Chapter 105
27. Taeryeong Divine Art (7)
As the days went by, my proficiency in Taeryeong Divine Art rapidly increased. Initially, I had to sit still and focus for a long time to use it, but now I could use it while running lightly.
Of course, using it while running required more time to focus, so it was still challenging to use in the heat of battle.
In martial arts novels, characters used their techniques effortlessly, almost like passive abilities. But in reality, it required significant effort and practice.
T h i s w as cop ie d from k i n gmt l. o r g
Moreover, using Taeryeong Divine Art and Mana Concentration simultaneously in real combat was almost impossible.
However, the power was undeniable.
I could confidently say that if I could concentrate mana into my sword, I could easily break through a third-class shield.
But it was too early to relax, thinking I had caught up with the protagonists.
In the Space of the Divine Beast, the three main heroines had showcased fourth-class magic.
That wasn’t easy even at a third-class level. They had the potential to grow into fourth-class mages, allowing them to use fourth-class magic forcibly.
Having experienced magic one level higher than their own, they would soon achieve fourth-class, and Hae Wonryang, who pushed himself to the limit due to Dark Mana Erosion, and Ma Yuseong would also reach that level soon.
For various reasons, becoming stronger was the most reliable way to secure the future, so I continued training without being satisfied with my current level.
Instructor Lee Han-wol’s magical combat practice curriculum was incredibly tough, but finding such a class elsewhere would be difficult, so I participated diligently.
Besides, it was helpful for practicing Taeryeong Divine Art.
It was rare to find someone who was both good at fighting and teaching like Lee Han-wol.
Well, that’s why he was the S-Class instructor.
T h is w a s co p i e d fro m k ingm t l . o r g
Magical combat practice included a wide range of tutorials, from sensing target magic ranges to seizing advantageous positions in unfavorable situations and using magic to exploit the opponent’s weaknesses.
Honestly, I already knew it all.
I had not only mastered these techniques but also developed my style and posted my strategies on the community multiple times.
So, the content of the class wasn’t particularly new.
The fact that I could practice was what mattered.
After a day of classes, I headed straight to the training ground.
T h i s w a s c o p i ed f r o m k i n g m t l . o r g
I significantly reduced my strength training to about an hour a day. Now, breathing was more important than strength.
“Hop!”
Clang!
The loud noise echoed through the training ground as I lowered the heavy barbell to the floor.
“…You look quite active these days.”
Aiselle, who had come for basic physical training, asked subtly, her sky-blue hair tied in a ponytail and her body drenched in sweat.
“Yeah, health is the most important. It’s too late to exercise once your back and neck start hurting.”
“Are you an old man?”
“I’d rather you say I’m mature and wise.”
“Oh… sure…”
Ignoring her, I lifted the barbell with all my strength.
“Huff! And by maintaining this health… Huff! I’ll live long and healthy!”
Clang!
“Hoo. I’m exhausted.”
As I wiped my sweat with a towel, thinking about starting my Taeryeong Divine Art training, I noticed Aiselle looking down with a dark expression.
“What. What’s wrong now?”
“…Huh? Oh, nothing. I’ll be going now.”
“All right.”
I waved my hand as I gulped down a protein shake, but she didn’t respond and left with a dejected atmosphere.
“What’s with her…?”
I couldn’t understand women’s psychology.
* * *
Once we learned the basics of magical combat, it was time to spar with fellow students.
Different classes attended these joint sessions, leading to encounters where S-Class would duel with F-Class, or D-Class would clash with C-Class in pride battles.
Today, S-Class and A-Class had a joint session. While S-Class didn’t care much about which class they faced, A-Class was different.
A-Class students were quite conscious of S-Class.
Several S-Class students had lower grades and ranks than those in A-Class, leading to resentment, especially among A-Class nobles who couldn’t accept lower-ranked individuals in S-Class.
I could understand their frustration.
T h i s wa s c o p i e d f ro m ki n g mt l .or g
Growing up in prestigious families, being called geniuses and taking elite courses, only to end up in A-Class despite top grades and ranks must have been quite disheartening.
But today, my opponent was one of them.
“Baek Yu-seol. I’ve been hearing a lot about you lately.”
T h is was c o pie d f r o m ki n g mt l. o r g
“Thanks.”
Yuslec Checoveilen.
He was the son of the famous Checoveilen Marquis from the Scalven Empire and had ranked 29th during Stella’s entrance ceremony, a true genius.
…That was just his backstory. To me, he was no more than ‘Jeremie’s errand boy.’
Some players took the Jeremie route in Aether World to romance him.
In their screenshots, there were often humorous scenes where Yuslec and his minions appeared in the background, running errands whenever Jeremie prepared surprise gifts or something appropriate for the occasion.
Despite his appearance, he was an errand boy for Jeremie even though he came from a prestigious family in Stella.
“Both sides, arm yourselves with staves.”
Following the instructor’s order, Yuslec and I pointed our staves at each other.
He was an early third-class mage. If I were my old self, winning would have required clever tricks.
T h i s wa s co pie d f r o m k ing m t l . o r g
But now, things were different.
Today’s goal was to defeat Yuslec perfectly.
Honestly, it might be a bit difficult. Although I had somewhat mastered Taeryeong Divine Art, I wasn’t sure if I could use it effectively in actual combat.
But Yuslec had been bothering me with his underlings for a while, so I thought it was time to teach him a lesson.
Even an adult’s patience has its limits.
“You’re going to get a beating today.”
“…What did you just say?”
Yuslec’s face twisted in disbelief, as if he hadn’t heard right. I was tired of these aristocratic reactions.
Maybe it was because I had been through so much with Edmund Atalek.
“Begin the duel!”
As soon as the instructor gave the signal, Yuslec raised his staff.
“Rise, blue waves!”
A large blue magic circle appeared on the floor, and a small whirlpool of water rose around Yuslec.
“Wow.”
T h i s w a s c opie d fr o m k i n g m t l .o rg
Indeed, a prestigious family. His casting speed was much faster than that of the second-year senior I faced before.
Shwaa!
The practice ground was a plain with no terrain features since it wasn’t a duel arena.
The first one to create advantageous terrain would likely win. However, I had no such magic, and as it was a plain, I couldn’t escape to trick my opponent as I did before.
Not that I intended to.
I sidestepped slowly without activating my Terivon Sword. Yuslec watched my movements closely, forming two blue magic circles around himself.
He was cautious of my Blink, knowing I’d exploit any opening if he attacked first.
While he underestimated me, he didn’t underestimate my combat skills. That judgment itself was commendable.
But did he realize that his caution was only helping me?
[Taeryeong Divine Art]
Mana is like the wind. It always exists but cannot be seen or grasped, merely passing by.
I imagined catching the wind with my hands.
Catching the wind was impossible.
So, I imagined mana as water instead of wind.
Though flowing water was hard to hold, at least it could collect in the palm.
If my mana had been wind until now, it was now flowing water.
[Blood Mana Circulation Rate is increasing.]
Just a slight accumulation of mana in my body heightened my senses impressively. My five senses sharpened, and I could clearly perceive the movement of mana.
“…Are you not going to come at me?”
Shwaa!
Finally, Yuslec, unable to endure, poured the waterfall on me.
“Blue waves, crash!”
A small wave crashed towards me, its blue water flowing like a miniature natural disaster. Summoning such an amount of water from thin air was remarkable for a third-class mage, but it was meaningless to me.
[Mana Concentration]
I focused all my mana into the Terivon Sword. Previously, I could only cut through third-class or lower shoot-type magic.
But now, I could attempt something different.
Shwaa-!
The small wave rushed towards me. It looked like a minor natural disaster.
I slowly lowered my sword towards the wave. What I was about to do wasn’t any fancy swordsmanship or technique, just a simple, brute force slash.
From below, upwards.
T h i s w as c op i e d f r om k in gm tl . org
A vertical slash.
But the impact of that simple slash was far from ordinary.
T h i s w as c op i e d f ro m k i n g m tl . o rg
…Shwaa!
Splash!
Like a miracle of Moses, the wave parted, opening a path about 4 meters long.
Not only did it split the wave, but it also severed the circuits that formed the magic, causing the wave to lose its power and collapse instantly.
“W-What…!”
Now I had a rough idea of my level.
A third-class mage’s magic could be cut down if I was in perfect condition and had enough time to concentrate.
‘Amazing…’
Even I was slightly surprised at my level, but the practice wasn’t over, so I couldn’t stop.
[Blink]
I quickly closed the distance to Yuslec, and water droplets burst from the air. As expected, he used target magic when I moved within his range.
The advantage of target magic was its fast casting speed, but it was difficult to use in conjunction with other spells, leaving a long delay and vulnerability.
I exploited that by inducing the target and dodging it with a single step before swinging my sword.
‘Water Dragon Cannon’
Shwaa!
The flat ground rippled, and a stream of water shaped like a dragon surged up to engulf me, but I easily cut it down.
“Ugh!”
Yuslec stepped back slowly, swirling his staff. Blue magic circles appeared and vanished, rushing towards me.
The water whip could cut through armor, but it couldn’t touch me, and the water cannon shattered rocks but burst like a water balloon upon touching my sword.
As all his attacks failed, Yuslec grew more agitated and started casting stronger spells wildly.
His magic was certainly impressive, but it was a mistake.
‘No matter how disadvantaged, never lose your composure,’ the most crucial principle in magical duels, and he was shaken by my aggressive moves.
Of course, that was good news for me.
Unfortunately, maintaining Taeryeong Divine Art while using Blink was still challenging for me. If the battle dragged on, I might have lost.
I had to make the most of Yuslec’s mistake.
[Blink]
“Ugh…!”
I blinked behind Yuslec, and he hurriedly summoned a water barrier behind him.
Th i s w a s co p i e d fr om k i n g m t l .o r g
Shields must maintain a flat shape, blocking only one direction, but attribute-based barriers had lower defense yet covered multiple directions.
However, water barriers were only effective against fire or wind elements and had little effect on physical types like me.
I charged at Yuslec’s back without hesitation and swung my sword, splitting the water barrier in two with mana-concentrated Terivon Sword, cutting his back.
“Ugh!”
As he fell forward, I pointed the Terivon Sword at his neck, ending the duel.
“Practice over. Both sides, put away your staves.”
Following the instructor’s order, I deactivated my Terivon Sword.
“Damn it…”
I left Yuslec, who clenched his teeth in frustration, behind and walked away quickly.
‘Indeed, it’s still hard to use in actual combat…’
This duel made me realize my shortcomings. I was disgusted with myself for being satisfied with my improved swordsmanship.
It was only because Yuslec was a beginner in magical duels that I managed to win. If I had faced a systematically attacking opponent from the start, I might have lost.
Maintaining Taeryeong Divine Art for an extended period was difficult, and focusing to use it took considerable time, making it hard to use in real combat.
I slapped Yuslec on the shoulder, acknowledging my shortcomings, and passed by him.
“Thanks.”
“…What?”
He looked puzzled as if he didn’t understand, but I was sincere. Mages like Yuslec were excellent opponents to reflect on myself.
End of Chapter