Sword God in a World of Magic

It took Shang a while to calm down, but there was still a certain feeling of emptiness and regret inside of him.

Yet, this was what he had chosen.

For his goal, any kind of sacrifice was worth it.

Surprisingly, no new opponent had appeared in the last couple of minutes, even though Shang had already "won" against his previous one.

Shang slowly stood up and gripped Sword tightly.

Even if everything else vanished, Sword would be with him until the end.

The two of them didn't need to exchange words to make their feelings known.

"Took you guys long enough," the jester said with a grin.

Shang didn't look over.

"How long have we been training?"

The jester's grin widened.

"Five years."

Silence.

Five years.

They had been training for five full years.

That was so long!

For a second, Shang couldn't believe what he had just heard, but then he remembered how endlessly time had dragged on.

Five years actually made sense.

"And even after five years," Shang said, "I still couldn't beat him fairly."

The jester's grin didn't vanish. "Of course not," he said.

"His kind are the very reason why I sent you guys into my main world in the first place."

Shang looked over at the jester.

"Hardworking geniuses," the God said. "They use whatever they can get and perfect it. Yet, his body is weak. He is one of the very rare true geniuses, but his lack of a powerful body makes it impossible for him to fight any Mage or beast that is not completely worthless."

"The path of the warrior has deteriorated to a degree where mastering the entire thing only makes you equal to the worst Mages in the world."

"It is your duty to expand the warrior's path. Give the geniuses more to master, and they won't disappoint you."

"Your predecessor accepted the first Path he found, not trying to strengthen or widen it."

never reach the Fifth Realm. His Path

a deep breath when he heard

was obviously talking about the

more powerful than him, the Dean would never reach

warrior to reevaluate himself," the jester added. "He saw that your predecessor couldn't rival the Mages

would have advanced immediately, wasting his

he had been born just fifty years later, he would have a shot at

already condensed his Path, and even if he is still working on it, there are

silent for

really no

always a way," he said with a laugh. "I designed this world to always have a

warriors were still powerful, they simply ingested a

the jester. "Are there

everything. You won't find a single inheritance regarding physical fighters

I've said,

to find them," the

he just took a deep

if the Teacher Mervin that helped him had not been the

a way, all hope is not

strengthened his grip on

for the next fight,"

The jester didn't answer.

began to spin

Commander Stage

the jester again. "You

my power. Also, your progress pleases me, and I don't want to punish you for living up to

'Progress, huh?' Shang thought.

any progress? Honestly, I

SHING!

moment, Shang's opponent

hands, just like Teacher Mervin. Surprisingly, he wore clothes made of

this was a barbarian, but he knew that wouldn't make

wasn't carrying a heavy weapon but an

trial. They were neither warriors nor beasts,

person in front of Shang was probably some

their own, only

among

his hammer and struck

DING!

opened his eyes and

to the side, creating a screeching

had been incredibly

entered

BANG!

And suddenly exploded forward.

eye and also exploded forward

at each other, and Shang readied his

sword seemed to bend in the air and move to