12. Flowing Star – 08
As a child, Iris had heard these words from her master who taught her swordsmanship. It is said that martial arts is the form of life that a person has gone through, the proof of life, and the embodiment of the mind.
Of course, such a story was nothing more than a very basic story that was nothing more than a mindset in martial arts, but at least it was a story that was common to the successors of the time who used ‘flowing stars’.
‘Flowing Star’, which can be said to be the ultimate counter swordsmanship that uses one’s own sword and body as a channel to channel the opponent’s power and then returns it intact to the opponent, was an intangible swordsmanship with no fixed form. That is, since there is no form, the user must create his/her own form throughout his life. As a result, the flowing stars have become mirror-like swordsmanship that reflects the user’s image itself. .
Such a fact could easily be known just by looking at Iris and Cain, who could be said to be the current heirs of Flowing Star. Both of them learned the same flowing star, but if someone who didn’t know anything saw the two, it wouldn’t be strange even if they misunderstood that they were actually using completely different swordsmanship.
Iris, who believed that those who inherited noble blood had the right to die first before anyone else, hoped that the sword she wielded would become the sword of defeat that cut down the opponent. This image of her was reflected in the flowing star she used over a long period of time, and as a result, the flowing star Iris wielded transformed into an aggressive swordsmanship that made it hard to believe that the essence of swordsmanship was actually a counter.
Iris’ flowing star was a domineering sword with the principle of converging all surrounding energy into a certain area by using itself as the central axis, then loading it into one’s own sword to cut through the opponent. It was an aggressive sword that specialized in thoroughly subduing the enemy and cutting them down. In a sense, the flowing star she uses may be the most suitable for the meaning of ‘swordsmanship’, which she has been devising on how to kill enemies efficiently.
On the other hand, the flowing star that Cain uses is distinctly different from Iris. The flowing star he used was not as aggressive as Iris’s, nor was it threatening to attack the opponent.
However, something crucial was different. There was something inherent in the sword that Cain wielded that Iris didn’t have. At least, Iris, who taught him the sword and could be said to be his teacher, could be certain of that fact.
At first, I thought it was just immature. After that, I ended up thinking that he was a pitiful man who couldn’t have a proper killing intention towards his enemies.
…However, it didn’t take long for him to realize that it was his mistake.
Cain’s flowing star was just flowing. He didn’t try to ‘control’ the flow of power the way Iris did. It’s just a mindless sword that tries to reverse the flow of power toward itself, and at the end let go of everything as it flows.
I thought there was nothing in his sword, but it wasn’t. It wasn’t that he didn’t let anything dwell in his sword, he just tried to put everything in himself.
…What a arrogant man this is. Isn’t it like boasting to the world that you can already run around when you can’t even walk properly yet? Even Iris, a warrior who has risen to the absolute stage, could not contain anything but herself in her sword, but with what kind of confidence did he project so much into his own image?
Looking at the sword Cain was wielding, Iris thought that he was really reckless. It was the end and final point of martial arts to throw away everything and empty it and let the god dwell within it, but Cain wielded his own sword in direct opposition to that teaching. With so many lingering attachments, with so many things on his back, why is he silently wielding his sword while embracing them all?
…the sword is waving. A single sword was dancing under the sky. It is not a martial art filled with a desire to reach the heavens beyond the extreme heaven at the end of perseverance, but a will full of determination to remain on this earth as a mere human being, a sword dance. It was only to fill the earth by becoming a dance. It must be clear that this is the only answer he has been seeking throughout his life.
“…ah.”
snow, blinded It seemed as if I would go blind. His sword was truly beautiful. Yes, it emitted a brilliant light like the countless starlights embroidered in the night sky. Similarly, I inadvertently thought that if the Milky Way were placed on the ground, it would be like this.
…However, at the same time, it was only savagery. His sword was beautiful and brilliant, but at the same time it was useless and powerless.
No matter what intentions are contained in the sword he wields, the power contained in the sword is extremely weak. Even if they pursued a great cause, everything was meaningless in the face of overwhelming power. Right now, even if it was Iris herself, she had the ability to quickly destroy and subdue Cain’s flowing stars. Not to mention the ‘Witch of Winter’.
No matter what sword he wields, he is not eligible to participate in the showdown with the ‘Witch of Winter’ unless he reaches the level of at least a Master.
Pilkyung is useless. At this moment, all the effort he puts in will all go to nothing at the very last moment.
However-
“…That is, your sword. Cain.”
There was a self who couldn’t categorically say that the efforts he was making were ‘useless’. Because the sword he wielded was so dazzling.
In the end, she had no choice but to remain a coward, unable to tell Cain the truth until the very end.
So he constantly swings his sword.
She also just watched his useless efforts without saying anything.
…Time continues to flow.
The further north you go, the stronger the blizzard and the fiercer the cold.
However, the expedition went north without stopping and reached the end of the north, the Duchy of Estel.
They finally met a woman with hair as white as snow.
Yes, she is the enemy of mankind and the beginning of this whole nightmare.
It was the ‘winter witch’.
****
A world that has been dyed entirely in white, a world that is terribly white, with flower-like snowflakes scattering like a painting. That’s why it’s a lonely and forlorn world that doesn’t allow any living beings to survive.
In the middle of a white kingdom where nothing exists, a woman with snow-white hair was reigning alone.
“…Oh, really, it’s been a while since I’ve had a guest. But what about this Because you visited this place so suddenly, you weren’t ready to welcome guests.”
Even though she is facing those who are spitting bloody murder at her, the words that flow from her mouth are indeed light. A relaxed attitude, as if he had come out for a light drink.
However, everyone present instinctively noticed it. The attitude of the white-haired woman is not that she doesn’t take this situation lightly, but that it is a relaxed smile that she can build because she has absolute faith in her own strength.
Iris took a step forward to shake everything off, trying to suppress the fear that was beginning to creep up in the corner of her chest.
“…I’ll ask you straight-forward. Are you the ‘Witch of Winter’, the culprit that brought endless winter to this continent?”
Actually, it was a question that didn’t even need to be asked. If that woman standing in the midst of the extreme cold that does not allow life itself to survive, maintaining a calm attitude, is not suspicious, then who the hell is suspicious? While the expedition went north, they couldn’t find a single person who could survive in this cold. Even based on the simple elimination method, that woman must have been the culprit behind all this—
To Iris’s question, the woman just tilts her head slightly.
“Bring winter? Well. I was just existing here. Yes, just like it has always been.”
“…was there?”
“okay. So, it means that it is a very natural story that I am standing here. Just like a person cannot live without breathing, and a fish cannot live without water, it is a very natural story.”
As the investigation team reported, white snowflakes were rising from the woman’s fingertips as she continued to giggle at what was so enjoyable. It must have been. That white-haired woman in front of me must be the ‘Witch of Winter’.
“Yeah, I see what you mean. This cold that sweeps across the continent, and the resulting pain, is what you call ‘winter’.”
“Yes, even at this moment, countless people are shivering from the cold and dying from the endless winter. It’s none other than the winter you brought—!”
Even though Iris, who was a little excited involuntarily, raised her voice, the white-haired woman’s attitude did not change. There wasn’t even a single slight movement on her face.
“By the way?”
“…What?”
The white-haired woman listened to Iris’ words in a nonchalant manner, then opened her mouth in a nonchalant tone.
“An endless winter has arrived on this continent, Ra. yes, you are right Even though it didn’t happen because I wanted it, it’s true that it happened because I caused it. Also, even if I die, all will not end, but winter itself will certainly come to an end. For that fact alone, I can say that I am your clear enemy.”
“What is the meaning of these conversations in such a situation? Have you come this far and believe that everything can be resolved through dialogue?”
“…..”
“Don’t you know? The only road left between you and me is a dialogue based on violence. You kill me, and end this winter. See, it’s a very simple story, right? So come on, take up your sword. Raise your sword. , stab me in the heart. With that, it’ll end everything. Yes, everything.”
Saying that, the white-haired woman took a step forward. At that simple gesture, the members of the expedition unknowingly shrank.
“You don’t know me, but I know you. No, I guess that would be the correct expression. I don’t remember much, but I do remember that you guys are the ones who will stop this damn wheel of fate.”
Waves of powerful magical energy emanate from the white-haired woman. Bianca, who could be said to be the strongest magician in the present world, showed a suffocating expression on her mana, which seemed to be easily surpassed. From now on, even a moment of carelessness was a luxury. That woman in front of me must be the most powerful wizard of all time!
“I am really looking forward to it. My enemies ordained by fate. I will personally test you here to see if you can become my destiny.”
“…I hope you guys can become my demise.”