Chapter 1167
Raon stood across from Rector in the open space behind the annex’s lake.
"Are you certain this is wise?"
Rector had been confined to his bed since the traumatic loss of his right arm, an injury that had left his frame brittle and stiff. Even with the advanced prosthetic crafted by Ensia, and despite his status as a Transcendent, jumping straight into a duel felt premature.
"Father! Get back to bed!"
Edgar bellowed toward Rector, his hands megaphone-style around his mouth.
“Raon has reached a whole new level! Even if you’ve still got your old skills, it won’t be a walk in the park. You’re just going to get thrashed! Go lie down before you… Gack!”
His barrage of blunt—bordering on insulting—advice was cut short as Rector delivered a kick that sent him tumbling across the grass.
"Good grief..."
Sylvia watched the display, letting out a weary, short breath.
"Ehehe!"
Sia mimicked Sylvia, directing a tiny, adorable sigh toward Edgar.
"Keep that mouth shut!"
"Dad, stay put."
Despite their words, the two women clearly cared for him, grabbing his clothes and limbs to help him back to his feet.
"A warrior’s true speech is found in their blade."
Having cleared the distraction of his son, Rector returned to his stance and unsheathed his sword. Even while recovering, he had evidently tended to his weapon; the metal caught the light with a mirror-like polish.
"Isn't a conversation of steel much better than a noisy exchange of words?"
Rector’s lips curved into a faint smile, clearly intending to pour his soul into the duel.
"Hmm..."
Raon shifted his gaze to the side, looking for Ensia’s approval.
"He’s good to go!"
Ensia formed a circle with her arms high above her head.
"The best part about my craftsmanship is how much punishment it can take!"
She beamed with absolute pride, dismissing any concerns about the mechanical limb’s integrity.
"If you're that confident, I suppose I have no choice."
Raon allowed a small smile to surface as he drew Heavenly Drive from his belt.
"As you said, swordsmen speak through their blades."
At the height of Transcendence, words often became redundant. One could grasp another’s heart simply by the rhythm of a clash. Rector wanted to communicate through action rather than explanation.
'And he probably just needs to move again.'
After being fitted with a new arm, any true master would itch to test it. Recognizing that desire, Raon decided to honor the request.
"Phew."
Rector slowly shut his eyes. When they snapped open again, the weary patient was gone, replaced by the chilling, sharp intensity of the Sword Demon, the former head of the Holy Sword Alliance.
"Let us begin."
Foregoing any formal opening rituals of a senior, Rector used high-level footwork to close the distance instantly, thrusting his sword forward. He had adapted to the prosthetic with the terrifying speed of a Transcendent, his blade tip vibrating with lethal precision. The air sang with a high-pitched whistle.
Raon intercepted the thrust with ease and transitioned into a sharp riposte. His blade, wreathed in heat, spun and descended toward Rector’s right shoulder.
"You acted so worried, yet..."
Rector let out a dry, short laugh as he watched Heavenly Drive target the junction of his new arm and torso.
"You’re trying to chop off my new limb already!"
With a smirk, he parried the heavy descent of the flame-blade. The impact vibrated through the air. Raon absorbed the shock of the counter-move and gave a casual shrug.
"You said we were talking. I was just checking the reception."
He grinned, teasingly implying he was merely testing the arm’s responsiveness—or perhaps checking if Rector’s nerves had frayed.
"The apple doesn't fall far from the tree!"
Rector shot a glance at Edgar before re-engaging. He unleashed a barrage of rapid strikes, looking nothing like a man who had been bedridden for weeks. Every move was a masterclass in high-level swordsmanship. It was the technique of a man who had mastered the Ten Thousand Swords. Sparks flew as the blades collided in rapid succession.
Raon kept his expression tight and focused as he parried the onslaught, which felt less like an attack and more like an honest confession.
'Grandfather...'
Rector’s soul was flowing through the steel. He was showing every technique he had ever mastered as a way of saying thank you. It was a wordless shout of gratitude for being saved from the Archangel, for the spark of hope to live again, and for the chance to hold a sword once more. The earth groaned under the pressure.
Raon’s fingers hummed from the weight of the strikes. Having embraced his humanity alongside his strength, he felt those emotions vibrating directly into his spirit.
"Hah..."
Rector chuckled, now gripping his hilt with both hands.
"I’ve definitely been stagnant for too long. Not even an hour has passed and my lungs are burning."
He wiped the perspiration from his brow, biting his lip with determination.
'This is hard on him.'
Raon gave a subtle nod. Even though Rector was flagging, his eyes remained piercingly bright.
'He’s pouring everything into this.'
Rector was cycling through every school of swordsmanship he knew, effectively giving Raon a live demonstration of his life’s work. He was using his full power to ensure Raon could see the essence of each move. It was an exhausting way to show appreciation.
"I have one last thing to show you."
Rector hoisted his sword high with both hands. A shimmering blue aura, shaped like a halo, manifested behind him. Then came a strike of such terrifying magnitude it felt as though the horizon itself might tear in two.
'This isn't a lesson anymore.'
Raon's grip on Heavenly Drive tightened.
'He’s challenging me as an equal.'
If the previous moves were a grandfather’s gift, this final strike was the pride of a warrior. Rector’s eyes were cold and demanding, asking Raon to prove he had the strength to overcome him.
'Challenge accepted.'
Raon lunged forward, swinging Heavenly Drive in a rising arc. The crimson blade, trailing steam as it caught the lake’s moisture, rose to meet the blue light, erasing the world-splitting strike entirely. His sword, fueled by the depth of human connection, had moved beyond the limits of mere technique. The wind roared.
The brilliance of Rector's light faded, and the churning waters of the lake returned to a still mirror.
-Hmph!
Wrath twitched his nose as he observed the path the blade had taken.
-At last, your swordsmanship isn't a complete eyesore.
In a rare moment of sincerity, the demon muttered that it was actually decent.
"Haa..."
Rector stood amidst the dissipating smoke, lowering his weapon and exhaling deeply. He looked at Raon, who had neutralized his ultimate strike, and broke into a soft laugh.
"I am grateful."
Pushing aside the shock at Raon's growth, Rector finally put into words the feelings he had just carved into the air.
"If you're truly thankful, then stand on the front lines with me."
Raon didn't bother with humble denials; he smiled and invited the man to fight alongside him with everything he had.
"Naturally. Though it might take me a moment to shake off the rust."
Rector nodded, vowing to claw back the power he possessed at his peak.
"Father, let’s be realistic. Maybe aim for fifty percent? You’re getting up there in years, so pushing yourself might result in a broken hip—Ack!"
Edgar’s commentary earned him a swift blow to the back from Sylvia, sending him face-first into the dirt.
"My father-in-law will succeed."
Sylvia offered an elegant smile while resting her foot firmly on Edgar’s spine.
"Yes! I'll help with the training!"
Sia chirped, grabbing Rector’s prosthetic arm with a determined grip.
"My thanks to you both as well."
Rector’s expression softened as he looked at Sylvia and Sia.
"I may have been cursed with a fool for a son, but I am blessed beyond measure with my daughter-in-law and my grandchildren."
He stroked his chin, finally appearing at peace with his past. With a metallic slide, Raon put Heavenly Drive back in its sheath and examined his palm.
'I didn't expect to feel this kind of growth.'
Usually, his breakthroughs came from sudden moments of enlightenment or intense spiritual awakenings. But this time, it was different. He had grown through the simple, heavy weight of living and connecting with others. He felt he could wield this new strength immediately, without the usual period of adjustment.
He realized that even if Rector were at his absolute prime with both arms, he wouldn't be intimidated. In a battle of attrition, he was actually confident he would win.
'The time is drawing near.'
Raon closed his hand into a tight fist, picturing a pair of haunting blue eyes.
'Derus Robert.'
"Ahem!"
Glenn stood on the heights of North Grave Mountain, observing the duel from afar. He let out a stiff, uncomfortable cough.
"My Lord? Is something the matter?"
Roenn tilted his head, confused by the scowl on Glenn’s face despite the heartwarming scene below.
"I think I’ve figured out the source of the Lord’s irritation."
Sheryl sighed, looking down at the group.
"He’s glad Rector is on his feet, but he’s sulking because Rector is getting all the attention from Raon and Sia."
She smirked, noting how transparent Glenn’s jealousy was.
“Hmph! That is ridiculous!”
Glenn dismissed her with a sharp wave of his hand, though the slight flush on his face betrayed him.
"Honestly! You’ve had Raon to yourself this whole time, and you see Sia daily. Rector has been gone forever and couldn't see them even if he begged! How can you be envious?"
Sheryl shook her head, muttering that Glenn was becoming as dramatic as Rimmer.
"Grrr..."
Knowing she was right, Glenn simply scowled and remained silent.
"Hehehe."
Roenn chuckled softly at the dynamic.
"But truly, how powerful has Young Lord Raon become?"
He narrowed his eyes, remembering the way Raon’s calm, majestic strike had cleaved through Rector’s full-strength attack.
"...I cannot say for certain."
Glenn admitted, his voice uncharacteristically uncertain.
"Pardon?"
Sheryl blinked in shock.
"You... you don't know, my Lord?"
She looked as though the world had just stopped spinning.
"In terms of raw level, Raon is comparable to the mid-tier leaders of the Six Kings and Five Demons era. However..."
Glenn watched as Raon examined Rector’s arm with a gentle expression.
"The actual power that boy can manifest far exceeds that benchmark. Even I cannot put a definitive label on his current limit."
He took a deep breath, noting that Raon’s evolution was too unconventional and rapid for standard measurement.
"I am eager to see the results eleven months from now."
Glenn’s lips curved into a predatory smile.
"I want to see just how far the blade of a fully matured Raon can reach."
The following morning. After a rare night of rest in the annex, Raon stepped outside before the sun had cleared the horizon.
-I thought you might have finally learned to relax...
Wrath sighed while staring at the pre-dawn purple sky.
-Back to swinging the sword at this hour? I thought you said you were going to live like a human!
He grumbled, asking if the soul-crushing training regimen was starting all over again.
'Being human doesn't mean being lazy. Plenty of people are up and working before the sun.'
Raon dismissed the complaint, arguing that early training didn't make him any less human.
-Well... that's technically true...
Wrath clicked his tongue, unable to win that specific argument.
-B-but you are still missing a vital human component!
'Missing something? Like what?'
Raon paused his draw and focused on the small demon.
'Tell me.'
-Love!
Wrath puffed out his chest.
-You are completely ignorant of romance!
'What? I have plenty of...'
-Not family! I know you care for the people in this house!
He shook his head frantically, clarifying his point.
-I am talking about the passion between a man and a woman! You are a total...
Before Wrath could finish lecturing Raon on his romantic shortcomings, a low hum vibrated through the air. A shimmering blue rift opened, and a handsome young man with golden hair and striking blue eyes, dressed in fine white silk, stepped out.
"Bartius?"
Raon blinked in surprise at the sight of the Gold Dragon who usually only contacted him via the blue message windows.
"Raon Zieghart!"
Bartius didn't wait for a greeting, leaning in so close his face nearly pressed against Raon's. His eyes were wide with a frantic intensity.
"I've discovered the path to the Lord!"
