Theo swallowed hard.

'The Marong’s sword…'

Theo’s ultimate goal was still to master the swordsmanship of his father, Kyle, but it was Julius who had inspired him to commit to the true path of the sword. Through following Julius’s techniques, he had crafted the blueprint of his own *Dragon's Claws*. And now, Julius, the Marong, was offering to teach him directly.

Despite his attempts to calm his nerves, his heart was pounding out of control. This was the moment he had been hoping for.

Taking a deep breath, Theo opened his mouth to answer.

“When I think of the Marong’s sword… I think of ‘violence.’”

“Oh?”

Julius looked genuinely surprised.

“Why do you say that?”

“Because ‘Ma’—the essence of the demonic—is violent and destructive by nature.”

A short response, followed by a heavy silence.

Then, Julius chuckled.

“…I can see why the Plum Blossom Lady would propose what she did about you. Your insight truly is unique.”

At that moment, the world around them changed.

*Whoosh!*

A transparent space opened around them—Julius’s own domain. Theo found himself standing in a realm of pitch-black ruins, a world consumed by fire and devastation. It reminded him of the Black Dragon’s world, yet he could tell it was fundamentally different.

This was a place that couldn’t exist—a manifestation of pure *Ma*, a chaotic world where everything had been annihilated.

“You’re right. The nature of ‘Ma’ lies in violence, destruction, annihilation, and despair. It’s the embodiment of darkness that submerges humanity in fear and unease.”

At that, Julius appeared beside him, sword in hand. He swung his sword through the air in a series of simple yet direct cuts.

“You’ve seen the Plum Blossom Lady’s sword, haven’t you?” Julius asked.

“It was beautiful and graceful.”

“Exactly. Her sword embodies the essence of ‘life.’ The path of a seed sprouting, growing, and blooming into a splendid flower—her technique expresses that process. It’s fluid, swift, and comprised mostly of curves and circles.”

Julius’s explanation continued, and his sword movements grew faster.

“But my sword is the opposite. It’s only composed of straight and diagonal lines. There’s no turning back, no evasion. When my sword collides with something, there’s only one outcome—either it breaks, or it destroys.”

Each accelerating stroke carried a weight that made Theo’s skin tingle.

“That’s why my sword demands overwhelming force and finality. There is no retreat.”

Theo thought back to the motto of the Hundred Scales Corps: resilience and steadfastness. The discipline was embedded in his swordsmanship as well.

“This is the Marong’s sword.”

*Swish! Swish! Swish!*

Julius’s sword began to shimmer, splitting into hundreds of rays of light. Each strike sent powerful waves through the ground as thunderous explosions echoed around them. The land shattered, revealing deep ravines and craters, as if the end of the world had descended upon them.

Julius now stood enveloped by a dark dragon, radiating a chilling aura.

“...!”

Theo instinctively took a step back. Gone was the affable Julius; in his place stood a vengeful god of violence and destruction.

*Rumble, rumble…*

The darkness emanating from the Marong cast a red glow across the sky. Theo felt as though he was on the verge of suffocation.

Then suddenly, a familiar energy within him stirred, and his mind cleared.

‘...That technique?’

He began to discern Julius’s movements, and they struck a chord of familiarity. The intensity and destructive power were leagues apart, yet the form was unmistakably similar to the Hundred Scales Corps’ technique.

“*Multi-Sword Burst…*!”

At Theo’s muttered words, the Marong’s frenzy ceased.

*Whoosh—*

A cloud of dust swept over Theo, and Julius sheathed his sword, smiling.

“I see you’ve noticed it, as expected. This is the *Marong’s Art of Slaughter.*”

“It wasn’t just *Multi-Sword Burst*?”

“That’s correct.”

A cryptic answer, though Theo quickly understood its meaning.

“*Multi-Sword Burst*… it’s just the foundation of the *Marong’s Art of Slaughter*, isn’t it?”

Julius shook his head.

“No. It’s the other way around. *Marong’s Art of Slaughter* is the foundation of *Multi-Sword Burst*.”

“...!”

Julius chuckled at Theo’s reaction.

“This is what the Marong’s Art of Slaughter looks like when stripped of any magic.”

Julius swung his sword again. Each cut was composed of only straight and diagonal lines, simple yet precise.

“The *Marong’s Art of Slaughter* is like a shell. Its form changes depending on what’s filled inside. The Hundred Scales troops add their swordsmanship to it, and it becomes the *Multi-Sword Burst*.”

Theo swallowed. Julius spoke as if this technique was nothing, but the truth was beyond anything he had imagined.

'He shared a technique he crafted over his entire life?'

It was unthinkable in any martial clan.

“Are you surprised I’d share my sword without any conditions?”

“Yes… it’s unheard of.”

“Well, just because there’s no precedent doesn’t mean it can’t be done.”

Julius grinned mischievously.

“Actually, I’m not the only one. The Hundred Scales Corps does the same.”

“...!”

“If it’s not a secret necessary for the clan’s survival, everyone freely shares their insights. They discuss each other’s obstacles and brainstorm solutions. Sometimes, outside stimuli lead to a completely new path.”

“...”

“Techniques shouldn’t just be hoarded. They must be shared, debated, critiqued, analyzed, and improved. This process strengthens bonds and deepens mutual understanding.”

“Ah…”

“I created the *Marong’s Art of Slaughter* as a foundation for that. Each soldier incorporates their understanding, shares it, and improves it. That’s why the Hundred Scales’ *Multi-Sword Burst* keeps evolving and why the Corps remains undefeated.”

Theo felt as though he’d been struck by a profound revelation.

*Sharing techniques…*

In martial tradition, techniques were considered personal, sometimes even more valuable than one’s life. They were rarely shared, even among family.

‘But by sharing them, they foster such strong camaraderie.’

In a way, all the members of the Hundred Scales Corps were both Julius’s children and his disciples. Theo let out a chuckle.

“Aren’t you afraid of betrayal?”

“Do you mean they might reveal our weaknesses?”

“Yes. Couldn’t that happen?”

“Well, it hasn’t happened yet. And if it does, let them. By then, both the *Marong’s Art of Slaughter* and *Multi-Sword Burst* will have evolved beyond recognition.”

Julius wore a playful grin.

“Besides, knowing a recipe doesn’t make you a master chef, does it?”

Theo could see the self-assurance, bordering on arrogance, in Julius’s eyes. Beneath his warmth, he was indeed a swordsman who represented Ragnar.

“That's also why I turned down the Plum Blossom Lady’s proposal.”

The Plum Blossom Lady’s proposal?

What did he mean by that?

“She suggested making you a joint disciple between us.”

“...!”

A joint disciple—essentially, both Julius and the Plum Blossom Lady had wanted to claim him as a shared protégé.

“I saw no need for that. You’re already my student and family. Why disrupt the unit’s morale? I told her she could take you as a formal disciple if she wished.”

“Then, the *Plum Blossom Scroll* was…”

“You already received the *Full Blooming Plum* style, didn’t you? That’s the path to the *24 Movements of the Plum Blossom Sword.* I simply integrated what I wanted to pass on. It’s your fortune that it turned out deeper than I planned.”

Theo’s heart raced, pounding heavily.

Julius may have brushed it off, but giving him the *Plum Blossom Scroll* was akin to acknowledging Theo as a shared disciple with the Plum Blossom Lady!

Julius drew his sword again.

“From today on, I’ll teach you the *Marong’s Art of Slaughter* for an hour each day. But be warned. To wield the essence of ‘Ma’ is a grueling endeavor.”

Theo nodded firmly, lifting his own sword. This was another fortuitous opportunity, and he would master it.

“Because ‘Ma’ is so ferocious, it sometimes devours its master.”

As Julius finished speaking,

*Whoosh…*

A dark aura swirled around him.

*Thump, thump, thump…*

As Theo drew his sword in response, his heart hammered with anticipation. He knew this training would be anything but easy.

---

An hour later, Theo emerged from Julius’s office, utterly exhausted.

“Are you alright?” Evelyn asked.

Theo gave a weary shake of his head.

“It was… intense…”

“The commander’s training can be harsh. He sometimes seems to enjoy watching his students suffer, so brace yourself for more.”

Theo let out a tired chuckle. 

‘But… I grasped the basics of the *Marong’s Art of Slaughter.* Little by little, I’m beginning to understand.’

The exhaustion was worth it. The lessons Julius imparted continued to echo in Theo’s mind.

- “What made you decide to share your techniques?” he had asked.

- “My teachings come from the Lord. I’m merely returning what was given.”

The trust and loyalty in Julius’s voice had left a strong impression on Theo.

‘I hope I’ll one day inspire

 that kind of loyalty in others.’

Feeling a renewed sense of purpose, Theo realized he already had someone like that at his side—his first sword, so to speak.

“By the way, Theo, as you requested, the captives have been placed in the underground cells without any interrogation. Are you sure that’s fine?” Evelyn asked.

She referred to the Central Intelligence Bureau agents they had captured.

Theo had insisted they hold off on interrogating them.

“Just observe them for now. You’ll see why soon enough.”

“You know who the culprit is, don’t you?”

Theo only responded with a smile.

Evelyn sighed, pressing her fingers to her temples.

“Fine. We’ll follow your instructions, but I can’t hold off forever. The troops will demand answers.”

“Don’t worry. They’ll take the bait within three days.”

Theo’s eyes turned cold.

‘Someone like Ed wouldn’t leave a loose end that could expose him.’

He was certain Ed would make a move soon, and that would be when their political war would truly ignite.

‘Before the conflict intensifies, I need to secure the Plum Blossom Lady as my ally.’

- “When your training is over, go see the Plum Blossom Lady. I imagine she’s eager to speak with you.”

Recalling the Plum Blossom Lady’s *Sky-Flower Rain,* Theo set out for her palace.

But before he could take a step,

*Ding!*

Suddenly, several messages appeared before his eyes.

[Tutorial Quest #18 remains incomplete. Please fulfill the requirements promptly.]

[Failure to complete this quest will result in a penalty.]

[On failure: ■■]

[Player authority has increased. Unveiling previously hidden information.]

[Failure: Death]

“...!”