Cheon Hwi declared, “I can at least figure it out,” as he formed a sword and grabbed it.
The moment he did, Choa and the viewers seemed to share the same thought.
Is that possible?
To create a sword technique on the spot, of all things.
And not even for himself.
To create a swordsmanship tailored to someone else, a complete stranger, on the spot—this was something that, at least by common sense, would be considered impossible.
Even the academy’s swordsmanship is like that.
The sword technique taught at the academy is based on the swordsmanship of the Korean Supreme Sword, one of the Seven Heroes, and after decades of trial and error, it became the standard form of swordsmanship.
“Is… is that possible?”
Choa asked with a trembling voice.
She didn’t even understand why her voice was shaking.
It felt like it was from the overwhelming sadness she had felt earlier, but she couldn’t ignore the confusion she was facing right now.
Like someone on the verge of tears, or someone stumbling over their words in panic, Choa added a question to her own.
“The sword technique taught at the academy didn’t even suit me… Could you really make a sword that fits my body so easily?”
It was an impossible feat.
Even recreating a scene or image, or replicating a piece of music that one has heard, was something that I would consider below my level when it comes to swordsmanship.
If someone were skilled enough to wield a sword as well as Cheon Hwi, they should understand that this was no easy feat.
Choa, swallowing her words, shifted her gaze to the chat window.
She was checking the viewers’ responses to see if she was thinking about this all wrong.
Huh?
What are you making?
Did this person eat something strange today?
As expected, the viewers watching the broadcast were reacting the same way.
Seeing Cheon Hwi’s baseless confidence, they filled the chat with question marks and inquiries.
“If it’s the Ascension Martial Art, it might be difficult,” Choa sighed lightly, probably thinking Cheon Hwi was just trying to draw attention with an ambiguous answer.
That’s when Cheon Hwi responded.
“But it’s not a basic technique. Even a sword technique, which isn’t even related to Qi Circulation, I can create dozens of them easily if I want to.”
Cheon Hwi turned his body, as if he would no longer listen to or look at any more questions.
After completely turning away from the chat window, he took a stance, stepping forward and swinging his sword.
“Wow…….”
He planted his foot and extended his arm, swinging the sword.
It was a completely ordinary slash, with nothing special about it, but the level of precision was on a completely different level.
If only I could swing a sword like that, I’d have no regrets.
Just as Choa was thinking this to herself, Cheon Hwi swung the sword once more.
However…
“Huh?”
This time, the swing was different.
It was clearly the same movement as before, yet something was awkward and off about it.
There was something different, but Choa couldn’t pinpoint exactly what it was.
As Choa, without thinking, voiced her confusion about the strange discrepancy, Cheon Hwi casually glanced at the chat window and asked, “Did you feel the difference?”
“Yes, yes… But I don’t know why there’s such a difference.”
Could it be that she missed something?
Choa’s gaze naturally shifted to the chat window.
Something, something is happening…
It’s the same movement, but why is the result different? Haha
Earth Online has a bug again
This game is always like that, huh
No, the viewers were just as confused.
For a moment, Choa was comforted by the fact that she wasn’t the only one who didn’t understand, but her attention quickly returned to Cheon Hwi, who was still moving in the screen.
“Choa Sojeo, all awakened individuals usually gain a special trait, or ability, upon their awakening.”
“Ah, yes! That’s right.”
“May I ask what your trait is, Choa Sojeo?”
At Cheon Hwi’s question, Choa’s mouth closed.
Isn’t it the same as my trait?
What’s that, you pervert?
Say it!
You know, that thing.
That thing.
During the few seconds of hesitation, the answer quickly appeared in the chat.
Super Instinct
Her intuition improves.
The description of Super Instinct could be summarized in a short sentence like this.
There’s no hidden power or potential behind it.
Whether it’s a good feeling or a bad feeling, the only thing it gives is superhuman intuition.
It’s a trait that, in reality, is considered not very suitable for combat.
That’s it.
“Aah……”
Because of this, Choa’s words were caught in her throat.
Even though the name of the trait had just been revealed, an overwhelming sense of suffocation filled her chest.
Just because her trait was considered poor, she was ostracized by other awakened individuals of her age.
Could it be that the trait is the problem again?
Feeling uneasy, her Super Instinct activated on its own and sent a warning.
And the clear ability within the realm of supernatural powers gave her an instinctive feeling.
“I knew it. The sword is way too dull compared to the person swinging it.”
It matched Choa’s expectations, but in a completely different way.
“Y-yes…?”
The sword was too dull compared to the person swinging it.
Cheon Hwi, who had already declared that the academy’s swordsmanship was lacking for Choa’s abilities, continued without giving her a chance to respond.
“Super Instinct has the potential to evolve into a temporary form of foresight if used well. Your body will instinctively predict several moves ahead in every moment during combat. But a sword technique that has been ‘standardized’ simply can’t keep up with that.”
A standardized sword technique is good.
It’s undeniably a huge advantage that most people can learn it, and its low baseline is guaranteed.
However, it also acts as a fatal flaw.
According to the law of equivalent exchange, by gaining universality, a lot has been sacrificed.
“Do you know where the standard sword technique taught at the academy originated?”
“Isn’t it from the Korea’s Greatest Sword, Yeoh Jin, one of the Seven Heroes of the Great Cataclysm?”
“Exactly. So, what’s the difference between Korea’s Greatest Sword and most hunters?”
Choa’s lips parted.
It wasn’t that she didn’t know the answer, but it felt so obvious that she was left wondering if it was the right answer.
And once again, a viewer, who hadn’t missed a moment of Choa’s hesitation, quickly posted the answer.
Isn’t that obvious?
Isn’t the Korea’s Greatest Sword better in every way?
Yeah, definitely better in every way ᄋᄋ
He’s one of the Seven Heroes, after all.
In every aspect, Korea’s Greatest Sword is better.
From basic strength to speed, and even in psychological warfare and experience, no hunter can match Korea’s Greatest Sword.
“Just as the viewers said. Korea’s Greatest Sword, as one of the Seven Heroes, is on a completely different level compared to other hunters.”
Why would you mention him…
Now, are you going to challenge Korea’s Greatest Sword too?
That certainly wouldn’t end as just a casual controversy.
Perhaps because of the significance of Cheon Hwi’s words, the viewers trembled with anxiety.
However, Cheon Hwi couldn’t help but smile at their reactions.
“Do you remember the two sword swings I showed earlier?”
“Yes, I remember.”
The moves of the great master and yours were quite different.
When you swung the sword, you really looked like a master.
Please be careful with your words.
A perfect sword swing and a somewhat clumsy one.
Choa and the viewers certainly thought Cheon Hwi had demonstrated both a correct and incorrect way of swinging the sword.
But…
“Both of those were proper sword swings.”
What?
What do you mean by that?
If both swings were correct, then what about the second one you showed?
Cheon Hwi calmly spoke words that no one expected.
“I told you. The standard sword technique at the academy is something that has gone through the process of being standardized.”
Korea’s Greatest Sword is, quite literally, the greatest sword in Korea.
Among the countless sword masters in South Korea, he is the finest sword master.
But, would the sword technique of such a master be a normal one?
Of course not.
It is the genius swordsmanship created and perfected based on the greatest of all.
What would have to be sacrificed to make this sword technique accessible to all other hunters?
The answer is simple.
You take the universality and give up everything else.
“The standard sword technique taught at the academy is a downgraded version of the swordsmanship used by Korea’s Greatest Sword.”
In Cheon Hwi’s view, the baseline of the academy’s standard sword technique is relatively high, but on the other hand, its upper limit is quite low.
In order to improve it for the average hunter’s level, things like perfect techniques and exceptional skills, such as a well-timed strike, have been cut away.
They eliminate moves that rely on innate senses, discard movements made possible by the innate body, and remove actions that come from natural talent.
By stripping away each of these elements rooted in the realm of talent, the sword technique becomes simplified to a level that can be commonly used by average hunters.
“Moreover, the academy’s standard sword technique wasn’t even a result of Korea’s Greatest Sword’s direct improvements, so it must have looked particularly clumsy.”
The cause of the problem has already been revealed.
Cheon Hwi believes the reason for Choa’s stagnant swordsmanship is the disconnect between her body and mind.
The body with Super Intuition instinctively tries to make the correct sword moves, but the mind, inputting the wrong examples, interferes with that process.
So, the solution is simple.
It’s simple.
Just overwrite the wrong examples with the correct ones.
To allow the mind to follow the sword path that the body is drawing, all that needs to be done is to show an improved version of the academy’s standard sword technique that matches Choa’s Super Intuition engraved in her body.
“I’ll show you an example so you can watch and practice.”
Cheon Hwi swings his sword.
The swordsmanship unfolding on the screen resembles the standard sword technique Choa had been diligently practicing at the academy for over a year.
It looks similar, but it’s clearly a different sword technique.
Having practiced desperately, Choa could gradually see the difference more clearly.
“Wow…”
She couldn’t help but admire.
And a strange conviction rose within her.
The Super Intuition that she had resented up until now, now seemed to strongly shout, This is your sword.
Eventually, Cheon Hwi stops his sword.
He had demonstrated the entirely new, improved version of the standard sword technique.
“You’ll have a chance to watch again, so you should be able to practice enough by yourself.”
As Cheon Hwi said this with a smile, Choa’s body tingled as she watched him.
She was surprised by her own thought.
She wanted to swing her sword.
For the first time in a long while, Choa truly wanted to swing a sword.