Chapter 1182
"Pardon?"
Raon tilted his head, shifting his gaze toward Envy.
"You find Martha more compelling than Burren?"
Back in their days as trainees, Burren had been the very definition of green-eyed resentment, tracking Raon’s every progress and constantly picking fights. He had displayed a brand of jealousy even more fervent than Mustan’s. Consequently, Raon assumed that despite Burren’s maturity, he would be the primary candidate for Envy’s favor.
However, Envy was currently licking her lips while staring at Martha, signaling a much stronger attraction to her than to the young lord of the Enlightened Sword Clan.
This link between Martha and the Demon King of Envy was a variable Raon hadn't considered, leaving him momentarily bewildered.
"If we are talking about unadulterated, raw jealousy, that mage girl is the actual prize."
Envy pointed toward Evelyn, who was wearing a smirk beside Martha.
"The sheer intensity of the envy radiating from her is enough to cause shivers. It is the real thing."
The Demon King’s expression suggested that Evelyn was more than qualified to serve as her chosen apostle.
"However, that brat is already stained with the foul stench of Lust. I have no desire to share my dominion with her."
Envy wrinkled her nose, clearly harboring a distaste for her fellow sin.
"I’m fairly certain I could manage both?"
Evelyn curved her crimson lips into a provocative smile, hinting that she was more than capable of juggling Envy's power alongside her current gifts.
"I don't like you. Furthermore, you are physically unable to host my essence," Envy countered with a mocking snort. "Had you not already accepted the mark of <Lust>, you might have survived. But with that power already rooted in your core, adding my envy would cause your spirit to collapse and detonate."
She gave a firm shake of her head, making it clear that even a transcendent mage like Evelyn could not act as a vessel for two separate Demon Kings.
"But Raon holds several powers, doesn't he?"
Evelyn raised a finger, indicating the young swordsman.
"He is an anomaly."
Envy scowled at Raon, her features shifting as if she still found his existence illogical.
"He fits neither the mold of a human nor a demon king. By all rights, his physical form and soul should have been obliterated long ago. I have no idea where that idiot Wrath managed to locate a vessel of this caliber..."
Envy clicked her tongue, noting that Raon’s existence was a one-in-a-billion miracle across the multiverse.
"Ultimately, Wrath is the source of the headache."
She kicked the ground, pinning the blame for Raon’s bizarre nature on the King of Essence.
-Why...
Wrath shook his small, translucent fist in indignation.
-Why is it always my fault! This time, I am truly blameless!
The small spirit bellowed, clearly wounded by the accusation when he felt he hadn't done anything to deserve it.
"That's enough chatter," Raon interjected, placing a hand between Envy and Evelyn. "Are you saying you can pass your authority to Martha instead?"
He gestured toward Martha, who was standing a few paces back with a blank expression.
"To be precise, what I sense in her isn't exactly envy in its base form," Envy said, stroking her pale chin as she observed the girl.
"Then what is it?"
"A thirst for victory."
The Demon King’s eyes sharpened, glinting with the intensity of a master combatant.
“That girl possesses a competitive drive unlike any I have encountered.”
Envy began twining a lock of her verdant hair around her finger.
"Her obsession with overcoming those stronger than her and her desperate reach for the heights of martial skill is a close cousin to my envy. I see many ways to mold that into power."
She savored the thought, confident that Martha’s competitive nature would be a perfect catalyst.
"Her drive to win..."
Raon looked back at Martha and gave a slow nod.
'True. No one fights to win quite like Martha.'
Since they were children, Martha had possessed a psychological refusal to accept defeat. She had chased his back with a relentless ferocity, and it was obvious she hadn't stopped striving to surpass him. The competitive fire she had stoked since her days as a trainee had apparently blazed bright enough to catch the eye of a Monarch of Hell.
'In my case, Envy's power manifested not as bitterness, but as admiration.'
When Raon had integrated Envy's essence, it hadn't turned into spite; it had evolved into a positive force. It seemed Martha was headed for a similar transformation.
-Precisely!
Wrath struck his palms together with a resounding crack.
-Even this Great King must admit the beef girl’s stubbornness is legendary.
He nodded in agreement, viewing Martha as the living embodiment of competition.
'It’s a shame for Burren, but this is how it fell.'
Raon felt a pang of sympathy for Burren, as he’d initially thought the Authority of Envy would suit the young man’s complex. However, this was a massive opportunity for Martha to evolve, which was a positive outcome in its own right.
"Martha."
Raon signaled for the girl to step closer.
"You’ve gathered the gist of what’s happening, right?"
Having witnessed the transformations of Dorian, Evelyn, and Runaan, Martha didn't need a long lecture. She stepped forward as summoned.
"You mean the reason Runaan keeps getting stronger?"
Martha nodded, her expression stoic as if she’d already processed the situation.
"Correct. This is Envy, the Demon King. She has taken an interest in your competitive spirit."
Raon introduced the entity while tapping into the reservoir of envy dormant within his own soul.
"A Demon King wants my competitive drive?"
Martha tilted her head, seeking clarification.
"Runaan is perfectly in sync with the <Sloth> she received, but you don’t have to succumb to the negative aspects of the emotion. For me, envy turned into a form of admiration."
Raon detailed the mechanics of the demonic authorities, using his own experience as a blueprint.
"Understood."
Martha gave a sharp nod, absorbing the explanation instantly.
"The drive to win..."
Burren, standing nearby, squeezed his fist so hard his knuckles turned white. He looked torn, feeling both the sting of being overlooked and the weight of Martha’s new potential.
"Fine. I’ll take it."
Martha accepted the burden with a heavy, determined nod.
"That dimwit Runaan... it’s been driving me crazy watching her sleep her way to more power!"
She bit her lip, her desire to close the gap through any means necessary clear in her eyes.
"Hmph. Don't get arrogant. I chose you; you didn't choose me. Be grateful."
With a sharp snap of Envy’s fingers, two emerald serpents manifested around Martha’s wrist. They bit into each other’s tails, forming a green floral bracelet that mirrored the one on Raon’s arm.
"Ugh!"
Martha’s body jolted. She gripped her wrist tightly, the weight of the authority hitting her like a physical blow.
"My power is not as gentle as the others. Because you are fueling this through competitive spirit, you will be in a state of conflict for the rest of your life."
Envy licked her lips, watching Martha’s struggle with a sadistic glint of amusement.
"A lifetime of conflict?"
Martha’s lips curled into a defiant snarl as she locked eyes with the Demon King.
"Forget it. Your power will be kneeling at my feet before long."
She laughed through the pain, accepting the challenge with a savage grin.
"You have spirit. I like that. Fine, let’s see how much you can take."
Envy chuckled and snapped her fingers again. The emerald mark on Martha’s wrist flared with a blinding, toxic light.
"Aaagh!"
Martha buckled, her shoulder sagging under the sudden, crushing pressure of the intensified power.
"Let’s see if you can actually carry that weight," Envy sneered, tilting her head back.
"..."
Raon remained a silent observer. He didn't move to interfere with Martha’s trial.
'It seems Martha actually impressed her.'
Envy had likely planned to give Martha a mere fragment of her power as a favor to Raon, but Martha’s brazen attitude had prompted the Demon King to bestow a much more significant portion of her authority.
"Just you... just you wait..."
Martha bared her teeth in a pained smile. She glared at Envy like a predator backed into a corner, her refusal to break under the pressure almost tangible.
"..."
Watching this, Burren’s hand—the one that held his sword—began to shake. He was clearly grappling with a mixture of jealousy toward Martha and a sense of inadequacy regarding his own growth.
"Hmm."
Raon watched Burren from the corner of his eye.
'I want to find a way to empower Burren as well.'
But the path was narrow. Most of his core team had already bonded with demonic essences. He wanted Burren to keep pace, but the remaining options were sparse.
'The ones left are the heavy hitters.'
The remaining entities were Greed and Pride. Both were legendary rivals of Wrath, and securing their cooperation would be an uphill battle.
'Pride is out of the question.'
Raon had a tentative connection with Greed, so there was a slim chance there. But Pride—an entity he had never met and who was currently linked to the Heavenly Demon of Eden—was unlikely to be charitable.
'That leaves Greed as the only viable path.'
He let out a quiet sigh, wondering how he could eventually bridge the gap between Greed’s avarice and Burren’s needs.
"That's enough of that."
After instructing Martha on how to tap into the new power, Envy walked back to Raon.
"Tell me more about this conflict with the archangels you mentioned."
She gestured for him to continue, her curiosity finally piqued.
"There is a figure attempting to summon the heavenly host to this world. I assume you are already aware..."
Raon laid out the details of Derus’s plans, betting that a being of Envy’s stature wouldn't be in the dark.
"I see. Interesting."
Envy didn't seem shocked. Like Raon, she had likely sensed the shifting tides of the world and expected the divine intervention to manifest eventually.
"Very well. I will take part in this campaign. But..."
She held up a slender finger.
"Do not get in my way during the slaughter. And I expect to keep whatever trophies I claim."
Envy’s gaze suggested she had a specific prize in mind regarding the coming battle with the celestial beings.
"As long as your actions don't endanger the innocent, I agree," Raon replied calmly.
"Then we have a deal. And tell that Wrath brat to keep his head down and stay out of my sight."
Envy snapped her fingers, and a swirling green rift opened behind her.
"When the drums of war beat, shatter that bracelet and unleash your envy. I will appear personally."
She pointed to the mark on Raon’s wrist.
"One more thing..."
She glanced back at Martha, who was still wrestling with the demonic energy.
“It wasn't just her competitive streak that caught my eye.”
Envy shook her head slowly.
"What else?"
"She carries a deep well of envy. A very human, very pure sort of longing."
The Demon King licked her lips as if tasting a fine vintage.
"Hey! Shut your mouth and get out of here!"
Martha growled, her face flushing with a mix of anger and embarrassment.
"I'm leaving. Enjoy your resentment."
With a casual wave, Envy stepped through the portal and vanished. The suffocating demonic aura that had blanketed the area evaporated instantly.
"Phew..."
Martha let out a long breath, her posture relaxing slightly as the weight of the authority became manageable in Envy's absence.
"Now, for the final matter..."
Raon turned toward the dragons with a small smile, but his expression froze. A sickening sound of tearing sinew and snapping bone echoed through the air. The long, elegant neck of the Dragon Lord struck the earth, severed completely.
Bartius had returned to his gargantuan draconic form and used his massive jaws to end the Lord’s life. The eyes of the fallen ruler were still wide with a lingering sense of shock and agony.
Bartius stood over the corpse, closing his eyes as the blood of his kin washed over him. Raon felt the dragon’s mana and soul surging to terrifying new heights. It was bizarre; cannibalism didn't typically grant dragons such a massive power boost.
-It is his resolve.
Wrath spoke with a tone of genuine respect as he watched Bartius.
-To execute the leader he once revered above all, and to shoulder the weight of those sins to ensure they are never repeated—that conviction is what triggered his evolution.
The spirit likened the dragon’s sudden growth to a martial artist achieving a sudden state of enlightenment.
-How fascinating. It has been an age since a dragon of this caliber graced the world.
Wrath nodded, no longer looking at Bartius as a mere source of mana, but as a true guardian of the continent.
"Haaa..."
Bartius shifted back into his human guise and touched down on the ground. Even in human form, he was drenched from head to toe in dragon blood.
"Raon Zieghart."
The dragon approached Raon, his breathing heavy and ragged.
"Yes."
Raon took a moment to compose himself.
'It's time for the truth.'
Bartius and his followers had fought a civil war to end the madness of the ancient dragons. It was only fair that Raon disclosed his ties to the demon kings.
"I..."
"Before you speak, I—no, we—have something to declare."
Bartius stepped forward, ignoring the blood staining his clothes. Behind him, the four surviving dragons stood tall, their eyes fixed on Raon.
"Because of your intervention, we stopped the Lord’s descent into madness. Thank you for preserving our honor and allowing us to remain the mediators of this world."
Bartius sank to one knee, placing a hand over his heart.
"Wait, what...?"
Raon, who had been prepared to explain the demon kings, found himself speechless.
"We offer our deepest gratitude, Raon Zieghart."
Following their leader's example, the other dragons knelt in unison, bowing their heads in a display of profound respect.
"You all..."
Seeing the most powerful beings on the planet—the absolute mediators—adopting a human posture of gratitude moved Raon more than he cared to admit.
