Sword Devouring Swordmaster-Chapter 98 : Chapter 98

Chapter 98. Wings (1)
The condition for becoming a 「Sword Runner」 was to spread one’s wings. And those wings—strictly speaking—were another organ of a swordsman, much like the 「Mana Heart」 or the 「Path」.
The Mana Heart was proof that mana had accumulated within the body.
The Path was proof that that mana was circulating.
Then what were the wings?
“Phew.”
They were proof that the mana circulating inside the body could be expressed outward—proof that my mana could influence the external world and cause phenomena to occur. Therefore, to spread one’s wings, one had to release the mana flowing through the body and cause a phenomenon with that emitted mana.
“Damn it.”
Surprisingly, I had already met both the first and second conditions. And yet, I still couldn’t spread my wings. The reason was simple.
“Why on earth isn’t this working?”
The only methods I knew were those of 「Gale」 and 「The Light」. In other words, if I didn’t know how to unfold my own wings, they would never sprout. In short, I had to unfold the wings of Steel—the wings of the 「Karavan」.
『It’s because of the very strengths and weaknesses of the Steel Blood.』
“What do you mean?”
『The mana that gathers in a heart of steel bears the nature of steel. And the Path that extends from it does the same.』
“I know that.”
『Of course you do. Then tell me—what is the nature of steel mana?』
“Compared to the mana of other swordsmen, it’s incredibly dense and solid. It doesn’t shift easily when struck and stays heavy where it is. Just like steel.”
『Exactly. Heavy and unyielding. That’s why it’s difficult to unfold the wings of steel.』
Heavy and unyielding—just as Liam had said.
The mana stored in my body and flowing through my veins was far too heavy. That trait had helped me countless times so far—just by crossing blades, I could send opponents into mana shock, and even against stronger foes, I could fight on equal footing. But now, the same steel mana that had always aided me was the very thing shackling me.
『Steel mana has the property of immovability.』
Immovable—that word was perfect.
『Ordinary swordsmen’s mana is light. For a mere 「Sword Walker」, it’s almost weightless. That’s why, though fragile, it’s also free. The flimsy mana that flows like thread can easily be drawn out to form wings—if only one can bring it outside. That’s the hard part.』
“Right.”
『But what about the steel mana you feel right now? No matter how you try, it clings stubbornly to your Mana Heart and Path. It won’t move. It’s frozen solid—just like real steel.』
Liam looked straight at me.
『If other people’s mana is water, then yours is metal. Others pour their mana into a bowl, and it takes the bowl’s shape. Into a cup, and it takes the cup’s shape. But your mana—drawing it out is hard enough already. And even if you do, it refuses to change form.』
“Then what should I do?”
『You must melt it—with your flame.』
Flame.
Liam said the same thing Tom once had.
『Didn’t I tell you? The Steel Blood and your Mystery have perfect affinity. You were lucky—despite your lack of talent—that your mystery bloomed as a flame. Had it been anything else, you’d have been stuck against this wall for three more years, my young descendant.』
“……”
『Well, perhaps ‘lucky’ isn’t the right word. If you’d had even a hint of talent, you’d have sensed the Mystery from experience alone and already spread your wings. Tsk. To think you’re this talentless...』
Talent—damn that word. I was sick of hearing it.
“Ah.”
Standing still, I focused and swung my sword. I tried to recall the sensation I’d had when using 「Gale」 or 「The Light」—mana circulating through my entire body, then exhaled outward, stirring the air around me.
I tried to recreate that feeling as precisely as I could. But no matter how I tried, my mana refused to flow outward.
It was too heavy. Far too heavy. I couldn’t even imagine how to draw out the solidified steel mana inside me. Even if I managed to, what then? How was I supposed to forge this solid substance into a “Mystery”? Could something so heavy... become wings? Could something this dense—really make me fly?
『Do not worry.』
“……”
『The wings of steel are stronger than any other.』
As if reading my thoughts, Liam reassured me.
『Once you unfold them, you’ll fly farther than anyone else. Truly—farther than anyone.』
Listening to Liam’s clumsy comfort, I steadied my breath. I recalled both Liam’s teachings and Tom’s. Melt the flame into your body. Refine your rigid mana into the form that suits you. Just as molten steel is heated in a furnace and hammered into shape...
“Arhan?”
While I was deep in concentration, Seol Yoon appeared.
“I heard you needed guided training?”
“Ah, yes.”
“Want me to help?”
Seeing her blink those innocent eyes, I nodded.
“Yes, I’d be grateful.”
At my reply, Seol Yoon picked up a wooden training sword. As she turned it over in her hands, I hoped the guided practice would help somehow. But what was guided practice, exactly? I’d never formally learned swordsmanship, so I asked—and she answered.
“Simply put, think of it as sparring. The more skilled one points out the other’s weaknesses, and you focus the duel around that. Don’t worry about the details—I’ll handle it. Just think of it as a match.”
A sparring match.
A simple explanation.
But hadn’t we sparred endlessly before? Would that really help? Especially since Seol Yoon had even lost to me once during the 「Infinite Duel」.
I wasn’t convinced, but I picked up a wooden sword anyway. As I felt its texture and faced Seol Yoon, who aimed her sword toward me—“Come at me first.” And then— “Mm.”
Seven seconds later, I was flat on the floor.
“Arhan.”
“Yes.”
“You really are talentless.”
“…I’ve heard enough of that.”
In that short span, Seol Yoon had risen to a level I couldn’t touch. Without using 「The Light」, the gap between us was enormous—the difference between a 「Sword Walker」 and a 「Sword Runner」, compounded by the gap in our swordsmanship itself. Put together, our duel looked like a child fighting an adult.
While I lay there stunned, she delivered an even harsher blow.
“At least you’re hardworking.”
“Just call me talentless, please.”
“Then I will.”
Seeing her nod, I almost burst into tears. Before I could even breathe, she leaned close and said.
“So, where do you want me to start pointing out your problems?”
“…How many are there, exactly?”
“Seventy-one?”
“……”
Damn it.
“Start from the forty-fourth, please…”
***
Guided training. Simply put—sparring.
The process of reaching 「Sword Runner」 was similar to when I’d clung to that cliff to become a 「Sword Beginner」.
“Don’t dodge. Parry or deflect it head-on.”
Seol Yoon said that when she decided to become a 「Sword Runner」, the image of her own mystery appeared naturally in her mind. She understood it intuitively, extended her Path outward, formed her wings, and instinctively knew how to manifest phenomena. That was something impossible for me. Only a genius among geniuses like Seol Yoon could do that.
I lacked both understanding and instinct. So what could I do?
“Coming.”
“Phew.”
I had to make my body need wings—push myself to the limit so that my very flesh would crave them. Just like when I’d faced Fetel for the first time, and my Mana Heart had formed naturally under the overwhelming pressure of a superior being.
“Ugh!”
But the problem was, my body had become too used to danger. I’d fought too many battles against those stronger than me. Now, my instincts hardly stirred at ordinary threats.
“I said don’t dodge!”
Swish.
A wooden sword passed right before my eyes.
I couldn’t even see its path. Seol Yoon, using the acceleration of her wings, was terrifyingly fast now. And it wasn’t just speed—thanks to 「Thousandfold Change」, her movements constantly shifted—slow to fast, fast to slow—unceasingly and endlessly. Keeping up with that speed was almost impossible.
“How the hell—”
Parry or deflect, she said. But how could I parry what I couldn’t even see?
Compared to Seol Yoon’s, my sword was painfully slow. The steel mana clinging to my heart and veins refused to move swiftly. Steady and honest, perhaps—but never quick.
I felt like a dog staring up at a bird’s wings—barking helplessly.
“Don’t give up so easily. Stop doubting. Trust your instincts. Let your mana flow naturally through your body. Didn’t Tom tell you? Make your mana fit you. To do that, you need flexibility. Right now, your body’s too rigid—like it’s frozen solid.”
“I’ve fought like this all my life. How am I supposed to change?”
“You’ve been a Sword Walker till now—planning to stay one forever?”
She was right.
Gritting my teeth, I met her strike—but as soon as our swords touched, 「Thousandfold Change」 unfolded. My blade twisted easily, and her wooden sword spun through the air—its tip landing against my neck. In real combat, I’d have died a hundred times already.
“Again.”
Stop doubting? Trust my instincts?
That wasn’t something I understood.
I spat blood onto the floor. The doubt didn’t stop.
Was this really the right method?
Could someone like me—an idiot with no talent—truly reach 「Sword Runner」?
Surely that was something only Seol Yoon could do.
“Again.”
Then, suddenly, I wondered—Was not doubting really the answer?
“Again.”
I was a dullard. Relying on instinct and sudden enlightenment didn’t suit me. So what did suit me? After thinking for a moment, I remembered the way I’d always done things—doubting everything, breaking it apart, obsessively digging until I found the truth.
“Again.”
With that thought, I stopped watching Seol Yoon’s sword and focused on my own. The trembling wooden blade, scarred from countless clashes—Could I really make the heavy steel mana light and flexible? No. My doubt declared it impossible. Then what was possible? If something heavy wished to fly—how should it fly? Were all creatures that could fly light? Were all wings delicate?
No.
The dragons of the Sky Mountains bore massive bodies like mountains, and the wyverns of the northern continent dwarfed even the Karavan manor—yet they ruled the skies. They carried their immense weight faster than any being alive.
How?
“Again.”
Wings.
What kind of wings did they have?
“Again.”
Doubt spun endlessly.
Was becoming light truly the answer? My teacher had said—the steel of Karavan could fly farther than any other, stronger than any other. Then would the wings capable of such flight be thin and light? Of course not. They would have to be thick, powerful, and unbreakable. If there was enough strength, heaviness wouldn’t matter.
A new image began forming in my mind—not of a bird’s wings, but something out of legend—wings mighty enough to lift anything.
“Again.”
Doubt gave birth to a thousand images, each fading and reforming.
The image of “wings” I’d always held shattered and remade itself. And before I knew it, my steel mana began to stir. The mana clinging to my heart and Path—did I really need to separate it? If wings were part of my body, then they didn’t have to be separate organs. They could grow from those very roots.
Not creation—connection.
I closed my eyes and focused on the new image. Not forming something new, but expanding what already existed. Wings sprouting from the heart—stronger than any separate ones. They wouldn’t be torn by any storm. They would never break.
Yes.
“Agai…n?”
“……”
Clang!
Her sword clashed against mine—and thunder echoed through the air.
A trembling ran through my whole body, different from before.
“Ah.”
Seol Yoon’s expression had changed.
Facing her, I said—“Let’s go one more round.”
I was starting to grasp something.
『Yes.』
A set of wings unlike those from 「Gale」 or 「The Light」—so different they almost didn’t belong to the same category. Heavier. Denser. But stronger. I could feel their shape clearly now.
『At last, you take your first step, you dull brat.』
It felt as though a ray of light had pierced the long darkness before me. Seol Yoon hesitated slightly, raising her sword again.
My heartbeat pounded, and heat flared from my chest, spreading through my whole body—each thud echoing like a hammer in a forge.
“…Again.”
Clang—!
The sound of heated metal being forged.
“Once more, please.”