System vs Rebirth

'A sword, a partner, and a spirit, huh…' Noel muttered inwardly, contemplating his reply.

Ardagan had been supporting him as a spirit and accompanied him like a partner. At the same time, Noel had been wielding him as a sword.

The question itself confused Noel a bit. While he could define Ardagan with three of those, was there a reason to actually define him with only a single one?

'Was it because I have never seen Ardagan purely as a sword that it has been hindering my progress? I learned Ardagan Swordsmanship thanks to Ardagan. Not long after, I created the Everchanging Emotion Sword Style.'

'So, Ardagan has been the foundation of my sword. In that case, can I say that this achievement is mine?'

Noel had realized that while he could actually define Ardagan with all those three, he couldn't say that his current expertise came from himself.

'No. It's not about that.' Noel suddenly remembered the conversation with the Sword Saint when he visited his tomb.

Back then, the Sword Saint said, "If not for Ardagan, I could beat your ancestor."

His ancestor had been using Ardagan, so how would he define him? And the fact that Ardagan was the one helping the ancestor becomes stronger than the Sword Saint made it clear that there was something fundamentally different.

The Sword Saint also told him that the Ardagan Swordsmanship would be different for each person. Ardagan would adjust its own form in order to match the contractor.

In other words, he could pursue his own swordsmanship and that Imaginary Battlefield would be his first step.

'That's right. I was asked about my goal regarding my swordsmanship by the Sword Saint. And that goal…' Noel turned silent as if he was on the verge of a realization.

'Yeah. I told him that I wanted my sword to be free. I want to be free from hatred, from revenge… I want the freedom to choose whatever I want.'

However, Noel also knew that to be free from everything was close to impossible. It was such an arduous path that no one dared to walk on.

Yet, the Sword Saint supported him and even told him that he could do it. He only warned him not to ever waver and see it through, no matter how painful the path was.

'Yes. Why do I have to be fixated on everything? If my sword can be free, why am I not free to consider Ardagan as my sword, partner, and spirit at the same time? Why am I not free of my emotions? No, it's not that I'm not free… It's just that I'm involuntarily restraining myself.'

'Emotions are bound to come to my heart, so instead of letting my heart free from emotion, I should control which emotion's coming out. I'm free to release my anger, I'm free to be surprised… I'm free to release that emotion.'

breath before gradually opening his eyes. Anna had been waiting for him this whole time and smiled after seeing the change in his expression.

try. Do you mind helping me

teach me about other things like

serious expression. He raised his

sense there was something different from the flow of the Spiritual Energy. In fact, this was similar to one

Noel was actually using the Spirit Weaponry. It was

Energy into the sword and allow the latter to actually cut the Spiritual Energy

the freedom that Noel desired, it would be the Spiritual Energy, not

be anger. This anger shall be directed to the world for trying to chain me

erupt, creating a malicious intent. There was anger and resentment contained in the Spiritual Energy, causing her to

released all her Spiritual Energy and struck Noel's

exploded, not only giving a

both hands to stop this strike, which actually

eruption, but the flow of the energy became

took a toll on his

'If Noel had actually mastered this ability, this area would have turned into a crater. In the future, his blade might be able to cut even a mountain like his ancestor… no, this time, we're

verge of understanding this new perception. Then, I'll push you further!" Anna smirked and

blade from the left, Noel waved the sword again. But this time, the Spiritual Energy kicked in first and formed a barrier. Anna managed to break it apart, but it still reduced her power and even bought enough time for Noel's sword to block

Cling!

first before containing the impact with your

than anything he had

had to release her lightning to match

Noel kept changing his emotions. All the emotions were still incomplete, but

minutes, Noel had dropped to the ground, gasping

hard time even opening his eyes. Even with his

the others, they would only feel the change in his sword. But for Noel,

good grasp of your path. All

won't be easy though."

it. Anyway, it's time

glance at the balcony again and realized that the two were still

she bent her knees and moved closer to his ears. "I'm not going to tell you. Just forge your own path without caring about that… because I know that you will always

peck on