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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 18
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There's a term called 'runner's high'.
When engaging in long-distance running, like a marathon, and pushing one's body to its absolute limit—maintaining that state of extreme exertion—at some point, the fatigue and pain are forgotten. One enters a trance-like state, repeating only the act of running.
It's akin to accomplishing something that would normally be clearly impossible, something others would wonder how it could even be done.
Pain and anxiety—all of it dulls or disappears.
It refers to the vague sense of happiness one feels just by performing 'something,' leading them to continue doing it.
And that...
...wasn't exclusive to marathons.
…
'Beyond expectations.'
The more Leonhardt parried and received the spear, the more intensely he felt that emotion.
The strength of this cadet, Han Cheon-seong.
More than anything, the thought 'he's strong' settled deep in his mind, as if etched there.
There was no way to avoid the spear.
He certainly didn't think he had underestimated the spear-wielding trait.
Yet, that's how it felt.
Parrying and blocking the spear was his limit. Anything beyond that felt almost impossible.
As the sparring continued, no matter how he thought about it, Han Cheon-seong was like something far exceeding his expectations.
Clang!
Even as he parried the spear that once again aimed for his left shoulder, he ultimately couldn't advance.
Parrying the spear and moving forward.
At first, he thought he could close the distance in an instant, but reality was different.
Whoosh! Swish!
The spear he parried shot back with astonishing speed.
There was almost no interval between its retrieval and the spear's renewed assault. In fact, as the sparring progressed, its speed only increased.
And if that were all, he might have found an opening somehow.
'I can't advance beyond this.'
The spear Han Cheon-seong wielded was full of variables.
Sometimes, imbued with great force, the spear felt heavy; at other times, it felt so light that parrying it with his sword felt strange.
And now.
More than anything, the moment he tried to advance like this, he would be pierced straight through by that spear.
He felt it instinctively.
So, he remained rooted in place. The stagnant sparring continued, a repetitive exchange of parries and blocks.
'Don't rush.'
The more he felt that, the calmer his mind became.
If he acted impatiently and allowed even a single strike from that spear, it would be over instantly.
The spear had no concept of allowing a single wound. Whether it was his shoulder, leg, or flank—anywhere he was pierced by that spear—his body would be violently forced back.
Just thinking about it made it clear that further sparring would be impossible.
The destructive power of the spear meant that the moment it pierced, it was over.
He forcibly resisted the temptation to boldly switch between offense and defense and end this sparring match in one swift move.
Even now, he focused on blocking the rapidly incoming spearhead, swinging his sword with concentration.
Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!!
The spear's method of attack shifted again, assaulting him even more fiercely. He met it with his sword, parrying it smoothly.
No need to rush.
Just focus on the sparring itself.
And then... before he knew it, his mind was colored with tranquility.
—Azure Sky One Sword (蒼天一劍).
A single sword embracing the blue sky.
Suddenly, his trait came to mind.
The incomprehensible principle of embracing the blue sky with a single sword.
Azure Sky One Sword, the trait he had discovered. Its principle wasn't about how to wield a sword.
Just vague, ethereal words. Only knowledge difficult to grasp lingered in his mind.
But now.
A small fragment of that principle seemed to reveal itself to him, however slightly.
It wasn't about slicing something with the sword, or how to thrust it.
It was the difference in mindset when swinging the sword.
—Finding serenity, like the blue sky.
And then, he found himself able to enjoy this sparring match.
Clang! Clang!
As he quickly parried the spear's lightness, which offered no time for delay, a faint smile played on his lips.
'Good.'
This sparring match, right now, held meaning in itself.
Both for him and for Han Cheon-seong, his opponent. So, there was no need to rush to end the match.
Because they could feel each other growing.
His own trait, and Han Cheon-seong's trait...
—!
Even as he watched the constantly fast-thrusting spearhead, swinging his sword to match it was simply enjoyable.
It had been vague why he had to swing his sword and contemplate principles. But matching blows itself held considerable enjoyment.
At the same time, the blue light imbued in his sword surged even more intensely, catching his eye.
His trait, Azure Sky One Sword, was trying to advance even further than it ever had during his training.
Because of this, he even felt a certain sense of ease.
Instead of just focusing on parrying or blocking the spearhead, his thoughts momentarily broadened.
Han Cheon-seong.
C-class, trait grade: Common Spear Arts.
Objectively, based on that information, he shouldn't have been particularly impressive.
Yet, in his eyes, he was remarkable.
Wielding his sword directly against the spear, he realized Han Cheon-seong's uniqueness.
'Indeed, traits aren't everything.'
A world where the idea that a person's worth is determined by their trait was considered self-evident. In this world, almost everyone believed this. From his own family to the people he associated with, they all valued traits highly and placed great importance on them.
But he didn't think that way.
People each had their own roles and their own inherent worth. One shouldn't suddenly limit a person's value based on the trait grade assigned by the world.
Even though he had been granted the immensely powerful Legendary trait, he didn't believe traits were everything.
That's why he could see Han Cheon-seong without prejudice.
He didn't limit his perception to C-class and Common, nor did he question the strength Han Cheon-seong displayed.
An abnormal strength, difficult to attribute to a Common trait. Instead of questioning it, he believed that such strength must be imbued with commensurate effort, and he could acknowledge that strength.
Therefore, he didn't look down on him either.
At that, the impatience he had felt during the stagnant sparring completely vanished.
The emotions that filled the void left by impatience were positive ones.
Joy, happiness, pleasure, exhilaration—any positive emotion one could name.
Like gazing at the clear blue sky, not a trace of doubt or hesitation remained in his mind.
Suddenly, a sound reached him.
"Haa... haa..."
It was a very ragged breath.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
However, it was quickly buried and unheard amidst the sounds of him parrying the rapidly attacking spear.
Only then, when he shifted his gaze to Han Cheon-seong, could he see it.
What state Han Cheon-seong was in.
His entire body was drenched in sweat, and he looked completely disheveled.
Even the faded light in his eyes beneath his black hair came into view.
'His condition... it's not normal.'
His limit.
To anyone, it was clearly his limit, an abnormal sight.
His face was flushed, and he was gasping for breath.
As if crying out for help, every part of Han Cheon-seong's body was screaming about his abnormal state.
'Han Cheon-seong has been wielding his spear in this state all this time?'
He had been so focused on the fiercely attacking spear that he hadn't considered what state Han Cheon-seong was in while wielding it.
Clang! Clang!
As he powerfully parried the strongly thrusting spear, he noticed another anomaly.
A faint blue aura imbued throughout Han Cheon-seong's entire body.
It was like a harbinger, indicating that a trait level was about to advance to the next level.
It was a phenomenon everyone dreamed of, known as the Light of Blessing.
Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!
Even as he met the spear, whose speed suddenly changed drastically, a conflict arose in his mind.
'What should I do?'
Even now, he was sufficiently satisfied.
Regardless of how the sparring ended, he had no intention of dwelling on the outcome.
It already held great meaning for him. However, even considering Han Cheon-seong's body, he couldn't stop the sparring as it was.
If he stopped the sparring, the Light of Blessing currently imbued throughout Han Cheon-seong's body would not fully envelop him and would simply disappear.
...That would mean a significant opportunity for him would vanish.
His contemplation didn't last long.
For he immediately realized the solution.
Continuing to meet sword and spear was not the answer.
The only answer was to end this sparring match as quickly as possible.
Whether that Light of Blessing fully bloomed and Han Cheon-seong reached trait level 4, or not, that was the only solution.
He had to end this sparring match with his sword.
Han Cheon-seong's body, as he thrust his spear, was already faltering.
He was in a state where he had surpassed his limits, and extreme pain was spreading throughout his body. Having also dedicated himself to training, he knew how that state felt.
And how dangerous that state was.
'Therefore.'
He had to end it.
Immediately after.
—!
Leonhardt's sword, which had been focused on defense throughout the sparring, abruptly transformed in an instant.
***
"..."
Han Cheon-seong's vision was blurry.
At the same time, there were no thoughts in his mind.
Even as he thrust the spear, he didn't know how he was thrusting it.
Even as he swung the spear widely, as if slicing, he didn't know how he was swinging it.
He himself didn't properly understand it right now.
He was merely continuing the sparring, wielding his spear in a trance-like state. Han Cheon-seong was clearly surpassing his own limits.
Both his body and mind. All of them had surpassed his limits.
Because of this, Han Cheon-seong felt as if he were floating.
'I...'
A strange feeling, as if he wasn't himself, and his body was beyond his control.
There was truly no sensation in his body.
Yet, as if he absolutely had to, he was merely acting on reflex.
Thrusting the spear, slicing it, and if it was blocked, thrusting and slicing again...
He continued to meet blows endlessly.
Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang...
The intense clang of metal striking his ears now felt natural.
Through his blurry vision, the sparks that erupted when sword and spear met constantly distorted his sight.
Then, suddenly, sensation returned to his body.
Clang! Clang!!
With an even more intense clang than before, his two hands gripping the spear were forcefully pushed back, and his hazy vision instantly regained clarity.
"Ugh!"
At the same time, he could see it.
The manifestation of an overwhelmingly powerful blue light.