Weapon-Eating Bastard [EN]: Chapter 20

Weapon-Eating Bastard – Episode 20

I brought out Mujin [his weapon].

The Trial Chamber has such a high mana density that video equipment can’t properly transmit from within.

So, there’s no problem even if I bring out Mujin.

The illusion also raised its sword, looking exactly like me, and aimed it at me.

The most powerful sword technique I possess.

Exorcism.

A rough tearing sound split the air.

Kwaaaang!

And.

“Kuaaaack!”

My body was cut in two. My Mujin missed, and only the illusion’s Mujin sliced through my body.

“Damn it…”

I felt all the blood in my body pouring out as I collapsed again.

I opened my eyes again with a start.

‘How did that happen again?’

I swung Exorcism, and the illusion simply deflected it with a swing of its sword.

The technique it used to deflect… was a sword technique I also knew.

‘No, it’s not even a sword technique. It was just a technique to deflect with the sword’s surface, present in any swordsmanship.’

The level is clearly the same, but the results are consistently different.

Being helplessly defeated was frustrating, and the feeling of dying was unpleasant, but it was also welcome.

It means that the current me can become that strong!

“Good!”

I charged at the illusion as soon as I got up.

Bang! Thwack!

The third time, this time my stomach was pierced.

“Kuaaaack!”

The moment it swung its sword, it suddenly transformed Mujin into a dagger, causing my attack to miss.

The illusion thrust the dagger into my abdomen, which was exposed due to my loss of balance.

‘This time, even using Mujin!’

After dying three times, I started to feel stubborn.

The fifth time, I succeeded in deflecting the illusion’s Mujin, but the illusion suddenly rushed in and broke my neck with a ground technique.

The tenth time, it suddenly struck during the gap when I switched from Amplification to Swiftness, and cut off my arm.

Even its manipulation of mana techniques was astonishingly fast.

After the 20th time, the duration of the fight gradually began to lengthen.

‘So… yeah, that technique can be used to this extent.’

At some point, I found myself enjoying it.

Apart from researching mana techniques with my aunt, I had never received proper sparring or instruction.

There was training to open the sixth sense during group training, but that was practically indiscriminate assault, and the actual combat in Jeokcheongdo [a dangerous training ground] was closer to hunting.

Therefore, I always had to read weapons and train alone.

But it’s different now.

That illusion was a better teacher than anyone else, and it was becoming a sparring partner.

It was bringing out the ways to utilize my power that I hadn’t noticed, even the things I knew but didn’t use.

‘There’s nothing better than this to improve my skills!’

The fear of death had long since disappeared.

I drew Mujin again and charged at the illusion.

“Keuheuk…”

The 25th time. Even though my neck was pierced, I didn’t stop swinging my sword.

A mutual destruction tactic. For the first time, the illusion backed away. It even gave up the Mujin it was holding and leaped backward.

Swish!

But it didn’t completely avoid it. I hadn’t landed a single effective hit until now, but I finally managed to cut off one of its arms.

“Next time… I’ll cut off your arm without dying.”

I gritted my teeth and collapsed.

-…….

‘I’ slowly looked at me collapsing.

‘Me’ slowly smiled.

-Interesting kid.

A short word.

I couldn’t hear that voice.

* * *

The 48th time. I finally succeeded in landing a direct hit first.

I succeeded in cutting off its neck.

Of course, my neck was cut off first.

“Got it! I’ll finish it within three times now!”

But.

Kwaang!

The 55th time.

‘It hurts like hell, but have I ever wielded my power with such full force until now?’

Clang!

A strike is exchanged.

I didn’t bother using powerful techniques. It’s not even a specific sword form anymore. Mujin is swung following the exact movements dictated by my sixth sense.

The 71st time.

My stance and the illusion’s stance became similar.

A natural stance that has lost all formalism.

Maintaining complete relaxation to be able to unleash any sword form at any time.

‘What is my fighting style?’

I freely changed the form of Mujin, exchanging attacks from various distances.

Swish!

My arm was cut off, and I dropped Mujin, but I didn’t stop there and rushed at the illusion to apply a joint lock.

‘Damn it. Of all places, Mujin is right there…’

I felt my mind fading as I lost again.

The 75th time… no, was it the 80th time?

I was tired of counting anymore.

But I felt good.

‘I understand a little now.’

I understood my power and clearly recognized my strengths.

‘I can learn everything.’

A typical warrior would spend their entire life mastering one weapon.

But I have the ability to read the memories and achievements of someone who has become a master of that weapon.

And mana techniques suitable for various types of martial arts are needed, and the mana techniques I created with my aunt solve that problem.

‘My power is freedom.’

Overwhelming versatility.

Unpredictable freedom.

The moment I realized the path I had to take, I clashed with it again.

In the moment of distancing, it transforms into a spear, exchanging spear strikes, and in close range, it turns into a dagger.

Grappling and striking techniques followed in succession.

In an instant.

The stance in which I and the illusion exchange attacks and defenses becomes perfectly the same.

Even the weapon transformation, the unfolding techniques, and the evasion movements were identical as if looking in a mirror.

Woo-woo-woong-!

Misty mana like fog began to condense from Mujin, which had transformed into a sword.

The power called sword energy, or aura.

The power that I could barely imitate after using Mana Booster and Reverse Heaven Art can now be naturally grasped in my hand.

Kwaaaang!

‘Me’ and my sword collide.

‘Me’s’ sword also has aura.

‘Me’ thrust the sword towards my abdomen.

I deliberately didn’t defend.

Somewhat surprised, but thinking it was a sure fatal blow, ‘Me’ put strength into pushing the sword in.

Thwack!

A chilling pain ran down my spine.

But.

“I deliberately opened the guard. You idiot.”

I avoided the vital point.

Grasping the arm of ‘Me,’ whose eyes were wide open, I pushed the sword deeper into my stomach.

The distance narrowed.

‘Me’s’ eyes widened.

‘Exorcism.’

I swung Mujin, which had been transformed into a highly sharp blade.

Even this technique was obtained from Mujin, which transforms into countless weapons.

The thought that Exorcism must be unfolded only with a sword was just a thought that I alone was bound to.

Swish-!

Finally.

After countless deaths.

I struck ‘Me’s’ neck.

“I won.”

I smiled as I watched ‘Me’ collapsing.

Woo-woo-woo-!

The Trial Chamber of Struggle began to vibrate heavily the moment the trial ended.

Dense mana began to gather towards me.

Thump, thump, thump-!

The gathered mana began to pour into the crown of my head.

I proved myself in the Trial Chamber left by my family’s ancestor, and now all that remained was the predetermined reward.

Crack-

Nothing was broken, but I heard the sound of something breaking.

It felt like one of the locks inside me was being released.

The ability hidden in the blood of the Soongmoo Yi family is unlocked.

‘Ah!’

Those who unlocked their ability knew what it was without having to try to find out.

They naturally realized it as if it had been theirs from the beginning.

“This is…!”

The ability I had in my past life was ‘Enhancement.’

A common ability that even distant relatives often awakened, enhancing weapons and the body.

But this time it was different.

I recalled the ability I had obtained, and my eyes widened.

* * *

Another commotion broke out in the Soongmoo Yi family’s main residence.

Several elders, martial artists, and scholars and researchers belonging to the family arrived in Jeokcheongdo en masse.

“The Trial Chamber of Struggle, which is only occasionally mentioned in records… how on earth did that bastard discover this?”

The head researcher muttered lowly, looking at the old iron door.

Thanks to the video of the test taker being transmitted every moment through brooches and bracelets, this space found by Young was also transmitted to the family.

‘Please come out quickly. The more ancient relics like this are, the faster they break down when exposed to air…’

The ancient relics and records that had mostly been lost always held amazing value.

Moreover, if it was the Trial Chamber of Struggle, known as the motto of the Trial Chamber, it was beyond words.

“How long has the trial been going on?”

The head researcher asked the escorting martial artist a question he had already asked countless times.

“79 hours and 30 minutes have passed.”

“It’s been a long time since the naming ceremony ended. The other Trial Chambers would have stopped operating…”

The head researcher was pacing back and forth.

No matter what structure it moved with, the iron door did not react to any stimuli and remained firmly closed.

It wouldn’t be impossible to open it with force, but with the bastard inside, they couldn’t do that openly either.

‘To have carelessly activated such a precious relic and started the trial! Pleeeease! Just don’t damage it. I’ll give you a really generous reward for finding this…’

The head researcher looked at the iron door with an almost tearful expression.

“Sigh…”

And next to him, Chief Manager Lee Tae-hong was sighing as if the ground was sinking.

‘I thought he would come out today, but that hateful guy… tamer, Gwisusan [a sacred mountain], Trial Chamber of Struggle. How many incidents is he causing in a naming ceremony that others are quietly holding?’

Lee Tae-hong, who had been unable to focus on work for a while, finally finished the backlog of work by staying up all night and came to Jeokcheongdo.

“There’s a change in mana density!”

“Then does that mean it’s over!”

“Yes! It’s opening!”

Geeeeeeak!

The iron door, which had been firmly blocking the way, opened with a heavy sound.

Thump-

Someone slowly walked out from inside.

The people guarding the entrance flinched for a moment.

What was walking out was just a young and weak child, but everyone couldn’t help but stop breathing for a moment, feeling as if a huge monster was walking out.

Thud-

That silence continued until the child who was walking out collapsed.

“Young!”

The first to move was Lee Tae-hong.

Lee Tae-hong caught the fallen bastard and brushed back the tangled hair with trembling hands.

“Are you okay? Come to your senses!”

Slowly, Young opened his dry and chapped mouth.

“Some water…”

“……What?”

“I’m hungry……”

For a moment, Lee Tae-hong opened his mouth blankly.

And shouted in a voice bubbling with anger.

“You hateful bastarddddd!”

* * *

Deep in a dense primeval forest with traces of ancient civilization everywhere.

A man was tending to his sword in front of a bonfire.

“Chief. I’m here.”

A man wearing the black uniform, the symbol of the Spirit Sword Corps, appeared next to the man.

But the form of the black uniform was a bit strange. It was different from the old-fashioned black uniform, and if the color was excluded, it was completely different from the new-fashioned black uniform.

Those who had been in the family for a long time would recall one group when they saw that uniform.

The family head’s direct martial arts squad, the Ten Swords.

Not much was known about them.

It was only known that they were people whom Lee Tae-shin, the peerless martial artist, had personally brought in from the outside, and that they had achieved numerous achievements with him.

When Lee Tae-shin rose to the position of family head and completely took control of the family, they had already been disbanded and scattered.

“I’m not the chief anymore, but I digress.”

The man who was tending to his sword was none other than the giant of the era, Lee Tae-shin.

“But you’ll always be the chief to me. More than that, the naming ceremony is over.”

“Is that so?”

Lee Tae-shin wore a rare expression of interest.

“How did the youngest do?”

The man in black felt a somewhat strange emotion at that question.

‘How long has it been since the chief took an interest in his child? Moreover, the target is a bastard…’

“The youngest young master is said to have discovered the Trial Chamber that the founding family head created. The family is buzzing about it now.”

“……The founding family head’s Trial Chamber?”

He’s a guy who doesn’t easily pass by even once. And it seems like the scale is getting bigger and bigger.