"Haaa."
Runaan let out a heavy, ragged breath, her blade biting into the earth to support her weight.
"I need a second to breathe..."
She leaned against the hilt as if it were a walking stick, her skin slick with a cold perspiration. Her exhaustion was inevitable; she had stood directly in the wake of Raon to withstand the overwhelming pressure of Pride while simultaneously shielding the entire Light Wind Palace from the fallout.
"You did well."
Raon reached out and gave her shoulder a soft, appreciative pat, fully aware of the burden she had carried.
"It's nothing..."
Runaan gave a slow shake of her head, dismissing her fatigue.
"I haven't done enough yet..."
She gnawed at her lower lip, her voice tinged with the lingering guilt of her past actions, feeling as though her debt remained unpaid.
"Hmph..."
Martha grunted, forcing herself to her feet with visible effort.
"I don't understand how long she intends to let the past chain her down. She’s reached the Transcendent realm, yet she’s still acting like a moody child."
She clicked her tongue in sharp disapproval, silently urging Runaan to snap out of her melancholy.
"She’s right. There is no reason to dwell on it further."
Burren exhaled a long, shaky breath, steadying his wobbling legs.
"Everyone falters, and your repentance has been more than sufficient."
He offered a firm nod, echoing Martha’s sentiment.
"That’s the general consensus."
Raon turned his gaze toward Runaan, curious to see if their words had reached her.
"..."
Despite the validation from Raon, Burren, and Martha, Runaan remained silent, her expression suggesting she still felt she fell short of redemption.
"She is so stubborn!"
Martha ground her teeth, stomping her foot in irritation. However, because her own reserves were nearly spent, the gesture lacked its usual thunderous impact.
"What did I miss this time?"
Evelyn clicked her tongue, her curiosity piqued, frustrated that the climax had passed before she could grasp the situation.
"Don't worry about it!"
Martha dismissed her with a tired wave of her hand.
"That dense girl won't listen to reason anyway. Let’s focus on finding the Heavenly Demon!"
She scowled, suggesting they leave Runaan to her thoughts for the time being.
"Do you actually have a lead on the Heavenly Demon’s whereabouts?"
Burren was still drawing ragged breaths, his nerves clearly frayed from the experience of receiving Pride's Authority, as he spoke the legendary name.
"I do."
Raon gave a composed nod.
"I can't claim absolute certainty, but he will undoubtedly be at this location."
The Heavenly Demon was a man who wouldn't even lower his head to Pride—the very being who had saved him and granted him power. In a city like this, the options for a man of that temperament were limited.
-What is it you think you know?
Wrath blinked his sapphire eyes, looking entirely lost.
-This King is completely in the dark!
He scrunched up his nose, demanding that Raon share his insights if he truly had them.
"If you want to find out, just stay close."
Raon signaled for Wrath and the others to follow as he began to walk.
"What about the rest of them?"
Martha gestured toward the unconscious members of the Light Wind Palace.
"Why don't you stay and keep watch?"
Raon pointed a finger back at Martha.
"Y-you can't be serious!"
Martha shook her head violently, recoiling at the suggestion.
"I’m coming along... Ugh!"
She tried to lunge forward to prove her readiness, but her legs buckled, and she stumbled.
"Your strength is gone."
Raon reached out a steadying hand toward her.
"It’s only natural, considering you took the full weight of Pride's aura."
He reiterated his instruction for her to stay behind and protect the fallen swordsmen while she recovered.
"Pride?"
Evelyn’s eyes went wide.
"Was the Monarch of Pride actually here?"
The mere mention of the name sparked an immediate fire of curiosity in her eyes.
"Yes. It turns out the Heavenly Demon and Pride..."
Raon was in the middle of explaining the connection to Evelyn when he was cut off.
"I won't do it!"
Martha shoved her right foot forward with stubborn determination.
"I am definitely going! I’m not going to miss a chance to see the Heavenly Demon—someone who rivals the Head of House—just to play nursemaid!"
She began to trail after Raon on shaky, trembling limbs, making it clear she wouldn't be left behind.
"That loudmouth just cut me off! Don't push your way between me and Raon!"
Evelyn knit her brows in annoyance, irritated that her conversation had been sabotaged.
"In that case, I'll..."
"I... I can stay..."
Just as Runaan started to offer herself for guard duty, Dorian lifted his head with a pained groan.
"I managed to stay conscious, probably because of my own Authority. Though, honestly, I wish I’d fainted..."
Dorian shook his head weakly, admitting that enduring Pride's presence while fully awake had been a near-death experience.
"Perfect! Then I’m going!"
Martha clicked her tongue, deciding that Dorian was fit enough to watch the group so she could pursue the Heavenly Demon.
"Fine. Have it your way."
Raon let out a soft sigh of resignation, knowing Martha was far too headstrong to be swayed.
"And also..."
Before they could set off, Raon paused and turned back toward the group.
"The rest of you need to get up now."
Raon cast a sharp, frigid gaze toward the supposedly unconscious swordsmen.
"..."
For a moment, there was no movement from the pile of bodies.
"Now."
At Raon’s second command, the seemingly lifeless forms began to shift. The Silent Serpent Swordsman, hidden behind his dark ophidian mask, quietly sat up and revealed himself.
"Ha! How did you catch on? I’m usually a master at playing dead."
The Silent Serpent Swordsman gave a sharp whistle as he stood, looking genuinely impressed.
"What are you doing here?"
Raon’s eyes thinned as he scrutinized the masked man.
"I was just trailing behind you all, and I think Pride assumed I was part of your crew and dragged me along?"
The Silent Serpent Swordsman waved a hand dismissively, claiming he was just an accidental passenger.
"See? That guy is here too."
He gestured with a shrug toward the Bear Fire Demon, who had also been pulled into the teleportation.
"You..."
Raon kept his gaze fixed on the Silent Serpent Swordsman, his suspicion clear.
"What is your game?"
This Silent Serpent Swordsman was a strange departure from the others Raon had encountered. He carried the same fundamental nature, yet his aura, his behavior, and his apparent lack of devotion to Eden made him feel like a different species altogether.
"I simply follow whatever catches my interest."
The Silent Serpent Swordsman clicked his tongue, asserting his personal autonomy.
"Right now, you’re the most interesting thing around. I’d like to be there when you meet the Heavenly Demon."
He pressed his palms together, signaling his desire to join the expedition.
"..."
Raon took a slow, measured breath as he weighed his options.
'Should I permit this for the moment?'
He was curious about the man’s ultimate goal and the nature of his bond with the Bear Fire Demon. It felt more advantageous to keep him close where he could be watched.
'I can deal with him whenever I need to.'
While the Silent Serpent Swordsman had attained the Transcendent level, the chasm between his power and Raon’s was vast. Raon was certain he could neutralize any threat the man might pose.
"Suit yourself."
Raon gave a short nod to the warriors behind him and began to lead the way.
"Wait for me!"
Evelyn hurried to his side, determined not to let him slip away again.
"You promised an explanation!"
She looked at Raon with eyes full of anticipation, eager to hear the details of the events within Eden.
"I did."
Raon gave her a small nod before casting his eyes toward the vast, starlit canopy above.
"The story won't take long."
---
By the time Raon had finished recounting the tale to Evelyn, they were moving through the heart of the merchant city, Cameloon.
Even though the hour was late, the streets were teeming with life—a testament to the city's reputation as the busiest hub on the continent.
"Acting Head of House. Actually... Raon."
Burren moved up to walk beside him.
"Thank you. Truly."
He gave a slight, respectful bow as he spoke.
"For what exactly?"
Raon arched an eyebrow, noting that Burren’s tone was that of a friend rather than a subordinate.
"I’m grateful for your help in securing the Demon King’s Authority."
Burren touched the bracelet adorned with crimson thorns, acknowledging the gift he had received from Pride.
"I didn't give that to you. You earned it yourself."
Raon’s gaze remained steady and calm.
"Pride projected a pressure so crushing that even I, having reached the Absolute realm, found it taxing. Every swordsman without an Authority lost consciousness. It was because you stayed awake and never once dropped your blade that I was able to even suggest the idea."
He wasn't merely being polite. Pride was a tyrant who answered to no one, a being defined by his namesake sin.
Had Burren blacked out or lost his grip on his weapon, Pride would have ignored the request entirely.
He might have saved the Death Sword Spirit in some other fashion, but he never would have bestowed a direct blessing.
The fact that the Authority of Pride had been transferred proved that Burren had impressed the Monarch, even if only by a fraction.
"I appreciate you saying that. But I know the truth—I owe this to you."
After reiterating his thanks, Burren’s eyes burned with a newfound, unshakable resolve.
"I will push myself to the brink to ensure your efforts weren't wasted."
He gave a solemn nod, essentially asking Raon to hold him to his word.
"Good. See if you can manage to live with a bit of arrogance."
Raon laughed, thinking back to Pride's parting words.
-As far as attitude goes, he'll fit right in. He's been an insufferable, disrespectful brat since the moment I saw him.
Wrath let out a snort, agreeing that Burren and Pride were a match made in hell.
"I'll do my best."
Burren stepped back, tilting his chin up slightly as if already practicing the haughty demeanor required by his new power.
"The Authority of Pride..."
Evelyn clicked her tongue as she studied Burren, clearly fascinated by the manifestation of the Demon King's power.
"Hmph! He's already getting a big head."
Just as Martha began to scowl at Burren's changing posture, Raon came to a halt.
"We're here."
They hadn't stopped on a grand plaza or a well-lit street, but at the entrance of a grimy, cramped alleyway.
Before them lay a dilapidated slum, a place where the city's manual laborers and poorest residents huddled together in squalor.
"H-here?"
"You're telling me the Heavenly Demon is hiding in a dump like this?"
Burren and Martha stared at the ruins in disbelief.
"..."
Runaan’s eyes sharpened as she scanned the shadows, a faint, freezing mist beginning to emanate from her form.
"Actually, this makes a lot of sense."
Evelyn rolled her shoulders, looking ready for a fight, trusting Raon’s intuition implicitly.
"What led you to believe he was here?"
The Silent Serpent Swordsman sounded genuinely curious about Raon’s reasoning for choosing the slums.
"I’ve seen something like this before."
Raon explained as he stepped into the labyrinth of crumbling shacks.
"I once knew a swordsman who believed he was peerless, only to live as a beggar after a defeat to find a new path to strength. The Heavenly Demon is powerful, yes, but more than that, he is consumed by pride. A man who believes he is the only one who matters under the heavens would naturally want to explore the unknown or walk a path diametrically opposed to his current one to grow. But honestly, the real giveaway was his scent."
"His scent?"
The Silent Serpent Swordsman looked puzzled.
"It wasn't just his personal aura. It was the smell of collective sweat, common grime, and wood. Specifically, the scent of damp timber."
Raon narrowed his eyes, vividly remembering the olfactory impression the Heavenly Demon had left behind.
"Incredible..."
The Silent Serpent Swordsman’s eyes widened, floored by the fact that Raon had used such a subtle detail to track a legend.
"The Heavenly Demon views himself as the zenith of existence. When one believes they already rule over heaven and earth, the only thing left to conquer is what lies at the very bottom."
Raon walked toward a large building used by shipyard workers and began to focus his breathing.
Gooooo!
Mimicking the way the Heavenly Demon had once signaled Glenn, and vice versa, Raon released a precise, subtle pulse of energy—a signal designed to be felt only by those who had reached the Absolute realm.
Whoooosh.
Before three breaths had passed, the door of the most dilapidated, filth-stained shack in the district creaked open. A man with shoulders broad enough to carry a beast emerged. Despite his tattered rags, he wore a helm crafted from a dark red demonic dragon, his head tilted back with regal disdain.
"You found me sooner than I anticipated."
The Heavenly Demon spoke with a rare note of genuine surprise. He lowered his haughty gaze, acknowledging the visitor, and locked eyes with Raon.
"Sword Emperor Raon Zieghart."
