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."

will never reach the Fifth Realm. His Path is just too

deep breath when he heard

obviously

powerful than him, the

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

have advanced immediately,

too early. If he had been born just fifty years later, he would

and even if he is still working on it, there are

silent for a

there really no way?" he

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

were still powerful, they simply ingested a pill to achieve such a powerful body. Such a pill would work on

"Are there any left in the

everything. You won't find a single inheritance

said,

them," the jester said

he just

repay Teacher Mervin, even if the Teacher Mervin that helped him had

long as there is a way, all

grip

ready for the next fight," he

The jester didn't answer.

began to spin

Stage warrior,"

the jester again.

"You didn't rely on my power. Also, your progress pleases me, and I don't want to punish you for living

'Progress, huh?' Shang thought.

any progress? Honestly,

SHING!

moment, Shang's

leather. He carried a long sword in his hands, just like Teacher Mervin. Surprisingly, he wore clothes made of fur and

that this was a barbarian, but he knew

carrying a heavy weapon

opponents in this trial. They were neither warriors nor beasts, and they were worse

of Shang was probably some kind of

their own, only working

some hermit warrior would be among the more powerful warriors, but this one is apparently

his hammer

DING!

his eyes and looked

to the side, creating a screeching noise

movements had been

warrior entered a

BANG!

And suddenly exploded forward.

also exploded forward with an Ice

of them charged at each other, and Shang readied

bend in the air and move to