Chapter 1240
"Phew..."
Raon released a long, measured breath while standing across from Glenn. He purged the stagnant air from his lungs, centering his thoughts and inhaling deeply.
A crushing aura of intimidation rolled off Glenn, who gripped Heavenly Tremor in his hand.
Raon's shoulders felt heavy, weighed down by a force far more intense than the natural gravity of this training hall, and his feet seemed to sink into the floorboards.
Even though the clash had yet to begin, it felt as though Glenn’s blade was already resting against his jugular.
'Is this truly the real Glenn Zieghart?'
Since entering the training grounds of the First Patriarch of Zieghart, Glenn had swung his sword relentlessly, appearing as if he had been reborn into a different man.
Stripped of the heavy mantle of the head of the house and returning to his roots as a pure martial artist, his blade now radiated a bone-chilling sensation—as if it could pierce a heart simply by being drawn—while possessing a sense of absolute freedom that could reach any corner of the world.
'The man standing before me is undoubtedly the strongest on the continent.'
Glenn projected the presence of an apex predator, seemingly indifferent to the oppressive atmosphere of the First Patriarch of Zieghart's training grounds. If this individual was not the world's most powerful warrior, then the title held no meaning.
Raon bit down on his lip, his knuckles whitening as he tightened his hold on Heavenly Drive.
'I won't even be able to stand my ground unless I fight with a lethal desperation.'
He had spent his time here training late into the night, sacrificing sleep, yet he hadn't undergone a transformation as radical as Glenn’s.
If anything, the distance between them seemed to have grown. If he didn't commit every fiber of his being to this, the outcome would be decided in a single heartbeat.
'If it's the grandfather I see now...'
He could likely topple even the Heavenly Demon.
A month ago, it was whispered that Glenn had been stifled by the Heavenly Demon's aura, but the current version of the man would never suffer such a fate. In fact, the very notion of this man facing defeat felt impossible.
—Indeed...
Wrath narrowed his gaze as he studied Glenn.
—He has transitioned. No, it would be more accurate to say he is an entirely different entity.
The demon king nodded, confirming his own assessment.
—I sense a level of conviction and martial mastery that the simple word 'strong' fails to capture.
Wrath let out a sharp breath, admitted he hadn't realized Glenn could project such a sinister and overwhelming pressure.
'Having his pride wounded by the Heavenly Demon's spirit must have been the catalyst.'
A small smile played on Raon's lips.
'He certainly wouldn't be bested now.'
Because of the threat of the Heavenly Demon, his pulse quickened at the chance to witness even a fraction of the true peak of the man known as Glenn.
—This king views the matter differently.
Wrath gave a slight, dismissive jerk of his chin.
'What?'
Raon shifted only his eyes, lowering his brows in confusion.
—That old man’s sudden sharpening isn't due to that Heavenly Demon fellow.
Wrath snorted, implying a hidden motive.
—You'll understand once you conclude today's bout with that old fossil.
The demon told him to test his steel against Glenn first, then retreated into the back of his mind.
'What does that... wait?'
Raon’s brow furrowed as he looked forward again, a shudder running through his frame.
Glenn remained in his initial stance, his gaze unwavering. He was now focusing his entire consciousness on Raon, completely ignoring the looming threat of the Heavenly Demon.
'This is no time for my mind to wander.'
Raon bit his inner cheek with enough force to draw a metallic tang of blood.
'Even giving my entire soul to grandfather might fall short.'
Knowing that total concentration on every single movement was the bare minimum required, he had allowed himself to be sidetracked by Wrath.
He activated the Ring of Fire to rectify his lapse.
The ten rings spun with violent intensity, steadying his racing heart and clearing his clouded mind. The world faded into a monochrome landscape of black and white, where only Glenn, standing before him, remained in vivid, striking color.
He could hear Glenn’s rhythmic breathing and feel the thrum of his heart. A sword. A singular, razor-sharp blade had taken human form.
'This is it...'
A duel of one strike.
Glenn had no intention of a prolonged engagement today. Through a single swing, he projected the intent to sever not just Raon's flesh and spirit, but his very resolve to even hold a weapon.
'I have to meet it head-on.'
Raon gave a solemn nod, set aside the Wooden Ring Sword, and gripped Heavenly Drive with both hands.
'Using the most powerful strike I can muster.'
Glenn wielded a soul sword far more vast and keen than his own; a battle of spirits would fail. A direct collision of body and steel was the only path.
"Your focus has returned."
Glenn noted the shift in Raon’s aura with a calm nod, lifting Heavenly Tremor a fraction higher. It was an invitation to bring everything he had.
"I'm coming."
Raon held his breath and launched himself off the floor. Supreme Harmony Steps. He surged toward Glenn using footwork that carried a blade so swift it seemed to tear through the fabric of space.
A brilliant golden flash erupted from the silver edge of Heavenly Drive. Like a sunburst shattering the dark, the pinnacle of the techniques Raon had refined began to bloom.
Sword Domain, Heaven's Rift.
Heaven's Rift was an evolving Sword Domain. The path of the blade that Raon Zieghart had carved out over his years splintered into rays of light, saturating the First Patriarch of Zieghart's training grounds.
—Oh! Is this that technique?
Even Wrath expressed shock at the evolution of Heaven's Rift, his eyes widening.
Just as the expansive, high-ceilinged hall was being swallowed by the golden radiance intended to erase Glenn.
Crack!
A microscopic spark of lightning ignited within the golden tapestry of the sword.
Crackle!
The bolt, thinner than a strand of hair, fractured instantly like shadows swallowing the twilight, overrunning the golden glow Raon had conjured.
The beams of light Raon had spent a lifetime perfecting were snuffed out, replaced by a violent surge of electricity. In a heartbeat, the golden dawn vanished, and deep crimson lightning became the master of the world.
"Gah..."
Raon collapsed to his knees, his body recoiling from the destruction of his fully unleashed Sword Domain, Heaven's Rift. Having burned through his physical strength, aura, and mental reserves, the backlash was brutal, and crimson blood stained his lips.
The red lightning that had dominated the room dissipated, and Glenn stepped forward. He watched Raon with tranquil eyes, showing no signs of fatigue or injury.
"It has evolved into a truly magnificent blade."
Glenn flicked Heavenly Tremor to the side and gave a nod of approval.
"I am eager to see how it transforms once that Sword Domain reaches its peak."
A faint smile touched his lips, expressing genuine wonder at the progress of Heaven's Rift.
"I... I still have a long way to go."
Raon's voice shook from sheer exhaustion as he forced himself to stand.
"I couldn't even withstand a single blow from grandfather."
Feeling as though he had failed to be the help he promised, he lowered his head in a deep bow.
"Is that truly how you see it?"
Glenn looked at Raon and offered a soft, rare chuckle.
"Yes. That's why..."
Raon wiped the blood from his mouth and straightened his back. He reached down to retrieve the Wooden Ring Sword from the floor and resumed his fighting stance.
"I will find a way to assist you!"
Since the one-strike duel Glenn desired was over, he insisted on continuing and charged forward, wielding both Heavenly Drive and the Wooden Ring Sword.
"The assistance is already more than sufficient, but..."
Glenn laughed quietly as he watched Raon’s fierce approach.
"Have it your way."
"Ugh..."
Raon finally slumped to the floor of the training hall, unconscious after depleting every ounce of his vitality and focus.
Having spent himself entirely, he drifted into a deep sleep, his breathing shallow and steady.
"Phew."
Glenn wiped the perspiration from his brow and let out a heavy sigh.
"His physical frame surpassed mine quite some time ago, and now his endurance and willpower seem to be in a league above my own..."
He let out a dry, self-deprecating laugh while looking down at the collapsed Raon.
"How can he possess such drive?"
Raon would strike with everything he had every single day, pass out, and then rise the next morning as if he were brand new, ready to attack again.
Even if one searched the entire continent, they would find no one else with that level of stamina, regenerative power, and mental fortitude.
'And that terrifying rate of improvement.'
Through these daily life-and-death simulations, Raon’s understanding of movement, tactical thinking, and preparation for high-level combat had skyrocketed.
His technical growth was alarming, but his advancement in those practical areas was so profound that Glenn could no longer afford even a moment of carelessness.
'Today was particularly taxing.'
Glenn narrowed his eyes, glancing at Heavenly Drive, which Raon still gripped tightly even in his sleep.
'Because I didn't hold back.'
He had claimed to use his full power before, but in truth, he had been tempering his strikes. If he had used his true strength earlier, the disparity would have been too great for training to be meaningful.
But Raon's Sword Domain just now had left him no choice but to use everything.
In fact, if he had hesitated even slightly, he might have been the one forced back. Even considering this was the First Patriarch's training ground where absolute power was restricted, it was an incredible feat.
'It was that close.'
He was aware Raon possessed two Sword Domains, and that Heaven's Rift—the one used today—carried the weight of his entire being.
But he hadn't expected it to manifest such raw power and technical perfection. He felt a surge of pride for his grandson, mixed with pity for the hardship the boy must have endured to reach this point.
"You're sorry for not being able to help me?"
Glenn laughed softly at Raon, whose face was layered with grime and blood.
"No, because of you, I've managed to find my old self again. The swordsman Glenn Zieghart."
Because Raon fought every second as if his life depended on it, Glenn had been able to discard all distractions and pursue the path of the sword with absolute clarity.
'If it is now...'
He could definitely defeat the Heavenly Demon.
Since entering this training hall, he had returned to the spirit of his youth—when he first touched a hilt—thinking of the blade, visualizing the blade, and living for the blade with every breath.
His body was older and his mind had weathered much, but the sword in his heart... the weapon forged of his very soul, shone with more brilliance and lethality than it ever had before.
It was no longer a hope, but a certainty. The determination to not lose to the Heavenly Demon had evolved into the absolute conviction of victory, all thanks to the grandson currently using the cold stone floor as a mattress.
"My thanks to you."
Glenn gave a small, respectful bow to the sleeping boy.
—Somehow...
That image of solemn nobility remained etched in the demon king's mind, far longer than the image of Raon did.
—...I am envious.
"Phew..."
Karoon shifted the stack of processed files to his left and took a short breath.
"Hehehe!"
Roenn let out a soft chuckle as he collected the papers Karoon handed over.
"You seem to have mastered the art of paperwork now."
He nodded as he reviewed the signatures Karoon had placed on the documents.
"Your progress is swifter than anticipated. Your years leading the Central Martial Palace were clearly good preparation."
Sheryl gave a low whistle of admiration.
"It’s just past midday, so I assume you're heading to the training grounds as usual?"
She smiled, already knowing where Karoon was headed.
"That is correct."
Karoon gave a steady nod, confirming her suspicion.
"Since taking over as the temporary head of house, my understanding of the sword has been flowing remarkably well. I want to make the most of this time."
He rose from the seat of power, stating his desire to push his limits while his progress was peaking.
"...Besides, there’s someone I need to keep an eye on."
A thin smile crossed Karoon’s face, likely thinking of Burren, who was diligently following his instructions.
"He is certainly a dedicated trainee," Sheryl remarked, acknowledging the boy's effort.
"I shall accompany you."
As she moved to follow Karoon, the doors to the hall were thrown open violently, and Chad, the leader of the Shadow Agents, burst in.
"Te-Temporary head of house!"
Chad was stuttering as he usually did, nearly scrambling across the floor to the center of the room.
"What is it now? I know it's likely pressing, but please maintain your composure," Karoon sighed, waving a hand in a way that suggested he was used to Chad's frantic nature.
"N-no! It's not that..."
Chad looked up, clutching a report marked with the highest level of urgency.
"We have reports that the specters of Eden are on the move!"
