30

Chapter 30: The Buried Imperial Ruins

Subin stood at the edge of the underground valley and looked down.

The sight before him was unlike anything he had encountered inside the dungeon so far.

A massive city had been buried beneath the earth.

Its outer walls had collapsed in several places, leaving enormous gaps through which he could see streets, towers, plazas, and buildings made entirely from dark stone. Some structures had been reduced to rubble, while others remained surprisingly intact despite appearing ancient.

The city stretched for several kilometers.

At its center stood a gigantic palace.

Even from this distance, Subin could see its enormous gates and the broken statues standing on either side of the main road.

There were no monsters immediately visible.

That didn't mean the city was safe.

Subin activated Predator's Sense.

His perception expanded.

He could detect movement from several directions.

Small creatures were moving between the ruins.

Something larger was walking through one of the distant streets.

He could also sense traces of mana beneath the ground.

The entire city seemed to be saturated with it.

The system appeared.

[Buried Imperial Ruins.]

[Recommended Rank: C+]

[Estimated Monster Levels: 25–35.]

[Known Resources: Ancient Mana Stones, Imperial Materials, Equipment, Monster Cores.]

[Warning: Dungeon structure differs from standard dungeon architecture.]

Subin looked at the final message.

"Dungeon structure differs?"

The system didn't provide additional information.

Subin didn't dwell on it.

He had learned enough by now to understand that not every system notification required immediate answers.

He drew the Abyssal Emperor's Edge.

The weapon felt perfectly balanced in his hand.

His compatibility with it had reached 99%, and after the refinement, its strength had increased enormously.

Still, Subin didn't want to become dependent on the weapon.

The sword was an extension of his ability.

His own swordsmanship remained the foundation.

He began descending toward the ruins.

The path was steep, but his increased Agility made the descent easy.

His feet touched the ancient road.

Dust rose around his boots.

Subin looked left and right.

The road was wide enough for several large vehicles to travel side by side.

That alone told him something about the civilization that had once existed here.

This wasn't a simple dungeon built around monsters.

Someone had lived here.

Someone had built this place.

Someone had eventually abandoned it.

Subin wasn't particularly interested in discovering why.

What mattered to him was what remained.

Resources.

Enemies.

Swordsmanship.

Growth.

He walked deeper into the city.

After several minutes, he noticed movement.

Three creatures emerged from behind a collapsed building.

They were humanoid but made entirely from stone.

Their bodies were covered in cracks, and each carried a rusted weapon.

[Imperial Stone Soldier — Level 27.]

[Imperial Stone Soldier — Level 28.]

[Imperial Stone Soldier — Level 29.]

Subin raised his sword.

The three soldiers charged simultaneously.

The first swung a stone axe.

Subin moved half a step sideways.

The weapon passed beside him.

His sword followed the movement.

SHING!

The soldier's arm fell.

Before it could recover, Subin turned his wrist and cut through its neck.

The head separated cleanly.

The body collapsed.

The second soldier attacked from behind.

Predator's Sense warned him before the weapon moved.

Subin turned.

CLANG!

His sword struck the stone weapon.

The soldier's weapon shattered.

Subin stepped forward.

One Absolute Edge.

The sword passed through the creature's chest.

The third soldier stopped.

For a moment, it simply stared at Subin.

Then it turned and attempted to flee.

Subin didn't chase.

He extended his sword.

Sword Intent gathered around the blade.

A thin line of pressure traveled through the air.

SHING!

The soldier fell.

[Three Imperial Stone Soldiers defeated.]

[Experience gained.]

Subin checked his status.

His experience had increased significantly, but his level remained 27.

He wasn't disappointed.

The stronger the monsters became, the more experience he would need.

That was natural.

He continued through the city.

Soon, he found something more interesting.

A large plaza opened ahead.

At its center stood a circular stone platform surrounded by twelve statues.

Each statue held a sword.

Subin immediately noticed the difference.

These weren't ordinary decorations.

Each statue had a distinct stance.

One held the sword above its head.

Another held it horizontally.

Another stood with the sword pointing downward.

Another had the blade positioned behind its body.

Subin approached the first statue.

The moment he stepped onto the platform, the statue moved.

Its stone head turned toward him.

Then its sword came free.

[Imperial Sword Statue — Level 30.]

Subin smiled.

"Finally."

The statue attacked.

Its first movement was incredibly simple.

A downward slash.

Subin blocked.

CLANG!

The impact forced him backward several meters.

His eyes sharpened.

"Strong."

He hadn't expected such force from a stone construct.

The statue advanced.

Another slash.

Subin stepped aside.

The sword struck the ground.

The stone beneath it shattered.

Subin counterattacked.

The statue blocked.

Their swords collided repeatedly.

Unlike the Stone Swordsman he had fought earlier, this opponent didn't rely on raw efficiency alone.

Its movements were old-fashioned.

Rigid.

But every movement contained tremendous power.

Subin analyzed it.

[Sword Comprehension activated.]

[Analysis: 19%.]

The statue attacked again.

Subin used Silver Flow.

His sword curved around the incoming attack.

The statue immediately changed direction.

Subin's eyes narrowed.

[Analysis: 31%.]

The statue's swordsmanship wasn't advanced in the conventional sense.

Instead, it focused on a single concept.

Weight.

Every movement started from the entire body.

Feet.

Waist.

Shoulders.

Arms.

Sword.

The entire body moved as one.

Subin recognized the principle.

"Whole-body force."

He adjusted his stance.

The statue attacked.

Subin didn't evade.

He met the attack directly.

His body rotated.

His feet anchored.

His waist turned.

His shoulders followed.

The Abyssal Emperor's Edge moved with his entire body.

BOOM!

The two swords collided.

This time, neither side moved.

Subin smiled.

"I understand."

The statue attacked again.

Subin responded with the same principle.

Their swords collided three times.

Four.

Five.

On the sixth exchange, Subin changed the angle.

The statue couldn't adjust quickly enough.

One Absolute Edge.

SHING!

A line appeared across its chest.

The statue froze.

Then its body split apart.

[Imperial Sword Statue defeated.]

[Experience gained.]

[Level increased.]

[Level 27 → 28.]

Subin looked at the remains.

A small crystal rolled out from the broken chest.

[Imperial Sword Core.]

[Grade: Rare.]

[Mana Content: 1,420.]

Subin stored it.

Then he looked at the remaining eleven statues.

His expression became interested.

"So each one has a different sword principle."

He approached the second statue.

Nothing happened.

The third remained still.

The fourth didn't react.

Only when Subin stepped onto the center of the plaza did all eleven statues move simultaneously.

The system appeared.

[Imperial Sword Formation activated.]

[Eleven Imperial Sword Statues.]

[Levels: 28–34.]

Subin's expression became serious.

"All of them?"

The statues spread out.

Some carried long swords.

Others used curved blades.

Several wielded heavy weapons.

The surrounding plaza suddenly became a battlefield.

Subin tightened his grip.

This was exactly the kind of battle he wanted.

Not because it was dangerous.

Because every opponent would teach him something.

The first statue attacked.

Subin parried.

The second came from his left.

He used Fang Step.

The third attacked from behind.

Predator's Sense detected it.

He turned and blocked.

The fourth attacked immediately afterward.

CLANG!

Subin's arm shook.

He retreated.

The fifth statue swung a massive blade toward him.

He ducked.

The blade passed over his head.

Subin stepped inside its range and struck the statue's abdomen.

The attack damaged it but didn't destroy it.

"Durable."

Six more statues closed in.

Subin's eyes became calm.

He stopped trying to fight each opponent separately.

Instead, he observed the entire formation.

Battlefield Control activated.

He began manipulating their positions.

One statue blocked another.

A heavy swordsman was forced into the path of a faster attacker.

A long-blade user couldn't attack because another statue was occupying its range.

Subin moved between them.

His sword flashed.

SHING!

One statue lost an arm.

SHING!

Another lost its weapon.

BOOM!

A heavy strike destroyed a section of the plaza.

Subin used the debris as cover and changed position.

His Sword Comprehension continued analyzing.

[Analysis: 42%.]

[53%.]

[61%.]

He began recognizing their principles.

Power.

Speed.

Reach.

Defense.

Counterattacking.

Precision.

Continuous movement.

Each statue represented a different approach to swordsmanship.

Subin didn't copy them completely.

He extracted what was useful.

His Sword God Foundation absorbed each principle.

[Sword God Foundation: 8% → 9%.]

Another statue attacked.

Subin met its blade.

He understood its movement immediately.

"Rotation."

He redirected the sword.

The statue stumbled.

Subin cut through its torso.

[Imperial Sword Statue defeated.]

Another came.

"Reach."

He stepped inside the blade.

Another.

"Defense."

He used Flowing Edge to redirect its attack.

Another.

"Counter."

He deliberately created an opening and punished the response.

The battle continued.

Ten minutes.

Twenty minutes.

The entire plaza became covered with cracks.

Subin's breathing became heavier.

His clothes were covered in dust.

But his eyes remained bright.

He was learning.

More importantly, he was integrating.

The different principles were no longer separate pieces in his mind.

They were beginning to form a larger structure.

His Sword God Foundation absorbed them naturally.

[Sword God Foundation: 9% → 11%.]

The final three statues attacked together.

Their levels were 32, 33, and 34.

Subin's expression became serious.

The first used overwhelming power.

The second controlled distance.

The third waited for counterattacks.

They complemented each other perfectly.

Subin was forced backward.

He couldn't simply overpower them.

So he simplified.

One Edge.

Absolute Edge.

His sword moved.

The first statue's attack was redirected.

The second's blade missed.

The third attempted a counter.

Subin changed direction before the counterattack fully developed.

SHING!

The third statue's head flew away.

The second attacked.

Subin used Silver Flow.

Their swords collided.

Subin rotated.

SHING!

The second statue split apart.

The final statue raised its sword.

Subin stepped forward.

Their weapons collided one last time.

BOOM!

The statue cracked.

Subin's sword passed through the center of its body.

The formation became silent.

Then every remaining statue collapsed simultaneously.

[Imperial Sword Formation defeated.]

[Experience gained.]

[Level increased.]

[Level 28 → 29.]

[Level 29 → 30.]

Subin stood in the center of the ruined plaza.

He looked at his status.

Level: 30

A faint smile appeared.

He had reached the recommended level for the next trial.

But something else had changed.

[Sword God Foundation: 11%.]

[Personal Sword Path: 5% → 7%.]

[Absolute Edge proficiency: 51% → 58%.]

Subin looked at the palace visible beyond the plaza.

The main road leading toward it had begun glowing.

One by one, ancient mana lamps along the road illuminated.

The massive palace gates slowly opened.

Subin's smile disappeared.

His expression became focused.

He didn't know what waited inside.

But he knew one thing.

Whatever swordsmanship existed in the palace, he intended to understand it.

He stepped onto the illuminated road.

The Abyssal Emperor's Edge rested quietly at his side.

Behind him lay the ruins he had already conquered.

Ahead stood the ancient Imperial Palace.

And somewhere within those enormous walls was the next step on his path toward becoming the strongest swordsman in the world.