Darkness swallowed the forge.
Corvus stood in the center of the sanctuary, its new blade radiating absolute emptiness.
The Authority of Oblivion spread silently.
Where the darkness touched—
Flames disappeared.
Metal dissolved.
Even sound was erased.
Renzo took a slow step back.
His instincts screamed.
This was different.
Completely different.
When he created a golden spear with his Divine Essence—
The weapon vanished.
Instantly.
As if it had never existed.
A blue window appeared.
Authority of Creation
Creation Attempt:
Erased
Cause:
Authority of Oblivion
Renzo's expression darkened.
"My creations…"
Corvus smiled.
"Everything you create shall return to nothing."
The Devourer raised its black blade.
"This is oblivion."
A single slash.
The darkness expanded.
Renzo dodged sideways.
The black wave passed through an ancient pillar.
The pillar disappeared.
Not destroyed.
Not broken.
Erased.
Even the debris vanished.
Kensei-Ryu spoke quietly.
"Do you understand?"
Renzo kept his eyes on Corvus.
"It erases existence."
"Yes."
"The attack is not stronger than yours."
"It simply ignores existence itself."
Corvus attacked again.
Renzo blocked with Chrono Fang.
The moment the black blade touched his sword—
Chrono Fang trembled violently.
Golden light flickered.
The blade began fading.
Vulcanos immediately shouted.
"Pull back!"
Renzo jumped away.
Chrono Fang stabilized.
But a small section of the blade had disappeared.
Completely erased.
Renzo stared at it.
For the first time—
A divine weapon had been damaged.
Corvus laughed.
"You cannot defeat oblivion."
Darkness gathered around the Devourer.
Its authority continued expanding.
The restored forge began disappearing piece by piece.
Even Hephaestion's light weakened.
Kensei-Ryu suddenly spoke.
"Renzo."
"Listen carefully."
His voice had changed.
No laughter.
No teasing.
Only seriousness.
"What I am about to teach you…"
"…I have never taught anyone."
Renzo looked toward the sword god.
Kensei-Ryu appeared before him.
Not as a voice.
Not as a spirit.
A projection.
The ancient swordsman stood calmly within Renzo's consciousness.
A simple wooden sword rested in his hand.
"There are three levels of swordsmanship."
"The first cuts flesh."
"The second cuts energy."
"The third…"
Kensei-Ryu looked directly into Renzo's eyes.
"…cuts concepts."
Renzo froze.
"Concepts?"
Kensei-Ryu nodded.
"Oblivion is a concept."
"Creation is a concept."
"Authority is a concept."
The swordsman slowly raised the wooden sword.
"Most swordsmen swing the blade."
"The greatest swordsmen swing intention."
Corvus attacked again.
Reality split apart.
Renzo barely avoided the black slash.
The darkness spread further.
The forge continued disappearing.
Kensei-Ryu ignored everything.
"Watch."
The swordsman stepped forward.
A single movement.
No speed.
No power.
No aura.
Just one ordinary slash.
The wooden sword passed through empty space.
Silence.
Nothing happened.
Renzo frowned.
"That was—"
Kensei-Ryu interrupted.
"What did I cut?"
Renzo looked carefully.
Then his eyes widened.
The darkness in front of the swordsman…
Had stopped.
A single invisible line stretched across it.
Then—
The darkness separated.
It split cleanly into two halves.
Kensei-Ryu lowered the wooden sword.
"I did not cut darkness."
"I cut the idea of continuation."
Renzo's breathing slowed.
The sword god looked at him.
"This is my final inheritance."
"One Thought, One Cut."
A golden window appeared.
Hidden Sword Inheritance
Technique:
One Thought, One Cut
Rank:
Divine
Description:
The sword follows thought before movement.
Cuts concepts before matter.
Severs authority before power.
Renzo's heart pounded.
Kensei-Ryu continued.
"The greatest mistake swordsmen make…"
"…is believing that the sword cuts."
He pointed at Renzo's chest.
"The mind cuts."
"The sword merely follows."
Corvus suddenly appeared before Renzo.
The black blade descended.
Too fast.
Too close.
Kensei-Ryu's voice echoed.
"Do not think about the blade."
"Think about what must be cut."
Renzo closed his eyes.
Everything became silent.
The collapsing forge disappeared.
The darkness disappeared.
Corvus disappeared.
Only one thing remained.
The Authority of Oblivion.
He could feel it.
A vast concept surrounding the battlefield.
Not a weapon.
Not an attack.
A law.
Renzo slowly exhaled.
Then opened his eyes.
Golden flames ignited within them.
He raised Chrono Fang.
No stance.
No power.
No preparation.
Just one thought.
Oblivion can be severed.
Renzo swung.
One slash.
Nothing more.
SHING.
The sound was almost gentle.
The black wave approaching him stopped.
A thin golden line appeared across it.
Silence.
Then—
The Authority of Oblivion split apart.
The darkness shattered.
Golden flames erupted through the opening.
The forge breathed again.
Corvus froze.
Its single crimson eye widened.
For the first time—
The Devourer looked shocked.
"You…"
Renzo slowly lowered Chrono Fang.
Golden light surrounded the blade.
The damaged section had repaired itself.
Kensei-Ryu smiled.
"There."
"You finally understand."
Renzo looked at Corvus.
Then took a single step forward.
The forge echoed behind him.
One thought.
One cut.
The true battle was about to begin.