N/T: Translation made by our friend 'Irving'. A big round of applause for him :)
Chapter 653
Glenn clenched his fist as he looked at the fallen Sylvia, smiling. He had to exert every ounce of control to keep his emotions from exploding.
"Sylvia...."
She was the youngest, the one who should have received the most love, but instead, she was neglected and treated worse than anyone else.
Barely escaping the greed and obsession, he sought Sylvia, but she had left the family after having her energy center destroyed.
By the time he sent the Heavenly Blade division, it was too late.
Though he was unable to control himself due to obsession to expand the family and greed consuming him, it was an unforgivable sin.
Sylvia, who returned with a child in her belly, begged to be saved, with eyes that wanted to die.
He wanted to beg instead. He wanted to kneel and ask this inadequate father to be forgiven.
But seeing Sylvia suppress her sadness and forcibly show strength for the sake of her child, he couldn't say anything as if his throat was blocked.
He didn't even have the right to ask for forgiveness from that child. Instead, he made a vow to himself.
He swore to protect her from behind, even if he couldn’t take care of her front.
But today, the youngest daughter he thought was endlessly delicate and weak had changed.
Sylvia burned herself to protect her family, to fend off the malice approaching her family. Even though she was a master, her determination to protect her family had become a will that permeated her sword.
She might not realize it herself, but today she caused a crack in the Grandmaster’s wall.
‘You’ve been regretting it so much.’
The reason Sylvia fought with all her strength today was not just because of the vice head. She thought of her husband and daughter, whom she couldn’t protect. That’s why she could move her body until she passed out.
Glenn bit his lips hard.
‘It's my sin.’
He hadn't even seen his son-in-law's face, and he didn't even know his granddaughter existed.
Even though he had enough strength to protect them. No, he could have prevented Sylvia from leaving in the first place, but he couldn't protect anything.
But today, Sylvia took on the sin that he thought was his.
She wielded her sword to the end with her own strength, as if determined not to experience the same thing again.
The youngest, whom he thought he had to protect until the end because of her indelible wounds, had become a stronger parent than him.
‘That is....’
Glenn slowly closed and opened his eyes. He looked at Raon nursing Sylvia and bit his lips.
‘Thanks to you.’
No, thanks to both of them.
Because Raon existed, Sylvia was able to become strong, and because Sylvia held the center, Raon was able to become strong. Those two were like water and trees, influencing each other's growth.
"Th-this is ridiculous!"
When Glenn looked at Raon and Sylvia with proud eyes, Balder stood up from his chair with his hands trembling.
"How did a Grandmaster lose to a Master?"
Balder breathed out in disbelief.
"That martial art called Shining Light Style."
Denier stroked his chin as he looked down at Sylvia and Raon.
"It's the counter to the Ten Forms Sword that the vice head is practicing."
He narrowed his eyes as if searching for something.
"Counter? What the hell is the Shining Light Style anyway!"
Balder turned his head, asking if anyone had heard of this martial art.
"Raon must have created it."
Aris laughed as she brushed her disheveled side hair back.
"Created it?"
"Yes. Raon took the Ten Forms Sword manual book with his wish token. He used that as a foundation to create the Ten Forms Sword counter martial art."
"Is that even possible?"
Balder stuttered in disbelief.
"Generally, it's impossible. But...."
Sheryl shook her head with a smile on her lips.
"But that child. Raon can do it."
"Quite right."
Roenn laughed heartily, untying his hands clasped behind his back.
"Young Master Raon sees the world differently from us."
Glenn nodded, hearing Sheryl and Roenn's words.
‘Yes. Raon can do it.’
As Aris said, Raon had brutally disassembled the Ten Forms Sword to create a martial art to counter it.
The Shining Light Style, as a martial art, fundamentally had no weaknesses and exhibited more than double its power in front of the Ten Forms Sword.
The reason Sylvia could endure until the end, with Master level aura, was thanks to the flow of Shining Light Style that devoured the Ten Forms Sword.
"Raon, by showing Shining Light Style, warned everyone here today."
Aris smacked her lips as she looked at Raon.
"A warning?"
Balder tilted his head, not understanding.
“He showed through Sylvia’s fight what happens if you touch the annex building.”
As Aris said, the spectators were still silent. Everyone seemed to be in a daze, mouths agape,
"S-Should I ask him to make a martial art for me too?"
Balder smacked his lips, seemingly forgetting his relationship with Raon.
"As if he'd do it for you!"
Aris smacked Balder's head with her palm.
Glenn ignored Aris and Balder's bickering and looked at Raon.
'Just as Aris said.'
Raon had warned everyone here today. He didn't show it himself, but through Sylvia, he showed what happens if you mess with the annex building.
Thanks to Sylvia, who fought like a madwoman with blood in her mouth, no one would dare touch the annex building anymore.
‘You did what I should have done.’
Glenn, unusually, smiled gently as he looked at Raon.
‘Thank you.’
***
More free chapters: https://tinyurl.com/theAxeKing
Advance chapters: Tinyurl.com/Albnlfff
For Indonesian: Tinyurl.com/Aldbnlff
The spectators blinked slowly.
"...Is that Lady Sylvia?"
"She's like a different person."
"It was scary. It felt like watching a life-or-death fight, not a sparring match...."
People shuddered as they looked at Sylvia, who was smiling even while fainted.
"But she was smiling. She looked like a saintess!"
"That makes it even scarier...."
"I don't think I can look Lady Sylvia in the eyes anymore."
"Blood, compassion, and madness. The Mad Blood-Loving Sword...."
Someone muttered, and Sylvia's new nickname was born.
"The Shining Light Style. The martial art of the annex building?"
"Does that mean they will teach that monstrous martial art to everyone in the annex building?"
"Probably."
"Ugh, I'm not going anywhere near the annex from now on."
"We should get close to them instead! Who knows if some cheese powder will fall off!"
"Anyway, I don't want to be their enemy. Lady Sylvia is scarier than the division leader of Light Wind...."
The spectators chattered only about Sylvia's madness and swordsmanship, completely ignoring the vice head who was the winner.
The name of Shining Light Style, the martial art of the annex building, spread through everyone's mouths as a symbol of fear.
This is the result you wanted, huh.
Wrath nodded, looking at people talking only about Sylvia, Shining Light Style, and the annex building.
'Yes.'
Raon smiled faintly as he wiped the blood off Sylvia's hair.
'I wanted my mother to show everyone here. What kind of place is the annex building is.'
Sylvia fought not only to avenge the vice head but also to reveal what kind of place the annex building was.
Thanks to her fighting until she fainted, no one would dare to touch the annex building anymore.
I wanted her to stop, but....
Wrath looked at Sylvia with calm eyes.
It was a fight that needed to be fought to the end, and it brought results. It was a good sight to see.
The little guy smiled contentedly.
Mom! You did great!
Wrath stroked Sylvia's head with his chubby hand, wagging his tail.
'She's not your mom.'
Raon pushed Wrath away when the maids of the annex building ran over the spectators seats.
"M-My lady!"
"Are you alright!"
"Oh, what should we do!"
From Judiel to Helen, even Yua, everyone was there.
"She's fine."
Raon smiled faintly and handed Sylvia, who had been healed by his holy power, over to the maids.
"Ha...."
Helen confirmed that Sylvia's breathing was stable and sat down as if her strength had drained.
"Stay with mother and wait."
Raon met the eyes of each maid in turn and nodded.
"I'll finish quickly and come down."
He waved his hand and climbed up to the training ground.
"Mother couldn't cut you properly because she's too kind-hearted...."
Raon drew Heavenly Drive. The blade shone menacingly in the sunlight.
"But I'm different. You'd better be prepared."
"You...."
He looked at the grinding teeth of the vice head and took a deep breath. Normally, he would give him time to recover, but this was a fight between the annex building and the vice head of the senators’ office.
He must not destroy the efforts Sylvia has built up.
“Ar-are you ready?”
The host, who had been standing blankly, approached with trembling fingers.
“No. I am not ready,” the vice head said firmly, shaking his head.
“The ground is damaged! I won't fight until the repairs are finished!”
Though the ground was indeed in disarray, it wasn’t in such a state that fighting was impossible. The vice head was trying to buy time to recover his stamina and aura. He was truly a sly old fox.
“It won’t take long anyway.”
Raon replied.
“We won’t know until we see! Regardless, I won’t fight until the ground is repaired!”
The vice head insisted, then descended from the training ground. There was no way to stop him now.
“Sigh, alright then. Let's get the repairs underway…”
“I knew this would happen.”
Rimmer, who had been sitting on the gambling table he made, jumped over.
“Come out.”
He gestured to a mage in a robe emerging from the spectators seating on the right.
“Repair it, please.”
“So that’s why you called me,” the mage sighed, lowering his hood to reveal himself as Verbin, the vice master of the magic tower of Zieghart and Rimmer’s drinking buddy.
“Why else would I call you!”
Rimmer waved his hand impatiently, indicating the urgency.
“Gamblers are impatient!”
“You always make difficult and bothersome requests. I had to write an explanation last
time because of you…” Verbin sighed heavily at Rimmer.
“But it was fun, wasn’t it?”
“That’s true.”
Verbin smiled, acknowledging it was worth writing the report. He seemed to have a similar personality to Rimmer.
“Then hurry up and fix it.”
“Then you’re buying the drinks tonight.”
Verbin chuckled, raising his hand.
Woooong!
Streams of mana flowed from his hand, restoring the damaged ground to its original state in an instant, as if time had been reversed.
“Thank you.”
Raon bowed to Rimmer and Verbin, amazed by their unexpected assistance.
“Don’t mention it. We got to see a good fight because of you.”
Verbin assured him that the repair costs would be charged to Rimmer and returned to his seat.
“Just win! Win!”
Rimmer waved his hand and went back to his gambling den.
Who knew that shitty-ears could be useful.
Wrath expressed his surprise, his eyes wide open.
'He's not doing it for me, he just wants to win money quickly.'
Ah!
Wrath seemed to understand now, nodding his head.
“Since the ground is repaired, let’s get started.”
Raon rotated his shoulders and ascended the now restored training ground. He looked down at the vice head, who was still gathering his aura, and tilted his chin slightly.
“Ugh…”
The vice head bit his lip and reluctantly climbed up into the training ground, having no more excuses.
“Are you both ready?” the host asked, glancing nervously.
“I am ready.”
“…Ready.”
The vice head, realizing there was no other way, nodded heavily.
“Then, let the final match begin!”
As the host's raised hand fell, he swiftly exited the training ground.
“Raaaah!”
The vice head charged before the host could even leave the training ground. He went all out from the start, knowing there was no chance if he dragged this out. He unleashed the secret technique of the Ten Forms Sword from the beginning.
Woooong!
Ten sharp, gleaming astral spheres rushed towards Raon’s vital points as if they were alive.
‘Predictable.’
Raon smirked coldly as he employed the Shining Light Style. The red glow on Heavenly Drive split all ten astral spheres and pressed down on the vice head’s shoulder.
Thwack!
The vice head’s shoulder split open, spraying dark blood. It was the same spot Sylvia had struck initially.
“Gaaah!”
The vice head clutched his shoulder and staggered backward, screaming.
“Unbelievable! The same swordsmanship!”
He trembled in disbelief, not yet realizing that the Shining Light Style was the perfect counter to the Ten Forms Sword.
“The same swordsmanship?”
Raon scoffed at the vice head’s trembling eyes.
“That’s why you’re losing.”
“Shut up!”
The vice head groaned and summoned ten more astral spheres. This time, the astral sphere condensed into a single sphere and descended like a lightning bolt.
Gooong!
Raon intensified his Shining Light Style’s energy. The shimmering blade cut through the descending sphere and slashed the vice head's waist.
Thwack!
A gruesome amount of blood spurted from the vice head’s waist.
“Aaah!”
"Still a long way to go."
Raon smiled coldly as he used the Wandering Steps. He moved smoothly, like gliding on ice, and reached the vice head’s right side.
“Ugh!”
The vice head tried desperately to retreat, but Raon stepped on his foot and slashed his thigh.
Thwack!
The vice head’s thigh split open, staining his clothes with bright red blood.
“Urrgh…”
Raon watched the vice head, who was trembling and staggering back, with a tilted head.
“Now, only your arm and abdomen remain.”
***
“No way…”
The vice head of the senators, Killuan, looked at the places he had been injured and trembled.
'Was he targeting only the places Sylvia cut?!'
Raon had been striking only the places Sylvia had wounded. At first, Killuan thought it was a coincidence, but now he realized it wasn’t. Raon was deliberately deepening the wounds Sylvia had left.
“How far will you mock me!”
Killuan screamed, exploded all the aura in his energy center. He rushed at Raon, knowing there was no other choice.
“Raaah!”
He unleashed the technique of the Ten Forms Sword, aiming the radiant astral sphere at Raon’s abdomen and heart.
“Still don’t get it?”
Raon laughed mockingly, stepping forward. The flowing light from his blade split the astral sphere and grazed Killuan’s wrist.
Thwack!
Before he could fully register what happened, his left hand was cleanly severed and fell to the ground.
“Aaaaaaaaah!”
Killuan screamed, clutching his bleeding wrist.
‘How…’
He had fortified his defenses, expecting a strike to his arm, yet such a light strike had penetrated. He couldn’t understand it. No matter how well someone knew the counters, this should have been impossible.
‘Wait…’
One possibility came to mind, the only way this could be possible.
“No, it can’t be…”
Killuan trembled, trying to stop the bleeding.
“That Shining Light Style…”
“You’re late to realize.”
Raon tilted his head, holding Heavenly Drive downward.
“The Shining Light Style was created to destroy your Ten Forms Sword.”
“No…”
Now he understood. The reason Sylvia held out so well, and how Raon’s strikes seemed to ignore the Ten Forms Sword, was all because of the Shining Light Style.
Raon hadn’t just comprehended the Ten Forms Sword, he had crafted a technique perfectly countering it. From the beginning, it was a fight with no chance of winning.
‘There’s only one option left.’
He had planned to use it as a surprise, but now he had no choice. He had to use his final trump card.
Sword Field Creation – Light’s Strike.
His will merged with his aura, transforming the world around him.
The training ground shrunk into a compressed white space, and countless swords of light rose above him, exuding a chilling killing intent.
This was a one-time, ultimate strike that released hundreds of astral spheres at once to crush the opponent.
“It ends here!”
As Killuan clasped his hands together in a prayer-like gesture, the swords of light that filled the air converged into a torrential downpour. Each one was imbued with astral sphere, making it a lethal sword strike.
“I’ve never seen your sword field creation before…”
Raon planted Heavenly Drive and the Blade of Requiem into the ground and smirked.
“In the end, you couldn’t break free from the Ten Forms Sword.”
From where the two swords were embedded in the ground, darkness began to rise. The once bright world grew heavy, and a red sun and a blue moon emerged.
In Raon's hands, which now held the red and blue swords, a ferocious energy was unleashed toward the rain of light.
Roooaaar!
The strike from the divine sword and the demonic sword pierced through the storm of light and tearing apart Killuan's sword field in two.
Schraaack!
The sword field creation that encapsulated the vice head’s life was split and torn apart mercilessly.
* * *
Raon shook his head as he watched Killuan's crumbling sword field creation.
'You should have used a different method.'
Killuan had trusted the Ten Forms Sword until the end, and his sword field creation followed the same flow.
Normally, he would have had to fight until his sword field disappeared as well, but thanks to the effects of the Shining Light Style, Raon could cut through the sword field itself.
“Gurrgghh!”
Killuan collapsed, coughing up blood from the backlash of his sword field creation being countered.
“I-I sur….”
Realizing he couldn’t hold out any longer, he quickly tried to surrender.
“Not so fast.”
Before Killuan could utter the word "surrender," Raon struck him on the head with the hilt of his sword.
Thwack!
With a sound like a melon being smashed, blood spurted from Killuan's crown like a fountain.
“Aaaaaaaah!”
Killuan screamed, clutching his head with his one remaining hand.
"I'm not accepting your surrender."
Raon struck the back of Killuan’s head repeatedly. Only after creating countless bumps on his head did he lower his sword.
“Ugh…”
Killuan, eyes rolling in pain, could only groan.
T-This is worse than killing him...
Even Wrath, who had been crying for revenge, turned away, unable to watch.
‘It’s not over yet.’
Raon only stopped the bleeding enough to keep the vice head alive and then sprinkled the coldness of Glacier on his face.
“Kuh... Aaaaah!”
Killuan groaned and then screamed in agony as the cold spread through his body.
“S-stop! I surrender! I admit defeat!”
He knelt and banged his head on the ground, begging for mercy.
“R-Raon Zieghart wins!”
The host, trembling, declared Raon’s victory, not wanting to see a corpse.
“Today’s sword duel is a victory for the annex building!”
Exhausted, the host sank to the ground after announcing the annex building’s victory.
“Ha…”
“Did he win that easily?”
“I’ve never seen a sword field creation get split like that…”
"The difference in skill is absurd..."
The spectators, who had felt terror at Sylvia’s power, were now shaking at Raon’s display of strength.
“Waaaah!”
“Annex building! Annex building!”
“Light Wind division! Light Wind division!”
Cheers erupted from the spectators after their initial shock.
Instead of responding to the cheers, Raon grabbed Killuan's ankle as he tried to crawl off the stage.
“W-why are you doing this? I already said I lost…”
“The account isn't settled yet.”
“Ah…”
Killuan trembled, finally understanding what Raon meant.
Raon, savoring Killuan’s panic, took his time before speaking.
“What I want is…”
