N/T: Translation made by our friend 'Irving'. A big round of applause for him :)
Chapter 673
Gooooooooo!
The ominous demonic energy that covered the sky and earth converged on king Baurun, forming a dark red armor around him.
A dreadful killing intent flowed from the gleaming gauntlets and boots. It was an overwhelming presence that forcibly grabbed one's attention.
Raon narrowed his eyes as he observed king Baurun, who had amassed such terrifying energy.
'The scale of the energy he possesses is different.'
He sucked up all the holy power that was spread throughout this kingdom.
Wrath nodded his head as if it were a natural thing.
The amount of demonic energy he has is like an ocean, and his body surpasses that of a human. But....
Wrath clicked his tongue as he looked at Baurun, who was stroking his gauntlet.
That's all there is to it. You understand what this means, don’t you?
‘Yes.’
Raon nodded calmly. As Wrath said, king Baurun's power had grown rapidly, but he wasn't particularly worried. There was a way to defeat such a monster.
“I’ll break that jaw of yours first.”
King Baurun kicked the sky violently. In the blink of an eye, his fist was hurtling from the left. The speed was astounding. The sound seemed to arrive later.
Chiiiiing!
Raon twisted his left wrist, holding his demonic sword. The ice-filled blade bent diagonally and fell.
Boom!
King Baurun’s tyrannical fist strike, like a whip, struck the air along the curved blade of demonic sword. The sound of air shattering echoed in all directions.
Swish!
Raon didn’t take a single step back. Instead, he straightened his right hand and wrist. The divine sword gripped in his hand extended towards Baurun’s heart.
Srrrring!
A scar, like a snake wriggling, appeared on Baurun's armor forged from demonic energy.
“Ugh!”
Baurun retreated hastily to prevent his heart from being pierced. He twisted in the air like a leaf in the wind and stomped down with his right foot.
It wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment move. It was a systematic kicking technique. Baurun had learned proper martial arts.
Rumble!
The demonic energy from Baurun’s leg was more ferocious than his initial punch. It felt like a boulder pressing down on Raon’s shoulders.
Clang!
Raon countered by slicing upward with his demonic sword, executing the technique of Blizzard Sword Art.
The icy sword strike, imbued with the blue wind of the Light Wind Style, smoothly deflected Baurun’s kick technique.
Boom!
Baurun’s demonic energy, instead of hitting Raon, struck the pillar of the tower, causing it to collapse. Iron, stone, and wood flew chaotically.
“You can’t fly, can you!”
Baurun grinned, spreading his pair of wings.
“So what?”
“It means you can’t escape anymore!”
Seeing a good opportunity, he unleashed a barrage of punches at the falling Raon. The heavy demonic energy from his red dark gauntlets surged towards Raon's vital points.
"I have no intention of running away."
Raon chuckled coldly and slashed the divine and demonic swords in a cross. Fire and ice that cut through space divided the heavy demonic energy into four pieces.
Woosh!
Baurun, as if the punches were a mere feint, emerged from the bottom right, thrusting his fist covered in surging demonic energy. The demonic energy spat out a menacing glow between his fingers.
Boom!
Raon stepped on the falling iron. Using the wind of the Light Wind Style at his feet, he retreated behind Baurun.
“Hmph!”
Baurun spread his wings briefly. He followed at an incredible speed and kicked. The blackened boots crushed the air as they came in.
Thump!
Raon pushed off a brick fragment, moving to the opposite side.
Using the falling iron, stone, and wood as his ground, he dodged all of Baurun’s attacks.
He resembled a leaf floating on a storm.
“You damn rat!”
As Baurun, agitated, approached too closely, Raon's eyes glinted.
’Finally.’
Since the tower’s collapse, Baurun had been attacking continuously without considering a counterattack. It was an opportunity to strike his weak point.
Screeech!
Raon did not retreat. Instead, he advanced, thrusting his divine sword.
"Where are you aiming... huh?"
As Baurun sneered at the sword that seemed to miss, a crimson sphere rose from the tip of the blade.
Woosh!
A fire sphere, like a small sun, began to pull in Baurun, who was extending his fist. It was the second form of Raon Zieghart Style Swordplay, Heavenly Heavy Cannon.
“Ugh….”
“It’s already too late.”
Baurun tried to retreat urgently, but the gravity of the Heavenly Heavy Cannon held his wrist firmly.
Booooom!
The fire cannon, concentrated at the tip of the divine sword, exploded, blowing Baurun’s right arm off without a trace. The remains of the tower turned into black ashes and scattered.
“Your wings are useless. Why don’t you just get rid of them?”
Raon landed on the ground and tilted his head at Baurun, who was clutching his right shoulder.
“Shut that mouth of yours.”
Baurun gritted his teeth, and a new arm began to grow from his shoulder, where nothing was left. It was a regeneration ability surpassing even that of a troll. He had completely transcended humanity.
“That’s…Is that really king Baurun?”
“His personality and appearance are no longer human. What a trash.”
“A real demon.”
Burren, Martha, and Runaan frowned as they watched Baurun regenerate his arm.
“Ugh! The stench!”
“Damn….”
Rimmer pinched his nose against the foul smell of the demonic energy, while saintess Olga ground her teeth, unable to move.
“Father….”
Hopen closed his eyes and clasped his hands, deep in thought.
“Everyone, fall back.”
Raon ordered everyone behind him to retreat and gripped the divine sword and demonic swords tightly.
“Because it’s just the beginning.”
* * *
“Kurghh….”
Baurun bit his lip as he looked at his newly grown arm. Thanks to the demonic energy, he could regenerate even his completely destroyed arm, but that wasn’t the issue right now.
‘Raon Zieghart.’
What the hell is that guy?
He had much more energy than him, and my physical strength was not inferior.
He's wielding demonic energy that could easily crush his astral sphere, but he’s not even budging. It feels like facing an indestructible wall.
‘No, it can’t be!’
He is not a God, he is human. A young human who hasn’t even reached transcendence yet.
There must be a time limit for the sword field creation, and his aura must have an end.
If he pushed him with the amount of demonic energy he had, he would have no choice but to kneel.
“I will drain you completely.”
Baurun shattered the ground as he moved forward and lightly threw a punch. White Star Fist. The ultra-fast fist technique that praises the God with speed was shot towards Raon's heart, imbued with demonic energy.
Raon raised his divine sword without losing his relaxed smile. The fire undulated like a river, smoothly deflecting the trajectory of the fist.
Boom!
Instead of shattering Raon’s sword, the fist bent downwards and struck only the ground. A dark pit formed in the ground, but Raon hadn’t moved an inch from his spot.
'Keep going! Keep going!'
Baurun used his demonic energy to the extreme to execute consecutive White Star Fist and Blooming Flower Kick techniques. The storm of punches and kicks obliterated the surrounding buildings.
But the fierce offensive was like a gentle breeze before Raon’s two swords. His breathing was calm, and not a single drop of sweat rolled down his forehead.
It was as if he was reading a book and drinking tea rather than fighting a battle.
“Huff….”
Baurun exhaled heavily, his chin trembling.
“What is this! What’s going on!”
According to his plan, Raon should have been exhausted and unable to even hold his sword, but it was him who was exhausted, not Raon.
He couldn’t believe it because he possessed far more energy and a stronger body.
“I obtained the power to become a God! How come I can’t even catch you!”
Baurun screamed and unleashed the ultimate technique of the White Star Fist. From his dark red gauntlet burst a massive flash of demonic energy that obscured Raon’s vision.
Koooong!
Raon stepped forward with his left foot. The red glow in his right hand transformed into the divine sword. The red slash from the sword moved faster than sound, splitting the center of the demonic energy.
He didn’t stop at cutting through the demonic energy. He advanced with the sword, drawing a dreamlike sword line as he pushed through the demonic energy with his skin.
Slash!
Baurun tried to defend himself by creating a wall of demonic energy, but the hazy trajectory of the Sword’s Silvery Dream pierced through the demonic energy and left a deep wound on his chest.
”Gaaaah…!”
Baurun clutched his chest and staggered back. Dark blood gushed from his mouth and chest.
‘This, this is….’
He clearly blocked it. He used even more powerful energy than Raon, but it was still penetrated. It felt like a nightmare.
"I told you."
Raon sneered down at Baurun, curling his lips.
"I would show you how insignificant the power you gained truly is."
* * *
"How...?"
Baurun clenched the blood-soaked dirt in his fist, grinding his teeth.
"How am I losing? This doesn't make any sense!"
"It's simple."
Raon tilted his head slightly as he looked at Baurun.
"You've only obtained body and vitality."
"What?"
"The important thing for a martial artist is the harmony of jeong (physical/body), gi (energy/vitality/aura/mana), and sin (mind/soul). Your body is no exaggeration to say that it is a Transcender, and your energy is about twice as much as mine. But...."
He raised his index finger and gently waved it.
"Your mind, the realm often called the level of one's soul or mental world, remains the same. No, it has even shrunk from excessively borrowing others' power. In simple terms, you're nothing more than a child in an adult's body."
Baurun's strength had indeed increased. His physical prowess was comparable to Raon’s, and his energy even surpassed his. However, the mind that operated his body and demonic energy had been downgraded to that of a Grandmaster, or perhaps peak Master level. He was nothing but a fool who couldn't properly control his own body.
"That, that can't be..."
"Let me ask you one thing."
Raon approached the trembling Baurun, narrowing his eyes.
"Why did you do this? Did you think you could destroy the White Blood Religion and the Black Tower by gaining that power?"
"Because I couldn't forgive."
Baurun clenched his teeth and raised his head. His eyes were not dead yet. Rather, they burned even more fiercely.
"What?"
"Did you know? The scripture says that forgiving your enemy is the truest form of revenge."
"Yes."
Raon nodded, having heard that before.
"At first, I thought that was true. I thought erasing revenge from my heart would be good for everyone. But the more I did that, the more revenge consumed me. Then I realized."
Baurun grinned hideously, his eyes darkening.
"That saying forgiveness is true revenge is just an excuse for the weak. Forgiveness is nothing more than a pathetic mumbling from those who can't get revenge on the strong!"
Baurun regenerated the wound on his chest, then pulled his hands back behind his shoulders.
"I will use this power to get my revenge. I will protect this kingdom!"
From his hands, black fire surged, coalescing into hundreds of condensed demonic energy astral sphere.
Crackle!
Perhaps because too much power was gathered, black sparks flashed everywhere, and the ground was turned upside down.
"Let's end this here."
Raon did not retreat even as he faced the storm of demonic energy astral sphere. He took a step forward with the divine sword raised high and the demonic sword lowered.
The fire and ice on the tips of the divine sword and demonic sword stretched out majestically. It was as if two brushes, one red and one blue, were painting a picture in the air, creating a magnificent scene.
From the calm brush tips emerged waves. The golden waves containing fire and the silver waves imbued with ice poured from all directions.
Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation, Thousand Flames.
Endless Flaming Sea.
The massive storm of demonic energy was caught between the waves crashing from all directions and was utterly crushed.
Splash!
Baurun, too, was caught at the end of the Endless Flaming Sea, with his arms and legs torn off and smashed into the ground.
"Arghhh!"
His arms and legs began to regenerate, but his mind seemed to have already collapsed, his eyes trembling ceaselessly.
Thud!
The sword field creation finally ended, Raon thrust Heavenly Drive and the Blade of Requiem into Baurun's shoulders. The Blade of Requiem, absorbing the demonic energy, glowed faintly yellow.
"Ugh..."
Baurun vomited black blood and struggled, but couldn't get up due to the ghastly energy contained in the Blade of Requiem.
"I, I haven't lost! Not yet..."
"Father!"
Hopen approached Baurun and knelt before him.
"Please, stop!"
"Hopen! Pull out these swords! I have things to do! I need to get revenge..."
"Brother did not wish for revenge!"
Hopen shook his head firmly.
"What do you know!"
"I know! Because I saw brother die right before my eyes!"
"You..."
"Brother pushed us away even as the White Blood Religion leader was draining his blood. Even in that pain, he smiled, saying it was a relief that he died in place of others! He asked me to take care of you while smiling in that agony!"
Hopen remembered Biten’s death in Barene, his eyes welling up with tears.
"Do you think he wanted you to seek revenge? And to turn the kingdom into this state? Absolutely not!"
He shouted, releasing his pent-up emotions.
"Please come to your senses!"
Hopen gritted his teeth and punched Baurun in the face.
Thud!
There was no impact as he didn't use aura.
But Baurun's eyes trembled more painfully from that punch than from the Endless Flaming Sea.
"Ah..."
Baurun slowly turned his gaze. The collapsed buildings, the citizens who died without leaving proper remains, and the demonic energy rising over the wall of holy power.
Finally, he looked at his own body, which continued to regenerate even as his limbs were torn off, and his jaw quivered.
"I, I..."
"Even if you realize it, it's already too late, father."
Hopen gritted his teeth.
"Your sins cannot be repaid even in a lifetime. No one will forgive you. But even so, you have to get up again."
"Baurun."
A pale-faced high priest, Piren, crawled over to king Baurun.
"It looks like it's over."
He spoke without honorifics, like a friend, shaking his head.
"It's all my fault."
The commander of the royal guard, Danieff, walked over, clutching the wound on his chest, and bowed his head.
"I should have stopped you, but I didn't."
"Danieff..."
"But don't worry. I will be a slave to this kingdom and atone for my sins alongside you."
He grabbed Baurun's shoulder, saying they must do it together.
"Stop now."
"I, I..."
Baurun bit his lip. After a moment of resolve, he closed his eyes deeply and then opened them.
Hwaaaaaaaaaa!
The demonic energy enveloping his entire body began to dissipate like a fire soaked in water. He seemed to be abandoning the demonic energy.
"You've made a good decision! Now..."
Hopen smiled faintly, nodding in approval.
Thud!
A white hand burst out from Baurun's mouth. Teeth and flesh were scattered along with blood.
"Uh, uh, uh, uh!"
"The contract is terminated."
A man's voice flowed from Baurun's mouth as his teeth were pulled out and his tongue was severed.
"W-wai..."
Baurun tried to shout "wait," but his mouth split wide open, and a man forcibly emerged from inside.
A handsome man with white skin, wearing a black suit and a fedora. But his presence was unlike anyone here, neither human nor monster, pressed down on the surroundings.
"S-silkret..."
Baurun turned his head toward the handsome man. His eyes grew cold. An irreversible death had come.
"I clearly told you. The moment you gave up the demonic energy, your body and soul would be mine. Oh, additionally..."
The man, called Silkret, looked at Piren and Danieff next to Baurun and snapped his fingers.
"These two as well."
Piren and Danieff, who had been in a daze from the sudden death of their friend, crumbled like dry leaves.
Gray fragments burst from their corpses and were absorbed into Silkret's body.
"Ah..."
Silkret spread his arms, curling his lips into a smile.
"This is nice. I haven't been out in ages."
"Who, who are you? What are you!"
Hopen screamed, glaring at Silkret.
"As you suspect, I am Silkret, the demon who made a contract with your father. And..."
Silkret took off his fedora and bowed his head.
"I am also the new ruler of this kingdom."
Black demonic energy flared up from beneath his feet.
Kooooooooo!
The wall of demonic energy, which had been slowly rising, suddenly surged and enveloped the entire kingdom. The pressure was suffocating, as if the entire space was grasped in his hand.
"Ugh..."
"W-what is this..."
"I can't breathe..."
It wasn't just Hopen. The entire Light Wind division was on their knees, clutching their throats.
"That damn bastard..."
"He's the real deal. Fall back!"
Even the saintess Olga and Rimmer couldn't withstand Silkret's demonic energy, their legs and arms trembling.
"Urrgh..."
"S-save me..."
The priests and holy knights collapsed, foaming at the mouth, unable to even draw out their holy power.
"Yes. That's the most fitting look for humans."
Silkret nodded as he looked at the kneeling, collapsed people.
"But why are you still standing?"
He tilted his head as he looked at the only one standing, Raon.
"My demonic energy isn't something a lowly human can withstand."
"......"
Without answering, Raon pulled out Heavenly Drive and the Blade of Requiem from Baurun's corpse.
Seeing that weakling act tough makes my stomach turn.
Wrath frowned as he looked at Silkret.
However, it will be difficult for you to defeat him now. This place is no different from the Devildom, and he has obtained too much demonic energy.
'It's okay. I'm not going to fight.'
What? You're not going to fight?
'Yeah.'
Raon turned his jaw sideways and curled his lips into a smile.
'I'm just going to beat him up.'
* * *
Silkret licked his lips as he looked at the only young human standing.
'Quite impressive.'
The amount and purity of his energy stood out even among the humans here.
If he could consume that kid's mana, he felt he could reach an even higher level.
'But...'
Why is he able to stand?
No matter how much energy he has, the kid hasn't reached transcendence.
He couldn't understand why the kid could stand calmly in a land dominated by demonic energy.
'Well, it doesn't matter.'
He just needed to kill him.
Normally, he might have been a bit suspicious, but now this place was no different from the devildom, and the amount of demonic energy he possessed exceeded his expectations. He was confident that he could handle anyone who came.
"I don't particularly enjoy torture, so I'll finish this quickly."
As he raised his finger to behead the young human, a blue current flared up over the human's shoulder. Strangely, it contained a vivid demonic energy.
The darkness, which had replicated the devildom, seemed frightened by the blue haze and was pushed into a corner, trembling.
"W-what is that energy..."
Silkret swallowed dryly and stepped back. The more the blue haze flared, the more uneasy he felt, his chest tightening. It felt as if his entire body was wrapped in sharp iron wires.
"Ugh..."
His instincts took over, not his rationality. His shoulders, arms, and entire body twisted. That was no mere demonic energy. It was of a different quality. No, it was the breath of a great being, too grand to even look up at.
"KAAAAAHHHHH!"
Silkret screamed, clawing at his own face with his nails.
Raon's eyes held the majesty of a demon king, an absolute being who couldn't be looked at directly, as he lowered his gaze.
"Kneel."
