C1035
Raon brushed away his blood-soaked hair and looked up. The red wolf doppelgängers that had been tearing at his flesh disappeared into transparent droplets, and the crimson sea that seemed to flow with blood regained its original emerald hue.
'The sea has returned to normal.'
He let out a sigh as he gazed at the sea that had regained its blue color. He had only intended to save the wolf, so he hadn't expected the sea to purify as well.
"Why are you surprised by that?"
Wrath frowned as he looked at Raon.
"It's only natural for everything to return to normal since you eliminated the seed of that damned Blood Demon woman who was the root of all these problems."
He nodded grandly, praising him.
'I see.'
Raon smiled faintly as he felt Rimmer's pure energy in the breeze.
'But it seems the wolf has disappeared as well.'
He narrowed his eyes as he gripped the Blade of Requiem that had been returned to him.
'It shouldn't have died.'
He had thought the wolf would remain since he had completely severed the leader of the Blood Religion's bloody energy with his Soul Sword, but there was nothing before his eyes except the sea.
"It endured that terrible bloody energy for so long. It might be resting from exhaustion or passed out."
Wrath waved his hand, insisting that it must still be alive.
"Forget about that spirit and think about yourself first."
'I suppose...'
Raon smiled coldly as he looked at his blood-covered body.
'My body is in shreds.'
He had suffered internal injuries and severe external wounds from fighting eight wolves with Transcendent-level bloody energy. Only his mind remained intact.
'My mind is not only intact, it's in top condition.'
Perhaps because his soul had ascended and his mastery of the Soul Sword had improved, his mind remained calm despite the long battle with the wolves and the pain that coursed through his entire body.
"Of course..."
Wrath bared his teeth at Raon.
"You received rewards while fighting this time!"
He growled as if he couldn't believe it.
'What do you mean?'
Raon blinked as he looked at the irate Wrath.
"Didn't you know? Reward messages appeared while you were fighting that spirit!"
'I didn't see them. I was completely focused on the battle.'
He had been so focused on the fight in front of him, wanting to save the wolf's soul, that he hadn't even noticed the reward messages appearing.
"This guy's luck is simply…"
'I'm going to check them now.'
Raon took a short breath and called up the unread messages.
[The level of the <Snow Flower Perception> trait has increased.]
[The level of the <Evil Eye of Wrath> trait has increased.]
[The <Snow Flower Perception> and <Evil Eye of Wrath> traits are evolving in conjunction.]
[A new trait <Clear Blue Eye> has been created.]
[The level of the <Soul Sword (Spirit)> trait has increased.]
As Wrath had said, there really were reward messages that he hadn't seen.
'So it wasn't my improved perception that allowed me to find the wolf's soul.'
Raon chuckled bitterly as he reviewed each reward message.
'Clear Blue Eye, huh.'
He could definitely feel a new sense. As if he had truly opened the eyes of his heart, he could now perceive the wolf's soul and the leader of the Blood Religion's bloody energy with his own eyes and soul.
'I didn't know traits could evolve in conjunction like that.'
<Clear Blue Eye> was a trait created by combining <Snow Flower Perception> and <Evil Eye of Wrath>. He never imagined that traits could not only evolve, but evolve in conjunction.
"Even I've never seen anything like that…"
Wrath bit his lips.
'You've never seen it either?'
"That's what I'm saying! This damn system must have done something!"
He bristled, his tail twitching as if it had been created without his consent.
'Whatever the reason for its creation, it's clearly a special power.'
<Clear Blue Eye> was an ability that made the invisible visible and allowed one to feel the imperceptible. It was truly an improvement over <Snow Flower Perception> and <Evil Eye of Wrath>, which only made him happy.
'It seems I could use this for more than just combat.'
Raon smiled faintly as he looked at the last message.
'The Soul Sword's growth.'
In fact, he had felt the Soul Sword grow even without seeing this message. As far as swordsmanship was concerned, his own senses were more accurate than the system.
"Grrrr…"
Wrath rolled his eyes up and down while gritting his teeth.
'You're not as angry as I expected.'
Raon tilted his head as he looked at Wrath.
'I thought you'd make a fuss like before.'
"I'm annoyed by the new trait, but…"
Wrath wrinkled his nose as he looked at Raon.
"Those rewards weren't created by my main body's power, but something you earned yourself."
'Something I earned myself?'
"That's right. Unlike when you receive other reward messages, this time I didn't feel my main body's power being torn apart. This is…"
He raised his hand to point at Raon.
"Power you obtained directly yourself."
Wrath's eyes twitched as he said that this was truly the first time he had seen something like this.
'Power I obtained directly...'
"What are you…?"
As Wrath sighed and approached, suddenly:
[You have saved the sea spirit that was submerged in blood.]
[You have achieved a great feat.]
[All skills increase by 30 points.]
[The level of the <Blood Path> trait has increased.]
[The level of the <Askara Battle Spirit> trait has increased.]
[The level of the <Spirit Concealment> trait has increased.]
[The level of the <Death Energy Detection> trait has increased.]
[The level of the <Spirit Transformation> trait has increased.]
Suddenly, reward messages appeared one after another.
"Eh?"
Wrath blinked blankly, as if he hadn't expected new reward messages to appear.
"What is this? Why are there more rewards?!"
He yelled that it should be over as he slammed the messages.
'You said it yourself.'
Raon waved his outstretched palm towards Wrath.
'The previous messages were those I earned myself. These must be gifts from the system.'
He smiled as he said that was why they appeared after everything was over.
"This damn…"
Wrath's eyes twitched as if he had been completely taken by surprise.
"Why does this happen every time I open my mouth?! I really can't stand it anymore!"
He shouted his intense anger towards the dark night sky that was rippling.
'Here we go again.'
As Raon shook his head and cleared the messages he had reviewed, suddenly… The night sea rippling with blue light stirred slightly, and a small wolf leaped out like a dolphin. It was the original form of the sea spirit he had seen when it was being injected with magic by the leader of the Blood Religion.
"Kheung!"
The sea spirit made a nasal sound as if it was in a good mood and approached him.
"Are you okay now?"
Raon knelt down and stroked the spirit's head. It didn't feel like touching an animal, but like brushing against soft waves. It seemed that it had become a spirit again.
"Kyarung."
The sea spirit tilted its head as if it were grateful and licked the blood dripping from his fingers. At that moment, a cool aquatic energy began to seep into his body, beginning to heal the wounds all over his body. No, it was not just healing his wounds. Natural mana was flowing into his body.
"You…?"
"Kreung!"
The sea spirit raised its front leg to hold his hand, as if telling him to stay still. It seemed to be trying to transfer the mana that the sea possessed to him as thanks for saving it.
"I'm fine, take care of yourself first."
Raon tried to pull his hand away, saying it wasn't necessary, but the wolf clung to his arm like a cicada on a tree and wouldn't let go. Finally, after transferring superior mana even to the highest quality elixir and healing all his external wounds, the wolf let go of his arm. It was a stubborn creature.
"Thank you."
Raon stroked the sea spirit's forehead, thanking it for such a gift.
"Kyarrrr."
The sea spirit laughed as if it were pleased, then tilted its head.
"Do you want me to give you my hand again?"
Raon extended his hand, but the sea spirit shook its head as if that wasn't it.
"Then, what…?"
"Kyawung."
The sea spirit raised its adorable front leg to point to its own forehead.
"Do you want us to bump heads?"
"Kyawung!"
It nodded as if to say that was correct.
"Hmm…"
Although he hesitated a bit, seeing the spirit's clear eyes, he tilted his head slightly. The spirit leaped out of the sea and bumped its forehead against his. With a cool sensation as if water droplets were touching his head, a new scene flashed in his mind.
"This is…"
***
Lawaine lifted his head after cutting the Giant Crab, a massive crab-shaped monster, in one blow. He let out a sigh as he looked at the sea that was shining blue despite the dark night.
"I can't believe he actually did it…"
When he saw the red wolves emitting Transcendent-level aura increasing to eight, he thought that even Raon wouldn't be able to win and prepared to retreat. But Raon not only endured, he erased the bloody energy filling the sea and saved the wolf's soul.
'He's a monster, that's the only way to describe it.'
He had been paralyzed with just a howl from one wolf, so he couldn't help but marvel at Raon's immense martial prowess and unwavering spirit.
"You don't know our Palace Master yet."
Burren snorted as he cut a creature approaching in half.
"That man doesn't even start things he can't accomplish."
He nodded calmly, saying that Raon had set out with the certainty that he could win.
"Mm…"
Runaan blinked in agreement.
"Raon is looking handsome today, so everything works out…"
He froze the monsters with ice barriers without even looking at the sea, as if there was no need to worry about Raon today.
"That's right."
Martha chuckled as she leaned on her sword like a cane.
"I knew he would."
Raon could have crushed the red wolf with pure strength and killed it, but he chose the path of salvation after hearing her words. Seeing him now face to face with the spirit that had returned to its original form after his success, her eyes and nose burned.
'He made that decision for me.'
Raon must have made such an attempt not only to save the wolf, but as a practical exercise to save her mother, whose soul was captured by the leader of the Blood Religion. Her feelings enveloped her like a sea breeze, blurring her vision without her noticing.
"Thank you so much for-"
As Martha was about to thank Raon with her nose flushed, suddenly Raon and the sea spirit disappeared from sight. The monsters in front of the Light Wind Palace swordsmen were split in two, and Raon emerged from behind them.
"Lord Lawaine."
Raon called out to Lawaine, who had opened his eyes in surprise.
"Yes? Ah, yes!"
Lawaine swallowed and bowed.
"Is this the end of our business here?"
"Y-yes, I think so."
He nodded, saying that they had obtained the Blood Religion's ship, saved the spirit, and killed the Apostle, so everything was over.
"Then let's return to Zieghart."
Raon clenched his fist until veins bulged as he rolled his sunken eyes ominously.
"There's something I need to report as quickly as possible."
***
"I was wondering why there was no news for a while…"
Glenn turned his gaze towards the window as his legs trembled.
"I didn't expect him to return so soon."
Raon had cut off contact after saying he would infiltrate to find the culprit who destroyed the port and village. Glenn had been so worried that he couldn't sleep well, but he hadn't expected Raon to return so suddenly.
"When did he say he would arrive?"
"He said he just passed by the Shadow Agents, so he should be here soon."
Roenn chuckled, saying he would be there anytime.
"Ugh, he could have given notice beforehand."
He lamented not being able to gather the executives to hear about Raon's exploits since his grandson was rushing so urgently.
"We can listen first and then call everyone to hear the story again."
Sheryl smiled, asking what there was to worry about.
"Ahem! That's true!"
Glenn stroked his chin slightly as if he had had the same thought.
"Hehehe."
"Hoho."
Sheryl and Roenn smiled softly, as if just seeing Glenn happy also made them happy.
"Well then, let's prepare ourselves."
"Yes."
"Understood."
As the three were fixing their clothes and hair while waiting for the return report from the Light Wind Palace, a loud knock sounded on the door of the audience chamber.
"Enter."
Glenn nodded, expecting to see Raon's confident stride bringing news of victory as always. The doors of the audience chamber slowly opened, and Raon and the Light Wind Palace swordsmen entered. However, instead of the proud eyes of those who had completed a mission, they wore stiff expressions.
"... Don't tell me they failed."
Glenn let out a low groan at the unexpected situation.
"No. We captured the culprit and identified the mastermind behind this."
Raon shook his head, saying that they had successfully completed the mission.
"Mastermind?"
Glenn frowned as he looked at Raon, who hadn't even cleaned the smell of fish from the sea off of him.
"The mastermind behind this incident is the Blood Religion. Thanks to the spirit they used…"
Raon took a deep breath and looked up. He parted his cracked lips as his red eyes glowed like flames.
"We have found the location of the Blood Religion's headquarters."
-
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