TSMRG 11

Chapter 11

‘…Did I just move?’

Even though he lost his sight for a moment, Ruin didn’t panic.

One of the fundamental qualities a Shadow must possess was an immovable heart—an unshakable calm, no matter the situation.

‘The smell hasn’t changed. My body feels like it’s floating in the air… nothing’s touching me. Is it only my sight that’s been taken? Or my sense of touch as well?’

Since he lacked information, he focused on grasping the environment as best as he could.

“Ahh.”

‘Hearing is still intact. That means only my vision has been cut off.’

But aside from that, he couldn’t glean much.

‘Magic? A trap? Or maybe soul summoning?’

While considering the possibilities, Ruin tried to piece together what was happening to him.

Then—

‘So you want to take this all the way, huh!’

Along with a low humming sound—

Ding.

Resistance against foreign intrusion successful.
Vision restored.

The moment the system’s voice echoed, Ruin opened his eyes.

He found himself floating alone in an endless pitch-black void.

‘What the hell…?’

Whoosh.

A sound whistled, and black clouds gathered before his eyes.

Soon, they reshaped themselves—

—into a form resembling a human, but larger, far larger, than the ogres that ruled the forest.

‘A giant?’

When the shape fully solidified, the giant opened its eyes.

Glowing blue light surged outward, and its burning red pupils locked onto Ruin.

Ding.

You face the true form of the Tomb’s Ruler, Sword Soul.

‘That’s the Tomb’s Ruler, Sword Soul?’

Ruin tilted his head slightly.

The enormous man with black hair, red eyes, and a body like a mountain spat out a curse.

“So you are his bloodline. Damn bastard child of trash!”

‘What?’

Ruin stayed silent, staring at the sudden hostility.

Then—

Ssshhk.

From his body, a sticky, ominous black aura began seeping out—

—as if trying to resist the Sword Soul that glared at him.

“Hah! Even filth like you dares to struggle until the end? Fine. Let’s see whether you die first or I do.”

The giant’s body exuded black energy.

But unlike Ruin’s murky, tainted aura, Sword Soul’s was pure, deep, and sharp.

“I’ll erase your very existence!”

When the two auras collided—

Szzzz!

Ruin’s black aura began dissolving.

“Urgh!”

Agonizing pain surged through his entire body.

“Kuhaha! Disappear already!”

The Sword Soul’s energy exploded, engulfing Ruin’s body completely.

“Arrgghhh!”

The agony was unbearable.

Ssshhk—sizzle!

The black aura tethered to his body continued to melt away.

“Haahh!”

His vision blurred; he was on the verge of fainting.

“Linehart! Keep your mind sharp! If you lose consciousness, that thing will crawl back inside you!”

“……?!”

The Sword Soul’s voice struck his ears. Ruin bit down on his lip hard.

All his years as a Shadow—
no pain, no torment had ever conquered him.

It was that determination, the will never to lose consciousness, that had once made Subject 1872 a legend.

Ssshhk!

“Kh…!”

The pain intensified, but Ruin endured.

“That’s it. Hold on! You’re doing well!”

Then—

Crackle, burst!

Something ruptured.

“It’s done!”

The Sword Soul shouted in satisfaction.

And then—

“Damn, that hurt like hell.”

The overwhelming torment faded, leaving Ruin limp and drained.

But then, the system’s voice followed.

The Tomb’s Ruler, Sword Soul, has devoured the Sword’s Curse.
The Sword’s Curse is dispelled.

‘…What?’

Ruin quickly pieced things together.

So this so-called Sword Soul had just devoured and nullified the innate curse of the Kaphtalen bloodline—the Sword’s Curse that had been coiled inside him since birth.

It made sense… but one question lingered.

‘Why would he do that?’

Was this simply chance?

“……”

In the long history of the Sword Tomb Ceremony, no one had ever entered while carrying the Sword’s Curse.

Could that really be the reason for this strange encounter?

As his head swirled with questions—

“What are you?”

The Sword Soul finally asked.

“You are his bloodline. So why are you still shackled by that filthy clan’s curse?”

The giant’s probing words drew a calm response from Ruin.

“Who exactly are you talking about?”

“Obviously, Belion. That cursed bastard.”

“……”

The name rang loudly in Ruin’s mind.

Belion.

He knew that name well.

The first patriarch of the Linehart family—
the Sword Emperor Belion, a legend whose feats echoed across the continent for over a millennium.

‘So the Tomb’s Ruler knew Belion?’

The Sword Soul sneered.

“That bastard also suffered greatly from that wretched curse.”

‘What? Belion Linehart… had the Sword’s Curse?’

It was Ruin’s first time hearing such a thing. He masked his surprise.

“But no more. Never again will such filth worm its way into Linehart blood. Not while I exist!”

Boom!

The groundless void shook as the giant stomped once.

The pressure he radiated was overwhelming.

“But you… why are you still…?”

“That’s simple. I was born this way.”

“What?”

“Not everyone inherits only the Linehart bloodline.”

“Then whose blood runs in you?”

Ruin answered without hesitation.

“The Kaphtalen family.”

“Kaphtalen?”

The Sword Soul frowned, unfamiliar with the name.

It was natural. Only the Four Skies had endured a thousand years. Kaphtalen had not.

Then the Sword Soul scoffed.

“To think a child of the great Linehart would fall to that… how pathetic.”

‘Pathetic?’

Normally, Ruin would’ve ignored such provocation.

But not now.

“What did you just say?”

“I said you’re pathetic. Why?”

“……”

Ruin said nothing, just stared.

To him, Linehart and Kaphtalen weren’t about higher or lower standing.

They were his parents’ families. His mother’s. His father’s.

A faint smile curved on his lips.

‘Am I really letting something this trivial shake me?’

But for the first time since reincarnation, his unshakable calm gave way to anger.

He sighed softly, then smiled coldly.

“Then doesn’t that mean the Linehart bloodline isn’t so great after all? If a mere curse could bring it so low, how laughable is that?”

“You…!”

“So are you saying I’m not a Linehart?”

The Sword Soul’s lips twisted, unable to answer.

Ruin bowed his head slightly.

“Regardless, I do thank you for breaking the curse.”

Then he raised his gaze, voice sharp.

“But don’t judge me by my bloodline again. Anyone who insults my mother’s family… I’ll kill them on the spot.”

“…What?”

The giant stared. Then he laughed loudly.

“Hahaha! Kill me? That’s the first time I’ve heard those words since him.”

“…Him?”

“No matter. You’re right. Judging you solely by blood was wrong. I’ll take that back.”

But Ruin shook his head.

“That’s not what you should apologize for.”

“What?”

“You should apologize not to me—but to my mother’s Kaphtalen bloodline, which you called pathetic.”

The Sword Soul’s face froze.

“I…”

“Do I need to repeat myself?”

The boy’s eyes didn’t waver. The giant frowned, conflicted.

Finally, his voice cracked like thunder.

“And if I refuse?”

“This is my inner world, isn’t it?”

“…What?!”

A flicker of unease crossed his face. Ruin smirked.

“You barged into my psyche without permission. Which means—”

Ding.

Heavenly Seamless prepares to erase the intruding presence.

Suddenly, flames erupted, consuming the Sword Soul.

“W-what?!”

“I could erase you right now.”

“W-wait! Calm down! Let’s talk this out!”

The Sword Soul panicked, his tone desperate.

Ruin’s eyes narrowed.

“I’ll ask again. Will you apologize?”

“Fine! I will! The Kaphtalen family is not pathetic. I spoke in ignorance. Forgive me.”

Ssshh.

The flames vanished.

The Sword Soul sighed in relief.

“Damn brat… what ten-year-old talks like this?! You’re insane.”

Expressionless, Ruin simply said:

“Thank you again for lifting the curse.”

“What?”

The Sword Soul waved dismissively.

“Bah. No need. It was my duty to erase filth that invaded my domain.”

It seemed there was some connection between him and the Sword’s Curse. But that could wait.

Ruin asked, “One question. What was your relationship with Belion?”

“Why should I tell you that?”

“If you don’t want to, fine.”

Ruin shrugged.

The Sword Soul tensed.

“You’re not gonna set me on fire again, are you?”

“…Do you really see me as that kind of person?”

“A lunatic, maybe?”

Fwoosh.

“Ahh! I’m joking! Joking!”

The giant flailed as fire sparked.

Ruin frowned inwardly.

‘Just what is this being?’

He couldn’t say for sure, but one thing was clear: this entity had a deep tie to Belion and perhaps to the Linehart family itself.

Then the Sword Soul declared:

“If you have nothing else to say, leave.”

Ruin nodded.

“…Why are you staring? Go already.”

“How do I leave?”

“…What?”

“You brought me here, didn’t you?”

“……”

The giant was speechless.

Meanwhile, Ruin thought:

‘So Belion had the Sword’s Curse… priceless information. That’d fetch a fortune from the guild.’

The Sword Soul suddenly shouted, “This is your psyche! How do you not know the way out?!”

“That may be, but since you dragged me here, you should send me back.”

“You brat… you can ignite flames at will but don’t know how to leave? Just disappear already!”

“Then tell me how. Or should I burn you again?”

“Urrgghhh!”

The Sword Soul screamed and tore at his hair. Finally, he sighed.

“Damn it. You’re exactly like him. Fine. I’ll send you back.”

“Thank you. I don’t have much time, so please—”

“Shut up!”

The Sword Soul turned back into black smoke.

Whooooosh!

The swirling energy wrapped around Ruin.

‘Then disappear already!’

A black light shot toward him.

But—

Ding.

You are currently undergoing the Tomb’s Ruler, Sword Soul’s Trial.
The trial cannot be forcibly terminated.

‘What?!’

The Sword Soul’s startled voice rang.

Summoning failed.

Crack!

The black light shattered.

The Sword Soul reformed, shouting frantically.

“What’s going on?! Why did it fail? Did you do something?!”

“Me? No.”

“Then why?!”

“Well…”

Ruin smirked.

“Maybe because this is a trial? The Sword Tomb’s trial?”

“What? No! This isn’t a trial!”

“Then why can’t I leave?”

The Sword Soul flushed red, roaring, “How should I know?!”

“Then it must be a trial.”

“No, it’s not!”

Ruin shrugged.

“Then just give me a test. If I pass or fail, I’ll leave, right?”

“I don’t test just anyone! Only those with supreme talent in swordsmanship, body, and spirit flawless—”

“Eh?”

Ruin blinked at his words.