Chapter 776

Raon swallowed hard as he stared at the ancient dragon whose head had been severed and the Dragon Lord falling from the sky, blood spraying in a crimson arc.

‘Has he grown even stronger?’

With a single, seemingly effortless strike, Glenn had slain two ancient dragons and dealt a mortal blow to the Dragon Lord. It was a feat that no ordinary human could achieve.

– “It wasn’t effortless.”

Wrath shook his head as he watched Glenn intently.

-“That old man is serious this time.”

Wrath grimaced, noting the rage emanating from Glenn’s aura.

‘He must have seen everything on his way here…’

Raon turned toward the Arian family’s side, only for his body to give out. He collapsed onto the ground.

“Gah!”

For a moment, he had forgotten the pain thanks to Glenn’s presence, but Wrath’s partial descent was still ongoing. Uncontrollable fury clawed at his mind, and black blood spewed from his lips.

“Raon!”

Glenn, poised to deliver another strike to the Dragon Lord, halted mid-swing. He turned around and rushed to Raon instead.

“L-Lord Zieghart. What I’m about to say is the truth, every word of it,” Raon gasped, grabbing Glenn’s hand to prevent him from interrupting.

“Don’t speak! Your condition—”

“I must… I must say this.”

Shaking his head resolutely, Raon forced himself to continue. If he didn’t speak now, Glenn might mistake Edgar and Sia for enemies and kill them. He had to explain everything before Wrath’s descent spiraled out of control.

“The man in the Death Knight’s armor… is my father, Edgar, who was thought to be dead. A-and the woman in the black orc’s helmet… is my sister, Sia.”

Raon’s tongue felt heavy, but he pushed the words out, revealing their true identities.

“What…?”

Glenn’s eyes widened as he turned to look at Edgar and Sia. His lips quivered as he realized the truth—his son-in-law and granddaughter were alive.

“And R-Rektor… is my biological grandfather. He became the Holy Sword Alliance Leader to protect my mother and me… Cough!”

Raon coughed up blood, his gaze darting toward Rektor, whose faint breathing was barely discernible.

“Please… save Rektor and my mother.”

Raon knew this was likely beyond Glenn’s abilities, but Glenn was his last hope. He pleaded, desperation etched into his voice.

“And… soon, another being will… enter my body.”

Raon struggled to suppress the furious pounding of his heart, his words faltering.

“It’s the Demon King, isn’t it?”

Glenn’s gaze narrowed as he observed the black horn protruding from Raon’s forehead.

“Yes… but he’s also… my first friend.”

Glenn let out a low hum, recalling how Raon had once introduced Wrath as a unique friend after the war. Though he had considered the friendship peculiar, he had never imagined Wrath was the Demon King.

“He’s saved me countless times… and he saved everyone today. Please don’t kill him. Stop the rampage instead.”

– “What nonsense! I am the Demon King of the Abyss! I can’t die! Worry about yourself, fool!”

Even as Wrath struggled to contain the building fury, beads of sweat forming on his spectral body, he protested Raon’s concern.

“Grandfather… I beg you.”

With those final words, Raon bowed his head. As the last feather of the Ring of Fire fell, his consciousness was swallowed by darkness.

– “You’ve asked the wrong person for help….”

Wrath gritted his teeth, gripping the frostflower bracelet tightly to stave off the descent.

– “I will not break…!”

—

‘Kraaaaaaa!’

Encased in a storm of frost, Raon let out a demonic roar toward the heavens. The black horn on his forehead radiated a deeper malice, while the ends of his golden hair turned an eerie shade of blue.

“Hmm….”

Glenn’s hand trembled on his Heavenly Tremor as he watched Raon radiate overwhelming demonic energy.

‘So, that’s how he defeated The Fallen One.’

The moment Glenn had arrived, The Fallen One’s presence had vanished. It was clear that Raon, together with Wrath, had managed to overcome him. Yet the energy still emanating from Raon was anything but ordinary—it exceeded even a typical Demon King.

‘A difficult request indeed.’

If Wrath fully descended and went on a rampage, subduing him without killing him seemed nearly impossible, even for Glenn.

‘But….’

Hearing Raon call him “grandfather” had strengthened his resolve. Whatever it took, he would honor his grandson’s wish.

“Hmm?”

As Glenn raised Heavenly Tremor, pondering how to subdue Wrath, he noticed something strange. Despite the torrent of demonic energy, Raon’s body felt empty, devoid of a soul.

‘What is this?’

Upon closer inspection, Glenn’s keen senses detected something massive writhing near Raon’s wrist.

‘Could it be…?’

Wrath wasn’t fully descending—he was holding himself back, shielding Raon from within. Just as Raon had considered Wrath a friend, it seemed Wrath shared the sentiment, preventing the rampage for Raon’s sake.

‘Then there’s a way.’

If Wrath were fully merged with Raon, separating them would be nearly impossible. But since Wrath was resisting from the outside, it was doable.

“Hold on, just a bit longer.”

Lowering Heavenly Tremor, Glenn closed his eyes.

‘Chiik!’

With his mind’s eye, Glenn located Wrath’s essence—a vast, blue cloud swirling into Raon’s upper dantian. Though small in appearance, its spiritual magnitude exceeded Glenn’s own.

‘I won’t let anyone die today….’

Though he could destroy Wrath now, Raon’s plea to save his friend weighed heavily on him. He wouldn’t ignore his grandson’s wish.

‘Woom!’

Glenn drew a mental blade, its form reflecting his past regrets and an unyielding resolve to prevent history from repeating itself.

With unmatched precision, the blade—gentle yet razor-sharp—sliced through Wrath’s connection to Raon, cleaving apart the chains of fury that bound them both.

‘Shraaak!’

As the sharp sound of the severed threads of rage echoed, Raon collapsed to his knees like a puppet whose strings had been cut, the frost that had enveloped him dissipating into thin air.

‘Hoooh!’

The blue figure of Wrath, the Demon King, detached from Raon’s body and fell lightly onto his head before disappearing entirely.

“Haa…”

Glenn wiped the cold sweat from his brow and exhaled deeply. The mental strain of saving his grandson felt more exhausting than facing multiple Five Demons.

“Thank you for being my grandson’s friend.”

Glenn offered a faint smile toward the blue figure of Wrath before it vanished.

– “!!!”

Wrath puffed himself up indignantly as if to retort but disappeared entirely as the last vestiges of rage within Raon dissipated.

Carrying the unconscious Raon on his back, Glenn headed toward the Arian family’s side. Thanks to the frost wave Raon had unleashed earlier, Edgar, clad in the Death Knight’s armor, had already regained consciousness.

“I greet my father-in-law.”

Edgar immediately bowed upon recognizing Glenn.

“So, you’re Edgar.”

Glenn gazed down at Edgar in silence, his fingers trembling faintly. Meeting his son-in-law for the first time on a battlefield like this only deepened his guilt for past mistakes.

“I apologize for my belated greeting. I would beg for forgiveness, but there’s no time for that now.”

Edgar bit his lip and gestured toward Sylvia and Rektor.

“Hmm….”

Inspecting their condition, Glenn clenched his jaw. He had been too focused on Raon to notice before, but Sylvia and Rektor were both on the brink of death. It wouldn’t be surprising if they passed at any moment.

‘Woom!’

Glenn infused their bodies with his aura, but the injuries were far too severe. Both their internal and external wounds were riddled with malice, rendering his efforts ineffective.

‘Federick.’

Glenn thought of the Ragged Saint. Sylvia and Rektor’s complex wounds might still be within his ability to heal, though it might already be too late. Carrying them was the only option.

“If we leave now, it might be too late,” Edgar said, shaking his head while holding Sylvia’s hand.

“What should we do? Leave them here to die?” Glenn growled, glaring down at Edgar.

“I can save them,” Edgar said, his faint smile steadying his resolve.

“What?”

“I possess the abilities of a Death Knight—to bestow death upon the living and to absorb their vitality. Conversely, I can transfer my vitality to others.”

Edgar’s gaze shifted between Sylvia and Rektor as he spoke, nodding heavily.

“They have less than a minute left. Please lay them down.”

Glenn bit his lip as he saw the determination in Edgar’s eyes. Finally, he relented, lowering Sylvia and Rektor to the ground.

‘Woom.’

Placing his hands over their chests, Edgar began muttering the incantations of a Death Knight. The inhuman language resonated across the battlefield as faint red color returned to Sylvia and Rektor’s pale faces.

At the same time, blackened veins spread across Edgar’s own pale face.

“Wait! Are you…?”

Glenn’s eyes widened in realization.

“I already died once. Calling myself human is no longer accurate,” Edgar said, glancing at Raon, who lay unconscious nearby.

“Seeing my son at the end, saving my daughter… that is enough.”

He nodded as though satisfied.

“You’ll endure unimaginable agony. Your soul will be torn apart.”

Glenn’s voice softened, his eyes filled with concern.

“My life has always been pain. But here, with my wife, my son, and my daughter, I feel nothing but happiness.”

Edgar brushed Sylvia’s cheek with trembling fingers, a gentle smile on his face.

“If you were in my place, you’d make the same choice, wouldn’t you?”

Glenn opened his mouth to respond but couldn’t find the words. Edgar’s decision to sacrifice himself for his family stirred his own regrets. If only he had accepted Sylvia back then, none of this tragedy would have happened.

Grinding his teeth, Glenn reached over and placed a hand on Raon’s forehead.

“Are you waking him?”

“He should see his father’s last moments.”

“Then wait.”

Edgar retrieved the Death Knight’s helmet and placed it back on his head, chuckling awkwardly.

“It’s embarrassing otherwise.”

—

“Gasp!”

Raon woke with a sharp, pained breath. His head throbbed as though he had been forcibly awakened.

‘What happened?’

Unsure how much time had passed or what had transpired, he instinctively looked up to find Glenn standing before him.

“G-Grandfather. What’s the situation…?”

“It’s over. How do you feel?”

Glenn nodded briefly, prioritizing Raon’s well-being.

“Oh, I think I’m okay.”

The overwhelming rage that had dominated his mind was completely gone. Whatever had happened, Wrath’s descent had stopped before it fully manifested.

“And your friend?”

“Yes. He seems to be fine, too.”

Though Wrath’s form was nowhere to be seen, Raon could still sense his energy emanating faintly from the snowflower bracelet. It seemed Wrath had collapsed from exhaustion.

“Thank you… for granting my difficult request.”

“Save your thanks for later.”

Glenn sighed and gestured to the side. Turning his head, Raon saw Edgar with his hands placed over Sylvia and Rektor’s chests.

“Ah!”

Using Heavenly Drive as a crutch, Raon staggered toward Edgar.

“Are my mother and Rektor going to be okay?”

Raon clenched Heavenly Drive as he observed Edgar’s diminishing vitality. Though his aura circuits were drained and his upper dantian heavily taxed, he could sense the steady rhythm of Sylvia’s and Rektor’s breathing stabilizing.

“They’ll be fine now.”

Edgar gave a soft, reassuring smile, nodding as if to quell Raon’s concerns.

“You know healing too?”

Though he couldn’t discern what Edgar had done without his aura, Raon could tell the treatment was working.

“Your father isn’t just a swordsman. I dabble in all sorts of things—medicine, construction, welding, farming, even animal husbandry. I can do it all. But my greatest skill is this mouth of mine. That’s how I won over your mother, you know.”

Edgar chuckled, his voice light despite his condition.

“Though you still call her ‘Mom,’ huh?”

“I… I get flustered and just say it without thinking….”

Raon’s cheeks flushed as he blinked awkwardly.

“That’s a good thing. It means you’re close,” Edgar said with a warm laugh.

“And don’t call Rektor ‘Lord Rektor’ anymore. Call him Grandfather. He’ll love it.”

He playfully tapped Rektor’s forehead, laughing.

“I know, but… it feels hard to say it out loud.”

Raon glanced away, admitting that it had taken him a long time to call Glenn “Grandfather” as well.

“Understandable. How about starting with me? Try calling me Dad.”

“Uh…”

Raon hesitated, his lips trembling. He wanted to refuse, but Edgar’s pleading gaze behind his helmet left him unable to deny the request.

“F-Father.”

“Kuhh…”

Edgar staggered back dramatically, as though struck by an arrow, letting out a deep sigh of satisfaction.

“That’s great! So that’s what it feels like! Though, I’d hoped to hear ‘Dad’ first. What a shame.”

He sighed wistfully, muttering how he’d wanted to hear it when Raon was a child.

“Wanna try it now?”

“M-Maybe later. It’s… a bit embarrassing.”

“Ah, well. I’ll wait.”

Edgar patted Raon’s shoulder, chuckling softly.

“This will take a little while to finish. In the meantime, why don’t you tell me about your life? Talking is the best way to get closer, after all.”

“Hmm…”

Raon glanced back. Glenn, standing nearby, gave a slight nod as if encouraging him to go ahead.

“Alright… briefly, then.”

Raon began recounting his life.

“I lived in the annex of the Zieghart estate. When my mother returned to the family, she was relegated to a branch line, so I faced hostility whenever I visited the main house.”

“Ah, I see.”

Edgar nodded, glancing at Glenn.

“You did that to protect them, didn’t you? Thank you for your foresight.”

He smiled faintly, recognizing Glenn’s intent.

“…….”

Glenn gestured silently for Raon to continue.

“At 12, I joined the basic training program at the Five Battlefields. Those kids you saw fainting up there—they’re all my peers.”

“The ones who held the wall like an impenetrable fortress? They were so different from when they stormed my division before. I didn’t expect them all to become Masters. Is it true that you trained them?”

“…On my second mission, we faced the Blood Fiend. If the division leader hadn’t arrived, we would’ve all died.”

“I saw how he protected you earlier—putting his life on the line to shield you. I was genuinely moved. Trust and follow him.”

Raon shared more of his experiences, including his duel with Derus, his growth, and the trials he overcame. Edgar listened intently, reacting with dramatic enthusiasm at every turn.

It was oddly fun, like reporting a mission to Glenn in the main hall.

But as Raon continued, he noticed something strange.

“Um… why does your vitality keep decreasing as Mother and Grandfather recover?”

With his aura slowly returning, Raon could feel Edgar’s life force draining rapidly. His voice, too, sounded weak and brittle, like a man nearing his end.

“It’s part of the treatment. Don’t worry about it,” Edgar said, shaking his head as though it were nothing. But his tone was fragmented, each word trailing off.

“Can I… can I take off your helmet?”

Raon’s trembling hands lifted the Death Knight’s helmet.

“Ah…”

Beneath the helmet, Edgar’s face was skeletal, his flesh clinging to his bones as though he had starved for months. Thick, rope-like veins of dark energy spread across his skin.

The sight was terrifying. His body was no longer alive—it was a husk.

“Caught me, huh?”

Edgar gave a small clap, as if disappointed to have been discovered.

“What… is this?”

“It was the only way.”

He shook his head, his voice calm as though he had already accepted his fate.

“To save Sylvia and Rektor, I had to absorb the deathly miasma and share my life force. It was the only option.”

“But you have to live too! Why endure hell just to throw your life away now?”

Raon gritted his teeth, the buried anger within him reigniting. He knew what Edgar’s life had been like, and the thought of his sacrifice filled him with rage.

“I met you.”

Edgar raised a skeletal hand to pat Raon’s head. His touch was so weak it felt like his hand would crumble at any moment.

“I fought alongside my son, saved my daughter, and brought my dying wife back to life. What more could I ask for?”

He smiled, his expression unblemished by regret.

“And even if it wasn’t my intention, I’ve killed many people. This is my penance.”

“Penance? For what?!”

Raon shouted, his voice trembling with emotion. Having been controlled in his past life, he couldn’t accept Edgar’s words.

“Raon. Sit down. There’s no time left.”

Edgar waved his hand gently, as though ready to embrace his own death.

“Kuhh…”

Raon stared at his father’s trembling hand as it fell limp, his head bowing in despair.

“I always wanted to teach my swordsmanship to you and Sia. I gave up because it seemed impossible, but when I saw you fighting with the Demonic Sword, I felt our fates were connected.”

Edgar gently stroked Raon’s head before pulling him into an embrace.

“It was an honor and a joy to share my final battle with my son.”

“No… no, don’t say that….”

Raon’s voice cracked, his hands gripping Edgar tightly.

“Take care of your mother, your sister, and your grandfather.”

Edgar spoke these words as though they were his last, holding Raon close in silence.

The endless chatter that had defined him was now gone.

“Father….”

“You finally called me that, sincerely this time.”

Edgar smiled brightly, his expression one of fulfillment as he leaned forward.

His withered body began to crumble, disintegrating into black ash that scattered into the air.

“Please, no!”

Raon desperately channeled his barely recovered aura, trying to halt the collapse, but Edgar’s body continued to dissolve.

“Hmm?”

Glenn, who had been silently watching, suddenly moved to Raon’s left. His eyes narrowed, and he raised Heavenly Tremor, pointing it toward the darkness.

“Who’s there?”

His gaze sharpened, carrying more tension than when he had faced the Dragon Lord.

“…Me.”

A soft, almost clumsy voice replied.

From the shadows emerged a child with white hair and alabaster skin, stepping forward hesitantly.

“I… ran out of money….” (T/N: Wait, what?! Gluttony?!)