I Obtained Sword God Level Talent

76 – 076. Father

“It’s using the method of transferring inner energy, *Geokche Jeon’gong*.”

“*Geokche Jeon’gong*…? Elder, isn’t that an extremely dangerous method?”

“Inner energy… I’ve heard that mana of different natures cannot mix.”

Everyone showed a skeptical reaction to the Sword Demon’s explanation.

“Huhu.”

The Sword Demon’s aged laugh was directed towards them all. As naturally, inquisitive gazes fell upon him.

Krrrrr…

A great rumble echoed from the other side of the hill. There was no need to turn one’s head; it was obvious that Frey was swinging his sword again.

“You seem to have forgotten for a moment, but I am a martial artist of the Extreme Demon. A formidable figure, considered an 8th stage in the Western Continent.”

“……!”

The Sword Demon, with his wounded appearance, looked like an old tiger.

But why was it?

None of those gathered here dared to argue against his words. It was because his words were true, and also because no other brilliant solution came to mind.

“Then, how do we use that method?”

Friedrich, who had been silently watching, asked the Sword Demon first.

His determined expression was already decided, filled with unwavering will.

“Transfer your inner energy to this old body. If it is the dantian of the Extreme Demon, it should be able to receive all of your energies.”

“Are you, really alright? In the worst case… you might lose all of your training, Elder.”

“Huhu! If it didn’t matter, I wouldn’t be making this suggestion.”

“……!”

“Elder…”

Bright light dawned on everyone’s faces.

To draw out their energy, to aid Frey in his solitary, desperate struggle. How could one not feel elation!

“There’s no time. The rift in the sky is growing wider by the moment. Don’t wait for your turn, everyone transfer your energy to me!”

The Swordmaster, normally of a gentle nature, urged them all on with a deliberately stern expression.

His face, seemingly displeased at anyone’s hesitation, was overflowing with a charisma unlike his usual self.

“Understood.”

Thump!

It was Lancelot who grabbed the Swordmaster’s thin arm first.

He, who would leap into a pit of fire for his friend… for Frey, knew well that this was the only solution in the current situation.

“I, I’d also like to help!”

Thump!

Next was Friedrich.

Following them, Cheon Hwa-Young, and even Tristan of ＜Mencius＞ who came with Lancelot, laid their hands on the Swordmaster’s body.

And then.

“I, I’m…”

Ariel, her face pale, was trembling.

Why?

She knew. This method, though it might resolve things… would inflict extreme damage upon the Swordmaster’s body and soul.

Furthermore, what sort of energy was ＜Divine Power＞?

An energy of pure white light, that only those chosen by the god in the sky were permitted to wield. Naturally, if she were to add her strength, the harm inflicted upon the Swordmaster would be all the more severe.

However.

“You’re truly indecisive, aren’t you? You were quite quick back when you were sacrificing yourself for that child.”

“That, that was!”

The Swordmaster was speaking of the time Ariel used ＜Sacrifice＞ for Frey. Naturally, Ariel’s mouth hung open.

“This old man’s feelings for that child may be inferior to yours. But are not the directions of our hearts the same?”

Heh heh, the Swordmaster, smiling as he normally would, chuckled kindly.

Thump!

Even Ariel, who had expressed such reluctance, placed her hand on his back.

“Everyone, circulate your inner power… your mana! Think of it as pouring all your energy past your fingertips and into me!”

The Swordmaster’s roar shook the hill.

Gulp!

Someone swallowed dryly. That was how close their current plan was to utter madness.

*Woong woong…!*

Each of them stirred their individual energies. And that energy, like water pouring into a bottomless pit, began rushing towards the Sword Demon’s dantian.

“Ugh…!”

A vibrant array of mana poured into the small frame of the old man.

‘This is divine power…!’

The Sword Demon had already anticipated the immense shock to his body, as each of them had trained in different internal cultivation methods.

However, the truly big issue was the ‘divine power’ that Ariel was wielding. As she had feared, the energy that had entered the Sword Demon’s body began rampaging through his dantian like a wild, untamed beast.

“Ugh…!”

Cross-legged and with his eyes closed, the Sword Demon savored his pained groans.

*Woong woong…!*

He mixed the energy flowing through his body. The refined and purified energy, was transferred to Frey.

And… he, would cleave the sky.

“Kuhhh!”

*Drip!*

Dark, viscous blood streamed from the Sword Demon’s mouth as he gathered the energy.

A symptom of severe internal injuries!

The Sword Demon was dying, one minute, one second at a time. But unfortunately, no one in this place was aware of this fact.

“What… what’s…”

Perhaps sensing the strangeness of the auspicious energy unfolding before her eyes?

Geum Harin, who had lost consciousness and fainted, slowly opened her eyes.

Her body felt heavy as lead, but contrary to that, her eyes were open wider than ever in disbelief.

“S-Sword Demon… what are you thinking…!”

*Whoosh….*

The Sword Demon, rushing towards his final task, did not respond to her question.

He merely exhaled pure white steam through his seven apertures.

*Swoosh!*

It was about five minutes later when the Sword Demon rose from his seat.

The light in his eyes, now opened, was like that of a sage, transcending the worldly.

*Thump! Thump!*

One by one, those who had poured all their energy into the Sword Demon began to collapse.

They’d need at least ten days to recover the energy they’d spent. The Sword Demon decided it would be better to just get some sleep.

“You all… did well.”

The Sword Demon gave a faint smile, and with shaky steps, moved away. His destination was set.

* * *

Kugugugung──!!!

“Shit!”

Frey swung his sword wildly.

A Hand.

Following the Eye of the Rift, the Hand that appeared boasted an even more violent combat style.

The first thing Frey felt was a faint ‘malice’. Though unseen, that malice was exerting a powerful physical force on the real world.

Kwadududuk……!

Like telekinesis.

The energy the ‘Hand’ emitted tore up dozens of meters of the ground. Like parched rice paddies, the earth’s crust split and cracked, the land rising like a cake into the air before…

Paaang─!

Shattering into pieces. Beneath that brutal and overwhelming power, Frey clenched his teeth.

‘Could it be… that it’s getting stronger with time…?!’

It was a bleak prospect.

Frey was no longer able to focus his attacks on the rift. Of course, that was inevitable. Right now, Frey was barely managing to evade the attacks from the Eye and the Hand!

Whizz!

‘What if it’s not just a part of it, but its whole body comes through the rift?’

As he used the Heavenly Cloud Walk to dodge the incoming attacks, Frey thought.

‘Is there even a human alive who can defeat it?’

No, there couldn’t be.

Frey could say with absolute certainty. Even if the Sword Saint or Heavenly Demon came, they wouldn’t be able to stand against the full power of its true body.

“That’s why.”

Click!

Frey, who had dashed forward, gripped his sword tighter. And he channeled his mana to its extreme. Soon, the mana flowing through his entire body surged and coated his sword like a torrent.

And then.

“I’ll… cut the rift…!”

Sssshhheeeeeeek───!!!

A black blade of aura, dripping with murderous intent, soared forth.

Whooom……!

The fissure, from which ‘eyes’ and ‘hands’ protruded, rippled faintly where the attack struck. Frey’s blade of aura wasn’t entirely meaningless.

But.

Crackk──!

The problem, as mentioned earlier, was time. Eyes, followed by a hand. If something else popped out next, this fight wouldn’t last.

Squelch, squelch.

Had Frey’s attack somehow unsettled it?

The eye of the fissure coldly stared down at Frey. The stark change in its behavior made Frey wonder, just as…

Saaak……!

‘Light’ tumbled from the fissure.

The pure white light, tinged with gold, instantly engulfed Frey.

And then.

“Ughhhgh……!”

A ludicrous thing unfolded.

The moment the light fell upon him, a throbbing pain ravaged Frey’s entire being.

‘Internal damage!’

This b*stard was too much. Just looking at it could cause such extreme internal harm!

“Cough! Cough!”

Coughs accompanied by blood kept bursting from Frey’s mouth. It was so preposterous it was almost laughable. He hadn’t even known something like this existed in the ＜Silvering＞ world.

In the midst of that.

Thud!

“You’re finding it hard going, hmm? Quite a curious thing, wouldn’t you say?”

“Elder…?!“

The Sword Demon barged into the brutal scene.

His face was noticeably gaunt compared to before. Presumably, the internal injuries sustained during his fight with Ishmael had worsened.

On top of that.

“Ah, no. That aura…”

What was even more shocking was that the Sword Demon was brimming with all sorts of auras of unknown origin.

‘No human can do that!’

Frey’s mouth hung open, stunned by the sudden, absurd phenomenon.

As his mastery rose, and his understanding of the sword and mana deepened, Frey naturally knew.

No human could hold that much energy.

Even a master of the 8th Circle wouldn’t last long, their body exploding like a balloon.

Then, why?

The Sword Demon… his body, inside his dantian. How could he appear with such vibrant and chaotic energy?

“No time to explain.”

Thud, thud.

“Please, accept this.”

Thump!

The Sword Demon, walking steadily toward Frey, casually placed a hand on his shoulder.

“What in the world are you….”

“There’s no time left.”

A gentle smile.

The old smile lifted the corners of the Sword Demon’s mouth. Frey couldn’t dare speak. There was no explanation, but the will on his face was more powerfully present than ever.

“Turn your back!”

Ssshhh───!!!

With a flick of the Sword Demon’s hand, Frey spun around.

“Uhh…!”

Like a waterfall crashing down. An immense torrent of energy began to pour into Frey.

“You will be able to melt down this energy. You possess that brilliant talent, and that heavenly blessing.”

The energy was immense.

And, it was incredibly diverse.

So pure, without a trace of impurities, it was possible to recognize its origins.

Lancelot’s mana.

Tristan’s mana.

Chun Hwa-young’s mana.

Friedrich’s mana.

Ariel’s divine power.

And, even the Sword Demon’s mana.

Heart and heart connect. It was the energy they possessed, but for some reason, Frey felt like all their hearts were merging as one.

Finally…

“This is, innate… True Qi…!!!”

The energy he had felt once before coldly awakened Frey’s body and mind.

Perhaps it was because of the ongoing ‘Force-Transfer Art,’ where someone poured their energy into him. His body wouldn’t move. Even with Frey’s scream, the Sword Demon didn’t stop the act.

‘Sword Father…!’

With a creaking sound, like a broken doll, Frey turned his head to look at the Sword Demon.

…Surprisingly.

He was smiling. Just like when they first met on the road heading to the Magic Tower. The Sword Demon had a benevolent smile plastered across his face.

“You know what?”

“The children of the Demonic Cult often call me ‘Father’ as a joke.”

“Such cute little ones. Calling me father just because they learned a few martial arts moves from me.”

“…So.”

Whoosh…

The energy coming from the Sword Demon weakened in an instant. An empty void spread into the world of the aged elder.

“Be strong. My son.”

Though their lineage and appearance were different, his heart held him as a true son.

That was the ＜Sword Demon＞…

Sword Father’s last words.