Chapter 22

The Swordsmanship Genius Possessed by a God — Chapter 22

________________

Allen was having a remarkable experience.

It was as though he were looking down at his own body from above.

An enormous amount of energy flowed through the meridians of his entire body. It was all energy from the Flower of Stars.

Even as he continued cultivating, Allen controlled that energy.

It felt like doing two different things with each hand.

The only reason such a difficult task was possible was the help of the Reflecting Eye.

‘This way. Over here—’

The Reflecting Eye helped him control his mana. The mana moved according to its guidance and was absorbed into the meridians throughout his body.

When the energy flowing toward his rapidly beating heart formed a ring, it soon began to stabilize.

[Mana has increased by 1.]

[Stamina has increased by 1.]

[Strength has increased by 1...]

[...]

Moreover, the Flower of Stars did more than merely increase his mana.

The energy absorbed into the meridians throughout his body and into his heart was transforming Allen's physique so thoroughly that he was becoming like an entirely different person.

But at this moment, Allen had no time to enjoy that happiness.

There was still energy flowing uncontrollably. Whenever the Reflecting Eye detected it, Allen concentrated all his attention.

‘This way.’

Rooooar!

Controlling the energy flowing through his narrow meridians was no easy task, even with the Reflecting Eye's assistance.

If he relaxed his concentration even slightly, it felt as though this enormous energy would scatter without being absorbed.

‘Slowly. Don't rush.’

Allen struggled to ensure that not a single drop of energy escaped, just as he had originally intended.

Sweat poured from his entire body like rain.

He had never concentrated this intensely, not even on battlefields where he had constantly hovered between life and death.

Paying attention to every single cell in his body was something that ordinary mental strength could never accomplish.

But perhaps thanks to the Reflecting Eye's assistance, Allen was able to surpass his limits.

And just as Allen's reserves of concentration were slowly approaching exhaustion—

‘...There!’

The moment he crossed a certain threshold,

Allen felt the energy within his body cease its unruly movements.

The elixir's energy flowed steadily, like water in a tranquil stream. It was gradually absorbed into his meridians, reached his heart, and was absorbed once again.

He could feel his body growing stronger and his capacity expanding.

He had overcome the critical point.

Having finally calmed the energy, Allen entered a state of complete selflessness.

Time flowed endlessly, and every last drop of energy seeped into Allen's body.

And at the moment the elixir had been completely absorbed—

Flash.

Allen's eyes snapped open, and he rose to his feet.

Then, as though unable to restrain himself, he immediately drew his sword and swung it through the air.

Whooooosh!

Although he hadn't even generated sword energy, his sword produced the sound of rushing wind.

It was far faster than before, and the tip of his sword moved with greater precision.

Unable to resist, Allen summoned sword energy.

The sword energy formed rapidly and was far clearer and sharper than before.

Wondering if it would work, Allen lightly thrust out his fist.

Bang!

The air burst at the end of his fist.

It wasn't just his mana.

His entire body had become considerably stronger than before.

His level of mastery had advanced once again.

“Ha, hahaha...”

Laughter escaped Allen's mouth.

Overcome with joy, he clenched both fists tightly.

Even then, he could feel that the strength of his grip had become far greater than before.

‘The Celestial Star Style has reached the Fourth Star.’

Although the Flower of Stars was an extraordinary elixir, he had never imagined he would reach the Fourth Star of the Celestial Star Style so quickly.

The Flower of Stars' potency was certainly one reason, but there was another explanation for his rapid advancement.

‘It's thanks to the Reflecting Eye.’

His original goal had been to absorb fifty percent of the energy contained in the elixir. Even that had been an ambitious target.

But with the help of the Reflecting Eye, Allen had managed to absorb most of the energy contained in the Flower of Stars.

In other words, the benefits of consuming the Flower of Stars had more than doubled.

As a result—

[Allen Vishken]

[Strength: 33]

[Agility: 34]

[Stamina: 34]

[Mana: 38]

[Traits: Soul of Ten Thousand Demons, Reflecting Eye – Details]

His stats had increased dramatically compared to before.

All his stats had risen evenly, with mana showing the greatest increase.

It was a good start. No, an excellent one.

If he hadn't obtained the fragment in the dungeon, he might only just have reached the Third Star by now.

‘Could the other fragments possess this kind of power too?’

The reason he had first decided to collect the fragments was to discover why the demons had crossed over to the continent.

But after obtaining a fragment and gaining stats and the Reflecting Eye, Allen's thinking began to change.

‘Perhaps those bastards were searching for the fragments because of the power contained within them.’

If that was the case, he had even more reason to search for the fragments.

Because the stronger he became by obtaining them, the weaker those bastards would become.

And as these changes accumulated, he would eventually be able to pierce their hearts.

Clench.

Having established a new goal, Allen clenched his fist tightly once more.

At the same time, his eyes fell on the secret manual of the Hundred Lotus Steps lying on the floor.

There was still plenty of time before his appointment ceremony as a squad leader of the Flying Sword Division.

“Let's give it a try.”

His enthusiasm was boiling over, making it impossible to remain still.

Opening the secret manual, Allen immediately began practicing the footwork technique.

From sunset until morning came again, Allen showed no sign of stopping.

_________________

Early in the morning, at the Flying Sword Division's Second Training Ground.

Mary, the deputy leader of the Second Squad, was swinging a wooden sword while wearing heavy iron gauntlets on both hands.

Clack! Thud, thud, thud!

The wooden sword struck a sturdy iron training dummy. Despite the tremendous force with which she battered the dummy, the wooden sword did not break.

Even with heavy iron armor strapped to both arms and legs, Mary did not stop.

She believed that training was the very foundation of a swordsman.

As she continued training—

“Deputy Leader!”

A man who had just entered the training ground came running toward Mary.

He was a rough-looking man with one eye.

It was Bigra, another member of the Second Squad.

“Deputy Leader! Have you heard the news?”

At Bigra's words, Mary lowered her wooden sword.

Her training had been abruptly interrupted, and irritation filled her face.

“Hey, didn't I tell you not to talk to me while I'm training?”

“I'm sorry. But it's something really important.”

“What is it?”

“It's about our new squad leader. Do you know who's coming?”

“Who is it that's got you making such a fuss?”

“The Second Young Master.”

Mary's irritated expression twisted strangely.

She doubted her own ears.

“Who did you say?”

“The Second Young Master! The Second Young Master! The one afflicted with the Curse of Mana Deprivation, who recently returned after failing his bandit suppression mission!”

Everyone in the main castle knew that the Second Young Master had returned after failing his mission.

A direct descendant of Vishken failing to suppress mere bandits? It was bound to become a topic of conversation.

Because of that incident, the Second Young Master's standing, already ruined by his reputation for incompetence, had fallen to rock bottom.

“I know that. But is it true? Are you certain?”

“Everyone knows except you, Deputy Leader.”

“Not a trainee swordsman? Not the Flying Eagle Division? The Flying Sword Division? And he's going to be our squad leader?”

“Yes! I'm telling you, it's certain!”

“This is driving me insane.”

Judging by the rumors, the Second Young Master seemed unlikely to qualify even as a trainee swordsman in the lowly Flying Eagle Division, much less the Flying Sword Division.

Yet he was being appointed a squad leader of the Flying Sword Division. Mary could understand why Bigra was so worked up.

“Does this make any sense? Even if our squad has the worst record in the Flying Sword Division, couldn't they find someone else to send us instead of someone like him?”

Bigra was so agitated that he couldn't stop talking.

“And was our previous squad leader just anyone? Wasn't he the hope of our Second Squad? How can the Second Young Master possibly be that man's successor? Does that make any sense?!”

At Bigra's words, Mary recalled their former squad leader.

To the underperforming Second Squad of the Flying Sword Division, he had been like a ray of hope.

He had outstanding abilities and excellent character. With him leading them, it had seemed as though the Second Squad might soon spread its wings and soar.

But before long, he had transferred to Blazing Flame Castle.

As a result, the Second Squad had been without a squad leader for some time, and now the Second Young Master was taking that position.

“At this rate, it would've been better to promote you to squad leader instead...”

“That's enough, Bigra.”

“But Deputy Leader!”

“If what you're saying is true, then it's the family's decision. Regardless, he'll be our superior from now on.”

Unlike the thoroughly enraged Bigra, Mary struggled to maintain her composure.

If she allowed herself to become equally agitated, there was no telling what might happen.

But despite her attempts to restrain him, Bigra's anger remained.

“I won't acknowledge him.”

“Bigra!”

“How does it make sense to appoint an idiot who can't even use mana as squad leader? If he couldn't even capture bandits, his swordsmanship must be terrible too. Isn't he receiving special treatment simply because he's the family head's son?”

Even Mary couldn't deny that.

If the Second Young Master, who had failed a bandit suppression mission, had succeeded in a new mission, there was a strong possibility that the new assignment had been of an even lower rank.

And such an incompetent person was becoming a squad leader in the Flying Sword Division?

For people who took enormous pride in belonging to the Flying Sword Division, it was almost impossible to accept.

However—

‘Even the First Young Master started as an ordinary member of the Flying Sword Division. His abilities were recognized, and he advanced through squad leader to commander. Yet the Second Young Master is receiving special treatment?’

It was an inconsistent decision.

That was what troubled Mary.

Could the Second Young Master perhaps be the family head's greatest source of concern? Was that why he had given him the position of squad leader in the Flying Sword Division?

It wasn't entirely impossible, but if that were truly the case, the Second Young Master's standing would never have fallen so low.

The family head would have looked after him somehow.

‘Could our Second Squad be getting abandoned?’

Their performance was worse than that of the other squads, so she couldn't completely rule out the possibility. But she desperately hoped that wasn't the case.

With her thoughts in turmoil, Mary shook her head and spoke.

“It's the family's decision, so there must be a reason. Even if there isn't, we have no way of defying the family's decision.”

“...Yes, you're right, Deputy Leader. We can't defy the family's decision.”

“Heh, heh.” Bigra chuckled meaningfully.

It was a laugh that suggested he was plotting something.

“What are you planning to do?”

“Hehehe. Just watch, Deputy Leader. I've already discussed it with the others.”

Gritting his teeth, Bigra spoke.

“How could people like us, with no powerful backing, possibly remove an incompetent superior? We'll just have to embarrass him so badly that he steps down on his own.”

________________

Allen spent an entire day and night practicing the Hundred Lotus Steps.

Once he memorized the incantations written in the secret manual and began executing the footwork, he discovered a new source of enjoyment.

‘Contain a hundred steps within a single step.’

That was the essence of the Hundred Lotus Steps.

Of course, Allen couldn't yet perform footwork equivalent to a hundred steps in a single stride.

He possessed only the first half of the technique, and his mastery was still limited.

But he could close distances with the speed of two or three steps in a single stride. Combining that with his swordsmanship was an extremely demanding task.

Allen lost track of time as he practiced his swordsmanship alongside the footwork of the Hundred Lotus Steps.

“This is fun.”

Learning something new was always enjoyable. So much so that he forgot about sleeping and eating.

After spending an entire day and night practicing the Hundred Lotus Steps, Allen finally left the training ground.

Pedrock was waiting for him.

“Young Master! Have you been awake all night?”

After returning to the annex, Allen had immediately shut himself inside the training ground.

He had even firmly instructed everyone not to enter, so Pedrock had no choice but to wait for him.

But when Allen still hadn't emerged from the training ground late into the night, Pedrock had begun to worry.

“Yeah. There was something I needed to do.”

“Oh dear, what if you ruin your health? You've even skipped your meals... Hmm? Your face looks remarkably fresh.”

“Does it?”

“Well, goodness. Youth really is wonderful. These days, my eyes start closing as soon as night falls.”

Pedrock scratched his head in puzzlement.

No matter how wonderful youth was, how could someone's skin improve after a night without food or sleep?

Of course, it was all thanks to the effects of the Flower of Stars.

“Ah, anyway! How did the mission you went on turn out?”

“It went well.”

“Then what about the reward?”

“It'll probably be sent to the annex by the family soon.”

Pedrock's eyes widened at Allen's words. Then he broke into a broad smile, rejoicing like a child.

But it was still too early for him to celebrate.

Because Allen had another gift for the man who had been suffering under the annex's desperate financial situation.

“Here, take this.”

Allen held out his spatial storage pouch.

Seeing the shabby pouch, Pedrock looked puzzled.

“What is this?”