The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master

False name.

A false name.

The “Blessing of the God of the Sword” was, so to speak, a camouflage.

Makes sense, doesn’t it? After all, I am the god of the sword, so how is it possible that I am observing myself from above? The image didn’t fit.

That’s why the blessing of the god of the sword was more like a play on words created as a containment mechanism to deceive myself.

If I had arbitrarily deactivated the blessing, this world would have ended up in shreds.

For example, when the blessing was stripped from me by the commander of the 5th Corps, Agor, on Avalon Island.

Even though I used the World Tree, Yggdrasil, as a catalyst, the planet nearly collapsed from the overload.

‘Good thing the Blessing of Regeneration and the Blessing of Transfer were activated in time…’

In the worst case, the entire Avalon Island would have disappeared. That’s how dangerous it is to deactivate the false blessing of the god of the sword.

Even now that I have fully awakened the memories and powers of the god of the sword, controlling it is still a burden for me.

‘If I can avoid it, better not deactivate the blessing.’

However.

[The Blessing of Healing manifests.]

[Divine energy is added to it.]

[The Blessing of the God of Healing manifests.]

***

Fweeeeeee!

The funeral march that Speedweapon played resounded with force.

I can imagine him blowing the recorder as if his lungs were about to burst.

“That guy… always so passionate.”

Even so, in the midst of the general exhaustion, Speedweapon, thank you for that.

I silently gave thanks and lowered my eyelids halfway.
In my half-closed eyes, a dark spark flickered.

Chills.

A shiver ran through my whole body. It wasn’t out of fear.

It was because of an unknown hormone that ran rampant through my body. It climbed my spine and took over my mind.

A slight pain.

And that’s why I was so alive. I felt truly alive.

Damn it! What if I feel like smiling? What happens then?!

I made no attempt to hide my smile.

Let’s admit it.

In Ragnarök it was the same. Deep down, I longed for these moments of crisis.

After all, it’s such an intimate desire that no one will ever find out. Just when I was about to propel myself into the void…

“……?”

I crossed gazes with Ryozo. She blinked, eyes wide open.

‘What is that?’

Why are you looking at me like that? As if—as if you had read my thoughts.

[Presence of Code. Yggdrasil detected.]

[It can be used as a catalyst. Do you wish to proceed?]

Flash!

[Y / N]

I nodded before realizing it.

[Y]

▲Light green particles began to float.

They emerged from Ryozo’s skin and dispersed softly, spreading as if embracing the earth.

[The personality – Code. Yggdrasil can momentarily elevate its level as a catalyst.]

Immediately, a sacred energy began to emanate from me.

Blessing of Strength.

Blessing of Transfer.

Blessing of Regeneration.

It’s surprising.

The situation resembled very much when I exterminated the commander of the 5th Corps, Agor.

But there was a difference. I don’t mean just the place.

Yggdrasil isn’t here! Then how…?

‘It can’t be…’

Fragments of the picture began to fit together. That puzzle full of gaps like an old man’s gums was finally starting to form a clear plan.

“Ryozo, you…”

“Explanations later, Geom-Ma.”

Ryozo shook her head, dismissing the conversation. She was wrapped in a light green energy.

“The enemy is right in front of us.”

“……”

I agree.

I stopped thinking. And I let myself be carried away by the intoxication that made it impossible to distinguish the ground beneath my feet.

Glup.

Ryozo eased her dry throat and looked at Kang Geom-Ma. Although she had told him to focus on the fight, she too was clearly shaken.

‘I think that…’

The Yggdrasil has taken root inside Ryozo. Undoubtedly, it was during that incident on Avalon Island. Since she spoke with Mesther, the ancestral mind, something in Ryozo had changed.

‘This feeling of unity… Kang Geom-Ma and I are connected.’

And is that all?

Ryozo could also see the phrases that previously only appeared in Kang Geom-Ma’s vision.

Her head was spinning. For the moment, she didn’t understand anything. She wanted to reflect, but it wasn’t the time—the survival of humanity hung by a thread. Adding confusion to an urgent situation only made her eyes and her brain threaten to explode.

“There is something I do understand clearly.”

She couldn’t stay away from Kang Geom-Ma. Neither emotionally nor physically. At this moment, Kang Geom-Ma needed “Ryozo, united with Yggdrasil.”

Perhaps understanding her mistress’s will, the dragon of light carried Ryozo near Kang Geom-Ma.

It wasn’t a physical movement, but an action possible because it was a thought-being.

Ryozo positioned herself floating at his side, back to back. The others instinctively imitated her.

They all kept a certain distance from Kang Geom-Ma, making sure not to get caught, but they shared a look.

‘Our role is to protect the rear.’

‘Ok, Saki-ssi. That’s my thing!’

‘…What is Ryozo planning?’

They didn’t know.

Ryozo only intended to do what she must.

Because.

Goooooh.

Everyone turned pale. Though they hadn’t agreed, they all turned their gaze toward Kang Geom-Ma at the same time.

“Eh, why…? Why can’t I see Geom-Ma?”

Rachel rubbed her eyelids with her wristbands and opened her eyes again. Still, she couldn’t see him clearly.

Kang Geom-Ma’s outline wavered like a mirage. It was the Aura. His mere presence distorted the dimension around him.

Leon’s lips were dry. He had directly experienced Kang Geom-Ma’s strength, and he was someone who could proclaim himself the strongest of the era after him.

Tick.

Cold sweat drenched his back.

Tick.

For a moment, the hero’s intuition and the laws of the universe acted in unison.

Shhh…

Kang Geom-Ma’s shoulder moved.

Murasame rose. A black gleam ran across the blade.

Slash…!

It fell.

There was no shout nor name of technique. Just a cut. Without embellishment.

He held the sword and let it fall. That was all.

It was, from all I knew, the simplest and at the same time the most elevated way of wielding a sword.

=……=

The enormous eye, Kali Yuga, finally reacted.

In its retinas, wide open on both sides, a cross of multiple lines was drawn.

十 十 十 十 十 十 十 十 十 十
十 十 十 十 十 十 十 十 十 十
十 十 十 十 十 十 十 十 十 十
十 十 十 十 十 十 十 十 十 十

The rays that Kali Yuga scattered like seeds were all cut at once.

Kang Geom-Ma had neutralized the barrages with a single slash.

Abel and Leon were left agape.

“That is…”

“That is…”

That is “mu”  and that is “bu”.

It is often said that one who reaches the highest level in any discipline ends up emptied.

That slash proved it.

Ryozo, Abel, Leon, Rachel, and Media… None of them could feel anything from Kang Geom-Ma’s strike.

And it wasn’t just due to the abysmal difference in power. Kang Geom-Ma had imbued his sashimi with nothing.

The giant eye, still stunned, wrinkled abruptly. Everyone covered their ears.

=Do you really… refuse to accept the end?=

He ignored it.

Kang Geom-Ma lowered his gaze quickly.

In the distance, like a dot, Yu Sein moved her chin toward him.

Yu Sein clasped her hands in prayer. A sacred halo appeared above her head.

She barely moved her lips and sent him a mental message:

[I will show people a mission window through the rift in this world that you created.]

[In any case, you will also see it, but consider this a prior notice. I would like it to reach all world culture, but… that is beyond my abilities. For now, I will begin with the island of Hawaii.]

Kali Yuga had manifested by borrowing the structure of a game.

Its intention was to separate people from reality.

Its malicious plan was to tear down the support for Kang Geom-Ma and occupy that void of recognition for itself.

‘One game is covered with another game.’

That was the improvised plan Yu Sein devised on the spot.

Honestly, it was absurd. Even though Balor Joaquin had given her a hint, it was like asking someone to circumnavigate the world with only a compass.

However, the viability of the plan increased exponentially in an instant. It was thanks to Ryozo. Her fusion with Yggdrasil was an unexpected twist.

[If he were here, this would be possible… but he won’t cooperate, right? For now, Kang Geom-Ma, do as you wish. I have prepared the board.]

Kang Geom-Ma kicked the air several times. He rushed toward Kali Yuga. At that moment, a reddish light concentrated right in the center of the eye. Its intent was to condense all the scattered rays into a single point.

Whoosh!

An arrow pierced the eyeball. Although it was as small as a needle, Kali Yuga frowned. It had been interrupted just before unleashing its decisive strike.

That opening.

Kang Geom-Ma did not waste it. He drew a wide arc with Murasame, wrapped in sword-light. The black trajectory rushed toward Kali Yuga.

It was forced to spread the rays as if they were a disc. The disc and the slash collided and shattered.

It was no easy opponent. He had launched the strike with the intent to cut even the sky, and it blocked with lightning? Agor had been torn apart with an attack that wasn’t even half of this.

“That defense is insane.”

There was no other choice. Kang Geom-Ma carefully drew the EX-grade sashimi he had kept in his chest.

[Now!]

Yu Sein had also finished her preparations.

Kang Geom-Ma vaguely understood it. He had always hesitated about whether to name it or not.

And now he understood why.

[Initiating sword name selection (Beginning sword-slot spin)]

[(Sword Slash)(Emergency Inspection Slash)(Scheduled Slash)(Extended Slash)]
▲≫≫≫≫≫≫≫≫≫≫≫≫≫≫≫

The sound of whrrrrrr accompanied the characters sliding rapidly.

[(Urgent Slash)(Scheduled Slash)(Extended Slash)]
▲≫≫≫≫≫≫≫≫≫≫≫≫≫≫≫

The speed slowed.

[(Sword Slash)(Scheduled Slash)(Extended Slash)(Emergency Inspection Slash)]
▲

At a distance close enough to strike Kali Yuga’s gigantic cornea, the panel stopped.

[(Scheduled Slash)(Extended Slash)(Emergency Inspection Slash)]
▲

[ The sword name has been determined for use during 1 minute. ]

Shiiing—

[Activating Emergency Inspection Slash]

Kang Geom-Ma set aside his expression of bewilderment. He let out a laugh.

“It truly is a final combat weapon for the apocalypse.”

If this was an apocalypse disguised as a game, then let it tremble even more.

=……!!=

The Heavenly Sword unleashed a slash.

Kali Yuga deployed a barrier, but—

Wham!

The strike grazed it.

The eyeball burst.

A black liquid, like oil, gushed from the crack.

=GYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!=

It must pay for the sin of having deceived the users.

“You bastard.”

The slash of the Emergency Inspection Slash shattered the enemy.

***

At the same time, in Joaquin Academy.

Balor Joaquin didn’t even have time to review the legacy he had left behind. He went straight to Warehouse No. 1.

He was able to enter easily thanks to Choi Seol-Ah accompanying him.

She had deactivated the security system. Balor Joaquin walked through the warehouse at a brisk pace.

Warehouse No. 1 was a depot full of ancient artifacts. Mostly weapons and armor he had used in his days as active.

‘What memories.’

But there was no time for sentiment. The world was drowning in chaos.

Balor restrained his urgency and examined the place.

A while later.

“There you are.”

He stopped in a corner of the warehouse. He pulled aside a thick, dust-covered curtain.

A splendid armor and a sword were displayed inside a glass case.

Clang!

Without hesitation, Balor smashed the glass. He stole the objects with such dexterity that even a professional looter would call him “master.”

‘That guy is an ancestral hero?’

He looks more like a thief.

Choi Seol-Ah tried to hide her surprise.

Fwoosh.

A corner of her vision was occupied by a holographic window.

== ==

NOTICE

Hello, we are Blessing of the Apocalypse M 2nd.

We have detected an unexpected error, so we will carry out an “Emergency Inspection Slash.”

We know this event may cause surprise, since until now the service has run without trouble. We ask for your understanding while… (to be continued)

== ==

Clink.

“It has begun.”

The sound of metal awakened some clouded eyes.

At some point, Balor Joaquin had already donned the armor and was gripping the hilt of his sword.