C1084
"You... are... a good... human...But..."
Sloth’s ebony eyes contorted unnaturally as they fixed on Raon.
"I... cannot... pardon... you for... continually... disrupting... my... slumber..."
From beneath his feet, inky surges of energy burst forth, radiating outward in every direction. In a violent moment, the blanket and pillow that Raon had once given him were shredded as if they had never been, while an eerie, pitch-black tempest cascaded overhead.
"Hmm..."
Raon bit his lip as he sensed the overwhelming Authority emanating from Sloth.
‘Even though he’s aware I serve as Wrath’s vessel, he still carries this attitude?’
The situation was becoming perilously unstable. Even with the knowledge that Raon could summon Wrath at any moment, Sloth unleashed a fearsome presence that seemed intent on ending him; his fury was so intense that consequences no longer appeared to matter.
–That guy’s on the verge of erupting.
Wrath scowled as he took in Sloth’s erratic behavior.
‘Hasn’t he already exploded?’
Raon exhaled shakily, feeling Sloth’s aura intensify.
–Had Sloth truly exploded, your head would have been gone long ago.
Wrath clicked his tongue, remarking that Sloth was barely clinging to rationality.
‘Why is he so incensed?’
Raon furrowed his brow as he scanned the area where Sloth had been sleeping.
‘Though I wasn’t the cause, he’s not the type to become this furious merely because he’s been awakened once.’
Sloth had been roused multiple times before due to the conflict between Eden and Habun Castle. Yet aside from the most recent incident, he hadn’t been disturbed since descending from Mount Sturin—making his current wrath all the more perplexing to Raon.
–I don’t know either.
Wrath nodded in agreement.
–As I’ve mentioned, that drowsy fellow is among the milder of the Demon Kings. It’s odd to see him so quick to anger...
‘Wait.’
Raon’s eyes narrowed as he observed Sloth expanding, his form stretching like a long shadow at dusk.
‘Didn’t you mention earlier that Sloth had been repeatedly roused from his sleep?’
–Ah! Then...
‘Yes. That shock we experienced wasn’t the first occurrence.’
It now became clear why Sloth was so livid—the immense shockwave they had felt while climbing Mount Sturin had recurred on several occasions, incessantly interrupting his sleep.
"Why... do you... disturb... my sleep... All I crave... is solitude..."
In a moment of exasperation, Sloth discharged a colossal measure of his Authority—capable of erasing Mount Sturin itself and beyond—as though his patience had finally worn thin. The overwhelming pressure of his aura alone could buckle knees and force backs to bend.
–What rotten luck. Like being pelted by bird droppings on a leisurely stroll.
Wrath nodded, as if finally grasping the situation.
–I wonder which scoundrel did this...
‘Alas, now is not the moment to dwell on that thought.’
Raon shook his head as he activated Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation and Glacier, determined not to be distracted—a single miscalculation could cost him his life.
–Unlike usual, your mind isn’t cooperating today.
Wrath scoffed.
–You might just unleash my Authority and revert to that wild act like before—it would work.
He shook his head, implying that Sloth had not yet lost all semblance of reason.
–Your mind must be frozen…
‘No.’
Raon calmly shook his head, a faint smile tugging at his lips as he withstood Sloth’s formidable Authority.
‘I now have a chance to test my abilities—I can’t let it slip by.’
As Wrath had suggested, releasing Wrath’s power and emulating a Demon King might have calmed Sloth, who still retained a shred of rationality. Yet doing so would forfeit his one opportunity to assess his martial growth after a month of training.
–You reckless idiot!
Wrath’s eyes widened in disbelief.
–It’s still excessive for you!
He shook his head firmly, underscoring that overcoming Sloth was beyond the realm of possibility at the moment.
‘I know that.’
–You might truly perish!
‘Even if it’s slightly hazardous...’
Raon unsheathed the Heavenly Drive and the Wooden Ring Sword, plunging them into the lake where Sloth’s Authority writhed ominously. The earth-shattering presence of Sloth dissipated as bursts of red and blue flashes surged upward. In the darkened sky, a radiant golden sun and a gleaming silver moon ascended, repelling the darkness that the Demon King had conjured.
"If you believe I remain unchanged..."
Raon raised his Divine Sword and Demonic Sword, now alight with solemn flames and biting frost, directing them squarely at Sloth.
"You’ll never find sleep again."
***
"Welcome back."
Burren bowed respectfully to Karoon, who had just returned to the Central Martial Palace.
"Mm."
Karoon’s eyes narrowed as he noticed the beads of sweat forming on Burren’s forehead.
"Have you been training until this late hour?"
He tapped his chin, questioning why Burren had been at it so late into the night.
"I had obligations during the day, so I squeezed in my workout afterwards."
Burren lowered his head in explanation, his busy schedule leaving him no other choice.
"Did your business go well?"
"Not too badly."
Karoon raised his right hand, revealing a Golden Tablet that appeared to have been acquired only recently.
"A-A Golden Tablet already?"
Burren’s jaw quivered as he gazed at the tablet shimmering under the moon’s light.
"I apprehended a wanted criminal—a murderer who repulsively amassed followers and pretended to be a king."
Karoon waved his hand dismissively, a look of disgust crossing his features.
"A wanted criminal? Who exactly did you nab to earn a Golden Tablet..."
Burren swallowed hard, prompting him to inquire further about the criminal’s identity.
"It was the Northern Sea Demon."
"T-The Northern Sea Demon vanished decades ago! How on earth did you capture someone like that!"
The Northern Sea Demon was a malevolent spirit, infamous for his mass killings within Zieghart’s borders. Even then, he possessed martial prowess at the Grandmaster level and was so heartless that he’d even used his own offspring and underlings as pawns. His capture was thought to be impossible, leaving Burren baffled as to how it was achieved.
"We discovered traces of the Northern Sea Demon while hunting for the Five Demons prior to the war with the White Blood Religion. The Central Martial Palace’s informants truly outdid themselves."
Karoon nodded, acknowledging that it wasn’t merely his own effort, but the collective diligence of the entire palace.
"He was a top-tier Grandmaster in his time, with exceptional mental cultivation; I had high hopes, yet his muscles had grown overly soft, and there was no thrill in battling him."
He clicked his tongue in brief disappointment at the Northern Sea Demon’s lackluster abilities.
"W-Well, that’s impressive..."
Burren let out a hollow laugh. Although he knew Karoon would act swiftly, he never imagined that Karoon would return with a Golden Tablet in just a few days.
"It’s nothing out of the ordinary."
Karoon shook his head heavily.
"This is merely the beginning."
He clenched his fist with calm resolve, implying that far greater feats lay ahead.
"What do you intend to do next?"
Karoon’s gaze sharpened, intrigued by Burren’s determination.
"I..."
Burren bit his lip as he met Karoon’s penetrating eyes.
"I aim to challenge for the position of head of house. I know the odds are nearly insurmountable, yet I must try..."
"That’s a commendable ambition."
Instead of dismissing Burren’s resolve, Karoon offered a nod of approval.
"What?"
Burren’s eyes widened in astonishment.
"I—I expected you’d say it was futile..."
"As you mentioned, the chances are almost nil. In fact, it might even be impossible."
Karoon’s faint smile deepened as he locked eyes with Burren.
"However, if you push yourself to the limit, you will undoubtedly grow."
He patted Burren’s shoulder gently, urging him to give his best effort.
"Th-thank you..."
Burren stood momentarily stunned before bowing his head in gratitude.
‘To think he’d echo the same sentiments as Raon.’
He never anticipated that Karoon would support his challenge for succession with the same encouraging words that Raon had once used. Burren’s mouth hung open in silent wonder.
"Hmm."
Karoon paused just before entering the mansion.
"I heard that Raon left the family despite his obligations. Is that true?"
He slowly turned his gaze, as if already aware of Raon’s current whereabouts.
"Ah, yes. But he isn’t taking the succession test lightly. In his own way, Raon..."
"I understand. Even now, no doubt..."
Karoon looked upward at the dark night sky with a gentle smile.
"He is undoubtedly undertaking something extraordinary—for both the family and his own sake."
He smiled as if fully comprehending Raon’s hidden intentions.
"Though I have no intention of losing."
With a slight smile, Karoon entered the mansion. Strangely, his steps felt even more vigorous than before, as if buoyed by the success of his recent mission.
‘Father too...’
Burren’s fingers trembled as he watched Karoon’s broad back, even more imposing than Raon’s.
‘Is he stepping into a new realm?’
***
Flames, frost, and shadows swirled together, contorting the lofty, midnight sky over the Northern Sea. Raon wielded his Divine Sword and Demonic Sword in tandem to deflect the vicious, inky currents of energy. The strain was so immense that the tendons on his jaw and cheeks stood out sharply.
Sloth extended his dark currents like gnarled tree roots, determined to prevent Raon’s escape.
"Where do you think you're heading?"
Raon lifted his Divine Sword and Demonic Sword, now enveloped in radiant red and icy blue light, slicing through the undulating black energy in a graceful figure-eight. Yet Sloth’s power was so dense and resilient that even the combined might of the Divine and Demonic Swords could not entirely sever it.
‘I fear my shoulders may soon buckle.’
Despite having released his Sword Domain and unleashing Fangs of Insanity along with Blizzard Sword Art at full strength, Raon was being relentlessly pushed back. He was not yet capable of standing toe-to-toe with a Demon King.
‘Moreover...’
The longer the clash persisted, the more his strength ebbed away. The dark currents Sloth dispersed were not mere aura—they were the very Authority of Sloth. Even though Raon had managed to defend with his swords without a direct hit, his will to fight was crumbling, and thoughts of surrendering to death crept into his mind. In that moment, he truly grasped the terrifying might of a Demon King’s Authority.
–That is the dread power wielded by the Authority of Demon Kings.
Wrath scrunched his face in disapproval.
–If someone with a fragile will were to face that Authority, they would gladly succumb to eternal slumber.
He shook his head, cautioning against underestimating Sloth’s power.
‘Even though the Authority of Sloth resides within my soul?’
–It’s because he is the master of all that is Sloth.
Wrath snapped his chin upward, explaining that since the power originated from Sloth, its effect would be magnified even further.
‘It’s undeniably dangerous power, yet it does not matter now.’
Raon smiled determinedly as he tightened his grip on his swords.
‘Because I have the Ring of Fire that once overcame the Monarch of Wrath.’
When he resonated with the Ring of Fire, the oppressive Authority of Sloth that had been weighing upon his soul began to wane, dissipating like mist under the sun’s rays.
–Urgh!
Wrath stared at Raon, his mouth agape in astonishment.
–That is some nefarious martial art! I’m not even sure it qualifies as a martial art anymore!
He ground his teeth, marveling at the increasingly unbelievable power on display.
‘Now I can truly fight on equal footing.’
Raon took a step back, then used that moment to surge forward with renewed speed. In response, Sloth unleashed an enormous burst of his Authority—a blinding flash intended not merely to induce sleep, but to obliterate Raon completely.
Raon executed the Flame Dragon Strike with his Divine Sword. From the very tip of the descending Fire Dragon’s maw on the sword’s edge, flames erupted that could incinerate even the fires of hell.
Yet, rather than being diminished by the searing blaze of the Flame Dragon Strike, Sloth’s Authority pressed onward with even greater ferocity. Dark red sparks exploded in every direction as these colossal forces collided.
"Then try this..."
Raon’s lips curled into a defiant smile as he tilted his Demonic Sword.
"Take this."
A colossal sphere materialized from the silver-glowing Demonic Sword. This was the Heavy Sky Cannon—a unique technique of Raon Zieghart’s swordsmanship, rivaling even the Flame Dragon Strike in sheer power. The Heavy Sky Cannon absorbed Sloth’s Authority with its immense gravitational pull before detonating, encasing everything nearby in a freezing blast.
Even Mount Sturin, which had remained frozen for ten thousand years, turned an even purer white.
"Return... my... sleep..."
In an instant, Sloth shattered the frost that encased his forearms and shoulders, dispersing an even denser concentration of his Authority. Raon raised two Fire Walls to intercept the onslaught of Sloth’s power, but they were no match, and he was forcefully driven back.
Eventually, Raon was forced out of the lake where Sloth had been residing and slammed against a craggy rock wall.
Sloth stretched out his dark, massive arm as though determined to prevent any escape. His hand was so long and formidable that it seemed capable of reaching the very ends of the world.
‘If that hand ensnares me, it’ll be catastrophic.’
A premonition of imminent peril washed over him—if caught in that grasp, not even the Ring of Fire could guarantee his escape from the clutches of Sloth.
‘I must sever it.’
Raon gritted his teeth and braced his legs. With his Divine Sword pointed skyward and his Demonic Sword thrust toward the earth, the two blades arched in opposite directions, releasing a dazzling aura. This was Sky-Piercing Thunder—a technique inherited from Glenn that harmonized the Azure Sky Sword with the Celestial Thunder Arts, summoning a cascade of red skies and blue lightning through Raon’s Sword Domain.
The devastating lightning rained down like divine retribution, slamming into the back of Sloth’s outstretched hand.
"You're formidable... as Wrath's vessel..."
Though Sloth took a severe blow from the Sky-Piercing Thunder and suffered tremendous damage, he managed to conjure an even more potent surge of his Authority in an attempt to engulf Raon.
‘Damn.’
Raon’s brow furrowed as he watched the tide of Sloth’s power swell ominously.
‘I can’t block this.’
Having just expended the full force of Sky-Piercing Thunder, his control over his own aura faltered. Dodging became his only recourse. Raon expended vast quantities of the flames from his Divine Sword and the frost from his Demonic Sword in a desperate bid to put distance between himself and Sloth.
Yet, the relentless Authority of Sloth, as if unsatisfied by merely consuming the residual flames and frost, chased Raon down like a bolt of lightning.
‘This power is truly his signature.’
Observing how Sloth’s body remained eerily motionless while only his hands and his dark Authority moved, Raon mused that the ability suited him perfectly.
–Surrender now.
Wrath shook his head as if to dissuade him from continuing the confrontation.
–With your current martial prowess, facing that slumbering giant head-on is futile.
He lowered his eyebrows, silently urging him to cease his direct assault.
‘I understand all too well. My power isn’t enough.’
–If you’ve realized that, then simply give up and...
‘If my current strength proves insufficient...’
Raon executed the Supreme Harmony Step and charged directly at Sloth. Flashing a resolute grin, he simultaneously unleashed his newly consolidated Willpower along with the combined Authority of the Demon Kings.
‘I’m going to tap into an even greater power!’
–Y-you reckless fool!
‘I haven’t even unleashed my full potential yet.’
He had not yet employed all the techniques he had learned from Glenn and Darkan—he still had room to grow far beyond his current limits.
"Demon King of Sloth."
Raon’s lips curled into a confident smile as he faced the ever-intensifying Sloth.
"Prove your true strength against me."
-
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Thanks for the support
This is good, man… it’d be even better if you dropped all the fight related chapters at once, fam🤲🏽🤍
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