Chapter 954

               

‘Kuh….’

Raon bit his pale, cracked lips. The blood that trickled along his teeth evaporated instantly. The scorching heat of the sun was so intense that he could barely think straight.

‘To borrow Wrath’s words, this is maddeningly hot.’

Even while running the [Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation] at full power, he couldn’t absorb all the heat pouring down from the sun. He couldn’t fathom what kind of method could produce such terrifying fire.

‘But still…’

If the “me” in this place accepts that heat, will it affect my real body?

The realm of swordsmanship was mental rather than physical, so any enlightenment achieved here would certainly carry over.
But growth in aura or the body itself wouldn’t normally extend beyond this place.

‘No, I should trust it for now.’

The first Head of House would never create a trial without meaning. For now, he just had to trust him and focus entirely on cultivation.

‘The heat is so unbearable that I’m thinking of all sorts of nonsense.’

If it were just pain, he could force himself to endure. But this heat suffocated him to the point where he could hardly breathe.
If not for the [Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation], his soul would have melted away like ice cream under the blazing sun.

‘The first Head was far more ruthless than I thought.’

In his memories, the first Head had always seemed gentle and compassionate — a kind man. But now, Raon realized he was a monster of discipline.

‘I won’t lose to that kind of stubbornness—kuh!’

He tried to grin, but his shoulders trembled.

‘Damn it.’

The heat felt like it was melting not just his skin and muscles but his bones as well.
No, it wasn’t just a feeling — the pain of something slicing into his flesh from within was real.

‘I can’t last like this.’

This wasn’t something sheer willpower could overcome. It felt like his soul itself was being erased.

‘Should I try using Glacier together?’

If [Glacier]’s frost opposed the heat, it might help balance things out.

Wooooong!

Just like in a dire battle, Raon raised both [Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation] and [Glacier] simultaneously.

‘Even that’s not enough.’

Though [Glacier]’s cold slightly eased the heat along his mana circuits, it was hardly noticeable.
The golden sun’s radiance was too overwhelming for the frost to stand a chance.

“Kh…!”

A harsh groan escaped Raon’s cracked lips — not intentionally, but because even his soul screamed from the pain.

Rumble!

It felt as though he weren’t beside Vulcan’s charcoal kiln but trapped ‘inside’ it.

Ssshhhk!

Sensation faded from his skin — a sign that the burns were becoming severe. Any more, and it would truly be dangerous.

‘Th-the first Head wouldn’t give an impossible trial….’

He had always offered painful but conquerable trials. There had to be a way to endure this heat.

‘What could it be? To accept fire, I’d need to… ah!’

As he pondered the Head’s intention, one thing he hadn’t yet tried came to mind.

‘The Ring of Fire.’

The first Head hadn’t only taught him the [Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation]. Alongside that art, he’d passed down something not quite a cultivation method — the [Ring of Fire].

Normally, during aura cultivation, only one art should be used at a time. But theory didn’t matter now. [Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation] alone couldn’t handle this level of heat.

‘Let’s try it.’

Raon clenched his fists over his knees and activated the [Ring of Fire] together with the [Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation].

Fwoooosh!

The [Ring of Fire] burned brighter than ever before, beginning to absorb the torrential heat of the sun.

As all nine rings resonated, the [Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation] seemed to gain vigor, taking in even more heat.

‘The pain’s fading.’

It didn’t vanish entirely — it went from the level of being inside a furnace to merely lying on a griddle. Manageable.

‘The answer was the [Ring of Fire].’

It seemed the first Head had wanted to teach him that the [Ring of Fire] should be used not only in combat but also during cultivation.

‘He could’ve just said so….’

There was no need to beat the lesson into him like this. Still, thanks to it, he would never forget.

‘Let’s start again.’

Breathing out the heat that filled his lungs, Raon focused his mind on the harmony between the [Ring of Fire] and [Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation].

The nine rings rippled softly, filling his body with vitality, while the [Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation] converted the heat into aura and drew it into his energy center.

Chaaang!

Listening to the clear resonance of the [Ring of Fire], Raon sank deeply into a serene, thoughtless state.

—

“You’ve grown stronger.”

The mysterious blue-haired child nodded faintly at Wrath.

“So this is the life you chose.”

The child’s lips curved into a mocking smile.

“To think you’d make me remember such a cursed time….”

Wrath pressed his lips tight as he stared at the smiling child.

“You really do know how to foul my mood.”

That blue-haired child — it was both his past self and someone else entirely.
The worst, weakest version of himself — just looking at it made his insides twist.

“Don’t pretend you’ve changed.”

The child sneered.

“King of the Trash Heap.”

Its eyes gleamed with cruel delight.

“Haven’t heard that title in a while.”

Wrath clenched his trembling hand.

“I missed it, yet it sickens me.”

Though known as the Monarch of Wrath, he hadn’t always been this strong.

In the deepest abyss of Devildom, where the world’s filth gathered, he’d been born the weakest of all.

“Disgusted? You built that hell yourself.”

The child bared its teeth, hatred and mockery mingling in its gaze.

“Ran away, didn’t you?”

“I ran? Don’t spout nonsense! You know the truth better than anyone — what that damned war truly meant!”

Wrath roared like a beast, thrusting out his hand toward the child.

“Go on then, tear my throat out! Just as you tore away those dear to you!”

The child spread its arms, daring him.

“I…”

Wrath relaxed the power in his fingers, instead pulling the child into an embrace.

“I have not forgotten the past. I merely carry it deep within.”

He closed his eyes, recalling that hellish moment from ages past — a memory that not even thousands of years could erase.

“Ha! You cursed fool.”

The child’s lips twisted, then its form dispersed into smoke.

“…Was that the trial?”

Wrath exhaled, staring into the now-empty cave.

‘If I’d lost control of my anger, I’d have failed.’

It seemed the trial’s purpose was to test whether he could face his past without succumbing to rage.

‘Lucky, I suppose.’

He’d only calmed down because Raon’s face had flashed through his mind.
Seeing that child’s vengeful eyes reminded him of young Raon — once burning with the same hatred.

Knowing how much Raon had changed helped Wrath still his own fury.

‘A Monarch of Wrath must never lose control to wrath itself.’

Humans misunderstood — Monarchs didn’t drown in their Authority; they mastered it.
This trial was proof of that balance.

“Chamber of Self, huh…”

Wrath narrowed his eyes at the black mirror where the child had emerged.

Inside it stood a wounded, young version of himself.

“Whoever named this place… knew what they were doing.”

He smirked bitterly.

‘Still, I can feel something changing.’

Wrath looked down at his pale hands, as though they’d never seen sunlight.
Having overcome his past, he could sense his Authority growing within his soul. The “Chamber of Self” truly lived up to its name.

‘Though I probably won’t be able to take everything here….’

Two souls had entered this place together, creating a rift. It meant he likely couldn’t obtain its full power.

‘A shame, but I’ll keep moving.’

Clicking his tongue, Wrath stepped into the mirror his past self had come from.

Ssshh—

He felt a soft, liquid sensation beneath his feet.

Rumble!

When he opened his eyes, an untouched white field of snow stretched before him.

At the end of the plain stood a world tree carved from ice, reaching toward the heavens.
Perched upon one of its branches sat a handsome man with black hair and eyes.

“So it really was you.”

Wrath bit his lip as he glared at him.

“The previous Monarch.”

—

Fwooo—

Raon slowly opened his heavy eyelids. Nine fiery rings floated in the sky, surrounded by countless swords gliding through the heavens.

‘A mental world?’

So it’s always the same.

Even entering the Chamber of Self again, nothing seemed different.

‘No, that’s not true.’

The nine flaming rings now blazed like miniature suns, and the swords drifting through the air drew far sharper and more defined sword paths than before.

‘I’ve grown stronger.’

He could feel it — his strength, his skill, his essence.

‘Though it’s not over yet….’

He’d gained plenty, but the trial wasn’t done. To end it, he had to claim the sun’s fire entirely as his own.

Rumble!

Raon raised the [Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation] as the nine rings resonated above him.
He guided the heat from the sun into his energy center, visualizing his mana circuits overflowing with flame.

Thum—

His chest thundered like a war drum. It wasn’t sound but his very soul vibrating.

Focusing on that majestic rhythm, he poured everything into synchronizing the [Ring of Fire] and [Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation].

The solar heat filled his lower and middle energy centers before surging upward.

Fwooom!

As the refined heat touched his upper center, he felt as if his soul connected with the heavens themselves.

Wooooong.

All three energy centers and his mana circuits expanded, and the crimson flames within deepened into golden light.

He had surpassed another wall — his cultivation had ascended.

But it wasn’t over.
A tenth golden ring began to form above the others, joining with them—

Kyaaaang!

The tenth ring, forged of pure golden flame, was about to connect when blue cracks split across the sky. The mental world shattered.

“Huff….”

Raon gasped as he opened his eyes. The mental world was gone, leaving only the golden sun.

‘What happened?’

Did he fail?

It felt like he’d been expelled during the creation of the tenth ring, but something was off.

‘It felt like success….’

The tenth [Ring of Fire] hadn’t been forced — it had formed on its own. Why was it interrupted?

‘Now that I think about it…’

That blue light — it had stopped it.
Just as the tenth ring was about to complete, a blue crack had appeared and shattered it.

“This is frustrating.”

As Raon frowned, the sun vanished — and from above descended a man who looked like him but older, hardened by life. The first Head of House Zieghart.

“I didn’t expect this.”

The Head stroked his clean jawline in intrigue. His voice was familiar, but the words came faint and distorted, as if muffled by waves.

“Perhaps… two souls… that… influence…”

He smiled faintly, amused.

“What do you mean? Please explain properly.”

“Wait… no need for disappointment… another chance…”

He nodded as if it were better this way.

“Then we’ll meet again.”

That last line came through clearly. The first Head waved and vanished into the white void.

Fwoosh—

When he disappeared, the golden sun sank, revealing the summit of the sand mountain where Raon had first begun the trial.
It seemed he had never left this spot physically.

“So the trials are over?”

Judging from the Head’s words, everything he had prepared was now complete.

“The tenth ring is a pity, but I gained far more.”

He’d learned the true way to use the Thousand Swords, advanced his swordsmanship, and expanded all three energy centers.
Not just skill, but sheer might — his sword now stood on another level.

‘But there’s something even greater….’

Raon felt the burning energy swirling in his core and smiled.

‘The [Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation] — tenth star.’

Unlike the [Ring of Fire], the cultivation itself had advanced a level. He couldn’t feel its full extent here, but once he returned, he knew it would produce flames of an entirely different realm.

“I can’t wait to test it….”

Yet the world hadn’t ended.
Even though the first Head said they’d meet again, this space remained.

‘Come to think of it…’

He mentioned two souls.

He hadn’t heard everything clearly, but the first Head had said something about there being ‘two souls.’

‘One must be me… and the other…’

Could it be Wrath?

If the reflection in the mirror before entering meant anything, Wrath must have entered with him.

‘Then that ocean I saw… was Wrath’s path.’

He remembered sensing familiarity when looking at it. It must have been Wrath’s journey.

The thought of that fluffy blue cotton candy trudging across the sea made Raon chuckle.

“So that’s what he meant by another chance.”

He licked his lips as he gazed toward the blue sea shimmering like Wrath’s hair.

“Guess it’s time to squeeze a little out of our Wrath.”