Chapter 646 – Darkmtl

The Possibility of Crisis (8)> Titles have effects. Possession effects that grant benefits merely by holding them. Equipped effects that activate only when equipped. Players can freely equip and unequip. NPCs are different. For NPCs, titles are a kind of symbol of identity. To change a title, one must act in accordance with that identity. Lonely Eastern Swordsman: A swordsman who crossed over from the distant Eastern Empire to gather strength for revenge. The foreign swordsmanship makes it difficult to counter sword techniques, and the loneliness increases growth speed.<div class="archi-after-1" id="archi-2015998749"><div id="pf-12610-1"><script>window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "6746c606d6cf43003c4eb15e", id: "pf-12610-1"})</script></div></div> [Possession Effect – Swordsman Final Judgment Value +10%, Growth Speed +100%] [Equipped Effect – Swordsman Final Judgment Value +100%, Growth Speed +1000%] This title automatically un-equips when Sing returns to the Eastern Empire, as there is no need to distinguish him as an Eastern Swordsman. In terms of foreignness, he should be called a Western Swordsman, according to the standards of the Eastern Empire. Thus, in order for Sing’s title to remain equipped, he must not return to the East. This also explains why his hurried revenge expedition would fail if he rushed out of the academy. He would fail to fully utilize the benefits of high growth speed, rushing into revenge without having finished growing, and would end up defeated by the strong of the Eastern Empire. However, another condition for the unequipping of the title exists, even without returning to the East. It’s losing the ability to maintain loneliness. Being a Lonely Eastern Swordsman depends on maintaining loneliness. The dictionary definition of loneliness is a state of seclusion or isolation. It must inherently mean being in a solitary state. Some players questioned this. How can one always maintain loneliness when there are other students and staff in the Gift Academy, not to mention events where outsiders come and go? It sounds ridiculous unless one is holed up in a training ground doing secluded training all the time. Half right, half wrong. Sing is indeed someone who often engages in secluded training aimed at growth. This means physical loneliness. However, there also exists a mental loneliness in the world. Restoring self-esteem, healing a sick heart, providing time for reflection and self-introspection through thoughts—this is the mental aspect of loneliness.<div class="archi-after-1_2" id="archi-886564607"><div id="pf-12795-1"><script>window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "6758f65225d9b369889024f8", id: "pf-12795-1"})</script></div></div> Living a life where one does not share their way of thinking, subjectivity, or judgment with anyone else is what can be called mental loneliness. Sing lives such a life. In seeking revenge, he walks his path without interest in others’ thoughts, values, or ideas. [Sing’s special buff [Loneliness] has been released.] The moment Oknodie’s presence swelled excessively within Sing, he began to take interest. Oknodie’s path started to overlap with his own. Controlling a ghost resembling his lost sister and gathering strength for his revenge. He clearly expresses his will to aid his revenge and lets it be known that he hasn’t forgotten the promise despite being in a difficult situation. That noble will and steely mental power created a hole in Sing’s fortress of loneliness. At that moment, the state of loneliness pursued by great artists, religious practitioners, and physical ascetics was shattered. Sing lost his loneliness. And his growth rate slowed down. [Possession Effect – Swordsman Final Judgment Value +10%, Growth Speed +100%] [Equipped Effect – Swordsman Final Judgment Value +100%, Growth Speed +1000%] The equipped effect downgraded to the possession effect. With a growth speed reduced to one-tenth, for a while, he showed explosive growth using Oknodie’s teachings to counteract the diminished growth potency. However, as the physical distance from Oknodie increased and there was no longer a chance to ruminate over her teachings, Sing finally felt it. Limits had been reached. He would not be able to achieve the revenge he desired at this pace. That Oknodie would abandon him to move forward without him. To Sing, who had lost his loneliness, life without Oknodie felt akin to negation. The identity of the Lonely Eastern Swordsman was shaken and denied once again as the unfaithful Oknodie departed, further negating his changing identity. He seemed to have his life negated twice by Oknodie. Shock? Undoubtedly massive. Betrayal? Beyond words. For a time, he couldn’t even hold his sword. He struggled to collect himself, gripping the sword so tightly his hands trembled. Yet, the habits ingrained in one’s body, the resolutions carved into one’s soul, push a person to stand again and assert themselves when they’re at their weakest. This is who I am. Before I die, I must proclaim my beliefs. The end of life. Unlike a terminal patient writing a bucket list of unfulfilled dreams, there’s a desire to leave this world in the familiar environment they love most. ‘Ultimately, it’s the sword. Without holding the sword, I can neither protect nor retaliate.’ He has lost his younger sister Lin. Oknodie is still alive. That’s the reason he can rise again. [Starting Vesuvius Volcano Battle simulation.] Professor Raregrills’ simulation. In the first encounter with a powerful demon, he chose Orde Taco. He was a strong individual who had awakened to the specialized stage of “transforming” the territory, surpassing the basics of domain expansion. Absorption Compression He accepted the dark matter of the demon into his body, extending the monster’s abilities into a human form, increasing power with dark mana, and expanding the attack range to include the entire area reachable by human limbs. When he first engaged with Orde Taco, he was shockingly beheaded in under ten seconds. In the expanded range, his body lost balance due to the whims of Absorption, and the power of the sword dispersed, shaking like thin paper, before being struck down by a massive tentacle. ‘You must possess the flow of domain expansion and the control to resist it.’ He understood this through knowledge. What he lacked became apparent. However, he truly felt it after dying five more times. Knowledge does not immediately translate into experience. Understanding without realization is like reading sutras to a cow; it simply passes by without touching him. He needed the understanding to grasp the passing wind. He craved an understanding that surpassed mere knowledge. So one day, he put down his sword and asked. “Orde Taco. What does Absorption mean to you?” “I have no teachings to offer lesser beings.” “…” Even hearing a response was difficult. Communication requires acknowledgment. Respect as an equal. Respect that transcends race, status, and individuality. There needed to be a move that could summon respect. “I’ll first show you my Cut. If you value it, then tell me.” Sing plunged in, risking his life, and ultimately suffered defeat. “There’s no value in searching for answers with your life.” “A persistent one, yet still no value in seeking answers.” “You’ve displayed curious tricks, yet still, no value in seeking answers.” “Have you awakened foresight to peer into the future? Yet if you still cannot find an answer, you have no value in seeking one.” Sing became accustomed to Orde Taco’s methods. He sought counter-strategies, and his survival time increased. He even managed to score a few valid hits. Still, the answer remained the same. Shallow achievements. Countermeasures relying on experience. An empty sword could not reach him. Sing once again discarded his greed. He set aside the understanding built on experience. He became fully engrossed in his honest yet foolish sword. His previously extended survival time progressively diminished. The damage he had inflicted slowly faded until he could barely touch Orde Taco. The more he challenged the simulation, the weaker he became. Yet, Orde Taco’s replies began to change. “Your sincerity towards the sword has been conveyed. It’s still insufficient.” “A brutally honest, foolish sword. Blame your luck for not having a bit more time.” “Though you advance recklessly, your races’ limitations are too precious just to endure. Accept it.” At some moment, Orde Taco severed a tentacle sprouting from his arm and dropped it to the ground. From the writhing tentacle, a clear aura of dark mana emanated. “This is the demon cell. Consume it and acquire the robust life force that allows you to inherit teachings. You are qualified to move to the ‘next’ step.” “…I cannot become a demon.” “Isn’t there a purpose beyond life for you? Is that purpose unworthy enough to fade away just because of the limits of race?” He grappled with inner turmoil. He conflicted. Such a proposal brought an enlightenment that approached him. Even if he were to challenge again, he felt he wouldn’t be able to replicate it. A chance that comes once in a thousand. Should he let this moment slip, the next could be lost. Thus, this was a fortuitous encounter. “…” At the end of a long silence, Sing extended his sword. The tentacle, fluttering in the dirt, oozed black blood as its movements ceased beneath the piercing sword. “You’ve made a foolish choice. I cannot impart my enlightenment to someone who lacks the resolve to cast off their race for revenge.” “No. This is sufficient.” Orde Taco’s offer and temptation. This provided Sing an opportunity for new reflection. What is revenge for? How much am I willing to sacrifice? If I give up. If I let go of more. Then, can I truly say I succeeded in revenge? ‘No. I believed there was no <next> in a world without Lin, but now I know there is a next for me.’</next> Lin’s next is Oknodie. His revenge is not an end; it’s a journey to protect Oknodie. He must grow while walking the path of loneliness, yet always be able to retract his sword. A sword that only extends cannot protect what is dear nearby. [You have gained enlightenment.] [Function Experience Points for Thrust have greatly increased.] [Function Experience Points for Cut have greatly increased.] Thrust’s ultimate, Single Slash. Cut’s ultimate, Sever. [Experience Points for Single Slash have increased.] [Experience Points for Sever have increased.] He laid down the path of honing his lethal one-cut, but in doing so, his achievements increased. Having awakened to the proper path of growth, his understanding of swordsmanship rose further. [You have acquired the True Extreme – Point of Destruction.] His path is lonely. Countless temptations follow, and many fast lanes appear. However, the truly fast path is unconcerned with distance. A steady path. That is the true fastest route. Only the most lonely can take that step after gaining enlightenment from loneliness. The further one extends, the more one retracts. The more one reaches out, the more one returns. The origin point. Absolute value. Return Point. Even if Sing’s sword twists and shakes, it has reclaimed its place. Whether pushed down or bounced back, it returns to its original position over time like a spring. ‘Orde Taco, you achieved that enlightenment only after abandoning your humanity.’ Orde Taco has lost his place to return. Thus, he pushed his back. Into a path of inhumanity he can never return to. His stretch has no retraction. Longer. Further. Simply moving forward, losing himself along the way. While the culmination as a sword demon may lie there, it was an inadequate road to achieve both his new goals of revenge and aiding Oknodie. ‘Thank you for showing me your flawed path. I might have stepped onto that road too, yet you’ve taught me I shouldn’t.’ With thorough self-reflection and control, Sing severed himself from Orde Taco’s influence. At the end of 213 deaths, he overcame a single demon. Unlike Oknodie, who targeted just the finishing blow in the battle between the previous hero Destroyer and demon Orde Taco, this was a result achieved through direct confrontation in simulation. “What did that sword carry?” The magic core severed and dying Orde Taco asked. Realizing the true intention he pursued. Reaching the ultimate ideal he sought. Reborn into the extreme of destruction he pursued. “Origin.” [You have acquired the True Extreme – Point of Destruction.] The pinnacle of swordsmanship where one can drive oneself to the edges of human limits and still reclaim oneself. While a sword that merely sinks into the darkness of humanity is heavy and wicked, that’s all it is. As it still has a place to return, the deeper it goes, the stronger the force to revert becomes. “Excellent.” “…!” “Once, I too desired such a sword.” The difference was but one. One who found a reason to return and one who did not. “Above all, no matter what happens.” “…”<div class="archi-after" id="archi-1792241288"><div id="pf-12822-1"><script>window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "6759a06ccf4b7e68ab79272c", id: "pf-12822-1"})</script></div></div> “Do not lose your [Origin].” Orde Taco’s body shattered. “…….” Sing grew stronger, but he did not cease his training. For he still had teachings left to acquire, ‘textbooks’ he needed. The next textbook is the second demon Box Cat found in the Vesuvius Volcano Battle. <hr>