Clang!
The legion of weapons sweeping the battlefield gathered near Raul, forming a steel fortress.
“Absolute Elemental Shield!”
Once again, the light green shield created by Rabel protected Raul.
“Damn it! Stop him!”
Noticing the anomaly, the Empire’s masters Ezekiel and Stanton charged at Raul.
Clang! Thud!
“Where do you think you’re going!”
“You shall not pass!”
But Lawrence, Jake, and Kane swiftly intercepted them. At the moment of surpassing one’s limits, a necessary process ensued to transcend human boundaries: bodily reconstruction and enlightenment of a new realm.
The impurities in the body are expelled, and the skeletal structure is reconstructed, evolving into the most combat-efficient form.
Simultaneously, one organizes the knowledge of martial arts learned and experienced so far, preparing to embark on a new path.
Moreover, an individual awakens to the essence of mana, which ordinary humans cannot sense, striving to get closer to it.
In a way, it’s a blessed time, but if it occurs in the presence of enemies, it can be incredibly dangerous. If there’s a problem with the mana absorption process, it can lead to mana backlash.
Failing to properly organize enlightenment due to urgency can result in delayed growth in the future. This is true not only for masters but also for Expert-level knights undergoing breakthroughs.
Thus, it was natural to protect someone experiencing an awakening during a battle to the best of one’s ability.
Swish!
The Empire’s Bow Master Bryce redirected his arrows towards Raul, breaking off from his pride duel. Mage Fry, shocked by the disruption of his spell, furiously bombarded Raul with memorized offensive spells.
Boom! Crash!
“Guuooo!”
McClanahan’s magic ‘Corpse Explosion’ caused bones and corpses near Raul to detonate, and the surviving undead aimed solely at Raul.
Crash! Boom!
Clang! Clang!
All enemy attacks converged on Raul, hammering incessantly against Rabel’s shield and the weapon legion.
***
‘Huh, where is this?’
Raul blinked his eyes quietly. The deafening noise of the battlefield was replaced by an eerie silence that enveloped his surroundings.
The undead legion charging with malice and the imposing superhumans of the Empire were nowhere to be seen. All that could be seen was an endless expanse of pure white.
“So, I’ve come back here again.”
A smile played on Raul’s lips. Having experienced this once before, there was no sense of tension.
『Room of Enlightenment』.
Players often referred to this place by that name. It’s a place one visits upon reaching skill proficiency level 10 and character level 100.
Here, they learn new techniques suited to their classes and advanced ways to use mana.
‘Hmm. Where’s the instructor?’
According to his memory, an instructor who would teach him about the new realm should appear around this time.
Zap.
At that moment, the white space distorted, and someone appeared before Raul.
“… Why are you here?”
Raul looked at the person who had appeared with a bewildered expression.
Flash!
But it seemed the person had no intention of answering Raul’s curiosity. In an instant, the white space in front of Raul filled with countless ‘weapon legions’.
“So, you want to have a go?”
Clang!
Thousands of weapon legions emerged behind Raul as well.
“Sorry, but I’ve long surpassed you!”
With a gesture from Raul, his weapon legions began to hurtle towards the front. The person standing in front of Raul.
It was none other than his past self.
Bae Dohyun.
Boom!
***
“Cough.”
Raul clutched the longsword piercing his chest, coughing up blood. Crimson liquid flowed endlessly, staining his shirt.
“Disappointing.”
With a slight gesture from Bae Dohyun, the longsword withdrew, and Raul crumpled to the ground.
‘Damn it.’
Laying on the floor, Raul clenched his fist weakly in frustration. In the next moment, his body was enveloped in white light, healing his injuries and restoring his strength.
It was the fifth time.
Raul had lost five consecutive battles against Bae Dohyun. There were plenty of excuses. His swordsmanship, which was another aspect of his power, was sealed.
He couldn’t manifest even a mana blade, let alone aura. And unlike his past self, Bae Dohyun displayed the same power as Raul.
The immense spiritual power gained through Quercus meditation. The psychokinetic power-ups obtained from Jeinak’s dungeon and the Tower of Trials.
All applied to Bae Dohyun as well.
In essence, the Bae Dohyun before him was a copy with equal strength to Raul’s current self. That’s what frustrated Raul even more. Then, Bae Dohyun spoke.
“What have you been doing for the past two years? Why have you become so weak?”
“Ugh. I….”
Two years since awakening in Raul’s body. Raul had given his all. Overcame a frail constitution and aimed for the Master’s realm in a short time.
Built the First Knight Order to nurture his forces, prevented his family’s downfall, and established a robust foundation in the kingdom.
Supported players, recruited rankers, and formed the Purple Guild. Also, through the association, set up a mechanism to exert significant influence over players.
However….
“Bae Dohyun, or rather Raul, tell me. What are your roots?”
“I am….”
“What was the power that led you to the pinnacle of players? Why did players and NPCs alike fear you?”
‘Psychokinesis.’
Raul bit his lip. In his past life, Bae Dohyun had traversed the world of Connect solely with psychokinesis. He stood at the apex of millions of players, pioneering new paths ahead of anyone else.
He was the first player to reach the superhuman realm and the only one recognized capable of battling NPC superhumans one-on-one.
Known as the ‘Battlefield’s Sovereign’ and the ‘One-Man Legion’, he disrupted the tides of battle.
All solely through ‘psychokinesis’. But Raul in this life was different. Having encountered excellent family swordsmanship and a remarkable teacher, he devoted himself to honing his swordsmanship.
He thought mastering psychokinesis was sufficient from his past experiences, so he focused more on swordsmanship. As a result, he was on the brink of reaching the Master’s realm, but was it enough?
‘Of course not.’
Reaching the Master’s realm with swordsmanship. It was an extraordinary feat, achievable only by a chosen few elite knights. But could claiming the Master’s title alone lay claim to the greatest on the continent?
The answer was no.
His father, Count Melvin, was a high-ranking Master, and Duke Templeton, known as the Sword Duke, was an ultimate-level Sword Master.
No matter how much swordsmanship he mastered, it was impossible to surpass them in a short period.
“Don’t forget your identity, Raul. You are Raul of the Ashton household, but you are also Bae Dohyun, the supreme psychokinetic.”
“Ah, yes. I had forgotten what truly matters.”
Clang.
The legion of weapons reappeared behind Raul.
“In that case, let’s go again!”
Bae Dohyun smirked as he watched Raul charge at him.
“Come! I’ll face you properly this time.”
***
Huff.
Raul panted heavily, looking ahead. The figure of Bae Dohyun wavered like a heat haze and then vanished. In the last moment, he seemed to be smiling.
‘… Finally, a draw.’
Raul wasn’t sure how much time had passed, but after dozens of battles, he had managed to achieve a tie. Facing Bae Dohyun as an enemy was truly a terrifying experience.
‘If I had faced him as Sword Master Raul….’
He wouldn’t have stood a chance.
“Is that really what you think?”
“…! Master! How did you…?”
In the place where Bae Dohyun had disappeared, his swordsmanship master, Caldenas, appeared.
“Hahaha. This mental space is quite something. I never expected to enter this way.”
Caldenas chuckled.
“What’s happening outside? How much time has passed?”
Raul asked, a sudden thought crossing his mind. Caldenas clicked his tongue.
“Tsk, tsk. For someone who claimed to have experienced a breakthrough, you ask such mundane questions! Focus on your new enlightenment.”
Caldenas was right. The flow of time in this Room of Enlightenment, this mental space, differed from the outside world. What Raul would gain here depended solely on his own focus.
“No more words are needed. Come at me directly!”
Caldenas was already holding a sword. Raul quickly followed suit, drawing his own blade.
Whoosh.
An aura blade naturally formed at the tip of his sword.
“I’ll show you what a true master is. Then you’ll stop having such weak thoughts.”
Caldenas must have sensed Raul’s doubt about defeating Psychokinetic Bae Dohyun with his master’s strength.
Clang! Clang!
In this mental space, Raul began learning from Caldenas, the teacher of all masters.
*
Zap.
Caldenas vanished. Raul steadied his trembling legs. Unlike Bae Dohyun, Master Caldenas was an insurmountable wall. Not once did Raul’s sword even graze his master’s cloak.
However, Raul’s expression was filled with astonishment rather than mere satisfaction.
‘My goodness!’
He finally understood why Caldenas was known as the master of masters.
Buzz.
A golden aura blade extended nearly two meters from Raul’s sword. Then, it split like insect antennae, moved independently, and reformed into a blunt shape resembling a mace.
The freedom to shape the aura blade. This signified reaching mid-tier Master level.
Achieving mid-tier mastery immediately upon becoming a master – it was an unexpected fortune.
‘Thank you, Master.’
As Raul was lost in thought, a voice interrupted.
“Is that all you’re satisfied with?”
“…?”
Raul was puzzled. He should have had only two training opportunities upon his breakthrough. Who else could it be?
Turning around to identify the voice, Raul’s eyes widened.
“You…!”
*
“Rise, stone wall!”
“Swirl, wind!”
Standing over her open skill book, Rabel’s face was beaded with sweat.
Bang!
“Elemental Shield!”
An aura-infused arrow pierced through Raul’s barrier and Rabel’s weakening shield, forcing her to hastily form another one.
Meanwhile, the Skeleton General and the undead legion reached the weapon barrier and swung their aura blades.
‘This is bad!’
Biting her lip, Rabel swung her wand.
“Wind Punch! Blow them away!”
A transparent wind fist, two meters in diameter, struck the General and the undead.
Boom!
Most of the undead were swept back several meters, but the General, with his aura blade, stood firm. Then it happened.
Fwoosh! Crack!
Sharp bone spears shot up, aiming for Rabel and her skill book.
“Ugh!”
Unable to chant a spell in time, Rabel leaped up with her skill book, and part of the weapon legion blocked the bone spears but fell, powerless.
‘Raul, are you done yet?’
Ten minutes had passed since Raul closed his eyes. During this time, Empire’s Bow Master Bryce, necromancer McClanahan, and Wind Mage Fry relentlessly attacked, and Rabel alone was defending against them.
Although Rabel was a 7th-circle mage proficient in elemental magic, holding off three superhumans alone was no easy feat.
If it weren’t for Raul’s pre-set weapon legion, she wouldn’t have lasted this long. Even if Caldenas had helped, it would have sufficed, but he was unresponsive for some reason.
She glanced towards the Naga clan, but their chieftain, raknesha, was merely standing with his arms crossed, watching.
‘Raul, if you delay any longer, it’s going to be dangerous.’
The mana stored in the skill book was depleting. Unless Raul replenished it, Rabel would soon be unable to cast any spells.
Boom!
A black aura blade carved a large hole in the weapon barrier. The weapon legion tried to patch the hole, but the aura blade moved faster than they could block it.
“Pesky mage, this is the end.”
The Skeleton General, his body emitting black malevolent energy, shouted as he closed in on Raul. Rabel hurriedly began chanting a spell to repel the General, but then.
“Not on my watch.”
Crack. Crunch!
The Skeleton General’s arms were crushed as if caught in a giant’s grasp, and the aura blade vanished without a trace.
(To be continued)
TL’s Corner:
Master Raul de Ashton!