TRAIGS - Chapter 758

“A sparring match?”

Karoon furrowed his brows deeply as he looked at Raon.

“Why are you asking me for a spar?”

He didn’t outright refuse but instead asked for Raon’s reason.

“I want to test how effective my current strength is against a transcendent.”

Raon stood upright, meeting Karoon’s calm, unwavering gaze, as vast as a great lake.

“I couldn’t fully display my abilities during the mission.”

He had ambushed the Mara Lord to prevent an escape, and Tugui and the White Demon Swordmaster weren’t at the absolute peak of Grand Masters. As a result, defeating them wasn’t overly challenging.

While the battles expanded his perspective and provided invaluable experience, he still felt as though his true abilities had not been fully tested. It left a sense of incompleteness.

To address that void, Raon had been planning to request a sparring match with Karoon even before returning to Zieghart.

‘Karoon will be more than enough.’

Through his accumulated experience, Raon knew he couldn’t win against Karoon. But that was precisely why he wanted to measure his abilities against him.

‘There will be more clashes with transcendents in the future.’

It was vital to prepare now.

While it would be difficult to encounter leaders of the Five Demons, clashes with lower-level transcendents were highly likely. Testing himself against Karoon would provide critical insight for those future encounters.

“……”

“Hmm.”

Karoon remained silent, appearing to contemplate the spar, while Glenn let out a disapproving groan, clearly unhappy with the situation.

“Nephew!”

Balder stomped forward, calling out to Raon.

“I can spar with you all day! Come at me right now if you want!”

He flexed his arms, inviting Raon to fight right then and there in the audience chamber.

“…I’ll take you up on that next time.”

Raon glanced at Balder, his expression unchanging, before smiling politely in refusal.

‘Balder wouldn’t be a bad opponent, but Karoon comes first.’

While Balder was undoubtedly a top-level expert and sparring with him would require everything Raon had, he didn’t believe he would lose. For now, he wanted to face Karoon, someone who could show him the higher heights he aspired to reach.

“You’re quite picky, nephew.”

Balder clicked his tongue before turning his gaze to Karoon.

“Just do it already. It’s not like it’s a big deal.”

He shrugged, urging Karoon to accept the match.

“Father….”

Even Burren bowed toward Karoon, silently asking for the sparring match on Raon’s behalf.

“Raon Zieghart. Whatever you might think….”

Karoon finally opened his mouth, speaking slowly as if he had made up his mind.

“I feel indebted to you.”

He first glanced at Burren before turning his gaze back to Raon.

“Indebted? What do you mean…?”

Raon narrowed his eyes. He had always assumed Karoon harbored resentment or sought revenge, so hearing this left him confused.

“When my wrongdoing was discovered, and I was given a permanent sanction, I stared at the infirmary ceiling and thought about many things.”

Karoon lowered his gaze as if reliving the shameful memories of his past.

“I thought the stairs to the Family Head’s position had collapsed. At first, I cursed you, resented Father, and raged at my subordinates. I screamed that none of it was my fault and tormented myself. But as time passed, I finally realized. Everything was my doing, and all the consequences stemmed from me. Only then did I truly see.”

He lightly pounded his chest with a clenched fist.

“I realized that what I had lost was insignificant and that the true treasure was still within my soul.”

“A treasure…?”

“Zieghart.”

Karoon raised his gaze, his eyes calmly settling on Glenn and the throne.

“By shedding the filthy shell I had built, I saw the Zieghart I had dreamed of as a child. Only then did I realize how vile and despicable my path had been. Had I become the Family Head in that state, I would have regretted it even in death.”

He turned back to Raon, his sharp gaze now holding a faint warmth.

“It’s thanks to you that I was stopped.”

“…Thank you.”

Karoon’s serene gaze made Raon swallow dryly.

‘Has he changed this much?’

Raon had thought Karoon’s ascension to transcendence was purely due to his mastery of Grand Master-level skills. However, he now realized that Karoon had achieved profound mental growth. His limits seemed to go beyond simple transcendence.

“L-Lord Karoon?”

“Did he really say that…?”

“Is that truly our elder? Could it be a doppelgänger?”

The direct descendants and Balder stared wide-eyed, utterly shocked by Karoon’s words.

“Father!”

Burren’s eyes burned with fiery passion, as though he had returned to the days when he admired Karoon as a trainee.

“I shall repay that debt today.”

Karoon nodded calmly and looked up at Glenn.

“I accept the Light Wind Division Leader’s request for a spar.”

He bowed slightly, asking for Glenn’s approval.

“……”

Glenn looked silently between his son and grandson. He slowly nodded, unsure of his own expression.

“Permission granted.”

“Thank you.”

Karoon bowed again before turning on his heel.

“Shall we start immediately?”

He tilted his chin and exited the audience chamber first.

“Of course.”

Raon followed, his footsteps heavy with anticipation. It seemed this sparring match would be even more grueling than he had expected.

“L-Lord Karoon!”

“Leader!”

“Raon!”

“Can we watch too?”

The executives and the Light Wind Division hurried after them, leaving the chamber as well.

“Will this be alright?”

Rimmer frowned, uneasy about Karoon’s transformation.

“……”

Descending from the platform, Glenn closed his eyes briefly. Remembering the youthful light in Karoon’s gaze, he slowly reopened them.

“There is nothing to worry about.”

—

Standing opposite Karoon in the Family Head’s training ground, Raon exhaled quietly.

‘I didn’t think this would actually happen.’

Since Karoon had no obligation to accept, Raon hadn’t truly expected the sparring match to occur.

But now that Karoon had honestly expressed his feelings and offered to repay his debt, Raon felt even more pressure.

“Nephew, don’t be so tense!”

Balder swung his large hand dramatically.

“Do you think he’s actually going to kill you?”

He nodded reassuringly as if urging Raon to trust in family.

“Raon.”

Burren also nodded, silently telling Raon to trust Karoon.

– ‘In my opinion, those eyes say your uncle plans to kill you outright.’

On the contrary, Wrath chuckled sinisterly, claiming Karoon was looking for a legitimate excuse to eliminate him.

‘I can’t tell.’

Raon sighed briefly. Unlike before, he couldn’t read Karoon’s emotions at all.

“Begin.”

Glenn announced the start of the sparring match, folding his arms as if to signify he wouldn’t interfere no matter what happened.

“Raon Zieghart.”

Karoon drew his sword, his gaze sharp enough to cut like a blade.

“What you desire isn’t merely a spar, but a glimpse of transcendence, correct?”

“Yes.”

Raon nodded, seeing no reason to lie.

“Then one exchange will suffice.”

Karoon took a step forward, tilting his sword downward.

“One exchange?”

Raon’s eyes widened.

“What do you mean by that…?”

“The difference between your swordsmanship and mine isn’t that significant,” Karoon stated, nodding in acknowledgment of Raon’s skill.

“But if we fight, I will never lose.”

“I’m sure you won’t.”

Raon’s gaze, despite the words, burned with undiminished intensity.

“I’ll show you why.”

Karoon raised his sword to an overhead position. Though it was a basic stance for a downward slash, an overwhelming aura surged from him as though he could split the very world.

“Guh…!”

“What… what is this…?”

“I can barely breathe…”

The executives stepped back, swallowing nervously as they felt Karoon’s aura.

“I can’t keep my eyes open…”

“I can’t straighten my back…”

“Force yourself to watch! You’ll regret missing this for the rest of your life!”

The Light Wind Division struggled even more than the executives, but they supported each other, refusing to close their eyes.

“Raon Zieghart, show me everything you’ve got.”

Karoon nodded, as if to say he’d accept Raon’s full strength.

“Understood.”

Raon calmly exhaled and drew the Heavenly Drive, raising it toward the sky as he unleashed the world of his Mental World.

‘Sword Field Creation – Genesis Blade.’

As the swords filling his Mental World descended upon the blade of the Heavenly Drive, they radiated majestic intent.

‘Kwahhhhh!’

Countless sword techniques that sprouted from his mind blossomed like flowers upon the thin edge of the blade, uniting into a golden blaze.

‘Rumble!’

Karoon observed Raon’s approaching sword strike and slowly lowered his own blade.

‘Sword Field Creation – Manifestation of the Swod King.’

The malevolent energy imbued in Karoon’s sword began shattering the boundaries of heaven and earth. His aura radiated supreme dominance, like a true sovereign seated at the pinnacle of power.

‘This….’

Raon’s jaw trembled.

‘This is transcendence.’

The difference in aura between Karoon and a Grand Master was stark. The completeness of his martial arts was on an entirely different level.

‘I’m completely outmatched….’

But even so, I must push forward!

Even under Karoon’s crushing pressure, which felt like it wouldn’t let him move, Raon refused to yield, striking with all his might.

‘Crash!’

But Karoon’s sword didn’t waver. Like a colossal pillar, it crushed Raon’s strike effortlessly, without a hint of instability.

‘Koooom!’

An enormous explosion erupted, and the entire training ground sank under the sheer force of the collision. Brown whirlwinds rose all around, scattering debris.

‘Rumble!’

With a wave of Glenn’s hand, the whirlwinds of aura threatening to engulf the spectators dissipated, and the training ground reappeared.

‘Hummm.’

Raon knelt on one knee, the Heavenly Drive planted into the ground. In front of him, Karoon’s blade hovered just above his forehead.

‘Drip.’

A single drop of blood trickled from Raon’s brow and fell onto the shattered ground.

“Did you see?”

Karoon withdrew his sword and looked down at Raon.

“I saw.”

Raon met Karoon’s calm gaze, exhaling heavily.

“Then that is enough.”

Karoon nodded and turned away, as though he had finished everything he came to do.

‘What…?’

Raon sensed it. Karoon seemed even stronger than the transcendent Flame Demon Lord he had encountered in the Black Tower.

He didn’t need to use his Sword Field, yet he did so, seemingly to demonstrate his understanding of transcendence. Raon couldn’t comprehend it.

“Lord Karoon.”

Raon forced strength into his legs and stood.

“What is it?”

“Why did you go this far for me?”

“I told you, I owe you a debt.”

“You once said you were certain we would fight for the position of Family Head. Why would you go to such lengths for someone who might one day become your rival?”

Raon had no interest in the Family Head’s position now, but that could change. He couldn’t understand why Karoon would show him everything, even if he could one day become a competitor.

“Because you are Zieghart.”

Karoon tilted his chin as if that answer was sufficient and left the training ground.

“……”

Raon watched Karoon’s retreating figure with wide eyes. He never expected such words from him and was left speechless.

-‘Hah….’

Wrath let out a hollow breath as if astonished.

-‘I’ve seen plenty of younglings change, but this is the first time I’ve seen an old human transform so completely.’

Wrath rubbed his chin, marveling at the mysteries of humans.

‘I feel the same.’

For someone of Karoon’s age, strength, and status to show such profound change was astonishing. The sense of wonder lingered within Raon.

“Father!”

Burren, his eyes blazing with passion, followed Karoon with renewed admiration.

The direct executives, looking equally moved, rushed out of the training ground as well.

“I never thought Karoon would change like that.”

Rimmer clasped his hands behind his head and laughed.

“Although this means your training sessions with your grandson are out of the picture.”

“Stop your nonsense.”

Glenn snorted, turning his head away. Despite losing the chance to train Raon, a soft smile lingered on his lips.

“It feels like a son who left home has returned after maturing.”

—

As Raon walked back to the annex, he kept replaying Karoon’s swordsmanship in his mind.

‘It was both powerful and noble.’

Karoon’s sword carried a refined elegance that Burren had yet to fully let go of. Elements Raon had once thought unnecessary in combat had transformed into absolute strength in the realm of transcendence. It left him astounded.

It seemed that transcendence held something unimaginable to those below its level.

‘It must be connected to his personal growth.’

Karoon’s sword, which had previously been merely overwhelming, now carried a sense of grace and nobility, likely rooted in his recognition of his past mistakes.

‘So, I have to find my own breakthrough too.’

Although Karoon had shown him the path, Raon still didn’t know what his own breakthrough would be. That was the first thing he needed to discover.

– ‘Forget transcendence for now. Let’s eat first!’

Wrath waved his arms eagerly, urging Raon to focus on food.

‘You’re not wrong.’

Raon chuckled softly and nodded. There was no point in rushing; nothing could be gained by moving hastily. Having completed his mission, it was time to rest.

“Hmm…?”

As Raon crossed the garden toward the annex, he stopped abruptly.

Behind the lake, something large caught his attention—something that hadn’t been there before.

“Was there a boulder over there…? Huh!”

What he had mistaken for a boulder suddenly stood up and stretched. It was a bear—a massive flame-colored bear.

Raon had considered the possibility of encountering wild animals given the nearby mountains, but this was the first time he’d actually seen one.

– ‘A bear! Delicious bear meat!’

Wrath wagged his tail in excitement at the prospect of a new dish.

‘Grrr.’

The bear seemed to notice the lights of the annex and began running rapidly past the lake.

“Seriously.”

Raon shifted into a ready stance, prepared to intercept the bear. However, the bear suddenly changed direction, charging straight toward him instead of the annex.

“What…?”

“Raon!”

As he blinked in surprise, the bear opened its mouth—and human words came out.

“What the…!”

-‘What?!’

Both Raon and Wrath froze in shock at the sight of the talking bear, then instinctively turned and bolted in the opposite direction.