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."

he will never reach the Fifth

a deep breath when he

God was obviously talking about the

powerful than him, the

the jester added. "He saw that your predecessor couldn't rival

would have advanced immediately,

been born just fifty years later,

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

remained silent for a

really no way?"

he said with a laugh. "I designed this

of many ways to strengthen your body. Back when warriors were still powerful, they simply ingested a pill to achieve such a

looked at the jester. "Are there any left in the

find a single

said, there

it's your duty to find them," the

as he

repay Teacher Mervin, even if the Teacher Mervin that

long as there is a way, all hope

his grip on

ready for the next

The jester didn't answer.

began

Stage warrior," the

looked at the jester again. "You

progress pleases me, and I don't want to punish

'Progress, huh?' Shang thought.

I make any progress? Honestly,

SHING!

that moment, Shang's opponent

long sword in his hands, just like Teacher Mervin. Surprisingly, he wore clothes made of

thought that this was a barbarian, but he

carrying a heavy weapon but an

opponents in this trial. They were neither

the person in front of Shang was probably some kind

lived on their own, only working

assumed that some hermit warrior would be among the more powerful

hammer and

DING!

warrior opened his eyes and looked

he swung his sword to the side, creating a screeching noise by cutting the wind

movements had been incredibly

warrior entered

BANG!

And suddenly exploded forward.

and also exploded forward with an Ice

at each other, and Shang readied

sword seemed to bend in