One Who Mastered The Sword

After reaching Lv27, I chose the skill “Sword Saint.”

At that moment, my stats improved in an instant.

My base attack power had exceeded four digits.

But this wasn’t the end. Since I was over level 20, I became able to change class from Warrior to the higher class “Sword Saint.”

If it was a different skill tree—for example, a case like Warrior to Scout—I couldn’t change class on the spot, but if it was a class existing in the same skill tree, I could change class on the spot.

I changed class to “Sword Saint.”

As a Warrior, my attack power had gone up by 10 with each level, but now it became 13. Defense power went from 7 to 8. Magic power also went from 5 to 6.

Adding in the Sword Saint skill correction,

was what it became. With the “Attack Power +10%” correction from Fighting Spirit Lv3 added to this, my attack power rose all the way to 1528.

1528!

That was outrageous firepower.

But I—my body understood that this calculation was by no means armchair theory.

What was this?

This power that coursed through my whole body. The destination reached by one who had mastered the sword now dwelled in my body.

“Huh, Ios—w-what happened to you…?”

Misha must have sensed the change in me, because her voice was trembling too.

I gently stroked Misha’s cheek.

“I became a Sword Saint.”

“…Huh…!?”

“I’ll win.”

I kicked off the ground with a tap.

It was an instant.

In an instant, I closed the distance to the goat head and passed by its side. And then, as we crossed paths—

The goat head screamed.

With a flash of my blade as we passed each other, I slashed open the goat head’s side.

It was terrifyingly sharp. To think the goat head’s skin, which felt as if I was striking rock, could be this soft. This was the power of attack power 1528—

Closing the distance in an instant was the Sword Saint’s special skill.

Special skills came with the “Sword Saint” class from the start.

Ground Shrink—

This skill was a skill that allowed explosive ultra-acceleration. It could close the distance to an opponent in an instant.

As stated in the skill description, it could only be used in the direction where an enemy was located.

That was the manifestation of the Sword Saint’s resolve to never retreat and cut down the enemy.

I slipped behind the goat head, so I hurriedly turned around—and accelerated.

“Ground Shrink.”

In an instant, I approached the goat head’s back.

I slashed the goat head’s back with my sword while it was still suffering in pain.

“Gugyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!?”

The goat head screamed.

Whoosh! It swung its arm, but I was already no longer there. I ran past and then deployed the next Ground Shrink.

Ground Shrink, Ground Shrink, Ground Shrink.

Each time, the goat head’s wounds increased.

My sword cut through the goat head very easily. Just like slicing softened butter.

Slash, slash, slash.

It had been so hard—

Could it really change this much?

“Ios… amazing…”

I heard Misha mutter that.

There was no anxiety anywhere in that voice. Misha was also feeling relieved. She was seeing victory.

That made me happy.

Rest easy, Misha.

I will definitely—dedicate victory to you.

“Ninyanya!”

Nyankoromochi, who had staggered to its feet, was shouting too.

Even if I kept going like this, the goat head would probably fall before long.

But—

If that was all, my feelings wouldn’t settle.

Misha and Nyankoromochi had been beaten up that badly. Simply whittling it down and killing it like this felt unsatisfying.

Then I might as well slam my full strength into it.

I stopped the repeated Ground Shrinks and came to a halt in front of the goat head. The goat head was already in tatters. It wouldn’t have been strange for it to collapse at any moment.

But I had no intention of allowing that kind of ending.

Take my anger!

“Ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooh!”

I roared.

As if I was spitting out my anger. As if I was turning all of it into power. Flame-like emotions blazed up throughout my entire body.

At the same time, War Cry, whose recast had become available, activated.

My attack power and defense power increased by 20%.

And then—

“Ground Shrink!”

With a tap, I kicked the ground. This was the final Ground Shrink.

Furthermore, I activated one more special skill.

Sword Soul Peerless was the Sword Saint’s trump card, delivering “X slashes by converting defense power into attack power.”

High-speed consecutive slashes from ultra-acceleration with ultra-high attack power.

Its performance was completely specialized in offense, but of course, it had a drawback, and after activation, the defense power in my personal stats became zero.

It was truly a double-edged skill.

—There was no problem.

Because I would decide everything in this very moment!

Power dwelled in my sword.

My base defense power of 316 was added to my attack power as-is, raising it from 451 to 767. Then, with my weapon’s attack power added, it became 1277.

On top of that, the corrections from the Sword Saint skill, Fighting Spirit Lv3, and War Cry were added—

2354!

Super firepower exceeding 2000!

“Guoooooooooooooooooooooh!”

The goat head swung its fist at me as I approached with Ground Shrink.

Had it gotten used to it? Was it just a coincidence?

That fist had accurately caught sight of me.

…Not bad.

However!

My sword cut off the goat head’s right arm. Cut it off? No, that wasn’t right. Everything happened in an instant. In a span of time no longer than a blink. There wasn’t even time for it to fly away. I dove into the goat head’s chest faster than that.

My converted defense power was 316.

Therefore, the allowed consecutive slashes, divided by 100 and rounded up, were 4.

I had already delivered one hit.

Then—3 left!

“Ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooh!”

Slash! Slash!

My swift slashes cut through the goat head from the right and from the left.

This was the end!

Here, I activated Heavy Strike Lv3. With the 5% correction added—

My attack power was 2472!

My sword bisected the goat head’s torso.

I slipped past the goat head’s side and stopped my feet. I looked back. Everything had happened during Ground Shrink. It had happened in the instant when the goat head and I crossed paths.

Only then—time began to move.

“Ooooaaaaaaaah!”

The goat head screamed. It raised both arms and tried to hold its head, but its right hand slid down and fell. Its body, carved apart by me, lost its balance.

And then—

Slowly.

Its body began to shift apart.

That was the end.

The goat head’s body scattered like mist, just like the wolves. The goat head’s scream echoed like a reverberation—and disappeared.

“…Is it over…?”

I was already at my limit too.

I had been acting as if I had room to spare—but to begin with, even before becoming a Sword Saint, I had already been packed full of damage.

I walked toward Misha with staggering steps.

“Just as promised, I won.”

Misha looked up at me while wiping away the tears spilling from her eyes.

“…Congratulations, Ios. You became one… a Sword Saint. You really are—”

Misha, who had supported me when I was at rock bottom, felt proud of me now.

That made me happy.

Had I been able to repay your devotion, even a little?

Had I been able to return even a little of what you gave me?

“Misha, because you supported me, I was able to come this far. Thank you for everything until now. I’ll be counting on you from now on too.”

“Yeah! Same here!”

The smiling Misha took the hand I held out to her.