The time until the quarterfinals began passed in the blink of an eye.
Training and meals. Training and meals. Training and meals and sleep, I honed my swordsmanship, but regrettably, there was no advancement in my martial realm.
In truth, it’s absurd to think that just crossing swords a few times with Mok-kyeong and exchanging a word would elevate one’s realm.
…If they were going to let me inhabit this body, it would’ve been nice if they’d also given him some insane talent.
I suppose I shouldn’t complain since this body has made rapid progress, but still, if they were going to bestow nothing, why not go all out?
They could’ve sprinkled around some fortuitous encounters.
…Although, with what might pop out in the Western Regions, who knows what would happen.
Maybe something like a mandrake root was consumed. Still, I should be thankful he doesn’t live off volcanic ash like the hermits near Mount Vesuvius.
But does that stuff even work?
“Aren’t you thinking about something, Mister?”
Hye-ryeong grabbed my hand and looked up at me, her face full of curiosity, wondering what I was pondering.
“Just thinking about taking some spiritual medicine?”
“Hey, what’s that?”
“It’s the truth, you know.”
“Why are you thinking about that while heading to the Martial Arena?”
“Because there’s nothing better than spiritual medicine for elevating one’s realm.”
“But my master said spiritual medicines aren’t very helpful for realm ascension! Unless it’s something rare like Eternal Green Jade Oil or Millennium Snow Ginseng. For ordinary spiritual medicines, all they can do is improve one’s inner strength…”
“Still, spiritual medicine is always beneficial.”
More is always better when it comes to spiritual medicines.
“True. Even if it only enhances inner strength, that’s already something. To reach the Supreme Mastery or the Transformation Stage, a vast amount of inner strength is required…”
Is the quantity of inner strength really that important?
In the Western Regions, there’s not much time to accumulate mana, so we just fight, worrying about how to conserve our tiny reserves.
Besides, using mana on weapons or merely casting an aura while fighting is our daily routine.
So, the championship prize of this Martial Competition must be secured.
“Still, at least it’s spiritual medicine.”
It’s always beneficial to improve something.
“Right. Even just boosting inner strength is meaningful since an astronomical amount is needed to reach Supreme Mastery or the Transformation Stage…”
Does the quantity of inner strength matter?
In the Western Regions, we care little for the amount due to the constant shortage.
But since the systems here are different, it could make sense.
“I hope you win the championship!”
“I will surely win, so watch carefully.”
“Yes!”
Amidst a cheerful atmosphere, Hye-ryeong and I headed to the Martial Arena.
————————-
‘Finally, we’re going to clash!’
Peng Jeoksan was barely able to contain his excitement, exhaling forcefully through his nose.
For him, fighting strong opponents was an exhilarating experience. Battling a formidable warrior from the Western Regions was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, so he looked with great anticipation at the towering, colored-eyed person walking onto the arena.
“Color-eyed people are really tall, aren’t they?”
Though Peng Jeoksan was no small figure himself, compared to the giant who towered over him by a head, the colored-eyed person exuded a sense of being a giant.
“Did you wait long?”
“No, I just got here too!”
Responding to William’s question with an excited voice, Peng Jeoksan drew his sword, a broad and thick greatsword larger than an ordinary blade.
Its massive size, akin to something a wild man might wield, drew an interested glance from William.
“Powerful, huh? It sure looks heavy.”
Ordinarily, weapons, except for military ones, aren’t made too heavy.
If they were overly heavy, it would be easier to expose openings during swings, and executing techniques would become more difficult due to the weight.
But this was different for the representative martial arts of the Northern Peng family.
The Five-Tiger Disrupting Door Sword and the Chaotic Primordial Thunder Sword.
Renowned sword arts associated with the Northern Peng family, known for their domineering techniques. Peng Jeoksan, as the young master, had inherited the advanced Five-Tiger Disrupting Door Sword technique. Thus, his sword was specifically designed for this style.
“Quite impressive. Collision with this might shatter a regular sword.”
“Now, the quarterfinals first match! The match between Peng Jeoksan and William will commence!”
With the referee’s announcement signaling the start of the match, both prepared their stances.
Peng Jeoksan stood ready to charge forward and wield his greatsword at any moment, while William prepared an ox-guard stance to deflect any swing.
Since this was a battle of the quarterfinals, and both had reached higher realms, they refrained from hasty movements.
Though it might seem dull to some spectators, remember that martial contests aren’t meant primarily for the crowd’s applause.
“Carrying such a brute of a weapon and surviving the battlefield—I’ve never seen anyone like that.”
Though William had once wielded a lance so large that the greatsword almost seemed like a toy in comparison, it was used for charges rather than close combat.
“Haha! Brother William! My blood is boiling, so I’ll go first!”
With barely a pause after his declaration, Peng Jeoksan rushed forward using the Chaotic Primordial Step, displaying a straightforward yet domineering approach indicative of his aggressive sword art.
In response to this wild boar-like charge, William anchored his legs and tilted the tip of his sword further down.
“First, let’s probe.”
The scariest thing isn’t powerful techniques but unfamiliar ones.
Every strong martial art has its counter, and understanding it allows one to break it.
No wonder many martial arts masters choose their disciples carefully, placing emphasis on pupils who don’t flaunt their skills.
“In the round of 16, I finished the match with one stroke.”
Victory was swift, the opponent’s weapon breaking upon the first contact, so William knew he couldn’t recklessly clash with Peng Jeoksan.
William deflected the greatsword, which came down diagonally, with his flat blade and marveled at its weight, then aimed a strike at Peng Jeoksan’s forehead with the hilt.
However, the opponent, proving his skill with both sword and footwork, retreated smoothly with the Chaotic Primordial Step, evading the counter.
“His footwork is extraordinary.”
As William shifted his hilt back to his original stance, he noticed Peng Jeoksan’s still-excited expression—his face glowing with joy, which gave William an eerie feeling.
“Reminds me of the Pythagoras guy.”
He didn’t like that type. Such overly aggressive opponents tended to get annoying.
“Focus.”
Shaking off past memories, William refocused on the battle. The opponent here was Peng Jeoksan, not someone from the past.
“Maybe I should initiate this time.”
He immediately dismissed the idea; attacking when his footwork was unpredictable would just make him look foolish.
“No need to provoke. This spirited youth will charge without prompting—”
“Hahaha! I’m coming!”
Before William could finish his thought, Peng Jeoksan charged again.
Still a straightforward path, but the power in his steps was no ordinary matter; a direct collision would be hard to block.
“Calm down and judge the right moment.”
Moving prematurely might let the agile footwork follow through; precision is crucial to receiving the attack.
Three.
Two…
One.
William changed his stance.
Lowering the grip to his waist and pointing the blade at the ground.
Albert.
The sudden posture change unsettled Peng Jeoksan’s brows.
“Defending from that position?”
Clearly an offensive stance with no apparent defense.
It was an odd posture, but the choice was made, leaving only its execution.
Without halting his charge, Peng Jeoksan swung his greatsword at William.
With the force to split his body in two, the greatsword came down. William quickly rotated his blade counterclockwise, dodged the swing by turning his body aside, returned to the ox-guard stance, and at the same time swung his sword towards Peng Jeoksan’s head.
“Huh!”
Peng Jeoksan’s body tilted to the side. His ghostly footwork let him evade the attack, but his shoulder’s cloth tore anyway.
“Attacking like that, huh.”
Blocking techniques with techniques was one thing, but changing stances mid-combat was unheard of.
“Attempting a half-hearted attack will invite retaliation. It’s like the hermits of Mount Wu!”
“Haha! Very impressive, Brother William!”
“Why the sudden familiarity?”
William shot Peng Jeoksan an annoyed look.
Judging by Peng’s character, a bothersome post-fight relationship seemed inevitable.
“…Let’s finish this. I’ll think about it after I win.”
With a firm stance, William glared at Peng Jeoksan.
In response, Peng Jeoksan smiled ferociously and declared,
“Let’s really play now!”
A faint blue light began to emanate from his body.
