Chapter 643
Nedro Jureon, the head of the renowned martial house Jureon from the south and known as the "Sky Flowing Spear," blinked as he watched Raon emerge from the tomb.
'What is this?'
Is this really happening?
The warriors who remained here had made an unspoken pact.
They had sworn to join forces and attack whoever came out with the Saber Sword Sovereign's legacy, regardless of whether it was one of the Six Kings or Five Demons, but the other side made the first move and no one could move.
According to their plan, the warriors should have charged forward first, but instead, they were all watching each other, hesitant to act. It was a bewildering situation.
However, it was understandable, given the overwhelming presence of Raon Zieghart standing at the front. His aura shook the earth and trembled the heavens—who would dare to attack?
'At this rate, we have no choice but to let them go...'
Nedro Jureon narrowed his eyes as he continued to observe Raon.
'Wait. He's severely injured.'
Ignoring Raon's powerful aura, upon closer inspection, Nedro noticed that Raon's black coat and uniform were torn to shreds, with blood pooling inside. It appeared he was seriously wounded.
'He's not the only one. They're all severely injured.'
Serena, the leader of the Void Sword division, was drenched in blood and looked like she might die any second, and the other swordsmen, including Rimmer, were covered in wounds.
'Their expressions aren't good either.'
The faces of the members of Light Wind and Void Sword, as well as the neutral factions behind them, were ashen. It signified that they were greatly exhausted from their tomb raid.
'Now I understand.'
Nedro clenched his fist tightly.
'That guy is bluffing.'
The ones who had entered the tomb were the White Blood Religion, Black Tower, and Holy Sword Alliance. If they had defeated all of them and brought back the Saber Sword Sovereign's legacy, they could not possibly be in good condition.
Raon Zieghart had stepped forward first to mask their disadvantage. His acting was superb, but the pallor on the faces of the swordsmen behind him was impossible to conceal.
'This is our only chance.'
If they escaped from here, they wouldn't be able to capture them. This had to end now.
Nedro quickly sent an aura message, informing the leaders of the other factions that Raon and his group were bluffing and urging them to proceed with their original plan.
The other leaders, noticing the exhausted state of Zieghart's group, nodded in agreement.
'Shall I make the first move?'
Usually, when hunting a beast, it's not wise to be at the forefront. However, this beast was gravely injured, and there were plenty of archers behind him. It was a perfectly safe situation to step forward and enhance his reputation and influence.
With a relaxed smile, Nedro stepped out of the bushes. He walked calmly towards Raon.
"Drop your weapons or leave? I don't understand."
He stopped ten steps away from Raon and shook his head.
"This place doesn't belong to Zieghart. I have no intention of dropping my weapon or leaving..."
As he spoke with his spear on his shoulder, a sudden strong wind pressure blew. It felt like his skin was going to tear.
Pwaaang!
Before the wind had even fully subsided, a powerful blow struck his right cheek. The world spun, and he lost all sensation in his body.
"Ah..."
Before he could even groan, his consciousness left his body. Through his closing eyes, he saw Raon Zieghart's arrogant expression.
Bang!
As Nedro's face slammed into the ground, all the warriors who had been poised to attack came to a halt. It was as if time had stopped.
***
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"Ten seconds have passed."
Raon clicked his tongue after crushing the face of the first warrior who approached. As he looked at the people frozen like wooden dolls, he slung the scabbard of Heavenly Drive over his shoulder.
"Uh..."
"It wasn't a bluff, he was serious?"
"Crazy..."
The warriors trembled as they looked at the calm Raon and the crushed face of Nedro.
"The warning is over."
Raon tilted his chin and walked towards the warrior, stepping on the fallen Nedro's back.
"Wha-What are you doing now!"
"How can we abandon our weapons in a place like this!"
"Say something that makes sense!"
"Why is this Zieghart's land! Stop talking nonsense!"
The warriors, who appeared to be the leaders of each faction, stepped back in fear, raising their voices. Raon memorized their faces and positions.
Thump!
He used the Supreme Harmony Steps as if riding the wind. He moved at a tremendous speed, as if the sand on the ground was being swept back, and stood in front of the warrior who was in front.
"Ugh!"
Despite his surprise, the warrior threw a punch with perfect form.
Raon dodged the punch by lifting his elbow and struck down with the scabbard.
Crack!
With a sound like breaking bones, the warrior spurted blood from his head and collapsed backwards.
"Breaking their heads first should do it."
Raon bent his knees and pushed off the ground. He approached the swordsman who had opened his mouth next and pressed down the scabbard.
"Urrrggh!"
The swordsman let out a cry and created a barrier with his sword to defend himself.
Bang!
However, the power contained in the scabbard was overwhelming. The sword's scabbard shattered the swordsman's barrier and crushed his forehead.
"Keuurrggh!"
The swordsman let out an awkward scream before collapsing.
"R-run away!"
The third person, an archer, stumbled backwards. He moved faster backwards than he did forwards.
But even the archer's footwork couldn't match the speed of Raon's Supreme Harmony Steps.
Crack!
Catching up with the archer, Raon struck his head.
"Aaaargh!"
The archer let out a piercing scream and collapsed, his body twisted into the shape of a sickle.
Um....
Wrath spoke to him cautiously.
You said you'd handle this with words?
'I did. But they won't listen,' Raon tilted his head in confusion.
That's not words, that's a threat!
Wrath widened his eyes in disbelief.
'Yeah.'
You're a crazy lunatic...
Wrath shook his head, saying Raon was getting crazier.
'It'll be over soon. Just wait a little longer.'
With a faint smile, Raon moved towards the fourth person who had spoken, a mage.
"Gasp!"
Realizing he was the next target, the mage recoiled in fear, quickly dropping his staff and raising his hands.
"I surrender!"
The mage forced a smile and shook his head.
"You should have done that earlier."
Raon approached the mage with the scabbard of Heavenly Drive and slung over his shoulder.
"Phew..."
The mage sighed in relief, wiping his chest.
"But it's too late."
Raon twisted his lips into a smirk and struck the mage's head with the scabbard.
Thwack!
The mage couldn't even scream before collapsing. His eyes, filled with unjust resentment, trembled as he fell unconscious.
"He... he dropped his weapon..."
"Why is he hitting him?"
"Where's the justice in this! This isn't even Zieghart's territory!"
The warrior and mages trembled, shouting in protest.
"I told you. From today, this place is once again Zieghart's land."
"From today, again?"
A red-haired swordsman narrowed his eyes.
"That's right. This land originally belonged to Zieghart. The owner of the tomb has given his approval, so we're taking it back."
"You really think that makes sen..."
"If I say it does, it does."
Raon moved as if teleporting and crushed the red-haired swordsman's head.
"Urrrrggh!"
The swordsman collapsed mid-sentence, having bitten his tongue.
"He's insane."
"He's out of his mind!"
"There's no reasoning with him!"
The faces of the warrior, who had now become the targets, turned pale with fear.
"W-wait! I'll leave!"
"I'll drop my weapon and retreat, just stop this!"
"It's already too late."
Raon chased after the retreating warrior with a cold smile. His eyes were filled with madness.
"...Is that what he calls handling it with words?"
Serena's eyes widened in disbelief.
"Am I misunderstanding the meaning of the word 'words'?"
"Our division leader just learned the word wrong. It's not your fault, division leader Serena."
Burren sighed and shook his head.
"But it's better than usual today. He didn't use his sword."
"He didn't use his sword, but people are still dying..."
Serena exhaled, looking at the warrior who had begun coughing up blood.
"The title 'Sword of Rakshasha' should have gone to him, not me."
Martha frowned.
"How can he be called a chivalrous warrior? He's just a thug."
She snorted, looking at Raon.
"Handsome Raon."
Runan shouted "Handsome Raon" and then sat on the ground, beginning to nap. She seemed to have complete trust in Raon.
"How long will this take to finish?"
"Given the numbers, about twenty minutes?"
"There are a lot of them, but they're all terrified of our division leader. I'd say five minutes."
"I bet ten minutes!"
The members of the Light Wind relaxed and began betting on when the situation would end.
"Why not place some money on it?"
Rimmer grinned and began collecting bets from the swordsmen.
"Is the Light Wind division always like this?"
Serena chuckled, watching the Light Wind members even start a gambling den.
"Actually, I'm the only sane one in the Light Wind division."
Serena looked to the right at Dorian's voice. He had set up a cozy sofa and campfire from his belly pocket and sighed deeply.
"..."
Serena kept her mouth shut and shook her head.
'This place is a madhouse...'
* * *
On the mountainside, where the Saber Sword Sovereign's tomb appeared as a small dot in the distance.
Kubara knelt, her hands trembling. She swallowed silently and stared at the back of Derus Robert, who stood before her.
Derus showed no sign of any emotion. He had a dry atmosphere as if he were a doll.
His restrained anger made him more terrifying than any outburst.
Kubara clutched her neck, struggling to breathe. The mere presence of Derus felt like her heart was being constricted by steel wires.
"Ugh..."
Unable to endure any longer, she drooled and groaned, as Derus slowly nodded.
"So this is how it ends."
Derus' calm voice was tinged with simmering anger. Kubara felt a burning pain, as if her skin were on fire.
"I thought Delphiros, the Demon Rain division leader, and the puppet Saber Sword Sovereign would suffice against any opponent, but that bastard has ruined everything again."
Raon's face appeared in his cold eyes. It was chilling, as if melting in blood.
"He has gotten stronger. I heard he had just reached Grandmaster, but he has already advanced to the intermediate level."
"......"
Kubara widened her eyes, glaring at where Raon stood.
'Intermediate?'
The news of Raon Zieghart reaching the Grandmaster level had spread at the beginning of this year. But to think he had already reached the intermediate level was an unbelievable rate of growth, even for a genius.
Raon's growth was more terrifying than her fear of Derus.
She had always thought her strength was her composure in any situation, but today, that strength seemed to have vanished.
"Discard the second plan. It's meaningless now that they have survived."
Derus shook his head, his gaze fixed on Raon.
"Continue the fragmentation of the Five Divine Orders. With things as they are, that may become the key."
"...Understood."
Kubara swallowed dryly and nodded.
'He thinks of the next plan right away.'
Derus didn't get angry even after seeing firsthand that a plan, which consumed significant time and resources, had been ruined. Instead, he thought about the next move. Even though she had served him her whole life, she felt a chill down her spine.
"If we don't come up with a solid strategy, the grand plan could be delayed by ten years."
Derus sighed briefly, shaking his head.
"It's all my fault."
He clenched his jaw as he watched Raon tearing through the warriors like a wolf in a flock of sheep.
"I knew he was dangerous, but I didn't prioritize him. It's my fault."
Derus smirked at himself and raised his hand.
Wooong!
A sinister, round, black energy, shaped like a full moon, ignited in his palm.
Swish!
Derus held his hand steady, carving the black energy. In the span of a single breath, the round energy had transformed into a thin blade, which he grasped in his hand.
Kubara shivered, watching the blade Derus had created. It didn't emit any aura or will, but it was terrifying. It embodied only the essence of death.
"Could this kill him?"
Derus turned back with a faint smile.
"...Of course."
Kubara nodded. Even if Derus held back his power, Raon Zieghart couldn't block this.
"The thought that I shouldn't be doing this tickles my brain, but I'm only human, so I can't resist."
Derus looked at Raon and pulled the black blade back.
"If he survives this, then it's fate."
With his low voice, the blade of darkness disappeared into the shadows of the night.
***
Kwaaang!
Raon smirked, looking at the mountain of unconscious warriors.
'My body feels light.'
Thanks to the earth aura (energy) bestowed by the Saber Sword Sovereign, his middle energy center had become incredibly solid. His body, mind, and energy center had found stability, and his whole body was overflowing with vitality.
"Stop! Please, stop!"
"We surrender!"
"I surrender!"
The warrior shouted, throwing down their weapons and kneeling. All that could be heard were the sounds of metal clattering to the ground and groans of pain.
As Raon approached the hill formed by the pile of swords, spears, sabers and daggers. he suddenly halted.
Raon!
Wrath's urgent scream echoed in his mind.
'Why are you calli...'
Raon tried to respond but stopped.
Something was coming.
No, it wasn't something—it was death. The stench of death, felt in his previous life, was approaching him.
Perhaps it was because his life was about to end. His concentration reached its peak, and time slowed down to the point where he could see the flow of air.
He couldn't block it. He couldn't dodge it.
Even if he entrusted his body to Wrath, his heart would be pierced the moment their souls switched.
All he could do was thrust his scabbard forward. That was all.
Even so, thrusting the scabbard was pointless. What was rushing at him contained death beyond his ability to block.
Was it a life review?
Scenes from his past and present life flashed before him rapidly.
Yet, even after searching through all those memories, he couldn't find a way to survive.
Just as the endless reel of memories was about to end, the final scene came into view.
The scene of receiving martial arts from the Saber Sword Sovereign. Among the martial arts he had received and learned from him, the sword technique "Destruction Sword Dance" from the very last chapter came to mind.
A secret technique to destroy the sword and save one's own life, just as the name suggested.
He couldn't use it perfectly, but it might buy him a moment.
Biting his lip until it bled, he performed the Destruction Sword Dance with his scabbard.
Crack!
The scabbard shattered like a spider web, forming a thin barrier in front of him.
However, the blade containing death pierced through the Destruction Sword Dance in an instant, aiming for his heart.
0.5 seconds. No, not even 0.1 seconds had been gained.
In the end, was it all meaningless?
He could feel death piercing through his skin. But he didn't close his eyes.
He focused his gaze, ready to fight until the end.
As he strengthened his resolve, the space to his left split diagonally, and a blue light flashed from the sky above.
CRASH!
