Raon waited until the last of the Zieghart martial artists had ascended North Grave Mountain before stepping down from his elevated position.
"Are we starting the session now?"
Sheryl appeared to have grown fond of the grueling regimen; she was busy flexing her hands in anticipation.
"Hehe."
Roenn also looked quite intrigued, uncrossing his arms from behind his back and licking his lips with interest.
"Let’s wrap up the training for the youngsters and get into some exhaustion drills ourselves\!"
The Blade Queen massaged her side where Raon had previously landed a blow, her gaze burning with excitement.
"If you charge in with that much agitation, the sparring won't be productive."
The Warlord advised her to maintain her composure while placing a grounding hand on her shoulder.
"It is heartening to see such vibrant energy."
Alice observed the Blade Queen and the Warlord—both significantly her seniors—and whispered about how she admired their spirited nature.
While the five experts were assisting with the exhaustion training at Raon’s request, they didn't seem convinced that this particular method would provide a massive leap in the swordsmen's development.
"Actually, no."
Raon shook his head softly as he looked at the masters gathered to help.
"I don't believe we will need to intervene today."
He suggested that there would be no requirement for them to physically pressure the warriors as they had done previously, a small smirk playing on his lips.
"No need to intervene?"
"What are you getting at?"
Sheryl and the Blade Queen tilted their heads in unison, failing to grasp the meaning behind his statement.
"Hehe."
"Hmm..."
Roenn and the Warlord simply adjusted their stances, waiting for Raon to elaborate.
"It will become clear once you witness it. Come with me."
Raon masked his spiritual presence and began the trek up North Grave Mountain.
"Well, if he says follow, we follow."
Alice shrugged and trailed after him, prompting the other four to exchange looks before concealing their own presences and falling in line.
*Clang\!*
The moment Raon passed the mountain’s threshold, the ring of colliding steel echoed from the thickets to the right. It was the sound of the swordsmen engaging one another.
"This way."
He issued directions through a sound-dampening aura field and moved toward the source of the commotion.
"Why—why are you doing this to me\!"
Dorian gnashed his teeth while straining to parry Krein’s blade.
"You heard the man’s instructions just like I did\!"
Krein snarled, putting his full weight into pushing Dorian back.
"You have to go down so that I can live\!"
He redoubled his efforts, his blade strikes practically screaming for his opponent's defeat.
"Y-you could have targeted someone from the other divisions\!"
Dorian fought desperately to deflect the onslaught, questioning why Krein had picked him instead of an easier target.
"Do you really think that bastard would let me get away with being a coward? He’d make my life a living hell later\!"
Krein scowled, asking Dorian if he hadn't realized that by now.
"W-well, you have a point there..."
Dorian rubbed his chin, momentarily distracted by the logic.
"So it has to be you\!"
Krein put every ounce of strength into his next swing, determined to beat Dorian and earn his exit from the mountain.
—That brat certainly has a handle on how malicious you are\!
Wrath smirked while observing Krein.
—He clearly recognizes you as a petty maniac who holds grudges over the smallest things\!
The little demon chuckled on Raon’s shoulder, finding the situation hilarious.
"Wow, he really understands the Temporary head of house’s personality, doesn't he?"
Alice let out a giggle, noting that Krein was surprisingly sharp.
"Hehehe\!"
Roenn joined in with a deep laugh, seemingly sharing the sentiment.
"Go down\! I’m getting out of here and leaving that cursed bastard behind\!"
Desperate to avoid the usual exhaustion drills, Krein poured his entire soul into his swordsmanship.
"Oh\!"
Sheryl let out a soft sound of surprise while watching Krein’s form.
"Krein’s technique has sharpened considerably, hasn't it? Compared to when we started these drills, the difference is night and day."
He clicked his tongue, acknowledging the massive leap in skill.
"Quite so."
The Blade Queen looked on with fascination, stroking her chin.
"There is a distinct vitality in his blade work."
Having personally instructed Krein, she could clearly see the evolution in his style and wore a proud grin.
"I’m truly sorry, but..."
Dorian managed to shove Krein’s sword aside and regained his footing.
"I need to survive this as well\!"
He braced himself, equally determined to end his participation in the exhaustion training.
*Chiiiang\!*
Dorian channeled the power of \<Gluttony\> residing within his essence and met Krein’s frantic assault head-on.
*Clatter-clack\!*
Blood-red phantoms, resembling the maws of Gluttony, erupted from Dorian’s blade, swallowing every strike Krein threw at him.
*Boom\!*
Krein took a heavy hit to the shoulder and was sent crashing into the dirt.
"Gah..."
He lay there, stunned by the impact, coughing up a bit of blood.
"Hehehe\!"
Roenn unclasped his hands and laughed with genuine admiration.
"Young Master Dorian has also reached a new level."
He tapped his fingers together, clearly impressed by the growth.
"A style that consumes the rival’s energy..."
The Warlord watched Dorian, a single eyebrow raised in thought.
"Not bad at all."
As Dorian’s direct mentor, he felt a spark of pride, and his usually stern lips twitched into a shadow of a smile.
"I-I’m so sorry..."
Dorian seemed shocked by the sheer force he had just unleashed and rushed over to the fallen Krein.
"Just as I thought... I couldn't win..."
Krein’s voice wavered, as if he had anticipated this outcome.
"B-but why did you try?"
Dorian frowned, confused as to why Krein would pick a fight he knew he would lose.
"I-I told you\! That lunatic won't let me be\!"
Krein shook his head weakly, insisting that failing against Dorian was a far better fate than facing Raon's direct "encouragement."
—First you were just a 'bastard,' and now you’ve graduated to 'lunatic bastard\!'
Wrath cackled as he listened to Krein’s creative insults toward Raon.
'I see.'
Raon smiled to himself, tilting his head slightly.
—You look awfully happy for someone being cursed at.
Wrath sneered at him.
—Then again, seeing your soldiers improve with your own eyes must be a satisfyng feeling.
The demon nodded, claiming he understood the sentiment perfectly.
'That’s right.'
Raon’s expression remained warm as he watched Dorian helping Krein up.
"Let’s move on."
He urged the group of masters forward, suggesting they head toward the higher peaks.
*Klang\!*
Just as Raon had foreseen, North Grave Mountain had transformed into a massive, self-sustaining battlefield. Warriors of similar skill levels were pairing off and dueling with total intensity, essentially conducting their own exhaustion training without being told.
"It is exactly as the Temporary head of house predicted."
Sheryl’s eyes widened as she scanned the mountainside.
"They are all fighting with everything they have."
She let out a low whistle, surprised by the sheer dedication of the swordsmen.
"Let’s head over there."
Raon pointed toward the western summit, where the air was thick with the shockwaves of a massive clash, and utilized his Supreme Harmony Steps to close the distance.
*Thump\!*
The two combatants tearing up the western peak were Burren and Martha. They were exchanging blows with such ferocity it looked as though they were attempting to settle a blood feud.
*Rumble\!*
In a flash, their blades collided hundreds of times, the force of their impact splitting the ground and sending boulders tumbling down the slopes.
"I figured it would be those two. However..."
The Blade Queen narrowed her eyes as she tracked their lightning-fast movements.
"Have they always been this powerful?"
She let out a breath of disbelief; the pair looked like entirely different warriors compared to a few months ago.
"No, this progress is quite recent."
The Warlord swallowed hard, staring at Raon’s back.
"It must be the result of Sir Raon’s methods."
He rubbed his chin, attributing Burren and Martha’s growth to the unique exhaustion cycles Raon had implemented.
"It isn't just those two, either."
Alice smiled broadly and gestured around the mountain.
"Every swordsman we’ve come across has improved significantly."
She tightened her fist, noting that the collective strength of the Zieghart forces had risen.
"And look at that peak."
Roenn chuckled as he spotted Runaan on the opposite summit, calmly fending off a succession of challengers.
"They still have a long way to go."
Raon disagreed, his senses extended to monitor every aura on the mountain.
"Before the conflict with Eden begins..."
He wasn't satisfied with their current progress; he was still hungry for more.
"I intend to make them at least twice as formidable as they are now."
-----
"Excellent work today."
Raon nodded toward the exhausted warriors currently littering the training ground floor.
"Every one of you exceeded my expectations."
He offered a kind smile to the group that had just finished their self-imposed drills.
"Ugh..."
"Th-thank you..."
"I’m dying... I’m actually dead..."
"Hah... hah..."
The swordsmen were too drained to give a proper salute, managing only pained groans and heavy panting. Fighting one another with full intent had proven even more taxing than the usual drills.
"Because you all took today’s training so seriously, I am suspending exhaustion training until our current mission is complete."
Raon announced firmly that the drills would be paused until the operation to seize the Archangel was finished.
"YEAHHH\!"
"Whoooo\!"
"Long live the Temporary head of house\! Actually, just make him the permanent head already\!"
At the news that the hellish training was paused, the warriors scrambled to their feet as if they’d been healed by a miracle, erupting into cheers.
Of course, the adrenaline lasted only seconds before they all collapsed back into heaps.
"Since this specific task requires more than just raw combat, I will be taking the Light Wind Palace members, as we already have established coordination."
When Raon mentioned he would be proceeding with his core unit, the other swordsmen nodded in agreement. They didn't care who went, as long as they were spared the exhaustion drills.
"N-not just raw combat?"
Krein forced his head up, blinking in confusion.
"What does that entail?"
Burren also looked curious about the specifics of the assignment.
"I-I’m scared already."
Dorian gulped, a fresh wave of anxiety washing over him.
"It isn't a complicated job."
Raon’s smile widened as he held up a finger. It was a cold, calculating expression that suggested he had already cornered the Archangel Sariel.
"We are going to crown a new deity to topple the charlatan who thinks he's a god."
