I drew Mujin.
Due to the high density of mana in the Chamber of Trials, video transmission devices don't function properly.
That meant there was no issue with taking out Mujin.
The illusion mirrored my stance, raising its sword and aiming at me.
My most powerful sword technique—
Cheokma.
A fierce shockwave tore through the air.
Kwaaaang—!
And then—
"Guaaagh!"
My body was cleaved in two. My Mujin had missed, while the illusion's Mujin had cut straight through me.
"Damn it…."
I collapsed again, feeling the sensation of my entire body draining of blood.
Then, my eyes flashed open once more.
'What happened this time?'
I had swung Cheokma, but the illusion had simply deflected it, redirecting my attack with ease.
And the way it deflected it… was a technique I knew as well.
'No, it's not even a specific sword technique. It's just a fundamental redirection maneuver used in any swordsmanship style.'
The level of skill should be the same, but the results kept turning out differently.
It was frustrating to be overpowered like this, and the sensation of dying was disgusting—yet at the same time, I felt excitement.
Because this meant that I could become this strong too!
"Alright!"
As soon as I got back on my feet, I charged at the illusion.
Bang! Thud!
On the third attempt, my stomach was impaled.
"Graaaah!"
Just as I swung my sword, the illusion abruptly transformed its Mujin into a dagger, causing my attack to miss completely.
Thrown off balance, I left an opening—one the illusion instantly exploited, driving its dagger into my abdomen.
'Now it's even using Mujin's transformation!'
After dying three times, my frustration turned into sheer determination.
On the fifth attempt, I successfully parried the illusion's Mujin, only for it to suddenly rush in and break my neck with a grappling technique.
On the tenth attempt, just as I transitioned from an amplification technique to an acceleration technique, it struck in that brief moment of vulnerability and severed my arm.
Even its mastery of mana techniques was absurdly fast.
After the twentieth attempt, the battles started to last longer.
'So this… This is how that technique can be used to this extent.'
At some point, I realized—I was enjoying this.
Aside from studying mana techniques with my aunt, I had never properly received training or sparred with an instructor.
The sensory awakening training during group education was nothing more than a brutal beating. The real combat I had experienced on Jeokcheong Island was merely hunting.
That meant I had always been forced to analyze weapons and train alone.
But now, it was different.
This illusion was the best teacher and sparring partner I could ever ask for.
It was forcing me to utilize my power in ways I had never noticed before—pulling out everything I had, even the techniques I knew but never used.
'There's no better way to get stronger than this!'
The fear of death had long since vanished.
I drew Mujin once again and charged at the illusion.
"Grrk…."
On the twenty-fifth attempt, even with my throat pierced, I didn't stop swinging my sword.
A mutual destruction technique.
For the first time, the illusion hesitated and pulled back, even abandoning its Mujin and leaping backward.
Schk!
But it didn't escape unscathed.
Until now, I hadn't landed a single effective hit.
But finally—I had cut off one of its arms.
"Next time… I'll sever your arm without dying."
Gritting my teeth, I collapsed.
-...
'Me' slowly looked down at my fallen self.
'My' lips curled into a slow smile.
– What an amusing kid.
A short remark.
I never heard that voice.
***
48th attempt.
I finally landed a clean hit first.
I managed to cut the illusion's neck.
Of course, my own neck had been severed just before that.
"Alright! I'll finish this within three more tries!"
But—
Boom!
55th attempt.
'It hurts like hell, but… have I ever been able to unleash my full power like this before?'
Clang!
Our strikes clashed.
I no longer relied on powerful techniques. Not even specific sword forms. Mujin moved according to my instincts, following the most precise trajectory.
71st attempt.
My stance and the illusion's stance became almost identical.
A natural posture, devoid of formal sword techniques.
Complete relaxation, allowing for any attack at any moment.
What is my fighting style?
I freely altered Mujin's shape, exchanging attacks at different ranges.
Slash!
My arm was severed, and Mujin slipped from my grasp.
But I didn't stop—I lunged forward, locking the illusion in a joint hold.
Damn it. Of all places, why is Mujin…?
The technique was executed perfectly, but the illusion's Mujin had landed exactly where I fell.
As my consciousness faded, I lost again.
75th attempt… No, was it the 80th?
I was too exhausted to keep count anymore.
But I felt great.
Now I understand a little.
I had grasped the nature of my power and recognized my strengths.
I can master everything.
A normal warrior would spend their entire life perfecting a single weapon.
But I had the ability to read the memories and achievements of those who had mastered their weapons.
To wield diverse martial styles, I needed an adaptable mana technique. The one I had developed with my aunt fulfilled that need.
My power is freedom.
Unpredictable adaptability.
A limitless fighting style.
The moment I realized the path I had to take, I crashed into the illusion once more.
When the distance widened, I switched Mujin into a spear and exchanged thrusts.
At close range, I transformed it into a dagger.
Strikes and grappling techniques flowed seamlessly together.
And then—
For a brief moment, the illusion and I moved in perfect sync.
Weapons shifting, stances transitioning, evasion patterns identical—like looking into a mirror.
Vwoooong—!
A dense mist-like mana began gathering around Mujin, now in its sword form.
Aura. The power known as sword energy.
A force I had only barely managed to replicate before, using mana boosters and extreme techniques—
Now, it naturally formed in my hands.
KWAANG!
'Me' and my sword collided.
The illusion's sword also carried aura.
'It' thrust its blade at my abdomen.
I didn't block it on purpose.
The illusion looked slightly surprised but then drove the sword in deeper, confident in the fatal strike.
Thrust!
A chilling pain crawled up my spine.
But—
"I let my guard down on purpose, dumbass."
I had avoided my vitals.
I gripped the illusion's arm tightly, shoving the blade even deeper into my stomach.
The distance between us vanished.
The illusion's eyes widened.
Cheokma.
I swung Mujin, now transformed into a razor-sharp blade.
Even this technique—I had only thought of it as a sword technique, limiting myself with my own assumptions.
But Mujin could take any form.
Slice—!
Finally.
After countless deaths—
I cut off 'my' head.
"I won."
I smiled as I watched 'me' collapse.
Vwoooooooong—!
The moment the trial ended, the Chamber of Struggle trembled heavily.
A dense surge of mana rushed toward me.
Thud, thud, thud—!
Countless streams of power poured into my very core.
I had proven myself in the trial left behind by my ancestors.
Now, only the reward remained.
Crack–
….
Even though nothing had broken, a sound of something shattering echoed.
It felt like a lock inside me had been undone.
The hidden ability within the blood of the Sungmuiga family was awakening.
'Ah!'
The moment the ability was released, I instinctively understood what it was—without needing to question it.
As if it had always been mine.
"This is…!"
In my past life, my ability had been Enhancement.
A common ability that many branch family members awakened—one that strengthened weapons and the body.
But this time, it was different.
As I realized what I had gained, my eyes widened in shock.
***
The Sungmuiga main house was in an uproar once again.
Several elders, warriors, scholars, and researchers from the family had rushed to Jeokcheong Island.
"The Chamber of Struggle… something only briefly mentioned in ancient records… How in the world did that illegitimate child find it?"
The head researcher murmured under his breath, staring at the ancient iron door.
Because the test taker's every moment had been transmitted through their brooch and bracelet, the discovery of this hidden chamber had immediately been reported to the family.
"He needs to come out quickly… The older the artifact, the faster it deteriorates when exposed to air…"
Ancient relics and records—mostly lost to time—always held immense value.
And this wasn't just any relic.
This was the Chamber of Struggle, a legendary trial ground.
"How much time has passed since the test began?"
The head researcher, having lost count of how many times he asked, turned to the guard.
"It has been 79 hours and 30 minutes."
"That's far past the designated end of the Naming Ceremony. All other trial chambers should have shut down by now…"
The researcher anxiously stomped his feet.
No matter what they did, the iron door would not budge.
They could force it open if necessary—but with the illegitimate child still inside, they couldn't risk it.
"Damn it! Running such a precious relic without caution… And on top of that, starting the trial without preparation! Please, please, don't let it be damaged. I'll make sure to reward whoever found this properly, just don't ruin it…"
The researcher looked ready to cry as he gazed at the door.
"Sigh…"
Beside him, General Overseer Lee Taehong let out a deep sigh.
"I thought today would be the day he came out, but this troublemaker… The Naming Ceremony, the Beast Trainer, Guisu Mountain, and now the Chamber of Struggle. How many damn incidents can one kid cause during what should be a simple ceremony?"
Having struggled to focus on work for days, Taehong had finally caught up on his backlog and rushed to Jeokcheong Island himself.
"Mana density is changing!"
"Then… could it be over?!"
"Yes! The chamber is opening!"
Creeeeeeak!
With a heavy rumble, the iron door—sealed shut for nearly 80 hours—began to open.
Step, step—
A lone figure slowly emerged from the darkness.
For a brief moment, everyone watching flinched.
What walked out was just a young and frail child—
And yet, for that fleeting instant, it felt as if some colossal beast was stepping forward instead.
Thud—
The silence remained unbroken until the child collapsed.
"Yeong!"
Lee Taehong was the first to move.
He caught the fallen child in his arms, his trembling hands brushing aside their tangled hair.
"Are you alright? Wake up!"
Slowly, Yeong opened their parched lips.
"Water…"
"…What?"
"I'm hungry…"
For a moment, Lee Taehong just stood there, mouth agape.
Then, his voice erupted in frustration.
"You damn brat!!!"
***
A vast, ancient forest stretched endlessly, remnants of old civilizations scattered throughout.
By a small bonfire, a lone man was tending to his sword.
"Captain. I've returned."
A figure clad in black robes—the mark of the Phantom Sword Corps—emerged beside him.
But there was something strange about the robe.
It wasn't the old design, nor was it the same as the modern uniforms.
Only the color remained the same.
Anyone who had spent years in the family would recognize what that meant—
The Ten Blades, the direct combat force of the head of the family.
Little was known about them.
Only that Lee Taeshin—the legendary warrior—had personally recruited them from outside the family.
That, and that they had accomplished countless feats at his side.
By the time Taeshin had fully seized control of the clan, the Ten Blades had already disbanded and scattered.
"I told you, I am no longer your captain."
The man sharpening his sword was none other than Lee Taeshin himself.
"To me, you always will be, sir. More importantly, the Naming Ceremony has ended."
"Oh?"
Taeshin's expression showed rare interest.
"What happened to the youngest?"
Hearing that question, the black-robed man felt a peculiar sense of surprise.
'It's been so long since Captain took interest in his own children… and of all of them, the illegitimate one?'
"The young master discovered the Chamber of Struggle, supposedly created by the first head of the family. The entire clan is in an uproar."
"…The first head's trial chamber?"
This one never made things simple.
And the scale of the incidents kept growing.
"As expected of Yujeong's child."
Taeshin muttered indifferently.
The black-robed man said nothing, merely keeping his silence.
Crackle!
Sparks leapt from the bonfire.
Then, the black-robed man spoke again.
"It seems there will be a banquet. Perhaps you should return? You should be the one to name your children, after all."
"…That's true."
Slowly, Taeshin rose to his feet.
His gaze turned behind him.
Beyond the flames.
The moon, once obscured by clouds, shone down upon the world.
And in that light, the truth hidden by the shadows was revealed.
An uncountable number of monster corpses.
A field of bodies, stretching endlessly.
Looking upon the carnage, Taeshin finally spoke.
"Let's go. The family will need to prepare, after all."