The arrogant words fell.
Ghislaine remained expressionless.
But her tail lashed the air.
She was delighted.
At this moment, within Allen, she saw the faint shadow of someone familiar.
Her master.
The man who constantly spouted vulgarities like "this grandpa" or "I, the boss," who sat upon the throne of the Holy Land of Swords, overlooking all with contempt and gripping the blade in his hand—
The current Sword God: Gal Farion.
She stared directly at Allen, then after a moment, tugged the corners of her lips into a smile.
But Allen was not the same as her master.
"You're very suited for the Sword God Style," she said.
"But those words weren't born from your 'desire'."
The statement was bizarre, causing Eris and Rudy nearby to look at each other in confusion.
But Allen understood.
The reason Sword God Style requires enlightenment is because two factors drive the progress of the Hikari no Tachi (Sword of Light):
First—are your years of foundational training solid?
Second—is the fire of your 'desire' still burning?
As for Allen's foundation in swordsmanship?
The answer went without saying.
Therefore, so long as his 'desire' burned strong enough, enlightenment would come swiftly.
Desire—
Is the fire that drives progress in the Hikari no Tachi. The stronger it burns, the brighter the blade!
And so it must never be snuffed out or replaced.
Because once the fire is extinguished—
It's incredibly difficult to ignite it again.
Allen referred to this driving force of the Sword God Style as the "Kenshin" (Sword Heart).
And his earlier arrogance did fit the traditional image of a powerful Sword God practitioner.
After all, he had Borea's "stubborn" blood flowing through him.
Which expressed itself in his desire for strength.
So long as he harbored the will to stand above all other swordsmen, wasn't that also a kind of "desire"? A "sword heart"?
However—
That was not the Sword God path Allen chose.
Because that kind of "sword heart" was too simple, too direct. It looked unburdened, easy to grasp, as if one could rise to the position of Sword God like a dragon soaring to the heavens.
But—too rigid, and it breaks easily.
Sword God Style is not like Water God Style, which is built on steady progress and empirical training.
So long as desire burns, the Hikari no Tachi stays sharp and fast.
The blade can become so fast it defies understanding.
But the slightest misstep—and it can shatter. If the desire falters, at best your progress halts; at worst, your spirit collapses entirely.
Especially for those with desires like "to reign" or "to be the strongest." If the blade breaks, no one—not even your closest friend—can help you back up.
Because you'll never pass the trial in your own heart.
When someone defeats you face-to-face, how can you deceive yourself into believing you're still the strongest?
How?
The most obvious example—
Was the Sword God, Gal Farion.
In the original story, he was defeated by his own disciple in a cross-rank challenge, lost his title, and even began doubting whether the Sword God Style was the right path. In the final battle, he abandoned its sharp aggression and instead wielded Water God Style, known for its defensive counters, to try and gain the upper hand over his former student—Eris.
And so—
He died.
Cleanly, simply.
Sliced in half by Ruijerd, whose strength was far beneath his own.
Recalling that, Allen shrugged.
"That kind of 'desire' doesn't suit someone like me."
Ghislaine looked at Allen.
She could understand.
Because from the moment she stayed with the Borea family, she had already let go of her own 'desire.'
That's why she remained a Sword King.
But she was content.
After all, everyone needs some scenery worth pausing for in life, right?
Just a shame—when she next saw her master—
He might curse her out harshly.
With that thought, she looked deeply at Allen.
Then what is Allen's "desire"?
Ghislaine's smile faded.
She bowed.
And sheathed Heisou.
"Beneath the King, you're the strongest?"
It was as if she had lost the desire to duel Allen further.
But nearby, Eris was so excited she was stomping in place! Her feet hammered the ground so hard that flying blades of grass smacked Rudy in the face.
The Hikari no Tachi has three starting stances.
This was the hardest to read—
Iaigiri (Draw Slash).
Ghislaine's most skilled opening for the Hikari no Tachi.
Then her voice came again:
"And what if it were King-class? What would you do?"
"Or do you need me to slow my blade down, and let you fight me slowly?"
Allen saw Ghislaine's stance—she was ready to slash the moment he gave his answer. He narrowed his eyes.
A Sword King-level Hikari no Tachi...
And Iaigiri...
At this moment, within his "Kanryū" (Flow Sense), Ghislaine's killing intent had completely vanished.
Even her intention to draw her sword was perfectly hidden inside the scabbard.
Different from earlier, when he could sense her aiming for the weaker side of his neck, now—
The Flow Sense couldn't predict when the blade would be drawn, or where it would strike.
Water God Style relies on acute sensitivity to killing intent. It's often the only way to counter Sword God Style for same-rank matchups.
And standing before him now—was a Sword King, intending to use her true strength.
In the original story, the closed combat loop between Isolte, Tinna, and Eris was built on this.
Why could Isolte beat Eris so handily? Because Eris's killing intent was too overt.
Then why was Isolte beaten badly by fellow Sword King Tinna? Because Tinna was raised in the Holy Land of Swords and had an innocent, untainted approach—no true killing intent, just clean, point-based matches like a game. That's why Eris, hardened by the Demon Continent, thrashed her later.
But ironically, because of that "naivety," Isolte had no way to deal with her.
In the Holy Land, where swordplay was all light sparring and no life-or-death stakes, Tinna's killing intent was too faint—making it nearly impossible to detect.
And if you can't detect it, how do you counter it?
Now Allen faced the same problem.
Should he accept Ghislaine's provocation?
Let her slow down her blade and let him gradually adapt to the Hikari no Tachi? Find a counter step by step?
He could.
But he wouldn't!
Allen smiled at Ghislaine.
And closed his eyes.
Can't detect killing intent?
Then I'll make it easier to sense!
In that instant—
His Ryūsei Dōki (Dragon Saint Battle Aura) compressed in his gut, then burst forth.
It spread!
It dyed the air!
His aura surged!
His five senses sharpened!
The world unfolded before him in perfect clarity.
Form, sound, smell, taste, and touch—he seized every detail of the courtyard, building it in his mind.
In that moment—
Allen could hear his own breathing.
It was like a roar, screeching through a canyon!
But in the next breath—
That deafening roar vanished.
The Flow Sense contracted.
He abandoned perception of all information.
Except—
Killing intent.
The constructed image faded, sticky darkness poured into his mind, condensing from afar—
And in an instant, surged to his feet.
Within the darkness—
Silence.
Was there no killing intent in the courtyard?
No.
Faint white "lines" danced within his senses.
Five meters ahead of him.
From Ghislaine's original position, near her lower body—
It was the blade, about to be drawn.
It was killing intent buried deeply.
The sticky darkness rippled.
And Allen "heard" his own voice.
"No need."
"Just cut me."
"Let me witness—"
"The King-class Hikari no Tachi."
(End of Chapter)
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