As always, sunlight shattered across the surface of the Heavenly Lake.
Beneath the gleaming blue waters, Taehoo wasn’t the only one preparing.
Every creature in the ecosystem, except for the aquatic dragon, had gathered in one place, regardless of their territory.
And the reason they could rally around a single point was because of one human alone.
The lifeforms of the Heavenly Lake had banded together to resist the ecosystem’s slaughterer.
And soon,
Just like a fish swimming through the lake, the slaughterer revealed himself within the Heavenly Lake.
It was none other than Taehoo.
“Hmm?”
The moment he entered the water, he let out a startled sound.
It was because he was confronted by a cloud-like swarm of all kinds of fish.
How many of their kin had died because of the human before them!
How much blood had been spilled into the lake!
The fish blocking Taehoo’s path all lunged at him at once.
Aura flared from his sword in an instant. It was a level of purity that couldn’t even be compared to when he first entered the Heavenly Lake.
‘The reason Grandpa left the aquatic dragon alive…’
Seeing all these creatures gathered before him, his conviction only grew as he swung his sword.
Taehoo never neglected the forging of his own sword.
In the first strike, he imbued the sword that had carved scars into the forest.
In the second, the sword that had first slain a piranha; in the third, the sword used when he faced the piranha swarm; in the fourth, the sword that fought the Deep Sea Fish; and finally, the sword that had challenged the aquatic dragon countless times.
Thus, he named his first technique Rain Thunder Origin Dance.
The attack, true to its name, poured down like rain and swept through like a storm.
Everything that had rushed Taehoo was shredded apart.
Amidst it all, he simply swung his sword as if performing a dance.
Not long ago, he hadn’t been this overwhelming. Facing the aquatic dragon and training together with Ba’al had made all the difference.
Taehoo advanced as much as the time he had put in.
When his technique ended, everything that had charged at him was reduced to mere fragments, scattering away.
‘I’m going down.’
Even after creating a result that would have left Chiu or Hunter Namjin stunned if they had seen it from outside, Taehoo moved downward, unconcerned.
These small fry were not his true objective.
Thus, Taehoo once again stood before the aquatic dragon.
The aquatic dragon greeted Taehoo with the same fury as always.
It was a scene that had played out dozens of times already.
The aquatic dragon opened its massive jaws. In an instant, the Mana of the Heavenly Lake gathered at its mouth.
Breath.
The most direct attack worthy of the name ‘dragon.’ The strike he had witnessed countless times was being readied once more.
Meanwhile, the aquatic dragon fired its scales at Taehoo, as if refusing to leave any openings.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Taehoo swung his Aura-clad sword, deflecting them all.
Even underwater, Mana clashed against Mana, sending up sparks. The killing intent pierced through the Aura and sent a tingling sensation through his wrist.
At the same time,
The aquatic dragon’s tail, hidden from view by the sparks, rushed toward Taehoo.
‘I expected this.’
Taehoo, infusing Aura into the flat of his blade, blocked the oncoming tail as sharp as a spear.
Just before he was slammed into the wall, he managed to dissipate the force entirely.
Why hadn’t Namjin killed the aquatic dragon even though he could?
Over fifty attempts.
He had pondered and agonized over it countless times.
[That might just be the reason. Your grandfather was deeper than I thought.]
When Taehoo finally voiced his conviction, Ba’al agreed.
Taehoo raised his head.
At the same time,
The aquatic dragon unleashed its Breath at him.
Kuwaaakakaka!
The Breath tore through the water as if it would rip Taehoo apart at any moment.
‘Up until now, I’ve only ever dodged this.’
But now, he didn’t need to anymore. The aquatic dragon’s level had already been surpassed around his fortieth attempt.
Taehoo swung his sword.
His Aura-wreathed blade effortlessly split the dragon’s strike.
And that wasn’t the end.
Three seconds.
That was the time until the next Breath.
Now, Taehoo charged at the aquatic dragon.
It whipped its tail and fired its scales, but it was futile.
Rain Thunder Origin Dance.
He unleashed the technique once more.
It was a sword containing everything he had gained in the Heavenly Lake.
He carved countless wounds into the aquatic dragon’s body. He left scars.
But for that very reason, his sword did not kill the aquatic dragon.
The ecosystem of the Heavenly Lake was sturdy.
Each creature lived within its own territory, suited to its depth.
From the aquatic dragon at the deepest point to the piranhas in the shallowest waters, none of them were disconnected from one another.
That was why, even after Taehoo’s massacre, the Heavenly Lake could still be maintained.
But what about the aquatic dragon?
Here, the dragon was a unique existence. Its death would mean extinction.
With its death, the balance would collapse.
If the balance here crumbled, the next generation would never be able to undergo this training.
Even as a reckless youth, Namjin had thought that far ahead.
The swords of Namjin, too, must have inherited their lord’s will, keeping the aquatic dragon alive.
Taehoo could predict this by thinking about the actions of those who came before him.
‘I really can’t catch up.’
Taehoo clicked his tongue, thinking of Namjin, who had come to such conclusions without anyone to guide him.
Thus, all techniques were finished.
The aquatic dragon, covered in wounds, simply ceased all action.
As if to say it would no longer interfere.
Taehoo closed his eyes.
Soon, water currents began gathering around his sword.
‘The Heavenly Lake is water made of Mana from the start. There’s no way I can’t use that Mana. That’s the hint for One-Stroke Severance.’
When he thought about it, it was a simple truth. Taehoo opened his eyes.
Within the swirling waters, the Aura Taehoo condensed onto his sword now surpassed even that of the aquatic dragon.
[The Sword God’s skill ‘One-Stroke Severance’ is being used!]
A wild energy, as if it would split everything in half, was unleashed.
Taehoo’s attack narrowly missed the aquatic dragon by exactly one inch.
That was the beginning.
Kugugugung!
Where the force of One-Stroke Severance passed, the Heavenly Lake was pushed aside.
Taehoo carved a mark into the very bottom of the world. That alone proved the power of One-Stroke Severance.
Swaaaaaa!
Truly, the Heavenly Lake split in half. The sky opened.
But.
One stroke was not enough.
‘I can split it even more.’
Taehoo aimed even higher.
[Skill ‘One-Stroke Severance’ acquired!]
[Skill ‘One-Stroke Severance’ evolves to match your will!]
[Skill ‘One-Stroke Severance – Continuation{}’ is activated!]
A single strike.
One more blow was unleashed. The divided waters roared as if they would escape the boundaries of heaven and earth.
The time Taehoo spent pondering how to spare the aquatic dragon had evolved his skill.
That was the only thing he truly possessed.
[Deepest part of the Heavenly Lake. Quest cleared!]
[All special conditions fulfilled!]
[Quest cleared!]
[Aquatic dragon of the Heavenly Lake subdued!]
[First Achievement unlocked!]
[Title: One Who Understands Cheonjoongsu awarded!]
Messages poured in like a storm.
Soon, the sky that had opened closed again, and the cliffs of water rejoined.
Without hesitation, Taehoo moved to leave the Heavenly Lake.
When he emerged, the water level of the Heavenly Lake had dropped by as much as the scar Taehoo had carved into the ground.
As he was feeling this, he sensed someone’s presence and turned around.
“You actually did it… and in just two and a half years…”
Standing there was Namjin, wearing an expression of utter disbelief.
“I guess in our bet…”
“Yeah, you won.”
Namjin admitted defeat before Taehoo could even finish his sentence.
Such decisiveness was worthy of an absolute being.
Chiu stood beside the Jeju native, unable to even close his mouth in awe.
“So?”
“See for yourself.”
Namjin drew one of the two swords hanging at his waist.
The crimson blade was striking.
As his grandfather readied his stance, Taehoo forced his tired body to stand. In that brief moment, Namjin enveloped the sword in Aura.
‘That’s Namjin’s Aura… Blood Sword.’
The sword was wrapped in a blood-red Aura, even darker than the red blade itself.
It was a sight Taehoo hadn’t even dared face in his previous life.
Overwhelmed, Taehoo watched Namjin as if entranced.
What was he trying to show him?
Naturally, that question arose, and just then, Namjin spoke.
“This is the pinnacle of the sword you wish to learn.”
The sword in his hand moved softly, like ripples on water.
A slash so ordinary, so devoid of force or spirit, that no power could be felt.
‘What…?’
A brief confusion flashed through Taehoo’s mind, but it was truly only for a moment.
[Don’t be fooled.]
Ba’al, sensing the sword’s true nature, warned him.
‘…!’
In that instant, Taehoo’s head snapped around as a mountain-like killing intent brushed his ear.
Kwaaaaaang!
A thunderous roar that seemed to tear his eardrums apart followed.
“This is…”
[Ha, unbelievable. For a human to reach this level. He’s almost a demigod, isn’t he?]
Taehoo and Ba’al’s admiration burst out in succession as they stared, entranced, at the scene before them.
With a single slash from Namjin, an entire mountain range encircling heaven and earth had been blown away!
To think that a slash with such power could feel like nothing more than a ripple.
How many people had been sliced in half, deceived by that sensation?
[Your grandfather was even more incredible than I thought.]
Ba’al commented in Taehoo’s mind, as if admitting it wholeheartedly.
“Take it.”
Namjin sheathed his sword and held it out.
Snapping out of his trance, Taehoo accepted it.
He immediately recognized the sword’s identity.
[Fallen Flower Sword] – Grade: A+
: A sword gifted by the Sword God to a subordinate he is pleased with! It is named the Fallen Flower Sword because it can sever anything as easily as a falling flower! Can be carried anywhere! A sword made for Aura! Efficiency increases by 20% when Aura is imbued!
- Special: Stored in a Pocket Dimension! Can be summoned at any time by the user’s will!
‘This is the sword that those who serve the Sword God dream of…’
The Fallen Flower Sword was the very blade that all who served the Sword God longed for.
Its appearance differed depending on the individual.
‘The crimson blade must be related to that as well.’
In other words, the sword Namjin handed over was one he had received directly from the Sword God.
‘He always carried it, even though he never used it.’
A sword not stored in a Pocket Dimension nor used in battle.
At Namjin’s level, S-grade or even S+ grade weapons were easy to come by, so it was only natural he didn’t use this one.
Thus, the fact that he always carried it proved just how meaningful it was.
“Will you be able to keep up?”
Namjin asked.
His meaning was all too clear.
“Yes.”
Taehoo nodded without hesitation.
“Good. Then until you get your own, keep that sword with you.”
Namjin’s voice was filled with satisfaction.
“As promised, I will teach you my sword.”
The words Taehoo had long waited and hoped for were finally spoken.
His legs gave out, and he collapsed on the spot.
“Well done.”
Namjin nodded in understanding, then smiled.
‘It’s not clear to me yet… but someday, I’ll be able to see beyond.’
Taehoo struggled to envision a future that was still out of reach.