Within the sacred place of recovery, the warriors of Cheonuhoe were focused solely on training and regaining strength. Amid the ruins of an ancient temple, the subtle flow of mana in the quiet forest became their anchor—a source of power guiding each warrior to push past their limits. At the heart of it all, Lee Dohyeon was training alone, immersed in solitude.
Meanwhile, the Ego Sword had fallen silent.
Gripping the blade tightly, Dohyeon felt something stir—not merely the flow of mana, but a deeper presence. The sword slowly awakened and began to whisper to him once again.
"Lee Dohyeon…"
The voice that echoed from the sword was calmer than before, but carried a hint of earnest longing.
"I need to return. I miss my home—Elysium."
Dohyeon furrowed his brows. The sword had spoken to him many times before, but never so clearly, never so directly. He could feel the pulse of the sword as he replied in a measured voice.
"Your home… you called it Elysium, didn't you?" He looked down at the blade. "Was that your goal all along? To return there?"
The sword answered solemnly. "Yes. Not here, but to where I truly belong. I was forged in Elysium, and only there can I awaken to my full power. I believed that with you, it would be possible."
There was something almost human in the voice—an earnest yearning, like a soul longing to return home. Dohyeon felt his heart waver for a moment, touched by what seemed like sincerity. But he couldn't blindly trust the blade. Each time he used the Ego Sword's power, he had sensed an undercurrent—something trying to assert control.
"Then why help me at all?" Dohyeon asked sharply. "Can't you return on your own? Or is there something else you want from me?"
The sword hesitated. Then came a response laced with quiet calculation.
"Lee Dohyeon, through our bond, you've been able to wield my power. Together, our strengths can amplify one another. If we reach Elysium, you too will ascend—far beyond what you are now."
But something in that answer rang false. The sword was offering part of the truth, not all of it. The voice pleaded gently, but behind it lay a buried ambition—something unspoken. It was as if the sword wanted Dohyeon to trust it, to journey with it to Elysium, while concealing the true price of that path.
Dohyeon's lips curled into a cold smile. "What you're saying isn't enough. Why should I believe you? I understand your longing to return home—but don't assume I'll lend you my body for that purpose."
The Ego Sword fell silent again, but its energy flickered—an imperceptible tremble that confirmed Dohyeon's suspicion. The sword was hiding something. Its ultimate goal wasn't just to return home. It wanted to use Dohyeon—not only as a wielder but as a vessel, a body with power that could serve its ambitions in a new world.
Then, the voice returned, quieter but insistent.
"Lee Dohyeon… you must trust me. Together, we grow stronger. You've seen what we've achieved. Isn't that proof enough?"
Dohyeon exhaled, his eyes hard. "I never said I trust you. And if you're hiding something from me, I'll never follow your path. Our goals are not the same."
For a brief moment, the sword's aura faltered—like the will within it had been exposed. But the presence inside quickly recovered and spoke again in a composed tone.
"I understand, Lee Dohyeon. I'll respect your decision. But give me a chance. Let me show you how much I can still help you."
Dohyeon said nothing. He simply acknowledged that, for now, he still needed the power the sword offered. Its strength was undeniable.
"Fine," he said at last. "But remember this—if the day comes when your true motive is revealed, you may find yourself my enemy."
The sword gave no reply. Only its quiet pulse remained, flowing faintly through the hilt. Drawing the blade once more, Dohyeon resumed his training. The bond between man and sword had entered new territory—not just tool and master, but a delicate balance of suspicion and dependency.
From now on, he would use the Ego Sword while keeping his eyes wide open. He would uncover the truth behind its yearning for Elysium—whether it was a genuine desire to return home… or the start of something far more dangerous.
And as he trained, Lee Dohyeon knew: to uncover that truth, he too must become stronger.
*****
Chapter : Heavenly Sword Demon King's Contemplation and the Secret of the Forbidden
Deep within the heart of the Magyo stronghold, the Heavenly Sword Demon King sat in her private library, poring over ancient texts. The vast shelves were filled with records of the Magyo's dark heritage—knowledge passed down through generations. Among them, her focus was drawn specifically to the sealed, forbidden tomes.
Her attention had been captivated by the peculiar and overwhelming presence radiating from the sword wielded by Lee Dohyeon. The energy she had sensed was not just powerful—it was foreign, unsettling, and strangely familiar. Something in that sword echoed remnants of the Magyo's forbidden legacy.
"This sword… is no ordinary blade," the Heavenly Sword Demon King murmured, pulling a sealed tome from the shadowy depths of the library. These books were prohibited even within the Magyo—guarded knowledge, containing dangerous rituals and arcane secrets.
She opened the aged text and began to carefully read its brittle pages, until one passage caught her attention: "Forbidden Rituals and Summoning."
The record spoke of a powerful, dangerous ritual once attempted by the Magyo to conquer all of Murim. It was a summoning ritual—an arcane ceremony to call forth an entity from another world and harness its strength for use in Murim.
The document detailed how the Magyo's greatest masters had gathered deep within its sanctum to conduct this ritual. But just as it neared completion, warriors from the Jeongpa had discovered the plan and launched an assault, disrupting the rite before it could reach its conclusion. The record ended with an unsettlingly vague line: "Something appeared."
What that "something" was remained a mystery. The text provided no specifics, as if someone had deliberately redacted the truth. Since that day, the Magyo had been unable to harness such power again, and the ritual had been buried in secrecy, forgotten by history.
"Something appeared…" the Heavenly Sword Demon King whispered, eyes narrowing. The lack of detail felt intentional—like a shadow cast over a truth too dangerous to reveal.
She leaned closer, rereading the passage, suspicion growing. "Could it be… that Lee Dohyeon's sword is connected to that summoning? To whatever crossed into our world back then?" The foreign energy she had felt wasn't merely beyond martial mastery—it was alien, unnatural.
And perhaps that explained Lee Dohyeon himself. He wasn't merely strong. He carried something… more.
Her thoughts drifted to her own Chilgeommu, the Seven Swords Technique. It wasn't just a martial form—it felt as if her swords possessed their own will, lending her power while demanding something in return. Could Lee Dohyeon's sword be part of the same lineage? Or perhaps even a parallel force, born of the same ancient rite?
"The forbidden summoning… beings from Elysium… and my Chilgeommu…" Her mind raced. If she could unravel the connections, perhaps she could break through to an even greater realm.
She made her decision.
Investigating Lee Dohyeon's sword was no longer a curiosity—it was imperative. Its origins, its power, its purpose—uncovering its truth could be the key to restoring the Magyo's former might. And if the forbidden ritual could be completed—if the beings of Elysium could be summoned once more—perhaps the Magyo could rise again.
"I must know the truth of that sword. And I will make its power my own," she declared.
Her eyes gleamed with conviction. Lee Dohyeon was no longer just an enemy to be defeated. He had become something more—a key. A living link to power long sealed and forgotten.
She closed the tome with deliberate care and began crafting a new plan within the depths of the Magyo. A plan that would revive the forbidden knowledge, reawaken the connection to Elysium, and possibly reshape the entire power balance of Murim.
And so, in the hands of the Heavenly Sword Demon King, the ancient light of a forgotten taboo began to flicker once more.