Chapter 1286
"So..."
Raon rhythmically struck the tabletop and tilted his head back.
"<Pride> isn't merely being stuck-up and boastful; it’s about being repulsive in one's vanity and infuriatingly condescending, correct?"
He narrowed his gaze, reciting the definition of pride that Wrath had drilled into his ears until they were practically numb.
—Precisely! That is it!
Wrath bellowed in exasperation.
—How many times must you double-check!
The demon king waved both his fists, imploring him to finally grasp the concept.
"It sounds straightforward, though?"
Raon gave a certain nod.
"It’s essentially telling me to project an air of superiority."
To be arrogant was, in short, nothing more than blatantly acting like one was above everyone else. It was less complex than he had anticipated.
—You are stuck in this rut because you find that 'simple' task impossible!
Wrath scowled, as if Raon were speaking nonsense.
—And it is not merely about a performance of superiority! You must genuinely believe, at the very foundation of your spirit, that you are above all others!
He clicked his tongue, insisting that only a heart truly convinced of its own supremacy could experience even a fragment of <Pride>.
"Then that makes it difficult..."
Shifting from his previous confidence, Raon released a heavy breath.
"I don't actually believe I am superior."
Others might find that statement hard to swallow, but because he had never once viewed himself as better than the rest, awakening pride seemed like a daunting mountain to climb. In fact, it felt nearly unattainable at this stage.
—That is precisely what I cannot fathom!
Wrath let out a weary groan.
—I loathe admitting it, but even to a demon king like myself, you possess extraordinary gifts and prowess! I cannot understand for the life of me why you consider yourself mundane!
He remarked that Raon was a remarkable specimen of humanity even by his standards and gestured with his chin.
"It might appear that way from the outside. However..."
Raon met Wrath’s gaze and gave a steady shake of his head.
"I am fundamentally not a superior individual."
Having experienced two lifespans and practiced the Ring of Fire—the unique cultivation technique of the First Patriarch of Zieghart—since his infancy, it was inevitable that his abilities would look exceptional. In truth, he wasn't inherently better; he was simply fortunate.
"Sigh..."
Raon exhaled in frustration, running a hand through his hair.
"This is a real challenge."
He had received the explanation of <Pride> from Wrath, yet he still couldn't firmly grasp the essence of the emotion.
—Haah...
Wrath mirrored his sigh with a long one of his own.
—That is exactly what I warned you! You and <Pride> are polar opposites!
He flashed his white teeth, claiming that no amount of explaining would bridge the gap in Raon's understanding.
"Still, I didn't think I'd have zero intuition for it."
He had assumed he could unlock <Pride> without much trouble, similar to the other Authorities of the demon kings, but that had been a significant miscalculation. Even though seven days had passed since his return to Zieghart, the awakening of pride remained a distant prospect.
—But why do you even bother with something like <Pride>?
Wrath drifted closer and looked up at him.
—You were never particularly fixated on a demon king's Authority before. You didn't go out of your way to trigger them.
He tilted his head, find the shift in behavior peculiar.
"True. I didn't."
Raon conceded the point with a nod.
"But the <Pride> I sensed this time felt as though it would be something entirely different."
—What?
Wrath wrinkled his nose in annoyance.
—Are you suggesting that <Pride> is better than <Wrath>?
He gnashed his teeth, asserting that <Pride> could never stand above <Wrath>.
"That's not my point."
Raon remained composed and shook his head.
"Both <Pride> and <Wrath> hold such immense power that ranking them is unnecessary. What I am saying is that all seven sins of the demon kings are going to converge."
Staring into Wrath's azure eyes, he reflected on the various authorities currently residing within his spirit.
"If the seven powers of the demon kings—which once seemed impossible to unite—gather inside me, I have a feeling something entirely new will be born."
It wasn't just a vague hunch; it was a conviction. He had a premonition that once pride woke and reached its peak, a massive transformation would sweep through his soul.
—Hmm...
Wrath studied him, his eyes scanning Raon from top to bottom.
—No being has ever held the seven authorities of the demon kings in a single vessel. Usually, gathering even three would result in the body's destruction.
He nodded, conceding that much.
—So, what do you imagine will change?
"I don't know that myself."
Raon gave a casual shrug.
"I'll only find out once <Pride> actually manifests."
Currently, he only had the inkling of an impending shift; he couldn't see beyond that. Honestly, since it was just his gut feeling, nothing was guaranteed.
—So in the end, there is no real answer!
Wrath scowled, feeling as though they had just wasted more time.
"No, I’ve actually realized something because of you."
Raon gave a small laugh and stood up.
—Realized something?
Wrath looked puzzled, waiting for an explanation.
"You're right; I was being too hasty. The evolution gained through a demon king's power isn't the priority."
He had squandered time waiting to grow stronger through <Pride>, allowing himself to fall into a sour mood.
He was a master of the blade, not a sorcerer or a priest. His reliance should always be on his own resolve, his own physique, and his own steel.
"When the path forward is unclear, I should stick to what I know."
He unsheathed his weapon and hoisted it toward the ceiling.
"I need to swing my blade. With absolute..."
Raon unleashed a strike that seemed capable of cleaving the heavens and allowed a smirk to touch his lips.
"Pride."
---
Burren stood within the fifth training ground, rubbing his clean-shaven chin.
"<Pride>..."
It was a stroke of luck that he had gained the authority known as <Pride> from the demon king Pride through Raon’s actions, but even after a week of solitary contemplation, the key to unlocking that power eluded him.
'I can't do this alone.'
He had hoped to figure it out on his own, but since he was hitting a wall, he had to seek guidance from his peers.
"Ahem."
Burren cleared his throat and walked toward Runaan, who was sitting in a corner of the grounds with her eyelids closed.
"Runaan. I need to ask you something..."
Just as he reached her side to start the conversation, she beat him to it.
Swoosh.
Runaan's eyes snapped open, and she looked up at him. Her clear eyes were bright, suggesting she hadn't been napping but was simply resting.
"You weren't asleep?"
"No, I was sleeping..."
Runaan claimed she had rested well and gave a slow nod.
"I’ve recently reached a point where I can control sleep and sloth to a certain degree..."
"Sleep and sloth?"
Burren’s eyes went wide. Runaan had always been plagued by her inability to stay awake, yet it seemed she had finally mastered that weakness.
"Is this because you reached Transcendence?"
"No, it's because everyone else was suffering because of me..."
Runaan explained calmly that the change hadn't come automatically with her new rank; it had come through sheer will.
"I see..."
Burren bit his lip slightly, seeing the determination burning in Runaan's clear gaze.
'She must have pushed herself incredibly hard.'
Runaan spoke of it casually, but knowing her history, she must have fought against her drowsiness with everything she had.
"So, why...?"
Runaan nodded, prompting him to explain why he had approached her.
"Well, I was curious about how you managed to awaken <Sloth>."
Burren felt a bit awkward asking Runaan for advice on tapping into a demon king's Authority.
"It just sort of happened..."
Runaan blinked and gave her response without hesitation.
"What...? It just happened?"
Burren, hearing such a vague answer, blinked even more blankly than she did.
"Yes. <Sloth> has been active since the start."
Runaan explained that she could use the power from the very moment she inherited <Sloth> from Sloth.
"Right, I get it..."
Burren bit his lip.
'I guess I can't learn anything from her.'
Raon had mentioned that Runaan and Sloth were like two halves of a whole, so the power of <Sloth> grew naturally for her. There was no practical advice to be gained from such a natural talent.
"Do—Dorian!"
Burren swallowed and shouted to Dorian, who was walking behind him.
"Yes? Present!"
Dorian stopped moving his training gear and hurried over to Burren.
"Is something wrong?"
He greeted him with a bright, eager smile.
"You, how did you go about awakening your demon king's Authority?"
Just as he had with Runaan, Burren grilled Dorian about the power.
"Huh? For me, it just worked from the beginning?"
Dorian raised a hand, explaining that like Runaan, his authority was active from the moment he received it.
"Because of Gluttony's help, I could use it instantly."
He noted that while he wasn't as proficient as Runaan, he could manage <Gluttony> in his own fashion.
"You... you as well? From the very start?"
Burren’s lips began to twitch. Hearing that even Dorian, whom he considered significantly less capable, could use the power immediately made his chest feel tight with frustration.
"What's this? Are we talking about the demon kings?"
Martha smirked, leaning her head on Dorian's shoulder.
"S-Sir Burren was asking how I tapped into the Demon King's Authority."
Dorian seemed intimidated by Martha's proximity and nervously edged away.
"Huh? Unlocking it? Isn't it just active by default?"
Martha tilted her head, stating that she had been able to wield <Envy> right away.
"Can't you?"
She stared at Burren with her mouth slightly open, looking genuinely baffled.
"Grrrgh..."
Burren clamped his mouth shut under the collective, confused stares of Runaan, Dorian, and Martha.
'Was I the only failure?'
Even if he went to Evelyn, who held the power of <Lust>, the answer would likely be the same. Worse, she would probably just mock him.
"Sir Burren?"
Dorian called out, his eyes filled with concern as if he thought Burren might be unwell.
"Don't... don't worry about it."
Burren quickly dismissed them with a wave of his hand and walked away.
'This is absurd...'
Even Dorian can manage it, yet I’m the only one stuck?
Setting aside Runaan and Martha, the thought that even Dorian had immediate access while he was left in the dark filled him with a wave of self-loathing.
'To think my talent was this pathetic.'
Realizing that among all those gifted with a demon king's Authority, he was the sole laggard, he felt a crushing blow to his ego.
'Maybe I'm just not worthy of this power...'
Burren gnawed on his lip, looking down at the ground. Just as he was sinking into gloom, the memory of Raon standing tall against Pride, the lord of Pride, flashed through his mind.
'No!'
If I break down like this, I’ll never be able to look Raon in the eye!
To help him improve, Raon had held back Pride, a demon king whose mere aura felt like it could stop a heart. To live up to that effort, he couldn't quit now.
'No, more than that...'
When did I start accepting being inferior to Runaan and Martha?
Back when they were children, he had never imagined losing to Martha or Runaan, let alone Raon. The gap had grown so wide now that it was painful, but he had always trained with the intent of overtaking them.
'I've been acting like a quitter.'
Burren ground his teeth together with enough force to hurt.
'I need to return to that mindset.'
Back to when I was a kid who didn't fear anyone!
He balled his fists, refocusing his mind on the time when he was driven by the desire to surpass not just Martha and Runaan, but Raon as well.
'It doesn't matter if I'm knocked down, as long as I stand back up.'
At that moment, Burren cast aside the obsession with waking <Pride> and vowed to fix his weak mental state.
Kwadrrrk!
Deep within his spirit, a sound like grinding boulders echoed, accompanied by scarlet flames that carried the searing heat of the Devildom.
'Now...'
Burren felt his very soul being stained crimson and gripped the hilt of his sword.
'I won't be second to anyone!'
---
—Whoa!
Wrath turned toward the fifth training ground and let out a cry of surprise.
—Did that Four-Eyes fellow actually trigger <Pride>?
The signature of his rival Pride was emanating from the fifth training ground. Since that demon king couldn't be here in person, it was obvious Burren had accessed <Pride>.
—The Four-Eyes is significantly faster than you!
Wrath snickered and looked back to his right.
'That's fine.'
Raon didn't even glance at Wrath, continuing the forms of the Azure Sky Sword. His blade moved like liquid, tracing majestic patterns that seemed to encompass the firmament.
'I should offer him my congratulations.'
Raon nodded to himself, genuinely happy for Burren’s breakthrough.
—I truly do not get you!
Wrath scowled, irritated by Raon's lack of a reaction.
—Just a moment ago, you were as restless as a puppy in a panic, so why are you so indifferent now!
"With war looming, being anxious is natural. However..."
Raon shook his head slowly as he transitioned from the Azure Sky Sword into the movements of the Celestial Thunder Arts.
"Right now, this feels far more vital."
He had been fixated on the demon king's Authority, believing <Pride> was the key to his next change, but once he felt the weight of his sword, he realized his martial training was more important. He had spent the last week doing nothing but practicing his forms.
"I feel as though I am changing, regardless of any demon king's power."
Raon pressed on with his swordsmanship, sensing a stirring in his consciousness and his Mental Image. He had already put Burren out of his mind, sharpening his focus until he existed in a realm where there was only himself and the blade.
—It is not that you seem like you will change. You are already in the process. And...
Wrath watched Raon, who was now fully immersed in the world of the sword, and allowed a wide, satisfied grin to spread across his face.
—It is in a direction I never even considered!
