Chapter 134: The Sword Saint's Longing (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 134: The Sword Saint's Longing (2)
The VIP room of the Swiss Central Bank.
"...Um, Sword Emperor. May I ask you something?"
"Hmm? What is it?"
At Karon's question, the Sword Emperor set down his teacup. In truth, Karon had more than a few questions, but he kept them brief.
"I wonder if Geomma can truly achieve what even the First Sword Saint could not... Even if he can, I feel it might be a bit too early."
It was a sensitive topic, as it questioned the Sword Emperor's decision.
Worry hovered in Karon's eyes. He, too, knew of Kang Geomma's extraordinary nature.
A boy who exuded an aura that prickled the skin. Moreover, Shail had tipped him off about what had happened in the Undead Dungeon.
Kang Geomma was a boy who went beyond genius, weaving a legend of his own. It was a talent that made even Karon, who had achieved the Warrior Rank at a young age, look like an ordinary man.
But... the words 'Still, even so...' kept lingering in his mouth.
It was a longing that even the Sword Saint, Aaron Nibelung, had failed to achieve.
Even if Kang Geomma's potential was immense, he was still only seventeen. In this world, talent usually bloomed at thirty at the earliest, and generally not until one's forties.
Karon felt this situation was far too rushed.
Hadn't it been said that no one even knew what the 'Sword Saint's Longing' actually was—not even the Sword Emperor sitting right in front of him?
As if cutting through Karon's thoughts, the Sword Emperor replied briefly.
"It certainly feels early—to ordinary humans like us, that is."
Karon's eyes widened. If he weren't sitting in front of the Sword Emperor, he would have cleaned out his ears, thinking he had misheard.
"...By 'ordinary humans,' do you mean to include yourself, Sword Emperor?!"
"Ha! Have your ears gone bad, my friend? Of course. I am a human, after all. Did you think I was some kind of god?"
"N-no. You know that's not what I meant."
The Sword Emperor merely tilted his chin up to look at Karon. As if enjoying the bewildered reaction, a meaningful smile played on the Sword Emperor's lips.
"We shouldn't apply our standard metrics to a boy like him. His kind are those who realize and grow through real combat and trials. Even if Kang Geomma fails the Sword Saint's Longing, he will still realize something through it."
"But you don't even know what the Sword Saint's Longing is either, do you? You said your memories of it were completely wiped..."
"Ah, that? I actually remember the rough outline of it."
"...What?"
Bewilderment washed over Karon's face. In response, the Sword Emperor tapped his temple with a mischievous smile.
"It's no fun if I tell you everything. Well, it's actually better for one's peace of mind to forget it... though that's not really for me to say, having failed the Longing myself."
"..."
"It wasn't entirely a lie. I've never seen the shape of the 'Ring of the Nibelung' either. If you fail the Longing, the chest closes on its own, the contents can never be seen again, and it is completely erased from your memory."
While Karon wore a dazed expression, the Sword Emperor picked up his teacup again.
"Anyway, it will be an especially good experience for our friend Geomma."
The Sword Emperor couldn't hide the slight curl of his lips, looking thoroughly amused.
* * *
The sharp sound of tearing air clashed in rapid succession.
A blade flying in at a bizarre angle grazed Kang Geomma's cheek.
Despite being a minor scratch, blood welled up profusely. There was no time to wipe it away. Kang Geomma deflected a sashimi knife aiming for his temple with his own sashimi knife.
With a sharp clang!, the blades twisted and tangled in the air like snakes hungrily seeking each other.
'Holy shit. He's fast as hell.'
Kang Geomma thought, gritting his teeth. 'You must win the battle against yourself,' they said.
Since even the Sword Saint Aaron had failed to achieve it, he had assumed he would have to endure an S++ Rank magical beast or some curse.
In reality, it was a sword fight against himself. It was a battle where no one, no matter who they were, could guarantee victory. At best, it would be a draw.
'What do you call this? A clone? A doppelganger?'
Before he could even ponder what it was, the figure that looked exactly like him thrust its blade forward.
It had even replicated his Blessings, and its swordplay was utterly merciless. Blades licked at his skin in bizarre trajectories. It was a terrifying, wicked sashimi knife.
He briefly reflected on how he had unleashed this kind of swordplay on Nox and Mao Rang. Facing such blade work, he could finally understand why they practically had seizures whenever they saw a sashimi knife.
Tatap!
!patat
Tatap!
!patat
A noisy clatter of footsteps. The clone approached, zigzagging as it stepped left and right across the ground.
The speed was beyond fast; it was ferocious. It created an illusion as if the single clone had multiplied into a hundred thermal images.
His entire field of vision was filled with Kang Geomma, Kang Geomma, Kang Geomma. Behind them, a desolate cloud of dust billowed out like exhaust fumes.
A clone using a cloning technique. It was absurd, yet it made his skin crawl with tension.
'Since our swordplay would end in a draw, is he trying to settle this with a speed battle?'
Kang Geomma didn't panic in the slightest. Instead, his pupils and brain whirled busily.
He had two options. Evade the blades here and there while waiting for the clone's speed to slacken. Once the timing was right, it would immediately become his turn.
Or, foolishly clash head-on, mercilessly grinding down each other's bodies and stamina. A real man's showdown.
"..."
Kang Geomma closed his eyes, then opened them halfway. His eyelashes cast shadows over half of his pupils.
He quietly stared at the clone. His pupils dilated and contracted repeatedly.
The dozens of thermal images converged into a single point. The clone's figure gradually began to grow distinct.
Having taken solid form, the clone stomped its foot hard as if to settle the match.
Crack! The sound of thick bone shattering. A bloody bone fragment pierced straight through the clone's shin like an awl.
Yet, the clone did not stop its charge. Blood bubbled from the wound on its shin, and the broken bone structure pieced itself back together like Lego blocks.
He had never seen such a barbaric method. Breaking one's own body just to increase acceleration.
It was a madness that no sane person would ever dare to conceive. However, that scene struck Kang Geomma as a powerful, paradigm-shifting shock. Goosebumps erupted all over his forearms.
With the [Blessing of Painlessness], there was absolutely no pain. Thus, he could use the [Blessing of Regeneration] to restore the destroyed leg.
It was a way of utilizing Blessings that Kang Geomma had never even imagined. Destroying oneself just to slash the enemy. It was the ultimate paradox.
'Come to think of it, that guy...'
Recalling the clash from moments ago, the clone had shown no hesitation in taking hits.
If Geomma stabbed its thigh, the clone simply let it happen and lunged for his neck or temple.
It only took a half-step back to barely evade strikes to its solar plexus or vital points. Minimal movement. In that split second, it swung its sashimi knife once more.
Because of that, even though the clone was clearly bleeding more, it was Geomma who was driven into a corner. Kang Geomma was too busy defending and evading to launch an attack.
'The best defense is a good offense.'
Kang Geomma looked the clone in the eye. It was definitely insane. Every single movement was akin to a high-stakes gamble on a tightrope.
Yet, Kang Geomma's heart pounded. His face was drenched in sweat.
Dash!
The clone approached, cutting through the desolate earth like a flash of light.
Just then, a low voice echoed in his head. It was his inner voice.
'Do not fear the destruction of your flesh.'
The voice continued.
'Do not be bound by the shackles of technique.'
The clone reached point-blank range. Kang Geomma stared into its face. Then, Kang Geomma's lips finished the thought.
"Think only of slashing and cutting."
Kang Geomma bent his upper body forward and gripped his hilt in a reverse grip. Then, he glared upward. Veins bulged around his eyes like a spiderweb.
"If that guy is moving like that..."
Kang Geomma bared his teeth savagely.
"...it means that's what I would have done."
The clone thrust out two sashimi knives. Kang Geomma did not dodge. Instead, he puffed out his chest to welcome the blades.
Squish.
The deeply thrust blade tips pierced through Kang Geomma's ribs and tapped against his heart.
"...Ugh."
Kang Geomma let out a faint groan. His brain rattled inside his skull. His vision blurred, and his sight instantly began to go dark.
But Kang Geomma did not lose consciousness. Even as his pupils dilated, he activated the [Blessing of Regeneration] with all his might.
Squish.
The newly sprouted flesh and muscle clamped down on the clone's blades like a mouth. A flash of bewilderment crossed the clone's face. Whether it was a system construct or not, it seemed the entity could feel emotions.
The clone struggled to pull the blades out several times. The blades scraped against Kang Geomma's lungs and heart. He felt his insides being destroyed in real-time.
The clone gave up on pulling the blades out. It tapped the pommel of the hilt with its other hand, shoving it deeper. The blade forced its way through his heart.
A stream of blood trickled down Kang Geomma's chin. His body tottered, losing its balance from the immense pain.
Yet, Kang Geomma let out a smirk.
"Anyway, this place isn't the real world, just like a subspace."
"..."
"And I'm a master at this kind of dogfight thanks to the Academy."
Kang Geomma swung his sashimi knife. A flash of light flared in the clone's retinas, then flickered out.
Slash! Thud.
A black-haired head fell to the ground.
Flash!
[Emergency Quest: Achieve the Sword Saint's Longing!]
[▷ Congratulations! You have acquired the first fragment of 【???】. Total acquired: (1/7).]
♪♬♩♫♪
[NEW! Additional rewards will also be granted.]
[▷ The rank of the 'Blessing of Regeneration' has been elevated.]
Flash!
* * *
[Blessing of Regeneration]
Rapidly multiplies damaged cells to restore them.
◈ Rank
: Guardian Spirit ▶ Essence Spirit
◈ Additional Ability
: 《Adrenaline》
: Secretes a specific neurotransmitter the longer the Blessing remains active. Enables faster cell and blood proliferation. Now, feel free to spill your blood to your heart's content!
[※ However, severed body parts will not regenerate.]
[※ Upon meeting certain conditions, a 《Special Title》 will be granted.]
* * *
* * *
Beep, beep, beep!
A sharp, mechanical beep rang out in the VIP room. It was the signal indicating that Kang Geomma was finished.
The Sword Emperor stood up from his chair, his face slightly tense. Karon was equally stiff.
"Let's go."
"Yes, Sword Emperor."
The two arrived in front of the room where Kang Geomma was. They briefly locked eyes. Karon nodded and pushed the door open.
"...Ugh."
The two grimaced at the smell leaking through the gap. A terrible stench. The scent of blood was so thick it made their heads spin.
Furthermore, despite being a sealed room, a hot wind blew out. It felt as though a scorching heat was baking the iron floor and walls.
Karon pinched his nose with his thumb and index finger. He looked up and quietly stared at Kang Geomma's back. On the surface, he didn't look much different from a few minutes ago.
Yet, what was this atmosphere? This fierce haze shimmering along the contours of Kang Geomma's body. Coupled with the heavy, oppressive air, a shiver ran down Karon's spine.
"Cadet Kang Geomma."
The Sword Emperor called out to him cautiously. Kang Geomma slowly turned around. His eyes had sunk into a dark, bottomless abyss.
Karon flinched at the sight. Unlike him, however, the Sword Emperor's gaze was fixed not on Kang Geomma's face, but on his hands.
The Sword Emperor's eyebrows and voice trembled faintly.
"C-could it be, you...!"
In Kang Geomma's hands was a small, wide-open box. Inside, a small golden ring radiated light.