C1070
"Tsk."
Derus Robert clicked his tongue harshly as he looked at Jayna, who had defied his expectations by opening a long-distance Dimensional Portal. He emanated an intense killing intent, as if he was ready to kill Jayna the moment he got the chance.
"Ah..."
Jayna's face turned pale, seemingly surprised by Derus' dense killing intent.
"Where do you think you're looking?"
Glenn unloaded a powerful sword strike to prevent Derus from even looking at Jayna. With a resounding clang, Derus failed to completely block Glenn's attack and was pushed back, frowning in deep displeasure.
"You won't get through."
Glenn lifted his chin, indicating that Derus wouldn't be able to get near Jayna before defeating him first.
"Glenn Zieghart..."
Derus savagely uttered Glenn's name as if he was stripping flesh from bone.
"You always stand in my way."
He let out a heavy sigh, as if remembering all the times Glenn had blocked his path.
"It's not me."
Glenn shook his head firmly.
"You're defeated because you underestimated children like Raon."
He lowered his eyebrows, urging Derus to face the truth.
"Underestimate? You say I underestimate Raon?"
Derus brought his hand to his forehead and laughed.
"On this continent— no, in the entire world, I'm the only one who can truly understand Raon!"
He curled his lips upwards, claiming he knew more about Raon than anyone else.
"Because I recognized Raon and all of you, I didn't support the White Blood Religion and came here aiming for Ogram instead. Of course..."
Derus clenched his fingers as he looked at Darkan, who was lying defeated.
"Though I never expected Raon to recruit that madman."
He let out a bitter laugh, saying that though he recognized Raon, he never imagined that Darkan would be involved.
"Ah, one more thing."
Derus turned his gaze to Jayna, who was closing the Dimensional Portal and tending to Darkan and Ogram.
"I didn't expect a stupid, pretentious princess to have the ability to open a long-distance Dimensional Portal."
Derus nodded, acknowledging Jayna's abilities.
"I, I also..."
Jayna parted her trembling lips as she met Derus' eyes.
"I was able to change thanks to Raon Zieghart!"
She lifted her chin, declaring that her transformation had also begun because of Raon.
"I see."
Glenn's lips curled slightly upwards, seeming pleased by Jayna's words.
"Yes. It's always the problem."
Derus gritted his teeth, directing his killing intent not towards Jayna, but towards the absent Raon.
"Shouldn't you be paying attention to your opponent?"
Glenn twisted his wrist and pushed forward with the Heavenly Tremor. The silver blade moved faster than sound, already touching Derus' neck. With a piercing screech, Derus barely managed to deflect Glenn's thrust, but blood dripped down his neck.
"That's it!"
Darkan raised his hand while lying on the ground.
"That's a real sword! It seeks perfection!"
He curled his lips upwards, saying it was a sword that achieved perfection like clothing with no visible seams.
"Ha..."
Ogram wiped the blood from his mouth and let out a hollow laugh.
"Aren't you going to complain that that old man interfered?"
He frowned, asking why there was such discrimination.
"His swordsmanship is magnificent!"
Darkan curled his lips upwards without taking his eyes off Glenn.
"With swordsmanship like that, I wouldn't mind getting my head cut off!"
He licked his lips, hoping Glenn's refined swordsmanship would fall upon him.
"You're really obsessed with swords."
Ogram shook his head in disdain.
"Hey! Glenn Zieghart!"
Darkan waved his hand towards Glenn.
"I never thought you would save me. Since it's come to this..."
He formed the shape of a sword with his fingers.
"Show me all your swordsmanship!"
Darkan forced himself to stand up as he made his request. He displayed a vitality that made it hard to believe he had been on the verge of death.
"Be quiet."
Glenn ignored Darkan's words and unleashed both the Azure Sky Sword and the Celestial Thunder Arts against Derus. The two sword techniques merged as if they had originally been one, shaking the heavens and summoning crimson lightning with a thunderous roar.
Unable to handle Glenn's Sky-Piercing Thunder, Derus stumbled backward repeatedly. Blood spurted from his lips, and his death aura dissolved into a red mist.
"You're more dangerous than anyone else."
Glenn's eyes sank in a terrifying way.
"I'll cut your head off right here."
Derus had chosen not to support the White Blood Religion during their attack, instead moving to deal with another one of the Five Kings first. This wasn't a decision an ordinary person could make. It was right to deal with him quickly before he could create an even more dangerous situation. The air buzzed with tension.
Glenn's Heavenly Tremor trembled violently, and crimson lightning spread in all directions. This was the Heaven's Wrath Thunder Strike, a hidden technique of the Celestial Thunder Arts that he hadn't taught Raon yet.
With a piercing screech, Derus' blue eyes flashed as he seemed to read Glenn's sword flow, raising his sword enveloped in death aura. A terrifying explosion resonated as the celestial lightning collided with the death-imbued blade.
However, it didn't take long before the outcome of what seemed like an even fight became clear.
With an explosive burst, a fissure tore through the sky as a burning red sword wound carved itself into Derus' chest.
"Kuhek!"
Derus spat out blood as he grabbed his wounded chest.
"Really crazy swordsmanship..."
He narrowed his eyes in disbelief as he looked at the wound on his chest.
"Ho!"
Darkan let out a cry that sounded like a shriek.
"What was that sword technique? Use it on me once I recover!"
He waved his hand vigorously as if he considered Glenn a friend.
"Hmm..."
However, Glenn's expression wasn't very good.
'I only used that technique with the intention to kill.'
Though he hadn't opened a Sword Domain or used the Soul Weapon, it was surprising that Derus hadn't died even though Glenn used all his strength in that sword technique.
'He's really gotten stronger.'
Derus had grown even more since their encounter in Owen. His martial mastery had reached a level where he could pose a threat if Glenn let his guard down. His growth rate seemed to rival Raon's, who possessed the greatest talent of all time.
'No choice, then.'
Glenn raised his Heavenly Tremor and aimed at Derus' heart. His sword's will reached the heavens, creating a colorless light. Just as Glenn was about to unleash his Soul Weapon to cut Derus' soul...
"Don't use the Soul Weapon!"
Darkan shouted loudly enough to tear his throat.
"Hmm..."
Glenn's concentration on the Soul Weapon was broken by Darkan's thundering voice. With a loud snap, Derus seized the opportunity, shattering a glass sphere to open a brilliant white Dimensional Portal.
"Let's end it here for today."
He immediately retreated, attempting to enter the white Dimensional Portal.
"Where do you think you're going?"
Glenn leaned forward and pushed outward with the Heavenly Tremor. With Darkan's warning about the Soul Weapon echoing in his mind, he had no choice but to unleash the Celestial Thunder Arts again. The lightning cut through space, carving a wound so deep in Derus' chest that his ribs were visible.
However, Derus didn't stop on defense and swung upwards with his sword burning with death aura.
With a hiss, a black line was drawn across Glenn's hand, dripping blood.
"Now you too can feel it. The wound on your hand..."
Derus laughed as he disappeared into the white dimension.
"How much it stings."
He vanished along with the white dimension, leaving behind words that they would meet again soon.
"Darkan."
Glenn turned to Darkan with a frown.
"Why did you interfere?"
"Because it would have been useless unless you were willing to sacrifice your life."
Darkan exhaled heavily and shook his head.
"What do you mean by that?"
"Thanks to you, I was able to enter the Soul Weapon's realm. Though somewhat different, I used it on him..."
He told Glenn everything that had happened during his fight with Derus.
"A soul so powerful that it could break the Soul Weapon's mental image created for battle..."
Glenn narrowed his eyes deeply as he looked at Darkan.
'Darkan couldn't have been wrong.'
Darkan had become strong enough to cross swords with him. It was inconceivable that a swordsman of his caliber could misinterpret someone's soul.
'That means Derus' enormous soul is real.'
If he had shattered Darkan's mental world just through the size of his soul, there was a high probability that even Glenn's Soul Weapon couldn't cut Derus' soul.
"Eyes emerging from black shadows..."
Glenn frowned as he looked towards where Derus had disappeared.
'What is his true identity?'
He had seen many monsters that could absorb the souls of others, but he had never heard of a being that could conceal a soul larger than his own. Just hearing Darkan's words, an inexplicable shiver ran down his spine.
"Haa..."
Glenn let out a heavy sigh.
'I'm worried he'll target Raon.'
Strangely, Derus seemed to both recognize and obsess over Raon. It was unsettling to have an unknown monster fixated on him.
'I'd like to take him out myself, but...'
The future situation was unpredictable. The Heavenly Demon and Derus seemed to be walking together, but on different paths. Even though he wanted to eliminate both monsters as threats, it wouldn't be easy.
"Phew..."
As Glenn sighed, Darkan moved his hand slightly.
"Hey, help me up."
Darkan extended his hand, asking for help getting to his feet.
"..."
Glenn looked at Darkan's black patch before taking his hand and helping him up.
"I never thought I'd be getting up with your help."
Darkan laughed, saying it felt strange.
"Same here."
Glenn nodded calmly as he held up Darkan, who was staggering.
"Princess Jayna. Can you open the portal again?"
He looked at Jayna as he held Ogram with his left arm.
"Yes. But it will take some time."
Jayna nodded, saying she would manage somehow as she looked at Ogram and Darkan, who were seriously injured. A resonant hum filled the air.
Showcasing the results of her dedicated practice, she managed to open another Dimensional Portal in blue flames in less than ten minutes.
"I've connected to where the Ragged Saint and the Saintess are in the White Blood Religion."
Jayna pointed to the Dimensional Portal with a pale expression.
"Thank you."
Just as Glenn nodded to Jayna and was about to enter the Dimensional Portal...
"Hey."
Darkan raised a finger towards Glenn.
"We're going to have a fight once I recover."
"It will take a long time to recover your martial mastery. Considering the situation, your power might be lost forever."
Glenn narrowed his eyes as he looked at Darkan.
"That might be true. But there's always a way."
Darkan shook his head as if to tell Glenn not to worry.
"What way?"
Glenn narrowed his eyes with curiosity.
"I learned the Soul Weapon by tearing out my eye, so wouldn't cutting off a leg restore my power?"
Darkan rubbed his thigh as if he was completely serious.
"Ha."
Glenn let out a hollow breath, feeling that Darkan wasn't joking.
"Well? Will you fight me?"
Darkan lifted his chin, asking for an answer.
"Alright."
Glenn nodded gently.
"If you live, and I'm still alive..."
He smiled weakly as he entered the Dimensional Portal that Jayna had opened.
"We'll have a good fight."
---------------------------
Coughing violently, Derus spat out black, death-ridden blood as soon as he emerged from the Dimensional Portal he had created with divine power.
'That Glenn Zieghart... he's always the real problem.'
He let out torn groans as he touched the burning red wound on his chest.
"Master."
Though Kubara kept a calm expression, she seemed surprised inside as she rushed to Derus and bathed him in white light. However, the wound left by Glenn ignored her divine power and continued to widen.
"What kind of wound...?"
Kubara let out a shallow sigh as she observed the sword wound that even ignored divine power.
"Could the Dark Night Sword God use such a sword?"
"It wasn't Darkan."
Derus wiped the blood from his mouth with a trembling hand.
"Glenn Zieghart. The Destructive King of the North came himself."
He frowned as he looked at the Crystal Orb on the desk.
"You're an idiot! If you were going to block him, you should have done it properly!"
Derus gritted his teeth as he cursed the Heavenly Demon.
"How did 'that matter' turn out?"
Derus turned his gaze to Kubara as he squeezed his wound tightly.
"That side progressed even better than planned."
Kubara lowered her head, indicating there was nothing to worry about.
"We need to focus on treatment now. I'll open the divine power room right away."
"No."
As he stood up and tried to turn around, Derus waved his hand.
"Open the training room first."
Derus straightened his back as he leaned on his sword.
"What? The training room now?"
Kubara swallowed. She was confused, as this didn't sound like the Derus who always prioritized his physical well-being.
"Thanks to consuming Darkan's mental image, the stairs have descended before me too."
Derus' lips curled upwards.
"The high and noble stairs that lead to the Soul Weapon!"
------------------------
"Mmm..."
Raon opened his eyes to strange sounds resonating in his ears.
- Please! Please! Please!
'What's all this noise...'
As he frowned, something sped past his field of vision.
'What is that?'
Opening his eyes wide to see better, he saw Wrath, wearing a white ribbon, spinning on his head while waving a blue staff.
"What are you doing?"
Raon couldn't help but open his dry lips to ask.
- Can't you tell just by looking?
'I'm asking because I can't tell.'
- I'm praying to the Demon God!
Wrath put on a solemn expression, saying he was offering prayers to the Demon God.
"Don't tell me..."
Raon raised an eyebrow.
"Were you wishing for me to wake up healthy? Wrath..."
- As if I would!
Wrath shook his head vigorously, telling Raon not to be ridiculous.
- Anyway, you'll wake up healthy, so I was praying that the rewards you'll get for destroying the White Blood Religion will be terrible!
He waved his hand holding the staff, saying he had been praying for four days straight.
"Haa..."
Raon let out a heavy sigh as he watched the scene.
'I'm getting tired right after waking up.'
Just as he was muttering about being tired and shaking his head, blue messages began to appear before his eyes.
[You have achieved a historic feat.]
[All skills increased by 100 points.]
However, there were only two lines of messages.
- Oh! Demon God!
Wrath opened his arms and cheered, claiming his prayers had been answered.
- 100 points hurt to the bone, but I can withstand this!
He grinned, saying his days of prayer had been worth it.
"Hmm, there's no way an achievement of this magnitude would end with just two lines..."
As Raon narrowed his eyes and looked at the messages again, the two lines of blue text suddenly erupted like a volcano, shooting upwards.
[You have achieved a historic feat.]
[All skills increased by 100 points.]
[New trait...]
[Trait...]
[Trait...]
[Title...]
[...]
The blue messages rose beyond the floating Wrath to the ceiling. Looking at it now, it seemed like there was a delay due to the enormous volume of information.
- Ah...
Wrath gaped at the messages that couldn't be absorbed at a glance.
"Seems like your prayers were useless?"
Raon pointed at the messages with a cool smile.
- Why... Why won't you grant this king's wish!
Wrath threw his staff as if he was truly enraged.
- You damned Demon God!
'Gasp!'
Raon raised his hand to cover his mouth with an exaggerated gesture.
'Isn't that blasphemy? You'll be punished by...'
- Shut up, I'm angry!
-
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