Chapter 253
Chapter 253
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>Translator: penny
>Chapter: 253
>Chapter Title: Sparring with the Sword Saint
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>"Sparring, huh..."
It had been a long time since he'd heard that word.
At the same time, it was a word he'd missed.
Back in his Delphrok days, whenever there was no more content left to tackle, he'd pass the time sparring with his comrades.
'It brings back memories... but our first proper conversation after reuniting is "let's have a match."'
Their reunion had been chaotic, so they hadn't exchanged any real words.
Which made this their true first conversation.
And that conversation was a challenge to spar...
'Two years later, and you're still the same. So steadfast.'
It didn't feel bad at all. If anything, knowing she hadn't changed brought a sense of comfort.
After all, one clash of swords spoke louder than a hundred words.
Above all, Do-hyun was curious himself.
How much had that sword-obsessed maniac's skills advanced? Just how far had the pinnacle of Go-Ose's top players reached?
'This is a perfect chance to find out.'
Do-hyun grinned and replied.
"Sure. Right here?"
"Even looking half-dead, your bravado's as strong as ever."
Seeing his unchanging comrade, the Sword Saint smirked and continued.
"There's a good spot. It'll let you recover too. Perfect for our spar."
"You've even prepared the place where you'll get wrecked. No reason to say no."
"You'll like it. It's an excellent grave for an old comrade."
Sparks seemed to fly between their locked gazes.
The brief exchange of barbs didn't last long. Both men raised the corners of their mouths and lightly tapped their sword sheaths together.
"Then follow me."
"Lead on."
The Sword Saint turned first, a smile on his lips, with Do-hyun following close behind.
"Oh, sparring? Sounds fun. Let's tag along, old man."
"It's been ages since these two squared off. Can't miss a fight—second-best spectacle after watching a fire. Let's go."
The Empress and Astr, who'd been watching the two with keen interest, weren't about to pass up the chance.
They hurried after them, exiting the tomb just as the Devourer sank into the ground like a submarine diving.
Srrrr—
The scene of devastation faded, leaving only the players who hadn't escaped yet.
That's when the onlookers finally loosened their tongues, glancing around nervously.
"Ugh, what a prick. Why's he gotta be so punchable?"
"Look at him sandwiched between the Sword Saint and Empress. Makes my stomach hurt. World's so unfair. How's he got everything?"
Everyone was hyped about Kaiser, but there were always a few dissenters.
"Stream hit 190 million viewers, they say. Bet he's raking in cash. Sigh."
"Wonder what he snagged from this month's world quest reward? Gotta be legendary, right?"
"Honestly, he's just a no-life gamer. No idea why everyone's sucking up to him. And that protagonist syndrome—always showing up at the last second? Infuriating."
An utterly average face and a height on the shorter side for a guy.
They had some skill, but it was middling at best—always falling short of Top 10 Guild entry.
Inferiority complex dominating their minds, they'd wished for Kaiser's failure all along. Seeing him succeed anyway? Their envy burned.
"Who knows. Rumor has it he's ugly under that mask—maybe it's true. Why else hide? Scared we'll bail once we see his face? Afraid his fangirl squeals turn to disappointment?"
"Ooh, that's plausible..."
Unable to trash-talk in front of him, they waited till he was gone to unleash their venom.
Snikt—
"...bal...?"
"Huh? Why'd you trail off...? H-hey! What the fu—!?"
Suddenly, the sound of something slicing rang out, cutting his friend mid-sentence.
Turning, the man fell back on his ass in horror.
His friend lay there, head cleanly severed.
Before he could scream at the horrifying sight, a hot sting hit his own neck.
"Wha... wha...?"
That was his last memory here.
His head tumbled off just like his friend's, greeted by a gray screen.
"Filthy insects, daring to..."
Tsking, the blonde woman in the flipped robe sheathed her greatsword on her back.
Her chilling eyes blazed with fury.
But the moment they shifted to where Kaiser had been, they softened into bright, sparkling purity.
"Ahh... As magnificent as ever. I was delayed because my preparations weren't complete... but now, I can finally come to you."
Eyes gleaming with fanatic devotion, she clasped her hands and prayed.
Her robe lifted slightly, revealing a flawless Western figure.
"May my humble gift please you, my god."
The zealot had finally finished preparing to meet her deity.
* * *
"...This is the sparring spot?"
"Indeed. Any issue?"
"No, not really, but..."
The Sword Saint replied calmly to Do-hyun's bewildered reaction.
Scratching his head, Do-hyun scanned the expansive view before him.
Vast as a school field.
Walls and floor of pure, high-grade mana stone—sturdy and pristine.
Opulent decorations adorning the surfaces.
Just as she'd said, an excellent venue.
[Custom Arena for the Empire's Sword]
"The Empire's Sword... that's the Sword Emperor, right?"
"So he's called."
The issue? This was the Sword Emperor's personal custom arena.
Famous among swordsmen.
Built exclusively for the Sword Emperor by the Empire itself—trespassing without permission meant summary execution.
"We can just use it like this?"
"It's my master's property. A disciple entering poses no problem."
The Sword Saint stepped into the arena casually and added.
"As his sole disciple, I have Imperial permission to use it. No need for pointless worries—focus on the spar."
"If you say so..."
Do-hyun shelved his concerns.
The guy wasn't some reckless idiot like Kkukku.
"Huh? Then why'd you always say I absolutely couldn't come in?"
"You asking knowing full well? Let you in, and you'd cause a disaster. What makes you think I'd trust you?"
"Disaster? What do you take me for? What trouble could I even cause in an arena?"
"Who knows. No airport security lets in a terrorist clutching a bomb just because he claims no plans."
"...So why let me in now?"
"Because I've got guards to watch you."
"Pffft! Haha, this guy's metaphors are gold."
Astr burst out laughing while the Empress furrowed her brows, not getting it, but Do-hyun ignored them and stepped onto the arena opposite.
Only then did the Sword Saint smile faintly and draw a sword.
From hilt to blade tip to point—all pitch black.
Despite being plain black, it gleamed eerily—that was unmistakably a Blacksteel Sword.
'Said to grow stronger the more mana it absorbs from the user.'
Its power scaled with the purity of the blacksteel used, and that appearance screamed top-grade.
Yet Do-hyun eyed it with faint dissatisfaction.
"Why pull that out? I was hoping for a glimpse of Annihilation Blade."
"What a foolish notion... Can't use that in a pure swordsmanship spar."
Extreme - Annihilation Blade.
One of the Sword Emperor's iconic trio: the Seven Rivers Sword and the continent's finest.
Famous tale that his sole disciple, the Sword Saint, wielded it.
But even that dream sword of swordsmen had one flaw.
"And... I couldn't bring it even if I wanted to. Next chance, I'll show it."
Once a month, its energy surged uncontrollably, requiring ritual tempering to suppress.
He hadn't brought it to the Forgotten Tomb either—must've coincided with that time.
A shame, but Do-hyun shook his head.
'Not like this is our only shot.'
Plus, gauging the Sword Saint's true level was better without it.
Do-hyun gripped Thousand Changes and assumed stance. It soon transformed into a pristine white sword bearing the white lion's legend.
[Thousand Changes morphs into the White Lion's Snowflower Sword.]
"Never gets old—that weapon. Shifting into any form..."
"Yeah, comes in handy."
"Hmm... I see. Ready, then?"
"Yeah."
The Sword Saint's intrigued gaze sharpened abruptly.
His eyes, already keen, gleamed like a well-honed blade.
His entire body became one with the sword—hand on hilt, every step exuding menace.
Sword and Self as One realm.
'He's gotten stronger.'
The refined sharpness was chilling.
How terrifying would his swordplay be in that state?
Do-hyun smirked in anticipation, gripping Thousand Changes, when a voice rang out.
"Shall we begin?"
"Yeah."
Simultaneously, a thunder dragon plummeted from above.
* * *
Crackle—
Clang! Clang! Kreeeng—
Swords clashed relentlessly over the floor still crackling with Thunder Dragon Descent's aftermath.
Sparks flew with each grind, followed by a chill down the neck from bizarre deflections.
'Damn, that was supposed to be a critical hit.'
Kicking off with Thunder Dragon Descent, then exploiting the surprise with a follow-up strike!
Allowed in sword spars, it was a surefire opener—until the Sword Saint parried instantly.
Softness subdues hardness.
Willow Dance.
Do-hyun had eaten the exact same technique he'd learned.
Had he not countered with Willow Dance himself, his throat would've been pierced then.
After that, it devolved into pure sword-on-sword.
Ta-tat!
Kaaang—
Leading to the current frenzy.
Endless swings assaulted the ears with dizzying strikes.
Step back, and it pursues. Push, and it swings accordingly.
Swordsmanship basics: footwork. They gripped each other's space, stealing ground.
And in that battle, Do-hyun felt unaccustomed pressure for the first time in ages.
'Still insane swordplay. No—smoother than before.'
In pure sword spars, he'd never beaten her.
Sparring was one thing; pure swordplay? Impossible.
Swish—snap!
Softness subdues hardness, Whipping Fist.
A 4-meter radius around her.
In swordsmanship, she was invincible there.
Kwaaaang!!
Tyrannical Sword,
Earthshatter.
The flowing blade suddenly whipped ferociously, as if rending the sky.
Just two of her four styles kept Do-hyun from breaching her defense rashly.
But she fared no better.
Swish—
[Parry successful.]
[Attack deflected.]
Do-hyun's ghostly parries foiled her killing blows.
The pressing Sword Saint frowned slightly.
An odd sensation.
"Feels like I'm overwhelming you, but no hits land. My wider swings just create distance—like fighting a mirage."
"That guy's got the wuxia disease again. Listen to those poetic lines."
The Empress ribbed from behind, flushing the Sword Saint's face, but he ignored it, hardening his expression.
He halted abruptly, body sideways, one hand aiming his sword.
"This way, it'll drag forever. Enough probing—let's go all out."
Do-hyun stopped for the first time too.
She was right. Half-measures would end unsatisfyingly.
Moreover...
'My raw specs are too outmatched.'
Top-tier player.
He'd expected a gap, but it was wider than thought. Each clash numbed his hands.
And she wasn't even at full power...
'So this is peak player level... Still a long way to go.'
Do-hyun smirked and reset his stance.
Gripping with both hands in a kendo-like posture.
"Hoh?"
The shift in aura lit the Sword Saint's eyes.
Then they widened in fascination.
Chill seeped from Do-hyun, crystals forming, whipping into a blizzard.
Grrr...
Amid it, a massive white lion descended.
The beast bared fangs, growling—the Sword Saint's calm face flushed with rare excitement.
"Finally. Yes—that sword art. The one I wandered years for, never to witness...!"
A natural reaction.
For a sword maniac, facing a new style was pure thrill.
"Yeah. So bring your A-game too."
"...Fine. I want to feel that sword art properly."
Shing—
Sheathing, the Sword Saint took iaido stance, eyes closing slowly.
When they reopened, her sword had changed.
Similar at a glance, but incomparably keener.
Iaido technique.
One Sword.
The first strike that scarred the Devourer indelibly.
Do-hyun's instincts screamed danger. Precisely why he stepped forward.
[Reverse Heaven Stance.]
[First Form: Beginning, activated.]
Step.
The sword vowed to defy heaven, cleaving disasters and trials to oblivion.
Stronger the harsher the path ahead.
One step: mountain-like power.
Another: inner energy cycled, explosive aura surging.
Simultaneously, the Sword Saint's drawn blade flashed.
Kwaaaaang!
Their clash unleashed a shockwave sweeping the arena.