Chapter 1190
"Pardon me...?"
Raon blinked in confusion, his gaze fixed on Glenn.
'I am unable to become like my grandfather?'
The statement seemed self-evident. Raon was acutely aware of the vast chasm in skill that separated them. He couldn't fathom why Glenn was suddenly declaring that reaching his level was an impossibility.
-What is that old fossil prattling about now?
Wrath's eyes were similarly wide with bewilderment at Glenn’s cryptic words.
-And why on earth is he incinerating the manuscript containing his personal insights!
The demon shifted his nose in distaste, watching the gray flakes of what used to be a book drift away.
"I recognize the differences between us, Grandfather. However..."
Raon’s eyes thinned as he reached out, catching a stray bit of soot between his fingertips.
"Do we not both walk the path of the Ten Thousand Swords? Why did you destroy those writings?"
He had felt a growing connection to Glenn’s heart recently, but this move confounded him. He couldn't grasp why the man would burn a work he had poured such effort into creating.
"Walking the same path?"
Glenn gave a firm shake of his head.
"Not in the slightest."
He tightened his fist, sparks of electricity dancing across his knuckles, as he reiterated that their journeys were distinct.
"What exactly are you implying..."
Raon's brow furrowed, pressing for a clearer explanation.
"I mentioned previously that the Ten Thousand Swords is a system dedicated to mastering and evolving every sword style in existence. To walk that path, a warrior must be consumed by a relentless obsession for the blade."
Glenn gestured as if testing Raon's memory of their past conversations.
"Yet, I abandoned that road halfway through."
He lifted a trembling hand, pressing it against his sternum.
"What?"
This was a revelation Raon had never expected.
"Is that actually the case?"
While he knew the theory behind the Ten Thousand Swords, Glenn had never admitted to stepping away from it before.
"My version of the Ten Thousand Swords does not encompass the world's entire martial library. I strove to integrate everything I witnessed and studied, but I eventually reached a limit I could not bypass."
A heavy breath escaped him as his hand moved to the hilt of Heavenly Tremor at his side.
"In essence, new forms are birthed through the friction of opposing styles. Just as the Fluid Sword was forged to overcome the Strong Sword, and the Dull Sword rose to meet the Quick Sword, the horizon of swordsmanship is constantly expanding, even at this very moment."
Glenn gestured toward the heavens, his movements tracing invisible patterns in the sky.
"Because of that, I realized the Ten Thousand Swords is a craft that can never truly be finished. It will remain incomplete until the final swordsman vanishes and the world itself ends."
He squeezed his hand into a tight ball, his expression darkening.
"I stopped chasing the horizon and instead chose to finalize my own style. Utilizing the Ten Thousand Swords, I attained a peak and became peerless, but by reaching my own 'completion,' I locked myself out of further growth."
Glenn’s mouth set into a hard line.
"Should a swordsman ever master the Ten Thousand Swords at a tier higher than mine, I would inevitably fall. I can grow in power, but the evolution of my sword has ceased."
He blinked slowly, appearing to accept the possibility of his own defeat. Strangely, however, there was a trace of satisfaction on his face.
"But you, Raon. You are a different breed."
The sternness vanished, replaced by a soft, rare smile.
"The journey of the Ten Thousand Swords is one of immense hardship, monotony, and suffering. Yet, I know you will never turn back. By chasing the ever-evolving nature of the blade, your own sword will grow without limit. That is a state far more divine than mere completion."
His eyes warmed, seemingly looking at a future version of Raon.
"Do you grasp it now? The reason our paths diverge."
"Yes. Just as you said, Grandfather, I have no intention of stopping."
Raon gave a solemn nod, absorbing the weight of Glenn’s philosophy.
"Because the sword is simply too much fun."
The Ten Thousand Swords demanded the simultaneous cultivation of countless principles. To master everything from the Quick Sword to the Heavy Sword meant repeating the same fundamental drills for a lifetime. It was, as Glenn described, a tedious and grueling existence.
'But...'
Was it truly a burden? In his previous life, Raon had been forced to learn the blade as a tool for murder. Now, being able to swing a sword of his own volition felt like a gift.
'It's nothing but pure joy.'
The freedom to train as he chose was his greatest happiness. His routine was specific; he didn't just chase new techniques, but always returned to the basics, refining them until they merged with his own creations.
In that focused state, the hours would vanish. He would barely start his practice before the sun dipped below the horizon.
Yet, he never tired of it. From his youth to the present, he had repeated these motions without a hint of boredom—only a sense of fulfillment.
'There is only one reason.'
It was fun. The solitude of training, the thrill of a duel, the creativity of developing new methods, and the life-or-death intensity of combat—he loved every bit of it. That passion was what had brought him to this point.
"I will stay on this road."
Raon spoke with conviction, vowing to never abandon the Ten Thousand Swords.
"I expected nothing less."
Glenn’s smile widened, as if he had already known the answer.
“Then, it is time for you to move forward.”
He nodded, signaling a shift in the atmosphere.
"Forward to where?"
Raon tilted his head, not catching the meaning immediately.
"The moment has arrived for my blade to meet yours."
With a calm expression, Glenn stooped to the ground and retrieved a simple fallen twig. He held the fragile wood out as if it were a challenge.
"Come at me."
Raon felt his throat go dry as he stared at the tip of the twig aimed at his heart.
'A duel with Grandfather?'
They had traded blows during lessons before, but this was their first formal encounter since Raon had stepped into the realm of Transcendence.
-Oh?
Wrath voiced his surprise, sensing the shift in Glenn’s demeanor.
-The old man actually looks like he’s playing for keeps.
The demon noted the genuine intensity radiating from the elder.
'I can feel it too.'
Glenn was surveying him with the icy precision one reserves for a true adversary. The sheer killing intent in the air made Raon feel as though a blade was already pressing against his neck.
"Understood."
Raon unsheathed Heavenly Drive, forcing his breathing into a steady rhythm.
'It may be a twig, but in his hands, it's a sword.'
Even with a piece of wood, Glenn’s striking power would dwarf that of most Transcendents carrying legendary weapons.
'One lapse in focus and I’m finished.'
To Raon’s eyes, that twig appeared more lethal and durable than his own blade, which had been forged by the master smith Vulcan. This was a battle where the soul of the swordsman would have to bridge the gap in equipment.
'Even so...'
Opportunities like this were nonexistent elsewhere. Receiving guidance was one thing, but a formal spar was a priceless rarity. He steeled his resolve and leveled Heavenly Drive.
"I'm attacking."
Acknowledging his position as the junior, Raon lunged forward with his left foot.
'I'll start with a probe.'
Knowing the massive disparity in their power, he utilized the Third Step of Supreme Harmony to test the waters. He prepared to transition into the Silver Sword Dream, a technique that flowed perfectly with his footwork—but before he could even begin the motion, Glenn’s twig was already inches from his face.
'When did he...?'
Despite having his Aura Perception pushed to the limit, Raon hadn't even seen the wood move. The sheer impossibility of it made him want to laugh even as danger loomed.
'I have to parry... wait!'
Raon tried to swing Heavenly Drive into a defensive arc. However, his arm refused to respond in time.
'This is...'
He was paralyzed by two factors: the twig’s sheer velocity and the terrifyingly complex technique behind the movement that masked its trajectory. Thwack!
Raon failed to intercept the single strike. The impact sent him tumbling backward, his vision swimming as he hit the ground and blacked out.
"Hmm..."
Glenn clicked his tongue softly, inspecting the twig he had used to strike Raon’s forehead.
"Did I overdo it? Perhaps that was too much force."
Just as he began to worry he should have held back more.
"No."
Raon’s eyes snapped open, and he pushed himself upright.
"Please, do not hold back on my account."
He shook his head, insisting on the full intensity of the match.
"What? You should be unconscious right now."
Glenn’s jaw tightened in disbelief.
-Hah! This fool claims to be your kin but doesn't even know your limits!
Wrath scoffed at Glenn's reaction.
-This brat has soaked up so much of my essence that his hide is as thick as a demon general's!
The demon boasted that a simple tap wouldn't be enough to put Raon down.
"Are you truly unharmed?"
Glenn’s eyes narrowed, a hint of genuine concern breaking through his stern facade.
"I am fine. This is exactly what I need. Because, as you said..."
A wide, determined grin spread across Raon's face.
"I'm not letting go of the Ten Thousand Swords."
Thud! The twig slammed into Raon’s ribs, sending him sprawling across the dirt once more.
"Gah..."
Since Glenn wasn't pulling his punches, the pain was visceral. Raon lay there for a moment, gasping for air as his lungs struggled against the impact.
"If this is beyond you, admit it now. There is no shame in it."
Glenn offered to lower the intensity of their sessions.
"...No. You can strike harder if you wish."
Raon bit back the pain and refused to yield.
"Then should I explain why you keep failing to parry?"
Glenn looked down, ready to provide the solution if asked.
"No."
Raon was firm.
"I will find the answer myself. If you just give it to me, my sword will never truly be mine."
Relying on others for answers might provide a shortcut to strength, but it would stagnate the growth of the Ten Thousand Swords. He knew he had to investigate, struggle, and discover his own path for his martial arts to reach the next level.
"Very well."
Glenn nodded, clearly pleased by Raon’s stubbornness and spirit.
"We shall continue this evening."
He dismissed Raon with a wave and walked over to Sia, who was practicing her forms in the garden.
"Sia! Would you like to try a different style with your grandfather?"
His tone shifted completely as he gently patted the girl's head.
"Yes! Please teach me!"
Sia beamed, lowering her practice weapon.
"Excellent. We shall work on the Heavenly Wolf Sword today. I suspect you will grasp it in no time."
In stark contrast to his treatment of Raon, Glenn’s movements were patient and meticulous as he guided the young girl.
"Hmm..."
Raon watched from a distance, his eyes tracking the flawless lines Glenn drew in the air.
'It's perfect. Not a single wasted motion.'
Even in a simple demonstration, Glenn’s technique was absolute. The sheer precision of it sent shivers down Raon’s spine.
'No, I can't just stand here and gape.'
Raon shook off the awe and turned inward.
'I have to analyze those defeats.'
Glenn challenged him three times daily, usually after meals. Each time, the elder used the twig to demonstrate the height of his lifelong mastery. Even with Heavenly Drive in hand and his aura at full tilt, Raon couldn't find a way through.
Four days had passed since Glenn moved into the annex, and Raon hadn't successfully blocked or diverted a single strike. The solution felt frustratingly out of reach.
-This is a genuine wall you’ve hit.
Wrath agreed, his expression unusually serious.
-But why the hell are you grinning?
The demon stared at the smile playing on Raon’s lips.
'Because this is incredible.'
Raon retrieved his sword from where it had fallen and felt his excitement peak.
'I get to spar three times a day with the most powerful swordsman on the continent. And he’s doing it in a way that forces me to grow. How could I not be thrilled?'
He gave a small shrug, unable to hide his genuine enjoyment of the struggle.
-You are a total masochist. It’s no wonder that insane woman likes you!
Wrath flicked his tail in annoyance.
-So, have you actually learned anything?
The demon looked for any sign of progress.
'Not yet.'
Raon admitted as he put his sword away.
'Honestly, I'm still in the dark.'
Glenn changed his approach every time, mixing principles in ways that made them impossible to predict. However, the feeling of the strikes was starting to sink in. He could feel his Ring of Fire reacting, slowly adapting to the rhythm of the Ten Thousand Swords.
'I think I'm close to a breakthrough... wait.'
Before he could finish his thought to Wrath.
"Raon!"
Edgar appeared suddenly, hopping into view and landing right in front of him.
"Want some help? I can give you a tip so you can actually land a hit on that old man!"
He whispered conspiratorially, clearly still nursing a grudge after his own four-day ordeal with Glenn.
"Uh..."
Raon glanced past Edgar to where Glenn was standing.
"You realize he can hear you, right?"
He sighed, wondering why Edgar chose the most obvious spot to plot.
"Don't be ridiculous! I've set up a soundproof aura barrier!"
Edgar insisted, confident in his privacy.
"Do you honestly think that works against the strongest man alive...?"
Raon rubbed his temples. The barrier was so flimsy that even he could hear right through it.
"Wait, you mean...?"
Edgar’s eyes went wide as the realization hit.
"Old man."
Glenn was suddenly looming behind Edgar, his eyes like chips of ice.
"I didn't realize you cared so much. I should certainly return the sentiment."
With a chilling smile, he drew Heavenly Tremor. Rumble! Crimson bolts of lightning began to gather in the sky above the building, answering the call of the blade.
"Now, wait a second! Father, I was just—"
Before Edgar could finish his apology, a dragon made of red lightning descended from the heavens. Crash! The strike hit him dead center. Edgar didn't even have time to yell before he collapsed, smoke curling out of his mouth.
"Hmph!"
Glenn gave a satisfied snort as a warning for future behavior and returned to Sia.
"I've seen this play out so many times before."
Raon laughed quietly at the sight of the scorched Edgar.
'It's just like when the Master used to act out against Grandfather.'
He had only ever seen Glenn be this blunt with Rimmer, but it looked like the group was expanding.
'Still... wait a minute.'
Raon’s eyes sharpened as he looked at the smoking remains of Edgar.
'That might actually work.'
Thank you
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