Chapter 44
“Killing Intent is a different kind of power from ordinary Qi; its nature is fundamentally distinct. Hmm~ If I had to compare it, it’s somewhat similar to Steel Qi.”
Ever since I became Karen’s disciple.
I’ve been receiving intensive, hands-on lessons from her every day.
At first, I worried that she might reveal her madness even during the lectures.
‘Surprisingly, she’s quite professional when she teaches.’
Well, that’s probably because I’ve managed to establish a clear advantage over her.
In fact, people like her often have a strict separation between public and private matters.
“Typically, Qi with special properties can only be accumulated through a corresponding cultivation method.”
In the case of Reina’s Frost Qi, the secret techniques of the Winter family allow her to imbue her qi with cold properties.
Other cases, like fire, earth, and water, where the nature of qi is altered, are quite common in this world.
“The advantages of this are clear. Some sword styles can’t even be performed without specialized Qi. But the drawbacks are also quite significant.”
Karen took out a few pieces of ice from the icebox she brought.
“If the environment is right, you can produce several times the power of ordinary Qi….”
She clenched the ice in her hand.
Steam began to rise between her fingers, and water dripped down.
“But it has a glaring weakness. It’s vulnerable to extreme opposites.”
“…Did you bring that big icebox just to show me that?”
“No! I brought ice cream too. Let’s have some later.”
Karen muttered quietly, “Ice melts too easily, so it’s not a good sword style….”
“Anyway~ from that perspective, Killing Intent is different from other types of Qi. It doesn’t require any special cultivation method, nor does it have a clear weakness.”
“It seems to have only unfair advantages.”
“Haha! Does it? Maybe it does.”
It has no elemental weakness, it’s incredibly powerful, and it even has good side effects.
‘Why would anyone bother learning other cultivation methods and sword styles with something like this?’
It’s hard not to think this way.
Of course, everything has its reasons.
“But not everyone can learn Killing Intent. In fact, very few can.”
This power is accessible to only a tiny fraction of people.
“Do you know why it hasn’t been passed down like the secret techniques of other families?”
“It’s because the aptitude for Killing Intent isn’t inherited.”
“Yes, that’s right.”
As if the heavens placed a restriction on such immense power.
Killing Intent can never be obtained through sheer effort.
Only innate aptitude and talent.
Those alone determine whether one can wield Killing Intent.
“Then… why did you decide to teach me, Professor? I might not have been suitable.”
“Lan, do you know why, despite its rarity, knowledge and sword styles related to Killing Intent have survived until now?”
Karen grinned as she met my eyes.
“Killing Intent users can see it, you know. The potential for Killing Intent in others.”
“So I have the potential, it seems.”
“It’s more than just potential.”
She reached out and flicked my forehead.
“The violent nature you’ve kept hidden inside. You’re a natural with Killing Intent, Lan.”
…As I thought.
[Tyrant] +30p! You have a violent temperament.
I guess you can’t fool a master’s eyes easily.
***
Clang!
My sword clashed with Jane’s.
The crimson aura and the golden aura collided, unleashing a burst of immense power.
“…That power! It’s Professor Karen’s…!”
Jane looked at me with a slightly shocked expression.
‘I still can’t fully control Killing Intent.’
Even with Karen’s lessons and this body’s talent combined.
It’s impossible to master power at a level that rivals the strongest in this world in such a short time.
‘That’s why I mixed it.’
I first enveloped myself in Steel Qi, then layered a faint Killing Intent on top of it.
It’s definitely weaker than using pure Killing Intent alone.
“But it’s not too bad, is it?”
“Kuhihi! This is fun! I’ve never met a freshman like you before!”
Thud—!
I blocked Jane’s sword and then increased the proportion of Killing Intent in my blade.
The weight immediately became more intense, and my hands slowed.
“Tch…!”
As expected, pushing beyond this is still too much for me.
To fully wield a Blood Sword, one needs to handle Killing Intent as naturally as blood.
“You’re wide open!”
As my next attack faltered, Jane thrust her sword toward me.
Whoosh!
At that moment, ash flames enveloped me.
“Thank you, Senior.”
“You never fail to surprise me.”
Elma approached with a faint, flustered smile.
“I never expected you to be able to counter Jane’s sword, even with a four-syllable blessing.”
“I can’t use it as freely as you might think.”
Using Killing Intent consumes qi about twice as fast as usual.
Although it’s meaningless to worry about efficiency with such overwhelming power.
‘That’s a matter for when I’ve fully opened all my upper danjun.’
In my current state, things aren’t going so smoothly.
“How many more times can you use it?”
“…Twice at best.”
“That should be enough.”
Elma whispered softly as she stood beside me.
“I have an idea.”
***
As the ash flames subsided, Jane leaped off the ground.
“Now it finally feels like a proper sparring match!”
Her sword, reinforced by Holy Power, descended toward the two of us.
The moment the blade entered our attack range.
“…!”
Lan and Elma exchanged a glance.
Woooong—!
Lan’s sword was enveloped in dense Steel Qi.
And then, on top of that.
Sssssss—
A deep, intense Killing Intent spread like blood seeping through, small but powerful.
The aura of Steel-Killing burned fiercely on the sword’s blade.
Kwaaaang!
The two swords clashed once more.
“You’re not going to counter this time?”
“I have my reasons.”
This time, their swords remained locked for quite a while, each pushing against the other.
The formidable vibrations resonated throughout the entire training ground.
“If this keeps up, you’ll lose. I’ve got the strength of two people on my side!”
Jane spoke as if offering advice.
Indeed, since earlier, Lan’s energy had been subtly weakening.
However, it was Jane who felt more unsettled.
‘Just as the rumors said. No, he’s even more of a monster than I thought!’
Not only could he wield Karen’s “Killing Intent,” albeit weakly, but he was also holding his own against her sword, which was enhanced with the Holy Maiden’s blessing, using his own power alone.
Even Jane hadn’t taken the position of disciplinary head by sheer luck.
She had the skills to make others acknowledge her, which was why she was part of the student council.
Yet here she was, being pressured by pure skill alone.
She had heard many rumours about him since the beginning of the semester, but she thought they were all exaggerated.
‘If anything, those rumours were understatements.’
She smirked bitterly and tightened her grip on her sword.
No matter what, she was currently in a much more advantageous position.
With the continuous supply of divine power through the blessing on her side, Lan, by contrast, was constantly depleting his energy.
“At this rate, you’re going to lose, junior!”
“…Did you forget something?”
“What?”
“Something like the conditions for winning this match.”
At that moment.
A realization flashed across Jane’s mind.
She suddenly remembered that Elma’s attacks had completely ceased.
Tatata!
Elma dashed past Jane and charged toward the other side.
Her target was, of course, Lienna.
“This was the plan from the start…!”
Jane had been so caught up in her fight with Lan that she had forgotten.
The condition for winning this match was not to overpower the opponent.
“Ugh!”
It was to take the cloth tied around their waist.
Jane clicked her tongue internally and focused more energy into her sword.
‘If that’s the case!’
Before Elma could take Lienna’s cloth.
She had to take Lan’s cloth first!
Tzuzuzuzuzu!
As her divine power surged into her sword, Lan’s retreating pace quickened.
To make matters worse, his Killing Intent gradually lost its colour and started to fade away.
At this rate, Lan would be the one to falter first.
“Aren’t you going to save Lienna?”
“Trusting your junior is part of being a senior. Lienna should be able to hold out against Elma for a bit.”
At least.
“Until I defeat you!”
She pushed down her sword with the intention of ending the match.
Lan was forced back to the edge of the training ground.
“Hoo.”
He exhaled a short breath.
And then.
Once more.
He unleashed his Killing Intent.
The crimson aura spread again across his sword.
‘Killing Intent has no inherent weaknesses.’
It holds superiority over any other nature, no matter what.
From the moment he heard those words, Lan had always wanted to test something.
With his current skills, he couldn’t deliver continuous, meaningful strikes using Killing Intent.
In that case.
What if he used Killing Intent not as an attack, but as a ‘means’?
‘There’s no need to use it excessively.’
If it could serve as a battering ram to break through a stubborn defense.
If it could fulfil that role alone.
‘Then even that divine sword and armour.’
He could pierce through them.
Tsssss—!
Lan planted strength into both legs.
There was no need to mix it with Steel Qi.
Just layer it on top.
“…Break!”
「Steel-Killing • Sword Release」
Crack!
Lan’s sword shattered Jane’s.
“Huh…?”
He used Killing Intent to create a crack in the divine power. Into that gap, he hammered in Steel Qi to break it.
It was a brute-force method, far from refined or precise.
“But winning is all that matters.”
Jane’s sword crumbled to dust.
Beeeep!
At the same time, a notification announcing the end of the match echoed through the training hall.
“Lan!”
Elma waved her hand vigorously toward Lan.
In her hand, a piece of cloth fluttered like a flag.
—
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