Chapter 1133
"Grandfather?"
Raon knit his brows, observing Glenn’s gaze, which appeared strangely detached from the world of the living.
"Are you truly alright?"
The pressure from Derus’s machinations had vanished; Glenn now supported Rector with an air of total relaxation. A peaceful smile graced his features, suggesting that every heavy burden he once carried had finally been lifted.
He feels as though he might fade away, yet it is unlike before.
Previously, Glenn had been shrouded in an eerie aura, looking as if he might be deleted from existence. That sensation had been so frigid and isolated that merely witnessing it brought a sharp ache to one’s chest.
The current Glenn, however, was distinct. Though he still possessed that ephemeral quality of someone who could vanish at any moment, the vibe radiating from him was now radiant and kind, offering a sense of profound solace.
"How many times do I have to say it? I am perfectly fine."
Glenn gave a casual wave of his hand, brushing off the concern.
"I feel at peace, and it is because of you."
He beamed with a gentle warmth, looking like a man who had seen all his problems solved.
"Because of me?"
Raon’s brow furrowed further as he studied the smiling elder.
"What are you talking about? What could I have possibly done..."
"You achieved a vital task that was beyond my reach."
Glenn gave a heavy, impressed nod.
"Hmm..."
Raon remained lost, tilting his head in confusion at the cryptic statement.
"Can you explain that in a way I can understand?"
"Take my words at face value and leave it at that."
Glenn’s smile persisted, clearly having no intention of clarifying further.
"Is it because I secured the remains of Archangel Ramiel?"
Raon blinked, his eyes darting to the corpse of the celestial being still skewered upon the Heavenly Drive.
"That certainly provided a spark of inspiration."
Glenn shook his head slightly, closing the door on any further explanation.
"Mmm..."
Raon scratched at his scalp, looking at Glenn’s expression, which seemed to be relishing the young man’s confusion.
—This King perceives the truth of the matter.
Wrath gave a knowing nod, seemingly seeing right through Glenn’s behavior.
What is it then?
—If your elder chooses silence, this King has no reason to enlighten you.
The monarch waved a dismissive hand, refusing to bridge the gap if Glenn wouldn't.
—It is only natural for the aged to become more playful. Ponder it with care.
I wouldn't understand it even if I spent an eternity thinking.
Raon shot a glare at Wrath, but the entity had clearly decided to remain tight-lipped.
"Fine. I’ll figure this out on my own eventually."
Letting out a soft sigh, Raon moved closer to Glenn’s side.
"Grandfather, do you actually trust the words Derus Robert spoke?"
He tightened his fist, the memory of Derus’s voice fueling his irritation.
"What is on your mind?"
Glenn nodded, inviting him to share his suspicions.
"The timeframe—thirteen months—is highly suspicious. It isn't just a year. He is definitely plotting something beyond a mere declaration of war."
Derus had vowed to commence hostilities at the trade hub of Cameloon in exactly one year and one month. Such a specific addition of a single month felt unnatural to anyone paying attention.
"Rather than a countdown to thirteen months, there is a high probability he strikes much sooner."
Raon chewed his lip, remembering the hollow look in Derus’s eyes.
"Derus Robert is the type of man who treats a public vow like a piece of trash if it no longer serves his interests."
He vented the lingering bitterness in his heart, labeling Derus a fraud who would think nothing of violating his own ultimatum.
"I am of the same mind."
Glenn shut his eyes briefly before opening them with a look of concurrence.
"As you suggested, we cannot take Derus Robert at his word. We must launch an exhaustive search to uncover both his whereabouts and the primary base of Eden."
He agreed to tap into every intelligence network available—from the Five Kings to the Black Market—to hunt down both factions.
"I agree with that course of action."
Raon pressed his palms together, finding his thoughts perfectly aligned with Glenn’s.
"With the Holy Sword Alliance now standing with us, our combined military strength should be overwhelming."
Glenn’s fingers twitched as he glanced at the still-unconscious Rector.
"In truth, if we were simply counting heads, the Five Kings alone could have demolished them without the Holy Sword Alliance's help."
Raon nodded, acknowledging that the neutral territories allied with the Five Kings effectively governed half the continent.
"Correct. They cannot compete with our numbers. However..."
Glenn tilted his chin up, releasing a heavy breath.
"The issue is Masters. More specifically, we are severely lacking in the number of high-level Transcendents who have achieved the upper tiers of that realm."
He rested his hand firmly on the Heavenly Tremor, noting that this deficit was the reason Derus still drew breath.
"Derus Robert, the Heavenly Demon, the seven Archangels, and whatever hidden Transcendents they keep in reserve... there are few among the Five Kings capable of standing against them."
Glenn’s voice remained level as he continued.
"Myself, my relative by marriage, Beast King Ogram, Mage Tower Master Larian, the Blade Queen, the Warlord, and you. That is the extent of it."
He tallied the names of those among the Five Kings who had reached that peak.
"But among those names, only I possess the power to truly halt Derus or the Heavenly Demon."
Glenn’s brow deepened with gravity, stating that he was the lone shield against those two monsters.
"That is the reality of it..."
Raon let out a tired exhale.
Because Grandfather, the Heavenly Demon, and Derus exist in a sphere entirely separate from everyone else.
Though categorized as Transcendents, those three occupied a tier of absolute power. When the very laws of the world reacted to their martial arts, it was no stretch to say they had moved beyond the limits of humanity.
—It would be fitting to label all three as aberrations. Nevertheless...
Wrath looked up at Glenn with a rare sign of respect.
—Your elder, who climbed to that peak and stayed there without any external assistance, is perhaps the most insane of the lot.
He gave a meaningful nod, offering Glenn his genuine acknowledgment.
"I cannot speak for the Heavenly Demon or Derus, but I have allies who can handle the Archangels."
Raon allowed a small smile to form, his thoughts turning to Sloth and Gluttony.
"If you make that claim, I will trust it."
Glenn accepted this calmly, seemingly aware of who Raon intended to summon.
"Even so, since this is a conflict Derus Robert has been engineering, no amount of preparation will feel like enough. Therefore..."
He sighed and gripped his own shoulder once more.
"The moment we set foot back in the family estate, seek out those with the greatest potential and bring them before me."
Glenn signaled toward Raon with a sharp movement.
"So that you may leap from Transcendence into the Absolute, and so others may finally cross the threshold into Transcendence..."
A spark of crimson lightning danced in his eyes.
"I shall take it upon myself to train you all."
With a soft rustle, a gateway shimmering with pale light manifested, and Derus Robert stepped through. He moved with a tranquil air, appearing as if he had just returned from a leisurely social call, and settled onto his office sofa.
"You have come back."
Kubara, standing near the hearth, inclined her head in a show of deep reverence.
"..."
Derus remained silent, rubbing his chin as he delved into his own thoughts.
"Glenn Zieghart remains a terrifying prospect, just as we suspected."
Archangel Raphael clicked her tongue, the image of Glenn’s imposing presence fresh in her mind.
"His martial skill has evolved into something even more unnatural. I never imagined I would feel such a sensation toward a mere mortal."
She scowled, unsettled by the realization.
"It is what it is."
Derus nodded without emotion, as though Glenn’s display of power was within his expectations.
"You were not bested by Glenn, so why did you leave Ramiel's remains behind?"
Raphael tilted her head, questioning what seemed like a major oversight.
"It wasn't a choice to leave them; I simply couldn't take them."
Derus’s lip curled into a sneer as he looked at the angel.
"Raon Zieghart is supposed to be so insignificant that he couldn't hope to parry a single blow from you, correct?"
Raphael met his gaze with a cold, piercing look, wondering where he was going with the remark.
"In a literal sense, he is no match for me. However, that boy..."
Derus ground his teeth, envisioning the impossible path Raon’s blade had taken.
"He mimicked my Moon Transcendence Art in a heartbeat and used it against me. It wouldn’t be wrong to say he plundered my lifelong insights after seeing them just once."
He waved a hand dismissively, admitting that the shock of Raon’s talent had momentarily broken his guard.
"Once Glenn stepped in, Ramiel's fate was sealed. As long as we held the body, resurrection was an option, so it wasn't a catastrophe."
Derus tapped his finger, implying that today’s events had mostly followed a script.
"But Raon Zieghart claiming the remains of Ramiel... that was a variable I did not see coming."
He frowned, acknowledging that the current reality had diverged from his foresight.
"The loss of the corpse is unfortunate, but ultimately it is a minor concern."
Raphael shook her head, flipping through the pages of a golden tome.
"The Flow of Heaven is immutable. The conclusion has already been written."
She lifted her chin with divine arrogance, confident in the predestined outcome.
"Indeed. I am well aware. However..."
Derus Robert peeled away his dark leather gloves, his eyes burning with a freezing intensity.
"This world contains entities that exist specifically to defy the Flow of Heaven."
His mouth twisted into a grimace as he watched thick, dark blood seep from the wound on the back of his hand.
"Hmm..."
Archangel Raphael let out a quiet sound of concern, observing the injury that her celestial healing had failed to close.
"To eliminate those who can shift the tides of fate, I must also ascend to a higher plane."
Derus stood up slowly.
"Prepare the training chamber."
He gestured to Kubara while shedding his heavy outer robe.
"I must surpass Glenn Zieghart."
Once Evelyn’s internal energy had stabilized, Raon guided everyone back to the Zieghart estate via the Dimensional Gate.
"Ah, Father? Father!"
The moment Edgar spotted the armless Rector, he sprinted forward, the force of his step cracking the earth. His typical lightheartedness vanished instantly, replaced by a fierce mixture of fury and dread as he checked Rector’s state.
"What on earth happened!"
Sylvia was visibly shaking, clearly in a state of shock. Her eyes darted between Raon and Glenn, desperate for an explanation.
"He was wounded by an Archangel. Grandfather..."
Raon quickly briefed Sylvia and Edgar on the circumstances that brought Rector to Zieghart in such a condition.
"You stubborn, foolish man!"
Learning the truth, Edgar’s anger flared toward his father, his teeth clenched tight.
"Father..."
Sylvia understood that Rector had put himself in harm's way for Raon’s sake. Her eyes grew glassy as she bit back her emotions.
"His life isn't in immediate danger, but we need to start his treatment without delay."
Raon signaled for Edgar and Sylvia, who were hovering over Rector, to give him some space.
"I will look after my father."
"Yes. You need to recover as well."
Edgar and Sylvia shook their heads, insisting on taking Rector to the residence of the Ragged Saint, Federick.
"Very well."
Turning from the couple, Raon looked toward Lawrence and Mustan, who were waiting at a distance.
"The two of you should seek treatment as well. Your wounds may seem minor, but divine power can leave lingering scars if ignored."
He gestured toward Federick’s home, urging them to follow.
"...We understand."
"Alright. Let's catch up later."
Mustan and Lawrence departed for the mansion in silence, their focus clearly on Rector’s well-being over their own.
"Excellent work, everyone. Let’s head out for now."
Raon clapped his hands, addressing Evelyn, Dorian, and Martha.
"Ugh, I didn't do a single thing. Truly, I was useless!"
Martha slammed her fists together, clearly frustrated by her lack of involvement in the battle.
"That's actually a relief!"
Dorian pressed a finger to his lips, urging her not to invite trouble with such talk.
"Raon. You haven't forgotten what you owe me, have you?"
Evelyn tapped her temple, reminding him of their arrangement.
"Y-yeah. I’ll find you later."
Raon gave a strained nod, confirming he remembered.
"Hehe, I'll be waiting then."
With a wave, Evelyn vanished, clearly headed for some much-needed rest. Her exhaustion was written plainly on her face.
—Resting is fine, but food comes first!
Wrath patted his concave stomach.
—All this chaos erupted right when we should have been eating. I am famished!
He took his usual spot on Raon’s shoulder, complaining that his hunger had become painful.
That’s a fair point. But...
Raon looked down at the spirit.
There is something I have to attend to first.
—Huh? Something else? Then let’s get it over with!
Wrath gestured impatiently for Raon to move.
Well...
Raon was anticipating a system alert that he was sure would trigger soon, but... Whoosh! Dark embers ignited before his vision as the surroundings shifted. It felt identical to the moments he entered the memories of the Zieghart First Patriarch, yet there was a distinct difference.
His soul was shuddering violently for reasons he couldn't explain; these memories felt like they belonged to someone else entirely.
Whoosh! Raon watched the black flames dance before him, his eyes widening in alarm. The fire wasn't emitting heat; instead, it pulsated with a concentrated aura of death that he recognized all too well.
Could this be...
