Ziiing...

The taiji rose behind Seong Jihan's back and merged into one.

A translucent sword made of light appeared there.

Jiang Shang looked at it with surprised eyes.

"Truly remarkable. To have already reached Nothingness after surpassing Taiji."

As soon as those words ended,

Paaaat...

The sword of light quickly collapsed and scattered in all directions.

"It disappeared quickly. It's still lacking."

"Such modesty. I've had many disciples, but I've never seen one with martial talent like yours."

Seong Jihan smiled subtly at Jiang Shang's praise.

The martial talent the Emperor praised was something he originally had to some extent.

'After accepting the authority of light, my understanding has definitely quickened.'

The authority of light, which came in all sorts of varieties.

After obtaining it, Seong Jihan's consciousness had developed several levels compared to before.

His martial talent had also risen incomparably from before.

Of course, the way he saw the world changed, his thinking deepened, and there was a risk he might become similar to 'Mitra' if he wasn't careful.

'It's definitely good when learning martial arts. I quickly surpassed the stage of Taiji Sword.'

Seong Jihan recalled the Nothingness sword made of light.

Compared to the existing Taiji Sword, the light was actually weaker and the form was fainter.

But the power contained within had risen one level higher.

Moreover,

'Analysis activated for the Taiji Demon Sword, but only half the code is revealed for Nothingness.'

Unlike the Taiji Demon Sword, which was 'analyzed' as code in the BattleNet system's database, from the realm of Nothingness, the system couldn't fully analyze it.

Perhaps that was why,

[Do you want to update the data for 'Nothingness' in the BattleNet system?]

Ever since he started materializing Nothingness, the system kept sending messages recommending updates for Nothingness.

'As expected, the enlightenment I gained isn't shared unless I update separately...'

Indeed, both during the Fusion Vessel and with Hephaestus, the seemingly omniscient system showed unexpected weakness in analyzing new data.

If Seong Jihan didn't approve the update, it couldn't identify unanalyzed data.

'The data capacity has definitely changed too.'

Since he started creating Nothingness, changes began occurring in the amount of data the BattleNet system could accommodate.

In the database where considerable empty space was created when Hephaestus, which the Red Administrator inhabited, died, when Nothingness was created, it recognized it as a considerable amount of data.

When the sword disappeared, empty space was created again.

The server was allocating considerable data space for Nothingness, which Seong Jihan had developed from the Taiji Sword.

'Hmm... It's still lacking. It doesn't reach the data the Red Administrator occupied.'

If he completed Nothingness and started implementing it recklessly, he could saturate the data.

As Seong Jihan was deep in thought, looking at the data changes surrounding Nothingness,

"At the Nothingness stage, my teachings have come to an end. From now on, getting used to it is the key."

"Yes. I'll work hard."

Jiang Shang was pleased with Seong Jihan's achievement and said there was nothing more to teach at this stage.

Then,

"But, could you occupy data with Nothingness too?"

"Yes. Not as much as Hephaestus, but it showed significant numbers."

"Oh. That's good news. However..."

Swoosh.

As Jiang Shang raised his hand,

Crackle...!

Light flashed from the Infinite Sword he was holding, and the sword's form became translucent.

"Nothingness is ultimately the stage just before reaching Infinite... An individual can only implement one."

"Yes. You definitely said that."

Nothingness.

Before the energy of all things in heaven and earth is divided into yin and yang.

A sword that implemented a form mixed into one.

Jiang Shang said that from the Nothingness stage, one person could only implement a single form.

So,

"Even if Nothingness is completed, it's only one... Is it possible to exceed the data capacity you want?"

It was natural for Jiang Shang to have such doubts.

Although he was teaching Seong Jihan the Infinite Sword because he asked, if only one sword is completed, it didn't seem like his goal would be achieved.

To Jiang Shang's question, Seong Jihan answered with a serious face.

"Now that I can imitate Nothingness, I'd like to try the next stage."

"The next stage?"

"Yes."

Then Seong Jihan once again merged the taiji to create Nothingness.

Holding the precarious-looking sword that seemed about to disappear,

"Manifestation."

He used 'Manifestation' on the Nothingness he created.

* * *

[Using the authority 'Manifestation'.]

The authority of Manifestation that the Red Administrator wanted to see so badly before he died.

Its exact function was to implement code in reality.

So,

'Nothingness, with only half its code revealed, shouldn't be properly implemented, right?'

Ziiing...

Indeed, the half of the sword with revealed code was completed first.

Crackle. Crackle...

In the remaining part where code wasn't visible, light was only creating sparks.

But, that was only for a moment.

Swish swish swish...

The translucent sword of light slowly extended its blade, completing its form primarily.

"To create two Nothingness’..."

As Jiang Shang stroked his beard with a surprised expression seeing that,

'It really worked.'

Seong Jihan smiled with satisfaction looking at the second materialized Nothingness.

'Even if it's not coded, Manifestation proceeds if there's enlightenment.'

Of course,

'Compared to coded data, the efficiency drops sharply.'

[500 'White Light' Stat consumed.]

Perhaps because it's manifesting authority with Seong Jihan's personal enlightenment, not information registered in the system,

Even materializing just one Nothingness consumed a considerable amount of the White Light stat.

'But White Light can be replenished anytime with the Light Body organ, so it doesn't matter. The important thing is data.'

Swoosh.

Seong Jihan checked the data capacity through the device.

There,

As the number of swords increased, the data had definitely increased as well.

'The capacity is filling up right away. If I start mass-producing Nothingness like this, tens or hundreds of them...!'

He could achieve the data excess he originally aimed for.

As Seong Jihan was thinking that,

Crackle...

When the form of the Nothingness he first summoned collapsed,

The second sword he created through Manifestation quickly disappeared as well.

"As expected... Since Nothingness isn't complete, the materialized sword can't be maintained for long."

"Hmm... But wasn't Manifestation something you shouldn't use?"

Jiang Shang, who had been closely watching the sword disappear,

Asked that question, recalling the Red Administrator who had asked to see Manifestation just once.

"Yes. I haven't used Manifestation until now, thinking I might assimilate with Mitra if I step into the realm of creation... But I thought it was worth trying in the case of this sword."

"Is it because Nothingness is a sword you've already created?"

"That's right."

Perfectly reviving extinct humans through code and restoring destroyed worlds is the realm of gods.

He hadn't used Manifestation, thinking that if he kept performing such miracles, dehumanization would accelerate.

But Nothingness was different.

This was a sword he had already created and implemented.

He thought that even if he replicated this, the side effects would be much smaller compared to materializing other code.

Moreover,

'Even if there's a risk, this is the only way to increase data.'

Exceeding data capacity.

This was not an easy task in the current Ark system.

At first, he tried to increase data by manipulating the devices.

'If I keep interacting with those machines, I might be influenced too.'

The betrayal of the Red Administrator, who had been cooperating well until now.

Seong Jihan believed the reason he changed like that was due to the Ark's machinery.

Otherwise, there was no reason for him to change so suddenly.

'Especially those machines don't even trigger analysis...'

After clearly realizing that the Ark was in the same world as the server, analysis activated even in the Ark, revealing the code of structures like walls and floors.

But in the central machinery of the Ark, not a single letter of code could be found.

Considering that more than half the code was visible even in Nothingness,

He could guess how much of an anomaly those machines were.

'So I'll increase the data while minimizing contact with those devices.'

When Seong Jihan explained his thoughts to Jiang Shang like that,

"I see..."

He slowly stroked his beard and nodded.

"Understood. I almost fell into delusion for a moment."

"What do you mean by delusion...?"

"Manifestation. I thought I had completely forgotten, but I almost had lingering attachments."

Lingering attachments.

Seong Jihan wore an apologetic expression at those words.

After cutting down the Red Administrator, Jiang Shang, who no longer called him son-in-law but only "you".

He, who had cut off the Red Administrator's temptation in one stroke, seemed to have definitely abandoned his lingering attachment to reviving his world after that.

But,

'When he heard Manifestation could actually be used, did he think of the empire?'

Well, how could a person forget everything so quickly?

Seong Jihan also wanted to materialize all the data of the Martial Arts Empire if he could.

'...That's a shortcut to becoming another Mitra.'

If he did that out of guilt towards Jiang Shang, he instinctively sensed it would ruin everything.

"What's with that expression? It's my fault for not protecting the empire, don't feel sorry. Son-in... No. You."

"...Yes."

As if accepting the empire's destruction now, Jiang Shang no longer called Seong Jihan his son-in-law.

"If I have one request... When you achieve your goal and exceed the data capacity."

Swoosh.

Jiang Shang pointed at the server connection device.

"The Black Administrator inside there. Let me cut him down first."

"Understood."

That much he could concede anytime.

As Seong Jihan nodded,

"Good. Then let's try to complete Nothingness more perfectly."

Jiang Shang changed his expression and started teaching again.

"Your achievement was amazing, but there were lacking points..."

And so began the transmission of martial arts.

Jiang Shang pointed out the deficient parts.

Seong Jihan accepted and improved them each time.

The duration of Nothingness began to noticeably increase.

And how much time passed?

After numerous trials and errors,

Swish...

The translucent form of the sword, Nothingness, no longer disappeared on its own and remained firmly in Seong Jihan's hand.

'Finally... It worked.'

Although he hadn't reached Infinite, Nothingness was enough to shake the data.

Seong Jihan began Manifestation in earnest.

Swish swish swish...

One by one, swords began to stick into the Ark.

[Do you want to update the data for 'Nothingness' in the BattleNet system?]

Every time a sword appeared, a system message popped up in front of his eyes.

"No."

While refusing the update, he continued to create swords 99 times.

When 100 swords, including the original, were stuck in the center of the Ark,

[BattleNet system detects a critical error.]

The system message that had been urging updates, changed for the first time.

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