Neo opened his mouth to convince Kane otherwise.
Kane raised his hands.
"Stop right there. Your talk-no-jutsu is too strong. I don't want to hear you trying to convince me against my choice. I'm worried you will manage to sway me."
He smiled helplessly as he looked at Neo's expression.
"I've told you. I'm weak-willed. Talk-no-jutsu is especially potent against me."
He patted Neo's shoulder with a laugh.
"Anyway, I've given you complete mastery of the seven sword techniques. As for the eighth one…"
He dragged out his words, hoping Neo would say something.
Neo clicked his tongue and obliged.
"What is the eighth technique? It wasn't in the knowledge you've given me."
"I've sealed it. You won't know what the technique is until you master the [Flow]."
"Yeah, to be honest, I wanted to create a technique with your Death element, but I failed. While I was struggling with it, I saw your Time element, and it gave me enlightenment…
"Err, long story short, the eighth technique uses [Flow] and [Time] element as the foundation. Unless you've mastered both, you can't use it."
"That's why you sealed the eighth technique? To make sure I was ready to use it?"
The technique was too dangerous for anyone who hadn't mastered [Flow].
"Hehe, the eighth technique is my masterpiece. Look forward to it."
Kane continued to boast about the swordsmanship.
A few minutes later, Neo interrupted him.
"…What is the name of your swordsmanship?"
"Divine Swordsmanship," Kane spoke immediately as if he had been waiting for the question.
"You know the answer," Kane said. "It's because you are called the Divine Ruler. Now the swordsmanship belongs to you, so its name should be based on you."
Kane gave up his enlightenments to Neo.
Now, he was giving his identity to Neo too.
"I know I've helped you awaken, but it doesn't mean you need to—"
Kane pursed his lips.
"I respect you, Neo. You have ambition. You never give up no matter how hard it gets. Even now, I bet you are thinking of a third way to deal with Anomaly #79.
"I'm not giving you the identity of my swordsmanship."
His voice grew resolute as he continued.
"I'm naming my swordsmanship after you because I hope it becomes as great as you."
He was essentially asking Neo to take his swordsmanship and help it reach greater heights.
It was a heavy burden.
And yet, Kane knew Neo could carry the burden easily.
'Because you are the most amazing person I've met.'
He respected Neo for his talents or his strength, but he respected Neo's willpower even more.
The ambition and passion to keep moving forward, no matter how difficult it was to continue, were not easy to have.
Kane had unparalleled talent. But he was giving up.
Maybe because Kane was aware of his shortcomings, he saw Neo as a shining star.
Someone who never gave up.
Someone who willingly gave up.
They were completely opposite.
They met by a coincidence of fate.
Kane moved towards the door where he would start his last dream.
'You will never wake from the eternal dream. Shouldn't you think about your choice again?' Neo wanted to say it to Kane.
He clenched his fists.
Just as Kane had stepped into the room, Neo shouted,
"You want to die because you don't have ambition? Then I'll give you one!"
"Neo, I told you I won't change my choice—"
"I'm from the future."
"I'm not joking," Neo said.
He wasn't afraid of revealing his origin.
Hanna, the secretary of Ares, had peeked into Jack and his memories when they came to the Association.
They would know Neo and Jack were from the future.
"Three thousand years later, let's meet then. I'll show you how great your swordsmanship has become."
Kane blinked, confused and in disbelief.
His confusion gave way to a rueful smile.
"I'd love to do that, but I don't think I can fight Anomaly #79 for three thousand years."
"Why can't you do it? You are a genius, fucker! If I can do it, then you can too."
Neo calmed down and smirked.
"Aren't you an anime fan? This is your chance. Try to do 'I fought the strongest anomaly for 3000 years and became the strongest.'"
Wiping his tears, he turned around and waved his hand as he entered the room.
"See you later," Kane said.
Neo was left alone in the corridor.
He stood there for a few minutes before he shook his head.
"I should go visit Ares. I need the location of the Child of Mana."
Neo had no intention of becoming blind or entering an eternal dream.
He was looking for a third method.
'I will leave today after I get the location.'
Since there was no knowing when Typhaon might eliminate the Child of Mana, he planned to go out to save the Child of Mana as soon as he got the location.
'After I get the location, it shouldn't take me more than a few days to finish the trial.'
The trial would end before the week—if everything went according to plan.
Neo would leave the Shadow World after that, and he wouldn't be chased by Anomaly #79 outside.
This was Neo's third method of dealing with Anomaly #79.
Apollo stopped speaking and blinked.
Sharp pain tore through his body.
He looked around, confused.
The last thing he remembered was taking a nap after the day's hard work.
Now, he was in an eerie jungle.
Bright, familiar sunlight peeked through the dark clouds.
Apollo lowered his hand and touched his abdomen.
A hole had been blown into his stomach.
It took a few moments for him to realize what was happening.
'My trait activated, and it is showing me the future.'
Apollo's thoughts came to a halt when he sensed a presence.
"You tanked that attack?" Neo asked as he landed near Apollo.
His sword was coated in blood.