What's this? Huh?"
"Wow, what in the world is happening? I can't see a thing. Where am I?"
"Oh no, is this some kind of punishment from God? I can't see anything here. Where am I?"
In the darkness, a few screams could be heard, indicating the fear and confusion that lingered in the air.
He found himself in a world of complete darkness, unable to comprehend his surroundings.
Just moments ago, he had woken up to this strange situation, and the anxiety within him was growing.
He had no idea what lay behind this darkness or why he had been chosen to experience it.
"There's no way someone could have kidnapped me while I was sleeping, right? Even if I let my guard down, I would have noticed it," Lux muttered to reassure himself that he hadn't been kidnapped.
But what else could it be?
Lux pondered, trying to make sense of the situation. "Maybe this is all just a dream, like those vivid dreams my friend talked about? Yes, a lucid dream... That must be it! There's no way I'm being kidnapped by a bunch of weak fools, unless the other party is a god...!?"
Silence followed his words, leaving him speechless in the darkness.
There was nothing left to say.
He was completely lost, unable to feel anything in this void. And more importantly, he couldn't feel his own body, as if it had disappeared entirely.
"No... Could I be dead...?" he whispered, his thoughts spiraling into a realm of irrationality.
"..."
"Damn... No... No way-"
Just as he realized he might be dead, a blinding flash of light shattered the darkness that surrounded him.
"Ack!!!"
"....."
After a long moment of silence, a few strong words broke through the lingering stillness.
"Hey! Can you hear me? This may be a sparring match, but spacing out won't help you out of this place." A woman's voice echoed, snapping Lux back to reality.
Slowly, he opened his eyes, and before him stood the woman whose voice had reached him.
But his attention was immediately drawn to something else.
He quickly noticed that the dark void he was in had been replaced by a vast training hall.
The thick trees, the river of blood, and the countless corpses that had filled his vision had all vanished without a trace.
Though he had limited knowledge about this place, the presence of numerous practice dummies led him to a straightforward conclusion.
However...
These facts alone only offered partial clarity, leaving him gripping his sword tightly.
Lux's body trembled with a mixture of confusion, anger, and bloodlust.
He couldn't comprehend why they had given him a sword.
The title of the world's strongest swordsman wasn't just an empty claim bestowed by the people of Shanxi. Lux had earned it through his victories in countless wars.
His fame was known far and wide, making it impossible for anyone to disregard his skill.
With a single glance, even a child could recognize his prowess. So why would he, the strongest, be expected to fight someone so weak like this slim woman before him? He could crush her with a single swipe.
Were they mocking him?
That couldn't be the case.
However, as he looked at his opponent trembling in fear at the killing intent he released, Lux found himself wondering how they had managed to kidnap him and place him in this situation.
Certainly, there are a lot of flaws in this situation making Lux feel helplessly unable to fully comprehend the situation any better.
And although that is true, Lux had no other choice but to disregard these seemingly unnecessary thoughts for now.
The blame rested solely on those behind it.
With these thoughts, Lux came to the realization that he knew as little about their plan as a newborn in this world. He was completely unaware.
But once he found the person responsible, he would make them regret their actions.
"I don't know what you all did to bring me here... But I assume you're involved, so I'll make sure to eradicate you from this world without inflicting you any pain!" Lux's voice thundered, taking on a intimidating tone.
In that moment, he closed the distance between them, his sword aiming for her neck.
Time seemed to slow down as his sword pierced her skin, inch by inch.
Lux couldn't fathom why her eyes were glowing like bulbs, but he recognized the fear and resignation in them. It was the same as those he had witnessed in countless others before their demise. They knew there was no escape. And so did she, her will to resist vanishing in that instant of realization.
There was nothing she or anyone else could do against this attack. It was an undeniable reality.
Death was inevitable.
Klang!
"Huh?"
'How did he block that?'
'Is that even possible? No one should have been able to block my attack, let alone save her. Is he faster than me? No, that can't be right. Something must have gone wrong, but since when?'
Lux was momentarily perplexed.
He frowned as he looked at the person standing before him, successfully blocking his sword.
This person had red hair, red eyes, a muscular build, and a beard. And while one of those characteristics shows a lot about his age, his face appears to be younger.
Furthermore, there was a woman by his side who shared similar features with the one he had assumed to be his enemy. She held a wand aimed at Lux's neck from behind.
Though the expressions on their faces were twisted with horror, Lux could not be intimidated.
The situation lasted for a few seconds before the other party spoke.
"You… did you just try to kill my daughter?" Azu, the man who declared himself to be her father, spoke with anger etched on his face.
And…
"Dear, you seem quite confident. Don't you possess any manners" Ishary's serpent-like voice crept from behind, causing goosebumps to form on Lux's body.
Unfortunately, it wasn't enough to put him in fear.
Goosebumps could occur in any situation, so he did not perceive her as a threat solely based on that.
Perhaps her voice had caused them, but it wasn't enough to instill fear in him.
However, the arrival of these two individuals caused a significant shift in Lux's previously held assumptions and opened up a myriad of new possibilities.
With a serious expression, Lux considered that these two individuals were likely the parents of his opponent.
However, he couldn't understand why they would openly declare this information before him, someone who was supposed to be their victim. The fact that they had not killed him immediately puzzled him further.
'What the hell is going on? Aren't they supposed to kill me? Why have they stopped? Their mission would be complete if they landed an attack on me. Although their speed is inferior to mine, they could've managed to land an attack in this situation. Do they have a different plan for keeping me alive?' Lux thought, contemplating his circumstances before speaking.
"…Yes, I did try to kill her. I just don't understand why you stopped midway." Said Lux completely disregarding the consequences of his actions.
"How dare you! I will teach you a lesson for such audacity-"
『Sword Art Deployment, Extended Range Offensive Technique...』
"!!!"
Before Azu could finish his sentence, Lux's sword emitted a vibrant blue light, propelling his body forward to push the girl out of harm's way, narrowly avoiding the impending attack.
Simultaneously, seeing her daughter being protected by her husband, the woman behind him swiftly cast a defensive spell to protect herself.
『Revolving Blue Whale』
Lux twirled his body, slashing his sword in all directions with tremendous force.
The blue light emanating from his weapon generated a series of magnificent blue crescent slashes that blanketed the area around him.
Witnessing this technique heading towards them, the two opponents didn't hesitate to employ their own defensive moves.
『Dragon Sword Technique, Page 5, Dragon swaying tail』
Azu repeatedly swung his sword with such accuracy enveloped in a thick crimson flame blocking all the incoming slashes at once.
『Mage Spell Page 5, Defensive Spell, Aqua Circle』
Ishary conjured a barrier made of mana, forming a substantial layer of water to shield herself.
The clash of three distinct techniques reverberated through the air, showcasing the intensity of their confrontation.
The initial move performed by Lux consisted of several breathtaking blue crescent slashes that emanated in all directions. In contrast, the other two techniques were focused on defense, aiming to counter and block these aggressive attacks.
The clash between their techniques generated a resounding noise resembling swords colliding and a ringing bell.
Surprisingly, no injuries were sustained. It appears that the attacker failed to successfully land a blow against his opponent.
Nonetheless, this outcome aligns perfectly with Lux's intentions. His objective was to create distance between himself and the two adversaries closing in on him, finally shaking off the inhibiting shackles that limited his other techniques.
Without providing his opponent with an opportunity to act first, Lux swiftly unleashed another technique.
Lux charged towards his target who happened to be the father and daughter.
This time, his sword was imbued with a black energy, forsaking the previous blue hue.
『Sword Art Deployment, Offensive Technique, Avection Night Slashes』
With tremendous force, Lux swung his sword, causing a chaotic onslaught of dark slashes intermingled with small crescent slashes.
Reacting swiftly to avoid the impending onslaught, Azu, with an expression of surprise, rose to his feet and swung his own sword with utmost speed and skill. Flames began to envelop the edges of his blade, flames that consumed the darkness.
The clash of swords resounded, echoing through the air.
'Why would he suddenly attack us like this? Has he forgotten that we are guests of his grandfather? Furthermore, the level of his assault... It's putting me in quite a precarious position. Me, a renowned Grandmaster? Impossible. I had heard that this individual possessed only average skills, but witnessing them firsthand is truly astonishing,' Azu contemplated as he deftly blocked the potentially fatal blows aimed at him, swiftly disappearing from his initial position and reappearing at a distance from Lux, accompanied by his daughter.
Although the attack was successfully blocked and evaded, Azu felt a slight stinging sensation around his neck, the aftermath of a small wound inflicted by Lux.
Flabbergasted and seething with anger, Azu knew he must exercise caution. He couldn't afford to act recklessly while his daughter stood at his side. Moreover, the person standing before him was his master's grandson, adding another layer of helplessness to his predicament.
"I must do whatever it takes to protect my daughter from this lunatic," he contemplated, meticulously analyzing Lux's every move and behavior.
Azu skillfully defended against all incoming attacks and patiently awaited an opportunity to arise while closely observing his opponent.
In Azu's perspective, the person standing before him wasn't an enemy, but rather an ally and dear friend due to their familial connection. It was evident that Lux had known about this relationship long before their current situation, as Azu had visited their family on multiple occasions.
Given the circumstances, Azu speculated that there might have been a problem between Lux and his daughter, leading Lux to take such drastic actions. Azu considered the possibility that it might actually be their side who was in the wrong.
"Before taking any actions, I need to clarify some things," Azu resolved to himself, rising to his feet. "I'm not sure what's going on for you to go to such lengths, but I believe it would be more advantageous for both of us to resolve this through conversation instead of further clashing our swords and causing more damage. Perhaps we can find a solution together."
Azu began to explain his perspective, but his words fell on deaf ears as Lux seemed to be lost in his thoughts. His focus was fixated on one particular thought.
"Whose face was that?" Lux wondered, his astonishment outweighing any anger he may have felt.
In the heat of battle, as Azu deflected Lux's attacks, Lux caught a glimpse of his own reflection in the sword. This moment sparked a sense of doubt within him, questioning his very existence. The unfamiliar sensation in his chest and the reality unfolding before his eyes seemed more than a mere coincidence.