Chapter 369: The World's Best (7)

Early morning.

The Kingdom of Lan was buzzing with excitement over the announcement of the 300 participants who had passed the preliminary round.

“Hmm.”

Choi Han stared at the mission that appeared before him.

[Main Mission 1]
Find the Hero in place of the corrupted ex-hero Gisk and deliver the Sword of the Sun.

Alberu Crossman, standing beside him, also saw the same message silently appear before him.

And then, a system prompt followed:

====================
[Related Sub-Mission 1]
Earn the recognition of the Swordsman who enlightened the ex-hero.
====================

Cale, who had been observing the two with a blank expression, finally muttered,

“What are they doing?”

Alberu glanced at Cale’s blond hair—so similar to his own—then met his blue eyes and reached out his hand.

Crack!

A jolt of electricity sparked through the air.

“……”

The Sword of the Sun rejected Alberu.

Alberu, clicking his tongue, turned toward Choi Han.

“Try giving it to Cale Henituse.”

“…Yes.”

Choi Han handed the sword to Cale.

“Why?”

Cale received the Sword of the Sun without much interest, scoffing at the ridiculous scene unfolding so early in the morning.

“Here. Take it.”

He extended the sword back toward Alberu.

Crack!

A burst of electricity shot out as the sword rejected Alberu once again.

Leaning against a nearby pillar with a look of disdain, the Heavenly Demon spoke calmly.

“Five times.”

That was Alberu’s current rejection count.

“Choi Han.”

Cale, who already knew the missions both Alberu and Choi Han had received, spoke matter-of-factly.

“It looks like you’ll have to recognize His Highness properly before he can receive that sword.”

Alberu turned to Choi Han with a bright, almost teasing smile.

“Choi Han, you haven’t recognized me yet?”

“!”

Choi Han flinched and quickly responded.

“I recognize you!”

It was true. He trusted Alberu—and sometimes even respected him.
His words came from genuine sincerity.

But then—

“It seems you only recognize him as the crown prince.”

The Heavenly Demon’s blunt remark struck like a gong.

Alberu’s smile grew even wider.

“Can’t you recognize his strength?”

At that, Choi Han paused.

“…It’s not like that.”

He responded seriously, his expression firm.

“His Highness is strong enough.”

That, too, was undeniably true.

“Strong enough—”

Alberu smiled faintly, his expression unreadable.

Although he had taken Choi Han as his master, he hadn’t had a proper master–disciple relationship with him.

However, Alberu knew him well, as he had been observing him closely.

“Choi Han.”

Choi Han was someone who never compromised when it came to strength.

“Do you think I can fight a Wanderer?”

That was the real question. Alberu was asking about the kind of enemy they were now facing.

“…”

Choi Han couldn’t respond right away.

If he were the type to soften his judgment, he might’ve said, Yes, you can fight them too.

But Choi Han wasn’t like that.

If such a situation arose, he would only think about how best to protect Alberu—not fight alongside him.

“I don’t like this.”

Swoosh.

Alberu pulled out the lance from his back.

It wasn’t the real Taerang—but a long, white lance he had used since entering this world.

Whirr~

He spun the lance once with practiced ease, then pointed it toward Choi Han.

“Master.”

He smiled brightly, playfully.

“How about a duel with your disciple?”

His tone was joking—but Choi Han could see the emotion burning in Alberu’s eyes.

It was anger.

“…”

Choi Han took a deep breath and finally opened his mouth.

“Ten minutes.”

He replied solemnly.

“If His Highness can stop me for ten minutes—using everything at your disposal—I will believe in you.”

Snick.

The corners of Alberu’s mouth lifted into a smile.

But Choi Han wasn’t finished.

“You are not someone I should protect—”

His voice was calm but resolute.

“—You are someone I can fight side by side with.”

Ten minutes.

Not just attack.

Stop me.

If you can hold your ground, even for ten minutes—then I’ll believe you’re someone I can fight alongside.

After Choi Han finished speaking, Alberu remained silent for a few moments.

Then he opened his mouth.

“I’ve always felt it.”

A much more relaxed smile appeared on his lips as he continued.

“You’re truly irreverent.”

Choi Han gave an awkward smile—but he didn’t look away from Alberu’s eyes.

Go ahead.

That gaze, filled with quiet defiance and honesty, caused the fire in Alberu’s heart to subside.
Because once again, he was reminded—Choi Han was someone who always faced him head-on.

“No, but seriously—why am I suddenly irreverent?”

Cale cut in, clearly irritated.

“I haven’t even done anything.”

Neither Choi Han, nor Alberu, nor the Heavenly Demon paid him any attention.

* * *

And now.

“I guess my master’s tests aren’t easy at all.”

The tip of the lance that Alberu was holding trembled slightly.

“Hmm. I guess I shouldn’t have let my guard down.”

Choi Han responded with an awkward smile, his sword lowered at his side.

But even in that relaxed stance, he was like a finely honed blade.

“Yes, do it well!”

Alberu said with a relaxed smile.

“…….”

The hands holding the lance tightened.

Lance, magic.

Choi Han had said he could use everything.

Alberu had decided to resist with the lance instead of magic.

Ha.

However, after clashing with Choi Han’s sword only once, he had an idea.

I was arrogant.

The arrogant one was him.

He has become stronger.

He had definitely felt Choi Han’s strength when he fought the White Star in the past.

Quite some time had passed since then, so he had assumed that Choi Han had become stronger.

But he surpassed that assumption.

Choi Han had actually become much stronger.

He’s not even using aura now.

Choi Han, the Sword Master.

He wasn’t even using aura on his sword now. However, he was able to easily press the aura that enveloped Alberu’s lance and deliver a blow.

I was careless.

Yes, I was careless. Too much. The corners of Alberu’s lips curved upwards.

Three worlds.

Choi Han had walked alongside Cale through three different worlds.

And in that journey—

He said he had taken a new path.

The ancient Dragon, Eruhaben, had once remarked that Choi Han’s strength was truly remarkable.

At the time, Alberu had acknowledged it—but hadn’t thought much of it.

You’re too complacent.

Only now did Alberu recognize the emotion he’d been avoiding.

Have you gotten too relaxed?

Right now, the king—himself—had disappeared from the public eye, and the Kingdom of Roan could very well be in danger.

But Alberu’s power… was solid. Reliable.

And yet, the enemies ahead were not ordinary.

From hunters…

To gods.

However, you thought you could do it.

That’s why he had relaxed.

No, his mind had relaxed a little.

Ha. A little?

He had relaxed a lot.

You are foolish.

Alberu Crossman, you are truly foolish.

And you were excited.

Although he had been carrying out missions under Ahn Roh Man’s supervision in this game, it had been fun leveling up in a new world, without realizing it.

Would it be because of that?

“Ha—”

No.

Now is not the time to make excuses.

When has my life been easy?

Have you become careless?

Have you relied on comfort?

He had defeated the White Star, become the rising sun of the Kingdom of Roan, and established a solid power base.

However, he continued to train as always and work.

He thought he hadn’t changed.

He thought he hadn’t become careless.

“Here I go.”

Choi Han raised his sword. Alberu straightened his posture.

No. I’ve changed.

If this were the old Alberu Crossman…

Faced with a greater enemy—even a god—threatening his world, he would’ve reacted differently.

Back then, he would have pushed himself harder. Lived with relentless urgency.
Instead of enjoying this game, he would have drowned in anxiety and burned with a desperate thirst for victory.

He wouldn’t have done this!

Wooong~

Brilliant white and gold light erupted around Alberu.

Snick.

The corners of Choi Han’s lips curved into a small smile.

“……”

Alberu’s own smile vanished.

Choi Han spoke.

“You are His Highness now.”

Such an arrogant master.

Alberu didn’t have time to respond.

Tap.

Choi Han stepped forward—just one light movement.

“!”

In that instant, he closed the distance.

Alberu immediately swung his lance in response.

The advantage of a lance is distance.

He couldn’t let Choi Han breach his range.

Baaang!

A thunderous explosion rang out—on a completely different level.

Crack! Crackle!

Electric energy surged through the white lance.

It was Alberu’s mana, infused directly into the weapon.

Wooong~

Finally, Choi Han’s sword responded—roaring as a deep black aura rose from the blade.

Clang! Clang!

Clashing sounds echoed across the training ground. The earth beneath them began to crack from the force.

“Ha!”

Passote, the leader of the Dark Abyss, had risen from his seat.
He stared at the duel, a cold sweat running down his back.

However, Choi Han and Alberu couldn’t see what was happening around them.

Clang!

Alberu’s lance pushed Choi Han’s sword.

Clang!

The sword swung back towards the lance, and Alberu blocked it.

“Oh.”

At that moment, the Heavenly Demon chuckled.

Claaang~

A different roar echoed.

Swoosh~

Alberu was pushed backward, skidding to the very edge of the training ground.

He caught himself, raising the lance like a shield across his chest.

“Ha, ha.”

Panting, he kept his gaze locked solely on Choi Han.

“Ha!”

And Choi Han laughed.

Then—

Clang! Bang! Bang!

A series of powerful explosions erupted in rapid succession.

A golden glow burst around Choi Han, erupting with a deafening roar.

- Human! The best defense is a preemptive attack!

Cale ignored Raon’s excited commentary and kept his eyes locked on the training ground.

Tap.

Alberu moved.

As expected…

The crown prince wasn’t the type to stay on the defensive.

Clang! Clang! Bang!

The storm of explosions continued without pause.

Swoosh.

Alberu pulled a magic stone from his pocket and tossed it into the air.

He truly intended to use everything he had.

Crack.

The stone shattered in midair.

As a surge of mana flooded the training ground, Alberu didn’t hesitate.

Rumble~

The sky above responded—like thunder approaching.

He aimed straight toward Choi Han, whose form was obscured by the ongoing blasts.

Baaang~

Lightning crashed down.

And yet—

It’s not enough!

Alberu could feel it.

It wasn’t enough.

Even as dozens of explosions erupted—
Even as endless bolts of lightning crashed down upon Choi Han—

It still wasn’t enough.

Choi Han will be fine.

With that certainty, Alberu charged straight into the heart of the storm—the very center of the typhoon, now shrouded in smoke and chaos.

Whirr.

He raised his lance high.

Don’t stop attacking.

Strike without pause.

I’ll use every last technique I have.

Because—

Choi Han won’t hurt me.

Alberu truly fought with everything he had.

And it wasn’t just his strength.

He was fighting with his heart.

With his trust in Choi Han.

With the knowledge of Choi Han’s heart toward him.

That was why Alberu didn’t hold back.

He unleashed it all.

Ten minutes.

He wasn’t thinking about enduring for ten minutes—

He was aiming to fight for them.

He was prepared to do whatever it took—to defeat Choi Han.

That was the resolve Alberu carried as he faced him.

Even if I have to hurt him…

Alberu had staked everything on this moment.

Crack!
Baaang~!

Electric currents surged. Explosions roared.

Choi Han’s figure couldn’t even be seen amid the storm.

And then—

The white lance pierced through the chaos, striking toward him.

“Oh.”

That lance—

It carried with it all the fundamentals Alberu had built up over years of training.

A refined, high-level form of Wu.

And the unwavering heart of the one wielding it.

It was martial arts powerful enough to make even the Heavenly Demon raise an eyebrow.

Alberu was just as skilled with the lance… as he was with magic.

And now—

Wooong~
Crack, crack.

Aura and mana intertwined.

The white lance, forged from both forces, radiated like the very light of the sun.

“…….”

Passote, the leader of the Dark Abyss, bit his lip at the sight before him.

A high-level duel far beyond what he had anticipated—
No… it wasn’t just that.

Those eyes.

Alberu’s eyes weren’t those of a simple fighter.

They were the eyes of a commander on the battlefield.

What was happening here wasn’t just a spar—it was a war being waged within the confines of a training ground.

Alberu surged deeper into the heart of the explosion.

Wooong—

Mana trembled.

The high-density mana, scattered and charged throughout the area, began reacting to Alberu’s presence.

Wooong—

Though he hadn’t reached the level of a Sword Master, the smoke and energy coiling around the white lance—manifested by a high-level aura user—wasn’t something that simply faded.

It wrapped tightly around the weapon.

Wooong—

The mana surged closer, drawing near to Alberu’s body.

It gathered—

And it gathered more.

Because Alberu kept drawing it in.

This is my best effort!

Everything I have!

At that moment, the tip of Alberu’s lance pointed directly at Choi Han.

Swoosh—

The mana channeled into the lance burst forward, scattering the lingering dust and smoke from the explosion.

And then—the inside of the typhoon began to reveal itself.

“!”

Alberu’s pupils trembled.

…Darkness—!

Amid the storm of white and gold light—

Within the swirling cloud where lightning still cracked and twisted—

At the very center of the explosion…

Was pure, consuming darkness.

No.

It wasn’t just darkness.

There were tiny lights—stars—flickering within that void.

Night.

No…

Choi Han.

Yes. That was Choi Han.

With his eyes closed—until now.

And as they opened—

A dragon awakened.

A massive, semi-transparent black Yong—a draconic presence—uncurled behind him, shimmering with ethereal grace.

Choi Han’s sword moved.

A single line was drawn.

The black aura wrapped around his body didn’t explode with violence.
Instead, it radiated something deeper—something wild… something warm…

And something completely, unbreakably resolute.

Ah…

Alberu realized it then.

This… is aura.

This is what Choi Han has obtained.

Finally, he understood Choi Han’s earlier words.

Why he had told him to defend, not attack.

Because…

The current Alberu can’t harm Choi Han.

Not because Alberu was weak—but because no one could approach a man with that kind of solidified aura.

His presence deflected violence. The moment the intent to strike rose—Choi Han had already taken a step forward.

Yes.

That’s it.

Choi Han moved.

He stepped forward. He extended his sword.

And in that movement—a path appeared.

Like the one he had created when confronting the Blue Blood Demon’s overwhelming aura.

Choi Han had once again carved out his own road.

As he always had.

And so—

He advanced.

“Damn it!”

Alberu bit his lip.

Because no matter how bright the sun shone…

Right now, it was night.

And the stars were moving.

Alberu’s face twisted.

Irritation surged within him—not joy.

The white lance he had wielded with everything he had—

The black–covered sword approached Alberu.

Damn it!

He had lost.

Alberu closed his eyes.

Choi Han didn’t stop and swung his sword.

The white lance and the black sword clashed.

Baaang—

A vibration even greater than the one that had pushed all the dust of the explosion enveloped the surroundings.

Thud.

The floor of the training ground cracked, and the pillars of the shelter swayed.

“…this is over.”

The words came from Passote, leader of the Dark Abyss, spoken as he tried to suppress the chill running down his spine.

Swish~

The smoke began to lift with the wind, and the view slowly cleared.

“Well.”

At that moment, the Heavenly Demon smiled strangely while checking the time.

Passote, who was about to react, stopped.

“!”

His eyes widened.

“Cough!”

Alberu coughed.

Slowly, Alberu looked up.

Crackle~

The white lance shattered.

He had let it go.

Alberu had willingly abandoned the lance the moment it clashed with Choi Han’s black sword.

Choi Han hadn’t expected that.

Because of it, although his sword had destroyed the lance—

He hadn’t reached Alberu.

He had swung his sword, yes—aimed it at Alberu, who had discarded his weapon.

But just a moment too late.

Clang–!

The black sword struck down.

The floor of the training ground caved in with a deep rumble.

But it was already too late.

Choi Han’s sword—

Couldn’t hurt Alberu.

“……”

Choi Han looked down at him in silence.

Alberu had rolled to the ground, dodging the blow by the narrowest of margins.

His body was curled up tightly—

Wrapped in white armor created entirely from mana.

And not just armor.

There were multiple layers of shields—five or more—rotating and interlocking.

It had blocked Choi Han’s attack.

Even if the strike had come late—

Even if Choi Han’s heart had wavered in that final moment—

Alberu was completely unharmed.

With the high–density mana that had enveloped his body, breaking all the magic stones he had saved with his meager budget.

He had reserved his last move.

The Heavenly Demon, who was watching, opened his mouth.

“Choi Han is sentimental.”

If it were an enemy.

“He would have aimed for his life beyond the weapon.”

Instead of aiming for the lance, he would’ve aimed to kill.
But Choi Han couldn’t do that—because Alberu wasn’t his enemy.

“That guy…” the Heavenly Demon muttered, “is better at politics than he is at fighting.”

And Alberu had fought with that very understanding in mind.

Choi Han closed his eyes tightly and then opened them, and spoke.

“I have lost.”

He didn’t know how much time had passed.

Ten minutes.

But in truth, time didn’t matter.

What mattered was Alberu’s resolve—his refusal to give up, even abandoning his weapon, doing whatever it took to reach his goal.

Watching that, Choi Han recognized his own carelessness.

More than that—

He once again recognized the true strength of Alberu Crossman—something he had momentarily forgotten.

“I recognize it.”

The moment those words left his lips—

Snick.

Alberu uncurled his body and slowly stood up, posture still awkward from the crouch—but upright, victorious.

“Ten minutes.”

Cale got up from his seat and spoke.

“Exactly ten minutes have passed.”

And Alberu, who was shaking off the dust, said naturally.

“Of course, he must recognize it.”

His cheerful smile really went well with the white armor.

[Mission Completed]

It was the moment the Sword of the Sun was placed in Alberu’s hands.

* * *

At that moment…

“What did you just say?”

The Pope of the Church of the Sun God couldn’t hide his shock as he stared at the bishop, who was relaying the Saint’s message.

“…The Saint—”
The bishop took a shaky breath, trying to calm himself.

“He said… that a forgotten Sacred Object has reappeared on the continent.”

“…Is that true?”

“Yes, Your Holiness. It’s true. The Sword of the Sun.”

The bishop’s voice trembled as he continued.

“The Saint felt it—the Sacred Object said to appear only when the world is in need of salvation.”

The Church of the Sun God.

And in that moment, something happened that would shake its very leadership—

A divine sign had returned to the world.

* * *

“Young Master, the first round of the preliminary will be easy, right?”

Cale smiled cheerfully and spoke to the Heavenly Demon.

Alberu was with him as an escort, instead of Choi Han.

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Proofreader's Comment:

Alberu didn’t just earn the sword—he earned Choi Han’s respect in the most spectacular ten minutes ever.

***

If you find any errors or have suggestions, please feel free to provide feedback.

Thank you for reading!

[Author – Yu Ryeo Han]

[Translator – Anowa]

[Proofreader – Mayank]