C786
[All skills increase by 30 points.]
[The <Battle Spirit Manipulation> trait is created.]
[The range of the <Water Resistance> trait increases.]
[The range of the <Demonic Energy Adaptation> trait increases.]
[The range of the <Water Affinity> trait increases.]
[The range of the <Evil Eye of Wrath> trait increases.]
[The range of the <Snow Flower Veil> trait increases.]
Raon swallowed with difficulty as he saw <Battle Spirit Manipulation> among the messages filling the air.
'Battle Spirit Manipulation?'
Battle Spirit is a special energy that only Eden Ghosts or top-tier monsters can use. He couldn't understand why this power, forbidden to humans, had manifested in him.
'Wait… Could it be?'
With his eyes closed, he recalled Murkada's final moments. After maturing Sia's soul to match her age, he had transferred the remaining energy to Raon. It seemed Murkada wasn't satisfied with just elevating his soul realm, but had also passed on the power of Battle Spirit.
'Murada.'
Raon bit his lip hard.
'You, until the very end…'
Despite being betrayed by humans, risking his own soul, and trying to trust people again, Murkada was truly a king with a great spirit.
—"Thank you, and I'm sorry."
Raon bowed respectfully towards Murkada's spirit residing within his soul. There was nothing more he could do but express his gratitude.
—"B-Battle Spirit? You got Battle Spirit too?"
Wrath's eyes widened as he saw the message.
—"Damn Orc! Why did he let the Battle Spirit pass on too? Even in the Devildom, only those Balrog bastards use Battle Spirit!"
He waved his arms frantically, as if about to go crazy and jump all over the place.
—"I know. I don't understand why he passed it on to me."
Raon sighed softly and checked the details of <Battle Spirit Manipulation>. [<Battle Spirit Manipulation> Extracts the Battle Spirit of the King residing in your soul when emotions intensify.]
'The King's Battle Spirit?'
It seemed the Battle Spirit Murkada had passed on wasn't ordinary energy.
'However…'
The phrase about intensifying emotions bothered him. Since he couldn't feel any energy right now, it seemed he couldn't use it in a calm state.
—"It's going to be difficult to use."
—"You're a fool!"
Wrath clicked his tongue disdainfully.
—"Even the Wrath you now use as easily as breathing was uncontrollable at first. Keh-lock!"
He frowned and said that if Raon kept clashing with it as he did with Wrath, he could use it freely.
'That's true.'
Raon nodded at Wrath. As he said, when Raon first received Wrath, it was agony to the point of death, but now he could use it freely as if it were his own power. Having absorbed even the Demon King's power, he felt confident he could also make the Battle Spirit his own.
—"Thank you. You're very helpful, as always."
Raon smiled as he gently stroked Wrath's head.
—"H-Helper? Ugh…"
Wrath's lips trembled as if he had just realized he had given advice.
—"I didn't help you! I couldn't stand how stupid you were! Keh-lock!"
He abruptly turned his head, insisting it wasn't like that at all.
—"And if you're done, hurry up and eat some beaded ice cream!"
'Just a little more.'
Raon put aside the ice cream box and checked the reward messages he had received earlier.
[You have extracted the true energy of <Wrath>.]
[You have achieved victory against an overwhelmingly strong opponent.]
[You have accomplished an impossible feat.]
[All skills increase by 40 points.]
[The range of the <Focus> trait increases.]
[The range of the <Snow Flower Absorption> trait increases.]
[The range of the <Snow Flower Piercing Lance> trait increases.]
[The range of the <Divinity Born from Darkness> trait increases.]
As it was a reward from the war, his skills increased by 40 points and his traits grew evenly.
'Not bad.'
—"Nngh…"
Raon checked the last message as he watched Wrath gradually turn into strawberry-flavored cotton candy.
[The title <The Unwavering> strengthens to <The One Who Surpasses the Impossible>.]
[<The One Who Surpasses the Impossible> A title bestowed upon those who have defeated an enemy that cannot be matched with their current abilities. Ability: When fighting a stronger opponent, their abilities and momentum increase.] It seemed the ability of his original title had strengthened thanks to killing the Transcendent Warrior, the Fallen.
—"This isn't right!"
Wrath lifted his chin as he looked at the <The One Who Surpasses the Impossible> title.
—"This brat didn't overcome it alone, he borrowed my power! With my power, even a Maltese from the neighborhood could kill that masked bastard! Keh-lock!"
He shook his head vigorously, questioning what kind of nonsense that was.
—"I feel a little guilty too, but…"
Raon shrugged as he watched Wrath tremble.
—"What can I do? They already gave it to me. Why don't you take it?"
—"Argh! Damn brat!"
As Wrath yelled and lunged at him, Raon took out a yellow beaded ice cream and put it in his mouth. Wow! The refreshing feeling along with the mango fragrance and banana sweetness swirled in his mouth. The texture was crunchy like sorbet, enhancing the fruit flavors.
—"Oooh…"
Wrath stopped mid-lunge and deflated like a balloon.
—"The harmony of mango and banana is exquisite. To achieve such a subtle balance of flavors, the one who made this ice cream must be a genius!"
He shouted that he would make the owner of the beaded ice cream his subordinate as he massaged his cheeks. Of course, his description of the flavor was still terrible.
'The next one is…'
Raon put the mint chocolate with white chocolate topping in his mouth.
—"This one isn't much different."
Sadly, there wasn't much difference in the taste despite adding white chocolate. It was still simply cold and bitter.
—"Not much different? The cleaner chocolate taste makes the mint chocolate even more refreshing!"
Wrath muttered that Raon had no taste, frowning.
—"Alright, alright. You're great."
Raon smiled and pointed to the remaining two ice creams.
—"We’ve already tried both flavors once, so it should be easy to decide, right? What do you want to eat this time?"
—"Old habits die hard! The mint chocolate will be the best!"
Wrath shook his chubby fist, urging Raon to hurry up and eat.
'Is that so.'
Raon listened to Wrath's fussing as he ate the remaining two ice creams and then put the box on the floor.
—"This taste is what excites me. If it weren't for the beaded ice cream, I wouldn't be here!"
Wrath rubbed his chubby belly with satisfaction.
'You couldn't choose at first, but now you’re quick to decide.'
Raon nodded as he sat on the edge of the bed.
—"Ah, speaking of choices, there was something I wanted to tell you."
'Something you wanted to tell me?'
—"Remember when I told you to sit anywhere during the family gathering?"
—"Are you still obsessed with that? At the time, I couldn't help…"
—"That's not all."
Wrath shook his head with a serious look, as if he had summoned his true form.
—"If a day comes when you have to choose between their lives, what will you do?"
'What do you mean…'
—"The two old men. Or your mother and the Pointy Ears. Your father and your sister. Someday, you might have to weigh the lives of two or three of them."
Raon swallowed dryly as he looked at Wrath's ominous eyes.
—"You waste your own life as if you have no future, but you become indecisive when it comes to the lives of your subordinates or family."
Wrath lowered his chin, and his bright eyes dimmed.
—"You’d better think it over carefully. As you well say, there aren’t always happy moments."
'…'
Raon fell into silent contemplation as he listened to Wrath's final words.
* * *
Raon went for a walk to clear his confused mind. As he was about to head towards North Grave Mountain, he saw someone by the lake. It was Edgar. Instead of being with Sylvia as Raon expected, he was wielding his sword near the lake.
'Is that the Mystical Soul Sword?'
—"It's a bit different from your swordsmanship, isn't it?"
Wrath yawned and shook his head.
'That seems to be the original form.'
Unlike the swordsmanship Raon learned from martial arts manuals, the tip of Edgar's Mystical Soul Sword seemed alive. As it was educational, Raon observed the trajectory of Edgar's sword from behind. Whew! Suddenly, Edgar's sword, which had been moving in a solemn pattern as if searching for light in the darkness, twisted and plunged towards the ground.
—"Ugh…"
Edgar grabbed his trembling wrist and fell to his knees.
—"Are you alright?"
Raon ran towards the lake and supported Edgar, who was about to collapse.
—"I'm fine."
Edgar shook his head with an awkward smile.
—"The Death Knight suddenly interfered."
He patted his trembling wrist as if it was nothing and stood up.
—"Let's take this opportunity to eliminate the remaining Death Knight in your mental image."
Raon clenched his fist as he looked at Edgar.
—"If we ask Merlin, it wouldn't be difficult…"
The moment Merlin's name was mentioned, the lake illuminated with a blue light.
—"Did someone call me?"
Merlin, shrouded in a black robe, leaped from the parted lake.
—"Eeek!"
Wrath, who was lying on Raon's head claiming to be full, jumped like a marlin caught on a fishing hook.
—"Crazy woman! She's a real crazy woman! She's insane!"
He screamed in fear and fled towards the ice flower bracelet.
—"Y-You, why are you here…?"
Raon, also surprised, swallowed hard as he stepped back with Edgar.
—"I was waiting because I didn't know when you would call."
Merlin smiled brightly as she took off her wet robe.
—"Eh. Haha. Hahaha…"
Edgar, seemingly nervous, let out a hollow laugh as his eyes darted around.
—"Father, don't worry. If I help, it will all be over soon."
Merlin approached Edgar, licking her lips. She still wore the old woman's mask, making her look even more terrifying.
—"The magic I used on the young…"
—"No, it's alright."
Despite his fearful appearance, Edgar firmly shook his head.
—"What? But why…?"
Instead of Merlin, Raon questioned Edgar.
—"If the Death Knight's soul remains in your mental image, it must be uncomfortable…"
—"I want to overcome it with my own strength."
Edgar struck his left chest with a clenched fist.
—"The Death Knight controlled my soul for decades. It’s disgustingly strong. Honestly, I’m still scared."
His eyelids trembled, showing genuine fear.
—"That’s why I want to overcome it with my own strength. No, I must overcome it. If I can’t do this, I won’t be able to move on."
Edgar said he would subdue the Death Knight himself to protect Sylvia and Sia. It was a resolution that resonated with Raon.
—"If that’s the case, I understand."
Raon nodded and returned Edgar's smile.
—"Thank you for your understanding."
Edgar took Raon's hand, thanking him for accepting his decision.
—"It must be uncomfortable having a sudden father, but I’ll count on you from now on."
—"I’ll count on you too."
As Raon bowed his head and firmly grasped Edgar's hand, a white hand placed itself on top of theirs.
—"I count on you too, Father."
Merlin, still wearing the old woman's mask, smiled radiantly as she held Edgar and Raon's hands simultaneously.
—"Oh ho ho ho…"
Edgar shook his head, and his eyes trembled.
—"Son, what the hell have you done?"
He quickly gestured with his chin as if begging Raon to stop her.
—"…"
Raon simply closed his eyes tightly.
* * *
At dawn, while everyone was asleep, Raon sat alone in the large training ground, trying to bring out the Battle Spirit dwelling within his soul. But the Battle Spirit didn't move, as if it couldn't hear his will. Kugugugugu! Instead, only the Wrath that had rapidly grown thanks to Wrath surged uncontrollably.
—"Huh?"
Sensing Wrath's movement, Wrath emerged from the bracelet, rubbing his eyes.
—"What are you doing now? Are you looking for a fight with me?"
He narrowed his eyes as if asking if Raon wanted to test him.
—"No, it's just that the Battle Spirit isn't moving."
—"Battle Spirit?"
Wrath snorted as he looked at Raon.
—"Why are you provoking Wrath when you're trying to draw out the Battle Spirit?"
'It's just that Wrath has grown beyond my control thanks to someone.'
Raon said he hadn't intended to provoke Wrath as he lowered his hand. Vaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa! As he elevated his soul realm by resonating the Ring of Fire, the uncontrollable Wrath began to slowly subside.
—"It's always such a strange ability. Keh-lock."
Wrath gritted his teeth in annoyance. After completely suppressing it, Raon tried to manipulate the Battle Spirit again, but it didn't move.
—"This isn't easy."
—"Don't you dare show weakness!"
Wrath wrinkled his nose in irritation.
—"I can’t stand seeing someone who can manipulate my Wrath struggling with a mere Battle Spirit! Keh-lock!"
He gritted his teeth, urging Raon to bring it out by any means necessary.
—"You're right about that."
Raon smiled. Hearing Wrath's scolding made his determination to succeed increase.
'Let's start by warming up the body first.'
Since his abilities had increased by 70 in a short period, it seemed better to start with sword training to adapt to the changes in his body.
Just as Raon was about to unleash the Fangs of Madness after warming up with basic sword techniques, the training ground door opened and the Rector entered.
—"Rect… Ah, Grandpa."
Raon lowered the Heavenly Drive and bowed his head to the Rector.
—"Call me whatever feels comfortable."
The Rector shook his head as if saying it was alright.
—"I had a hard time adapting at first too."
He smiled gently, showing understanding.
—"Ah, yes."
Raon nodded. Like Glenn, he still found it difficult to use the terms "Grandpa" and "Father" when referring to the Rector and Edgar.
—"Are you training with the sword?"
—"Yes. My physical condition has improved, so I'm trying to train again."
—"That's a good attitude. A swordsman must adapt to their own body, not just the sword."
The Rector nodded approvingly and stepped back as if saying "continue". Raon bowed to the Rector and then demonstrated the Fangs of Madness, the blizzard sword art, the Azure Sky Sword, and the Mystical Soul Sword before lowering the Heavenly Drive.
Thanks to his lighter body, the sword techniques flowed faster and cleaner. He smiled naturally, feeling joy at his growth.
—"The Mystical Soul Sword has found its place. Well done."
—"…I made some improvements after watching Father's swordsmanship."
—"That idiot may not be good at many other things, but he has a talent for swordsmanship."
The Rector nodded as if to say Raon had learned well.
—"There are some sword techniques I haven’t seen before. You’ve put in a lot of effort."
—"The Head of House advised me to observe and learn various sword techniques, so I’m trying to master as many martial arts as possible."
—"Then there’s a place that would be perfect for you."
He pursed his lips as if he had caught something good.
—"Are you interested in going there?"
-
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