C803
"Haha..."
Lawrence tossed his white hair back as he gazed at the blazing divine sword.
"I've seen enough of your guts. Are you saying you want to fight with all your power now?"
He nodded his head in approval and raised both hands in front of him.
"Very well. Let me show you how high the wall of transcendence truly is."
A pure white aura bloomed from Lawrence's shoulders. It enveloped the energy of Reverse Wave Arts in a cloud-like form around his hand, indicating he was ready to fight with all his strength.
"Then, let's begin."
Raon gave Lawrence a respectful sword salute before activating Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation and stomped on the ground. He sped forward with flames and aimed for Lawrence's neck with an extremely fast sword technique.
"Take this!"
Lawrence extended his right hand as if he had anticipated Raon's charge. His hand shot out like a punch and collided with the blade of Heavenly Drive. The collision of the sword and the hand resonated as if huge iron blocks were crashing against each other.
"Haha..."
Raon bit his lip as he felt the powerful recoil pushing his divine sword back.
"As expected, transcendence is on another level."
Seeing his divine sword wobble as if it was about to break, Raon realized that Lawrence had no intention of being lenient with him.
"It's not just about being overpowered by strength."
His swordsmanship was nullified with ease. Unlike the previous training sessions, his sword techniques were erased with a disappointing ease. It was clear that Lawrence had been hiding not only his martial prowess but also the true extent of his Reverse Wave Arts.
'This is going to be interesting.'
Determined to break through Lawrence's full power, Raon stepped forward with his right foot on the slanted ground. He pushed the demonic sword to his waist, summoning the cold energy of Glacier. The demonic sword's blade extended in line with his left arm, dispersing like a mirage and blooming into countless petals.
Frozen Fire Spirit. Blue petals imbued with cold energy engulfed Lawrence's entire body.
"Such a troublesome sword technique."
As Lawrence gracefully lowered his left hand as if he were summoning butterflies, the frost shards surrounding him melted completely. It was the mystical power of Reverse Wave Arts.
"I was expecting this."
Anticipating that Lawrence would erase the Fire Spirit from the start, Raon lunged towards Lawrence's left side just as his hand descended and the cold energy dissipated.
"Hmm!"
The moment Lawrence frowned, Raon unleashed the Thirty-Six Crimson Flash Techniques with his blazing divine sword. In an instant, he infused each of the thirty-six different sword techniques with swordsmanship principles.
Instead of a single sword strike from the Thirty-Six Crimson Flash Techniques, thirty-six distinct sword strikes shot towards Lawrence's vital points.
"You're crazy..."
Lawrence's eyes widened in surprise, seemingly baffled by the dizzying variety of the Thirty-Six Crimson Flash Techniques. However, as befitting a transcendent being, he quickly regained his composure and drew a circle with both hands.
The white aura extending from his fingertips erased the flow of the Thirty-Six Crimson Flash Techniques. It clearly wasn't an easy feat, as the energy of Reverse Wave Arts in his hands decreased significantly.
"I have to keep pushing myself."
Even Lawrence couldn't use Reverse Wave Arts indefinitely. If he continued to improve his swordsmanship, like countless drops of water piercing through rock, he could eventually overcome Reverse Wave Arts. Raon unleashed Frost Snap with his divine sword and unsheathed Silver Sword Dream with his demonic sword.
'Ordinary sword techniques are pointless.'
He needed to add variation. In Frost Snap, which launched the true sword and the ice sword with a time difference, he incorporated phantom sword techniques to summon dozens of swords. In Silver Sword Dream, designed to disorient the opponent, he infused heavy sword and blunt sword techniques to restrict space.
The cold blades of Frost Snap erased the white aura of Reverse Wave Arts, followed by the weak but powerful sword strikes of Silver Sword Dream that pierced Lawrence's chest.
"Ugh!"
Lawrence frowned as he watched the flames of the divine sword approaching. He seemed astonished by how drastically different Raon's swordsmanship had become compared to what he was used to seeing.
"You've prepared yourself thoroughly to defeat me!"
Lawrence spread his hands with lowered eyebrows. The aura emanating like smoke from his hands merged into a form similar to an Astral Ring, crushing Silver Sword Dream. A white mist swirled around Lawrence as if protecting him, and the energy of Reverse Wave Arts seeped into his hands, transforming into a sword that could cut through anything.
That form seemed to be the true power of Lawrence, the transcendent being.
"Now, the real fight begins."
Not content with defense, Lawrence launched forward the Astral Ring of Reverse Wave Arts concentrated in his right hand. The energy of Reverse Wave Arts, carrying a massive wave within a calm wave, broke through the defense of the divine and demonic swords, striking Raon's chest.
"Ah!"
Raon coughed up blood as he was thrown backward and rolled on the ground. Since it wasn't a serious internal injury, he immediately got up and prepared to counterattack.
"Hmm."
Lawrence stopped short and tilted his chin, seemingly considering Raon's counterattack dangerous.
"We've shown all our cards. Now it's time to see who has the stronger hand."
His eyes gleamed ominously, signaling his readiness for a serious fight.
"Agreed."
Raon moved forward towards Lawrence, intensifying the flames of his divine sword and the cold energy of his demonic sword. He had already forgotten about being hit. The only thing filling his mind now was the swordsmanship needed to overcome Reverse Wave Arts. Lawrence's eyes shimmered with a deep golden color, indicating he was reading all of Raon's sword movements.
'It doesn't matter.'
If Lawrence could understand his swordsmanship, Raon only needed to evolve and fight. That's why he had been honing his swordsmanship day and night.
"My limit isn't my true limit."
Raon wasn't afraid of the sword techniques he had prepared being broken. Instead, he smiled as if he enjoyed it and faced Lawrence with all his strength.
"I know your true talent lies in that tireless tenacity of yours!"
Lawrence bit his lip as if he was exasperated and extended a pure white astral ring. When the red sword and the white hand collided, a storm of mist and flames rose towards the sky.
* * *
"Well..."
The Demon Sword Lord let out a sigh as he watched Raon and Lawrence clash relentlessly.
"To think Lawrence was hiding so much power..."
He nodded his chin, admitting that he never knew Lawrence's nullifying techniques were at this level.
"Indeed. I thought the current Raon would be more than enough..."
The Demon Sword Lord nodded his head.
"Seems like that arrogant bastard truly was lenient with us."
He rubbed his neck as he observed Lawrence's cold eyes.
"Is that Reverse Wave Arts?"
Burren swallowed hard as he observed the white aura.
"It truly erases Raon's martial arts with ease. It's like painting white over his swordsmanship."
"Rather than erasing it, it meticulously breaks it down."
Martha frowned as she watched the white aura dissolving Raon's swordsmanship.
"It's not some magical power, but it definitely overwhelms Raon's sword."
She exhaled heavily, seemingly surprised by the very existence of Reverse Wave Arts.
"I can see Raon's swordsmanship. But..."
Runaan nodded, her vacant eyes filling with a glimmer of intelligence.
"Raon is also changing."
She nodded softly, as if expressing her faith in Raon.
"Master."
Mustan stood beside the Rector, biting his lip slightly.
"Who do you think will win?"
His voice was so loud that everyone turned to look at the Rector.
"Lawrence, of course."
The Rector replied without hesitation.
"Lawrence's eyes and senses are special. The more he fights an opponent, the easier it becomes for him to read their movements. He's been fighting Raon for two months, so he's probably already learned all his sword techniques."
He nodded firmly, as if the outcome was already decided.
"Besides, we can't ignore the difference in levels between them. Even though Raon is at the peak of Grandmaster, he's still far from transcendence. It won't be easy for him to win."
The Rector looked at Zalek, who was standing silently, as he declared that Raon couldn't win.
"Alliance Leader, you don't know your grandson well enough."
Zalek arched his white eyebrows as he met the Rector's gaze.
"That leech's swordsmanship is improving as we speak. It's quite maddening."
He clicked his tongue as he watched Raon's swordsmanship.
"If he was just a puppet repeating the same sword techniques, I would have crushed him a long time ago."
Zalek gritted his teeth, seemingly remembering how Raon had tormented him.
"Really?"
Dorian stood close to Zalek, his eyes shining.
"So, does that mean Lord Raon will win?"
"I don't know if he'll win or lose. It's just that..."
Zalek shook his head and frowned.
"He's not the kind to break so easily."
He looked towards the Rector as he said this.
"How is that? Is this the answer you wanted?"
"It's fine."
The Rector winked at Zalek, who had spoken on his behalf. He clasped his hands together, seemingly trusting his grandson, and immersed himself in the battle of flames and mist.
* * *
Raon smiled even as he watched his Flame Dragon Strike dissolve uselessly.
'Does it even erase this?'
Despite having infused Flame Dragon Strike, his most powerful fire technique, with the principles of the Destroyer Sword, it couldn't penetrate Lawrence's Reverse Wave Arts. It felt like he was building sandcastles only to have the waves destroy them, but strangely, it made him smile.
"Perhaps it's not strange, but natural?"
It's an opportunity for him to improve even further. Just like the Eye of the Mind, Reverse Wave Arts isn't invincible. As his swordsmanship progressed, it gradually revealed cracks. With Silver Sword Dream and Flame Dragon Strike, even though Reverse Wave Arts had blocked his sword, Lawrence had also been greatly affected.
If his sword continues to evolve, an opportunity will arise to break through that white mist.
Raon resonated the Ring of Fire to the extreme. Elevating his soul realm and concentration, he focused not on Lawrence, but on his own mental image and heart. He mixed the techniques of the Wind Sword and the Thunder Sword into an extremely fast downward strike. His divine sword, gleaming with flames, extended enveloped in lightning and wind. It was truly divine speed.
Lawrence concentrated the energy of Reverse Wave Arts in his hands and brought down the divine sword enveloped in wind, lightning, and flames. However, it wasn't easy for him either, as a bead of cold sweat fell from his forehead.
'Next!'
Expecting his sword attack to be blocked, Raon infused the Silver Wind Flowing technique of the Blizzard Sword Art with the Blizzard Sword, Fluid Sword, and Breaking Sword techniques. A sword attack as silent but firm as an untrodden winter snowfield extended towards Lawrence's chest. Lawrence overlapped his left and right hands to block this new sword attack.
"How far will you go...?"
He bit his lip, seemingly nervous about the significant amount of Reverse Wave Arts energy that had disappeared.
"I'm still far from finished."
Raon didn't organize the numerous sword techniques that came to mind. Like a child freely assembling a puzzle according to his own thoughts, he unleashed his unique swordsmanship without considering the compatibility or synergy of the sword principles. Slow but sharp swords, heavy but gentle swords, swords that extended grandly only to target a single point.
A variety of sword techniques, not caring about efficiency or flow, unfolded one after another from Raon's fingertips.
This wasn't something one could do alone, not even with talent that appears once every thousand years. It was only possible because Lawrence was there to receive all of Raon's sword strikes.
"Crazy..."
Lawrence bit his lip until it bled as he watched Raon unleash a series of incomparable sword strikes.
'What the hell has this guy gained?'
The sword techniques he had seen over the past two months were evolving before his eyes. Familiar techniques had changed so much that his previous experience was almost becoming an obstacle. Moreover, as the depth of swordsmanship increased, it wasn't easy to block the evolving techniques. Every time he blocked Raon's sword, a portion of Reverse Wave Arts energy was drained.
At this rate, it seemed like Reverse Wave Arts could be broken not by aura or physical strength, but truly by swordsmanship.
"That can't happen."
For Raon to be able to grow, he needed to be a wall. If not for that, he wouldn't have the right to be there.
'I can't lose at all!'
If Raon was getting stronger, he just had to develop his Reverse Wave Arts as well. With his transcendent energy, he pressed down on Raon's entire body as he approached with new sword techniques. He shattered Raon's swordsmanship and exploded the energy of Reverse Wave Arts right in front of Raon's chest.
"Ah!"
Raon coughed up black blood as he was thrown backward and rolled on the ground. Although his entire body trembled from the strong impact, he never let go of his two swords.
"Haha..."
Raon slowly got to his feet. Despite the blood dripping from his mouth, he was smiling cheerfully, as if he was enjoying himself.
"...Are you really a monster?"
Lawrence bit his lip.
"Come on, then! Let's see what else you've got!"
"Of course."
Raon smiled as he charged at Lawrence. As they clashed for dozens, even hundreds of exchanges, the two swords in their hands continuously transformed.
Fast and slow, strong and weak, heavy and light, disciplined and formless. Now, he aimed for Lawrence's neck with swordsmanship that defied all description.
Lawrence forcefully pushed Raon back and gritted his teeth.
"...This won't work."
He needed to finish it here. The flow of Reverse Wave Arts was starting to break. Since he had never fought for so long, he was also reaching his limits. Raon was also fighting beyond his limits, and his body was deteriorating. For both of their sakes, it seemed best to end it here.
Lawrence simultaneously erased the waves of flames and frost created by the divine and demonic swords, then lunged at Raon. He extended both hands, aiming for Raon's chest and abdomen. He concentrated all the energy of Reverse Wave Arts into both hands to erase any attack Raon might make.
The moment Raon's vision filled with a white aura, he stretched his left foot forward.
"This can't be blocked."
With the difference in aura and realm, it was impossible to overcome the energy of Reverse Wave Arts with his current sword. There was only one way. He had to erase Reverse Wave Arts with his swordsmanship. He calmed the Divine-Demonic Harmony. Erasing the flames of the divine sword and the frost of the demonic sword, he revealed the silver blade of Heavenly Drive.
Emptying both the flames and the cold energy, he opened the world of mental images. The Path of Ten Thousand Swords. His unique sword techniques that pursued the true Ten Thousand Swords concentrated on Heavenly Drive, causing a golden flash.
"Whatever it is, it's too late!"
Lawrence extended the energy of Reverse Wave Arts in all directions, as if he wanted to erase any sword techniques. It seemed as if all space was under his control. Raon brought down Heavenly Drive, held with both hands, towards the pure white mist that extended like a god's grasp.
Sword Domain. The golden radiance containing all the sword techniques of the world collided with the white mist erasing all sword techniques, causing the roar of a dragon to erupt in all directions.
With a sound like a mountain breaking, a huge shockwave exploded, turning the earth upside down and plunging everything into darkness.
"Hmm!"
Rector frowned and lowered his hand, causing the wind to carry away the black smoke filling the clearing. When the dust settled, they could see Raon kneeling and Lawrence with his hands on the ground. A tie. Their final duel had ended in a draw.
"You crazy bastard..."
Lawrence gritted his teeth in disbelief.
"Were you trying to kill me?!"
"I knew you could handle it, Sir Lawrence."
Raon shook his head and laughed weakly.
"You're truly crazy. Even crazier than the previous Holy Sword Alliance leader!"
Lawrence's eyelids twitched as he uttered words that could be a compliment or an insult.
"I hear that a lot."
Raon chuckled before collapsing to the ground.
"Thank you for being so kind to me."
He bowed his head towards Lawrence as he said this.
"Damn it."
Lawrence frowned and lay on the ground with his legs spread.
"If I had been kind to you, would it be like this?"
He gestured with his hand, telling Raon not to say nonsense.
"If you had used all your power from the beginning, it would have all ended immediately. You gave me time to grow. Even at the end, you held back."
Raon smiled, indicating that he knew everything.
"I'm truly grateful..."
"Enough. Congratulations on reaching the peak of Grandmaster."
Lawrence said this as he lightly touched Raon's shoulder.
"Oh? Is this the first time you've complimented me?"
"Yes, after tormenting me for two months, I wanted to say this first."
He said this and quickly turned his flushed face away.
"Thank you."
Raon forced himself to get up and bowed his head towards Lawrence.
"I'm greatly indebted to you."
"You weren't indebted, you were a nuisance!"
Lawrence wrinkled his nose, telling Raon to use the proper words.
"I guess that's true."
Raon scratched his head with a slight smile.
"However..."
Lawrence tilted his head as he looked at Raon.
"Have you found a clue to reaching transcendence?"
"Hmm..."
Raon didn't answer immediately. After observing Lawrence, Rector, and the people surrounding them, he looked up at the night sky and nodded.
"Yes, I think I've found it."
* * *
After finishing his duel with Lawrence, Raon returned to the mansion and went straight to his room. Having exhausted all his strength, fatigue overwhelmed him, making it difficult for him to even stand.
'How was today's duel?'
Raon leaned against the bed and reached out to Wrath, who was wagging his tail.
- We're not there yet!
Wrath swatted Raon's hand away, saying he was still pathetic.
- If that grasshopper had given his all from the start, you wouldn't have even been able to counterattack. Your swordsmanship has improved, but the combinations were too rudimentary. You need to study much more. And because you focused so much on swordsmanship, your aura movements have become dull!
He chattered about Raon's flaws as if he were eating pearl ice cream.
- But! It's true that you've improved. These two months here were probably worth more than a year in Zieghart.
Wrath nodded, acknowledging Raon's truly rapid growth.
'Thank you.'
Raon smiled, remembering the weaknesses Wrath had pointed out.
- If you're grateful, buy me some pearl ice cream!
Wrath gestured with his hand, telling Raon not to say it.
'When we return to Zieghart, I'll buy you so much you'll burst.'
Raon made this promise to Wrath and then looked at his own hands.
"I still have a long way to go."
Even though his swordsmanship had improved, he needed to pay attention to combinations and focus on his aura movements and body as well. There was still much to do to reach transcendence.
- By the way.
Wrath frowned and moved closer to Raon's face.
'Yes?'
- What's the key to reaching transcendence that you thought of?
He tilted his head and asked what value Raon had in mind.
- Well, there are two things. It's a little embarrassing, but...
Just as Raon was about to speak, licking his lips...
[The sprout of the Ten Thousand Swords has begun to grow.]
[All skills increase by 20 points.]
[The rank of the <Evil Eye of Wrath> trait increases.]
[The rank of the <Spiral Power> trait increases.]
[The rank of the <Focus> trait increases.]
[The rank of the <Focus> trait surpasses 12 stars and becomes a new trait...]
[New Title...]
The rewards accumulated over two months of training in the Holy Sword Alliance arrived all at once.
- Damn it all!
Wrath attacked the messages and shook his head.
- This bastard has terrible timing! It's clear now that he's waiting to mock me... Huh?
He was gnashing his teeth, swearing to tear him apart, when he saw the title and his eyes widened.
- Pujejejeje!
Wrath burst into laughter, pointing at the new title.
[The new title <Tenacious Leech> is created.]
- It's a leech! Now even that thing recognizes your leech nature!
He chuckled and said that finally his words were being taken seriously. However, Raon was too busy looking away to pay attention to the title.
'Is <Focus> becoming a new trait?'
-
More Ch4pters on KoreanPlayer
↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓
Thanks for the support
