Clash of the Transcendents
I have two identities.
The upstanding student, Yi Han-su. And the cult criminal, Chad.
I haven't really committed any crimes, but as a member of the Light Priests and affiliated with Kkeut, I'm operating as Chad for now. That's when someone came looking for me.
"Are you the master of Tyrbing?"
A man wearing a wide-brimmed hat pulled low, dressed in black rags.
"……."
He said nothing, but a flood of thoughts raced through my mind. The demon who had broken Tyrbing's seal and left it half-crippled.
Il-do-sal.
-Keke… so that's how it was.
Tyrbing chuckled softly in my mind.
It was one of the phrases from my contract with Tyrbing.
'□□ □□, kill them.' 'Kill the Star of Fate.'
Just from the aura, he felt Transcendent. Top-tier, at that.
An atmosphere like he'd reached the pinnacle of strength that every swordsman—or every hero—chased.
He looked full of openings, yet none were visible. Approach even slightly, and he'd slice you down—that was the vibe.
"I'll get straight to the point. Hand over Tyrbing, and I'll let you live."
The moment the words left his mouth, a savage killing intent washed over me.
[The System protects your mind!]
[The System protects your mind!]
[The System protects your mind!]
I'd only tilted my head slightly, but the air shook like a fierce gale had hit. Everything around us trembled, then steadied, all heads bowing toward one spot.
Grass, trees, even the wind—drooping as if begging for mercy.
Killing intent, huh… Never tried it myself.
Why bother threatening like this when a quick iaijutsu draw would do? A flawed mindset from too little iaijutsu practice.
"And if I refuse?"
But I could mimic it well enough.
Whiiiiiing!!!
A gust blew back from my side this time. The bowing grass and trees dipped again, shifting positions as a prickling mana rose around me.
"Whoa, that's intense."
The hatted man waved it off casually and fiddled with the sword at his waist.
"……."
"……."
The atmosphere plunged into silence.
Then, another uninvited guest arrived.
A pure aura emanated from him, his steps utterly devoid of wasted motion.
His once-radiant, sky-like hair had lost its color, but his piercing, intelligent eyes—those that saw through to the essence—still gleamed.
People called him this.
Sword Saint, Han Cheon-wi.
"Hm? Han Cheon-wi? What brings you here?"
The hatted man tilted his head and spoke.
"Il-do-sal?"
"Han Cheon-wi?"
"You know me?"
Han Cheon-wi's eyes lit up. His Thousand-ri Eyes.
Han Cheon-wi laughed heartily.
"You're… human, aren't you?"
…….
Mana is a mysterious, unknowable power. It completely transformed human life, spawning tales that it might have always existed.
Finding a place untouched by mana worldwide is nearly impossible now. Since no one lacks mana, it's used everywhere, knowingly or not.
Among them, those who grasp mana’s singularities unleash forces far beyond ordinary folk.
We call them heroes.
But a question lingers.
Are heroes and normals truly the same species?
Obviously not—one cleaves mountains and seas, the other struggles to swing a sword.
One key distinction: physical structure.
Traits impossible for normals—hair color, eye color, and more. Heroes' bodies are already something else.
And among them, the pinnacle: Transcendent.
As one scientist put it…
'They're something wearing a human form.'
Bodies shaped like humans, optimized for mana efficiency.
Just shells for something else.
Thousand-ri Eyes pierce to the essence.
Han Cheon-wi knew this from the start. And it brought overwhelming despair.
His beloved mother, father, friends, lover.
All revealed as other than him.
There was an experiment: teaching sign language to a chimp.
Once it could communicate, its behavior flipped 180 degrees.
The absence of basic sentience: communication. Capable, yet incompetent.
'Family disgusts me. Those beasts disgust me.'
The chimp's first signed words to the scientist.
'Wh… why….'
Despair, like realizing people are plants.
'Am I… am I… the flawed one?'
As endless doubt gnawed at him, Han Cheon-wi encountered another hero.
Another Transcendent, like him.
'Ah…!!! Ah!!!!'
And he finally realized.
'I wasn't wrong.'
Han Cheon-wi had two sons.
But one overwhelming fear gnawed at him.
'What if my children… aren't human…?'
Yet, mocking his fears, both sons born were unmistakably human.
They were.
'Why…! Why can't you achieve more…!' 'Stop it! What do you expect us to do here?'
Just a bit more…! Just a bit more…!!!
A little further….
'…….'
The Thousand-ri Eyes showed a puzzle-like landscape.
Pieces forming a picture, a scene.
Only a few left….
But the face… unseen….
Despair.
Thus, Han Cheon-wi abandoned hope. Even his blood-born sons weren't clear, driving him mad.
What did it matter to be the world's focus, the first hero?
A lonely life, no humans around.
So he opposed even more fiercely.
'Why marry that wench!'
Fear. Self-doubt. No confidence to face such plant-like grandchildren.
At least… somewhat human…?
My bloodline mixed with trash?
'Waa… waa…!'
When Han Sia was born, Han Cheon-wi collapsed in tears unknowingly. For the first time, a family member's face was clear.
His granddaughter, perfectly passing Thousand-ri Eyes' human threshold.
'Hic… huaaaaaah!!!!'
Overwhelmed with emotion, tears wouldn't stop.
Han Cheon-wi decided to rethink. He'd been wrong.
But….
'Waa…!' '…….'
And again.
'Waa!' '…….'
Progress reversed once more.
****
"A sad tale. Both sons fallen to demons."
Han Cheon-wi shook his head and drew his sword.
"Keke, and you carry that damned demon sword yourself?"
The hatted swordsman sneered at Han Cheon-wi, cackling.
"Pot calling the kettle black."
Chad took an iaijutsu stance as well.
But….
Only the hatted swordsman held his stance.
"Why so devoid of romance?"
The hatted man shook his head, clicking his tongue.
"Grandpa's Transcendent. I'm Transcendent. That guy's… not sure, but probably too."
Kugugugugugu!!!!
Suddenly, the murky aura unique to demons surged wildly. Beyond murky—viscous.
But pure mana erupted alongside.
Like black and white.
The hatted man cautiously lifted his hat, revealing his hidden face.
"Hiding like that for such a trivial reason."
Han Cheon-wi said dismissively.
His face was distorted. But not the usual demonic twist.
The revealed man glanced between Han Cheon-wi and Chad.
"Keke, no duds here, right? If not, just tag-team with your buddy."
Three Transcendents gathered in one place.
And likewise, three great demons.
Clink-.
Il-do-sal drew his sword.
Ching-!
A crystalline sound like morning dew. Impeccably clean, chillingly so.
"……."
"……."
"……."
They eyed each other.
One to slay demons as a hero and claim the perfect sword. Another for amusement and his goals. The last seeing a chance to eliminate annoyances.
-Be careful. Tough opponent.
Tyrbing.
-I'll transform most perfectly.
Fang of the Void, Bel-gos.
-Draw me, human.
The forsaken Muramasa too.
Whiiiiiing-.
A cool breeze brushed everyone's cheeks.
The signal wind.
No words needed—they all knew. Now was perfect timing.
Shk-! Sring-! Shiiik-!
Kwajijijik!!!!
Space warped, three deep sword scars etched in the air.
The technique called swordsmen's final stage.
Iaijutsu.
Or rather….
Domain.
Kugugugugugugugu!!!!
The three Transcendents' Domains had unfolded.