Neo opened his mouth to convince Kane otherwise.
Kane raised his hands.
"Stop right there. Your talk-no-jutsu is too strong. I don't want to hear you trying to convince against my choice. I'm worried you will manage to sway ."
He smiled helplessly as he looked at Neo's expression.
"I've told you. I'm weak-willed. Talk-no-jutsu is especially potent against ."
He patted Neo's shoulder with a laugh.
"Anyway, I've given you complete mastery of the seven sword techniques. As for the eighth one…"
He dragged out his words, hoping Neo would say sothing.
Neo clicked his tongue and obliged.
"What is the eighth technique? It wasn't in the knowledge you've given ."
"I've sealed it. You won't know what the technique is until you master the [Flow]."
"Sealed… it?"
"Yeah, to be honest, I wanted to create a technique with your Death elent, but I failed. While I was struggling with it, I saw your Ti elent, and it gave enlightennt…
"Err, long story short, the eighth technique uses [Flow] and [Ti] elent as the foundation. Unless you've mastered both, you can't use it."
"That's why you sealed the eighth technique? To make sure I was ready to use it?"
"Yeah."
The technique was too dangerous for anyone who hadn't mastered [Flow].
"Hehe, the eighth technique is my masterpiece. Look forward to it."
Kane continued to boast about the swordsmanship.
A few minutes later, Neo interrupted him.
"…What is the na of your swordsmanship?"
"Divine Swordsmanship," Kane spoke imdiately as if he had been waiting for the question.
Neo stiffened.
"…Why Divine?"
"You know the answer," Kane said. "It's because you are called the Divine Ruler. Now the swordsmanship belongs to you, so its na should be based on you."
"…Why?"
Kane gave up his enlightennts to Neo.
Now, he was giving his identity to Neo too.
"I know I've helped you awaken, but it doesn't an you need to—"
"It's not that."
Kane pursed his lips.
"I respect you, Neo. You have ambition. You never give up no matter how hard it gets. Even now, I bet you are thinking of a third way to deal with Anomaly #79.
"I'm not giving you the identity of my swordsmanship."
His voice grew resolute as he continued.
"I'm naming my swordsmanship after you because I hope it becos as great as you."
Kane smiled.
He was essentially asking Neo to take his swordsmanship and help it reach greater heights.
It was a heavy burden.
And yet, Kane knew Neo could carry the burden easily.
Because it was Neo.
'Because you are the most amazing person I've t.'
He respected Neo for his talents or his strength, but he respected Neo's willpower even more.
The ambition and passion to keep moving forward, no matter how difficult it was to continue, were not easy to have.
Kane had unparalleled talent. But he was giving up.
Maybe because Kane was aware of his shortcomings, he saw Neo as a shining star.
Soone who never gave up.
Soone who willingly gave up.
They were completely opposite.
They t by a coincidence of fate.
"Thanks, Neo."
Kane moved towards the door where he would start his last dream.
'You will never wake from the eternal dream. Shouldn't you think about your choice again?' Neo wanted to say it to Kane.
However, he didn't.
He clenched his fists.
Just as Kane had stepped into the room, Neo shouted,
"Hey, fucker!"
Kane stopped.
"You want to die because you don't have ambition? Then I'll give you one!"
"Neo, I told you I won't change my choice—"
"I'm from the future."
Kane stiffened.
"I'm not joking," Neo said.
He wasn't afraid of revealing his origin.
Hanna, the secretary of Ares, had peeked into Jack and his mories when they ca to the Association.
They would know Neo and Jack were from the future.
"Three thousand years later, let's et then. I'll show you how great your swordsmanship has beco."
Kane blinked, confused and in disbelief.
His confusion gave way to a rueful smile.
"I'd love to do that, but I don't think I can fight Anomaly #79 for three thousand years."
"Why can't you do it? You are a genius, fucker! If I can do it, then you can too."
Neo cald down and smirked.
"Aren't you an ani fan? This is your chance. Try to do 'I fought the strongest anomaly for 3000 years and beca the strongest.'"
"What the hell?"
Kane laughed.
He laughed hard.
Wiping his tears, he turned around and waved his hand as he entered the room.
"See you later," Kane said.
Neo was left alone in the corridor.
He stood there for a few minutes before he shook his head.
"I should go visit Ares. I need the location of the Child of Mana."
Neo had no intention of becoming blind or entering an eternal dream.
Kane was right.
He was looking for a third thod.
'I will leave today after I get the location.'
Since there was no knowing when Typhaon might eliminate the Child of Mana, he planned to go out to save the Child of Mana as soon as he got the location.
'After I get the location, it shouldn't take more than a few days to finish the trial.'
The trial would end before the week—if everything went according to plan.
Neo would leave the Shadow World after that, and he wouldn't be chased by Anomaly #79 outside.
This was Neo's third thod of dealing with Anomaly #79.
…
Spain, Shadow World
"Divine Transfor—"
Apollo stopped speaking and blinked.
Sharp pain tore through his body.
He looked around, confused.
"Where am I?"
The last thing he rembered was taking a nap after the day's hard work.
Now, he was in an eerie jungle.
Bright, familiar sunlight peeked through the dark clouds.
Apollo lowered his hand and touched his abdon.
A hole had been blown into his stomach.
'I'm.... dying?'
It took a few monts for him to realize what was happening.
'This is a vision.'
'My trait activated, and it is showing the future.'
Apollo's thoughts ca to a halt when he sensed a presence.
"You tanked that attack?" Neo asked as he landed near Apollo.
His sword was coated in blood.
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