Sword God in a World of Magic

"Is this truly what you want?" Shang asked as he faced his student.

His student was a black-haired man who seemed to be in his thirties, and he was also over two meters tall, which was quite intimidating.

Surprisingly, he didn't have an Affinity.

However, not having an Affinity also increased someone's physical power by a little bit.

"Is fighting this aggressively truly what you wish for?" Shang asked.

The student looked to the ground as he furrowed his brows in thought.

"Do I have a choice?" the student asked.

"Yes, you always have a choice," Shang said. "You can follow whatever Path you want to follow, Duma."

Duma, Shang's student, wasn't quite sure what he should answer. "But what if my Path doesn't lead to an Impose, Master?"

Shang slowly shook his head. "The principle of Impose is to impose your will upon the world around you. The world is not the one that decides what gets an Impose or not. You are the one."

"Duma, you view yourself as a protector, not a killer," Shang said. "You told me that your goal is to protect your loved ones, correct?"

Duma nodded.

"Then, you should follow a Path that shows that. The Path you have established is a Path of the shield, and you broke into the True Path Stage with that. The gladius you use as an actual weapon hasn't received its own Path."

"Yet, as soon as you became my student, you started to emulate my way of fighting. You are using your shield to throw the enemy to the side, to crush them, and to break their balance, but you are not using it to block an attack or push the enemy away."

"Watching me train and fight has given you the illusion that following my Path is the only way to become powerful."

Duma didn't look at Shang's face.

"Is what I have taught you over the last two years worth just this much?" Shang asked in an even voice. "Are you someone that simply follows what others do? Have I not taught you to think and decide for yourself?"

None of the two of them said anything.

At the moment, Duma's imposing figure stood in front of the corpse of an Early True Path Stage corpse, but in front of Shang, he felt tiny.

a bit smaller than Duma in stature, and Shang's frame was

his Master

asked after a while.

didn't say anything

couple of seconds. "Not everyone can be like

Shang didn't answer.

Impose without any guidance. That requires

as he looked at the

but just thinking about

power just to find out that my work has been

have established several Imposes, and your Colossal Sword Path

from someone else? Isn't that what everyone is essentially doing? After all, we are

anything for

of copying someone else's Path?" Shang asked. "Their Path will never be yours, and while you might be able to create a weak Impose with their Path, you will never be above-average in Battle-Strength, and you can forget about reaching

his eyes to look

Silence.

be outstanding on my level. Just reaching the True Path Stage was already like a dream had come true, and with your help, I might even be able to reach the Impose

city. I could earn enough to live in a castle with my family. I would

money to travel to different towns and cities.

Just

say anything for

"Fine," Shang said coldly.

SHING!

Shang summoned a thick book and threw it

the cover and saw the words Mana Pathway

SHING!

thick books

a

your Mana Pathways. You created a defensive Path for your shield, and

books. Learn the Spell. Get more

the sounds of the Adamantite

need 100 to

looked with shock and surprise at all the

roundabout and difficult way, making it seem like creating an Impose was next

his Master had handed him some things, and

difference between the two ways