Raon sensed the colossal surges of authority emanating from the far reaches of the North Sea and let out a heavy breath.
'Two powers that have moved beyond the realm of the absolute.'
He had finally arrived—The Heavenly Demon. Glenn had been ascending North Grave Mountain every single day, claiming he would summon the Heavenly Demon by radiating the presence of an absolute. On his own, Glenn released waves of pressure capable of shattering the firmament, but today, a combative spirit of equal magnitude rose from the edge of the North Sea to meet him. It was the manifestation of the Heavenly Demon, the sovereign of Eden and the rival who vied with Glenn for the peak of the Continent.
'The difference is staggering.'
Raon felt the overlapping ripples of the two masters who had ascended to the heavens and pressed his mouth into a thin line.
'It feels as if it’s carving into my very marrow.'
His entire frame shivered from the absolute pressure vibrating from the distance. He had been stunned when he witnessed the maximum output of Derus Robert, yet Glenn and the Heavenly Demon existed on a tier even higher than that.
'Grandfather’s assessment was accurate.'
Only his grandfather possessed the capacity to confront the Heavenly Demon at this moment. Truthfully, Raon had harbored the thought that with a bit more discipline, he might touch that horizon himself, but he realized now that he had vastly underestimated the gap.
"Ha..."
A dry, self-deprecating laugh escaped him as he felt the crushing disparity in Martial Prowess—a distance that could not be bridged in a mere year or two.
-Ha...
Wrath also let out a hollow chuckle while observing Raon, ignoring the clash of energies between Glenn and the Heavenly Demon.
-This king finds your nature far more intriguing than those two!
The small being furrowed his brow, looking genuinely perplexed.
'What do you mean?'
Raon turned his gaze toward Wrath and blinked.
-That Nadine bread fanatic and the earthworm in the helmet are beings who stand at the summit even among those who have achieved Transcendence. In any normal circumstance...
Wrath narrowed his eyes until they were thin slits while studying him.
-Someone of your level shouldn't even be capable of perceiving them!
The creature wrinkled his nose, insisting he couldn't fathom how Raon had detected the aura of Glenn and the Heavenly Demon.
'When I think about it, he's right.'
Raon clicked his tongue softly.
'I should be nowhere near the level required to sense those two.'
He hadn't even reached the heights of Derus Robert yet. It was illogical that he could track the movements of Glenn and the Heavenly Demon, who occupied a vastly superior plane.
'Grandfather mentioned something similar.'
Before he went to summon the Heavenly Demon, Glenn had told Raon that regardless of his growth, he wouldn't be able to find him, even challenging him to try. Yet, despite Glenn's prediction, Raon had recognized that energy the moment the waves were unleashed.
In contrast, the other masters of Transcendence within Zieghart were completely oblivious to the fact that Glenn was even releasing his power.
It was a peculiar phenomenon, given that the gap in their actual stages of cultivation wasn't that massive.
'Is this the influence of the Ring of Fire?'
It appeared that the signals from Glenn and the Heavenly Demon were being picked up thanks to the Ring of Fire, which had ascended to the Tenth Star and expanded to ten distinct rings. Truly, there was no other explanation.
-Those circles are an utterly cursed martial art!
Wrath glared at Raon’s chest with glowing blue eyes, watching where the rings spun.
-Refining the soul, elevating the martial foundation, and even sharpening the senses—why does such a technique even exist in this world!
The being gnashed his teeth, complaining that the Ring of Fire seemed to lack a single flaw.
'It isn't without its downsides.'
Raon shook his head, feeling the ten rings in their eternal rotation.
-And what would those be!
'The difficulty of progression.'
Forming the initial ring was a trial, but as the count increased, the labor required for the next became exponential. Even now, he broke into a cold sweat remembering the agony of forging the tenth ring.
-Hmm, I suppose that’s fair...
Having watched every moment of Raon's grueling sessions, Wrath conceded that the Ring of Fire was not for the faint of heart.
-If it were this king, I would have shattered every one of them out of sheer irritation!
The being clicked his tongue, admitting his own lack of endurance would have prevented him from even starting.
'I need to push the Ring of Fire even further.'
Raon rested his palm over his heart and closed his eyes.
'Because I haven't reached the summit yet.'
Though the Ring of Fire had attained the Tenth Star, it didn't feel like it had reached its final form. Just like other disciplines, it seemed twelve rings were required for true perfection.
-Ha...
Wrath let out a deep, weary sigh.
-It’s already this absurd; I’m terrified to see the transformation once there are twelve of them...
The creature shook his head, muttering about wanting to retreat to the Devildom before that day arrived.
'Don't lose sleep over it.'
Raon gave a small laugh and dismissed the concern with a wave.
'I might not even reach it in this lifetime.'
While he felt certain he could bring the Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation, Glacier, and his various sword styles to their absolute peak, the Ring of Fire was different. He couldn't be sure about the Twelfth Star. In fact, it was likely that even the First Patriarch of Zieghart, the creator of the technique, had never reached that final stage.
'From this point on, I'll focus on martial arts, aura, and the fortification of the mind... Huh?'
Raon was counting off his future training goals on his fingers when he paused.
'What's happening?'
Glenn’s energy signatures began to fade, while the Heavenly Demon’s power surged aggressively. The two powerhouses hadn't actually clashed in a physical fight. Yet, it appeared as though Glenn’s presence was being overwhelmed by the Heavenly Demon, as if a hierarchy had been established.
'There's no way my grandfather is being defeated.'
If Glenn were truly trying, he wouldn't fall behind anyone alive. The fact that his aura was receding suggested a different motivation.
‘Even if he doesn't need it.’
He wanted to show his support. Raon stepped forward and unsheathed Heavenly Drive. He infused the silver-white blade with the essence of the sky he had glimpsed through Glenn and thrust it toward the dark horizon.
The strike Raon executed with his full strength pierced the freezing night, soaring toward the clouds. The technique of the Azure Sky Sword, blending immense scale with lethal precision, turned into a golden ray that bathed all of Zieghart in light.
Glenn answered this gesture by briefly exploding with a surge of energy that seemed to drown out the Heavenly Demon. His presence was so overwhelming that other Zieghart warriors finally felt the shockwave and turned their heads toward the north.
Shortly after, the Heavenly Demon’s aura vanished entirely, and Glenn retracted his own power. It seemed the parley between the two sovereigns had concluded.
'I wonder how it went.'
Raon returned Heavenly Drive to its scabbard, the blade still pulsing with heat, and clicked his tongue.
'It's likely the Heavenly Demon will agree to the proposal.'
The Heavenly Demon had never hidden his desire for a duel with Glenn. Since the opportunity he craved was being handed to him, he would probably accept without many obstacles.
'But still...'
What was the meaning of that brief suppression? Recalling the moment Glenn’s power dipped and the Heavenly Demon dominated the sky left a lingering knot of unease in his chest.
'I can't afford to be complacent.'
Raon bit his lip and tightened his grip.
'I have to get stronger.'
The Ring of Fire was at the Tenth Star, and he had grown significantly by defeating Derus Robert. These were impressive feats, but the current atmosphere suggested that resting on his laurels was not an option.
-You are a truly exhausting human...
Wrath shook his head in disbelief.
-You’ve already joined the ranks of the elite. Desiring growth doesn't mean you can just magically level up instantly!
The creature frowned, suggesting Raon should learn the concept of a day off.
'Actually, I can get stronger right now.'
-What a load of rubbish. There is no such path...
'It's quite simple.'
Raon smirked and lifted a finger.
'I just have to cash in on a certain someone.'
He pointed directly at Wrath and summoned the notification windows he had received earlier.
[A transcendent Achievement has been recorded.]
[You have extinguished the soul of an absolute whose name is etched in the Continent's history.]
[A flawless infiltration mission has been concluded.]
[<Wrath> has recognized you as the preeminent human.]
[All Basic Attributes increase by 150 points.]
As the 150-point boost took effect, a wave of intense muscular agony washed over his already superhuman physique. His fingers shook with the mixture of euphoria and pain that accompanied his body's rapid evolution.
-One... one hundred and fifty...
Wrath’s teeth rattled as he stared at the point total, seemingly unable to process the scale of the reward.
-This is beyond madness!
'We’re just getting started.'
Raon raised a trembling hand to bring up the subsequent alerts.
[The rank of the trait <Spiral Power> has ascended.]
[The rank of the trait <Formation Analysis> has ascended.]
[The rank of the trait <Snow Flower's Veil> has ascended.]
[The rank of the trait <Divinity Born from Darkness> has ascended.]
[The rank of the trait <Wrath Release> has ascended.]
[The rank of the trait <Flame Overcoming Death> has ascended by two levels.]
[The rank of the trait <Blade of Death> has ascended by two levels.]
[The rank of the trait <Divine Power Resistance> has ascended.]
[The rank of the trait <Blood Path> has ascended.]
[The rank of the trait <Spirit Concealment> has ascended.]
[The rank of the trait <Heaven Kill> has ascended.]
[The rank of the trait <Authority Enhancement> has ascended.]
[The rank of the trait <Authority Utilization> has ascended.]
[The rank of the trait <Crisis Detection> has ascended.]
Fourteen traits had improved simultaneously, with <Blade of Death> and <Flame Overcoming Death>—both tied to his history with Derus Robert—jumping two ranks at once. Much like the attribute points, the trait advancement was staggering.
-Gaaaah...
Wrath watched the notifications scroll by and began to foam at the mouth like a cornered crab.
-Fou... fourteen is blatant cheating! Fourteen all at once!
The being’s face turned a deep crimson as he ranted that even for a legendary feat, 150 points and fourteen trait upgrades were an absurd overpayment.
'Just hold it together.'
Raon shook his head while looking at Wrath, who had essentially turned into a puddle of strawberry-colored fluff.
'There’s only one more thing left.'
He smiled and opened the final message.
[A new title, <Avenger>, has been forged.]
[<Avenger>: Countless souls swear oaths of retribution, but only a fraction fulfill them. This title is bestowed upon those who have finally seen their vengeance through. Effect: ???]
'What’s this?'
Raon's brow furrowed as he studied the <Avenger> title.
'It has a function, but it's hidden?'
The title confirmed that his crusade against Derus Robert was officially settled. However, the nature of the reward remained a mystery.
-Uuugh...
Wrath, whose mind seemed to have snapped from the trait list, was simply shivering with pale lips.
'With my stats and traits jumping this much, I'll need a while to adjust.'
Raon opened and closed his hand, testing his grip. Because of the massive influx of 150 points and fourteen upgrades, he suspected even a few days of nonstop sword practice might not be enough to master his new physical limits.
'I was planning to drill the Light Wind Palace members after our time apart, but that'll have to wait.'
He had given the Light Wind Palace warriors a week of leave and intended to resume their training personally, but his own recalibration had to come first.
-Groan...
Wrath finally seemed to regain some semblance of consciousness, clutching his head and moaning.
-I'm terrified to look at this king's original form now. I'm certain there's nothing left but skin and bone!
The creature sniffled, genuinely dreading the day he might reclaim his true body.
'Don't be so dramatic.'
Raon laughed and waved it off.
'Things usually have a way of working out.'
He fully intended to compensate Wrath for everything he’d taken once his goals were met, but the being’s reactions were too entertaining to stop teasing him just yet.
-You heartless monster! You’re only ever on the receiving end, so you have no idea what this feels like!
Wrath shrieked and threw a futile punch into the air.
'You're right, I don't.'
Raon gave a faint grin and held Heavenly Drive in a central stance. Just as he was preparing to lift the blade for a basic overhead strike—Whoosh! Glenn appeared right in front of him with a sharp gust of wind. Raon hadn't sensed a thing; it was as if the man had simply stepped through a tear in reality. This was the true power of the Destructive King of the North.
"G-grandfather?"
Raon swallowed hard, noticing that Glenn’s red eyes looked even more piercing than usual.
"I am planning to enter a period of isolated meditation."
Glenn looked at Raon and ran a hand over his sharp, blade-like chin.
"Would you be willing to assist me?"
