FWAAAAAAA—!!!!

Light burst out.

Light invaded in every direction, bright enough to cover your eyes. Bright enough to completely blot out the view in every direction.

It wasn’t even comparable to “using moonlight energy to emit light,” the way people talked about it.

At a glance, it almost looked like the sun had fallen onto the tournament stage.

But it was different.

The light was that strong, that blinding, and yet—

“What?”

“What is that?”

In the stands, not a single person was squinting.

If it were really that kind of light, it should’ve made people cover their eyes and squeeze them shut.

But no one covered their eyes, which made it bizarre.

“What’s going on?”

Everyone was confused.

And while they were still taking in the panic from that strange phenomenon—

[Ahahahahaha—!!]

Yoo Cheongil roared with laughter as he watched the light.

[I like it. Yeah. This is how it should be!]

Was it because this was what he’d wanted?

Yoo Cheongil wore the widest grin I’d seen from him in a long time.

[Rise. And show them that the moon is the most brilliant thing in the world.]

A string of words I couldn’t understand. The shape of madness, like he was drowning in his own emotion.

Yoo Cheongil kept his gaze locked on the center of the light, eyes blazing and slick—

“......This....”

Namgung Cheon, staring into that light with him, twisted his face.

CRACKLE—.

Thunder energy flashed from his left hand.

Thunder God Sword Descent.

A power that develops thunder energy to an extreme, then wraps it around the entire body.

People said the form looked like you’d put on full-body armor, so they named it like a thunder god had descended.

RUMBLE—!!

One of the conditions was that it had to be manifested at the same time as King’s Sword Forms, which made the difficulty monstrous.

But Namgung Cheon looked like he could use it without even caring.

You’re a genius.

That was how his father—Sword King of this era—had judged him.

Namgung Cheon was a genius. If the miracle of the Peng Clan was Black-Grand Saber Peng Dojin, then the foundation of the Namgung Clan was Namgung Cheon.

Unlike his lacking younger brother, he possessed real talent.

He liked using martial arts.

He loved swinging a sword.

He loved martial arts, and martial arts loved him, too.

That was why.

Even Thunderclap Sword—who people said didn’t use Thunder God Sword Descent until he was nearly forty—couldn’t compare.

Namgung Cheon had only just passed youth, and he could already use it.

Because Namgung Cheon was drenched in the love of martial arts and thunder energy.

What is that light?

Even Namgung Cheon—someone like that—felt an emotion he couldn’t identify as he stared at the light in front of him.

What was this feeling?

He questioned it, then looked down at his own hand. His right hand, injured, unable to grip properly.

Sweat beaded on his palm.

“.......”

The moment he saw it, he understood.

Ah.

I’m scared.

I’m afraid of that light. This feeling is fear.

As he realized it, Namgung Cheon smiled.

“Ahaha.”

Nice. To think I’d feel something like this.

Even when watching the Sword Phoenix—her fights—or occasionally facing the tyranny of the Black-Grand Saber, he’d never felt it.

Little Sword Saint. You...

That young man kept handing him countless things.

Even the way they fought was like that—he was feeling and seeing things he’d never experienced in his life.

You’re a monster.

No matter what he thought of himself, to Namgung Cheon, Bang Sungyeon was a monster.

Or—

A monster-to-be.

Either way, he would become something in the end.

Namgung Cheon was sure of it.

And then—

“Hoo.”

CRACKLE—!!!

Namgung Cheon kept dragging his energy up, higher and higher. Fear? He didn’t even know why he felt it.

But right now, he had to enjoy even this feeling.

Shall we?

Yeah. Let’s do it.

He steadied his mind and poured more energy in—

CRUNCH—!!!

The armor that had only covered his upper body started to extend downward, connecting into his lower body.

He managed to drive it down to his hips, but—

ZZZT.

“......Ngh.”

He couldn’t go any further. He couldn’t wrap his whole body—only cover more than half.

That was his limit.

To push it into full coverage, he’d have to awaken the ultimate mastery of King’s Sword Forms.

What a shame.

Knowing that, Namgung Cheon let out his regret—

SHIIIING—!

But if this was his best, then he had to accept it.

Namgung Cheon tightened his grip on his sword.

Right now.

Right now, instead of regret, focus on the opponent in front of you.

So. What will you show me next?

What were you trying to show me with that light?

Expecting it with everything he had—

I’m coming.

Namgung Cheon put strength into his feet.

RUMBLE—!!!

Thunder struck. With thunder energy wrapped around him, Namgung Cheon charged into the light.

An unfamiliar left hand.

He put power into it and drew a semicircle.

Changryong Footwork and the Namgung Clan’s swordsmanship mixed together—

And thunder energy covered over it.

The armor churned like it was dancing.

Just as lightning was about to cleave the light apart—

FLASH.

In an instant, the light that had been pouring out vanished.

And Bang Sungyeon’s figure, inside that light, was revealed.

“Huh?”

Namgung Cheon’s eyes widened when he saw Bang Sungyeon.

But his surprise only lasted a moment. His sword kept moving.

Lightning drove in to cut Bang Sungyeon down, but—

“.......”

At that moment, Bang Sungyeon’s Moon Eyes turned toward Namgung Cheon.

CLANG—!!!

“Kh—!?”

Namgung Cheon’s thunder-wrapped sword was knocked away.

It shot up into the air.

Namgung Cheon twisted his body, trying to force his sword path to continue—

KGGGGK—!!

But the blade that rushed into his face made him snap into defense.

Blades collided. Sparks burst from the fierce friction.

Namgung Cheon’s face twisted at the pressure.

Up until just a moment ago, he could’ve pushed through with brute force without trouble.

Now he couldn’t.

Worse—

I’m getting pushed back.

Namgung Cheon’s strength was being forced back.

How did it suddenly become like this?

And on top of that, he was the one using a secret art right now.

“Kh.”

Namgung Cheon let out a groan and twisted his sword.

STEP.

He barely managed to ride the flat of the blade and bleed off the attack—

CRACKLE—! He detonated his thunder energy and pulled distance.

He needed to widen the gap and assess the situation.

Thinking that, he moved toward the edge of the stage, but—

SHWIK—!!

“......!”

Bang Sungyeon’s sword chased him.

It was a flash. A long, continuous flash that had already bored into Namgung Cheon before he could blink.

You won’t even give me time?

He wouldn’t give him even a moment to figure anything out.

Bang Sungyeon dove in without hesitation.

CLANG—! CLANG-CLANG—!!

The blades began to hammer each other. The speed climbed.

Namgung Cheon clenched his teeth at the pressure pressing down on him.

I can’t get my speed out.

That awkward left hand.

And the habits he’d only just barely forced himself to change.

Because of the immature level of familiarity—and the pain—he couldn’t even unleash half the speed and power he should’ve had.

He was barely holding on.

And because of that, Bang Sungyeon’s speed felt like it sat above his.

Was even this what you aimed for?

How much of this was calculation?

How much of it was a miracle?

Namgung Cheon couldn’t believe anything anymore.

Even this suspicion might be Bang Sungyeon’s intention.

Ha.

How did I end up thinking something this absurd?

How did you end up?

Because of the person in front of you, obviously.

SWISH—!

Namgung Cheon slipped a sword line and looked at Bang Sungyeon.

What the hell is that look?

The first thing that hit him was his handsome face. Sure—Namgung Cheon had even admired it the first time he saw him.

Namgung Cheon was the kind of man who constantly got told he was exceptional wherever he went, too.

But Bang Sungyeon carried something different, packed into him.

Yeah. Fine. Handsome aside—

How is he like that?

This Bang Sungyeon was different from the one he’d first seen.

Even his hair, for one.

White.

White hair, wrapped in a faint pale blue.

He’d originally had black hair with a brown cast.

But somehow, the color had flipped completely.

And it wasn’t just the color.

It shines.

His hair held light inside it.

Meaning: the light that had been blasting out around him was now drifting faintly along him.

STEP KWAANG—!!

The blades twisted and surged upward.

Namgung Cheon felt a sharp, numbing sensation in his wrist.

Ghh.

Strange.

How could swordsmanship be this strange?

Not only did he look different—his method of fighting was different, too.

The hesitation was gone from his movements.

No matter what Namgung Cheon did, he moved like he already knew it—

And—

His gaze doesn’t waver.

His eyes stayed locked on Namgung Cheon alone.

Even those eyes—beneath shining hair—held light inside them.

KWAANG—!

FSSSS—!!

Another impact.

Namgung Cheon’s armor broke.

Part of it was the shock.

Part of it was that Namgung Cheon’s energy was nearing its limit.

King’s Sword Forms and thunder energy were powers that demanded an enormous outpouring of inner power.

He’d been maintaining them this whole time, so a limit finally came for him, too.

But—

You’re the same.

That would be true for Bang Sungyeon as well.

Namgung Cheon was sure of it.

There was no fatigue on Bang Sungyeon’s face, but the veins crawling across his body told him everything.

He’s at the limit.

Bang Sungyeon had already reached the limit, too.

The instant Namgung Cheon realized it, he put strength into his whole body.

CLANG—! WOOOONG—!!

He pressed into the locked blades and shoved.

Not with the thought of cutting—just shoving with everything he had.

Bang Sungyeon’s body was forced back for an instant.

Namgung Cheon didn’t miss it.

He drove his foot in.

BBANG—!!

Bang Sungyeon was struck in the abdomen and flew back.

There was no real damage.

It was purely an intent to shove him away.

If anything, the forced movement sent pain screaming through Namgung Cheon’s muscles.

But—

I have to.

Even if it was forced, he had to create an opening.

The moment distance opened between them—

TAP—!

Namgung Cheon released every piece of armor wrapped around his body.

And at the same time, he poured all his energy into his sword.

CRACKLE—!! SSSHIIIK.

Thunder energy spilled from the blade and shook the floor.

He compressed it, and compressed it again, forcing it into the flat of the blade.

The thunder energy swelled larger and larger.

Thunder Ridge One-Sky Sword.

Namgung Cheon packed everything he had into his left hand.

“This is everything I can do.”

He was trembling. Even just holding the energy in place made his arm shake violently.

Maintaining it, Namgung Cheon smiled as he spoke.

“.......”

Hearing that, Bang Sungyeon kept a face that gave away nothing—

TAP.

Then suddenly let his sword hang down.

And then—

SWISH—!!!

“Huh?”

Just like Namgung Cheon, he began to pour light into the blade.

It didn’t take long to pack everything in.

The size was much smaller than Namgung Cheon’s.

Light wrapped around the sword.

A form that looked like it was gripping cross-shaped light.

“Ahaha. Damn.”

Even if it was small, the presence coming off it was enormous.

“So. I take it back. Saying I don’t like this.”

Namgung Cheon set his posture.

No matter how you looked at it—

“I think I like you.”

Namgung Cheon said it with a smile.

But Bang Sungyeon didn’t answer.

Namgung Cheon didn’t want an answer, anyway.

A reply right now wasn’t something you heard with words.

CRACKLE—.

Namgung Cheon gripped his sword and flew in.

Bang Sungyeon charged to meet him.

Lightning and light tangled together.

SWISH—!!!!

FWAAAA—!!!

A blast and light exploded.

The size wasn’t different from before.

The light Bang Sungyeon showed was the same size as then, but— 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

“Ugh!”

“My eyes—!!”

This time, even the stands shut their eyes from the intensity.

After a long moment of that flashing light, it finally started to shrink.

And when people could barely open their eyes again—

“Oh—!”

“That—!!”

Bang Sungyeon and Namgung Cheon stood apart from each other, swords in hand.

A lot of people couldn’t even speak # Nоvеlight # when they saw it.

Because neither of them moved even an inch.

Then, after a moment—

“Ah... damn.”

Once again, the one who spoke was Namgung Cheon.

“I lost.”

He said it like he regretted it.

And at that moment—

CLANG—!

The sword in Namgung Cheon’s hand shattered and fell to the floor.

WAAAAAAAHHHHHH—!!

The crowd erupted in cheers.