Chapter 1227
"...And that is the full account of what transpired."
In his private quarters within the annex, Raon finished recounting the recent events to the group that had gathered to check on him.
"He struck down an Archangel with a single blow! That is my boy! See? That’s my son! Not only does he have the looks, but his blade is the most formidable on the entire continent! Father! Leaving the Holy Sword Alliance was the best decision I ever made, wasn't it? If I hadn't, we wouldn't have a grandson this magnificent!"
Edgar bellowed with pride, hovering near Rector and talking incessantly about Raon’s prowess.
"I am well aware, so be quiet!"
Rector reached out, grabbed the head of his chattering son, and shoved him aside.
"Besides, he is my grandson! I recognized his greatness before you even knew he existed!"
He let out a sharp snort, claiming seniority in his appreciation of Raon—a factual statement, though a bit of a low blow given their history.
"You actually sundered the soul of Derus Robert using a Soul Sword?"
Balder pressed his massive, heavy hands against his temples, his expression one of pure shock.
"To cut down that repulsive wretch with a Soul Sword... truly spectacular!"
Exclaiming that joining the mission had been entirely worth it, he slammed a hand onto Raon’s back with such enthusiasm it brought a wince of pain.
"So, about that Martial Arts Manual of mine...?"
Balder smoothly pivoted the conversation back to his true obsession, hoping for a reward.
—Hey! At this point, just scribble something down for him!
Wrath grimaced, looking at Balder with genuine pity.
"To be honest, the plan had plenty of flaws. We should count ourselves fortunate it worked out. Or perhaps we simply owe it to our Palace Master’s ability to improvise," Burren remarked, letting out a long breath of relief that the ordeal was over.
"What a waste! I should have gotten a chance to put my fist through Derus’s arrogant face myself!" Martha clicked her tongue, frustrated that she hadn't been there to witness the villain's end in person.
"W-we would have been killed! Please, try to be realistic!" Dorian clutched his chest, shivering at the thought of a direct confrontation with such a monster.
"There you go again with the cowardice! We played our part this time! Derus wasn't invincible!" Krein threw an arm around Dorian, trying to bolster his friend's spirits with a loud shout.
"I really wanted a piece of the action too!" Sia slammed her fists together, her eyes bright with the regret of missing the battlefield.
"Haaah..."
Evelyn simply leaned back, her face flushed, appearing completely content just seeing Raon awake and breathing.
"Raon..."
Runaan offered a faint, subtle smile—the kind only those closest to her could interpret as genuine joy.
"Try to move a little. Are you in pain anywhere?"
Sylvia ignored the talk of Archangels and fallen villains, her hands clasped in worry. Her only concern was her son's physical state.
"Hmm..."
Following her lead, Raon began to test his limbs. While he wasn't at full strength and felt stabs of soreness throughout his frame, there didn't seem to be any permanent damage.
"I’m alright. These injuries are superficial; they’ll mend quickly."
He rotated his shoulders firmly to prove his point.
"Thank goodness..."
Sylvia finally exhaled the tension she’d been holding and sank into a nearby seat.
"It’s incredible that you’re functional after a clash like that."
"Is his body actually forged from enchanted steel?"
Burren and Martha exchanged looks of disbelief. Raon’s ability to bounce back from the brink of death never ceased to amaze them.
"He’s always been this way," Dorian noted, shaking his head. "Even back at Habun Castle, he’d be back on the front lines the day after a near-fatal wound."
"Actually, it seems our Palace Master is more gifted in durability than technique. He’s like a King of Steel," Krein added, giving a thumbs-up to Raon’s legendary constitution.
"That’s a genetic trait! I’ve always had a rugged hide! Why, once I was buried under a mountain of rocks..."
Edgar seized the opening to brag, stepping forward with a grin.
"Even before I mastered aura, I barely bled from scratches. My son’s resilience is clearly a gift from me—"
"Let the children have some peace!"
Sylvia’s patience snapped. With a vein throbbing in her forehead, she delivered a swift kick.
"Guhk!"
Edgar hit the floor hard, silenced by his wife's foot.
"Hoho, enjoy yourselves and take your time."
Shifting instantly back to a gentle smile that stood in stark contrast to her violence, Sylvia grabbed the unconscious Edgar by the collar and dragged him out of the room.
"Sigh, they never change," Sia muttered, hands on her hips, used to the domestic chaos.
"Why? It’s nice," Raon replied with a soft chuckle. Seeing his parents bicker felt like a comforting return to normalcy.
This is the one place I can truly relax.
The annex was his sanctuary. After a month of high-stakes infiltration and constant danger, returning to this familiar warmth brought an involuntary smile to his face.
—I missed this place too!
Wrath nodded fervently, sharing the sentiment.
'You did...?'
—The home cooking! It’s not about the luxury; I just craved the taste of a real meal!
While Raon focused on the emotional comfort, the demon king was clearly preoccupied with his stomach, virtually drooling at the thought of the annex's kitchen.
—Heavenly food was fine, but it lacked heart! Nothing beats the food here!
Wrath smacked his lips, adamant that he would never tire of the local fare.
—You’re clearly well enough to stand, so get up! Let’s go find something to eat!
He scowled, complaining that he had suffered through enough hunger while Raon was out cold.
'The Devildom is in trouble if this is its royalty,' Raon thought, laughing internally.
It was hard to reconcile this food-obsessed entity with the warrior who had stood firmly behind him during the fight with Derus Robert. He was truly a peculiar king.
"Raon."
Rector’s voice dropped to a serious, low tone.
"Because of your actions, Derus Robert and his organization have crumbled. The momentum of this war has shifted decisively toward the Five Kings."
He laid out the current geopolitical landscape, bowing his head slightly in respect.
Derus Robert.
Raon’s eyes narrowed as he pictured the villain's final, shocked expression.
Is he truly gone?
Logic dictated he was dead, but Derus was a man of a thousand shadows. A lingering sense of unease remained. Still, Raon didn't want to ruin the atmosphere, so he simply gave a calm nod.
"What is your next move?"
Rector’s gaze was steady. He looked ready to follow any command Raon gave, whether it was to sue for peace or hunt down the remnants of Eden.
"What I want to do..."
Raon reached for the Heavenly Drive resting on the table, his fingers curling around the hilt.
"That has already been decided."
Whooooosh!
Having sent his visitors away, Raon stood by the lake behind the annex, moving through his forms. Though only a short time had passed, the weight of the sword in his hand felt fresh and exhilarating.
—You absolute lunatic!
Wrath ground his teeth, slapping his own shoulder in frustration.
—A patient should be demanding a banquet! Why are you out here swinging a piece of metal?!
His blue face turned a shade of purple, unable to grasp Raon’s priorities.
'I need to verify something.'
Raon’s lips curved into a smile. The Heavenly Drive felt like a natural extension of his own body, responding to his every thought.
'I need to see how far I’ve come.'
With the Ring of Fire reaching the Tenth Star, his growth had accelerated beyond his own comprehension. Between Glenn’s Soul Sword and the enlightenment gained from striking down Derus, he needed to gauge his new limits.
—You really are a sword-obsessed freak...
Wrath sighed, finally relenting.
—Fine. If you must check your power, start with the gifts you received from my true self.
'No. I want to feel my own progress first.'
Raon shook his head.
'I can only properly integrate external power once I understand the foundation of my own.'
So much had changed—his physical density, his mental clarity, and the very nature of his aura. He needed to touch those boundaries himself.
'We’ll eat as soon as I’m finished, just give me a moment.'
—Tsk, do whatever you want!
Wrath turned away, grumbling, yet he couldn't help but feel a flicker of pride. Despite the constant bickering, he respected Raon’s unwavering dedication to the path of the sword.
Raon deepened his focus, the air around him shimmering as he executed his techniques.
With the Tenth Star active, every movement was refined. His swordsmanship wasn't just faster or stronger; the core essence of each style had evolved.
The Soul Sword has changed as well.
As his spiritual realm expanded, his Soul Sword had grown from a short blade into something approaching the length of a longsword.
But it’s the edge that matters.
Where the previous iteration had felt somewhat blunt, this new manifestation possessed a terrifying, razor-sharp clarity—capable of severing a soul with the slightest contact.
At this level...
He cataloged the titans of the continent: The Heavenly Demon of Eden, the former leader Darkan, and the North’s Destructive King, Glenn Zieghart. Outside of those three, he felt confident he could face anyone.
Anyone...
His thoughts drifted back to his fallen enemy.
Derus Robert.
The vengeance was complete, yet the expected catharsis was strangely absent. The moment of the strike had been thrilling, but now, there was a hollow stillness.
Perhaps it’s maturity... or maybe that's just the nature of revenge. Or...
The nagging doubt returned. Derus’s soul had been immense. Could such a man truly be snuffed out by a single explosion and a spiritual strike?
And then there is the other one.
The being with reversed pupils—the one who had haunted the First Patriarch of Zieghart even after the Demonic Dragon’s fall. 'Anima.'
It hasn't surfaced yet, but it’s out there.
The visions from the First Patriarch weren't random. They were warnings.
'I can't afford to be complacent.'
Even if Derus was gone, Eden remained a threat, and the Archangels were surely regrouping in the shadows. He had to keep climbing to ensure the safety of those he loved.
He raised the Heavenly Drive once more, intent on perfecting his form, when a voice interrupted the silence.
"Practicing the moment you open your eyes?"
Glenn descended onto the surface of the lake. As his feet touched the water, the ripples vanished, the surface turning as still as polished glass.
"Ah, well..."
"It is the proper way for a swordsman. You have learned well."
Raon began to offer an excuse, but Glenn surprised him with a faint, approving smile.
"You have undergone a massive transformation during this conflict. It is only natural to want to test your mettle."
Glenn nodded, reading Raon’s intent perfectly.
—Natural, my foot! You two are just cut from the same obsessive cloth!
Wrath shouted, though no one heard him.
"That’s true. I realized so much thanks to you, Grandfather. I wanted to see it for myself."
Raon matched Glenn’s smile.
"And the verdict?"
"Finally..."
Raon brought the hilt of the Heavenly Drive to his chest, holding it steady.
"I have found true confidence in my own blade."
It was a bold statement to make in front of the world's strongest warrior, but it carried the weight of absolute truth.
"I see."
Glenn took in the sight of him, acknowledging the shift in Raon’s aura.
"You have earned that confidence. I can no longer deny your standing."
He smiled, a rare look of pride crossing his features.
"Thank you. I’m ready to give my all in the fight against Eden—"
"No. You won't be taking the lead on that."
Glenn waved a hand dismissively and looked up at the stars.
"I have decided to settle the score with the Heavenly Demon personally. A duel to the death."
His eyes burned with a fierce, crimson light that seemed to pierce the darkness.
"On that day, I will show you a sword wielded not by a grandfather, but by the Head of House Zieghart."
