Chapter 538 – Bloody Dirge (13)
Excessive talent can sometimes cause great concern.
Extremely dynamic swordsmanship and static magic.
Immense magical power and swordsmanship experience accumulated over a lifetime.
I often feel like I’m forcing two gears that don’t mesh together by using two things that other people can’t have at all.
So far, it’s working well, and we’re on a roll with a strange synergy.
Well.
“… How far will this work?”
There are more and more times when I feel this way.
It was because I realized it.
The more difficult the opponent, the more the sword and magic that were forced together become separated.
For example, when using a sword, he only thinks about the sword, and when using magic, he only thinks about magic, so he ends up using two different abilities alternately.
Of course, that alone is enough.
As a clear example, you can tell just by looking at Seoyeon.
A type that uses magic at a distance and a sword at close range, and takes advantage and wins regardless of the distance.
The ideal appearance of a magic swordsman known to the public is exactly the same, so you might ask what’s the problem.
I keep having that thought.
“It’s still good, but…, Um.”
I think it could be a little better than this, but I have to say that I can’t remember exactly what it is.
It was from then on.
I started looking for a way to bring great benefits by using sword and magic at the same time, regardless of distance.
The first thing I tried was to assign a role to each hand.
For example, holding a sword in your left hand and performing magic with your right hand.
It was pretty good.
If you swing your sword and hit the opponent with the magic you spread with your right hand at the same time, you will either be startled by an unexpected attack and fall asleep, or the attack will work cleanly.
Then I thought.
“… “How is this different from dual swordsmanship?”
The dual sword technique is said to be a symbol of sure defeat.
In fact, if you look at it carefully, it has far more advantages than disadvantages.
Like being able to use all kinds of sword skills, being able to catch the enemy’s surprise, or making flashy moves.
Despite so many advantages, one disadvantage overshadows all the advantages.
Dualization of consciousness.
As he holds a sword in both hands, his consciousness is divided into two, making it difficult to concentrate.
This was a fatal flaw.
It might be a fight between mid-level servants.
Because in a fight between experts, even a split second can lead to death.
From that perspective, the first attempt was a failure.
Why dig deep into a technique that has the same drawbacks as the sure-to-defeat dual-sword technique?
The worries continued again.
“Seup…, It’s really difficult.”
99 attempts.
99 dissatisfaction.
Using failure as a stepping stone, I moved forward step by step and reached the end.
“… “Can’t I just draw a magic circle with a sword?”
The only way to combine sword and magic into one.
* * *
At first glance, it may seem impossible.
Is it even possible to draw a magic circle with a sword?
That is correct.
In swordsmanship, the method and location of the cut constantly changes depending on the situation, whereas in magic circles, there is a predetermined technique.
What if you arbitrarily insert a spell other than the designated one?
At that time, a bomb was created, not magic.
The bomb that I see the most, causing damage to both enemies and allies.
At first, I thought it wouldn’t work and tried to give up.
But I couldn’t think of a way to perfectly combine sword and magic other than this.
So I dug into it.
What more is needed to make something that doesn’t work happen?
Fortunately, I had all the elements I needed to go through to reach the correct answer.
[Activates the ruler’s area.]
A clearly divided area.
A certain distance spreading out around me is my drawing paper.
To be precise, it is the most basic framework of a magic circle.
I implement magic by inserting the magic I want into this large frame.
Then, what does the magic fill?
Kukukuku-!
Attack the weak points of the approaching red tsunami.
A line drawn from top to bottom is completely transformed into a technique that makes up a magic circle.
The same goes for everything else.
All forms used to block the opponent’s attack or attack the opponent are adjusted to the technique.
But it’s not enough.
I wouldn’t know if it was a magic with only a few strokes in the magic circle.
It is impossible to draw dozens or hundreds of strokes of a certain shape one by one with a sword.
For example, if you cut from left to right, you can’t forcefully change the direction of the attack in order to create the most effective attack opportunity.
To compensate for this, a new movement was added as an element of the technique.
It’s just walking.
Avoiding the opponent’s incoming attack, moving forward and twisting your toes to attack.
This was used as a brush to fill the magic circle with the tip of the sword.
“Fly like a rat… !”
Advance, retreat.
Cut, swing.
Select and fill in only the elements necessary for the technique.
Of course, it is not easy.
Puhak!
“Tsk… !”
Every time I cut the spell incorrectly, the magic flowed back or became tangled.
And these failures turned into internal injuries and piled up inside the body.
It was natural.
It’s even weirder if you don’t get hurt, since you’re trying an unfinished art that only sounds good in theory in practice, even in a dangerous fight where even a single mistake could cost you your life.
Still, you have to do it.
Otherwise, you die.
If you die one way or another, but it’s the same, shouldn’t you at least try?
Psssss… !
Every time you exhale, pure white breath comes out.
As a result of engraving the magic spell incorrectly, part of the body repeatedly froze and thawed.
Still, it wasn’t just loss.
Even though my body was a bit messed up, I gained a lot.
“Okay. Like this…”
I’m starting to get a sense of it.
How should I fill this wide drawing paper?
Draw a line in an area that only you can see, and imbue it with pure white magic.
The temperature begins to gradually drop under that influence.
The completion of a technology that was considered impossible was finally just around the corner.
“Uhm… “What’s a good name?”
In the midst of a tense situation, you may criticize us by asking us to worry about something like a name, but that is a wrong idea.
In the end, this skill is only perfected when it gets a name.
“Kim Do-jin style magic swordsmanship? No…, This is a bit too salty.”
A name that is a little shorter and more concise, but also has a clear meaning.
The end of the three letters of the name Kim Do-jin.
The art of a true magic swordsman who achieves true unity, rather than using the sword and magic separately.
“True magic swordsmanship.”
There seemed to be no better name than this right now.
After giving it a grandiose name, it finally starts to show.
The path I must walk.
Now we have only laid the foundation.
We also need to create a new sword formula to effectively fill in the spell.
We also need to work on removing unnecessary spells stuck to the existing magic circle.
Ultimately, it is about making it usable without the domain of the ruler.
Exciting!
My heart is racing.
I wonder if this is how the deceased feels after trying everything and finding something new to enjoy in a game where there is nothing more to do.
Contrary to the chest that burns wildly and radiates heat.
Bringing winter to the world.
The first of Jinma Swordsmanship presented to the world for the first time.
“Severe cold.”
The lines stacked up one by one interlock and finally act as a magic circle.
Eventually, snowflakes fall, one by one.
And the frost blooming.
The temperature suddenly drops and engulfs everyone.
A strong attack from an opponent that has arrived right in front of you.
Paddeuk-!
The wings of the vampires that glide through the sky and fight against the raiding party.
Pop!
Kwajangchang!
“My wings… !?”
“Oh, no!”
“Kaaaaak!”
Craddangtangtang!
Red raindrops steadily falling from the sky.
Ting!
Tea teating!
Thick, red thorns that sprouted carelessly from the floor.
Kwasik!
Severe cold is just a wind.
Through this, the magic is completed.
「Permafrost.」
A frigid land that freezes and preserves everything that exists.
Weak things freeze mercilessly.
And I grab the ankles of those stronger than me and force them down.
Similar to me, or below.
The other person, who is turning white from the fallen snowflakes and rising frost, asks.
“When on earth did magic on such a grand scale occur…?” .”
“Once you swing the sword, it becomes natural.”
Be joking.
In reality, that joke was also an advantage of Jinma Swordsmanship.
The union of sword and magic.
Additional opportunities that arise as a result.
Adding attack to attack, strengthening defense after attack, adding defense to defense, and continuing attack after defense.
An art of attack and defense that allows you to freely switch between attack and defense in any situation.
The guy shakes his head and denies it.
“I can not admit it. There’s no way something like that would be possible… !”
It’s as if a person who has half given up on himself should not have such talent.
“Did I tell you?”
Approach the frozen opponent and aim your sword.
And he smiles.
“My talent is heavier than Jinjo’s blood.”
“… !”
Even if it wasn’t a lie.
“Actually, it’s not just me, it’s the existence of humans.”
Humans are weak.
Even compared to the animals running through vast forests and grasslands, there are many things stronger than humans.
But that’s why I survived.
With the survival instinct of having to survive at all costs, I try everything.
I made weapons out of stone, grinding and melting everything to make stronger weapons.
I also learned how to use the weapons I made efficiently.
Also, if they can’t do it alone, they form groups of two or three to hunt animals that are several times larger than themselves.
In other words, weakness is both a human weakness and an advantage.
Of course, that only applies to those who are acutely aware of their weakness and are ready to move forward.
From that perspective, he was wrong.
“You didn’t choose evolution.”
I just ran away.
“So die, you idiot.”
Insert the sword.
The goal is his heart.
“Tsk… ! There is still a long way to go!”
The frost-covered body slowly turns into fog and disperses.
But it is slow.
Permafrost is not a weak magic that is not affected by fog.
I turn my sword along the tail of the fog that is slowly disappearing.
Phew-!
The distinct feel of the tip of a sword extending like a beam of light.
“Kuhuhuh… !”
At the same time, his appearance appears again.
With my heart pierced by a sword.
Grumbling
Blood pouring out of the mouth and heart.
The duke’s gaze, which is losing its luster, turns to Jinjo, who is still strong.
“Wow, king…, Budis, victory…”
Requests pouring in sporadically.
But it was over.
“Wow… !”
He collapsed and flew away without even being able to utter his last words.
It turns into pitch black powder.
Without a trace.
