Chapter 772

The unique strength of Genesis Blade lay not only in its ability to grow more powerful with Raon’s martial prowess. Its true power resided in its adaptability, allowing him to adjust the trajectory and flow of the sword’s energy to match the battle’s demands.

‘Kwaaaaaa!’

Raon swung Genesis Blade toward the openings he discerned while battling the two Dual-Headed Ogres. The sword’s radiant golden brilliance expanded, erasing any room for them to evade.

‘Crack!’

The elder Dual-Headed Ogre’s greatsword split apart, while the younger one’s wooden club shattered into nothing but dust.

Yet, the brilliance of Genesis Blade did not dim. Like the rising sun erasing the last traces of dawn, its intensifying golden light consumed the battlefield.

The noble radiance not only bisected the two Dual-Headed Ogres, but also tore through the monsters behind them.

‘Sssss.’

When Raon lowered Heavenly Drive, the vast light receded, revealing a battlefield frozen in time. Thousands of monsters lay toppled, motionless, with crimson blood pooling over the blue plains.

“Grrrrk…”

“Hurgh…”

The two Dual-Headed Ogres barely clung to life, having detonated their inner energy to escape death. However, their severe injuries left them teetering on the edge.

“D-damn it…”

“Arrrgh!”

The elder Dual-Headed Ogre knelt, both arms severed, his greatsword dropped at his side. The younger, attempting to flee, had lost his lower right half to Genesis Blade and now dragged himself helplessly along the ground. Their trembling forms coughed up black blood.

“Haa…”

Raon swallowed the blood rising in his throat, furrowing his brow.

‘I’m at my limit.’

Repeated use of Sword Field Creation had left his body wrecked. Fighting two Grandmaster-level monsters only added to his grievous internal injuries. If the battle had lasted any longer, he might have collapsed first.

‘Still, I can’t let my guard down.’

The Dual-Headed Ogres, inheriting traits from the Eden, possessed troll-like regenerative abilities. While they were incapacitated, it was essential to finish them off.

“Gah!”

Just as Raon forced his legs to move, he heard a strained groan from behind. Turning his head, he saw Edgar kneeling, black blood dripping from within his helmet.

“Are you all right?”

Raon supported the collapsing Edgar, noticing the gaping wound on his back—likely from taking Rimmer and Sylvia’s sword strikes head-on moments earlier.

“Well… done, Raon.”

Edgar, despite vomiting blood, smiled as if grateful for Raon’s faith in him.

“No, I…”

Raon parted his lips but furrowed his brows, unsure of what to say to him.

“Edgar!”

Sylvia rushed over, cradling Edgar’s head on her lap.

“You idiot! Why didn’t you say anything if you were holding on?”

Sylvia yelled, furious that Edgar had endured such wounds.

“If I had, those two wouldn’t have fallen for it.”

Edgar chuckled awkwardly, wiping the blood from his lips.

“Hm…”

Even Rimmer cast worried glances at Edgar while keeping an eye on the incapacitated Dual-Headed Ogres.

“Still…”

Sylvia bit her lip hard, her voice trembling with frustration.

“You’re still critiquing my swordsmanship at a time like this?”

Edgar, holding Sylvia’s hand, began pointing out flaws in her Magic Sword techniques as if they were back in a training ground rather than a battlefield.

“Honestly…”

Sylvia’s eyes welled up as she watched Edgar ramble endlessly. Tears streamed down her face as if she had missed this side of him.

“How… How are you still the same?”

Edgar tried to wipe away her tears, only to pause when he noticed his blood-stained hand. He lowered it with a faint smile.

“Even so, seeing you again like this… Guh!”

Edgar bent over, vomiting black blood again.

“…Are you all right?”

Rimmer frowned, assuming his sword strikes were the cause of Edgar’s condition.

“D-don’t worry about me. This… isn’t from the physical wounds.”

Edgar weakly waved a hand, his voice labored.

“What do you mean?” Sylvia swallowed nervously, her eyes locked on Edgar.

After a moment’s pause, Edgar exhaled slowly.

“It’s hard to explain… but I’ll try.”

With both hands, he grabbed the sides of his helmet.

“Arrrrgh!”

Edgar let out a piercing scream as he forced the helmet off, the act causing visible agony.

Raon’s eyes narrowed as he saw Edgar’s uncovered face.

‘Is this man… my father?’

Pale as though untouched by sunlight, Edgar had the gentle demeanor of a scholar, though his resolute gaze hinted at unyielding determination.

“I am currently trapped by The Fallen One. Though I’m barely maintaining control of my body, I could lose it again at any moment.”

Edgar explained how the black blood he coughed up was the result of rejecting commands from the Dual-Headed Ogres under The Fallen One’s control.

“But it’s fine. This pain is far better than doing nothing.”

He smiled, his expression bittersweet yet peaceful.

“Edgar…”

Sylvia sobbed, clutching his face as tears fell like rain.

Edgar, despite trembling with pain, reached out to pat her back.

“I’m sorry I was so late. I failed to protect Sia, and I couldn’t safeguard you or Raon. I promised to bring happiness to our family, yet I achieved nothing. But seeing you alive…”

He hung his head, his words tumbling out endlessly as if lost in self-reproach.

“Didn’t you just say you had nothing to say? Then why are you talking so much?”

Sylvia wiped her tears and let out a soft laugh.

“Raon, didn’t I tell you your father talks too much?”

She nodded toward Raon, gesturing for him to greet Edgar properly.

“We’ve already shared our hearts.”

Edgar lifted his gaze slowly, locking eyes with Raon.

“Though brief, it was heartfelt.”

He smiled faintly, saying it had been enjoyable to fight his son.

– “Brief? You talked endlessly, and now you’re calling it brief?”

Wrath waved his hand dismissively, as if the notion was absurd.

‘True, it wasn’t exactly brief.’

Though the situation had been dire, Edgar only moved after saying all he wanted to say. He was almost as verbose as Wrath.

“Uh…”

“Oh my! Father!”

Before Raon could call out to Edgar, Merlin interjected, waving her hand enthusiastically.

“It’s been a while!”

Merlin grinned brightly as she pressed the Green King down with gravity magic.

“Raon,” Sylvia leaned forward, stealing a glance at Merlin.

“Just now, she called me ‘Mother.’ Did you… Did you get married without telling me?” (T/N: Yess! They are married. haha)

“M-Married? To Merlin?”

Edgar’s eyes widened in disbelief.

“I knew she was obsessive, but marriage?”

He shook his head, coughing up blood as if the thought was too much.

“No, absolutely not.”

Raon exhaled deeply and walked over to where Merlin stood with the Green King.

“Krrrrraaah!”

The Green King, clearly exhausted from consecutive battles, could do nothing but scream weakly.

‘Thwack!’

Raon, having recovered just enough aura, moved behind her and struck her nape with Heavenly Drive.

“Ugh…”

The Green King collapsed, unable to react to the sudden blow.

“Raon! That’s too harsh for a lady! Or to elder sister… Or, well, whatever!”

Merlin frowned, disapproving of his rough approach.

“…Enough. Just tie her up securely.”

Unlike Edgar, there was no certainty that Sia could be saved. She had to be restrained for now.

With the Green King subdued, the monsters attacking the fortress wall froze in place.

As if waking from a trance, they looked around in confusion. Upon seeing the countless corpses around them, they fled into the forest without a second glance.

“Phew…”

Dorian slumped to the ground, letting out a long breath.

“It’s finally over…”

He lay flat on his back, tears welling up as relief washed over him.

“Looks like things are settled over there, too.”

Burren nodded, surveying the now peaceful plains.

“We really did save them.”

Martha clenched her fists tightly as she watched Sylvia embracing Edgar.

‘Then I can do it too.’

Just as Raon had saved his father, she believed she could save her mother from the White Blood Cult leader. Hope filled her weary body, pushing back the exhaustion.

“Hmm…”

Runaan bit her lip as she stared at Raon’s back.

‘Why couldn’t I do that?’

If she had been braver, like Raon, her brother wouldn’t have ended up that way. Her parents wouldn’t have suffered so much. Regret welled up in her throat.

‘But…’

She couldn’t wallow in regret forever. Clenching her Frost Sword tightly, Runaan resolved to end Syria’s life with her own hands.

—

Raon walked past Edgar and Sylvia, stopping before the two Dual-Headed Ogres.

Thanks to Rimmer’s watchful gaze, they remained completely subdued, glaring at him.

“You… bastard…”

When the elder Dual-Headed Ogre tried to channel aura through his barely regenerated left arm, Raon swung Heavenly Drive.

‘Slash!’

The arm was severed once again, falling to the ground.

“Arrrgh!”

“Quiet.”

Raon reversed his grip on the sword and drove it into the elder ogre’s neck.

“Grrk…”

The elder Dual-Headed Ogre flailed briefly before falling still, dead.

“…You killed him just like that?”

The younger ogre chuckled bitterly, seemingly shocked at how swiftly Raon acted.

“One mouth is enough.”

Raon pulled Heavenly Drive from the elder ogre’s neck and turned to the younger one.

‘Shing!’

Without hesitation, he drove the blade into the younger ogre’s shoulder.

“Arrrgh!”

The younger ogre screamed, thrashing weakly as his strength drained away.

“Talk. What did you do to them?”

Raon motioned toward Edgar and Sia with his chin.

“Heh…”

Despite the pain, the ogre continued to grin.

“You made the right choice just now.”

“What?”

“If you’d killed me first instead of the old man, everyone here would be dead.”

The ogre smirked, lifting his chin defiantly.

“Not that it matters—you’re all going to die soon anyway.”

“What nonsense are you spouting?”

“That’s your answer.”

The ogre stuck out his tongue mockingly.

“You asked what we did to them, didn’t you? About The Fallen One…”

He grinned wider, his lips twitching.

“Your father was just a lab rat.”

“What?”

“The Death Knight’s Helm can only be worn by the dead. Normally, a body has to be killed before the helm is placed on it. But The Fallen One put it on your father while he was still alive, even protecting his soul. Now, why would he do that?”

The ogre’s grin widened as he continued, not waiting for an answer.

“Your father’s soul, corroded by the Death Knight’s Aura and his own despair, is now dyed pitch black. And that dark energy…”

The Dual-Headed Ogre raised a finger and pointed at Edgar’s left chest.

“A gem embedded in his heart gathers this power, creating annihilation magic. It’s a force fueled by emotions, much like a Demon Lord’s power! That guy is nothing less than a living bomb now!”

The ogre spread his arms, a twisted grin splitting his face.

“You must have realized it already. The Fallen One said it was complete, didn’t he?”

He tapped his temple, as if urging Raon to recall.

“A…”

Edgar opened his trembling lips but couldn’t deny the ogre’s words. His pupils seemed to lose focus, as though acknowledging the truth.

‘Thwack!’

Raon couldn’t restrain himself and punched the ogre across the face.

“Stop talking right now!”

“Sorry, but it’s already too late.”

The ogre licked the blood trickling from his mouth and shook his head.

“The Fallen One accounted for this very situation. Once the Soul-Severing Blade acts of its own will, the explosion can’t be stopped.”

He chuckled, saying the fuse had already been lit.

“Running won’t help. The completed annihilation magic will obliterate this entire region.”

The ogre turned his gaze toward the Arian family’s fortress.

“Not just you. Everything and everyone inside that fortress will be erased, too.”

“Shut up and tell me how to stop it!”

Raon struck the ogre’s face and body repeatedly, but the creature only let out screams of pain without giving any answers.

– “He’s telling the truth.”

Wrath frowned as he stared at the ogre.

-“There’s a massive surge of demonic energy near your father’s heart. It’s about to burst!”

Wrath swallowed dryly, sensing imminent disaster.

“Stop.”

Edgar raised a hand calmly and stood up.

“That thing doesn’t know anything. Everything was The Fallen One’s design.”

He chuckled weakly, dismissing the interrogation as meaningless.

“No…”

Raon turned his trembling gaze toward Edgar.

As Wrath had described, overwhelming demonic energy churned around Edgar’s chest—power surpassing even what Raon had unleashed with Genesis Blade.

“E-Edgar?”

Sylvia’s hands shook in disbelief as she tried to stand but found her legs failing her.

“Don’t worry.”

Edgar gently patted Sylvia’s head, offering her a soft smile.

“No one will die.”

He looked at Sylvia, Raon, and Sia in turn, nodding slightly.

‘Huff…’

Taking a deep breath, Edgar raised his hand in a blade-like stance and drove it into his own chest.

“Arrrgh!”

He let out a bloodcurdling scream as he extracted a crimson-black gem connected to his heart by blood vessels. The pentagonal gem roiled with immense demonic energy.

‘Tick. Tick. Tick.’

The gem emitted a ticking sound like the second hand of a clock, releasing increasingly potent waves of energy.

– “That’s a Soul-Demon Stone!”

Wrath’s eyes widened in shock.

– “It’s a demonic artifact capable of storing Demon Lord-level energy. But why is it here…?”

Wrath furrowed his brow, unable to comprehend its presence.

‘What happens if it detonates?’

– “As that thing said, this entire area will be erased.”

Wrath shook his head grimly, declaring that everything was at risk.

“Edgar!”

“M-Move back!”

Edgar pushed Sylvia away as she struggled to her feet and began walking toward the forest.

Each step was agonizingly slow, as if taken by an elderly man with a cane. Yet he continued moving forward without pause, despite the unbearable pain and the gem’s energy.

– “He must be feeling as though his soul is being torn apart…”

Wrath exhaled heavily, marveling at Edgar’s mental fortitude.

– “I understand now where your perseverance comes from.”

Wrath’s gaze softened, a rare acknowledgment.

“Too late. You’ll all die with me.”

The ogre laughed, waving his hand dismissively.

“Shut your mouth!”

Raon stomped on the ogre’s face and turned his eyes back to Edgar.

Despite the excruciating pain, Edgar looked back with a reassuring smile.

Even though he had only met Edgar twice, Raon felt an inexplicable ache in his chest.

‘I have a way.’

Raon reversed his grip on Heavenly Drive and raised it over his chest. The forbidden technique—Sword Field Creation: Demon King’s Descent—was his only option.

Though it would expose his identity, Raon couldn’t let this man, his father, walk to his death.

– “If you use that technique, I’ll lend you my power. But…”

Wrath’s blue eyes darkened.

– “You will never reach transcendence.”

‘What?’

– “The second Demon King’s Descent inflicted damage I absorbed on your behalf. Using a third will bring far greater repercussions, ones even I can’t mitigate.”

Wrath shook his head, urging Raon to reconsider.

‘Gulp.’

Raon swallowed hard.

‘If I can’t reach transcendence…’

It would mean the end of his revenge.

Derus was unmatched, save for Glenn Zieghart, and with the Archangel’s support, failing to transcend would make avenging his family impossible.

“Edgar!”

As Raon hesitated, Sylvia clenched her teeth and dashed toward Edgar.

“Don’t come any closer!”

Edgar raised a trembling hand, veins bulging in his forehead.

“Stay behind me, please.”

His voice cracked as he smiled, moving forward despite the visible strain.

“Ah…”

Sylvia clasped her hands together, trembling as she watched the man she had just reunited with walk away once more.

“Raon.”

Edgar met Raon’s hardened gaze, forcing a smile.

“Children aren’t supposed to die before their parents. I’m sorry to leave this way, but please take care of your mother.”

He smiled again, saying he was never meant to exist in their lives anyway.

‘Crack!’

Raon clenched his teeth until blood trickled from his gums.

‘I don’t care if I can’t reach transcendence.’

He couldn’t bear to see Sylvia’s sorrow or Edgar’s tortured expression. Even if he failed his revenge, his choice was clear.

As he prepared to pierce his abdomen with Heavenly Drive, a low, calm voice, completely unfitting for the situation, rang out behind him.

“You’re finally making the right choice.”

Turning, Raon saw Sword Demon Rektor, now the Holy Sword Sect Leader, standing just behind him.

“Wha…?”

Edgar froze mid-step, trembling as he spotted Rektor.

“Father… Why are you here…?”

“Foolish child.”

Rektor strode toward Edgar without hesitation.

“D-Don’t come any closer! I…”

“You said it yourself.”

Rektor grabbed the gem connected to Edgar’s heart with his bare hand.

The ticking sound ceased, and the overwhelming energy dissipated in an instant.

“A child should never leave before their father.”

Rektor placed a steady hand on Edgar’s head, nodding quietly. (T/N: Oooooooohhh! Gramps Tsun-Tsun #2 is here!)

“Live, Edgar.”