Chapter 581

Raon gulped as he watched Stearin’s bowstring gradually tighten.

‘If he says to take it if I can…’

Was he offering to teach him?

Recalling Stearin’s earlier words, it seemed he wasn’t proposing a fight but rather demonstrating his archery.

When they first met, Stearin had said they would meet again after the World Tree purification ceremony, but now he seemed to be offering guidance immediately, likely because he appreciated the advice given to Siyan.

“The archery I use is called Camarishi. However…”

With a serene smile, Stearin drew the bowstring halfway and paused.

“Humans refer to it as Igi Yeo Shi.”

“Igi Yeo Shi…”

Igi Yeo Shi was the highest level of archery, where the archer could control the trajectory of the arrow at will. The thought of witnessing such a transcendent martial art in person made Raon’s heart pound with excitement.

“Prepare yourself.”

Stearin gave him a leisurely look, indicating that Raon should get ready. However, the eerie energy emanating from the arrow nocked on Stearin’s bow was chilling.

Raon bit his lip as he looked at the gleaming arrowhead.

‘This is an opportunity.’

Facing a transcendent being who used a bow was an unparalleled chance. Experiencing a new martial art would expand his horizons even further.

‘I mustn’t assume I’m at an advantage despite the close distance.’

Typically, a swordsman would have the upper hand in close quarters against an archer. However, this didn’t apply to Stearin, who could use Igi Yeo Shi. Raon had to fight as if he were at a disadvantage.

“I’m ready.”

Raon nodded, envisioning ways to block Stearin’s arrows in his mind.

“Youngsters prepare quickly.”

Stearin tilted his chin back slightly and drew the bow to its full extent. The moment the bowstring creaked as if it would snap, a chill ran down Raon’s spine.

‘The atmosphere has changed.’

Just moments ago, Stearin exuded a calm demeanor, but now he radiated a sharp, almost malevolent energy. This seemed to be his true nature in combat.

Just meeting Stearin’s eyes made Raon’s hair stand on end. The overwhelming pressure from his transcendent strength felt crushing.

‘I can’t falter here.’

If he crumbled now, he would gain nothing. Raon resonated with the ring of fire to elevate his level beyond its usual limits.

Wooong!

Without even thinking to wipe the sweat from his forehead, Raon raised the Heavenly Sword to a middle guard. The sword’s hum helped to ease his tense body slightly.

“Your gaze is impressive.”

Stearin nodded approvingly and lightly released the bowstring. In an instant, the arrow was right in front of Raon’s nose, moving faster than sound, as if transported by magic.

‘Right side of the waist!’

The only fortunate thing was that he could sense where the arrow was aiming due to the murderous intent imbued in it.

Siiing!

Raon shifted the Heavenly Sword to the right to block the arrow’s path.

‘Huh?’

However, Stearin’s arrow stopped right in front of his waist, not moving any further. An arrow moving faster than sound, stopping suddenly, was impossible, but Stearin’s power made the impossible possible.

Whoosh!

The moment Raon’s sword sliced through empty air, Stearin moved the arrow again. The white arrow rushed toward Raon’s solar plexus even faster than when it was initially shot.

‘I was deceived!’

Raon pushed off the ground with his heel, stepping back with the Supreme Harmony Steps.

However, the arrow naturally moved faster than his retreat, closing in on his chest.

‘I bought some time.’

Using the slight opening created by his footwork, he thrust the Requiem Sword held in a reverse grip.

Siiing!

The blue-tinted blade of the Requiem Sword intercepted the white arrow, but Stearin once again changed the arrow’s direction, aiming for another vital point.

‘I expected this.’

The frosty blade trailing the Requiem Sword struck the center of the shifting arrow.

Clang!

Even though he struck the arrow shaft and not the tip, the impact made his hand feel as if it were tearing apart. The entire arrow was protected by a powerful aura.

“Hmm!”

Stearin let out a small sound of admiration.

“A single swing resulting in two sword strikes. Impressive.”

He evaluated the Frost Pond and smiled leisurely. The arrow vibrating in the air returned to Stearin.

“You used the murderous intent to create an illusion for your senses.”

Raon narrowed his eyes as he watched Stearin nock another arrow.

“You were serious when you said to take what I can.”

Stearin didn’t kindly explain his techniques like a master but rather coldly stated that Raon should take whatever he could by himself.

“Things easily gained are easily lost.”

Stearin nodded briefly. The fletching of the arrow, imbued with his sharp will, trembled.

“Now that you understand, shall we proceed properly?”

“Of course.”

Raon nodded and immediately dashed forward, extending the Heavenly Sword he had drawn back. The orb of aura blooming from the sword opened its fiery maw, unleashing a breath of flame.

Kuwaaaah!

The crimson flames surged as if they would burn not only Stearin but the entire forest.

“Your control is still lacking.”

Stearin smiled coldly and released the arrow, causing the flow of the Flame Dragon Strike to distort.

Wooong!

He concentrated the heat, which had spread like a fan, into a single line aiming for Stearin’s chest.

“A trick within a trick.”

Stearin maintained his smile and released the bowstring. The white arrow, becoming a beam of light, charged toward the Flame Dragon Strike.

Boom!

The white light and fiery breath collided, sending a tremendous shockwave rippling through the air.

However, the flames of the Flame Dragon Strike began to melt away, unable to withstand the impact for long.

Raon frowned as he watched the subsiding flames.

‘It’s not that the Flame Dragon Strike is weak.’

The guardian’s martial art is overwhelmingly superior.

Stearin didn’t merely crush it with power. He used the arrow’s trajectory to exploit the Flame Dragon Strike’s weaknesses. There was much to learn from this battle.

Eventually, the flames of the Flame Dragon Strike completely dissipated under the force of Stearin’s arrow.

“Phew…”

Raon exhaled a murky breath and adjusted his grip on the Heavenly Sword.

‘Let’s see clearly.’

I am not here to defeat a transcendent.

The reason I hold my sword now is to gain inspiration from Igi Yeo Shi. I must focus on the fight but not lose sight of my purpose.

‘How does he control the arrows at will?’

Stearin and the Holy Sword Alliance’s master both controlled their arrows and swords at will.

It’s not just any martial artist who can use such techniques simply by reaching transcendence. There must be a special method.

Wooong!

Resonating with the eight rings to the extreme, Raon also employed the senses of Wrath’s Eye and Frost’s Touch.

The surge of spirit invoked a state of transcendence, slowing his perception of time.

‘Just a bit more…’

Despite the arrow threatening to pierce his forehead, he focused his concentration further.

Goong!

His upper dantian throbbed, causing a splitting headache, but his concentration soared endlessly. In the slowly halting world, only he and the arrow existed.

He leaned back to avoid the incoming arrow.

Siiing!

However, the arrow, as if predicting his movement, subtly changed direction, grazing his right cheek.

Using the pain blooming from his cheek as a catalyst, Raon concentrated even harder. He could see his reflection in the scattered drops of blood.

‘Not yet… huh?’

Just as the ring of fire seemed ready to shatter, he saw something like a white line passing through his blood.

‘An illusion? No, it’s not an illusion.’

It’s connected to the arrow.

The faintly shimmering white line followed the trajectory of the arrow that had just grazed his cheek.

‘Could it be…?’

He turned his gaze forward. The thin line connected to the white arrow began from Stearin.

‘Now I understand!’

Raon swallowed hard and narrowed his eyes.

‘That line is the guardian’s intention.’

Intention refers to the force contained in one’s will to achieve something. Stearin’s transcendent intention was manipulating the arrow at will.

‘The path of intention is vast.’

I had thought that intention merely added strength to power and momentum, but there was a way to use it like this. This must be why martial artists who couldn’t control intention could never defeat those who could.

-Indeed.

Wrath nodded briefly.

-Intention and the path of spirit are boundless. All my techniques also require a degree of intention to fully manifest their power.

Wrath indicated that his techniques, now reinforced by proper control of intention, were the reason he had grown stronger after reaching the Grand Master level.

‘Thanks for the advice.’

-Not advice! Just explaining because you were clueless!

Wrath waved his hands, telling him not to spout nonsense.

Raon chuckled and refocused on Stearin’s arrow, or rather, his intention.

Wooong!

He sensed Stearin’s arrow circling back to target his back.

Raon stepped to the left, striking with the Heavenly Sword. The red flames formed a barrier, but the white arrow easily pierced through, heading inward.

As the arrow struck like a lightning bolt, Raon launched the lightly held Requiem Sword.

Piaaaang!

The Requiem Sword, imbued with the subtleties of sword techniques, extended its dark energy.

However, with a slight adjustment, Stearin’s arrow avoided the Requiem Sword, continuing its path toward Raon’s space.

‘As expected.’

Anticipating this, Raon had infused intention into the Requiem Sword.

Sizzle!

Perhaps due to the initial attempt at manipulating intention, a terrifying pain pierced his mind. It felt as if his upper dantian would crumble.

‘I must endure…’

This excruciating pain was the backlash from trying to exert beyond his limits.

It was certainly overexertion, but he had to endure to gain something, as Stearin had said.

‘Go down!’

Go down and deflect the arrow!

The moment he sent out the lines of intention, the Requiem Sword’s energy connected with one of them, creating a thin light in the air.

Thunk!

The Requiem Sword, now one with Raon, dropped and struck the arrow shaft.

Only a sentient sword like the Requiem Sword could accomplish this.

-Huh!

Wrath’s eyes widened in surprise, clearly taken aback by the unexpected outcome.

Wooong!

Even Stearin seemed surprised as the white arrow wavered before righting itself and flying toward Raon’s chest.

“Hah…”

Raon couldn’t move as he watched the arrow approach. His mental energy had reached its limit after using all his intention.

The deadly arrow stopped just in front of him, trembling slightly.

“Phew…”

Raon took a deep breath and lifted his head. Stearin’s eyes trembled like the arrow he controlled.

“Just now…”

He spoke with a trembling voice.

“Did you control the sword with your intention?”

“I’m not sure myself. I just acted on impulse…”

It was true. In a state of transcendence, he didn’t even fully grasp what he had done. He only knew the Requiem Sword had helped.

Wooong.

Stearin flicked his finger, and the white arrow returned to his hand.

“What did you feel from me?”

“It looked as if the arrow and you were connected by a thin thread. I sensed your intention from that thread…”

Raon honestly described what he had felt.

“You didn’t just feel it, but saw it?”

Stearin chuckled, still holding the arrow.

“I’ve heard tales of monsters and geniuses appearing on the continent, but most were within expectations. Now, I finally see the real deal.”

He shook his head in genuine amazement.

“So it really is…”

“Yes. The essence of Camarishi is intention and spirit.”

Stearin pointed to his own temple with his finger.

“The more developed your upper dantian, the more freely you can use Camarishi. Fascinating. Even though your upper dantian is more developed compared to your power, it’s still not enough to manifest Camarishi.”

He narrowed his eyes, puzzled.

“It’s probably because of this sword.”

Raon gently stroked the Requiem Sword.

“It became a demonic sword, but it originally belonged to noble individuals, so it seems to follow my will.”

“I know the demonic sword has grasped your intention. What I’m curious about is how your intention reached the demonic sword.”

“I’m not sure about that.”

“Your answer confirms you’re a monster.”

Stearin decisively replied and reached into his pocket. He pulled out a small red fruit resembling a cherry and tossed it to Raon.

“Eat it. It will quickly heal your internal injuries.”

“Thank you.”

Raon accepted the fruit with both hands and bowed his head.

“I told you to take what you can, but I didn’t expect you to really do so.”

Stearin chuckled and turned around.

“You might be okay after all.”

“Excuse me?”

“The World Tree purification ceremony is the day after tomorrow. Come with Rimmer.”

With that, Stearin disappeared into the forest path he had come from.

Hoo.

As Stearin moved away, the forest thickened, restoring the scenery to how it was before.

“Haa…”

Raon sighed and lay down on his back.

“I’m exhausted. But…”

It’s exhilarating.

Encountering a new martial art was always thrilling. After reaching the Grand Master level, his stagnant inspiration felt suddenly unleashed.

Though both his body and mind were so exhausted he couldn’t move a finger, he felt like he could get up and wield his sword immediately.

‘Moreover…’

I get to see the World Tree.

He hadn’t even considered seeing the World Tree when coming to Sephia, thinking the elves would never show it to a human. It felt like another opportunity had fallen into his lap.

‘How big will it be?’

-Raon Zieghart.

While imagining the World Tree, Wrath slowly approached with a serious expression.

-I have an important proposal.

‘A proposal?’

-Yes. I’ll grant any request if you….

This was unlike the usual Wrath, so Raon felt nervous.

-Let’s secretly eat one of the World Tree’s fruits. I’m dying to know what it tastes like!

Wrath suggested with a wiggle of his plump fingers.

‘I knew it. Do you want to see me chased by elves for the rest of my life?’

Eating a World Tree fruit would make him the elves’ enemy, constantly dodging their arrows.

-It’s worth it for the fruit, right?

“….”

Raon clenched his eyes shut as Wrath drooled.

‘Why did I make this glutton my source of wrath?’