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“…Isn’t this too reckless?”

“But Jeok-un said he wanted to do it.”

Eun Seol-ran stared blankly at the man beneath the castle walls. Hadn’t she actually considered putting such an absurd plan to the test?

And then it hit her. What can I say…

It’s just ridiculous.

How could someone with such talent have reached such a place? Does that even make sense?

“…He’s the strongest among us right now. Who would have thought he would be ahead of me?”

“But…”

“It’s fine. It’s a distance where he can jump down if necessary. And more than anything… using the skills we’ve learned will cause the demons inside to scatter. You know that our training is fundamentally based on martial arts.”

“…….”

“If we want to fight without revealing our affiliations, he’s the best option. Plus, I guess there’s something he believes in that made him step forward.”

“That’s right. And I’ve set up formations around us, haven’t I? If things get tricky, we can activate them. Baekma, you don’t need to worry too much.”

Baekma swallowed dryly.

“Ha… but there are too many…”

“There must be quite a few masters mixed in.”

“R-right?! Sister! Shouldn’t we stop this while we can?! Wouldn’t it be better just to go for a siege…!”

“Who can bend his stubbornness?”

Ju Ryeongryeong leaned against the castle wall.

“He’s the most stubborn in the world. Once he’s set his mind on something like this, he’ll fulfill his role even if it kills him.”

“…….”

“If it feels dangerous just watch for now and you can jump down if needed. Besides, Dansu’s formations are quite impressive. You just don’t know it.”

“In one-versus-many battles, the efficiency is remarkable. There’s been more than enough time to prepare, so I’m in perfect shape now. I could take out an area all by myself.”

“Dansu isn’t saying this lightly. If he’s speaking like that, it means he has confidence.”

“…Ryeongryeong, you’re speaking very eloquently today?”

“Isn’t it only natural?”

All three were incredibly relaxed. It was as if they were not standing on a battlefield but enjoying a leisurely picnic.

What’s going on? Are they really not worried at all? Baekma wiped the cold sweat off her brow. Sua, who was next to her, whispered.

“…Dad…will he be okay…?”

“…….”

Looking back, it was the child who seemed the most out of their mind, as she picked him up. Baekma nodded eagerly.

“It’s fine. You know how strong Jeok-un is.”

“…….”

“If it seems like it’s going south, I’ll rush in. So don’t worry, okay?”

“…Yes.”

A small hand clenched into a fist. I wonder how much sweat is beading up inside.

Eun Seol-ran raised her voice softly.

“Here we go.”

Everyone atop the castle wall looked down at him. Alone, guarding the gate. The fluttering banner swayed in the wind.

Narin, Gwangyang, and Bai Hyun trembled.

“Ah, isn’t that too many?! How many masters are there among them…?!”

“Ma-master… just raise your hand like I said… I, Gwangyang… will charge out anytime…!”

Gu Hwa-rin clasped her hands in prayer. The silent Sua stood by her side, quietly watching.

“…This is a ridiculous tactic… to block this gate alone… what even…!”

“…Sapa. Get ready. We might need to dash out at any moment.”

The forces of Sado Clan came to a halt.

The ground, once echoing with footsteps, fell silent for a moment. As if searching this side with glances, the enemy’s leader opened his mouth.

“What kind of nonsense is this? Dragon of the Earth Command? Do you think you can play games with me?”

“…….”

The Dragon of the Earth Command on the castle wall remained silent.

It was someone else who responded.

A warrior facing the gate with a conical hat pulled low.

“…From now on.”

Three swords plunged into the ground. Their presence was extraordinary, paired with the lethal Ear Sword and the famed Divine Sword.

“Anyone who crosses the line will die.”

…

It’s a reckless plan.

That’s what I heard.

Voices pour out questioning the sense of guarding the gate alone. Some even cursed at others telling them not to say such nonsense.

Prominent achievements are incredibly important. This plan was built around that. If one were to block the gate against thousands of troops, that martial skill would certainly stand out.

…But.

That wasn’t the only reason.

It was almost a certainty that the warrior, regarded as the best in Sapa, would be overpowered.

The enemy is strong. Even stronger than the one called the First Sword of Sapa.

So what more should I do from here?

I must become stronger.

I must rise higher.

I must become more complete.

Ultimately, what I must capture is one of the members of the Heavenly Eight Martial Artists. He was also someone who was praised as having “talent” by the one I dream of being.

I practiced relentlessly day after day. I wielded the sword continuously and repeated mental training…

I reduced sleep. I cut it down as much as I could and moved all the more. I didn’t release my grip on the sword and maintained tension with every breath.

Until I reached the Martial Alliance. Even when acting as an observer assigned by the Martial Alliance.

Once I entered the domain of the Cheonryong Association. When I captured a spiritual creature and returned to prepare for war…

The sword was always by my side.

“…….”

But that didn’t give me certainty.

I saw with my own eyes what talent could bring from Sua. When I watched her effortlessly acquire things that I couldn’t, I surely felt proud…

Yet at the same time, I was scared.

Is effort ultimately worthless in the face of talent?

The more I looked, the more my feelings grew complicated. Suddenly, I recalled what Sua had said.

“I feel like I can never catch up to Dad no matter how hard I try.”

What is the true meaning behind that statement?

What weight does the accumulation I have hold?

“……..”

I saw it in Ak-bi.

The heart of a salmon swimming against the current.

I grew up in muddy waters. I took up a sword, living a life half-dragged down.

I met my idol. For the first time, I took up the sword with my own will. I put in the effort, climbed up, and…

With unwavering consistency, I wielded the sword to reach here.

I realized all that at Huashan. But I also knew it wasn’t enough.

The loach that had been stuck in the mud finally crawled upstream, yet it was merely able to become a salmon that could swim against the current.

I was still insufficient…

To climb higher based on what I confirmed, I had to throw myself into adverse conditions.

Nine Heavens Blood Demon Sword.

The power it brings to me.

The balance of effort and danger. I felt the power strengthening the more I moved between the two. The strength wielded in moments of bloodshed and life risk was everything I had.

And for Sua…

She called it something I could never catch up to.

What is the value of effort? Must I simply gaze at the back of a genius who can grasp everything at a glance?

Those without talent…

Are they not allowed to dream?

“…….”

I took a deep breath. In the somewhat cold air, I steadied my scattered mind.

I placed my hand on one of the three swords stuck in the ground. The sword that had shared the beginning and start of my second life.

The deceased friend whispers.

“Third Brother will rise high.”

Steadying my wavering heart…

Pushing me forward.

“……..”

Don’t doubt it. Jeok-un. When did I know and push forward?

There’s no need to be swept along. After all, there were many geniuses. Even if what I had was lacking, didn’t I still climb up to this point?

There are areas others can reach. But at the same time, there are areas that others cannot reach as well.

On the day the Heavenly Demon admired me, what did she whisper as she looked at me?

…Perseverance.

That alone shall be my sword.

I raise my gaze. I look over the thousands of troops. I merely gaze at that dense mass with no escape.

They seem like limbs, yet they aren’t. I didn’t stand here because I thought that way.

A place to leap without burdens.

Once more, it’s the training ground to push me forward.

Trials await me. I lifted the Blood Sword lodged in the ground.

Achievements? Important. It’s something that must be established to achieve the mission’s goal.

The mission? Important. A chance to repay the grace bestowed by the Heavenly Demon, and I must succeed to live a life I won’t be ashamed of.

Life? Important. Only by surviving can I continue training martial arts. Only then can I reach her side.

…But.

For now, I shall forget everything.

Defeating the Seven Demons is important but…

Ultimately, what I long to surpass is the Heavenly Demon beyond that.

What I need to consider is just the sword.

Only the sword.

“…You…”

The one leading the troops speaks. Leading dozens of masters and carrying over hundreds of top warriors on his back…

Amidst the thousands, he questions me.

“Are you insane?”

“…….”

Insane…

“If you’re curious about the answer to that…”

Two Ear Swords unleash their resonating cries.

I tilted my posture.

I’m only using Yin and Yang. Those two forms.

**Nine Heavens Blood Demon Technique**

**Yin-Yang Unification**

**Ice White Fire Wheel Sword**

—GooOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO…

—GooOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO…

I unleashed a massive amount of energy from the two swords stuck in the ground. The jumbled two energies amplified several times and wrapped around my Blood Sword again.

The blood energy and magic energy within me also converged into one.

As I fused the four energies into one…

I was also able to change the property into one of the four at the same time.

The Ear Swords helped to mend the somewhat imperfection in my energy manipulation. I could feel the ever-changing nature of my energy raging inside me.

The canyon began to tremble. The abundant energy poured out, desperately clinging to the tip of my Blood Sword, howling.

“…….?!”

The distorted faces of the enemies. I quietly address those who unconsciously took a step back.

One of the two swords I completed at Huashan.

Using the two Ear Swords to their limits as a pivot…

The changing properties of the energy, along with the single Blood Sword, becomes my realm of free manipulation of four transformations.

The culmination of the Transmutational Sword.

**Transmutational Sword**

**Spirit Fusion Shot**

The ultimate completion of the Transmutational Sword.

Heaven and earth howl. My gathered energy couldn’t withstand the pressure and began to tear through the surrounding terrain merely with its force.

Fire and ice gather at the tip of the Blood Sword. In the flowing immense energy, it seemed ready to explode at any moment.

The enemies couldn’t hide their shock. And the same goes for our allies.

I could feel everyone looking at me. But I didn’t pay their gaze any mind.

Forget everything. Remember but one thing.

I will surpass once more.

On the battlefield as the stage. Holding my breath to the extreme…

I will advance towards the path I wish to take.

I will move forward until my blood bursts from my entire body.

“Come at me.”

Don’t fear death. Jeok-un.

“You know that line.”

Isn’t it true?

Death itself…

Is my greatest ally.

 

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