"You don't draw your blade because you're strong.
You draw your blade because you're afraid of pain."
– Sage Hwan, before breaking a divine sword in half.
[Tower of Heaven's Gate – Floor 7: Trial of the Divine Duelist]
The sky overhead cracked like glass.
Floating stone islands hovered in empty space, chained together by spiritual bridges made of divine light.
In the center: a golden dueling arena.
Across it stood the Floor Guardian — a "Heavenborn," a divine projection of a once-living myth: Arin Velhar, the Sword Descendant of the 5th Heaven.
His body radiated holy mana. His armor gleamed with celestial inscriptions. His sword — forged in the heart of a dying star — thrummed with pressure.
"You carry no blade, mortal. Are you here to die with pride?"
Sage Hwan yawned, rubbing the back of his snowflake-white hair.
"Talk less. I'm bored already."
"You dare mock divinity?"
"No. I'm disrespecting it."
Sage took a single step forward — and the platform shattered beneath his foot from pure telekinetic pressure.
[System Notice: Trial Parameters – 1v1 Duel / No External Abilities / No Healing / No Retreat]
You may only use body and core.
Arin narrowed his eyes.
"So it's martial art against swordplay. Fine. Let me teach you reverence."
He vanished with a burst of golden wind.
FLASH!
The sword came down in a holy arc — wide, radiant, absolute.
But Sage didn't dodge.
He raised a single forearm, clenched in a tight stance.
CLANGGGG!
The divine blade slammed into a translucent telekinetic aura just above Sage's skin.
It didn't cut.
It didn't even scratch.
Arin's face twisted in confusion.
Sage looked up, eyes burning ocean blue with silver-crimson flecks.
"Form VI. Let me show you what happens when elements obey fists, not magic."
[Modern Martial Form VI: Frost-Fire Tempest Fang – Activated]
A violent spiral of ice and fire swirled around Sage's frame.
Every move he made burned hot and froze cold at the same time. His breath steamed in reverse. His skin crackled with internal energy flow locked between opposing forces.
He vanished — not from speed, but from intent.
BOOM!
One punch.
Arin blocked it with both arms — and was sent flying, crashing into a floating boulder. His armor fractured. His holy aura dimmed.
"That… That was internal energy fused with…"
"Yes," Sage interrupted. "You call it divine. I call it physics mastered by obsession."
[Battle Continues – Four Exchanges]
• Arin used divine sword techniques.
• Sage countered with evolving telekinetic martial intercepts.
Each time, Arin grew more frantic. His sword emitted more desperate power. His body showed cracks.
Sage, on the other hand, looked increasingly calm, almost sleepy.
His form adjusted slightly each time.
Faster. Sharper. Smarter.
"You're learning me as we fight," Arin gasped.
"No," Sage replied. "I'm evolving to erase you faster."
"...You monster."
"No."
Sage crouched, hand on the ground.
"I'm the man you wish your gods never created."
He exploded forward with a devastating spiral punch.
Frost-Fire Tempest Fang: Level 2 – "Silent Starfall Crush"
KRA-KOOOOM!!!
The divine platform split in two.
Arin's sword shattered into light.
He fell, coughing golden blood, body flickering like a dying program.
[Trial Complete – Divine Duel Passed]
Award: +2 Core Expansion
Martial Trait Evolution: Telekinesis Upgraded to "Martial Will Projection"
New Form Unlocked: Modern Martial Form VII – [UNKNOWN]
Special Title Gained: "Godslayer in Flesh"
[Post-Battle: A Vision]
As Arin faded, he looked up at Sage one last time.
"I see now… You're not from Heaven or Earth. You're from the void between them. The martial truth."
"Damn right."
Arin smiled faintly before dissolving.
Outside the Tower – Awakened Association HQ
All executives stared at the live feed.
The crowd went silent.
Kael Yun punched the wall hard enough to break it.
"That bastard's… unstoppable."
The Association's Director whispered:
"No. He's just undefeated. He hasn't even been pushed yet."
Back in the Tower – Floor Transition
Sage walked alone on a divine bridge.
The next platform glowed red: a combat zone for squad trials. Ten elite entities. One martialist.
The system pinged:
Warning: Entering Multi-Boss Combat Floor.
Enemies possess advanced systems and divine-tier skills.
Recommended Party: 5–8 Awakened.
Sage stretched.
"Good. I hate fighting one-on-one."