Sword Ghost (2)
In ancient China, on Mount Hua, there were people who followed the teachings of Taoism.
They took the name of the mountain they lived on and called themselves the Hua Shan Sect.
Choosing to cut ties with the world, they devoted themselves to cultivation, yearning to become immortals. From such a Hua Shan Sect, a genius emerged.
His name was Namgung Kyung, and he became known as the once-in-a-lifetime master who perfected the Plum Blossom Sword Technique.
The people of the world spared no praise, calling him the best under heaven.
Offended by that title, a man known as the Heavenly Horse of Changbai Mountain challenged him. But before the swift sword of the best under heaven, he was no match at all.
The scent of plum blossoms filled the entire 10th floor.
Hyunwoo sensed something coming and instinctively shouted.
"Duck!"
Shwaaaaa—!
A merciless barrage of sword strikes tore through the front.
Two players who couldn't dodge in time had their waists sliced clean through right there, collapsing to the ground.
From the severed cross-sections, instead of a foul stench of entrails, a faint plum blossom fragrance wafted up.
You saw through this old man's technique? Splendid indeed.
The Sword Ghost looked at Hyunwoo with admiration.
To him, this was an intriguing fellow. Small in stature, but his talent seemed exceptional.
I sense we could be friends, young one. Shall we go all out?
"Crazy..."
The Sword Ghost kicked off forward, raising his sword overhead. Terrifyingly fast and powerful, it swung down to cleave Hyunwoo's skull in two.
Thanks to his leveled-up physical abilities, Hyunwoo barely reacted in time and guarded.
I said Flying Petals Chain Slash, did I not, young one?
Flying Petals Chain Slash. It meant continuous slashes raining down.
Hyunwoo's face paled as he belatedly grasped the meaning.
Chinggggg—!
The Sword Ghost's blade came down repeatedly in the same direction.
The stance looked casual, half-hearted even, but the power in the tip was undeniable.
The first two strikes shattered Hyunwoo's guard. The third sent him tumbling backward.
...That's not how you block a chain slash.
"Urk..."
Blocking from the same stance, same spot just tires your muscles. Do you not even know that? Get up again.
How the hell am I supposed to know that! Hyunwoo wanted to scream it outright.
But the Sword Ghost, now even more intrigued by Hyunwoo blocking his strike, smiled brightly.
The others won't help, and the admins? Who even are they... They'll probably get sliced before they arrive.
Despair washed over him. He could tell this mad monster planned to toy with him before killing him.
Your stance is a mess... That's not how you grip a sword! Your hands.
"H-hands?"
Your two hands mustn't be too close. Especially with a longsword. Lower hand as low as possible, upper hand against the pommel.
The Sword Ghost, who moments ago seemed ready to split his head open, suddenly barked instructions, leaving Hyunwoo unable to hide his bewilderment.
What the hell, out of nowhere!
Half-dazed, Hyunwoo followed the advice. He instinctively knew he'd be sliced otherwise.
Now, swing at me.
Whoooosh—!
Correcting his grip as instructed made swinging easier, allowing more rotational power.
Yes! That's the proper grip.
Casually batting away Hyunwoo's sword, the Sword Ghost continued.
Your footwork is wrong too. Front foot too wide, back foot too narrow.
"L-like this?"
Hm! Perfect. Next, your gaze. Don't always watch the enemy's blade—watch their shoulder movements. Predict the attack. Now, block the Flying Petals Chain Slash again.
"What?!"
Another merciless barrage rained down on Hyunwoo.
This time was different. He didn't block from the same stance; he twisted angles, deflecting the strikes.
Impressive! Self-taught without instruction. Makes me curious about your master.
He didn't reveal that Ryu Ga-eul was his master. It felt right not to.
"Uh... but why suddenly teach me?"
I told you. To confirm our bond.
Confirm a bond by swinging at someone out of nowhere and trying to chop them up? Hyunwoo wanted to snap at the lunatic but held back.
To me, bonds exist only with the strong. You alone reacted to that strike. Yet... pity. You're not ready to walk with me.
The strong are my bonds.
That was the Sword Ghost's way of life.
Wandering dimensions, battling countless powerhouses, forging friendships through combat.
You have talent. Had you not blocked that, you'd be dead.
"Hic..."
Yet even cute children grow into disappointing adults. I've seen it too often. So, may I test you once more?
The words were an invitation, but refusal wasn't an option.
The Sword Ghost sheathed his blade, then drew it again.
There was a Viking who lived in the frozen northern tundra.
The bravest and strongest, he was revered by all in the north as a warrior.
He had a beautiful wife and daughter, whom he cherished more than the snows of the tundra.
But the Viking's happiness didn't last.
The starving evil dragon, Jormungandr, awoke and raided the village.
The Viking's wife and daughter became the dragon's prey right there, losing their lives.
This blade was forged by a man turned vengeful spirit, wielding his own hammer.
Not even the evil dragon's scales could withstand the grudge-infused sword.
Having slain the beast, the Viking became the founder of the North Sea Empire.
Unable to contain his curiosity after the explanation, Hyunwoo spoke up.
"Why do you have it? Seems like it has an owner."
The young one felled its owner and took the sword.
"Crazy."
Perhaps one day your sword will be worth collecting too.
The Sword Ghost grinned eerily and raised the Viking's sword.
Krzzzzzt—!
Blue lightning coiled around the blade. The Viking was a devotee of the war god, a priest awaiting the day to fight alongside him.
The lightning-wreathed sword hurtled ferociously toward Hyunwoo's face.
Can't dodge...
He instinctively raised his sword, sensing death imminent.
That much impact would shatter his blade, cleaving his body instantly.
Aaah...!
In the grip of approaching terror, Hyunwoo instinctively swung.
That casual thrust to escape the situation awakened a fragment of his talent.
Parry...!
The Wave Lightning was bluntly straightforward, smashing down from above.
Hyunwoo's body naturally found the flaw in its stance, thrusting in.
The sidestepping deflection altered the Viking sword's trajectory.
Not once, but twice—with two parries.
Double slash!
His trait, which triggered at a certain probability, allowed consecutive parries.
I'm astonished. How did you do that? Such a short parry... even I can't.
"Hoo, hoo..."
Ah, no more questions. I'll learn your secrets in time.
A bit of luck and talent had spared his life.
Hyunwoo felt like collapsing but forced himself to glare at the Sword Ghost.
A gift for you. Meeting a promising warrior like you... coming to Babel was worthwhile.
He lived solely to meet and fight the strong.
Encounters with talented swordsmen always thrilled him.
Grinning widely, the Sword Ghost plunged a finger into one of his eyeballs.
Cherish it well. We'll meet again someday—return it then.
Crunch— The plucked eyeball floated on its own into Hyunwoo's socket.
Acquired Sword Ghost's Eye from the Dimension Leaper.
Dynamic visual acuity has increased.
Your eyes can pierce the opponent's weaknesses.
He'd done it...
Hyunwoo passed out upon seeing the message, his stamina utterly depleted.
Babel Intruder Discovered
All administrators, respond immediately.
Entity: Sword Ghost. Survival is not permitted. Self-terminate at once.
On his way back, the Sword Ghost halted upon hearing Babel's message.
The unfathomable beings ruling Babel...
Some players were chosen by them, becoming devotees to gain power.
Fighting you lot would be no fun. Cease this.
Rumble—!
With thunderous roar, a giant wielding a lightning-wrapped hammer appeared.
If you insist on fighting, so be it.
His good mood soured. Why must they ruin it?
Thoroughly rude. The Sword Ghost despised such folk and thus drew his ugliest sword.
Boiling tar-like slime covered the entire floor.
Bubbling, yellow beast eyes emerged from the slime, profane mouths protruding.
The constellation of thunder bellowed, charging to smash the Sword Ghost's head.
It resembled magic more than swordsmanship.
Still, since he swung the sword and it activated accordingly, the Sword Ghost called it a sword technique.
This is why I hesitated to draw it.
Calling massive tentacles flailing wildly a sword technique felt brazen, even to him. The Sword Ghost sighed inwardly.