Reincarnation Sword God

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Chapter 15: The Event of God’s Fury

“Don’t create a tragedy!”

I could understand the situation where Grand Master Jang Sam-bong might want to kill me. After all, the reactions of those who learn of a Reborn Person’s past life can be wildly different. But the justification behind his intent to end my life to avoid tragedy felt a bit off.

“Why do you want to kill me?”

“To spare the innocent from suffering.”

“Suffering…?”

“To you, this life may seem singular, but everyone else will suffer from the twists of fate. If the world’s continuity isn’t assured, I believe that killing you is the right choice.”

“……”

“If you seek to hate me and take revenge as a Reborn Person, that too is acceptable.”

I started to grasp what he meant.

From the perspective of the world’s destruction, and perhaps that the world could be parallel, one might be pushed to act as Grand Master Jang Sam-bong did. My attempts to save the world could very well be inflicting pain on all beings.

“But not yet.”

I calmly addressed Grand Master Jang Sam-bong.

“Please wait a moment. If I can find out the whereabouts of the Four Great Artifacts from the Yacha, I will willingly end my life.”

Grand Master Jang simply replied, “Is that life?”

“Huh?”

“Dear one, each life that you overlook cannot be called ‘life.’ Unlike the [Old Ruler], you exist beyond the laws of the world…”

“……”

“No matter how passionately you strive to live – it’s less than just living for survival; it resembles a disaster more than anything else.”

His words pierced painfully into my heart. I had often felt the same way. I answered Grand Master Jang.

“I realize I am straying more from the realm of humanity. However, there must be an end to any beginning, so I intend to see it through. And before I lose my humanity, I must gather clues at any cost.”

“Dear one, you are overly attached to your humanity. What is the reason?”

“I believe that seeing an end without being human has no significance.”

Grand Master Jang tilted his head, puzzled.

“I do not understand…”

“What don’t you understand?”

“What reason is there to seek ‘meaning’ in a war against the gods? For a Reborn Person, good and evil, black and white, are meaningless. Why the obsession? It feels more curious than whether you walk the Demonic Path or not.”

“……”

For a moment, I found myself at a loss for words.

Meaning.

It seemed a simple question, yet it struck at the core, leaving me speechless.

‘What…?’

Having accumulated enough knowledge and experience to confuse even the Eight Parts of the Divine – why was I unable to answer such a straightforward question? What was so difficult about it?

As I felt confused and frustrated at my inability to understand myself, Grand Master Jang spoke.

“Baek Woong. Do not attempt suicide. That would be an act of escape.”

“Such an end shall not be permitted. Instead of wasting time, draw your sword as a Martial Artist.”

I felt a wave of surprise at Grand Master Jang’s words.

“Isn’t it easier that way? Why won’t you allow me the course I desire? If I die without acquiring information about the Four Great Artifacts, won’t that just lead to another waste of time? Ultimately, it’s for the sake of this world.”

Grand Master Jang’s white eyebrows slowly drooped.

“Baek Woong, do not wrap your motives under a righteous guise. This isn’t for the world; it’s for yourself. And even that isn’t certain.”

“……”

“If you wish to deny my words, then prove it as a Martial Artist. Demonstrate that you are not the king of tragedy.”

“What…?”

“Just make sure you don’t drift too far off the path to meet the Deity of Martial Arts.”

He wore a strangely sad expression.

I had no idea.

What was Grand Master Jang trying to achieve?

And what did he wish to see from me?

‘If I wanted to commit suicide, I could do so right now. But…’

It felt like I would lose something if I followed through. Grand Master Jang might not be able to prevent my suicide, but it felt like it wasn’t the answer. The murderous intent he held was real, but I sensed that he had also come here with a resolute determination. It was an intuitive connection only shared between Martial Artists.

Sigh.

Suddenly, I felt exhausted. Nothing had been resolved, yet the situation was growing urgent.

I wished to save this world, but I had no plan.

Though I had endured this despair with sheer willpower, I felt engulfed in an empty sense of tiredness. I stood before Grand Master Jang and drew my sword, as if letting go of something. My once tangled thoughts became clear, and I focused entirely on the duel ahead.

“Alright.”

In the face of the man who had imparted the Peerless Technique to me, I felt willing to die.

To honor my master, I entrusted him with the task of ending my life. Given my distaste for suicide, I wanted to meet my end fighting the strongest warrior.

With a clang—

As I raised my sword, Grand Master Jang stepped forward, and we gently crossed blades. This was one of the Wudang Sect’s sparring rituals; the duel would commence the moment our swords fell apart. The thought of standing here, about to face Grand Master Jang, filled my heart with a mysterious thrill.

‘Haha…’

I chuckled nervously. Here I was, on the brink of a duel that was akin to suicide without even obtaining information from Yacha, yet my heart raced—who knew I’d feel such a rush of Martial Spirit?

Clang!

As if time had halted, our swords separated, and the first strike was exchanged. The moment the crossing was complete, I channeled every ounce of concentration into my thrust aimed at Grand Master Jang. It was a mere stab, but stripped of any unnecessary flair, it was my best thrust yet.

In that moment, I felt as if a crescent moon danced around Grand Master Jang’s body. But it wasn’t an illusion; the pair of crescents erupted like sparks of light in the thick darkness, aimed directly at my throat.

‘So this is real.’

Having fought numerous duels with Grand Master Jang, I was familiar with the nature of this ultimate technique, and a sense of resignation washed over me.

Northern Silent Universe.

Peerless Shadow.

Known in celestial realms as the Northern Silent Universe Slash, the Peerless Shadow was a technique Grand Master Jang had failed to leave behind in the human realm, but it didn’t belong to the Seven Great Techniques. After ascending to the divine realm, Grand Master Jang had used the Peerless Shadow to instantly end a legendary creature, mastering the essence of swords.

Time slowed.

The crescent approached my neck, leaving me aware of the need to choose either to defend or evade. However, the Peerless Shadow could cut down an opponent regardless of the choice. Should I choose to defend, my guard would be shattered; if I evaded, I would lose a limb.

As it was an ultimate technique of Slash, I realized I could not decipher the Peerless Shadow with my current skills. I could somewhat parse other Combined Techniques, but the Peerless Shadow eluded my understanding. Its use meant Grand Master Jang was fully intent on ending my life.

The sword energy was immense, but it didn’t fall under the Seven Great Techniques because it lacked the principles necessary for the Peerless Technique; overindulging in its power made mastering the Peerless Technique even more complicated.

Knowing full well that there were no options against the Peerless Shadow aside from the Three Treasure Technique, I grasped the axis of Heaven, Earth, and People with my Three Treasure Technique and evaded as much as I could. Almost as if ordained, right after one crescent struck my sword, another brushed effortlessly across my throat.

A thin line of blood was drawn across my throat, but it was no more than a mere flesh wound. Surprised at my unexpected evasion, I felt life returning to my face as I quickly turned to retaliate against Grand Master Jang. However, my expression hardened as I saw him calmly calibrating the yin and yang with both hands.

Peerless Technique!

‘Ugh, it’s too late….’

I had exerted all my strength, leaving me with no room to retreat. The moment my thrust penetrated his territory, Grand Master Jang’s Peerless Technique activated, and I felt my entire body enveloped in a wave of fatigue. In an instant, my sword had vanished, and I hurriedly retreated behind my Treasure.

“……!!”

This was the terrifying aspect of the Peerless Technique. It didn’t immediately launch a counterattack, but once an attack was nullified, the recipient would experience overwhelming fatigue. In fights among experts, that fatigue could manifest as a deadly weakness, and the more energy expended, the greater the drain.

Those I had faced in the past while attacking the Peerless Technique were all high-level beings, meaning I rarely noticed this effect. However, if a lesser opponent were to fall victim to the Peerless Technique, the consequences would be nothing short of catastrophic. The focus one needed for a decisive battle would drop steeply.

It felt like I had forcibly had the breath knocked out of me. Unknowingly, I felt myself flinching, and Grand Master Jang, without retracting his position from the Peerless Technique, unleashed another attack, waiting as if to toy with my responses like a cat playing with a mouse. Gritting my teeth, I switched to a defensive stance to protect against his attacks.

The Peerless Technique was not an active martial art.

There was no way to counter once I shifted to defense.

Yet Grand Master Jang seemed to have anticipated this; he accurately gripped his sword again and stepped forward. I felt as though a mountain was pressing down upon me, tightening my resolve. It was clear I’d been mentally drained by my encounter with the Peerless Technique.

‘But ironically… it’s still manageable!!’

Though I was being pushed back, this struggle didn’t differ significantly from the times I had sparred with Grand Master Jang. In fact, given the skill disparity, I felt I was holding my own quite well. Gaining courage from within, I jumped towards Grand Master Jang, who retaliated with the Combined Techniques of the Celestial Dragon’s Wave.

Boom!!

I fought against Grand Master Jang for about a hundred and fifty seconds.

Every attack I launched was either blocked, diverted, or nullified by the Peerless Technique, yet Grand Master Jang didn’t seem in haste to eliminate me either. Many Combined Techniques were hurled at me, but I managed to withstand them using the Three Treasure Technique and the Protection Energy Technique.

Could I actually win?

Against Jang Sam-bong?

As hope blossomed in my heart, I suddenly stopped, realizing something.

“…”

As I halted, Grand Master Jang ceased as well. I looked at him with a bewildered expression and said.

“Grand Master Jang… why did you hold back?”

“You think I held back?”

“If not, how could I have endured this long? Had it been the usual, I would have collapsed within fifty seconds; how can this be?”

“…Hoho.”

He smiled wryly.

“You’re mistaken. I’m giving my all. Although I’ve been careful to look for the chance to end this, I have never held back.”

“Then….”

“Your skills have advanced. You’ve sparred with me over five hundred times and have grasped my little habits, techniques, and strategies. Even I cannot resolve matters quickly against someone like that. And today, unlike before, you’ve managed to shake off distractions and tread the precipice of death, allowing you to utilize all of your skills.”

“You stand ready to match an expert of the Absolute Realm. The reason you fell easily to Yeodong-bin was that you couldn’t maximize what you’d learned.”

I awkwardly smiled at Grand Master Jang’s praise. Yet, I stiffened at his next words.

“However, you failed to notice you’ve already been caught in a fatal move, so you are still far from it…”

“What…?”

Creak—

An ominous sound echoed in my ears. It was the sound of blood flowing within me, and I instantly knew what was happening.

Boom!!

“Cough!!”

As he finished speaking, I felt a violent whirlpool erupting behind my heart, realizing my back had burst open. No matter how I looked at it, it felt like a fatal injury; in an instant, a third of my back seemed to be obliterated. I collapsed, coughing blood, thinking.

‘…The Combined Techniques of the Seven Great Techniques… the Dragon Sound Spiral Classics!’

When blood resonates, the Dragon Sound shreds the opponent, the ultimate divine technique! The Dragon Sound Spiral Classics, utilizing the principles of spirals and infiltrating techniques, could be planted in an enemy without their awareness, exploding whenever the caster desired. It was the pinnacle of secret arts rarely seen in the Martial Arts World!

However, it hadn’t been known to the world—too sinister and cruel for Wudang’s martial arts, Grand Master Jang never passed down the Dragon Sound Spiral Classics. This technique bore the nature of spiral infiltration; it could cycle within the body five times, completely ignoring the Protection Energy Technique and tearing the opponent apart. Grand Master Jang had once caught a legendary beast from five centuries ago with it.

‘W-when did it even happen?’

As I writhed in a pool of blood, I muttered.

“The martial arts… has never… touched me…, how…?”

“The Dragon Sound Spiral Classics can be applied not only to hand techniques but also to sword techniques. I infiltrated the Spiral Classics when we clashed swords…”

“I had hoped to keep this method from you until you were ready for such a day…”

A monster…. How is such a thing possible?

This was a complete breakdown of any common knowledge I had about martial arts.

The Dragon Sound Spiral Classics required contact to be effective as it’s a hand technique. However, Grand Master Jang had managed to apply it through his sword technique! Such a thing had never been witnessed in the Martial Arts World, radically overturning the principles governing all martial arts.

In other words, to fight against Grand Master Jang, it was imperative to avoid any swords clashing. But how could one avoid that against a powerhouse like Grand Master Jang? Was it possible to not defend against blades with blades?

Confused, I felt the need for one last clarification and ground my teeth.

“When it was against Yeodong-bin… why…?”

“Yeodong-bin sensed every aspect of my Dragon Sound Spiral Classics and discarded them before they could settle in his blood. However, you do not possess the skill or sense to catch the flow of the Dragon Sound Spiral Classics while engaged in combat. Of course, you are not the only one; anyone who hasn’t reached the Absolute Realm is bound to fall victim.”

Is this another level of disparity?

I sighed deeply a moment later. My entire body felt drained, and I had no strength left to continue fighting.

“…Please finish this cleanly.”

So it came to this.

“Farewell.”

Grand Master Jang nodded and then pierced my brow with an overwhelming speed from his Fast Sword.

Whoosh

This felt like my 26th death.

“……”

But death did not approach. In that moment, someone’s back blocked my path.

“You cannot kill a Reborn Person. It’s the shortcut to my goal.”

With a low voice, the being who intercepted Grand Master Jang’s Fast Sword continued to speak.

“From now on, I will contend with you.”

Clang…

The sound of a mechanism clicking echoed as Grand Master Jang pulled back his energy, reacting to the fine flow of every subtle nuance. Just observing that was enough to recognize that this person before me was an extraordinary expert, donning silver gloves on both hands. Most notably, he wore an entire disguise, instantly revealing his identity.

Thud!!

As if not visible to the eye, the two absolute masters exchanged a breath in mere seconds.

Grand Master Jang seemed poised to eliminate me through a gap, but instead, he let his white eyebrows droop and quietly spoke, revealing my opponent’s identity.

“The Supreme Being of the East… Using Baek Woong will only tighten your own noose.”

The opponent wore a mocking smile.

“Hahaha. This feels like the best opportunity to me.”

“Baek Woong, just wait for your death.”

Whoosh

A green light unexpectedly enveloped my body. Simultaneously, the fatal wound I sustained from the Dragon Sound Spiral Classics healed in an instant.

This was a recovery technique used when channeling the power of the Sacred Altar Tree through the Wood Element.

“You now have the chance to witness the Heavenly Unrestrained Technique you’ve longed for.”

The Master of the Twelve Joules had arrived.

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