Chapter 565
Kyaaaang!
As the ring of fire that had been forming a semicircle touched the fifth circle, it crumbled like dry leaves.
“Huu…”
Raon exhaled a breath filled with frustration as he looked at the remnants of the shattered ring.
‘It’s not easy after all.’
To expand the ring of fire, he had to weave new rings around the existing ones while they were still rotating.
It was easy to create one or two rings when there was enough mana, but as the number of rings increased, the difficulty of adding new ones skyrocketed.
Now, there were seven fiery rings, and their rotation speed had increased, making it hard to find an opening for a new one.
‘I have to do it anyway.’
There was no other way.
The only way to overcome this dire situation was to create an eighth fiery ring to break through the barrier. Even if it drained all the mana he had replenished with elixirs, he had to complete the ring.
Raon concentrated high-purity mana around his heart, delicately manipulating it like pulling thread from a cocoon to form a new fiery ring.
Kyaaaang!
But the new ring shattered into pieces before even completing a semicircle, touching the second ring.
‘Again.’
There was no time for despair. He immediately drew more mana and continued his attempts.
Kyaaaang!
This time, as soon as he began forming it, the seventh ring intercepted and crushed the mana.
‘Again.’
‘Again.’
‘Again.’
He kept trying tirelessly, but the unpredictable orbits of the fiery rings made it hard to find a path.
He felt it might be easier to engage in a life-or-death duel with a Grand Master.
“Ha…”
Raon looked up, his gaze following the rotating rings in the world of visualization, and he let out a hollow laugh.
“The hierarchy is too rigid.”
The seven fiery rings formed an impregnable fortress, rejecting the need for a new one by rotating fiercely and crushing any approaching line of mana.
‘Keep breaking. Let’s see who wins.’
The realm of visualization existed outside the normal flow of time. It was almost a miracle that he could shape the fiery rings here, and he had to see it through here.
‘Then again… Huh?’
Raon paused as he was drawing mana for the new fiery ring.
‘Is it still there?’
Numerous versions of himself were still in the realm of visualization, each wielding a sword and displaying their swordsmanship.
Normally, when one achieves enlightenment, the form that granted it disappears, but it was strange that it remained.
Raon observed his younger self focused on basic swordsmanship, the boy Raon immersed in crafting his sword, and the young man Raon indulging in ascended sword techniques.
All were different in their swordplay, but they shared one common trait: at every stage, he had put his all into his swordsmanship.
From childhood to now, he had always devoted himself fully to training.
The determination not to give up was something he believed in more than anyone else.
‘Then there’s no time to be doing this.’
Raon smiled faintly and was about to resume creating the fiery ring when he paused again.
‘Wait a minute…’
Have I really put nothing into my swordsmanship until now?
He looked up again. It was hard to believe that he had swung his sword so earnestly throughout his youth and now as a young man without embedding anything into it.
‘Sword…’
The moment he recalled his boyhood self wielding the immature but fierce Sword of Balkan, a conversation with Balkan came to mind.
[What is your goal?]
[I want to be a swordsman who is unbreakable by anyone, in any situation.]
It wasn’t just about revenge against Derus; it was about showing the will to become an unbreakable swordsman to achieve the goals he had set for himself.
That will was alive and breathing in his heart, which is why he could always wield his sword with all his might.
[It’s good to learn complex and varied sword techniques. But each technique must have a meaning when you unfold it.]
[It’s not hard. The answer lies within you.]
The conversation between the Sword Devil and Glenn echoed again, and the world of visualization froze.
His younger self and the young man he was now both planted their swords back into the ground.
They nodded slightly as if they had conveyed everything and dispersed into smoke.
Kikikikigik!
The seven fiery rings slowly came to a halt. As if waiting for a new flow, the rings sparked massive flames and opened a path.
Mesmerized, Raon lifted his finger. He moved the golden, shimmering mana and engraved a new line within the halted fiery rings.
A circle more beautiful than anything else began to form, vibrating the realm of visualization.
Raon felt the heat of the eight rings as they flared up and closed his eyes, sinking deeper into the darkening world into a profound trance.
“Block everything!”
“Do whatever it takes to bring him down!”
Rimmer and the Dragon Swordsmaster reacted first, naturally, it was the Light Wind Squad.
Knowing Raon’s circumstances, the squad leaders and Mark Gordon reacted without hesitation.
“Light Wind Squad, follow up as fast as you can!”
Burren issued commands to the bewildered Light Wind Squad as he gritted his teeth at Raon floating in the air.
“He said he wouldn’t get caught, and now he’s broadcasting that he’s fallen into a trance? This crazy bastard!”
Despite his cursing, he moved with desperate urgency.
“I knew this would happen.”
Martha scoffed and shook her head.
“There’s no way that crazy guy wouldn’t cause trouble!”
She burst into refreshing laughter, standing in the north and raising her sword, followed by Burren who took the south.
“Raon Zieghart, with his eyes closed and mouth shut, looking good.”
Runaan simply nodded and took his position in the east.
“Hehe.”
Mark Gordon also smiled lightly as he stood to the west of Raon.
“What’s there to smile about!”
“The fact that the Vice Captain has fallen into a trance here means he trusts us that much. I’m just happy about that.”
“…”
The three squad leaders gave no response, just staring down the approaching enemies with deeply sunken eyes.
“What the hell is this!”
“Why is that guy floating in the air!”
“Could he be in a trance right now? What kind of human courage is that!”
“He said he’d eaten a dragon, but now he’s become a dragon himself. Is he ascending?”
While the Sword Devils from the Holy Sword Alliance arrived a bit late, the Light Wind Squad had already set up a strong aura barrier that didn’t show any signs of shaking.
“What are you all doing! Push through! Touch it at least!”
The Dragon Swordsmaster yelled in frustration.
“Right now, Raon Zieghart can’t do anything!”
“Ignore the Light Wind Squad! Send your sword energy at Raon!”
“Let’s avenge Young Master Cloud!”
Empowered by the Sword Master’s words, the Sword Devils of the Holy Sword Alliance charged with a brutal aura, but the Light Wind Squad’s momentum was greater.
The swordsmen focused solely on defense, disregarding their own lives to protect Raon.
“Hold your positions!”
“Don’t let them break through.”
“If this damn guy gets up, it’s our victory! Bet your lives on it!”
Burren, Runaan, and Martha’s shouts hardened the Light Wind Squad’s defense.
The Sword Devils of the Holy Sword Alliance unleashed a direct and destructive offensive but were countered and scattered, spilling blood on the crushed earth.
Gooooo!
As the Light Wind Squad’s aura converged in the center, forming a more solid Light Wind Formation, eight rings floated above Raon’s head.
Each ring, alive with hot flames, spun and then seeped into the area near Raon’s heart.
“What, what is that…?”
“Flames?”
Both the Light Wind Squad and the Sword Devils paused, breathless at this strange sight.
But Raon’s transformation was not yet complete. Now, three flowers blossomed above his head.
The flower on the left was red and glamorous, the one on the right was blue and pure, and the one in the center was modest but held the most brilliant golden light.
The petals, thin as the morning dew, fluttered, releasing a mystical light and a distant fragrance.
“Darn it!”
The Dragon Swordsmaster gritted his teeth and stomped the air.
‘That bastard! He’s broken through the Grand Master’s barrier!’
The three flowers represented the aura of the three energy centers, and their blooming indicated that the lower, middle, and upper energy centers were all connected.
He had thought Raon was still breaking through the barrier, but in this short time, that crazy man had smashed through the Grand Master’s barrier and was moving forward.
The Dragon Swordsmaster hurled his demonic sword, Criathus, to slice through the Light Wind Formation.
The blade of the sword turned into a column of black fire, and a chilling wind arose to block its path.
Jeeeeeeng!
Rimmer’s broadsword repelled the Sword Master’s demonic sword, generating a massive thunderclap in the air. The exploding thunder consumed all the demonic energy.
“Your opponent is me. Where are you going?”
“Get out of the way!”
The Dragon Swordsmaster furrowed his brow and swung the demonic sword Criathus with terrifying force. The power and speed of the sword strokes suddenly increased.
Kyaaaang!
Rimmer extended the Thunder Sword to block the demonic sword’s path, but his wrist trembled as if it would break.
‘Damn…’
Had he been holding back his power?
Protecting Raon and the Light Wind Squad from the demonic sword Criathus’ demonic energy had consumed more than 30% of his aura, leaving him without enough strength to continue. His internal injuries were so severe that his chest felt like it was tearing apart.
‘I have to hold on even if it kills me.’
The combination of thunder energy and wind reduced the influence of the demonic energy significantly. Even if he died here, he could not afford to release the sword formation.
“Get lost!”
The Dragon Swordsmaster, revealing his impatience, abruptly twisted his sword. The demonic energy surged like a tidal wave, crashing towards the Light Wind Squad.
“You’re the one who should disappear!”
Rimmer, with heavy steps, generated a Rising Dragon of Wind and Thunder. The storm that erupted from his sword clashed with the wave of demonic energy.
Kwaaaaaang!
The demonic energy and thunder clashed, creating a cloud of sparks across the sky.
“You’re not going anywhere!”
Rimmer, wiping the black blood dripping from his mouth, bared his white teeth.
“You think you can protect them? You?”
The Dragon Swordsmaster, placing his demonic sword Criathus in the middle, curled his lips into a sneer.
“Your minions were slaughtered because you survived by eating them! And…”
His expression, previously relaxed, now tightened as he licked his dry lips.
“They die because they’re under you!”
He thrust his sword without any preparatory movements. The sudden surge of demonic energy shot towards the center of the Light Wind Formation, targeting Raon.
“Ugh…”
Rimmer bit his lip and moved to the right, unleashing a burst of wind and thunder with his sword.
Kuwaang!
The explosion of demonic energy threw Rimmer to the ground. His sword stroke shattered, but his quick thinking spared the Light Wind Squad any damage. Instead, the surrounding Sword Devils of the Holy Sword Alliance died.
“Still interfering to the end…”
The Dragon Swordsmaster bit his lip, watching Rimmer’s calm gaze.
“Right.”
Rimmer, struggling to stand, nodded.
“Their deaths are because of me. I fell for your petty provocations and killed everyone.”
He raised his trembling hand, holding his sword with a bitter look.
“That’s why I won’t fall for it this time. I won’t let you touch these kids before I die.”
Rimmer aimed his thunder-flashing sword at the Sword Dragon Swordsmaster. His hand no longer trembled.
“Krh…”
The Sword Master’s clean features twisted like a demon’s.
“Fine. If you want to die that badly, I’ll split you open first!”
He aggressively advanced, scattering demonic energy. The sharply sculpted demonic energy turned into a storm of blades, swirling around.
Rimmer planted his feet on the ground and raised his sword. The light concentrated at the sword’s core exploded, slicing the sky and quelling the blade storm.
Kuwaawawawang!
The clash of demonic and thunder energies caused a massive explosion that seemed to shatter space.
However, Criathus’ demonic energy grew stronger, while Rimmer’s thunder energy became paler and started to break off in chunks.
The range of his sword formation also shrank, leaving him with little space to control. The end was near.
Rimmer bit his lip in despair when the three flowers above Raon’s head transformed into light and were sucked into his nostrils.
“Darn!”
The Dragon Swordsmaster, feeling that time was running out, gripped Criathus with both hands and raised it upward.
Kugugugugu!
The blade of the sword soared as if to reach the sky, spreading a sinister aura.
The Sword Master unleashed an extremely compressed burst of demonic energy, as if he was about to pour all his power into it.
“Block it if you can!”
With a sneer, the sword fell. The demonic energy, burning like a black sun, caused a tremendous surge, pushing into the sword formation.
“Ah…”
Rimmer watched the approaching burst, biting his lip.
‘I can kill him.’
The Dragon Swordsmaster, excited and neglecting defense, focused all his attention on the attack.
Now was the chance to split his neck and end the revenge. I could resolve the grudge of those who had died by his hand.
But the already falling sword could not be stopped. If I succeeded in my revenge, it would mean the death of Raon and the Light Wind Squad.
‘There’s no need to think about this…’
As he moved to save the Light Wind Squad, the faces of those who had died appeared.
Their foolish eyes, concerned for me even as their hearts were torn out by the Sword Master, haunted my mind.
They seemed to want revenge, staring back with blood-soaked eyes.
I closed my eyes. If I chose the Light Wind Squad here, I would never have another chance to take revenge on the Sword Master.
Even if he died, it wouldn’t be revenge by my hand.
A lifetime’s resolve would never be fulfilled, I felt it in my soul.
I slowly opened my eyes. The faces of my fallen comrades still floated there.
I smiled at them with my eyes.
‘You wouldn’t have that expression.’
I will save your juniors no matter what.
Thud.
With a resolute step, Rimmer moved forward towards the surging demonic energy, lifting his broadsword.
“I told you. You have to get through me first!”
The thunder energy that had been blazing around the blade settled down, and a thick wind rose in its place. From below, a wave of wind formed a solid wall.
The sound faded, and a zone of still air was created.
Not a song of wind and lightning, but the eye of a storm.
This transformation of the sword formation was a return to its origin, focusing solely on one thing.
Above all, the noble wall of wind blocked the demonic blade’s edge.
Kuwaawawawawang!
The demonic burst, failing to reach its target, melted away futilely. The wall of wind also did its job and then faded dimly.
It was a victory for the one who had held out, but Rimmer’s sword could no longer be held in his hands.
Kyaaang!
He clutched his torn right shoulder, spitting blood.
“You…”
The Dragon Swordsmaster widened his eyes, not expecting even this to be blocked.
“Ha ha.”
Rimmer forced a laugh and shook his head.
“I told you. You can’t get past me…”
“This is the end!”
Ignoring Rimmer, the Dragon Swordsmaster charged at the Light Wind Squad, aiming to stab Krein with his sword in the lead. Just in time, Rimmer stepped in front of him again.
Thump!
Rimmer blocked the demonic sword Criathus with his body, grinning.
“Are you deaf? I said to kill me first!”
“Fine! If that’s your wish, die!”
The Dragon Swordsmaster tried to detonate the blade when…
Kuwaawawawang!
A giant flame erupted from the center of the Light Wind Squad. A fierce, primal fire spread out, scorching the demonic energy.
Thud.
Within the storm of flames, a golden shadow approached and grabbed the demonic sword protruding from Rimmer’s abdomen.
Hwaaaaa!
The intensely burning flame tore the blade away and sealed Rimmer’s wound.
“Ugh…”
Rimmer fell backward, and the golden shadow supported his back.
“You’re late.”
“I’m sorry. I overslept a bit.”
Raon, revealing his true form from within the flames, smiled faintly.
“Now, leave it to me.”
“You really…”
Rimmer, realizing he had received the same words he once gave Raon in front of the Blood Demon, chuckled weakly and closed his eyes.
“Please.”
Raon carefully lifted Rimmer and handed him over to Dorian.
“You, you…”
The Dragon Swordsmaster stepped back as he sensed Raon’s drastically changed aura.
“Even if you’ve ascended to Grand Master, it’s useless! Anyway, I am…”
Raon didn’t respond to his words, simply drawing his Celestial Sword.
A thousand flames connected, reaching for the sky.
Manifestation of Thousand Flames.
Domain of the Unyielding.
Inside Raon’s eyes, now tinged golden, the deity of flame resided, ready to cleanse everything with fire.
