“…You have too much murderous intent.”

That was what the Holy Sword had said the first time they met. Thinking back, it had been closer to a warning, but Yeomyeong hadn’t paid it any mind at the time.

On the contrary, he had thought it obvious.

After all, the martial arts he had learned were designed for killing. It would have been strange if he didn’t exude murderous intent.

Even after hearing similar remarks over the years, he hadn’t given it much thought.

Whether in Manchuria or at the academy, his enemies had always preferred swords over words. They swung their blades as if murder and violence were some kind of panacea.

And so, he killed them. If he didn’t kill them, he cut off a limb or two.

He didn’t think it strange. To him, it was simply a natural consequence of having great power.

This tendency only worsened after he secretly learned the martial arts of Destruction.

Perhaps it was the influence of the martial arts known as “Demonic Arts.” Yeomyeong didn’t know for certain, but one thing was clear.

The faster and stronger his martial arts became, the more ruthless he was toward his enemies.

He had never considered it a problem. Even just days ago, there had been no issues.

But now…

Just moments earlier, Corvus’ explanation had made him realize that something was wrong.

‘…Why did I try to kill Ado?’

Was it because he had dared to insult Seti? That might have been reason enough to cut off an arm, but it wasn’t a crime worthy of death.

He knew that. He had always known that, but… Yeomyeong had decided to kill Ado. And he had acted on that decision.

From the calculated footwork to disarm him, to the precise strike that severed his arm and moved instantly to decapitate—it had all been methodical, devoid of emotional impulsivity.

Yeomyeong had targeted Ado’s life with the same calm, cold precision he used against terrorists.

Why?

Sure, it’s faster to kill an enemy, and misunderstandings can be resolved after they’re dead… but that logic only applied when the opponent was an actual enemy.

Ado was just a rude guy—common, unremarkable, and far from being a threat. Killing him offered no benefit, nor did sparing him pose any risk.

Yet Yeomyeong had tried to kill him with full intent. And not just anyone, but in front of both the principal and Corvus.

Even though he had orchestrated every move, Yeomyeong couldn’t understand any of it.

In hindsight, this wasn’t the first time.

For instance, when he had slapped the Saintess’ behind.

He could have been arrested for blasphemy, but he had laid a hand on her without hesitation.

It was fortunate she had let it go without much issue… That had been a far graver incident than his attempt to kill Ado.

As Corvus had said, something in his mind was clearly broken.

The only silver lining was that he didn’t have to solve the issue alone.

There was someone—no, a beastkin—right in front of him who claimed to have the solution.

As he considered this, Yeomyeong lifted his gaze toward the leaping form of Corvus.

‘…She said I need to drain the murderous intent.’

The massive crow-like beast was falling toward him, surrounded by mana.

Yeomyeong tightened his grip on his sword, ready to release all his pent-up murderous intent.

 

Thud!

The heavy impact resonated from her toes, and Corvus was sure she had sent Yeomyeong flying.

But in the next moment, she realized her assumption was wrong—and smiled.

Yeomyeong was still standing in the same spot. The ground was dented, and dust rose in clouds around him, but that was all.

He had taken the full weight of the beastkin head-on.

Noticing the slight tilt of his sword, Corvus realized he must have used his swordsmanship to dissipate the impact. She couldn’t help but admire him.

“Seems you’re more experienced in real combat than I thought.”

Yeomyeong didn’t respond. Instead, he swung his sword downward into the air, sending a ripple of mana surging along the blade.

A sword style based on the fundamentals of Wave-Breaking Blade, intermixed with stolen techniques.

As the blade brought down the product of countless battles—enough to have honed his skill by slaying hundreds of Shepherds—Corvus faced it head-on.

!!!

Mana clashed against mana, and the atmosphere screamed in protest.

The sword blade trembled under the impact of Corvus’ feather-clad fist, numbing her hand.

It was a single collision, but Yeomyeong immediately understood her caliber.

A master. One who could be compared to a dragon in skill.

“That’s quite the swordsmanship.”

Corvus commented briefly, then swung her unused left fist.

Yeomyeong retreated with Step Technique. The mana-laden punch struck the ground where he had stood.

Boom!

The ground cracked, spewing up dirt, while nearby trees shuddered and their leaves scattered.

“Your speed isn’t bad, either.”

Before the falling green leaves even hit the ground, Corvus lunged at him again, moving with a speed that didn’t match her massive frame.

As Corvus threw another punch, Yeomyeong’s sword gleamed. It was a simplified sword energy technique based on the martial arts of Destruction.

Splat!

Blood splattered. Yeomyeong frowned at the deep gash in Corvus’ shoulder.

‘She blocked that with her body?’

That was all he could think before Corvus closed the distance between them. Her punch landed on his torso.

This strike was different from her first—its movement and mana composition were on a completely different level.

Bang!!

The punch exploded against Yeomyeong’s solar plexus. He gritted his teeth and withstood it, but he couldn’t stop his body from being flung backward.

“Ugh!”

Rolling across the ground, Yeomyeong quickly got to his feet, clutching his chest. As expected, Corvus was already rushing at him again.

Yeomyeong prepared to release another sword energy attack but stopped when he noticed Corvus’ shoulder already regenerating.

‘So that’s why she took the hit… She’s the regenerative type.’

If that was the case, keeping his distance and wasting mana on ranged techniques was pointless.

Having reached a conclusion, Yeomyeong gripped his sword firmly and charged at Corvus.

Despite holding a sword, the fundamental difference in their size meant they had little disparity in reach.

When Corvus’ fist and Yeomyeong’s sword simultaneously entered striking range—when their gazes locked and reflected each other—

Both unleashed explosive bursts of mana at the same time. Wave-Breaking Blade versus Corvus’ fist.

The victor of the first clash was Yeomyeong.

Swish!

The mana-laden blade narrowly sliced across both of Corvus’ hands.

The blade was designed to gain the upper hand in close-range skirmishes, but Corvus’ face betrayed no alarm.

She had more weapons than just her fists.

Corvus incorporated parts of her body humans couldn’t use—her razor-sharp talons and beak.

Unlike her fists, even a glancing blow from these weapons could tear flesh. Both targeted Yeomyeong’s body with lethal precision.

Yeomyeong instinctively redirected his sword to block the talons, dodging the beak aimed at his throat.

With only a single sword, Yeomyeong felt disadvantaged. He longed for a shotgun or grenades, but what use was wishing for weapons he didn’t have?

Clenching his teeth, Yeomyeong activated Accelerated Bloodflow.

His heart raced, and mana surged through his veins, visibly increasing the speed of his sword. It now overwhelmed the speed of Corvus’ fists, talons, and beak.

“Oh! So you’ve got more tricks than just swordsmanship?”

Corvus exclaimed in admiration, still using her entire body as a weapon.

Was she still holding back? Yeomyeong furrowed his brow and focused solely on his sword.

Their weapons—sword against talons, beak, and fists—clashed endlessly, each targeting the other’s body.

At some point, red blood and black feathers began to scatter around them.

Talons sank into Yeomyeong’s thigh. His sword retaliated, slicing through Corvus’ fingers. Blood sprayed, feathers scattered, and the battlefield became a chaotic flurry of black and red.

It was a battle of endurance, relying on regeneration and unrelenting offense. Both combatants minimized their defenses, focusing solely on inflicting as much damage as possible.

Yet, it was Corvus who withdrew first.

“You’re matching regeneration against a beastkin and even coming out on top! Are you sure you’re human?”

Her voice carried a strange mix of astonishment and laughter. She stepped back, clutching her chest, where a long gash stretched across her torso.

Yeomyeong advanced, his expression unyielding. “I wouldn’t know. I’ve never seen my parents.”

At his reply, Corvus chuckled and flicked her claws dismissively. “My apologies for the slip of the tongue. I hope you can forgive me.”

Clang!

The clash of claws against his blade rang out again, but this time, Corvus didn’t press forward. Instead, she let the force of the sword propel her backward, widening the distance between them.

Yeomyeong spat blood to the ground and addressed her with a piercing gaze. “…Is this it? Or are you just taking a break?”

Standing a considerable distance away now, Corvus waved her hand dismissively and responded. “No, no. I simply think martial arts alone won’t decide the winner here.”

“….”

“Your skill far surpasses my expectations. Honestly, I feel like applauding. At your age, to be this strong… If not for your connection to the Saintess, I might have felt a little jealous!”

Her sudden praise didn’t faze Yeomyeong. This wasn’t a fight for flattery.

“So, does this mean I still need to be beaten more?”

“Unfortunately, yes, it seems I’ve fallen short. And for that, I sincerely apologize.”

As Corvus lowered her head in mock apology, Yeomyeong steadied his breathing, gripped his sword, and prepared to charge once again.

But the instant he moved, something about Corvus shifted.

Her mana surged, and Yeomyeong immediately noticed the difference. This wasn’t just an internal reinforcement of her body; her mana now extended outward, altering the surrounding atmosphere.

It wasn’t the martial arts Yeomyeong had seen thus far—it was something else entirely.

“…Why is the word ‘Crossroads’ part of your title?” Yeomyeong recalled the name Corvus had been called: The Arbiter of the Crossroads, a title once mentioned by Morine.

“It’s because I walk two of the three paths allowed to superhumans simultaneously.”

As if to prove her claim, the mana spilling from Corvus began to coalesce and form an array of shapes in the air.

“…A mage?”

“Exactly. I am both a martial artist and a mage. If you ask which is my main discipline, I’d say magic.”

“….”

Yeomyeong’s eyes narrowed as he watched sharp, crystalline spears of ice manifest around Corvus. The sight reminded him of the dragons he had faced in Manchuria.

“Well then,” Corvus said with a wry smile, “allow me to humbly start round two.”