‘So what’s the other method?’
My question was met with a dazzling light emanating from the center of the orb, drawing a long line on the floor.
‘You have all sorts of tricks up your sleeve.’
The 3-meter-long line of light sparkled on the ground like starlight.
‘What is this…?’
[Using the Space Cutting Ability, try to cut this much. If you succeed, I will tell you the second method.]
‘… You must be joking?’
What I could cut right now was a ridiculously small area.
Maybe about 10cm at most?
Even with training, the growth seemed very limited, and it would take quite a lot of time to extend satisfactorily. And suddenly, 3 meters?
‘Sigh… your standards are in a completely different place than mine.’
I shook my head a bit, feeling my confidence wane.
Then, my master chuckled cheerfully and said.
[My disciple, have you ever met a Blue-eyed Deity?]
‘Umm— quite a few. There was even a Red-haired Elf, you know.’
[Hmph, an Elf. Don’t even talk about that arrogant tribe!]
‘… What happened now? Why are you suddenly so angry?’
[It would only soil my mouth to speak of it. Elves are creatures that deceive with their appearances and love to stab you in the back. You must never get close to them, my disciple.]
(If someone was deceived by appearances, that’s the Orb’s fault, right? Our Il-wol wouldn’t make such a mistake, hohohat-)
[······.]
After a while of squabbling with the tree due to Rainy’s provocation, my master continued speaking.
[… Anyway, those you’ve encountered are probably the riffraff of this world, lured in by the Blue-eyed temptations.]
‘That’s right. Of course, there were powerful enemies, but they all ran away as soon as I spotted them, so I never confronted them.’
[Those kinds will likely be manageable soon, considering your growth. However, those who have inherited the power of the Blue Eyes are different.]
‘Inherited the power of the Blue Eyes…?’
[They have long bodies with eyes that have regressed as if burned by fire, monsters that follow the commands of the Blue Eyes blindly. But their vitality is astonishingly formidable, making them quite a headache to deal with.]
‘Certainly… I’ve never seen such creatures.’
I tilted my head and asked again.
‘But just how formidable is their life force…? I mean, they wouldn’t come back to life even if their heads were cut off, would they?’
[They come back to life.]
‘… Huh?’
[If my memory serves correctly, there have been many instances where they survived even with their heads cut off. I have even seen a severed head grow a body back.]
‘That’s insane… Human-type monsters die instantly when their heads are severed… That’s already a monster!’
[Hehe— it’s just as the word states, “monster.”]
‘I see… So you mean I need the Space Cutting Ability to deal with those creatures?’
[That’s right. To be more precise, it’s possible to efficiently handle them with minimal effort. That Space Cutting Ability will sever the connection with the Blue Eyes.]
‘Ah ha…’
[There’s definitely a thread somewhere on their bodies that connects them to the Blue Eyes. But that is a string invisible to any being besides the Blue Eyes.]
‘U-oh, can it be sensed through…?’
[Your sensory abilities wouldn’t be able to detect it. The string is usually located somewhere near the core of their bodies. Thus, you need to split them precisely in half. This is a fact learned only through extensive experience.]
‘Indeed… If I can split them exactly vertically, then I can somehow trigger the instant death effect, right?’
[Correct. You’re quite quick on the uptake for a skeleton.]
My master’s repeatedly verified method. There’s no doubt about it.
‘It’s certainly not something I should think of as impossible.’
It was something I had to accomplish, without fail.
Suddenly, a scene of Hyeon Joong-gil slicing the beast “Spike Hippopotamus” popped into my mind.
Just how much time and effort would it take for me to reach that level?
‘… The difference in proficiency is staggering.’
It was a moment where I reawoke to my position.
‘Don’t worry. I’ve come up with a revised version of my secret art. Hehe—’
As my master stirred the orb and laughed excitedly, Rainy gasped and shouted.
(No! You aren’t planning to put Il-wol in danger again, are you?)
[Well… we’ll only know once we try. Besides, I’ve improved it a bit, so it should be fine, right?]
At my master’s carefree words, Rainy threw her branches over her head.
(Ahh! I can’t trust a word you’re saying! There’s no proof that it would be fine!)
[Can’t you stay quiet, you dumb tree!]
Rainy waved her branches, while my master dodged and kept bumping into the trees.
Watching them bicker made me suddenly burst into laughter.
It felt like a comedy duo that kept bickering at every chance.
‘Alright. If it means I can grow stronger, I’m willing to take that risk. By the way, I have one more thing I’m curious about, Master.’
[Hmm? What is it?]
I tapped the ground with my great sword and spoke.
‘About this floor. No, if you know anything about this space, please tell me.’
[Hmm······.]
As the orb drew an arc for a while, it spoke in a slightly more serious tone.
[The only thing I know is that this place is a “prison.”]
‘?!’
I suddenly heard an unexpected statement. A prison? What does that mean?
‘Do you mean a prison in the sense of simply being trapped?’
[That would differ for each individual. However… it is clear that this space was created to achieve some kind of purpose. Otherwise, someone like me wouldn’t be here…]
‘Umm?!’
But my master abruptly stopped mid-sentence.
When he started moving again, it seemed that he couldn’t remember the topic of my question at all.
[Disciple, what was I talking about?]
So I asked the same question again, but once again, my master suddenly seemed to drift off during the conversation.
Chills ran down my spine in that instant.
(What the… why is the orb acting like that? Creepy.)
‘Could it be that it’s under some kind of restriction?’
However, when I asked Rainy about it, she claimed there wasn’t.
The only commonality between Rainy and me was that we were both humans who lived on Earth.
‘Damn it, what is this? I have no clue. Anyway, a prison, huh?’
I asked my master what he did when he wasn’t around me.
Then my master said he usually wanders around aimlessly, and in recent days, he has been studying my secret art.
Of course, he clammed up about where that research took place.
‘By any chance, are there other heroes like you, Master?’
He stopped abruptly mid-motion.
‘… It seems there is something there.’
That instead gave me more certainty.
An incredible being close to the pinnacle of the sword’s path.
Someone capable of entrapping such a being inside an orb and placing restrictions on them.
Chills ran down my body continuously.
The darkness that filled this space felt strangely unfamiliar once more. Even stretching my senses toward the sky with all my might, I couldn’t reach the ceiling.
A vast space where the size was impossible to gauge.
Yet this place is a prison?
‘… It certainly does feel like a prison here.’
It seemed my master hadn’t been bound like I was, but I had to endure a long time trapped in this real prison.
Why hadn’t I thought of that before?
The only thing I’m curious about is what I did wrong to end up in this prison.
Was there something particularly wrong I did in a past life that I can’t even remember?
‘Rainy seems like a different case… Should I follow Master for a bit?’
The moment my map completed, my master vanished unexpectedly.
I felt compelled to tread behind him today.
Of course, my master must know I was following, but I wondered if he might act differently, just like when he paused in mid-air.
[Hmm— my head feels a bit dizzy. Anyway, I’ll create the space again, so focus solely on the basic motions. No need to go slow like last time.
But don’t stress yourself trying to cut fast. Just keep it light and relaxed.]
‘Yes. Understood.’
As my master swiftly circled me, a bizarre sensation enveloped me once more.
After some time passed.
I came to my senses but couldn’t recall anything from the moment I started wielding the sword.
‘Huff— huff— ugh…! My head!’
I awoke sprawled on the ground, holding my head and rolling around.
The pain in my head was excruciating. No, it felt like my soul was being shattered.
I’d rather use my life once and wake up again than endure this pain.
[Ugh— It seems better than last time, at least.]
Since the horrifying event of my armor decaying and disappearing didn’t happen, my master nodded satisfactorily as he watched me return after completing my training.
(That’s considered better?! It looks like you’re in a lot of pain!)
But just for a brief moment, that pain washed away like water, and the moment I felt my head clear up, I jumped up and grasped my great sword.
‘I need to engrave this sensation.’
Then, Rainy and my master both hurriedly shut their mouths and stared at me.
Fwoo—
‘Umm! Good. Yes, it’s working.’
Though nothing came to mind, my body remembered.
The long years of swinging until I lost consciousness were engraved, and I began to swing the sword down.
Whoooosh───!
The shimmering mirage at the sword’s tip radiated a clearer blue light, and along with it, a long line was etched on the floor.
A line of light split alongside the line that my master had drawn.
Soon a sharp line was carved into the ground.
‘It’s not even one meter, but this is insane? Achieving this in just one day…’
To be precise, it wasn’t just one day. It was the result of repeatedly practicing the same action over dozens of years in this confined space.
If Hyeon Il-hwan or Hyeon Woo-seok were in my shoes, they wouldn’t have needed as long as I did.
[Hmm— not bad!]
Judging by my master’s reaction, it didn’t seem like my achievement was too lacking.
Hearing his voice, vague memories started flooding back.
That voice was of the person who scolded me for a long time.
‘Master…’
Hearing that long-missed voice felt emotional all of a sudden.
Though I didn’t remember, he was the one who guided me for those several decades.
How could I not feel grateful?
– The path of the sword. You have absorbed the dangerously hazardous training suggested by the great being who was close to its pinnacle with extreme concentration.
– Trait [Penetration] is fixed at 22% (+2%).
While it wasn’t quite as pronounced as the first time I discovered [Joint Leave], Penetration had also increased by 2%.
I wanted to use this ability as soon as possible.
Preferably in actual combat.
‘The Great Evil One Bin Chi-seung. The moment I meet that guy, I’ll combo [Chain of Flame], [Skeleton Bomb], and [Special Strong Acid] followed by a spatial cut infused with [Flame Cut]. I should be able to defeat him in one stroke, right?’
I swung my sword skillfully with one hand, envisioning the battle that was soon to come.
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