164. Champion (1)
“Sssup, hoo!”
Baek Jinwoo, seated in the lotus position, began his breathing technique.
Right beside him. Rachel and Aso were sitting side by side.
The Holy King still seemed unprepared, and there had been no particular contact from him.
Ha.
We need to conquer the city quickly.
How long are they planning to keep us waiting... .
‘Did I beat them up that badly?’
It was unexpected.
And not just anywhere, but the main stronghold of the Holy Kingdom.
Couldn’t they just pour on some healing and patch their people up?!
Anyway.
Having secured training time was nice too.
‘The difficulty is no joke.’
He felt it again this time as well.
The Paladin Commander (S-rank), the Royal Guardian, and the Champion (S-rank).
Even dealing with them wouldn’t be easy, but Asmodeus’ side was far stronger than theirs.
Countless demon nobles and rare monsters.
Most of all.
‘Asmodeus.’
Just the thought of having to face that dreadful Demon King in person was already enough to give him chills.
‘I need to train hard while I still can.’
For reference, HunGyo had now started teaching with swordsmanship incorporated as well.
Heaven-Breaking Divine Art.
A martial art whose creator was unknown, and no one even knew who had mastered it.
It simply existed inside HunGyo’s head, and apparently it suited Aso perfectly.
—My lord, as expected, this martial art is the right fit. You may assume that whatever Aso can do, my lord can do as well.
‘Seriously.’
Baek Jinwoo shook his head.
‘This guy HunGyo always overestimates me.’
He knew to some degree that he himself was exceptional, but not to Aso’s extent.
Aso was...
A real monster.
“But.”
—Yes, my lord.
“This technique is different from the techniques of that one called Mugeuk Seonin, right?”
Mugeuk Seonin.
The very person behind the Clear Heaven Heart Technique he was learning!
—That is correct, my lord. Mugeuk Seonin’s martial arts are still too advanced for you to learn. Let us begin with the somewhat easier Heaven-Breaking Divine Art first.
Huh.
Mugeuk Seonin’s martial arts were difficult enough that even Aso wasn’t ready for them?
—My lord. And Aso. That is enough breathing for now, so pick up your wooden swords.
—Mm.
“Okay.”
Baek Jinwoo and Aso stood up.
Rachel remained seated.
HunGyo had recommended to her the basic heart technique, Tranquil Heart Technique.
Proper Sitting.
Sit in a comfortable posture and calm both body and mind.
Proper Breathing.
Slowly inhale through the nose and spread energy throughout the body.
“Ssssssup. ....!”
Then.
Circulation.
While holding the breath, slowly circulate that energy and calm the mind.
Proper Discharge.
Finally, exhale slowly while imagining the impurities inside the body being expelled.
“Fuhuuuuuu......!”
Usually, HunGyo tended to recommend this Tranquil Heart Technique often to ordinary modern people rather than martial artists.
It was not difficult to learn, it was good for one’s health, and above all, it was good for mental stability, apparently.
—You are doing well.
HunGyo praised Rachel.
—Stay focused without resting while I go teach my lord and Aso.
“...Got it.”
Rachel closed her eyes and nodded.
Seriously.
‘To think the day would come when I’d be trained by a summon.’
Life really is impossible to predict.
* * *
—The creator of the Heaven-Breaking Divine Art is unknown.
EX-grade HunGyo possessed tremendous knowledge about martial arts.
Because of that, before teaching one, he tended to explain its origins, transmission, and characteristics.
Originally, he had only been teaching it to Aso little by little.
But today.
For the first time, Baek Jinwoo was learning it too.
—However, judging from its contents... it is difficult to believe it was created by a human. It is quite literally a divine art. There is a high probability that it was created by a divine being.
“Oh.”
Baek Jinwoo, who had been listening, exclaimed in admiration.
The Heavenly Demon Divine Art , which Aso had once learned, the Peerless Great Ability, and the Sun-Pure Boundless Art.
Didn’t this seem far better than all three of those martial arts!
No matter how legendary the Heavenly Demon, Bodhidharma, and Zhang Sanfeng might have been, they could hardly compare to a god.
Even more chilling was this: the martial arts of that person called Mugeuk Seonin were said to surpass even this.
—In addition, this martial art cannot remain as a book. I do not know the reason. It seems to be a traditional one-person transmission martial art... but since the knowledge exists inside my head, I will do my utmost to pass it on.
“Okay.”
—First of all, the Heaven-Breaking Divine Art is a sword art.
Swoosh.
HunGyo picked up a wooden sword.
—There are a total of five secret techniques, but for now, there are only three that I can show you directly.
First.
World-Annihilation.
It was the martial art HunGyo had once used against Rachel’s White Tiger.
A thin, slender thread connected heaven and earth.
And in the end, it covered the universe.
A wide-area technique in which sword energy spread from the body like a spiderweb, completely sweeping everything in all directions!
Kwaaaaaaaaaa!
Even though it was only a wooden sword, an overwhelming force swept through the surrounding space.
—Though I am ashamed to say I have reached only 2 stars... this is World-Annihilation.
“This is 2 stars?”
—That is correct.
“Then what about mastery? Usually how many stars is that? 9? 10?”
—9 stars. Usually, up to 3 stars is considered the basic stage, and up to 6 stars the proficient stage. Beyond that, the differences in realm are countless depending on one’s enlightenment.
“Huh.”
Then this overwhelming thing was only the basic stage?
It really was chilling.
He thought they'd all become strong after equipping all our endgame runes and feeding them elixirs, but to think there were still countless ways left to become stronger…...
‘Well.’
That was part of the charm of Battle of Summoners too.
It was also why HunGyo, who drew out latent abilities and skills back then, had been such a broken cheat.
If it could all be cleared with just endgame runes, Tower of Trials would never have gained that much notoriety.
The cash whales would have conquered it all.
HunGyo demonstrated each skill one by one.
Second.
Thousand Sword Chaos Dance.
He had seen Aso use this one.
It was what Aso had used when beating the Paladin to a pulp.
—Hey, HunGyo, that’s not how you do it. A thousand swords are supposed to move all at once as if they’re dancing.
Aso offered her correction, and HunGyo smiled awkwardly.
As expected.
He may be able to teach it, but when it came to performing it personally, it seemed he couldn’t match Aso.
Our HunGyo.
Had he already been surpassed by his own student?
—Next is Heavenly Light Slash.
Heavenly Light Slash.
It was a technique even Aso had not yet learned.
A single-target technique that cuts down the enemy in an instant at the speed of light! If mastered properly, it felt like it could practically be used as an instant-kill move.
—As for the fourth and fifth... they are techniques set as the final destination of all martial arts. I cannot show those to you, so I will explain them only in words.
Fourth.
Heavenly Energy Sword Control.
It was the art of controlling a sword with one’s energy.
A technique that separates the sword from the body and controls it freely.
Because it allows the sword to be controlled as though it were alive, the moment one masters it, a melee character becomes a ranged one.
And the last was.
Heavenly Sword.
It is literally the sword of heaven.
Usually, isn’t the endpoint of martial arts considered the Heart Sword?
Apparently, the Heavenly Sword is similar to that as well. To attack the enemy with the swordsman’s heart and will.
It also meant that, in order to break the heavens, one had to become heaven itself.
—Once you master those five secret techniques to their utmost limit, that is the end. Of course, my lord only needs to master them up to 1 star.
“Why?”
—Even if you learn only that much, ordinary modern people will not be able to withstand you.
Ah.
That was true.
‘It’s not like I’m going to become a summon or anything.’
If it were for health purposes, 1 star would be just right, but...
‘I can’t do that.’
Once you start something, shouldn’t you see it through to the end?
Even if he could not keep up with Aso, he intended to do his best.
—Then today, we will begin with the basic movements of World-Annihilation.
And so.
HunGyo’s 1:2 private lesson began.
* * *
Swish, swish!
Swaaaash!
Champion, Aila, was swinging her spear in the training ground.
The trajectory of the spear tearing through the air along with the sound of it splitting the wind was clearly different from ordinary spearwork.
The strongest warrior of the Holy Kingdom and the continent’s only hope!
The one standing at the very peak of all Paladins, the Champion!
But.
‘This is frustrating.’
She did not like it.
The spear contained more than enough divine power, yet it felt as though something was failing to connect properly.
She had to face demons.
She had to fight Asmodeus, the Demon King who coveted the continent, in direct combat.
If she lost?
The continent would perish.
Humanity would live in hell for thousands of years as slaves of the demons.
Grit.
Aila clenched her teeth.
Swish, swish, swish.
She did not stop swinging the spear.
Because if she stopped, it felt as though the pressure would suffocate her.
If she was even a little weak.
If she could not grow any further from here.
Her family would die.
The Holy King would die, and the power of God would no longer reach the continent.
The weight on her shoulders was immense.
“Haaak.”
After swinging several more times like that, Aila irritably hurled her spear.
Thunk!
Even though she felt stifled and as though her flow kept breaking apart, she had no idea what the cause was.
Since she was the strongest on the continent, there was no one who could give her advice.
Panting with both hands on her knees, she soon picked up a water bottle.
Gulp, gulp.
As the cool water slid down her throat, her mind gradually began to clear.
And then, suddenly, what had happened earlier came to mind.
‘A strange one.’
He commanded various races of unknown identity, but he was definitely strong.
Paladin Commander Arno Billian was a swordsman even she acknowledged.
And yet?
He had been utterly crushed by them.
Hadn’t even the Royal Guardian been mobilized?
There was a reason the Holy King had handed over the divine relic to them.
‘We...were that desperate.’
Because the war against the demons was right around the corner.
“.....”
Suddenly, curiosity arose within her.
The commander had fought them directly.
But she had not.
The Holy King had stepped in too early, causing her to miss the timing to join.
According to the reports, they did strange training every day in front of the annex.
They breathed, and they swung swords.
‘Should I go take a look?’
It was not as though training was going properly anyway.
She did want to see it.
* * *
Whoosh!
Baek Jinwoo swung his sword.
He was still not used to the heavy sensation.
If one were to describe his level, he was a complete novice.
Sword beginner.
A third-rate warrior.
“This isn’t easy.”
—How could anyone be good from the start? Even so, this is already incredible.
HunGyo always gilded his words.
He nagged the other summons and players without restraint, but toward Baek Jinwoo, it was nothing but praise.
Was it because he was his lord?
‘No.’
HunGyo was a principled person, and he was sincere about training.
If he was praising him, then he really must be doing well.
—Dad, like this here!
There was not just one private tutor.
HunGyo and Aso.
Both of them corrected Baek Jinwoo’s posture and adjusted his form.
Man.
How reassuring.
Several minutes passed like that.
HunGyo suddenly paused and slightly turned his head, and—
Swaaaaaaash!
Aso, who had also been training, seemed to sense something and hurled his wooden sword toward the outer wall of the building.
What is it?
Just as Baek Jinwoo thought that—
Taaang!
The sound of the wooden sword striking something rang out.
“Hm?”
Baek Jinwoo turned his head.
There, holding a pure white spear and dressed in casual clothes, stood a silver-haired woman.
‘That’s...’
The Champion?
Was her name Aila Lunares?
She had originally been wearing pure white heavy armor.
But now she was wearing light-looking leather training clothes instead.
That look was kind of refreshing too.
—Is it not improper to secretly watch someone else’s training?
HunGyo said coldly, but then—
“Wait.”
Baek Jinwoo raised a hand to stop him.
Then he approached her, seeing her gripping her spear tightly with a startled expression on her face.
“What is it?”
He became curious.
Come to think of it.
‘Wouldn’t it be better if we trained together, since it’d make things easier later if she’s the one who has to fight Asmodeus?’
That was what he thought.
But.
“.....I’m sorry.”
Scurry!
Before she could properly say anything, she ran off like an arrow, scaling the wall.
She was so fast.
It felt like she vanished in the blink of an eye.
‘Wow, what was that.’
That type was a first for him too.
“Is she the shy type?”
Baek Jinwoo tilted his head.
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