11.The Sword of Celestial Flames

As their journey continued, Lee Do-Hyun began to hear whispers of a legendary blade—one said to be infused with the fury of celestial flames. The stories were too vivid, too specific, to be dismissed as mere folklore.

According to the Pyo-Sa (鏢師), the Sword of Celestial Flames was a weapon of unparalleled power. Even the most skilled masters of swordsmanship struggled to wield its immense strength. Those who failed to control its raging fire risked being consumed by the very flames they sought to command.

"There are countless tales of its origin," one of the guards murmured with fascination.

"But the most famous story claims its creator sacrificed their own life, fusing their very soul into the blade to harness the essence of fire itself."

Another Pyo-Sa set down his cup, voice low with reverence.

"They say the sword was sealed away for centuries… But now, rumors speak of someone attempting to break that ancient seal."

A third leaned closer, voice tinged with dread.

"If those rumors are true, whoever wields that sword could dominate the entire Martial World. But… can anyone truly control such power?"

The story stirred something deep within Do-Hyun. He couldn't help but draw a connection to Igo's Sword—the blade that had chosen him.

"A sealed sword… an uncontrollable power… and fire."

"Could it be? Could Igo's Sword and this legendary blade be connected?"

Their next destination was a village nestled at the foot of the very mountain where the sword was rumored to be hidden. As the convoy prepared to rest, Han Kang-Hyun, the Pyo-Guk escort chief, gathered his men.

"We'll stop at the village and nothing more. Beyond that point lies dangerous ground. We don't involve ourselves with sealed swords or ancient legends. It's just a rumor—nothing more."

Yet, Do-Hyun noticed the subtle tension in the chief's voice.

"If it were truly just a rumor, he wouldn't be this cautious."

That night, as the wind whispered through the trees, Do-Hyun sat alone, gripping Igo's Sword tightly. The blade, usually cold and indifferent, now radiated a faint warmth—as if reacting to the legend of the Celestial Flames.

"You… do you have something to do with that sword?"

A low, ethereal voice echoed from within the blade.

"The Celestial Flames… they are like me, but not the same."

Do-Hyun's eyes narrowed.

"What do you mean? Are you connected to that sword?"

The voice remained steady, yet cryptic.

"That blade was forged from pure fire. But I am more than just flames. I embody choice—the will to forge your own path."

Before Do-Hyun could ask more, the voice faded into silence, leaving only questions behind. But the connection was undeniable.

"Choice… and fire. There's a link here. There has to be."

With his duties to the Pyo-Guk complete, his mind was made up.

"I must go. If I want to understand the true nature of this sword—my sword—I need to uncover the secret of the Sword of Celestial Flames."

Strapping the blade to his back, Do-Hyun prepared to venture beyond the safety of the village, into the heart of the unknown. His journey into the depths of the Martial World was far from over—this was only the beginning of a greater destiny.

****************

The Reunion of Two Swords

Upon reaching the rumored location, Lee Do-Hyun immediately felt the oppressive weight of an ominous energy thickening the air. The cave, where the Sword of Celestial Flames was said to have been sealed for centuries, was untouched by time—but its influence had already twisted the surrounding environment. The very air seemed to shimmer with tension, heavy with forgotten power.

The moment he stepped inside, Igo's Sword trembled violently in his grip. This wasn't an act of defiance—it was instinctual, as if the blade was responding to a long-lost presence.

"You were waiting for this, weren't you?"

A familiar voice echoed from deep within the sword.

"We were once one. The time has come… Reunite us. Enter."

Do-Hyun pressed deeper into the cave's heart. And then he saw it—the Sword of Celestial Flames, resting solemnly atop a stone altar. A pulsating red aura surrounded it, the glow rhythmic, like the steady breath of a sleeping beast. Scattered around the altar lay the remains of those who had tried and failed to claim it.

Suddenly, Igo's Sword surged with dark energy, radiating a sinister glow that clashed against the flames surrounding its counterpart. In response, the Sword of Celestial Flames erupted in a brilliant blaze, their powers colliding in a violent, chaotic storm of raw energy.

"Finally… I will return."

A spectral voice materialized in the thick of the energy storm, coalescing into a shadowy figure—its form incomplete, yet undeniably powerful.

"Lee Do-Hyun… you are nothing but a vessel. Merge the swords, and open my path. Free me from this prison."

Do-Hyun's eyes narrowed.

"Who are you? Why are you trying to use me?"

The specter's voice dripped with cold amusement.

"Names are meaningless here. What matters is that you complete this ritual. Merge the swords—fulfill your role."

As the two swords drew closer, the Sword of Celestial Flames fought back, erupting in furious defiance, its energy twisting and recoiling. Yet Igo's Sword exerted greater force, pulling the resisting flames toward itself with relentless determination.

Then, from within the Sword of Celestial Flames, a second voice arose—clear, powerful, and burning with defiance.

"I will not be consumed. My existence ends here. You will not continue this vile journey."

With one final surge of raw power, the blade resisted the specter's will, flames flaring brightly. Yet, despite its defiance, the resistance shattered under the immense pull of Igo's Sword. The two blades fused together in a violent convergence of heat and shadow.

Do-Hyun struggled to remain conscious as overwhelming energy coursed through his body. The newly merged blade hovered before him, now ablaze with searing fire and dark energy—an unstable force of unimaginable potential.

The specter's voice deepened, now laced with triumph.

"The flame resisted… but I am stronger now. You cannot stop what's coming. My return is inevitable."

Do-Hyun clenched his teeth, his hand gripping the hilt tightly.

"You underestimate me. As long as I wield this sword, I decide who controls whom."

The blade trembled violently in his grasp, its unstable energy threatening to overwhelm him. The fusion had granted him immense power, but it had also destabilized the delicate balance of his control. If Do-Hyun failed to master it, he wouldn't just lose the sword—he would lose himself.

The specter's form began to dissolve into the shadows of the cave, but its voice remained sharp and resolute.

"The swords are now one. My return is only a matter of time. You cannot hold me back forever. Do you truly believe you can resist the will of destiny?"

Do-Hyun's gaze burned with newfound determination.

"You're wrong. This is my journey—my choice. I'll end this on my terms."

As the flames around Igo's Sword intensified, so did Do-Hyun's resolve. The power was his to command—but mastery would demand more than sheer will. He would need discipline, focus, and an unbreakable spirit.

Strapping the blade onto his back, he exhaled slowly.

"This fusion has given me strength… but at what cost?"

As he turned away from the altar, the weight of the blade now heavier than ever before, Do-Hyun knew his journey was far from over. The true battle had only just begun.