Survival Story of a Sword King in a Fantasy World

We Need a Solution! (4)

For level 1 Alien warriors who received guidelines for the first time, as with Ryu Han-bin, the first step was the most basic swordsmanship.

Stab, Crosscut, and Vertical Cut.

“You had to stop there because your Guideline was broken.”

However, other Aliens didn’t.

Their levels continued to rise, and they gained skills consistent with their levels.

“Low-level Aliens learn much faster than the rate of their skill acquisition. It’s too much to use the skills given by the Guideline, let alone learn other skills, to get the next one.”

Of course, that was true only for the low-level ones.

The higher the level, the slower the level-up speed, and if it was above a certain level, it became slower than the speed of acquiring skills.

That limit was reached at around level 60.

“At that point, some smart Aliens tried something new.”

They tried to become stronger by learning Latna’s martial arts.

Such was the case of Alejandro, who was carrying a Maxbrid martial arts book.

“By the way…”

Leon Hart asked a question.

“Did he actually read it?”

Ryu Han-bin recalled their battle at the time.

He hadn’t learned Maxbrid’s fighting skills yet back then. Hence, he couldn’t recognize them.

But in the present time, he had acquired such skills and could compare them to Alejandro’s fighting method.

“I don’t think so.”

It was a little strange.

Ryu Han-bin and Effir, who had obtained the fighting book, made significant progress in just a few months.

The owner of the book didn’t learn how to execute Maxbrid fighting skills.

“Maybe he just got the book?”

“Of course he couldn’t have, but…”

Smirking, Leon Hart continued.

“Even if he had tried for a long time, he wouldn’t have mastered the Maxbrid fighting method anyway.”

He had been using Guideline skills all along.

He rarely trained in proper martial arts ‘by himself.’

“Even the ability to learn something can only be developed through constant learning.”

He might’ve had a high level, but he was a complete beginner as a martial artist.

“No, it wouldn’t have been a problem if he were a newbie. At least he won’t develop bad habits.”

A high level meant that he became accustomed to how he used his skills after such a long time practicing them.

“Correcting that means you have to seal the Guideline and start over from level 1.”

There was no reason or benefit.

Han-bin already had power in his hands. But he needed to throw it away on purpose and start all over again.

“Why waste time like that?”

It was better to increase the level of skills he already had.

What Aliens wanted from the beginning was to use Guideline skills and learn new martial arts as a supplement.

“If it doesn’t work, then there’s no reason to stick around to that method.”

Ryu Han-bin tilted his head.

There was a part of Leon Hart’s explanation that he didn’t understand.

“That’s not necessarily the case. The Guideline skill is done with the body, after all. Then won’t you eventually learn it if you use it constantly?”

Han-bin had done it.

He trained three basic swordsmanship techniques, which were Guideline skills in the beginning.

After 22 years of using them, they were imprinted on his soul, and it was hard for him to tell whether he was using his own body to execute the skill or if he was using the Guideline.

“Likewise, other Aliens would have used the low-level swordsmanship techniques for that long, so I think they’ve mastered it enough.”

And didn’t they say that they automatically repeated the same skills dozens of times by running a macro function?

“So that’s what increases the proficiency?”

“Not really.”

Leon Hart explained as if he knew that he would make such a misunderstanding.

“Stab is acquired at level 2, and that must be the finished skill. So, it doesn’t matter if you’re level 50 or level 100. You’ll always use the level 2 Stab when you have to penetrate enemies. That’s what you think, right?”

“Oh, no?”

“Think about it. The stab of Effir and you. Do the two swordsmanship techniques executed through the same movement and flow have a difference in speed and firepower?”

Among boxers who had rapidly increased their weight and developed muscles, their batting form often collapsed.

When physical conditions changed, the same skills changed in detail.

In that same sense, if one’s level went up, new Stab, Crosscut, and Vertical cut skills would be acquired.

“The name seems to differentiate itself in a way that it’s called Ilseom or something, but it’s the same skill after all.”

It was just a Stab and a Horizontal Cut executed through a different posture, allowing it to flow to create a force that matched that level.

“Meaning to say, they don’t have level 2 skills all the way through. Every time they raise their level, they get a new skill of the same kind, only stronger.”

Hence, even with the macro, they wouldn’t be practicing the same skill over and over.

“That’s not how you’re going to train repeatedly. Your body and mind wouldn’t be in harmony at all if you did that.”

Only Ryu Han-bin could choose a different option.

His Guideline was broken, and only a few skills had been given to him.

“You were able to grow up properly as a swordsman, unlike the Aliens who have become incapable of learning or mastering.”

* * *

Ryu Han-bin calmly recalled Leon Hart’s words.

“I can learn and master to be strong…”

His face was blank.

“Isn’t that just saying that I’m the only one who can learn the skills in a hard way that others get easily?”

It seemed plausible, but it didn’t seem to be a particular advantage over other Aliens.

Leon Hart shook his fingers.

“Not at all.”

When Aliens raised their level, they automatically acquired the appropriate skills and the ability to operate the Aura.

At first glance, they seemed to take those very easily, but it also meant their limits were dependent on their level.

“They never use skills not fit for their levels.”

Then, who learned and mastered skills?

“It depends on what they’re trying to learn and master. Sometimes they have a martial art level less than their level, and sometimes they can go beyond the limits of their level.”

Guidelines always provided stable, efficient, universal, and versatile skills in relation to level.

Therefore, Aliens could become top martial artists, Mages, or Spiritists by themselves if they collected enough experience points.

But there were even more advanced skills in the world than what the Guideline could provide.

Such skills were evident within the strongest four beings.

“Right now, Han-bin, you’re in a similar case, aren’t you?”

“… Me?”

“Yeah, your basic swordsmanship skills.”

It had been a long time since he surpassed the skill level of the Guideline.

His posture and breathing were perfect.

At least those three movements of Ryu Han-bin were first-rate.

“Those skills are almost at level 140 even though your Aura’s operational capacity is at level 80. You realize that, right?”

“Those are definitely far stronger than other swordsmanship techniques, but…”

Han-bin had a messy look.

“But I don’t think it’s level 140.”

The level 104 Alien swordsman Pyotr, whom Han-bin had recently met, survived after being beaten with all his might. However, he was on the verge of death.

“As you say, shouldn’t he have died instantly? I hit level 104 with a level 140 skill.

Leon Hart smirked.

“I suppose so.”

That was also one of the things he was seriously mistaken about.

No, not only Leon Hart but everyone, including Ryu Han-bin, was mistaken.

“Han-bin, you’ve never really hit anyone with the Crosscut or Vertical Cut accurately.”

Han-bin had been training using his third-rate swordsmanship for as long as he could remember.

He even acquired Maxbrid martial arts and the swordsmanship of the Sword King.

So powerful was Ryu Han-bin’s pure swordsmanship then?

First-class? Absolute state?

“It’s like second-rate swordsmanship at best.”

Just looking at the three movements, those were definitely first class, but his overall swordsmanship level was too low.

In Earthling terms, he had a very powerful gun, but his marksmanship was poor.

He had never hit a target properly.

The opponent always skillfully lower his strength, deflected his offensive, and took maximum defense against him.

“But then they’d still die instantly since you’re that powerful.”

Pyotr, the level 104 swordsman, assisted by a level 102 Spiritist, barely escaped immediate death.

“Oh, my God, has my swordsmanship always been that poor?”

Ryu Han-bin shook his head.

“Then when I fought, even though everything I was doing was wrong, I still annihilated them simply because I’m much more powerful?”

Han-bin spoke out of shame, but Leon Hart was rather impressed.

“Yes, it isn’t for no reason that the Valtara’s Fighting Spirit is one of the best skills of the Sword King. It deserves to be well noted across the continent.”

The opponent survived because he couldn’t execute the level 140 Stab properly.

The fighting spirit’s activation didn’t suddenly make his swordsmanship style first class either, which meant there wasn’t much of a change in it.

But then, even if brushed by it, any level 100 Alien would still be killed unconditionally.

Then, how powerful would it be if he could use Valtara’s Fighting Spirit in the right way?

“That means your level must at least be over 150.”

“Uh….”

Han-bin’s jaw dropped.

He finally understood Leon Hart’s words.

A normal level 140 Alien could use power equal to that. However, that was their limit.

But Ryu Han-bin was different.

In certain situations and with limited skills, he could showcase more power than that!

“You’d have enough strength to give the Transcendental a run for her money.”

* * *

The next day, Han-bin and his party prepared to leave the secret hideout.

The same was true of the six Templar Lords.

Due to Leon Hart’s insight, they realized that Ryu Han-bin’s sword could reach Hollien in certain situations.

But that didn’t mean he was a threat to the Transcendental.

Han-bin’s overall combat capability was still only about level 120.

Therefore, it was necessary to increase the combat capability by filling in the deficiencies.

Then, how could he fill in the gaps?

Usually, he would calmly follow the right teachings, digest them through practice, and invest time in them.

That was the royal road to becoming stronger.

“I can’t achieve that in a short duration.”

Even at that moment, Ryu Han-bin had been trying hard.

He had never been particularly lazy.

It was hard to expect him to be lucky enough to reach enlightenment swiftly.

To be honest, if that were possible, he would have already gotten something.

“You can’t walk the royal road and become stronger quickly.”

Leon Hart came up with a solution for that predicament.

“If the royal road doesn’t work, we’ll have to walk on the anomalous road.”

He wasn’t waiting for the realization to come, but forcing him to realize!

Of course, it was hard for Han-bin to understand.

“… Has the realization of martial arts always been a forceful injection?”

“No, of course not.”

After shrugging, Leon Hart smiled insidiously.

“But it is possible to gain similar results.”

It would take far too long to improve all of his poor swordsmanship techniques equally.

Hence, he needed to choose only a few to improve and complete.

Likewise, his Valtara’s Fighting Spirit had a long way to go before it could reach its peak.

So he chose only a few skills and made sure he used them properly.

“To put it simply, this is what it is.”

Ryu Han-bin used to stick to only Stab, Crosscut, and Vertical Cut.

He would practice them again as part of mastering Valtara’s Fighting Spirit.

“Let’s give it a name…”

Looking back at everyone, Leon Hart smiled brightly.

“Making a Sword King in such a short duration, intensively and by rote… We shall give it a name with that in mind.”