Chapter 809

KUUUUUUUUNG!

The dim night sky above the Holy Sword Alliance trembled as if it were about to shatter. The vibrations were so intense that the ground itself seemed to quake.

“What… what is that?”

Dorian, who had just let out a sigh of relief after the duel between Raon Zieghart and Darkhan, trembled as he gazed up at the sky.

“Can’t we even celebrate before something else happens?”

He clutched his head, yelling as if he were in hell. The situation was beyond his comprehension.

“It feels like the sky is about to collapse…”

“The moon is shaking, too. Is this my time to die?”

The Demonic Blade Master and Melodic Blade Master stared blankly at the sky, blinking in disbelief.

“I don’t know either, but…”

Jarek lifted his long eyebrows as he observed the sky.

“There’s an unimaginable monster lurking behind that.”

His beard quivered as he sensed an overwhelmingly powerful force.

“…The barrier will break sooner or later.”

Lawrence straightened his back and ran a hand through his hair. His golden eyes wavered as if struck by a crashing wave.

“Why now of all times?”

Lawrence bit his lip as he looked at Darkhan, who was bleeding dark blood from his internal injuries, and Rektor, who had yet to recover his strength.

“That’s definitely not a welcome guest.”

Burren Zieghart swallowed dryly and gripped the hilt of his sword tightly.

“Haa, dealing with that crazy bastard was annoying enough. Now what?”

Martha Zieghart furrowed her brows deeply, grinding her teeth.

“Why does something always have to happen?”

She stomped her foot furiously, complaining that only bad things ever happened to them.

“Raon, are you okay?”

Runaan ignored the crumbling sky, focusing instead on supporting Raon, who was staggering.

“I’m fine. I can hold on.”

Raon gave a faint smile and shook his head. Though the duel with Darkhan had left him with severe internal injuries, Ring of Fire helped him endure.

‘But…’

He exhaled, his breath tinged with the scent of blood, and gazed up at the night sky.

‘What is that, really?’

The force battering against the barrier was so powerful that the sky seemed to split apart, and the constellations distorted.

Even the moon was warping—this was undoubtedly the power of a Transcendent.

‘And not just any Transcendent.’

The barrier protecting the Holy Sword Alliance was created by the first Zieghart Patriarch and his allied magicians.

For something to break through that, it had to wield power on par with the previous Holy Sword Alliance Leader standing beside him.

‘You know who that is, don’t you?’

Raon narrowed his eyes and turned to Wrath.

Just moments ago, Wrath had shouted at him to erase his presence and mentioned a “crazy stalker” following them.

He had to know who was trying to break the barrier.

– Uuuugh…

Wrath’s jaw trembled as he stared at the sky in terror.

‘Wrath!’

– Kugh! Didn’t I tell you?! There’s a lunatic stalker in Demon Realm, too!

Wrath screeched, yelling that there was a Demon just as insane as Merlin.

‘So that stalker followed you here?’

– Looking at that brute force, it’s obvious!

Wrath shuddered, saying that smashing through the barrier with sheer strength was typical behavior.

‘Then that must be Pride…’

– What nonsense! It’s Lust! (T/N: Ooooh, another pokemon to collect.)

‘…Huh?’

Raon had assumed it was Pride, the Lord of Arrogance, since breaking through a barrier by force required immense power. However, Wrath’s response was unexpected.

‘Wait, the Lord of Lust is breaking through a barrier with brute force? Not with sorcery or magic?’

The answer was so far from what he expected that he let out a hollow laugh.

– That’s why I said they’re insane!

Wrath shook his head furiously, muttering that Lust was anything but normal.

His already blue complexion somehow darkened further.

– Krrrrgh! It was already exhausting dealing with them in the Demon Realm, and now they’ve followed me here?!

Wrath let out a tormented groan, seemingly overwhelmed by past memories.

– That cursed thing ruins everything it touches! Even my castle… kuhhk!

Wrath whimpered, insisting that everything here was doomed too.

‘Hmm, this Lord of Lust seems very different from what I imagined…’

From Wrath’s reaction, the Demon King outside was not at all what he had expected.

‘For you to be this scared, they must be strong, right?’ (T/N: Again, since we are still unsure about the gender of these Demon Kings, I’m using vague pronouns (them, they, their) since this is also what the author is using.)

Wrath had never shown fear toward Pride, even though he was considered the mightiest Demon King. But he was trembling at the mere presence of Lust.

– Strength isn’t the problem…

Wrath tightly clasped his chubby hands together.

– That thing doesn’t die!

‘…What?’

– That damn stalker should still be in the Demon Realm, so why are they here?!

Wrath muttered in disbelief, biting his lip.

‘If they’re a stalker, didn’t they just follow you?’

– …Huh?

Wrath blinked at Raon, dumbfounded.

– T-That… Damn it! That’s probably it!

Wrath’s entire body trembled as he realized the possibility. He was truly terrified of Lust.

‘This is even more dangerous than I thought.’

Just in case, Raon pulled down his sleeve to hide Wrath’s Snow Flower Bracelet.

“Hmph…”

Darkhan wiped away the black blood trickling down his chin and tilted his head.

“It’s a little awkward, considering I just said I’d leave, but… I think I’ll stick around a bit longer.”

He smirked at Raon.

“It looks like something interesting is about to happen.”

Darkhan threw his gaze toward the sky, intrigued by the entity breaking the barrier.

“…Alright.”

Raon nodded without hesitation.

‘Having him around is better than not.’

Right now, Darkhan favored him.

He was an uncontrollable force, but in a dangerous situation, he could be a useful wildcard.

“Raon…”

Rektor struggled to his feet and approached Raon.

“I’m sorry.”

He bit his lip so hard it bled, as if apologizing for failing to protect him.

“It’s alright.”

Raon smiled faintly and shook his head.

“Because you fought first, I was able to analyze the former Holy Sword Alliance Leader’s swordplay. If not for that, I would have died in the end.”

This wasn’t just to ease Rektor’s guilt. If not for his initial battle, Raon wouldn’t have had the chance to leave such a strong impression on Darkhan.

“You have quite the grandson, Holy Sword Alliance Leader.”

Darkhan chuckled as he looked at Rektor. He truly had no lingering attachment to the Holy Sword Alliance, as he continued to address Rektor by his former title.

“Indeed. He is more than I deserve.”

Rektor gave a solemn nod, his eyes burning with an unwavering determination to protect Raon at all costs. This was more than mere resolve—it was an unshakable conviction.

“If he’s too much for you, I’d tell you to hand him over, but I already said my piece, so I suppose there’s no helping it. Just make sure you protect your grandson…”

Darkhan raised his hand with a crooked smile.

“…from that monster.”

The moment his finger pointed to the sky, the full moon split apart, revealing serpent-like cracks.

KWAHAAAAAAAA!

The barrier created by the first Zieghart Patriarch and his allies crumbled, and a violet rift tore open in the heavens.

– It’s… It’s coming! That crazy thing is coming! KIEEEEEK!

Wrath’s eyes spun like a lollipop. Even after spending over a decade with him, Raon had never seen him this hysterical.

‘Lust…’

What kind of Demon King could terrify Wrath this much?

A mixture of curiosity and dread swirled inside Raon as he focused his aura on the fractured sky.

WHOOOOSH!

From the violet rift, a shadowy figure cloaked in black robes emerged.

Their hood concealed their face, but their physique was slender and not particularly tall.

They looked completely different from what Raon had imagined. But even stranger than their appearance was something else entirely.

‘There’s no trace of Lust’s presence.’

Unlike Wrath, who constantly radiated anger, or Sloth, who spread lethargy the moment he awakened, Lust exuded no such energy.

The overwhelming aura emanating from them was enough to induce shock, yet they didn’t feel like a Demon King.

Rather, it felt like encountering a human who had pushed their martial arts to the absolute extreme.

‘Is that really Lust?’

Raon tilted his head slightly as he observed the hooded figure descending to the ground.

‘They just seem like a warrior.’

Judging by the shape protruding from their waist, they carried a sword.

– T-That’s not the real form!

Wrath covered his eyes with his stubby hands, his shoulders trembling.

– They’re pretending right now!

He bit his lip, saying that unlike other Demon Kings, Lust was deliberately concealing themselves.

– If that lunatic’s hair turns pink, never meet their gaze! You will be affected!

Wrath squeezed his eyes shut, warning Raon to run the moment Lust revealed their true self.

‘I’ll keep that in mind.’

Raon peered into Lust’s hood. Though he couldn’t see clearly, their hair appeared sky blue for now.

Click.

Lust stepped forward, their boots tapping against the ruins as if completely unbothered by the countless gazes fixated on them.

GOOOOOH!

The sheer weight of their aura left the swordsmen of the Holy Sword Alliance frozen, unable to even blink.

– Don’t even breathe! If my Wrath seeps out, we’re doomed!

Wrath shrieked, insisting that staying still was the only way to avoid detection.

“…I’m certain…”

A pair of ocean-blue eyes gleamed within the black robes.

“I sensed it here.”

A voice, thick like aged wine, spread through the silent battlefield.

– HNNGK!

Wrath clamped his tiny hands over his mouth and nose, as if to suppress even the slightest breath.

“What did they sense?”

Darkhan ran his fingers through his hair and glanced at Lust’s waist.

“Wrath.”

Lust’s crimson lips parted, and Wrath’s name spilled out in a voice dripping with certainty.

“You’re here.”

Lust’s eyes darted around knowingly, as if they could see everything.

– KYAAAAAAH!

Wrath finally lost control and let out a piercing scream.

“……”

At that moment, Lust’s gaze snapped onto Raon.

Perhaps it was a coincidence. But it was terrifying.

WHOOOSH.

It felt as if his clothes had been stripped away, exposing his bare skin. He was beginning to understand what made them so frightening.

– Damn it! We’re exposed!

Wrath gripped his head, saying that although he had hidden his exact location, Lust now knew he was here.

– But something’s off. That lunatic shouldn’t be able to come here!

Wrath furrowed his brows in confusion.

‘Lust’s a Demon King, isn’t it normal for them to come to the human realm?’

– No! That’s not it! Look at them!

Wrath pointed at Lust, whose gaze was now scanning the others.

– They’re lost!

‘…Huh?’

Raon blinked.

‘Did you just say… the Lord of Lust is… lost?’

– Yes! That damn stalker is directionally challenged!

Wrath shook his head vigorously.

– They only found my castle the first time because they were after Greed, but took the wrong path!

‘…Oh.’

Raon let out a silent breath as he studied Lust again.

‘Then… how did they find this place?’

– They must have sensed the Wrath I unleashed when I dragged Darkhan into my Mental World! Their nose is absurdly keen! It’s obvious—look at how they didn’t even use an entrance! They just smashed through the barrier! They were somewhere else entirely!

Wrath scrunched up his face.

‘So they just happened to be nearby?’

– Exactly!

Wrath waved his arms wildly, calling it rotten luck.

“…Hmmm.”

Raon swallowed dryly.

‘What happens now?’

If Lust was as insane as Wrath claimed, predicting their actions would be impossible.

As he was trying to piece things together, Lust, who had been scanning the area without pause, suddenly stopped.

“You…”

But their eyes weren’t on Raon.

They were locked onto Darkhan.

“You reek of Wrath the most.”

Lust’s gaze sharpened as if they had already made their choice.

‘Hmm…’

Raon exhaled softly as he looked at Darkhan.

‘Because he entered Wrath’s Mental World.’

Darkhan had been struck directly by Wrath’s rage, leaving an imprint on his soul.

Since Darkhan was hit with my swordsmanship that contained traces of Wrath’s energy, it was inevitable that he would be the one radiating the strongest Wrath in this place.

– I-It worked! It worked!

Wrath threw his arms into the air.

– That lunatic’s attention shifted! Now’s our chance—run for it!

He frantically waved his hands, urging everyone to flee immediately.

“I don’t know who this ‘Wrath’ is, but…”

Darkhan clicked his tongue as he looked up at Lust.

“You smell like a swordsman.”

His eyes narrowed as he glanced at the sword hanging from Lust’s waist.

“You must have met Wrath, haven’t you?”

“What kind of swordsmanship do you use?”

“Where is Wrath?”

“Your level is Transcendent, but is your swordsmanship the same?”

“Tell me where Wrath is.”

“Your sword is unusual. It’s been a while since I’ve seen a curved blade.”

“Wrath?”

“Draw your sword.”

“Wrath.”

“Sword.”

Lust and Darkhan stared at each other, locked in an endless exchange of parallel dialogue.

“…Are you not human? We’re not getting anywhere.”

Lust reached for their waist, pulling back the robe. From a curved scabbard, they drew a long, elegantly curved sword.

“Khhh! That sword aura is sharp!”

A grin stretched across Darkhan’s face, ecstatic at the prospect of experiencing a new swordsmanship.

RUMBLEEEEEEEE!

A Demon King obsessed with Wrath versus a swordsman obsessed with battle.

A ridiculous fight between two lunatics was about to begin.

“Wow.”

Raon’s eyes went blank.

“My chest feels… overwhelming.”

(T/N: This is going to be fun lol. Also, Im sorry for the use of vague pronouns. I think the author is hiding Lust’s gender at the moment for IDK reasons, it’s pretty obvious, though.)