Sword God in a World of Magic

Shang released a long sigh.

Going through the trial was always filled with stress. Even though his life wasn't technically on the line here, the continuous fights against stronger and stronger opponents sapped his strength by a lot.

"You got thirteen points in the beast category and ten points in the Mage category," the jester said. "That's a total of 23 points without a warrior category."

"It was definitely the right decision to promote you."

Shang didn't answer.

He knew that his power had grown tremendously, but that didn't just occur naturally.

Shang was 85 years old, and he had spent over 50 years in complete isolation.

About 70% of his life had been nothing but training day in and day out in isolation.

Was it easy to do something like that?

Of course not!

Shang also wanted to take breaks.

He also wanted to do something else.

However, he couldn't allow himself to relax.

His goal was too important to him, and any moment that wasn't spent on getting him to his goal was a waste of time.

"What are the rewards?" Shang asked.

The jester smirked.

SHING!

Three small things appeared above his right hand, and Shang looked at them.

One was a small set of armor.

One was a small book.

One was a big question mark.

"I have three things to choose from. You may only take one," the jester said.

At that moment, the little armor floated forward and grew to its normal size.

It looked just like Shang's previous armor.

"The first option: An armor just like your weapon."

Shang took a deep breath as he heard that.

An armor just like Sword?

"So, it regenerates, adapts to my needs, and it grows stronger by giving it ore?" Shang asked.

The jester nodded. "Exactly."

issues with your armor again, just like with

his right

reward was

fact, it

basically impossible in this world, and Shang couldn't possibly focus on

and Shang couldn't spare

would

any attack that hit

least two additional

future trials, assuming he managed to

Shang was definitely tempted.

next reward?"

listen to

than Shang had expected, and he wanted to know if

the jester's hand

all your

take another deep

terrifying something

technique was essentially only a blueprint. It had certain principles inside it that could

Shang's fighting style again and

even give Shang the inspiration he needed to theorize a way

decades of time in his

monumental task. Shang had to create a path forward without knowing where

even reach the

in the future, he would find a way, but he had already taken several incorrect steps before that moment, forever making it impossible to

technique might even be

the first reward would increase Shang's chance of survival several-fold in the future, the second

useful forever, while the technique

given Shang enough inspiration to create something even better, which he wouldn't have been

were terrifyingly useful for Shang's

give up either of them since both were so

the third?"

book returned to the jester's hand,

not telling you what it

I able to make a decision?" Shang asked. "Why are you even offering it? You know me. I

grinned. "I'm offering it

an

ago, someone created this thing. Then,

this thing would find its way to its rightful

certain that they have succeeded and that this thing would

jester. "Does fate

chuckled. "In a way, it does," he said as he looked at Shang.

did they influence your

laugh. "There is no one that can influence my will. This thing is in my hands, and

a while.

said with a

that person know me?" Shang

"No."

it be

course," the jester said. "I may enjoy joking around, but I still believe in

question is, is it more useful than the other two

floated back

like to tempt fate,