Chapter 502

Raon bit his lip tightly. The strength left his body and his vision became blurry. He felt like he was going to collapse if he didn’t pull himself together.

‘I heard it would be, but the rebound is powerful.’

Rimmer and the Gambling Monster had compared the Sword Field Creation to a final, desperate weapon.

They’d advised him to kill his enemy no matter what once it was activated, or at least finish the battle.

Raon’s body was telling him the reason why they’d said that.

‘I feel like all of my muscles have ruptured. My energy center is also empty.’

He felt like he could collapse at any moment because of how hard his limbs were shaking. He didn’t have any heat or coldness left in his energy center either, and all he could feel was the energy of wind and the Divinity Blooming from the Underworld.

He could understand that he would’ve been the one to lose if he failed to cut Cloud down at the end.

‘Haa… But I can still endure it.’

Thanks to his various titles and Sloth’s regenerative ability, his stamina and aura were replenishing rapidly. He could tell that he would soon recover enough to move normally.

He was confident in his ability to pretend to be fine. He hardened his eyes and lips to pretend he didn’t receive any damage at all and walked up to Cloud, who was on his knees.

“Ugh…”

Cloud was gripping and tearing the two lacerations on his chest.

“Kuaaah!”

He was unable to hold himself back anymore and screamed from the intense pain.

Raon realized that Cloud wasn’t bleeding from his wounds at all.

The laceration starting from the left shoulder was a burn, causing the wound to be cauterized, and the tearing wound starting from the right shoulder was frozen by frost.

He wasn’t bleeding thanks to the burn and frostbite, but he looked like he was in so much pain that death would be preferred.

“Argh!”

Bloody foam was emerging from Cloud’s mouth. His eyes turned to the other side, the ruptured capillaries giving him a demonic appearance.

“You… you monster…”

He forced himself to raise his head. He started to ramble, his lips trembling in pain.

“You aren’t even human. This wouldn’t be happening if you were a human…”

Cloud shook his chin, red saliva flowing down it. He said that Raon had to have a demonic talent and hit the ground powerlessly.

You are right! Someone finally understands!

Wrath immediately nodded.

Don’t be deceived by his human appearance. This monster is a whole different species! But he’s not a demon either! He’s just a lunatic race of his own!

He tapped on Raon’s shoulder, saying that he should become a demon king.

“I’m a perfectly normal human being. I’m more humane than anyone else in the world.”

Raon responded to Cloud and Wrath at the same time.

Cease your nonsense! The King of Essence has never seen a human like you!

“Y-you aren’t even making any sense!”

The human and demon king shook their heads at the same time.

“A-and you were wrong about that.”

Cloud bit his lip while grasping the wound on his shoulder.

“The Holy Sword Alliance didn’t lose to Zieghart. I simply lost to your talent…”

“You’re on that talent nonsense again.”

Raon kicked Cloud’s chin with his right foot.

Smack!

Despite having no aura left and being exhausted, his strong body caused Cloud's body to rise to its full height, spitting bloody teeth from his mouth.

“Uaaah….”

Cloud covered his mouth after the teeth left and groaned in pain.

“Losers should shut up.”

So, this is the talent to become a demon king…

Wrath spoke with admiration while stroking his chin, and Raon pushed him away before picking up Cloud’s broken sword and the blade with two hands.

“Wh-what are you trying to do?!”

Cloud pulled himself back while dragging his feet on the ground. He was even slower than a snail because he had no aura left and his body was ruined.

Moreover, his back bumped into a tree trunk and came to a halt.

“Nothing special.”

Raon calmly exhaled and walked up to Cloud, whose chin was trembling in fear.

He went on his knee and shoved the broken blade into his left shoulder.

Crack!

Since the aura barrier wasn’t there to protect Cloud anymore, the blade easily pierced into his flesh and cut through his bones and muscles.

“Aaaack!”

“Shut up.”

Raon kicked Cloud’s chin again because he started to scream his head off. Three more teeth fell out before he finally shut his mouth.

“You’d better not move.”

He stabbed his abdomen next with the broken sword. Cloud’s body was trembling in pain, but he couldn’t defy him because he was afraid of more beatings.

Rip.

Since Raon didn’t pull out the blades after stabbing him, the wounds were plugged and only a small amount of blood came out of them.

“Kuh…”

Cloud couldn’t endure the pain and let out a strange groan, his eyes rolling back in his head.

“The blade in your shoulder is right above your heart, and the one on your stomach is next to your energy center.”

Raon grabbed Cloud by his hair and spoke with a frightening gaze in his eyes.

“Ugh…”

Cloud didn’t dare look back at him and lowered his eyes. An irresistible fear was engraved in his mind.

“The blade will pierce into your heart or energy center if you move.”

Raon smiled coldly and pushed Cloud’s head against the trunk.

Hmm? Aren’t you going to kill him?

Wrath tilted his head to the unexpected situation.

You’ve been killing anyone who is a potential danger.

‘I did, but this case is different.’

Ah, it must be because of that man.

Wrath blinked while looking in the direction of Banneret, where the Holy Sword Alliance master was located.

‘Yes. It’s impossible to predict his action since he is crazy for swords.’

Wrath had guessed right. Raon had to leave Cloud alive because he couldn’t predict what the Holy Sword Alliance master would do if his disciple was slain.

If he disregarded everything else and focused on avenging his disciple, the Light Wind division was bound to be annihilated.

However, leaving Cloud alive lowered that possibility significantly. His disciple was still a Grandmaster even though he was thoroughly defeated, and there was no way he was going to abandon him.

Not much time had passed after the start of the incident. Since the news likely hadn’t reached Zieghart yet, he couldn’t look forward to reinforcements from the house.

It was necessary to assume that the Holy Sword Alliance master would make the worst decision for him and plan accordingly.

“Y-you are just afraid of the alliance master in the end.”

Cloud twisted his lips. He must’ve realized that Raon couldn’t kill him because of the alliance master.

“I’m absolutely not going to lose next time. I’m going to snap your neck before you can activate the Sword Field—”

“Once I win against someone, I never lose against the same opponent. Do you really believe you can win next time when you are so afraid of my talent?”

“Argh…”

“And you are making a grave mistake…”

Raon smiled coldly and stimulated Cloud’s mana circuits with his finger by using the Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation and Glacier’s energies.

“I’m not done yet.”

“Wh-what did you do?!”

“You will find out soon enough.”

He shoved the heat into various places, saving the spine for last, before finally pulling his finger out.

“Kuah!”

Cloud’s body bent like a squid. It was the worst torture method, causing the pain of twisting bones and muscles, the itchiness of thousands of bugs gnawing at the flesh, and even heat and coldness added on top of it all. Thick veins were bulging on his forehead as he went through it.

“Uaaaah!”

“Huh? But you are going to die if you move.”

Raon chuckled, and Cloud’s body immediately flinched and came to a halt.

“Aaaah…”

However, he started to struggle once again, unable to withstand the pain.

The lines of blood flowing from the blades stabbing his shoulder and stomach became even thicker.

“Kuaaah!”

“I told you, you are going to die if you keep moving. You shouldn’t scream, either.”

“Haap…”

“You are so dumb. Your limbs should also stay still. Your heart is going to split in half at this rate.”

“St-stop it! Please!”

“Ask that great alliance master of yours to remove it for you.”

“Argh…”

Cloud panicked hard and started to foam from the mouth, his body trembling in something between intense pain and his fear of death.

Wow…

Wrath shook his head with wide eyes.

Is this really what a human being should be doing?

‘Well, I’m human so it is.’

Oh, I see…

Raon ignored Wrath as he kept murmuring, wondering if that was how it worked, and grabbed Cloud by his hair once again.

“What did you say earlier again? You said you would eliminate the potential danger by killing me and my crew, didn’t you?”

Raon exhaled a warm breath while meeting his eyes, which were distorted from terror.

“Do it if you can, because your head will roll the moment you meet me once again.”

Raon rolled his lips into a smile and violently tossed Cloud’s body away.

“Cough!”

Cloud gripped the blades stabbing his shoulder and stomach to avoid death. However, the pain must’ve gotten even worse because his body was trembling on the ground.

“Haa…”

Raon averted his gaze and looked at Banneret, where a strange tornado was rising.

‘I wonder if those two are alright.’

He was worried about Rimmer and Sheryl, but it would’ve been foolish to return to the city. He was only going to be a hindrance instead of helping them.

Raon wished for their safe return, including the Heavenly Blade division, and pulled Heavenly Drive and the Blade of Requiem from the ground. The two blades felt heavy for some reason. 

* * *

The Holy Sword Alliance master’s dark sword, which was flying in the air to indulge in the sword techniques of the Queen of Swords and the Demonblade, started to rotate in a semicircle and dark lightning occurred from it.

“This is…”

The Queen of Swords furrowed her brow upon seeing the sword’s movement.

“D-don’t tell me, you…”

The Demonblade barely managed to fend off the sword and bared his yellow teeth.

“Are you copying this great one’s technique?!”

“It was a nice technique that isn’t fixated on form. I like it.”

The Holy Sword Alliance master slowly nodded. The manipulated sword resonated faintly from the air. It seemed to express the cheerful mood of its owner.

“Haa…”

The Queen of Swords quietly sighed and returned her sword to its scabbard before drawing it right after that.

The blade emerged quietly, and a tremendous amount of energy advanced while being focused on a single point. The point was even smaller than the width of a hair, but the achievement of a swordswoman who’d reached transcendence was dwelling inside.

“This is pretty good…”

The Holy Sword Alliance master nodded with slightly flushed cheeks. The manipulated sword was putting pressure on the Demonblade but flew in front of him in an instant and created a sword barrier the size of a palm.

Whaaam!

It was difficult to believe the explosive sound came from the clash between an extremely small strike and a sword barrier. The sky was crushed like an egg inside a clenched fist and a huge rift appeared.

“Tsk.”

The Queen of Swords briefly clicked her tongue. However, she immediately started to prepare her next move. She must’ve thought that it wouldn’t be enough to finish off the Holy Sword Alliance master to begin with. 

“Hmm…”

The Demonblade managed to pull himself together. He bit his lip and wrapped his sword with a purple current of air to unleash a hexagonal sword formation into the air.

They were behaviors befitting transcenders, as they trusted their own martial arts despite being surprised by the Holy Sword Alliance master’s abilities.

“Wahahaha!”

The Holy Sword Alliance master burst into laughter while looking at the distorted sky.

“Yes, this is how it should be. It wouldn’t have been worth it to come out to the world if you couldn’t even do this.”

His flushed face almost looked like he was drunk. His eyes glowed red as they indulged in the sight of the Queen of Swords and the Demonblade’s swords.

“I’m also curious about them, but…”

The Holy Sword Alliance master turned his head to the right. It was difficult to tell who the winner was because Raon and Cloud’s energies had subsided at the same time.

He wanted to spread his aura perception to figure out the situation, but it was much too far away. Focusing on the opponents at hand was the correct course of action, as a distraction could prove critical during a fight against two transcenders.

“Kellin.”

A swordsman whose face was hidden behind a mask jumped down from the Sword Wing.

“If Cloud won the fight, he might try to kill Raon. Stop him if that’s the case, and bring them both if it’s the other way around.”

“Understood.”

The woman called Kellin gestured with her finger, and the warriors wearing the same outfit appeared behind her.

They were the Floating Soul Division, in charge of secretly defending the flying warship, the Sword Wing.

Thud!

Just as they were about to leave through the collapsed part of the rampart, red lightning struck from the sky.

Whaam!

It was Rimmer’s doing. He’d been observing the battlefield while using his Sword Field and had stopped Kellin from leaving.

However, the Master of the Wise Dragon Sword’s blade took the opportunity and brushed past his waist.

Pssh!

It wasn’t a serious injury, but it was still thick enough to make the difference between victory and defeat during a fight between extremely powerful warriors.

“Ack…”

Rimmer frowned and bit his lip.

“I heard you could use the Sword Field Creation, and it was true.”

The Master of the Wise Dragon Sword slowly nodded while shaking the blood off his blade.

“And lightning energy as well? Did you beg Glenn for it or something?”

“……”

“Anyway, you are different from before at least.”

A twisted smile flowed from his lips.

“Can I take it to mean that you cherish your disciples more than your subordinates?”

“Shut your mouth!”

Rimmer was unable to withstand the nasty provocation and charged at him.

“Hmm.”

Kellin nodded at the Master of the Wise Dragon Sword and tried to head towards the rampart once again, but a white ray bent towards her and blocked his path.

“You aren’t going anywhere.”

The moment Sheryl created the sword barrier, the apostle she was facing immediately extended his hand toward her. His attack, surrounded by transparent energy, was falling towards her at a tremendous speed.

Whaam!

The speed wasn’t the only frightening part. It was also powerful enough to split the land, and Sheryl’s feet got stuck under the ground.

Claang!

Sheryl didn’t panic even though she couldn’t move anymore and crossed her two blades. The black and white energies waned like the sunlight reflected on the surface of a lake, and the apostle’s attack was bounced back violently.

“You idiot!”

She bit her lip and shouted at Rimmer.

“Stop yielding to provocation, please!”

“I know, I know! But…”

Rimmer’s expression wasn’t full of malice anymore. He shook his head, his eyes making it look like he was about to cry.

“Haa, you idiot…”

Sheryl could understand his feelings and murmured idiot in a way than previously before she pulled her legs out of the ground.

“Heavenly Blade division, guard the rampart!”

She roared while slamming the land with her bare, bloody foot.

Rumble!

The Heavenly Blade division created a storming sword barrier above the destroyed part of the rampart, showing their determination to stop their opponents with their lives.

“Try it if you want.”

Sheryl twisted her lips while raising her white sword and lowering her black sword.

“Nothing but your heads are allowed to pass!”

* * *

Tsk.

Raon briefly clicked his tongue as he ran back along the path he had taken.

‘I came too far.’

He started to get worried about the Light Wind division, as he could finally afford other thoughts than the violent battle against Cloud.

He’d come so far to reduce the damage of the Light Wind division, but he’d come a lot further than anticipated.

The Light Wind division should’ve won according to his predictions, as he’d also included the bodyguards of Encia and Denning Rose, but anxiety emerged like an ember in his heart.

‘Damn it.’

He was irritated by the fact that he couldn’t continuously use the Supreme Harmony Steps because of his lack of aura and unconsciously bit his lip.

They should be fine.

Wrath shook his head while sitting on Raon’s shoulder.

‘Hmm?’

They are the King of Essence’s subordinates. They should all be alive.

‘They are my subordinates. I raised them personally. You did noth—’

Anyway, they are the King of Essence’s children!

Wrath shook his head while saying that a demon king always kept their word.

‘I see.’

Raon chuckled at Wrath. It seemed to be his way of relieving his worry. That was why Raon decided to shake his shoulder.

You punk!

‘My shoulder just felt itchy.’

He continued to follow the path while chatting with Wrath.

Since he might have to fight right away, he tried to recover his aura as fast as possible, and Wrath wrinkled his nose.

The fight is over.

‘What?’

No one is at that spot anymore.

He shook his head, saying that there were no presences there at all.

‘Which means…’

Raon stopped his advance and looked in the direction of Cameloon.

‘That must be their destination. They must believe in me, just like I believe in them.

Considering the fact that no one was at the scene of battle anymore, Burren must’ve taken the Light Wind division towards Cameloon.

However…

Just as Raon was about to move towards Cameloon, Wrath licked his lip.

It looks like you still have more work to do.

The sound disappeared from the forest as soon as he declared. An extremely small noise was mixed in between the silent wind.

Someone was approaching as covertly as a shadow.

What have you even been doing in your life?!

Wrath tilted his head and asked him about it.

Why do you have so many enemies when you’ve only lived for twenty-one years?! Who the hell is that?!

‘I don’t know. But…’

Raon furrowed his brow while spreading his aura perception around the forest.

‘I smell a familiar stench.’

***

If you find any errors or have suggestions, please feel free to provide feedback.

Thank you for reading!

[Author – Writing Ant, 글개미]

[Translator – Kyangi]

[Proofreader – Harley]