C874
"Lightning..."
Raon let out a small moan as he met Glenn's intense gaze.
"Since the House Leader created it, it must be a powerful and refined swordsmanship, but I'm not sure if it's suitable for me."
He currently possessed auras of flame, ice, wind, and earth, the latter obtained from the Sword Saint. While Glenn's Thunder Sword would undoubtedly be destructive, Raon wasn't convinced it would benefit him, having mastered four elemental auras.
"Too much power can become poison."
He had mastered fire and ice, was in the process of getting acquainted with wind, but was still far from adapting to the earth aura. He was worried if he could effectively use the Thunder Sword in his current state.
"It's natural for you to think that way, given the number of attributes you've mastered."
Glenn stroked his chin calmly, as if he had anticipated Raon's question.
"As you said, most Transcendants focus on one or two attributes. However, this isn't because additional ones aren't necessary, but because mastering other attributes requires a tremendous amount of time and effort."
He lowered his eyebrows and explained that someone who learned the flame aura would need more than triple the effort to master cold energy.
"But you, Raon, are different."
A star of expectation appeared in Glenn's red eyes.
"Even when you were an expert, you freely used fire and ice. After becoming a master, you incorporated both attributes into your swordsmanship, and now you've created a sword technique that also incorporates wind."
He nodded approvingly as he continued.
"You haven't reached your full potential yet. After perfecting the earth aura and mastering the Thunder Sword you're about to learn, your level will increase even further."
Glenn smiled and said he had never seen someone with such a capacity for martial arts.
"It might seem chaotic now, but when all the auras and martial arts you've learned become one, no one will be above you."
He looked at the dark night sky and said that Raon might even surpass him.
"That seems difficult."
Raon shook his head firmly.
'It would take a lifetime of training to reach that level.'
After reaching Transcendence, Glenn's level seemed even higher. The mere sight of it was overwhelming. Realizing how high the House Leader who supported Zieghart stood, he got goosebumps.
"No, you can do it."
Glenn nodded without hesitation, as if he were certain.
"You could even transcend restrictions and laws."
He chuckled and said that Raon might not even be bound by causality like him.
"This king has similar thoughts."
Wrath waved his finger, saying he finally agreed with the old man.
"With that trap ring you possess, you could learn the Thunder Sword or any other technique."
He muttered that Raon's ability had grown even more with nine Fire Rings.
"But don't let your guard down! If the opportunity arises, this king will devour your body!"
'Tomorrow too?'
"Not tomorrow, but the moment the opportunity arises!"
'Ah, I was planning to have a dragon barbecue tomorrow, but I guess that won't work.'
Raon said disappointedly, licking his lips.
"W-well, this king might be busy tomorrow, so would it be alright?"
"No, no. It's dangerous, so I'd better eat the food I'm given."
He shook his head and said he would eat at the cafeteria of the fifth training ground.
"Eat it! This king won't accept it!"
Wrath shouted that he wouldn't accept it tomorrow or the day after tomorrow and told Raon to prepare the dragon barbecue. Although he claimed he wanted Raon's body, it seemed he had already given up.
"Since you seem to understand, shall we begin?"
Glenn placed his hand on the hilt of the Celestial Tremor and continued.
"The sword technique is called the Celestial Thunder Arts."
"Celestial Thunder Arts...?"
"It's not just an aura cultivation method, but a martial art that incorporates swordsmanship, like the Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation."
He said he was inspired by the Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation he used while gripping the sword hilt.
"As I mentioned, I had its connection to the Blue Sky Sword in mind, so watch carefully."
Glenn unsheathed the Celestial Tremor at an unbearably slow pace. He pointed the tip of the sword at the ground and took a deep breath. In the blink of an eye, Glenn's sword touched the sky, and the clear night sky turned into dark clouds.
The eyes of the thunder dragon twisted among the black clouds filled with crimson lightning.
As Glenn silently lowered the celestial tremor, the red lightning that filled the sky turned into a single sword and attacked. The blow of the sword, which transcended the concept of speed, fell before Raon and Glenn, creating a tremendous shockwave. It was strong enough to push him back despite preparing himself.
"This is the tenth form of the Celestial Thunder Arts, Mighty Electric Storm."
Glenn slightly shook his hand holding the Celestial Tremor, calling it the first move of the Celestial Thunder Sword. (E/N: I'm as confused as you probably are - tenth form but first move. I'm probably missing something, but here we are, but I decided to leave it like that in case it actually means something)
"Ah..."
Raon exhaled, looking at the black hole carved in front of him.
"The speed and power are beyond what I can follow."
Glenn had just compressed the lightning energy that filled the sky to make it thinner than a sword blade and attacked. Despite the powerful shockwave that shook Raon's body, only a small hole was created, demonstrating the overwhelming control and penetration of the lightning energy. He had seen many magic spells and sword techniques that incorporated lightning, but never a power of this different caliber.
The lightning energy was so extremely condensed that he felt that even using the Sky Rift of the Sword Domain wouldn't be able to block it.
"He's something pretty special."
Wrath shook his head and stuttered twice.
"I don't understand why the old man gets stronger and stronger when it's time to leave."
He moistened his dry lips with his tongue, seemingly quite surprised.
'Are you giving up now?'
"What nonsense! This king never loses!"
Wrath shook his head vigorously, saying that the Demon King never loses.
"What do you think? Will you learn it?"
Glenn spread his hands as if to say he would do whatever Raon wished.
"If I backed down after seeing this, I wouldn't be a swordsman."
Raon nodded after exhaling briefly.
"I will."
It would be unworthy of a swordsman to refuse after witnessing the sword technique Glenn had just demonstrated. Accepting was the most natural thing to do.
"That's a good resolution."
Glenn revealed a look of pride, as if he had expected this.
"Then, from now on, I will teach you the mantras and forms of the Celestial Thunder Arts."
Standing, he recited the theory of the Celestial Thunder Arts in one go. Raon resonated his Fire Ring, memorizing every word of Glenn without missing anything.
'The method of use isn't difficult.'
While Glenn could have created a more complex martial art, it was as easy to understand as an intermediate-level sword technique. It seemed like a martial art created from the beginning with the intention of passing it on to others.
"Next are the forms."
After conveying all the mantras of the Celestial Thunder Arts, Glenn stepped forward, holding the Celestial Tremor. He demonstrated all the stances in detail, from the first form to the twelfth, before lowering his sword.
"It really blends well with the Blue Sky Sword."
As Glenn had said, the sword forms of the Celestial Thunder Arts were connected in pairs with the forms of the Blue Sky Sword. Easy-to-understand mantras and familiar sword forms. If he wasn't mistaken, it seemed that Glenn had created the Celestial Thunder Arts specifically for him.
"You're probably right."
Grandpa wouldn't need to create any more martial arts beyond this. The current Glenn could express the ultimate swordsmanship simply by wielding his sword. The fact that he created such a refined martial art clearly wasn't for himself, but for others.
"You'll be able to give your sword more value than I can. I look forward to that day."
Glenn told him to visualize all aspects of the Ten Thousand Swords as he sheathed the Celestial Tremor.
"Thank you."
Raon raised the Heavenly Drive in a sword salute.
"I will perfect the Celestial Thunder Arts to help Zieghart."
"While those words please me, I didn't say that for Zieghart, but for you."
Glenn stepped forward and grabbed Raon's shoulder.
"Think about yourself a little."
He smiled slightly, telling Raon to have some leisure in his heart.
"Like that master of yours who rests, nailed to his sword even after death."
"Ah, yes..."
Raon chuckled as he touched the Requiem Sword.
"Then let's start again."
Glenn said he would correct Raon's stance as he stepped back.
"I'll be in your care!"
Raon bowed deeply and drew the Celestial Path.
* * *
The night had passed completely and the rising sun had come out when Glenn finally lowered his hand.
"This should be enough."
Glenn nodded, seemingly satisfied.
"Now that you've mastered the stance, you should be able to practice on your own."
"Thank you."
"I thought it would take me a few days to teach you, but understanding the basics in just one night..."
He let out a dry laugh, as if he couldn't believe it.
"Your capacity seems to be growing even more."
Glenn narrowed his eyes and said that Raon might be able to learn other energies besides lightning.
"It's thanks to Grandpa's excellent teaching."
"I-is that so?"
Glenn's lips trembled slightly, seemingly pleased to be called grandpa.
"Yes. The mantras and forms were easy to understand. Thank you, Grandpa."
"Huh!"
Glenn held his breath for a moment, as if he were touched that Raon had realized his intention.
"W-well then. Go and rest. Y-you worked hard all night."
He waved his hand, gasping to hide his emotional expression.
"You worked hard too."
Raon said he would come back later and left the House Leader's training ground.
"It's an incredible sword technique."
He smiled slightly as he generated electrical energy on his fingertips.
“It doesn't lack anything in power, speed, or penetration.”
The strength of the Celestial Thunder Arts lay in its rapid speed and powerful force, befitting a lightning-based sword technique. But more than that, the trajectory of the sword technique was grand and intricate. It seemed that even a Transcendent of the same level would have difficulty blocking it after seeing it only once.
“Learning a technique like that in one night, even I find it unbelievable.”
Even for a Transcendent, mastering a top-tier sword technique in one night should be impossible. His original self would have needed at least a week just to achieve the correct stance, but he never expected to learn the Celestial Thunder Arts that Glenn created in just one night.
It seemed he was becoming a true monster, both mentally and physically, as his Fire Ring reached nine stars.
"No matter how you look at it, it's cheating."
Wrath shook his head in disbelief.
"Where the hell did you get that damn ring?"
"Well, I'm not sure myself..."
He let out a small sigh as he looked at Glenn, whose cheeks and ears were turning red in the center of the training ground.
'The closer I get to others...'
The more my heart aches, Glenn considers him a natural genius, but the secret of that talent is the Fire Ring. Learning the true Ten Thousand Swords, gathering multiple attributes simultaneously without decreasing the learning speed, it's all thanks to the Fire Ring.
To honestly explain this reason, he would have to mention his past life, but he wasn't sure if he could say those words.
“It's okay not to do it, but it's curious that I want to do it at the same time.”
Although he wanted to continue living as Raon Zieghart, he also felt a pang of conscience, wanting to reveal the truth to those who believed in him.
'Whatever happens, I guess the first...'
He licked his lips briefly, looking at Wrath singing a dragon barbecue song.
"Will be that guy."
He didn't know how Wrath would react, but to him, Wrath was the closest being. Before revealing the secret to others, it was right to tell that guy first.
"What are you looking at?"
Wrath waved his hand as if telling Raon to go roast the meat.
"Forget it, bastard."
Raon snorted and turned his head.
* * *
Raon headed towards the annex building, arguing with Wrath. Having trained all night before his travel fatigue had subsided, he wanted to quickly lie down. As he hurried towards the annex building, he heard someone's breathing behind Federick's mansion.
'That sound, could it be...?'
Raon entered the small garden behind Federick's mansion, suppressing his presence. Hiding his figure and looking up, he saw Alice running in the garden.
"!!! Huh!!! Huh!!!"
Alice's forehead and the top of her clothes were already soaked with sweat, as if she had been running for quite some time.
'I still can't sense any aura.'
Despite feeling the emptiness of her dantian and the emptiness of her exhausted muscles, Alice was running through the garden with all her might. Her determined expression revealed a desperate will.
'Is she already up?'
He had seen her doing push-ups inside, but he didn't expect her to be running already.
"As expected of the aunt."
Seeing her get up again and run despite losing all the martial prowess she had accumulated for decades after being betrayed by the son she had desperately sought, he felt truly respectful towards her.
"Truly, that woman's spirit is strong."
Wrath nodded as if he were impressed.
"That's right. I made a good decision."
"Decision? What do you mean?"
'......'
Raon stood up without answering, as if telling Wrath to see for himself.
"R-Raon?"
Alice stopped running and widened her eyes.
"What brings you here so early in the morning?"
Her eyes trembled as if she still felt guilty towards him.
"I'm back from learning swordsmanship with the House Leader."
"Ah, I heard that father agreed to teach you swordsmanship after you caught the dragon..."
Alice clapped and said that was good. Her capacity was evident in the way she praised him without any hint of resentment, despite having lost her martial prowess.
"I also brought a gift for my aunt when I returned from Sepia."
Raon smiled slightly as he took out his subspace bag.
"Will you accept it?"
"Of course! I could eat even mud bread if it were from my nephew!"
Alice extended both arms and said she would accept anything. Although her emotions weren't completely calm, it was evident that she was trying to overcome them.
"Thank you."
Raon nodded and took out a Dragon Heart that emitted rainbow-colored light from his subspace bag.
"...A dragon heart?"
Alice lowered her extended hands when she saw the Dragon Heart.
"W-why are you giving me this...?"
"It's the dragon heart from the one I caught this time. I wanted to give it to you, Aunt."
"No!"
Alice clenched her hand vigorously, as if she couldn't understand.
"I'm just a fool who lost her power after being stabbed by her son! Why are you giving me this precious thing when even your master died because of me?"
She shook her head, telling him to take it back.
"I'm giving you this because you're my aunt, not someone else."
Raon grabbed Alice's wrist as she tried to pull her arm away.
"Aunt, you helped me even though I couldn't be of any help. You coincidentally gave me the Dragon Heart I got after defeating Kaivar. I'm giving this to you for what I learned from you."
Alice had always helped him without expecting anything in return. He had also taken out the Dragon Heart without expecting anything, but hoping to alleviate Alice's pain a little.
"You look better when you're confident, Aunt."
Raon smiled as he placed the Dragon Heart in Alice's hand.
"You have to take revenge on Derus, and you have a promise with Martha, don't you?"
He bowed his head and asked her to become Alice Zieghart again, the Pirate King who roamed the sea.
"......"
Alice bit her lips tightly as she looked at the dragon heart in her hand. A slight moisture began to build up in her eyes.
"I hope to see you with your original daring appearance next time."
"...Thank you."
Alice let out a trembling voice with her head bowed.
"It's nothing."
Raon waved his hand lightly and turned his back.
"Young Master Raon. Thank you."
Lawaine, who was hiding at the door, bowed deeply when Raon was about to leave the garden.
"No, thank you for always taking care of the aunt."
Raon returned Lawaine's thanks and headed back to the annex building.
"So it was that crazy woman you were giving the lizard heart to."
Wrath nodded, saying he understood completely.
"She's helped me a lot."
"Ahem! There's also a demon who's given you overflowing help, beyond what's simply a bunch..."
He licked his lips as if asking if Raon could think of anyone else.
'What do you want?'
"Hmm! Is it a little awkward for this king to say it with his own mouth?"
'Nadine's bread?'
"Crazy bastard!"
Wrath shouted, waving his fist.
"I wouldn't eat that even if you gave it to me! It's a six-letter food! You should know that if you think about it a little!" (E/N: Needless to say, it makes more sense in Korean)
'Six letters... Ah!'
Raon clapped as he looked at the space.
'Nadine's bread barbecue?'
"Why would you want to roast the whole bread to Nadine, you idiot?!"
Wrath frowned as if he were dumbfounded.
"Then what is it?"
"This bastard knows everything!"
"You said I lack tact. I really can't think of anything."
"It would be better if you just died!"
"I've almost died many times, but you've always saved me."
"Arghhhh!"
As Raon laughed while mocking Wrath, he felt someone approaching from behind using footwork.
"Light Wind Division Leader!"
When he turned around, he saw Chad, the leader of the Shadow Agents, running towards him, waving a white envelope.
"Shadow Agents Leader?"
"A letter for you, Division Leader!"
Chad handed him the letter while panting heavily.
"I should have seen you yesterday, but I was busy, so even now..."
"Ah, it's alright."
Raon smiled slightly as he received the letter from Chad.
"Borgos?"
Raon's eyes widened at the name written on the letter. It was a letter from Borgos, the dwarf master smith whom Sterin said he would relay a message to.
"The answer is unexpectedly quick."
Sterin had said the answer might come late, but seeing that it arrived so soon after arriving in Zieghart, it was quite the opposite.
'Did he see it positively?'
Since dragon bones, teeth, and scales are materials that even master artisans can't easily manipulate, he thought it was very possible when he opened the letter.
"...Eh?"
But as soon as Raon read the only line written on the letter, his red eyes trembled.
"Help me?"
-
More Ch4pters on KoreanPlayer
↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓
Thanks for the support
