Chapter 644
The one who split the space was Aris, and the one who erected a blue sword energy in the sky was the Sword Demon, Rector.
The mighty sword energies unleashed by these two transcendent beings collided with the blade containing death, transforming into light.
BOOOM!
However, perhaps due to their rushed movements, Aris and Rector’s sword strikes failed to completely erase it.
Crack.
Raon gritted his teeth. He could feel death shattering his ribs as it invaded his body.
Just when he thought it was all over, the blade suddenly stopped. It was only a moment, but it felt as if time had stopped.
SLASH!
Aris, who had torn through the space, and Rector, who had descended like a thunderbolt from the sky, shattered the halted black blade.
KWOOONG!
The black death energy melted away into a dark light as if it had never existed.
THUD!
As the death energy began to sink into the ground, Raon tossed a fragment of the floating scabbard to the ground.
The diamond-shaped fragment of scabbard turned black, as if stained with ink.
"Raon!"
The moment Raon picked up the fallen fragment of the scabbard, Aris tackled him to the ground, shielding him with her own body.
"It might come again! Everyone, get down!"
She raised a thick barrier, biting her lip. Her face was desperate, more so than when facing the mad dragon Kaibar.
"L-lady Aris?"
"What's going on all of a sudden…."
"Huh?"
Burren, Martha, and Runaan opened their eyes wide in confusion. Even the Master level warriors couldn’t grasp what had just happened.
"Everyone, fall back!"
"Keep your heads down and hide behind trees or rocks!"
Only Grandmaster, Rimmer and Serena recognized the imminent danger and ordered the Light Wind division and the Void Sword division to retreat.
"……."
The Sword Demon, Rector, didn't even look back. He stood in his original spot, radiating a chilling aura.
"Don't worry. I'll protect you, even if it costs me my life."
Aris bit her lip, her embrace steady and warm, as if to erase Raon's fear, filled with a will to protect, no matter what came.
Ugh….
Wrath clutched his head and let out a deep groan.
‘Was it you who stopped the black blade?’
Y-yes.
He nodded weakly.
‘But why?’
Currently, Wrath existed as a spirit residing within him. Using physical force would require breaking the laws of causality.
Although they had formed a bond, it was strange for Wrath to risk harming both his main body and spirit to save him.
Because I was pissed.
‘What?’
How dare they evade the senses of the King of Essence! If he had his body, he would have killed them on the spot!
Wrath clicked his tongue in frustration. It seemed he was furious at someone for avoiding his omnipotent senses.
Don't even think about going after them. They're strong.
‘I know.’
Raon nodded calmly.
You know? Could it be you know them?
'Yes. How could I not?'
Raon twisted his lips as he looked at the blackened scabbard fragment.
‘The only one who can use Dark Flow is Derus.’
The black blade carrying death was an energy called Dark Flow, one of Derus Robert’s true powers.
Even if it wasn’t Dark Flow, he could have guessed it was Derus. The only Transcendent who would attack him from an invisible location was Derus.
‘But….’
His actions were unexpected.
He never thought Derus would come here, and even if he did, he didn’t think he would attack.
But Derus appeared and unleashed Dark Flow at him. It meant that even someone as cold and calculating as him had a human side.
‘Derus Robert.’
Raon twisted his lips as he glared in the direction where Derus might be.
'You're finally starting to show your tail.'
***
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Kubara trembled, her lips parched as she watched Raon. She swallowed and turned to Derus.
“Why are Aris Zieghart and the Sword Demon here…?”
“How very interesting.”
Derus Robert smiled faintly, not showing any anger.
“I knew Aris Zieghart and the Sword Demon were hiding here. I thought I could kill Raon Zieghart before they arrived. However...”
He continued, looking at Raon in Aris’ arms.
“Raon Zieghart survived purely because of his own power. He bought a moment by breaking the scabbard.”
“Ah….”
“That moment saved his life. But there are a few strange things.”
“Strange things... Ah!”
Kubara looked towards the Saber Sword Sovereign's tomb and then raised her eyes. As Derus said, there was one strange thing.
“You mean the Sword Demon Rector.”
“It’s understandable that Aris Zieghart cares for Raon Zieghart. It’s unexpected that she would risk her life, but it’s within reason.”
Derus narrowed his eyes as he looked at Rector.
“The Sword Demon’s reaction is odd. Even if he taught Raon a little, they’re clearly enemies, yet he seemed more urgent than Aris Zieghart.”
He stroked his chin and shook his head.
“There might be another relationship between Raon Zieghart and the Sword Demon Rector, aside from the Six Kings and Five Demons.”
“I will investigate.”
Understanding Derus’ implication, Kubara nodded immediately.
"One more thing."
Derus wagged his finger at Kubara.
"There was a strange reaction from Raon's body at the end. Investigate Raon Zieghart's entire life again, thoroughly."
"Understood."
Despite already having a mountain of information on Raon, Kubara didn't hesitate and nodded.
"Go on ahead. They've likely tracked our direction."
"Yes Sir."
She answered immediately and sank into Derus' shadow.
“When 'she' said there was someone who would block my path, I naturally thought of Glenn Zieghart. But...”
Derus, hands behind his back, narrowed his eyes. His gaze, a mix of anger and joy, fixed on Raon with a dry smile.
"It might be you."
Before his low voice finished echoing, only a cold wind remained on the mountainside where he stood.
***
They are definitely gone now.
Wrath clutched his temples, frowning.
Damn it! This is humiliating.
He kept repeating that if he had his body, he would have charged at them immediately.
'Yeah, I know you would.'
Raon nodded, patting Wrath’s reddened head.
'Derus Robert.'
How much stronger have you become?
Even though Wrath wasn't in his real body, his senses far surpassed Raon's own.
Yet, even Wrath hadn't sensed Derus' presence until the attack. It seemed Derus had grown far beyond his imagination.
"Aunt. It’s okay now."
Raon sighed briefly and grasped Aris’ shoulder.
"Hmm?"
Aris widened her eyes as if asking what he meant.
"Given that they attacked from a distance, it means they don’t want to reveal their identity. They won’t come back."
"I understand that, but…."
She nodded briefly, as if she had already anticipated it.
"They’re probably already gone. You can relax now."
Raon smiled and stood up.
"W-what on earth happened?"
"What was that?"
"An enemy?"
Burren, Martha, and Runaan rushed over, realizing the situation had ended. Not just them, but the entire Light Wind division looked confused.
"We were ambushed."
Serena frowned, looking in the direction from which the black blade had come.
"A-ambushed?"
Dorian emerged from his hiding spot behind the sofa, eyes wide.
"Yes. Someone was targeting Raon."
Rimmer bit his lip as he looked this way, frustrated that he hadn’t been able to prevent it.
"I didn’t notice anything."
"Damn it!"
"Hmm…."
Burren, Martha, and Runaan clenched their fists, angry at their inability to do anything.
"The assailant was a master of stealth. Even I barely sensed it."
Aris shook her head at the three captains, telling them not to blame themselves.
"He’s a powerful transcendent. Possibly even a match for my father…."
"A match for the head of house?"
"Yes."
Though hard to believe, she sighed, acknowledging the possibility.
"I don’t know who they were. It was a type of energy I’d never seen before."
Rimmer frowned, unable to predict their opponent.
"A transcendent?"
"Why would a transcendent target Raon…."
Cold sweat ran down Burren and Martha’s brows.
"It's probably because I ruined their plan."
Raon chuckled, pointing at the entrance of the Saber Sword Sovereign.
"Ruined their plan?"
Aris quickly turned to him, puzzled.
"That wasn’t a tomb. It was filled with devices designed to instigate a war between the Six Kings and Five Demons, and the neutral factions. In that place..."
Raon briefly explained the tomb’s nature to Aris.
"...Since such an astronomical amount of manpower and resources were invested in this plan, and it failed, the leader of the faction behind it probably wants me dead."
"Indeed…."
"That makes sense."
Serena and Rimmer nodded in agreement.
"Who on earth could have devised such a plan?"
Aris swept her hair back, glaring in the direction from which the black blade had come.
"There's no one like that among the Six Kings and Five Demons. Or rather, even if there were, their names would be known."
She frowned, saying she had seen all the heads of the Six Kings and Five Demons, yet recognizing none with that ability.
"I don’t know either. But…"
Raon smiled faintly, looking at the scabbard fragment imbued with Derus’ Dark Flow.
"They won't be able to hide forever."
Derus' unexpected move wasn’t entirely bad news.
Now that his energy had been revealed, it wouldn't be impossible to later expose Derus Robert, the Sky Sword Saint, and Derus Robert, the villain who committed countless evil deeds in the shadows, as the same person.
The greatest gain today might not be the martial arts of the Saber Sword Sovereign, but the revelation of Derus' Dark Flow.
"Anyway, it seems to be truly over."
Aris nodded, looking at the now quiet forest.
"We should leave quickly, just in case. But first."
She glanced at the Sword Demon Rector.
"Why did you come here, old man? No, why did you protect him?"
Aris stared at the Sword Demon with a contemplative look, clearly puzzled.
Rector slowly turned around, revealing an expression that was calm to the point of coldness.
"So…"
"Are you dissatisfied?"
"No."
Aris shook her head calmly.
"I'm grateful. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have been able to save Raon. I moved too quickly and couldn't use my full strength."
True to her character, she honestly admitted her shortcomings.
"But even though I'm grateful, I don't understand. Why did you save Raon? What's your ulterior motive?"
"......"
Raon nodded briefly as he observed Rector's dry expression.
'She's right.'
Unlike Aris, Rector had no reason to risk injury to save him.
"I saved him only because if he died, the legacy in the tomb would disappear as well."
Rector's gaze was chillingly cold.
"How did you know that?"
"Those fools were blabbering about it, it would be strange not to know."
He pointed towards the neutral faction warriors who had come out with the Light Wind division. It seemed he had learned about the internal situation through their chatter.
"Um..."
"We're sorry."
The neutral faction warriors bowed their heads, unable to say anything.
"That was the only reason."
Rector's sword vibrated slightly, as if thirsting for blood.
"Hmm..."
Raon groaned, looking at Rector's dry eyes.
'It's not unreasonable.'
The Holy Sword Alliance is obsessed with swords and swordsmanship, and the Sword Demon is no different, so it's not entirely strange.
However, the look in the Sword Demon's eyes today revealed an urgency that went beyond that reason. It seemed like he was lying.
"It's hard to believe, but..."
Aris tilted her head, finding it strange.
"No need to press further, I guess."
"......"
Rector maintained his cold expression, as if it didn't matter either way.
"So, are you suggesting we fight for the Saber Sword Sovereign's legacy?"
"Isn't it obvious?"
He seemed ready to settle things right away,
his eyes fixed on his sword. It was as if the
man had become one with the sword.
"Crazy old geezer."
Aris furrowed her brow and raised her sword. The principle of spatial sword flowed, causing the space around her to ripple like a mirage.
Rumble!
Just as Aris and Rector were about to thrust their swords into each other's souls…
Crack!
The edges of the swords they were holding simultaneously twisted. It was the same spot where they had blocked Derus's attack.
"......"
"......"
Aris and Rector looked at each other's swords and then lowered their stances.
"With an unknown Transcendent out there, today doesn't seem like the right time."
"I agree."
As Rector nodded, the Holy Sword Alliance swordsmen, who had been hiding behind him, approached.
"Raon Zieghart. Before we go, I have two questions."
"Please, ask."
Raon nodded toward Rector, who looked at him as if he were seeing through him.
"Is the Ghost Demon Swordmaster dead?"
"Yes."
"And did you truly obtain the Saber Sword Sovereign's martial arts?"
"Yes."
"It seems breaking the scabbard was one of the Saber Sword Sovereign's martial arts."
"That's correct."
There was no point in lying, so he nodded.
"I see."
Rector nodded calmly with an unreadable expression before turning away without hesitation.
"I won't see you off."
Aris waved her hand as if telling him to go quickly.
Raon watched Rector retreat slowly, then widened his eyes. A familiar face came into view behind him.
"Mustan!"
It was Mustan, Rector's disciple.
"......"
When called, Mustan flinched and turned his back.
"Come over here!"
Mustan's soul was bound to Raon due to the emotion of <Envy>. If he asked, he might be able to learn Rector's true intentions.
"I can't do that."
However, Mustan refused Raon's order. He looked at Raon with calm eyes and followed Rector.
'What's going on?'
Mustan's eyes were clear, and the <Envy> that bound him was still present. He couldn't understand why someone whose soul was bound would ignore his command.
The reason is simple.
Wrath snorted as if it were no big deal.
If your soul-bound servant doesn't listen to you, it's because their current actions benefit you.
'If that's the case, could it be...'
Raon gulped, looking at Rector's back in front of Mustan.
