Chapter 6: All on the Line

I cast my gaze towards the sky.

 

The blazing sun, as if on cue, hid behind clouds, and the weather turned as if rain would pour down any moment.

 

It was the second new type of weather I had seen since coming to this world, but strangely, I felt little emotion.

 

The reason was. Thinking about it, I knew clearly.

 

Because right before me was a being that would grant me enlightenment.

 

Because a being more overwhelming than any natural scenery stood before me.

 

The crown of my head, still tingling and showing signs, throbbed madly.

 

I think I can see it. This time!

 

Though I trembled with anticipation as my hand went to my sword, the Lord of Geo seemed to mistake my trembling for fear.

 

"Are you truly sure about this?"

 

"Yes. I believe I can withstand it."

 

Far from the Guili settlement, in a deserted area of the Cuijue Slope, the Lord of Geo and I headed, and in the distance, adepti could be seen, as if to spectate.

 

Focusing my hearing towards them, their faint voices began to reach me.

 

"Is he really alright...? Even so, to withstand the Lord's attack..."

 

"Hmm~ You're particularly worried today, Ganyu? Why? Is that human on your mind?"

 

"That's not it..."

 

"I know. Morax's stone spear is so powerful that even most illuminated beasts would choose to dodge rather than block it. That's why I'm looking forward to it. Can a human really block it?"

 

Guizhong, her eyes sparkling with interest as if she didn't want to miss a single moment, was watching intently.

 

...I know. Because I haven't lost my memories of martial arts and this world.

 

That I could die if things go wrong. I know that too.

 

I finally gripped my sword and took my stance at high speed.

 

"Oh! It's starting!"

 

Triggered by Guizhong's voice filled with excitement.

 

I finalized my resolve.

 

"I am ready."

 

"Understood. Then."

 

The Lord of Geo began to slowly ascend into the sky.

 

It was the noble and divine ascension of a god.

 

And finally, the dragon's flight beyond the mortal realm.

 

A sight so awe-inspiring it evoked reverence in me unknowingly.

 

But I did not choose to prostrate myself and bow like ordinary humans; instead, gritting my teeth, I quietly aimed the tip of my sword at the god.

 

Even to my own thinking.

 

It was a posture akin to a human defying a god.

 

And looking down upon such an insolent human, the god slowly raised his right hand.

 

As if a god about to smite a sinful human with a thunderbolt.

 

Geo energy gathers.

 

According to its master's will, it leaves the earth and gathers in the sky.

 

I strained my eyes, struggling to take in the entire spectacle.

 

Finally, as the Geo energy coalesced to a certain degree.

 

It revealed its form.

 

A shape too massive and enormous to be called a spear.

 

The word 'pillar' suited it better.

 

The Lord of Geo, holding the spear.

 

Opened.

 

His mouth.

 

「Heavenly Phenomena.」

 

The earth resonated with that voice, and heaven and earth shook.

 

An irresistible, absolute power is felt.

 

The will of heaven is absolute, and those beneath such heaven must obey heaven's command.

 

Heaven moves all things.

 

The crown of my head now began to burn.

 

I can feel it.

 

The overwhelming, tyrannical aura of a god.

 

The seething power to reshape the land.

 

An irresistible, calamity.

 

But even so. I chose to resist.

 

Before an irresistible calamity, I choose resistance.

 

"Uwaaaaaaaaaa!!!"

 

I shouted to drive out my fear.

 

Finally, the Lord of Geo's hand left the spear.

 

The stone spear, freed from the Lord of Geo's hand, began to fall at a terrifying speed.

 

An overwhelming sense of pressure, felt on the skin.

 

A tyrannical power that blots out the sky.

 

I'll die.

 

I'll die!

 

But it doesn't matter!

 

It's starting to become visible!

 

Another sign!

 

The crown of my head now began to emit fierce heat as if on fire.

 

It was as if a burning black worm was crawling through my brain.

 

Before the oncoming spear, I took my stance.

 

A stance taken thousands, tens of thousands of times.

 

Thrust.

 

I steel my will.

 

Now that death is visibly approaching, anticipation rather than fear envelops my body.

 

Will I be able to see what lies beyond?

 

Then, as if time had slowed.

 

Everything began to appear slower.

 

I had entered a half-state of no-mind.

 

I struggled to seize the black worm crawling through my brain.

 

But it wouldn't be caught easily.

 

Seeing me like that, several worried voices began to reach me.

 

"Subduer of Demons! Is he really alright?! He's not putting up any resistance!"

 

"......."

 

"My lord!"

 

"From my eyes, it looks like he is doing something?"

 

"...Pardon?"

 

"Resistance. He is resisting. Desperately."

 

Hearing such words, I seized one of the smallest black worms.

 

The black worm writhed, beginning to struggle to escape from me.

 

Don't make me laugh.

 

I will see.

 

What lies beyond!

 

So don't resist!

 

Give me enlightenment!

 

I clutched the black worm.

 

The black worm gradually becomes a line of black text.

 

A character begins to be written in my mind.

 

And.

 

A lightning bolt containing black characters struck my mind.

 

Prepared for death. I stood here.

 

Why?

 

To gain enlightenment.

 

To what?

 

...My martial arts.

 

Why?

 

What remains for me is.

 

Unthinkingly, I opened my mouth.

 

"Because that was all I had."

 

Martial arts were survival to me.

 

Martial arts were joy to me.

 

Martial arts were desperation to me.

 

Martial arts were the last remnant of my memory from the previous world.

 

Martial arts are my everything.

 

Absolutely. I will never let it go.

 

The line of text begins to appear.

 

It is a memory from my previous world that I had forgotten.

 

A line of text so fitting for the current situation.

 

If one learns the Way in the morning, one can die content in the evening.

 

A scholar does not harm his humanity in order to survive.

 

I stood here to gain enlightenment in martial arts.

 

A scholar. A martial artist.

 

If it is to see what lies beyond!

 

It means I am willing to die!

 

How could I discard enlightenment! Discard my humanity just to survive!

 

I had already missed it twice.

 

Half a step.

 

I just need to advance half a step more!

 

I won't miss it again! Never again!

 

I imbued the black line of text with my internal energy and channeled it into my sword.

 

The sword began to pulsate.

 

The sword is me, and I am the sword.

 

Thus, my enlightenment must bloom from the sword's tip.

 

Sword energy began to burst forth like a waterfall.

 

The sword energy materialized, forming a sword aura resembling thin threads.

 

The sword aura twists and intertwines, forming sword force.

 

But.

 

It doesn't stop there.

 

Hundreds of large and small sword forces condense at the sword's tip like morning dew.

 

I looked at my sword.

 

Thrust.

 

Swing.

 

Deflect.

 

These are the only sword techniques I know.

 

Therefore. To fortify the foundation more firmly, I will create a sword art from these three movements.

 

The three movements that began with me.

 

The sword displays three (三) talents (才).

 

I shall call this.

 

The Three Talents Sword Art (三才劍法).

 

I raised my gaze to the sky again.

 

The sight of the stone spear pouring down from the black sky was such that it could be called a Black Wind Stone Rain, like a downpour of rocks falling within a black storm.

 

Hundreds of raindrops fall and strike the earth.

 

And. That sight.

 

Resembled my own posture of thrusting my sword.

 

Another enlightenment falls like lightning.

 

It was the name of the technique I had discovered.

 

If one learns the Way in the morning, one can die content in the evening.

 

A scholar does not harm his humanity in order to survive.

 

Therefore, the scholar's will, which dares death.

 

Will surely reach heaven.

 

I decided on the technique's name.

 

The energy (氣) of a scholar (士) who dares death to gain enlightenment.

 

Can pierce (衝) and remain.

 

Even that lofty heaven (天).

 

This is, my first technique (招式).

 

Scholar (士).

 

Energy (氣).

 

Pierce (衝).

 

Heaven (天).

 

Three Talents Sword Art (三才劍法).

 

First Technique (招式).

 

The Scholar's Energy Piercing Heaven.

 

Morale Soars to the Sky!

 

The hundreds of large and small sword forces blooming from the sword's tip began to shine.

 

I take.

 

Half a step.

 

Thrust.

 

Thrust!

 

I extended my sword at an incredible speed.

 

Then, the hundreds of sword forces condensed at the sword's tip bloomed luxuriantly, following my will.

 

The sword forces stretching themselves, my enlightenments.

 

Simultaneously take stance and shoot forward.

 

The trajectories of the sword forces overlap and combine, becoming one giant sword.

 

And.

 

The stone spear began to be whittled away.

 

Before the technique of a mere human.

 

A god's attack is being worn down.

 

The attack of a human who has set foot in the divine realm with a single sword.

 

Reach.

 

Reach!!!

 

CRACKCRACKCRACKCRACKCRACK!

 

Making a sound as if a storm was sweeping through.

 

The sword force gnaws away at the god's attack.

 

And yet the sword force continues to advance.

 

Even after completely erasing the stone spear. It continues!

 

And so, the extending sword force.

 

Pierced.

 

The sky.

 

The dark clouds scattered.

 

Sunlight poured down.

 

I reached.

 

The sky.

 

The beyond.

 

Enlightenment!

 

I smiled and looked up at the sky.

 

The sunlight bestowed warm rays upon me as if in congratulations.

 

I can feel the astonished gazes of all who were watching me.

 

"...Is that truly a human?"

 

"Destructive power that would not be an overstatement to call him an illuminated beast. Is he really human? Perhaps an illuminated beast or..."

 

The voices of the Subduer of Demons and Li Shu, the Mountain-Folding Stag, reached me.

 

And Guizhong's laughing answer to that question is heard.

 

"...Not an illuminated beast. Should we call him a Martial (武) Deity?"

 

A Martial (武) Deity.

 

It's a bit embarrassing, but not a bad name.

 

Because martial arts (武) are my everything.

 

I smiled while looking at the shining sunlight.