... Permit me this 'reference'...
A certain person once asked...
Say a nuke fell down on my head, what would I do?
Or I'm simply surrounded by fifty, a hundred, perhaps even a thousand opponents on all sides?
Excluding the first scenario, sure maybe if I became a master swordsman, peerless with the sword, I could take on a few hundred enemies single-handedly and barely make it out alive. If I became, a 'legendary' swordsman, maybe even a few thousand wouldn't be that hard to get by.
But then, back to the first scenario. If a nuke, like those of Earth, fell on my head, what would I do?
I'm certain even Cliff, as renowned as the Blood Knight as he is, wouldn't be able to do much in the face of an impending nuke. In the end, a swordsman, as legendary and all mighty as they might be still remained bound by the 'physical' limits placed by their 'sword'.
And say, in the second scenario, I lose my sword, then what do I do?
I'm certain there's the typical bullshit of a swordsman regarding 'a sword ' as 'anything' as long as in a trained hand. But in the end, it's all that, philosophical bullshit.
"Well fuck, now I'm not depressed at all," I muttered.
Fine, to be 'realistic' by this world's standards, there's no broken technology like a nuke. No technology at all, even. But fuck, they've got something just as cheat-like, perhaps even more so!
Scenario three; say I'm surrounded once more, this time, however, by a thousand plus high-level mages from all sides.
'What do I do?'
If I were a legendary swordsman by this world's standards, I'm at least certain I'd be able to take at least some of their numbers down, but then I get hit by some kind of debuff spell and a lethal status ailment spell. The fuck would I do?
'No, no, no! This path to power is too limited! What's the point of getting stronger to protect if there are still those who possess more powerful means and are more stronger than you even?'
With all my doubts and reserves, I still had to admit this world's standards of swordsmen, from what I've seen so far, is quite incredible in its own right.
After all, I did watch Cliff's sword effortlessly 'slice' through actual spells before. So being a legendary or master swordsman in this world opens up even incredible capabilities compared to Earth.
'But it's still not enough.'
Compared to 'magic' swordsmanship is just that inferior. I could only come to that premature judgment. And if I had to grow stronger, that wasn't enough.
I realized this thought made me sound ambitious.
'I have to learn magic.' I concluded.
Even if I couldn't fully learn or master that strange power, I had to at least gain some understanding of how it worked. This world was simply too vast and diverse, and one of the main reasons for that was the existence of magic.
I heaved a sigh.
I couldn't take such limited means to power. Not unless I could entirely release that limitation.
For a moment the figure of Cliff flashed momentarily in mind.
'...A swordsman that can sever the nature and cut apart spells.'
I couldn't help but think that thought effectively reflected and solidified the image I held of a 'legendary' swordsman.
'Wait. Wouldn't that make Cliff just more awesome?' the thought only lasted half a second while I shook my head and brought my mind back on track.
"There's no way around it.' I struggled to suppress an excited smile from making its way to my lips as I shifted on my feet.
This world was just too vast and uncertain to not try to learn magic. And this feeling wasn't brewed from my almost childish and burning urge and interest in casting an actual spell.
'...a spell that won't blow up in my face at least.' I interjected.
And who knows, if I became both a legendary swordsman, peerless with the sword, and a legendary mage, master of spells and magic, maybe I'd become some kind of 'legendary Magic-swordsman'
That thought made me fume with childish excitement!
'Magic-swordsman...' I thought in almost awe, conveniently throwing aside the 'legendary' part that boarded along the realm of 'impossible' for the current and future me.
Speaking of which, I had to check if there was a thing like a Magic-swordsman.
Then another fantastical thought struck me like a spear of realization.
'If there aren't, would that make me the first then?!' again, I conveniently disregarded the 'legendary' part, along with the fact I was already beginning to see myself as a Magic-swordsman despite my inability to efficiently cast a single spell that wouldn't blow up in my face and my low proficiency level in swordsmanship at the moment.
Yes.
At the moment.
I could feel a flame light underneath me, as I thought about it. Suppressing the trembling in my hands from brewing excitement, I slowly clasped at my heart racing and pounding behind my chest.
'A magic swordsman. A magic swordsman, huh...' My lips trembled into an unrestrainable smile as the prospects ran wild in my thoughts. My mind became jittery and restless with eagerness at that idea.
Then a new goal and purpose slowly added to my vacant list.
Get stronger to 'protect'.
Live out a slow and peaceful life.
And become a 'magic swordsman' like never before.
Again, I had conveniently disregarded the other possible existence of Magic-swordsmen before me.
But regardless.
I was getting fired up!
Suddenly the exhaustion from sword practice didn't seem so weighing anymore. My body was filled with renewed vitality, and my limbs with power. I handled my wooden sword in a suppressed grip just to avoid crushing the handle from overenthusiasm.
The mental and physical strain from earlier completely ceased as I raised my sword to continue training late into the evening once more. A single fuming thought echoed solely in my mind behind an unhidden smile.
I had to get stronger fast!
***
Guess the reference, anybody?