Leon gave the greatsword a casual swing.

Whoooosh!

The massive blade sliced through the air, creating a powerful gust that surged past it.

He swung it a few more times.

With every swing, a strange sense of nostalgia welled up within his heart, as though the weapon had always belonged in his hands.

But just as he was savoring the feeling...

He suddenly noticed a figure standing in the distance.

The figure had crimson-red skin, with long black hair billowing behind him. Two sharp horns protruded from his forehead.

It was the very same figure who had been silently observing Leon’s trial all this time.

"Demon..." Leon whispered. Without the slightest hesitation, he assumed a fighting stance. A dense indigo aura instantly erupted from his body, enveloping both him and the greatsword.

"Die!" Leon roared as he shot toward the red-skinned figure.

But just as he was about to reach him and swing the greatsword...

Thud!

The figure suddenly dropped to one knee. "This servant greets the Master."

Leon came to an abrupt halt. The moment he heard that voice... His eyes widened.

It was the same majestic voice that had been guiding him throughout the entire trial.

"You?" Leon asked in surprise. "Were you the one who is organizing all these trials?"

"Yes, Master."

"Master?" Leon narrowed his eyes. ’So he’s connected to my previous life as well... But why is he a demon of all things?’

An idea suddenly flashed through Leon’s mind.

"It’s good to see you again after so many years," Leon said, deliberately putting a hint of emotion into his voice.

"Yes, Master." The demon slowly raised his head, his eyes filled with excitement. "I cannot express how happy I am to see you again after so many years. When you ordered me to arrange this trial, I thought someone else would inherit your sword. But you were actually planning to pass it down to your own reincarnation. As expected of you, Master."

Leon nodded calmly. "Yes. I had to prepare for something far more dangerous." He paused before continuing. "But the passage of time has caused me to forget many of my memories. Can you help me remember everything from my past?"

"Of course, Master," the red-skinned figure replied with a respectful nod. "I witnessed your growth from the time you were just a child until the day you left me here to guard the pill you discovered by sheer luck. At the time, I couldn’t understand why you were willing to leave behind such an unimaginable treasure. But who could’ve guessed...

that this had been your plan all along.

Hahahahaha!"

The demon burst into hearty laughter. After a while, his expression gradually turned serious again.

"But before I help you recover your memories, you must answer one question, Master.

What is my name?"

Leon fell silent. ’Ahh. I should have guessed it. My past self planned this as well. What a twisted arrangement...’ Leon sighed inwardly.

"Forget it." He waved the matter aside. "Do I still have to complete the remaining trials?"

Seeing that Leon had changed the subject, the red-skinned figure didn’t pursue it further.

"Although you’ve already obtained one of the rewards, you must still complete the entire trial to receive the final reward, Master."

He lowered his head apologetically. "I’m truly sorry... I’m only carrying out the orders you left behind."

"How much time do I have before the next phase begins?"

"One hour, Master."

"Good." Leon nodded. He walked some distance away before stopping. He took a deep breath. Then assumed the stance of the Third Form.

His body became completely still. Only his breathing echoed through the air. Leon slowly drew his arm back like a fully coiled spring. His entire focus gathered at the tip of the blade.

The surrounding air began flowing toward the sword. A translucent golden circle gradually materialized before its tip.

Leon could clearly feel it.

For the first time... He wasn’t forcing the technique. He was understanding it.

The bloodline wasn’t merely increasing his comprehension. It was allowing him to see the essence hidden within the technique itself.

Every flaw.

Every mistake.

Every tiny detail he had overlooked countless times.

Everything became crystal clear.

Then...

Booooom!

Leon thrust the Demon Sword forward.

A terrifying blast of compressed air erupted from the sword like a cannon. The attack shot across the area, tearing the air apart with a deafening roar.

The violent shockwave alone shook the entire volcano.

"I..." Leon’s face brightened up. "I actually did it..."

Ding!

[Congratulations, Host.]

[You have mastered the Third Form of Sword Art Breathing.]

[Third Form: Destructive Thrust.]

A smile finally appeared on Leon’s face. "The bloodline... It’s fascinating."

Without waiting another moment, he repeated the stance.

Booooooooom!

Another devastating blast of compressed air erupted from the Demon Sword.

Its destructive power was even greater than before. Leon had witnessed Logan use this technique. But witnessing it and wielding it himself...

Were two completely different experiences.

Only now did he truly understand why Logan had been able to obliterate the orc with a single strike.

Leon slowly lowered the sword before looking toward the red-skinned figure.

"Can we begin the next phase now?"

"Of course, Master."

The demon snapped his fingers.

Snap!

A massive barrier instantly surrounded Leon.

Unlike the previous one... This barrier was much longer. Much thicker. And infinitely sturdier.

’Even with the Second Form... I won’t be able to break this.’ He reached out and placed his palm against its surface. ’What kind of material is this...?’

Just then...

The ground on the opposite end of the barrier rumbled violently. A gigantic boulder slowly emerged from the floor. It was so enormous that it completely filled the width of the barrier.

The next moment...

It began rolling toward Leon.

Its speed increased with every passing second.

Rumble!

Rumble!

The entire barrier shook violently beneath its weight.

Leon narrowed his eyes. The boulder itself wasn’t as durable as the barrier. But it didn’t need to be. Because it was moving.

So Leon had no scope to use the Second Form.

And ordinary slashes would never generate enough penetrating power to destroy something that massive before it crushed him.

He slowly raised the Demon Sword. Then drew his arm back. The surrounding air surged wildly toward the tip of the blade. A brilliant golden circle appeared once again.

The tremendous pressure distorted the air around it. The entire barrier trembled as if it could no longer withstand the power gathering within that single point.

Leon slowly exhaled.

"Third Form... Destructive Thrust."

The instant those words left his mouth... He thrust the sword forward with every ounce of strength in his body.

A terrifying pillar of compressed air erupted forward with unstoppable force. The attack smashed head-on into the gigantic boulder.

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!

The huge boulder shattered into millions of fragments that scattered throughout the barrier like shattered glass.

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