Chapter 129 : Chapter 129

Chapter 129 : Dragon's Trial (5)

Tayon’s Fourfold Transformation was integrated with the aura projection technique he normally used.

When he projected his aura, its blue light and its curve were considered to be like a crescent moon, earning him the nickname, Tayon of the Blue Moon.

Tayon’s Fourfold Transformation was also closer to a much more enhanced version of the same technique.

When Tayon used Fourfold Transformation, the light of the world was sucked into his raised sword, and the surroundings were dyed black, with only Tayon’s sword shining a brilliant blue.

In that state, when Tayon swung his sword, the arc of aura, which would have normally carried moonlight, was not drawn.

In a world as dark as the night sky, a blue moon suddenly appeared right in front of the target of Tayon’s attack, and the enemy fell without a chance to dodge.

That was how Tayon defeated Nagelmayer.

The only Fourfold Transformation I had seen in this world was Tayon’s, so it would be best for me to refer to his method.

But just as I couldn’t become exactly like Adjak even though I referred to him to set my growth direction, I wouldn’t be able to use the same technique as Tayon even if I referred to him.

‘I should review what I can do one by one.’

A Dragon Heart in my body.

My swordsmanship is based on the Linked Sword.

[Rush], [Intangible Armor], [Wings of Ainsitel], [Fear], [Black Flame], [Gravity Manipulation]...

Termination.

And Intent, which I have newly learned to use.

I recalled everything I could do and even tested them on the wooden dummy.

This was possible because I had gotten used to fighting it.

Before, the moment I thought, the split second I was distracted, the wooden dummy wouldn't have missed it and would have taken me down.

But as I got used to the combat, my techniques and battle sense improved, and my Tune levels also increased.

Thanks to that, I could test various things against the wooden dummy, which was just a replica of Adjak.

‘Even if I leave like this, I’ll be much stronger than before. But I can’t be satisfied. I have to achieve a Fourfold Transformation.’

Furthermore, I probably wouldn’t be able to leave Hike’s Dragon Speech space if I could only fight on par with the wooden dummy.

I had died and revived countless times, and I had explored the vast Myeolji space created by Dragon Speech, but I couldn’t find a portal to leave.

I could feel Hike’s intention: if I couldn’t defeat the wooden dummy, which was merely an inferior copy of Adjak, I shouldn’t expect to leave.

By reviewing everything I possessed against the wooden dummy, I realized something.

Each one would become my strength, but the core of all of them was the Dragon Heart.

Kwang!

I cast [Rush] on the wooden dummy, with the area of Termination expanded.

The only reason the dummy could withstand my sword with its thin wooden pieces was because of Adjak’s Mana.

I had to break that Mana.

Kwang! Kwang!

The swords kept clashing.

Explosions erupted, and even though they were clashing with a wooden sword, sparks flew.

My fight with the wooden dummy wasn’t a situation where one was defending and the other was attacking.

We continued to fight, our attacks never stopping and our swords linked together.

But nothing would change like this. We were only wearing each other down.

‘I have to break the Mana.’

I focused on the fight and I added my will.

Termination was definitely an irreplaceable magic, but I wasn’t using it well right now.

I wasn’t focusing on limiting the opponent’s Mana usage within the area, but rather on grasping their moment-to-moment reactions as they moved.

That was different from the original intent of Termination and the reason I could only use it this way was because my opponent was stronger than me.

‘I have to make my opponent weaker than me.’

How could I do that?

I hadn't been able to think that far.

My mind was just filled with the thought that I had to break the wooden dummy’s Mana and make it weaker than me.

At that moment, another strange phenomenon occurred.

Everything in the surroundings, except for the wooden dummy and me, disappeared.

It was a phenomenon created by extreme concentration and at the same time, I realized that my Intent was manifesting.

I focused on my Intent.

I wanted my Intent to become so strong that it could influence the world outside of me.

I only recalled the aura of Adjak surrounding the wooden dummy’s body.

I had to break it.

A change soon occurred.

Even the wooden dummy’s body disappeared.

Now, only the wooden sword it was swinging floated before my eyes.

All I could see was its sword, the graceful line it drew, and the solid aura surrounding the sword.

‘Break it. If I can’t break it, then at least shave it away.’

I can do it.

At the very least, I had to believe that.

I had to overcome Adjak and cut off the Demon King’s head.

I had to shave and break the opponent’s Mana and the aura that was condensed with that Mana.

Was it different from when I removed the Demonic Energy that had seeped into Derix’s and Raldetun’s bodies?

Yes, it was different.

With them, I had placed my hand on their bodies and slowly infused my Mana to pull out the Demonic Energy.

It was closer to pushing it out than shaving away Mana.

But Intent is what allows you to overcome that difference and do what you could never have even imagined.

The only thing left in my sight was the wooden dummy’s sword.

I focused on the sword and the aura surrounding it.

But I narrowed my target even further.

To the point where my sword made contact.

I focused only on the aura at that part.

‘Push it, shave it, break it, anything!’

Spurred by my Intent, a change occurred.

The aura surrounding the wooden dummy’s sword was shaved away.

It was the first time my Intent had interfered with the world outside of me.

I didn’t stop and kept swinging my sword.

The wooden dummy’s firm aura was being shaved away every time my sword made contact with it.

My aura, my Intent, was devouring Adjak’s aura.

Swish!

Finally, after all the aura had been shaved away, the wooden sword also broke.

Only then did the world return to normal.

The wooden dummy was holding up its broken sword, but it no longer swung it.

It just stood there blankly.

Even though the wooden dummy had no facial features, I somehow felt like I could see its expression.

It was... smiling.

I cut off the wooden dummy’s neck.

***

After the wooden dummy’s neck was cut off, a portal appeared behind its crumbled body.

I touched the fallen wooden dummy.

It was exactly like the wooden dummies I used to hit when I was training in Gullok as a child.

It was made of reasonably hard wood, but it was just a wooden dummy.

But the wooden dummy imbued with Adjak’s aura couldn't be easily cut with Maron’s sword, which had undergone a form transformation.

It was my Intent that had broken it.

I had achieved a Fourfold Transformation and reached the 8th Rank.

It wasn’t a Fourfold Transformation with flashy effects, such as summoning illusions or greatly transforming the space, like others had.

It was just shaving away the opponent’s Mana.

But I was sufficiently satisfied.

I had reached the 8th Rank.

I took a deep breath as I took in the realization I had gained from this battle.

As I withdrew my Mana, I could clearly feel the vile and ominous air of Myeolji.

Someday, I would set foot in the real Myeolji, not just this Dragon Speech space.

Only then would I be able to fulfill Adjak’s wish, my wish.

I took my hand off the wooden dummy, bowed my head, and entered the portal.

***

I met Hike as soon as I came out of the portal.

She was standing firm, looking at me.

I could tell that her gaze was scrutinizing me.

I had nothing to hide, so I faced her eyes confidently.

Hike only opened her mouth after observing my change for a very long time.

“You’ve worked hard.”

“No, not at all. Thanks to you, Lady Hike, I was able to gain a lot of realizations.”

I gave her my sincere thanks.

During the first and second trials, I had risen two ranks.

I knew very well that Ranks were not easy to climb.

I realized once again that although the Dragon’s Trial was very difficult, if you could overcome it, a great reward would follow.

“By the way, how many times did I die in there?”

“142 times.”

I was startled.

At some point, I had forgotten to count and just fought out of stubbornness.

Even though I came back to life after dying, the fear and shock I felt when I died was still engraved in my body.

I unconsciously touched my neck.

“How much time has passed?”

“20 days.”

I had been fighting for 20 days without eating or sleeping.

Based on that dense combat experience, I had reached the 8th Rank.

But one problem remained.

The portal I had entered and exited had disappeared.

But the three other portals were still emitting a mysterious light.

They had entered earlier than me, but they still hadn’t come out.

‘Are they all okay?’

I was worried because I knew how desperate and difficult the fight was. If they couldn’t get a hold of their mentality, they could break.

Noticing that I was looking at the portals with worry, Hike spoke.

“Your companions are doing well.”

“What?”

“No one has given up and they are all fighting well.”

“That’s a relief.”

Hike’s short words instantly made my heart feel at ease.

“Then, while I wait, can I get the third trial?”

“First, eat and get some sleep. The third trial is not something you can receive alone.”

Hike said that and went back into the cave.

Only then did I realize the state of my body.

No matter how much the Dragon Speech space helped me move without sleeping or eating, my fatigue was not completely gone.

I sat down and looked at the portals.

‘Everyone, overcome it and come back safely.’

All I could do right now was trust my companions.

After a while, Hike brought me some food.

It was a table full of delicious-looking meat and fresh fruits.

“It’s an honor that Lady Hike brought me food.”

“I used to give food to Adjak from time to time.”

I remembered that as well.

It was both an honor and something I was grateful for that she was doing for me what she had done for Adjak.

“Listen while you eat. A request has come from the Adjak family.”

“What kind of request?”

“The White Dragon Knights said they need you.”

The White Dragon Knights?

Considering the time it took me to complete the first and second Dragon’s Trials, they should be in the middle of participating in the imperial knights’ tournament.

“I’ll explain the details tomorrow. For now, eat well, get a good night’s sleep, and then travel to the imperial capital.”

Hike was not in a hurry.

Instead, it seemed like she just wanted me to eat and rest well.

Hike, who was Adjak’s companion and a hero of the continent, was taking care of me.

Everyone on the continent knew that Hike had a noble personality.

If people knew what was happening here right now, they would be greatly surprised.

I even thought that it might be a more unbelievable situation than the fact that I had become an Apostle of the Holy Order.

“Thank you. I’ll eat well.”

I thanked Hike and took a bite of the meat.

It was so... delicious.

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