The space surrounding the Demon King was, contrary to its appearance, incredibly distant. Beyond the reach of my telepathy, no attack could reach him. I could only vaguely guess its principle, but regardless, the Demon King's power was at a dizzying level.
Yet, the Sword Saint skipped across space in a single breath and slashed the Demon King.
My mind couldn't comprehend it. It wasn't that his sword had lengthened, nor did a sword aura fly out in the form of a slash. But the Sword Saint swung his sword without a shred of doubt and slashed the Demon King. And the Demon King was slashed.
It was an incomprehensible situation, yet my emotions had already accepted the outcome.
"Master! That barbarian, how dare he...!"
The Green Tower Master, who had hurriedly followed, let out a shrill scream. The moment she saw the slashed Demon King, she erupted in fury and unleashed her Unique Demonic Art.
Unique Demonic Art, One-Way Traffic.
She erected a wall of One-Way Traffic, aimed at the Sword Saint, and fired a wind spell. The compressed air, visible to the naked eye, shot forth like a cannonball. The projectile was air infused with magic power. It could neither be blocked nor cut with a sword.
"Summary execution! Just die!"
A storm-like wind scraped past the meteorites and flew toward the Sword Saint. An impact fierce enough to make even meteorites teeter. An artificially created tornado directly engulfed the Sword Saint.
Facing the storm designed to kill a single person, the Sword Saint lightly swung his sword.
"Flow Slash."
Having slashed the incoming storm, the Sword Saint withdrew his gaze. It wouldn't end with a single slash. The Green Tower Master poured even more magic power into conjuring the storm. The fierce flow of the wind reached the Sword Saint.
Nothing happened.
"What...!"
The wind didn't affect him.
One-Way Traffic? It was different from that. Light and air could pass through. But the 'flow' of the wind was severed. Now, the flow of the wind could no longer reach the Sword Saint. Because the flow had been cut.
"Impossible! Wind is the flow of gases!"
The Sword Saint didn't seem particularly interested in that theoretical explanation. He spoke clearly to his surroundings.
"I came here for personal reasons today. Only one will be cut."
"Do you think you can walk out of here alive after attacking the Demon King in the Floating Castle?!"
"I have no interest in your circumstances. I will decide your life and death later. However."
The Sword Saint could cut down everyone here at this very moment. But he didn't. Instead, he only gave them a warning.
"Someone must take responsibility. I suppose it's fine to kill just one of the highest ranking as I please."
"Who decided that?!"
"I did."
Though it couldn't reach the Sword Saint, the raging storm interfered with his voice. Looking annoyed, the Sword Saint shook his sword about. Then, the storm, its flow severed strand by strand, crashed into itself and dissipated.
Death by sword. This cause of death was applied even to the storm. The Sword Saint, who could even slay inanimate objects with his blade, declared it like an absolute truth.
"I decided. If I decide that killing many is acceptable, too many will die."
He would only kill one because he didn't want to kill too many. It was as if he held everyone's lives in his hands. It was an arrogant statement, but I couldn't say a word.
Because it was the truth.
"Who says you can do as you please!"
The Green Tower Master flew in on her umbrella in a rage. It was too close a distance to face a Qigong Master, but the Green Tower Master, wielding One-Way Traffic, trusted in her defensive power.
"One-Way Traffic!"
An invisible wall blocked the Sword Saint's path. Sensing the spatial distortion in that instant, the Sword Saint reflexively raised his sword and slashed at the wall. However, even the Sword Saint's blade couldn't penetrate the wall of One-Way Traffic in the slightest. A glint of interest appeared in the Sword Saint's eyes.
"Hmm?"
"You're too late! Crush under this!"
Front, back, left, right, and above. One-Way Traffic surged from each direction, gradually shrinking in volume. She had to get close, and since overlapping One-Way Traffic was impossible, there were gaps. But it was a fatal blow that could kill anyone if it succeeded just once.
The pressure increased rapidly. Even as he felt the walls of death closing in, the Sword Saint wore an intrigued expression. He raised his sword again. Slightly changing the target of his slash, the Sword Saint drew his sword horizontally in a long stroke.
"Side Slash."
Then, the wall of One-Way Traffic was torn like a sheet of paper. The Green Tower Master's eyes widened.
"Huh?"
One-Way Traffic is absolute. It is a Unique Demonic Art that overlays a rule upon the world. Based on that wall, passage is only allowed in one direction. An absolute barrier.
Yet, the Sword Saint's sword tore through One-Way Traffic with ease.
"No way... How?"
"I slashed it from the side."
He couldn't pass through the wall. So he slashed sideways to tear it. He reached that simple conclusion, and made it a reality. That was all.
"Nonsense... How can that be?"
Of course, it was forced logic. To tear a wall, one must first penetrate it. If penetration is impossible, how could one damage the wall?
But it worked. What was the point of arguing when it was happening right before my eyes?
"I won't kill you. But that was an attack laden with killing intent."
The Sword Saint was already in front of the Green Tower Master. Unable to track his instantaneous movement, the Green Tower Master faltered. The Sword Saint's single strike fell upon her.
"No, Vanishing Point...!"
The Black Tower Master, who had hurriedly followed, unleashed the Vanishing Point. A black sphere floating right in front of her blocked the sword. However.
Slash.
The Vanishing Point split in two, and the sword fell unhindered. At the same time, it severed the Green Tower Master's arm. How often had she, the wielder of the Unique Demonic Art One-Way Traffic, ever been injured? Staring at her severed arm with a blank expression, the Green Tower Master screamed at the belated surge of pain.
"Elliot! Ugh...!"
The Black Tower Master hesitated, glancing at the Sword Saint, but instead of taking action, the Sword Saint walked toward the Demon King. As if an attack without killing intent wasn't even worth responding to.
"This time, I will leave after confirming only his death. Pray there won't be a next time."
The Sword Saint had his own rules. Precepts he set for himself because he was too powerful. Shackles binding him so he wouldn't cut everything in sight. Once he drew his sword, he would only cut one person, and even against attacks laden with killing intent, he would only take an arm.
...Wait. Hold on.
"Hughes. Stay still. He is an opponent you absolutely cannot win against... Hey!"
No. This is an opportunity.
Honestly, I couldn't even struggle against the Demon King. Because I couldn't read his thoughts.
But the Sword Saint has precepts, and he strictly adheres to them. It's not because the precepts are important. It's because he has the power to keep any precept. Even if I act up, he won't kill me.
If so, just a little. Let's gain some experience points!
"Hold on a moment."
I stood in the Sword Saint's way. The Sword Saint looked at me as if gauging my intentions. I aimed my skewer at him and spoke.
"I would like to learn a move."
"Just in words?"
I should go right in. He won't kindly wait for me. I immediately dashed forward with my skewer raised. At the same time, the Sword Saint naturally raised his sword to middle stance as if breathing.
This is bad. His realm is so high that it's hard to read him.
Shei forcefully packs the peerless Qigong called Cheonbangyeong into her body and reacts reflexively. But the Sword Saint seemed to have materialized the concept of Qigong itself. From his movements to his breathing, Qigong was naturally melted into him.
Will and Qigong are one. I've seen many use Qigong consciously, but this is my first time seeing it to this extent. Is this what it takes to be called a Sword Saint?
I thrust my skewer straightforwardly.
Spade 5. Apple of Universal Gravitation.
Heavy pressure crushes my body. The ability of the Apple of Universal Gravitation is to adjust the intensity of gravity acting on my body. It only applies to my body, but that's amazing enough.
I increase gravity. The strain on my body is less than expected. Yet, compared to the gravity, my body feels light. My body advances rapidly as I kick off the ground.
Fast and heavy. I thrust my skewer sharper and faster than at any other time in my life....
But it was blocked.
The Sword Saint tilted the side of his sword and precisely deflected my skewer. The skewer bent mercilessly, and my grip felt like it would tear apart.
I can see it. The flow of Qigong. The Gam Qigong filling his body. It supports his body strongly and firmly. And it doesn't end there.
His right foot stepped half a pace forward, and his rear foot lifted slightly. A stable posture. And that's not the end. The Qi extended through Kun Qigong firmly grasped the earth.
Natural. Kun Qigong and Gam Qigong connected as if they were one. Right now, he was one with the earth.
Geon, Kun, Gam. And even Ri. Four types of Qigong divided for easy understanding. Usually, one uses them consciously.
The Sword Saint didn't bother to distinguish them. Because Qigong was already one.
"If you're going to fight with weight, change your weapon first."
Finishing his brief advice, the Sword Saint's hand blurred. At the same time, my skewer was sliced in half. The Sword Saint brushed past me and raised his sword.
"Since you didn't harbor killing intent, I'll only take your weapon... but."
A glance. A cold gaze swept over me. It caught my hand, especially the card hidden within the skewer. He even saw my fingers twitching slightly, trying to pull out the hidden Demon God's card.
"The skewer isn't a weapon. Instead, I'll take a finger."
"Huh? Where's the rule for that?!"
"I decided it."
With the declaration, the sword spun. The sword also contained Qigong, making it no different from his body. Swiftly and accurately, it was swung toward my index finger without a single inch of error.
Thankfully.
The Demon God card I drew was Lightning Strike!
My finger moves. It reacts reflexively the moment the Sword Saint perceives it. The Sword Saint's target is only my finger. Even if I react, it takes time to move, but Lightning Strike moves my body directly with lightning!
"Dodge?"
It was the application of Qigong I had just read from the Sword Saint. I used Lightning Strike like Qigong to control my body. Stimulating the muscles directly was much more complex, but anyway, I succeeded!
"Cheonbangyeong... no. How peculiar."
Muttering that, the Sword Saint immediately sliced off my finger. The severed index finger soared before my eyes.
Wait?
I reacted, but he caught up?
His sword was faster than my finger, and finger movement has its limits. In that brief time, he forced my finger into a tactical disadvantage and took it from a position where it was absolutely impossible to dodge.
Reading his thoughts didn't work either. I simply couldn't win against his Qigong, strength, and even his natural tactical maneuvering.
As I clutched my severed finger and doubled over, I heard a voice calling me from behind.
"Hughes!"
She told me to stay still. Shei charged right in.
Cheon-aeng is fast, and Ji-jan is heavy. The swords with different properties struck a dissonant chord as they targeted the Sword Saint. But the Sword Saint blocked Cheon-aeng with a single strike, and when he tried to block Ji-jan and his sword was deflected, he naturally moved half a step to the side and aimed for Shei's body.
Clang, clang clang clang.
Surprisingly, Cheonbangyeong reacted even to the Sword Saint's strike. She hadn't held back her speed, nor had she used the 'Li' principle, but she blocked the Sword Saint's strike seven times in that short span. However, the impact was tremendous, and Shei was sent flying by the rebound while still gripping Cheon-aeng.
"Cheonbangyeong? What is your relationship with her?"
"Tsk...!"
"A disciple? No, I never took a separate disciple..."
'But it's definitely Cheonbangyeong. If she is her successor, I can't let her get hurt either.'
Instead, the Sword Saint adjusted his grip on the sword. And his perception of the world changed. The length of the sword was the same, but he held it slightly longer as if the center of gravity was further away.
Li.
The Li that he had never used against us twisted the world.
"Long Slash."
It looked as if the sword had instantly lengthened. Did the Qigong surrounding the sword increase? Or was it the sword itself? Or perhaps the sword remained the same, but the force was applied at a distance?
I don't know.
But it happens.
"Ah! Ugh...!"
Shei gradually grew distant. The Sword Saint's slash kept pushing her back. Even after she was pushed far away, a heavy slash still struck Cheon-aeng.
She couldn't even lower her hands. If she did, she would be cut immediately. The Sword Saint's strike cleverly targeted her center of gravity, sending Shei flying far away.
As the Sword Saint withdrew his swung sword.
"Hmm?"
The surroundings froze with a cracking sound. Breathing vanished. All the air froze and fell as fine ice crystals.
The Blue Tower Master's Unique Demonic Art. Determinism. Facing the absolute being known as the Sword Saint, the Blue Tower Master displayed her strongest miracle.
"Haaaa... Infinity... Zero."
A dreadful cold that froze even the gases settled everywhere. The gases froze and fell. The ice crystals possessed a precarious chill as they froze. It felt as if the space itself had frozen solid.
But it's shallow.
"Hughes. Your hand? Are you okay?"
"I'm fine! I reattached it! Hurry up and withdraw your power!"
"Huh?"
I'm fine even if my arm gets cut off! I can reattach it! But if you interfere!
"You be careful! The Sword Saint can't be blocked with that!"
"Huu."
Geon Qigong is the Qigong that spreads through objects. That object includes air. And the Sword Saint was already in the state of Geon-Kun Unity. He was spreading his Qi into his surroundings, making it impossible to even momentarily rob him of breath.
"Quite threatening. To have this much power while controlling it so it doesn't swallow up your surroundings. It might be dangerous if you become an artifact."
Stepping out of the domain in a single stride, the Sword Saint approached the Blue Tower Master. Since she harbored killing intent, it was to take her arm. Tch, I can't block that.
Tap. The Sword Saint, who had taken a step, tilted his head. The distance hadn't changed. With Kun Qigong, he could move nearly 10 meters in a single step, so he clearly moved, yet the distance to the Blue Tower Master remained unchanged.
At the center of this power.
"Aah, Sword Saint. You surprised me."
The Demon King was there.
His severed upper and lower halves remained as they were. But blood was still flowing. Did he connect space even while his body was cut?
"This is why I hate Qigong Masters. They're ignorant and forceful, and their abilities are impossible to grasp."
Until now, the Demon King had surrounded himself with his Unique Demonic Art, so telepathy didn't work on him and there was always a sense of distance. Even though he was visible, he seemed to be somewhere isolated and detached.
But.
I can feel it more and more.
His thoughts, emotions, imagery, entire life.
And even his Unique Demonic Art.
"Now. I'll give a lesson to such a foolish fellow. Listen carefully."
The Demon King's Unique Demonic Art that manipulates space. The near-mystical power he hadn't unleashed upon the world since we met spread out centered on him.
Space erodes space. The sense of distance is disrupted. The void becomes meaningless, and all laws intertwine under a single rule.
"If there is a limit in this world that cannot be surpassed no matter what means are used... what then?"
Unique Demonic Art.
Absolute Speed Control.