Chapter 19
Chapter 19
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 19
Chapter Title: The Forgotten Hero's Trial
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"The lower part of the rock mountain, huh."
After entering the dungeon from the top of the rock mountain, the cave floor had sloped steadily downward the entire way.
It was a dungeon carved into the heart of the mountain, entered from the peak, so heading downward was expected. But he hadn't anticipated a cavern like this in its depths.
Judging by its size, the interior seemed to be entirely dungeon space, save for the outer walls mimicking sheer cliffs.
"Moreover, this place was artificially created."
Caves could form naturally, but not a cavern like this.
Given the dungeon's name, it seemed most likely the work of someone called the 'Forgotten Hero.' Even so, this wasn't a place one hero could craft alone.
'Well, you can't expect common sense from a dungeon.'
Dozens, hundreds of dungeons existed within the tower. Many, like this cavern, far transcended human understanding.
For instance, the 'Sky Island,' an ancient dungeon floating in the heavens, or the 'Ancient Dragon's Abyss,' formed in a dead dragon's belly.
"By the way, these are..."
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Constellation 'Raven with Bowed Head' gazes down at the cavern with a peculiar look in its eyes. The cavern was far from ordinary.
Its floor and walls were covered in marks that looked like sword scars—gouges, stabs, even deep craters as if something had exploded.
All inflicted by a 'sword.' Any ordinary blade would chip instantly against stone like this.
Proof lay in the cavern floor, embedded with countless broken swords of every variety.
Some appeared intact, but most had dulled edges. It was like staring at a graveyard of blades.
And at the cavern's center.
A single pillar stood firm, as if single-handedly holding up the ceiling.
The moment he laid eyes on it, Se-woon grasped this place's purpose.
"So it really is a linked quest."
A small hole pierced the pillar's center.
All the energy in the cavern flowed toward that hole's core.
And that hole...
Puck.
...fit perfectly with the 'Forgotten Hero's Sword' in Se-woon's hand.
Like a key sliding into a lock, the blade slipped in effortlessly.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ You have obtained the qualification to challenge the Forgotten Hero. Rumble—
The mana filling the cavern converged. Stones on the floor clumped together, forming a humanoid shape.
Watching it naturally draw a sword from the ground, Se-woon tried to pull his own from the pillar—but the blade, which had entered so easily, now refused to budge, fused as one with the stone.
As Se-woon's expression soured, the system helpfully explained the situation.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ The Forgotten Hero's trial has begun. Aside from the 'broken swords' in the cavern, no other weapons can be used. The cavern's mana begins interfering with magic use. The duel with the Forgotten Hero begins the moment you grip a 'broken sword.' Face the Forgotten Hero without magic or prior gear, using only broken swords?
'Broken swords' surely meant the shattered weapons scattered around.
At least it showed some minimal consideration.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Failing to grip a 'broken sword' within 1 minute cancels your duel qualification. Upon cancellation, the 'Forgotten Hero's Sword' will be reclaimed, and your dungeon access revoked. The timid could flee anytime. Of course, they'd forfeit the dungeon's first-discovery benefits and the sword.
Se-woon had no intention of backing down.
After scanning the area, he drew a longsword that looked relatively intact—chipped in only two places, the best among them.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ The duel with the Forgotten Hero begins. Clang!!
The moment Se-woon gripped his sword, the hero—poised in a diagonal overhead guard—lunged with blinding speed.
Had he not blocked immediately, a single blow would have left him gravely wounded.
"A challenger after so long."
The gray stone hero spoke. It wasn't merely a programmed boss monster.
Likely a remnant of the hero's will, coalesced from his training in this cavern.
"'After so long' implies others challenged you before me?"
"One, long ago."
"And since you're still here, they all failed."
"Correct."
The hero swung horizontally.
A mere remnant wielding such power—the movements lived up to the name 'hero.'
Se-woon blocked head-on, but the ensuing sound forced him to dodge.
Twing!
Se-woon's sword shattered.
He'd assumed the hero's blade—also a 'broken sword'—would break too. Wrong.
Even after snapping Se-woon's sword, the hero's showed no damage.
Se-woon rolled aside, snatched another broken sword from nearby. No time to inspect it as the hero closed in.
"Reflexes are decent, but your movements lack speed. Odd."
Clang, clang!
Ting!
Again.
Just two parries, and Se-woon's sword broke, shards flying.
"You're reading my attacks through experience, beyond mere talent. Yet your body can't keep up."
Se-woon's eyes gleamed.
After just a few clashes, the hero had perfectly analyzed him.
A frail body lagging behind seasoned instincts. Spot on.
"Using sword aura in the tutorial's first act? Do you even intend to let anyone pass?"
"Oh, you recognized it?"
The reason the hero's sword endured was simple.
Sword aura.
Channeling internal energy through the blade to manifest visible qi. Dramatically boosting cutting power and durability— even a stick becomes lethal.
Only sword masters could wield it.
Displaying it here explained why no one had passed.
Besides, reaching this place required superhuman climbing ability and detection skills.
"And those who can't overcome it are better off failing anyway."
"Is this place worth that much?"
"Defeat me first, and find out."
Whoosh!
The hero's assault was relentless.
Pure offense.
Movements born of absolute confidence in superior skill.
Block if you can. Dodge if you can. Counter if you dare.
Se-woon's only option: evasion.
Leveraging Ten Paths Subduing Legs footwork to dodge while observing the hero's swordsmanship.
But the hero surpassed him in skill and stats. Evasion had limits; inevitably, he'd sacrifice a sword to protect himself.
"Just going to keep dodging? You're no monster—surely not planning to let me read your patterns."
Indeed.
Typical bosses had predictable patterns to exploit, but the hero's attacks spawned dozens, hundreds of variations.
Even identical setups yielded different strikes—guessing blindly would worsen the damage.
'Can't dodge or block forever.'
Se-woon recalled a technique.
Tai Chi Fist.
Its principles might deflect the hero's blade.
Sacrificing yet another sword to an incoming strike, Se-woon sharpened his gaze and activated his authority.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Treasure Vault of Greed has been opened. [ Tai Chi Sword ]
- The Wudang Clan's foundational swordsmanship, embodying the same profound principles as Tai Chi Fist.
With Mammon's treasures, no need to puzzle out Tai Chi's secrets manually.
Opening the vault infused the principles directly into his mind.
"Your eyes have changed. Now I can expect something."
The hero leaped at Se-woon without fail.
Like Tai Chi Fist, Se-woon slowly rotated his blade.
His eyes activated 'Night Owl's Eyes,' observing the hero's movements with unprecedented sharpness.
Just before the sword struck.
'Diagonal upward slash!'
The hero's blade tip dipped, right foot advancing—captured.
Se-woon's languidly spinning sword followed the hero's trajectory.
"Hm?"
Szzzt!
No longer mere parries.
It flowed with the hero's sword path, subtly redirecting it.
This was Tai Chi Sword's essence.
Pushing, twisting, or withdrawing hastily—all created openings.
But the hero wasn't one to panic.
A sword aura master, he stepped left unexpectedly, escaping the Tai Chi arc entirely.
Impressive alone—but he countered, wrapping around Se-woon's blade.
The trajectory warped; Se-woon's wrist buckled, dropping the sword.
"A fine move, but not enough..."
The hero, about to offer leisure advice, fell silent.
Se-woon—whom he'd expected to retreat and regroup—charged instead.
Fists or kicks?
After this exchange, even a fool would know that was suicide.
A casual step back and swing would bisect him.
And then the hero saw it: the broken sword in Se-woon's off-hand.
"When did he?!"
⚡ SKILL ACTIVATED ⚡ Blood Wolf Sword Technique Third Stance: Blood Wolf Assault Strengthened through internal energy.
Se-woon's internal energy surged wildly.
It enveloped the broken sword, forming crimson fangs. Not quite sword aura—the blade would shatter on impact—but it didn't matter.
One strike. That's all he needed.
Boom!!
As Se-woon swung, the cavern echoed with a wolf's howl.