Before returning to the Path of Shura, Lucius made a stop at the Guild of Arankuna. There, a letter had arrived for him, addressed from the Headmaster of the Magic Academy.

  Although the contents were detailed, the essence of the message could be summarised in one simple sentence:

  "Take this opportunity to train thoroughly on the Path of Shura. You are not permitted to return until you have conquered it."

  Lucius couldn’t understand why such an order had been given to him. Yet, it was a decree he could not ignore. With little choice but to accept his fate, he resolved to make the most of the situation. His thoughts settled into a quiet acceptance, and he decided to push forward, seeking whatever benefits this journey could offer him.

  Thinking it a good chance to test his strength, Lucius briefly entered the Fifth Floor but soon opted to return to the First, determined to clear it properly, yer by yer.

  Though he felt capable of battling on the Fifth Floor, he knew the monsters there were far stronger than those in the earlier stages. He couldn’t be sure how he would fare if confronted by multiple enemies at once, and Lucius, who had always avoided fights with many foes, understood that he still had much to learn. With resolve, he decided to embrace the Path of Shura in its entirety, feeling a small spark of reckless determination.

  For some time now, Lucius had been eager to test a technique he had developed. This would be the perfect opportunity to use it in battle with multiple enemies, refining it into a deadly skill. Given the variety of monsters in the Path of Shura, he could easily adapt his technique to each of their unique traits.

  With that, Lucius drew his greatsword, imbuing it with magic. The bde and the magic fused, becoming one, and with it, he could wield the sword freely, moving with a fluidity that felt as natural as breathing.

  Concentrating, Lucius channelled more magic into the bde, building up a power that he gathered at its tip. As he released the gathered energy, a small portion of the magic shot forward from the bde.

  He tested it on some nearby underbrush. The magic-infused bde sliced through it with a sharp zhing sound.

  If he could extend the magic further, perhaps with a single strike he could take on multiple enemies at once. Lucius began practising the technique while facing the monsters of the First Floor, gradually refining it with each swing.

  ...

  After a week of continuous battle, the monsters of the First Floor no longer posed a challenge. Lucius progressed to the Second Floor. Here, there were no fast-moving monsters, and he was able to continue his conquest without difficulty or fear of being surrounded.

  The real challenge awaited on the Third Floor. The monsters there were fast and often attacked in groups. Even when he spotted small clusters of them from a distance, it was impossible to engage from afar, forcing him to close the gap and risk being caught in an ambush.

  Thanks to the extension of his bde's reach, a result of his magical infusion, his attack range had nearly tripled, making it easier to handle enemies. But even with this advantage, he still felt something cking.

  Lucius puzzled over what to do next. If he focused solely on his skills, he was, at his core, a mage. Long-range spells like light or energy projectiles would surely help him deal with multiple foes. However, in this moment, he was fixated on the notion of swordsmanship, and so this option didn’t even cross his mind.

  It was at that point that Lucius arrived at a new technique.

  ...

  Through the trees, he spotted five Speed Rabbits, none of them yet aware of his presence.

  Lucius gripped his sword, his magic already flowing through it. He took a wide stance and swung the sword horizontally, from right to left.

  As the bde cut through the air, a magical edge formed, racing forward with incredible speed, striking down the rabbits in an instant.

  The result was five Speed Rabbits, split neatly in half at the abdomen.

  Suppressing a triumphant shout, Lucius quickly retraced his steps down the Path of Shura, descending the mountain with urgency.

  "I did it! I did it! I’ve sent the bde flying!" he excimed, an unusual giddiness in his voice.

  Watching him, Mofu couldn’t help but chuckle. However, after hearing the full details, he couldn’t suppress a wry smile at the sheer destructive power of the new technique.

  ...

  Using his new techniques, such as the Extending Bde and the Flying Bde, Lucius breezed through the Fourth Floor with little resistance.

  By this point, nearly a month and a half had passed. While Lucius knew that there were gaps in his formal education, he was aware that those could be addressed ter, once he returned to the church for further studies. For now, however, he had no intention of wasting the opportunity to grow stronger.

  The monsters of the Fifth Floor proved a much greater challenge. The monsters were diverse in nature, each bringing new challenges, and their varying abilities made the battles far more difficult.

  As Lucius fought, he could feel the techniques he had cultivated within himself beginning to meld together in a seamless way. Parrying, the use of magic-infused strikes, his tactics for dealing with multiple enemies, extending and throwing his bde, using his sub-skills, creating defensive barriers, and forming footholds—all of these had to be applied simultaneously.

  Lucius couldn’t help but smile to himself.

  He could feel the change in himself. He was growing stronger.

  By gaining both mid- and long-range capabilities, every element of his training and technique now had a purpose. The pieces of the puzzle were starting to fit together, and Lucius relished the feeling of it.

  “Lucius, remember that techniques are only one aspect. Focus on honing your sword within yourself. If you do that, the path will eventually open for you.”

  The words of his father rang clearly in his mind.

  Now, for the first time, Lucius truly understood their meaning.

  Although his sword was now mixed with magic, he could feel it had been sharpened far beyond its previous limits.

  The boy once known as the "Sword Prodigy" had now surpassed yet another obstacle that had stood before him.

  ...

  In a matter of days, Lucius found that the monsters of the Fifth Floor were no longer a challenge.

  He continued to delve deeper into the Path of Shura, advancing further. Up until the middle of the Fifth Floor, the path had been well-maintained—grass cleared away, and the earth solid underfoot.

  But at a certain point, the path began to narrow into a small trail, eventually turning into a rough beast track before disappearing altogether.

  It was evident that some form of interference was at py.

  The journey grew slower, and encounters with monsters began to increase as they ambushed him from unexpected angles.

  Nevertheless, Lucius was undeterred. His energy was high, and he felt stable, confident in his strength. He was able to strike down each monster with precision, cutting through them as they came.

  After walking for a while, the forest opened up, revealing a shimmering pond.

  The description he had received matched perfectly. This was the deepest point of the Path of Shura.

  The water in the pond was unnaturally clear, and Lucius could see all the way to the bottom. Though it was tempting to drink, he knew the water wasn’t safe for consumption, so he refrained from touching it.

  As he walked slowly along the shore, he spotted a primitive shrine, built from stacked stones.

  Recalling the instructions he had received, Lucius pced his palm against the stone and allowed his magic to circute through it.

  At once, a magic circle appeared beneath his feet, shining with bright light.

  [Metal Liger]

  The name floated to the forefront of his mind.

  A hiss echoed from the shrine, followed by a billowing smoke. This was the materialisation of a monster, likely the Metal Liger, which had begun to form before him.

  Lucius knew that the shrine was connected to a clearing, so he made his way towards it.

  ...

  The final challenge of the Path of Shura was said to be a monster most fitting for a challenger of Lucius’s calibre.

  By circuting his magic through the shrine, Lucius had begun to perceive certain vital information, preparing himself for the trial ahead.

  It took roughly half an hour for the monster to take shape, and Lucius stood in quiet concentration, waiting for the moment of confrontation.

  Suddenly, a deep growl echoed from a distance. The monster had finished its formation.

  Lucius tensed, focusing his attention on the direction of the sound.

  The rustling of leaves soon followed, signalling the approach of the creature.

  When it emerged, Lucius’s eyes widened. The creature was metallic in appearance.

  In that instant, he knew he had to act quickly, for a crash came from the creature’s sudden charge. The Metal Liger had struck with lightning speed, narrowly missing Lucius.

  The creature was covered in a metallic sheen, its body low to the ground with cws and fangs that were sharper than steel. Despite the seemingly fluffy appearance of its fur, Lucius knew better—it was far more dangerous than it appeared.

  The Metal Liger shifted its weight to its hind legs, gathering power for another charge.

  It was coming again.

  Lucius sidestepped at the st moment.

  This time, the charge was weaker, but still strong enough to cause damage. Lucius knew he had to be quick. He set his stance, preparing for the next attack.

  Lucius maintained the same distance as before, preparing for his counterattack.

  The Metal Liger never took its eyes off him, quietly waiting for an opening.

  When facing a creature like this, there are certain movements that can provoke the enemy into attacking.

  Lucius quickly took a half-step forward.

  In response to his movement, the Metal Liger lunged forward with its cws, and Lucius swiftly leapt diagonally backward to evade the strike before preparing to retaliate.

  However, the creature’s cw swing was slower than before, its step weaker.

  Lucius attempted to unch a forceful counterattack, but as the Metal Liger twisted its body, he realised something was amiss.

  “Another strike!”

  The Metal Liger’s opposite front leg shed out towards Lucius, a second attack aimed at him.

  Lucius leapt further back to the left while gripping his greatsword tightly, analysing the situation.

  The second strike from the Metal Liger was sharper and more weighted than the first, but it still cut only air.

  Lucius had already adjusted his body and was preparing to swing his sword. He had been ready for a third attack, but it seemed the beast had finished with two strikes.

  He infused his sword with magiv, unleashing an attack capable of cleaving through even a two-yered tough opponent with ease.

  The Metal Liger smmed its foot into the ground with great force and leapt backward.

  Lucius immediately realised that the creature had infused a significant amount of magic into its legs.

  "Ha!"

  With the creature’s movement, Lucius lost the chance to strike where he had aimed.

  However, the attack was still on target, so he swung his sword down with all his might.

  Cng!

  A dull sound reverberated through the air. The vibration from the collision shot through Lucius’s hands, leaving them numb.

  “Gah!”

  The Metal Liger was far tougher than anticipated.

  Lucius excimed in surprise as the recoil caused him to stagger backward.

  Looking at the creature’s shoulder, he saw a shallow wound.

  While the attack had been delivered with strength, Lucius could tell that the amount of magic invested wasn’t sufficient.

  It was clear that only a fully powered attack could nd a fatal blow, and with that knowledge, Lucius let out a soft sigh.

  ...

  The battle between Lucius and the Metal Liger continued, a back-and-forth exchange of blows.

  The Metal Liger utilised its agility to combine both attacks and evasions.

  The fact that Lucius’s attacks, unless fully powered, did not cause significant harm seemed to allow the creature to become more aggressive. Its movements were growing bolder.

  Lucius evaded nearly every attack, narrowly avoiding the creature's deadly cws and fangs. He knew he had no choice but to dodge these vicious strikes.

  Although he could block the occasional body sm or kick from close range, if he didn’t use healing magic almost immediately after, his body wouldn’t be able to withstand much longer.

  The battle stagnated, and the Metal Liger began to change its approach.

  Where it had once been relentless, it now paused, seemingly observing Lucius’s movements. Upon realising Lucius was not attacking, it began to gather its energy once more.

  Memories of the Liger’s lightning-quick charge flooded his mind, and Lucius realised he couldn’t afford to retreat.

  The momentum of the battle had shifted to the enemy’s favour.

  But there was still a chance of victory. Lucius knew that the only way to seize it was to stay calm.

  Half-hearted measures were not going to work. If he was going to strike, he had to commit fully, or his attacks would be neutralised by the creature’s toughness.

  With a steady resolve, Lucius tightened his grip on his sword.

  It was time to provoke the beast into making the first move and then strike at the right moment.

  Lucius subtly increased the amount of magic circuting through his body.

  His target was the moment the Metal Liger unched its super-fast attack.

  During that attack, the magic would be concentrated in its legs, so if he struck at the right moment, his blow would be more effective.

  This would be a one-time opportunity.

  Lucius maintained his usual stance, giving no hint that he had changed anything. He kept feinting and striking lightly, waiting for the perfect chance.

  The Metal Liger didn’t falter, its movements steady and controlled.

  After several exchanges, the creature hesitated for just a brief moment.

  This was it!

  Lucius channelled his magic into his sword, purposefully feinting an attack to bait the Liger. At this range, his strike would not nd.

  The Metal Liger responded by gathering its strength in its legs.

  It was taken.

  Lucius had successfully baited the Liger, and now, for the first time, he unleashed the Extending Sword.

  “Graaah!”

  With a shout, Lucius swung his sword down with all his might.

  The Metal Liger, with its focus on strengthening its legs, had no way to defend itself against the blow— or so it seemed.

  The metal beast released a portion of the magic it had stored in its legs, redirecting it to its back.

  Cng!

  The extended magical bde collided with the Liger’s back, and a sharp, metallic csh echoed through the air.

  “I miscalcuted.”

  Lucius muttered under his breath, stepping back.

  At this range, even if it retaliated, he knew the attack would not be fatal.

  Indeed, the Liger was not able to do much damage with the remaining magic in its legs.

  —Or so Lucius thought.

  The Metal Liger instantly lunged forward, swinging its cws with terrifying force, aiming straight for Lucius’s greatsword.

  Crack!

  The sword shattered.

  “What the hell are you doing?!”

  For the first time in the battle, Lucius, usually composed and calm, let out a shout of fury.

  Still rattled, he drew the knife from his waist and swung it at the beast before him.

  But the magical energy was cking, and his posture was off.

  The Metal Liger took the blow on its body, but then, it focused all its remaining magic into its cws and effortlessly destroyed Lucius’s knife.

  “Awoo-oo-oo!”

  Leaping back, the Metal Liger howled triumphantly, its voice echoing with a sense of assured victory.