Chapter 655

“Easy.”

The corners of Su-ho’s mouth rose.

It was exactly as he said.

It was easy.

Since it was an entirely different field, he had assumed it would take longer than when he obtained Unity of Body and Sword, but perhaps because Body required using his head rather than his body, it was actually easier.

Having grasped Body, Su-ho thanked Shiva.

“Thanks.”

- There’s nothing to thank me for. You grasped it on your own.

“Then, since we’re already talking about it, can I grasp the Pinnacle before I leave?”

- The Pinnacle.......

Shiva’s eyes curved.

- You can certainly challenge it. But it won’t be easy.

“I’m prepared for that much. I’m already struggling tremendously with the Pinnacle of Void Style that I’m learning now, so why would Vacuum Style be easy?”

- Well, that depends on you. Who knows? Perhaps your talent was never in the sword to begin with, but in this instead.

Su-ho genuinely hoped that was true.

Then he would be able to grasp the Pinnacle easily.

Shiva continued his explanation.

- The Pinnacle of Vacuum Style is called Conclusion.

“Conclusion?”

- It means bringing something to an end. That is its principle. What began from a Point eventually drew and created something, so at the end, you determine the meaning of what you created and bring it to completion.

“That’s difficult.”

- Think of it simply. Conclusion is like the period that finishes a sentence. Just as painting in the eyes as the finishing touch brought the dragon in the picture to life, Conclusion serves the same role.

“That’s interesting. It starts with a Point and ends with a point. But if this is also the world of imagery, how am I supposed to train it? Body was easy to imagine because you told me to create a three-dimensional object, but I can’t picture Conclusion very well.”

- The theory may sound somewhat difficult, but the method of performing the technique is simple. Conclusion gives meaning to Body. Once the sphere you created is given a special meaning, role, purpose, or something similar, Conclusion makes it real.

“So if I imagine a sphere and think of it as a bomb, does that complete Conclusion?”

- That’s right. But merely assigning it meaning is not enough. You must also specifically imagine how the Conclusion you created will be used and what effect it will produce. Only then will it finally find meaning.

“Oh?”

Hearing it explained this way, Su-ho could understand it somewhat better now.

For example, it meant creating a three-dimensional object with a purpose from the very beginning.

Seeing once was better than hearing a hundred times.

He immediately tried it.

Just as when he had created Body earlier, Su-ho opened his hand and summoned a sphere above it.

He imagined a Point and enlarged it.

[ Point is activated. ]

[ Body is activated. ]

System notifications.

There was no Line.

Because he had not imagined drawing a line.

Once enlarged to the size of a volleyball, it took on the same pitch-black color as before.

In this state, it possessed no ability whatsoever.

But following Shiva’s advice, this time he created it while imagining a special function attached to it from the very beginning.

A short while later, Su-ho carefully lifted it in his hand.

“It’s done.”

- Already?

“Yeah.”

- So, what is this?

Instead of answering, Su-ho took a weapon out of his Inventory.

It was an ordinary sword with no options that he carried as an emergency spare, and he could not even remember when he had picked it up.

Su-ho brought it against the black sphere.

Clang!

Then the sword and sphere struck together with a loud clang and stuck firmly to each other.

The corners of Su-ho’s mouth rose.

With the corners of his mouth raised, Su-ho attached the sphere to the sword and then removed his hand from it.

Even when he moved the sword around, the sphere remained firmly attached like a leech.

It was a success.

“What do you think? I made a magnet.”

- A magnet?

“Yeah, a magnet. You don’t know what a magnet is?”

- I do. I know, but...... haha? Then you made a magnet as your first work of Conclusion?

“That’s right?”

- Why?

“I made the easiest thing I could think of making. You said Vacuum Style is the world of imagery, right? So I skipped things like design and simply gave this black lump a role.”

- And that role was being a magnet?

“It seemed the simplest. To put it bluntly, all it has to do is possess magnetism, right? In any case, right now I’m in a situation where I have to learn Conclusion, and even if I come in last, all I need to do is cross the finish line, so I chose the easiest path.”

- Ha......!

Shiva exclaimed in admiration.

At the same time, he applauded.

It was excellent.

It was a very good strategy.

Even when Shiva examined it, the black sphere before him was a perfect magnet.

That was why it was so astonishing.

This was not just anything, but Conclusion.

The Pinnacle of Vacuum Style itself.

No matter how compatible Vacuum Style was with martial artists who possessed good imaginations, Shiva had never imagined that Su-ho would grasp the Pinnacle of the technique he had created so easily.

- As expected, it seems you had more talent in this direction.

“Judging by the praise, it seems I succeeded.”

- You succeeded. Just as you said, even if you barely make it over, all that matters is crossing the line.

Shiva’s applause.

And then.

[ A truly astonishing achievement. ]

[ Shiva fully acknowledges you. ]

[ The System has also decided to fully acknowledge the talent you possess in Vacuum Style. ]

[ As a result, your ‘Vacuum Style’ has become sufficiently qualified to reach the realm of the Pinnacle. ]

[ You have mastered ‘Vacuum Style Fifth Form - Pinnacle : Conclusion(SS)’. ]

[ The information for Vacuum Style has changed. ]

[ For achieving a supreme feat, the System gifts you 30 bonus stats. ]

System notifications.

Shiva and the System had acknowledged it.

The Pinnacle of Vacuum Style that Su-ho had just grasped.

After seeing the notifications, even Su-ho could not help letting out a hollow laugh.

‘To think I obtained it this easily.’

Honestly, he had not thought it would be easy.

Because it was the Pinnacle.

Yet unexpectedly, he had grasped it this easily.

Su-ho immediately checked his status window and skill window.

[ An Su-ho ]

Lv : 400Class : Black PopeRank : Guardian GodSponsors : ＜Umbra＞＜Heracles＞＜Sword Demon＞Traits▲ : ＜New Blood★＞＜Heracles＞＜King of a Fallen Nation＞＜King of the Demon Realm＞＜Sun-Moon Body＞Herculean Strength(S) : 298Dragon Mana(W) : 312Extrasensory Perception(S) : 90Command(N) : 220Bonus Stats : 40[ Vacuum Style ]

Rank : SS# The unique technique of Shiva, the God of Destruction. Despite being the God of Destruction, he incorporated into it the principle of creating something from nothing.

# First Form - Point(SS)

# Second Form - Line(SS)

# Third Form - Plane(SS)

# Fourth Form Semi-Pinnacle - Body(SS)

# Fifth Form Pinnacle - Conclusion(SS)

Forty accumulated bonus stats.

And the skill grades of every Vacuum Style form, all elevated to SS-rank.

Of course, Su-ho did not understand Conclusion perfectly.

But he understood the principle itself and had managed to manifest it somehow.

‘All that remains is constant refinement.’

In truth, every technique was like that.

Even if one could only handle it clumsily, it was still a technique, and even if one became proficient enough to demonstrate it cleanly like a veteran, it was still a technique.

Su-ho invested all the bonus stats he had obtained into Herculean Strength, then closed the information windows.

“Thanks. Because of you, I even obtained the Pinnacle of Vacuum Style.”

- There’s nothing to thank me for. I’m the one who should be grateful to you for coming to fulfill my request. But you’ll have to practice Conclusion steadily. You need to get into the habit of using it often before you become accustomed to it and can operate it easily in actual combat.

“I will. Is there anything else you want to tell me?”

- What? You grasped the Pinnacle, so you’re already planning to leave?

“Well, shouldn’t I? So, is there anything else you can teach me?”

- Of course there is. Who do you think I am? How could there not be?

“There’s still more?”

What could it be?

He could not guess.

Shiva raised two fingers.

- First, I’ll give you two pieces of advice.

“Go ahead.”

- First, Vacuum Style’s Conclusion possesses more power than you think. As you’ve seen, nothing is impossible in the world of imagery. And it isn’t only Conclusion. I am the God of Destruction, but in the Vacuum Style I created, I focused more on utility than attack. So make good use of Point, Line, Plane, Body, and Conclusion, and try to fight in a more diverse manner. Vacuum Style will realize everything you imagine.

“I’ll make sure to remember that. Then what’s the second?”

- I’ll show you the second one directly.

Shiva took one step back.

Then he slowly spread both arms and took a stance, and at some point, the two arms became four.

Su-ho’s eyes widened, and Shiva said with a smile,

- Do you understand now?

“Right. You originally had four arms. But suddenly showing me that is.......”

He could not understand why Shiva was suddenly showing off his arms.

Then a certain fact suddenly flashed through his mind, and his eyes widened once again as the corners of his mouth rose.

“Don’t tell me?”

- That’s right. You have one too. Hurry and bring it out.

It was just as Shiva said.

Su-ho also had another arm, just like Shiva.

Girard.

He was not accustomed to it and had not used it for a long time, so he had forgotten about it, but Shiva remembered.

[ Girard is activated. ]

When Girard activated, a faintly shaped hand emerged from one shoulder blade behind Su-ho’s back ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) and settled above his left shoulder.

[ You can control Girard’s hand by making it respond to your will, or you can give Girard orders to control the hand. ]

[ Girard is influenced by your will and emotions. ]

[ Girard is influenced by your stats. ]

The notifications he had seen before appeared once again, kindly presenting themselves like an instruction manual.

Right, you were there.

When Su-ho brought out Girard, Shiva smiled.

- That is a splendid arm. But with your abilities now, shouldn’t you be able to create several rather than only one?

At those words, Su-ho suddenly remembered the notification he had seen when Girard’s arm first appeared.

[ Girard has successfully sprouted the first hand under your influence. ]

The System had clearly called it the first hand.

Then that meant there had to be a second and a third.

“Was this the next step?”

- I told you. I like you. How could I simply overlook you when you have so many similarities to me? So, since we’re already talking about it, try making it bloom. It takes a pair of hands to make a clapping sound.

“Shall I?”

One was supposed to strike while the iron was hot.

With a teacher of multiple arms more excellent than anyone else right before him, Su-ho decided to do so.

Su-ho began concentrating his mind.

Then.

[ Girard begins responding to your will. ]

Girard, which had remained quiet all this time, began surging once again.