Impenetrable Dungeon - Chapter 18

Pharos’ Cultivation Technique was called Dual Extremity Sword Art while Xato’s Cultivation Technique was called Yin Yang Sword Art. The Yin Yang Sword Art focused on the cooperation of both swords as they executed opposing principles. However, one of the swords would always lead while the other sword would follow and cooperate. In Xato’s case, his long sword was the main sword while the short sword was the companion sword. If he was to attack with the long sword then the short sword would support by defending. If he was to defend with the long sword then the short sword would support by attacking. This was the principle of supporting with an opposing force or principle. This was a highly controversial way of battling as most masters would agree that while one must not fully commit to either defending or attacking, using a companion weapon to do the opposite of what the main weapon is doing is absolutely preposterous. What would be the difference between that and just doing both at the same time? Furthermore, since it’s just a companion weapon doesn’t it mean that the warrior’s full force wouldn’t be exerted by the companion weapon? Then that would mean that the moves executed with the companion weapon would be ineffective and would only be useful when fighting someone that was weaker to yourself.

However, it is due to this criticism that the style of fighting with a companion weapon has gained much acclaim especially within the community of swordsmen. While none of the other weapons has proven that having a companion weapon was an effective way of fighting, many swordsmen have. One of the most prominent ones was the renowned Sun Moon Swordsman. He had discovered the way of fighting using a companion sword by accident after the loss of his wife. He was so aggrieved by her loss that he decided to fight with her weapon so that her spirit would always be with him in battle and where ever he goes. It just so happens that he used a long sword and that his wife had used a short sword. Together they were known as the best duo to have ever existed. They were known as the Sun and Moon Swordsmen. Unfortunately, the Moon Swordswoman had met an untimely death under the hands of a mortal enemy; she was poisoned with a concoction that had no antidote. It was rumoured that the Sun Swordsman had wept for thirty day and nights after hearing of her death. He had been in closed cultivation at the time and was unable to know of the news of her passing. After burying her, he returned to closed cultivation to find a way to incorporate her short sword into his fighting style. By Heaven’s Grace, he was able to succeed after a short 3 years. After he came out he renamed himself the Sun Moon Swordsmen to commemorate her and he also used her sword every time he went into battle. His name was known to all warriors as the man who was able to create a working Cultivation Technique that included techniques of fighting with a companion sword. Unfortunately, he passed away silently and his accomplishment wasn’t passed down to anyone. He never had any disciples and those whom he did teach, he didn’t give them his unique Cultivation Technique. However, under the scrutiny of many masters, his technique was finally cracked and a new swordsman that fought with the companion sword combat style rose to fame, his name was Companion Emperor after his combat style. A lame name but one that put fear in the hearts of many and elicited great jealousy as many people wished to have his talents. After that came many other swordsmen and women that were able to properly fight with this combat style.

Marcus’ Yin Yang Sword Art differed from the sword arts of these famed warriors, however. His sword art not only included the companion sword combat style that has been made and tested by his predecessors, but it also included moves that assisted the main sword and boosted its power using the companion sword and vice versa. This can be clearly inferred from the name Yin Yang Sword, both of these elements support and boost each other helping them grow. The same could be applied to Marcus’ Yin Yang Sword Art.

In comparison, Pharos’ sword art was completely different. Her sword art focused on having a symbiotic relationship between both swords but with them, both being completely separate entities. Essentially, her sword art is two sword arts being executed by two different swords simultaneously but they still had to assist and complement each other. This was as hard as having a companion sword and using it to assist the main sword, in fact, it is much harder! This was like having two people live completely different lives yet still saying that they were the same person, it is impossible! To achieve it Pharos needed to have full mastery of both sword styles and fuse them into one sword art. This is similar to Drathalsiel’s Sword Legion however the difference is that Drathalsiel could fight even without fusing multiple sword arts but Pharos can’t fight effectively without being able to fuse the sword arts together. Without a doubt, amongst all the Cultivation Techniques that Marcus had made so far, Pharos’ was the most difficult. She would be probably the last person to grow and be of use to Marcus. Fortunately for her, Marcus didn’t care. In his eyes, all his Honour Guards were equal and had the same potential. It didn’t matter how fast they grew, they would all grow to be the same strength in the end. Furthermore, their Cultivation Techniques all had the same potential. However, when Pharos does achieve this feat, she would be a force to be reckoned with even without considering the fact that she was a member of the mighty Feng Clan. In fact, all of them would be the same. Their lineage would only further boost their power and never weaken it. Luckily, this way of fighting has been accepted for quite a long time and lots of people have succeeded in fighting this way so Pharos has a lot of reference in comparison to Xato who only had a handful of people to reference.