Chapter 948
Kyaaaaang!
Raon slightly bent his knees as his sword clashed with Karoon’s. He maintained a stance that allowed for movement in any direction, narrowing his eyes.
‘As expected, his swordsmanship is hard to deal with.’
Karoon’s sword style carried the elegance and grandeur of an orchestra.
Though it once resembled the decorative sword dances nobles learned as a formality, and thus lacked practicality, that flaw had transformed into an advantage once Karoon reached transcendence.
‘Chiiiiing!’
Like unraveling antique silk, the graceful path of his sword concealed a sharpness that seemed to constrict the heart. It was so precise, it felt as if it could cleave Heavenly Drive itself.
‘Kyaaaang!’
Raon parried Karoon’s descending blade, wrapped in a chilling aura, and bit his lip.
‘So I wasn’t the only one who grew from the last war.’
Karoon, too, had evolved through endless battles. His swordsmanship now operated on an entirely different level.
Raon had assumed he’d already grasped Karoon’s capabilities—but that was a grave misjudgment.
Although Karoon hadn’t visibly gained physical strength or aura like Raon, he had grown significantly in terms of spirit and technique.
‘Interesting.’
Raon clicked his tongue and lifted Heavenly Drive like a dragon’s scale. A giant tree resembling the World Tree surged upward from the heated blade.
[Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation — Heavenly Flame: Flame Blossom].
[Spirit Manifestation].
Thousands of crimson petals ignited atop the tree, blooming into a whirlwind of fire that encircled Karoon.
‘I have to press further here.’
Karoon would likely cut through the flames with ease. To seize momentum, Raon needed to strike now with a powerful technique.
‘Boom!’
Raon stepped into [Supreme Harmony Steps], circulating Glacier to its peak. A silver sphere formed above his chilled blade.
Raon Zieghart Swordsmanship — Form Two: [Heavenly Sky Cannon].
Just as the frost-packed sphere prepared to explode—
Karoon stepped through the blazing storm without resistance.
‘He broke through [Flame Blossom] that easily?’
Raon had known Karoon would break free eventually—but not this fast. To see him shred the flame itself… it was ridiculously sharp.
‘Still, I have to continue.’
With aura condensed into the sword, Raon had no choice but to release the [Heavenly Sky Cannon], even if Karoon could block it.
‘Slaaash!’
Just as Raon was about to fire it, Karoon drew a deep blue line with his sword. The energy of the [Heavenly Sky Cannon] touched that line—and split diagonally.
‘KWAANG!’
The blast exploded not at Karoon, but in the air, shaking the entire training ground.
‘He even cut through [Heavenly Sky Cannon] like that?’
That silver sphere had enough cold to freeze an entire village. Seeing Karoon cleave through it with one motion left Raon chuckling dryly.
“I asked for this duel for two reasons.”
Karoon halted and raised two fingers.
“First, to understand you. Second, to show you my true power.”
He waved a finger, implying that underestimating him would be a mistake.
“Just as you’ve grown, so have I.”
Karoon beckoned with his sword, signaling Raon to come at him full force.
“Well, no reason to waste time now.”
Raon smirked and stabbed Heavenly Drive and Soul Requiem Sword into the cracked training ground.
[Sword Field Creation – Divine-Demonic Harmony].
Above the sunlit training ground, a golden sun overlapped the real one—and beside it, a silver moon rose high.
‘Wooooong!’
Raon grasped the divine sword and demonic sword forged from the sun and moon, raising his chin.
“As you wish, I’ll go all out.”
—
‘CHWAAAAANG!’
Karoon blocked the divine sword cloaked in flames and grimaced.
‘This is different. No, it’s like he’s a completely different person.’
Raon’s strike, which Karoon thought he could easily deflect, pierced through his defense with overwhelming force.
It no longer felt like Raon—it felt like he was fighting a transcendent even greater than himself.
‘I’ll admit it. In terms of strength, speed, senses, and aura, Raon surpasses me.’
Even after undergoing a transformation, Karoon couldn’t keep up with Raon’s sheer physicality.
If this were purely a contest of aura and body, he wouldn’t stand a chance.
‘But that’s not all.’
Had Raon merely added strength and speed to his swordsmanship, Karoon might’ve been able to counter it.
But now, Raon’s blade was laced with sublime technique.
This was the true sword of Raon Zieghart.
‘Yes. That’s how it should be.’
Karoon had wanted to face Raon’s true power. If it weren’t at this level, the duel would’ve been meaningless.
‘CHWAAAANG!’
Karoon pushed his aura to the limit, blocking both the divine and demonic swords raining down like a waterfall.
‘KWAANG!’
Flames that could incinerate all things and sword strikes that could sever anything collided, unleashing a tremendous shockwave. The training ground cracked like a spiderweb, black fissures spreading across its surface.
‘ZZZRK!’
Even as the floor crumbled, Raon and Karoon didn’t back down. They thrust their swords at each other’s throats.
‘CHIAAAAAANG!’
A blue slash extinguished the raging flames. Silver frost then pushed back the blue slash.
An endless battle of clashing blades unfolded—a perfect stalemate.
‘He really is troublesome.’
Karoon frowned at Raon’s constantly shifting sword path.
‘That [Thousands Sword] of his…’
Raon’s sword was like an unfathomable ocean—ever-changing in its flow.
Sometimes fast, sometimes slow; sometimes light, sometimes heavy. At times, it felt like he was facing dozens of swordsmen at once.
‘But…’
Not all of them are complete.
[Thousands Sword] was a path toward mastering all sword techniques in existence. Naturally, not all of Raon’s techniques were yet perfect.
‘I’ll have to aim for that.’
Karoon softened the pressure of the divine and demonic swords with footwork and gripped his sword tighter.
‘Zzzzrkt!’
Raon’s blade, laced with red lightning, descended in an attempt to break through Karoon’s defense—a [Thunder Sword] designed to paralyze.
‘Now!’
Though powerful, Raon’s [Thunder Sword] wasn’t as polished as the others. It had a gap worth exploiting.
‘Boom!’
Karoon shattered the ground as he dashed in. He dove straight into Raon’s space, thrusting his blade sharply.
‘Slaaash!’
He used [Spear Swordsmanship], famed for severing all things, to split the thunder sword and drive his blade toward Raon’s chest.
“I knew you’d come.”
Raon tilted his head slightly, curling his lips.
“You always go for the gap.”
Despite his elegant sword style, Karoon had the keen instincts of a wild beast.
To bait such a man, he couldn’t set a fake trap—he had to show a real vulnerability.
‘So it was a trap?’
Karoon frowned, but kept advancing. Even if he knew it now, the best option was to commit.
‘Wooooong!’
Above the deflected divine sword, tremendous energy and lightning surged.
[Sky Piercing Thunder – Pale Shadow]. A technique passed down from Glenn had spread its wings.
‘KWAANG!’
Karoon’s [Spear Swordsmanship] clashed with Raon’s [Sky Piercing Thunder], blue light and red lightning exploding in all directions.
‘Screeeeech!’
Unable to withstand the force of [Sky Piercing Thunder], Karoon was pushed back. He frowned, lifting his head.
“You baited me?”
“No. I just knew you’d take the bait.”
Raon smiled, saying he believed in Karoon.
“Well, now you’ve done it.”
Karoon grinned back and nodded.
“Even if it means you won’t make it into the Chamber of Self, I’ll crush you here!”
He charged at Raon, vowing to overwhelm him completely.
‘KWAANG!’
Blue flashes and red flames clashed again, shaking not just the training ground—but all of Zieghart.
—
“I can’t even see clearly…”
Balder chuckled bitterly at the chaos of light, flame, and frost flooding the training ground.
“He only just reached transcendence—how is this possible?”
He furrowed his brow at the absurd gap in power.
“It’s not normal.”
Aris shook her head.
“Karoon’s strength comes from years of experience atop the Grandmaster level exploding at once. And Raon… well, you know. His talent is just in another league.”
She smiled, saying the two of them were special cases.
“I always knew the calm river flows fastest, but this is insane…”
Aris clicked her tongue, lamenting how far behind she’d fallen during her downtime.
“What do you think, Father? Who’s going to win?”
She turned to Glenn, who was staring intently at the match.
“Hm…”
Glenn wiped the sweat from his palm and narrowed his eyes.
“Before the war against the Black Tower, Karoon clearly had the edge. But now… I’d say they’re evenly matched.”
He clicked his tongue, acknowledging that their levels had equalized.
“And the duel itself is making them stronger. Either of them could win.”
With every clash, Raon and Karoon were raising each other’s skills.
If Raon improved, Karoon caught up. If Karoon grew sharper, Raon blocked him. A perfect back-and-forth.
“Karoon hasn’t used [Sword Field Creation] yet. If he does, he’ll win.”
Balder licked his lips, predicting Karoon’s victory.
“Raon hasn’t used [Sword Control] either. And Karoon’s sword field isn’t a one-and-done thing.”
Aris shook her head, saying both sides had hidden cards.
‘That’s not all.’
Glenn lowered his chin slightly.
‘Raon hasn’t used all his power yet.’
Inside Raon’s soul slept a unique power only he could wield.
If he brought it out, he could crush Karoon. But he wanted to win this duel on his own strength.
‘Good.’
Glenn watched them with a gentle smile.
‘I never thought I’d witness something like this.’
To see his son and grandson pushing each other forward. As someone who believed he’d failed in raising a family, Glenn never expected this moment.
‘It’s all thanks to you.’
He looked at Raon with warm eyes.
‘Thank you, Raon.’
—
‘CHWAAAAANG!’
Raon pushed Karoon back with the divine sword and smiled faintly.
‘I can see it now.’
After this long duel, he had come to understand Karoon’s swordsmanship. He could now create a flow of [Thousands Sword] that wouldn’t be cut by Karoon’s blade.
“Haaah…”
Karoon stumbled back and let out a heavy breath.
“I can’t keep up with your growth. And I’m losing in strength and speed too.”
He clenched his teeth at how disadvantaged he was.
“You still have energy left, don’t you?”
Raon smiled and waved his hand.
“You haven’t even used [Sword Control].”
Karoon tilted his chin knowingly.
“Then you’re no better. You haven’t used your sword field yet.”
Raon pointed his divine sword at Karoon and chuckled.
“…Hmph.”
Karoon slowly raised his sword, eyes opening with cold resolve.
“This has been fun. But it’s time to end it.”
His sharp gaze signaled he was ready for the final clash.
“Agreed.”
Raon raised the divine sword behind his shoulder, tilted the demonic sword behind his waist, and floated the ring blade in [Blade of Domination] mode—fully prepared.
“Don’t die.”
Karoon gripped his sword with both hands and slashed downward. It looked like an ordinary vertical cut, but it contained power capable of splitting the continent.
[Sword Field Creation – Manifestation of the Sword King].
Karoon’s calm voice became the pivot that reshaped the world. His sword strike split the horizon with majestic force.
‘Is his sword… growing?’
No, it really was growing.
Karoon’s thin blade expanded until it filled the training ground.
It felt as though Raon’s body—no, his soul—was being crushed under it.
‘He did say “Sword King.”’
It felt like his soul, body, and even swordsmanship were being bent. The power truly matched its name.
‘My heart feels like it’ll burst…’
But I can’t retreat here.
Raon clenched his lips and rushed forward, gathering the remaining energy of his divine and demonic swords.
Raon Zieghart Swordsmanship — Form Six: [Divine-Demonic Harmony — Azure Crimson Invincible Blade].
Two beams of light burst forth from the divine and demonic swords, clashing against the massive blade.
‘One more!’
Raon channeled the lightning of [Heavenly Thunder Art] and the wind of Garunua into the ring blade. The two energies mixed like paint into a crimson lightning bolt—[Sky Piercing Thunder – Heaven’s Emperor].
‘WOOOOOOM!’
A sword infused with lightning and wind shot forward, combining all four attributes to strike the Sword King’s blade.
‘KWAANG!’
The colossal forces clashed, collapsing the ground and causing the training ground itself to fall apart. The once bright sky darkened like a panicked void.
‘ZZZRK!’
Even after using [Azure Crimson Invincible Blade] and [Heaven’s Emperor], Raon couldn’t push back Karoon’s Sword King.
‘No, I’m being pushed back.’
Karoon’s sword carried overwhelming majesty and power, worthy of its name.
‘I understand why he’s this strong.’
Karoon had only one goal: to become the Head of Zieghart. His childhood dream of becoming a king had fully manifested in this sword field.
The time and conviction he poured into it surpassed that of [Azure Crimson Invincible Blade].
‘But still…’
I can’t give in here.
No such thing as a flawless sword exists. Watching the increasing weight and pressure of Karoon’s technique, Raon gripped his shaking hand tighter.
‘If he crushes, then I’ll cut.’
Raon infused [Azure Crimson Invincible Blade] and [Heaven’s Emperor] with extreme refinement and unleashed them toward Karoon’s blade.
‘ZZZRK!’
Raon’s sword, sharp enough to sever space, and Karoon’s endlessly strengthening Sword King clashed, turning the world black and white.
Colors vanished from the training ground. All light and meaning compressed into a single explosion.
‘KUGUGUGU…!’
As Raon and Karoon swung their swords in that suffocating space, a crimson bolt of lightning fell from the split sky.
‘KWAANG!’
Like a divine dragon, the bolt devoured the energy the two had created.
‘Zzzrrrk!’
Only red lightning remained, like an echo.
“That’s enough.”
Glenn stepped forward with Divine Sky Sword drawn.
“If you had continued, neither of you would’ve walked away. The training ground would’ve been destroyed too.”
He sheathed his sword, saying they’d both gained what they needed.
“…Understood.”
Karoon clicked his tongue in regret, but lowered his sword and nodded.
“Yes…”
Raon let out a breath and sheathed Heavenly Drive, Soul Requiem Sword, and the ring blade.
‘As expected, not easy.’
-If you’d used my [Authority of Wrath], you could’ve won.
Wrath frowned, as if Raon had forgotten something.
‘I wanted to fight with my own strength.’
Had he used the Monarch’s Authorities, Raon might have overwhelmed Karoon from the start.
But this was a duel between Zieghart swordsmen. He wanted to win by his own power.
‘A little disappointing.’
Had he used [Sword Control] instead of the fading [Azure Crimson Invincible Blade], he might’ve cleaved through Karoon’s Sword King.
But he couldn’t test it this time.
‘Still… I’ve caught up.’
Before the war, Karoon had seemed far away. But now, Raon felt he could win—even without the Monarchs’ power.
He looked forward to seeing how much stronger he would become after returning from the Chamber of Self.
“Thank you for the match.”
Raon bowed first.
“We’ll have our rematch after you return.”
Karoon said without hesitation before leaving the training ground.
“Trying to act all calm! You were freaking out in your heart!”
Balder gave a thumbs-up.
“You’ve changed so much, damn…”
Aris chuckled, asking how Raon had come this far.
“I just got lucky.”
Raon shook his head, saying he’d only had good opportunities.
“Raon.”
Glenn dusted off his hands and approached.
“I’ve opened the Chamber of Self as you requested.”
He nodded, signaling all preparations were complete.
“Rest for now, and return on the appointed day.”
“Yes.”
Raon nodded, eyes glimmering with anticipation.
‘It’s finally time.’
-The day has come…
Wrath grabbed his head, eyes brimming with tears.
-Curse you, Nadine Bread!
—
“I’ll be back.”
Raon waved to Silvia, Edgar, Sia, Olga, and the maids gathered in the garden.
“Be careful. Don’t push yourself too hard.”
Silvia nodded, warning him not to be greedy.
“A warrior should be greedy!”
Edgar clenched his fist, saying Raon should gain as much as possible.
“See you later!”
Sia, perhaps satisfied from playing with him for days, waved cheerfully. She was clearly maturing.
“Hey. Come back quick. It’s weird being alone.”
Olga looked away, clearly uncomfortable about staying in the annex alone.
“It probably won’t take long. Time flows differently in there.”
Raon reassured her and tapped her shoulder.
“Then I’m off.”
After bidding farewell again, Raon left the annex. Perhaps because it was the day he’d finally enter the Chamber of Self, his body felt strangely light.
-Damn it…
Wrath had been grinding his teeth since morning, knowing he’d have to eat Nadine Bread for a while.
Dragging the sulking Wrath like a dog resisting a walk, Raon entered the audience chamber.
“Greetings, Head of House.”
Raon stood in the center and bowed to Glenn.
“You came early. Couldn’t hold back, huh?”
Glenn smiled knowingly.
“Yes. I’ve wanted to enter the Chamber of Self even before reaching transcendence. I couldn’t sleep.”
Raon scratched his head, saying even now his heart was racing.
“Then let’s begin right away.”
Glenn rose from the golden throne, saying there was no need to delay.
“Yes. Then I’ll—”
Just as Raon turned to leave the chamber, Glenn raised a hand.
“No need to leave.”
Glenn shook his head and pointed at the floor.
“The Chamber of Self is here.”