The Age of War.
In that frantic era where life was snuffed out as if it were nothing, humanity was insignificant. Of the seven races, they were born the most pathetic. Humans possessed neither superior physical forms nor eternal lifespans, nor were they particularly brave. To make matters worse, despite being the weaklings of the world, they couldn’t even unite. Even when the madness of the Age of War reached its peak, humans were too busy fighting one another. The other six races of the continent mocked their folly.
How could they fight amongst themselves when even a united front of all humanity would struggle to survive against the other six races? To the others, humans were truly foolish. Even as the world was stained by the blood they shed, humanity failed to become one. They remained divided into kingdoms, empires, archipelagos, and republics. These nations didn’t even cooperate; they waged war the moment they spotted the slightest opening. It reached a point where the other six races believed that if they just left the humans alone, they would eventually destroy themselves through internal strife.
In fact, humanity lost half its population to these internal wars. The six races, who had been enjoying the spectacle of this meaningless conflict, intended to step in just as the wars ended to slaughter the exhausted survivors and seize their lands and wealth. Thus, the human population, already halved, was halved once more.
The dozens of human nations were reduced to fewer than ten. On the vast continent, there were more dead humans than living ones. More were dying by the blade than were being born. Only then did humanity realize something was terribly wrong. It no longer mattered who would occupy the most fertile lands after the war, who would possess the most gold, or who was the most glorious monarch. The very survival of the species was at stake. At this rate, it seemed that when the war finally ended, there would be six races on the continent, not seven. Humanity was on the verge of vanishing from the earth entirely.
Only after the crisis was right before their eyes did humans hurriedly gather as one. However, the number of those who assembled was far too small, and everyone was far too exhausted. Everyone was starving from the endless fighting, everyone was impoverished, and everyone was sick of the war. In short, humanity had become too weak. They were far too weak to face the remaining six races.
The visibly diminished human population was halved yet again.
At that point, human bards all sang of the apocalypse. Devout priests and even the Pope left their temples to resent God. Priests and nuns became drunks, sprawling in the streets and causing commotions. Meanwhile, the drunks who had always been soaked in alcohol and hedonism headed to the empty temples, sobbing and offering clumsy prayers, begging to be saved.
The royalty, who had a duty to protect their people, were busy scheming how to save their own skins. The nobles had long since fled, and the soldiers who were supposed to defend the nation turned their blades toward civilians. Armed soldiers plundered food, stayed perpetually drunk, and raped any woman they saw on the streets. Everyone believed that humanity would disappear at the end of this war anyway. Therefore, no one intended to fight. Instead, they sought to enjoy a final moment of pleasure before the end arrived.
It was a scene that was “human” to the core.
Seeing the ugly, bare face of humanity, the other six races could not stop their mockery. How could such a wretched race exist in this world? How were they any different from monkeys?
Every living creature on the continent was certain of the human race’s extinction.
Until five banners fluttered over the battlefield.
“…?”
From that day forward, the other six races could no longer mock humanity. Great beings appeared, as if crafted by gods who desired an end to the Age of War. Driven by their magnificent exploits, the horrific Age of War ended with the victory of the “insignificant” humans. As everything came to a swift conclusion, the human race gave a name to the five families that had performed such incredible feats.
The Great Families.
* * *
The residents of Steel City Ferma loved the “Arena.” This amphitheater, where interesting duels were always held, was their lifeblood and a part of their daily routine. Naturally, what the passionate spectators loved most was the Infinite Duel. It was the main event that had continued since the days when the Arena was a mere pit. The fierce battles fought within the amphitheater with lives on the line made the viewers’ hearts race.
However, this Infinite Duel was a bit different. Most of the spectators gathered here had watched the previous Infinite Duel, and the ones before that. Compared to the matches they had seen in the past, the tempo of this match was excessively fast. The fun of an Infinite Duel lay in watching fighters roll desperately in the mud, biting and clawing at each other. But the duel unfolding before the spectators’ eyes now was not like that.
“Hah…”
In preparation for this Infinite Duel, the Arena organizers had introduced “fences” to speed up the proceedings. They hoped the fighters would make contact faster and fight more fiercely. However, the progress of the Infinite Duel was far faster and more overwhelming than they had intended. At this moment, the spectators felt as if they were watching a Beast Duel—where a death row prisoner and a wild beast are locked in a cage—rather than an Infinite Duel. And since Beast Duels were conducted with the prisoner’s body restrained, they were also called executions. Yes, what was unfolding down there was not a duel, but an execution. A slaughter that was not equal, but one-sided.
Everything had gone awry because of a single being. That fighter did not move according to common sense. As soon as the duel began, he headed straight for the center, where the most fighters would gather. Once there, he slaughtered everyone he encountered. The process of slaughter was incredibly swift. The time it took for that fighter to kill an enemy with his blade never exceeded three seconds.
As the match progressed too quickly, the Arena organizers tried to identify the fighter who was rampaging inside. It wasn’t a difficult task. Although they claimed to guarantee strict anonymity on the surface, the special helmets and armor actually had serial numbers that only Arena officials could identify.
The organizers intended to show no mercy if the rampaging fighter was a wanderer without backing or some nobody who had joined just to slaughter the weak. They were already on edge after the absurd results caused by the witches’ antics in the Conquest War duels. While they had no way to touch the ladies loved by God, that didn’t mean the Arena organizers were pushovers. At least within Steel City, the organizers’ power was formidable. Truly, very much so.
However.
“…Is this for real?”
Once the identification was complete, the Arena organizers no longer made any plans for “re-education.” They even began to burn the plans they had scribbled like graffiti so that no trace remained.
“It’s likely correct.”
“Shit.”
The Arena organizers were the epitome of those who were “weak to the strong and strong to the weak” in this Iron Kingdom. And the fighter rampaging down there was not someone a mere clown with a bit of power in Steel City could touch.
“…Why would the youngest son of a Great Family join an event for commoners?”
The identity of the fighter brought by the apprentice organizer was a face the Arena organizer knew very well. For someone who had reached a certain position, it would be stranger not to know him.
“Everyone, listen up from now on. We didn’t know about this. We never identified him. That spoiled young master coming all the way here to mingle with fighters… we didn’t know. Nothing.”
The Master of the Six Free Cities.
The youngest son of House Rhapsody.
Toma Rhapsody.
“Keep this in mind. The moment a single wrong word leaks out, you’re all dead. And attach a judge to him. Just in case—though I doubt it’ll happen—if it looks like the young master is in danger, rescue him immediately.”
“Must we go that far? That goes against the traditions we’ve upheld. Besides, no matter how high-born a young master is, if it’s the result of a fair duel, he should cleanly accept—”
“Shut up! Just do as you’re told!”
He was a supernova who had gained fame by becoming a powerhouse almost immediately after picking up a sword. However, the name “Toma Rhapsody” was famous not just because of his skill.
“You wouldn’t know just how obsessive that spoiled young master’s father is.”
Toma Rhapsody’s father.
One of the most influential figures on the continent, Hugo Rhapsody.
“I don’t want to test what that monster is capable of. Understand? So just do as I say, please…”
He was the most famous “doting father” on the continent.
* * *
It’s boring.
I feel listless and sleepy.
Should I not have joined?
These three sentences summed up the honest feelings of Toma Rhapsody, the fighter who had slaughtered over a hundred humans and turned the Infinite Duel upside down.
I came here after hearing rumors, but instead of fighters worthy of the name, there are nothing but weaklings. It would be more fun to have a sword fight with the gardener back home…
Ennui washed over him.
By this point, Toma Rhapsody was regretting his participation in the Infinite Duel. If he had known it would be like this, he would have just taken a long nap. Was it a mistake to expect too much?
In the Free City, Toma Rhapsody’s daily life was excessively dull. His father overprotected him, shielding him no matter what happened. Because of this, although he had learned the sword, he had never experienced a proper duel. He had only experienced the heart-pounding sword fighting described in chivalric novels in his dreams.
The people of the Free City were the type who would rather commit suicide than seriously duel Toma Rhapsody. They knew what House Rhapsody was capable of, and they knew all too well what the Head of House Rhapsody, who cherished his son to an abnormal degree, could do. So, while Toma Rhapsody could live safely, he lived without ever feeling a single heartbeat of excitement.
“Yawn.”
He wanted to drive away the listlessness weighing on his body, even if only for a moment. If he could do that, Toma Rhapsody was willing to mingle even with the lowly. His father wouldn’t like it, but regardless.
However, Toma Rhapsody’s listlessness remained. Amidst the overwhelming drowsiness, Toma Rhapsody dragged his heavy body forward. There was only one reason why Toma Rhapsody, who hated moving more than anything, was walking of his own accord.
The wounds carved into that beast’s body… those were interesting.
A fighter who had fled from somewhere. Toma Rhapsody, who had killed that fighter with a single stroke, felt a spark of interest upon seeing the marks on the corpse. A swordsman who has reached a certain level can usually deduce the preceding situation just by the sword marks on a body. Thus, the conclusion Toma Rhapsody reached was simple.
This guy is different.
That conclusion alone was reason enough to move.
Toma Rhapsody walked and walked.
Eventually, he came face to face with a certain fighter. The man acted the moment he saw Toma Rhapsody. He pointed his sword at Toma, without fleeing.
He hadn’t seen the man’s face or exchanged words, but the moment he saw that fighter, Toma Rhapsody was certain. This was the fighter he had been looking for.
Pleasant sunlight poured down.
As his listlessness faded slightly, Toma Rhapsody gave a wide grin and slowly raised the sword in his hand. The blade Toma Rhapsody held had a somewhat peculiar appearance. An unnaturally long and thin blade. The awl-like weapon looked very fragile. It seemed impossible to harm anyone with it. However, the value of a sword is determined by who holds it.
The owner of this blade was a descendant of the Five Families and a supernova whom countless swordsmen were watching.
“Phew—”
The fighter let out a long breath. Hearing the sound of that breath, Toma Rhapsody delivered a light thrust. The long, thin tip of the sword shot out in a straight line. The breathing fighter took a defensive stance following the trajectory of the incoming sword. It was a textbook judgment. Clean, too.
But in this situation, it was wrong.
“…!”
Toma Rhapsody’s wrist gave a twist. The torsion was transmitted to the blade, and soon the unnaturally thin blade bent like a whip. The curved tip of the sword moved past the opponent’s blade, which had been raised for defense. The fighter reacted urgently. Another defense? No. An evasive maneuver, discarding his sword. It was a dishonorable act, but a wise one. It was the only way to avoid the attack.
With a clang , the man’s sword fell to the ground. Toma Rhapsody thrust his sword once more. It was closer to a streak of light than a thrust. The light-like thrusts were unleashed five times in a split second. Two thrusts succeeded, and three failed. Toma Rhapsody frowned as he looked ahead. Why did the three thrusts fail?
A dagger?
The man was holding a dagger in a reverse grip.
Was it a secondary weapon? How did he parry the thrusts with such a short weapon? Toma Rhapsody thrust his sword again. This time, too, the thrust failed to pierce the enemy’s body. As if he were looking into the future, the man accurately inserted his dagger into the path and target point of the thrust. He was making up for his lack of strength and speed with technique.
An interesting technique…
Seeing this, Toma Rhapsody felt a bit of joy. So, he stopped his attack and picked up the man’s sword from the ground. Then, he tossed it back to him. Like throwing a treat to a dog.
“Show me what you can do with a long sword, too.”
“….”
“You’ve got talent. Your aura feels like a Sword Walker at best.”
The fighter who caught the sword Toma threw paused for a moment. Was his pride wounded? Seeing that, Toma Rhapsody was now quite enjoying himself, not just a little. So, he decided to indulge himself.
“You don’t have wings, do you? Then, to be fair, I won’t bring mine out either. Let’s stick to swords.”
Hearing Toma Rhapsody’s words, the fighter slowly raised his sword and pointed it toward him. After a brief silence, the man spoke.
“You’re being arrogant.”
“I can afford to be, if I’m strong.”
The man said no more. Instead, this time, he lunged with his sword. That thrust was novel even to Toma Rhapsody, who had experienced many sword arts. A thrust delivered from a posture that looked like acrobatics, twisting the wrist to its limit. But novelty was all it was. There was no profound principle within it, no refinement, and it wasn’t lethal.
To counter the thrust, Toma Rhapsody met it with his own.
As he twisted his wrist, the snake-like blade slashed the man’s arm. Blood splattered. He heard the sound of teeth gritting. But what could a mere commoner do? Toma Rhapsody took a leisurely breath. Along with a short exhale, countless “Paths” erupted. Golden paths conquered the surroundings. The man’s path couldn’t even manifest. The “Path” of Rhapsody emitted a brilliant and beautiful radiance. With the paths laid out, Toma Rhapsody’s thrusts poured down like lightning.
Toma Rhapsody did not stop his offensive.
Thrust, and thrust again.
Though they were mere basic movements, the man could not resist. Naturally so. To his eyes, these thrusts wouldn’t even be visible. But thinking that way raised one question.
How did he block them earlier?
Was it a fluke?
If so, he had blocked them far too cleanly. Was he perhaps more proficient with a dagger? If so, Toma Rhapsody was willing to wait for him to switch back to a dagger and fight again. He felt a relaxed thought that he should give the man some time.
And then.
“…?”
An anomaly occurred.
“Oh.”
Toma Rhapsody’s brilliant “Path.” Amidst the cluster of paths that completely dominated the surroundings, something faint flickered. The flickering thing looked like a line. A single, thin, and distinct Line.
When he perceived that Line, goosebumps broke out on the back of Toma Rhapsody’s neck.
In the next moment, an irrational thrust approached from afar, piercing through his rhythmic thrusts. It was a thrust Toma Rhapsody had never seen since he first picked up a sword. No, it was a thrust he had never even imagined.
The Path is breaking. Why?
Watching his own laid-out paths being shattered, Toma Rhapsody harbored a question. The question was soon resolved. That thrust was not one containing technical subtlety. Mana. Unnaturally condensed mana possessed a hardness like steel, advancing as it snapped everything weaker than itself. Steadfastly.
Ah.
Toma Rhapsody smiled despite himself. The beautifully hardened mana contained in the man’s thrust, the sword that steadfastly crushed everything, was very attractive. A sword that advances by crushing everything in its way? It was a sword freer than any other in the world. And as a descendant of House Rhapsody, which pursued freedom, Toma Rhapsody’s eyes were momentarily stolen by that sword.
“Magnificent.”
He wanted to see it just a little longer.
However, if he stood still, that terrifying mana would pierce through his defense, break his blade, and penetrate his helmet and skull, taking Toma Rhapsody’s life. He couldn’t let that happen. If Toma Rhapsody died, his father would be sad. Toma did not want his father to cry. Never.
“Truly magnificent.”
So, Toma Rhapsody decided to show a bit more than just “basic movements.” He had set limits for fear of revealing his identity if he showed more, but he felt this was no time to be so relaxed. Toma Rhapsody’s wrist moved differently than before.
I’m glad I snuck out without Dad knowing.
Condensed mana that brings to mind a Line?
It was a single strike so lethal and solid that even most Sword Runners would be struck dumb and defeated. Unfortunately for the man, however, Toma Rhapsody was no “ordinary Sword Runner.” Toma Rhapsody laughed joyfully. Soon, a power different from before dwelled in Toma Rhapsody’s sword.
Yeah, coming outside really wakes me up…
The great power that allowed Rhapsody to be called one of the Five Families.
* * *
“….”
I couldn’t believe my eyes.
What the.
This had never happened before.
It was something that should not occur.
“This is…”
The Line was bent.
“What in the world.”
The Steel Path, which Master had said no one could block.
“Why?”
While my thoughts momentarily ground to a halt, the fighter in front of me muttered.
“Is this your first time seeing something like this?”
