Didn't I Say I'd Light the Way?

Colosseum arena.

As a berserker, Leoni Bellucci knew the flow of duels better than anyone. Which made it all the harder to open her mouth.

Me... what the hell am I watching right now?

"...Hey, Snake-Eyes."

"I'm listening."

"You actually seeing this properly? I mean, can you even see it?"

Hisagi Kazuma shook his head at Nam Taemin's question.

These three were confident their physical prowess outmatched any player. But at this moment, Hoyeol and the Sword Saint's movements were...

"On another level entirely."

Harcon Kingsguard, leader of the Lion Heart Knights. Even recalling his movements didn't compare to this. All three had sparred with him in training, after all. He was lion-like in his agility, but at least you could still see him.

Hiss—

Whoosh—

The moment their forms were barely caught, sand dust billowed up from their speed, clouding the view.

In that split-second instant.

Clang! Ka-ring! Clang!

Dozens of clashes exchanged. The sounds reaching their ears a beat late.

Proof of movement faster than sound itself.

"Camilla, you ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠seeing anything? Come on, your eyes should catch that, right?"

In another spectator seat, Dmitri nudged Camilla beside him. The number one ranged fighter in the rankings—wasn't it her?

Her eyes should capture even those movements.

"So who's winning, huh?!"

But Camilla just swallowed a sigh.

"...I've still got a long way to go."

"Huh? What're you talking about?"

"I can't see a thing. My eyes can't keep up."

"!"

It was an answer that made even Rocks flinch.

Camilla's vision was one of Shining's greatest weapons. Even against monsters hundreds of levels above them, her eyes never missed a move.

Rocks thought coolly.

'Not really surprising.'

The Sword Saint. And the continent's one and only Grand Sword Master, Shreyg.

Back when Arcana was just a game.

Who was the strongest NPC? He was always the one tossed around in rumors.

Very few players had ever met him by chance, but his fame echoed in books, gossip, and NPCs' mouths without end.

'The Sword Saint could pull that off.'

And somehow, Shreyg had regained his youth. For the pinnacle of swords on the Arcana continent, such feats weren't strange.

But the problem was, as always, Lee Hoyeol.

Rocks muttered in earnest.

"What the..."

Just moments ago, they'd felt his untouchable magical prowess firsthand. The light blanketing the Zero Mountains. He'd wielded that light in an instant as an attack.

Such magic suited the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Mage Tower's chief more than a player. As co-chief, Hoyeol could manage it, he'd rationalized.

But now.

"...How far ahead do you plan to pull?"

Matching the Sword Saint with a sword, blow for blow?

Yes. This was beyond the Arcana system.

'Can't explain it with levels.'

Hoyeol had something they didn't know.

Rocks wasn't the only one who realized it.

"...!"

Shreyg, guild master of Second Sun. He'd cleared the dungeon [City of Gloomy Rain] with Hoyeol, awakening and unleashing his sword aura.

Thanks to that forced glimpse, Shreyg could see it.

The silver sword aura pressing the Sword Saint!

This wasn't an exchange. It was one-sided offense.

Shreyg swallowed dryly. He couldn't track with his eyes, but he felt it in the auras.

'...This duel won't last long.'

No, it should have ended ages ago.

Having awakened his own sword aura, Shreyg knew the gap it created.

'For some reason, he can't unleash his.'

Only silver aura was visible. No sign of Shreyg's.

So Shreyg realized.

"...No way?"

Hoyeol had yielded turns to Shreyg dozens, hundreds of times.

Yes. The duel should have ended in Shreyg's defeat long ago.

Once he saw it that way, everything clicked.

Clang!

Shreyg hadn't blocked. Hoyeol had ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠swung to let him block.

Even Shreyg, who knew sword aura, had barely grasped the truth. The spectators couldn't possibly.

Excited voices erupted everywhere.

"He's matching the Sword Saint!!"

"This can't be real."

"He's actually gonna win, right?!"

The outcome was decided.

So Shreyg wasn't excited. He just watched.

'What are you planning?'

Then.

Slash—

With that sound, Shreyg dropped to one knee.

But Hoyeol had merely swung the same as always.

Shreyg's body had hit its limit.

"Insane...!!"

Hoyeol had seized victory. Cheers exploded as if on cue.

Shreyg thought.

'Attacking to let him block, waiting when he falls...'

"...!"

He realized. He'd had the same experience with Shreyg.

The image of Hoyeol with an umbrella surfaced.

—"From now on, your task is simple. Watch."

—"Precisely, witness sword aura."

—"Believe in me, who believes in you."

Shreyg muttered in disbelief.

"...You're teaching the Sword Saint?"

I could feel it.

The fact that I was overwhelming Shreyg.

Yeah, borrowing Guicheol's body wasn't enough—I'd even unleashed sword aura. No wonder I dominated throughout.

Moreover.

'...I can see it.'

Thanks to Grandfell's absurd talent.

Adapting to Shreyg's swift sword in real time. So sharp it pricked my conscience, Grandfell.

The result? I'd finally landed a clean hit on Shreyg.

Slash—

Shreyg's left arm began staining with blood.

Despite constant pressure, this was the first solid strike.

What a monster, the Sword Saint.

But his words were unexpected.

"...What do you want from me?"

...What the hell?

Want? Victory, obviously. I didn't fancy dying from a spacetime duel loss.

But it seemed he wasn't talking to me.

"You had hundreds, thousands of chances to end me. Why? To humiliate a devil worse than one? Hasn't it worked?"

Shreyg stared at his wound.

"Even swings meant to be blocked are beyond me now. My body's reached its limit."

...For real?

I'd really had that many openings?

Guicheol answered in my stunned stead.

—The fledgling still hasn't grasped his master's intent?

...Why're you jumping the gun?

Of course, I, Lee Hoyeol, had no such intent.

If not me, then Grandfell's... I was surprised too.

Who was Grandfell? He didn't waste words on devils.

Grandfell showed no needless mercy to devils. Nor pity to a fallen Shreyg.

"Raise your sword."

As if proving my thoughts.

Grandfell spoke coldly.

Had he truly hit his limit, as he said? Shreyg straightened his creaking body.

Then he laughed.

"Just a twisted hobby?"

Grandfell didn't answer.

Of course. Devils weren't even worth the hobby for Grandfell.

Not worth the effort.

Then why?

Slash—

"...Kuh."

Slash—

"Urk."

Why wasn't Grandfell ending this duel?

Yeah, only I knew the profound reason.

'...You're such a flower field, Grandfell.'

Me, Lee Hoyeol, stained by reality, differed from Grandfell.

I knew how hard humans changed. Grandfell didn't.

Simply put, he overestimated humans way too much.

No need to look far. Right here, in the Zero Mountains.

—"I'll light the way, so follow ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠as you will."

Believing anyone could reclaim their pride.

His charge into the fire pit first proved it.

I never expected it.

As I said. I, the stained one, knew.

It'd be the same ahead.

Hearts flip like palms.

Now they hailed me as peace's symbol, humanity's hero. But humans turn on temptation anytime.

Yet.

"Raise your sword."

Grandfell believed in humans.

Even if they'd sold their flesh to devils.

He never abandoned hope in pride.

'In the end, all this suffering's my karma...'

In this harsh world.

Who else could sympathize with your stubbornness, Grandfell?

Just me.

So, like always.

I'll let him struggle till he can't.

I resolved.

"...?"

I'd overlooked it.

No people, but.

The system was there.

My eyes slowly closed.

My body at its limit screamed for rest.

Thinking back.

'...Never properly rested, have I?'

Wrong path from the start.

Why push so relentlessly, refusing to stumble or stop, flogging yourself onward, Shreyg?

Don't you think so too, Atlas?

'It's all over.'

Maybe a relief.

Wasn't I the fool who strayed from the sword path?

Further ahead, only ugliness awaited.

Grateful to the man who halted me.

Shreyg slowly closed his eyes.

'...No forgiveness sought.'

No apology that won't reach.

Just bear my sins, pay in hell.

Yes, fitting end for one who betrayed humanity, worthy of devils.

No strength left to move.

Not even eyelids.

"...?"

Yes. Eyes shut.

Should see nothing.

Yet something appeared.

One path, precisely.

"If this is my life flashing... "

Shreyg laughed.

"What a simple life."

My vain sword path, no doubt.

Seemed right. Pitch dark, not an inch ahead.

"..."

But my chosen path.

Irreversible.

Must walk responsibly.

As Shreyg stepped forward.

Raise your sword.

"...?"

The man's voice echoed.

Scolding me even after end?

"...Do as you will."

You've earned that right.

As Shreyg bitterly bowed his head.

Something unseen appeared.

Wrong sword path.

Shouldn't exist—my sword.

Atlas in hand.

Atlas spoke.

—Finally heeding me.

"...!!"

—Screamed till your throat gave out.

"...Why are you here?"

—Why ask the obvious?

Atlas continued.

—With you is the path, my sword path.

Shreyg fell silent.

Atlas's pulse from his fingertips.

Is that so.

You remembered.

Shreyg forced words.

"...A harsh path."

—Wasn't it till now?

"May never return."

—Why return?

"...Might be wrong."

—Fine by me.

"...Very well."

Silence after last words.

Brief.

The unseen sword path.

"...!"

A thread of light pierced the dark.

Sublime silver gleam.

"Foolishly kind, that man."

Shreyg smiled faintly.

—They say laughing after tears spells trouble.

"Quiet, Atlas. Didn't you cry too?"

—Who? I'm a sword.

"Swords don't cry."

"Fix that sniveling voice."

—Didn't I say? From screaming...

He advanced.

Last burst of clarity.

Shreyg unleashed deepest blue sword aura.

Then closed his eyes.

Clutching Atlas.

Face returned to old man.

Faint smile on lips.

Cheers rang in his ears.

"I believed in you, Hoyeol!!! "

"He won! Lee Hoyeol beat the Sword Saint!!!"

"That's why the legendary achievement popped?!"

"Yeah, this has to be the new legend!"

Soon, messages appeared.