SFRW-Chapter 120

Ch. 120 Sword God From The Ruined World

“From now on, the swordsmanship I’ll teach you is the Giovante Swordsmanship.”  

“Giovante Swordsmanship?”  

“Just remember the name for now. Even if you reach Master level and decide to rename it later, that’s fine.”  

“Master level?”  

“You’ll understand once you’ve built up your skills.”  

“So you’re telling me to work hard, right? Understood! I’ll train so hard I won’t disappoint you!”  

Hyun Joo-yeon, who had always believed she had no particular talent for weapon skills, learned diligently exactly as Seo Do-jun taught. In truth, by Seo Do-jun’s evaluation, Hyun Joo-yeon’s talent with the sword far exceeded average. She wasn’t a once-in-a-century genius or someone who could revive a fallen family, but she definitely had enough worth to dedicate her life to the sword.  

When her sincere efforts were added to this, her sword grew sharper by the day.  

Debra le Tiam Giovante.  

In the ruined world, Debra was always counted among the top ten – the second daughter of the outstanding Giovante ducal family known for their swordsmanship. She was Seo Do-jun’s rival and friend.  

Though she couldn’t inherit the Giovante ducal lineage because she was a woman, regardless of what anyone said, she was always mentioned when discussing the continent’s strongest knights – a formidable female knight.  

“I admit the Vandeyan family’s Swordsmanship is excellent. But the Giovante family’s Swordsmanship is absolutely not lacking either.”  

“Who said it was?”  

“Th-that’s right! Honestly speaking, if I’d been born male, I could finish someone like you in a single strike!”  

“Say that after being born male.”  

“You… insufferable bastard!”  

“People called you the insufferable bitch, I heard.”  

“Hey! Bring it on! Let’s settle this today!”  

Though called the cold-blooded female knight without blood or tears, Debra was unexpectedly tender-hearted.  

“To be honest… hic! Kassal, if not for you, I wouldn’t be who I am today.”  

“Is this a love confession?”  

“A love confession my ass! You said it yourself – with that damn face of yours, if you’re just going to make excuses about not being male, you should pick up a needle right now! Do you know how shocked I was? hic! Those words of yours made my 20 years of living meaningless!”  

“Did I say that?”  

“Insufferable bastard! hic! Just wait! The day will come when you fall under my sword and look up at me saying, ‘Big sis, I admit defeat!’ Until then, don’t you dare die and survive… ah, I’m drunk… zzz…”  

Though Debra drunkenly insisted he must never die, she met her end ten days later saving comrades in a monster battle.  

Before being a woman, she was a good friend and rival – the Giovante family swordsmanship that Debra had wielded in her lifetime. The Giovante Swordsmanship that Debra had adapted to suit her body was now unfolding at the tip of Hyun Joo-yeon’s sword.  

Chwa-jaja-jajak!  

With each swing of her sword, dozens of Terracotta soldiers shattered to pieces.  

In one word, Hyun Joo-yeon’s sword could be described as clean.  

Not flashy, so there was no excess.  

Not overly forceful, so there was no burden.  

Yet not light either, nor a simple trajectory that opponents could easily read.  

A perfect harmony of straight lines and curves, a sword that pierced opponents’ gaps like an awl.  

This was Hyun Joo-yeon’s sword now, and Debra’s sword from the past.  

“Hyun Joo-yeon is amazing too.”  

Gloria couldn’t hide her admiration seeing dozens of Terracotta soldiers turn to dust with each of Hyun Joo-yeon’s swings. Though they were rivals in love for Seo Do-jun, as fellow Casserian Guild members, it was reassuring to see a comrade possess such skill.  

“She worked harder than anyone.”  

Knowing well the effort Hyun Joo-yeon had put in, Seo Do-jun found her current skill level perfectly natural.  

“Hard work…”  

Gloria too had put in tremendous effort since joining Casserian Guild. After becoming a Hero, especially after receiving S-rank, she’d never sweated so much before. That’s why she could always face Seo Do-jun with confidence.  

But the same was true for Hyun Joo-yeon, making their rivalry an even greater motivation.  

“I won’t lose.”  

Gloria made this resolution to herself, and to Seo Do-jun and Hyun Joo-yeon.  

While everyone was astonished by Hyun Joo-yeon’s unexpected skill, Shinzo’s combat style similarly broke free from his previous image.  

“Shinzo, you don’t need me to teach you new swordsmanship. For you, supplementing your current swordsmanship is enough.”  

When Seo Do-jun acknowledged him, Shinzo felt such pride it made his chest tighten. Having lived his life wielding a sword, there could be no greater praise than being recognized by the Seo Do-jun he admired most.  

‘Just following the Guild Master’s back is enough!’  

He knew many Japanese still criticized him. He knew the Japanese Heroes he’d hunted monsters with openly treated him as a traitor. Yet Shinzo never wavered. Because he knew better than anyone that staying in Japan would never have brought this much growth.  

A frog in a well.  

Seeing Seo Do-jun fight the One-headed Kowibirus was a massive shock, making him realize how confined he’d been in a narrow world.  

‘I will become strong! I’ll gain power so strong no one can easily defeat me, then return to protect Japan!’  

Shinzo swung his sword at the Terracotta soldiers charging at him. A simple downward slash from an overhead stance, but its power was anything but simple.  

Kwa-jaja-jajak!  

Dozens of Terracotta soldiers charging at him were crushed into handfuls of dust scattering in all directions. The chariot-riding soldiers following met the same fate. With each swing, they shattered without even time to scream.  

Overwhelming!  

The skills Shinzo and Hyun Joo-yeon displayed were as overwhelming as two beasts rampaging through flocks of sheep. The Terracotta soldiers bursting apart before even getting close looked almost pitiful.  

In contrast, the Chinese Heroes struggled:  

“Don’t relax after smashing just the head! You have to completely destroy the limbs too!”  

“Damn! These aren’t clay lumps – they’re practically boulders! Why are they so hard?”  

“Argh!”  

“I told you to be careful! Want to end up like them? Focus!”  

Even with smashed heads, the Terracotta soldiers moved their limbs to threaten the Chinese Heroes’ lives. Many Chinese Heroes had died in the first battle from underestimating this, most now turned into zombies.  

“How are the South Korean Heroes taking them down so easily?”  

“Isn’t he Japanese? Said to be Japan’s strongest – rumors were true!”  

“We’re all S-rank – what are Guan Gang and Hong Hui doing? How can there be such a gap?”  

“Those frauds just boasted about being S-rank! The real S-ranks were Zhen Ha-lim, Guo Ziquan, and Zhang Yang!”  

Compared to Hyun Joo-yeon and Shinzo effortlessly mowing down dozens, the Chinese S-rank Heroes struggling against similar numbers couldn’t hide their disappointment.  

‘They’re wiping out dozens with single attacks? How’s that possible?’  

‘The South Koreans are abnormal! Fighting like that’s impossible!’  

‘Even Zhen Ha-lim and Zhang Yang aren’t different from us! It’s not that we’re weak!’  

The Chinese S-rank Heroes felt wronged. They believed Hyun Joo-yeon and Shinzo’s abilities were abnormally strong, not that their own skills were lacking.  

The Terracotta soldiers were extremely hard. Attacking in trained military formations of dozens, their synergy was formidable. Being undead, they wouldn’t fall unless completely destroyed, coupled with tremendous defense making even S-rank Heroes struggle.  

Yet Hyun Joo-yeon and Shinzo dismantled them effortlessly, driving the Chinese S-rank Heroes mad with frustration.  

Still, credit was due – the Chinese S-rank Heroes were tying up the Terracotta soldiers’ movements. No matter how overwhelmingly Hyun Joo-yeon and Shinzo fought, two people couldn’t fully stop thousands alone.  

“I’ve rested enough.”  

Gloria rejoined after recovering stamina and magic. From the rear, her well-placed arrows assisted the Chinese Heroes. Those saved from certain death by her arrows at critical moments could now fight more boldly, trusting their ‘ghostly-skilled’ ally.  

“Hero Seo Do-jun… will you remain like this?”  

Hong Zi-xian cautiously asked. With everyone fighting fiercely, Seo Do-jun standing aloof with hands behind his back naturally didn’t look good.  

Though Hong Zi-xian wondered if it was because this wasn’t his country, he wasn’t foolish enough to say so.  

“I’ll observe the situation a bit longer.”  

“…Understood.”  

‘Can’t he just fight now?’ Hong Zi-xian thought. If Seo Do-jun – holder of the world’s strongest title – fought seriously, things would resolve much smoother.  

But Seo Do-jun believed three people needed to make the strongest impression today. If he stood out defeating Terracotta soldiers here, attention would scatter. He planned to take responsibility afterward.  

‘There are parts I need to handle away from others’ eyes.’  

Seo Do-jun’s gaze naturally turned to the ruined Terracotta Warrior Gate beyond the soldiers. Only a few Pentagos had emerged outside. Unless all Pentagos still inside were eliminated, they might have to repeat today’s battle multiple times.  

Once he deemed observation unnecessary, Seo Do-jun would enter the gate immediately.  

Unaware of this plan, Hong Zi-xian isn’t happy that the strongest fighter is just watching, but as the battle gradually turned in their favor, his expression brightened.  

Against so many enemies, over half the Terracotta soldiers and zombie Chinese Heroes had already fallen.  

‘Incredible! South Korea truly has the best Heroes! If only they were in China…’  

Hong Zi-xian’s eyes lingered on Hyun Joo-yeon, Gloria, and Shinzo. Their overwhelming, almost miraculous power that made other S-ranks look like squids or octopuses naturally bred desire.  

‘Whatever it takes to bring them to China…’  

Hong Zi-xian glanced at Seo Do-jun, whom the three absolutely trusted and followed. Everything depended on Seo Do-jun. Everyone knew Casserian Guild would leave South Korea at his word.  

The problem was persuading Seo Do-jun.  

‘He doesn’t seem to care about money or fame, nor shows particular greed…’  

What did Seo Do-jun want?  

Hong Zi-xian considered: ‘Land perhaps? America gave him Guam for meeting demands – we could offer something bigger… Hainan Island?’  

Hainan was incomparably larger than Guam. Though China couldn’t easily give it up, Hong Zi-xian thought it worthwhile if it won Seo Do-jun over.  

Testing the waters, Hong Zi-xian cautiously asked:  

“Hero Seo Do-jun, might you be interested in Hainan Island?”  

“Hainan Island?”  

Seo Do-jun looked at Hong Zi-xian as if he’d said something absurd.  

“Hainan is truly beautiful – beyond comparison with Guam. If you wish, we could transfer the entire island. Of course, I’d strongly petition the government, who’d likely view negotiations positively.”  

Though Hong Zi-xian’s offer came out of nowhere, Seo Do-jun quickly grasped his intent.  

“Let’s discuss that another time.”  

As Seo Do-jun started moving, judging it time to enter the gate, Hong Zi-xian’s face brightened.  

‘It was land after all! Mentioning Hainan made him move! Getting Casserian Guild to China for Hainan would be a bargain! Hahaha!’  

Hong Zi-xian wishful thinking made him feel happy, spinning his happiness circuits wildly.  

Regardless, Seo Do-jun eliminated some pre-identified Pentagos and stepped into the gate.