The cavern fell silent.
The massive warrior stood motionless, his greatsword planted before him.
Unlike the Shadow Knights, no hatred radiated from him.
Only dignity.
“My name is Darius.”
“First Commander of the Fallen Legion.”
“I request a duel.”
Kael slowly stepped forward.
“I accept.”
Immediately, Professor Roland shouted,
“Are you insane?!”
“That’s an S-Class monster!”
The Headmaster raised his hand.
“No.”
“He isn’t.”
Everyone turned toward him.
The old man’s expression was grave.
“That creature possesses intelligence.”
“And…
honor.”
Darius nodded respectfully toward the Headmaster.
“You are wise, human.”
“My soldiers attack because the Gate compels them.”
“I do not.”
His crimson gaze returned to Kael.
“My duty…”
“…is to judge the successor.”
Inside the Infinite Sword Archive—
The legendary swords watched in silence.
Scarlet smiled.
“I like him.”
Astra nodded.
“He was once a great hero.”
Kael looked at her.
“A hero?”
Solis answered softly.
“Long before monsters invaded the world…”
“Darius was the commander of an ancient kingdom.”
“He fell protecting his people.”
“Even after death…”
“…his oath remained.”
Kael understood.
This wasn’t merely another monster.
This was a warrior whose soul had been bound to the Gate.
Darius slowly drew his greatsword.
The blade was enormous.
Dark steel engraved with silver runes.
“I will limit my strength.”
“If you survive ten exchanges…”
“You pass.”
Kael smiled.
“And if I win?”
For the first time…
Darius laughed.
A deep, hearty laugh echoed through the cavern.
“You possess confidence.”
“I approve.”
The duel began.
BOOM!
Darius disappeared.
The ground exploded beneath his feet.
Kael barely raised Solis in time.
CLANG!!
The impact blasted him backward across the cavern.
Stone shattered beneath his boots.
Several students gasped.
“So strong!”
“He pushed Kael back!”
Kael steadied his breathing.
“He’s holding back…”
“Even then…”
“He’s stronger than the Demon Generals I fought in my previous life.”
Inside the Archive—
Scarlet rested her chin in her hand.
“Master is being tested.” You are reading on g.com, the official source.
Astra smiled.
“No.”
“Master is learning.”
Second exchange.
Kael attacked first.
His sword flashed toward Darius’ shoulder.
CLANG!
The commander effortlessly blocked.
“Excellent technique.”
“But…”
“You rely too much on prediction.”
Kael frowned.
Darius wasn’t just reading his movements.
He was reading his thoughts.
Third.
Fourth.
Fifth exchange.
Every clash echoed like thunder.
Neither combatant landed a decisive blow.
The students could no longer follow their movements.
Even the professors watched in stunned silence.
Meanwhile…
Lucien quietly observed from a distance.
“He’s still hiding it.”
“Good.”
“It isn’t time yet.”
Behind him, Lyra stood with folded arms.
She never took her eyes off Kael.
Each swing of his sword stirred another fragment of memory.
A ruined battlefield.
A broken castle.
A young man standing alone against an army.
She couldn’t see his face.
But…
She knew.
“It’s him…”
“Why do I feel like I’ve watched him fight before?”
Back in the duel—
“Ninth exchange.”
Darius raised his sword.
His aura intensified.
“This one…”
“…will determine everything.”
Golden lightning crackled around the giant blade.
Even the Headmaster’s barrier trembled.
Professor Elena shouted,
“Everyone, get back!”
Kael exhaled slowly.
Inside the Infinite Sword Archive…
Astra stepped beside him.
“Master.”
“You’ve learned enough.”
Scarlet grinned.
“Finish it.”
Solis smiled peacefully.
“Trust yourself.”
Kael closed his eyes.
Then…
Instead of increasing his mana…
He reduced it.
Darius noticed immediately.
“You lowered your aura?”
Kael nodded.
“My teacher once said…”
“The perfect sword requires no wasted movement.”
He remembered those words.
They were his own.
From his previous life.
Darius smiled.
“So…”
“You have finally found your answer.”
The commander swung.
Kael moved.
Not faster.
Simply…
Perfectly.
The two swords met.
For a single heartbeat…
The entire cavern became silent.
Then—
CLINK.
Darius’ greatsword slipped from his grasp.
It spun through the air before embedding itself harmlessly in the stone floor.
Silence.
Complete silence.
The Commander looked at his empty hand.
Then…
He laughed.
A genuine laugh filled with pride.
“I have lost.”
Every Shadow Knight immediately knelt.
Not to Kael.
To acknowledge the outcome of the duel.
The professors stared in disbelief.
The Headmaster slowly lowered his sword.
“He…”
“…disarmed him.”
“No flashy magic.”
“No overwhelming power.”
“Only skill.”
Darius walked toward Kael.
Instead of attacking…
He knelt on one knee.
“The trial is complete.”
“You have proven yourself worthy…”
“…not because you are the strongest.”
“But because you seek strength for others.”
The commander placed one armored fist against his chest.
“I, Darius…”
“…pledge my sword to the future Sword Sovereign.”
A brilliant golden light surrounded him.
His body slowly dissolved into countless glowing particles.
The Shadow Knights followed.
One by one, they faded peacefully.
The Gate began to close.
Just before disappearing completely, Darius smiled.
“We shall meet again.”
“When your Archive reaches ten percent synchronization…”
“I will fight beside you…”
“…not against you.”
His body vanished.
The Gate sealed.
Silence returned to the academy.
A notification appeared before Kael.
Hidden Quest Completed
The Commander Acknowledges You
Reward Obtained
Title Unlocked: Heir of Sovereigns
Synchronization Increased: 2.0% → 3.5%
Before Kael could read the rest of the message…
Another line appeared.
One that made every Divine Sword inside the Archive fall silent.
Emergency Notice
Unknown Entity has entered the Infinite Sword Archive.
Identity: Impossible to Determine.
Scarlet’s smile disappeared.
Astra instinctively drew her sword.
Even Solis’ calm expression hardened.
Somewhere deep within the endless Archive…
Footsteps echoed.
Slow.
Steady.
As if someone had entered a place that should have been inaccessible.
A voice, ancient and amused, whispered through the endless sea of swords.
“So…”
“I finally found you.”