Kang Oh stashed all three of his demon swords into his inventory.

Then...

A system message popped up.

[You have satisfied the condition, 'Master Demonic Swordsmanship', for the Trial to Become Stronger quest.]

[You only have one condition left: 'Acquire a Demonic Swordsman secret move'.]

[Remaining Time: 35 days]

Kang Oh clenched his fist.

The Trial to Become Stronger! That was the quest Valan had given him.

It was a ridiculous, nigh impossible quest that forced him to master Demonic Swordsmanship, acquire a Demonic Swordsman secret move, etc. in just 100 days.

However, he was just one step away from completing the quest; all he needed to do was learn a Demonic Swordsman secret move within the next 35 days.

As a reward for mastering Demonic Swordsmanship, he was able to create a secret move of his own. Thus, he was in no rush.

This was all due to Sraka.

If he hadn't landed the finishing blow, then he would be busy raising his proficiency in Demonic Swordsmanship (which went up at a snail's pace) and nonstop hunting.

'Hmm. What kind of secret move should I make?'

There were so many secret moves he wanted to make.

'I'll take some time to think about it first.'

After all, he still had 35 days left. That was plenty of time to think about it.

Plus, there was another secret move he needed to learn first. Weapon Bombardment! He wanted to learn the Tuslam's secret move as soon as possible.

The Tuslam Champion had agreed to teach it to him if he defeated the demon, so it was time to leave and learn it right away.

'But how do I get out of here?' Kang Oh took a look around.

The wasteland stretched on and on with traces of Kang Oh's battle scattered across it. However, he couldn't find a way out.

'When you can't find a way out, a return scroll is usually the answer.'

Kang Oh opened his inventory.

Then...

Rumble!

All of a sudden, the room shook and then collapsed. Starting from beneath Kang Oh's feet at that!

"Heok!" Kang Oh was shocked.

Hyper Intuition hadn't sent him a warning! Kang Oh fell, and was consumed by the dark abyss below.

A short while later...

When he woke up, Kang Oh saw a giant mirror in front of him. Vladi had been sealed within a mirror world, but Kang Oh had been released into the outside world.

Kang Oh took a closer look at the mirror.

Crack!

The mirror cracked in the middle, and then completely shattered. The prisoner had been defeated, so there was no longer any need for the seal.

"Hmm."

There was nothing else for him here.

Kang Oh headed for the entrance. As he approached the entrance, the door automatically opened.

He was greeted by bright light. Kang Oh furrowed his brow, took a quick look, and saw a familiar face. It was the Tuslam Champion, Kuharap!

"I... defeated the demon." Kang Oh grinned.

* * *

Kuharap's tent.

Kang Oh and Kuharap were staring at each other.

"To think you'd really defeat the demon... You're amazing," Kuharap said.

"Well, I suppose I was lucky," Kang Oh said humbly. It really wasn't like him. But he wasn't lying; those were his true thoughts.

Kang Oh had been lucky, and Vladi had been unlucky.

What if he hadn't had Sarahoff, which contained the Ice Soul's power? And what if he didn't have Blood, which was capable of absorbing Vladi's power?

Fortunately, he had both of them. What's worse, Kang Oh possessed Hyper Intuition, which allowed him to counter Vladi's invisible attack.

Kang Oh was like Vladi's mortal enemy. It was due to this mismatch that Kang Oh was able to beat Vladi with relative ease.

'I might've lost if I couldn't freeze him with Sarahoff and drain him with Blood.'

Vladi was capable of reviving himself four times. The more times he revived himself, the more powerful he became!

If he fought him normally, then Kang Oh might've run out of options first. And if that happened, he would've become Vladi's next meal.

'His transformative ability makes it hard to hit him, and he uses several powerful AoE attacks in succession. Then there's his resurrection ability... and he can also absorb an elf or Tuslam's corpse to regain his full strength.'

He was the very definition of overpowered. However, the seal had weakened Vladi tremendously.

What if he were to fight Vladi at full strength?

'There's a high chance I would've lost.'

Now he understood how the elves, who had been powerful enough to set up a giant city within the Great Forest, were so easily defeated by Vladi. He also understood why they were forced to seal him too.

'It doesn't matter. I won in the end.' Kang Oh grinned.

Whatever the case, winning was all that mattered. In a competitive world, that is.

"The demon's gone, so... It's time for us to leave," Kuharap said.

"You're leaving?" Kang Oh asked.

Kuharap nodded his head. "Our tribe made a promise to the wise sage, who taught us how to seal the demon. We would continue to guard the seal until the day it was defeated. Those damn elves broke their promise and left, but we don't break our promises. We've kept our promise, so it's time for us to leave."

"Where will you go?"

"Home."

"Home?"

"The Ruman Mountains."

"The mountains in the western grasslands?"

"That's right."

"I think the orcs have taken residence there."

The Ruman Orcs were one of the three most powerful tribes in the west.

"We're its rightful owners."

"I'm not sure they'll agree."

'They' referred to the Ruman Orcs.

"It doesn't matter. We'll show them who the true owners of the Ruman Mountains are."

Kang Oh predicted there'd be chaos in the west for the foreseeable future. Oh well, it didn't really concern him anyway.

"I want to see where we came from. No, I want to make a new start there," Kuharap said.

"Good luck. Don't you have something for me?"

"Of course." Kuharap pulled out an old book from a drawer. The cover was made of beast leather, and the title was engraved on the front.

- Weapon Bombardment

It was a textbook that'd teach him the skill.

"Take it." Kuharap passed him the book.

"Thanks." Kang Oh snatched it away, and immediately learned the skill.

The book broke into particles of light, and a system message popped up.

[In order to learn Weapon Bombardment, you must possess a high-rank weapon skill (swordsmanship, spearmanship, axemanship, etc.).]

[You have satisfied the conditions in order to learn Weapon Bombardment.]

[You are blessed by the earth. Any skill or spell you learn for the first time will start at the intermediate-rank.]

[You have learned Intermediate-Rank Weapon Bombardment (Active/Skill).]

Kang Oh clicked on Weapon Bombardment in the skill window.

[Weapon Bombardment]

The Tuslam Tribe's secret move. Throws a weapon at a target with great power. You may freely control this weapon or any weapon that you have already thrown, and also have them return to you.

+ Refinement: The skill has been adapted for human use, as they possess a smaller frame and weaker physical abilities than the Tuslam.

The weapon's power has been reduced and the MP cost has been increased, but controlling one's weapons will be much easier.

Type: Active/Skill.

MP Cost: Varies based on how long the weapon stays in the air.

Cooldown: None.

Rank: Intermediate.

Proficiency: 0%.

"Let me give you some advice on how to use Weapon Bombardment properly."

Kang Oh listened attentively.

"First, throw your weapon poorly. But only if you don't think you can finish them in a single hit."

"Why?"

"You can make them lower their guard and then withdraw your weapon. In the process, you'll be able to hit them from behind."

"Aha. That's a pretty good tip."

"A tip?"

"Eh, don't worry about it. Anyhow, I'm leaving now." Kang Oh stood up, but Kuharap stopped him.

"What do you mean leave!?"

"What's wrong?"

"We're preparing a banquet for you. Stay and celebrate."

It was like he was ordering him; it made him feel somewhat unpleasant.

"And if I want to leave?" Kang Oh said bluntly.

"Then you leave."

'I won't keep you!'

"Hmm." Kang Oh stroked his chin. He began to weigh his options.

The Tuslam were more skilled and trustworthy than most mercenaries. If he managed to gain their trust, then... there would be nothing better.

"Let's have some fun!" Kang Oh clenched his fist.

That day...

The Tuslam held a giant feast. Kang Oh, the guest of honor, put his arms around the Tuslam warriors' shoulders and drank and ate happily.

It was time for Kang Oh's silver tongue to go to work.

"Haha. As expected of the Tuslam; you aren't called the continent's greatest, most powerful tribe for nothing! Cheers!"

"I'd like to be born as a Tuslam warrior in my next life! No matter what!"

"No, wait. Can't I just be a Tuslam now? Please!? More drinks over here!"

"My Tuslam Brothers, let's be friends forever!"

As the 'great warrior who defeated Talastrum's Demon' and 'the one who freed the Tuslam Tribe', Kang Oh used his silver tongue to sweet talk the warriors here.

Thus, he got what he wanted in the end.

"You're one of us!"

"Brother!"

[Your closeness with the Tuslam Tribe is extremely high.]

[The warriors of the Tuslam Tribe consider you a brother. They will prioritize your requests over others, no matter what they are.]

[You have acquired the title, Honorary Tuslam Warrior.]

Kang Oh grinned. He'd gained a group of skilled mercenaries that he could work to the bone for cheap!

* * *

Kang Oh arrived at the Holiseum.

Once the war with the Evil God Worshippers was over and the Protectors of the Continent was formally disbanded, the Holiseum's gladiators returned to their daily lives.

"Hello." Kang Oh greeted a gladiator he was acquainted with, and then headed straight for Valan.

Knock, knock.

Kang Oh heard a familiar voice on the other side of the door.

"Please come in."

Creak.

Kang Oh was greeted by Darion's elegant face. He was the one who'd responded to him.

Valan was sitting in a stiff chair beside him. One of his empty sleeves fluttered in the air, and a huge sword scar lingered on his chest.

He'd heard that Darion was in charge of taking care of Valan.

"Have you been well?" Kang Oh said politely.

Valan gently opened his eyes. "Hoh," he said in amazement. "You've become a Master."

"How did you know?" Kang Oh looked surprised.

'He's seriously way too sharp for his own good.'

"I can tell."

What a Valan-like answer.

"Seriously? He's become a Master?" Darion looked on in disbelief.

'That guy became a Master? We're doomed!'

Valan caught his disapproval and grinned. "Skill and one's character are completely separate."

In other words, Kang Oh's skill didn't match up to his confidence.

"He's right. Master Valan is a good example of this," Kang Oh retorted, using his words right back at him. "And Darion."

"Yes?" Darion still looked shocked.

Kang Oh approached him and patted him on the shoulder. "Try harder, will ya? At this rate, it'll take years before you become a Master."

Darion bit his lip and his fists shook. "I'll become a Master too."

"I'm not so sure about that. I don't think you will."

"I will!"

"Then shall we bet on it?"

Darion flinched at the word 'bet'. He recalled some unpleasant memories for a second there.

"I'm never going to make a bet with you, Mr. Kang Oh! Please have a pleasant conversation. I'm going to go train!" Darion quickly left Valan's room.

"Pfft." Valan laughed, seeing Darion turn tail and run.

"You've been laughing a lot more lately."

"I usually laugh a lot, but I had to be strict because of some idiot."

"Are you referring to me?"

"Who else would I be talking about?"

"Is that so?" Kang Oh grinned.

He didn't feel any malice in Valan's words.

"Yeah!"

"How are you feeling?"

"Not bad. Dr. Eder's medicine is working well."

"What a relief."

"Did you come to ask me about the secret move?"

Kang Oh looked shocked. "How did you know?"

"I can just tell."

"Mm. I have to create a Demonic Swordsman secret move, but I'm not sure what I should make."

"I wanted a sword that could cut through anything," Valan said.

Thus, Divide the Sea was created.

"Burkan probably wanted a sword that could surpass me."

Hence, Transcendent Blade.

"What I want..."

Back then and now, there was only one thing he'd ever wanted.

"The strongest."

In other words, the peak.

He wanted to be higher than anyone else, with no one looking down at him from above. That was what Kang Oh wanted.

"That's impossible," Valan said firmly.

"Why is that?"

"I will always be the strongest, whether it be the past, the present, or the future," Valan said arrogantly.

"No, I'll replace you!" Kang Oh retorted.

"Tough talk for someone who's just become a Master." Valan grinned. "Anyhow, keep this in mind. You're not creating a Swordsman secret move, but a Demonic Swordsman secret move. You know what the difference between these two is, right?"

"Of course."

"Then get going." Valan waved him off.

"Stay healthy."

Kang Oh left the Holiseum and looked up at the sky.

'A Demonic Swordsman secret move, huh...'

His thoughts only deepened.