Chapter 1200
"Whew..."
Raon gave the back of his neck a light scratch as he followed Glenn away from the annex.
"Grandfather really bailed me out there."
Had he remained, his strategy to infiltrate Derus's inner circle would have likely collapsed. Between Sylvia’s tearful protests, Edgar’s blunt and icy logic, and Sia’s explosive tantrum, the pressure was mounting. Fortunately, Glenn had intervened at the critical moment, allowing him to bypass the immediate crisis.
Because it was his own kin who had nearly derailed a plan he had spent so much time refining, Raon couldn't help but let out one relieved sigh after another.
—Don't be too hard on them.
Wrath shifted his gaze, sensing Sylvia’s lingering, concerned stare from the distance.
—Their behavior is only a reflection of how much they value your safety.
The demon flicked his tongue, suggesting that since they were his blood, Raon should show them some grace.
"I am well aware," Raon replied internally with a quiet nod.
"I’ve caused my fair share of trouble."
Throughout his service to the family, he had faced many perils, but he had also frequently walked the razor's edge of death by his own design. While surviving these ordeals made him more formidable, he realized that from his parents' perspective, it was a source of constant terror and sleepless nights. He could fully empathize with why Sylvia and Edgar were so distressed.
—Hmph. At least you're showing a shred of emotional intelligence for once.
Wrath offered a faint, satisfied smirk, seemingly pleased that Raon was acknowledging the feelings of others.
"This location should suffice."
In a departure from his usual routine, Glenn came to a halt in the open clearing near the path to North Grave Mountain. He spent a moment observing the thick canopy of trees before turning around with a deliberate motion.
"Your preparations have been meticulous."
Glenn gave a solemn nod, acknowledging the immense effort Raon had poured into the strategy he had detailed back at the annex.
"Yes. I believe this is the only viable method to force Derus Robert into the open."
Raon bit down on his lip, meeting Glenn’s piercing, serious gaze.
"There is less than a year until the deadline Derus set for war. If we wait and fight on his terms, we will almost certainly be overwhelmed."
Despite being a pillar of Zieghart and the master of the Light Wind Palace, Raon spoke of the potential downfall of the Five Kings with absolute certainty.
"Because I know the nature of Derus Robert."
Derus was a man who stayed in the shadows unless victory was a mathematical certainty. The specific, somewhat arbitrary timeframe he gave—one year and one month—suggested he was waiting for a specific advantage to manifest.
"I am of the same mind," Glenn agreed, stroking his jawline thoughtfully.
"Derus Robert and I have crossed blades many times. Even though I have dominated every encounter, his declaration of war implies he has found a way to neutralize me."
He curled his lip in distaste, noting that a man as calculated and malevolent as Derus would never move without foolproof contingencies.
"Therefore, I support your mission."
A ghost of a smile touched Glenn’s face as he looked into Raon’s unwavering eyes.
"The risk is substantial, but the objective warrants it. You have done well to prepare."
Away from the tension of the annex, Glenn finally offered the praise Raon deserved, placing a reassuring hand on his shoulder.
"Ah... thank you."
Raon offered a slight, surprised bow.
"I was powerless in the annex. There is no stopping a mother consumed by worry for her child."
Glenn let out a small, knowing chuckle, admitting that even he found Sylvia’s maternal resolve daunting.
"Furthermore, Sylvia does not truly grasp the extent of your power. Since she has not attained transcendence, no matter how much you describe your strength, she cannot truly fathom it."
He shook his head, noting that because they stood on different planes of existence, words were insufficient to bridge the gap in understanding.
"That is true."
Raon mirrored Glenn’s thin smile. As his grandfather noted, their diverging perspectives meant his explanations would never quite reach Sylvia.
"However, I am fully aware of your capabilities. There are vanishingly few individuals on this entire continent who could best you in your current state."
Glenn held out his hand, suggesting that those capable of defeating Raon could likely be counted on five fingers.
"Hmm..."
Raon pressed his lips together, absorbing the gravity of those words. Hearing the world’s strongest warrior validate his progress sent a surge of ambition through him like a spreading flame, causing his muscles to tense with renewed drive.
"You could navigate nearly any peril through your own sheer force of will. But Derus Robert remains a unique threat. You understand this as well as I do."
Glenn’s brow furrowed, emphasizing that even with Raon's current level of mastery, infiltrating Derus’s inner circle would be a harrowing ordeal.
"I understand. That is why I am attempting to prepare from every possible angle..."
"That alone will not be enough."
The warmth left Glenn’s voice as he made a sharp, dismissive gesture.
"I intend to push your training to the limit until Derus’s agents take the bait, but there simply isn't enough time to reach the goal you've set for yourself."
Glenn clicked his tongue, clearly aware that Raon was attempting to forge the tenth Ring of Fire and knowing how much time that required.
"I suppose that’s true."
Raon let out a heavy, weighted breath.
"Time is indeed my greatest enemy."
By his own calculations, completing the tenth ring would take at least six months. Since the infiltration needed to begin within a month, reaching that milestone beforehand seemed impossible.
"Because of that, I will impart a new martial technique I have recently refined."
Glenn moved his hand from his chin to the hilt of the Heavenly Tremor.
"What? I thought you said you wouldn't pass down your personal insights, grandfather?"
Raon blinked in confusion. Glenn had always maintained that since they followed the Ten Thousand Swords in different ways, their paths shouldn't overlap through direct instruction.
"It isn't exactly an insight. In fact, it’s difficult to even classify it as a standard martial art..."
Glenn smiled deeply, as if he had anticipated the question.
"It is a technique. One that should allow you to escape a fatal situation at least once, regardless of the circumstances."
He nodded firmly, his confidence absolute.
"This may be the final sword style I ever develop. Perhaps that is why..."
Glenn’s eyes turned glacially cold and intense.
"Mastering it will be... well, it will be exceptionally difficult."
'Haah...'
Raon let out a mental sigh as he followed the small man down the sacred stone steps.
'That was brutal. Truly brutal.'
For the duration of their training, Glenn had increased their sparring sessions to six times a day, spending every other waking moment drilling the new technique into him. Initially, Raon thought his Ring of Fire would allow him to master it quickly, but the complexity had proven staggering.
—This king was genuinely taken aback as well.
Wrath scowled, looking as though he still couldn't believe what he had witnessed.
—I never suspected that old Nadine bread-muncher was capable of inventing something so intricate.
The demon gave a dry laugh, admitting that Glenn had earned a new level of respect.
'You're right. It feels completely out of character for him.'
Raon silently agreed with Wrath's assessment.
'He must have designed it specifically with me in mind.'
The style Glenn had taught him was unlike anything in the Zieghart repertoire. It was clear that the technique was a gift born of Glenn’s worry for Raon’s upcoming, dangerous journey.
'I didn't manage to complete the tenth Ring of Fire, but at least I have this sword technique.'
Despite the grueling schedule of six daily duels, the tenth ring remained elusive. He had managed to stabilize about four-fifths of the structure, but the final portion had collapsed just as he neared the finish line.
Still, he had managed to grasp the essence of the "difficult" swordsmanship Glenn had promised. Just as his grandfather said, it felt like a hidden trump card that could preserve his life in a moment of absolute crisis.
—Indeed. And as for that ring...
Wrath squinted, his tone becoming uncharacteristically cryptic.
'What? What about the ring?'
Raon glanced at the demon, curious.
—Hmph. Forget it. It’s nothing.
Wrath snorted and turned away, dismissing the topic.
'How annoying.'
Raon felt a small smile tug at his lips as he relaxed his shoulders.
'If it's not important, then stay quiet. I have a role to play now.'
He moistened his lips as they reached the base of the stairs leading into the subterranean depths.
"We have arrived."
The short man, known to the world as Kuanyu, turned back with a beaming, radiant smile. He seemed to glow with a soft, holy light that permeated his very being.
"Ah... yes..."
Raon swallowed hard, instantly slipping into the persona of Zilfen—the timid, blue-eyed man whose appearance he had stolen. As his feet met the floor, a wave of warm, sacred energy washed over him. While the sensation was superficially pleasant, it sent a cold shiver racing down his spine.
'This is...'
Raon’s fingers twitched, and he narrowed his eyes ever so slightly.
'It’s a detection ward.'
The ground was saturated with divine power designed to scrutinize the essence and abilities of anyone who walked upon it.
'I won't let them catch me...'
Raon bit the tip of his tongue to focus, looking down at the ring on his hand.
'I just have to ensure my internal reactions are sluggish.'
His Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation and Glacier were tightly suppressed. Between his own control and the artifact crafted by Evelyn and Encia, his internal energy was invisible. It even dampened his physical stats to the point that even Glenn had been unable to see through the disguise during their tests.
Furthermore, the real Zilfen was a low-level swordsman and a black-market runner. By leaking just a tiny, pathetic amount of earth-aligned mana, he would perfectly match the profile.
"Mmm..."
Raon let his shoulders tremble slightly, acting as though he were unsettled by the atmosphere. Zilfen’s natural cowardice made the performance easy.
"Oh, don't let it startle you."
Kuanyu shook his head, his smile remaining kind.
"This is merely a barrier meant to filter out the impurities of the world before entering this holy land. It was installed by the angels themselves."
He gestured broadly, telling Raon there was no cause for alarm and to simply embrace the sensation.
"Ah, I see. My apologies."
Raon nodded, playing the part of the overwhelmed initiate.
'This feels foul.'
The energy was "sacred" by definition, yet it felt inherently wrong. It confirmed his suspicion that the angels and archangels who had descended were a far cry from the benevolent beings of human legend.
'Steady. Keep it together.'
Raon suppressed his burning desire to tear down Derus and the angels, using the Ring of Fire to harmonize his internal state. He emptied his mind, projecting the image of a man who had come to this basement seeking nothing but salvation.
"Excellent. You are truly prepared to walk among us."
Kuanyu noted the lack of any hostile reaction from the barrier and nodded in approval.
"It is time for you to receive the key to paradise."
He moved toward a massive, pristine white door, beckoning Raon to follow.
"I... Is it really time?"
Raon followed with a look of vacant, wide-eyed wonder.
'This door... it's just like the one Derus and that archangel used.'
He recalled the shimmering, white dimensional gates through which his enemies had appeared and vanished.
'I can't sense a single thing from the other side.'
The door acted as a total sensory vacuum, hiding whatever lay beyond.
"Let us enter."
Kuanyu gripped the handle and pushed. With a soft groan of hinges, a blinding torrent of golden light flooded the hallway. It was an overwhelming radiance. Raon squeezed his eyes shut against the glare, felt a gentle, warm breeze brush against his skin, and slowly allowed his vision to adjust.
"This... this is..."
As the brilliance faded, the world beyond the door took shape. It was nothing like the damp underground he had expected. Rows of grand, opulent villas lined the streets. A lush blue forest and a towering cathedral sat at the heart of the settlement, all under a clear, cloudless sky that radiated eternal warmth.
It looked like the most prosperous district of a royal capital. People dressed like high nobility moved through the streets with expressions of pure, unadulterated joy. These weren't the forced grins of the brainwashed, but looks of genuine, deep-seated happiness.
'Is this supposed to be heaven?'
Raon was beginning to doubt the "holiness" of the scene when a voice called out.
"Oh my! Zilfen! You've finally made it!"
A middle-aged woman with a motherly face hurried toward him from the right, using the name of his persona.
"You're here at last!"
She beamed at him, welcoming him with open arms as if they were old friends.
'And so it begins.'
Raon looked at the woman and bit the inside of his cheek to stay focused.
'The first test of my cover.'
Underneath his hood, a predatory smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth. He was ready for whatever trials this "heaven" had in store.
