Chapter 1266
A wet thud echoed.
Raon's boots pressed into the gore of the fallen helmeted ghosts as he scanned the horizon.
'Is this the rear peak of Eden?'
The point where he and the Light Wind Palace had emerged was a mountain ridge that provided a panoramic view of the entirety of Eden. The elevation wasn't extreme, but because the stronghold of Eden was situated in a basin, monitoring the terrain was relatively simple.
'Actually, calling it a back door is more fitting.'
Given that he could observe the whole of Eden's territory and noting the distinct lack of sentries in this sector, the Dimensional Gate summoned by the Sphinx had functioned exactly as he suspected—a secret passage leading directly to the enemy's rear.
'It's more populated than I anticipated...'
Raon’s gaze sharpened as he focused on the alabaster structures of Eden.
'There is an abundance of entities possessing potent Aura.'
Whether it was due to some inherent property of the base or the caliber of its residents, high-level signatures were scattered throughout. A select few situated in the upper reaches of the buildings felt like monsters that had stepped into the realm of Transcendence.
-It is true!
Wrath licked his lips with a dark fascination.
-High-level combatants are everywhere! It is exactly what one would expect from a collection of the most deranged lunatics!
He rubbed his hands together, noting that for a group of madmen, they certainly didn't lack for martial power.
'One of them feels particularly overwhelming, doesn't he?'
A suffocating Fighting Spirit emanated from the summit of the tallest spire in the heart of Eden. That individual had clearly already detected the arrival of Raon and the Light Wind Palace, casting a freezing, predatory gaze in their direction.
-Hooo!
Wrath also picked up on that specific presence and let out a sharp whistle of surprise.
-As you suspected, that is no common soldier. It wouldn't be hyperbolic to claim he stands on the same tier as you.
He squinted, admitting he hadn't realized such a powerhouse resided here.
'I assumed the Heavenly Demon was the only true threat remaining.'
With the death of The Fallen, Raon had calculated that the Heavenly Demon was his only significant obstacle in Eden. However, if beings of this caliber were present, his tactical approach to this war would require a total overhaul.
'Coming here personally was the right call.'
His objective was to gather intelligence on Eden while extracting a debt of blood for the massacre at Birdnew Village, and he was satisfied to have uncovered such vital information the moment he set foot on the soil.
"Hmm..."
The Bear Fire Demon's brow furrowed as he stared at the ghosts of Eden who had been slaughtered without even the chance to cry out. His mouth twitched, clearly imagining his own corpse added to the pile.
"It wasn't an exaggeration."
Raon kept his eyes on the trembling Bear Fire Demon.
"There really is a monster down there."
The Bear Fire Demon had warned that entities rivaling Raon’s own strength lived within Eden, and his claim was proving accurate. A being that could legitimately challenge him was currently waiting inside that central spire.
"D-didn't I tell you?"
The Bear Fire Demon forced his chattering teeth to stay still as he struggled to speak.
"This place is a living hell! You cannot survive as a human being here unless you possess absolute power!"
He ground his teeth, mentioning that without the intervention of Syria Sullion, he never would have escaped this nightmare.
"......"
Runaan’s expression remained a mask of stone even at the mention of Syria Sullion, suggesting she had finally processed and moved past those memories.
"Intruders have never breached this place before! They will never permit any of you to depart with your lives! And yet..."
The Bear Fire Demon bit his lip until it nearly bled as he looked at Raon.
"If it's you, the outcome might be different."
His eyes wavered, showing that he was finally forced to respect Raon’s capabilities.
"You'll see for yourself soon enough. Whether we settle the blood debt and walk out, or stay here as corpses."
Raon offered a thin, cold smile and shook his head.
"What is our opening move?"
Burren stepped up behind Raon and inclined his head.
"The ghosts of Eden are definitely aware of us now."
His brow dipped slightly as he felt the surge of Fighting Spirit rising from the lowlands. It appeared the master of the high tower had issued the order to mobilize.
"Hmm..."
Raon looked toward the base of the peak and tilted his head. Now, it wasn't just the Transcendent ghosts; every living thing in Eden had caught the scent of the Light Wind Palace and was beginning the ascent.
"We could simply slaughter them as they reach the top, but..."
Raon shook his head, his hand coming to rest on the hilt of Heavenly Drive.
"There's no point in playing by their rules."
Their primary mission wasn't to fight a war of attrition with every foot soldier in Eden; it was to find the Heavenly Demon. Only a confrontation with him would bring this to a close.
"Where is the Heavenly Demon?"
Raon drew a shallow breath and expanded his Aura Perception. In a heartbeat, his ten Ring of Fire began to hum, and his senses swept across the entirety of Eden.
'...He isn't here.'
Though his sensory abilities had evolved to a point that rivaled even Wrath’s, the signature of the Heavenly Demon was nowhere to be found. It was as if he didn't exist within these borders.
"Are you searching for the Heavenly Demon?"
Just as Raon was deepening his focus to search further, a frigid voice drifted from a nearby tree.
"Who goes there!"
"No presence at all!"
Burren and Martha spun around instantly, leveling their blades at the tree where the voice originated.
"Black..."
"A snake helmet?"
The duo scowled as they identified the figure leaning casually against the trunk, wearing a black snake-themed helmet.
"......"
Runaan instinctively began to circulate blue Frost, forming a protective perimeter around Burren, Martha, and the rest of the Light Wind Palace.
"I'm not looking for a skirmish at this moment, so you can lower your guard."
The man in the black snake helmet gave a relaxed wave of his hand.
"I merely came to observe. The fools who decided to walk into hell of their own volition."
A smirk played on his lips beneath the visor, clearly finding the arrival of the intruders entertaining.
"Black this time, is it?"
Raon looked at the man and exhaled a weary sigh.
"First the Golden Mask Swordsman, then the Red Demon, the Blue Serpent, and the Green Serpent. What are you supposed to be? The Black Iron Swordsman?"
A warrior who seemed to reincarnate every time he was slain, merely swapping the tint and design of his mask.
That man’s essence was so familiar to Raon that he could recognize it instantly. The reason he hadn't been shocked when Syria Sullion returned from a decapitation was because of the recurring ghost currently standing before him.
"Close, but incorrect."
The black snake helmeted figure shook his hand dismissively.
"This incarnation is the Silent Serpent Swordsman. I believe you'll find me quite a departure from my predecessors."
He introduced himself with a chilling intensity in his gaze. As he claimed, there was a sense of unburdened lethality about him that the others had lacked.
"Ah, aah..."
The Bear Fire Demon’s mouth hung open as he stared at the Silent Serpent Swordsman. He was shaking violently, appearing far more rattled than when Runaan had finished Syria Sullion.
"What is it? Is this ghost an acquaintance of yours?"
Raon rubbed his chin while watching the Bear Fire Demon’s reaction.
"Ugh..."
The Bear Fire Demon couldn't find his voice, simply biting his lip in silence. Raon initially thought it was fear of death, but the longing in the man's eyes suggested a far more complicated history.
"So, you're the turncoat. You did quite a job opening the path."
In contrast, the Silent Serpent Swordsman merely chuckled, showing no personal investment in the Bear Fire Demon’s betrayal. Raon noted he would need to interrogate the Bear Fire Demon later about why this specific ghost caused such a stir.
"I don't care if you're the Silent Serpent or the Black Serpent."
Raon made a dismissive gesture toward the ghost.
"Just tell me where I can find the Heavenly Demon."
He made it clear he had no time for pleasantries, his chin tilted in a gesture of pure arrogance.
"You really are as crazed as the reports said."
The Silent Serpent Swordsman let out a sharp, incredulous laugh.
"To step into this cursed Paradise where the Heavenly Demon is worshipped as a deity and demand his presence... it's delightfully absurd."
He continued to chuckle, seemingly fascinated by Raon’s audacity.
"You don't sound like the typical fanatic who serves him."
Raon’s eyes narrowed to slits as he studied the man.
"Well, you're perceptive."
The Silent Serpent Swordsman’s mouth twisted into a grin.
"Defending the Heavenly Demon or this 'Paradise' isn't part of my job description."
He shrugged, indicating that the fate of the base was of no concern to him.
"I'm willing to answer your inquiry, provided you meet one condition."
The Silent Serpent Swordsman leaned forward, closing the distance slightly.
"What was the riddle posed by the Sphinx who guards this entrance?"
He licked his lips, seemingly more interested in the Sphinx’s trial than the looming battle.
"What exactly are you?"
Raon questioned, keeping his hand near his blade. The previous snake-helmeted ghosts were rigid and predictable in their hatred, but this Silent Serpent Swordsman was fluid and unpredictable, lacking any obvious mental constraints.
"I'm just curious. I want to know how you managed to bypass the Sphinx."
The ghost rubbed his hands together, eager for the details of that encounter.
"Well, to provide your answer first..."
The Silent Serpent Swordsman crossed his arms over his chest, his smile never wavering.
"The truth is that the Heavenly Demon isn't currently on the premises."
He gave a small nod, confirming the leader's absence from Eden.
"What are you talking about? The reports said he entered Seclusion for a final duel with the Head of my House."
Raon glared at him, his brow furrowed in suspicion.
"There's no rule stating Seclusion must happen within these walls. A man of your skill should have realized it by now, shouldn't you? The Heavenly Demon’s signature isn't here."
The Silent Serpent Swordsman snapped his fingers as if pointing out the obvious.
-What he says is likely the truth.
Wrath offered a curt nod of agreement.
-I do not feel that bastard’s essence within these borders.
He clicked his tongue, noting that since the Heavenly Demon carried the stench of a true rival, he would have smelled him if he were near.
"Hmm..."
Raon bit his lip as he looked over the landscape of Eden stretching out behind the ghost.
'It's true. I don't feel him.'
While the Heavenly Demon could have been in a deep underground chamber like Glenn’s training grounds, everything Raon knew about the man suggested he wouldn't hide. He was somewhere else, just as the Silent Serpent Swordsman claimed.
"Then where is he?"
Raon’s eyes locked onto the ghost's mask.
"Before we get to that..."
The Silent Serpent Swordsman pointed a finger toward the slopes of the mountain. The ghosts of Eden were swarming upward, their eyes glowing with a predatory light.
"Shouldn't you focus on the guests arriving for the party?"
He smirked, suggesting that surviving the immediate onslaught was the priority.
Kuuuuuuuung!
The warriors of the Light Wind Palace drew their steel in unison, shifting into the Light Wind Sword Formation to face the climbing horde, acting even before the order was given.
"That isn't your concern."
Raon’s eyes glowed crimson. He didn't even turn around, placing absolute faith in his squad.
"Just tell me the location of the Heavenly Demon."
"Hmm, so you're that confident..."
The Silent Serpent Swordsman’s fingers twitched against the bark of the tree, seemingly taken aback by Raon’s sheer presence. However, he began to radiate a fierce Fighting Spirit of his own, refusing to be cowed.
"Hueuk!"
The Bear Fire Demon surprisingly kept his feet despite being caught in the middle of the clashing Auras. He clutched his head, staring at the Silent Serpent Swordsman with a look of pure desperation.
"Regrettably, I don't actually know his specific destination."
The Silent Serpent Swordsman retracted his pressure and held up his hands, claiming ignorance of the Heavenly Demon's coordinates.
"You're stalling."
Raon took a heavy step forward, his hand tightening on the grip of Heavenly Drive.
"I don't know, but there is someone here who does."
The Silent Serpent Swordsman gestured toward the massive white spire in the center.
"The Heavenly Demon’s disciple."
He let the words hang in the air, a wide grin spreading under his helmet.
"That person knows where he went. In fact, if you manage to kill the disciple, the Heavenly Demon might just decide to show his face immediately."
"The Heavenly Demon’s disciple..."
Raon shifted his focus to the towering structure the ghost was pointing at.
'Given that massive presence, being the disciple of the Heavenly Demon makes sense.'
The Aura radiating from that tower was potent enough to rival his own. He had been wondering about the identity of that powerhouse; if it was the heir to the Heavenly Demon's techniques, the strength was justified.
"However..."
The Silent Serpent Swordsman looked up at the spire and chuckled darkly.
"As you've likely sensed, that one is monstrously powerful. Far stronger than the Heavenly Demon or the Destructive King of the North were at the same age..."
"That makes it simple."
Raon shook his head dismissively and pointed at the ghost.
"Actually, this works out better. If the disciple falls, then that bastard..."
He gripped the hilt of Heavenly Drive, his eyes flashing with a lethal, razor-sharp intent.
"Will finally understand the heavy price of spilling human blood."
