Chapter 1135
'My grandfather’s intuition was correct.'
Raon gave a slow, composed nod as he absorbed the weight of Glenn’s official call to arms.
'We cannot afford to be ensnared by the traps laid by Derus Robert or the organization of Eden.'
'Locating them is our first priority. Whether Derus Robert successfully finishes the Archangel summoning or perfects a fresh combat style centered on the Soul Sword, the culmination of his efforts is set for thirteen months from now.'
'Knowing his meticulous habits, once he reaches that milestone, he will be unstoppable. Therefore, we must strike first and launch this campaign on our terms before that clock runs out.'
'It is a logical move to promise the mantle of heir to whoever uncovers the whereabouts of Derus or the heart of Eden first.'
At the moment, Derus Robert and the forces of Eden were staying completely silent, keeping their bases of operation a total mystery. Raon understood the gravity of the offer; finding their lair would essentially decide the conflict, much like the total collapse of the White Blood Religion.
'If Karoon—actually, if even Balder manages to find it first, I would be willing to step aside and let him take the lead.'
While ascending to the position of Zieghart’s patriarch was a primary ambition, his most burning desire was the absolute destruction of Derus Robert and everything he built. If another person proved more capable of achieving that annihilation, Raon was prepared to support their rise.
'Though, if I had to choose, I’d certainly prefer Karoon over Balder.'
Raon let out a soft breath, shifting his gaze toward Karoon.
"..."
Karoon remained lost in reflection, his fingers grazing his chin as he stared up at the high rafters of the Great Hall.
"In this struggle, time is our most ruthless opponent."
Glenn stepped forward from his seat of power, his eyes sweeping over the assembled leaders.
"Should we pinpoint the hidden camps of Derus Robert or the fortress of Eden within the year, we claim the win. If we fail to do so, the victory belongs to them."
He hammered his fist against his chest over his heart, punctuating the dire nature of their timeline.
"However, do not let the hunt consume you entirely. The second they are found, the slaughter commences. You must dedicate every spare moment to refining your own strength."
Glenn’s presence became suffocatingly heavy as he commanded them to push their limits, even at the cost of rest.
"Zieghart has functioned as the blade that severs evil since its inception. Go forth and remind those monsters—those who have abandoned their humanity for raw power—exactly what our name represents."
He gave a solemn nod, a gesture of absolute confidence in the warriors of the family.
"As you command!"
"We hear and obey!"
The leaders of Zieghart shouted in unison, their voices shaking the very foundation of the hall as they swore their total commitment.
"Further intelligence will be distributed via the Shadow Agents."
Glenn dismissed the gathering with a sharp wave of his hand.
"By your leave, My Lord."
Led by Karoon, the senior members bowed deeply before the patriarch and began to file out of the chamber.
"..."
Just as Raon performed his own salute and prepared to depart with the others.
"Master of the Light Wind Palace."
The voice of Karoon echoed from just a few paces behind him.
"I am here, Master of the Central Martial Palace."
Raon pivoted, meeting Karoon's stare with a level, organized expression.
"Regarding the Central Martial Palace..."
Karoon watched him intently for a moment before he spoke.
"My scouts have pulled some fresh threads regarding Derus Robert and the movements of Eden. I will have the files delivered to you so our divisions can align their efforts."
He reached out his hand, proposing a formal sharing of intelligence between their two factions.
"A partnership of information? Are you being sincere?"
Raon’s brows knit together as he studied the man before him.
"If those reports are truly valuable, you could use them to secure the succession for yourself. Why share?"
Knowing Karoon's lifelong obsession with the seat of the Head of House, Raon couldn't help but let out a small, weary sigh.
"I believe I’ve touched on this once before..."
Karoon tilted his head back slightly.
"Inheriting a family that has been reduced to ash holds no value for me. My goal isn't merely to sit on a chair, but to preserve the foundational truths of Zieghart."
He didn't point toward the ornate throne Glenn had occupied, but instead toward the open sky of the Zieghart domain he had been watching.
"This isn't the hour for petty internal rivalries. We must focus solely on ensuring we don't lose this war."
Karoon motioned toward Raon, implying that they both already understood the stakes.
"...I see your point."
A thin smile touched Raon's lips as he saw the genuine resolve in Karoon's eyes.
"But why offer this specifically to me?"
"Because you and your Light Wind Palace are the most capable blade we have."
Karoon answered as if stating a simple fact of nature.
"If less capable units stumble into a trap, they will be wiped out and the lead will go cold. Only the Central Martial Palace, your Light Wind Palace, and the Heavenly Blade Division possess the skill to investigate high-risk leads."
He added that Alice’s fleet of pirates would also be utilized, though he would speak to them separately due to their maritime focus.
"Regardless, do not squander the time during this second trial."
Karoon cautioned him to use the coming month to bolster his forces and sharpen his edge.
"I understand."
Raon gave a respectful nod, his smile lingering.
"Until then."
With a casual flick of his wrist, Karoon turned and walked out of the hall ahead of him.
"I can hardly believe that’s my own brother..."
Alice sighed, appearing suddenly at Raon's side.
"It’s actually quite unsettling! I think I was more comfortable when he was being a complete jerk!"
Despite her claim of being creeped out, she was grinning widely, clearly moved by the change in Karoon’s demeanor.
"Just like he mentioned, we’ll be scouring the oceans. I’ll make sure every scrap of news reaches you, so keep an eye out!"
Alice gave his shoulder a firm, encouraging pat—clearly rooting for him to take the top spot—and hurried off to catch up with Karoon.
"..."
Raon shared a brief, silent look with Glenn, who had been watching the exchange from his seat, before finally making his exit.
'He told me to select those with true potential.'
His lips curved as he replayed Glenn's private instructions.
'It hadn't crossed my mind before...'
'But perhaps I should include those two as well.'
-Those two?
Wrath’s eyes went wide with confusion.
-Aren't they already fully developed masters?
'They are teeming with untapped talent. And besides...'
Raon smirked as he watched the retreating figures of Karoon and Alice.
'They seem to have a spark of something more as well.'
"Attention, everyone! This is the message from the Head of House."
Raon stood atop the wooden dais of the Fifth Training Ground, looking down at the rows of Light Wind Palace Swordsmen standing in perfect formation.
"Effective immediately, Zieghart is transitioning to a state of total war."
The phrase "total war" acted like a spark, igniting a fierce fire in the eyes of every warrior present.
"Leave it to us!"
Krein stepped forward, slamming a fist into the air.
"I, Krein, will bleed myself dry to hunt down every last bit of dirt on that coward Derus and the Eden freaks!"
He lifted his chin, loudly proclaiming that he would ensure Raon was the one to succeed Glenn.
"Count us in too!"
"The Palace Master belongs at the head of the family!"
"We get first dibs on the Shadow Agents' reports, so we’ll sniff them out in no time!"
The rest of the unit joined in, vowing to gamble their very lives to secure Raon’s victory in the succession race.
"Raon for Patriarch! Raon for Patriarch! Raon for Patriarch—"
"Enough of that."
Raon stepped down from the platform and delivered a swift flick to Krein’s forehead while he was mid-chant.
"Ow!"
Krein let out a yelp, clutching his brow as it began to swell into a bright red knot.
"What was that for...?"
"You are swordsmen of Zieghart, not spies."
Raon shook his head, letting out a disappointed sigh.
"Don't worry about the hunting. Focus on how you can gain even a sliver more strength."
He tapped Krein’s head again, explaining that the gathering of intel was for others to handle while they focused on their martial growth.
"But if you lose the title because of that—"
"Then that is my fate."
Raon’s smile was soft as he thought of the honorable expression Karoon had worn earlier. At this point, he found he didn't mind the idea of Karoon leading the family nearly as much as he once did.
"I’ve passed on the official news, but there is one detail I saved for last."
Raon climbed back onto the dais, his gaze sweeping over his subordinates.
"The Head of House has declared that he will personally train those who show the most significant room for growth, in order to sharpen our fangs for the coming conflict."
The moment he mentioned Glenn’s personal involvement in their training, the Fifth Training Ground fell into a silence so absolute you could hear the wind.
"The... the Patriarch?"
"He's going to teach us himself?"
"A chance for a Serendipitous Encounter! The direct guidance of the Northern Destructive King—no, the Sword God!"
"How do we qualify for this?"
The warriors stared up at Raon with raw hunger in their eyes, as if a legendary weapon had been placed just out of their reach.
"As I stated, he is looking for growth potential. Which means..."
Raon squinted, carefully gauging the current Martial Prowess of every single swordsman in the Light Wind Palace.
"One month from today, I will select the warrior who has made the most dramatic improvement from their current baseline and bring them before the Head of House."
The timing was perfect, as it coincided with the conclusion of the second test.
"Would that include us? I’m quite interested in hearing from the pinnacle of this era myself!"
The Blade Queen raised her hand, her eyes sparkling with the desire to learn from Glenn.
"Act your age, please..."
The Warlord sighed, reaching up to pull the Blade Queen’s hand back down.
"No, wait."
Raon gestured toward the Warlord.
"The two of you are eligible as well."
"Wait... really?"
"Is that the truth?"
Both the Blade Queen and the Warlord looked at him in genuine shock.
"Indeed. The Patriarch set no specific boundaries on who I could bring."
Glenn had only asked for talent and potential; bringing the Blade Queen and the Warlord—who were already his allies—fit those criteria perfectly.
'In fact, this might be the superior strategy.'
If those two could refine their skills under Glenn’s tutelage and push into a higher realm of power, they could potentially face the lower-tier Archangels one-on-one, which would be a massive advantage in the upcoming war.
"However, I repeat: progress is the only metric that matters."
Raon nodded at them, encouraging them to give it their all.
"Excellent! I'll reinvent myself even if I have to grind my bones to dust!"
The Blade Queen swung her hand through the air, releasing a strike that seemed to split the clouds, looking more energized than she had in years.
"Well, if that's the case, I suppose I shouldn't hold back..."
The Warlord murmured as he began walking toward a training room, eager to dissect the underlying logic of Glenn’s techniques.
"Hey, no fair!"
"If the instructors are competing, that’s two slots gone for sure!"
"We’re losing time! Start the drills now!"
"Forward!"
The swordsmen erupted into a frenzy of activity, launching into their personal training sessions. They weren't about to let their own teachers, the Blade Queen and Warlord, steal the opportunity to learn from Glenn without a fight.
"I won't be left behind."
Burren muttered, drawing his blade and beginning to practice the forms he had inherited from Karoon with renewed intensity.
"The Patriarch’s personal lessons. I'm finally going to take back what Raon has been keeping for himself."
Martha bared her teeth in a savage grin, determined to seize the chance at any cost.
"Yaawn..."
Runaan let out a massive yawn, seemingly indifferent to Glenn’s offer. She slumped against a nearby tree and shut her eyes. It was either Sloth’s specific cultivation method or she was simply taking a nap.
-So, who are you actually picking?
Wrath narrowed his eyes as he drifted over to Raon's shoulder.
-You’ve already got a shortlist, don't you? The girl who eats frozen treats, the meat-loving girl, the boy with the eyes...
'Not necessarily.'
Raon brushed the suggestion aside.
'I’m going to stick to the Patriarch's rule about potential. It doesn't matter how gifted someone is if they don't put in the work—they’ll hit a wall. But...'
He looked out over the training ground, watching his comrades pour their souls into their practice.
'I don't see anyone here who isn't giving their absolute maximum effort.'
-What about that one?
Wrath pointed a finger at the snoring Runaan.
'...That... that’s just how her cultivation works.'
He quickly looked away from her, changing the subject.
'Regardless, I will only take those who show the most promise. Those who can evolve into true pillars of the family under the Patriarch’s guidance.'
Raon nodded, reinforcing his earlier promise to himself.
-Well, that’s a fair enough approach.
Wrath bobbed his head, finding the logic acceptable for someone like Raon.
-But are you just going to watch them work while you sit idle?
He wrinkled his nose, annoyed by Raon’s stillness.
-After that silver-haired freak nearly killed you, you should be swinging that sword until your arms fall off.
Wrath grumbled, frustrated that Raon wasn't pushing himself today after training so hard the day before. He was still bitter about the bland Nadine bread he’d had to endure as a result.
'I'm actually waiting on something.'
Raon waved off the demon king, who was currently snarling like a neglected pet.
-Waiting? What did you lose this time!
Wrath snorted in derision.
'I didn't lose anything, it’s just something beyond my immediate control...'
-Hah! Ridiculous! A warrior should be the master of his own vessel, yet you claim you're waiting on a whim...
Just as Wrath was in the middle of his mocking lecture, a series of notifications flashed before Raon’s eyes.
[A massive achievement has been recorded.]
[You have stared into the face of <Death>.]
[All stats have increased by 100 points.]
[A new trait has been unlocked...]
[Trait...]
[Title...]
The rewards for the Unyielding Blade and the rescue of Rector had finally materialized.
-Ugh...
Wrath’s jaw dropped the moment he saw the "100 points" notification.
-T-this... this is what you were stalling for...
'Exactly. This isn't something I can just force to happen.'
Raon grinned, gesturing toward the floating text.
'I expected it yesterday, but it seems it took its time getting here.'
He took a deep breath, feeling the shift.
'When my stats and traits evolve, my physical perception changes. I wanted to wait for this boost before starting my own serious training.'
Raon studied the rewards with a satisfied expression.
'It didn't show up this morning, which I found odd. But as it turns out, it only triggers when I get a rise out of you.'
He reached out and gave Wrath’s head a playful poke.
'You're like a piggy bank. I have to give you a little shake for the prizes to fall out.'
Raon shook him again, laughing.
-Yesterday it was that cardboard bread. Today you’re treating me like a toy...
Wrath glared, his teeth grinding together in fury.
-I have had enough of your disrespect!
He lunged at Raon, wreathed in freezing Cold Energy, screaming about taking them both down together.
'You talk a big game about self-control for a demon king who can't even stay calm for five minutes.'
Raon met the assault with a confident smirk.
'Let's see if you've improved.'
Predictably, the outcome appeared in a final flash of text.
[You have successfully quelled <Wrath>.]
[All stats have increased by 1 point.]
-Aaaaaagh! Stop it! Stop it right now!
The confrontation ended with Wrath’s frustrated wails.
-This King admits defeat! Just stop!
