Tap the text to show or hide reading controls.
The Sword Ghost who had been watching suddenly laughed in a briny way.
The Yu Seha in front of him understood what his disciple had done.
“As expected, you couldn’t win with the sword, so you surpassed your limit by becoming a monster? I’m a little disappointed, but fine. This has its own charm. At least it’s better than sobbing and whining.”
To the Sword Ghost, means and methods didn’t matter.What mattered was simply reaching the celestial world.It could be himself, or a predecessor forced to inherit his will—either was fine.
The Sword Ghost gripped the oversized sword marked with a ‘4.’Just as he was about to say, ‘Let’s see what you’ve got,’ in that instant.
Ssilk.
Yu Seha disappeared once more.He was Yu Seha sized to a full three meters, including the Kirin lower body.
He, in a chilling way,quietly and softly vanished.
“…!”
The Sword Ghost wiped the smile from his face.This was dangerous.As that fact swirled in his mind, he lifted the oversized blade to take guard without hesitation.In fact, it was the first time since arriving here that he adopted a full defensive stance.
Kukwajik-!
“Grah!”“…”
The reappeared Yu Seha stomped down with both feet without hesitation.The Sword Ghost spat a mouthful of blood and fell straight to the ground.
Bang-!!!
Despite it being a simple downward strike,a crater like a meteor strike was carved into the earth.
“…!”
The Sword Ghost rose and flinched in surprise.The oversized sword had been shattered to pieces.The other swords that had been embedded within it performing various functions were also in fragments.
Yu Seha, who had been watching, glanced into the air.
Yu Seha casually switched his focus off.Activated the skill.
Suddenly the enormous, artful lower body of a Kirin took on a golden hue,and geometric patterns were etched across it.It was the activation of the Gear Limiter.
Jiiiing-!!!
Golden spines—gears—grew on his shoulders.He grabbed one and crushed it.
The world vanished as he accelerated.Yu Seha ran, transcending the slowing of time.
A world no one would notice.
Surprisingly, the Sword Ghost, having brushed debris off his body, perceived him clearly.The Sword Ghost, as if inconvenienced, dropped the oversized sword to the ground.No—he dropped all the numbered swords labeled GHS to the floor.
As if they were no longer needed,and as if he were offering them to Yu Seha.
Soon after, he drew a single long sword.It was the only sword without numbers or initials,the sword he had once valued as more precious than his daughter’s life.He pulled out the [Ghost Qi Long Sword].
Yu Seha also seized [Black Iron] and the [Sword of the Saint] with both hands.
Kwaang-!!
Yu Seha and the Sword Ghost clashed.
Their battle continued like an endless sequence of go moves,unfolding endlessly and spreading in all directions.
Three seconds after the two passed,the once-intact surroundings were completely shattered to pieces.
Yu Seha intentionally drove the fight toward an uninhabited forest.The Sword Ghost willingly obliged, fully aware of that.
About one minute.An almost infinite flurry of offense and defense continued.
Yu Seha did not simply use his arms.Not only the Kirin lower body,but the dragon tail on his head moved freely as well.
The sea-dragon’s tail, in time, aligned with Yu Seha’s will,becoming another hand that moved as if alive.A sword and a sensory organ.
The Sword Ghost watched this sight as if delighted.Suddenly, his gaze dropped to a slippery sensation.
“…Water?”
Shooah-!!!
A massive body of water flowed around them without any warning.
One of the powers of the ‘Remnant of the Fallen Dragon’
It did not end there.Pure white electricity caused catastrophe.The amount and quality of the discharge visible only because of the Kirin.
Epic skills: [Rising Dragon Tidal Wave], [Thunderclap Strike].Both skills, influenced by the original owner, far surpassed their limits.
The Sword Ghost grinned wildly at the electrifying flow.
“Good, very good!!!”
When he swung his longsword, the two techniques vanished in an instant.
At this sight, Yu Seha,realized that no matter how strong he became, grappling techniques wouldn’t do.
Only a close-quarters fight for each other’s throats would decide it.
The two, staring at each other, charged once more.
The old man who crossed stars with only the ‘sword’ and.The boy who became a ‘monster’ and thus surpassed the stars.
Surely, a fight like a myth worthy of being recorded in history,its victory or defeat is…
Shukuk-!
“Aaaahhhhh!”
It was decided by the boy’s infinite potential.
Yu Seha’s Ghost Shadow Sword, which had opened its potential in real time,in an instant pushed back the Sword Ghost’s Guiying Sword,and succeeded in inflicting damage on his body.
The Sword Ghost blocked the sword aimed at his heart with his left hand.He clenched it.The embedded blade tore the back of his hand,and advanced toward the Sword Ghost’s head.Before he knew it, Yu Seha had closed in enough to take the Sword Ghost’s neck.
In that state, he threw the ‘Black Iron,’and Yu Seha gripped the Sword of the Saint with both hands.A pattern that covered half his face appeared.
“
The detonation of the
At the same time, it was,none other than,a finishing move symbolizing that he was Peng Jin-ah’s disciple.
Kugugugugu-!
“…!?”“…”
However…
The over fifty sword-spirits flowing along the Sword Ghost’s arm could no longer rise and hovered in the air.
Amazingly, the Sword Ghost, arm impaled, defended against [Overlord Annihilation].
Horrified, Yu Seha watched the scene closely.He wondered if it was the power of that longsword in his hand.
But it wasn’t.This was a wondrous sign of a realm the Sword Ghost had reached.
The mind-sword realm the Sword Ghost had reached,had reached a level where it could be manifested even without the medium of a physical sword.
As proof, the Sword of the Saint that had pierced his left hand began to splinter and crack.
Countless mind-swords and Ghost Shadow Swords.
He had been pouring them into the Sword of the Saint to counter.
Even Yu Seha, who had copied, internalized, and acquired the Ghost Shadow Sword,…could not possibly unfold that supreme realm at this moment.
“Hruaaa!!!”“…!”
But Yu Seha did not flinch.He had one more secret move.
Paaaat-!
The bracelet on his wrist shone brilliantly.A Legendary artifact given to him by Su Ok-bin after defeating the Kirin.[Breath of the Divine Beast].
Its third option.[Overlord Annihilation], which instantly recovers any skill through a resetting force.
Yu Seha gripped the sword hilt once more.The tattoo that had covered half his face spread completely,and his entire face took on the shape of an oni.
“
“…Huh.”
Perhaps not expecting him to use an Ultimate Skill twice in succession,the Sword Ghost widened his eyes for the first time.
The second [Overlord Annihilation] was clearly stronger than the first.It was a display of wonder—deflecting it with mind-sword without using a physical blade.
Yu Seha, who had embodied that with his own eyes,had infused an even more potent Ghost Shadow Sword.A literal manifestation of genius growing in real time.
Overwhelming light burst out in every direction.Shortly after…
Kukwakwakwakwa-!!!!!!
One of
Thud-!
“…Kuh-heok!”“…”
Yu Seha, on the Kirin lower body,bent all four knees.
It was a natural reaction from fatigue.At the same time he panted and opened his mouth.
“…Damn it, that monstrous old man.”“…”
He looked ahead.Incredibly…the Sword Ghost was alive.
His left arm was twisted here and there,bones and flesh shredded like strips,other parts remained comparatively intact.
“…”
The Sword Ghost silently stared at his ruined left arm.Moments later, he used the longsword to cut through up to his shoulder.
The neatly severed left armdropped in front of Yu Seha.Then he spoke toward the stunned Yu Seha.
“Good, excellent. Yet you still haven’t corrected your mistake. I told you earlier… don’t squawk. Put the force you spit from your mouth into the sword’s ki. If you had, it would have been more lethal.”
“Y-you crazy bastard…”
“Exactly 15 minutes and 49 seconds have passed since I began teaching you. In that time you’ve understood the Heart Sword, internalized the Ghost Shadow Sword, transcended your species’ limits with an unknown body, and moments ago, clumsily though it was, you manifested some of the Guiying Sword’s ultimate art.”
The Sword Ghost chuckled softly.
Not a laugh steeped in madness like before,a laugh of utter satisfaction.
The look of a grandfather watching his grandchild.
“…”
Yu Seha was genuinely chilled by that expression.He saw what true madness was—and he witnessed it with his own eyes.
This man still…even with a blade at his throat…
“Excellent. As I thought, you’re my disciple. I’ll reward you that arm. Try to take my neck next time. If you show me a satisfying performance, I’ll give you anything.”
“…You, just what…”
“Take your stance. I’ll use the interval to teach you a few more things. I’ve also seen the River of Three Ways and reached a place because of it. I’ll show you.”
The Sword Ghost raised his longsword.Yu Seha gritted his teeth and gripped the [Sword of the Saint].
Just as the duel was about to resume,that moment.
Chajajak-!
Two quick footsteps came running.Additionally, even faster, a silver sword-ki and a sword-ki imbued with plum fragrance exploded through the air.
The Sword Ghost slipped his body away like lightning,splitting the two strikes in half.
Bang-!
Amid the spreading dust,Yu Seha looked in bewilderment at the two who had stood before him.
There was no mistaking them.
“…Plum Blossom?”“…Sorry, Yu Seha. I’m so late… I have no excuse.”
Plum Blossom Sword Empress, Wei Ga-ryeong
And…Always dependable,and yet the back of a fragile woman.
“M-Master?”“…”
The
The two had finally appeared on the battlefield.
Reading Settings
#276 / 334
Have a story of your own? Write it on SDO Originals.
Start writing
