Black Tiger Sword — Part 1
His hands trembled.
His breathing was ragged.
It felt as though his heart might stop, overwheld by the utter depletion of his mana.
The flash still consud an enormous amount of mana. Even now, at Level 4, just using it once left him drained.
Perhaps only at Level 5, once he had equipped a Mana Core, would he be able to wield it freely.
“You’re incredible!”
Koo Hyungwon exclaid with admiration.
“Are you really just Level 4? No wonder the Legion Commander has taken a keen interest in you.”
Koo Hyungwon extended his hand for a handshake without hesitation.
I clasped his hand firmly.
Koo Hyungwon grinned broadly, and then tightened his grip.
This guy?
I responded by adding force to my own hand.
Muscles twitched and surged as we subtly engaged in a test of strength.
To be honest, I was slightly outmatched.
Even though I had used [Giant’s Strength], [Mighty Strength], and [Toughness], it wasn’t enough against a Level 7 superhuman.
If Koo Hyungwon had been serious, he could have easily crushed my hand.
But instead of breaking my hand, he patted
lightly on the shoulder in a friendly manner.
“You’re really sothing! For a Level 4, your potential is incredible. I can’t wait to see how strong you’ll beco at higher levels! Catch your breath and follow .”
“To the Tiger’s Palace?”
“That’s right. There’s soone who wants to et you. Refusal is not an option.”
It was probably the Legion Commander.
I glanced down at the Hunter Association President’s corpse.
The monstrous, deford body still lay there.
A walking treasure trove.
The mask on his face, the red silk attire, the boots engraved with magical runes, the enchanted ring, and the necklace—I carefully gathered them all.
‘Is there anything I can actually use?’
While the Lion Knight’s equipnt was bound to the Old Father’s Cult, the Hunter Association President’s gear had no such restrictions.
I stuffed all the magical items into a golf bag.
Director Kang approached
with a beaming smile.
“Warrior Kim! You’re truly extraordinary! I knew you were strong, but I never imagined you were this strong!”
“You flatter .”
His tone changed again?
Director Kang glanced nervously at the frozen officials of the Association.
“What do you plan to do with them?”
“I’m not sure yet.”
Whatever terms I set, they wouldn’t be able to refuse.
Even if I demanded their lives, they’d have no choice but to comply.
“Director, why don’t you handle it?”
“? Is that really okay?”
“You know the Hunter Association better than I do. I have no interest in getting involved in its operations.”
“To be honest, I was hoping to use them to nominate you as the next President of the Hunter Association, Warrior Kim.”
“I refuse.”
“Pardon? Why not? Despite the ss we’ve shown you, the Hunter Association is still a group with considerable influence.”
“It would take up too much of my ti. I’d prefer to only rely on the Hunter Association’s help when hunting monsters occasionally.”
Director Kang gave
a peculiar look, as though he were assessing .
I just shrugged in response.
Becoming the head of the Hunter Association?
Are you insane?
If I had that kind of ti, I’d rather spend it hunting for new traits.
“What would you do in my position?”
“? It’s simple.”
I raised a thumb and drew it across my throat in a slicing motion.
The nearby managers stared at
with blank faces.
Director Kang’s expression wasn’t much different.
“Even so, killing them outright is a bit…”
“Which is why I’m leaving it to you, Director. Kill the ones who deserve it, spare those you think can be useful. Personally, if I feel there’s even a hint of a threat, I kill them without hesitation. But you’re different, aren’t you?”
It was certainly an extre approach.
But it was the survival thod I had adapted to in this brutal world.
And just like that, I dumped the botherso task onto Director Kang.
I slung the golf bag over my shoulder and nodded at Koo Hyungwon, who then turned and started walking.
“Follow . Oh, and as for the hunters, let them give their requests to my adjutant.”
“Yes, Division Commander.”
Koo Hyungwon walked confidently.
Behind City Hall.
A skyscraper towering over all of Cheorwon State, like the Demon King’s tower.
It was commonly known as the Tiger’s Palace.
Whirr.
The elevator shot upward at high speed.
Koo Hyungwon gave
a word of warning.
“When you et the Legion Commander, show the utmost respect. Although the Commander himself is a modest man, neither I nor my uncles are as forgiving. The sa goes for the adjutants and aides. Even the slightest offense, and you’ll leave Cheorwon State in pieces.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
Co to think of it, Koo Hyungwon was the youngest grandson of the Legion Commander.
Over forty years old, and still referred to as the youngest.
It reminded
just how old the Legion Commander must be.
Over a hundred years, if I recalled correctly.
Ding!
The elevator stopped.
The top floor of the Tiger’s Palace.
The entire floor was taken up by the Legion Commander’s office.
Aides with stern faces approached and inspected both
and Koo Hyungwon.
Then, they spoke into a microphone.
“This is Koo Hyungwon, 4th Division Commander of the Tiger Division, arriving with Warrior Kim, a Level 4 superhuman from the Hunter Association.”
[Let them in.]
A low, commanding voice.
The door opened.
The iron doors, weighing several tons, were pushed open purely by the strength of the aides, revealing the interior.
Bright and radiant.
Sunlight stread through panoramic windows that replaced the walls.
It looked more like an observation deck than an office.
At the far end was a desk.
A man sat behind it.
His hair was completely white, but his face was devoid of wrinkles, with a healthy flush that made him appear no older than his late forties.
In reality, he was over a hundred years old.
His fra was bear-like in size, and his sharp eyes glead like those of a tiger.
Behind him hung a black sword, prominently displayed.
Other superhumans with solid builds were lined up, seated before him, but the only one that drew my attention was the man himself.
That’s the Legion Commander…
No trace of mana emanated from him.
This ant his control was absolute.
Instead, the sheer presence of the man weighed down on
like a hamr.
Koo Hyungwon stepped forward and bowed deeply at a 90-degree angle.
“Legion Commander, I’ve brought him.”
“Well done.”
The Legion Commander fixed his gaze on .
I, too, bowed politely—respectful, but not subservient.
“It’s an honor to et you. My na is Warrior Kim.”
“Hmm. I watched your duel. Who is your master? For soone to train a warrior like you, I might know them.”
“I don’t have a master.”
“No master?”
“Yes.”
“Surely soone taught you the basics of swordsmanship?”
“Oh, the basics of swordsmanship were taught to
by Seo Woojin, the Director of Jaelboan.”
“Seo Woojin?”
The Legion Commander repeated the na, intrigued.
Koo Hyungwon answered on my behalf.
“You rember when the heirs of Jaegumun and Ilgeomun married to form Jaelboan?”
“Of course. It caused quite the uproar for a while, rging two rival families.”
“The child born of their union is Seo Woojin. He recently turned 20. He caused quite a stir after being certified as Level 5 on his first evaluation.”
“Ha! So, those youngsters not only got married, but they had a child who’s now over 20? I rember hearing about him from my aide. So, he’s the one who taught you the basics of swordsmanship?”
“Yes, Legion Commander.”
“And you truly have no master? Your movents seed far more experienced than that.”
“I picked up a lot on my own to survive.”
“So, you’re self-taught?”
“That’s correct.”
The Legion Commander stared at
like a tiger sizing up a deer.
The other superhumans seated in the room smirked bitterly.
So shot disapproving glances my way, making the back of my neck itch.
“Your movents did seem rather crude. Your swordsmanship is at a basic level, and your technique linkage was awkward. Wouldn’t you agree?”
“That’s true.”
“It lacked the polish of a noble family’s training.”
“With proper guidance, I could be much stronger.”
“Your natural talent and mana control are impressive, but that’s all.”
“I have potential, but my swordsmanship is no better than a back-alley thug’s.”
“Well observed.”
The Legion Commander stared at , his gaze piercing through.
An intangible aura probed , inspecting everything: the fibers of my muscles, the structure of my bones, the thickness of my blood vessels, and the distribution of my mana circuits.
Is this what it’s like to be under the scrutiny of a Level 8 superhuman?
It was impossible not to feel tense.
Though I hadn’t shown my Trait Swap in front of the Sun Mage Tower Master, the Legion Commander might have witnessed it during the battle.
‘No, he couldn’t know about my Trait Swap.’
He was a warrior, after all.
He wouldn’t possess traits like [Insight] or [Detection].
“So, I have a proposal for you.”
The other superhumans in the room collectively displayed expressions of exhaustion.
All of them seed to silently groan, ‘Not this again?’
I was beginning to catch on.
After all, in the ga, the Eastern Army’s Legion Commander always said the sa thing.
“Warrior Kim, would you consider becoming my disciple?”
Disciple.
The idea of becoming a disciple hadn’t really mattered in the ga.
Accepting the offer would make you a mber of the Eastern Army, allowing you to grow quickly. For warrior-class superhumans, it was an excellent way to learn the Legion Commander’s martial arts and battle the monsters near the Demilitarized Zone, guaranteeing rapid advancent.
And if you refused?
There were no significant penalties.
The ga world was overflowing with hunting grounds anyway.
Sure, it was disappointing to miss out on the Legion Commander’s martial arts, but plenty of other swordsmanship and mana cultivation techniques could rival it.
‘What should I do?’
After a brief mont of deliberation, I ca to a decision.
It was, without a doubt, a good offer.
Perhaps even the fastest route to becoming Level 9.
But…
If I truly wanted to achieve my ultimate goal, I couldn’t take the easy way out.
I had to choose the hard path. The path so grueling that others would question my sanity.
“I’m sorry. It’s a great honor, and I’m deeply grateful, but I wish to follow my own path.”
“Hm, I see. Then you should perform the formal disciple bow… Wait, what did you just say?”
The Legion Commander, who had been nodding his head as if already expecting my answer, suddenly widened his eyes in shock.
Clearly, he hadn’t anticipated my refusal.
I spoke again, this ti with even more conviction.
“My apologies, Legion Commander. I wish to follow my own path.”
“Wait a mont. Are you saying… you’re declining my offer? You’re refusing to beco my disciple?”
“Yes. I’m sorry.”
I stood up from my seat and bowed deeply.
The silence that followed was deafening, broken only by the incredulous stares being cast in my direction.
It wasn’t just the Legion Commander.
The superhumans seated around us all had their mouths agape, staring at
as if I had gone completely insane.
“Has he lost his mind?”
“How dare he!”
“Does he even realize what kind of opportunity this is?!”
“We need to teach him a lesson!”
“That brat!”
So of them even rolled up their sleeves and began rising from their seats.
The room grew chaotic, and the murmurs of discontent swelled—until the Legion Commander’s voice roared out like thunder.
“QUIET!”
The room froze instantly.
With his sharp, tiger-like eyes fixed on , the Legion Commander asked,
“Why? Do you not understand what it ans to beco my disciple? Do you not realize that there are countless people in Korea—no, the entire world—who would sell their very souls for such a chance? And yet, you’re rejecting it? Why?”
I carefully chose my words.
“I have a dream.”
“A dream?”
“Yes. To beco Level 9.”
Level 9.
At present, only four people in the world had reached that pinnacle—the realm of the Constellations.
In the late stages of the ga, Level 9 superhumans would beco more common, but for now, they were practically mythical.
“Hm.”
The Legion Commander let out a short chuckle.
“To reach Level 9, you need a proper teacher, don’t you? Without guidance, relying solely on your physical talent, you’ll inevitably lose your way. You’re a warrior, not a reinforced soldier. For a warrior to grow stronger, advanced swordsmanship, mana cultivation techniques, and enlightennt are absolutely essential. With your crude swordsmanship and clumsy movents, you’ll never reach Level 9. In fact, you won’t even reach Level 8—or even Level 7. Right now, you may be on a winning streak, but those bad habits of yours will eventually drag you down.”
He spoke gently, as though addressing a young grandson.
For a mont, I felt a lump in my throat.
No one had ever spoken to
like this before.
Except for my father, who had already passed away, and my mother, whose face I could no longer rember.
But instead of changing my answer, I straightened my back.
“I’ve already found my path. Whether it’s the right one or not, I intend to see it through to the end.”
“Hm. And do you believe that path leads to Level 9? To the Constellation realm?”
“I do.”
The Legion Commander’s gaze bore into .
The superhumans around us twisted their faces in frustration.
To them, it was disrespectful for soone like
to stand tall before a figure as towering as the Legion Commander.
“Look at this brat, acting like a big shot…”
“How dare he!”
“These youngsters today are absolutely reckless.”
“Soone ought to teach him a lesson…”
But they all fell silent soon enough.
Killing intent surged through the room.
There was no mana emission.
It was pure, unadulterated willpower pressing down on
like a crushing wave.
The Legion Commander was the only thing I could see.
His blazing eyes filled my entire vision.
The overwhelming killing intent materialized into a tangible blade, stabbing into every part of my body.
It felt as though my skin was being pierced, my mind was fracturing, and my brain was being skewered by an invisible sword.
But I endured.
I called upon:
[Giant’s Strength], [Vajra Body], [Undying]
[Resolve], [Fortitude], [Fighting Spirit]
The classic trinity build.
On top of that, I activated traits that bolstered ntal defense.
I didn’t rely on magical equipnt.
I withstood it with nothing but my own strength.
Locking eyes with the Legion Commander, I held my ground.
It felt like facing a tiger larger than a mountain.
Though my mind felt like it was unraveling thread by thread, I refused to fall.
I bit my tongue, clenched my bleeding lips, and dug my nails into my palms until blood flowed freely.
The Legion Commander, known for breaking n with just his gaze, couldn’t bring
to my knees.
Nor could he make
bow my head.
“Hm.”
Finally, he let out a brief chuckle and withdrew his killing intent.
I imdiately rose and bowed deeply.
“I apologize for my insolence.”
“You know it’s insolence, you little brat?”
Though I had rejected him to his face, the Legion Commander seed unexpectedly pleased.
“Here.”
He reached behind him with Spatial Manipulation and pulled the black sword from its mount, still in its sheath, before tossing it to .
Startled, I caught it, and he grinned widely.
“It’s yours now.”
…
What?
What did he just say?
Did he just give
that?
Did he just hand
the SSR-grade sword, Black Tiger Sword?
The room went silent.
And then, chaos erupted. Screams, shouts, and furious protests filled the air.
–TL Notes–
Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to support
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