Author's Preface
King Qiu Han was, above all else, a beacon of wisdom and might.
Serving as the current leader of Wisteria for 1000 years, the ageless king has seen both the pinnacles of human dignity, as well as its defilement.
His countenance was stern, far more stern than Xerxes. It was not at all unreasonable, as he was a man of a hundred lifetimes. Novel experiences were few and far between, and he held no particular desire for internal development.
In his eyes burned only the flame of all that was good; a furnace to incinerate all evil.
At his side stood 6 Divine Generals, each exuding their own unique pressure akin to a well of gravity.
The first had the stature of a stone wall; sturdy and overwhelming like an impenetrable fortress. His face was obscured by a purple veil with golden bindings around his mouth.
The second was a young man, around the physical age of a late teenager, with an insatiable bloodlust. His eyes and hair were those of a wild animal, untamed and frenzied—an absolute recalcitrance. Among the Generals, this man was certainly the most dangerous.
The third was a woman in a military uniform. Her Mang was serene, ever-drifting upon the southern seas. I couldn't grasp any particular feelings or desires.
Adra stood in the fourth seat, flashing a peace sign at us in her typical joviality. She clearly wasn't taking this seriously...
The fifth seat was an older man with dozens of scrolls and weapons floating around him. He wore ceremonial armor adorned with various etchings and inscriptions.
The sixth seat stood a man with short, snow-white hair in a church garment. He was young, far too young to be considered a priest, yet his only clothing was a worn-out brown cloak and a cross medallion hanging from his neck.
The seventh, and final seat, was Xerxes, who was prostrating before the king.
Before any words could be exchanged, the second seat appeared before me in an instant, staring me down with a menacing gaze.
It was cruel and sadistic in nature, reflecting an unprecedented violence that threatened to erupt at any time.
This presence was suffocating.
"You're…gonna be number 8?" He said in a raspy voice.
"Step down, Jiro . Such disrespect before the king is nothing short of blasphemy."
Jiro of the Second Seat glanced at Xerxes like an ant crawling upon the earth. "Do you think you can stop me despite your cost ? Remember your place."
"I hardly consider you a countryman to begin with, so I'm sure my uniqueness will make quite the exception."
Their Mang clashed like a rolling tsunami, waves crashing and surging in an attempt to gain dominance.
"Jiro. Xerxes."
King Qiu Han uttered only their names, yet even such a passing comment was enough to subdue the two generals.
"Enough. A decision has yet to be made, correct?"
"..." Jiro returned to his spot beside the king in silence.
"Now then..." The king met my gaze, "Let us discuss a practical matter. The Seventh Seat has personally recommended you to inherit a position among the Divine Generals, yes? Then state your name and origin. I am quite intrigued."
He smiled as his head rested on his right hand, carrying an amused expression.
"I am Ereth of the Eternal Twilight. I have come to honor my father, Zoltin of the Promised Victory, and become the Legendary Hero."
The crowd had mixed reactions, as expected. I understood the absurdity of my claim from my time in Saranhell and the Western Barrens, but what most surprised me was the king's reaction. It was not an expression of laughter or dismissal - far from it.
His eyes were wide open, as though he had seen a ghost.
"You...do you understand what you just said?"
"Yes, your highness."
For a moment, King Qiu Han's gaze sharpened in apprehension. "Is he still alive?"
"Yes, he is the one who sent me. Here is the proof of my heritage."
I drew the broken Sword of Promised Victory, presenting it before the king. Despite its clearly aged make, the sword remained a brilliant weapon, considered the pinnacle of blades. Its golden outline shone a majestic gold even after a thousand years of war.
He stepped down from his throne and ordered me to come forth. As I approached him, he examined the weapon carefully. The grip, the cross guard, the pommel, the blade, and even the flat of the blade were all thoroughly examined with the precision of a licensed doctor.
"I...I see. You are no lie, boy." Though it had only glimmered for a moment, a look of genuine relief washed over his face, relieving centuries of tension that had haunted the man throughout his rule.
"Very well, we will begin your examination immediately."
"..!" The Divine Generals, aside from Xerxes, turned their heads in astonishment at the announcement.
"Ridiculous!" The fifth seat loudly announced. "My Lord, this man is an Out-Worlder with no previous records of his existence. Son of the legendary war hero from 1000 years ago? How can we take such a man seriously?"
The third seat chimed in with a logical demeanor. "He's right, My Lord. I do not wish to speak ill of your judgment, but this man holds no loyalty to you or Wisteria. Is he truly fit to stand among us?"
"H-Hey now, everyone! Let's relax a bit!" Adra's failed attempts to maintain the peace had only caused more strife, sparking heated debate in the Throne Room.
Some chose to accept me wholeheartedly, some reserved judgment, while others fought my examination.
Amongst the endless bickering, Qiu Han's voice resonated like rolling thunder, silencing the room once again. "There is but one condition that must be met to inherit a new seat among the Divine Generals."
He sat upon his throne with absolute confidence, flashing a subtle grin. "All you must do is receive my acknowledgment."
"...Is that all?" I asked in bemusement.
"Cut me. Stab me. Attack me. Entertain me. Or perhaps, you can even impress me with a particular skill or talent. It matters not. Now come, Ereth, son of Zoltin, and show me your father's lifework."
"Very well, your honor."
[Invocation - Release]
My hair shone a blinding white, my Mang dancing in the air like sparks of lightning. This man was the king of Wisteria, likely a being far greater than even Xerxes. Thus, it would do me no good to hesitate or restrain myself. I'll increase my output to 100% and strike at his neck.
Honestly, I've never used this much power on anyone except Father, so I wasn't sure if my vessel could handle such intense Mang.
"[Give Me the Strength to Achieve my Father's Ambition]"
A piercing hum resonated from the shattered blade, harmonizing with my heartbeat. Power surged. The air itself warped- causing the very foundation of the throne room to tremble upon my invocation.
"Incredible. To think that even the throne room could be disturbed..." The older man in the 5th seat pondered.
Jiro of the Second Seat scoffed, "Eh? So what? He's gotta bit of a Mang, but that alone ain't too impressive."
Perhaps Jiro was right — Mang alone did not make the fighter. It was only the beginning, a volatile tide that could drown both master and foe.
I leaped forward with all my might, cracking the marble floor beneath me as my blade raced towards the king's neck.
However...
Tin-
It was as though time itself had stopped. The dust settled, and the soft reverberation of metal tapping metal was the only noise remaining in the throne room.
"Oh...? Is that it? If that's the case..."
The broken Sword of Promised Victory had met the king's neck, and yet...
It didn't even leave a scratch.
"I'm utterly disappointed."
With the mere graze of a finger, the king sent me crashing down into the marble floor.
"GAH!”
I violently coughed as I steadily gained my senses. My ribs were broken, my skull caved in, and my arm was half torn off.
" Give Me the Strength to Achieve my Father's Ambition - it is quite the unrefined and shallow uniqueness, boy. Do you honestly expect to reach me with such feeble desire?"
How?! How did he discern my Uniqueness from a simple touch? A Uniqueness is an abstract desire that gives formless Mang its shape. It's not something you can simply know. It must be a result of a skill he possesses.
In an instant, Qiu Han appeared before me, thrusting his fist into my stomach. If I were human, I would definitely be spewing blood from my mouth. My body felt like a doll that had been beaten and abused until its limbs could no longer function.
"What do you truly desire, Ereth? This much is not enough to become the Legendary Hero; nowhere near enough."
"What...do I desire?"
A stupid question. A question so obvious that even a child could answer it. Yet this man spoke so clearly, with such meditation and passion that I couldn't help but seriously reflect upon the thought.
"I wish to fulfill my father's ambition- to become the Legendary Hero! To stop this 1000-year war! That is the purpose that I was entrusted with!"
"But is that the purpose you wish to fulfill?"
In an instant, his words recovered something deep within my memory.
You are not me, Ereth. And you never should be.
Those words...the words of my father. Why are they coming back to me now of all times? I know better than anyone else that I could never be him. I knew that I was merely a doll incapable of doing anything right. But why...
Why was it not enough?
I swung and swung...
I swung and swung and swung and swung.
I swung my sword until my body broke. I swung my sword until I lost my mind.
That was all of the power I had...
So why is it never enough?
It doesn't make any sense.
No! Don't get distracted! I need to gather my thoughts. Counter. Just a counter!
Upon recovering from the attack, I spun my body to the left and slashed in a diagonal arc. Once again, the attack was stopped with zero effort. This time, his backhand flung me into a wall.
"Your Mang is vast. I'd say that in terms of quantity, only Jiro is a fair comparison. Your determination, however, is but a farce. What do you say of his performance, Second Seat?"
Jiro cackled upon witnessing my crushing defeat. "I'll admit it! The kid's got some guts to launch another counterattack after getting fucked the first time, but what's he gonna do now? Brute strength ain't gonna work!"
Damn...
I regenerated, countered, and was struck down over and over again, like a rabid dog that didn't know when to quit. This frustration built up within my chest like a smothering cauldron. First with Xerxes, now with Qiu Han. Everyone in this world is incredibly strong, stronger than I'd ever imagine. But that's why...
"...!" Qiu Han's countenance experienced a subtle, yet very real shift. "That expression...you truly are your father's son."
I want to surpass them. Xerxes, Qiu Han, and every other foe in my path. It was a childish emotion- bitter and unruly, yet it was true nonetheless.
The moment the illusion shattered, Qiu Han stepped forward.
Effortless. Majestic. Impossibly heavy, as if the very air bowed before his presence. His movements betrayed no urgency. To him, time was simply not of the essence when dealing with me.
He vanished. I reacted to the faint traces of Mang in the air, my instinct guiding me where thought couldn't
CLANG!
Our blades met for but a fraction of a second, his was untouched, while mine creaked under pressure.
I gritted my teeth, sliding back across the marble floor. Mang spattered from my mouth, but I didn't scream.
Slash.
Slash.
Just Slash!
Slash away at the king, no matter the hundreds, no, the thousands of times I must try.
Cut this man down and prove your worth, Ereth!
My Mang surged wildly, no longer elegant or composed. It roared in a thunderous applause, savage and raw like a beast.
"The poor boy is breaking apart. At this rate, he'll die." The Sixth Seat looked at me pitifully, as though I were a child who aimed too high above his station.
"Your eyes are still working, shitty priest? The kids are actually learning something." Jiro made another crass remark, though it held a hint of acknowledgment.
Qui Han exhaled slowly, his golden eyes narrowing. "Is this your answer, Ereth?"
I only raised my sword once more, knuckles pale and arms trembling.
"So what if my dream is fake? Pitiful, pathetic, hollow, empty - you think I need someone like you to tell me that?"
The Mang within me experienced a qualitative change. It stopped flaring outward and instead compressed- infinitely folding inward, like a black hole swallowing its own mass.
The Sword in my hand, once jagged and feeble, had resonated with my desire. It gleamed faintly, as though remembering its purpose.
[I am a Sword, A Weapon of War]
This faux uniqueness, though weak, temporary, and immature, was without a doubt genuine. It manifested as the building blocks of an ability, though its strength was still far beneath any true uniqueness.
Time slowed.
The tip of my blade brushed against Qiu Han's exposed hand.
And then- a thin red line blossomed across his knuckle.
A scratch.
That was all, and it was more than enough.
The throne room went silent, and the very air stood trembling upon witnessing my effort. Yet Qiu Han remained unperturbed. His blue robe fluttered lightly in the wind, as though gently disturbed by a summer breeze.
"You wish to become a sword…?" He said, gazing at the small cut in contemplation. "It is crude - far too crude to be called a uniqueness. A surface-level dream originating from circumstance rather than true introspection. And yet, it is acceptable."
The Third Seat maintained a neutral gaze as she said, "So the boy has some talent. Perhaps we were wrong about our assessment of him, Fifth Seat."
He sucked his teeth in embarrassment. "Perhaps...but it is up to the king to decide the boy's worth."
Qiu Han flexed his fingers, letting the blood trickle down his hand. "A dragon, was it? The boy was ambitious, but he lacked experience. He has yet to shed his skin."
He turned to me, his tone unreadable. "But perhaps this inexperience is what granted you such explosive power."
The Eternal King - Qiu Han walked away towards my shattered body. His eyes were focused on me, the boy who flew too close to the sun.
"Xerxes, I commend you for finding such talent. I did not believe that another Divine General would arrive for at least another 30 years."
"Thank you, your highness. It is the utmost honor to exceed your expectations."
Qiu Han extended his hand out. "From this day forward, Ereth of the Eternal Twilight shall occupy the Eight Seat of the Divine Generals. You shall swear fealty to me, the weakest man, in any and all things. You shall love me more than anyone else in the world, hate me more than anyone else in the world, and envy me more than anything else in the world. This is your solemn vow. Do you accept such an outcome, Ereth of the Eternal Twilight?"
To any normal human being, they'd have likely died from the injuries I'd sustained. However, my automaton body gave me the strength to present myself before the king. "I accept this outcome, my King."