As Suho’s vision shifted, he found himself in a familiar scene: a quiet forest with a narrow path winding through it. This was just how he remembered the Formless Sword Gate.

*‘It’s been a while.’*

While Suho took in the nostalgic view, he suddenly heard a raspy sound.

“Grrk, grrk!”

A goblin's cry.

Sure enough, following the sound, he spotted a small group of goblins gathered together.

*‘Of course, goblins.’*

But these creatures were only a prelude, meant to warm up those who entered the gate. They were there to loosen up one’s body before the real battle.

Suho extended his hand and activated a skill.

[Blood Weapon has been activated.]

In an instant, a blood-red sword formed in his grasp.

“Grrk! Grrrk!”

Sensing the killing intent from the blood sword, the goblins abandoned what they were doing and charged at Suho.

Suho didn’t move. He simply waited until they were within range, then swiftly swung his sword.

[Draw Slash has been activated.]

Slick!

The sound of the sword slicing through the air resonated. A crimson arc trailed after the blood sword, lingering in the air for a split second before vanishing.

Then—

*Splurt!*

[You have slain a goblin.]

[You have slain a goblin.]

[You have slain a goblin.]

…

With one swift stroke, Suho wiped out the entire group of goblins.

He raised his blood sword, facing the lifeless bodies of the fallen goblins.

[Blood Drain has been activated.]

*Whoosh!*

A sucking sound echoed as the blood sword began to absorb the goblins’ blood, drawing every drop from their corpses like a black hole, collecting it into his Bloodstone. Though the Bloodstone filled up, there wasn’t much benefit; after all, it was only goblin blood.

Just then, he heard a grinding noise, like the sound of metal dragging on metal.

Turning toward the source, Suho saw a man appear, clad in a battered cloak and wearing an old, tarnished helmet that concealed his face.

A notification appeared.

[A boss monster has appeared.]

*So, here he is… the Formless Swordsman.*

Suho looked up to see the figure’s name displayed above his head:

— Nameless Swordsman, Lv. ???

That was his name: Nameless Swordsman. 

His level wasn’t displayed, a mystery known only to the system. Some challengers had underestimated him because of that. They would soon realize how mistaken they were.

*Swoosh!*

The Nameless Swordsman drew his sword, and at that moment, another notification flashed.

[The Nameless Swordsman’s Battlefield has been activated.]

[While The Nameless Swordsman’s Battlefield is active, the Nameless Swordsman’s stats mirror those of the challenger.]

[While The Nameless Swordsman’s Battlefield is active, all weapons except swords are prohibited in the arena.]

[While The Nameless Swordsman’s Battlefield is active, only swordsmanship skills may be used within the arena.]

*Here it is: the Nameless Swordsman’s Battlefield.*

It was this unique skill that made the Formless Sword Gate such a deadly challenge.

*‘Yes, it was always because of this. This unfair skill has claimed countless lives.’*

Within the Nameless Swordsman’s Battlefield, challengers could only use swords and swordsmanship skills. In return, the Nameless Swordsman’s physical stats matched theirs. But for him, this was no disadvantage—it merely leveled the playing field in a way that let him toy with his opponents.

The only way to win in the Nameless Swordsman’s Battlefield was through superior swordsmanship.

After claiming hundreds of lives, the Nameless Swordsman had earned the title “Sword Emperor” among challengers.

Suho raised his blood sword and addressed him.

“It’s been a while, Sword Emperor.”

In response, the Sword Emperor lunged forward with an explosive step, instantly closing the distance between them, his sword slashing toward Suho’s throat.

Suho shifted his stance, raising his blood sword to parry.

*Clang!*

Sparks flew between the two blades.

The force behind the Sword Emperor’s blow was immense, causing Suho’s sword to tremble. Despite its worn appearance, the Sword Emperor’s blade was as deadly as ever.

*‘So, even that old blade is just part of the ruse…’*

Yet beneath all the deception lay a genuine skill—the Sword Emperor’s honed swordsmanship, unmatched by any other.

*‘That’s why he’s known as the Sword Emperor.’*

*Clang!*

Suho shoved the Sword Emperor back, requiring significant force, though it wasn’t impossible due to the stat-matching effect. The Sword Emperor quickly turned to reduce the distance lost, displaying a mastery of movement that impressed Suho despite himself.

*‘He’s still as skilled as ever.’*

The Sword Emperor came at Suho with a new approach, his swordsmanship fluid and adaptable.

This was his true danger.

Unlike ordinary swordfighters, the Sword Emperor’s technique was versatile, allowing him to switch tactics to outmaneuver his opponent, tormenting them with a seemingly fair, yet inherently biased battlefield.

This was why the Formless Sword Gate was designated as an S-rank Sealed Gate.

However—

*Slash!*

Suho took half a step forward, slashing before the Sword Emperor could complete his movement. This disrupted the Sword Emperor’s balance, creating an opening that Suho took advantage of with a precise cut.

*Thud!*

The Sword Emperor leapt backward, retreating in a controlled motion. He seemed shaken, possibly for the first time.

Seeing his reaction, Suho chuckled, raising his sword.

“What’s wrong? Surprised?”

The Sword Emperor did not respond but adjusted his stance.

Suho murmured, “Right… You didn’t say a word until the very end.”

The instant Suho finished speaking, the Sword Emperor closed the distance once again.

*Whoosh!*

The sound of the air parting resonated near Suho’s ear.

The strike was sharp and relentless.

However—

*Clang!*

The Sword Emperor’s eyes widened.

He had been confident in this blow, yet Suho blocked it with ease.

As their swords clashed, Suho grinned.

“It took seven attempts—seven times I faced you before I won.”

“...?!”

The Sword Emperor didn’t answer, but his stance reflected a momentary shock.

Suho felt it—a subtle tremor in the aura around him, signaling the Sword Emperor’s unease.

He slid his sword along the Sword Emperor’s blade, creating space, then dropped his sword in a downward slash as soon as their weapons separated.

[Executioner’s Slash has been activated.]

With the activation of Executioner’s Slash, a crimson line followed his blade’s path.

At the same time, the Sword Emperor’s left arm severed cleanly, leaving an empty gap where it once was.

*Shunk!*

Suho had successfully amputated the Sword Emperor’s left arm.

The severed limb hung in midair briefly before Suho’s kick sent it flying across the ground.

*Clang!*

The sound echoed as the detached arm clattered against the floor like an empty shell. The armor held nothing inside.

Sensing danger, the Sword Emperor retreated.

Suho addressed him again.

“Many wondered what lay inside that armor. When I first found out, I was so disappointed.”

The Sword Emperor’s armor creaked as if in response, though Suho knew it was merely a coincidence.

He continued, “Everyone praised your skill, calling you the Sword Emperor, but in the end, you were merely the wraith of a fallen swordsman.”

With that, Suho closed the distance.

The Sword Emperor raised his sword defensively, swinging in a counter-strike as Suho approached.

Having nearly been killed by this maneuver several times, Suho knew it well.

He calculated the trajectory and stopped short, evading the strike. As the Sword Emperor’s sword whizzed past him, Suho used the opening to slash at his right thigh.

*Shing!*

The thick armor around the thigh split with a satisfying crack, exposing yet another hollow limb.

The Sword Emperor staggered, now a one-armed, one-legged fighter, yet his stance was as poised as ever.

*‘All his tricks… and still, I owe him my thanks. After all, he helped me develop the Suho Sword Technique.’*

After countless attempts, Suho had finally defeated the Sword Emperor, who had pushed his swordsmanship to new heights. Despite the Sword Emperor’s ruthless methods and illusory nature, Suho respected him as his true mentor in swordsmanship.

With a calm smile, Suho said, “It was good seeing you, even if just for a moment.”

Then Suho moved forward, his footwork—based on the very techniques he had learned from his countless battles with the Sword Emperor—now the perfected Suho Sword Steps, allowing him to catch up to the Sword Emperor effortlessly.

[Executioner’s Slash has been activated.]

In a flash, Suho’s sword cleaved the Sword Emperor in two from crown to groin.

[You have defeated the Nameless Swordsman.]

And with that, Suho had once again vanquished the one who had once been called the Sword Emperor, the slayer of over two hundred challengers.