Dream Clash - Awakening to the Sword

A stone golem towers at least two meters tall, swinging its massive arm with a sharp paang! that tears through the air. The sheer power could shatter an entire house. But...

"Hmph."

The beautiful girl standing guard before it doesn't flinch. Instead, she boldly lifts one leg and kicks the incoming arm of the charging golem. That slender leg surges with an immeasurable density of magi.

Kwaaaaang————!

Despite the clash between the golem's rock-hard arm and the girl's delicate leg, it was the golem's arm that shattered.

The girl relishes these head-on collisions. Nothing beats them for flaunting her overwhelming strength. She far surpasses the golem—and the fragments of defeated golems scattered around prove it.

"Did you really think a puny thing like you could defeat this lady?"

The golem swings its remaining arm in a final act of defiance. The girl darts right up to it in a flash.

Pajik!

In the next instant, her arm plunges into the golem's torso, piercing its core.

Victory sealed. She yanks her hand free with a wicked grin.

"You dull brute. Uhahahahaha!"

A hearty, booming laugh worthy of a demon queen! The peerless beauty exudes majestic charisma as she roars with laughter...!

Well, what can I say. That girl's true identity is none other than the future Demon King, Regina Diabolos.

'No? I'm the Chaos Demon King.' I've even picked out my title for when I become the Demon King. Since I'm the only one in the Hwallansegye, calling myself the Chaos Demon King is nothing to be ashamed of.

"......"

...I'm just bored, that's all. Bored ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠out of my mind.

I'm ten years old now, and I've spent more than half that time in this Hwallansegye. And thanks to a discovery I made around age six...

'You can even slow down time perception in dreams.'

A week inside equals a single day outside—an absurd feat that's now possible. My actual life as Regina has been far longer than ten years. Still, I can't help but feel proud. A ten-year-old soloing fifty golems? Is there another ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠girl like me in the world?

Demons grow faster, so my limbs are about middle-school length, but still. Among all ten-year-olds in this world, I'm the absolute best.

'But it's weird.'

I haven't slacked on training. Yet smashing golems barehanded feels off. Golems are natural counters to succubi, after all. As magical constructs without ego, they're immune to seduction or pheromones. Common knowledge says even a succubus's physical prowess can't beat them.

"I trained hard to survive, sure... but I never did anything to get this strong."

I haven't even used succubus specialty magic. Smashing golems with my body? Hmm... must be because I'm just that exceptional.

"Heh, heh heh..."

But I can't laugh anymore. Golems are no longer a challenge. Not fifty, not even a hundred. I outgrew them at eight, anyway. So why keep smashing golems all this time?

'Because I'm scared.'

The first time I beat a golem, riding high on victory, I tried summoning something else. Not from the Dust Saga, but a character from another creation—one from my favorite murim novel.

The Hwallansegye responds to my cognition beyond limits, so I figured I could summon from other novels or games. Why not? With this power, I wanted to meet characters from stories I loved. I'd seen magic here plenty; now I craved real martial arts.

So I summoned Namgung Sim, one of the protagonists from Murim Reincarnation. I picked his early boy version to keep it fair.

But...

'Yeah. Still no match.'

Our sizes were comparable. He was only 1st-rate back then, with a Manifestation Rate of about 40%. His internal energy matched my magi at the time. Even accounting for my kid-sized limbs, it should've been a close fight.

What I overlooked? I was just flailing wildly, relying on raw strength and magi. Namgung Sim used real martial arts.

My arm flew off in the first clash. He bisected ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠me on the second, and I died. The shock left me dazed for days, skipping the dream world entirely.

'But who am I?'

The Devil Queen, Regina Diabolos. No lingering defeat—just burning rivalry. Full-on Lena ppumppum mode.

'I want to learn it.'

Namgung Sim's sword strikes. Two years later, they're still etched in my mind. His blows were a blur despite equal energy reserves. I've been building my frame by smashing golems, deeming it too early before.

My magi has more than doubled since age eight.

'This should let my eyes keep up.'

No techniques yet, so pure physical matchup for now. Time to try.

Clap!

I slap my hands, and the space shifts. Golem fragments vanish, replaced by grassy fields studded with countless swords, blades, spears—every cold weapon imaginable. A true forest of blades.

"Kuh...! That's more like it!"

Murim final battles always happen in spots like this! Mine's more like a debut, but still. My heart races.

Before me stands a heroic young man with a blue hero band on his forehead—Namgung Sim from his 1st-rate days, same as when I was eight. [Manifestation Rate 62%]. Stronger now.

"You've grown too, have you...!"

He silently draws the sword at his waist. I grab one from the ground in response.

Never formally trained with swords. Does the Succubus Mansion even have sword users? Just self-taught swinging in the dream world. I systematized it alone, but against Namgung Sim's arts? No contest.

This fight's goal isn't winning. Survive as long as possible with my boosted magi, observe real martial arts up close.

"Here I come!"

As the saying goes, strike first for victory. No way I'm yielding initiative in a disadvantageous bout.

Kwang!

I kick off the ground, charging straight at Namgung Sim. I swing my overhead sword with full force.

Cjeeeeng——!

It bounces back from his one-handed parry.

"Hyeok!"

Almost dropped it. My magi outstrips his internal energy twofold, yet I lost the power clash. My arm numbs from the first exchange, but I grin.

"I saw it!"

At eight, his sword was a blur. Now it's clear, if fast. This changes everything...

"I can see all your attacks!"

I regrip and charge again.

...

Kagak! Chaeng!

How many clashes now? The girl has lost count. By her senses, hundreds at least.

Her body throbs like it's been beaten raw, her sword hand shredded long ago. Yet she smiles, reveling in the fight.

Not mindless frenzy—her mind spins colder than ever.

'So this is the famed Celestial Palace Carefree Swordsmanship.'

She analyzes every sight, dissecting the essence.

'Just pouring magi isn't enough. Efficiency matters. Power and speed shift by where and how much you concentrate it.'

Surrounded only by magic-using succubi, the talent dormant within her stirs.

She watches Namgung Sim with calm, sunken eyes. His energy flows in ways she's never seen.

Let's mimic it.

Her magi flow shifts. No longer brute-forcing arms for power, legs for speed.

'Carve paths inside the body. Let magi flow along them.'

Magi streams from her heart through narrow channels like blood vessels, fortifying muscles and meridians.

She's grasping more than energy flow—body mechanics too.

'Just twisting the ankle opens new attack angles.'

'Gripping the sword too tight isn't stronger.'

Loosening her hold makes her sword path fluid, faster. Sensing the change, Namgung Sim's brow twitches as he steps back with footwork.

'That's the Namgung clan's Infinite Steps from the novels.'

Looks fun.

'My turn.'

Magi stirs from her chest, wrapping her Conception Vessel protectively, grazing her Yin Heel Vessel, reaching the Yongquan on her sole. Releasing it catapults her forward ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠in explosive speed.

Crude, violent—not refined footwork. She closes in instantly, slashing relentlessly; he barely blocks.

"Hahaha!"

She laughs heartily. Pure joy—unlike solo training. Learning is this thrilling.

'This is martial arts.'

Then his rising kick slams her gut. Breath cut, she's hurled back meters.

Even absorbing everything like a sponge for rapid growth, Regina's still a novice among novices—just awakening to martial arts.

She'd been overwhelming with double the energy reserves till now.

"Hoo..."

Regina steadies her breath and looks up. Namgung Sim assumes a stance.

"Ah..."

The air thickens, the space under his dominion. Instinct names his impending art.

"Emperor Sword Form...!"

The Namgung clan's signature—overwhelming with domineering and heavy essence.

Old Regina would've dodged. Dream pain is real; no masochism.

But now? Different.

'I want to see it.'

'Block it head-on.'

She regrips her sword, channeling magi for her best strike.

"Haa... haa..."

Breath quickens—sensing imminent death? No, something hotter, more exhilarated.

'...I'm excited.'

Seeing the legendary Emperor Sword Form live, against her. How could she not anticipate it? Joy heats her body.

"...Come at me."

Her murmur triggers it.

Kwaaaaaaaaang————!

They swing simultaneously. Predictable result.

"Knew it..."

Her sword shatters; her body bisected diagonally. Agony threatens to shatter her mind, but till consciousness fades, Regina shouts at Namgung Sim with a grin.

"Next time, I win."