Chapter 568
Raon slapped Wrath’s glowing forehead with the back of his hand and checked the messages.
[You have ascended to the realm of a Grand Master.]
[You have revealed the madness of losing yourself in the midst of battle.]
[All attributes have increased by 40 points.]
[You have achieved the continent’s first feat: <Youngest Grand Master>.]
[The caliber of your soul has greatly increased.]
[The realm of all martial arts has significantly advanced.]
It seemed that not only had he become a Grand Master, but being immersed in battle and breaking barriers had further increased his attributes.
’40 points, that’s insane.’
Even as he reaped the rewards, the figures were unbelievable. Yet, there was an even more pleasing message.
‘The fact that all realms of martial arts have increased.’
After becoming a Grand Master, the power of his swordsmanship and Wrath’s ultimate techniques were stronger than he expected, confirming that it wasn’t his imagination.
All martial arts had improved, significantly boosting the power of his swordsmanship and aura.
-Damn it!
While Raon was smiling faintly at the messages, Wrath raised his head angrily.
-If you’ve done something crazy, you should be taking points away, not giving more! You fool!
He screamed incomprehensibly, clutching his head.
-And without even the owner’s permission! Why are you distributing it on your own!
Wrath swung his fists at the system that granted the rewards, causing the next message to appear.
[The Ring of Fire has reached 8 stars.]
[All attributes have increased by 10 points.]
[The recovery powers of your body and aura have greatly increased.]
[The Upper Chamber has expanded. Greater power now resides in your aura.]
[A special ability may awaken.]
The rewards from the Ring of Fire reaching 8 stars included significant increases in physical and aura recovery powers.
Perhaps because he envisioned an unbeatable swordsman and an undying flame, a message about greatly increased recovery powers appeared.
Raon closed his eyes and contemplated internally.
‘Definitely…’
His recovery had become extremely fast.
Due to the duel with the Dragon Sword Master, his energy center was empty, but it was filling up at a different rate than before, with both the effects of Sloth’s recovery and the Ring of Fire overlapping, seemingly increasing recovery power exponentially.
-Kyaaak!
Just as he smiled at the slight heaviness of his energy center, Wrath let out a cat-like scream.
-Just look at this. Do I look like a joke to you? Why are you still giving out attributes! Recovery power? This guy doesn’t die anyway! We don’t need things like recovery power! What nonsense!
Wrath continued to argue with every single line of the messages. Of course, no one was listening to him.
Raon ignored Wrath, who looked like he was bristling, and checked the last message.
‘What special ability could it be?’
He knew that the Upper Chamber had expanded because the Simulated World had grown.
But he had no idea what the special ability could be.
-Don’t you even know that!
Wrath clicked his tongue and turned away.
-You have transcended the wall of living beings themselves. As you have somewhat exceeded humanity, a corresponding ability may arise.
‘Ah…’
-Such a fool to be robbed of attributes, I feel like dying from injustice!
He genuinely felt sorry as he pounded his chest, though not too hard.
‘So, what ability is it?’
-How should I know! It depends on what kind of human you are, and we don’t know when it might open up! It might not even happen at all!
Wrath was dismissive, suggesting that it varied from individual to individual.
‘In the end, you know nothing?’
-Just shut that damn mouth!
When Raon dodged Wrath’s fist, another message appeared.
[The rank of <Ambush> has increased.]
[The rank of <Holy Born from Darkness> has increased.]
[The rank of <Morale Resistance> has increased.]
[The rank of <Eye of Wrath> has increased.]
[The rank of <Armor of Frost> has increased.]
The last message indicated that the ranks of various attributes he had used extensively in the battle had increased.
-Jeeeeeeez!
Wrath could not hold back and cursed.
-Is this a marble ice cream shop? You’re giving it all out so evenly! And only the tasty ones like mint chocolate!
‘Hmm, mint chocolate isn’t that tasty….’
-You shut up, and respond to the damn system!
Wrath yelled, but the system seemed to have finished its work and disappeared proudly.
-Ugh, my bones are chilling….
Wrath, despite being a monarch of severe cold, muttered about being cold while shivering his pudgy flesh.
‘Cold, you say?’
-I’m always being robbed. Really, there’s no joy in living.
Feeling somewhat pitiful, Raon scratched his head and approached Wrath.
‘Shall I buy you some marble ice cream when we return? How about three sets?’
He offered to buy ice cream, but Wrath, unexpectedly, did not turn around but continued muttering to himself.
‘Is he really sulking?’
Raon clicked his tongue and listened to Wrath’s words.
-Which flavor to choose. I hope I choose well.
Apparently, Wrath was not sulking or angry; he was focused on choosing the flavor of ice cream.
‘I’m sick of this….’
Raon sighed and turned his attention away.
“Why are you giggling to yourself?”
Rimmer chuckled and gestured with his hand.
“Me?”
“Yes. You were smiling and then frowning at the air. What’s up?”
He scrutinized the area where Raon and Wrath had seen the messages, frowning.
“Ah, just tired.”
Raon smiled awkwardly, scratching his cheek.
“Right. The fights have been back-to-back, so you must be tired.”
Burren, seeing Wrath, nodded as if everything was fine. He mouthed that the spirit looked cute.
‘Cute, my foot…’
He wanted to shout that the creature was nothing but a demonic insect, but he refrained.
“Indeed.”
Rimmer nodded calmly. Raon’s eyes unintentionally drifted to his right shoulder, feeling as if his chest was clogged.
“Leader.”
Raon stood in front of Rimmer, looking into his eyes.
“What will you do about your arm?”
“Well….”
Rimmer touched his right shoulder with his left hand, smiling awkwardly.
“Maybe I’ll retire?”
His voice was as light as if they were having a casual conversation.
“Retire?”
“I’ve been with the Ziegharts for a long time. From leader to instructor and back to leader, so my severance and pension should be quite substantial.”
Rimmer smiled smoothly, waving his left hand.
“I could buy a house in the bustling area and commute to the casino. Wouldn’t that be fun?”
His eyes were ambiguously serious or joking as he rubbed his fingers.
“Actually, gamblers missing an arm or an ear are surprisingly common. It would sell well as a gimmick, don’t you think?”
“Is, is that really what you’re thinking?”
Burren’s pupils shook in confusion.
“The leader would blow all his severance on the same day! What retirement are you talking about!”
Marta, unlike usual, couldn’t run off at the mouth, just biting her lip.
“….”
Runaan looked at Rimmer quietly, as if understanding any decision he might make.
“Stop talking nonsense!”
“We’ll lose all the money we lent you to your severance if you go anywhere!”
“Go bury your bones in the Light Wind Division and pay off your debts!”
“Stay for life!”
Dorian and the members of the Light Wind Division also shouted, seeming unable to bear the thought of Rimmer retiring.
“Ha….”
Rimmer just sighed deeply at the Light Wind Division. The children he had watched grow from youth to adulthood were telling him not to go, and he seemed to have nothing to say in response.
“Leader.”
Raon moved closer to Rimmer, who had lowered his head.
“If you really want to retire, I’ll accept it. However….”
He calmly turned his gaze to inspect Rimmer’s right shoulder.
“If it’s because of your arm, there might be a way.”
“What do you mean?”
Rimmer tightened his grip on his shoulder, raising his gaze.
“Cloud’s arm was a bit strange.”
Raon approached Cloud’s corpse and touched the man’s right arm.
It felt soft and warm, but not like a human arm. As he had initially thought, it was an artifact.
Crack!
Since Cloud was dead, the artifact arm came off easily.
‘Is it using mana?’
It seemed like a method of implanting artificial veins like mana circuits in the shoulder. It would be hard to use as is, but if he took it to Encia, she could probably make something new.
“Ugh….”
Rimmer grimaced at the sight of the artificial arm.
“I, I have a phobia. I’ll just live as I am.”
He nonsensically claimed to have a phobia while living in a garbage pit.
“It’s not about using this one. The arm length wouldn’t even fit.”
Raon lowered the artificial arm, shaking his head.
“Then?”
“If we take this, Lady Encia might be able to make something new.”
“Ah, right. That genius lady can even make artificial energy centers.”
Rimmer seemed to think that was a possibility, nodding his head.
“Definitely. Gamblers with no hands wear prosthetics. That looks cooler.”
He smiled slyly, imagining himself gambling with an artificial arm.
-Do we really have to make him an arm?
Wrath shook his head in disbelief.
‘I’m regretting even bringing it up.’
As Raon was considering agreeing with Wrath, Rimmer scratched his neck.
“Truth is, half my life was about revenge.”
He smiled with eyes that didn’t match the word ‘revenge.’
“It’s thanks to you guys that it was achieved, so I’m not sure about what comes next.”
Rimmer briefly tasted the air as he looked at his empty right shoulder.
“I’m thinking about not attaching an arm, maybe just using my left hand to wield a sword, maybe just offering support from behind. I’m even thinking about really retiring.”
It seemed he had not yet made up his mind as he exhaled softly.
“It’s not urgent. Take your time.”
“Alright.”
Raon nodded and gestured to the Light Wind Division.
“Let’s start with cleaning up. We never know what might happen next. Let’s sort things out as quickly as possible and leave this place.”
“Yes!”
As the Light Wind Division responded and began to move, Wrath stared into the air.
-It is so.
‘What now? A message?’
-….
Wrath did not respond but narrowed his eyes slightly.
-Something has changed.
‘What are you talking about now.’
Raon threw his gaze in the direction Wrath was watching and then halted. Indeed, something massive was approaching in the distance.
Goooooo!
By the time he sensed it, an elderly man with white hair was floating in the air.
“Uh…?”
Raon widened his eyes at the sight of the elder. The grand stature, eyes sharp as honed blades, and an air of calmness that did not match them. He was unmistakably someone Raon knew.
“Master Rektor?”
The white-haired elder was the well-known Sword Demon Rektor. Raon had never imagined meeting the Sword Demon here, and his mouth fell open.
“How did you get here?”
Raon’s smile conveyed his pleasure. However, the Sword Demon did not respond, instead gazing solemnly at the corpses of Cloud and the Dragon Sword Master.
“Ah, these are Sword Demons from the Holy Sword Alliance. They tried to swallow the Lakion family but ended up battling us.”
There were corpses all around, so he briefly explained the situation to alleviate the elder’s suspicions.
“….”
However, Rektor showed no reaction, only examining the bodies of the Holy Sword Alliance swordsmen.
“Master Rektor?”
“You have ascended to Grand Master.”
“It’s thanks to you, Master.”
Raon nodded and smiled sincerely. It wasn’t just a polite greeting; he truly meant it.
The conversation between the Sword Demon and Glenn had helped him break through quickly to Grand Master status.
“Is that so.”
The Sword Demon nodded calmly, lifting his gaze. There was no joy in his eyes, only a dry look, but a faint light flickered within that desiccation.
Raon swallowed dryly as he met the Sword Demon’s eyes.
‘Why….’
He had thought that the Sword Demon would be as happy for him as if it were his own achievement, but he seemed indifferent, as if he had heard about someone else’s affairs.
‘Something’s wrong.’
Just as he was about to probe whether this truly was the Sword Demon, swordsmen from the Holy Sword Alliance landed behind him.
“Master Rektor! We’re from the Holy Sword Alliance!”
Raon gestured, but Rektor neither retreated nor turned around, just remaining where he was.
The swordsmen from the Holy Sword Alliance also didn’t move from behind Rektor. They didn’t seem to be preparing to attack, but rather looked like they were guarding him.
“No, could it be….”
“So it has come to this.”
Rektor’s expression turned cold as he descended to the ground. His presence was chilling enough to freeze flesh and bone just by approaching.
“You can’t mean….”
Instead of Raon, Rimmer stepped forward.
“Yes.”
The Sword Demon nodded calmly.
“I am the Blood Sword Lord of the Holy Sword Alliance.”
He declared his affiliation with the Holy Sword Alliance while his eyes brimmed with murderous intent. The sight of his blood-soaked eyes sent a shiver down the spine.
“Uh…?”
“What, what did you say?”
“The Holy Sword Alliance? You, Master?”
The Light Wind Division, having spent not a short time with the Sword Demon, shook their eyes in disbelief.
“Hey, old man.”
Rimmer twisted his lips as he pointed at Rektor with the hand that was holding his shoulder.
“What are you talking about! Why would you join the Holy Sword Alliance all of a sudden!”
“It’s not that I joined.”
The Sword Demon responded without blinking an eye.
“I have been a member of the Holy Sword Alliance from the beginning.”
“….”
Raon looked at Cloud’s corpse, clenching his fist until it hurt.
‘It was Master Rektor he was talking about….’
When Cloud had shouted why his swordsmanship wasn’t working, he had been referring to the Sword Demon. Now he understood why Cloud’s brief display of Myriad Swords seemed familiar.
‘I learned it too.’
Because he had learned from the same person, Cloud’s techniques had looked familiar.
“So why did you approach us as a member of the Holy Sword Alliance back then! You were serious at the time!”
Rimmer’s face reddened as he screamed. He must have liked the Sword Demon, just as he had been angry at seeing the Dragon Sword Master.
“Do I need to give you an answer?”
The Sword Demon shook his head with a cold look as he reached out his hand, and the Holy Sword Alliance swordsmen surrounded the Light Wind Division.
“Since we’ve been acquainted, let’s end this quickly.”
“Damn it!”
“Son of a….”
“It’s just one thing after another!”
The Light Wind Division, trembling with betrayal, gathered in the center to form the Typhoon Array. However, they were mentally and physically exhausted, so the formation did not solidify perfectly.
Srrrrring!
Raon drew his Heavenly Sword, blocking in front of the Light Wind Division.
‘We can’t win.’
The situation was different from the time with the Dragon Sword Master. Even if he maintained the awakened state and had full aura and physical strength, he couldn’t block even one strike from Rektor. The situation was practically over.
“I don’t understand. The Holy Sword Alliance and Ziegharts are enemies, so why did you teach me swordsmanship?”
Raon asked not just to buy time, but because he was genuinely curious.
“It was just a pastime.”
Rektor shook his head emotionlessly.
“….”
Raon examined Rektor’s cold demeanor, biting his lip.
‘That can’t be right.’
Rektor’s teachings had been sincere. His gestures had always been thorough, and he had striven to teach as much as possible.
Perhaps there was another reason, but saying it was just a pastime at this point was incomprehensible.
But now, the reason was not important.
Rektor was approaching to take action himself.
“If I take you, a 21-year-old Grand Master, the Lord will be pleased.”
-Hmm….
Raon looked at Wrath. Surprisingly, the creature was just scratching its chin, saying nothing.
‘Should I borrow Wrath’s power now?’
No, it’s too risky.
Exposing his identity was one thing, but if he caused a demonic ascension now, he couldn’t predict the aftermath. That should be a last resort.
And handing over his body to Wrath was also out of the question. If he went berserk, he might annihilate everyone here.
‘It’s better to be captured.’
If they were taking him, it meant they didn’t intend to kill him. There might be a way to unleash Wrath once they got to the Holy Sword Alliance, so he decided to go along.
Raon came to a decision and nodded.
“If I come with you, will you let the Light Wind Division go?”
“The others are meaningless.”
Rektor nodded without even looking at Rimmer and the Light Wind Division.
“Hey!”
“What nonsense!”
“Absolutely not!”
“Raon.”
Rimmer, Marta, Burren, and Runaan stepped forward, breaking the sword formation, but Raon stopped them with a gesture.
“Stay put. If they’re taking me, they’re not planning to kill me.”
“But, still….”
“It’s not about dying! You don’t know what might happen!”
“You really….”
“As the acting leader, I order you all to stand down.”
Raon commanded the Light Wind Division, then sheathed his Heavenly Sword again.
“Good judgment.”
Rektor let out a deflated laugh and reached out his hand. As his grasp obscured the view, Raon drew his Soul Cleansing Sword with his left hand.
Kyaaaang!
He unleashed Ambush to the fullest, thrusting the sword forward, but the blazing energy of the Soul Cleansing Sword could not cut through Rektor’s skin and was repelled.
“That’s right. That’s Raon Zieghart.”
Rektor smiled as if he had expected this. He lightly flicked the Soul Cleansing Sword aside and reached out again. His casual strike contained the essence of Thousand Swords. It could neither be dodged nor blocked.
‘Damn it….’
As he bit his lip and watched the approaching hand, it happened.
Chijijijijik!
The space between Raon and Rektor split deeply, unleashing a tremendous aura. A blade that tore through space. It was an unmistakable space cleave.
“Ugh….”
“Stay away from my nephew!”
As Rektor furrowed his brow and retreated, the split space opened, and sunset-hued hair billowed out.
“This damned old man!”
