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.'

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

I'd like to try. Do you mind helping me for a

about other things like strategy

expression. He raised his sword as the Spiritual Energy enveloped every corner of his

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

Noel was actually using the Spirit Weaponry. It was the ability that

to actually cut the Spiritual Energy itself.

the freedom that Noel

This anger shall be directed to the world for trying to chain me down.' Noel thought before jumping toward Anna, swinging his

malicious intent. There was anger and

all her Spiritual Energy

collided, Noel's Spiritual Energy exploded, not only giving a boost to the sword

this strike, which actually caused

flow of the energy became so disrupted that

The process took a toll on his mind since he never controlled

thought, '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 going

seems that you're on the verge of understanding this new perception. Then, I'll push

a barrier. Anna managed to break it apart, but it still reduced her power and even bought enough time

Cling!

Energy first before containing the impact with your sword?" Anna smiled, believing it was the

anything he had done so far. This time, he used the 'Fear' to enhance

lightning to match Noel's speed, barely

clashing as Noel kept changing his emotions. All the emotions were still incomplete, but Anna could see the latent potential that this

minutes, Noel had dropped to

had a hard time even opening his eyes. Even with his good control of

sword. But for Noel, that emotion would fill his heart and keep changing, causing

think you've got a good grasp of your path. All

won't be easy though."

Anyway, it's time

do?" Noel tried to glance at the balcony again and realized that the two

going to tell you. Just forge your own path without caring about that… because I know that you will

a little peck on his