[Vol. 8] Chapter 126: The Two Swordsmen (Part 2)
Ever since he left his homeland to avoid power struggles and needless bloodshed, Mr. Dead Soul had traveled far and wide across this world. He had visited almost every corner of the land and seen countless beauties, princesses, Saintesses, women of stunning appearance. But honestly, not a single one had ever shaken his heart. His only love was the sword.
He wasn’t someone who chased after women. At most, he would naturally feel a protective instinct toward cute, small girls. But that was simply because, deep down, he still missed his younger sister, the most important person he had to leave behind when he left home. That protectiveness was just a bit of guilt he carried for not being able to stay by her side.
And yet, even someone like him, when he met Miss Dawn, had ignored his friends’ warnings and chose to go study under her. He didn’t back down, even when people told him the training could be life-threatening.
Was it only for the sake of the sword?
Or… was it because of her?
Looking back now, maybe he really did hold some kind of feelings for that small but reliable figure, feelings mixed with respect, gratitude, and something more, feelings even he hadn’t realized were there.
But… when something needs to be let go, it must be let go.
There was no way someone like her would ever look at someone like him, nor should she.
Cutting off emotional ties with the sword, that was the proper way to repay her for the deep kindness she had shown him.
No one must ever find out about this moment, especially Miss Dawn herself. If she were troubled by it, then Mr. Dead Soul would be nothing but an ungrateful fool who deserved a thousand deaths.
Having made up his mind, the confusion in the young swordsman’s eyes disappeared. He lifted his head, ready to say farewell to the illusion of the girl in front of him, an illusion shaped by his own obsession.
His sword heart was clean again, clear and bright like polished glass.
“Miss Dawn, I— Pfft! Ow!!”
...And then, with a shout of surprise, he suddenly spun through the air and landed flat on his face in a very embarrassing way.
Thankfully, the attack seemed to be only a shockwave. Even though his face was already bruised and swollen, Mr. Dead Soul wasn’t seriously hurt. Years of adventure had trained his reflexes well. He quickly rolled and jumped back to his feet.
Touching his aching, handsome face with one hand and gripping his sword with the other, he stared in shock at the white-haired fox girl who had just teleported out of nowhere and punched him square in the face.
“M-Miss Dawn...??”
Wait! What’s going on here!?
Wasn’t this the Trial of Love, the one with the lowest danger level, a trial of inner reflection?
Why was the illusion suddenly throwing punches!? There had to be something wrong with this trial!!
Though stunned, Mr. Dead Soul couldn’t bring himself to fight back against Miss Dawn, neither in his heart nor in logic. Even while holding his sword, he hesitated for a long time and couldn’t bring himself to draw it.
All he could do was stare blankly as the white fox girl cracked her knuckles and slowly stepped closer with a dangerous gleam in her eyes.
“Hmph, I knew it… I KNEW it! You’re not just into little girls, you’re also trying to become some kind of harem king like that person, aren’t you!? Let me SHATTER your dirty little fantasy!!!”
“Eh? Wh-what!? AAAAAHHHH!!!”
Well… even if this was a divine trial, it seems things aren’t always so serious. Looks like Mr. Dead Soul’s road to victory might be just a bit more difficult than expected.
…………………………………………………
“…Trial of... Asura, huh.”
A gray-haired girl, also a swordsman, but with just one sword hanging at her waist, stood before a tall stone monument. She gently traced the two sharp characters carved deep into the stone.
She quietly read the words aloud, “Asura Trial”, and in her bright eyes, a cold gleam of hidden sword light flickered silently.
“Hoo~”
A gentle breeze blew past. The giant stone monument faded away like a bubble. The arena, colored in deep red and black, became the only place left in this world to stand. The invisible rules of the world came crashing down.
As if she sensed something, the girl known as Hongyan slowly stood up. She gently placed her hand on the hilt of her sword and closed her eyes.
"Sheng!"
In the next moment, her long sword flashed out of its sheath. The blade, sharp as a lightning bolt, turned into a raging wave and swept out all around her!
By the time she opened her eyes again, the sword was already back in its sheath. Before her lay countless broken bodies and shattered swords. All of them had been cut down by just one strike. They slowly faded into light and disappeared into the air, like a dream.
But behind those fallen figures, more and more of her stood up. Like clay dolls shaped by the hands of a god, they rose by the thousands, by the millions. Forming an endless army, completely surrounding the girl with their swords raised high.
They were all Hongyan, and yet none of them were truly Hongyan.
“The way of the Asura… To kill with killing, to end death with more death. If you want to defeat the enemy, you must first destroy yourself. I see now.”
The girl seemed to understand, and a faint smile appeared on her face.
“What a path… the Asura path. And maybe, just maybe, this really is the road that fits me best. The goddess’s guidance… this feeling is so familiar. It reminds me of a certain senior I deeply respect. But...”
Her sword shimmered with a cold light, reflecting her icy expression.
She stepped forward. The army of Hongyans also closed in step by step. Until one sharp blade ripped through the silence, slicing apart the shadows and the blood-red light!
“From the day I became Hongyan, I already killed the person I used to be.”
As she looked back, the first step on the Asura Path was already beneath her feet.
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[Six-Line Array Palace] — [Gate of Heaven]
“Tap... Tap... Tap...”
A small, old wooden stick gently tapped on the clean white floor. A blind girl slowly made her way forward, feeling her direction. Step by step, she walked through the holy and grand temple.
Beside her walked a young man and a young woman. Both of them giving off an extraordinary and noble presence.
The man had black hair and black eyes. His eyes sparkled with lightning-like flashes. He wore a smile, and every movement he made seemed peaceful and natural, like a true master of martial arts.
At first glance, he seemed full of weak spots. But in truth, not a single real flaw could be found.
The woman wore a long snow-white dress. She had white hair and blue eyes. Strips of glowing light floated around her silently. Her face showed no emotion, but her cold, powerful presence made others feel they couldn’t come close.
These three were the only people chosen to enter the [Gate of Heaven] and take its test.
In other words, one of these three would become the last of the six chosen heroes of the gods.
The [Gate of Heaven]’s standards were extremely high, and it accepted people based on only one condition:
All three of them were extremely rare [God Favored] people. People that only appear once in a million.
But even being blessed by the gods wasn’t enough to be chosen by the [Gate of Heaven].
These three didn’t just have broken pieces of ancient divine power left behind by the gods. They had gone even further.
Through their own effort, they had unlocked the deeper strength hidden within. They had gained power far beyond that of normal [God Favored] people.
In short—
They already met the requirements to become Gods.