C863
Sterin left Sepia and entered the Great Forest. Unlike other elves who moved through the forest, he walked naturally among the dense trees and undergrowth, as if he had become one with the forest.
"Ah..."
Raon let out a small gasp as he followed Sterin.
"So it's possible to follow the flow of nature like that."
True to his elven nature, Sterin breathed with nature as if he had assimilated into this world. It was different from other transcendent warriors who forcibly absorbed nature's energy.
"Once again, I gain knowledge like this."
Although others couldn't do it, Raon felt he could imitate it with his Fire Ring, so he absorbed Sterin's breathing and movements with his whole body.
'However...'
Where is he going? Raon frowned as he watched Sterin's back, his steps never faltering. He had thought they wouldn't go too far, but Sterin kept moving forward as if he intended to cross the entire Great Forest.
"Hmm, I thought he would just throw a martial arts manual at us, but it seems like we have a problem waiting for us."
Wrath frowned, complaining about missing dinner because of this.
"I thought so too."
Raon had also thought that Sterin would give him a martial arts manual or teach him martial arts, but given how far they had traveled, that didn't seem to be the case.
"But about that old pointy-eared guy..."
Old pointy-eared guy?
"He's the grandfather of the Pointed Ears. Doesn't the name Old Pointed Ears sound appropriate?"
Wrath pursed his lips as if he wanted to say "don't answer."
'Anyway, so what?'
"He's become much weaker. It really seems like his time to leave is approaching."
He nodded and asked if Raon could feel it too.
'...I know.'
Raon gently bit his right lip.
'I can see it too.'
Even without feeling it through aura like Wrath, Raon could see that Sterin's body had aged. It seemed like he didn't have much time left.
'Damn...'
There was really no answer when it came to life expectancy. He had come to inform them of Rimmer's death, but now it seemed like he would learn about the end of another person, causing him heartache.
'Will Lady Siyana be able to handle it?'
As Raon worried about how Siyana would cope with the loss of her brother and grandfather, Sterin stopped and turned around in front of a path on the hill where sharp rocks protruded.
"Guardian. Why are we here..."
Raon tilted his head in confusion. He looked around, but seeing nothing remarkable, he felt puzzled.
"Come over here."
Sterin pointed his finger towards the back of the hill. It seemed like he wanted Raon to look where he was pointing.
"Ah, yes."
Raon nodded and approached where Sterin was. In the dark shadows behind the hill, he could see something round sticking out.
"Fruit?"
Three red fruits, the size of small plums, swayed in the afternoon breeze.
"This is..."
"It's called Sagon fruit."
Sterin smiled softly as he looked at the Sagon fruit.
"While it's not an elixir that stores large amounts of mana or increases elemental power, it has a great effect on stabilizing the mind and strengthening the soul."
He carefully picked up the fruit and placed it in his palm.
"I know about Sagon fruit too. But how come this precious thing is here..."
Raon swallowed with difficulty as he looked at Sterin's hand. Sagon fruit was a special elixir that enhanced mental strength instead of physical abilities, making it even rarer than Transcendence elixirs. He never imagined it would be in such a secluded shadow.
"Both humans and elves tend to look up too much. Sometimes, good things happen when you look down."
Sterin offered advice that seemed to refer to life in general, not just the fruit.
"Of course, it seems you're doing well on your own."
He smiled softly, as if he knew that Raon had been watching his movements from behind.
"Ah, I'm sorry."
"It's a compliment. A compliment."
Sterin shook his head and said there was no need to apologize.
"At your age, having reached Transcendence, you might be a little arrogant or lazy, but it's amazing that you're constantly looking up. Just remember to look down sometimes too. There are things to gain there too."
He offered sincere advice while offering him the Sagon fruit.
"Are you really going to give me this?"
"Give it to your aunt and your sister. It might not be much help for a martial artist, but it will be of great help to those who are mentally exhausted."
Sterin placed the Sagon fruit in Raon's hand, telling him to deliver it well.
"But why three..."
"One is payment for your work. Eat it yourself."
He gestured with his hand slightly and said he knew well too.
"Says it tastes good? Let's eat it right now! This king is hungry!"
Wrath licked his lips eagerly, exclaiming his curiosity about the taste.
"...Thank you."
Raon pushed Wrath aside with his elbow and bowed his head to Sterin. He couldn't refuse the elixir meant for Sia and Alice.
"I thought the Guardian wouldn't engage in martial arts or offer to train, but I didn't expect such a grand gift. I'll make sure to give it to both of them."
He expressed his gratitude once again sincerely.
"Ah, you've become a bit greedy while I haven't seen you."
Sterin clicked his tongue in disapproval.
"Excuse me? What are you doing...?"
Raon blinked at Sterin, not understanding why he was suddenly called greedy.
"I gave you three Sagon fruits, and you also ask me to learn martial arts? You're a complete scoundrel."
"Ah, no! Absolutely not!"
He quickly raised his hands in denial.
"I was just trying to express my gratitude..."
"It's a joke. You're too serious with adults. Try to emulate your master's humor a little."
Sterin chuckled, suggesting that Raon should show a lighter side like Rimmer.
"Ah, that's a little..."
Raon shook his head firmly.
"Hahaha!"
Sterin burst into laughter, and his lips curled upwards.
"Right. That's understandable."
He rubbed his chin, indicating that he understood perfectly.
"I know there's a lot to learn from my master, but I don't want to imitate his joy and frivolity."
"Well, you don't need to learn that. Your crazy tendencies are already beyond those pointy ears."
Wrath wiggled his finger, suggesting that there was no need to tone down the craziness.
'That's not true!'
"Isn't it?"
'No matter what, I'm not crazier than the Master...'
While Raon shook his head, Sterin took out a bow and arrow that he had been carrying on his back.
"Alright. Let's see how much you've grown."
Sterin placed an arrow in his bow as if he really intended to train with Raon.
"Ah, no. I didn't actually mean to imply..."
"As you probably intuit, I don't have much time left."
He shook his head, and his right hand holding the arrow trembled slightly.
"I can still manipulate nature's energy at will, but my body can't handle that power anymore. If it wasn't now, maybe I wouldn't have the chance to teach you."
Sterin nodded, as if telling Raon to quickly grab his sword.
"You understand, right? When he approaches you like that, it would be disrespectful to back down."
Wrath looked down, as if urging Raon to draw his sword.
'Alright.'
Raon nodded, biting his lip.
"Then I will learn from you with gratitude."
Raon drew his Heavenly Drive and pointed it towards Sterin.
"Having you as my last training partner is an honor."
Sterin smiled with his wrinkled lips, expressing his joy at facing a future ruler.
"Then, here I go."
Sensing that Sterin intended to teach through combat, Raon moved first. With a thunderous sound, he gripped the Heavenly Drive tightly and moved forward, unleashing a Crimson Slash towards Sterin's waist. The snow-white sword ignited fierce flames as if to erase the existence of the old elf.
"Fast and strong."
Sterin let out a small exclamation of admiration as he tilted his bow diagonally. The bow, glowing with blue light, extinguished the flames of the Crimson Slash and gently pushed down the Heavenly Drive. With a dull thud, Raon's upward cut with the Heavenly Drive hit the ground without even touching its intended target, Sterin.
"His defense is perfect."
To deflect his sword strike with just the bow: it was clear why he was Sepia's Guardian.
"Then, let's do it properly."
Raon narrowed his eyes and moved to Sterin's left side. From the elf's blind spot, he launched a flame that seemed to slide along the blade. It was the Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation's Spinning Heaven technique. With a roar, the spinning flames lunged at Sterin, but he disappeared like a ghost, only to reappear five steps to the left. It seemed less like footwork and more like a doppelganger technique.
"This time, try to block my arrow."
Sterin drew back the string of his bow with a gentle smile. An arrow flickering with blue light instantly sped towards Raon's eyes. With a whistle, Raon stepped back to the right using the Steps of Supreme Harmony, but Sterin's arrow followed him as if it had eyes, emitting a fierce aura. With a piercing sound, it approached.
Raon used Snap Frost to deflect Sterin's arrow aimed at his left chest.
With a sharp sound, the blue arrow, despite being hit by Frost Snap, didn't break or deflect. Instead, it rose again and continued its pursuit.
'Harmony Bow!'
It was the absolute realm of archery where one could freely control arrows, similar to Sword Control.
"In that case, I..."
Raon released the Heavenly Impulse. It was the essence of Sword Control, which was operated by opening the upper dantian. The Heavenly Impulse rose on its own to block Sterin's Harmony Bow arrow aimed at his neck. With a thunderous clash, the Sword Control in the realm of transcendence collided with the Harmony Bow, releasing a powerful shockwave and causing dark blue cracks to appear in the air.
"So that's the Sword Control that avenged him."
Sterin nodded approvingly.
"Despite mixing techniques from various martial artists, it feels harmonious. It's a very sharp sword."
He nodded and said it was excellent.
"My master's teachings were also a great help."
Raon used Garunua's wind, which he had learned from Rimmer, to push back Sterin's Harmony Bow.
"Have you incorporated my grandson's martial arts? Then, as a grandfather, I can't lose."
Sterin smiled slightly and moved his finger. His arrow spun like a whirlwind as it headed towards Heavenly Drive. With a thunderous roar, the Sword Control and the Harmony Bow collided again, sending a deafening roar through the night sky.
'As expected, it seems he can't use all his power right now.'
Sterin's Harmony Bow didn't seem to contain much energy, probably due to his poor physical condition. Believing that he had overwhelmingly rejected it, Raon looked up.
'Eh...?'
But Sterin's arrow was not only perfectly blocking the Heavenly Impulse imbued with the fire of Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation, but it was even pushing it back.
"Interesting, isn't it?"
Sterin smiled slightly as he looked at Raon's wide-eyed expression.
"The energy you've infused is more overwhelming, but no one rejects it."
"Y-Yes, it is."
Raon opened his trembling lips.
"It's nature."
Sterin raised his hand. It seemed as if the whole world was reflected in his wrinkled palm.
"Transcendence is the state where one can connect with everything in this world. If you lack strength, you can borrow energy from nature. Beings like dragons can do this from the start."
He moved his finger, saying that in a battle between Transcendent Warriors, what matters is how far one's existence can reach.
"It won't work well at first. Forcibly extracting or borrowing energy from nature is not easy. But for someone like you, it shouldn't take too long... Eh?"
Sterin stopped mid-advice and gaped. The winds of the Great Forest were gathering around Raon's Heavenly Drive.
"It's like that. It's a little difficult, but I think I understand the idea."
Raon nodded, saying he understood intuitively.
"A-already got it?"
Sterin's jaw trembled in disbelief.
"Actually, before coming here, I saw our House Head and the Central Martial Palace Master training. Both of them used not only their own aura but also the energy of nature. Seeing the Guardian's movements today, I think I understand a little."
Raon bowed his head and said he realized after seeing Sterin move in harmony with nature.
"Hahaha!"
Sterin burst into laughter, pushing back his white hair.
"It's just like he said."
"He?"
"Your master, my grandson."
He looked at Rimmer's sword with clear eyes.
"He was right when he said that Raon always exceeds expectations."
Sterin nodded, saying it was still true.
"However, you're still quite inexperienced. Can you do a little more?"
"Of course."
Raon raised his Heavenly Drive, saying he could do whatever was needed.
"Then let's try again."
"Yes!"
Raon enjoyed the training that lasted all night with Sterin, feeling a sense of nostalgia.
* * *
As soon as he finished training with Raon, which had lasted until dawn, Sterin returned home and collapsed on the ground.
"It's not easy."
After a few hours of training and teaching, his entire body ached as if he had muscle soreness. That meant he had pushed himself too hard. In his prime, no, even a few years ago, he could fight all day without any problems. Feeling so tired now, he really felt his time was coming.
"Still, it was enjoyable."
Maybe it was because he had taught the young transcendent warrior that his grandson had raised. A sense of pride washed over him, overcoming the fatigue and pain. As he was about to go to sleep contentedly, a white letter fell before his eyes.
"This is..."
Sterin raised a trembling hand to open the letter. After reading it, he sighed, but his gaze became even more resolute. He burned the letter and then left his house towards the northern end of the Great Forest.
As he climbed the yellow hill surrounded by intense cold, a woman wearing a golden coat turned around.
Diamond-shaped pupils, like those of a snake. It was a dragon in human form.
"You're late."
The Dragon tilted her chin arrogantly.
"The sun hasn't risen yet, so I'm on time."
Sterin clicked his tongue briefly.
"Besides, the day we agreed to meet wasn't today, but in four days, right?"
"After thinking about it, I didn't see any reason to give you more time."
The Dragon lowered her hand, suggesting that it would be better for both of them to reach a conclusion immediately.
"Am I wrong? It seems you've already made your decision."
"That's right."
Sterin nodded calmly.
"Then, what's your answer?"
"I refuse. Sepia will not side with the Dragons or distance itself from the Five Kings."
He rejected all of the Dragon's proposals, leaving no room for negotiation.
"But the current Sepia doesn't have the ability to protect itself, right?"
The Dragon bared her white teeth menacingly.
"Do you think the Five Kings will risk their lives for you?"
"That's irrelevant. What's the point of living in shame after betraying one's faith? Those who betray trust fall into corruption and eventually perish."
Sterin shook his head and said he didn't want to live like the Dark Elves.
"Threaten or retaliate as you please. As long as I'm alive, I will stop it all."
He straightened his back, showing no sign of regret.
"Retaliation, you say..."
The Dragon shook her head slightly.
"Fortunately for us, we've already started."
"What are you..."
As Sterin swallowed and turned around, bright red flames erupted from the entire Great Forest surrounding Sepia. The roaring sound of fire filled the air.
-
More Ch4pters on KoreanPlayer
↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓
Thanks for the support
