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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 21
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—Trait Evolution.
The exact reasons why traits evolve and level up remained largely unknown. There were hundreds of traits, each with vastly different properties, meaning their evolution conditions varied just as widely.
Consequently, while there were many conflicting theories regarding evolution, the most persuasive reasons often shared a few commonalities.
When overcoming a crisis.
When possessing an endless desire for improvement.
When one's spirit remained unbroken, no matter the circumstances.
When gaining a special enlightenment.
...
And countless other clues to evolution. Yet, among these numerous clues, there was one common requirement.
A strong will.
The moment a trait user's will wavered, the light of blessing enveloping their entire body would vanish.
Even when emitting the light of blessing, countless individuals saw their light fade into nothingness, unable to fully bloom.
And at the very moment Leonhardt's trait evolved, emitting a powerful blue radiance,
the light of blessing surrounding Han Cheon-seong's entire body also flickered and dimmed.
This was because his will had been greatly shaken.
However, despite this, Han Cheon-seong was able to accept reality.
The absolute strength of will that allowed him to look forward without succumbing to reality.
He already possessed it within himself.
Furthermore, he felt no envy or jealousy towards his opponent. Instead, he acknowledged and accepted them, ready to move forward.
Thus, he could accept the reality while looking at Leonhardt.
Not by despairing over their vast difference, but simply by accepting it.
Immediately after.
Perhaps, the burst of an even grander light of blessing that enveloped Han Cheon-seong was nothing short of a 'fated' outcome.
...
"This is..."
It entered my vision, leaving me dazed.
A powerful blue radiance that I could feel intensely even within my own sight.
And the fact that this light completely enveloped my entire body. The sensation of my body being as light as a feather, as if I could fly, was merely the initial effect.
What was even more astonishing came afterward.
Countless pieces of knowledge, principles, concepts, and even extensive experience in handling a spear were naturally injected into my mind, and I understood them simultaneously.
Consequently, my stance, as I held the spear, naturally shifted.
To a more natural and comfortable posture for me to wield. Yet, it was also a stance that allowed me to channel even greater power into the spear.
I instantly understood how incorrectly I had been handling the spear until now.
"Han Cheon-seong..."
As Leonhardt's surprised voice reached my ears, an unbidden laugh escaped me.
I didn't even need to check my Status Window to know.
'I've reached it.'
Trait Level 4.
I had reached that level, which I had believed would take me at least half a year to achieve. It was hard to believe, but I had.
I immediately utilized the mana that surged through my entire body.
—!!
Then, the blue radiance enveloping my body instantly faded, as if overlaid by mana.
What I was about to display was an entirely different spear art, one that came with reaching Trait Level 4.
It was a formidable power, strong enough for me to contend with Leonhardt, who wielded immense strength from his Legendary Trait at Level 3.
I naturally concentrated all the mana I had unleashed into my spear.
—!!!
From the spearhead to the shaft, even after enveloping everything in mana, there was still mana left over. I could feel such vast mana swirling around, even a blue light around my arms.
I could feel my stats had drastically increased with the evolution of my trait.
A blue light, on a completely different scale from the meager amount of mana I once possessed, captivated my vision with its splendor.
'I can reach him.'
With my current spear, I could reach him.
Leonhardt, who had repelled every offensive like an impregnable fortress. A surge of confidence filled me, believing I could land a blow on this world's protagonist.
Originally, 'level' in traits signified great power.
Moreover, it was the only power that could surpass the 'grade' determined at the moment of bestowal.
However, the lower a trait's grade, the harder it was designed to raise its level, making the statement practically meaningless.
Higher grades possessed greater power and were easier to grow, after all.
Yet, if one could raise their level high enough, the situation could certainly change.
Whoosh!
As I had said before, I silently pointed the blue-tinged spear at Leonhardt.
At that, Leonhardt finally raised his sword.
The previous calmness had vanished from Leonhardt's eyes.
His eyes, forming an arc, seemed to hold a strange mix of delight and excitement.
Seeing those blue eyes, I simply chuckled.
I had intended to end the spar first, but it seemed he, too, found it regrettable to stop.
He must have felt that a proper conclusion between us was the only meaningful way.
Shhhk.
The moment he finally aimed his sword, which emitted a radiance even more dazzling than my spear, at me.
I pushed off the ground without hesitation.
—!
Even my footwork was completely different from before.
I understood everything: how to position my feet when stepping on the ground to maximize the power of my spear thrusts and make them faster.
The instant I powerfully pushed off the ground with my toes, I was already rotating on those toes, unleashing a fierce spear thrust.
Clangggg!!
The moment Leonhardt blocked my spear, a shockwave, almost impossible to believe came from a mere clash of sword and spear tip, erupted and swept through the training ground.
Rustle!
As a fierce gust of wind raged, making my hair wildly flutter, only laughter escaped me.
The pure aura of the Heavenly Sword and the aura of my spear, formed of pure mana, canceled each other out, creating dazzling sparks that blurred my vision. Yet, my heart felt strangely refreshed.
My spear no longer bounced back violently as it had before.
Shhhk.
Retrieving the spear was as natural as flowing water, and there was almost no strain on my body.
'Good.'
This was the proper way to retrieve a spear.
Moreover, I could finally feel that I was standing on equal footing with Leonhardt, engaged in a proper spar.
Whoosh!
The speed with which I thrust my spear again was also incomparable to before.
The concentrated power in a single point held destructive force capable of piercing through anything,
and its advancing speed was truly overwhelming.
Clang-clang-clang-clang-clang!!
My hand, wielding the spear, felt light amidst the ceaseless flurry of strikes.
It was as if I were painting endlessly in the air, wielding a brush.
And following my movements, a dazzling spectacle of countless blue ripples drawn in the air captivated my gaze.
My spear, riding these blue ripples, endlessly advanced and surged forward.
Towards the protagonist of this world, the one who would overcome any adversity.
I was now issuing a challenge.
With my spear!
Then, my gaze suddenly fell upon him.
...
I saw a smile gracing Leonhardt's lips.
Even as I unleashed a fierce offensive. The protagonist was still the protagonist.
Leonhardt, receiving my offensive that was more than twice as strong as before, still showed no opening.
He softly parried my spear with the aura of the Heavenly Sword, and his sword-wielding hand, even amidst the intense sounds, moved as lightly as if it were fluttering in the sky.
It gave off an incredibly strange sensation, as if he were embracing everything that surged towards him.
When I thrust my spear powerfully, as if to pierce through everything,
Leonhardt would simply parry or deflect it gently.
'Deflecting...?'
And in that instant, I realized.
That Leonhardt, who had only ever parried my spear until now, was slowly starting to receive my spear gently, as if deflecting it...
"Ha."
A hollow laugh escaped me, dumbfounded.
But that was precisely what I liked.
Because I didn't have to hesitate even a bit when thrusting my spear.
Even if I unleashed this spear with near full power and swung it freely, Leonhardt would block it all.
In his eyes now, there was not a single trace of fear, anxiety, or hesitation.
Only enjoyment. Ecstasy. Pleasure... only such emotions were visible.
And I, too, probably had the same look in my eyes.
Shhhk!
Suddenly, I rotated my planted foot widely, twisting my body to execute a full spin.
Unlike my previous fierce thrusts, I spun once and then unexpectedly thrust my spear.
A move that channeled even greater power, thrusting the spear along a path the opponent wouldn't anticipate.
Swoosh!
The trajectory of the spear, launched without even a sound, seemed to connect as if a single point were being shot.
Countless points of blue light connected, finally forming a single line that shot forward.
Wham!!
Leonhardt, who received the spear with his sword face as if this much could not be deflected, was pushed back significantly, dragging his feet across the ground.
The vast fragments of blue light and the thunderous roar that spread as a result were also unlike before.
Even as I retrieved my thrust spear... I unconsciously felt it.
I had definitely thought my spear could reach him.
But there was a tiny, truly minuscule gap.
The speed at which Leonhardt's sword was keeping up with my spear. It was getting faster and faster.
The spear tip aimed at his flank. I had momentarily believed Leonhardt wouldn't be able to react to that and block it with his sword face.
But.
He blocked it.
'What crazy talent.'
Is this truly what it takes to be the protagonist? His adaptability was so insane it made me think that.
And at that moment.
"...What."
Leonhardt, slowly lowering his sword, seemed to vanish from sight in an instant, creating an illusion.
***
It is often said.
—There is no talent that surpasses a trait.
That no matter how outstanding one's talent, it was useless if not supported by a trait's grade. Such a phrase always followed certain individuals, often called 'tragic figures.'
They possessed exceptional talent, but their trait's low grade revealed their limits.
Meaningless words like, 'If only their trait had been one grade higher, they could have shone even brighter.'
And that was a phrase that continuously followed someone Leonhardt knew.
That's why Leonhardt wanted to deny those words, and for that person's sake, he wanted to say such words were incorrect.
But he couldn't...
Because Leonhardt himself had been granted the highest-grade trait by this world: a Legendary Trait.
But now. Right before his eyes was someone proving how hollow those words were.
And he felt it acutely.
That there was someone who could directly achieve what he couldn't.
'His talent has surpassed his trait.'
And to an incomprehensible degree.
Han Cheon-seong's talent far exceeded the spear art trait he possessed.
Without that, this current spar could not be explained.
A strength truly beyond measure.
He knew that Trait Level 4 was the level where one gained countless knowledge and a concrete understanding of power.
But the spear he was now facing was beyond that.
For merely 'knowing' to result in this level of strength would be an entirely separate matter.
'Hah...'
Thinking about it, it was truly laughable.
He had only reached that level because he displayed the potential to ascend to the next stage; the strength gained afterward was merely a reward for that.
That's why I also felt I had to show the true extent of what I could unleash.
The pure aura of the Heavenly Sword that one could unleash at Level 3.
It wasn't merely about imbuing his sword with the Heavenly Sword's aura.
If he could circulate that powerful aura through his own body and apply it, something beyond that was possible.
As I continued to think about how to receive Han Cheon-seong's spear during the spar, I naturally mastered the method of using the aura.
And the single move that would end this fierce spar...
—!
The sword, thrust forth with a leap, had already arrived, transcending space.
The neck, where the sword tip was aimed, was already drenched in sweat.
This indicated that despite his body recovering with trait evolution, Han Cheon-seong had relentlessly thrust his spear countless times, pushing his body to its limits, all within this short span.
"..."
I smiled faintly, looking at Han Cheon-seong, who was staring at me blankly.
"The spar ends here."
Immediately after the instructor's voice echoed, I lowered the sword aimed at his neck, feeling satisfied.
Han Cheon-seong.
That peculiar name, among countless students...
Was a name worth remembering.