Chapter 255
Chapter 255
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>Translator: penny
>Chapter: 255
>Chapter Title: Peculiar
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Strange.
That was the word to describe the Sword Emperor's first impression.
For someone who had reached the pinnacle of the continent with the sword, he had an overly kindly face and an ordinary build.
His long beard and stout frame resembled a scholar of calligraphy more than a martial artist, yet his steadfast gaze was like that of a tiger.
It was as if a mountain hermit dwelled within a pine tree.
'He really looks like one of those old master characters from a wuxia novel.'
You know those elderly experts described as righteous masters or hidden hermits.
It suddenly made sense why that Sword Lord guy had taken this old man as his master.
With an elder like this demonstrating the pinnacle of swordsmanship, how could a wuxia fanatic not be hooked.
On the other hand, it piqued his curiosity.
'He's not the type to take just anyone as a disciple, no matter what.'
Even if someone begged to be taught, they'd only stick around for a few days or months at most.
For him to remain a disciple for over half a year meant one of two things.
Either he hadn't fully mastered the old man's swordsmanship yet, or there was a mountain of more to learn.
Either way, it was an exceptional situation, sparking interest.
"Beast-like instincts and excellent balance. Ho, what a fine young lad. The one beside him... his talent is lacking, but he possesses explosive power fitting his size."
The Sword Emperor seemed just as intrigued, murmuring as he glanced at the Empress and Ast while surveying the training hall.
"...This is a compliment, right?"
"Pfft, compared to Charlie telling you your skills were worse than a five-year-old's and to go lick boots since you were in the way because his mercenary group was so short on talent, this is downright angelic, Dad."
"......"
"You posted about getting Three Disasters Sword Technique back then, and everyone just teased you for being a boomer."
"......Quit dredging up that humiliating crap. At least I got a unique ability upgrade out of it, so life's not bad."
Ast, who had actually received the praise, looked dissatisfied, but he had no choice but to shut up at the Empress's words.
Memories he'd rather forget came flooding back.
Amid this untimely exposé, Charlie could only blink in confusion.
-......? Me?
Charlie himself, the subject in question, had never heard of this.
-Charlie... you're a scary person.
-Ri, Ri...
-......I don't remember, but please accept my formal apologies.
"You're not denying it..."
-N-No, it's not.
-Ri...
Charlie cleared his throat and played dumb, while Eliza patted Ast, who had grown even sadder.
It was then that a glint appeared in the Sword Emperor's eyes as he watched them bicker.
"......Demonic beasts, huh? And quite old ones at that. A young man traveling with two beasts born of alien energies and a knight... intriguing."
His gaze, filled with surprise as it swept over Charlie, Jihad, and Eliza, finally settled on Do-hyun.
The kindly wrinkled eyes smiled.
But the tiger-like gaze within them flicked between Do-hyun and the Sword Saint, narrowing slightly.
Do-hyun tilted his head at that.
'......What's this? Feels like meeting a disapproving father-in-law?'
For some reason, it seemed he didn't take kindly to Do-hyun's presence.
Staring intently at Do-hyun's masked face, the Sword Emperor soon clicked his tongue.
"Where'd a gutter rat like you crawl from? I wanted to see your mug... you planning to keep that dreary mask on?"
"Ah."
Realizing too late that he was still wearing the mask, Do-hyun hurriedly removed it.
His comrades reacted first.
"Oh, what do you know. You look surprisingly normal."
"Indeed. Doesn't seem much different from Delrock."
"This looks better, though? A bit different too. Isn't it just 'cause you guys transformed so shockingly?"
"You think?"
The Sword Emperor let out a displeased grunt at his comrades' muttering.
"So, disciple. This brat... er, young man. Is this the one you kept raving about with that grin? The genius of timing and psychological warfare, as I recall."
"Yes, Master."
As the Sword Saint smiled faintly at the memory, was it imagination that the Sword Emperor's eyebrow twitched?
'......Did he put emphasis on "raving" and "grin" or something?'
The way he'd demanded the mask off, the tone—it all felt off, leaving Do-hyun swallowing dryly.
Now openly distrustful, the Sword Emperor blurted out,
"Fine, then. You're the one who cleared the Lion King's trial, I take it."
"......Yes."
"Impressive. Though it was just the entry level back then, far from my current level, even I didn't find the Lion King easy."
"The Lion King, you say?"
"The final trial was a deathmatch with the Lion King, wasn't it?"
Do-hyun blinked at the Sword Emperor's words.
It was news to him.
Even if he'd taken a different route from the usual hidden piece, it'd be fighting the Eternal Knight at most—Lion King?
'Ah.'
In that moment, realization dawned, and Do-hyun let out an exclamation.
He recalled that the Lion King's trial adjusted to the challenger's level.
The Sword Emperor must have been so high-level that the Lion King appeared personally.
And he'd been on par with the Lion King back then... so what level was the current Sword Emperor?
Do-hyun wasn't the only curious one; the Sword Emperor suddenly asked,
"Looks like your trial differed from mine. What was it?"
"......Withstanding the sword strikes of the Eternal Knight, an old friend and master of the Lion King."
"Ho?"
For the first time, the Sword Emperor's gaze toward Do-hyun shifted.
"Merely a walking corpse, yet you passed with honors against the Lion King's own master..."
The displeasure vanished, replaced by intrigued mutterings as he placed a hand on his scabbard.
"I'm curious. Between him and my sword, who would prevail."
"......?"
"Want to try blocking it? I'll hold back enough not to kill you."
"Yes?"
[A sudden quest, 'The Sword Emperor's Curiosity,' has occurred.]
[Block the Sword Emperor's sword strike and earn his recognition.]
[Success: Acquire titles 'One Recognized by the Sword Emperor' and 'The Sword Emperor's Gift.']
[Failure: Sword Emperor's favorability drops sharply.]
'......What?'
Block what now?
Stunned by the abrupt sudden quest, the Sword Emperor began drawing his sword.
Shaaa-!
The air shifted.
Just the motion of unsheathing.
A simple action anyone could do, yet nerves tensed, eyes locked on.
In a world that seemed slowed to a crawl, every detail of the Sword Emperor sharpened.
The faint exhale, the steady hand and face.
Even the subtleties of the swordsmanship within.
'......Pine tree.'
If the Forgotten King had infused his blade with a blizzard atop snowy peaks, the Sword Emperor was a forest pine.
For a moment, illusion struck of the pine swaying in wind.
Then, eyes like a tiger atop the mountain peak, lording over the world, flashed.
"Crazy."
Do-hyun cursed involuntarily, assuming a stance.
A colossal mountain loomed before him. As if the massive peak advanced to crush him.
A reverence akin to humanity's puniness before nature welled up.
His feet nailed to the ground like spikes, immovable.
[Reverse Heaven Stance]
[Using First Form: Beginning.]
He forced a step forward, but greeting him was the disaster grown closer.
Instinct screamed.
The Second Form couldn't shatter it.
[You have encountered a sword strike of an incomparably lofty realm.]
[Your current realm cannot withstand it.]
Even the system confirmed it.
No fleeing. All he could do was await death.
Grit.
'Bullshit.'
But Do-hyun clenched his teeth and stepped forward.
His pride wouldn't allow meek acceptance of impossibility.
And he had the power to fuel that will.
[Strong will to overcome resonates with Tenacity.]
[Dormant Tenacity activates.]
[As long as you do not give up, Tenacity will empower your will.]
A faint wisp of energy aided his advance.
Like an egg striking a rock.
Bearing that meager, steadfast force, he charged the infinite mountain—and miracle occurred.
[You break limits, opening the path to the next form.]
[You glimpse beyond the next realm.]
[The image of the Third Form clarifies slightly.]
In blurred vision, heaven flickered.
The sun high in vast skies. Forests thriving in its reflection, oceans surging vast. Beasts drink at forest streams, giant fish snatch such prey.
All changes born under heaven.
Saa-
Awareness dawned; a different energy flowed.
Not opposing the colossal disaster-like strike, but melting into it, embracing.
Kwaaaang!
But alas, that was the end.
The merging energy hit its limit, swept away as a massive tsunami.
As the Sword Emperor's blade fully descended, the slowed world snapped back, unleashing a deafening explosion.
---!!
"Keuk."
Do-hyun's body, unable to withstand the shock, flew and slammed into the wall.
The wall didn't just crack—it cratered deeply. Do-hyun spat blood and slumped limply.
Cracks spiderwebbed from the Sword Emperor across the entire training hall, culminating in the largest crater at Do-hyun.
-M-Master, are you okay!?
-R-Ri!!
-My liege! How dare they...!
Startled Jihad and wild-eyed Charlie reached for swords, but the Empress extended a hand to stop them.
Eyes met; she jerked her chin and said curtly,
"Look over there."
-......Ah.
Silently following her gaze to Do-hyun, Charlie's eyes widened. He released his sword and straightened.
At the same time, the Sword Emperor's voice rang out, laced with astonishment.
"Impressive. Even holding back, to block so perfectly."
"......That looked perfect to you?"
"That's how it appears to me. Limbs intact, not even unconscious."
He meant it.
That strike had been meant to half-kill.
Yet in delivering it, the Sword Emperor had sensed.
'That brat...'
He'd gone beyond blocking—attempting a counter.
Then, sensing his realm insufficient, deftly deflecting instead.
'Hah... sly one. Thunders like a bolt, slithers like a snake in a brawl.'
Yet a smile tugged the Sword Emperor's lips as he muttered.
Now he understood why his disciple praised him endlessly.
"I recognize you."
"......?"
"But remember this. I only acknowledge you as you stand here. You must refine yourself further."
Do-hyun frowned at the voice, generous yet laced with faint wariness.
'What the hell's with this old man since earlier?'
Nothing but baffling words.
Letting it slide in one ear and out the other, Do-hyun groaned as he rose, then scowled at the floating message.
[Parry incomplete.]
[Failed to fully deflect; damage taken.]
'Hadn't thrown in that desperate parry at the end, I couldn't have blocked it.'
The Sword Emperor called it blocked, but with half his HP shaved off, was this a block?
It grated. Above all, regret gnawed.
'That form I glimpsed. If I'd fully unleashed it... Tsk, felt like I could grasp it, but it ended blurry.'
Partially accepting it had evoked a realm beyond prior limits.
Fully accepting—what power might it wield?
Perhaps even block this strike. No, surpass blocking...
'And this is merely a legendary signature swordsmanship... Definitely not your average legendary.'
It transcended typical legendary signature performance.
Imagining full Reverse Heaven Stance, all forms unlocked, heart raced.
Perhaps one day he'd land a sword hit on the Sword Saint.
Thrilled and unable to hide it, then—
Ding-
[Sudden quest, The Sword Emperor's Curiosity, cleared.]
[Reward: Titles 'One Recognized by the Sword Emperor' and 'The Sword Emperor's Gift' acquired.]
[Title effect: Favorability max from the start? Increases favorability gain.]
[Sword Emperor's favorability rises slightly.]
'......Even with the title effect boosting it, only "slightly"? How much would it have been normally?'
He couldn't help a wry chuckle, but sweet rewards made it fine.
Just the names screamed extraordinary.
Especially that last one, the Sword Emperor's Gift.
'Time to check the rewards, then.'
Grinning, Do-hyun accessed the info.