欧美级韩国三级日本三级

They say that one can only see as much as they know. That’s why the most shocked person here was none other than the man with the indigo mask— Gold.

‘All he did was unleash sword energy.’

Three streaks of pitch-black sword energy.

Those streaks reached their target with unimaginable speed, cutting down only the intended targets.

‘In other words, he possesses power, speed, and precision.’

Gold’s eyes twitched uncontrollably as he asked himself repeatedly,

‘Is this opponent’s skill beyond what I expected?’

Yes.

‘Do I acknowledge that there were valid grounds for the boss’ judgment?’

I do.

‘Could an absolute being, like a star or the sky itself, emerge from some place outside of the Empire?’

Perhaps one day.

‘And do you think one of them could bring down the three heavens and even challenge that same Empire?’

Impossible.

This time, Gold shook his head. In the end, his thoughts remained unchanged. Nothing else changed either.

Therefore……

“……Do not waver. Our choice wasn’t wrong.”

“……!”

The blue masks, having their faces revealed after a long time, could not hide their dismay and took several steps back.

Step, step, step.

“I’ll prove it myself.”

Gold was certain. He was indeed a remarkable talent. Someday, that child might even reach the level of the legendary Transcendents or Stars.

But right now, he could not defeat Gold.

‘The foundation of his swordsmanship is probably centered around speed.’

His swordsmanship just now was overwhelmingly quick. In that case, Gold was clearly a bad matchup for him. The swordsmanship Gold used emphasized heaviness.

‘Heaviness overcomes speed. That is an unchanging truth of the world.’

Shiiing.

Gold, now standing at the forefront, unsheathed his sword.

“Prince, you alone cannot even defeat me.”

Fwooosh!

A blazing, fiery aura surged around Gold’s sword. It was a massive blue flame, incomparable to what had appeared earlier.

In truth, this blue flame had become a symbol of the higher ranks of the Mask of Night.

‘You need power to protect information.’

The organization had long been developing its unique military power, and this blue flame was the result of that effort.

Moreover,

‘For decades, we’ve perfected a swordsmanship that fits this attribute.’

The organization managed all the information across the vast continent of Igrant. There wasn’t any group that could rival them in scale.

Naturally, some of the information they handled included long-lost sword techniques and cultivation methods.

Though they often sold such information for high prices, there were occasions when the organization monopolized certain others.

Just like now.

‘I’ll show you.’

Crackle! Crack-crackle!

The flames scattered, freezing the air. In this paradoxical scene, Gold’s sword stood firm like a mountain.

‘……Our sword.’

His opponent had already entered his domain.

Even though there was no visible reaction, his body was likely feeling immense pressure by now.

Gold’s aura was pressing down on the entire area with overwhelming force.

Crackle! Crack-crackle!

Like frost settling in the winter, blue mana weighed down on his opponent’s shoulders.

At the same time, that area began to freeze.

This was the reason.

The reason why Gold’s sword style paired so well with the blue flame. The air in the area grew heavier, and heavier. Furthermore, the opponent’s body would begin to freeze, hindering their movement.

Under such circumstances, speed-based swordsmanship was useless.

‘A sword that dominates not just the opponent, but the entire space where I stand.’

This was the ultimate direction Gold wanted his life to take. To rise from the shadows and soar into the light, he would need to dominate the entire area perfectly.

Gold glanced briefly toward Narakas and muttered quietly.

“……Today, with our sword, we shall cut down your vain delusions, as well as your obsession with ghosts of the past.”

***

His shoulders felt heavy.bNo, it was as if his entire body had sunk into the depths of the sea.

Even raising his arm was difficult.

Shiver.

The arm holding the sword trembled endlessly.

‘The Mask of Night has acquired a rather decent sword technique.’

Above all, the blue flames surrounding the area constantly hindered his movement. He couldn’t just blow them away with flames like he had earlier.

The blue flames were unique in that they caused both frostbite and burns.

‘This must be the greatest benefit of mana awakening.’

It allowed one to render even elemental differences meaningless.

But,

‘Would a sword that can cut the sky itself really fail to cut through this small space?’

I silently raised my sword.

-Heh heh heh, it’s been a while.

‘Shut up.’

-Do you want him dead? Want me to kill him for you?

At the same time, the whispers of the bloodthirsty ghost echoed in my mind. I had to drown that voice out.

The moment I was swayed, I would become a murderer, with killing the only thing in my mind.

It would be the death of my soul.

‘Wanting to kill someone isn’t such a rare thing.’

I, too, had more than a few people I wanted to tear apart.

‘And I doubt I’m the only one.’

In this long life, how many people have managed to avoid making a single enemy?

Mistakes ruin relationships, and greed even defies familial bonds. Sometimes, the people you once loved most become targets of greater hatred than strangers.

An ex-lover you once cherished.

A friend who you were inseparable with just until yesterday.

A subordinate sworn to loyalty.

A blood-related sibling.

Even the parents who raised you.

All of us, as human beings, have such feelings.

However,

‘If you can’t even control that emotion, you’d be no different from a wild animal.’

Don’t let yourself be consumed by bloodlust. The one I must cut down isn’t a lover, a friend, a sibling, or my parents.

I must sever the mistakes of my past. The boundless greed of humanity, and the lingering emotions that continue to erode my soul.

‘Blinded by revenge, if I fail to see what’s around me…… I’ll just repeat the same wretched life.’

That’s something neither my wife nor Andy would wish for.

‘So, no matter what you say, I won’t lose my focus.’

-What a shame. I was happy to see you again.

The demon that disturbed my heart quickly disappeared. I would not become a killer, dragging everything around me into ruin.

That was the ultimate aim of my swordsmanship as well. To never crumble under any circumstances.

If I couldn’t do that,

‘Shatter the sky instead.’

A sword style that continuously tests the self. But if one overcomes those trials, they can even bring down the heavens itself.

The first secret technique of the newly-established Heaven-Splitting Sword.

Heaven and Earth Reversal.

‘I will cut down the Empire.’

And in its place, I will create a new sky.

Gold’s lips twisted into a grin. His opponent didn’t move. No, it would be more accurate to say he couldn’t move.

‘He must’ve realized that if he moved carelessly in this heaviness, he’d be cut down.’

The boy had the insight and skill to know that much. However, simply standing still wasn’t the solution. If he remained like this, his entire body would be consumed by the blue flames.

But then, at that very moment,

Step.

“……!”

His opponent, motionless until now, took a step forward.

‘……Come.’

Gold’s eyes gleamed as he raised his sword.

Rumble, rumble, rumble!

Just that small action must have put an unimaginable amount of pressure on that boy.

Gold had poured decades of effort— his entire life— into this single sword.

‘You and I have lived entirely different lives, Prince.’

The opponent began to walk towards him.

Slowly.

Too slowly. So slow it was almost yawn-worthy.

‘Now!’

At last, the boy had entered the range of Gold’s sword. Gold’s eyes flashed as he brought his sword down with all his might.

Slice!

‘……What……?’

The sound came before the action. Was it because his sword had surpassed the speed of sound?

No.

Gold did not seek mere speed but heaviness. Moreover, that sound had resonated before he even moved.

‘Am I the one who was cut?’

Gold hastily glanced down at himself. But there was no wound to be found. Nor did he feel any pain.

“……Ah……”

Raising his head, Gold saw it.

Thud!

Right before his eyes, his sword, split cleanly in half, fell to the ground.

‘Was it my sword that was cut……?’

No.

It wasn’t just the sword. It was the aura, the essence of the blade, and even the life he had poured into it.

‘What just happened?’

Gold couldn’t comprehend the move that had just been made.

But then,

“Th-There!”

“……?”

“The trees!”

“……!”

Gold quickly lifted his head higher.

“Sword energy!”

It was sword energy.

The same sword energy that had cut down the indigo masks earlier had flown past Gold’s sword, sliced through the dense forest trees, and was now soaring high into the sky.

It was as if……

‘Is he trying to cut the sky itself?’

Gold let out a hollow laugh.

To send sword aura flying was already an incredible feat at that young age. But the fact that it still hadn’t dissipated, seemingly reaching for the sky……

‘……Even if we fight again, I have no chance of winning.’

The conclusion was clear.

Thinking that, Gold forgot about his opponent and stared blankly at the sword aura.

‘Cutting the sky……’

Could it be that one day, that sword energy would truly cut down even the Empire?

‘……I thought it was something out of reach.’

Perhaps he had been wrong all along.

‘Perhaps I am the one who was truly shackled by the ghosts of the past.’

Shackled by the glory of the Empire. By the achievements they had amassed. By the overwhelming power they had maintained for so long.

He had been afraid.

He thought swearing loyalty to them would guarantee a better life. No, he had already been content with just maintaining the current relationship.

‘In my complacency, I ignored the approaching threats and refused to accept change.’

Despite the precedent set by the Great Hero.

Despite the fact that there had been someone who devoted his entire being in loyalty only to be discarded like a worn-out tool.

He had ignored such a past. Because he was scared. He had too much to lose. To change the world meant to willingly give up everything one possessed.

Thud.

“Do you want to keep going?”

The opponent’s sword was already at Gold’s throat, its tip resting against his Adam’s apple.

“……I’ve lost.”

Gold acknowledged his defeat. Still, his gaze remained fixed on the sky.

Shiver!

Simultaneously, gasps of astonishment burst out from every direction.

At this moment, the masks were in shock. Milon was overwhelmed by a sense of futility.

And lastly……

‘……I made the right choice.’

Narakas couldn’t suppress his trembling.

‘That guy will change this damned fate. Without a doubt.’

***