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."

have issues with your

right eye

was

it

that getting better armor was basically impossible in this world, and Shang couldn't possibly focus on

research, and Shang couldn't spare any time

with this set of armor, he would never have

the armor, any attack that hit Shang

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

would also allow Shang to get further in future trials, assuming

Shang was definitely tempted.

the next

to listen to all the

first reward was already far more than Shang had expected, and he

shrunk and returned to the jester's hand as

adaptable to every kind of weapon and Element," the jester said. "You can use it as a baseline for all your future techniques. You don't need to study Magic anymore, and its

had to take another

terrifying something like

certain principles inside it that could be

fighting style again and elevate it

technique might even give Shang the inspiration he needed to theorize a

him decades of time

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

wouldn't even reach the

taken several incorrect steps

the technique might even

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

while the technique might lose its effects

the technique might have given Shang enough inspiration to create something even better, which he wouldn't have been able to create without

were terrifyingly

up either of

third?"

jester's hand,

you what it

Shang asked. "Why are you even offering it? You know me. I would much rather take something that will certainly

"I'm offering it because

raised an eyebrow.

at the question mark. "Long ago, someone created this thing. Then, they sacrificed a lot of Mana

used everything so that, one day, this thing would find its way to its

have succeeded and that this thing would

at the jester. "Does fate even

does," he said as he looked at Shang. "Fate

they influence your will?" Shang

my will. This thing is in my hands, and I may do with it what I

for a while. "Am I

said with a

that person know me?" Shang

"No."

it be

may enjoy joking around, but I

question is, is it more useful than the other

floated back to the jester's

offering it because I like to