Chapter 205: This Year

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Han Myeong-ryeon began swinging his sword against Cheok Jun-gyeong.

How to fight well.

When Ethan heard those words, he doubted his ears for a moment.

The phrase “how to fight well” was very out of place in New World, where one could access countless divine techniques.

Ethan had experienced countless battles so far. As such, he was skilled in various types of fights.

He had fought in bamboo forests so dense it was difficult to swing a sword, and underwater. He had experienced ship-to-ship combat as well as chaotic battles in the middle of battlefields.

Because of this, he was somewhat confident in his ability to judge others’ skills.

From Ethan’s perspective, among those who claimed to fight well, not many actually did.

He really did fight well.

‘Amazing. Cheok Jun-gyeong is being pushed back moment by moment.’

Even though it was just a sparring match, to gain even a moment’s advantage against Cheok Jun-gyeong was certainly impressive.

‘There are subtle differences, but there are definitely similarities.’

Fundamentally, they were of the same type. Han Myeong-ryeon’s swordsmanship also felt like it unleashed tremendous power based on his innate physical strength.

‘Incredible.’

Ethan had been surprised by Cheok Jun-gyeong’s physical abilities, but Han Myeong-ryeon had an equally robust physique.

One difference from Cheok Jun-gyeong was that Han Myeong-ryeon’s swordsmanship was extremely rough and unrefined.

He had called himself low-born, so this characteristic seemed to stem from never having properly learned anything.

‘But that actually increases its destructive power.’

Ethan’s current swordsmanship had reached a certain level of completion. However, it lacked the wild ferocity of Han Myeong-ryeon swinging his sword in the video.

‘My swordsmanship now needs that kind of ferocity.’

-All of my swordsmanship comes from this robust physique. This physique is partly innate, but also due to a special power I learned in my youth. I intend to teach that special power here in New World.

Han Myeong-ryeon suddenly put strength into his hands and began swinging his sword even more powerfully. He looked like a fierce beast.

Ethan took in every movement of Han Myeong-ryeon.

Compared to Cheok Jun-gyeong, his swordsmanship looked quite rough and unstable, but its momentary destructive power was so great it seemed comparable to Cheok Jun-gyeong’s.

-I always stood at the vanguard on the battlefield. There were times when we’d set out in the morning and achieve victory by evening. All of this was thanks to that special power I honed since childhood. Now, I’ll teach you everything about that special power.

Han Myeong-ryeon took a deep breath.

-This is a power taught by an immortal. The power to gather and enhance the body’s strength. This is the source of my, Han Myeong-ryeon’s, power – Physical Renewal!

The special power Han Myeong-ryeon mentioned was a technique similar to this world’s mana cultivation methods.

-Learned Physical Renewal.

-Skill added: Physical Renewal (S)

‘Hmm.’

Ethan continued to take in Han Myeong-ryeon’s rough swordsmanship.

His giant sword, swung with Physical Renewal at its core, seemed to have the power to completely crush everything in front of it with each swing.

-Learned Han Swordsmanship.

-Skill added: Han Swordsmanship (S)

Next, Ethan learned Han Myeong-ryeon’s swordsmanship. However, Ethan’s expression wasn’t very good.

‘This doesn’t seem like it will be very effective.’

Ethan has Extinction. This Extinction not only accumulates mana but also affects physical growth.

Because of this, even though he had Immortal Hero’s Breathing, a skill of the same type as Physical Renewal, Ethan’s body hadn’t become very strong.

Of course, he was in extremely good health for someone with Extinction, but he was infinitely weak compared to other powerful individuals.

‘But that was before awakening.’

Ethan’s current body was greatly strengthened through awakening, unlike before.

‘Moreover, the amount of mana I can receive from Lyuka has increased. The swordsmanship I unleash using that mana has also greatly increased in power.’

That wasn’t all. He had felt a different sensation than before when using brüle in Eucalis’s class earlier.

It was an exhilaration of mana he had never felt before.

‘I might be able to improve my physical condition a bit more.’

But Physical Renewal alone wouldn’t be enough.

‘If I use it together with Immortal Hero’s Breathing…’

“It’s better than not trying.”

Since his body could now accumulate more mana than before, it was worth trying to strengthen it further.

By now, Han Myeong-ryeon’s video had ended, and Ethan left a comment.

-Flawless and excellent. I’ll make a shorts video for you.

Cheok Jun-gyeong and Han Myeong-ryeon’s collaboration. The video was excellent.

If he could drive traffic with a proper shorts video, there was a possibility that Cheok Jun-gyeong’s ranking could rise another level.

‘When that happens, the big shots of New World will move, just as Cheok Jun-gyeong said.’

Ethan didn’t think he was shaking up New World himself.

‘It’s important to evaluate yourself objectively. The opponents are the gods of New World.’

He shouldn’t be swayed by the flattery around him. If he mistakenly thought he was doing something great and became arrogant, his power that had been beneficial so far could turn into poison.

‘This should only be a weapon I wield. I mustn’t be wielded by it.’

While Ethan was grateful for Cheok Jun-gyeong’s high evaluation, he was wary of becoming arrogant.

“I should search for what I originally intended to.”

Although he unexpectedly learned Han Myeong-ryeon’s technique through an unforeseen connection, Ethan had turned on New World for a different reason.

Ethan immediately searched for a keyword.

-You have entered the keyword [Insight].

-The algorithm is searching for a god suitable for you…

-Search complete.

The god that appeared in the search results was one Ethan knew very well.

[Sleeping Dragon][Difficulty: High]

“When it comes to Sleeping Dragon, there’s only one person.”

There was only one Sleeping Dragon Ethan knew.

“Zhuge Liang.”

Zhuge Kongming.

The superhuman and last flame of Shu.

***

This new teacher training session was overseen by Sword Saint’s subordinates along with the Ramsdale branch.

“At first, I really didn’t understand.”

Bathra Ramsdale was Ciron’s cousin. Five years older than Ciron, he had trained together with Ciron since childhood.

Therefore, he knew very well how talented and strong Ciron was.

“Ciron inherited the lord’s talent directly. Since childhood, he had no match with the sword.”

Despite being five years older than Ciron, Bathra had never once beaten Ciron with a sword.

Similarly, all the other cousins were thoroughly defeated by Ciron.

It was quite famous in the family that one of Ciron’s cousins, eight years his senior, had lost to 13-year-old Ciron.

When Ciron became a teacher at Ivecar, all his cousins thought he would not only be the top recruit but also reach the pinnacle of Ivecar Academy within 3 years.

But something was off from the start.

The top position went to a new teacher they had never heard of, and even Sword Saint, who went to protest, returned very quietly.

And today.

Ciron Ramsdale, who had returned to the territory after a long time, poured out various stories to his cousins whom he met after a long while.

What he emphasized most was the story about Ethan Whiskers sitting over there.

The noble from a local territory who had taken Ciron’s top position.

‘He praised him a lot.’

He praised him until his mouth went dry. Clearly, he had taken his position and was essentially a rival.

But Ciron didn’t look like he felt defeated at all.

Rather, he seemed to feel pride while talking about Ethan.

‘He must have been influenced.’

As he listened, he became more curious. What kind of person was this Ethan Whiskers to have captivated Ciron like that?

“It was worth being captivated…”

Because of this, he observed Eucalis’s class, the first lesson.

Of course, he couldn’t enter, so he watched Ethan from outside.

And he saw everything.

Ethan handling numerous weapons at a master level.

And how he remained calm as if it was nothing, despite doing such an amazing thing.

Everyone was predicting Freya Academy’s victory with Kai Felix.

But after seeing Ethan Whiskers with his own eyes, Bathra’s thoughts changed.

“According to Ciron, despite having such skills, he doesn’t become arrogant and aims even higher? Ciron said he’s not just looking at the competition in front of him, but beyond that.”

A new teacher with not only those skills but also character and ambition.

“I should ask him later if he can teach me how to handle a whip.”

It was for hunting purposes. He had no intention of using it for other purposes.

***

In Sword Saint’s room.

Eucalis, who had finished the first day of classes, was sitting across from Sword Saint, drinking tea.

“So, how was it?”

“Ciron was much rougher than you said, Sword Saint.”

“It’s natural for Ciron to have become rougher. He has an incredible competitor right next to him. To grow, one must become bold, and to do that, one must discard the refined parts within oneself.”

Sword Saint nodded as he said this. It would have been more problematic if Ciron hadn’t become rougher.

“It seems you already know everything about Ciron. You were curious about something else?”

Eucalis grinned.

As he said, Sword Saint was curious about something else.

“You’re curious about how Ethan Whiskers was, right?”

“That’s right. I first saw him when I visited Ivecar Academy before. He looked much better this time than he did then.”

Eucalis answered definitively.

“He doesn’t look like a new teacher at all. Among the new teachers gathered this year, there’s no one as talented as Ethan Whiskers.”

“Is that so? Isn’t Kai Felix there too?”

“Kai Felix, you say.”

Eucalis sighed, “Hmm.”

“His talent is certain, but it seems there’s a big psychological issue. If you saw him, Sword Saint, you’d know immediately.”

“So he’s worse than expected.”

“But if that psychological issue is resolved, then who knows. The talent that has been suppressed until now will burst out all at once. If that happens…”

Eucalis grinned.

“Freya Academy will have one more master. The Felix family will also be able to leap to a higher position within the Twelve Families.”

“Hmm.”

“But as you know, these two aren’t everything. Not all new teachers have come for training.”

“That’s right. And they’re all new, after all. Even if they show tremendous talent when they’re new, their growth can slow down as the years pass. Conversely, there are cases where teachers who weren’t noticed at first suddenly rise up.”

Eucalis then evaluated the other teachers. It was surprising that he had observed and understood all the teachers during a class that was long if you say it’s long, short if you say it’s short.

After listening to everything, Sword Saint gestured for him to leave.

As Eucalis stood up, Sword Saint asked as if he had suddenly remembered something.

“Then, Teacher Eucalis.”

“Yes, Sword Saint.”

“In this academy exchange competition, which academy do you think will win?”

At that question, Eucalis pondered for a moment. It was an answer that could only be given by considering not just the new teachers but all the existing teachers as well.

“The probability is still high for Freya Academy. Freya Academy has been winning continuously for the past few years, and now its status is different compared to other academies.”

Freya Academy has many famous teachers. They were teachers whose names alone would make people go, “Ah.”

“However, I think Ivecar Academy will win. And I think Ivecar will continue to win after that.”

“Why?”

“Until now, Ivecar didn’t have Ethan.”

Eucalis said.

“But this year, Ivecar has him. Ethan.”

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