The Boundary Between Death and Life
Arjen's red eyes gleamed sharply. The master of the ducal house had come alone to his son's room in the dead of night, without a single escort knight. The aura he exuded was no joke.
He's really suspicious. Well... this world has demons and such lurking around.
But Cael didn't so much as twitch an eyebrow before that chilling question. Instead, he leisurely lifted the teapot and poured tea into his own cup. Drip, drip—the sound of the tea falling sliced through the heavy silence.
Cael raised his teacup and met Arjen's gaze.
"If I'm not Cael, are you saying some forest demon has taken over this body?"
"Maybe."
Arjen took another step forward.
"A guy who lay bedridden for years, barely breathing like a corpse, suddenly gets up, sweeps the black market in Vollex Territory, seizes control of the knight order. And today in the square, he faces my killing intent without batting an eye. You think that sudden change and absurd strength of yours is normal?"
No ordinary human could transform overnight like this. It was a change that defied natural explanation without invoking the supernatural.
But Cael wasn't rattled. He'd known a question like this would come eventually, and he had his answer prepared.
He set down his teacup and spoke softly.
"Do you claim to know all the principles of the world, family head?"
"What are you getting at?"
"It was just another unremarkable night in the annex, waiting for death to claim me."
Cael's voice grew grave and earnest.
"Continue."
Arjen's eyes narrowed ever so slightly.
"Everyone had abandoned me—even you, Father, had given up on my life. That's when someone visited my annex."
"Who?"
"Who knows. An old man in ragged clothes, reeking of booze. Or maybe not even human at all—something utterly bizarre."
Cael began weaving in the classic martial world kiyeon trope into this fantasy realm.
"The old man asked for a sip of water. I gave him not just water, but food I hadn't touched myself. He laughed heartily, said it was good, and vanished like the wind."
Arjen's thick brows twisted fiercely.
"What does that have to do with you getting stronger?"
"That's what happened that night."
Cael's tale continued.
"And that night, I saw it."
"Saw what?"
"The boundary between death and life."
The moment those words left his mouth, the air in the room seemed to swell.
"What?"
Arjen's red eyes flickered with genuine shock for the first time.
The boundary between death and life. Even in the world of the novel Sword Master Collection, it was a realm whispered only among the rare few who had attained enlightenment. A transcendent state that even lifelong swordsmen might glimpse just once in a lifetime—if at all. Like a runner's high in the depths of agony during a grueling race. Only the tiniest fraction of those locked in mortal combat at death's door could stumble into it. Those who glimpsed it awakened to the sword's true essence and stepped into the Master realm.
Arjen himself—the continent's strongest swordsman, dubbed the Sword Duke—had only brushed it for a fleeting instant amid a horde of tens of thousands of magic beasts, isolated and drenched in blood after three days and nights of ceaseless battle. An ethereal realm beyond reach.
And now this bedridden invalid, poisoned and dying, claimed to have crossed that boundary?
"Ha?"
A rough, grating sound escaped Arjen's lips.
"You expect me to believe that even less. You, who glimpsed a boundary I barely touched after a lifetime of pursuit? You, rotting in your room waiting to die?"
"Why dismiss it outright? Do you know why I no longer tremble before you like before?"
Cael rose slowly from his seat.
"Because I've faced true death once. Your killing intent is just a breeze to me now."
Cael chuckled inwardly.
Well, it's not exactly a lie.
He had experienced death, and the novel's "boundary between death and life" was akin to the martial world's no-mind state.
Arjen studied his eldest son intently. The boy's eyes rang true.
He stared into Cael's unwavering gaze, sinking into profound silence. Too strong to dismiss as lies, too outlandish to accept as truth.
Shing—
The silence shattered with a cold metallic ring. Arjen half-drew the sword at his waist. The gleaming blade rippled as it emerged from its sheath.
"Then show me."
Killing intent dripped from Arjen's voice.
"I'll judge if it's bluff or truth with this blade. If you've truly crossed that boundary and been reborn through that fateful encounter, you might survive facing my sword."
In an instant, the room filled with bloodthirsty pressure. Cael clicked his tongue inwardly at the overwhelming sword aura that felt like it was slicing his skin.
Tch. He really needs to test it himself? What an idiot...
Cael sighed and shrugged.
"Isn't this too much? The gap between us is like lion and pup—yet you want a real duel with me?"
"One strike."
Arjen fully drew his sword and declared.
"Just one blow. Survive it, and I'll believe every word of your absurd tale."
Cael quickly calculated his only way out.
Well, one strike... I can manage.
His current imperfect body and inner energy couldn't beat Arjen. But one strike? Doable.
"Fine. No room to dodge anyway—let's see it."
The moment Cael agreed, Arjen's red eyes curved with cruel delight.
"Too cramped here. Follow me."
Arjen and Cael headed to the training grounds.
"I won't go all out. But underestimate it, and you'll die. Got it?"
"How kind of you."
"Here I come."
Arjen raised his sword. Cael memorized the stance.
Restis family's signature swordsmanship? Not bad.
True to their reputation as a sword house, the duke's form held up against martial world techniques. No—a superb sword art rivaling supreme martial skills.
Intrigued, Cael asked,
"What's that technique?"
The duke replied lowly,
"Restis Style First Secret Technique, Flying Thread. Never seen it?"
Cael shrugged.
"Lying in bed all day—when would I have?"
The posture suggested a thrust. Cael smiled.
A thrust? Perfect.
If it were too fast to react, maybe. But thrusts had openings. Unless at the level of Four-Seal Sword Method's creator, Cael was confident he could read it.
And as Cael gazed blankly at the duke—
Tzzt—!
The duke's form blurred to Cael in an instant.
Impressive, but slower than Four-Seal.
Cael's eyes darkened as he summoned chaos qi. His arm flowed like water, tracing a Taiji arc in the air.
Kaaang—!
As the duke's red aura-clad sword tip lunged for Cael's chest, Cael's blade met the flat of Arjen's.
Tch, can't fully deflect it.
The sheer power prevented total evasion. So Cael struck the blade aside while spinning his body like a top—a advanced technique dispersing force through rotation.
Paaang—!
Arjen's sword qi narrowly grazed Cael, slamming into empty air. The extending aura—
Thud—!
A deafening boom tore the air; dust erupted, leaving a crater like a punched hole in space.
"Whew, really trying to kill your son, huh?"
"……."
As the dust settled on the training grounds, Arjen sheathed his gaze between his sword and the nonchalant Cael. Unconcealed shock filled his eyes.
He'd held back, but one graze would've killed or crippled. Yet this boy perfectly deflected and twisted it away. That spin—it had prevented his aura from penetrating at all.
He truly saw the 'boundary'?
Devil possession couldn't explain that enlightened mu. Demons didn't move like that.
This boy had indeed glimpsed something at death's threshold. Nothing else explained such transcendent sword principles.
Cael breathed raggedly. Though deflected with Taiji's subtlety, absorbing Arjen's overwhelming power had caused internal injuries.
Tch, what ridiculous power...
Blood filled his mouth, but Cael swallowed it forcibly and met Arjen's eyes calmly.
"...Believe me now?"
Arjen slid his sword home.
Clack—
The crisp metallic snap echoed across the grounds.
"I believe you."
Arjen's voice was serene, as if the prior bloodlust were a lie.
"No more tests."
A strange satisfaction and deep intrigue colored his face.
"Things are about to get interesting, son."
Arjen turned and vanished into the darkness.
Only Cael remained, heaving harsh breaths.
"Urk... cough!"
Cael spat a mouthful of the blood he'd held back onto the ground. Pain surged from his injuries, but a satisfied smile curved his lips.
"Hah, how long since I spat blood? Heh heh heh."
Gazing where the duke had gone, Cael lifted his lip.
"Next time, you'll have to stake your life to block my strike."