System vs Rebirth

"Don't be impressed yet. You can imagine her clearly and do it better because you're inside your consciousness thanks to my help. If you go out right now, I doubt you can do it. For now, I want you to use those twenty chances to get used to it and continue practicing it outside."

"But is this truly Ardagan Swordsmanship?"

"Yes, it is. Ardagan is a living spirit, so he's matching your own body since all humans are different. Depending on your situation, Ardagan Swordsmanship will adjust itself and create a form that matches completely your body and movement. In other words, you can pursue your own swordsmanship and that Imaginary Battlefield will be your first step."

"My own swordsmanship… Now that I think about it, when I tried to awaken my spirit, I had to ask myself a question… What is my goal? Is it truly a revenge? If my goal is a revenge, then I'll be empty or even kill myself after achieving it. So, my goal is not revenge." Noel looked at his sword. "Then, what is actually the goal of my swordsmanship…"

Noel fell silent in an instant as if he came to a realization. Even the Sword Saint who observed him this whole time was stunned.

'Is this guy for real?' The Sword Saint couldn't help but recall the memory when he was traveling with Simeon and his sister.

Simeon was swinging his sword as always and he couldn't help but ask, "Simeon. Isn't it time for you to stop swinging? It's so late already."

Simeon glanced to him and chuckled. "Haha, a bit more. I haven't reached my goal yet."

"Goal?"

"Yes. To accomplish a big goal, I have to create a small goal every day. Unlike you, who pursues a pure swordsmanship, my sword will swing for my own goal." Simeon smiled.

"Goal, huh…" The Sword Saint muttered in a low voice. Suddenly, Simeon swung the sword three times. The first swing was a downward swing with killing intent and Spiritual Energy, the second swing was formed after him taking a step back as if he was moving to someone and protecting him, the last swing was a diagonal one that was similar to the first swing, killing the second attacker. "Huh?"

However, Simeon suddenly dropped to the ground while pressing his chest.

"Kh." Simeon gritted his teeth.

"Oi! Are you alright?"

"Y-yeah." Simeon took a few deep breaths to calm him down. "I didn't expect that… To think the person I saved actually stab me on the back. If I have to swing my sword, I have to consider everything. That's why my sword exists… No, this is the identity of my sword."

The Sword Saint closed his eyes, never expecting that the sword Simeon talked about was his true Swordsmanship.

And the Sword Saint could actually feel it again right before his eyes.

When Noel swung his sword, there was a trace of anger and killing intent in that swing. It was so small that normal people wouldn't feel it, but he, who mastered the soul, could sense it easily.

'Huh? This is like Simeon's… No, it's different.' The Sword Saint thought for a moment before asking Noel. "Kid! What is your goal? No, tell me why did you bring that lass when she actually asked her father to execute your family?"

Noel was baffled by his question but still answered. "I simply don't want to owe her anything. She was the one prompting your tomb's existence, so it would be unfair to her if she couldn't go in because this was related to my family."

"Even though she killed your parents? Well, I mean, they're not dead, but before coming here, you believed they're dead."

Noel shook his head. "When I thought about revenge as my goal, I realized that it wasn't the goal because…"

Noel fell silent, making the Sword Saint curious. He couldn't help but continue Noel's words. "Because you will feel empty?"Belonging © NôvelDram/a.Org.

"No. Because I feel like I'm free. I'm free from my hatred, I'm free from my revenge, I'm free to choose whatever I want from that point on." Noel smiled.

"!!!" The Sword Saint widened his eyes in shock. "So, the reason you brought her…"

"Yes. I don't want to owe her anything. If you owe someone, you'll feel restrained, right? As if you have to repay them. It's different if you make others owe you, you'll be free to do whatever you want because they owe you. That's why I don't want to owe anyone." Noel smiled.

His explanation couldn't help but put a smile on the Sword Saint's face. He was indeed different from the Ardagan he knew, but Noel seemed to have his own path. Although it was still something vague in his head, Noel would surely bring that path alive.

The Sword Saint said, "Interesting. If that's the case, I'm allowing you to swing thirty times for this first phase. I'll continue to the second phase after you're done."

"Second phase?"

"Yes. This Imaginary Battlefield is just one level for your Ardagan Swordsmanship. The other one is a bit different. I don't know if you're aware of it, but Ardagan Swordsmanship is split into three. The first one is just basic swordsmanship while the second part is filled with Spiritual Energy usage. I'm trying to give you another Spiritual Energy utilization for Ardagan Swordsmanship.

"It's called Spirit Weaponry. Do you know why there are no runes embedded in Ardagan while my sword has several of them? The answer is simple. Ardagan is already perfect.

"So, I will teach you this Spirit Weaponry that allows you to slash the Spiritual Energy itself. In other words, whether your enemy use lightning, fire, or water, you just have to swing your sword to cut them. Ardagan is the only one that can do this and it's also the reason why your ancestor never put a rune in that sword."

"Spirit Weaponry." Noel thought this was indeed something he needed. "Certainly, if there is lightning coming at me, I usually dodge it or block it with my own. If I have this, I might be able to do something more."

"For now, continue with that swing. After you're done, we'll move to the second phase."

"Understood."

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