Chapter 82

'26-level proficiency limit removed. This is insane.'

The Dragon Knight class grants a proficiency limit removal up to 26 levels for sword skills.

Without a related class, weapon proficiency can typically only be raised to level 10. Even with enhanced equipment, it cannot exceed level 10.

This was precisely the reason why he hadn't bothered to raise his sword proficiency until now.

With two supreme iron swords, it was impossible to raise it beyond level 10 anyway!

With a related class, the limit is usually up to level 15.

Classes that unlock up to level 20 are extremely rare.

They do exist, but obtaining them is incredibly difficult.

Beyond that?

'Only classes inherited can exceed level 20.'

To increase the proficiency limit, one must inherit a class from a unique weapon, a transcended human, or some great being.

A 26-level proficiency limit is the highest among inheritable classes.

To surpass 26 levels, one must transcend by consuming a related star.

"Where did the Azure Radiance go?"

Upon reflection, it was said that the Sword Saint Ralyl used a unique sword.

The Azure Radiance.

But the trail of the Azure Radiance was obscure.

"It has been inherited by someone."

"Does this mean the inheritance of the Sword Saint is complete?"

"Yes. The inheritance of the title and rank I held in my human life is complete."

Sword Saint.

Only one person came to mind.

'Gracia.'

No one else openly called themselves the Sword Saint except Gracia.

If Gracia truly inherited the Azure Radiance,

I'm a bit curious about the proficiency limit level of the Sword Saint.

"However, that is a title based on human standards. The Dragon Knight class awakened while facing a Demon King just before sinking into the abyss. Unfortunately, I couldn't fully merge with this shell, but..."

Indeed.

The Dragon Knight class awakened when he began to control the blood of a dragon while facing the Demon King.

Although he ultimately failed and sank into the abyss, the sense of regret suggests that if he had fully controlled it, the outcome might have been different.

That's why he wants to face this shell, the Fallen Dragon, himself.

'Strange, I thought it was familiar.'

Ralyl was famous as a Sword Saint, but I had never heard of the Dragon Knight.

If he awakened as a Dragon Knight at the end, it makes sense that I wouldn't know.

《20 seconds later, the basic maintenance function of the 'Throne of Radiant Light' will be removed.》

But I can't back down.

To inherit the Dragon Knight class, I need Ralyl's recognition.

"The Fallen Dragon should not be underestimated. This dragon is pure evil, driven only by the instinct to destroy. Only I, who have experienced it for a long time, can handle it."

Soul and body separated.

The Fallen Dragon is a shell driven only by the instinct to destroy.

Yet, it is still a part of itself, pure evil.

"Master of the Throne, I hope you make the right choice. It's not that I underestimate you, but this vessel is too heavy for someone who hasn't walked the path of the sword."

I understand Ralyl's feelings but ignored them and slowly stretched my body.

《5 seconds later, the basic maintenance function of the 'Throne of Radiant Light' will be removed.》

My body trembles.

Each cell feels like it's waking up.

How far can I go?

The memories inherited from Wilhelm.

How far can this body reach?

One of the greatest heroes of the Hexagon, the Sword Saint Ralyl.

I'm very curious about the limits I can reach with his abilities.

I held the sword in both hands.

After a slow deep breath.

《'Throne of Radiant Light' basic maintenance function removed.》

I advanced, walking through the light.

*

A rain of magic orbs.

Each one had the power to destroy walls.

But the most challenging were the abyssal arms rising from the ground.

Attacks filling every space, leaving no room to stand.

Physical attacks are ineffective.

While they can be cut with sword energy, it's inefficient.

"The shell has grown stronger after sinking into the abyss. Be careful of those abyssal arms."

Ralyl seemed unfamiliar with the Fallen Dragon's attack patterns.

These arms didn't exist before.

They appeared out of nowhere.

And while sitting on the Throne of Radiant Light, I identified the nature of these arms.

《The Fallen Dragon's mystery 'Deep Abyss' has been destroyed.》

The numerous abyssal arms disappeared instantly.

Indeed.

Occasionally, monsters hide their mysteries and act like abilities.

The reason for making it difficult to distinguish between abilities and mysteries is to hide something.

To make it look like the ability of the maze itself, like the walls of the maze.

'The troublesome arms are gone. Now...'

Without the arms rolling on the ground, movement is free.

I deflected the raining magic orbs with a sword barrier and looked at the Fallen Dragon floating in the air.

'Let's fly.'

*

"..."

Ralyl stared blankly at the man.

Not only was he using the Dragon Knight's abilities as if they were his own,

but he destroyed the Fallen Dragon's mystery obtained from the abyss, deflected countless bullet screens without missing a single one, found an opening, and stepped on the maze walls to fly.

Kiaaa!

...and left a long sword mark on one of the Fallen Dragon's wings.

The entire process was so fluid and natural that Ralyl was momentarily speechless, just staring.

"..."

It sounds easy, but it's far from it.

In just under two minutes.

Adapting to the physical changes, blocking the Fallen Dragon's attacks, and planning a counterattack route in that time is impossible.

Normally, one would be overwhelmed by the physical changes and fail.

Out of ten thousand, all ten thousand would fail.

There are no exceptions.

...There shouldn't be.

Kiaaaa!

The Fallen Dragon, falling to the ground, let out a roar of anger.

A circular flame spread from the Fallen Dragon, covering the entire space.

The flame, spreading with a shockwave, tears apart both the inside and outside.

It cannot be blocked simply by cutting it with sword energy.

Randolph held the sword in both hands again.

And.

"Whoosh-!"

He struck the approaching flame with a large downward swing.

But the shockwave and flame were not destroyed.

They merely passed through Randolph.

Seeing this, Ralyl couldn't believe it.

"Resonance...?"

Resonance with the sword!

He became the sword itself, deflecting the attacks.

But this resonant sword is a technique beyond mere sword energy.

How could someone who hasn't walked the path of the sword use it?

The following scene was also overwhelming.

Randolph became a sword.

And a dragon.

The form of the Fallen Dragon appeared all over his body.

It wasn't a mistake.

The form of the sword energy began to resemble the Fallen Dragon.

"Resonating with the Fallen Dragon...?"

He was resonating not only with the sword but also with the Dragon Knight's disposition.

The Dragon Knight class, which Ralyl barely awakened to while facing the Demon King.

But he didn't complete it.

To complete the Dragon Knight class, one must become one with the dragon.

To complete it, one must resonate perfectly.

But is that possible?

To achieve what he couldn't in such a short time.

Is it really possible?

A talent that even the Hexagon member and Sword Saint couldn't surpass.

'This isn't talent. This can't be called talent.'

But this was beyond mere talent.

It was like walking a path he had already experienced.

Not creation or exploration, but like running a known path faster.

The path he had just started to create.

Already knowing and completing it.

...Is that really possible?

End

The relationship between the Sword Saint Ralyl and the Fallen Dragon.

It was like the relationship between me and Wilhelm.

A character I raised, but not me.

A vague existence that can't be called me.

The way Ralyl refers to the Fallen Dragon as a shell might be similar.

'Am I Wilhelm, then?'

This isn't a philosophical question.

It's just a curiosity about whether I can call the Wilhelm I raised and inherited through the star's memory a complete 'me.'

The sense of disconnection from reality.

Ralyl must have had the same thoughts.

But Ralyl defined the Fallen Dragon as a shell and categorized it as evil.

'...What does it matter?'

I put aside my thoughts.

I am not Wilhelm.

But I can become Wilhelm.

Anyone can become anyone.

And I will surpass that.

'Interesting.'

Right now, it's just enjoyable to move my body and swing the sword.

No time for deep thoughts.

Movements I couldn't even imagine before.

The enhanced body allows me to recreate everything I've only imagined.

Combining my gameplay and Wilhelm's memories, I became Wilhelm.

《Recreating the 'Earth' of 'Heaven and Earth'》

Resonating.

Resonating with everything on the earth.

The 'Earth' of 'Heaven and Earth'.

A sword technique that resonates and deflects all attacks.

Naturally deflecting the Fallen Dragon's attacks as if breathing.

'More.'

With each step.

My heart cheered as if it would burst.

But it's not enough.

'A little more.'

I want to push beyond the limits.

This isn't enough to fully realize this encounter.

So, push me harder.

'Push me harder.'

Push me with all your might.

The more you push, the more my limits will expand.

At least from 'Earth' to 'Open'.

If I can reach that domain, the fog in my mind will clear.

How long have I been swinging the sword in a state of no self?

A giant dragon was in front of me.

The Fallen Dragon.

The shell that destroys everything and is defined as evil has stopped attacking.

'Why?'

Why did it stop?

The thirst hasn't been quenched.

Eventually, I met the Fallen Dragon's eyes.

The Fallen Dragon was looking down at me.

Not just a shell, but a living being capable of expressing intent.

"It can't be..."

The Sword Saint Ralyl said, disbelieving.

The dragon, driven by hunger, stopped attacking.

The Fallen Dragon, which had never ceased its destructive behavior, had never paused.

It had never given such a steady gaze.

This phenomenon is unbelievable.

《The Fallen Dragon is looking at you.》

And the Fallen Dragon is looking at me, not the Sword Saint Ralyl.

Then I understood.

The reason Ralyl could awaken as a Dragon Knight.

The blood of the Fallen Dragon. Ralyl's cursed half reached out to him countless times.

But the Sword Saint Ralyl, as a human, could not accept the Fallen Dragon.

He saw the dragon's blood as a curse and could never consider the Fallen Dragon, which freely destroyed, as part of himself.

He was a Hexagon.

A great hero.

"Ralyl. Do you think your awakening as a Dragon Knight in the final moment was just a coincidence?"

Awakening by pouring everything into the battle against the Demon King?

That's something you see in manga.

Ralyl simply accepted it in that moment.

The Fallen Dragon.

He wanted to stop the Demon King, even if it meant using the power of the cursed blood.

"Was I the problem?"

"Because you rejected it, your other half had to accept the world in a different way."

Even though it wasn't a clear-cut issue like light and