Ending Maker

‘Always remember the victory conditions.’

Alexei always said that.

Killing didn’t always work.

Depending on the battlefield, the conditions for winning could vary.

‘Formulate a strategy to meet the conditions of victory.’

Depending on the victory conditions, the way you fight could vary.

Alexei was an objectively good teacher, and Jude respected him as a teacher whether in his past or present life.

Because of this, he didn’t become someone who was all talk and no action, or did things randomly without any plan.

Until the day he was lucky enough to safely retire, and even when he got addicted to games and became an unemployed person who generously spent his money and enjoyed a life of pleasure, Jude never forgot the victory conditions.

He formulated strategies depending on the situation.

Bang!

The air fluctuated in the aftermath of the fifth door’s opening.

A golden whirlwind rose amidst the roar, and Jude became a black gale as he rushed towards First Sword.

‘Make him move six times.’

The victory conditions.

Therefore, he formulated his strategy and tactics based on that.

‘Observe.’

He was fortunate enough that he got the last number.

And because of that, Jude was able to observe it twenty times.

‘The pattern is always the same.’

First Sword would guide them up to the third time, turn the attack into nothing on the fourth time, and make them surrender on the fifth time.

Therefore, Jude’s initial plan was to receive guidance until the third time.

But the situation changed the moment First Sword positioned himself in the Light Swordsmanship style.

So Jude took out Plan B which he had prepared just in case.

‘I’ll do everything fast like a raging storm.’

Due to First Sword’s nature, it was unlikely that he would attack from the beginning just because he changed his swordsmanship style.

After all, he would still treat Jude as a prospect.

So Jude would push him.

He would make First Sword defend for several times.

And to add another to it.

‘Something unexpected.’

Because First Sword would think that Jude was a swordsman.

As an opportunity for their own personal growth, all the 20 prospects who stood in front of First Sword had used proper swordsmanship in their match against him.

A sharp, refined, and beautiful dance of their swords.

So Jude would approach it in a completely different way.

A blunt, unrefined, and rough dance – like that of a raging storm!

‘Black Dragon Cross Strike!’

At the same time he rushed forward, he thrust his fists forward and shot the energy of the black dragon from both his fists.

A long-range strike.

And a non-linear attack at the same time.

‘Here!’

“Hopf Link!”

He shouted at the same time as he thought. He drew his fists and manipulated the two separate energies of the black dragon. The two energies of the black dragon flew into a circle as it intersected with each other, causing a loud roar as it powerfully exploded.

Hopf link – in mathematical knot theory, it’s two circles that are linked to each other but do not intersect. I will not go into more detail since it’s complicated, but for this chapter, it’s just Jude firing two energies of the black dragon from both his fists. But in this case, the two energies that flew in a circle crossed each other, causing an explosion. Jude, why are you calling this a Hopf link if the two intersect!

Bang! Bang! Bang!

A series of explosions was heard. As the black dragon’s energies violently twisted, it dug up the floor and shook the air.

But that was all.

In the midst of those explosions, the sword of First Sword shone and at that moment, a line split the explosions into two.

Shiiiing-!

A sword of light.

His dazzlingly fast sword split the explosion. It stopped the roars of the explosion, and even the aftermath of the shock was split, preventing it from reaching First Sword.

And First Sword raised his head.

But most of the prospects didn’t see it. They were caught off-guard by the powerful explosion and the splendor of First Sword’s attack that turned the explosion into nothing. So only two people, Cordelia and Lucas, saw the same thing as First Sword.

‘Head.’

Midair.

It was a new option Jude could choose since he became a superhuman, which was something he would’ve never imagined in his previous life.

Jude was seen in First Sword’s eyes.

The explosion caused by the Black Dragon Cross Strike was both an attack and a foundation for his next move.

Jude made the black explosion create the effect of a smoke bomb detonating, and kept everyone’s eyes on the ground with its loud roars and aftershocks. And at the same time, he soared up the ground.

‘Like a magician.’

Just like what Alexei taught.

‘Black Dragon Cross Strike!’

From the sky to the ground.

Jude kicked down from the air as he aimed at First Sword’s head. And at that moment, the energy of a giant black dragon vertically headed towards the ground.

Rooooarrr!

The roar was like a dragon’s roar. A smile spread on First Sword’s face, and he swung his sword again. The light’s trajectory split the energy of the black dragon again.

Bang! Bang!

Having been split into two, the energy of the black dragon broke the ground. At the time fragments of the stone stage flew into the air, Jude had already landed on the ground. He lowered his posture as if he was almost sticking to the ground, and then leapt forward as he aimed for First Sword’s back. First Sword turned around and looked at Jude. It was just a moment, but Jude was able to read First Sword’s thoughts through his eyes.

‘It would be impossible for you.’

From the Black Dragon Cross Strike that encircled each other to the Black Dragon Cross Strike from above.

He had continuously used powerful techniques in such a short time.

First Sword did not know much about the techniques used by Jude, but even then, he knew about ‘that’ since he had reached a certain level.

That there should be a delay now.

That there should be a cooldown between using two techniques.

First Sword’s thoughts were not wrong.

He thought of Jude as a swordsman who was two levels above Lucas, and even if he was a swordsman two levels above Lucas, it would be impossible for Jude to immediately use a third technique.

But Jude could do it.

He made possible something that First Sword thought was impossible.

‘Middle dantian!’

He had used up all the energy in his lower dantian. But the energy in his middle dantian remained.

So Jude skillfully used the energy in his middle dantian for his next attack.

Bang!

He stomped on the ground with his left foot. He kept his lower body down as he struck the air with a clenched fist.

And what he shot at that time.

It was the energy of the sun.

The black and unmatched energy of the sun!

“Roar! Explode!”

The energy roared and exploded.

The energy of the black sun exploded, and darkness engulfed everything. It was only for a short moment, but it had blinded everyone.

The explosion.

The roar.

Shiiing!

But the light strongly struck again.

Once again, the light split the explosion, the roar, and the shockwaves.

And First Sword felt it.

He momentarily lost his sight, but he perceived it with his superhuman senses.

The place where Jude was located.

Jude’s breath.

The fourth move Jude wanted to do.

A smile spread on First Sword’s face again.

Because he sensed it.

Jude was putting his hand on his sword.

He was finally going to use his sword.

“Haha!”

First Sword opened his eyes and refreshingly laughed.

He fully enjoyed the beating of his heart as he saw Jude. Cordelia forcibly opened her eyes, but her sight was still blurry. And Lucas also tried to see Jude and First Sword.

Sir Cornwell belatedly opened his eyes and was also excited.

‘Sword!’

Jude would finally use the sword.

Jude, who was so strong without a sword, would finally use a sword!

A moment.

A short time.

But First Sword shouted fast in his thoughts.

He looked at Jude as he cried out in his mind.

‘Show me.’

Your skills.

Your sword!

Shiiiing!

Jude drew the Eastern Warrior’s Sword.

And at that moment, First Sword was confused. He had been surprised when Jude had opened the fifth door and charged, but he was now more surprised at the situation.

Clang!

The Eastern Warrior’s Sword fell to the ground with a clear sound.

Cordelia smiled while Lucas widely opened his eyes.

Jude didn’t use his sword.

He had drawn the Eastern Warrior’s Sword and threw it towards First Sword. By doing so, he succeeded for a moment in stealing the attention of not only First Sword, but also everyone who were watching.

‘Something unexpected.’

He heightened their tension.

He made them look forward to it.

And then he threw all their expectations into the gutter.

‘As light as the wind.’

Without any sound, without any forewarning.

At the time when the Oriental Warrior’s Sword was tossed away by First Sword’s defensive instinct, thereby making him move for a fourth time.

Jude became the wind.

He even used the roaring sounds that he caused whenever he charged.

He tried to distract First Sword a little by continuing to show the same pattern but performing different actions.

Shwaaaa-!

Jude got behind First Sword.

If he attacked from behind again instead of penetrating through the front, he could make First Sword move for the fifth time.

And if that happened, First Sword had to move for a sixth time.

In other words, it would be Jude’s victory then.

But in that instant.

When he tried to release the energy of the black dragon again!

“I won’t let you.”

He heard First Sword’s voice.

In reality, it was such a short moment that he didn’t even hear First Sword say those four words, so it was impossible for him to have heard First Sword’s voice in that short moment.

But Jude had heard it.

He felt that he had heard it.

And he wasn’t wrong. First Sword turned around. His sword moved faster than Jude.

It was an attacking move.

It was not a defensive move, but was First Sword’s attack to end the match with this move!

“Sorry.”

This will hurt a lot.

You won’t die though.

His sword of light.

His dazzlingly fast sword!

Shiiing!

The light flashed.

A sharp flash of light trailed as it cut through time and space.

Jude’s intuition felt it.

He already knew it the moment First Sword moved for the fifth time.

He couldn’t avoid it.

The wind could never beat the light.

So he would be cut.

The light would destroy the wind.

But if it was not the wind.

If it was faster than the wind.

One that precedes the sound.

If it moved faster than the thunder that shook the earth!

Bang!

An explosion.

He could only express it like that.

The power of the Ninth Heaven’s Nine Doors and the energy of the sun were all condensed at once, and the resulting explosion made the impossible possible.

It was still lacking.

It was still incomplete.

But it was something that he had to do.

‘Because Cordelia wants it.’

He wanted to show her an amazing performance.

And above all.

‘Because I want to win.’

Baaaaang!

A bolt of lightning struck.

The light from the tip of the sword split the air. And lightning jumped over it. First Sword turned the attack into nothing.

Cordelia clenched her fists at that moment. She was ecstatic as she held her chest as if to suppress her overly excited heart.

Because Cordelia knew.

What Jude was trying to do.

What technique Jude was trying to do.

“Juuude!”

As if responding to Cordelia’s cry, the lightning continued. Not only did it dodge the sword of First Sword, but it also quickly narrowed the distance between Jude and First Sword.

Thunderbolt Twelve Steps.

The first step.

A thunderbolt that was faster than the wind.

First Sword was genuinely surprised by the advance of Jude. So he also moved his feet. He widened his distance again from Jude, who had quickly narrowed their distance, and First Sword reflexively swung his sword.

An attack again.

Moreover, it was a real offensive attack and not just a swinging of his sword like before.

‘I will block it.’

His words were short, but it was true.

He used his sword technique that made him known as the First Sword of the Sword School.

Heavenly Light.

He would have originally dashed with his sword.

But First Sword only sent out his aura.

A giant bird of light – a powerful energy of light rushed towards Jude.

Jude then used his technique almost simultaneously as if he had predicted it.

He released most of the energy from the black sun.

He cried out in his mind as if he was roaring.

‘Roar! Black Dragon!’

Shatter the skies, O Black Dragon!

It was a line that Cordelia would have been embarrassed if she had heard it, but no one would have cared even if he had shouted it.

Because the scene in front of their eyes was so overwhelming.

Booooom!

The Black Dragon and the Bird of Light collided head on.

A tremendous force exploded, and the light blinded their eyes.

The dust covered everything on the stage.

“Crazy.”

Sir Cornwell unknowingly said.

And most of the prospects spoke similar words.

They already knew that Jude was strong.

But they didn’t expect it to be this much.

‘He’s stronger than me.’

If Sir Cornwell himself had stood on that stage instead of First Sword, would he have been able to distance himself from Jude?

Would it have been possible for him to block all the techniques Jude had used in succession?

Moreover, there was one more surprising thing.

‘W-what had happened to him?’

Jude was only 17 years old now.

But what kind of amazing things had happened to him?

Did he consume elixirs as his normal meals?

Sir Cornwell was amazed and surprised, while Lucas couldn’t close his open mouth either.

But Cordelia was a little different. She became teary-eyed and almost shouted.

“Jude!”

At the last collision.

They had yet to see the results.

If Jude had been injured.

If Jude had not been able to resist the Heavenly Light of First Sword.

Cordelia’s hair turned black. Her eyes turned red.

Her intense emotions caused her to transform into a witch.

And it was at that moment.

The swing of First Sword’s sword blew away the dust.

Therefore, everyone saw the two on top of something that used to be the stage, and all of them let out gasps.

First Sword and Jude were still standing.

The only difference was that First Sword’s clothes were a little dirty, but he was fine. On the other hand, Jude had vomited blood, and his mouth and chest were red, while his clothes were torn all over his body.

“Cough. Kaak.”

Jude vomited blood again.

But it was clear red blood and not black blood.

“Haaa.”

It was all because of the Sphere of Life that had been completely absorbed in Jude’s body.

The aftermath of the collision between the Black Dragon and the Heavenly Light would have struck him, and he would have internal wounds because of excessively using his power. If he had been an ordinary person, he would have collapsed and died as he vomited blood, or he would be in a state of near-death.

But Jude was not an ordinary person.

The fifth door of the Ninth Heaven’s Nine Doors made him a superhuman, and the Sphere of Life gave him regenerative power.

“Amazing.”

First Sword spoke with a smile, and Jude just drooped his shoulders, suppressing his desire to raise his middle finger.

“Jude!”

It was Cordelia.

She ran to Jude at once and tightly hugged him without caring if his clothes were dirty or not. She then began to use her recovery magic.

“Hey, are you okay? Jude? Are you fine?”

As Cordelia asked with tears in her eyes, Jude blinked for a moment, but he soon said with a smirk.

“I’m fine. Wasn’t I a bit cool?”

“What the heck do you mean by cool! You like you’ve been beaten up!”

“No, I’ve never been hit, okay?”

He had just been unable to escape from the aftermath, so he had looked like this now.

Jude shrugged and Cordelia’s fist lightly hit Jude on the chest before she glared at First Sword.

And First Sword said at her glare.

“I should’ve been more serious.”

In using Heavenly Light.

Cordelia began to unconsciously growl at his words, and Jude hugged her waist to pacify her as he looked at First Sword and said.

“Ahem, ahem. Anyway, I’m the winner, right?”

Because First Sword had moved six times.

Moreover, Jude was still standing. He didn’t look to be fine since blood poured from his mouth, but in any case, First Sword would need to move a seventh time if he wanted to subdue the current Jude.

First Sword bitterly smiled at Jude’s remark, and the prospects who were mesmerized in many ways finally came to their senses. But they still murmured with a surprised look on their faces, and no one was able to properly speak.

“You monstrous guy. I somehow see you as my young self.”

Jude awkwardly smiled at First Sword’s words, and Cordelia snorted.

Her expression seemed to be asking on what the heck was he talking about.

“Heeey, most people would have been greatly honored, okay?”

The Sword Saint of Light had compared Jude to his young self and not anyone else.

But Cordelia still snorted, and First Sword was forced to end the match with a bitter smile.

“Alright, alright. The first prospect to make me move six times is Jude Bayer. In the name of I, Rhun Froud, the Sword Saint of Light, I hereby declare the victory of Jude Bayer.”

He said it in a calm but clear voice, and Duke Spencer began to clap at that moment.

“Blessings to the winner”

“Blessings to the winner!”

Princess Darianne shouted along as she broadly smiled and enthusiastically applauded. She was followed by Sir Cornwell and the Knights of the Red Rose. The prospects also cheered and clapped, starting with Lucas.

“Hehehe.”

Cordelia felt better and Jude likewise felt better at Cordelia’s laughing before he raised his hand. When everyone cheered, he moved her head so naturally as he kissed Cordelia’s forehead.

‘What, what, what was that?’

The startled Cordelia looked at Jude, and instead of saying something, Jude pointed at everyone with his eyes and faced his right cheek at her.

What he had meant by that.

What Jude was asking her now.

“O-only this time, okay?”

Cordelia quickly spoke with a blushing face, and Jude nodded.

And a light kiss.

As soon as Cordelia’s lips touched Jude’s cheek, Princess Darianne cheered, First Sword frowned, and Lucas looked somehow proud.

And after a while.

When the heat had subsided to some extent, and it was time for Jude and Cordelia to descend from the rubble that used to be the stage.

“By the way.”

The voice of First Sword was heard by Jude and Cordelia again.

The two naturally looked back at First Sword, and he bitterly smiled with crossed arms as he spoke in a very small voice.

“You’re not a swordsman, right?”

“No, I’m a swordsman.”

Jude responded reflexively, and picked up the Eastern Warrior’s Sword that had fallen on the ground before he bowed politely to First Sword.

“Then, I’ll be going in order to treat my injuries.”

“I’ll receive the prize instead of Jude.”

The two then laughed as they went down the stage as if they were running away.

“How interesting.”

They were interesting.

It was certainly a good reason for him to remain in the royal capital.

“Indeed…they’re a fantasy couple.”

As he stared the backs of Jude and Cordelia as they walked among the prospects, First Sword lightly shook his hand.

He looked up the sky as he ignored his somehow aching side.