Talent of the Martial God.
When I first obtained this, I wondered if it would be very useful. I thought the magic talent I already possessed was more than enough.
-Demons carry many foul things.
-Specifically, black magic often involves debuffs. There are even items that can seal one’s ability to use magic.
-If you can learn martial arts in addition to magic, I believe it would be wise to do so.
Following the advice of Ropenheim, who had already fought a Demon King, I began to take a serious interest in the Talent of the Martial God.
And so, I briefly studied the basics of martial arts.
[Using Talent of the Martial God (EX) to understand the principles and structure of Ropenheim Swordsmanship.]
[Understanding of swordsmanship is low.]
[You have learned Ropenheim Swordsmanship (F).]
Even with just a short period of instruction, I was able to learn the sword techniques and footwork. However, the rank was incredibly low.
I realized why this was the case through repeated training.
‘The depth of the martial arts.’
In other words, I lacked understanding.
Ropenheim’s swordsmanship was forged over decades; it was the result of a lifetime of contemplation and refinement.
Even if I had learned the structure and principles, the philosophy and depth contained within were difficult for me—someone who had only just awakened—to understand all at once.
However, that did not mean there was no solution.
-There are three moves you can make after swinging the sword like this.
-It is more efficient to move this way here.
-I created this move specifically to deal with opponents stronger than myself.
As I listened to Ropenheim’s stories and understood the intent behind the swordsmanship, and as I fought Orcs to raise my practical understanding…
[Using Talent of the Martial God (EX) to understand the principles and structure of Ropenheim Swordsmanship.]
[Understanding of swordsmanship is low.]
[You have learned Ropenheim Swordsmanship (D).]
[Using Talent of the Martial God (EX) to understand the principles and structure of Ropenheim Swordsmanship.]
[Understanding of swordsmanship is low.]
[You have learned Ropenheim Swordsmanship (A).]
The rank began to rise rapidly.
‘It really is a crazy skill.’
Not only did it allow me to grasp the structure and principles, but the speed at which I understood the depth was also incredibly fast. However, there was a clear limit.
S-rank.
Though I had reached S-rank remarkably fast for someone who had only studied under Ropenheim for a short time, I couldn’t push it any higher.
-Your growth rate is already nonsensical. Time will solve the rest. You simply lack the experience of actually fighting using martial arts.
-Once that is satisfied, you will be able to grow even faster.
Ropenheim attributed the plateau to a lack of experience.
Not sparring, like I did with the Orcs, but real experience gained by putting my life on the line.
Since Ropenheim’s swordsmanship and footwork were perfected on the battlefield, it made sense that such experience was necessary.
And as luck would have it, a suitable opponent appeared.
“Do you know that not a single person who challenged me is still alive?”
Turkan of the Dark Night stood just a hair’s breadth away.
He was a powerhouse serving the Greed Demon King—a tiger-faced Beastman clad in pitch-black armor.
He was massive, making him look almost like an Orc.
“I’ve never lost to anyone either. I guess the record for one of us is about to break.”
“A green brat like you thinks he’s seen real combat? Your head must be full of flowers.”
Turkan took his time, acting leisurely. There was an obvious reason why a man of his strength wasn’t moving recklessly.
‘He’s surprised.’
The fact that I had dodged his first attack must have weighed on him, as his eyes narrowed while he continued to scan my body. He wouldn’t find anything, no matter how hard he looked.
Literally, my body currently showed nothing. Since I had primarily used magic until now, I didn’t have any of the typical habits associated with martial artists.
Naturally, there was no information for him to glean. If anything, that would only make him more hesitant to approach.
It was in my best interest to take advantage of his misunderstanding.
“You won’t find anything, no matter how much you scout me.”
“…You’re pretty good. You can read that much?”
“If you’re not coming, then I am.”
The moment I finished speaking, I moved. I put strength into my lower body and lunged forward, putting my entire momentum into the strike.
My opponent was already on guard. He was clearly intending to continue his probe until he was certain of my skill level.
‘I have to use the opening stages to absorb his skill as much as possible.’
Only then would I be able to go toe-to-toe with him, even if my lack of experience was eventually exposed.
“Hah!”
Taking a short breath, I pulled a usable sword from the Dragon Lair. Gripping it mid-air, I channeled my strength and swung.
Swish!
Turkan lowered his stance as the sword cut through the air. He kicked off the ground and lunged at me. His Gauntlet trembled.
The power gathered in his fist exploded forward. I quickly raised my sword to block his attack.
Boom!
The punch carried enough force to create an explosion upon impact. At the same time, my sword shattered into pieces. Shards fell to the floor.
Shaking out his fist, Turkan smirked.
“Are you a swordsman? I’m an expert at hunting those who hold blades.”
“I told you, you won’t get anything out of this.”
This time, I pulled out a more finely crafted sword and charged at him. Turkan didn’t wait; he moved as well. His thick upper-body muscles rippled as his fist, encased in a Gauntlet, poured toward me.
*Clang!*
*Clang!*
I swung my sword rapidly, parrying his attacks. The power behind the Gauntlet was so immense that my body was constantly pushed back. Since the sword didn’t break this time, I was simply being repelled.
“What is this? Were you all talk despite having nothing?”
Having noticed something, Turkan’s smile changed. He looked like a predator with its prey right in front of its nose. The murderous intent in his fists grew heavier, and his movements became faster and more powerful.
Boom!
The sword I was holding shattered.
Boom!
Another sword broke.
It reached the point where holding a sword seemed meaningless; he was specifically targeting my weapons. The shock that the blades couldn’t withstand accumulated in my body, and the skin on my hands began to split.
However, I wasn’t just taking losses. For every sword that shattered and every bit of shock that piled up in my body…
[Using Talent of the Martial God (EX) to understand the principles and structure of Black Killing Fist.]
[Understanding of fist techniques is low.]
[You have learned Black Killing Fist (E).]
[Using Talent of the Martial God (EX) to understand the principles and structure of Black Killing Fist.]
[Understanding of fist techniques is average.]
**[You have learned Black Killing Fist (C).]**
My understanding of his Black Killing Fist increased, and I gradually became accustomed to his movements.
“Sigh… You bastard. You really have nothing. To think I was wary of someone who’s just a loudmouth… Tsk, and why are those guys losing again?”
Turkan clicked his tongue and settled into a stance.
“I’ll kill you quickly.”
The murderous intent that had been pouring out until now flowed back into his body and concentrated in his fist.
‘A Secret Art.’
It was an ultimate technique of the Black Killing Fist.
Seeing the stance he was taking, I pulled out another sword.
If I had been increasing my understanding by being hit until now, it was time to increase it by clashing with him.
I poured mana into the sword and ignited an Aura.
Just like him, I took a stance and prepared my starting position, infusing it with thick murderous intent.
“What’s this? You were hiding a trump card after all?”
“Boy, you demons sure talk a lot.”
“What? You little…”
Grinding his teeth, Turkan pulled his fist back to his waist, stepped forward, and unleashed his punch.
Black Tiger Kill.
Surging Demonic Power and murderous intent transformed into a massive tiger with its maw wide open. I could feel the terror of death radiating from within it.
Ropenheim had survived by overcoming the fear of death where life and death hung in the balance. And he had infused that into his swordsmanship.
Whirrr!
I swung the sword wreathed in Aura, creating a flower. Petals fluttered in the wind, flying forward.
A flower bloomed on a battlefield filled with death.
The flower, imbued with a tenacious life force, shredded the black tiger and rushed toward Turkan.
“Hwaaaaaagh!”
Turkan clenched both fists and unleashed a shout, blowing the flower away.
*Bang!*
The Aura exploded, and the petals vanished instantly. Seeing them disappear so easily, I knew he certainly wasn’t an ordinary opponent.
“You… How dare you… How dare you play with me? I will personally chew you into tiny pieces.”
“Try it if you can.”
“Hahahaha!”
Turkan’s eyes flashed as their color changed. The moment blood-red streaks appeared in his pupils, his body vanished and reappeared in front of me.
He was so fast he was nearly impossible to track with the naked eye.
However, my understanding of his martial arts had already increased. This was well within the range of what I had predicted.
Clang!
I used the flat of my Aura-coated blade to block his attack, then stepped into his space and swung my sword in a counter.
He crossed his wrists to suppress my blade, then used his Gauntlet to pull the sword toward him while throwing a punch at me. I abandoned the sword, retreated, and pulled out a new one.
‘It’ll be a left fist from here, right?’
But contrary to my expectations, Turkan rotated his body and extended his leg.
It was a move I hadn’t anticipated—an irregular attack known only to Turkan, who had practiced and perfected the Black Killing Fist for a long time. There was no way to block it.
Boom!
A heavy energy struck my chest. Along with the sword in my hand, my body was sent flying. I crashed into a massive tree and coughed up blood.
“Ack!”
Seeing the dark blood on the ground, I raised my sword. Turkan, who had flown toward me at high speed, threw another punch.
Boom!
I blocked the attack with my Aura-infused sword, but I couldn’t stop all the shock.
Crack!
The tree I had been pinned against split and fell over, and my body was sent tumbling across the ground once more. With the accumulated damage, my body was reaching its limit.
“…Ouch, I’m dying here.”
Enduring the pain coursing through my entire body, I stood up.
[Using Talent of the Martial God (EX) to understand the principles and structure of Black Killing Fist.]
[Understanding of fist techniques is high.]
[You have learned Black Killing Fist (S).]
The move Turkan had used that I hadn’t anticipated—by experiencing the broad depth of the Black Killing Fist firsthand, my understanding had spiked instantly.
Now, I even understood why that irregular attack had been possible.
“Now… shall we end this?”
I had obtained everything I needed. I had learned the Black Killing Fist and the footwork at an S-rank level and confirmed that my understanding increased through combat.
All that remained was to defeat him and make him a Guardian.
“Whew.”
I took a pill I had hidden behind my tongue and swallowed it.
[You have used a Highest Grade Recovery Pill.]
[All wounds are healing rapidly.]
[Mana is recovering rapidly.]
My mind cleared, and my body felt significantly lighter. Rotating my wrist, I gripped my sword tight and looked at Turkan.
Turkan, snorting in anger, gave a sickening smile when he saw my wounds healing.
“Tsk, tsk. No matter how much you recover, you can’t beat me.”
Just as he said, even if my wounds were completely healed, it was difficult to defeat Turkan with my current power. But I had two more trump cards that he knew nothing about.
The skills I had obtained along with the Talent of the Martial God.
[Using Dragon Transformation.]
[You are entering a state where you can utilize 100% of the Dragon Heart.]
[All resistances increase significantly.]
[The power of all possessed skills increases by one stage.]
And one more.
[Using Transcendence.]
[The efficiency of the Dragon God’s Body increases.]
[Mana consumption is reduced by half.]
[Time remaining: 30 minutes.]