Subaru Natsuki, who returned from the new Three Kingdoms

After several days of continuous fighting, Natsuki Subaru still couldn't reach the level of the Hatred Heaven Sword, and didn't even touch the hem of his opponent's clothes once.

Once again, Red's sword in the stone pierced diagonally from the side.

Natsuki Subaru saw the change in the sword tip and also saw the direction of Red's wrist rotation. The Heavenly Sword had already been thrust forward with all its strength.

By the time he tried to change his sword path, his arm had already been held back by that deadly force, and he could only watch helplessly as the sword in the stone passed through the gap and stopped in front of his throat.

Red didn't stab him; he just grinned and patted his face with the blade of his sword.

This finally allowed Subaru Natsuki to find the problem, just as Red had initially told him...

His swordplay is too rigid...

He wasn't a swordsman of any skill...

Subaru Natsuki knew this from the very beginning.

He was merely mechanically learning from the old man in the prison; the power of all his sword techniques so far had come from the trials of countless lives.

He could only imitate moves, but he couldn't neutralize or change moves like a true swordsmanship genius.

It might be okay against ordinary enemies, but against truly top-tier swordsmen...

He's far from good enough.

If Red simply changes the angle of his attack slightly, even if Subaru Natsuki sees the change clearly, his sword will be held back by the original move, and he won't have time to change accordingly.

Aside from divine intervention, this is probably one of the reasons why he has been unable to reach the level of the Hateful Heaven Sword for so long.

Through repeated failures, Natsuki Subaru finally saw his own limitations.

He lacked sufficient swordsmanship talent to change his sword path at will during combat like Red.

Once the Hate Heaven Sword Technique is unleashed, it carries the full force of the body toward death.

Even if he has already seen the change in the other party, the sword in his hand will be dragged along its original trajectory, missing the opportunity to adjust.

However, this was no problem for Subaru Natsuki.

His lack of swordsmanship talent doesn't mean he's not smart.

Subaru quickly came up with a solution.

Since I can't come up with any clever counter-moves, I'll just memorize more sword techniques.

Expand your "database".

Memorize the starting moves, power exertion, turning points, and finishing stances of different sword techniques, and then, in actual combat, use these established sword techniques to create a strike that suits the situation.

One person's inspiration may be limited, but the accumulated skills are endless!

To advance the final step of the Hate Heaven Sword Technique, he must transform more sword techniques that have reached their pinnacle into his own sword path and learn to adapt to changing circumstances in battle.

So when the next confrontation with Red began, Subaru Natsuki stopped his relentless offensive approach.

He stared intently at the sword in Red's hand, his gaze following the blade down to the wrist and shoulder, and then sweeping over Red's waist, hips, and feet as the two passed each other.

He memorized everything about how Red exerted his power, how he deflected his sword during the stroke, and how he used his footing to connect with the next move, and then forcefully incorporated it into his own sword techniques.

Subaru Natsuki begins to imitate Red.

At first, Red grinned and watched him fuss.

When Natsuki Subaru first managed to imitate his technique somewhat, and suddenly twisted his wrist before the swords clashed, his sky-blue eyes finally darkened, but his toothy smile remained arrogantly infuriating.

clang!

Red deflected the Holy Sword with a single sword strike, then hoisted the Sword in the Stone back onto his shoulder, refusing to make another move.

"Alright, I've had enough! You come every day, every single day, like dog poop on the street that you can't shake off. Don't you get tired of this? It's so annoying."

"Young coffee, you pass!"

"Get up there! If you dare bother me again, I'll gouge your eyes out!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Red snapped his fingers.

The grassland behind him split open, and a white spiral staircase slowly emerged from the void. The iron bars that made up the staircase were so thin they were almost fragile, spiraling upwards step by step until they disappeared into the blue sky above.

Red himself sat down on the spot without any hesitation, supporting himself with his hands and looking up at the sky.

Natsuki Subaru realized that Red had no intention of continuing the fight.

He had no choice but to sheathe the Sacred Sword, and his gaze toward Red was filled with a touch of regret.

Unexpectedly, this hero is so stingy—more like Guan Yu.

However, it is only natural for ordinary people not to let outsiders learn their swordsmanship.

Besides, there's more than just Red's sword technique in this world.

For him, figuring out how to take the Hatred Heaven Sword to the next step was already a great achievement!

Natsuki Subaru didn't press the matter further and turned to step onto the slender white iron staircase.

After taking a few steps, he subconsciously looked down at his wrist again.

The changes he had stolen from Lei over the past few days remained in his mind, but Natsuki Subaru vaguely sensed that they could not help the Hatred Heaven Sword Technique take the next step.

Red's strength stemmed from himself.

When the sword is in his hands, he can naturally do whatever he wants and change with the situation; but if Subaru Natsuki were to copy those movements, he would only learn a superficial shell.

To truly master the Heaven-Hate Sword, he cannot simply learn the swordsmanship of a master swordsman; he needs a powerful sword technique that can rival the Heaven-Hate Sword.

When this thought came to mind, Subaru Natsuki paused in his steps.

The moonlight of that night in Xuchang suddenly entered my mind.

That night, he stood guard outside Liu Bei's courtyard gate.

After having a few drinks, Liu Bei stood alone in the courtyard, his two swords reflecting the moonlight. He moved slowly and gracefully, seemingly without a trace of hatred, yet the entire courtyard fell silent.

The Sword of Benevolence...

Sword of Righteousness...

Chapter 111: 106. The Great Sage and Subaru? Aren't they the same person?

Natsuki Subaru almost learned the Sword of Benevolence and the Sword of Righteousness.

Unfortunately, he couldn't resist Yuan Shao's kindness and didn't return to Liu Bei's side.

Although Natsuki Subaru did not regret joining Yuan Shao's side.

But this does not mean that Subaru Natsuki does not feel guilty towards Liu Bei.

Thinking about it carefully, he had been by Liu Bei's side for several years, but he had never truly understood this famous Emperor Zhaolie of Han.

Ironically, even though the two had separated, Natsuki Subaru gradually found himself beginning to understand what Liu Bei, with his perpetually somber expression and seemingly unresponsive demeanor, was truly thinking...

Even without realizing it, his behavior became more and more like Liu Bei's.

What is regret?

The regret is that when we were together, I didn't realize that we got along well.

I only realized it after we broke up...

I'm becoming more and more like him...

Natsuki Subaru sighed.

I wonder if, if I were to die again and return to the Three Kingdoms period, I would have the chance to meet Liu Bei again.

However, he had already surrendered to Yuan Shao first, and then to Cao Cao, becoming a de facto slave to three masters.

Even if he were to meet Liu Bei, he would probably just be pierced through the face by a flying sword...

"You stop so many times while climbing stairs? Have you forgotten how to even step?" Red's arrogant voice rang out.

Natsuki Subaru sighed, composed himself, and continued walking up the stairs.

So far, the first two trials of the Sage's Tower can be completed by one person, which shows that the Great Sage does not intend to test leadership qualities or teamwork.

Therefore, Subaru Natsuki did not invite Capella and the others to this stage.

He went down the thin iron stairs to the next floor all by himself.

Things shouldn't happen more than three times!

Next should be the final trial.

Natsuki Subaru quickly reached the end of the stairs.

An open-air platform came into his view.

The wind blows in your face from above, and you can see the surrounding sea of ​​flowers, sand dunes, and sandstorms all at once.

Natsuki Subaru raised his hand to block, but his attention was immediately drawn to the enormous object on the other side of the platform.

It was a giant dragon whose entire body was covered in dark blue scales.

It lay quietly on the platform, its folded wings still resembling two high walls, its size several times larger than Capella after its dragon transformation.

A halo, sacred and angelic-like, hung above its head, radiating a faint glow.

The only thing that felt off was his eyes.

Those were lifeless eyes, even more rigid than Capela's in the dream, staring blankly ahead.

“I follow the ancient covenant to inform you of your will.”

“I follow the ancient covenant to inform you of your will.”

The sluggish dragon shell repeated the same sentence over and over again, completely disregarding the rule of "no more than three times".

What a cool dragon!

Natsuki Subaru paid no attention to the abnormality of the creature in front of him, nor did he care what the creature was saying.

His gaze kept sweeping over the massive blue dragon's body!

Such a majestic physique is truly the mark of an emperor!

In comparison, Capela is practically a lizard!

Subaru Natsuki's breathing quickened suddenly, if it weren't for the fact that he and Capela had now reached a state of oneness, inseparable.

He would probably inevitably have the thought of abandoning that unruly mare and instead taming this silly dragon in front of him.

Unfortunately, it's too late now.

To abandon one's mount after initially being infatuated with it is hardly the act of a hero.

Moreover, Capela—

She's kind.

I remember how Capella would often lick his ears and cheeks affectionately.

Natsuki Subaru felt like he was almost completely melted by the cuteness of the pets.

Subaru Natsuki refocused his attention on the current trial, abandoning his greedy thoughts.

He first looked around to observe the situation on the platform, while pondering the meaning of this final trial.

On the platform at the top of the tower.

Seven stone columns in the style of ancient Rome stand in front of the dragon, with six smaller columns forming a circle to protect the tallest and thickest column in the center.

As soon as Subaru Natsuki took a few steps toward the central pillar, the dragon Polkenica, which had been lying motionless, suddenly raised its head.

The gale gathered in front of the dragon's mouth.

The next moment, a dragon's breath powerful enough to overturn the entire platform pressed down on them.

Fortunately, it's still dark!

Natsuki Subaru decisively stepped into the [Starry Night].

The silver-white dragon flapped its wings, its claws, breath, and wind blades sealing off the area around the stone pillar.

Natsuki Subaru's figure flickered continuously amidst the storm of attacks, each appearance allowing him to bypass the previous attack.

He stepped over the dragon's claws, used the momentum to leap onto the stone pillar, and in the blink of an eye, he left all the attacks behind, climbing all the way to the top of the central giant pillar.

That's it? That's way too easy!