Chapter 120

120.

A mana core is created, and it absorbs the mana from all over the world.

The performance of this technique, temporarily named ‘mana breathing,’ thrilled my heart even though I had not yet fully utilized it.

Mana circulated infinitely around the core, and the power that surpassed its limits continuously filled my entire body.

It felt as though my whole body had turned into mana. There was a reason I felt such a strong sense of omnipotence when I opened my eyes after completing the creation of the core. I felt that I could easily destroy a building with my bare hands if I wanted to.

‘Condensation has improved.’

When mana users exert their power, free-floating mana gathers around them. As Nia explained, this is called the condensation of mana.

The enhanced senses confirmed it. I could control all the mana spread across this area.

Thus, beyond simply cutting through steel…

I could cut through anything that I wished, just like when Helsia accumulated power during her visit to the capital.

‘So this is how it’s done.’

Uooong—

A blue particle swirled and gathered around the sword raised high, despite the fact that I had just absorbed all the surrounding mana when creating the core. Its momentum was considerable.

Helsia must have planned to shape the condensed mana into a storm and then detonate it.

Had such a storm been unleashed in Palamtiar, the capital would have been half-destroyed before anyone could react.

The amount of mana gathering around the sword was no laughing matter. The mana, which was clearly visible as individual blue particles, seemed to form a massive wave.

‘How should I use this?’

This time, I wasn’t dealing with a storm. I just needed a massive slash powerful enough to split that enormous tree in one go.

‘I’ll refine it with a sword.’

After reshaping the mana into the form of a sword, I would swing it as though performing actual sword techniques. The method of shaping forms was already something I knew.

“….”

I closed my eyes to focus and retraced my memories.

Nia explained that mana responds to the user’s requests and fulfills their desires. Her use of techniques such as spatial teleportation and ice spears followed this pattern, and this was how wizards handled mana.

However, mana users employ a different approach.

If wizards make requests,

mana users enforce their will.

They forcibly pull in mana, assign it a purpose, and realize it.

‘…What is swordsmanship?’

Since regaining the memories of my past life at the age of ten,

I have never let go of my sword. I practiced endlessly to master the basics before meeting my master.

Even after meeting my master, this did not change.

Despite learning countless techniques and flashy movements from my master, it all always came back to the basics in the end.

Block, cut, stab.

Add great power and speed.

With a flowing sword slice, cut through steel, pierce through iron walls.

Swordsmanship to me is the basics.

An unadorned technique that cuts through the target. It is the same whether the target is a person or a giant tree.

Swordsmanship is life to me.

Therefore, I prove my existence by cutting through everything in my way.

Gathering the mana suspended in the air into the blade, and raising the sword like its handle above my head,

Uooong—

Beyond the ashen sky,

I could feel the enormous condensation of mana shaped into a sword and slowly opened my eyes.

‘I’m cutting the tree.’

My first sword technique utilizing mana.

In the middle of the snowstorm, an unwavering barrier. Looking up at the towering trunk of the rotten tree, I lightly drew the sword.

“…Splitting firewood.”

For a moment, the world seemed to disconnect, and no sound could be heard.

In such a silent world.

Creeaaaak.

The final wail of the rotten tree spread.

‘It’s over.’

My life has once again cut through a great barrier and left a mark on the world.

Having sheathed the sword, I turned my gaze again.

The sky, where the snowstorm had disappeared, was blindingly bright.

***

“Feels like it’s just a step away, doesn’t it…?”

Arthur had no time to think what Cain’s muttering meant after cutting down the tree.

The last thing vividly etched in his wide-open eyes was Cain’s back looking up at the blue sky.

‘Did he transcend a realm in that short time?’

Cain suddenly announced that he would break the rotten tree.

How could he possibly break such an absurdly large tree? Was he planning to use the explosion he used to sweep away the bug monsters?

The power that instantly eradicated the monster and even caused a slight earthquake was indeed formidable. If that powerful explosion were struck dozens of times, even the sturdy Devalleta Castle might fall.

However, the massive, thick tree in front of him was far beyond anything like a castle.

From a distance, it looked like a tree, but up close, it felt like a wall of steel rather than a tree.

Even with such powerful explosions, it would be difficult. Considering mana recovery, it would certainly take a long time, akin to Erika’s work.

That was the common opinion of Arthur and the knights.

Of course, this opinion was quickly erased from their minds.

Cain, who instructed people to step back, suddenly sat down cross-legged on the bare ground with his eyes closed.

It was the first time Arthur had seen such a posture.

Sitting with legs crossed, palms facing the sky, placed on the knees—it was a strange yet mysterious position.

Up to this point, most knights were just curious.

The issue arose next.

Mana swirled around Cain as he sat there. This was a common occurrence when superhumans handled mana, but something strange started happening at one point.

Arthur could clearly see Cain’s transformation, and without thinking, he gasped in shock.

The blue flames burning within him—wasn’t that the twisted form of mana users’ flames?

Cain’s flames were massive, like a great fire disaster. Then, they started shrinking, eventually reducing to the size of a human-sized sphere.

The transformation of this eternal symbol of superhumans was astonishing, but the thing that shocked Arthur and the others next was even more so.

Blood was flowing from every orifice of Cain.

At this sight, the Holy Maiden and the wizard screamed, but then could not utter another sound.

Snow piles suddenly melted, then froze again abruptly.

Cain’s surroundings became a chaotic scene as if a war had erupted.

Perhaps something was going wrong.

The Holy Maiden and the wizard tried to approach to check, but Arthur, realizing this suddenly, blocked their way.

Though intimidated by the sharp gaze of the two, Arthur firmly shook his head.

For unknown reasons, external intervention should not occur now. This was a crucial moment in a realm advancement, and if the two were to make contact, it could cause great disaster.

Thus, Arthur blocked the path of the Holy Maiden and the wizard based on his intuition as a mana user, which fortunately did not lead him astray.

Calmly gathering mana as if about to devour all the mana in the world, Cain rose with a tranquil look.

“…Swordmaster?”

The mutter slipped out, but Arthur shook his head.

Something was different.

After rising, Cain immediately pulled out his sword. Then, mana coalesced around the blade, shining with a blue light.

The blue mana was a symbol of the Swordmaster.

Transcenders express their inner flames to the world, so the mana bound to the sword burns like a blue flame, they say.

According to the superhumans who witnessed the deeds when Helsia erased the sandstorm,

or when Landeck annihilated the horde of monsters,

that’s what they said.

However, Cain’s sword only emitted blue light but did not burn like a flame.

It was as if…

‘Mana itself has transformed into a sword.’

While Arthur was pondering this strange sensation, Cain quietly opened his eyes and whispered as he swung the sword.

“…Splitting firewood.”

By the time Cain’s sword approached the ground neither too fast nor too slow,

“Haaah…!”

Arthur collapsed, overcome by the chilling sensation that the entire world was being severed.

And then.

Creeaaak.

The rotten tree, split in two, met its end, and the fierce snowstorm that had been raging disappeared completely.

The sword mark extended from the clear sky to the tree on the ground.

Arthur got up and stared blankly at the strike imprinted on the world.

Cain was conversing with the women rushing toward him.

“…Erika. And, everyone.”

Arthur resolutely moved his feet.

Cain was still incomprehensibly strong, as he was in the capital, and even now, after a long period of time has passed.

Even though he became a mana user,

Arthur couldn’t even follow in his footsteps.

He lacked the strength to protect someone precious, even after being granted a new life.

Crunch.

People turned their gazes toward the distinct sound of snow being stepped on.

“Your Highness. Sir Macbilian.”

Amid the perplexed gazes, Arthur knelt before Cain and pleaded.

“Please, accept me as your disciple.”

*

By the time Cain shattered the rotten tree and also removed the surrounding trees,

a minor disturbance broke out in Solorun, as usual fending off monster and beast attacks.

“Lord! Lord!”

An urgent voice echoed through the tranquil Lord’s Castle, and Wyatt Trios immediately put down his feather pen and stood up.

The city’s conditions had improved somewhat thanks to the massive supplies gifted by Cain’s group.

Ordinary matters wouldn’t cause soldiers to urgently seek out Wyatt. Since dealing with monsters or beasts was everyday life, they wouldn’t raise such a commotion over it.

With the office door wide open, Wyatt asked the bodyguard who had lifted his hand.

“What is the matter?”

“Courier. Collect yourself and state your business.”

“Yes, yes! Hoo… Haa…”

The courier, regaining his breath, spoke calmly.

“I report! The weather around the castle is changing! The snowstorm is stopping!”

“What?”

Wyatt and the knight exchanged surprised glances.

“Am I hallucinating?”

“No, sir! Not only me, but every soldier on duty at the castle wall has clearly seen it! The blue sky, we see the blue sky!”

The soldier’s teary yell made Wyatt hurry his steps.

With the knight’s support, Wyatt climbed to a high place of the castle and, looking beyond the fortress, opened his trembling voice.

“Lieur Knight.”

“…Yes, my Lord.”

To the knight’s equally emotional response, Wyatt said,

“The snowstorm has vanished. Prepare… prepare a letter. Right away!”

“Knight Lieur! As you command!”

Wyatt watched the knight sprinting down with strong strides and then turned his gaze again.

Beyond Solorun Castle,

the bright sunlight of the blue sky hovered.

“…Reios, my departed friend.”

Just as my father once helped the north,

this time it’s my son helping the north.

“Now I have a debt I can never repay.”

Leaving behind the cheers echoing in the city center, Wyatt carefully wiped away his tears.