far away.”
I felt as if the Martial God nodded.
[Perhaps that is the essence of being human.]
The essence of being human…
For some reason, I liked that phrase.
[What I wish to say is that an existence that far transcends comprehension inspires a sense of awe by its very being. That is the same emotion humans feel when they behold a god.]
“…”
[And the universe is the grandest concept that encompasses all of it.]
Only then did I feel like I could truly understand what was contained within the Galaxy Sword.
“Encompassment.”
[Correct.]
*Poof.*
The whitish figure vanished like a snuffed-out candle flame.
[The ultimate principle of the Galaxy Sword is the encompassment of all things.]
“Then if I master that martial art to its peak…”
[Your vessel will become vast enough to embrace the universe. You will be able to complete a sword art that emulates the sun without any burden.]
I quietly drew in a breath.
I finally understood what the Martial God had meant.
In a way, the Galaxy Sword was the martial art I needed most right now.
This didn't mean the Galaxy Sword was superior to the White Sun Eclipse.
Nor did it mean the Martial God was on a higher level than my Master.
This was simply a matter of compatibility.
[The Galaxy Sword is composed of seven stages. In order, they are the First Pivot, Second Swirl, Third Pearl, Fourth Balance, Fifth Scale, Sixth Yang, and finally, the Seventh Light. To obtain what you desire, you must reach at least the stage of the Fifth Scale.]
The names sounded somewhat familiar, and I tilted my head.
“Are the classifications of those stages perhaps taken from the Seven Stars of the Red Heaven?”
[They are.]
The Seven Stars of the Red Heaven referred to the seven brightest stars in the night sky.
Curiously, this constellation was said to shine brightest around dusk, which is how it got its name.
I stared down at the Seven Sins Sword.
“Is the form of the Seven Sins Sword also derived from the Seven Stars?”
[Precisely.]
Goosebumps rose on the back of my neck.
The Seven Stars held special significance not only in astrology but also in magical studies, dark magic, spirit arts, alchemy, and theology.
In most of these fields, the seven stars symbolized light and darkness, wood, fire, earth, metal, and water.
Which means…
In a broader sense, the Galaxy Sword was also a martial art inspired by the Yin-Yang and the Five Elements.
And that meant it had common ground with the Flame Arts of the Greatest, which could be called my foundation.
In my mind, the Martial God’s sword dance replayed from the beginning.
Martial arts was a strange field.
It was a domain where the saying “you see as much as you know” was most appropriate.
Just by finding one commonality with the Flame Arts of the Greatest, the Galaxy Sword no longer felt vast and terrifying.
Instead, I was excited.
‘If I incorporate the essence of the Galaxy Sword I just realized into the White Sun Eclipse—’
…Of course, it would not be an easy process.
The difference between a fist art and a sword art was not small.
Even so, my mind began to spin more fiercely than ever before, and I instinctively started circulating the Flame Arts of the Greatest.
*Fwoosh-.*
The minuscule amount of internal energy I had left raced through the meridians of my entire body.
Including my experiences on Spirit Mountain, this was a circulation process I had repeated thousands, no, tens of thousands of times, but now I was feeling something unfamiliar and new.
The path that was so familiar looked different because my perspective had changed.
My own body now felt as vast as a small universe.
‘A universe?’
In that moment, I had a sudden realization.
I didn't have to perceive the concept of a universe as just something large and immense.
Every human has their own universe.
A simple principle, once realized.
The human body itself was a microcosm.
[This is…]
I heard the Martial God’s voice, but I couldn't answer.
I was in the midst of being swept away by the mental ecstasy that follows enlightenment.
…
…
How much time had passed?
My whole body was drenched in sweat, but the dampness didn't feel unpleasant.
The aftershock of enlightenment.
At times like these, it is human nature to want to be left alone for a while, without anyone’s interference.
[My disciple, I congratulate you on your initiation into the Galaxy Sword.]
A quiet resonance could be felt in the Martial God’s voice as well.
However, the Martial God’s next words struck me like a splash of cold water, snapping me to my senses.
[By the way… what is your relationship with Baek Rogwang?]