The Failed Swordmaster - Chapter 163
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 163 63. The Final Test (1)
Lumian Calard’s expression twisted grotesquely.
It wasn’t because it was difficult. No, certainly his insides were churning from the reckless attack just moments ago, his breathing was labored, and his condition was definitely not good, but more than that, the sense of futility about the current situation was even greater.
And his irritation toward Goddess Allia was even greater than that.
He shouted roughly.
“Are you kidding me? What is this right now?”
“Ah, sorry. I’m truly sorry. My way of speaking might make it not feel sincere, but I fully understand the futility you’re feeling right now.”
“Hah, this is insane… I thought Lord Armion had really died. How can you create such a false situation with someone’s life… an angel’s life? Isn’t this too much?”
“It is too much. I’m sorry for not respecting your feelings and testing you in an improper way. But if it hadn’t been this way, I wouldn’t have been able to properly understand you.”
“I think so too. But I’m truly sorry, Lumian Calard.”
Armiron the Archangel spoke next.
Her appearance as she looked at Lumian with a pitiful, sorry, and considerably moved expression.
‘Is it because I was angry about her death?’
It seemed to be the case.
And when Armion showed such gratitude, his anger unknowingly subsided. It was completely different from when he was watching Allia, who had been brazenly offering soulless apologies.
“It’s alright. I understand.”
“Thank you for understanding. And congratulations once again. For passing the first test.”
Armion smiled brightly. When her beauty and smile combined, the surroundings became as bright as if dyed with light.
Lumian unknowingly made a foolish “hehe” sound. She was pretty and beautiful no matter when he saw her.
Seeing this, the goddess showed an incredulous reaction.
“What’s with you? When I apologized, you just snorted, but you accept Armion’s apology so well?”
“That’s because it wasn’t something Lord Armion planned. The ridiculous play and putting that dunce cap on her too. Wasn’t it all forced by Lady Allia?”
“The former is correct. But Armion readily accepted the dunce cap too.”
“…That’s not true.”
“It’s not true.”
“Enough, let’s stop this talk. Anyway, it was an impressive sight, Lumian Calard.”
Allia suddenly made a serious expression. Her voice also sank low.
Her attitude of trying to brush things off was utterly absurd, but it couldn’t be helped. When the goddess made up her mind to set the atmosphere, there was no way for him to interfere. His head unknowingly bowed downward.
‘No, it seems like it’s not just that?’
For some reason, strength left his legs. His eyelids kept closing too.
It was strange. Although his dantian was completely empty due to the last attack, he thought he could endure it with Allia’s help.
Then, shocking words flowed from the goddess’s mouth.
“During the long period of two and a half years when you entered cultivation, I personally had many worries. I was even more worried because it felt like you were wandering off the normal path. But as a result, everything was just needless concern. You have truly grown magnificently. To the extent that you exceeded my expectations.”
‘What? Two and a half years?’
Lumian made a stunned expression.
Two and a half years?
Could it be that he had been in aura cultivation for such a long time?
‘No, then… I built my foundation for 6 months after being dragged to the Divine Realm, and started cultivation after that… so I’ve been here for 3 years already?’
His heart sank with a thud. His heart beat rapidly along with anxiety.
The reason was naturally because of Tania.
He had been apart for much longer than the period they officially dated, no, longer than the period they had known each other. While he had cultivated in a state of selflessness so his memories with her were vivid like yesterday, she wouldn’t be the same.
‘What if Tania’s heart has changed?’
Although he had resolved himself to invest 2-3 years after coming up to the Divine Realm, hearing that two and a half years had suddenly passed like this made his previous determination disappear completely. Only anxiety filled his chest.
Watching such Lumian Calard, Allia shook her head.
“Tsk tsk, it looks like you need rest. Moving on to the next test right away would be difficult.”
“No, no! I can do it right now…”
“Shh. Sleep.”
The goddess pointed her index finger at him and gestured forward.
Then green energy flew out and caressed Lumian. He collapsed forward with a thud without being able to properly resist.
However, that was only how it appeared on the surface. From Allia’s perspective, it wasn’t so.
She spoke without hiding her surprised expression.
“He’s become incredibly strong. Making him bow his head and making him fall asleep is quite taxing.”
“To that extent?”
“Yes. In terms of force, he definitely exceeded my expectations. What a ridiculous guy. Instead of accepting the beings of the continent as they are, he took them in through acquaintances as a shortcut. And yet to have this much power…”
Allia trailed off.
What she wanted from Lumian in this test were two things.
To endure for a certain period of time against herself transformed into Sekaros, the son of the Demon God.
And even in a desperate situation, to never abandon the human realm. To not break his will.
He showed the latter really well.
Lumian delivered a final strike by overexerting himself despite the risk of his body collapsing. Although it was for protecting his connections rather than the entire human realm, she didn’t think she should blame him for this.
And as for the former case…
‘I never thought he would actually win.’
The identity and strength of the enemy identified over the past two and a half years.
Multiplying that by 3 was the difficulty level of the current test.
It was originally a task to assess ‘how long he could endure,’ and she hadn’t expected him to win even a little.
But he completely shattered such expectations, so she couldn’t help but be dumbfounded.
Allia, who was watching the collapsed Lumian, quietly added one more comment.
“I hope he passes the final test too. If he just passes that, we can be at ease for the next 100 years.”
“He will definitely pass.”
Armion clenched both fists in front of her chest. Her face contained infinite faith in Lumian.
The goddess, who was watching that sight with a blank face, spoke as if tossing the words out.
“It might be difficult because of you.”
“Wh-what do you mean…”
“Haha. Take good care of Lumian for a while. I need to deliver some news to the lower realm through the priests.”
With a pop sound, Allia disappeared.
Armion, who was looking at the space where she had disappeared, sighed “Oh my” and then muttered while moving Lumian to a space for recovery.
“Hang in there, Lumian Calard. You can do it.”
She smiled once again.
It was a gentle smile soft enough to make anyone’s heart peaceful.
* * *
Several days passed.
During that time, Lumian rested thoroughly. This seemed to be the first time he had truly rested without doing anything.
Because of that, anxiety and impatience arose, but that also became okay soon enough.
After all, he had finished all his training, and now all that remained was the second test that would be the last.
If he successfully completed just that, he could go back down to the lower realm. He could meet Tania.
‘I don’t know what kind of test it will be, but quickly improving my physical condition is much more important than being lost in idle thoughts. Let’s rest thoroughly. Let’s focus and rest.’
After steeling his mind like that, Lumian slowly focused on his state.
Originally, this would have been finished right after completing cultivation, but he had been too frantic due to the suddenly started test. The problem was also that he had used up all his aura due to the final strike.
However, thanks to that, he was able to grasp his level more accurately.
Wooooooong…
Kwakwakwakwakwa-
The fluffy cloud-like ground shook mercilessly. The enormous faith and aspirations that surged up from the lower realm formed a huge vortex. And it was sucked in with Lumian at the center.
An amount so tremendous that it would have filled the dantian in 1 minute if it had been Lumian before cultivation.
However, he continued to accept the energy endlessly. For days without stopping, continuously.
“Whew.”
That tremendous work ended when 5 days had passed.
Lumian, who had finally regained his complete condition, looked down at his body with eyes full of amazement and ecstasy.
“Amazing.”
Praise for himself.
The fact that he had voiced it out loud was a bit awkward, but he didn’t feel embarrassed.
This growth was truly extraordinary. The amount and quality of confidence surging from his chest was different.
In fact, his second life had been a continuous series of growth.
As if the obstacles that had blocked him throughout his previous life had disappeared, he had been running forward without a single moment of stagnation.
But this time was on a different dimension.
It felt as if he had become a being of a different caliber. He felt as though he had been reborn as a completely different species.
The thought that he had finally become a hero.
No, perhaps the thought that he could become something even greater circled through his mind.
It was the moment when a single word was about to emerge from Lumian’s mouth.
Pop!
“Hey, you seem to be doing quite well?”
“…Lady Allia.”
“You’re calling me so plainly these days? You weren’t like this when we first met.”
Allia, smiling mischievously, sat down next to Lumian.
The distance was very close. Her transcendently beautiful appearance came right up to his nose.
Nevertheless, Lumian did not lose his composure. Juesin clicked his tongue and pulled his head back with a frown.
‘She smiles so cheerfully at Armion, but why not at me?’
His pride was slightly hurt.
Of course, it wasn’t important. She stood up from her seat.
After spitting, Allia opened her mouth with a delinquent-like posture and fierce expression, putting on airs.
“Good. It seems your body has fully recovered. Now it’s time for the final test…”
“Lady Allia.”
“Huh?”
Allia made a confused sound.
Although Lumian had treated her informally since their first meeting, this was the first time he had so blatantly interrupted her words.
Moreover, his voice was incredibly serious.
Therefore, rather than anger, curiosity arose.
She answered.
“Yes. Do you have something you want to say?”
After a brief pause, Lumian asked in a heavy voice that could never be ignored.
“To become stronger than now… no, I’ll speak honestly.”
“Hmm.”
“To transcend humanity and become a god, what must I do?”
“…”
“And how far is my current level from the realm of gods?”
Whoooosh!
Right after his words ended, a fierce aura burst forth from Lumian’s body.
A pressure much stronger than when he had faced Allia, who was disguised as Sekaros, son of the Demon God.
As he fully gathered his enlightenment in this stable situation, Lumian’s level had risen even higher.
Realizing this, Juesin’s mouth opened slightly.
And then closed again. Firmly.
“…”
“…”
One minute passed.
An extremely short time.
But as silence that bloomed between the two who had been continuing their conversation, it was long. Lumian urged for an answer with burning eyes.
“Alright, I’ll tell you.”
Fortunately, Allia did not avoid this.
Ahem, clearing her throat, she brought her hand toward Lumian.
Then she roughly tousled his hair and spoke.
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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