Chapter 1224
Raon allowed a faint smirk to touch his lips, which had been tight with tension, as he observed the trembling in Derus Robert’s eyes.
'Everything is falling into place.'
Just as he had anticipated, Derus Robert attempted to abruptly compress the surrounding death aura the moment Glenn manifested his peak strength, aiming to annihilate the entire territory.
'If I hadn't sensed his intent, the danger would have been extreme.'
The sheer volume of death aura Derus Robert had summoned was potent enough to make even a warrior of Glenn’s stature—the preeminent swordsman of the land—break into a cold perspiration.
Had events followed Derus Robert’s design, Glenn would have been forced into a disastrous position: exhausting his unleashed Martial Prowess solely on defense to shield himself and the Zieghart vanguard. He would have been forced into Ascension without the chance to execute that villain.
'However, by tracking his habits, I gained a premonition.'
Just as Derus Robert had evolved, Raon had refined his own perception through countless trials and narrow escapes. He could now decipher the villain’s shifting mindset and strategies. Without this foresight into Derus Robert’s gambit, the fallout would have been catastrophic, but he had successfully dismantled the scheme before it could be triggered.
'Because of that, I was ready to strike back.'
Lifting both hands, Raon pulled forth a dazzling, five-toned orb of concentrated longing.
'And I’m using the very power you provided.'
The flickering desire within his palms was the essence Archangel Raphael had manifested, promising to fulfill his deepest wish. Though it should have vanished upon Raphael’s demise, it remained strangely vibrant in his grasp, refusing to fade.
Enveloped in the untainted desire Raphael left behind, Raon summoned the Authorities of the demon lords that had been dormant in his spirit.
The primal urges of the Devildom Monarchs, previously stifled to avoid Derus's detection, flared up alongside golden embers. While these demonic Authorities usually resisted his command, the influence of the Ring of Fire—now perfected to ten rings—made them as compliant as the flames of the Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation.
Sloth, Envy, Gluttony, Lust, Greed, and Wrath. The surges of the six demon lords erupted, each contributing a distinct hue to the five-colored shimmer of Raphael’s gift. As the spectrum coalesced, the brilliant orb began to take on a dark, abyssal shade.
Yet, for something named "desire," that midnight black felt remarkably appropriate.
"Ra—Raon Zieghart!"
Derus Robert ground his teeth with such violence that blood seeped from his gums. He was struck with terror that Raon had anticipated his move and outmaneuvered him, his face draining of color from the shock.
"You miserable, crawling vermin!"
Derus Robert spat the same insults he usually received back at Raon, even as he forced open a shimmering Dimensional Gate at his back.
The concentrated mass of death aura at Derus Robert’s chest began to pulse rapidly; he clearly intended to trigger the blast and vanish through the portal. It was the exact desperation Raon had foreseen.
Raon launched the flickering black orb of desire toward Derus and pressed his palms together.
'Let not a single soul among my people be harmed, and let Derus Robert meet a wretched end!'
It was a profoundly selfish wish, yet it functioned as a sincere vow and a prayer. It was his final appeal to destiny after gambling everything he owned.
"It's futile! You're far too late!"
Derus Robert screamed that the detonation was inevitable and balled his fist. In response to his movement, the orb of death aura turned a blinding white as a cataclysmic energy surged outward.
"No, this time, the timing is perfect."
With absolute certainty, Raon expanded the shroud of desire, draping it over the magnificent explosion of death aura. A low, vibrating hum filled the air. The veil of desire he released cocooned Derus Robert’s detonating energy like a tight shroud and continued its forward momentum.
Its trajectory led directly toward the Dimensional Gate Derus Robert had opened for his getaway.
"What is this..."
Derus Robert’s jaw hung slack as he stared at the encroaching black sphere. His eyes narrowed in a fit of panicked disbelief.
"You... to the bitter end!"
Even trapped, Derus Robert fought to maintain his composure, using his remaining strength to shove the mass of desire away.
"Kkeuk!"
Raon coughed up a spray of blood as he felt the impact of Derus Robert’s raw power. He had spent his reserves slaying Raphael, clashed with Derus Robert within his Sword Domain, and exhausted his mental stamina condensing the demonic Authorities. He was reaching his limit.
The orb of desire, struggling to contain the death aura, began to warp and fray. It looked as though it might shatter under the internal pressure.
-What are you idling for!
Wrath bellowed in his mind.
-This victory is already in your hands, so put some backbone into it!
The small figure mimicked throwing punches, urging Raon to use every ounce of strength he had ever possessed.
'I’m trying, but the strain is immense...'
As Raon mentally responded to the fuming Wrath, a voice cut through the chaos.
"Exemplary."
Glenn moved to his side, wearing a subtle grin.
"I was prepared to intervene, but it is far better that you conclude this yourself."
He suggested that since Raon had initiated the strike, he should be the one to seal it, and he rested a firm hand on Raon’s shoulder. Through that contact, a tidal wave of aura flooded in. It was a surge specifically tuned to the rhythm of the Celestial Thunder Arts, allowing Raon to channel it seamlessly.
"Gra—Grandfather. But there's no time..."
Raon glanced at Glenn, feeling the urgency. The window seemed too narrow to integrate his grandfather's profound insights.
"Believe in yourself. You are capable."
Glenn gave a steady nod, exuding total confidence.
-That old man and his theatrics...
Wrath let out a dry, incredulous laugh.
-Why the hesitation? With a warrior of that caliber fueling you, just drive it home!
Acknowledging Glenn's support, Wrath gestured forward as if giving Raon his blessing.
-If you truly falter, this King will step in!
Wrath nodded with gravity, giving Raon the green light to go all out.
'I understand...'
Raon gave a heavy nod, focusing on the sphere of desire that was on the verge of bursting.
'Right here...'
His physical blade could not reach Derus Robert now. The only instrument capable of halting the villain was the Soul Sword.
"Do not rush."
Glenn’s voice was a calm anchor.
"Manifest your own blade. In this moment, success is within your reach."
Closing his eyes against the chaos, Raon drew upon the sword forged from the dual fires of agony and mercy within his spirit. With the completion of the ten rings, the blade—once stunted and short—had elongated significantly. While not yet a full longsword, its growth was undeniable.
"A truly magnificent weapon."
Glenn offered praise with genuine warmth, as if the invisible Soul Sword Raon was manifesting was perfectly clear to him.
"I was right to place my faith in you."
As the words left his lips, a terrifyingly sharp presence manifested beside Raon. It was Glenn’s Soul Sword—the heart-blade of the world's most formidable swordsman. This weapon of the spirit, typically unseen, radiated a light more brilliant and translucent than any physical steel.
The mere proximity to it felt like a brush with death, yet it carried an underlying heat.
"Gra—Grandfather!"
Raon's eyes went wide.
"It is merely a repetition of what you just performed. You have the skill."
Glenn smiled warmly and made a dismissive gesture.
"Ah!"
Catching the intent behind Glenn’s expression, Raon exhaled deeply.
"Understood! I will do it."
"Then. The task is yours."
Glenn nodded and sent his Soul Sword flying. It was a strike beyond the constraints of time and space, a blow capable of severing the essence of deities, aimed straight at Derus Robert.
"I saw this coming!"
Derus Robert barked, claiming he had anticipated Glenn’s spiritual strike, and summoned his own Soul Sword to parry.
Derus Robert’s heart-blade was a nightmare—a grotesque mass that resembled thousands of human forms stretched thin like sugar and mashed together. It was a repulsive sight that triggered an instinctive wave of nausea.
"With my current power, I can hold you off! And then..."
Derus Robert spat dark blood and cackled.
"The death aura will detonate, and all of you will perish!"
He screamed that while he occupied Glenn’s focus, the explosive aura would breach the containment of desire.
"Now..."
Just as Derus Robert prepared to intercept Glenn’s path to focus on his defense, Glenn’s Soul Sword didn't strike. Instead, it performed an elegant mid-air flip like a bird and came to a halt.
"Wha—what...?"
Confusion flashed across Derus Robert’s face. From the shadow of Glenn’s imposing sword, another blade of the heart—one that had been perfectly masked—shot forward in silence and pierced Derus Robert’s very soul.
"Kkeueueuk!"
Focused entirely on Glenn, Derus Robert never saw Raon’s ambush coming. He dropped to his left knee, seized by agonizing shock.
'Is this truly the spirit of a mortal?'
Raon shivered as he felt the sheer scale of Derus Robert’s soul, which seemed as massive and ancient as a World Tree. Without Glenn’s assistance, the task of killing him seemed insurmountable.
'No, I must finish this.'
He wouldn't let Glenn's effort go to waste. As the architect of this moment, it was his duty to bring the curtain down.
"Ju—just a bit more..."
Derus Robert snarled, forcing himself up. He tried to shield his spirit with raw will since his own Soul Sword was out of position. He attempted to split his remaining energy to block Raon while still watching Glenn.
'Just a little more!'
Raon clamped his teeth shut, pouring his entire being into his Soul Sword to prevent it from shattering.
'I will learn from my grandfather’s example, but I will not lose my own path!'
He channeled the memory of Glenn’s perfect, chilling Soul Sword while reflecting on his own life’s journey. The ten rings of fire pulsed with violent resonance; his Soul Sword grew even longer and its edge sharpened to an impossible degree. In that heartbeat, both his weapon and his spirit transcended their previous limits.
'Now!'
Taking a final, decisive step, Raon funneled his entire existence into the blade of his heart.
Raon Zieghart Style: 9th Form—Life Beyond Death.
Dominating the boundary of existence, Raon’s spiritual blade carved deep into Derus Robert’s core. The psychic sound of a massive tree splintering echoed as Derus Robert froze, blood erupting from his eyes and mouth.
"Keheheuk!"
Derus Robert coughed up stagnant blood and lifted his head with effort. He stared back with eyes that were white and glazed, weeping black fluid.
"I told you once before..."
Raon took a ragged breath and shoved his hands forward.
"I have no use for the filth you offered me."
With a grunt of effort, he propelled the sphere of desire—now glowing white with the imminent explosion—into the Dimensional Gate along with Derus Robert.
"You... you wretched brat..."
Derus Robert reached out a shaking hand, but it was over. He and the contained blast were swallowed by the portal, and the flickering gateway collapsed as it pulled its master back to his origin.
