Chapter 31

Bow is one of the monks who serve the Dragon of Trials, Vritra.

These monks believe that all the trials of the world—plagues, disasters, famine—originate from Vritra's breath.

Humans are raw iron ore, and trials are the flames and hammer strikes that forge that iron.
Vritra tests humanity through hardship. Those who endure are reborn as stronger steel; those who cannot are shattered.

The monks' doctrine centers on training to prepare for such trials. Through harsh discipline they strengthen the body, and through meditation they build an unshakable Inner World.

To pray for help from a god would instead disappoint Vritra.
Thus, the monks do not pray. They do not wield divine power. They simply train without rest, preparing for the trial that will one day come.

"… This is troublesome."

Cold sweat trickled down Bow's back.

He was currently sparring with Woojin while offering instruction.

A master must sometimes bestow trials upon a disciple. Through unbearable experiences, the disciple grows, gains enlightenment, and is reborn into something greater.

'But… this one is too strong.'

If anything, the one being subjected to trial was himself.

Every time Woojin's fist shot forward, Bow's spine tingled. One mistake and he might be beaten to death. He had no idea what the true nature of this unfair, almost cheating-like strength was.

Of course, if he used his Mind's Eye, he could peer into the essence of this man—

'… I have a feeling I would regret that.'

Even if one possesses a telescope, one must not dare use it to look directly at the sun. Each time he considered using his Mind's Eye, that same kind of foreboding rose within him.

Is it truly right to teach martial arts to this monster?

Clang!!

Their palms collided with a thunderous crash. The fierce shock forced both Woojin and Bow several steps backward.

"Are you all right?"

Perhaps thinking the exchange had been too forceful, Woojin asked carefully. Clear respect and concern were evident in his tone.

That put Bow at ease.

'… It seems I worried for nothing.'

There are things one can sense without resorting to the Mind's Eye. The man standing before him was not a brute who wielded power recklessly. If anything, he was the opposite.

Strong, immensely talented, and righteous. It felt as though he were facing a hero straight out of ancient myth.

That was why Bow felt deep fulfillment in teaching him.

Surely Hector and Claire—Woojin's previous masters—had felt the same.

"I'm fine. Come at me more boldly. I haven't even properly warmed up yet."

"Understood."

They resumed their sparring.

Supposedly, if he took enough hits, he would eventually grasp Mana Arts. When he first heard that, Woojin had been skeptical.

'Will this really work?'

When he first learned magic from Claire, the instruction had been systematic and methodical. Compared to that, this felt vague and uncertain.

But human instinct can be surprisingly precise. As he repeated meditation and sparring over and over, Woojin gradually began to grasp the knack of Mana Arts within the process.

After a month had passed—

"… It works?"

The two-handed hammer in Woojin's grip began to glow.

It was Mana Weapon—the technique of using mana to enhance a weapon's durability and destructive power.

Bow nodded at the sight.

"You mastered it far faster than I expected. Aren't your hands itching to swing that weapon at least once?"

"Honestly… they are."

"Then follow me. There happens to be a fine place nearby the city to test your strength."

Woojin left the Pioneer City with Bow. The wolves, excited, followed behind. After being confined to the city for several days, they must have felt stifled.

Before long, they reached their destination—a bloodstone quarry near the city.

Several men were busily mining bloodstones with pickaxes. Not to disturb them, Woojin and Bow ventured deeper into the quarry and found a suitable spot.

"This one looks particularly sturdy."

Bow tapped a massive bloodstone, almost like a boulder. Woojin stepped forward, gripping the hammer handle tightly.

Kiiing—

Dark blue sparks wrapped around the hammer. Woojin steadied his stance. Bow and the wolves moved back, waiting for what was about to unfold.

The hammer swung.

KWA-BOOM!!

The hammerhead smashed into the very center of the stone with an explosive roar. The shock sent Woojin's clothes whipping violently. Shattered fragments of rock spilled down and piled at his feet.

The boulder had been shattered in a single blow.

And—

"… The hammer broke too?"

Woojin stared at the weapon in disbelief. The handle had snapped cleanly in two.

He had deliberately brought a brand-new hammer that had never been used… yet it broke the moment he used it, rendering it useless.

Bow wandered over and picked something up from the ground—the hammerhead that had flown a considerable distance.

"It seems my skill is still lacking."

Woojin muttered while looking at the broken hammerhead. A weapon enhanced with mana had broken far too easily.

Bow commented,

"Regardless of the completeness of your Mana Weapon… your strength is absurdly overwhelming. It would be difficult for such a cheap weapon to last long in your hands."

Since it was something picked up from an ordinary blacksmith, even Mana Weapon could not prolong its lifespan much.

"I'll ask the Church Alliance to see if they have better equipment available."

"Are you sure that's all right?"

"No need to feel burdened. I had intended to outfit you with at least a proper weapon anyway."

By sacrificing one two-handed hammer, he would gain something better.

But aside from that…

They had come all the way to the quarry to practice Mana Weapon, yet the hammer had broken in a single strike. Suddenly, they had nothing left to do. Time hung awkwardly.

Bow seemed to think the same and prepared to leave.

"There's nothing else to be done here. We should return to the city."

"Since we're already out here, I'll take the wolves for a short walk before heading back."

"Very well. I'll return first."

Bow departed for the city.

Left alone, Woojin quietly looked down at the shattered boulder.

"… Something feels off."

He needed to test it once more.

Standing before another rock, he clenched his fist. Dark blue sparks coiled around it—this time reinforcing his body with mana rather than a weapon.

Bang!!

His fist slammed into the stone.

With a loud crack, spiderweb-like fractures spread across its surface. After examining their depth and pattern, he stepped before another rock.

He extinguished the sparks around his fist.

Bare knuckles—no mana this time.

He drove his fist into the rock once more.

KWA-BOOM!!

Another explosive crash rang out. The rock's surface split apart with sharp cracks. Woojin stepped back and alternated his gaze between the two shattered stones.

"… There doesn't seem to be much difference."

One punch empowered by Mana Arts, the other thrown carelessly with his bare hand. The processes had clearly differed—but looking at the results, the gap was minimal.

The mana-infused strike had broken the rock slightly more… yet it was difficult to notice without close inspection. It was like lightly sprinkling salt on food—barely perceptible.

The power of Mana Arts was weaker than expected.

'Why is that?'

He recalled Bow's teachings.

'Mana Arts is a technique that draws into reality the Inner World pursued by one who seeks martial arts.'

Reflecting on those words—

'… I've lived focusing on hunting and survival. I never cared much for martial arts.'

Of course, he had trained in combat sports.

But not deeply. One could hardly attempt jiu-jitsu against monsters lurking deep within the Demon Realm. Woojin had studied boxing and MMA for about a year before quitting.

Bow, on the other hand, had honed martial arts for decades. He must have poured tremendous effort into mastering technique. Through that long refinement, his Inner World had grown sharp, granting his techniques formidable power.

Woojin, by contrast, held no particular love for martial arts themselves. He learned Mana Arts simply because he needed them. It was only natural that a beginner like him would produce lesser results.

As he thought that—

What kind of Inner World do I possess?

Suddenly, he was curious.

It was because of something Claire had once emphasized while explaining the Inner World.

"She said my Inner World was dangerous."

She had warned that perhaps a dangerous monster dwelled within it, and advised him to be careful that it did not come into contact with others.

At the time, he had brushed it off.

But now, looking back, it felt strange in many ways. Even Claire herself had seemed uncertain—calling it too fantastical and lacking sufficient information to be sure.

Yet Claire was not one to speak carelessly. Why had she brought that up to him back then?

'I'll have to ask her properly when we meet again.'

Another topic to discuss when they reunited.

With that thought, Woojin began walking back toward the city.

***

"There's one piece of good news and one piece of bad news."

Bow spoke up suddenly, as if inviting him to choose which to hear first.

"I'd like to hear the good news first."

"I've brought you a weapon that should suit you. See for yourself."

With that, Bow lightly kicked a wooden box beside him. It was a large mahogany chest with a luxurious sheen—nearly the size of a coffin.

What could be inside?

Suppressing a flicker of anticipation, Woojin opened the lid.

Inside lay a massive two-handed hammer.

It was magnificent.

The hammerhead bore intricate patterns like Damascus steel, resembling frost crystals clinging to a window. The handle had been crafted from the bone of a demonic beast.

As Woojin examined it in admiration, Bow seized the opportunity to elaborate.

"It's made of Frost Steel, so it's extremely durable. It was a rare metal produced in the north… but ever since the north was swallowed by the Demon Realm, it can no longer be obtained."

"… It's splendid. I feel like I've just received a birthday gift."

Woojin carefully lifted the hammer. It felt perfectly balanced in his grip.

"Does this weapon have a name?"

"It probably does… but I received it in a hurry and didn't ask. Why not give it a new name yourself?"

A new name…

As always, Woojin was not particularly talented at naming things. So once again, he borrowed a name someone else had created.

"I'll call it Skull Crusher."

"A rather fitting name."

The gift was so generous that he already felt uneasy about what the bad news might be.

"What's the bad news?"

"The expedition will begin in ten days. Which means your comfortable days as a guest won't last much longer."

The Church Alliance had raised the banner of departure.

The good times were over; only hardship remained. As Bow said this…

A grin tugged at Woojin's lips.

"That's even better."

It was news he had long been waiting for.