Return of the Sword God-Rank Civil Servant novel Chapter 53

‘Finally...!’

Suho’s eyes sparkled with excitement.

*Hogong-ryu.*

This was one of the skills he had come to acquire in this gate.

‘It’s also why I absolutely needed the Nameless Sword.’

When Suho first developed his swordsmanship, he thought he had glimpsed the pinnacle of sword techniques. However, as time passed, he came to realize that the Suho Sword was just one of countless human-made techniques, unable to contend with the world’s most powerful beings.

Then he discovered the existence of the Nameless Sword, and from that point, his swordsmanship began evolving to an inhuman level. The first supernatural technique he mastered was *Hogong-ryu Style One: Slash - Steel Cutter.*

[ You have achieved a remarkable feat, earning 10 bonus stat points from the system. ]

With the mastery of Steel Cutter, the system granted him 10 bonus stats.

Yes, *Hogong-ryu* was indeed a great achievement.

In his lifetime, Suho had never encountered anyone else who wielded this technique.

‘I got it sooner than I expected.’

In his previous life, it had taken Suho years after acquiring the Nameless Sword to master Steel Cutter. But this time was different. He had already fully understood the intricacies of Steel Cutter, and all he needed was time to prove it to the system.

Suho invested all his newly earned bonus stats into strength, then looked over at Maleyon with a slight smirk.

Maleyon seemed visibly shaken.

And it was no wonder, as he could feel the surge in Suho’s power even as they fought.

- What trickery are you using now?

“Trickery? It’s the culmination of pure effort.”

- What?

“Watch and learn.”

- Nonsense!

In a fury, Maleyon extended his hand, and a dozen Sogwaebalgu tendrils shot toward Suho like arrows.

Suho clicked his tongue.

“Seems you don’t learn very quickly.”

He didn’t dodge. Instead, gripping his sword with both hands, he swung it with all his strength just as the tendrils closed in.

[ Steel Cutter activated. ]

*Slash!*

A red line blazed through the air. When the glow faded, there was nothing left in its wake.

*Thud!*

The heads of the Sogwaebalgu tendrils fell to the ground, cleanly severed. Suho had purposefully swung wide to cut down each tendril in one strike.

Maleyon’s eyes widened in shock.

- How... how did you...!!

“What do you mean, how? I cut them with a sword. Are your eyes just for show?”

With that, Suho stepped forward toward the lake.

“You planning to just stay there?”

- Hmph!

Instead of responding, Maleyon raised his hand.

The ground began to shake.

*Boom! Boom! Boom!*

Heavy footsteps reverberated, and Suho turned around.

“Groooooo...”

Emerging from the forest were massive golems.

Suho observed the status above their heads.

- Twisted Golem of the Murky Forest Lv.96

- Twisted Golem of the Murky Forest Lv.98

- Twisted Golem of the Murky Forest Lv.97

They weren’t one-star monsters, but their high levels suggested they would be tough to handle, especially with their considerable defense.

Suho sighed.

“Typical of a cursed druid to summon such abominations.”

- Let’s see how long you can keep that smug attitude!

At Maleyon’s command, the golems charged at Suho simultaneously.

In a swift motion, Suho pushed off the ground and leaped high.

[ Leap activated. ]

With his Leap skill, he soared into the air, raising his enlarged blood sword above his head with both hands.

“Ha!”

Letting out a short breath, he swung the sword downward.

[ Steel Cutter activated. ]

*Slash!*

A massive red arc traced down the golem, slicing it cleanly in two.

[ You have defeated the Twisted Golem of the Murky Forest. ]

The system notification appeared.

Maleyon couldn’t see the system message, but he sensed the sudden disconnect in the golem’s consciousness and widened his eyes even further.

- How... how could you take down a golem in one strike...!

“If I can cut steel, why wouldn’t I be able to cut through some rock?”

Steel Cutter wasn’t just named for show; it was truly a skill capable of slicing through steel. That’s why Suho had spent all his time practicing without any enchanted assistance, wielding the sword day in and day out to master Hogong-ryu Style One.

Suho swung his sword again.

[ You have defeated the Twisted Golem of the Murky Forest. ]

[ You have defeated the Twisted Golem of the Murky Forest. ]

After dispatching the additional golems, he pointed his blood sword at Maleyon.

“Anything else?”

- Silence!

Enraged, Maleyon launched his full assault.

---

- This is absurd...

Time had passed, and Suho had held his ground at the lake’s edge, enduring all of Maleyon’s attacks.

Maleyon had thrown everything he could muster: Sogwaebalgu, Ents, golems, even summoning corrupted spirits and faeries when necessary.

But nothing could stand against Suho’s blood sword.

One by one, Suho tossed the defeated golems and Ents into the lake, creating stepping stones. He used them as a bridge, gradually making his way toward Maleyon.

“Time to end this.”

With all the information he had, Maleyon wasn’t a difficult boss in Suho’s eyes.

In fact, the Twisted Forest itself wasn’t challenging by Suho’s standards.

After all, unlike the Blood Swamp, Maleyon had no second phase or aerial monsters to complicate things.