Chapter 38 – The Sword Realm’s Chosen
Millions of swords floated in the crimson sky.
Some were rusted.
Some gleamed like newly forged divine weapons.
Others radiated ancient auras capable of splitting mountains.
Every blade pointed toward one person.
Azrael.
The spectators outside the Trial Tower could only stare.
No one had ever seen the Tower react like this.
Even Headmaster Orion’s calm expression had disappeared.
Professor Duran whispered,
"The Sword Realm..."
"...has acknowledged him."
Inside the Hidden Trial...
The Nameless Sword Saint slowly sheathed his black sword.
His eyes, once calm and unreadable, now carried a hint of satisfaction.
"You’ve passed."
Azrael lowered Astraeus.
"...I won?"
The old man chuckled.
"No."
"You learned."
"That is worth far more."
The endless sea of swords began vibrating.
One after another, the blades bowed.
Not to the Sword Saint.
To Azrael.
He looked around in disbelief.
"They’re..."
"...bowing?"
"They recognize your heart."
The old man walked toward him.
"A sword does not choose the strongest."
"It chooses the one who will never betray it."
He placed two fingers against Azrael’s forehead.
A flood of memories poured into his mind.
He saw a young man walking alone through endless snow.
Years passed.
The young man continued swinging the same ordinary wooden sword.
Thousands.
Millions.
Billions of swings.
Seasons changed.
Kingdoms rose and fell.
Friends died.
Disciples became legends.
The man never stopped practicing.
Not because he sought power.
Because he loved the sword.
The vision shifted.
The same man stood before countless armies.
Gods.
Demons.
Dragons.
Titans.
None dared move.
He slowly raised his black blade.
"I carry no hatred."
"I seek no throne."
"But if my sword is the only thing standing between this world and destruction..."
"...then this old man shall swing it one more time."
One slash.
The heavens split.
The invading army vanished.
Not destroyed.
Simply erased from that battlefield.
The vision faded.
Azrael opened his eyes.
He realized he was crying.
"That..."
"...was your life."
The old man smiled.
"It was."
"And now..."
"...part of it is yours."
The System chimed.
Hidden Inheritance Acquired
Sword Saint’s Heart
Rank:
Origin
Description:
A fragment of the Nameless Sword Saint’s understanding.
Effects:
Sword Learning Speed Increased
Sword Intent Growth Greatly Increased
Grants access to the Sword Realm.
Current Compatibility:
5%
Another notification appeared.
Passive Skill Acquired
Sword Heart
Rank:
Legendary
Effect:
Every strike becomes calmer, more precise, and more efficient.
Sword comprehension increases during battle.
Azrael clenched his fist.
He could already feel the subtle change.
Nothing dramatic.
But his understanding of Astraeus had deepened.
It felt less like wielding a weapon...
And more like fighting beside a trusted companion.
"Congratulations."
Astraeus’ voice echoed warmly.
"You have taken your first true step as a swordsman."
The Nameless Sword Saint suddenly looked toward the endless sky.
"They’re watching."
Azrael frowned.
"Who?"
"The ones who should not interfere."
"They’ve noticed you."
Before Azrael could ask another question, the old man raised a hand.
"The path ahead will only become more dangerous."
"There are countless geniuses."
"There are countless monsters."
"But remember one thing."
He looked directly into Azrael’s silver eyes.
"Never chase power."
"Let power chase you."
Those words etched themselves deeply into Azrael’s mind.
The Hidden Trial dissolved.
A staircase of silver light appeared.
Trial Cleared
Proceeding to Floor Four.
Outside...
The floating screens erupted with light.
The words Hidden Trial Cleared appeared above Azrael’s image.
The entire arena exploded with cheers.
"No way!"
"He actually passed!"
"The Nameless Sword Saint acknowledged him!"
Lucian smiled.
"So that’s why the Headmaster recruited him personally."
Valeria crossed her arms.
Her expression remained calm.
But inside...
She felt the gap widening.
"I’ll surpass him."
"No matter what."
Meanwhile...
Seraphina stepped onto Floor Six.
The new floor resembled a massive valley.
Crystal rivers flowed between enormous trees.
Dozens of magical beasts peacefully wandered through the forest.
A gentle voice echoed.
Floor Six
Become their leader.
Seraphina looked around.
"No battle?"
The creatures immediately noticed her.
Some approached cautiously.
Others growled.
A massive silver wolf stepped forward.
Its golden eyes studied her carefully.
Instead of attacking...
It bowed.
Then another beast bowed.
Then another.
Within minutes...
Every magical beast had lowered its head.
The System paused.
Evaluating...
The gentle voice returned.
Trial Cleared.
Evaluation:
Perfect.
Seraphina blinked.
"...Already?"
The System answered.
"The Genesis Bloom naturally attracts life."
"You did not force obedience."
"You earned trust."
She smiled softly before continuing upward.
Elsewhere...
Marcus was having considerably less success.
He stood inside a maze.
Every corridor looked identical.
He had already been walking for nearly three hours.
"I hate puzzles."
He punched a wall.
The wall moved.
The entire maze collapsed.
Silence.
The System spoke.
Hidden Solution Found.
Marcus stared blankly.
"...Wait..."
"...That worked?"
Outside...
Ryan burst into laughter.
"He solved the puzzle by destroying it!"
One professor covered his face.
"I don’t even know if we should reward that."
Headmaster Orion simply sighed.
"The Tower apparently approves."
Ryan himself stood on Floor Eight.
His challenge required defending a fortress against endless waves of enemies using strategy rather than strength.
Every command he gave changed the battlefield.
After carefully repositioning his forces for nearly an hour...
The final wave broke against his defenses without ever reaching the walls.
Tactical Evaluation
Excellent.
Ryan smiled.
"Guess all those strategy games finally paid off."
Back on Floor Four...
Azrael found himself standing in complete darkness.
No sky.
No ground.
Only endless blackness.
Then...
A single sword appeared before him.
It was ancient.
Broken.
Its blade was covered in cracks.
The System spoke.
Floor Four
Repair the Sword.
Azrael frowned.
"I’m not a blacksmith."
The sword remained silent.
Then...
Astraeus suddenly materialized beside him.
"Listen."
"To... the sword?"
"Every weapon has a voice."
"Most people simply never learn to hear it."
Azrael slowly reached toward the broken blade.
The moment his fingers touched it...
A wave of sorrow flooded his heart.
Loneliness.
Regret.
Failure.
The sword wasn’t broken because of battle.
It had been abandoned.
Azrael gently held it with both hands.
"You’ve waited..."
"...for someone to remember you."
The cracks glowed faintly.
Not because of mana.
But because someone had finally understood its pain.
Outside...
Professor Duran’s eyes widened.
"He understood the Spirit Trial..."
"...without any instruction."
Headmaster Orion smiled.
"The Tower isn’t creating a warrior."
"It’s creating a guardian."
As Azrael continued holding the broken sword, a brilliant silver light spread across the cracks.
The blade slowly began repairing itself—not through fire or forging, but through resonance.
Far above the Trial Tower, hidden beyond the clouds, several ancient figures silently observed.
One of them finally spoke.
"The First Aetherion..."
"...is progressing faster than expected."
Another figure nodded.
"The time to awaken the Inter-Realm Tournament may be closer than we anticipated."
The future of countless worlds had begun to shift.
And the twins had no idea that every step they took inside the Tower was already changing the destiny of the Heavens themselves.