https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-304-Deciding-the-Outcome-of-the-Sword-Duel-and-the-Final-Life-and-Death-Battle/12943960/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-306-The-Shadow-Lord-Who-Loves-Drama/12943962/
Chapter 305: The Sword of Conviction, Unstoppable!
Chapter 305: The Sword of Conviction, Unstoppable!
Ruslan's sword was swift, and his technique and combat experience were indeed exceptional.
Since the Shadow, he was the first being in this world who could match Yecheng in swordsmanship for so long.
Ruslan was thrilled by the exhilarating duel, and he felt the significance of regaining his strength.
Even though his physical attributes and mana were inferior to his opponent's, at least his sword managed to reach a level of "equilibrium" with his opponent.
However, just as Ruslan was thinking this, Yecheng's words once again shattered his composure.
"Ridiculous, swordsmanship is just swordsmanship. As long as you have sufficient speed and well-honed skills, you can suppress your enemies and emerge victorious.
What is this talk of a sword imbued with conviction? Do you take me for a fool, believing in such a childish notion as mana?"
Ruslan naturally remained noncommittal to Yecheng's words. At this point, his only pride lay in his swordsmanship. If even that were to be denied, his life would truly become meaningless.
"I see. So, you think my words are just empty boasts?
In that case, let me show you the difference between a sword imbued with conviction and one swung without it!"
Until now, the duel between Yecheng and Ruslan had been a clash of sword techniques.
Both were incredibly fast, and although Yecheng held certain advantages in various aspects, Ruslan always managed to skillfully counter with his rich experience and seasoned technique.
But almost as soon as Yecheng finished speaking, Ruslan, who had just parried Yecheng's longsword, was astonished to find that the sword in Yecheng's hand had suddenly become heavier!
Ruslan could sense that the mana and power within Yecheng's sword were no different from before, and even the movements were identical.
However, as he parried the longsword this time, the weight transmitted through the sword bent his body.
"Even the most formidable power is merely an empty shell without conviction.
Similarly, no matter how extraordinary your swordsmanship is, if you lack the intent to swing the sword or a reason for doing so, then it's just an ordinary sword.
A true swordsman can reach the pinnacle in heart, body, and technique. Even if you polish your body and technique to perfection, without the power of the heart, you can never be considered a top-tier swordsman."
As Yecheng spoke, the speed of his sword swings increased.
Ruslan, who had previously held his own, now struggled to defend against Yecheng's relentless storm of attacks.
Through Yecheng's sword, Ruslan gradually understood what his opponent meant by "conviction."
Each of Yecheng's strikes contained the conviction of "becoming stronger and protecting." Although Ruslan had previously dismissed the notion of infusing conviction into a sword as nonsense, he now felt these elements in Yecheng's sword during their duel.
These elements were something Ruslan himself had once possessed during his youth, when he was full of vigor and determination to become stronger and defeat his opponents.
After consuming the "Desireful Eye," Ruslan's body regained its youthful vigor, and his mana became even more potent. Believing he had reclaimed his peak from his younger days, he suddenly realized that his current self was still far inferior to his past self.
As time passed, things changed, and people moved on. Just as the other party had said, he had only regained his power, while his mindset and dreams from the past had long been lost in the river of time, or perhaps forgotten by his power-obsessed self...
"It seems you've understood. It's time to put an end to this battle."
"Night God Style, First Move, Third Variation - Beyond!"
A dazzling sword light, like a flowing radiance, completely captured Ruslan's vision. Despite swinging his sword to block, a crisp sound of metal breaking rang out, and the longsword that had been with Ruslan for half his life finally snapped in two!
Looking at the broken sword in his hand, the fragments of the blade floating before his eyes also reflected Ruslan's face.
The brilliant sword light illuminated the broken blade, and the dazzling reflection seemed to freeze time and space around them. In Ruslan's eyes, his life flashed before him.
Among the shattered fragments of the short sword, scenes from Ruslan's life appeared.
There was the moment when he first held a sword and learned swordsmanship as a child, the time he won his first Heart Shrine Competition and felt on top of the world as a young man, and the period when his physical condition took a turn for the worse, leading to his downfall and eventually, the moment he killed Sherry's mother in his youth.
"Beyond? It's aptly named, giving those who are about to die a chance to awaken through the use of mana.
It's a dazzling and merciful killing sword, and I never thought I'd receive such an honor at the end of my life. I can die without regrets."
"A sword imbued with conviction, invincible and unstoppable! I, Ruslan Barnett, now truly understand."
"It's a pity we're not from the same era. If only I had met you sooner, how wonderful it would have been..."
"Diabros Cult, how will you face such a rising Sword God? His immense mana and extraordinary mind far surpass those of ordinary men.
A divine child with a heart, technique, and spirit at their limits... I can't wait to see the expressions on the faces of those arrogant cultists when they encounter you, hahahaha!"
Ruslan's life flashed before his eyes as if it had been a long time, until the sword light that brought back his memories completely enveloped his figure.
In reality, Yecheng had already sheathed his sword and stood, gazing at Ruslan lying in a pool of blood, and couldn't help but shake his head and sigh.
"Crack——!"
Almost at the same moment Yecheng sheathed his sword, Lord Shadow appeared, holding a fluffy-haired girl, and shattered the glass roof of the cathedral with a dazzling entrance.
However, just as Lord Shadow prepared his pose and lines, ready to begin his performance, he realized there was no audience around, and even the enemies seemed to have been defeated. He couldn't help but freeze for a moment.
"Godfather! Godfather!"
The fluffy-haired girl in Lord Shadow's arms, upon seeing Ruslan lying in a pool of blood, instantly broke free of his control, ran to the pool of blood, and burst into tears.
"I'm sorry, but death is the only salvation for him. Otherwise, if he were taken by the Royal Knight Order or the Shadow Courtyard, his fate would have been much worse.
And even if he were alive now, I think the awakened him would not know how to face you, Sherry Barnett."
Hearing Yecheng's words and looking at Ruslan lying in a pool of blood, Sherry knew what had happened.
(End of Chapter)
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