Chapter 131 : Chapter 131
Chapter 131. Reunion (2)
Martial Sovereign Castle Northern Branch grand training hall.
Dam Jeok-san surveyed the place with eyes steeped in sentiment.
When he had first arrived in the north, this was the very spot where he had sparred with Baek Ri-gwan.
From that day to today, barely half a year had passed. Compared to the years Dam Jeok-san had wasted after losing his Dantian, it was truly but a fleeting instant.
Yet during that half year, Dam Jeok-san's life had completely changed.
The greatest proof of this was—
"Monster Repelling Squad Leader Dam Jeok-san, are you ready?"
The opponent standing across from him.
Half a year ago, Dam Jeok-san had faced Monster Repelling Squad Leader Baek Ri-gwan on this spot, a swordsman who had reached the extreme of the Peak stage.
And now he faced Northern Heaven Sword Venerable, a swordsman who had reached the Entering Transformation Realm and was the head of Martial Sovereign Castle's Northern Branch.
"……Please grant me a little more time."
Dam Jeok-san spoke while forcibly swallowing a sigh.
'How did things come to this?'
Northern Heaven Sword Venerable had learned of Dam Jeok-san's appointment as Northern Wind Sword Corps Commander even before he arrived, through a carrier hawk trained to near-Spiritual Creature levels.
What she thought upon hearing that news, Dam Jeok-san did not know.
Had she felt proud and happy? Perhaps she had felt puzzled. While it was true that Dam Jeok-san was growing at an astonishing rate, the position of Northern Wind Sword Corps Commander was not something a still-growing rising talent could handle.
In any case, she had set him one test.
— Endure.
— The time limit is one double hour. Do not let your sword leave your hand, and do not lose your fighting spirit. Endure.
An extremely harsh test. Among masters who had reached the Entering Transformation Realm, Un Wol-hyang of Northern Heaven Sword Venerable had reached a level that could easily be counted on one hand.
'And she has become even stronger in the meantime.'
By Dam Jeok-san's shallow judgment, she seemed to be on par with Heaven-Transcending Blood Venerable, or perhaps just slightly below him.
Considering her age, it was an astonishing achievement.
What mattered, however, was that Dam Jeok-san had to endure against her.
'The content of the test itself is not unreasonable.'
The Northern Wind Sword Corps Commander was a bulwark protecting the north.
Even if a Monster King were to manifest, he had to lead the sword corps and endure for one double hour. Until allied forces could join them in the north.
'That is the minimum requirement.'
Therefore, Un Wol-hyang's demand that he endure one double hour against her was not just reasonable but a merciful condition.
However, just because it was merciful did not mean the current Dam Jeok-san could easily handle it.
Northern Heaven Sword Venerable was strong. Even though Dam Jeok-san had reached the edge of Ultra-Peak, the gap between them was still vast.
If she harbored the will to kill, even receiving a single One Sword strike would not be easy.
Dam Jeok-san steadied his mind and calmed his breathing.
There was no time for idle thoughts. If he did not maintain his optimal state, he would die in an instant.
"I am ready, please come."
He spoke while lowering his two swords. At a glance, it seemed as if all strength had left his body, but it was a stance from which he could respond like lightning no matter where an attack came from.
"Good."
The moment Un Wol-hyang's lips moved, the entire training hall was engulfed in brilliant sword light.
* * *
"……Does he have any chance of winning this fight?"
The former Monster Repelling Squad Leader, current Monster Repelling Squad Vice-Squad Leader Baek Ri-gwan swallowed hard as he asked.
"Who knows."
Severing Sword Squad Leader Lee Myeong-gi shook his head with an uncertain voice.
Normally, it would be impossible.
But the opponent was that Dam Jeok-san.
That Dam Jeok-san who had defeated Lee Myeong-gi when he was merely a Peak stage master.
And that Dam Jeok-san who, barely half a year after heading to the north as if being driven out, had returned with a Northern Wind Sword Corps Commander appointment letter.
That Dam Jeok-san, who had reached a level where the alias Sword Dragon attached to a rising talent now felt far too light.
"This is a battle in a realm we cannot dare to fathom. Do not think to predict the outcome, just watch."
Lee Myeong-gi spoke to Baek Ri-gwan as if advising him.
"I will do so."
It was a duel between supreme masters that could not be easily witnessed. He had to watch without missing even a single hair. Baek Ri-gwan agreed with this and fixed his gaze on the two.
However.
"The Young Master will endure."
Black Panther Spear Jang Woo-ryang's thoughts were different. He spoke with a voice full of certainty as he walked between the two squad leaders.
As if proving the claim that he was on the verge of Ultra-Peak, a weighty aura that did not yield in the slightest even before Lee Myeong-gi and Baek Ri-gwan could be felt.
"Ho."
At those words, Lee Myeong-gi's eyes gleamed with interest.
"Why are you so certain? Is it merely loyalty to your lord?"
"No."
Black Panther Spear shook his head immediately.
His loyalty to Dam Jeok-san was naturally abundant. But that was not the reason for his words.
"Because the Young Master…… is certain himself."
That he can endure.
Of course, anxiety and nervousness were nakedly displayed on Dam Jeok-san's face.
But Black Panther Spear looked beyond that, deep into his eyes.
There, a flame of unwavering certainty flickered.
The very flame that had been visible when he had told him to survive and go together to the position of Lord of the Martial Sovereign Castle.
'As long as that flame does not extinguish, you will not be defeated.'
Black Panther Spear truly believed this.
"Certainty, certainty…… That is indeed important."
Unexpectedly, Lee Myeong-gi also nodded without finding fault.
He was a martial artist who had reached the realm of Ultra-Peak and could sense and utilize the Upper Dantian, even if only unconsciously.
Therefore, he knew. That something called 'certainty' truly did influence a martial artist's strength. And that certainty to an uncanny degree could truly alter reality.
Besides them, people watching the duel between Northern Heaven Sword Venerable and Dam Jeok-san could be seen throughout the training hall.
Most were squad leaders or vice-squad leaders of the Northern Military Corps—that is, masters of Peak stage or higher.
While everyone shared the desire to watch a duel between supreme masters, one had to be at least a Peak stage master to endure while feeling the shock waves they emitted on one's skin.
The views on this duel were quite varied.
However, what was certain was that most had bet on the side that Dam Jeok-san could not possibly become Northern Wind Sword Corps Commander.
The reason various views emerged was……
"He will last at least ten strikes, will he not?"
"After all, he did endure ten strikes from that General of the North."
"Ha! Is a general of the Yellow Army the same as our branch manager?"
"Hmm…… Still, he should endure thirty strikes. Look at the momentum the Monster Repelling Squad Leader is emanating. His Internal energy Refinement Level is tremendous."
It was about 'how long he would last.'
Gyeong-un remained silently mixed among those debating about him.
That all of them were wrong anyway. That his lord would surely succeed. He believed this.
Soon after, Northern Heaven Sword Venerable drew her sword. The entire world was covered in sword light. The aftermath of One Sword swept in all directions in concentric circles like ripples. The Peak stage masters in the training hall had to draw their weapons and swing them fiercely to survive.
And at the center of that intense shock wave,
Dam Jeok-san could be seen calmly blocking the sword strike.
* * *
"Not bad."
Un Wol-hyang looked at Dam Jeok-san, who had lightly blocked her first strike, with admiration.
It was not just a flashy slash, but a Killing Move.
Of course, she had not thought Dam Jeok-san would die from just this much, but she had thought she could at least clearly show the difference in their levels.
"You have become stronger than I expected."
Un Wol-hyang, who had gotten close to him in an instant, whispered near his ear.
"……"
"And you deceived my attention."
Un Wol-hyang had judged that Dam Jeok-san had reached the edge of Ultra-Peak and had poured out sword strikes accordingly.
But to block those sword strikes this easily required being able to see the wall of Entering Transformation Realm, even if from afar, beyond the edge.
"I did not deceive you."
However, Dam Jeok-san shook his head.
The reason he could see the wall of Entering Transformation Realm was not because his martial achievement was outstanding.
It was simply because he had many opportunities to encounter masters who had reached Entering Transformation Realm.
Sometimes through life-and-death duels. Other times through sparring.
'Of course, that alone is not enough.'
The most important factor was Predator. The souls of Entering Transformation Realm masters absorbed whole through the Ability of Predator illuminated the path he should take.
Although it was not of direct help since the extremes they had reached and the extreme Dam Jeok-san pursued were different.
"Indeed."
Un Wol-hyang readily nodded. However, the pride and admiration in her eyes had not disappeared.
"But, Martial Nephew. You know that makes it even more remarkable, do you not?"
Un Wol-hyang whispered familiarly as usual.
The ability to accomplish what one cannot normally do. The self-mastery of defeating enemies one normally cannot defeat. Such things could not easily be possessed even if one reached an outstanding realm.
'The person themselves must be strong.'
And Dam Jeok-san was proving with his own body that he was such an existence.
"Monster Repelling Squad Leader, this is just the beginning. Keep your mind tight."
Un Wol-hyang, who had suddenly distanced herself from Dam Jeok-san, pointed her Sword Arc at him and spoke with a businesslike demeanor again.
At first, she had thought Eldest Senior Brother had made some mistaken judgment. That he was a martial artist who had entered the divine realm was something Un Wol-hyang also knew well.
'However, though monstrously strong, Eldest Senior Brother is also human.'
Un Wol-hyang had seen him make wrong judgments and suffer, and also seen him overcome that suffering to correct his mistakes.
That was why she could dare to disagree with the judgment of the Lord of the Martial Sovereign Castle, whom most of the castle worshiped like a god.
However, at least this time.
'You seem to be right, Eldest Senior Brother.'
Un Wol-hyang thought this as she swung her sword toward Dam Jeok-san.
She did not suppress her strength at all. Nor did she apply any restrictions or prohibitions. She was simply treating Dam Jeok-san with the intent to annihilate an enemy.
CRACK!
Soon, sword wounds began to form on Dam Jeok-san's skin.
Being able to endure did not mean suffering no damage at all.
If the Northern Wind Sword Corps Commander had to endure while waiting for rear reinforcements, he should be in a fight where death was confirmed from the start.
Un Wol-hyang intended to engrave that fact into Dam Jeok-san's bones.
Her sword momentum grew faster without end or limit. The slashes poured out with full force by a swordsman who had reached Entering Transformation Realm devoured the world.
Power capable of cleaving the world even without invoking Will.
The situation changed.
"Now then, Monster Repelling Squad Leader."
Un Wol-hyang smiled as she looked at Dam Jeok-san struggling amidst it all.
"Endure. Even if you must split your life to do so."
CRAAACK!
With those words, countless sword qi poured down like a torrential rain.
Dam Jeok-san clenched his molars and wildly swung his twin swords.
Deflect what could be deflected. Evade what could be evaded. For what was impossible even then, he had to endure by generating Repelling force.
'I took the test too lightly.'
Dam Jeok-san instinctively realized there was not an ounce of exaggeration in Un Wol-hyang's words.
This was a test to endure by splitting one's life from the start. It was not fighting to survive, but fighting to die as late as possible.
One double hour. During that time, which was long if long and short if short, he had to postpone death.
'I will just do it.'
Dam Jeok-san thought this as he re-gripped his swords.
Sword qi poured down like a torrential rain. Wounds multiplied across his body, and congested blood surged up from within.
A continuous series of moments where no one would find it strange if he died the very next instant.
He had to string those moments together to endure one double hour. Dam Jeok-san straightened his mind.
Thus, one tea-time passed.