Published at 26th of January 2026 10:11 pm

Chapter 375

This chapter is updated by JustRead.pl

When I first swung the sword, there wasn't much thought behind it.

『Don't be impatient.』

There's nothing to gain from obsessing over what you can't do.

That was what Yu Chun-gil once told me. He said that even if I became aware of the sword path, it would still take a long time to perform it.

I accepted that. Even if the scattered sword paths were laid out before me, it wasn't something I could readily comprehend, nor was I capable of performing them.

Precisely four times.

Up to that fourth sword path was the best I could do.

'Is it a coincidence?'

That number matched exactly the number of fortuitous encounters Yu Chun-gil had given me.

Maybe that's why, up to the fourth, everything flowed smoothly. It didn't feel too hard, and regardless of what technique I used, the sword path continued seamlessly.

But.

'The fifth one is the problem.'

For some reason, the sword felt further and further away.

I couldn't simply force a connection to the path. Then how on earth was I supposed to connect the fifth sword?

If I asked Yu Chun-gil, he'd only tell me about impatience again and again, so finding an answer was no easy task for me.

At that moment—

'... Is this it?'

From something Virtuous Moon Sword had said, a shallow realization dawned on me.

Or perhaps it wasn't even true enlightenment. Maybe it was nothing but a delusion I had come up with on my own.

Clank—

The moment I recalled it, I immediately wanted to draw my sword.

I needed to swing it. Before the current sensations and thoughts faded, I wanted to engrave them in my body, no matter what.

For the first time...

'This is the moment I most wanted to swing the sword.'

Not back then, when I was forced to swing the sword and train.

'This was the first time I ever truly wanted the sword for myself.'

For fear the feelings would slip away—

Swiiiish-!!!

As soon as I arrived at the training hall, I drew my sword.

『Just look at this brat.』

Yu Chun-gil, watching from behind me, spoke with amusement in his voice.

『I told you not to be impatient, and now you move as if all the world was urgent. Huhu.』

I didn't listen.

Sssss.

I just gripped the sword.

And then, slowly, I tightened my grip.

Shwiik-!!

I began the first sword path. The stance was the same. I swung lightly.

The movement matched Moon Wave's exactly. Lacking in intensity but capturing all the subtlety within.

'Next.'

Using the recoil from my swing, I lifted the sword high. The second sword path was an upward slash.

But.

'That's not important.'

The upward slash was just to bridge the movements.

The truly important part came next.

Shiiiiiiiik-!!!

With the sword raised high, I brought it straight down.

Woom.

The sword ascending to the heavens vibrated. I kept that sensation as I sliced down.

Night Moon.

To highlight the moon I was about to create, I filled the night sky.

Hoooo-ah—!!

As the sword moved, wind pressure arose.

There was no time to stop. I pulled the sword down.

'Fourth one.'

A diagonal cut. Shwik! The sword sliced through the air at a swift speed.

To others, it might have seemed like I was simply cutting at nothing, but in my eyes, I was tracing the sword mark I had seen in Bigu.

And then—

'... The fifth one.'

Now, the fifth.

My eyes widened and I focused my strength. There—the sword mark hovered in my vision.

Unlike the ones stacked tightly together, this one stood somewhat apart.

There was no connection to the sword path. If I kept going like this, it would definitely break.

Up until now, I'd always desperately tried to connect it somehow.

'... I was mistaken.'

I realized my mistake.

'The problem is that I was trying to connect something that was never meant to connect in the first place.'

It was never going to connect.

Because this wasn't a sword path.

'I just judged it to be a sword path, that's all.'

Because the sword marks appeared layered in succession, I thought they were a sword path.

'No.'

This wasn't a sword path, but a signpost.

A kind, guiding mark saying, if you swing here, it will be right.

All I had to do was simply follow that signpost.

'Then, what do I do with this fifth sword?'

How do I connect what isn't connected? The solution was simple.

'I don't need to connect it.'

Swoosh.

Sword in hand, I moved.

If the swords were far apart, I just needed to cover the distance.

Two steps.

Instead of linking sword paths, I simply decided to cut at the sword mark.

The moment I took those two steps with that resolve—

Whoaaaaaaaaah—!!!!

"......!"

Blue Moon Mind Technique erupted from my body, unbidden.

And explosively, at that.

『Ha ha—』

Yu Chun-gil laughed.

『You rascal. I thought it would take at least six months... this pointless realization makes things less entertaining.』

I was burning up.

My whole body felt as if it were set aflame. That's how intense the energy wrapping around me was.

Moon Heaven.

The Blue Moon Sect's divine technique, which forcibly induced a state of selflessness, was activated.

'Why?'

Why did Moon Heaven suddenly activate?

I hadn't triggered it myself.

But.

'... Besides that.'

Whether or not Moon Heaven had activated didn't matter right now.

'Just like this.'

I stared at the sword mark before me. Only one thought filled my mind.

'Cut.'

I would cut down that sword mark in my head as it was.

That was all I could think of, and my sword, filled with emotion, moved accordingly.

Based on Moon Heaven—the Radiant Moon Annihilation.

The artificially created moonlight swept across the earth.

At that moment—

Fwaaaaaah—!!!!

A flash burst from the tip of the sword.

Light shooting up—illuminating in all directions as if the moon had blossomed in full.

The world, so brightened, filled every corner.

Kwagagagagagagak—!!!!

My ki exploded. An immense pressure swept through the area, tearing it apart.

"... This is crazy......."

It was chaos. My eyes widened as I stared at the debris strewn everywhere and the collapsed training hall.

"What the heck...?"

Fwaaaah! With a shout, Moon Heaven deactivated.

"... Insane?"

What was this situation? How could things have ended up like this?

"What was with that explosion all of a sudden?"

All I did was swing my sword, and the surroundings exploded. I just stared, dumbfounded.

Sway—!

"......!"

Suddenly my body gave out. One knee hit the ground.

"... Ugh..."

My head spun. What was happening? I quickly checked myself.

'More than half my energy is gone...?'

More than half the energy I had was gone. All for just five swings—how could it end up like this?

'What happened?'

I had no idea. It seemed to be an aftereffect of Moon Heaven activating...

'Why did it activate by itself...?'

Why did Moon Heaven surge up without me using it? I was left staring blankly, completely lost.

『I can see you're surprised, but for now, get up.』

Yu Chun-gil spoke as he looked at me.

『There are eyes watching.』

'Eyes watching...?'

At those words, I looked behind me. There, eyes wide as lanterns, stood the Tyrant King, staring at me.

"......."

"......."

Our eyes met, and a brief silence followed.

"Well."

The Tyrant King was the first to speak. He said to me, wearing an embarrassed expression,

"I've been rude. Sorry about that. I wasn't trying to spy on you."

Because watching someone else's training is considered bad etiquette, the Tyrant King must have said that.

"No, it's fine... We were all supposed to use this training hall together, anyway. Though I suppose that's not possible now."

It was a training hall for everyone in the sect. I was just using it because no one else was here. It should have been a shared space.

But I'd just destroyed it.

'Damn, this is bad.'

How was I supposed to explain this? I felt more than a little screwed.

'... What was that, anyway?'

What was that sword just now? As I pushed the Divine Sword back into my waist, I kept wondering.

'What was that?'

What was the principle behind it, and what was with that power?

'It's all too complicated.'

It was all things I couldn't understand. That was how it was, for now.

At that moment—

"You're Bang Sung-Yun, right?"

"Ah, yes."

The Tyrant King addressed me.

"That move just now, did you learn it from the Sword Saint?"

"......."

If he meant just now, it must be that sword.

"... Yes."

It was the right answer. I had learned it from Yu Chun-gil.

"Is that so? Not bad. No, actually, it's quite good."

The Tyrant King grinned widely at my answer. Something about it gave me chills.

'What is it?'

That wasn't just a grin. His eyes were full of curiosity—no, hunger.

"For a moment, that monster flashed before my eyes. Used to see that during the war against the Demonic Cult... what a nostalgic memory."

"... Ah, yes......"

『What is he babbling about? Who is he seeing in you?』

Yu Chun-gil muttered in disbelief.

"The technique you just used. What's it called?"

"Ah, this... uh..."

Did it have a name? What was it? I glanced at Yu Chun-gil. He looked rather dissatisfied, but still gave me an answer.

『Full Moon.』

"It's called Full Moon."

A massive moon.

Couldn't have been a simpler name.

"Full Moon. I see, that's what it was."

The Tyrant King nodded knowingly.

"Good. Then let me ask something else."

"What do you want to ask...?"

"Would you like to have a match with me?"

"... What?"

What kind of craziness is that?

A match? I frowned at the Tyrant King's words. A match—what the hell?

"Don't be ridiculous... I mean, isn't that strange? How could I possibly spar with you, senior Tyrant King?"

Unless I was out of my mind and wanted to get beaten up, this made no sense. Was hurting people his hobby?

Flustered, I tried to explain.

"I was kind of bored, and seeing you got me all fired up."

Fired up? That gross remark made me recoil.

"It's not a bad thing, is it? I might be able to help you."

He added with a smile.

A match with an expert. For someone weaker, it could be a fortuitous encounter beyond imagination.

'But why all of a sudden?'

I had no idea why he was like this. If I didn't like it, I didn't have to accept.

"I just finished training, so I'd rather not..."

"Is that so? Then let's do it tomorrow after you've recovered."

"... No, I doubt I'll be recovered by tomorrow..."

"Well, then when will you recover? I'll wait."

"......"

His eyes glinted with madness. I was screwed. Felt like I'd really stepped in it.

'He's crazy.'

Was he so desperate to fight? Why?

I truly didn't want to.

"I'm sorry, but, senior, I..."

"If you're that reluctant, let's do it this way."

As I tried to refuse, the Tyrant King continued,

"As you can see, one of my arms is injured. I'll also not use one leg."

"... Excuse me?"

"I won't move either. And how about I give you five exchanges? If I even move from this spot during those five, you win. Furthermore—"

The Tyrant King raised a single finger.

"If you win, I'll grant any one request you have."

"......!"

Any request.

And five exchanges.

'... A request?'

My eyes sharpened. A request. And right now, there was just the one I needed.

Candidate for alliance leader.

That came to mind. And the five exchanges...? At that, I asked the Tyrant King,

"... Is that a promise?"

"Ahaha, of course."

A match with nothing to lose.

"I'm good at keeping my promises."

Now, I had no reason to back down either.

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