I Became the Only Non-mage in the Academy

It was an abyss.

What swallowed the pure white sword tore the surrounding space apart, flaunting its existence.

Something tangled in black, twisted and dark like an abyss that, once absorbed, never released anything back.

It collapsed.

The sword energy he had built up until now,

The strength he gained by abandoning everything.

The white sword energy crumbled.

The speed was absurdly fast.

He devoted his life to the sword.

His exceptional talent responded to that dedication, and he trained sword energy to stand at the peak with my frail body.

It split the sky, even severing concepts.

That was precisely what his transcendent swordsmanship was.

When the white sword energy collided once, most of it disappeared.

Crack.

His arm shattered. The shockwave from clashing sword energy came back to him.

Normally, he would have fallen with this blow.

However, his awakened body restored its vitality. His shattered arm healed in an instant. Yet, the Sword Saint’s expression was grim.

We only clashed once, but the shock was enough to send chills through his entire body. No, he realized it.

‘That’s dangerous.’

It was dangerous.

Every instinct sounded the alarm.

His life might end here.

No one felt it more painfully than the Sword Saint, who faced that force with his own sword.

“What an absurd power.”

The Sword Saint did not lament. It was an unfavorable fight.

He didn’t know why that young man had amassed such power or what the nature of that power was.

But he was certain of one thing.

This duel would be a fight of life and death.

Madness began to seep into his mind.

The alarm for his life blared. But the Sword Saint found it exhilarating.

A martial artist was someone who was somewhat insane. Someone who threw away their life to ascend to a higher realm, to gaze beyond the line of life and death.

The entity known as the Will of the World did not give the Mine any disadvantage.

If one had already fallen, they elevated themselves through the stories they weaved.

“That’s why I will use you as my stepping stone and ascend!”

The will distorted the laws of the world.

Transcendent swordsmanship. The white sword energy extended in all directions.

It all gathered together to form a shape.

Like clouds rising, defying gravity.

Tsutsutsutsutsu!

“It’s called Sword Mist Cloud.”

An art crafted by transcendent swordsmanship.

This time would be different. Lee Seo-ha focused on the Sword Saint as he murmured.

---

[The Savior’s alias resonates with the power of the Mine.]

[The Savior grants the user the power of Pama (Magic Breaker).]

Something tried to coat the sword.

But the abyss rejected it.

Crack.

As if such power was unnecessary, the power of Pama shattered as it attempted to overlay itself.

It was as if only he should exist in this world.

The Black Heavenly Demon Sword rejected other powers.

‘It doesn’t matter.’

It didn’t matter.

Now wielding the Black Heavenly Demon Sword, I was sure. No matter how skilled I was, I couldn’t merge with a white-based power.

I raised my sword.

The Sword Mist Cloud approached, like flowing clouds. But that power could not be called a cloud. That cloud held the power to wipe out any large mountain in an instant.

Step.

I took a step forward. Just one step.

I lifted the sword from above to below.

I swung the Black Heavenly Demon Sword.

Skill was unnecessary.

Crack!

With all my might, I delivered the impact. The will to destroy everything, even space, permeated through it.

My Nyeom reacted.

The story I, Lee Seo-ha, had built until now became my foundation, distorting the laws of the world.

Boom!

The cloud scattered. The pure white cloud formed of sword energy dispersed in all directions, shattering the Sword Saint’s will.

Swish!

It flowed.

The sword energy began to flow like a waterfall in reverse, from bottom to top, resembling a rising dragon.

“Dragon’s Ascent.”

The white sword energy, in the form of a dragon, attempted to swallow me.

‘Sever.’

I swung the Black Heavenly Demon Sword.

The cohesion of the transcendent swordsmanship was stronger than expected.

Crack.

So then.

‘What of it?’

With a smirk, I shattered the dragon formed of white sword energy. It was enough to simply break it.

I looked at the Sword Saint.

Blood dripped from his nose.

For abandoning his humanity, black blood flowed.

Whoosh!

The wind blew. Crack. The Sword Saint grasped the hilt of his sword, crossing his arms, and sheathed both swords at his waist.

The stance of drawing the sword.

There was a palpable intent to cut with a single, concentrated strike.

“This time will be different.”

The demonic energy amplified.

Following the Sword Saint’s words, the wind became a storm.

A black storm arose.

A storm formed from extremely condensed sword energy.

My breathing grew slightly heavier.

Everything around was distorted. Yet I simply waited.

Whoosh.

The Black Heavenly Demon Sword absorbed the Energy of Defying Heaven, as if dissatisfied with the existing circular state maintained by the Sword of Seasons.

Screeeech.

It compressed, with the abyss layering over it. As if everything up until now had been mere play, the Black Heavenly Demon Sword began to absorb my power.

‘This is a bit…’

It was overwhelming.

For a moment, I had that thought. The Black Heavenly Demon Sword bared its fangs, urging me to kill the one before me who dared act so wantonly in its presence.

Whoosh!

The wind blew. The transcendent swordsmanship became a storm. It turned into a forest, then into flames. At the same time, the Sword Saint drew his sword.

[Ichun-Il-Ryu, Hidden Art: Wind Forest Volcano.]

In all directions.

The transcendent sword energy, packed so tightly that there was no room for even water to slip through, aimed at my neck. If I let my guard down, I could suffer serious injuries.

‘He’s getting stronger.’

To be precise, he was adapting to my abilities, efficiently handling his demonic energy.

Through that process, he was becoming more proficient in wielding a sword that handled “Magi,” growing stronger.

This was true talent—Sword Saint (Ex).

It was something that couldn’t be stopped just by wielding the Black Heavenly Demon Sword.

I added skill.

I gripped the sword. Flames ignited on the blade.

Black flames and the abyss were merging.

The Black Heavenly Demon Sword wasn’t a power that blended with anything else.

But the Absolute Stat, Black, had absolute dominance over all black energies. It couldn’t be infused with white energies, but as long as it was black, there was no issue.

The black flames surged.

From within the abyss that devoured everything…

Black flames that seemed to burn as though to set the entire world ablaze.

“Heavenly Calamity Fire.”

It descended upon the world.

---

“Haa… haa…”

The Sword Saint was breathing heavily against one side of a building.

Most of his body had been burned by the black flames.

“Just… who… are you?”

The madness in the Sword Saint’s eyes faded.

I looked at him with a tired gaze. His body, comparable to iron, managed to endure Heavenly Calamity Fire and survived, even with only his head remaining.

‘They’re like cockroaches.’

I released the Black Heavenly Demon Sword.

A wave of exhaustion swept through my entire body. This power exerted absolute strength but came with significant risks.

“I’m curious about something.”

“…What is it?”

“Why did you fall?”

“Because this world is already hell. Even if I fall, the scales have already overwhelmingly tipped to that side.”

“…”

“I just wanted to reach the peak before it all ended.”

I didn’t respond further.

One might dismiss it as the grumbling of a loser, but the more one learned about the truth of this world, the more it seemed impossible to find an answer.

“So, are those your final words?”

“Heh…”

“In that case…”

As I was about to swing the Sword of Seasons down, I paused.

The surroundings were silent. I sensed a presence.

Heroes of the highest rank. The Sword Empress and an unknown hero from the Middle East. King Arthur and Merlin.

And a single entity exuding a vile aura.

Clap.

A clapping sound was heard.

Clap, clap, clap.

It appeared, clapping in an unsettling manner.

A strange figure wearing a mask.

The mask on the left side was crying, while the one on the right was laughing like a clown.

“You really are a monster. Are you really in your twenties?”

It laughed with a sneer.

I looked at it.

“Oh, I haven’t introduced myself. I am Mad Evil, a part of the Great Evils.”

I knew.

Mad Evil. A particularly troublesome entity even among the Great Evils. It was a being that brought calamity. While Radiant Evil was a monster with some principles, Mad Evil devised plans and created disasters purely for amusement.

‘At least it’s not Cruel Evil.’

The worst evil, a monster with power on par with the Apostles, did not seem to be here.

After all, that one was a wandering malevolence.

It had no reason and was an entity bearing malice toward all living things.

Compared to that, the other Great Evils were almost benign.

“What do you want?”

“I want to take the one over there.”

“So, you’re the culprit.”

“Culprit? I simply responded to a desire to become stronger.”

Mad Evil spoke in a tone of feigned innocence.

“But it’s intriguing. How did someone only twenty years old become this strong? Well, I suppose that’s why you have the grandiose alias of ‘Savior.’”

“Your business.”

“How about a deal?”

“A deal?”

“There are hostages I’ve captured around here. Let’s exchange them for the Sword Saint’s life.”

I smirked.

I raised the Sword of Seasons. The Black Heavenly Demon Sword trembled, its form visible through the pure white blade.

“Nonsense.”

“Oh my.”

I swung the Sword of Seasons.

The sound of space tearing filled the air as Mad Evil’s body was split in half.

“Kahahahaha! This is hilarious. You already know what I’m doing, don’t you?”

A voice came from another direction.

An identical figure, wearing the same mask and possessing the same power and aura.

However, that was also just a clone.

“Ah, even the Savior has a nature similar to the Overlord. You won’t compromise, huh? Unfortunately, it seems the hostages have lost their use.”

“Those soulless things offered as sacrifices can hardly be called hostages.”

I slashed once more.

Mad Evil’s body vanished entirely. I was beginning to get a feel for it.

“I’d prefer it if you didn’t slash too many times. I did put a lot of effort into creating those. Eek!”

The voice echoed from all directions, a hint of urgency detectable.

After all, the Great Evil’s forces had taken considerable damage.

Radiant Evil was captured by us. Vicious Abomination was killed by me and Kim Seo-hyun back in Murim. Another was slain by the party of Ershil, the Overlord, Hong Yu-hwa, and Seo Ga-yeon. Illusionary Evil I personally slew.

‘Looks like they put more effort into creating the Sword Saint than expected.’

Whoosh.

The flames roared.

Naturally, the more one was told not to do something, the more one wished to do it.

Thud.

I lightly stomped, and a black ripple spread, melting the Mad Evil’s clones around me.

The Sword Saint’s life was also gone.

The annoying voice was no longer heard.

Were the clones finished?

Beep.

A notification sound echoed.

I closed my eyes.

Now, it was time to acquire the talent of the Sword Saint.