Severing Heaven: The True One-Blade Kill
Iaijutsu slashes flooded toward Gram in an instant.
Naturally, the weakest among them was Natasha's iaijutsu.
-This one's the weakest!
-Then straight through the weak point it is.
Gram swiftly swung his greatsword, shifting his body toward Natasha's slash.
But...
KWA AAAANG!!!!
-Grahk!!!
A slash from me that he should have dodged hit Gram dead-on.
Whoosh!!!
Not just an unbearable slash, but insanely hot flames too.
-Gaaahk!!!
Gram's scream echoed inside the barrier.
'This is an authority...!'
The authority of his other brother sword, Dainsleif. But Gram had an authority too.
-Collapse.
KUGUGUGUGU!!!
With Gram's low mutter, the floor inside the barrier began to crumble. Not just a simple collapse—an absurdly deep pit.
Swoooosh!!!!
In an instant, Gram, Natasha, Ian Korpe, me, and even the passed-out Kim In-cheol plummeted.
The reason Gram collapsed the floor was simple. We were all using the same swordsmanship.
Disrupt the balance and wipe us out at once.
But...
There was no swordsman here who couldn't use iaijutsu just because the floor was gone. Well, except Kim In-cheol.
KWA AAAANG!!!!
Slashes flooded toward Gram once more.
-Gaaahk!!!
A slash flying in mid-possession. It kept interfering with Gram fully taking over Hong Ri-jin's body.
Whoosh!!!
-Hu...man...!
Gram's pupils dilated. At the same time, he glared at me with murderous eyes.
He sensed the presence of his brother Tyrbing, but it wasn't Tyrbing controlling the body right now.
-......
Did a human steal the initiative? Or is the contract horizontal?
Thoughts raced through his mind.
Along with the flames continuously burning him.
What he needed to do in this situation was the most obvious action for a demon.
Deploy his domain.
Divine Punishment Falling Sun Great Sword Grave (神罰落日 大剣墓).
A massive sword graveyard at sunset, where divine punishment falls.
The surroundings instantly transformed into a barren plain. Contrary to the name Great Sword Grave, there wasn't a single sword embedded in the ground—utterly desolate.
Thud!
And in the center of the plain dropped Gram, now fully possessing Hong Ri-jin's body.
Long, snow-white hair and copper skin. Where the whites of his eyes should be, only pitch-black darkness filled the sockets.
His form was close to human, but grotesquely twisted. Yes, like a demon.
Just standing there, murky mana rose in clouds.
So thick it made you want to vomit just looking at it.
The very embodiment of a great demon.
****
Fuck!
Cold sweat trickled down my neck. The domain had deployed in an instant.
'......'
Should I switch with Tyrbing?
But...
Right now, it wasn't just me—Natasha and Ian Korpe had been dragged in too. Was it really okay if they found out I was a demon?
Thoughts raced through my mind.
At that moment, Tyrbing spoke lowly.
-What are you hesitating for?
Obvious question.
-Don't know how to counter a domain?
Fuck if I know.
-No no, you don't even need to bring me out.
What bullshit.
-Swing it. I'm already inside you.
Tyrbing's cryptic words.
'......'
In that instant, a single thought pierced my mind.
Every time I used iaijutsu, a domain visible only to me appeared. Like a membrane of mana.
When did it start?
At first, I thought it was just a game mechanic difference. Create a domain and cut enemies inside it.
Simple.
But...
Now I realized. I'd been using a domain from the very beginning.
"......"
I drew my sword just a fraction.
"Hoo......"
I exhaled, channeling mana through my entire body.
Chwaaak-!!!!!!
Of the sword.
Dan-cheon Il-do-cheon (斷天一刀天).
In that moment, silence enveloped the surroundings.
The ground was sand-covered, grains blowing with every gust of wind.
The sword drew smoothly.
I curled my lips and spoke lowly toward Gram.
"If you don't block it, you'll die. Give it everything you've got."
Feels familiar somehow.
-Arrogant for a mere human.
"......"
"......"
Me and Gram moved simultaneously.
Dry wind brushed between us.
I steadied my breath. No cold sweat, not even tension.
'I win.'
No doubt about it.
Felt like a giant standing before an ant.
Like the unfinished me had finally become a complete swordsman.
My stance was eerily natural. Same as before, yet leisurely like someone out for a stroll—not attack or defense.
Full of openings, yet with none.
Shiiiik-.
The moment the dry wind blew.
I drew.
——!!!!!!!!
The slash outpaced the air-ripping explosion.
Shiiiik—!
The sound echoed belatedly, followed by a clear, crystalline metallic ring.
Ching—.
Like a dewdrop falling into still water.
My sword extended without hindrance.
And from the sound alone, I knew.
'Cut.'
-Wha...?
Gram's severed neck spun limply into the sky.
Thud-.
The head buried into the sand.
Spurt-!
Blood gushed out. I looked down at Gram, shook the blood from my blade, and sheathed it.
"Isn't that body a bit too heavy?"
-A mere human!!!
Surprisingly, Gram moved even after being decapitated. Because his flesh wasn't the true body—the greatsword in his hand was.
The reason I said that...
Was info I already knew.
KWAGAGA KAGAGA!!!!
Dozens, hundreds, thousands of slashes in one swing.
Finally, Gram's form vanished.
The ultimate sword that ends foes in one stroke.
One blade, one cut.
The one-blade kill (Il-do-sal) (一刀殺).
Extreme speed sword.
「Il-do-jin-sal (一刀眞殺)」.
. . .
Natasha stared blankly at the impossible sight.
Suddenly, moisture welled in her eyes.
Masterful iaijutsu and the great technique of a domain.
Too perfect for mere swordsmanship... Pure, unadulterated primordial sword art.
Thousands of slashes intertwined in one technique, yet each precisely exploiting weaknesses without showboating.
Like a 100-man orchestra!
Perfect balance!!!!
But...
Does the world's most beautiful technique hold even ten times the value of ordinary swordsmanship?
No.
Not even a trillion times enough!
Natasha collapsed to her knees, entranced by the beauty.
Seeing Yi Han-su sheathe his sword, her heart pounded madly.
She turned to her grandfather Ian Korpe beside her.
He was already sobbing.
His whole body trembled—beyond mere emotion, it was transcendental awe!
Strong.
Stronger than any swordsman she'd ever seen!
Ultimate technique! Ultimate swordsmanship! Ultimate swordsman!
The domain of art encompassing it all!
No, perhaps a forbidden realm beyond art.
Ian Korpe rummaged in his pocket.
He'd come to get a relic to suppress the chains tormenting Yi Han-su, who was eroding his own future.
But... he was already complete.
Beyond the light Ian had witnessed!
Thought it was a star, but it was the universe!
Fuck! I approve your marriage to my granddaughter! No, please do it!
A bit much for a grandfather to decide unilaterally.
But Ian Korpe knew. Natasha was thinking the exact same thing!
Clap! Clap! Clap! Clap!
Ian Korpe applauded unconsciously. But rage boiled up too.
Why do humans only have two arms?
Applause too insufficient! He resented being human.
If he had a million arms, he could clap a million times at once!
Ian Korpe suddenly wondered.
Did he even belong in the holy realm?
'Maybe I was born just to witness this.'
Slicing the heavens revealed the universe glittering with thousands of distant stars.
****
Absorbing the authority of the Dragon Slayer Sword 'Gram'.
After cutting Gram, his authority began seeping into me.
Starting with the 'Dragon Slayer' authority that guarantees victory over all dragons, then 'Collapse,' and more...
Felt like something was filling up inside me.
But remnants lingered.
-Keke.
Tyrbing handled the leftovers nicely.
-One step closer to the perfect sword.
Tyrbing sounded satisfied.
Definitely far stronger than when I took Dainsleif. Worlds apart from a half-assed demon sword.
'At this rate......'
My growth speed was insane. What came next was decided.
Head to 'Gyeol'.