## Chapter 1124
"Are you able to track him?"
Raon looked down at the swallow resting in his hand and inquired about Rector’s whereabouts. The tiny bird let out a vigorous chirp, appearing fully prepared to take flight again despite the exhaustion of its previous journey.
-Hey, brat!
Wrath extended a hand shimmering with blue energy toward Raon.
-I get that you’re rattled because your old man sent a letter covered in blood. But listen...
His expression clouded with a heavy frown.
-If a man far more powerful than you has run into trouble, charging in while you're this worked up is a mistake.
Wrath flicked Raon’s forehead, attempting to snap him out of his state. With a swift motion, Raon intercepted the gesture with the back of his hand.
'I’m aware. I’m perfectly calm, so there’s no need for concern.'
He wasn't lying. The sight of the crimson stains on the parchment and the bird's plumage had initially sent his pulse racing and his temper flaring. However, the Ring of Fire had activated instinctively, filtering his emotions and restoring his focus. At this moment, his mind was icy and sharp.
'I was merely verifying if the swallow knows where my grandfather is and if it can guide me there.'
Even if they utilized Evelyn’s spatial magic to reach the general area where the message originated, they would still require a guide to pinpoint Rector's exact position. The swallow’s assistance was vital.
"I’ll rely on you shortly."
Raon gently stroked the bird’s head in gratitude for its confirmation.
'Now, I have to deduce the cause.'
Regulating his breathing, he turned his attention back to Rector's correspondence.
'Why is there blood on this? Grandfather was supposed to be stationed at the Holy Sword Alliance.'
He scrutinized the red stains on the feathers and the paper once more.
'This is unmistakably from a human.'
The blood on the letter carried the distinct residue of a martial artist’s mana. Furthermore, this swallow was a spirit creature, possessing speed that far outstripped common raptors or magical beasts. Since the bird itself was unhurt, the conclusion was inescapable: the blood belonged to a person.
'But how did it get there?'
Had the Holy Sword Alliance fallen under siege? Their headquarters were currently shielded by top-tier illusions and barriers. Of course, if Derus employed the unique talents of his Archangels, it wasn't impossible for them to bypass those defenses.
'Who would have the motive to strike? The Five Kings have gone quiet, and neither Eden nor Derus gain anything from attacking the Holy Sword Alliance right now.'
The Five Kings were currently hoarding their resources for the looming conflict, and the Holy Sword Alliance was technically an ally to Derus and Eden.
'It’s unlikely they found out he intervened in the struggle against the White Blood Religion.'
Rector’s own letter mentioned his secret involvement in that war. However, Rector’s ability to mask his presence was so absolute that even Raon couldn't detect him; only Wrath had caught a faint trace. It was highly improbable that anyone else had noticed his movements.
'Wrath.'
Raon’s eyes sharpened as he addressed the spirit.
'When grandfather joined the fray alongside the Holy Sword Alliance, did you sense any activity from Derus or the Archangels in the vicinity?'
-Not a soul.
Wrath shook his head with total conviction.
-I can’t speak for that Derus human, but if one of those Archangels had been lurking, this King would have scented them instantly.
He gave a haughty sniff, radiating absolute confidence in his senses.
'Then he wasn't compromised during the campaign against the White Blood Religion.'
Raon exhaled slowly, his eyes fixed on the letter.
'So, where was he ambushed, and by whom?'
He gripped the paper firmly. He couldn't just rush out; he needed a logical starting point.
'If he wasn't compromised at the Holy Sword Alliance, then... wait.'
Raon’s jaw tightened as he recalled the massive magical array that had appeared over the Holy Sword Alliance's territory.
'Is it possible...?'
-Have you reached a conclusion?
Wrath floated closer, eager for the explanation.
'Grandfather is the type of person who would hide his identity just to provide me with backup against the White Blood Religion. That implies...'
Raon bit his lip, envisioning Rector’s warm smile.
'He isn't actually at the Holy Sword Alliance. He was likely out in the field, working on something to assist me.'
Rector had been physically present during the war, yet his letter spoke of Raon’s victory as if he had only heard the news from afar. A man like that would certainly lie about his location if he were off on a dangerous solo mission.
'As a leader within the Holy Sword Alliance—one of the Three Demons—he has access to intelligence on Eden and Derus that we simply don't have.'
Raon’s mind raced through the possibilities of Rector's recent actions.
-Which means...
'Exactly. He was likely scouting for information on Eden or Derus, and his cover was blown during the investigation.'
Rector had pledged to do whatever was necessary for Raon's sake. He had even taken over the Holy Sword Alliance specifically to position himself to strike Derus from the shadows. It stood to reason he had been intercepted while trying to pave the way for that eventual betrayal.
-That’s insane...
Wrath let out a weary breath.
'You’re right. The situation is dire.'
-No, I’m talking about you!
Wrath’s brow furrowed in exasperation.
-What kind of madman builds an entire conspiracy theory out of a few drops of blood on a letter!
He shook his head, looking at Raon with a mix of awe and annoyance.
-This King would have assumed the bird just crashed into a hawk or something. Reaching these heights of deduction from such a tiny hint is what’s truly crazy!
Wrath sighed, still unable to wrap his head around Raon's thought process.
'It isn't that far-fetched.'
Raon shook his head grimly.
'The problem is I still don't know if the culprit is from Eden or Derus. Nor do I know who possesses the strength to actually hurt my grandfather.'
Rector’s current power placed him among the elite of the Three Demons and Five Kings. While he might not yet rival the likes of Glenn, Derus, Darkan, or the Heavenly Demon, he was certainly on the same tier as King Lecross or the Beast King Ogram. Very few individuals on the continent could pose a threat to him.
'But those top-tier leaders wouldn't move personally.'
The Heavenly Demon and Derus were the ultimate trump cards. If they moved and things went south, it would forfeit their advantage in the upcoming war. They wouldn't risk themselves unless victory was guaranteed.
'Derus, in particular, wouldn't act unless grandfather forced his hand.'
Given how paranoid Derus was, he wouldn't expose himself while Glenn’s whereabouts were unknown. It wasn't him.
'And the Heavenly Demon wouldn't bother, either.'
Based on Glenn's descriptions and the fact that the Heavenly Demon possessed the Authority of Pride, they wouldn't deign to personally hunt down someone like Rector, who wasn't even on their radar.
'In that case...'
Raon’s gaze shifted to the floating Wrath.
'It has to be a hidden Transcendent or one of the Archangels.'
Derus and the Heavenly Demon undoubtedly kept secret enforcers in reserve. However, even a high-level Transcendent would struggle to pin down Rector. The most logical conclusion was that an Archangel had spearheaded the assault.
'No, it’s a certainty.'
Raon raised a hand toward the swallow.
"Was the person who attacked my grandfather someone with wings?"
He gestured to his own back while touching the swallow's wing. The bird chirped emphatically and nodded its head.
"Just as I suspected. Grandfather was ambushed by an Archangel while he was gathering intel on Derus."
The swallow's confirmation settled it.
-Are you actually a psychic?
Wrath gave a stunned, hollow laugh.
-I followed the logic about your old man's personality, but you actually pinpointed the specific attacker?
His mouth hung open.
-I keep forgetting. Your most dangerous attribute isn't your sword; it's that terrifying brain of yours.
Wrath’s lips twitched, his old fear of Raon resurfacing.
'I don't have the luxury of taking compliments right now.'
He weighed his options: head out immediately, or alert the Holy Sword Alliance and Zieghart first.
'There’s no choice. I'm going now.'
He decided to notify only Glenn—the only one who knew Rector's true identity—and set out at once.
'Time to talk to Evelyn...'
Just as Raon turned to leave, he was stopped.
"R-Raon?"
"...What's that look for?"
Dorian and Martha were watching him, their eyes narrowed at his grim expression.
"You look like the world is ending."
Evelyn's brow furrowed, sensing the shift in his aura.
'Should I take only Evelyn?'
If the situation was dire enough to leave Rector wounded, the area would be a slaughterhouse. To minimize risk, taking only Evelyn and her teleportation skills seemed like the logical choice.
"S-something really bad happened, didn't it?"
Dorian’s voice shook as he read Raon’s face.
"It’s written all over you."
Martha smirked, though her eyes were sharp.
"I’m coming too!"
"Don't you dare try to leave me behind."
Both of them declared their intentions without a second thought.
"Heh..."
Raon let out a short, dry laugh. He expected this from Martha, but even Dorian was looking at him with a desperate, unyielding resolve.
"This is going to be incredibly dangerous."
"I-I don't care! I'll figure out how to stay alive!"
"Whatever doesn't kill me is just more training."
They both nodded, refusing to budge.
"I suppose there’s no talking you out of it."
Evelyn stepped forward and took the letter from Raon’s hand.
"We just need to find the source of this message, right?"
She gave a small, confident smile, explaining that she had performed similar tracking spells before and could pinpoint the coordinates quickly.
"I’ll need a few moments, though."
Evelyn gripped the parchment with both hands and began a low rhythmic chant.
"Take your time."
Raon turned away from her, his hands balled into fists and his jaw set.
"I have my own preparations to finish."
---
The vast expanse of the forest, a sea of deep emerald, seemed to groan under immense pressure. With deafening cracks, ancient trees were ripped from the earth as if by an invisible hand, and the ground split to form jagged dark chasms. Mustan sprinted across the ruined terrain, his breath coming in ragged gasps as he looked toward his master’s right arm just ahead.
"Master..."
The arm of Rector—the Leader of the Holy Sword Alliance and a legendary Transcendent—was a mangled mess of shredded flesh and blackened blood.
"Stop blaming yourself."
Rector glanced back, shaking his head. Though sweat beaded on his forehead from the agony, his calm smile remained intact.
"The whole area was a setup. Even if I hadn't stepped in for you, I would have been caught in that strike."
Rector gestured with his ruined limb, which was currently weeping pus and blood, signaling for his disciple to let go of the guilt.
"The Old Man is right."
Lawrence frowned as he applied medicinal spray to Rector’s wounds and began wrapping them in fresh linen.
"I wouldn't have been able to dodge that monster’s attack from where I was either. We all walked into this trap together."
He shook his head, emphasizing their shared predicament.
"Focus on one thing: getting us out of these woods."
Rector urged them to pick up the pace, using his left hand to brush aside the dense foliage as they moved deeper into the thicket.
"Ngh..."
Mustan bit his lip, casting a glance upward.
"Ugh..."
Rector’s frame shuddered intermittently with intense pain, despite the high-grade artifacts he wore to dull the sensation and accelerate his recovery.
'Damn it all!'
If Rector hadn't sacrificed his arm to shield him, they wouldn't be running like hunted prey, even against an opponent of that caliber. Mustan felt sick with self-loathing.
'No, I can't fall apart now. I have to push through.'
Because that’s what Raon would do. Looking at Rector’s back always brought Raon to mind. A boy who started just like him but now stood among the titans of the world. Even if Mustan couldn't reach those heights, he refused to be a burden here.
"I’ll take the point!"
Mustan ground his teeth and surged forward, passing Rector and Lawrence. He swung his blade in a series of silent strikes to clear the path, acting as a vanguard for his wounded master and Lawrence.
"He’s got a soft heart, despite that rough face of his."
Lawrence chuckled softly, watching Mustan’s determined back.
"Indeed. I’ll leave the path to him."
Rector followed his student with a warm expression, clearly moved by Mustan’s resolve.
"I see the exit!"
Mustan’s face lit up as a sliver of bright light appeared at the edge of the dark canopy.
"Once we clear the trees, even that freak won't be able to keep—"
Just as he reached out toward the light, the very air exploded. As if the heavens themselves had snapped, a bolt of brilliant yellow lightning crashed down toward Mustan. It wasn't a technique or a spell; it was a raw manifestation of nature’s fury intended to erase them.
"Ah..."
Mustan froze, his body paralyzed by the sheer magnitude of the descending power.
"Hah!"
Despite his terror, his desire to protect the injured Rector overrode his survival instinct. He forced his leaden limbs to move and hoisted his sword.
"AAAAAAAH!"
Just as Mustan was about to meet the lightning with a desperate strike, a figure appeared beside him.
"You’ve certainly improved."
Rector stood at his side with a faint smile, his own blade rising. A streak of blue light cut through the golden bolt pouring from the sky. The resulting collision sent a massive shockwave rippling through the forest. The sky seemed to shatter like glass, and the ground beneath them yawned open into a dark void.
Blue embers rained down, igniting the surrounding trees. From the shimmering golden light in the sky, a man with azure hair and pristine white robes descended. He was bathed in a divine glow, six white wings unfurling behind him.
“Lowly insects without wings can never escape my reach.”
The blue-haired figure touched down upon the fading blue electricity, his wings spreading wide. He looked down his nose at them with eyes full of disdain, as if he weren't looking at warriors, but at bugs beneath his heel.
"I suppose you won't learn your lesson until a wingless insect takes your head."
Rector raised his sword, his injured arm still leaking fluid, and pointed it directly at the celestial being.
"Archangel Ramiel."
