Chapter 1196
Raon took a sharp breath, feeling the majestic presence of a master swordsman that seemed to saturate the very air atop North Grave Mountain.
'Grandfather?'
The warrior driving his blade toward the heavens at the mountain’s crest was indeed Rector. He was soaked in perspiration, looking as though he had been pushing himself through a grueling all-night session.
'What is this sensation?'
The vibrations of energy radiating from Rector were far more intense than before. It felt as if a more potent sword aura was flourishing now than during his tenure as the head of the Holy Sword Alliance, back when he still possessed both arms.
'How has he achieved such progress in so little time...'
Raon was aware that Rector had reclaimed his warrior’s heart after being fitted with the prosthetic limb crafted by Ensia, dedicating himself to a comeback. However, that was a recent development; Raon couldn't fathom what sort of regimen allowed him to reclaim his former glory so rapidly.
'Spirit alone can only take a person so far... Ah!'
A soft realization escaped Raon’s lips as he observed Rector’s weary expression.
'Could it be because of my other grandfather?'
Glenn was positioned by the lake, a vantage point that offered the clearest view of Rector’s training spot on North Grave Mountain. Given the timing and the choice of location, it was evident he had played a role in Rector’s advancement.
'The image is finally becoming clear.'
Raon looked toward the primary estate, a faint smile touching his face.
'There was an additional motive for grandfather's visit to the annex.'
One patriarch had extended a hand to another. It appeared Glenn’s presence at the annex wasn't merely to foster the growth of Raon and Sia, but also to facilitate Rector’s martial restoration. True to the stature of the continent’s premier powerhouse, Glenn was reaping multiple rewards through a single strategic move.
'Furthermore...'
Raon picked up on the fluctuating energies of other transcendent beings surrounding Rector and clicked his tongue in realization.
'The Blade Queen and the Warlord are involved as well.'
Glenn hadn't acted in isolation. It was obvious that both the Blade Queen and the Warlord had stepped away from their own personal cultivation to assist in Rector’s refinement.
'I didn't expect them to take the initiative before I did.'
Raon had been mentally organizing his own schedule, intending to help Rector soon, but Glenn, the Blade Queen, and the Warlord had already fulfilled the duty he had planned for himself.
'Even without my direct intervention...'
Raon tightened his grip as a surge of warmth filled his chest.
'The world continues to move forward.'
At some point, he had fallen into the trap of believing that progress only happened when he personally pulled the strings. But he was wrong. He was surrounded by individuals with whom he shared profound connections—people capable of forging the best path forward on their own merit, without needing his guidance.
-Are you just now figuring that out?
Wrath manifested before him, wearing a dissatisfied scowl.
-Pompous brat! You aren't a deity or a demon sovereign. Stop trying to shoulder everything and just stick to what you’re actually good at!
Wrath lectured him on humility, his own nose upturned in a display of ego.
'I suppose I should do just that.'
Raon offered a subtle grin and gave a nod.
'I’ll concentrate on my own responsibilities.'
His current priorities were clear: fully decipher the machinations of Derus Robert, achieve the completion of the tenth Ring of Fire, and elevate the strength of the Light Wind Palace Swordsmen. He pressed his lips together, committing his entire focus to these three objectives.
'With the Dragon Lord and the Ancient Dragons gone, and grandfather reclaiming his peak strength, our faction’s power might actually be superior now...'
Raon looked out as the dawn light began to wash over the entirety of Zieghart, his hand balled into a firm fist.
'Let’s get to work.'
The window of opportunity was rapidly closing.
Runaan's eyes slowly drifted open after she had been napping against a stone wall.
"Haaa..."
She shifted her gaze toward a tree to her right, letting out a soft, tired breath.
"Why are you watching me..."
Runaan grumbled that she was being kept from her rest, brushing a stray lock of hair away from her face.
"I wasn't watching you, though?"
Martha stepped out from the shadows of the tree she had been leaning against, shaking her head dismissively.
"I was just using the tree for support, same as you."
Martha gave a casual shrug, claiming she was simply lounging before the evening's training began.
"You should hide that bloodlust before you try lying..."
Runaan's brow twitched slightly, noting that Martha's aura was so heavy it had actually nudged her awake.
"Just say it plainly... that you're looking for a fight..."
She steadied her hands, telling her rival to stop playing games.
"Is that so? Well then..."
A smirk played on Martha's red lips as she closed the distance to Runaan.
"Let’s do it! Right here, right now!"
Her shoulders shook with anticipation; her urge to compete with Runaan was reaching a breaking point. Within her dark eyes, the Authority of Envy granted by the demon king flickered with intensity.
"Hmm..."
Even while standing in the direct path of Martha’s aggressive pressure, Runaan simply blinked with an air of total indifference.
"I’d rather not..."
Reversing her earlier stance, she shook her head, indicating she had lost interest in a duel.
"What?"
Martha’s jaw dropped in disbelief.
"Hey! We were just getting into the right headspace for a match! Why the sudden change of heart?"
She barked the question, completely baffled by the shift.
"I was going to..."
Runaan let out a massive yawn and clicked her tongue.
"But I got tired, so it feels like too much work now..."
She dropped her hand, offering a half-hearted apology for backing out.
"Ha! You're actually going to be the death of me!"
"But..."
Runaan held up a palm toward the fuming Martha.
"Only one exchange..."
She extended a single finger, which looked as sharp and precise as a dagger.
"We’ll decide it with one blow..."
Runaan gave a heavy sigh, making it clear she wanted to be left alone immediately afterward.
"Fine!"
Martha agreed to the terms and drew her blade with a sharp, violent motion.
"Sigh..."
Runaan moved her fingers as if even this single strike was an exhausting chore, slowly unsheathing her own weapon.
"This won't go like the last time!"
Martha declared her intent and surged with her full power. The Titan's Aura that served as her core erupted in massive, rolling waves that crashed across the fifth training ground.
"Come whenever you're ready..."
Runaan, by contrast, gathered just the bare minimum of energy needed to coat her blade and frame, idly rubbing her chin.
"Hyaaaah!"
Martha lunged forward with a piercing cry. Her charge carried the raw ferocity of a predator, yet her blade's trajectory possessed a refined, elegant curve, reminiscent of a scholar’s grace.
Martha channeled every ounce of her volatile energy into the tip of her sword, as if intent on erasing Runaan from the spot. It was an expression of pure fury, yet it also carried a strange sense of respect for Runaan’s capabilities.
Runaan didn't flinch as the world-shaking strike bore down on her. Instead, she glided forward with footsteps as light as a falling feather, tracing a silver arc with her sword that summoned a sudden bloom of frost.
The blade, saturated with crystalline cold, consumed the space in front of her. Even Martha’s overwhelming strike was caught in the frozen flow that seemed to halt the very passage of time.
Martha found herself flash-frozen, her sword extended and her body rigid just inches from Runaan. She exhaled a cloud of gray vapor, her eyes darting around in shock.
"Just... just as I thought..."
Martha’s lips, tinged blue by the biting frost, shook as the sheer cold overwhelmed her.
"The distance between us has grown significantly."
She gave a slow, heavy nod, acknowledging she had suspected Runaan had pulled further ahead.
"If you already knew, then why bother...?"
Runaan tilted her head, genuinely confused.
"Because I have to feel that gap myself to understand it. To know exactly how much work I need to do..."
Martha shattered the thin layer of ice clinging to her skin and let a wide grin spread across her face.
"Before I can finally overtake you."
She nodded to herself, driven by the new power she had gained from the Demon King's Authority.
"I don't think it will take nearly as long as I expected."
With a promise of a future rematch, Martha turned and strode toward the center of the yard. Despite the loss, her stride was confident and full of purpose.
"No..."
Runaan watched her rival's retreating figure and lowered her gaze.
"That's not happening..."
She whispered the denial, her lips curling upward in a rare, small smile that suggested she had no intention of being caught.
"Either way..."
Raon gave a satisfied clap after witnessing the brief clash between Runaan and Martha.
'Martha has truly integrated Envy into her soul.'
In that short interaction, Martha had clearly evolved both in spirit and strength. The Authority of Envy was functioning perfectly, converting her desire to surpass others into a raw competitive drive—the unique ability to grow stronger simply by engaging with powerful rivals.
'And as for Runaan...'
Raon let out a stunned breath as he looked at Runaan, who had already drifted back to sleep.
'She's on the verge of reaching transcendence.'
Of all those he had bestowed with a Demon King's Authority, Runaan was the only one utilizing the gift more effectively than he was. She was ascending at an incredible pace, almost as if she were the living embodiment of Sloth. At this rate, she was likely to shatter the final barrier and become a new transcendent being very soon.
'Actually, it’s more than that.'
In the wake of her sword path, Raon had noticed faint glimmers of energy connecting like a celestial map. The world's natural energy was reacting to her independently of her conscious thought, a clear sign that a Sword Domain was about to manifest.
'Transcendence and a Sword Domain simultaneously...'
Raon grinned, picturing the impact of Runaan achieving such a state.
'She's going to be an incredible force.'
He nodded to himself, making a mental note to ensure Runaan reached that peak before the conflict truly began.
"Hmm..."
Raon’s gaze shifted to Dorian, who was busily tidying up the area during the intermission, and he felt a pang of concern.
'Dorian is making steady progress as well.'
While he wasn't moving at Runaan's breakneck speed, Dorian was hardening his skills rapidly as the Authority of Gluttony harmonized with his nature. He had once been on par with Krein, but he had clearly moved into a different league now.
'And then there's...'
Raon looked to his right and felt his heart sink slightly.
'Burren.'
Burren was staring into nothingness, biting his lip hard enough to draw blood. He was clearly rattled by the massive leaps in power shown by Runaan and Martha, his longtime rivals.
"Dammit..."
Burren muttered a low oath and went back to his sword, swinging with renewed desperation. It was clear he wouldn't abandon his path, regardless of whether his peers left him behind or his subordinates overtook him.
'I need to look out for him too.'
Burren was his chosen Vice Palace Master for the Light Wind Palace. Since Raon felt a lingering guilt for not having a Demon King's Authority to grant him, he decided he would provide the man with specialized, one-on-one instruction.
-Good thinking!
Wrath looked over and gave a supportive nod.
-Greed. But securing that wretch's power will be just as grueling as it was to take this Great King's Authority!
The small demon snorted, implying that obtaining the Authority of Greed for Burren would be a monumental task.
'Wait, wasn't that incredibly easy? Like taking candy from a baby?'
Raon looked at Wrath with a confused expression.
'You basically came to me of your own accord.'
He gestured dismissively, noting there hadn't been any real struggle.
-You... you arrogant brat...
Wrath gnashed his teeth, complaining that Raon only existed to insult him whenever he was bored.
'And I don't think getting Greed's power will be all that difficult either.'
Raon felt the weight of the coin in his pocket as he watched Wrath fuming with blue flames.
'I've already got a solid plan in mind.'
"Raon! Raon!"
Evelyn burst into Raon's quarters, throwing the door open without a second thought.
"Uh..."
Raon blinked at her, caught in the middle of changing. He was half-clothed, his shirt clinging to his damp skin from his workout.
"Oh! Should I come back in a bit?"
Despite her question, Evelyn stepped inside and shut the door behind her. She made a show of covering her eyes with one hand, yet she left her fingers wide enough to get a very clear look at Raon’s physique.
"That mole on your side looks like it's grown? Want me to take care of that for you later?"
Evelyn noted with a slight frown, commenting on a detail on his torso.
"M-mole?"
Raon's voice wavered, genuinely startled that Evelyn was aware of a mark on his body that he hadn't even noticed himself.
-Th-that woman is truly terrifying!
Wrath seemed to hold his breath, remarking that even he found her intensity hard to handle.
-She likely knows your own biology better than you do!
'I'm starting to think you're right.'
Raon sighed and finished putting on a fresh set of clothes.
"Tsk..."
Evelyn made a small sound of disappointment before taking a seat.
"Did you check out the coordinates mentioned in the Dragon Lord's files?"
Raon sat across from her, a towel draped over his shoulders.
"I did! Your intuition was spot on!"
Evelyn nodded enthusiastically, returning to the business at hand.
"There's a perimeter established there that picks up on Animal Possession Magic. It’s a specialized ward using holy power instead of standard mana, making it incredibly tricky to break."
She noted that if the ward were breached, the creator would be notified instantly.
"Just as I suspected."
Raon offered a cold, knowing smile.
"It's exactly the kind of safeguard Derus Robert would put in place."
"But if you knew the barriers were there, why did you have me scout every single one of them?"
Evelyn tilted her head, confused by the mission to locate every ward if they were too dangerous to touch.
"I need to move without leaving a trace of suspicion."
Raon’s expression turned icy as his hand came to rest on the hilt of the Heavenly Drive sitting on the table.
"Because I'm planning to walk right into that nest of angels myself."
