Chapter 775

Raon tightened his grip on Heavenly Drive, gazing up at the pristine night sky devoid of clouds.

‘Did I actually do it?’

Even though Wrath had assisted him, Raon hadn’t believed he could truly bring down The Fallen One.

Even now, it felt surreal, as though he were in a dream.

“Haa…”

Exhaling deeply, he turned to look behind him. Hearing the faint breaths of Rektor, Sylvia, Edgar, Sia, Merlin, and Rimmer, he pressed his lips together tightly.

‘I’m glad I protected them.’

During the battle, their safety had mattered more to him than his own life.

It was clear that these people had become far more important to him than he had realized.

‘Thanks, Wrath. I truly owe you for helping me survive today.’

Raon gave a slight nod toward Wrath, who remained unusually silent.

‘Now I just need to leave before the wings burn out.’

Though he was concerned about the rapidly deteriorating states of Rektor and Sylvia, Raon knew that his presence posed the greater danger. He had to leave before his loss of control led to a rampage.

– “Not yet.”

Wrath frowned, his gaze fixed on the frozen battlefield.

‘What?’

– “Right before our attack hit, that masked bastard’s energy spiked.”

Wrath shouted at him to stay alert, convinced The Fallen One had survived.

‘Kuwaaaaaa!’

Before Wrath’s words had even finished, a blinding light erupted from the cracked earth. Golden lightning surged upward, raining down toward the Arian family’s location.

‘He’s targeting them instead of me!’

Gritting his teeth, Raon unleashed consecutive strikes of Whirlwind.

‘Kwoooosh!’

Eight swirling blades shot skyward, slicing through the descending golden bolts like a meteor shower, wiping them out completely.

“Haa…”

Raon let out a faint groan, his hands trembling. Though Wrath’s power still coursed through him, the mounting rage threatened to shatter his focus.

‘I can’t keep fighting like this.’

Glancing toward Sylvia and Rektor, Raon could see their conditions were far worse than he’d expected. Without immediate intervention, their lives were in grave danger.

‘Damn it…’

Clenching his jaw, Raon approached Sylvia and Rektor. He began channeling sacred energy to dispel the malignant aura consuming their bodies when spirals of light and darkness descended from above.

– “Block it, even if it kills you!”

‘I know!’

Extending Heavenly Drive, Raon unleashed Heavenly Cannon, drawing in the spiraling forces and detonating them midair.

‘Kuwaaaaaang!’

He froze even the shockwaves of the explosion to protect those behind him, before finally lowering his blade.

“The Fallen One…”

Raising his head, Raon spotted him floating in the air, wings of light and darkness spread wide.

‘Goooooo!’

The lower half of The Fallen One’s mask was soaked in black blood, his chest scarred as if pierced by barbed wire, and his right arm was missing entirely, blood cascading like a waterfall.

‘So, it’s just beginning….’

Raon bit his lip. Whenever The Fallen One revealed his wings, it signaled that he was ready to fight at full strength.

Despite his injuries, his aura had grown even more fearsome. It was as if he were declaring that the true battle was about to start.

– “No, our attacks definitely landed.”

Wrath shook his head, observing The Fallen One.

– “That bastard is on the brink of death. And don’t forget, he still hasn’t healed the spiritual wounds from your Old Man Nadine strike.”

‘That’s still lingering?’

– “A spiritual wound isn’t like a physical one. Even transcendent beings can’t recover from it easily.”

Wrath raised a fist confidently, saying they had a good chance of winning.

‘Alright. You said ‘our’ attacks worked. I trust you.’

– “What nonsense are you spouting?”

‘You said ‘our’ attacks. I like the sound of that.’

Raon smirked, nudging Wrath with his elbow.

– “Nonsense! I never said such a thing!”

Wrath’s face turned red as he shook his head furiously.

– “Focus on the fight instead of spewing stupidity!”

‘Alright. Let’s finish this.’

Raon exhaled sharply, lifting his gaze.

“Gah!”

The Fallen One slowly raised his hand, gripping his mask.

“Kuhahaha!”

He let out a crazed laugh, showing neither anger nor fear, but pure delight as he looked up at the sky.

“So, I see now.”

The Fallen One twisted his lips into a smile, his golden eyes narrowing.

“Raon Zieghart, you were the final piece.”

He sighed deeply, as though marveling at a precious discovery.

“The final piece?”

Raon frowned, locking eyes with the golden gaze behind the mask.

“What nonsense are you talking about?”

“You know it deep down. Or perhaps you don’t yet? Well, I suppose it hasn’t awakened yet.” (T/N: Hmmm, is he probably connected to angels too?)

The Fallen One muttered cryptically, laughing to himself.

Even when Glenn had threatened his life, the leader of Eden had never lost his composure. Seeing him like this was unsettling.

“It’s not time yet, but the temptation is irresistible.”

Stretching out his left hand, he summoned a concentrated vortex of darkness that began pulling Raon in like a black hole.

‘Kuuung!’

Raon planted his feet firmly, channeling his aura to resist the gravitational force. He turned to Wrath.

‘Do you think he’s realized what you are?’

– “I don’t know, and it doesn’t matter if he does.”

Wrath clenched his small hand into a fist, urging Raon to fight for his mother and those he cared about.

“Let’s enjoy this a little longer.”

As The Fallen One sneered, golden brilliance illuminated the darkened sky.

‘Snap!’

With a snap of his fingers, thin golden streaks radiated outward, targeting not just Raon but every living being in the vicinity.

‘Chiing!’

Raon stepped back, activating Flame Lotus. Thousands of icy flowers blossomed around him, transforming into shards of frost that spiraled toward the golden streaks, intercepting them midair.

‘Kwakwaaaaa!’

Light and frost clashed, scattering snowflakes in the air as they fought for dominance.

‘Boom!’

Raon pierced through the shockwave caused by the collision, unleashing Thirty-Six Crimson Slashes.

The timeless swordsmanship, striking simultaneously from thirty-six angles, swept across The Fallen One’s entire body.

“You weren’t invited, but you’re a welcome guest.”

With a chilling smile, The Fallen One conjured a rapidly spinning ring of darkness that nullified all thirty-six slashes in an instant. The gravitational pull of the dark ring acted as an impenetrable defense.

Yet Raon’s resolve remained unshaken.

‘Kwoom!’

Leaning forward, he drove Heavenly Drive into the residual gravitational force left by the ring.

‘Pshhk!’

The piercing strike shattered the pull of darkness and embedded itself in The Fallen One’s abdomen.

“Gah!”

Black blood spurted from The Fallen One’s mouth as he staggered back, a gaping wound reopening in his already injured torso, spilling dark ichor.

‘Crack.’

Raon moved to pursue but halted as his arms and legs grew heavy, his body no longer responding as it should.

– “What are you doing? You’re not the only one who’s exhausted! That bastard is on the verge of death!”

Wrath gritted his teeth, pointing at the weakened The Fallen One.

– “The damage from our combined strike remains—it’s a chance we can’t waste!”

‘I know!’

Suppressing his frustration, Raon forced himself forward, continuing his pursuit.

“Kuhaha!”

Despite his pain, The Fallen One smirked, his lips curling upward as he conjured alternating bursts of light and darkness.

‘Chiing!’

Raon countered the assault, employing Azure Sky Sword, cutting through the chaotic mix of energy and leaving a diagonal slash across The Fallen One’s chest.

‘Woom!’

Once again, The Fallen One dissolved into light, vanishing before further damage could be dealt.

‘Chiing!’

Without turning to look, Raon followed the faint trace of his opponent’s energy, slicing with Frost Pond.

Twin frost-covered slashes streaked across the horizon, striking The Fallen One’s shoulder and thigh as he reappeared.

‘Pshhk!’

Finally brought to his knees, The Fallen One coughed up more blood, yet his lips twisted into a radiant smile.

“Magnificent….”

Raon swallowed dryly, unnerved by The Fallen One’s reaction.

‘Is he truly insane?’

No. Despite the madness in his golden eyes, there was a glint of raw desire buried within—a focused ambition that belied complete insanity.

‘He’s still aiming for something.’

Raon didn’t understand The Fallen One’s cryptic words, but it was clear he had a purpose.

‘This is psychological warfare now.’

– “Forget that! Just finish this already! We’re out of time!”

Wrath’s hands trembled as he sweated profusely, sensing the rapidly approaching limit. Whether it was The Fallen One or Raon, one of them would soon fall.

‘Kwoooom!’

Raon planted his feet, advancing with Supreme Harmony Steps as he activated Unbroken Frostwave.

‘Kwooooosh!’

With a graceful motion, Raon channeled Wrath’s energy through Heavenly Drive, conjuring a massive tidal wave of frost that engulfed The Fallen One entirely.

‘Paaang!’

However, as The Fallen One spread his wings, radiant globes of light and darkness formed, suppressing the frost wave with sheer force.

‘Now!’

Using the momentary stalemate, Raon darted forward with Supreme Harmony Steps, his entire focus narrowing on The Fallen One.

‘Chiing!’

With precision, Raon slashed downward, aiming for his opponent’s heart.

‘Pshhk!’

But the blade never landed. The Fallen One’s newly regenerated right arm, cloaked in darkness, intercepted the strike, forcing it away.

“Well done,” The Fallen One said, nodding faintly with a sinister smile.

‘Clang!’

Heavenly Drive was wrenched from Raon’s grasp, flung into the air as the clash of forces separated them.

“You are the final piece.”

Rather than a killing blow, The Fallen One reached out, aiming to subdue Raon by gripping his throat.

– “Retreat!”

‘No.’

Raon ignored Wrath’s warning and appeared to surrender, halting in place as though drained of strength.

– “What are you doing?!”

‘You told me to finish this quickly.’

Raon’s determination flared as he watched his family and comrades lying behind him. To protect them, this had to end here.

‘Shing!’

As Heavenly Drive descended, Raon caught it deftly in its sheath. The moment the blade was sheathed, a chilling frost emanated from the engraved dragon’s eyes on the scabbard—Silver Lotus Bloom had fully charged.

‘Kwoooom!’

The instant The Fallen One’s hand touched Raon’s neck, he unleashed Raon Zieghart Swordsmanship: Form Eight – Polar Slash.

The blade erupted with frostfire, piercing through The Fallen One’s aura of light and darkness and slicing cleanly across his neck.

“Agh….”

Unaware he had been struck, The Fallen One’s head fell, still wearing a faint smile, as his body collapsed backward.

‘Gah!’

Raon stabbed Heavenly Drive into the ground, coughing up blackened blood. His body had reached its absolute limit; even standing was a struggle.

“As expected… remarkable….”

Despite teetering on the brink of death, The Fallen One looked up at Raon, his golden eyes trembling.

“We… will meet again… on that day….”

Even as his body dissolved into the darkness rising from the ground, his gaze shimmered with unfulfilled ambition.

“I… I did it.”

Raon clutched his pounding head as he turned to look at his companions. Knowing his family and comrades were alive filled him with relief greater than surviving himself.

– “You did well!”

Wrath exhaled sharply, gazing down at Raon with rare approval.

– “Using the scabbard to charge Silver Lotus Bloom at the last moment… you’re something else. But!”

Wrath froze mid-sentence, as if recalling their precarious situation.

– “Time! You’re out of time! Move now!”

‘I’m sorry….’

Raon bit his lip as he looked at the fallen figures around him.

‘I have no strength left.’

His head spun, and his body felt as if it were turning to stone. He wanted to perform emergency treatment on Sylvia and Rektor, whose life forces were fading fast, and then leave this place far behind. But he could do neither.

– “Ugh….”

Wrath trembled, glancing between the unconscious figures and the distant horizon as if he didn’t know what to do.

– “Just get as far away from here as possible! That’s the priority!”

‘I understand.’

Raon dropped to his knees and began crawling toward the forest.

Suppressing the rage gnawing at his mind, he forced his limbs to move when an overwhelming surge of mana descended from the sky.

Lifting his gaze, he saw three colossal dragons spreading their razor-sharp wings like blades.

‘Dragon Lords….’

The dragon at the center was none other than the infamous Dragon Lord, known for appearing only to wreak havoc. On either side of him were a Red Dragon and a Blue Dragon, both of which were ancient wyrms of equal power.

‘Why now…?’

Their arrival, coinciding with Wrath’s heightened energy, was the worst possible scenario.

“Is this the vessel of the Demon King?”

The Dragon Lord’s piercing gaze bore into Raon as he narrowed his golden eyes.

“I will erase you without a trace!”

The Dragon Lord and his two companions opened their massive jaws. Their throats, black as abyssal chasms, glowed with lethal light as they unleashed flames, frost, and a torrent of destructive energy. (T/N: WTF. When will this end!!! They keep on appearing!)

Raon’s jaw quivered as he stared at the dragons’ combined breath attack, which filled the sky with death.

It was a true no-win situation.

If he surrendered to his rage, everyone here would die. If he endured, he would die under the onslaught of the dragons’ breath.

There was no choice but to make the ultimate sacrifice.

– “…..”

Wrath, surprisingly, fell silent, as though entrusting the decision to Raon.

‘The decision was made long ago.’

Raon steadied his breathing and used the last remnants of the Ring of Fire to push back the consuming rage.

‘It’s better if I die.’

Revenge against Derus Robert mattered less than the life and values he had cultivated in this second life. Even if it meant his death, he couldn’t bear to lose those he cherished.

‘But….’

I’ll go down fighting.

Grinding his teeth, Raon raised his head. He lifted Heavenly Drive toward the three streams of destruction bearing down on him, ready to make his last stand.

‘Crack!’

But before he could strike, the sky itself split apart.

The familiar form of Heavenly Blade, the unique sword art that channeled both darkness and frost, cleaved the heavens. Only one person could execute such swordsmanship.

‘Woom!’

The night sky fractured like glass, and a pale moon, warped and distorted, emerged.

Beneath the light of that fractured moon stood a lone figure cloaked in black.

It was Glenn Zieghart. (T/N: Yessss!)

Even the overwhelming presence of the Dragon Lord, which could cow the mightiest beings, crumbled before Glenn as if it were brittle kindling.

“Glenn Zieghart….”

The Dragon Lord shrieked, his voice trembling with rage.

“You dare interfere again?!”

His roar was laced with both fury and desperation as he ground his teeth.

“You’ve worked hard.”

Ignoring the Dragon Lord, Glenn turned his gaze toward Raon. He smiled softly at his grandson, whose body was trembling, his forehead marked by a dark horn. (T/N: Oh no! Is this the time to know of Wrath?)

“L-Lord Zieghart….”

Raon’s lips quivered as he collapsed to the ground. Seeing Glenn, the tension in his body finally unraveled, and he could no longer hold himself upright.

“What are you doing?! That boy wields the Demon King’s power!”

“That’s…”

Without even sparing a glance at the Dragon Lord, Glenn dismissed him with a wave of his hand.

“What of it?”

“If you don’t kill him now, the Demon King will descend upon this world!”

“Silence. I’ll handle it.”

Glenn waved his hand again, commanding the Dragon Lord to be silent.

“Kuh! Attack! Kill him now!”

At the Dragon Lord’s command, the two wyrms unleashed their breath and magic once more.

“I told you to be silent.”

As Glenn raised Heavenly Blade, the sky split open. One of the ancient wyrms was decapitated mid-attack, while the Dragon Lord spewed blood and plummeted from the sky.

“Don’t block the skies of my kin, you wretched impostors.”