Mars Swordsmanship — Part 1
“I’ve lost.”
King of Destruction declared with a haggard expression.
Sky Dragon King, Black Demon King, and Angel King stood with calm expressions.
I checked the condition of Black Demon King.
Although he had expended his vitality, his complexion was surprisingly fine.
The poisonous mushrooms that had spread across his face earlier were now completely gone, leaving only some wrinkles.
‘He must’ve downed an elixir he’d stashed away.’
As expected, I couldn’t afford to let my guard down.
The information I gained from the game.
The strategy I had prepared in advance.
The all-out assault that struck them off guard.
If not for these three factors, I wouldn’t have been able to win, no matter how skilled I am.
Objectively speaking, these three old men were stronger than me.
The proof? Every time I looked at them, my senses buzzed sharply.
It was an instinct, whispering to me that I needed to charge at them immediately. If I was going to take them down, I had to do it now.
At first, I wondered if I’d awakened some kind of strange new trait, but after focusing deeply with my intuition, I realized what it was.
[Invincible] trait.
If [Massacre] thrives on overwhelming the weak, then [Invincible] is the exact opposite.
It strengthens me when I fight against those stronger than myself.
In simple terms, you could call it a “Challenger’s Trait.”
‘The condition was to defeat three high-level opponents in succession.’
The reason it didn’t manifest back when I fought the Inquisitor’s group in the Great Labyrinth was simple.
They were weaker than me.
But these three… my instincts recognized their strength before my rationality could.
I was definitely lucky this time.
Take Sky Dragon King, for instance.
If he had been more prepared and not underestimated me for being a mere Level 5 rookie, this wouldn’t have ended so easily.
Complacency is the enemy.
I reminded myself of this once again as I received the statue of Mars.
“I’ve received it.”
“Phew… I suppose it will be difficult for us to demand a rematch now?”
“If you wish, I’ll accept. But do you think it’s possible? You already know the answer, King of Destruction.”
“True enough.”
I would soon reach Level 6, and King of Destruction knew that.
Even if he gathered his old master’s friends and challenged me again, would he be able to win?
The answer was a resounding no.
King of Destruction, looking forlorn, returned to his party.
I watched as the three old men patted his shoulders in consolation before approaching me.
One by one, they spoke.
“Hoho, I am truly amazed. Not just the Black Tiger Swordmaster, but your companions were equally outstanding.”
“Indeed. That fist packed quite a punch.”
“Ugh. At least you guys managed to put up a fight. What about me? I’m just cursing the passage of time. If only I were 10 years younger, I could’ve shrugged off a sword strike like that with a laugh.”
“Our time has passed.”
“Not that we ever had a time to begin with.”
I bowed politely.
“Apologies if I overdid it. But I simply couldn’t afford to hold back with my skills.”
“Apologize? What nonsense!”
“If you had gone easy on us, that would’ve been the real insult. Black Tiger Swordmaster, we both did our best within our limits. It was truly an honor to cross swords with you before I die.”
“Exactly, exactly. Someday you’ll be a Legion Commander. I now have a story to boast to my grandchildren.”
“Who would believe you’re only Level 5? Watching you awaken new abilities in real-time was a first for me in my 90 years of life.”
To my surprise, the three old men were unexpectedly good-natured.
We shook hands one by one.
Their hands were deeply wrinkled with age.
Black Demon King gave me a sly wink.
“With talent as exceptional as yours, and a personality to match, Black Tiger Swordmaster, you’re sure to become the greatest under heaven. Ah, is that an outdated phrase these days?”
“You’re too kind.”
“Not at all! There must be a reason Black Tiger’s beloved blade has chosen you. When you rise even higher, I hope you’ll look after my nephew and that disciple of mine who’ll debut someday. I’m not asking you to train them, but if you happen to meet them as enemies, could you hold back a little?”
“That much is easy. I’ll make sure of it.”
“Thank you. Truly, thank you. What a rare gem you are. Nowadays, anyone who picks up a sword is quick to flaunt it.”
“If I had a granddaughter, I’d make you my grandson-in-law right now.”
“My thoughts exactly.”
It seemed they weren’t too bothered by their defeat. Was it because of their age? Or had they reached a certain level of enlightenment in life?
After a long while of singing my praises, they laughed heartily and left the arena.
The announcer’s voice rang loudly.
[The legendary party that once ruled the Colosseum, reigning supreme for over a decade! Alas, time spares no one. They have finally bowed their heads to a rising star party! Had this not been an exhibition match, had their diamonds and equipment been truly at stake, they might have crossed the Styx today! But the fact that it was an exhibition match has saved their legacy! Will the legendary party, our rank 1 champions, seek revenge? We’ll find out in two weeks, or perhaps a month from now!]
“Black Tiger Swordmaster, will we have a second match?”
Kim Chulkwon, who had started addressing Kim Saje and Kim Mabeob informally, still spoke to me with respect. His face was red with excitement, still fired up from his duel with King of Destruction.
“No. I have no intention of it.”
“That’s a bit disappointing.”
“If you crave combat, visit the Colosseum sometimes and compete in ranking matches.”
“Is that okay?”
“Just be careful not to lose. Or negotiate a special contract with the organizers beforehand. If you lose and your mana circuit is destroyed, it’ll be a headache. For Reinforced types, repairing mana circuits is no easy feat.”
A downside of the Reinforced class, despite their ease in leveling up.
Kim Chulkwon nodded solemnly.
Kim Mabeob, standing next to him, nudged him playfully.
“Hey, want to team up with me and give it a try?”
“Sure! Sounds good!”
“What about me?”
“You too, Saje. Let’s do it together. Black Tiger Swordmaster is… busy, so it’ll just be us. I looked into it, and there are 2-on-2 and 3-on-3 formats.”
“Do you think we’ll be fine on our own?”
“Not all matches are unlimited. Regular ranking matches are fine for us.”
It seemed the three of them had gotten hooked on the Colosseum.
Well, it makes sense. None of them had ever experienced the Superhuman Battles before.
Kim Chulkwon’s previous fights had been gang wars. Kim Mabeob came from a privileged background and avoided real fights. Kim Saje had spent his time running away.
The Colosseum would definitely be beneficial for all three of them.
“Let’s head back.”
With that, the Kim party disbanded for the time being.
I doubted I’d have any need to call on them for a while.
However, on the day we parted ways, at a brief gathering afterward, Kim Mabeob discreetly called me aside.
“Uh, hyung. The truth is…”
Even though I hadn’t asked, Kim Mabeob began spilling his secrets.
It must’ve been weighing on him.
Still, I didn’t expect this.
Mages are typically cold-blooded and selfish by nature.
I thought he’d keep it a secret since it was an order from his grandfather.
I draped an arm around Kim Mabeob’s shoulder.
“It’s okay. It happens.”
“I’m sorry.”
“There’s no need to apologize. To be honest, I already found it odd. How did Saje just so happen to arrive in Korea at the perfect timing?”
“I won’t say anything to my grandfather.”
“There’s no need to keep it from him.”
“Are you sure? I think it’d be better to smooth things over. My grandfather… you might not know this, but he’s actually a very scary man.”
“I know enough.”
It didn’t matter.
The Tower Master of the Sun Mage Tower had probably obtained recordings of my matches through other means.
There had to be at least one spectator who filmed the event.
It would be better to be upfront than to try to hide it.
This way, I could gain further proof that Kim Mabeob was emotionally aligning himself with me.
“Just tell him the truth.”
“That’s too risky…”
“Don’t worry. I’ve already thought it through. And thank you for being honest.”
“I owe you. You’ve changed my life, hyung. Hiding things from you didn’t feel right.”
“Thanks.”
“No, really, hyung. I’m the one who’s thankful.”
His face looked much more at ease.
The shadow I’d sometimes noticed when he looked at me was now completely gone.
He returned to the gathering and began drinking and laughing with Kim Chulkwon and Kim Saje.
I was genuinely glad.
The emotional distance between me and Kim Mabeob now felt as close as it did with Kim Chulkwon and Kim Saje.
‘Can I trust them, even a little?’
What a ridiculous thought.
Trusting people is foolish.
There’s nothing as stupid as putting faith in another human being.
I stared at my reflection in a nearby mirror, forcing my expression to harden.
The only one I can trust is myself.
I need to grow stronger, faster.
And for that, I must first master Mars Swordsmanship.
As soon as the gathering ended, I called Baek Sorin to the secret training room.
“Teacher? Did you call for me?”
Though I only summoned Baek Sorin, Janet and Kali came along as well.
Once they were all seated, I handed the statue of Mars to Baek Sorin.
“Take this.”
“Huh? Why are you giving it to me?”
“It’s yours.”
“What?”
“You know about Mars, right?”
“Of course. The Roman god of war.”
In Greece, he’s known as Ares. In Rome, Mars.
And in Arcane Seoul, he’s a god who still exists.
Though his cult has been overshadowed by Gaia’s Cult, making him almost powerless.
But there’s one lesser-known fact.
I looked Baek Sorin in the eye and spoke clearly.
“There’s one more thing you should know. Mars is also the god of the Heavenly Killing Star.”
“The god of the Heavenly Killing Star!”
Baek Sorin jumped up from her seat.
Janet’s eyes went wide, while Kali looked confused.
“Teacher? Unnie? What’s this Heavenly Killing Star?”
“Oh, you didn’t know? Sorin is the Heavenly Killing Star.”
“W-what?”
“You never told her?”
“It’s not exactly something worth bragging about.”
“I had no idea…”
“Don’t think about the nonsense you see in dramas. Not all Heavenly Killing Stars are psychopathic murderers.”
Especially not Baek Sorin.
Didn’t I go through all that trouble in the Forbidden Zone of the shopping mall just to bestow [Indomitable] on her?
I pressed the statue of Mars into her hands firmly.
Baek Sorin hesitantly accepted it.
Soon, her eyes turned hazy.
“This feels… strange…”
“Don’t resist. Trust your instincts with your mana. Your instincts will handle the rest.”
Baek Sorin closed her eyes.
Mana began to surge from her.
Baek Sorin hadn’t learned any specialized mana cultivation techniques.
She’d even consulted me about it before, but I strongly advised her not to learn one.
That was because of Mars Swordsmanship.
The Big Three Sword Arts aren’t just martial techniques; they’re also mana cultivation techniques.
Swoooosh.
The mana overflowed.
The statue of Mars resonated with Baek Sorin.
Light poured from the statue and into her.
At the same time, her wild, violent mana was refined and refined again.
It wasn’t just gaining an attribute; it was solidifying.
A single blade.
Or perhaps, a warrior honed to the extreme.
Baek Sorin’s aura shifted.
She transformed from a reckless barbarian who only knew how to charge into battle to a seasoned veteran.
Like a gladiator who had claimed 10,000 victories in the Colosseum, slaying monsters, mutants, superhumans, and beasts alike.
“Haaaa…”
Baek Sorin exhaled deeply.
Silently, she drew her sword.
It was the Holy Sword I had given her.
Janet and Kali quickly realized the mood and excused themselves, leaving only me and Baek Sorin in the secret training room.
In the vast space, almost as large as a futsal field, Baek Sorin began her sword dance.
Swish! Flash! Boom!
I could see it clearly.
Her slashes, her swordsmanship traits, were dissolving.
Mars Swordsmanship filled the void they left behind.
But it didn’t stop there.
The dissolved traits of slashing and swordsmanship fused together, evolving into a new trait.
[Swordsmanship Expert].
In mastering Mars Swordsmanship, Baek Sorin’s traits underwent the following changes:
[Heavenly Killing Star] [Indomitable] [Rampaging Train]
[Mars Swordsmanship] [Swordsmanship Expert] [Nine Lives]
Her offensive, survival, and mobility skills now formed a perfectly balanced harmony.
This was the true majesty of an SSR-grade character.
Honestly, there wasn’t much left to improve.
When she reaches Level 7 later, I could just help her complete a high-difficulty quest to evolve [Swordsmanship Expert] into [Master of the Blade]. After that, she’d truly take off.
‘Totally broken.’
As I let out a faint chuckle, Baek Sorin continued her sword dance.
She was still bold and aggressive.
But unlike before, there was restraint now.
Instead of recklessly throwing herself into the fray, she attacked and retreated wisely.
On top of that, she could use Mars Swordsmanship to unleash a ferocious sword aura…
What more needed to be said?
“Haaa.”
Baek Sorin sheathed her sword with a deep sigh.
“This is incredible. Now I understand why you never taught me any sword techniques separately.”
“I’ve been planning to teach you this swordsmanship ever since I took you on as my disciple. From what I know, it’s one of the top five sword techniques in the world.”
“T-Top five? Um, how does it compare to the Black Tiger’s Invincible Swordsmanship?”
It’s the most famous sword technique in Korea.
But to be blunt, while it might be top-tier among SSR-grade martial arts, it doesn’t hold a candle to the Big Three Sword Arts.
“Far superior. The Black Tiger’s Invincible Swordsmanship is certainly an excellent technique, but it’s no match for Mars Swordsmanship.”
“Mars Swordsmanship… So this is called Mars Swordsmanship.”
“It’s not named after a god for no reason.”
No matter how impressive a human’s swordsmanship is, it will always be beneath that of a god.
Mars Swordsmanship, Nephilim Sword, and Kalaratri—all of the Big Three Sword Arts originated from gods who still exist in Arcane Seoul.
Baek Sorin’s face flushed as she gripped her sword tightly.
“Thank you so much. I don’t even know how I’ll repay this… Ah! Is this what you wanted from me?”
“That’s right.”
I didn’t bother to dodge the question.
I have no interest in pretending to be a saint.
If I want something, I say it outright.
You know how it works: give and take.
Since I gave something to Baek Sorin, I have every right to demand something in return.
“I told you before, didn’t I? After you reached Level 5, I’d collect my payment. That time is now.”
“That’s fair.”
“If I said I wanted nothing, it would’ve been a lie. I’m not a philanthropist or your father. From the beginning, I accepted you as my disciple because there was something I wanted.”
“Teacher. But still, you’re my teacher, and I’m your disciple, right?”
“Of course. Once a disciple, always a disciple—until death.”
“Hearing you say that puts my mind at ease.”
“What, did you think I’d cut ties after teaching you this swordsmanship?”
“Not exactly… but you do seem to find me a bit of a bother.”
“I find not just you, but everyone in this world bothersome.”
“Ahahaha!”
Baek Sorin burst into laughter.
It was the truth.
In my previous world, I’d been betrayed so many times that I consciously—and unconsciously—kept people at arm’s length.
It seemed Baek Sorin had picked up on that.
After laughing for a while, Baek Sorin wiped the smile off her face and spoke seriously.
“I’ll teach you.”
“Thank you. I’ll make sure to learn diligently.”
“Of course, I should teach you. You’ve completely changed my life, Teacher. Without you, I’d probably still be in the Superhuman Union, enduring abuse from those awful senior members—calling them seniors is too generous. Those women were nothing but trash. Oh, by the way, do you remember Lee Jaeyeol? The guy who picked a fight with you?”
“I remember.”
“I ran into him last week at the Superhuman Tower. You should’ve seen his face when he saw me—his eyes went completely wide with shock.”
“Hahaha. I can imagine.”
“He still seems to hold a grudge against you, so be careful.”
“What’s he going to do? He’s just a measly Level 4. Even if he bears a grudge, what can he accomplish? The only reason he inherited Seungcheon Security is that his father and older brother suddenly died in a chain of freak accidents. But even so, it’s still just Seungcheon Security. He’s nothing compared to me.”
“True. How could someone like the great Black Tiger Swordmaster even be mentioned in the same breath as the head of a mere security company?”
“Are you mocking me?”
“Ahahaha!”
The tension between us, which could have grown awkward, was instead lightened by a playful joke.
After a brief bout of laughter, Baek Sorin turned serious, raising the holy sword.
“Teacher. Shall we begin? Teaching you this properly will take at least a few years.”
That was true.
In the game, it was nearly impossible to inherit a top-tier trait like Mars Swordsmanship through a simple teacher-disciple relationship.
“Let’s do it.”
But there’s always a way.
Equipping the [Training] trait, I prepared to cross swords with Baek Sorin.
–TL Notes–
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Nice nice nice
Nice chapter