N/T: Translation made by our friend 'Irving'. A big round of applause for him :)
Chapter 638
"Saber Sword Sovereign...?"
Raon swallowed dryly as he looked at the old man stepping on the blood-soaked ground.
"Is that the Saber Sword Sovereign?"
The Saber Sword Sovereign was a figure from hundreds of years ago, and even in the Black Market, there was no information about his appearance.
All that was known was that he wielded a blue sword and a red saber, symbols of his transcendent martial prowess. The old man walking toward them fit that description perfectly.
With a sword that glimmered like a blue galaxy and a saber that burned endlessly like molten lava, the old man's presence overwhelmed everyone in the area.
Except for his dark eye sockets and white pupils, he looked exactly as the records described the Saber Sword Sovereign.
"No matter how transcendent the Saber Sword Sovereign was, it doesn't make sense for a human to still be alive now. Which means, that is...."
It must mean the dead have been resurrected.
The Saber Sword Sovereign's aura was so immense that it was difficult to gauge, but there was almost no sense of vitality that a living person should have. He was clearly being controlled as a dead man.
"S-Saber Sword Sovereign?"
"The owner of this tomb...?"
"How is that possible? The Saber Sword Sovereign was a man from hundreds of years ago!"
The warrior stared in disbelief at the Saber Sword Sovereign.
"Must be a fake, right?"
"Look at those sword and saber! They're exactly as described in the records of the Saber Sword Sovereign!"
"The Demon Slaying Saber, the Demon Slaying Sword.... The Saber Sword Sovereign's weapons and martial arts have the same names, and they look just like this...."
People stepped back in fear, looking at the monstrous aura emanating from the Saber Sword Sovereign and his terrifyingly gleaming weapons.
"There's no need to doubt. That's the real Saber Sword Sovereign."
Delphiros shook his head, pushing up his short hair. A confident look returned to his eyes.
"This tomb you're standing in is the real tomb of the Saber Sword Sovereign."
"Then his legacy...."
Raon frowned as he looked at Delphiros.
"Yes, I took it."
Delphiros nodded calmly.
"The Saber Sword Sovereign seemed to regret not leaving any descendants, so he placed his weapons, martial arts, and his own body here. Thanks to that..."
He looked at the Saber Sword Sovereign standing on the platform and curled his lips into a smile.
"I was able to get the opportunity to control the Saber Sword Sovereign himself."
Delphiros waved his hand as if giving an order.
"As expected of a transcendent being. Even in death, his body was intact. He did leave some incomprehensible will, but I don't need to worry about that."
He chuckled, saying it was fortunate that the Saber Sword Sovereign was foolish.
"......"
Raon bit his lip as he looked at the hollow eyes of the Saber Sword Sovereign.
'My guess was right.'
The ancestor of Zieghart created this training ground for his descendants, and the Saber Sword Sovereign, respecting him, came here to leave his martial arts and weapons for Zieghart.
However, after Zieghart's domain no longer covered this land, it was forgotten by all.
The Saber Sword Sovereign undoubtedly left his legacy here with good intentions, but due to the heinous villain Derus Robert, this land became hell, and the warrior who upheld justice and cooperation as a neutral figure became a ‘ghost’ slaughtering people in death.
What a despicable person!
Wrath seemed to have grasped the situation as well, gritted his teeth.
Humans curse demons every day, but seeing this, they are far worse!
'I agree.'
There was no rebuttal. Both Delphiros and Derus were demons in human skin.
"Saber Sword Sovereign."
At Delphiros' finger gesture, the Saber Sword Sovereign bowed his head, showing extreme deference like a servant to a king.
"Kill them all. But do not shred them to pieces. I have use for the bodies.
"......"
The Saber Sword Sovereign nodded and turned around. A dark, bloody light flickered in his white eyes.
Raon gripped his divine sword and demonic sword tightly, biting his lip.
'He has use for the bodies?'
Telling him not to tear them apart meant he intended to use the bodies to fabricate false scars (wounds) and start a war.
'That can't happen.'
At all costs, the war must be prevented.
"Oh no...."
"Wait a moment!"
The warrior near Delphiros' platform were paralyzed by the murderous intent exuded by the Saber Sword Sovereign, unable to move a finger.
Swoosh!
The Saber Sword Sovereign's left hand turned into light. A blue radiance flashed as it descended upon the necks of the warrior. The light strike was incredibly fast.
Chiiiiing!
Raon stepped forward with the Supreme Harmony Step. Moving in front of the Saber Sword Sovereign, he infused his divine sword with more intense fire.
Becoming a blue wind, he intercepted the Saber Sword Sovereign's descending strike with a spiral of fire.
Boooom!
The fire sword collided with the blue sword, releasing a massive shockwave that shattered the ground.
"Ugh."
Raon trembled, his hand holding the divine sword shaking as he bit his lip.
'It feels like my grip has been severed.'
The pain was far beyond expectation. It felt like his sword strike had stopped.
Crackling!
The Saber Sword Sovereign's eyes, locked in the clash of swords, held neither curiosity nor malice. His white pupils rolled with a single intent: to fulfill Delphiros' command.
"Si-Sir, Raon?"
"Why did you...?"
"Save us?"
The warrior who barely survived stared wide-eyed, wondering why Raon saved them when they had attacked him.
"I know you didn't attack on purpose. Step back!"
Raon quickly shook his head.
"Th-Thank you!"
"We'll repay this favor!"
The warrior hastily bowed and ran back.
You saved those lowly worms? What a strange thing to do.
Wrath tilted his head in amusement.
There’s no point in doing good deeds now!
'That's not why I did it.'
He didn’t save them to look good.
He saved them because he had to keep as many people alive as possible to ruin Derus’ war plans.
Rumble!
The Saber Sword Sovereign's sword grew heavier. He didn’t know if the Saber Sword Sovereign had retained his full power as a transcendent being, but he was definitely stronger than him now.
Raon took a deep breath and thrust the demonic sword in his left hand at the Saber Sword Sovereign's shoulder.
The Saber Sword Sovereign anticipated this and blocked the demonic sword's blade with his red saber.
Clang!
Sword clashed with sword. Saber clashed with sword, sending blackened sparks flying in all directions.
Boom!
Raon stepped back with the Supreme Harmony Steps, sliding back as if on ice. He gathered the Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation’s energy in his right foot, infusing his lower body with the fire energy, and launched Thirty-Six Crimson Slash toward the Saber Sword Sovereign's chest.
"......"
The Saber Sword Sovereign was a warrior who could exert his full power even in a slightly unbalanced state. A red current burned like a divine dragon from his red saber.
Roar!
The divine sword clashed with the Saber Sword Sovereign's red saber, and fierce fire
roared up, slamming into the ceiling of the fifth floor.
Step.
Raon took another step into the Saber Sword Sovereign's space, gripping the demonic sword as the divine sword was pushed back.
The blue light from the demonic sword split into two and simultaneously targeted the Saber Sword Sovereign's neck and heart.
Slash!
The Saber Sword Sovereign's left hand created a halo-like current. The blue sword emitted a grotesque sound, forming a thick wall that blocked the demonic sword's blade.
Boom!
Neither the divine sword nor the demonic sword could penetrate the Saber Sword Sovereign's defense and fell away futilely.
A massive shockwave spread, shaking the entire fifth floor, but it was meaningless.
"Ugh..."
Raon released the breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding.
‘Even in death, a transcendent being is this strong….’
While Raon was superior in strength and agility, the Saber Sword Sovereign was far above him in terms of aura volume and martial arts mastery. The fact that he wasn’t completely pushed back was something to be praised.
Thud!
For the first time, the Saber Sword Sovereign took a step forward. It was a heavy step, as if crushing the ground, but its speed rivaled that of the Supreme Harmony Steps.
The Saber Sword Sovereign closed in rapidly, striking simultaneously with his sword and saber.
"Ugh!"
Raon tried to pull back, but the pressure the Saber Sword Sovereign exerted prevented him.
He unleashed the Flame Wall with the divine sword and the Flawless Golden Strands with the demonic sword.
The Flawless Golden Strands erased the enemy's energy while Flame Wall blocked all attacks, meeting the Saber Sword Sovereign's martial arts head-on.
Crackle!
Raon was pushed back, frowning. Even though Silent Fragrance erased most of the Saber Sword Sovereign's energy strikes, the impact was enough to shatter Flame Wall.
'He's not an opponent I can defeat alone.'
Perhaps because he was dead, the Saber Sword Sovereign didn't conserve his aura. If this continued, Raon might end up torn apart. He was facing a monster too difficult to handle alone.
Fwoosh!
After launching an astral sphere attack at the Saber Sword Sovereign, Raon looked behind him.
“I'll be there soon! Just hold on a little longer!”
“Damn it. If only I wasn't injured….
Rimmer and Serena were busy fighting the Sixth Apostle and Ghost Demon Swordmaster.
Rimmer was still getting used to his prosthetic arm, and Serena was seriously injured.
Crackle!
The Saber Sword Sovereign, like a dead man, thrust his blue sword and red saber with an unyielding gaze. Blue and red beams of light stretched out, becoming a storm of blades.
‘I have to do this alone.’
Just as Raon resigned himself to the thought, a massive bolt of lightning struck from the left, knocking aside the Saber Sword Sovereign's saber, while a heavy sword attack from the right pressed down on the Saber Sword Sovereign's sword.
Boom!
The Saber Sword Sovereign was forced back for the first time, and two figures stepped forward. It was the commander of the Koman Knights, Kusan, and the Thunder Hammer, Barpil.
The determination on their faces showed they were prepared for a desperate fight.
"You can't handle this alone."
"We will help."
"It's dangerous."
Raon shook his head at Kusan and Barpil. Both were not in their best condition and could easily lose their lives to the Saber Sword Sovereign's attacks.
"We said we'd repay our debt. Lucky that the opportunity came so soon."
"I feel the same."
The two stood beside Raon, shaking their heads as if they didn't care about dying.
"Heh."
Delphiros crossed his arms, sneering.
"Do as you wish. But can the three of you manage?"
"......"
Raon gritted his teeth without answering. As much as he hated to admit it, the Saber Sword Sovereign's power was still overwhelming. There was no guarantee they could win even with three of them.
“I'm tired of waiting, so let's move on this side as well.”
Delphiros snapped his fingers, and figures in black uniforms emerged from the shadows.
'Are they the Shadows Demon division?'
These were the warrior of the Shadows Demon division, Delphiros' force. Unlike the shadows who learned assassination techniques, these were guys who had properly trained in martial arts.
"Kill them."
At his command, the Shadows Demon division warriors rushed towards the warriors who hadn't yet regained their senses.
Chwaaaaak!
The difference in power was one thing, but the situation itself had unfolded so rapidly that the neutral faction warriors couldn't hold out and were quickly killed.
"Damn..."
Raon trembled as he watched.
'They must not die.'
To prevent the war, as many people as possible must be saved.
However, the Light Wind division and the Void Sword division were blocked by the White Blood Religion and the Black Tower, unable to assist.
“We need to save the people.”
Kusan turned around and shouted to his subordinates.
"Koman Knights, stop the slaughterers!”
"You guys too! Help the knights and protect the people!"
Barpil also nodded, telling the mages to protect the people.
It seemed like their words about helping in any way they could were sincere.
“Let's start on this side too. I'll take the lead!”
With a roar, Kusan charged at the Saber Sword Sovereign head-on.
Clang!
His thick sword was easily deflected by the Saber Sword Sovereign's red saber as if it were a twig.
"Where do you think you're going!"
Despite being repelled, Kusan didn't retreat. He advanced again, swinging his sword and clinging to the Saber Sword Sovereign.
Crackle!
Taking advantage of the Saber Sword Sovereign's focus on Kusan, the Thunder Hammer dropped a massive lightning bolt shaped like tree roots.
Boom!
The Saber Sword Sovereign, while blocking Kusan, raised the blue sword to shatter the lightning. It was a flexible yet thick sword barrier.
Thud!
Raon launched himself forward, red light trailing behind him. His divine and demonic swords, each gleaming with different lights, stabbed at the faintly glowing Saber Sword Sovereign's sword barrier.
Crack!
The barrier shattered, and the blades of the divine and demonic swords stopped right in front of the Saber Sword Sovereign's face. His eyes remained calm.
Raon twisted his wrists, drawing all the aura from his energy center and taking a firm step forward.
Kugugugugu!
A fire dragon rose from the tip of the Divine Sword, and a water dragon rose from the blade of Demonic Sword, both exhaling a majestic breath. It was the Flame Dragon Art unleashed in the Sword Field Creation.
Roar!
Fire and ice exploded simultaneously, completely shattering the Saber Sword Sovereign's barrier.
“Kaaaaa!”
"Thunderball!"
Kusan struck down with a heavy astral sphere strike on the broken barrier, and the Thunder Hammer detonated a giant ball of thunder energy.
Boom!
A second massive explosion erupted, creating a deep crater where the Saber Sword Sovereign had stood.
"Is it over?"
As the Thunder Hammer exhaled, a black light flashed within the dark smoke.
"Huh!"
"Oh no…."
Kusan and Barpil, having exhausted all their energy, couldn't even think of dodging and just stared blankly at the light.
Chiiing!
Raon bit his lip and ran forward. He swung his Divine Sword, creating Flame Wall rising from below.
Kooooong!
Boom!
The Flame Wall shattered instantly under the Saber Sword Sovereign's powerful attack. Raon quickly tilted the demonic sword to form an ice shield.
Crash!
He barely managed to block it, but it felt like all the bones in his body were shaking. The difference in aura quality and raw power was too vast.
Fwoosh!
As the smoke cleared, the Saber Sword Sovereign emerged. His clothes were torn, but not a single drop of blood flowed from his white skin.
‘He really is a corpse... huh?’
Raon narrowed his eyes as he looked inside the Saber Sword Sovereign. The pattern of the clothes he was wearing under his martial attire resembled Zieghart’s.
‘That's right. The Saber Sword Sovereign said he admired Zieghart’s first family head.’
If that was true, he might recognize the Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation.
He used the Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation to its extreme, and drew the Flame Spirit.
Whoosh!
The petals of the fire, nourished by fire, spread in all directions and enveloped the Saber Sword Sovereign.
If the Flame Spirit, the essence of Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation, could bring him back to his senses….
Slash!
But the Saber Sword Sovereign swung his saber roughly, chopping down the red petals that had stained the darkness.
'It's not working...'
Waking someone who was brainwashed and resurrected with martial arts seemed like something out of a story.
‘Fine. This actually works out better.’
Raon gripped his two swords firmly, smirking at the Saber Sword Sovereign's calm eyes.
‘I don't need the martial arts manual. I'll expose everything here.’
* * *
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Boom!
With a massive shockwave, Kusan was flung into a wall, and the Thunder Hammer rolled on the ground, coughing up blood.
"Keuheuk!"
"Kkeueuk...."
Kusan barely managed to stand, his legs trembling, while the Thunder Hammer remained on his knees, unable to rise.
"Huff…."
Raon wiped the blood from his lips, shaking his head.
'As expected, a person who was transcendent is different.'
Even though he was rotating the Ring of Fire to the extreme, it was not easy to understand the swordsmanship of the Saber Sword Sovereign.
Even if he understood the techniques, the Saber Sword Sovereign's aura and will were so overwhelming that there was no opportunity to exploit a gap.
"Strange…."
Kusan steadied his breathing, his hand trembling on his sword.
"Why isn't his aura depleting?"
"Hmm, even a transcendent should have limits…."
The Thunder Hammer agreed with a nod.
‘Come to think of it….’
Raon stroked his chin, staring at the Saber Sword Sovereign.
'The amount of his aura is the same as at the beginning.'
He died and came back to life, so it's understandable that his stamina doesn't decrease.
But the Saber Sword Sovereign used his aura as if it were infinite.
Despite putting his full power into each strike, his aura did not diminish.
“Is he like a lich?”
“A lich?”
Kusan turned his head, puzzled.
"Liches can be resurrected even if they die as long as the core containing the soul is intact, and they can use mana endlessly. It seems similar to that."
“Then, does that mean we can’t kill him?”
“No, that’s not it.”
The Thunder Hammer shook his head.
"Even if you made a soul core, there is a limit. There must be a corresponding disadvantage to using such power."
He gritted his teeth, insisting that such power couldn’t be used without any conditions.
“You’re right. There must be a weakness.”
Raon steadied his breathing and raised his divine and demonic swords.
“Let’s keep going.”
“Ugh, can’t go back on my word now!”
Kusan grumbled as he charged at the Saber Sword Sovereign head-on.
“Lightning Dragon!”
The Thunder Hammer, still unable to fully stand, unleashed lightning from his staff. The bright yellow energy formed a dragon and surged towards the Saber Sword Sovereign’s left side.
“Hup!”
Raon stepped forward, rotating to the right, slashing with the divine sword, and following with the demonic sword in a fluid motion.
Slash!
As the combined attacks of the three Grandmasters struck, the Saber Sword Sovereign’s sword and saber flashed.
Boom!
He unleashed powerful energy, repelling all three simultaneously, just as he had at the start of the battle.
'First, we need to block the Sword Saint to find anything...'
We were gradually getting exhausted, but the Saber Sword Sovereign's stamina and aura were endless.
If this continued, even understanding his techniques wouldn’t guarantee victory.
“Huff….”
While Raon was holding off the Saber Sword Sovereign’s attacks, an incredibly subtle presence approached from behind and suddenly leaped overhead.
“I will take the Saber Sword Sovereign’s martial arts!”
It was the man who had been hiding quietly until now. An old man with long, ebony hair, the Wandering Revenant, who had first discovered the Saber Sword Sovereign’s tomb and opened this place.
Taking advantage of the distraction, he reached for the Saber Sword Sovereign’s martial arts manual.
Slash!
The moment the Wandering Revenant touched the martial arts book, the Saber Sword Sovereign abruptly raised his sword, which had been blocking the Lightning Dragon.
Slash!
The blue blade sliced through the Wandering Revenant’s body like paper.
“Fool. Do you think a warrior would let their martial arts manual be taken?”
Delphiros sneered at the sight of the Wandering Revenant’s bisected body.
"Your role ended when you opened this tomb. A fitting death for a worm."
“Ugh….”
The Wandering Revenant looked at the martial arts book he couldn't obtain and breathed his last.
“……”
Raon wasn’t looking at Delphiros or the Wandering Revenant. He was staring at the Saber Sword Sovereign, swallowing dryly.
‘Could it be….’
That must be it.
For just a moment, when the Wandering Revenant touched the Saber Sword Sovereign’s martial arts book, a connection of energy formed between the Saber Sword Sovereign and the book.
No one else might have noticed, but Raon, with the Ring of Fire, couldn’t have seen it wrong.
Raon slowly raised his gaze. A deep crimson light, darker than blood, formed in his eyes as he looked at the martial arts book floating in the air.
‘Found it.’
That’s the Saber Sword Sovereign’s core.
