“Just judging by how they handle their swords, both are ordinary. But fighting like that while using supernatural powers isn’t easy.”

Every time their blades crossed in the storm of magnolia petals, lights intersected and the flow of petals shifted.

This proved that the opponent wasn’t just reacting with sword swings, but was also controlling their supernatural energy.

While movement-focused abilities like leaps or flight, or auxiliary skills like danger detection, can be used alongside other powers without much difficulty, using offensive supernatural powers simultaneously is hard.

Depending on the type, it can be as difficult as drawing a picture with one hand while writing with the other.

“Every time PlayerZ activates simultaneous trajectories, it’s like that. Some character combinations feel much more complicated.”

Kim Yuri’s Gwangrim and fencing skills were separate supernatural powers.

Yet she handled the two as if they were one.

Only someone very observant or with a high-level insight ability could realize that Kim Yuri was tying these two powers together as one.

It moved me deeply to think that last summer, she couldn’t even handle Gwangrim, but since then, while going to school, she had trained relentlessly.

“Impressive. Kim So-jeo’s Western-style swordsmanship is at the level I remember, but to maintain that while channeling deep internal energy to bloom sword flowers — it’s amazing!”

Jin Jeong-mook, who had seen Kim Yuri fight multiple times in class, praised her.

His meaning was roughly, “Kim Yuri’s fencing skill level is as I expected, but to maintain that while using large supernatural energy through Gwangrim is astonishing.”

By now, the light held by the lightsaber, which once distracted martial artists, had become an element that showed off the dazzling harmony between the two.

When Kim Yuri swung horizontally, magnolia petals bloomed in the saber’s afterimage; when she dodged the rapier’s piercing tip carried on a whirlwind, the petals scattered.

Dressed in a young-leaf-colored outfit, Kim Yuri’s fluttering collar and the repeated blooming and withering of magnolias made it seem as if she was showing the flow of seasons through her sword.

“Kim So-jeo fights as if battling alongside many beings. Is this related to the higher entities she was forcibly bound to?”

Curious to examine this breathtaking duel more closely, Jin Jeong-mook used his insight skill, his eyes filled with supernatural energy.

Being well-versed in swordsmanship and knowing Kim Yuri’s situation, he quickly reached the right conclusion.

“Kim Yuri revealed her circumstances even to the newly enrolled students. Our classmates watching from the stands must have almost figured out the principle behind the power she’s using.”

After returning from the youth training camp, Kim Yuri apologized to the class and explained what burden she carried.

She diligently informed even the new students.

Jin Jeong-mook was no exception.

“Yes. Because the higher entities are connected through Gwangrim and give power, she’s using that.”

“Higher entities... Around me, many martial artists have no ties to higher entities, so their learning is shallow.”

It seemed the martial artists around Jin Jeong-mook had no connections with higher beings.

Belonging to a group openly opposing and rejecting demon gods, even though talented individuals gathered, other higher entities likely couldn’t approach easily.

Still, one of the Nine Sect’s branches, Shaolin, revered Buddhism and Buddha.

Perhaps the ‘enlightened ones’ might take interest in those martial artists.

Assuming Jin Jeong-mook was unfamiliar with higher entities, blessings, and Gwangrim, I explained.

“I heard she is connected through Gwangrim but hasn’t received blessings. Is it possible to handle power at that level? I imagine there are several restrictions.”

Jin Jeong-mook seemed confused, unable to grasp the difference between blessings and Gwangrim.

Though both involve granting power, there’s a big difference.

Blessings are embedding presence by mutual consent.

They can be given by Jin clans or higher beings, and the degree can be adjusted, allowing multiple recipients.

“When blessings are exchanged, you connect through the embedded presence inscribed as a ‘modifier.’ To use an analogy, it’s like exchanging information and power via a dedicated device called a modifier. The larger the inscribed presence, the better the device performs, enabling longer and more detailed communication and stronger power.”

For example, the Dragon King God exchanged blessings with several dragons and key Red Lion team members with the modifier “My fire will never burn you.”

Their flames don’t burn themselves or each other; no real power is given beyond that, no real-time thought sharing, and no unconditional communication.

Though the Dragon King is a powerful higher entity, sharing presence with many means his power is divided.

By contrast, the White Tiger, who gave me blessings through true name, used the most powerful method available to the Jin clans to embed presence, creating such a strong connection that hiding true intentions became impossible.

That allowed interference and influence enough to deal with nightmares lurking in others’ dreams.

“Now that I think about it, I haven’t confirmed what modifier was used to exchange blessings. But the me in dreams probably knows.”

Gwangrim, however, was completely different.

It’s easier to understand if you think of Gwangrim as a unique power existing only once in the world.

First, no matter how powerful a Jin in this world is, they can’t give power to others through Gwangrim.

If possible, the Dragon Lord wouldn’t have had such trouble ascending and trying to give Kim Shin-rok power via Gwangrim.

Only higher beings in the divine realm can grant power through Gwangrim.

Also, unlike blessings, only one person can be connected via Gwangrim.

“Gwangrim is like a higher entity in the divine realm placing their hand on a single chosen being’s back. Unlike blessings, where communication is like a device, you can’t freely communicate here, but you can sense feelings from hand tremors or temperature and receive power through the touch.”

Because only one person can receive Gwangrim’s power, usually the favored one is also connected via blessings.

For example, Yoo Sang-hee is connected to Akea through Gwangrim and has received blessings.

While only one Gwangrim can be ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) given, if the recipient’s capacity is large, they can be connected to multiple higher beings through Gwangrim.

Teacher Ham Geun-hyung, connected to four higher beings, is an example.

“But unlike Teacher Ham Geun-hyung, who received blessings from those four, Kim Yuri refused blessings despite forcibly receiving power.”

As a result, Kim Yuri can’t properly communicate with the higher beings who gave her power, but enormous power flows through Gwangrim.

After hearing my explanation, Jin Jeong-mook’s expression turned to one of shock.

“So Kim So-jeo has had to bear that power alone?”

As Jin Jeong-mook said, Kim Yuri had to bear such a terrible power that it was difficult to control her body with supernatural energy.

Using my metaphor, many hands were forcibly pouring power into Kim Yuri’s back.

But one thing was wrong with Jin Jeong-mook’s explanation.

“She hasn’t borne it alone.”

Since that summer, Kim Yuri hasn’t borne that power alone.

Her master Jookho was there, Hwang Ji-ho who suppressed the power with barriers was there, and I was there too.

The results were now showing clearly.

“The output of the wind technique has increased.”

Just then, Lev Tretiak took a decisive move.

He must have realized the longer the duel went, the more favorable it was for Kim Yuri.

Kim Yuri’s total supernatural energy volume and control—handling the power of many higher entities—was already above most pro players.

If it came down to stamina, things would get complicated, but Lev Tretiak was a swordsman using a combined style of wind techniques and swordsmanship similar to Kim Yuri, so that strategy wouldn’t work.

As heavy supernatural energy gathered on his rapier, it became sharper and more powerful, as if the blade itself was charged.

At that level, Kim Yuri’s magnolia petals and even skin would be easily torn.

Noticing this, Kim Yuri drew her sword long, summoned a wall of petals, and quickly retreated.

She then adjusted her grip, sliced through the petals, and stared at the wind pouring toward her.

“Kim Yuri is raising the output of her Gwangrim. She’ll summon petals of another color.”

Kim Yuri’s Gwangrim, “Layered Magnolia.”

A single magnolia flower has multiple layers of petals of the same color, and Kim Yuri’s magnolia petals held many hues in each layer.

Only two had appeared in Plumago.

During the youth camp, the white magnolia that called forth the raging sea madness. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

On Christmas Eve, the red magnolia forcibly activated by the butterfly spirit, which attacked the target directly and wouldn’t stop until death.

Normally, a magnolia has six or more petals.

“...The color of the petals has changed!”

Among the still-present red magnolia petals, new petals summoned by Kim Yuri appeared.

They weren’t the normal magnolia color.

Their color was that of the sea.

If it were the old Kim Yuri, she would never have summoned these—proof of the power given by the higher entities.

Kwahhhh!

When the sea-colored petals touched the blade wind, the air changed color as if seawater was sprayed in the empty air.

No, in an instant, that seawater gained substance.

There was no sea, lake, river, or pond nearby, yet suddenly the opponent was submerged in seawater.

Shwiik!

Taking advantage of the momentary lull in the strong wind, Kim Yuri closed the distance and placed the lightsaber’s blade right in front of her opponent’s neck.

The seawater called by the magnolia petals vanished, leaving only the thoroughly soaked opponent.

The outcome was already clearly decided.

Before the referee declared the duel’s suspension, the opponent lowered his rapier and accepted defeat.

“The winner of this duel is Kim Yuri!”

Oooh!

As Kim Yuri’s name was called, the crowd around the duel stage erupted in cheers.

Kim Yuri’s forehead, drenched with sweat, showed rapid breathing, but there was no sign of her supernatural energy spiraling out of control.

After greeting Jookho, who was applauding enthusiastically, and the classmates who stood and cheered, she looked toward where we stood.

Kim Yuri smiled brightly and waved at me as if to thank me.