Chapter 638

Raon wiped away the sweat flowing down his chin while looking at the Sword and Saber Sovereign’s martial arts books, the Abyssal Saber Art and the Demon Breaking Sword Art.

‘I’m sure of it. That’s the Sword and Saber Sovereign’s core.’

The Shadowless Wanderer had allowed him to confirm that the Sword and Saber Sovereign’s soul was connected to the two martial arts books. The Sword and Saber Sovereign’s infinite stamina and aura were definitely coming from those books.

‘It makes sense, too.’

The books were left behind by the Sword and Saber Sovereign for the sake of the people who were going to enter the grave in the future. Since he must’ve regretted not having a successor, it wasn’t strange at all for him to use those books as the core.

Did you finally realize it?

Wrath scratched the side of his nose, looking down on his pathetic behavior.

He’s been getting his power from those books. That corpse’s power was further enhanced under the limitation of showing us his core. It’s a rather provocative action.

He laughed, saying that whoever did it was rather bold.

‘It’s obvious.’

It was Derus Robert’s doing. No one other than him could come up with such a nasty plan.

“I found it,” Raon called the Cohman knight captain and the Boltweaver, his eyes brimming with certainty.

“You found it?”

“What do you mean by that?”

They tilted their heads, showing their confusion about what he was talking about.

“I found the core that is giving the Sword and Saber Sovereign infinite power.”

“R-really?”

“Where is it? I’ll destroy it immediately!”

The Cohman knight captain and the Boltweaver raised their voices, rejoicing over the fact that they could finally put an end to that hellish battle.

“Core?” Delpros sneered while looking down on Raon. “Do you really believe such a thing even exists? You’d better try to find a way to extend your life instead of coming up with nonsen—”

“The martial arts books.”

Raon cut Delpros off and raised his hand. He lifted his index finger slightly and pointed at the Sword and Saber Sovereign’s book of martial arts.

“The Abyssal Saber Art and the Demon Breaking Sword Art are the Sword and Saber Sovereign’s core.”

“What…?”

“I-impossible…”

The Cohman knight captain and the Boltweaver’s lips trembled in disbelief. It was a natural reaction. Blatantly showing off the core like that wasn’t something a person would do unless they were insane.

That was the blind spot the enemies were targeting.

“......”

Raon didn’t respond to them, instead examining Delpros’s expression. Astonishment was showing up on his face, the man unable to hide it.

“He is telling us the answer.” Raon pointed at Delpros’s chin with a faint smile.

“Kuh!”

Delpros quickly hardened his face, but it was already too late. Everyone in the cavern had already seen his distorted face, not just the Cohman knight captain and the Boltweaver.

“Huh…”

“Are those books really the Sword and Saber Sovereign’s core?”

“The Sword and Saber Sovereign’s infinite aura will be cut off as long as we burn those books.”

Raon lifted the divine and demonic swords, basically saying that this was their chance.

‘We can win if we finish them off quickly.’

His stamina and aura were at rock bottom and his Sword Field was at its limit, but he couldn’t imagine himself losing the battle.

They could finish the battle as long as they fought together.

“It’s the book, of all things…”

“Hmm…”

However, the Cohman knight captain and the Boltweaver didn’t immediately take action. They bit their lips while looking at the martial arts books.

“Haa…”

Raon sighed while watching them.

‘It’s a natural reaction. Honestly, I’m also reluctant to do it.’

The reason the warriors and magicians had come to the grave in the first place was to obtain the Sword and Saber Sovereign’s legacy, which was mostly those martial arts books.

However, they had to destroy the books that were their objective. It was only natural for them to contemplate the matter.

Derus must’ve even taken that fact into consideration when he made the books into the core. Since destroying the book was the only way to shatter his plan, it was even more of a reason to burn them.

“I understand your feelings.”

Raon raised the divine sword. The subsiding flame blazed an intense gold, as if a new life were flowing into it. It felt like the flame was erasing the darkness covering the minds of the warriors.

“However, burning those books is the only way we can win.”

* * *

“Hah…”

Delpros furrowed his brow deeply while looking at the calmness in Raon’s eyes.

‘What the hell is he…? How did he find the core?!’

Raon Zieghart was right. The source of power providing infinite aura to the Sword and Saber Sovereign was indeed the two martial arts books.

Normally, all creatures hid their cores in a place that couldn’t be seen, but the books were chosen as the core to take advantage of that blind spot. The limitation of showing the core to the enemies even allowed them to enhance the Sword and Saber Sovereign. It was completely unexpected that someone managed to figure out their secret.

‘Why is it him, of all people?!’

He couldn’t understand how a greenhorn like him managed to figure it out even though the Shadowless Wanderer, capable of stealing any treasure, the Cohman knight captain, who’d emerged victorious from countless battlefields, and the Boltweaver, who possessed a huge amount of knowledge, couldn’t even find it.

Crack!

Delpros ground his teeth so violently that his gums started to bleed.

‘I should’ve killed him earlier. No, I did try to kill him, but he managed to break through my attempts.’

He’d been trying to kill Raon Zieghart ever since the second floor, but he’d managed to break through all of his traps and reached the last floor with his own strength. He was honestly speechless at that point.

‘That damned bastard.’

He was gritting his teeth, his anger blazing towards Raon.

He noticed that Kuzan, the Cohman knight captain, and Barphil the Boltweaver were still contemplating, unable to get into the combat stance—unlike Raon Zieghart, who was fully determined.

‘Wait a second… I can use this.’

Delpros clenched his fist to the point of bleeding. He’d come up with a way to reverse the situation.

‘You won’t be able to have your way this time.’

He quickly finished his thoughts and nodded, saying, “You’re right. Those two martial arts books, the Abyssal Saber Art and the Demon Breaking Sword Art are the source of the Sword and Saber Sovereign’s power. But so what?”

Delpros bobbed his finger, a composed smile on his face.

“Are you saying that you are going to burn those books or something?”

“Yes, I am.” Raon calmly nodded.

“Even though they are really the Sword and Saber Sovereign’s books?” Delpros tapped on the throne’s armrest, his legs crossed. “The Sword and Saber Sovereign in front of you isn’t even half as powerful as he was during his lifetime. You can become another Sword and Saber Sovereign if you obtain those books, yet you really intend to burn such treasures?”

“Don’t make me say it twice. It’s annoying,” Raon responded firmly once again, but the contemplation in others’ eyes only deepened.

“Huhu.”

Delpros stroked his lips and laughed cheerfully. The battle had come to a halt, and everyone was looking at them.

[Sir Delpros.]

The Shadowed Serpent division leader messaged him as if he’d been waiting for the break.

[The barrier’s control was entirely taken over by Raon Zieghart. There’s no way…]

[You don’t need to take back control. Just add one thing.]

[What? What do you…?]

[Greed. Just stimulate their greed for the treasure. You can do it, right?]

[I’ll try! No, I’ll do it!]

Delpros gazed up at the Sword and Saber Sovereign’s martial arts books while listening to the Shadowed Serpent Division leader’s response.

“It’s one of the few martial arts in the continent that allows you to reach transcendence. Moreover, the Sword and Saber Sovereign even wrote down the understanding and interpretation that he learned in his later years. Am I wrong?”

His gaze was directed at Krasel the Omniscient Sword Sage, who’d checked the books himself.

“Hmm…”

Krasel didn’t respond, but the way he bit his lip was answer enough.

Desire was slowly reappearing in people’s eyes. The Shadowed Serpent Division leader must’ve been doing his work.

“You should think carefully. Are you going to become the protagonist of the continent by obtaining the Sword and Saber Sovereign’s martial arts books, or are you just going to let others benefit from it?” Delpros declared powerfully, realizing that it was the right moment.

“Let others benefit from it?”

“What does he mean by that?”

“Have you still not realized it?” Delpros chuckled and shook his hand. “Raon Zieghart just declared that he will burn those books. However, who is the one who can best control fire among you? It’s him. Which means…”

“Are you saying that he might take the martial arts books while pretending to burn them?” The Master of the Abyssal Sword furrowed his brow while lowering his sword.

“Correct.”

Delpros snapped his fingers, and the atmosphere inside the cavern rapidly changed. It almost felt like the wall of trust allowing them to cooperate was destroyed in an instant.

“You…”

“Fufu.”

Delpros tilted his head while looking at Raon’s frown.

“Let’s continue this dirty battle.”

* * *

Raon bit his lip while feeling the stabbing gazes from the warriors.

‘Damn it…’

He didn’t need to look around. The atmosphere had changed. Greed was welling up in people’s gazes once again.

‘There must be someone working behind the scenes.’

Delpros’s words weren’t enough to create such a situation. He could guess that there was an advanced sorcerer controlling the energy inside the cavern from somewhere else.

He tried to restore the first head’s boundary with the Ring of Fire, but it wasn’t an easy task. His willpower and aura were at their limits, and his opponent was resisting with their life on the line.

‘I have no other choice than to fight like this.’

He was at a disadvantage, but he couldn’t afford to take his time. Fortunately, the Cohman knight captain and the Boltweaver hadn’t yielded to the greed like before.

However, rather than being greedy, they were afraid.

“I-is there really no other way than burning it…?”

“I know there’s no other choice, but destroying a transcendental martial art with my own hands…”

They were afraid of destroying the martial arts that could allow a person to reach transcendence with their own hands.

“It’s alright.”

Raon incorporated the principles of Blue Rain in his voice. He awakened their minds with his ringing voice.

“People are more important than martial arts. I’m sure that’s what the Sword and Saber Sovereign would wish as well.”

“Haa, I suppose so.”

“I can’t be foolish a second time.”

The Boltweaver and the Cohman knight captain sealed their lips tightly in determination and stood in front of the Sword and Saber Sovereign.

“Are you out of your mind?!”

“Burn the martial arts books? I’ll never let that happen!”

The Master of the Abyssal Sword and the sixth apostle unleashed powerful attacks, veins showing around their eyes.

The Abyssal Sword Division and the bloody demons also jumped into the fray while emanating their malice, trying to stop them from burning the martial arts books.

“You can’t read the mood. Stay out of this.”

“I won’t allow you to get past me!”

Rimmer and Serena had been staying back, but they advanced with the wind to stop the Master of the Abyssal Sword and the sixth apostle.

“Division leader! We’ll take care of them!”

“Even his face is unpleasant. Mess him up… Sir!”

“Good luck, damn handsome Raon.”

Burren, Martha, and Runaan also raised their voices while stopping the Abyssal Sword Division’s assault. Raon figured he could trust them to watch his back.

“Just open the path, I’ll burn the martial arts books.” Raon nodded at the Cohman knight captain and the Boltweaver.

“Alright, a battle like this is my specialty.”

“Haa, I feel like my heart is about to burst.”

The Cohman knight captain raised his voice while spitting blood from his mouth, and the Boltweaver straightened his back, supporting himself with his staff.

Whir.

Raon fixed his grip on the divine and demonic swords, which were slowly losing their glow, and focused his aura from behind them.

“Huaaah!”

The Cohman knight captain acted as the vanguard once again and dashed at the Sword and Saber Sovereign. His blade sparkled frighteningly, incorporating his unbreakable will.

Clang!

However, will didn’t translate to actual power. The Cohman knight captain’s body faltered significantly upon receiving a violent blow from the Abyssal Saber.

“I’m not done yet!”

The Cohman knight captain buried his feet all the way to his ankles and barely managed to fend off the Sword and Saber Sovereign’s saber strike.

“Lightning Rain!”

Lightning arrows rained down from the Boltweaver’s trembling hand.

Cring!

The Sword and Saber Sovereign raised the Demon Breaking Sword to thoroughly cut down the Boltweaver’s lightning arrows.

Thud!

Raon executed the Supreme Harmony Steps the moment the Sword and Saber Sovereign raised both his hands.

He was about to thrust the divine sword at the opening when a frightening sound of something breaking through the wind could be heard from behind him.

‘An aura blade?’

A sharp aura blade was targeting the Cohman knight captain, the Boltweaver, and his backs.

It normally would’ve been a trivial attack, but the Cohman knight captain and the Boltweaver couldn’t afford to fend off the aura blade at the moment.

Whaam!

Raon gave up on attacking the Sword and Saber Sovereign. He fended off the fiery assault of the aura blade and checked who’d done it.

“Kuh…”

“Did it fail?”

“Keep going! They’re already tired!”

The warriors with red eyes were unleashing aura blades once again.

“Stop them no matter what!”

“Don’t let them burn the books!”

“Even people like us can become the Sword and Saber Sovereign as long as we have the martial arts books!”

The neutral factions that were closer to being the Five Demons fired their auras with their swords and sabers while shouting.

“You bastards.”

Raon bit his lip and unleashed the Firewall. He had to spend what precious little aura he had, but he had no other choice in order to protect the Cohman knight captain and the Boltweaver.

“Kuhahahaha!” Delpros clutched his forehead and laughed like a madman. “How does it feel to be attacked by people that you saved?”

“I’ve never saved people like them!”

Raon rapidly shifted his gaze while blocking the aura blades of the warriors and the Sword and Saber Sovereign’s sword strike.

‘The Light Wind Division and the Light Wind Division aren’t able to help us. The same goes for the knight order and the magicians.’

The Light Wind Division and the Light Wind Division were occupied by the Five Demons, and the Cohman knights and magicians were fighting against Delpros’s Nightshade Division.

Unfortunately, there was no one that he could rely upon.

‘Do I have to use drastic measures?’

Raon was about to quickly make a decision since he didn’t have much time when…

“You idiots!”

“Stop it!”

The warriors who’d been staying back, terrified by the Sword and Saber Sovereign’s pressure, stopped the ones who'd been launching their aura blades.

“You need to learn when to stop!”

“They’re fighting for our sake right now!”

“You are even worse than dogs!”

Their faces were familiar. They were the ones Raon had saved from the Sword and Saber Sovereign a moment ago.

No, it wasn’t just them. Those who’d been helped by the Light Wind Division and the Void Sword Division, the warriors who’d been rescued and treated on the first floor, were stopping the people who were overtaken by their greed.

“You crazy bastards!”

“Stay out of my way!”

“I can become a Transcender as long as I obtain those books!”

Those who were overtaken by the desire attacked them while shouting, but the warriors didn’t withdraw.

“We’ll take care of them!”

“Please put an end to this!”

They lifted their swords with clear eyes that didn’t yield to greed. Their hands were trembling from their lack of power, but they protected their backs as a wall until the very end.

“H-how could this happen…?” Delpros’s lips trembled because of the unexpected development.

“They are the ones I’ve saved.” Raon twisted his lips while pointing at the determined warriors.

“This is the last time. Please muster your forces,” Raon continued.

“Of course. I can still keep going for a long time!”

“I’ll also see the end of it.”

The Cohman knight captain and the Boltweaver nodded, completely covered in blood.

“Kuaah!”

The Cohman knight captain crossed swords with the Sword and Saber Sovereign, scattering blood from all around his body.

Whaam!

The Sword and Saber Sovereign’s strength and aura were as powerful as before, but he couldn’t fully focus because he’d started to think about protecting the books.

“Do it now!”

Veins started to burst from the Cohman knight captain’s skin. He didn’t lower his sword even as his muscles were rupturing and his bones were breaking.

“Lightning Empress… Cough!”

The Boltweaver coughed up blood while trying to unleash the most powerful lightning spell so far. However, he finished his chant even though his mouth was smeared in blood.

A lightning bolt in the shape of a goddess surrounded the Sword and Saber Sovereign’s body.

Rumble!

The Sword and Saber Sovereign still wasn’t pushed back even though the Cohman knight captain’s sword and the Boltweaver’s ultimate spell were striking him.

Wham!

Raon gritted his teeth and executed the Supreme Harmony Steps. He advanced so quickly that his vision was darkened, and he managed to reach the Sword and Saber Sovereign’s back.

“…!”

The Sword and Saber Sovereign noticed the presence behind him and took action even while taking the Cohman knight captain and the Boltweaver’s assaults at the same time.

Cring!

Raon unleashed his wrath the moment he was about to turn around. He stomped the ground, guiding the frightening energy freezing the mana circuits all around his body into the divine and demonic swords.

He engulfed his hand with the power crushing the land and the explosive power surging from his body. He used the divine and demonic swords pulled behind his waist and shoulder to simultaneously execute two downward slashes.

Raon Zieghart Style

Sixth Form, Divine and Demonic Harmony Combination Technique

Red-Blue Invincible Sword

The certain-kill technique incorporating the enlightenment he’d gained from fighting the doppelganger lord advanced towards the Sword and Saber Sovereign’s body and soul.

Whaaam!

The red and blue currents of the sword danced around beautifully. The wave of power capable of destroying the heavens that dwelled inside the faint aura crushed the Sword and Saber Sovereign’s sword and saber strikes at the same time.

Rumble!

The Sword and Saber Sovereign’s body was pushed back for the first time. It was such a tremendous impact that a handful of the land was dug out whenever he took a step back.

“Huaaah!”

“Gaaah!”

The Cohman knight captain and the Boltweaver didn’t miss the opportunity, barraging him with their sword strikes and spells one after the other.

Whaam!

The Sword and Saber Sovereign’s body was continuously pushed back, clashing against the wall in the end.

‘Now… Kuh!’

Raon groaned while trying to stand up. An intense pain was piercing into his head, as if his entire body and all his mana circuits had ruptured. However, he couldn’t just stop. He had to put an end to it before the Sword and Saber Sovereign returned.

He forced himself to jump even though he couldn’t move his legs. He felt like the muscles in his legs were splitting apart, but he ignored the pain and focused on the flame in his divine sword.

“Stop it!” Delpros shouted for the first time. “That martial art allows you to reach transcendence! You can also become a Transcender with it!”

He kicked the platform, seducing him with words. His neat appearance was completely flustered.

“Martial arts aren’t what’s important. People are.”

The ones who’d taught him that lesson were Glenn and Rector. Raon raised the divine sword while thinking about their sturdy backs.

“I’ll reach transcendence with my own power.”

“Shadowed Serpent Division leader! Stop him!”

The mana surrounding the martial arts books started to thicken when Delpros shouted.

“It’s already too late,” Raon sneered at Delpros, stabbing the divine sword at the books.

Crack!

The mana barrier, which hadn’t been fully fortified yet, split apart. The divine sword’s blade was embedded in the center of the two books.

Whaaam!

The divine sword unleashed its golden flame to incinerate the Sword and Saber Sovereign’s martial arts books as if it were aware that the fight was coming to an end.

What used to be transcendental martial arts books had turned into black ashes and fluttered into the air.

Whaam!

The Sword and Saber Sovereign had been running towards them to protect the books, but he came to a halt in the middle of his footwork. His energy started to rapidly subside.

“Raon Zieghart!”

However, Delpros was moving even faster. He rushed at Raon, a tremendous astral sphere gathered around his blade.

Raon bit his lip, turning around mid-air.

‘I can still dodge this much.’

He was about to land on the ground quickly, applying the Master of the Abyssal Sword’s footwork.

The demonic sword’s frost and the divine sword’s flame subsided as if they’d burned to their last ember. The Sword Field had come to an end.

‘Now, of all times?’

He couldn’t move his body from the rebound of the Sword Field’s deactivation. He could only look at Delpros’s sword as it grew bigger and bigger in his vision.

‘I have no other choice than to get hit.’

It was impossible to dodge. He was pushing his waist forward since it was the least dangerous spot, but Delpros was going for his heart, trying to put an end to him.

“Raon!”

He could hear Rimmer and Serena’s screams.

‘Damn it…’

There was really no other way. He gritted his teeth and tried to turn around somehow.

Silver armor flew into his vision.

Whack!

Delpros’s sword crushed the chest of the man standing in his way instead of Raon.

“Kuhuhu!”

It was Kuzan, the Cohman knight captain. He cheerfully started to laugh, holding Delpros’s sword with his hand.

“Kn-knight captain?” Raon’s lips trembled while looking at Kuzan’s back. “But why…?”

He’d already done his job. He couldn’t understand why he’d gone out of his way to save him.

“I-I already told you that I’d help you until the very end.”

The Cohman knight captain looked back with a smile. Blood was flowing from his mouth.

“A knight is the lord’s face! Since I humiliate his majesty with my foolishness, I need to do this at least to avoid being scolded!”

He pushed Delpros back by mustering the last bit of his strength.

“You persistent bastard!”

“Disappear!”

Delpros charged at him, his face distorted like an evil fiend, but the Boltweaver fired a lightning strike while coughing up blood. He was using his vitality instead of mana.

“Stop!”

Raon bit his lip while looking at the two.

“Please stop!”

He shouted at them to stop, but neither Kuzan nor Barphil stopped their hands.

“You don’t need to feel so pressured. I wasn’t going to live anyway. My internal injuries are too severe.” 

Kuzan opened his severed armor. His abdomen had turned completely dark.

“The same goes for me. It’s better to have a splendid end since I’m going to die anyway.”

The Boltweaver nodded while chuckling.

“Thank you for your consideration when we were out of our minds.”

“I’m honored to have fought by your side, Light Wind Division.”

They dashed against Delpros, who was charging at them again.

Whaaam!

A faint light reminiscent of the lunar halo covered them. A tremendous explosion burst out, causing the entire cavern to tremble. Dark smoke reached all the way to the sky.

“Kuaaah!”

Delpros jumped out through the smoke. He was bleeding, but he didn’t seem to have any serious injuries.

“Shadowed Serpent Division leader! Take them all out! Kill them all!” he shouted while clenching his fist, as if he’d lost his sanity.

Rumble!

The darkness surrounding the cavern was split apart, and all of the monsters they’d encountered from the first to fourth floors appeared.

Kieeeh!

The monsters dashed at every human in the area, enemies and allies alike.

“I can finally cut your head off.”

Delpros walked up to him, a twisted gleam in his eyes.

Raon bit his lip while looking at the land where Kuzan and Barphil had perished instead of Delpros.

‘Damn it!’

He’d only recently met them, but they were both nice people. They were real adults, ones who knew how to acknowledge their mistakes and beg for forgiveness. He was in pain because they could’ve become his comrade in arms if it weren’t for that.

The King of Essence is also getting angry.

Wrath bit his lip.

Hand over your body. No, it will make you lose your sanity, so do that thing from before!

He bobbed his finger, urging him to do it already.

‘Damn it!’

It was frustrating.

He wanted to avenge them himself, but the fact that he couldn’t do anything made him so frustrated. However, there was no other way. He didn’t have any aura, and even his stamina and willpower were at their limits.

Raon held Heavenly Drive in a reverse grip while watching Delpros approach him with the face of an evil fiend. Just as he was about to stab his stomach, the dark ceiling trembled.

Whaaam!

The ceiling collapsed even though it’d looked like it would never break, and crimson flames spread in all directions.

Amid the dazzling flame burning away the darkness, Caiyan the phoenix spread its huge wings.

[You human vermin! How dare you lock me up?!]

He’d disappeared on the fourth floor, but now he was roaring as he unleashed a firestorm.

Whaaam!

The spiral wave of flame incinerated all of the monsters attacking the warriors.

“Kuh!”

Delpros kept running while ignoring Caiyan’s flame. His malice revealed his determination to put an end to Raon.

Whir!

At that moment, an intense flame emanated from Raon’s chest with a vibration. It was the metallic ring that he’d wrapped up in Caiyan’s feathers.

Raon took the ring from his chest. The ring was shining the same color as Caiyan’s feather, implying that the seal was broken.

“Put out the fire.”

Raon put the ring on his finger. He made a declaration, the cold glow from his eyes cooling down the flame.

“I’ll be the one to cut his head off.”

***

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]