Chapter 31: Beyond the Bottle

Papap!

I pushed off the ground and ran.

“Haste!”

[★★ Wandering Swordsman: Haste Skill!]

[★★ The Wandering Swordsman’s attack speed and movement speed each increase by 10%!]

Whooo!

At the same time, a gust of wind swirled around me.

I decided to use every available means to stick to this fight.

“Hm! Haste, huh! You’ve got yourself a good skill!”

Kumgui adjusted his stance and said.

Kumgui would definitely counterattack, right?

Keeping the counterattack in mind, I dashed forward.

Whoosh!

The first quick thrust.

Clang!

A light metallic sound rang out.

As expected, it wasn’t going to be that easy.

I stared into Kumgui’s eyes and followed up with a fierce attack.

Click! Click! Hoo!

Lowering my stance, I aimed for his waist.

I had planned to create distance with low attacks, but—

‘Huh?’

The Kumgui who was right in front of me vanished.

Below.

Kumgui was below me.

He had dodged my low slash by ducking even lower and moving in.

‘Is that even a possible stance?’

There was no time to pull back the sword I had swung.

Nor was there a moment to twist my body and evade.

The instant I was certain of this, I dropped the Uruk Slayer I was holding, and—

Kachak!

I deflected the sword aiming for my neck with my shield, then—

“Hm?”

I grabbed the hem of Kumgui’s robe.

Twisting my body, I tumbled together with Kumgui.

Thud!

“Oh! Damn!”

Kumgui rolled quickly and stood up.

He threw his body forward and drew a dagger.

Shhhh…!

‘Huh?’

[★★★ Dancheong Blazing Passion Sword Demon: Heat Where Mirage Blooms effect!]

Kwahng!

A burst of flames erupted, pushing me back.

‘What was that?’

Right.

‘Kumgui had this trait, didn’t he?’

It seemed like a characteristic that forcibly knocked the opponent down.

‘But was the damage really just a scratch?’

It wasn’t anything impressive.

Only a scorching blast of wind pressure.

“Hahaha! You startled me! Is this really the swordsmanship of your world? I never imagined such a response!”

Kumgui laughed, putting distance between us.

Hoo

I grabbed the Uruk Slayer that had fallen to the ground.

Just as I thought I had it, Kumgui slipped from my grip.

“That wasn’t swordsmanship, was it? It was more like a street brawl.”

“A street brawl! That’s right! But I never expected you to drop your sword and charge with your bare hands. To put it plainly, that’s a fight to the death!”

“I’ve fought like that all my life. Was it… a little messy?”

“No! On the contrary, I’m impressed! A true swordsman is supposed to be so intoxicated with their sword that they see nothing else. I’ve faced many sword masters, but this kind of swordsmanship is a first. Much more flexible than a rigid style!”

Kumgui’s eyes widened, laughing.

His unnaturally large eyes made him look like a hawk or an owl.

“But you couldn’t keep up with my speed, right? You missed me several times just now. It feels like you’re living in a completely different time. Was that normal in Muspelia?”

“Hm! No! You could do it too! In fact, you could master it quickly!”

“Really? I could learn it?”

“Of course! But it’s not so simple to explain. I tried telling someone before and got called an otaku.”

“Otaku?”

I tilted my head at Kumgui’s words.

It sounded like some kind of slang, but I couldn’t understand it.

“But if it’s you, I’m sure you’ll take it seriously. Don’t overthink it—it’s just about imagining it.”

“Imagining? Imagining what?”

“Anything! The differences between worlds exist because each world allows different kinds of power. Have you heard the story of the flea trapped inside a bottle? The flea can only jump as high as the bottle, never beyond it.”

“Oh, yes. Even after leaving the bottle, it can only jump as high as the bottle itself, right?”

“That’s right! Beware of comfort and habituation! That was the lesson in our world!”

Kumgui nodded and answered.

Then, with serious eyes, he said—

“What I’m trying to say is the same. The world we lived in was a bottle. A bottle that limited us even though we could have gone higher. But this Valhalla is the bottle that allows the highest height among 540 worlds. The bottle that blocked us is already gone. We’ve gained the chance to reach higher places!”

“So, you mean the standard is higher? If the Singularity was the minimum height, Valhalla is even higher.”

“Exactly! So you just have to allow it. When you take a step, imagine it reaching farther. Deny all the common sense you brought from your previous world! Then Valhalla will grant you higher levels. Imagine it. Allow it! Power has already been granted to all of us!”

Kumgui clenched his fist as he spoke.

But…

It was a hard story to grasp.

I furrowed my brows slightly and asked, “Is this some kind of… metaphor? Something that requires enlightenment?”

“Hm! No! There’s no metaphor here! It’s simply a story telling you not to tell yourself ‘I can’t’ or ‘It’s impossible’ based on prior experience. If you doubt yourself, your experience will just be a bottle cap. You’ve already come out of the bottle, you know.”

Kumgui answered seriously.

‘Is he saying that denying yourself prevents you from soaring higher?’

Well, there was no reason to deny Kumgui’s words.

He right in front of me was proof of it.

Imagine it, allow it.

I held my sword, engraving those words in my mind.

No harm in trying, as Kumgui said.

“Your move.”

“Yes?”

“How many steps do you think the distance between you and me is? Just a rough estimate is fine.”

Then Kumgui pointed at the ground and asked.

‘How many steps?’

It probably wasn’t based on normal walking.

If I ran fast…

“About twelve steps? That seems about right.”

“For you, it should be five steps. Am I wrong?”

“Then I’ll just charge. Leap quickly.”

“Then try that. The leap I just made was two steps. You can do it too. It’s a way to experience the higher world.”

Kumgui answered, raising his sword.

‘Break the distance in five steps?’

Well.

I couldn’t refuse that.

If Kumgui broke it in two steps, I’d do it in three.

“Three steps. That’s pushing it a bit.”

“Hahaha! Good! Allow anything! Deny the limits you’ve held!”

Kumgui adjusted his grip on his sword and laughed.

Immediately, he exhaled and charged.

Thud!

…!

The first step was heavy.

The impact starting from my toes struck my ankles and knees.

Thud!!

The second step’s impact wasn’t any easier.

‘Was this beyond my current ability?’

I landed much farther than I expected.

If I ran like this, I’d probably injure my ankles and knees.

‘But…!’

This was Valhalla.

A world where broken bones heal, and twisted bodies recover without aftereffects.

Worrying about injuries was pointless.

I consciously allowed this reckless move that I wouldn’t have tried before.

Thud!

The third and final step hit the ground.

I no longer looked at the floor.

I fixed my gaze on the distant Kumgui.

“Hgh!”

With the speed I had gained, I thrust my sword.

The Kumgui who had been far away was suddenly close.

Shhhh…!

In an instant, steam rose from Kumgui.

‘Had he never planned to dodge in the first place?’

‘Was there no way to cancel it out?’

‘Couldn’t I break through by offsetting the flames?’

“Haste…!”

I used the skill without thinking.

Not with much confidence.

I imagined the wind that would surge when Haste was activated.

I hoped that wind would act as a shield.

[★★★ Dancheong Blazing Passion Sword Demon: Heat Where Mirage Blooms effect!]

Kwahng!

Kumgui’s flames exploded.

…..E!!!

[★★ Wandering Swordsman: Haste Skill!]

[★★ The Wandering Swordsman’s attack speed and movement speed each increase by 10%!]

Oh!

At the same time, a white whirlwind whipped around.

Amid the pure white whirlwind, scattered flames flickered.

I saw Kumgui’s surprised face through the gaps.

I stabbed the Uruk Slayer toward Kumgui.

Kok!

The sword pierced him but slipped.

‘Phew.’

My heart pounded.

My limbs trembled.

It felt like my entire stamina had drained with just one stab.

“Oh! You did it! As expected of you! Hahaha!”

I heard Kumgui’s voice behind me.

But I had failed.

I felt the sword touch him, but that was all.

“Success? I only grazed him. Your speed is still…”

“Hm! No! Look at the ground you ran on! You’ll understand!”

“Ground?”

At Kumgui’s words, I looked down.

‘Huh?’

There were strange marks on the ground.

The first and second steps were normal.

They were just shallow dents.

A distance I could easily follow again.

‘But.’

The third step I planted forcefully was sunken and broken.

What’s more, the distance from the third step to here was over 10 meters, a scene even I found surprising.

I don’t know how I managed that leap.

“How…”

“You did it yourself! You surpassed your limits! If you break through the rest just like you did, it’ll be fine! I’m already jealous of your growth! Hahaha!”

Kumgui laughed heartily and stepped back.

There was a deep wound on Kumgui’s shoulder.

It looked like I had pierced it in a split second.

[★★★ Dancheong Blazing Passion Sword Demon]

[57/100%]

Then, an unexpected sight appeared.

The health bar above Kumgui’s head.

He had 57% health remaining.

‘Did he just lose 43% from that attack?’

I only pierced his shoulder, and he lost 43%?

“Good! Since you got the first attack, now it’s my turn. I shall proceed!”

Suddenly, Kumgui loosened the left side of his robe.

Then he brought the sword to his arm, and—

[★★★ Dancheong Blazing Passion Sword Demon: Rage of Embers effect!]

Swoosh!

‘Huh?’

Before I could react, he cut off his own arm.

The sudden sight left me speechless.

“What!”

“Hm? Hahaha! No need to be so shocked! It’s just my trait. When I lose 40% health, I lose an additional 10% as a special effect.”

“But without an arm…”

“Do you think that makes me weaker? Not at all! I originally had one arm missing. This is just me returning to my true form.”

“You originally didn’t have an arm? What’s that about?”

“Hm? It’s a visual change—a missing arm. The Valkyrie said a one-armed look was ugly. Doesn’t it look real?”

Kumgui laughed, kicking his fallen arm.

‘So his left arm was originally missing?’

Kumgui wielded his sword with just his right arm.

The one-armed Kumgui looked sharper than before.

“I’ve lived my whole life in this body, so there’s no better body for showing off my organs. By the way, have you heard of the ‘One Strike’?”

“Ah, yes. The ability used to finish off bosses, right?”

“That’s right! Especially in major battles, the One Strike is an essential finishing move. It can turn the tide in a single blow. Countering it is the key to winning major battles.”

“Counter it? How?”

“Defeat the opponent before they can use One Strike. That’s the core and foundation of battle strategy. You just failed at that.”

Kumgui’s eyes gleamed as he spoke.

Shhhh…!

Steam slowly rose from Kumgui’s body.

That shimmering heat soon signaled the start of his attack.

I kept my guard up and raised my shield.

“It doesn’t really matter. No matter how powerful the One Strike is, there’s always a way to respond.”

“Hm? How?”

“You can’t control your body during the One Strike, right? That’s its weakness.”

“Hahaha! You already figured that out? You’re right! You can’t control your body during One Strike! But since you don’t know this, I’ll teach you. Active One Strike has a condition. Your health must fall below half. So you have to finish things quickly as soon as you hit half. Then you can end it without even seeing the One Strike.”

“Ah, so that’s why.”

I nodded at Kumgui’s words.

Come to think of it, Diablo was the same.

He only used the One Strike after dropping to half health.

I thought he was saving a secret move, but it was actually unusable until then.

‘Besides…’

The One Strike was terrifying, just as Kumgui said.

It almost cost me a fight I was winning.

His explanation of the strategy made sense.

“But it’s not easy to counter. This is Dancheong School’s secret technique. The Four Great Swords, the very swords players fear the most. They strike suddenly, despairing and frustrating the players.”

Suddenly, Kumgui’s atmosphere changed.

The veins on his sword arm bulged thickly.

‘Was he about to rush in?’

‘Or was he about to release some kind of sword aura or energy?’

“Try to block this. Dancheong School First Form.”

Thud!

The ground beneath Kumgui sank.

Through the slowly rising mirage, his eyes sharpened.

“Emergency Sword Thrust.”