Weapon-Eating Bastard [EN]: Chapter 183

Weapon-Devouring Bastard – Episode 183

On the outskirts of the Soongmoo Yi Family estate stood a massive, artificial mountain.

It wasn’t a naturally formed mountain; it was created through a combination of manpower, sorcery, and magic.

The family’s secluded training grounds were located on this mountain.

I headed toward the entrance of the training grounds and met a familiar face.

“Youngest Master, how have you been?”

“It’s been a while, Butler Choi.”

Butler Choi smiled and gestured toward the mountain path. “The Lord [referring to my father, the head of the family] is waiting for you. Please proceed this way.”

I nodded and began to climb the path.

With each step, my breath grew heavier.

“Kuh.”

Each step felt like a great effort. My skin prickled, and it became hard to breathe, as if the air was thinning.

Even at the summit of Everest, it hadn’t been this difficult.

‘What on earth…?’

I activated my Evil Eye [a special ability allowing me to perceive magical energies] to survey the surroundings.

However, I detected nothing unusual. It wasn’t as if I had entered a formation, nor was there any scattered energy.

Just the ordinary energy unique to the mountain.

Realizing this, I swallowed hard.

‘Is it Father?’

Father must have done something to cause this. That was the only explanation for this phenomenon.

‘But what did he do to cause this without being detected by the Evil Eye?’

Regardless, the cause wasn’t the immediate concern. Whether Father was responsible or not, climbing this path was clearly a test.

“Hoo!”

I gritted my teeth, straightened my back, took a deep breath, and continued onward.

Since Father wasn’t using magic to pressure me directly, I refrained from using magic myself, relying solely on mental strength and physical power to climb.

How much time passed like that? My vision blurred, and my breath came in ragged gasps.

The more steps I took, the more fatigue accumulated throughout my body. Still, I pressed on.

Then, as I stepped onto one particular stone.

Whoosh!

I felt all the oppressive energy vanish as if swept away by a gust of wind.

“Haa, haa…”

I breathed roughly and shook my head, trying to clear my vision. Focus gradually returned, and the scenery before me came into view.

A wide, open space, and in the center, my father stood with his beloved sword hanging at his side.

He looked at me calmly and said, “You’ve come.”

I straightened my back, cleared my throat, and replied, “Lee Chul of the Soongmoo Yi Family, greetings to the Lord. I have returned from my Martial Journey.”

Father nodded, his gaze assessing. “If you were able to climb the path, it seems you have achieved some level of accomplishment.”

As expected, Father was behind this.

“…Yes, I did not waste the time I was given.”

“Hmm.”

Father nodded silently. I felt my lips dry as I met his profound gaze.

What stood before me was just one person, but…

‘He doesn’t seem like a human.’

Such immense energy and presence. I was certain that Seop, Elder Ryeo, Henry Russell, Saintess Christina, and the numerous other powerhouses I had met during my Martial Journey weren’t at this level.

“Before you left for the Martial Journey, I gave you a warning. Do you remember?”

Father’s voice cut through the air.

I felt a bead of sweat trickle down my temple. “Yes, I remember.”

Father had allowed me to embark on the Martial Journey, instructing me to return stronger. However, if my strength didn’t meet his standards…

“Now, I will conduct that test.”

Father pointed his sword at me.

“Show me everything you have gained.”

* * *

I didn’t hesitate for even a moment.

Before leaving for the Martial Journey, I had foreseen this confrontation upon my return.

‘The First Brother’s test was moderate, but…’

Father wouldn’t hold back. He would truly test the limits of my abilities.

Therefore, I had to give it my all from the start.

“Hoo…”

Taking a deep breath, I opened my eyes wide. Strong Energy Art, Body Transformation [a technique to enhance physical abilities], began, and my perception of time stretched.

Whoo-oosh!

I immediately enveloped the surroundings with the Gravity Zone [an area where gravity is amplified, hindering movement]. The Gravity Zone, which severely restricted the opponent’s movements, and Body Transformation, which maximized my own, were activated simultaneously.

“I’ll go.”

Thump!

I launched myself forward.

I had to give it my all from the very beginning. I created Mujin [my sword] in the form of a giant blade and bloomed Black Lotus [a powerful energy technique] on top of it.

The level of overlapping energy was beyond individual applications; dozens of black auras combined simultaneously, blooming a single flower.

“…”

In the slowed world, Father moved.

As if unaffected by my Gravity Zone and Body Transformation, his movement was natural, neither slowed nor sped up.

Thump!

With a comfortable posture, he slightly bent his elbow and swung his sword.

Such an insignificant strike.

And…

Kwaaaaaaang!

As if a balloon had burst, all the petals of the Black Lotus scattered, and the power imbued in Mujin dissipated behind it.

‘…!’

It was a shocking display.

With just a simple strike, the energy containing my full power was scattered.

“Not bad.”

Beyond the rising heat haze, Father, without a speck of dust on him, looked at me.

The next moment.

Hwaa!

Father took a step and swung his sword in an ordinary downward strike – a basic move that even a child could perform.

But what my Evil Eye saw was anything but ordinary.

‘What on earth is that…!’

The shape of the sword was almost imperceptible.

An excessively condensed ‘something’ was distorting its form.

That’s dangerous. There’s no way to avoid it. I have to block it.

Father’s sword swung, closing the distance.

At that moment, I released Mujin and grabbed Black Night [another sword].

Activating Black Night’s power, I gripped it with both hands and raised it.

Strong Energy Art, Waveform [a defensive technique].

The strongest defensive Strong Energy Art I possessed.

Perfected after the Church Nation incident, it was a technique refined over several years.

A Strong Energy Art with the special ability to divide and scatter the opponent’s power.

It was a defensive technique that could easily block even the breath of a quasi-3rd class dragon from Mount Everest.

But.

‘This is not enough!’

I felt it instinctively.

The moment I faced Father’s sword, I could only foresee Waveform shattering.

So, I added Black Lotus.

One by one, the petals of Black Lotus were added on top, the aura spreading in concentric circles, and faced Father’s sword.

Gravity Zone, Body Transformation, Waveform, followed by Black Lotus.

The four upper Strong Energy Arts obtained since stepping into the realm of 4-Star Magic Power Arts were operated simultaneously.

Crack!

When I faced Father’s sword, I heard the sound of something twisting and breaking.

Splat!

No violent explosion or shockwave erupted.

Father’s sword slowly cut through Black Lotus, cut through Waveform, and approached me.

‘Kuh-heuk!’

I felt my muscles screaming and my joints creaking.

The sword, which had been swung so slowly, reached Black Night.

Clang!

An unpleasant metallic sound rang out as sword met sword.

The silver han [protective arm guards] protecting both arms were roughly torn off, bursting up to the shoulder area.

Immediately after.

Kwaaaaaaang!

I was knocked away from where I stood, spinning several times in the air, and crashed into the ground without a proper landing.

Father shook his sword once and said, “You blocked it.”

Lee Tae-shin slightly raised the corners of his mouth.

Crackle!

The ground where I had been standing collapsed, cracks spreading like a shattered glass window.

The valley shook greatly from the bursting shockwave.

‘I blocked it.’

Father’s strike. I blocked it.

If my magic power had been lower, or the completion of Waveform or Black Lotus had been insufficient, or even if Black Night’s magic power annihilation effect had been lacking, it would have been impossible.

Anyway, I felt considerable internal damage to my magic power system, but I had succeeded in blocking it.

‘But it’s not over yet.’

My eyes shone.

I haven’t shown everything I have yet.

Father would know that too.

I grabbed another weapon.

Celestial-grade Holy Relic, Gyeongcheon [a spear].

A spear containing the original texts of numerous myths.

Crackle! Crackle!

The spear, infused with magic power, began to burn white.

“Hoo-ook!”

Holding my breath, I swung the spear.

Twoo-oong! Kwaaaaa!

Gyeongcheon was launched, cutting through the air.

The white light emitted by Gyeongcheon and my jet-black aura mixed, drawing a double helix.

Father swung his sword at my spear.

Kwaaang!

The black and white auras mixed, and the color of the world disappeared.

I didn’t stop there.

Using Joodo’s [a technique] power to recall, I pulled Mujin, which had been knocked away, and grabbed it.

Mujin in my left hand, Black Night in my right.

Thump! Clang!

There was no way there could be a gap in a man named Lee Tae-shin.

However, Lee Chul moved his body non-stop, unleashing numerous techniques.

Martial artists often say that one exchange is more conversational than a hundred words.

Lee Tae-shin read that story in the attacks his youngest son was wielding: the training Lee Chul had accumulated as a martial artist, his current state shaped by those experiences, and the areas where he still needed to improve.

All the stories of the past, present, and future were imbued in the weapons being wielded.

“Good.”

Lee Tae-shin silently nodded. He greatly rotated his sword, raised his lowered eyes, and stared straight at Lee Chul.

“…!”

At that moment, I felt Father’s momentum changing.

That unidentified pressure that had been spreading through the valley enveloped all directions.

‘It’s coming!’

I don’t know what’s coming.

I instinctively pulled my body back.

I retreated 10 meters with one leap.

Father didn’t chase after me.

‘This is not enough.’

I leaped back once more. 20 meters, 30 meters….

Thud!

I arrived at the large tree at the edge of the open space. But even then, Father didn’t swing his sword.

Far away, Father, at least 100 meters away, stared straight at me.

‘Hiss!’

I once again poured out my powers and prepared for defense.

Is it Sword Heart [a state of heightened awareness and skill]? No, it doesn’t feel like that. I’ve experienced the realm of Sword Heart several times, but I’ve never felt this sensation before.

As I continued to think.

Tearrrrr!

I heard the sound of something splitting.

It was the sound of the world splitting.

And I, who was in that world, split.

“Ah…!”

I couldn’t even comprehend what I had suffered.

I felt a distant darkness descending.

Beyond my collapsing gaze, I saw Father closing his eyes tightly.

* * *

Lee Tae-shin sheathed his beloved sword and took a long breath.

“Hoo.”

A strange energy lingered in the training ground.

As if something was stagnant, it was quiet, without even the sound of wind.

After a while, Butler Choi, who had climbed the mountain, approached Lee Tae-shin’s side and lowered his head.

“You’ve come.”

“I didn’t expect you to see even that far.”

“This child has the qualifications and talent to come ‘this far.’ It was necessary to see at this point.”

Lee Tae-shin didn’t explain in detail what he needed to see or the meaning of ‘this far.’

But it was certain that what he had just unleashed was not something even the peerless martial artist Lee Tae-shin could easily do.

“Are you alright?”

“Yes.”

Lee Tae-shin continued with a long breath. “The youngest’s internal injuries are deep. Treat him immediately…”

As Lee Tae-shin turned to speak to Butler Choi, he sensed something and looked back at Lee Chul.

Lee Chul was lying on the ground, bloodstains and minor wounds visible.

But.

‘He’s recovered.’

The major wounds were still there, but the small ones had already healed.

It was an eerie level of recovery.

He’s unconscious, so he wouldn’t be able to use magic power arts.

Lee Tae-shin narrowed his eyes, looked at Lee Chul, and finally turned his head.

“Get the treatment done first.”

“Yes, I understand.”

* * *

When I opened my eyes, I saw a familiar ceiling.

It was a finishing material often used in the residences of the Soongmoo Yi Family’s direct line.

I staggered up from my seat.

“Young Master, you’re awake.”

A familiar voice came from the side.

“…Butler Choi.”

Butler Choi was sitting there.

I sat for a moment, retracing the day’s events: Father, the test, the ‘something’ I saw at the end.

“How is your body?”

Butler Choi asked calmly.

I smiled and replied, “It’s better than I thought. The family’s medical center is excellent, as expected.”

My body condition wasn’t as bad as I had feared.

I waved my arms and circulated magic power through my system, which still showed some aftereffects of internal injuries.

“…”

Butler Choi looked at me meaningfully.

“More importantly, how much time has passed?”

“About 4 hours. It’s currently 9 PM.”

Looking out the window, it was indeed dark.

“Did I… pass the test?”

My limbs were intact, so I assumed I had, but I asked anyway.

Butler Choi gave a meaningful smile. “Hear it directly from the Lord.”

“Yes?”

“The Lord is waiting for you, Young Master. If your body is well enough, would you like to meet him right away?”

“…”

I paused, then replied, “Yes, I will.”

As always, Father would reward the child who passed the test. I assumed that was why he was calling me.

‘Even if that’s not the case, there are things I want to ask.’

My eyes shone as I got up.