Return of the Mythic Bloodline-Chapter 399: Life and Death

"No matter what happens, always remember what you just told me," Aruma said, taking a fighting stance. "It will prevent you from falling to the other side."

"What do you me—"

Before I could ask him, he had already unleashed a relentless fury of sword attacks at me.

"Focus on the Sword Aura on your blade," Aruma said between the strikes. "Control it. Make it more precise, more compact. It should be deadlier. Every attack should be meant to kill."

This was the first time in four months that Aruma had taught me verbally. Until now, it had been nothing but silent attacks until I died.

"I know you are strong, but how do you overpower me so easily without even using Sword Aura?" I asked, barely managing to block his attacks.

"Who said I’m not using Sword Aura?"

"Because there is no energy on your bla—"

My words stopped mid sentence, my eyes widening as I finally realized it.

The black color of his katana was not natural. It was Aruma’s Sword Aura laced over the blade, so precise, so compact, and absolutely perfect.

"So you finally sensed it," Aruma murmured, the corner of his lips rising. "But that doesn’t mean you can afford to be distracted."

Taking advantage of the brief opening I showed while observing his katana, he sliced off my head.

---

"Now that you can sense the traces of real Sword Aura, you will soon be able to advance to the next stage," Aruma informed me as soon as I was revived.

"It sure was eye opening," I replied, rising to my feet and grabbing my sword. "However, you could have just told me that instead of torturing me like this."

"It cannot be helped. Perfect Sword Aura can only be learned or even sensed after facing multiple near death situations. Each time you come closer to death, your body instinctively tries to protect itself, forcing you to awaken your advanced senses."

"Well then, let’s see how much of my advanced senses have awakened," I murmured, moving toward him.

Now that I had finally sensed the Sword Aura on Aruma’s blade, I could see his attacks more clearly, which had seemed like a blur until our last clash. The movement of his muscles, the trajectory of his blade, the angle of his wrist, they were all becoming clearer.

From an exchange of just ten moves earlier, I now managed to withstand more than a hundred strikes against him before I was eventually killed.

After reviving, we instantly continued our spar. This time, the duration of our fight increased even further.

I fought, died, revived, and fought again.

Ding...

"Skill: Sword Aura leveled up!"

Ding...

"Skill: Sword Aura leveled up!"

Ding...

"Skill: Sword Aura leveled up!"

.

.

.

The cycle of life and death continued for two more months. However, death no longer brought only suffering. Each time I revived, my strikes became more precise and sharper. The Sword Aura that had earlier been twice the size of my blade had drastically compacted, now barely leaking beyond its edge. The flickers of golden lightning around the blade had also reduced significantly.

And then, after six months of endless suffering, my final spar with Aruma began.

"This will be the final spar," I declared, my eyes empty and my scarred face devoid of expression.

"I will be the judge of that," Aruma replied, gripping his katana with both hands for the first time. The gesture conveyed everything. He would not be going easy on me.

The silver blade of Vajra began turning golden as I flowed my Soulforce into it like water.

Unlike the previous duels that had lasted for several hours, this final duel ended after only one clash. A single move we exchanged in the blink of an eye that could not be seen by mortal eyes.

Both of us moved forward at blinding speed. Our swords clashed, erupting sparks, and we reached the opposite positions.

The next moment, blood splattered from my half opened torso and I fell to the floor.

As the vision before me began to blur, I saw a very faint energy disruption on Aruma’s index finger, revealing his true white soul form beneath.

Ding...

"Sword Aura leveled up!"

Ding...

"Sword Aura has reached the maximum level! Your sword skills have reached the next stage!

Advanced Stage → Expert Stage"

"I finally... managed to land an attack... on him," I murmured before being pulled into the abyss.

---

"Congratulations, you achieved the goal of your training," Hana said, gently patting my forehead when I opened my eyes.

I didn’t say anything. I kept staring at her with a straight face.

"Is there something on my face?" she asked.

"Now I understand where Ume got her charms from. You are beautiful, mother in law. Father’s genes did not even try, and thank heavens they didn’t."

"Oho~ you surely jest," Hana exclaimed, holding her cheeks as she blushed.

"I certainly do not, mother in law," I instantly replied.

"Oho~ You certainly have a way with words, son in law," she chuckled, gently patting me.

Aruma, who had been witnessing everything from the sidelines, could no longer restrain his anger.

In a loud voice he snapped,

"Punk! First you swayed my daughter, and now you are even going for my wife! And what do you mean by father’s genes did not even try? If you have a death wish, just say it."

Without reacting to his provocation, I rose to my feet, gave him a deep bow, and said,

"Thank you for the training, Master."

"Wh what do you mean by master?" Aruma blurted, a bit taken aback by the sudden title.

"Whether you accept it or not, I will acknowledge you as my master," I replied, my voice carrying no emotion.

He frowned at my stubborn words, but then let out a sigh and muttered,

"Your training is completed. Return to your world now."

From the white floor beneath me, a black energy emerged and began engulfing my body.

"Will I meet you two again?" I asked as I was almost completely covered in the dark energy.

"Hah! Was the beating I gave you not enough?" Aruma laughed without giving me a proper reply.

Just as the darkness covered my face, he said,

"Remember what you told me. Do not forget your reason to become stronger."

All of my senses went blank. After a moment, the dark energy disappeared from my body, and I found myself lying on the tower of the Ironvale Fortress, wearing the black armor.