NOVEL NEXT Chapter 168 - Purgatory (5)
Chapter 168
Purgatory (5)
Harungel’s swordsmanship.
The first half is the sword he developed to survive on the battlefield, while the second half is the sword he created by projecting himself onto the moon.
“The swordsmanship he created, the first and the second are the exact opposite of each other.”
“Strong and gentle?”
“That’s right.”
Sam nodded his head.
“The other Transcendents here, and the ones who compete in the Central League, most of them use swordsmanship with one aspect.”
“….”
“If a sword technique is inspired by a plum blossom, it will generate various sword techniques based on the plum blossom’s color. If it’s a sword art inspired by the sea, it’s often based on the movement of the sea or the waves.”
In contrast to other swordsmen, Harungel developed his sword on the battlefield.
A sword that he tailored for himself.
“Basically, the Sword Master’s sword technique is difficult for others to master. Because it was created solely for him.”
“I see.”, intoned by Redin.
“And the swordsmanship created on the battlefield had clear limitations. To surpass them, he created the mid-stage form, but even that had clear limitations.”
He listened intently to Sam’s words.
“So, he combined everything he had to create the final swordsmanship, which could be called the late stage. From now on, you’ll be learning that final technique.”
“Understood.”
Nodding, he followed Sam and stood at the center of the room.
“Lift this sword.”
The sword Sam handed him was shaped exactly like the Famous Sword Cairo.
“This…..”
“It’s modeled after the sword wielded by the Sword Master. The fastest way to learn swordsmanship is to use the same sword he used.”
The sword handle felt familiar in his hand.
Gripping the hilt with both hands he raised the sword.
His face was reflected in the smooth blade.
Not being accustomed to looking at mirrors often, his face felt somewhat awkward.
Should he call this current appearance his own face?
This is clearly Redin’s face. He just possessed Redin’s body.
“Can you see your face?”
“….Yes.”
“That’s not a very confident response. Do you not normally like the way you look?”
“It’s not like that.”
“Then accept yourself for who you are. Recognize yourself, accept yourself, because that’s the first step.”
Acknowledging and accepting oneself.
When he first opened his eyes in this world, he was distracted by the explosion of the ship, and all he could think of was the desire to live.
It was the same when he killed the Prisoner and acquired the Eye of Arrakis.
To kill the Demon and return to the world he came from.
To do that, he had to become stronger.
As he did that, he thinks the idea of possessing Redin’s body seemed to remain strong in his subconscious.
A real-life survival game with the character Redin.
He didn’t look in the mirror very often.
Because every time he looked in the mirror, it felt so strange not seeing his own face.
A face so different from reality.
“Huu…”
Taking a deep breath, he focused on the blade of the sword.
As he stared at his reflection, a thought occurred to him.
The souls of his parents, who he met here.
When he recalled their words, they spoke as if this was not just a game world.
It occurred to him that maybe he was the real Redin, and the version of him in the real world was a fake.
He stared at the sword again.
His hair was longer and his features a little sharper than when he’d first woken up on the ship to Burning Hell.
Looking at himself now, he asked deep in his mind.
‘Is this me?’
And then the reflection of his mouth moved.
‘Okay. I am you.’
At that moment, a strange sensation came over him that was hard to explain. A feeling of languidness coupled with a floating sensation.
Various scenes and emotions flashed through his mind.
Memories he had in reality.
The memories he gained upon waking up here.
The two memories merged into one, as though they were being blended together in a blender.
*Flash*
Opening his eyes, he looked at the sword blade, but he couldn’t see his face.
Inside the scabbard was a sword.
He was holding the famous sword, Cairo.
“Only when you accept yourself can you fully accept the sword you hold.”
‘I am the sword, and the sword is me.’
[Divine Sword Unity].¹
Looking at the sword within the sword, memories of his time with Cairo flashed through his mind.
How he’d wielded the sword.
How they had worked together.
From the perspective of the sword being wielded.
As thoughts intertwined and deepened, it was as if he were dreaming of becoming the sword. Everything replayed from the sword’s perspective.
Thus, his memories and the memories of the sword merged into one.
[Become one with the sword].
[The level of Divine Sword Unity has increased].
[Your level of Enlightenment is very high].
[Divine Sword Unity (Beginner) becomes Divine Sword Unity (Advanced)]
[Divine Sword Unity (Advanced)]
-You have truly become one with your sword.
-When wielding your sword greatly increases your physical abilities and mana efficiency.
-Swordsmanship skills are greatly strengthened.
The messages didn’t stop there.
[Unlocked one of the restrictions on the Life and Death Gate].
[Obtained Divine Sword Unity (Advanced) (1/1)]
[Learn Advanced Swordsmanship Mastery (0/1)]
A condition has appeared that allows him to enter the Life and Death Gate.
Advance Swordsmanship.
This will be resolved naturally once he learns the second half of Harungel that Sam knows.
He looked at the sword in his hand, past the message.
It felt so natural in his hand that he didn’t even realize he was holding a sword.
“Try swinging it.”
He did as Sam suggested.
Lightly, he swept the sword from left to right.
Starting from the sword splitting the air, every detail was felt.
They really became one.
Now, it seemed like he could display Harungel’s swordsmanship better than ever before.
“Now let’s get started in earnest.”
“Yes.”
He ceased swinging the sword and listened intently to Sam’s words.
“The second part of swordsmanship isn’t for beginners. It’s not just about how to use a sword, it’s about the art beyond that.”
“….”
“A sword beyond the framework of the basics. The Sword Master called this the ‘Moonlight Sword.’ From now on, our goal is for you to master the Moonlight Sword.”
The Moonlight Sword.
Could that mean the Sword Saint is obsessed with the moon?
“Yes.”
“Then let us begin. Prepare yourself. It won’t be easy to master this sword.”
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Ten days have passed.
Excluding rest time, all time was invested in mastering the Moonlight Sword, yet only the basics were accomplished.
“You’re an amazing talent to learn the basics in ten days.”
Sam sounded impressed, but he didn’t have much time left.
He only has eight days left in Purgatory.
Before leaving Purgatory, Redin wanted to properly master the Moonlight Sword.
“If I want to get more adept, real combat is the best way.”
He stopped training in the Academy and scheduled another match.
After the Divine Sword Unity was promoted to Advanced.
It became easier to defeat advanced experts without having to use any special skills.
Five matches a day.
Racking up overwhelming consecutive victories, he advanced to the Central League. And now, another day has passed.
Redin has his first duel with a Master-level opponent.
“That fellow is the one who just joined the Sword Saint Dojo, right?”
“Both the guy in the black hood and that fellow. Skilled individuals have been coming up one after another this time.”
“Isn’t the guy in the black hood still competing in matches every day?”
“He’s completely insane.”
“Look at that guy’s eyes. It’s intense.”
“Wow. Is there something going on in Purgatory? It’d be fun to see those two fight, and it’d be interesting if they both moved up at the same time.”
“Is a new Transcendent about to emerge?”
Redin pushed away the surrounding chatter and focused on steadying his breathing.
As he entered the arena, he spotted his opponent.
This time, it was someone who wielded a sword like him.
“Facing off against the protagonist of rumors like this feels like an honor, doesn’t it?”
His opponent curled a lopsided smirk.
Looking at him, Redin brought his sword up.
A sword that resembled the Cairo that Sam had handed him.
He took a ready stance, poised to pounce first.
“Let the match begin!”
“Waaaaaah!”
Amidst the shouts pouring in from all directions, he dashed forward. Swinging his sword towards his opponent.
*Swish!*
The opponent, having dodged the attack, retaliated.
*Clang!*
He met his opponent’s sword and measured their skill. As someone who had reached the master level, he was able to conceal his strength.
But it was the same for the other party.
As long as he concealed his strength, that guy won’t be able to easily charge at him either.
*Clang!*
*Clang!*
They continued exchanging swords and he delivered a few half moon waves. It was his opponent who ended the probing battle.
“Boring. Let’s end it.”
His opponent lunged at him with a look of confidence on their face.
The reason was obvious.
He was intentionally hiding his strength, and this was his first match in the Central League. His opponent, on the other hand, had been competing in the Central League for months.
They were naturally overconfident in their own abilities.
*Whiirrr!*
The aura blade from his opponent’s sword shone brilliantly and lashed out.
The aura blade whipped about like a whip.
As he watched his opponent’s curving attack, he used a Full Moon Slash.²
A blue full moon drew out, as he slashed at his opponent.
*Crack!*
The whip-like aura blade disappeared, and with a full moon sword strike, the opponent’s body was sliced in half.
“Match over!”
He slowly walked over and picked up the experience orb that his opponent had dropped.
The experience of a Master-level powerhouse.
As he picked it up and swallowed it, everything they had accumulated flowed into him. He used those memories to increase his proficiency with the Moonlight Sword.
A feeling of increased certainty.
With a few more experience orbs, he should be able to reach the first step in mastering the Moonlight Sword.
“Time to fight diligently.”
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The Great Hall in the Upper League.
Despite its reputation in the Upper League, the Great Hall was modest.
A long grayish table.
Ten chairs were placed around it.
*Creak!*
The door to the chamber opened, revealing the Transcendents. The Transcendents, in their various guises, took their assigned seats.
The room was about half full.
The man sitting at the far end spoke up.
“I hear the Central League has been rather lively lately.”
“They say two or three individuals who show signs of being transcendents have appeared?”
The woman in the middle of the table paid attention. The man looked at her and nodded.
“One of them is from the Demon God Church, and the other is said to have received training at the Sword Saint Dojo, right? They’re really remarkable individuals.”
“Why?”
“Demon Church and swordsmanship, they came from the same worldview.”
“Oh, really?”
The conversation between the two went no further.
At the center of the discussion, Sword Saint.
A gray-haired man walked into the room. He took a seat right next to the head of the table, sat down, and crossed his arms.
He was followed by a man with blue hair who sat at the head of the room.
The man known here as Mushin.³
“Is everyone here?”
Those who attended the meeting nodded in agreement at the words of the Mushin. Observing this, the Mushin opened his mouth
“It seems there are rats in Purgatory, and we need to discuss what to do about it.”
** ** **
TL/N:
Ref Ch 69
Full Moon Slash
무신” (Mu-Shin) – translated to “Unsinkable” or “Indomitable”. It refers to someone or something that cannot be defeated or overcome, often possessing a strong and resilient spirit or character.