Chapter 1132
"Surely, what you just performed wasn't..."
Derus’s brows twitched, and for the first time since his arrival, he appeared visibly shaken as he spoke to Raon with cold hostility.
"Was that truly the Moon Transcendence Art?"
He knit his brow tightly, sensing the atmosphere around them beginning to simmer against his control.
"Moon Transcendence Art?"
Raon shifted his gaze curiously, his boot remaining firmly planted on the remains of Archangel Ramiel.
"What exactly is that?"
He tilted his head back, his expression a silent challenge for Derus to clarify the term.
"The technique you employed to bypass my aura and perception so you could seize Ramiel."
Derus ground his teeth with a ferocity that suggested he was crushing bone.
"Ah..."
Raon gave a slow, rhythmic nod, signaling his sudden realization.
"So that's the name of the style? Moon Transcendence Art. In that case, you're correct. I simply mimicked it after observing you."
A smirk played on his lips as he claimed to have mastered the Moon Transcendence Art just by watching Derus clash with Glenn.
"That is impossible..."
Derus Robert bit his lip repeatedly, his expression one of pure incredulity.
"Call it madness or whatever you like, but I appreciate the lesson,"
Raon mocked him, noting how Derus’s face had turned stony and grim.
"I hadn't realized there was such a method for amplifying one's martial power."
Derus Robert was undoubtedly more formidable than he had been in the past, yet he was still noticeably below Glenn’s current level. Despite this gap in raw power, he had managed to hold his own against Glenn’s overwhelming strength.
Initially, Raon suspected Derus was using a hidden relic or a gift from the Archangel. However, through the focused scrutiny of the Ring of Fire and the Azure Clear Eye, he realized his error.
'Derus Robert faced my grandfather using nothing but his own internal strength.'
Raon slightly creased the bridge of his nose, glancing down at his feet.
'He turned the very air around him into an extension of his own frame.'
By unfurling his soul, Derus had synchronized the local environment with his own anatomy, drawing upon natural mana to bolster his techniques. Because the surrounding area responded to his mental commands and provided a limitless source of energy, he could parry Glenn’s blade without being crushed.
-Even I found that sight remarkable.
Wrath shook his head in a rare moment of awe.
-Expanding one's soul to inhabit the surrounding space is not a concept a typical mortal could ever conceive.
The demon king shook his head, admitting he had never encountered such a combat style before.
-Only a lunatic willing to discard the integrity of his own soul would attempt such a feat.
'He's certainly no typical mortal,'
Raon thought, nodding with a sharp grin.
'An individual like him wouldn't be found in the Abyssal Realm or the Heavens.'
Darkan had once mentioned that Derus possessed a soul of incomprehensible magnitude. It was now evident that Derus utilized that vast reservoir to claim the environment as his own and elevate his combat effectiveness.
'He must have refined the Soul Sword to forge an entirely new path of war.'
Through his mastery of the Soul Sword, Derus had clearly birthed the Moon Transcendence Art. Even as a loathed nemesis, his genius for slaughter was undeniable.
-That man is definitely unstable. However...
Wrath shifted his attention from Derus to fix it on Raon.
-You are far more deranged than he is!
'Me? What did I do?'
Raon blinked, confused by Wrath's accusation.
-I'll concede that the Azure Clear Eye allowed you to perceive his bizarre spiritual manipulation. But...
Wrath looked pained, his brows drooping in confusion.
-Replicating it perfectly the moment you saw it defies every law of common sense! What kind of freakish entity are you!
He clutched at his own chest, desperate to know how Raon could mimic a style rooted in the essence of the soul.
"How were you able to duplicate the Moon Transcendence Art? Have you been tracking my movements in secret?"
Derus seemed to be struggling with the same question, his teeth bared in a snarl.
"The Moon Transcendence Art is not a standard technique. Regardless of your natural gifts, copying it should be a physical impossibility."
His eyes were freezing as he demanded an explanation for Raon’s imitation.
"Why would I waste my time stalking a pathetic man like you?"
Raon gave a dismissive flick of his hand.
"I just tried it, and it worked."
After imprinting the memory of Derus’s duel with Glenn, he had used the Ring of Fire to analyze the spiritual currents and reverse-engineered the reinforcement process. To test his theory, he had projected a small portion of his own soul to create a localized field of enhanced power.
The result was a more refined version of the Moon Transcendence Art, which he used to strike Derus just as the man tried to reclaim Archangel Ramiel’s body.
"Do you expect me to believe such nonsense?"
Derus’s forehead was a roadmap of deep wrinkles, his patience clearly exhausted.
"The Moon Transcendence Art is a unique discipline I developed myself after reaching the pinnacle of the Soul Sword. You expect me to believe you mastered it at a glance?"
He balled his hand into a fist, insisting that even a deity couldn't pull off such a stunt.
"Why is that so hard to believe? I find your entire personality far more nonsensical than my talent."
Raon gave a nonchalant shrug toward the fuming Derus.
"Believe it or don't, it makes no difference. This Archangel is my prize of war. I'm not handing it over."
Asserting his claim, he plunged the Heavenly Drive through Ramiel’s remains, anchoring it to the earth. Sssst! The corpse began to char and blacken as the intense heat of the Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation began to incinerate it.
"I understand..."
Derus watched Raon closely, seemingly losing interest in the burning corpse. He gave a sharp nod.
"I suppose after 'that event' occurred, I should know that nothing is truly impossible."
He lowered his head, settling into a calm acceptance of the situation.
"Our conversation has lasted far too long, thanks to your exceptional grandson."
Derus looked toward Glenn with a faint, controlled smile, his composure fully restored.
'That bastard...'
Raon frowned, annoyed by how quickly Derus had regained his footing.
'I was hoping he’d lose his temper and lash out.'
Raon had been relentless with his insults, hoping an emotional Derus would leave an opening for Glenn to seize him without needing to ascend. But Derus had centered his spirit in heartbeats, returning to his cold, calculating self. He was a nightmare to deal with—an unyielding shadow.
"I will say it once more. Eden and I shall ignite a war in Cameloon in thirteen months. Whether you attempt to prevent it or not, it is inevitable."
Derus blinked slowly, marking this as his final word. As he spoke, his form began to blur into a misty haze, enveloped by the divine radiance of Archangel Raphael. It was clearly a high-level spatial transit spell fueled by Holy Power.
"Running away like a coward again? You filthy rodent! Come back here and face me! I'll take your head!"
Martha shouted, throwing a crude gesture at the fading silhouette of Derus.
"S-stop! Don't provoke him! What if he actually stays!"
Dorian scrambled onto Martha’s shoulders, trying to pull her back.
"Finally... we got here just in time."
Evelyn let out a long breath, wiping perspiration from her brow. She looked completely spent, having poured every ounce of her magic and focus into bringing Glenn to this battlefield. She was an invaluable ally.
"..."
Glenn remained silent, his eyes fixed on the shimmering light surrounding Derus. His hand tightened and relaxed on the hilt of the Heavenly Tremor as he weighed a heavy choice, but in the end, he did not draw his blade.
"We shall meet again when the time comes."
With a chilling smile, Derus Robert dissolved into the white radiance, having correctly guessed Glenn’s hesitation.
-That foe of yours.
Wrath scowled at the empty patch of sky.
-He is no longer a simple target. There is no telling what he will become in another year...
He was beginning to treat Derus Robert with the same level of respect he reserved for Glenn or the Heavenly Demon.
'Don't lose sleep over it.'
Raon nodded, his jaw set tight.
'Because I understand him better than anyone else alive.'
He knew exactly what kind of nightmare Derus Robert was becoming.
"Hah..."
Glenn exhaled softly, his eyes on Raon. He had watched the boy play with and taunt Derus until the very last second.
'That boy is extraordinary.'
The moment Evelyn had called for aid, Glenn had arrived with the singular intent of ending Derus Robert. However, Derus had pushed the Soul Sword further than anticipated, inventing the Moon Transcendence Art specifically to counter Glenn’s offensive.
'He was formidable.'
Derus Robert had reached a level of skill where only Glenn himself or Darkan could hope to stand against him. While he wasn't yet a match for the Heavenly Demon, he was on a path to eventually surpass Darkan and reach the summit where Glenn resided.
'He lacks Raon's raw talent, but he is far more malicious.'
It was startling to see a human achieve such heights through such corrupted means.
'I almost walked right into his trap.'
As Derus pointed out, killing him would require Glenn to sacrifice his own presence in this world. Derus had calculated this perfectly, choosing to test his own progress against Glenn rather than simply fleeing.
'I had no counter-argument.'
Glenn was the primary deterrent for the Five Kings. If he killed Derus and was forced to ascend, the world would be left defenseless against the Heavenly Demon or the Archangels. The balance would shatter, and Eden would incinerate the continent before the war even truly began.
Despite his burning desire for vengeance, he couldn't bring himself to strike because he knew the chaos his departure would unleash.
'But...'
Glenn felt a small smile tug at his lips as he looked at his grandson's back.
'You are different.'
Even knowing that Derus held the tactical advantage, Raon hadn't flinched.
'No, he did more than just hold his ground.'
In terms of raw power, Raon was a mere spark compared to Derus’s moonlight. Yet, the boy had instantly stolen the Moon Transcendence Art and used it to reclaim his trophy right in front of the creator’s face.
Glenn was moved by Raon’s terrifying intellect and his unshakeable courage.
'What a gift.'
He felt a surge of pride that such a child had been born from his lineage, mixed with a deep pang of guilt for not being there for him sooner.
"In-law."
Glenn spoke softly, looking down at the unconscious Rector.
"It appears our grandson has far surpassed us both."
He gave a small nod, channeling his aura into Rector to stabilize his condition.
"Grandfather!"
After making sure Ramiel’s body was securely pinned so it wouldn't vanish, Raon hurried over to Glenn.
"Are you hurt?"
"I am fine."
Glenn nodded. His heart had been heavy because of Derus, but Raon’s presence had cleared the clouds. He felt more focused than he had in years.
"I pushed myself to the limit, but I am also safe."
Rector added with a nod, beginning to stir.
"But your arm... for a master of the sword to lose his limb..."
Glenn sighed, looking at the void where Rector’s right arm used to be.
"It will be alright."
Raon shook his head, his hand resting gently on Rector’s bandaged shoulder.
"Because my grandfather is a man of great strength."
"...Yes. You are right."
Glenn felt his resolve solidify as he looked at the trust in Raon's eyes.
"I believe so as well."
The prospect of leaving behind the family he had only just begun to truly love had been so painful that he had anchored himself to the world with everything he had. But seeing his grandson’s brilliance and knowing the strength of those left behind, his heart grew steady.
He felt he could finally depart this world without lingering regrets, provided he finished what was coming in a year’s time.
"My thanks to you."
Glenn placed a hand on Raon’s shoulder, a peaceful smile on his face.
"Because of you, I finally know what I must do."
