46

Chapter 46: The Hundred Weapon Masters

The moment Subin stepped through the gate, the atmosphere changed.

The enormous battlefield stretched farther than he could see.

There was no forest.

No fortress.

No dungeon corridor.

Only a vast stone plain surrounded by towering black walls.

Ten figures stood ahead of him.

They looked human.

But none of them were alive.

Each was a weapon master projection created from condensed mana.

A swordsman.

A spear master.

An axe master.

A hammer wielder.

A shield warrior.

An archer.

A dual-blade fighter.

A chain wielder.

A staff master.

And a bare-handed martial artist.

All were Level 50.

Subin stopped several dozen meters away.

The system appeared.

[Hundred Weapon Trial — Stage Two]

[Current Opponents: 10]

[Opponent Level: 50]

[Objective: Understand and defeat each weapon path.]

[Restriction: No external assistance.]

Subin looked at the ten opponents.

He tightened his grip on Simple Edge.

"All right."

The swordsman stepped forward.

The other nine remained still.

Subin understood immediately.

This wasn't going to be a ten-versus-one battle.

They would challenge him individually.

The swordsman raised his weapon.

Subin raised his own.

Two swordsmen stood facing each other.

Then both moved.

---

The first exchange was fast.

Much faster than Subin expected.

Their swords collided.

The projection immediately followed with a second strike.

Subin blocked.

A third.

He moved.

A fourth.

He redirected.

The swordsman didn't use any flashy technique.

Its swordsmanship was extremely simple.

Foundation.

Footwork.

Balance.

Distance.

Every movement was precise.

Subin recognized the principle.

It reminded him of the first Sword Projection he had fought.

But this swordsman was more complete.

[Sword Comprehension activated.]

[Analysis: 21%.]

The projection attacked again.

Subin didn't try to overpower it.

He observed.

The swordsman's strength was consistency.

There was no hesitation.

No unnecessary acceleration.

No emotional change.

Its sword always remained in the best position.

Subin gradually adapted.

He used Seamless Edge.

The swordsman matched him.

Subin used Natural Flow.

The swordsman adjusted.

Subin used Sword Intent.

The projection responded before the attack fully developed.

Subin's eyes narrowed.

"This one understands intent too."

The battle accelerated.

Both swords moved continuously.

Subin suddenly stopped using his learned techniques.

He returned to the simplest possible sword movement.

A step.

A cut.

Another step.

Another cut.

The projection followed.

Subin changed his rhythm.

The projection adapted.

Then Subin saw it.

The projection always maintained perfect balance.

That was its strength.

But perfect balance also created predictability.

Subin deliberately disturbed his own balance.

The projection reacted.

Subin used the momentary change to enter its range.

Simple Edge touched its chest.

[Sword Master Projection defeated.]

[Weapon Master 1/100 defeated.]

Subin didn't receive a level.

Instead:

[Swordsmanship understanding increased.]

[Sword God Foundation: 64% → 66%.]

The projection disappeared.

The second master stepped forward.

The spear master.

---

The spear master immediately created distance.

Its first thrust stopped several meters away.

Subin moved sideways.

Another thrust.

Another.

The spear controlled the space between them.

Subin advanced.

The spear master retreated.

Subin advanced again.

The spear followed him.

The battle became a contest of distance.

Subin remembered the Spear Warrior from the previous chamber.

But this was completely different.

The spear master understood range perfectly.

It could attack without allowing Subin to enter sword range.

Subin changed his approach.

Instead of moving directly toward it, he began moving diagonally.

The spear adjusted.

Subin continued.

Eventually, the spear master's back foot reached the edge of the designated area.

Subin immediately entered.

The spear became less effective.

Simple Edge moved.

The spear master rotated the weapon.

The shaft blocked the strike.

Subin changed direction.

The spear master followed.

Subin smiled.

"You've taught me enough."

He deliberately allowed the spear to approach his shoulder.

At the last moment, he stepped inside its range.

Fang Step.

The spear passed behind him.

Simple Edge touched the master's chest.

[Spear Master Projection defeated.]

[Weapon Master 2/100 defeated.]

Subin's understanding increased.

[Battlefield Control: 56% → 59%.]

The third master stepped forward.

The axe master.

---

The axe master was completely different.

It didn't care about precise movements.

Every attack carried tremendous momentum.

The first swing cracked the stone floor.

Subin avoided it.

The second destroyed a section of the battlefield.

Subin moved farther away.

The axe master continued.

Its attacks were wide.

Powerful.

Heavy.

But slow.

Subin studied the weapon.

An axe didn't simply cut.

It controlled momentum.

Every swing created a zone that was dangerous to enter.

Subin couldn't approach carelessly.

He waited.

The axe came down.

Subin moved sideways.

The weapon struck.

Subin stepped inside the recovery period.

Simple Edge touched the master's chest.

[Axe Master Projection defeated.]

[Weapon Master 3/100 defeated.]

Subin looked thoughtful.

He had barely needed to use his sword.

Understanding the weapon had been enough.

The fourth master entered.

The hammer wielder.

---

The hammer master was stronger than the axe master.

Its attacks were slower but devastating.

Subin couldn't block directly.

The first hammer strike missed him by centimeters.

The shockwave still pushed him several meters backward.

Subin's expression became serious.

The second strike came.

He jumped.

The hammer hit the ground.

The entire battlefield trembled.

Subin landed behind the master.

Simple Edge moved.

The hammer master turned faster than expected.

Its weapon swung horizontally.

Subin ducked.

He attacked the arm.

The projection blocked with its elbow.

Subin stepped back.

The master attacked again.

Subin began understanding.

The hammer's greatest advantage wasn't the weapon itself.

It was the control of impact.

Even missing the target created pressure.

Subin changed his strategy.

He stopped trying to approach.

Instead, he forced the hammer master to attack.

Every missed strike weakened its position.

After several exchanges, the master overextended.

Subin stepped forward.

One clean slash.

[Hammer Master Projection defeated.]

[Weapon Master 4/100 defeated.]

Subin nodded.

"Momentum."

The fifth master entered.

The shield warrior.

---

The shield warrior didn't attack immediately.

It simply stood there.

A massive shield covered most of its body.

Subin attacked.

The sword struck the shield.

Clang!

Nothing happened.

He attacked again.

The shield absorbed the impact.

The warrior moved forward.

Subin stepped backward.

The shield advanced.

Subin changed direction.

The shield followed.

It was controlling territory.

Subin recognized the principle immediately.

This wasn't about damaging him.

It was about removing his options.

Every step the shield warrior took reduced his available space.

Subin allowed himself to be pushed backward.

Then, at the right moment, he changed direction.

The shield warrior followed.

Subin suddenly moved toward its side.

The warrior rotated.

Subin moved again.

The shield turned.

Subin repeated the movement.

Then he saw the opening.

The shield could protect the front.

But turning the entire body took time.

Subin stepped around it.

Simple Edge touched its back.

[Shield Master Projection defeated.]

[Weapon Master 5/100 defeated.]

Subin smiled.

"Territory."

The sixth master appeared.

The archer.

---

The moment the archer appeared, it attacked.

The arrow traveled so fast that Subin barely saw it.

He tilted his head.

The arrow passed.

Another.

Subin moved.

Three arrows.

He changed direction.

Five.

He accelerated.

The archer didn't allow him to approach.

Subin realized immediately that this battle would be different.

He couldn't simply close the distance.

The archer controlled the entire battlefield.

Subin activated Predator's Sense.

He began sensing the archer's intention before each shot.

Left.

Right.

Center.

High.

Low.

His body moved between the arrows.

But the archer adapted.

The firing pattern changed.

Subin's eyes narrowed.

The next arrow wasn't aimed at him.

It was aimed at the place where he would move.

He stopped.

The arrow passed beside him.

"Smart."

Subin suddenly sprinted forward.

The archer fired rapidly.

Subin cut two arrows apart.

Dodged another.

Then another.

He reached the archer.

The projection immediately pulled a short blade.

So it could fight at close range too.

Subin smiled.

The archer attacked.

Subin blocked.

One exchange.

Two.

Three.

Then Subin disarmed it.

[Archer Master Projection defeated.]

[Weapon Master 6/100 defeated.]

[Predator's Sense comprehension increased.]

Subin looked toward the remaining masters.

Four remained.

The dual-blade fighter stepped forward.

---

The dual-blade master was fast.

Extremely fast.

Two swords attacked from different angles.

Subin blocked one.

The second came immediately.

He dodged.

The first returned.

The second followed.

Their attacks were almost impossible to separate.

Subin realized the master's strength.

Two weapons allowed simultaneous pressure from different angles.

But they also required greater coordination.

Subin didn't fight both swords.

He fought the space between them.

He moved closer.

The master's attacks became narrower.

Subin stepped inside.

One blade passed behind him.

The other struck his shoulder barrier.

Subin's sword moved.

The dual-blade master blocked.

Subin continued.

The two blades collided with Simple Edge.

The master lost its rhythm.

That was enough.

Subin struck.

[Dual-Blade Master Projection defeated.]

[Weapon Master 7/100 defeated.]

Subin's Sword God Foundation increased again.

[66% → 68%.]

The eighth master appeared.

The chain wielder.

---

The chain was difficult.

Unlike the spear, it had no fixed range.

Unlike the sword, it could attack from strange angles.

The chain came toward Subin.

He stepped aside.

It changed direction.

Subin moved again.

The chain followed.

Subin cut it.

The weapon split.

Then reformed.

Subin's expression changed.

"It isn't a physical weapon."

The system confirmed it.

[Mana-formed weapon.]

Subin stopped trying to destroy it.

Instead, he studied its movement.

The chain master controlled the weapon through mana.

That meant the attack was connected to intention.

Subin activated Sword Intent.

He sensed the direction before the chain moved.

This time, he moved first.

The chain missed.

Subin closed the distance.

The master tried to pull the chain around him.

Subin stepped inside the arc.

Simple Edge touched its chest.

[Chain Master Projection defeated.]

[Weapon Master 8/100 defeated.]

Subin exhaled.

The ninth master entered.

The staff master.

---

The staff master looked simple.

But the moment it attacked, Subin realized his mistake.

The staff controlled every angle around the wielder.

It could thrust.

Sweep.

Strike.

Hook.

Block.

Rotate.

The weapon created continuous pressure.

Subin fought carefully.

Their weapons collided repeatedly.

The staff master's movement was fluid.

Subin recognized elements of the Imperial Continuous Sword Principle.

But the staff had its own advantages.

The long weapon could attack while maintaining defensive distance.

Subin changed his footwork.

The battle continued.

Eventually, Subin found a weakness.

The staff required both hands for maximum control.

He attacked the lower hand.

The master moved to protect it.

Subin changed direction.

Simple Edge touched its chest.

[Staff Master Projection defeated.]

[Weapon Master 9/100 defeated.]

Only one remained.

The bare-handed martial artist.

---

The final master stepped forward.

It had no weapon.

Subin lowered Simple Edge slightly.

The martial artist raised its fists.

Then disappeared.

Subin's eyes widened.

A fist stopped inches from his face.

He moved backward.

Another strike.

He blocked with his sword.

The impact forced him backward.

Subin's expression became serious.

This opponent wasn't using a weapon.

It was using its entire body as one.

Every part of its body was connected.

Fist.

Elbow.

Shoulder.

Knee.

Foot.

Hip.

The martial artist attacked continuously.

Subin defended.

Then he understood.

This was the same principle he had just acquired.

Weaponless Sword.

The difference was that this master had developed it through the body rather than swordsmanship.

Subin stopped trying to attack.

He observed.

The martial artist's movement was incredibly efficient.

It never wasted momentum.

Every strike prepared the next.

Every defense created an attack.

Every step controlled distance.

Subin smiled.

"You're showing me something important."

The martial artist attacked again.

Subin moved.

He didn't copy the technique.

He understood the principle behind it.

His sword moved with his body.

Not separately.

Together.

Weaponless Sword.

Seamless Edge.

The two principles connected.

Subin's sword moved.

The martial artist blocked.

Subin shifted.

The master counterattacked.

Subin turned.

The blade passed beside its arm.

Simple Edge stopped at its chest.

[Bare-Handed Master Projection defeated.]

[Weapon Master 10/100 defeated.]

The entire battlefield became silent.

Then the system appeared.

[First Ten Weapon Masters defeated.]

[Stage One Completion: 10%.]

[Weapon Battlefield understanding: 11% → 18%.]

[Sword God Foundation: 68% → 72%.]

[Personal Sword Path: 45% → 50%.]

[Sword Intent Comprehension: 32% → 34%.]

Subin looked at the notifications.

Then another appeared.

[New principle acquired.]

[Universal Combat Principle.]

Subin opened its description.

Every weapon is an expression of movement, distance, force and intent.

Understanding the weapon is not the same as mastering it.

Understanding the principle behind the weapon strengthens the user's own path.

Subin smiled.

That was exactly what he had been doing.

He wasn't becoming a spear master.

He wasn't becoming an archer.

He wasn't becoming a martial artist.

He was learning what each path could teach his sword.

Then the system gave him another notification.

[Hundred Weapon Trial — Stage One Complete.]

[Stage Two unlocked.]

The battlefield changed.

The ten defeated masters disappeared.

Ten new figures appeared.

Their levels were higher.

Level 52.

Level 53.

Level 54.

Each carried a different weapon.

But one figure at the center caught Subin's attention.

A swordsman.

Its level was:

Level 56.

Rank: B+

Subin's expression became serious.

The next stage would be harder.

Much harder.

The swordsman drew its blade.

Subin looked at Simple Edge.

The synchronization remained:

99.94%.

Then it changed.

99.94% → 99.95%.

Subin smiled.

"Another step."

He raised his sword.

The ten new masters began walking toward him.

This time, Subin wouldn't simply defeat them.

He would take another step toward creating a sword path that belonged only to him.

The battle continued.