N/T: Translation made by our friend 'Irving'. A big round of applause for him :)
Chapter 708
Damn it!
Beorn kicked with his left foot to push Federick away, then plunged his sword deeper into Raon’s heart, who had fallen into the river.
‘It's pierced.’
He felt the sensation of the blade cutting through flesh. However, a Grandmaster’s life is tenacious. He had to make sure it ended.
Buzzzzzz!
Ignoring the silver frost and water droplets rising from the river, Beorn concentrated on the astral sphere at the tip of his blade.
“Stop!”
Rimmer, running at the speed of light, arrived just as Beorn detonated the astral sphere.
Kwaaaang!
The explosion of the astral sphere from the sword created a powerful shock wave that swept in all directions.
The storm of water splashes knocked the Light Wind swordsmen in all directions.
"Uwaaaaa!"
Rimmer screamed as he thrust his sword at Beorn.
Kyaang!
Beorn lifted the long sword that had been submerged in the river to block Rimmer’s strike. His sword was stained with sticky blood.
“It’s already over.”
“Shut up!”
Rimmer bit his lip and pushed his sword forward, but Beorn's eyes remained calm.
“I pierced Raon Zieghart’s heart and detonated an astral sphere. Not even a Transcender can survive that.”
Beorn shook his head, believing Raon to be torn to pieces and dead.
“You think he’ll die that easily?!”
Rimmer shoved Beorn aside and dove into the river to search for Raon.
“You will die!”
Martha's black eyes gleamed with a red bloodlust. Unable to contain herself, she went berserk and charged at Beorn.
“Shut up!”
Burren also clenched his fist, unleashed blades of wind.
Chiiing!
Rather than facing the attacks of Rimmer, Burren, and Martha, Beorn retreated, deflecting their sword energy.
“There’s no reason to fight you.”
He narrowed his eyes, saying his mission was already accomplished.
"Hey, you're sure you killed him, right?"
The Evil Goat Demon twisted his lips as he blocked Labawin’s sword.
“As I said, I detonated an astral sphere inside his heart. Raon Zieghart is dead.”
Beorn declared Raon’s death, crushing everyone's last hope.
“You…”
“Ah…”
Burren and Martha lowered their swords as if their strength had drained away. The Light Wind swordsmen also trembled, unable to speak.
Just when everyone was speechless, Runaan stepped forward.
“He’s not dead.”
She shook her head with unwavering eyes.
“Raon isn’t dead!”
Runaan shouted, causing blue frost to rise.
“Yeah. That madman wouldn’t die so easily!”
Martha nodded and followed behind Runaan.
"I have no intention of fighting you."
Once again, Beorn retreated without raising his sword, saying it was over as he disappeared into the shadow of the waves.
“Khuhahaha!”
The Evil Goat Demon coughed up blood under Labawin's pressure, but laughed maniacally, as if satisfied.
“The nuisance is finally dead.”
His twisted eyes shot towards Runaan.
“Runaan. Now, you and I can finally be one. Such happy times…”
“That will never happen.”
Despite the Evil Goat Demon’s ominous aura, Runaan remained calm. Her eyes were steady, as if they would not waver under any circumstances.
“Raon isn’t dead, and I will kill you.”
“You will kill me?”
The Evil Goat Demon’s red tongue flicked out from his helmet.
“That wouldn’t be so bad.”
He laughed expectantly, waving his hand.
"I'll be back for you soon."
The Evil Goat Demon sliced his palm with his long sword. The blood-soaked longsword's blade shortened, and his body became blurred as if enveloped in fog.
“What are you doing?!”
Labawin’s sword cut through the Evil Goat Demon, but he vanished like smoke. It seemed he had used that artifact to appear here as well.
“Damn it!”
Labawin struck the water in frustration. He slapped his cheek to clear his mind, then lifted his gaze.
“Search the entire river! Find Sir Raon!”
“Yes!”
The sailors aboard the Blue Wind equipped their gear and dove into the river to search for Raon.
“We have to go too. That guy must be alive, we must find him.”
“Right. He wouldn’t die here.”
Martha bit her lip and entered the river first. Burren and the Light Wind swordsmen nodded and followed her.
“……”
Runaan clenched her trembling fist before finally descending into the river.
* * *
Kugugugugu!
The riverbank where Raon and the Axe King Roman had fought the duel to death had completely changed.
The land and forest had vanished, leaving only an endless expanse of water like the sea. The entire ground had been hollowed out and filled with water.
Peoeong!
A swordsman wearing a blue dragon helmet was flung over the shallow water. He spat black blood from his mouth, and his right shoulder was completely ruined, swaying like a reed.
"Khehehe."
Despite the pain, the swordsman in the blue dragon helmet straightened up calmly. He looked at Glenn, who hadn’t moved a step from his spot, and smirked.
“Is this Seamless Perfection? You’ve definitely surpassed the human realm.”
“Do you find this amusing?”
The South-North Union leader wiped the blood trickling from his lips and frowned. He too seemed injured, his complexion pale.
“How can I not?”
The swordsman in the blue dragon helmet laughed and even clapped his hands.
“I’ve obtained a miraculous opportunity.”
He looked at Glenn's sword and scratched his neck, saying he had tasted a new realm.
Kuwang!
As the swordsman in the blue dragon helmet licked his lips and raised his black sword, the sky split open, and Chamber and the Fallen burst out.
The two mages also seemed to have fought a fierce battle in the sky, as they were battered all over.
“Damn mask!”
Chamber tossed her half-torn witch’s hat aside and gritted her teeth.
“Even at your age, you still hold the title of Archmage of Eternal Flame.”
The Fallen brushed off his torn robe and smiled faintly.
"However, I'm starting to see some cracks. Your moves are getting shallow."
“That’s a coincidence. I’ve also figured out how to clip your wings.”
Chamber gestured for him to bring it on.
"Step back."
Glenn stood beside Chamber and raised Heavenly Tremor. Lightning crackled along the white blade, turning into thousands of bolts that filled the sky.
Kwagwagwagwa!
The three transcenders—the swordsman in the blue dragon helmet, the South-North Union leader, and the Fallen—were all thrown back, coughing up blood, by the barrage of lightning.
"Let’s end this here."
"What? Khahahahaha!"
As Glenn, with a pale face, was about to draw Heavenly Tremor, the swordsman in the blue dragon helmet grabbed his ear and burst into laughter. It was a bizarre laugh that made the battle stop.
"Yes. It’s finally come to this. Just the right time."
"What the hell…."
"It's better to stop the game here."
He waved his hand as if to stop.
"You will not leave this place alive."
As Glenn furrowed his brows and tried to approach, two golden streaks of light fell from the distant sky.
Kwaaang!
A wall rose, separating the Six Kings and the Five Demons as the river was torn apart.
"This is…."
Sheryl, lowering her twin swords, looked up. Five radiant lights flickered in the dark night sky.
Dragons. And all of them were ancient dragons.
Wooong!
The largest of them, a golden dragon, flashed and transformed into a human form, landing in front of Glenn and the swordsman in the blue dragon helmet.
"Dragon lord."
Glenn bit his lip as he looked at the dragon lord standing before him.
"Stop."
The dragon lord extended his hand to Glenn and the swordsman in the blue dragon helmet.
"We cannot overlook any further battle."
He shook his head, telling them to cease fighting.
"You always show up at moments like this." Glenn curled his lips as he looked at the dragon lord.
"If you don't back off, I will cut you down as well."
"Do you intend to wage war against the dragons now?"
"You were the ones who started it."
He raised Heavenly Tremor as if he meant it. A pure white brilliance, different from lightning, burned, illuminating the world.
Goooo!
His stance, fitting for being called the Sword God, was imbued with both mystery and despair.
"You're insane!"
The dragon lord recoiled in horror, and the South-North Union leader bit his lips until they bled. Even the Fallen's mask twisted with tension.
"How about listening to me before swinging that sword?"
Only the swordsman in the blue dragon helmet stepped forward with amusement.
"I mean Raon Zieghart, whom you tried to protect by coming here."
He laughed while drawing his finger across his neck.
"He’s dead."
"……."
A torrent surged in Glenn's red eyes, and Heavenly Tremor, which seemed unbreakable, dipped downward.
"Nonsense!"
Sheryl shook her head, dismissing it as absurd.
"Don't believe him my lord! It's a trick to escape from here!"
Roenn also frowned, convinced it was a lie.
"You'll know if it's true or not when you go there. He died where you had the pirate ship waiting."
The swordsman in the blue dragon helmet shrugged, insisting it wasn’t a lie.
"It's a sad thing that all the main characters of today are dead."
Contrary to his words, he laughed while covering his mouth.
"Pirate ship…."
Glenn, trembling with his grip on Heavenly Tremor, looked at the swordsman in the blue dragon helmet.
‘Could it be true…?’
Aris' pirate ship, the Blue Wind, waited out of sight of the South-North Union before making its move.
The fact that they knew about the Blue Wind meant there was a possibility that something had really happened to Raon.
"If you don’t go now, you won’t even be able to retrieve the body."
The swordsman in the blue dragon helmet waved his hand, suggesting they hurry.
"Mister. You can't fight them in your current state anyway."
Chamber shook her head, exhaling a low breath.
"Let's check on Raon first and then decide."
She suggested she would use teleportation magic, raising her mana.
"…Alright."
Glenn nodded, biting his molars tightly.
"If something has happened to Raon, none of you will be allowed to live or die."
He spoke sincerely, flames flaring in his eyes.
"Go ahead."
The swordsman in the blue dragon helmet stepped back, spreading his hands.
"Get ready."
As Chamber closed her eyes, a giant magic circle appeared on the river, enveloping the Zieghart’s swordsmen and Balkar mages.
Whooong!
As she snapped her fingers, the swordsmen and mages standing on the magic circle turned into light and disappeared.
"Hahaha."
The swordsman in the blue dragon helmet, Derus Robert, whistled and laughed.
"Is Raon Zieghart really dead?"
The South-North Union leader approached him, narrowing his eyes.
"Yes. He’s certainly dead."
Derus nodded while brushing the back of his hand.
"Then we shouldn't just let them go! This is a chance to kill Glenn Zieghart!"
The South-North Union leader clenched his fist in frustration.
"No. Attacking now would be suicidal. Letting them go is the right choice."
The Fallen seemed to understand Derus' intentions, clicking his tongue.
"You're smart as always."
Derus chuckled, pointing to his head with his finger.
"I never intended to kill Glenn today anyway. I couldn't even if I wanted to."
"Then why did we fight until now?"
"To sharpen the blade."
"Sharpen the blade?"
"Yes. Now that the blade is sharpened….
He raised the corners of his mouth, stroking his black sword.
"All that’s left is to stab."
* * *
Whoosh!
Zieghart and Balkar's allied forces descended like a beam of light in front of the pirate ship, Blue Wind.
"Hmm…."
Glenn narrowed his eyes as he looked at the river, where fragments of the deck were floating.
There weren’t many people on the river, but he sensed many presences in the water.
"The he-head of house!"
Labawin, who was standing in the river and exhaling roughly, bowed to Glenn. His eyes were shaking as if hit by waves.
"What happened? No, what about Raon?"
Glenn immediately mentioned Raon’s name, and descended in front of Labawin.
"We were ambushed while escorting young master Raon. The Evil Goat Demon used a teleportation artifact to appear…."
Labawin quickly explained the situation that had occurred here.
"They said…they said young master Raon is dead and then disappeared."
He bowed his head, trembling with a sense of shame.
"His chest was pierced, and the astral sphere exploded?"
Sheryl gritted her teeth. If the astral sphere exploded with the heart pierced, even she wouldn’t survive and would die instantly.
"Yes. But we thought it was impossible for young master Raon to die, so we are currently searching…."
"Tell everyone to come out."
"Ah, y-yes!"
As Labawin entered the water and sent out an aura message, soon the Light Wind swordsmen and the Blue Wind's members surfaced on the river.
Their faces were deeply soaked, mixed with tears and river water.
“Haaack….”
“Kkeueueu….”
Rimmer, Burren, Martha, and Runaan were the last to emerge, and their faces were as pale as a blank sheet of paper as if they were seeing the outside for the first time.
"The he-head of house."
"Step back."
Glenn stepped forward, raising his right hand.
Rumble!
His will surged explosively, causing the river water to form a massive bubble and rise from the river.
"I'll block it."
When Chamber brought her hands together, a wall of mana was erected in the space carved out by the receding water, preventing it from filling up again.
"Everyone, go down!"
Rimmer, without even catching his breath, jumped down to the riverbed where the water had disappeared. The Light Wind swordsmen also descended without drying off, continuing their search.
"......"
Glenn, while still holding up the river water, examined the riverbed.
'He's not there.'
There were only mud and gravel on the riverbed, no human could be seen. Bones of monsters or humans were scattered, but they couldn't be Raon.
'Raon!'
You're not the kind to die in a place like this!
Rumble!
Clenching his teeth, Glenn lifted more water.
Despite having fought an exhausting battle, felt his internal injuries flare up, and blood trickled from his mouth, he did not stop using his will.
"It seems he's not here."
Chamber bit her lips, speaking in a stiff voice. After searching around, she bowed her head, unable to find Raon.
"Ah..."
Martha let out a groan upon seeing a shining red dagger at the last exposed riverbed. It was the Blade of Requiem, its sheath shattered.
"T-this..."
She brought the trembling Blade of Requiem to Glenn.
"It's Raon's dagger."
"......"
Glenn lowered his eyes as he looked at the Blade of Requiem, half of its sheath broken.
This wasn't from hitting the bottom. The sheath was broken from a significant external impact.
Crack!
Blood dripped from Glenn’s hand holding the Blade of Requiem.
His emotions infused with will spread, evaporating the floating river water, and red heat began to rise from the riverbed.
"Sheryl."
Wiping the blood from his lips, Glenn turned his gaze.
"Convene the grand family meeting. The agenda is..."
He bit his lip as he looked up at the moonless sky.
"The destruction of the South-North Union, no, the Five Demons."
He declared resolutely, as if he wouldn’t care about the consequences.
"My lord!"
Rimmer ran up to Glenn and knelt.
"Raon is not dead yet!"
"That's right! He's not the kind to die here!"
"That bastard will never die!"
"He's alive."
Rimmer, Burren, Martha, and Runaan shook their heads, insisting on continuing the search.
"......"
Glenn silently closed and opened his eyes.
"The search will continue. But we can't just stay still."
The child who just wanted to be strong. The child who showed confidence in his eyes, saying he would restore Sylvia to the direct line. The child who had never received love from his incompetent grandfather could not be allowed to die like this.
"Convene the family meeting..."
As Glenn's deep anger signaled his resolve to go all the way, it happened.
Rumble!
The rolled-up wave split, revealing the Sword Demon Rector. He seemed to sense the unease in the chaotic situation and bit his lip.
“What's going on here?”
"......"
Glenn and Rector's gazes clashed intensely.
