POV: Rygar Adoldia
I was currently atop a small, icy peak.
The wind howled sharply around me, lashing my exposed skin and making my cloak ripple violently.
Snowflakes fell onto my hair, softly accumulating as if they wished to cover me with a white mantle.
Tsukikage was sheathed at my waist.
I took a deep breath, drawing in the cold air into my lungs. A white mist escaped between my lips, quickly dissipating in the freezing air.
In an instant, my hand moved. The blue blade was unsheathed in a fluid, silent motion—like the blooming of a flower in winter.
With great speed, I slashed forward and a high-pitched whistling sound cut through the air.
The snow before me exploded in all directions, scattering like a wave around the point of impact.
My eyes turned to the horizon. From where I stood, I could see in the distance the small village surrounding the Sword Sanctuary.
The snow-covered buildings looked peaceful, serene. I had been here for seven days, immersed in my training.
The isolation, the cold, and the overall atmosphere made this place ideal for refining both my mind and body.
Initially, I had planned to stay a few more days.
But while I was training my senses, I heard something coming from the village—hearing something from that distance was likely a feat only I could achieve among the people in the sanctuary.
I heard something about today being my birthday.
A coincidence indeed, as I had completely forgotten the date.
My focus was entirely on my training. However, when I realized that some of them appeared to have prepared gifts—so they must have been eager to celebrate—I decided it would be worth returning.
I began descending calmly, my feet sinking into the soft snow with each step.
While walking, my mind wandered to the techniques I had been training lately.
It had been nearly two years since I arrived at the Sword Sanctuary. My strength was something else now—unlike anything it had been when I first came.
My Sword God style techniques were fast, even faster than Ghislaine's, who had become Sword Emperor by surpassing one of the other Emperors.
Hmm… perhaps today would be a good day to challenge Timothy for the title of Sword Emperor. Ghislaine had defeated Clint to gain that title, so he was the only Emperor left.
In any case, my mastery had advanced tremendously. My technique with the Longsword of Light was still theoretically at the Emperor level, even if I surpassed all of them.
But even though I was theoretically at the same "level," my superior technique, coupled with my speed and physical strength, which were on another level, allowed me to defeat them every time in actual combat.
As for the North God Style, I had already absorbed almost everything Auber could teach me.
From here on, any improvements would be thanks to my own self-created techniques. And that progress was also going very well.
In the Water God Style, Reida was simultaneously teaching me four secret techniques. That's right—four at once.
Something many spent their entire lives trying to master without even grasping one.
It all began when I asked her to teach me all five secret techniques at the same time. Reida replied that it wouldn't help—that I wouldn't improve that way.
So, I challenged her.
I asked how long she thought it would take me to learn one of the techniques. She replied that it would take a whole two years.
I said I could do it in six months. She laughed.
Then we made a bet: if I mastered one secret technique in six months, she would teach me the other four simultaneously. She accepted.
I chose the secret technique that best suited me and focused intensely.
I trained day and night without rest. And with one week remaining until the deadline, I mastered it.
Reida was again shocked and astonished by my talent, but she upheld her end of the bargain. I then began to learn the other four simultaneously.
The progress was slower, of course, but mastering the four techniques in a short time was never the goal.
I simply wanted to absorb everything I could about each of them, so I could continue training until I mastered them even after leaving the Sanctuary.
But the Beast God Style was the one that had progressed the most. It was nearly complete.
I had put into practice many of the abilities I once theorized as a child. Many were still being refined, but others were already in full use.
Some of these techniques I classified as part of the Beast God Style, others as part of the North God Style.
I even managed to fuse techniques from different schools, achieving a leap in both utility and combat efficiency.
Some of these techniques included Superior Instinct, Internal Impact, Fang Strike, among others of the Beast God Style.
In any case, I felt I wasn't far from reaching Gall Farion.
As these thoughts piled up in my mind, I realized I was already entering the city. The simple wooden and stone structures were covered by a thick layer of snow.
Small figures moved among them—some training, others simply going about their daily routines. I was gradually approaching the Sword Sanctuary.
While walking through the city, many looked at me with eyes full of reverence.
None approached me. Their eyes silently followed me, filled with respect and a certain measure of fear.
Two years in the Land of the Sacred Sword had been enough for my fame to spread to every corner.
Even swordsmen who left the sanctuary carried with them the stories of the "Wild Emperor"—the Savage Emperor—capable of defeating anyone in the Sword Sanctuary except the Sword God himself.
In my opinion, it was very easy to win the favor of those who lived here.
One only had to be strong and not treat them with arrogance.
And I was never really an "arrogant" person… well, perhaps sometimes. But I was always very "confident"—easy to confuse the two.
I always acted naturally, even in the presence of the weak.
Even though my strength was on an unattainable level for most, I believe that this attitude kept me close to my humanity… and also to my own moral limits.
That is why I was both feared and admired. Some even envied me, but they didn't dare say it out loud.
They told stories about how the Sanctuary had changed since my arrival. About how many young talents had emerged under my direct or indirect influence.
Among them, the already legendary Ghislaine, who now was a Sword Emperor, and her equally fierce disciple, the Red Lioness Eris.
Other notable names were Jino, Nina, Aisha, Isolte…
And also Nigav. Nigav Dedoldia.
A member of the Iron Legion. He was only eighteen years old and had become a Sword Saint three months ago.
I had met him when he was very young, back in the days of the Great Forest. He already seemed promising at that time, but he pleasantly surprised me by reaching Sword Saint status so quickly.
As encouragement, I created Erathium with my magic and gave him enough money to hire the best blacksmith in the Sacred Land of the Sword, to forge a new sword worthy of his potential.
All of this was contributing to my influence within the Sanctuary being second only to Gall Farion. There were few things I couldn't do there.
As I approached the Sanctuary, I noticed a young boy running with a sword in hand. He was around eleven years old and was heading toward the dojos. I recognized him immediately.
"Jino!" I called out.
The boy stopped immediately and turned around.
"Senior!" he replied with a relieved expression. "Nina was worried you wouldn't show up on your own birthday."
"I ended up coming... But I almost forgot," I confessed, laughing softly.
Jino approached and walked by my side. Although much shorter, he carried himself with a firm posture.
He no longer seemed like the overly timid boy he once was; he was still shy, but compared to before, he was like a different person.
Jino treated me like a true senior now. Perhaps because of the many times I had helped him with sword techniques… or the advice I gave him about Nina…
Or maybe—and that was most likely—because I had beaten his father, Timothy, when I found out he was pressuring Jino five times as hard ever since the boy became a Sword Saint.
Timothy was overdoing it, especially when it came to the psychological side.
Pressuring Jino that much was like crushing a raw gem before it was even polished.
Of course, rigorous training was not the problem—in fact, it was the opposite. But there were limits.
So, I had a "conversation" with Timothy. A conversation that involved him hitting the ground a few times.
In the end, I explained my logic, and he seemed to understand. Perhaps Jino heard something from his father that day… because since then, he has come to trust me much more.
"Although Eris was sure you'd return in time…" Jino commented.
I laughed upon hearing that.
As we spoke casually, we traversed the corridors of the Sanctuary and gradually entered the dojos.
The sound of wooden swords clashing already echoed in the background.
When we entered, Eris and Nina paused their sparring, and everyone turned their gaze toward me—most with respect and reverence.
Eris approached pompously and, while hugging me, said:
"Happy Birthday, Rygar!"
I embraced her and gently stroked her red hair with a smile:
"Thank you, Eris."
"Ahem!" Nina called for attention.
Eris then withdrew from my embrace, a bit embarrassed, and Nina said:
"Happy Birthday, Rygar… Do you plan on having any kind of celebration?"
Isolte added:
"We prepared a gift for you."
I shook my head and replied:
"I won't do any elaborate celebration. But later, I'm going to challenge Timothy for the title of Sword Emperor."
When I said that, several murmurs began to spread among the disciples:
"He's finally going to become Emperor!"
"He could have defeated them a long time ago…"
"But that's using only the Sword God Style—it's different!"
Timothy and Clint, who were warming up, paid no heed to the murmurs, and I continued:
"All the gifts can be given once I win. By the way, where are Ghislaine, Gall, and Reida?"
Isolte replied:
"The Master is training with Miss Ghislaine. The Sword God is watching, probably."
I nodded:
"Train as you normally do. I'll only fight at the end of the day."
With that, I headed to the indoor training grounds used by the Sword God. Everyone returned to their training.
Arriving there, I saw Aisha, who was holding a spherical barrier, continuously molding and changing its shape as she observed.
Ghislaine was sparring with Reida.
She had fought her many times for training—after all, Orsted had defeated her using a secret technique from the Water God Style.
It was obvious that she would seek to correct that at all costs. And behind them, seated on a staircase, was Gall Farion.
I watched them intently.
In that room, there was only one person I believed I could not defeat: the Sword God.
I had fought with Reida enough times to fully understand her strength. I had even seen her use her ultimate technique, the Realm of the Deprivation Sword.
She was strong, very powerful, and her techniques were the most refined. But if I went all out—with fencing, magic, my physical strength, and my magical eyes—I could prevail.
Provided I could evade a fatal first strike from the Realm of the Deprivation Sword, my victory was practically assured.
Against Reida, I estimated my odds were 80-20 if the fight started at close range.
But against Gall… if the battle started close-quarters, my chances of winning were… zero.
If we started at a slightly longer distance, it would be a fight. If I bombarded him with long-range magic, I could win. But hand-to-hand? No.
I had never managed to surpass him in speed—not once.
I could already follow his strike, but counterattacking him was impossible… at least for now.
After all, when I first arrived here, I wasn't even able to see his strike. I was defeated in an instant.
I was growing up... I anticipated that my wait would be over in a year. In a year, I would be consistently able to beat the Sword God, regardless of the distance.
As I watched, Ghislaine and Reida finished their training.
Reida sweated a little, and Ghislaine sweated a lot. Both looked at me, and Ghislaine came over with her tail swishing.
Reida went to Aisha, who used healing magic on her and then hopped over to me. Ghislaine gave me a kiss and Aisha came bouncing over saying:
"Master!" and hugged me, "Happy birthday!"
I stroked Aisha's hair and said:
"Thank you, Aisha. Did you prepare a great gift for me?"
Aisha beamed from ear to ear. Ghislaine said with a smile:
"She really put in a lot of effort for that."
Then Gall Farion said:
"Finally, you're growing up, kid?! Hahaha!"
I smiled and replied:
"I'm planning to challenge Timothy to formalize the level of Sword Emperor. What do you say?"
Gall Farion stopped laughing and asked:
"Hoh? You're confident?"
I raised an eyebrow and answered:
"You know better. You train with me the most. Do you really think I can't beat him?"
The Sword God thought for a moment and said:
"You're right. Then let it be so…"
Reida said:
"Hey, kid. I don't have any gift for you, but if you want, as a gift, I can teach you the Realm of the Deprivation Sword."
Gall looked at her in shock. My eyes sparkled as I quickly replied:
"I agree!"
"Hey, you old woman!" Gall said, "Don't you see that you'll lose your only trump card against the brat if you teach him that?"
Reida replied with a smile:
"He'll surpass me in the Water God Style sooner or later… so let him be the heir to that technique as well."
Aisha said:
"Master, then shall we gather during the duel to deliver the gifts?"
I said:
"As smart as ever… That's right, after the challenge, you can hand over the presents and we'll have a little celebration."
Gall said:
"Then, until then, keep training…"
I replied:
"That's the plan."
After that, I trained with Ghislaine, then with Gall Farion, and Aisha eventually left the hall.
The training continued all day, until I finally announced the challenge for the title of Sword Emperor...
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Chapter 163's name is: Challenging the Sword God!