Sentient Sword

"It was unreasonable… and potentially unsafe for me," Taegyun muttered under his breath, still feeling the soreness stabbing at every muscle in his trembling limbs.

He was currently lying in his bed, back in his bedroom.

His face twisted in irritation as he wiped the sweat clinging to his brow.

This morning, right after he woke up, the so-called Void System had greeted him not with a warm welcome or some beginner's guide–but with a brutal order. A quest. A daily one.

500 Push-Ups

500 Sit-Ups

500 Squats

20 km Run

— All in one single session.

"At first, I thought it was a joke," Taegyun scoffed to himself, "I mean, who the fuck makes you do that before breakfast?"

He had simply dismissed the panel and decided to ignore it, hoping it would vanish on its own. But then, another screen popped up. A much darker one.

And what it said nearly made his heart stop.

_____________

[Penalty Warning: Failure to Complete Daily Quest Will Result in Punishment]

Immersive Agony Simulation:

Submersion in a "Cauldron of Boiling Oil"

Duration: 10 hours

Effect: Full-body pain equivalent to death-level agony

Note: Physical death will not occur. Pain memory will persist.

_____________

"Yeah, anyone would shit themselves after reading that," he muttered, rubbing his aching shoulder.

Taegyun had never been to the gym. Never played sports. Never even jogged unless forced to during school.

He wasn't fat or unhealthy, but his body was the exact opposite of what one would call "fit."

Petite. Thin. A little too lanky. Skinny arms. Not a single visible muscle.

Sure, his face was decently attractive—average handsomeness, a neat jawline, and decent skin. But that was about it. He looked more like a top-scoring literature student than someone who could run 20 km and survive.

And yet, the system expected him to perform like an elite athlete straight out of a military camp.

"Five hundred push-ups, five hundred sit-ups, five hundred squats, and a goddamn marathon?" he groaned and clenched his teeth. "Even adults with proper training would collapse halfway."

His legs still twitched from exhaustion. His back ached as if he'd been whipped.

"Hell, even gym freaks would need breaks doing this volume."

He tried to stretch but winced, feeling the raw sting of overworked muscles.

If he had known what was waiting on the other side of that "failure," he might've passed out on purpose before even trying. And yet, he did it. Somehow.

Of course, for someone as untrained as him, that level of extreme workload was a red flag from the start.

Muscle tearing. Severe Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness. Joint strain. Dehydration. He wasn't just at risk of exhaustion—he was on the verge of total system collapse.

And all that pain... for what?

"Well... I didn't get boiled in oil," Taegyun muttered with a bitter grin. "So I guess that's something."

He exhaled slowly, body aching in every fiber, heart still pounding from earlier.

"But if this is what daily quests are like…"

He paused and gulped.

"…I'm fucked."

As if on cue, a soft chime rang in his ears, and a familiar translucent screen slid into view.

[You've completed Daily Quest: Preparations for the Path of Ascension]

[Completion Rewards have arrived.]

[Would you like to receive the rewards?]

[Y/N]

Taegyun blinked. "Oh? I can get rewards too?"

His tired eyes lit up slightly.

"Of course, I can," he nodded to himself. "It was a quest, after all."

Just moments ago, he was ready to curse the Void System to oblivion. But now, those sharp feelings dulled. The thought of actual rewards softened his irritation—for now.

'Let's see what this system really offers…'

Without hesitation, he replied aloud.

"Yes."

The panel changed instantly.

_____________

[The following rewards are available:]

Reward 1: Full Recovery of Current Physical Condition

Reward 2: Lucky Random Box (1)

_____________

His entire body still trembled from the earlier madness, but a faint hope surged in his chest.

Full recovery? Please let it be literal.

The moment he selected the reward, a small glass vial with swirling blue liquid shimmered into existence mid-air. It floated gently in front of him, spinning slowly, suspended by some invisible force.

His brows furrowed as he reached out and plucked the container from the air.

"Where the hell are these things even coming from…?" he muttered, eyeing the glowing vial suspiciously.

Still, curiosity—and desperation—won.

"Anyway, let's see if this 'full recovery' potion is worth the hype."

Without hesitation, he uncorked the vial and downed its contents. The liquid slipped down his throat smoothly, cold as frost, yet oddly comforting.

He gasped softly.

Within seconds, he could feel it—tightness in his muscles loosening, the cramps melting like butter in heat, the pounding in his chest slowing into a steady rhythm. Even the subtle aches he did not realize he had—his calves, his spine, the dull throb in his lower back—all disappeared like morning fog under the rising sun.

"…Huh?"

He blinked again.

He flexed his fingers. Stretched his arms. Rolled his shoulders.

No pain.

No soreness.

Not even a hint of stiffness.

It was as if all the hellish push-ups, sit-ups, squats, and that damned twenty-kilometer run had never happened.

Taegyun raised both hands to his face and stared at his palms for a moment, before a grin slowly formed—wide, unbelieving, triumphant. His eyes trembled faintly with disbelief.

"This… this is real?"

He chuckled under his breath.

The Void System might have been psychotic, sure—but this?

This healing was nothing short of divine.

Maybe the punishment was monstrous, but the reward… the reward was otherworldly.

Then his gaze flicked to the floating screen again.

"Now then…" he muttered, smirking as he focused on the second reward.

"…what exactly is a Lucky Random Box?"

The moment he confirmed the second reward, a soundless pulse rippled through the air—and with a soft shimmer, a pitch-black box materialized in front of him, hovering just above the floor.

It was unlike anything Taegyun had ever seen. Its surface was smooth, flawless, almost liquid-like, without a single seam or marking—just pure obsidian darkness, silent and still, yet pulsing faintly with something… alive.

Taegyun blinked. "That's one ominous-looking box."

He reached out, cautiously, his fingers brushing the strange surface.

The moment contact was made, the box began to spin—wildly, rapidly—like a roulette wheel gone mad. It twirled faster and faster, humming with unnatural speed until it came to a sudden halt with a sharp, mechanical click.

The lid slid open with a low metallic hiss.

At first, there was only void—pitch black nothingness swirling inside the box like a vortex. Then, slowly, something began to rise from the darkness. A blade.

First came the hilt—wrapped in intricate red and black threads, interwoven like a lover's embrace, elegant and brutal in equal measure. The wrapping shimmered under the dim light, almost pulsating with warmth.

Then the blade followed.

It emerged slowly, steadily, rising as if being offered by unseen hands. Unlike a Western straight sword, the blade curved gently—its slender, single-edged arc unmistakably that of a katana.

Sleek.

Deadly.

Exquisite.

The metal was deep matte black, as if it devoured light rather than reflected it. It did not glint or shine—it drank.

Taegyun stared, his lips parting in awe. "...A katana?"

He reached forward, almost reverently, and grasped the weapon.

It felt right.

Not just in weight or balance—but in presence. It was not light, not heavy—it simply belonged in his hand, like it had always been waiting for him.

He gave it a slow swing.

The air sliced cleanly with a whispering hiss, almost inaudible, but sharp enough to leave goosebumps on his skin.

"Holy shit…" he muttered. "It feels alive."

And then the screen lit up again, displaying new lines that scrolled before his eyes like whispers of destiny being revealed.

_____________

[Ourovelle of Thirazel]

Rank: Transcendent

Type: Sentient Sword

Origin: Forgotten World of Thirazel

She was once a woman — no, a force — named Ourovelle, and for a thousand years, none could stand against her. Neither dragons, kings, nor even other Transcendents could match her might. She climbed the ladder of power alone, stood at the summit of Thirazel, and looked down upon all creation… utterly undefeated.

Yet in all her victories, she could not conquer one final enemy: loneliness.

She longed not for strength, nor beauty, nor glory. She sought only a man who could love her — truly, purely, without fear, ambition, or demand.

She did not ask for a tall or strong man. She did not care for beauty, wealth, or power. She wished for nothing more than someone who could love her — truly and wholeheartedly — without fear, without conditions, and without being blinded by her strength. Whether weak or powerful, broken or whole, all she desired was someone who could hold her soul with warmth and sincerity.

But none came.

The world feared her too greatly. Her mere presence crushed courage. Even her softest sigh turned mountains to dust. And so she sealed herself — not in a tomb, but in a blade — hoping that one day, someone would be brave enough to lift her... and love her.

Now, she sleeps within this sword — her will intact, her soul intact, and her heart still waiting. If one were to share with her a love that is sincere and unconditional, the seal shall break, and she shall return to her living form once more. Not as a memory or illusion, but as she truly was. Even then, she will retain the power to become the sword again at will — not just as a weapon, but as a companion, a protector, and a woman reborn through love.

[Soul-Bound]

The weapon is bound to your soul. It can be stored in and summoned from your Soul Sea at will.

Weapon Ability – [Absolute Rule]

Grants the wielder overwhelming suppression over enemies of lower rank than the wielder. Fear is instilled in all who meet your gaze while the blade is unsheathed.

_____________

"It's real… so there's someone actually sleeping inside this sword?"

Taegyun slowly raised the blade to eye level, gazing at its obsidian curve. A faint, eerie chill slid down his spine—subtle, but sharp enough to make his fingers twitch.

"Damn… never in my life did I think I'd get scared just holding a sword."

His gaze flicked toward the glowing screen still hovering beside him.

"Ourovelle…" he muttered. "Of Thirazel… So there are other habitable worlds out there. And what the hell is a Transcendent rank? Don't tell me there are levels even beyond Awakened...?"

He clicked his tongue and frowned, shaking his head in disbelief. "Does that mean Awakened ones in our world are just weak-ass fodder compared to them?"

The weight of realization made him sit back on the bed with a thump. "Since last night, my entire worldview has been shattering into pieces…"

He exhaled slowly.

"All the fiction we used to read... monsters, portals, dungeons, mana… and now this?"

A grin formed on his lips, bitter and amused at the same time.

"But here we are."

He raised his eyes again to the description on the screen, then lowered them to the blade resting across his lap. "To think there are beings who've lived for over a thousand years…"

He narrowed his gaze.

"The world of Thirazel… it has to be part of the Immortal Realm. There's no way a mortal world could contain someone like her."

He chuckled dryly.

"And this thousand-year-old grandma? She sealed herself in a sword because no one had the balls to love her? The fuck?"

Still, he could not deny the curiosity that sparked in his heart—the story, the soul in the blade, the whisper of emotions trapped in steel.

He scrolled down, reaching the weapon's listed ability.

"[Absolute Rule]… huh?"

His nose wrinkled.

"That's it? What kinda trash ability is this? I mean, if I'm already stronger than someone, they're not a threat anyway. Why the hell would I need to suppress someone weaker than me?"

He stared at the screen, unimpressed.

"At least give me something to help beat the people stronger than me…"

With a click of his tongue, he muttered, "Fucking useless."

Then his eyes caught the glowing words [Soul-Bound], and his brow twitched.

"Wait… the weapon is bound to my soul? What the hell does that even mean?"

He looked at the katana again.

And then he felt it.

A faint vibration deep within—somewhere far beyond the flesh. A ripple… within his soul.

The blade shimmered.

And then, without warning, the katana disintegrated into motes of light and vanished.

"W-What?" Taegyun flinched. "It disappeared!?"

He recalled the line in the system log. 'Stored in the Soul Sea'...

"So… my soul can act like a storage system?"

Only one way to find out.

He closed his eyes, inhaled softly, and pictured the katana in his mind.

Come to me.

In a blink, the sword materialized in his right hand—solid, perfectly balanced, and pulsing faintly in his grasp.

His eyes lit up like a child who had just found a cheat code in a game.

"Holy shit… this is so fucking cool."

But now, his thoughts drifted to something else.

"What is the Soul Sea exactly?" he muttered, narrowing his eyes.

He grabbed his smartphone and began typing rapidly, curiosity driving his fingers.

A flood of search results appeared—ranging from ancient spiritual teachings to new-age pseudo-science, to fantasy novels and obscure system theories.

After a few minutes of scrolling, one description stood out among the rest.

"The Soul Sea is a hidden realm within every living being — a vast spiritual ocean that reflects the state of one's soul. It is the source of all soul power, housing one's consciousness, will, and spiritual essence. For most, it lies dormant and inaccessible. But for those who awaken, the Soul Sea becomes a sacred space—where true growth begins. Within it, one may confront mental demons, unlock forgotten strength, or awaken dormant potential."

"To access the Soul Sea, one must enter deep meditative focus—silencing the body, quieting the mind. Its appearance varies per person—some see oceans, others see galaxies, or even endless voids. Its nature is shaped by the soul itself. The stronger the will, the deeper and more stable the sea."

He leaned back, letting the words sink in.

"I see… so it's like a personal inner world," he muttered.

Taegyun raised the katana again, admiring the subtle glow along its edge. With a thought, he willed it away—and once more, it dissolved into light and vanished into his Soul Sea.

A satisfied sigh escaped his lips.

"At least I've got a cool-looking sword… it's better than nothing."

Just then, his eyes glanced at the digital clock sitting on his desk.

8:33 a.m.

His heart stopped for half a beat.

"...Fuck!"

He shot up from the bed like a spring.

"I'm gonna be late for the academy!"

Without hesitation, he yanked off his shirt, tossed it aside, and rushed into the bathroom with only his boxers still clinging to his waist.

Five minutes later, hair still damp, he threw on his academy uniform, downed the cold leftovers of his breakfast in under a minute, and bolted out the door—racing toward the station with barely enough time to catch the next train.