I Became the Only Non-mage in the Academy

[Calculating achievements……]

[You have eliminated the fallen hero. Your fame rises to match the Sword Saint’s renown.]

[You have slain a being destined to become a great evil. The effect of your title, Savior, is strengthened. The power of Pama intensifies.]

[You gain 70,000,000 points.]

[The Conceptual Stat Giant Dragon increases by 10.]

[Your stature deepens further. The Will of the World takes notice of your narrative.]

[The story you have written raises your stature. Your stature deepens further.]

[The effect of Talent, Celestial(?), is activated. It faintly reacts to the fallen Sword Saint’s power.]

Numerous notification windows appeared on my retina.

At the same time, I felt the world within my imagination become richer.

I intuitively realized that I was not far from the next level.

[A new race has emerged; Giant Gods and Dragon Gods watch you.]

Simultaneously, I sensed certain “gazes.”

The notifications kindly informed me of the nature of these beings.

“Giant Gods and Dragon Gods?”

The message conveyed that those two were observing me.

Giant Gods and Dragon Gods.

Both were significant beings. As we entered the latter stages, various gods began descending.

Most of them resisted the Outer Gods, but some aligned with them.

However, those two did not side with the Outer Gods.

This was one of the few constants in this ever-changing world.

“Well, it doesn’t mean they belong to absolute good.”

They were in absolute opposition due to conflicting interests, but it’s hard to label them as purely virtuous.

Giant Gods and Dragon Gods both led the Giants and Dragons.

For them, the prosperity of their race was of utmost importance.

I turned my attention to review the recent battle.

There was much to reflect on in this fight.

“I wasted too much.”

I could have fought more efficiently. I over-invested in power to test the Black Heavenly Demon Sword and the Sword of Seasons’ abilities.

Although I could limit the power of the Black Heavenly Demon Sword for efficiency, it didn’t seem right. The Black Heavenly Demon Sword consumed an enormous amount of the Energy of Defying Heaven.

While I could limit its power through absolute stats, it weakened significantly in return.

The more energy consumed, the greater the power grew exponentially.

But if I limited it, the power diminished too much.

If that happened, the Black Heavenly Demon Sword was no longer the Black Heavenly Demon Sword.

“High risk, high return, huh.”

I realized through practice that the longer the battle went on, the more pronounced this drawback became.

There’s much to reflect on, but something else was more important.

“Talent, Sword Saint (Ex).”

The Sword Saint was dead. This had significant implications.

Each Ex-grade talent had a predetermined owner.

It was akin to a “seat,” with a specific designated master.

In other words.

The Sword Saint’s death meant that the Talent, Sword Saint, was now vacant.

I opened the Multidimensional Shop.

I intended to purchase the Talent, Sword Saint.

I clouds buy talents, but others could not.

However, talents were often predetermined, so there was a risk someone else might claim it.

“If I’m really unlucky, Kim Seo-hyun might take it.”

I wanted to avoid such an unfortunate scenario.

It would be a misfortune for both Kim Seo-hyun and me.

Kim Seo-hyun gained the Talent, Martial God.

It suited her best and was essential for her full blossoming.

Martial God, was a talent of the same class as Sword Saint, and personally, I ranked Martial God higher.

Martial God set all martial-related talents to 100.

Sword Saint granted 100 stats for only the sword.

“That’s why the Sword Saint was weak.”

If he had obtained Martial God, he would never have died like this.

It’s possible I might have been the one to die instead.

Such was the terrifying strength of the Talent, Martial God.

Regardless, I had to make the purchase quickly.

I searched through the Multidimensional Shop but found no sign of the Talent, Sword Saint.

With a sigh, I selected the Ex-grade Upgrade Ticket.

["Sword Demon (S+)" -> "Sword Saint (Ex)"]

And there appeared the Talent, Sword Saint.

Unlike before, the restriction was gone.

I chose it swiftly.

Thump.

My heart raced. The world looked different.

While I had believed my actions so far had been optimal, a thought struck me—had they truly been the best?

“My goodness.”

I calmly organized the ideas flooding into my mind.

Then, I felt another gaze.

While the gazes from the Giant Gods and Dragon Gods had spanned multiple dimensions, this one seemed to be watching directly.

[Following a familiar scent.]

It spoke slowly.

[Why is the scent of Aldavitri, Apostle, here? No, that’s not the main concern. Savior, Lee Seo-ha.]

The voice was familiar.

It was the voice of a man who had obsessively pursued me when I was active as the Masked Man.

Following the gaze, I turned my head.

A colossal eye appeared there.

Nazi Empire.

Their revered power of the Black Sun.

With this power, they could spy on any place touched by light.

Since it was nighttime, that power was weak.

[Your growth rate is beyond even my comprehension, though I am called a genius. Are you, as a returnee… or perhaps even beyond that, purely in terms of talent?]

“Do you have something to say?”

[I will keep an eye on you.]

The gigantic eye slowly closed.

Before it did, though.

I felt something like a black aura wrapping around my body. A curse, it seemed. And magic similar to a tracking spell.

“Oh dear, it’s a curse.”

Merlin spoke in a fuss, as if this was a serious matter.

“Shall I remove it for you?”

“The gaze has already withdrawn.”

“Haha, you truly are as calm as ever.”

As soon as the gaze receded, I unleashed the Energy of Defying Heaven to negate the curse.

The Energy of Defying Heaven nullified the curse.

“By the way, I’m curious—are you really at the highest level?”

“That thing is a monster wearing human skin. How could he defeat the Sword Saint without even flinching? Surely, he’s one of the strongest among the transcendent. Even the Overlord wouldn’t engage him one-on-one.”

Arthur, who had approached at some point, asked the question, and Merlin responded humorously.

“If push came to shove, I was going to help from the Garden of the World Tree, but he looked so relaxed I couldn’t find a chance to intervene. Did you see the power that imbued him midway?”

“I also saw him reject it. That power was specialized for breaking magic. But….”

Arthur stopped talking and looked at me.

“What is that black energy? It’s different from regular sword energy—it felt purely like a force meant for destruction.”

“It’s the end of negation. Or a power like the abyss that devours everything. Hmm, I was already tempted by it, but at this level, it’s almost uncomfortable to covet.”

“Indeed. Britain can’t contain a man of his stature.”

Merlin snickered, nudging Arthur playfully in the waist.

“Well, there’s no choice but the final option, isn’t there? Try to persuade him.”

“Wh-what are you saying?!”

While Merlin and Arthur conversed naturally, the Sword Empress and Hassan were bewildered.

“You….”

“One moment, please.”

The Sword Empress was about to say something, but I stopped her.

I hadn’t yet fully adapted to this talent. Countless sword paths engraved themselves into my mind, forcibly pushing me to rise in rank.

“Not necessary.”

If I wished to become transcendent, I could do so even now.

However, the difference in power would be minimal. Ultimately, being a transcendent meant escaping the world’s laws through one’s strength.

What I wanted was a place much higher.

A more complete form.

Stronger power.

It was not time yet.

I opened my eyes, organizing the Talent, Sword Saint.

“The world looks different.”

The world looked different.

It was just one rank higher, yet the effectiveness was as vast as the difference between heaven and earth.

I could now see how inefficiently I had been fighting.

Reflecting on my battles, I gripped the Sword of Seasons.

A black sword energy formed on the white blade.

Sword Energy.

The sword energies began to intertwine, then merged together.

The authority of severance, available only at a high rank.

Sword Strength.

The light of destruction.

The authority of annihilation, usable only from the highest rank.

For ordinary things, mere contact with this would turn them to ash.

Then I compressed it. Thinner than a thread.

Chzzzzzt!

“This is… Transcendent Sword Energy.”

Up to this point, it was easy.

I summoned my Intent.

What I intended to manifest was a sea that would annihilate everything.

Chzzzzzt!

I swung the Sword of Seasons. The Transcendent Sword Energy twisted and entangled, merging piece by piece.

Like a wave.

Destructive Sea.

Ssssssshh──.

The sound of waves echoed.

It shouldn’t have been heard, but as it emerged from within my mindscape, it began to distort Earth’s natural laws.

A power of absolution that once decimated all continents on Earth was now embodied in sword energy.

“This is truly the Talent, Sword Saint….”

It was a talent that defied imagination.