Executioner

The **Executioner**, also known as the **Executioner of the Silver Forest**, is a legendary swordsman and former member of the Four Swordsmen. He is the creator of the One Blade - Thunderous Slash and the former mentor of Ijincheon, his successor and Farza, the wielder of the curse blade Ashiyak that once belonged to him.

## Appearance

The Executioner is a one-armed man who was said to be an old man by Yushin.

## Background

Nothing is known about his early life, but he was most likely born during the days of Chaotic Era. His real name is lost to history, the man was simply known as the *Executioner* as he earned his title by slaying his enemies and opponents with just a single swing of the blade. He was also known to have carry three blades that were also famous for their abilities - a yet to be named straight guardless sword with a blue hue, Ashiyak, a cursed shard blade of great power but that forced its wielder to kill otherwise it would kill the wielder , and another blade that has yet to be shown. It's unknown when but he would start to be referred as the *Executioner of the Silver Forest* and was counted as a member of the Four Swordsmen, the four of the most powerful sword wielders in the world, in recognition of his swordsmanship. At one point, Executioner met and fought against Yushin, a member of the Elders in a duel over a century ago while he was one armed and suffered from an illness. It's currently unknown on what the results of this duel were aside from the Elder learning his technique.  Bases on Executioner's own account before the duel took place, he planned to face Yushin as his final adversary who would give him a graceful sendoff from life instead of succumbing to his illness and frail body  . The Executioner would leave behind a legacy as he took in students and taught them his swordsmanship and techniques. Amongst them were Farza and Ijincheon, his youngest student who was the least promising out of his pupils.

In a flashback during Assault on Castle Grey Arc , Ijincheon is shown to meet with the Executioner. The executioner tells that his end is near as his body is failing him. He also tells Ijincheon that he will have a visitor - Yushin of Yerim  who will give him a graceful departure. The Executioner says that Yushin wil be a worthy last adversary to engage before he dies. Going by the Executioners own words, it is likely that Yushin killed him in this final battle of his life.

The executioner notes that he was born with a fragile physique which is why he worked on a single swordsmanship technique to gather whatever energy he could muster to unleash a single, ultimate attack to execute his enemies without the need for a followup attack. Ijincheon says that that is how his master became one of the five most reputable swordsmen to which the Executioner says that it is a name that means nothing and what he wanted was the skill to reach the skies and that he wanted to become the very best.

The Executioner describes Ijincheon's lack of talent to be one-in-a-billion but believing him to be the one to make his dream come through despite the fact. Ijincheon seemingly confused at his masters swords repeats back to his master that he is talentless as his master says. The Executioner asks Ijincheon that would such a thing matter if he had infinite time hone himself.

Then the Executioner notes that his other pupils took his three cherished swords and that he only has one left. The he asks Ijincheon if he still wishes to become strong like he said on the first day he met his master. The Executioner pulls out a white energy sword of his walking cane and commands Ijincheon to take his masters sword. He then proceeds to attack Ijincheon who fails to defend against this attack and gives his wounded student a monologue:

"If you can't accomplish anything even with a million swings, swing it a billion times. If you cant accomplish with a billion thrusts, thrust it ten billion times. See what lies at the end of this path of swordsmanship with your own eyes. You are the next Executioner".

Ijincheon is absorbed into his masters sword into a separate dimension. He meets with a large sword wielding manifestation who welcomes him into the Sword Purgatory where souls of swordsmen driven mad by the desire to perfect their skills have gathered. Ijincheon is trapped in this dimension for a 1000 years, endlessly fighting these swordmen manifestations. After defeating the last manifestation, the manifestation notes that Ijincheon is the Executioner.

Upon his return to the real world, Ijincheon finds himself at the same place where he was absorbed at, opposite to his masters clothed skeleton. His masters skeleton immediately releases a phantom like technique to attack him. Though surprised, he easily defends against the attack. His masters spirit seems content to leave Ijincheon his final farewell and the bones turn into dust. Ijincheon bows down before his master final resting place.

It is not yet know how much time passed in the real world during his time training inside the Sword Purgatory but it is likely far from the real passage of time.

### Nostra Arc

The Executioner's legacy is mentioned and shown in Nostra, the city of Villains and corrupt heroes. His fame as a swordsman is told by Shell Knight as she explains his title as a member of the Four Swordsmen to Ihwa, who was in disguise as Kasha, who later remembered Yushin teaching her the swordsman's legendary technique in her childhood. His former pupil Farza also appeared in the city doing mercenary work and would remember his mentor before his death at the hands of Paladin.

## Abilities

**Overall Abilities**: The Executioner was once one of the greatest swordsmen in the world as a former member of the Four Swordsmen, possessing immense power and skill with the blade despite missing an arm and suffering from an illness. Yushin a member of the Elders at the time challenged him to a duel, although Yushin was victorious he acknowledged that the Executioner was indeed immensly powerful despite his illness and missing arm.

**Master Swordsman:** Executioner was undoubtedly one of the greatest swordsmen in the world. His techniques, while simplistic in nature, are immensely powerful in their approaches as he was able to kill his opponents in a single strike and overwhelm them with vicious displays of bloodlust. Even with a disability and suffering from illness, his abilities didn't weaken as he was able to fight against an Elder.

### Techniques

* **One Blade - Thunderous Slash**: The Executioner's signature and greatest technique. He created this technique due to his disability and illness by dedicating all one's efforts into perfecting a single sword swing that would kill an opponents. The technique is an all-out attack that abandons all other aspects in favor of immense speed. From the perceptive of an opponent, an enormous amount of killing intent and bloodlust is focused entirely on them which can cause a weaker minded opponent to freeze in their tracks.

## References

1. ↑ Episode 109
2. ↑ Episode 107
3. ↑ Episode 96
4. ↑ Episode 97
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Episode 147
6. ↑ Episode 104