"Yes...?"
Raon blinked blankly as he stared at Glenn.
'I can't become like grandfather?' (E/N: Didn't they have this conversation already five or six times by now?)
That was obvious, wasn't it? He knew better than anyone that he was absolutely lacking compared to Glenn. He couldn't understand why Glenn was suddenly saying he couldn't become like him.
-What is that old man talking about right now?
Wrath also widened his eyes as if he couldn't understand what Glenn's words meant.
-And why is he burning the book with his enlightenment written in it!
He wrinkled his nose as he looked at the gray ash that had once been a book.
"I know that grandfather and I are different. But..."
Raon narrowed his eyes as he caught the ash scattering in the air with his fingers.
"Aren't we both swordsmen walking the path of Ten Thousand Swords? Why did you burn that book?"
He thought he could understand Glenn's thoughts and emotions a little lately, but he was completely wrong. He couldn't understand why Glenn had deliberately burned the book he had worked so hard to create.
"Walking the same path of Ten Thousand Swords?"
Glenn shook his head firmly.
"Absolutely not."
He folded his fingers crackling with lightning and declared once more that he and Raon were different.
"What do you..."
Raon frowned as he demanded an answer from Glenn.
"I told you once before, Ten Thousand Swords is one of the martial arts systems that pursues and develops all swordsmanship that exists in the world. In other words, a swordsman walking the path of Ten Thousand Swords must always be mad with desire for the sword."
Glenn waved his finger as if asking whether he remembered what he had said before.
"But I gave up that path midway."
He raised his trembling hand and placed it on his chest.
"What?"
Raon's eyes widened at hearing this for the first time.
"Is, is that really true?"
He had heard Glenn explain about Ten Thousand Swords before, but this was the first time he heard that Glenn had given up that path.
"My Ten Thousand Swords doesn't contain all the swordsmanship in the world. I tried to include everything I learned and witnessed, but I couldn't pursue beyond that."
He let out a heavy sigh while placing his hand on Heavenly Tremor at his waist.
"Originally, new swordsmanship is born when different sword techniques clash with each other. Just as Fluid Sword emerged to defeat Strong Sword, and Dull Sword came to counter Quick Sword, the world of swords continues to expand endlessly even now." (E/N: I am not even going to bother to make sense of that, sorry)
Glenn stretched his hand toward the sky as if drawing constellations.
"That's why I thought Ten Thousand Swords is a sword that can never be completed. It won't be finished even until the day swordsmen disappear entirely and this world perishes."
He clenched his fist and furrowed his brow.
"That's why I gave up pursuing Ten Thousand Swords to the end and completed my own sword. Through Ten Thousand Swords, I reached the highest realm and became stronger than anyone, but by achieving my own completion, I became unable to reach beyond that."
Glenn pressed his lips down firmly.
"If there's a swordsman who achieved Ten Thousand Swords at a higher level than me, I would have no choice but to lose. While I can become stronger, I can no longer develop my swordsmanship beyond this."
He slowly closed and opened his eyes as if assuming his defeat. However, for some reason, Glenn's face also looked pleased.
"But Raon. You are different."
Unlike when he spoke about himself, Glenn drew a gentle smile.
"The path of Ten Thousand Swords is extremely painful, tedious, and agonizing, but you won't give up Ten Thousand Swords now or in the future. Following the gradually developing swordsmanship, your sword will also grow infinitely. It's a more noble realm than completion."
He revealed warm eyes as if already envisioning Raon's future.
"Now you understand, don't you? Why you and I are different."
"Yes. As grandfather said, I won't give up."
Raon nodded heavily as he reflected on the meaning of Glenn's words.
"Because swords are too much fun."
Ten Thousand Swords requires growing dozens of sword principles together, not just a few. In other words, from Quick Sword to Strong Sword, from Strong Sword to Heavy Sword, one must endlessly repeat training the same techniques according to their principles, inevitably spending tedious and painful time as Glenn said.
'But...'
Was that really tedious time? In his past life, he learned unwanted swordsmanship to kill people. His current life, where he could learn and wield the sword according to his own will, was like a blessing.
'It's just enjoyable though?'
Being able to wield the sword as he pleased was an incredibly happy thing. His training was unique. He didn't just practice newly learned swordsmanship, but always started with basic techniques and repeatedly trained up to the sword techniques he created himself.
Spending such time, after swinging the sword just a few times, the sun would set and night would arrive before he knew it.
But even so, he continued swinging the sword and refining the lacking parts. From childhood until now, he had repeated such training, but there was no boredom or pain — only happiness.
'The reason is just one thing.'
Because it's fun. Training with the sword alone, sparring, thinking of new training methods, and even fighting enemies—everything was fun. That's why he had come this far.
"I will continue on this path."
Raon nodded seriously, determined not to let go of Ten Thousand Swords as Glenn said.
"As expected."
Glenn drew a gentle smile as if he had expected this.
"Now, you can proceed that way."
He nodded as if the time had come.
"What do you mean?"
Raon tilted his head, unable to immediately understand Glenn's words.
"It seems the time has come for your sword and my sword to clash."
Glenn smiled calmly and picked up a fallen branch from the ground. He held out the thin branch as if suggesting they begin sparring.
"Come."
***
Gulp. Raon swallowed dryly as he looked at Glenn's branch pointing at his chest.
'A spar with grandfather?'
There had been several times when Glenn taught him swordsmanship and their swords clashed. But this was the first time they were formally sparring since he reached Transcendence.
-Oh ho.
Wrath let out an exclamation as he saw Glenn's serious gaze.
-That old man seems to really want to have a proper match.
He smacked his lips, noting that Glenn was serious.
'I know that too.'
As Wrath said, Glenn was looking him up and down with cold eyes as if facing an enemy. Just from his gaze, he could feel enormous killing intent as if his throat would be cut.
"Understood."
Raon drew Heavenly Drive while calmly steadying his breathing.
'That's a branch, but it's a sword.'
Glenn was now holding a thin, small branch instead of a sword in his right hand, but it would be several times stronger than other Transcendents wielding peerless weapons.
'If I let my guard down, I might die immediately.'
Glenn's branch looked sharper and sturdier than Heavenly Drive, which Vulcan had forged and refined multiple times. The difference between swordsmen was overcoming the difference in weapons.
'Still...'
There won't be another opportunity like this. Learning swordsmanship and enlightenment from Glenn was already a great serendipitous encounter, but formally sparring with him was a once-in-a-lifetime chance. He steeled his mind and raised Heavenly Drive.
"I'll come right at you."
Raon said he would attack first as the junior, then stepped forward with his left foot.
'Should I start with probing?'
Since the skill gap with Glenn was too large, he stepped into Supreme Harmony's Third Step for probing. Just as he was about to draw up Heavenly Drive to unfold Silver Sword Dream, a sword technique that matched well with the smooth and flowing footwork— The branch Glenn was holding had somehow approached right before his eyes.
'Wh, when?'
He had been using Aura Perception at full power, but he couldn't even sense Glenn's branch moving. It was so absurd that he let out a hollow laugh despite the urgent situation.
'I need to block it first... Ah!'
Raon urgently tried to raise Heavenly Drive. But the arm holding the sword wouldn't move.
'This is...'
There were two reasons why he couldn't react right now. First, the branch was too fast, and it contained techniques so profound that they made the flow unreadable. Thwack!
Raon ultimately couldn't block Glenn's single strike and fell backward after being hit on the head. He closed his eyes as if he had fainted.
"Hmm..."
Glenn briefly smacked his lips as he examined the branch that had struck Raon's forehead.
"Was it still too much? I seem to have used too much force."
Just as he slightly frowned, thinking he should reduce his strength a bit.
"No."
Raon opened his eyes wide and raised his upper body.
"Please don't adjust your strength."
He shook his head, saying this was good.
"Wh, what? You should have fainted for sure?"
Glenn's chins trembled as if he couldn't understand.
-Hmph! This idiot calls himself your grandfather but still don't know you well!
Wrath snorted as he looked at Glenn.
-This guy has absorbed all of this king's aura, so his body is already as tough as the demon king's chief aide!
He wagged his chin, saying ordinary attacks couldn't make him faint.
"Are you really okay?"
Glenn narrowed his eyes slightly as if a bit worried.
"Yes. This is just right. As grandfather said..."
Raon drew a deep smile as he looked at Glenn.
"I won't give up Ten Thousand Swords."
***
Thud! Raon was struck in the chest by Glenn's thrusting branch and rolled roughly on the ground.
"Ugh..."
Since Glenn didn't adjust his strength, the pain was stronger than expected, making his chest ache so much that breathing was difficult for a while.
"If you think it's too much, say so right now. Don't be embarrassed."
Glenn nodded as if he would adjust his strength even now.
"...No. You can make it even stronger."
Raon bit his lips and shook his head.
"Then shall I tell you why you can't even block and keep falling?"
Glenn lowered his gaze as if he would give the answer if asked.
"No."
Raon shook his head firmly this time as well.
"I'll figure it out myself. If I just receive the answer directly, my sword won't develop."
If he sought answers from others, he might become stronger immediately, but Ten Thousand Swords wouldn't grow and would remain unchanged. As always, he had to find answers himself and put effort into research for his sword to develop and for Ten Thousand Swords to reach higher realms.
"Is that so."
Glenn nodded as if he liked Raon's mindset and fighting spirit.
"Then let's meet in the evening."
He waved his hand as if telling him to think it over well, then approached Sia who was swinging her sword in the garden.
"Sia! Shall we learn different swordsmanship with grandfather this time?"
Glenn approached Sia and gently stroked her head.
"Yes! I want to learn!"
Sia nodded as if pleased and lowered her sword.
"Good! Let's learn Heavenly Wolf Sword today. You should be able to master it quickly."
Unlike when dealing with Raon, Glenn very carefully guided Sia's sword.
"Hmm..."
Raon narrowed his eyes as he calmly watched Glenn's sword path embroidering the air.
'Perfect. It's a sword with no unnecessary elements at all.'
Even when demonstrating, Glenn showed perfect swordsmanship without any disorder. Just watching made chills rise along his spine.
'No, this isn't the time to be watching that.'
Raon smacked his lips and turned his head.
'I need to think about how I was defeated.'
Glenn came at him three times a day. After finishing meals, he would swing the branch at him. The branch contained the essence of swordsmanship he had mastered throughout his lifetime, so even swinging Heavenly Drive with full power couldn't block it.
It had already been four days since Glenn came to the annex building, but he hadn't been able to block or deflect his branch even once. Honestly, he couldn't see the answer.
-This is certainly not an easy test.
Wrath also wagged his chin as if this was difficult.
-But why are you smiling?
He frowned as he looked at himself wearing a deep smile.
'Because this situation is fun.'
Raon picked up Heavenly Drive stuck in the ground and curled up the corners of his mouth.
'I've been given the opportunity to spar three times a day with the continent's strongest swordsman. And in a way that can develop my sword. How can I not be happy and excited?'
He shrugged, saying this moment was so enjoyable that he couldn't help but smile.
-You're such a pervert. No wonder that crazy woman is attached to you!
Wrath shook his tail as if disgusted.
-So do you see any answers?
He wagged his chin as if asking whether there was any improvement.
'No'
Raon shook his head as he sheathed Heavenly Drive.
'Honestly, I still don't know well.'
Glenn's swordsmanship changed every time, and the combination of martial arts principles was always different, making it difficult to block. However, his swordsmanship was becoming familiar bit by bit. The Ring of Fire seemed to be growing in the realm of Ten Thousand Swords.
'Still, I think good news will come soon... Huh?'
Just as Raon was about to tell Wrath to be patient a little longer.
"Raon!"
Edgar jumped like a frog and landed in front of him.
"Should I help you out? So you can at least hit that old man once!"
He lowered his voice, saying he wanted revenge since he had also suffered under Glenn for four days.
"Um..."
Raon rolled his eyes to look at Glenn visible behind Edgar.
"He can hear everything?"
He sighed, asking why he had spoken here of all places.
"What are you talking about! I put up a solid aura barrier!"
Edgar shook his head, saying he had put up a thick aura barrier so Glenn couldn't hear.
"No, do you think that would work on the continent's number one..."
Raon grabbed his head, saying the aura barrier was so thin that even he could hear through it.
"Ah, th, then..."
Edgar opened his mouth wide as if he hadn't expected it to be that extent.
"Old man."
Glenn stood behind Edgar, revealing cold eyes.
"I didn't know you thought of me so fondly. I should repay that kindness."
He drew a cold smile and pulled out Heavenly Tremor. Rumble! Following Heavenly Tremor, red lightning began shooting into the sky above the annex building.
"W, wait a moment! Father. I..."
Just as Edgar raised his hands apologetically, the red lightning filling the sky fell in the shape of a dragon. Crash! Edgar, directly hit by the lightning, couldn't even scream properly and crumpled while spewing smoke from his mouth.
"Hmph!"
Glenn snorted as if warning him to be careful in the future and returned to Sia's side.
"Wow, I've seen this scene many times."
Raon chuckled as he looked at the blackened Edgar.
'It's like back then, when master used to rebel against grandfather.'
He had only seen Glenn treat someone this roughly with Rimmer, but now it seemed like there was one more person added.
'Anyway... Hmm?'
Raon narrowed his eyes as he looked at the charred Edgar.
'Wait. This method might work?'