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."

armor, you will never have issues with your armor

closed his right eye in

was more than

it was

impossible in this world, and

that required decades of research, and

would never have to worry about such

the armor, any attack that hit Shang would severely injure or kill

armor, he would get at least two additional lives per battle.

to get further in future trials, assuming he managed to advance to the Fifth

Shang was definitely tempted.

the next reward?"

wanted to listen

more than Shang had expected, and he wanted to know

armor shrunk and returned to the jester's hand as

use it as a baseline for all your future techniques. You don't need to study Magic anymore, and its power

to take another deep

how terrifying

principles inside it that could be filled with all

Shang's fighting style again and elevate it to new

he needed to theorize a way to reach the

would save him decades of time in his

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

that Shang wouldn't even reach the

had already taken several incorrect steps before that moment, forever making it impossible to reach

the technique might even be

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

forever, while the technique might lose its

technique might have given Shang enough inspiration to create something even better, which he

terrifyingly useful

of them since both were

third?" Shang

jester's hand, and the question mark moved

you what it is," the jester

are you even offering it? You know me. I

grinned. "I'm offering it

raised an

this thing. Then, they sacrificed a lot of Mana to influence

this thing would find its way to its

and that this thing would eventually

the jester. "Does fate even

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

did they influence

is no one that can influence my will. This thing is in my hands, and I may do with it what

silent for a while. "Am I the rightful

said with a

know me?" Shang

"No."

be useful for

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

is, is it more useful than the other two

back to the jester's

like to tempt fate, which is