Chapter 35: The Swordmaster’s Wall

The crown prince coronation ceremony likely hadn’t ended yet.

And that wasn’t all.

The Abyss members Gaon had killed were either high-ranking officials or nobles with territories.

A meeting to handle the aftermath was scheduled after the ceremony.

So why had Bring left the conference hall?

It didn’t make sense.

Soon, Bring arrived.

“Thank you for waiting. I am Bring, head of the Amoa Ducal House,” he said, bowing with gratitude.

“I know. The only Swordmaster in the Raco Kingdom,” Gaon replied, cutting to the clue.

“But the meeting doesn’t seem over. Why are you here?”

“Well…” Bring hesitated, gauging Gaon’s reaction.

Gaon noticed his demeanor and thought, A request?

Bring’s behavior was like that of someone weighing whether to ask for a favor.

“Got something to ask?”

“…Yes, I have a request,” Bring admitted.

“Then don’t hesitate—just say it. I’ll decide whether to grant it,” Gaon said.

With a resolute expression, Bring spoke.

“I crossed the first wall twelve years ago.”

He had become a Swordmaster.

But reaching that level wasn’t the end.

“Five years ago, I faced the second wall.”

Seven years after becoming a Swordmaster—five years ago from now—Bring had encountered the second wall.

“And I still haven’t crossed it.”

He had trained tirelessly, hunted monsters and demonic beasts, and even consumed elixirs to increase his energy, practicing cultivation to amplify it.

Yet, no matter how much energy he amassed, he couldn’t break through.

He had no clue how to surpass it and feared he might never do so in his lifetime.

“Please, through a spar, grant me guidance.”

Meeting Gaon had been a shock.

The brief glimpse of Gaon’s power left a profound impact.

Afterward, Bring had asked Muratone about Gaon’s identity.

Upon learning it, he was certain: Gaon could provide the clue to crossing the second wall.

Sparring with someone of Gaon’s overwhelming strength would surely bring enlightenment.

Of course, if Gaon refused, that would be the end of it.

As the kingdom’s benefactor, Bring couldn’t attack him outright.

So, he looked at Gaon with desperate eyes.

…Tch.

Gaon let out a small sound at Bring’s gaze.

I get it. He’s stuck.

He understood Bring’s urgency.

This opportunity for enlightenment was likely more important to Bring than anything else.

Fine, I was curious anyway.

Gaon made his decision: he would spar with Bring.

He had been wondering what the outcome would be against a Swordmaster.

Not a magical duel—he had fought countless such battles, including life-or-death ones, against foes far stronger than Bring.

While switching his foundation from mana to Pacheongi warranted a check, it wasn’t his main curiosity.

What Gaon wanted to test was how his swordsmanship, honed in this life, would fare against a Swordmaster.

“Alright,” Gaon said.

Bring’s face lit up, and Gaon pulled a sword from his pocket.

“Why a sword…?”

Bring, still smiling, was taken aback.

Was Gaon, a mage, planning to face a Swordmaster with a sword?

“Don’t misunderstand. I’m not mocking you,” Gaon said with a faint smile.

“I want to test something. After that, I’ll fight properly. Consider it the price of the spar.”

“Oh, I understand,” Bring replied, wiping the confusion from his face.

He still didn’t grasp what Gaon wanted to test, but since he promised a proper fight afterward, Bring let it go.

Whoosh!

A translucent barrier formed around them.

Bring swallowed hard, sensing the immense energy radiating from it.

It would take his full strength to break through.

…8th Circle?

He had assumed Gaon was 7th Circle, given his Archmage status.

But the barrier made him wonder if Gaon was 8th Circle.

There were only two known 8th Circle mages on the continent: Urt, Master of Galion Tower, and Arcane, Master of Lebrick Tower.

Both had betrayed humanity and joined the demonic realm.

Yet Gaon showed no trace of demonic energy.

No, probably not, Bring dismissed the thought.

As he pondered, Gaon raised his sword, striking a stance.

“Let’s begin.”

…!

Bring was stunned.

Gaon’s stance was full of openings—so many that he wondered where to strike.

But then, unease crept in.

Were these real openings?

What if they were intentional?

What would happen if he attacked?

He put himself in Gaon’s shoes.

If he were Gaon, what would he do?

He quickly realized: these weren’t openings—they were traps.

If he attacked, he’d be the one in trouble.

No choice.

If there were no real openings, he didn’t need to target weaknesses.

He could clash head-on.

He seems to have some understanding…

The traps were impressive enough to surprise even Bring.

To overpower them, he’d need about 30% of his full strength.

“Here I come,” Bring said, closing the distance.

In an instant, he was upon Gaon, swinging his sword to knock Gaon’s blade away.

Gaon didn’t dodge, swinging his sword to meet Bring’s.

Clang!

A clear metallic sound rang out.

…!

Bring was shocked.

He had intended to disarm Gaon instantly, but the energy in Gaon’s sword was stronger than expected.

More than that, Gaon read the flow of the strike perfectly—something impossible without skill, no matter how much energy was used.

A fluke?

Though unlikely, it was possible.

Bring swung his sword several more times.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

The metallic sounds echoed, but he failed to disarm Gaon.

He was certain now: it wasn’t a fluke.

Whoosh!

“Gasp!”

Bring flinched, twisting his body to dodge an unexpected strike from Gaon.

He retreated to create distance.

Thankfully, Gaon didn’t pursue, allowing Bring to regain his footing.

But then he was horrified.

Thankful?

He had felt relief that Gaon didn’t press the attack.

That was the problem.

He had essentially lost to Gaon, a mage, in swordsmanship.

Even if it wasn’t his full strength, it was absurd.

How…?

It didn’t make sense.

How could Gaon, a mage, be so skilled with a sword?

“I’d like you to get serious. Full strength is fine,” Gaon said.

“…Full strength?” Bring asked, bewildered.

Gaon smirked.

“How many Swordmasters do you think I’ve faced? You’re not underestimating me, are you?”

“N-No, that’s not it!”

“And I never said I’d only use a sword. Go all out.”

“…Understood. My apologies.”

Bring apologized and began channeling his full energy.

Gaon didn’t stand idle.

“Haste. Strength.”

He cast buffs on himself—7th Circle Archmage-level Haste and Strength.

His already formidable physical abilities surged.

“Here I come again,” Bring said.

Gaon nodded, and Bring stepped forward.

Whoosh!

In an instant, Bring closed the distance, thrusting his sword—not to disarm, but aiming for Gaon’s shoulder.

Gaon wasn’t fazed by the target.

…This is his full strength?

He had told Bring to go all out, and Bring had agreed.

While faster than before, it was still something Gaon could handle without magic.

Clang!

Gaon deflected the strike aimed at his shoulder.

Bring redirected his blade, attacking again.

Gaon continued parrying, thinking, There’s no clear way to counter him.

Initially, he thought he could handle Bring without magic.

But as time passed, Bring’s swordplay grew more intricate.

Thanks to Gaon’s vast experience and enhanced physique, he could keep up—but that was all.

He couldn’t find an opening to attack.

This was purely about swordsmanship.

What about Pacheon Swordsmanship?

Gaon hadn’t yet used Pacheon Swordsmanship.

He raised his sword, aiming a downward slash at Bring.

Bring dodged instead of clashing.

Gaon’s sword cut through empty air—but that was his plan.

He swung upward, unleashing the first form of Pacheon Swordsmanship.

Whoosh! Crunch!

The sword tore through space itself.

…!

Bring, shocked, swung his sword to counter.

But the strike was too powerful, distorting space.

Unable to redirect it, he leaped back.

Gaon didn’t pursue.

He had confirmed that Pacheon Swordsmanship worked.

That was enough.

Bring, stunned, asked, “Was that your swordsmanship?”

“Not mine. I didn’t create it,” Gaon replied.

“It’s impressive,” Bring said, awed.

“Yeah, it surprises me too.”

Bring, still reeling, thought, He’s clearly a mage…

It was bewildering.

Gaon was an Archmage, yet his swordsmanship was extraordinary.

That last strike had shocked even Bring.

In his view, Gaon had already reached Swordmaster level.

An Archmage and a Swordmaster?

If Bring hadn’t seen it himself, he wouldn’t have believed it.

“Let’s stop with the sword for now,” Gaon said, pocketing his blade.

He had tested everything he wanted.

“Want me to go all out?”

“…Please,” Bring said, swallowing hard and nodding.

Gaon nodded back and cast, “Dig!”

Whoosh!

The ground beneath Bring vanished.

He hurriedly unleashed his energy, leaping into the air.

Then he saw countless wind blades.

What casting speed!

It was absurdly fast.

Bring kicked off the air, deflecting the blades.

This power…

It wasn’t just the speed—the blades were incredibly strong.

His hands tingled just from parrying.

If I took a direct hit…

Even with his sturdy physique, a direct hit would have caused serious injury.

At that moment—

…!

Bring looked up, sensing intense energy above.

It was a magic circle, unleashing multiple lightning bolts.

Crackle! Crackle!

…!

Bring’s eyes snapped open as he bolted upright, looking around.

He was in an unfamiliar place.

Creak.

The door opened, and someone entered.

“Muratone!”

It was the 1st Knight Commander.

“Oh, you’re awake,” Muratone said with a relieved exclamation.

“What happened? Where’s Gaon-nim?”

It wasn’t a dream.

He vividly remembered enduring four lightning bolts.

His body still bore the aftereffects of the spar.

“I don’t know the details. When I arrived, you were already unconscious. Gaon-nim told me to take you,” Muratone explained.

“…How long was I out?”

“Two full days.”

“…What?”