I Obtained Sword God Level Talent - Chapter 24


“Why is such a young man wallowing in misery?”
“Ah, I’m deep in thought, Elder. What brings you here?”
Swoosh.
I sat up and bowed my head. The Sword Demon, watching me with a pleased expression, approached slowly and said,
“Destiny guides connections. Connections are inevitable. Inevitability is fate.”
“….”
T h i s w a s co p ie d fr om k i n gm t l .or g
“Our encounter on this desolate road is surely a sign of destiny.”
With a gentle smile, the Sword Demon stood beside me.
“I intend to impart a simple martial art to you.”
Th i s was c op i e d f r o m k i n g m tl .or g
“…To me?”
“Humans are inherently fond of leaving their mark. Don’t think too much of it.”
I pretended to be surprised as I looked at him.
‘Sword Dad…’
I knew about the Sword Demon’s generous nature, how he readily shared his knowledge with his juniors.
Therefore, I tried my best to win his favor. Fortunately, it seemed he thought highly of me.
‘Jackpot, a mega jackpot. Is it a sword technique? Or a mana cultivation method? I’d love a movement technique.’
I wondered what martial art he was going to teach me.
T h is w a s c o pi e d f r om k ing m tl . o rg
It was undeniable that the (Sword Demon) himself was a powerful martial artist. But what made him truly special… was his ability to create martial arts, a talent comparable to that of a god.
“All things return to their origin. Even the most divine and profound techniques eventually merge into the same current. Please, don’t feel pressured.”
Th i s w a s c o p i ed f r o m k in g mt l .o r g
“Martial arts are inherently secretive. If teaching me this were to hinder you in the future, Elder, I would firmly refuse.”
“Ehehe! You’re quite the character.”
I spoke calmly, my words laced with a hint of audacity.
The Sword Demon chuckled, his eyes filled with affection. He then shook his head and continued,
“What I intend to teach you is footwork and movement technique. I assure you, no one will be able to find fault with my decision to share this with you.”
Footwork and movement technique?
‘Oh… Oh!’
The words I had been longing for came out of the Sword Demon’s lips. Footwork and movement technique, simply put, were ‘mobility skills’. They were essential abilities, applicable in both combat and everyday life.
Swoosh.
“Watch closely.”
The Sword Demon moved slowly, smoothly.
“It’s called the Roaming Cloud Steps. It’s a bit unorthodox, but it possesses great power. Think of it as something that transcends both footwork and movement technique.”
Roaming Cloud Steps? I had never heard of it. It was a martial art created by the (Sword Demon) himself.
Swoosh.
He was clearly moving his feet on the dirt ground. But strangely, each of his steps was incredibly light. It was as if he was walking on ‘clouds’…
“It’s a masterpiece that combines footwork and movement technique.”
As the Sword Demon said, I watched his movements intently with a serious expression. My hands clenched involuntarily, and a slight tension filled the air.
‘I can’t miss this incredible opportunity.’
I focused my gaze, following the Sword Demon’s steps.
His light footsteps were indeed filled with profound principles. Smooth and swift. Yet not frivolous nor flashy.
T h i s w a s c op i e d f r o m k ingmt l .or g
‘Cloud Gathering…? No, it’s a bit different.’
The Sword Demon was a martial artist from the Wudang Sect. Therefore, the martial arts he practiced and created were characterized by their emphasis on fluidity. However, the steps he was demonstrating now weren’t just about fluidity.
‘…Ah.’
I finally recalled the word that could describe this strange feeling.
‘Loneliness.’
The Sword Demon’s footwork was filled with loneliness.
Those who didn’t understand martial arts might scoff, thinking it was ‘unnecessarily sentimental,’ but what I saw now was a loneliness completely devoid of emotion.
“Like a tiger ascending a mountain. A hawk soaring through the sky. A dragon dancing in the clouds.”
Tap!
“Channel your inner energy into your legs, your eyes on all directions, your mind on the space where the battle will unfold.”
Illusions created by the Sword Demon began to fill the vast clearing.
“……!”
It was an afterimage created by his mastery reaching its peak.
‘…Can I even replicate the movements of someone at the 8th rank?’
Apart from the incredible spectacle. I couldn’t help but groan inwardly at the Sword Demon’s abstract explanation.
‘This is harder than I expected.’
In (Silver Ring), footwork and movement techniques were something you simply learned by reading a book or receiving instruction from a master. A message like ‘(You have learned the Soaring Cloud Steps!)’ would pop up.
But reality was harsh. It felt like I had jumped into advanced problems without any foundation.
“Seeing it with your eyes and learning it with your body are two different things. Don’t be so tense, just move your body and try to follow me.”
“…Understood.”
“Try channeling your inner energy. And like water flowing through a deep mountain valley, let it flow naturally into your legs.”
“….”
A problem arose right from the beginning.
…Channel inner energy into my legs?
My constitution was different from that of ordinary mana users. Unlike them, who stored mana in their dantian, my mana flowed throughout my entire body.
T h i s w a s c o p i e d f ro m k in g m tl . o r g
“Even if you understand it intellectually, learning it physically is difficult. Time is the only answer. Therefore… before I leave, I will help you understand it fully, at least intellectually.”
“I understand. For now, I’ll try to mimic your movements to the best of my ability.”
The Sword Demon nodded and replied briefly,
“Go ahead. That is how mastery is achieved.”
“Yes.”
Swoosh, swoosh!
Fortunately, my mind had perfectly memorized his movements.
‘A tiger ascending a mountain. A hawk soaring through the sky. A dragon dancing in the clouds.’
Intense concentration made my back wet with sweat. But I didn’t stop moving.
‘Inner energy flows into the legs. Eyes on all directions. Mind on the space where the battle will unfold.’
Woong.
As my understanding deepened… the flow of mana throughout my body shifted naturally. The energy in my lower body guided my legs forward, as if it knew where I wanted to go.
There was no path. I become the pioneer. My two legs create the path to advance.
Th i s wa s c o p i e d f r o m k i n g m t l . org
Tap!
‘Light but heavy. Swift but slow. Elegant but not frivolous. Smooth but powerful.’
And.
‘Lonely, yet not lonely. Like a sturdy tree growing alone on a cliff.’
Something inexplicable, something mystical, happened at that moment.
Flash!
‘A path… is opening. No, I can see it.’
This w a s c o p i e d fro m k ing mt l. o r g
I had the illusion that a dazzling ‘path’ was appearing on the ground. The flow of mana, my footsteps, the direction I was heading, it was as if signposts were appearing on the ground, guiding my vision.
T h i s wa s c o p ie d fro m k i n gm t l .o r g
‘Is this it?’
The ‘mastery’ the Sword Demon spoke of wasn’t anything particularly special. It was about the mind and body naturally guiding the legs towards the path they should take. That was mastery, that was embodiment.
Whoosh!
I felt as if space was being compressed.
It was a unique experience, like the teleportation techniques often seen in movies and dramas, as if I was leaping through space itself.
‘This… This is fun!’
A smile appeared on my lips. I doubted I would ever experience anything as enjoyable as this again in my life.
***
“Wh-What?!”
The Sword Demon’s jaw dropped as he stumbled back.
He forgot his composure as a senior member of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.
He rubbed his blinking eyes and checked what was in front of him. The scene he had witnessed a moment ago was still playing vividly, as if to prove that it wasn’t just a hallucination.
“How could this…”
It was more than just amazing.
To perfectly execute a footwork technique after seeing it only once, with just one explanation?
He couldn’t believe it. If his comrades had told him such a thing, he would have dismissed them as delusional.
But.
What was unfolding before his eyes wasn’t an illusion. Like an avatar of martial arts bestowed by the heavens, this adorable junior he had met today was flawlessly comprehending and demonstrating the technique that contained his entire life’s teachings.
“H-His… his footwork is different.”
Frey’s understanding still seemed shallow.
Naturally, he couldn’t create afterimages like him, but his movements themselves were flawless. How could he not be surprised?
‘Tsk, if only I could take him back to the Divine Cult… I wouldn’t envy any wealth or glory.’
This turn of events only made him feel even more regretful! He knew for sure that even if he searched the entire Eastern Continent, and even the whole world, there wouldn’t be anyone with such brilliant talent.
‘What a shame.’
…Honestly, it wasn’t just ‘a shame’.
For the first time in his life, he was frustrated and envious, his stomach aching at the thought of missing out on such a talent.
“I wonder who will take such a person as their disciple…”
From what he could see, this junior didn’t have a master. This meant that he had mastered martial arts on his own, reaching the 5th rank, the threshold of transcendence, solely through his own efforts.
“Ehehe.”
It was then that a plausible idea flashed through his mind.
There was a way… There was a way! If he couldn’t take this remarkable individual as his disciple, what if he could bring him in through a different approach?
“Ehehehehe.”
That was it! That was the answer! The Sword Demon was impressed by his own ingenuity. Since he couldn’t accept him as a disciple, he could form an even stronger bond.
‘I need to contact the Cult Leader as soon as possible.’
The Sword Demon’s calmed gaze turned forward. There stood Frey, gracefully treading the ground like a butterfly.
***
“This is where we part ways.”
The next morning, the Sword Demon announced his departure inside the carriage.
“You’re leaving already?”
I couldn’t help but feel a little disappointed.
Apart from receiving the martial arts teachings, relying on his generosity, the Sword Demon himself was an exemplary individual, a true role model. It was only natural for me to feel reluctant to part ways with him.
‘…Sword Dad.’
His warm smile made me feel strange. I could still clearly remember his encouraging pats on the back when I was following the (Heavenly Demon Divine Cult) route in the game.
“The ties of fate are not easily broken. Who knows? We might meet again soon.”
Thud!
The Sword Demon muttered softly and stepped out of the carriage.
“And be careful. There’s a reason why I, who should be in the Eastern Continent, am here.”
“…Yes?”
“Remnants of the Blood Cult have infiltrated this area. They’re extremely secretive and won’t reveal themselves easily, but if you encounter them, run without looking back. They’re not your match yet.”
T hi s w a s co p ie d f r o m k i ngm t l. o r g
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
I bowed deeply, sincerely. With a brief farewell, the Sword Demon disappeared.
And.
It was that afternoon that we encountered the remnants of the Blood Cult.