Chapter 983
“The feeling of cutting through Breath isn’t bad either.”
Raon nodded in satisfaction as fragments of frost scattered across the sky.
[Kuhhhhhh…]
Desius trembled, his eyes wide in utter shock, as if the idea of his Breath freezing and shattering had never existed in the realm of possibility.
‘As I thought…’
Watching Desius’s disbelief, Raon let out a faint smile.
‘Desius is weaker than Kaibar.’
Desius’s Breath of Fire held enough heat to incinerate the entire region, but even that wasn’t enough to overcome Raon’s sword.
Just as there were tiers among Transcenders, the strength of Ancient Dragons also varied by age and power.
-You opened your Sword Field Creation and used everything you had, yet you’re still bragging!
Wrath scowled, telling him to stop showing off.
‘Of course I had to use everything.’
Raon tilted his sword slightly and glanced at the hostages behind him.
‘If I blocked it carelessly, they could have been burned.’
He likely could have cut the Breath without exerting himself fully. But protecting the hostages came first, so he had used his full strength from the beginning.
By releasing a strike that harmonized frost and wrath, he had frozen and shattered the Breath entirely.
-Well, freezing flames really is the best!
Wrath clicked his tongue in smug satisfaction, proud that coldness had defeated fire.
-That lizard’s expression is delightful! His liver looks perfectly ripe!
He smacked his lips, staring at the panicked Desius as if he were hungry. Completely insane.
“A-Am I alive?”
“He actually cut the Breath…”
“Is this real…?”
“No—how can a person cut fire!”
The rescued humans stared blankly at the frost-covered sky, unable to believe they were still alive.
“That wasn’t ordinary Aura…”
“A Transcendant. And one who has properly mastered his Sword Force.”
“How can someone so young wield transcendent Aura…?”
The dwarves’ eyes shone with awe as they watched the Breath split cleanly apart. Even now, they reacted like true children of iron and flame.
“I told you!”
Latiru raised his burned hand, waving excitedly.
“Borgos wouldn’t have let them leave so easily!”
He nodded firmly, saying he never doubted it.
“That’s… insane.”
Martha let out a hollow laugh, beyond stunned.
“He didn’t just cut the Breath. He froze it—and shattered it afterward. How?”
She had watched Raon for years, but she shook her head, saying she never imagined he could freeze a Dragon’s Breath.
“He must have taken precautions to protect the hostages from the heat.”
Burren nodded, understanding why Raon had frozen the Breath.
“Of course, the power required is… unbelievable.”
He exhaled sharply. It was simply beyond comprehension.
“I like ice…”
Runaan raised both hands, her cheeks pink with delight at the cold filling the air.
“Seeing the Lord’s sword… gives me courage.”
“Yeah. If he can block a Dragon’s Breath alone, then we can fight too.”
“Let’s go all the way today.”
“Let’s become Dragon Slayers.”
Their morale surged, the Light Wind Palace swordsmen newly resolved.
Gooooooo!
Their spirit shot upward as green wind gathered atop the Light Wind Sword Formation.
*
*
*
[I-Impossible…]
Azure Dragon Desius swallowed nervously as he stared at the shattered remnants of his Breath. His enormous body shook, and the fire Mana around him dispersed like broken mist.
[Impossible!]
He had expected resistance—he had sensed something strange about that golden-haired, red-eyed human. But he never imagined the Breath of Fire itself would be sliced, frozen, and then shattered.
In thousands of years, he had never once felt this level of bewilderment. His hair seemed to whiten, his heart thundering inside his chest.
‘Dangerous. That human is dangerous.’
The golden-haired, red-eyed swordsman had shattered his Breath through pure force. That meant he had enough power to cut off his head right now.
‘Wait…’
Golden hair… red eyes…
When the Lord recently commanded him to prepare for war against humans, he had warned specifically of a golden-haired, red-eyed swordsman.
‘He said… he was old…?’
He hadn’t cared at the time—an old man on the verge of death. Never did he imagine this outcome. It seemed *any* golden-haired, red-eyed human was a monster.
‘I must retreat.’
Between the Lord’s warning and the impossible-to-measure power of this swordsman, survival became his priority.
[Don’t get arrogant just because you blocked one Breath!]
Desius forcefully gathered the scattered Mana.
[I still have magic left beyond Breath!]
He chanted Dragon Tongue, sending crimson lightning crashing down. Transcendent Magic—Heaven’s Wrath.
Kuwahhhhh!
Desius twisted his body through the storm of lightning.
‘Not perfect, but enough to stall.’
Magic weakened when one’s mental state wavered, but he didn’t need full strength—he only needed time.
‘Get distance, then teleport—’
Just as he spread his wings—
Chwaaaaa!
A silent sword swept in with a red flash, aiming for his neck.
[Block it!]
Desius urgently chanted Dragon Tongue, but the blade—wreathed in golden flames—cut through all three layers of defense.
Then—
Chwaaaaa!
Both massive wings were severed.
Bright red blood exploded as the wings that once covered the sky plummeted.
Kuuuuung!
Desius slammed into the frozen blue desert, unable to stabilize himself. Waves of sand billowed outward as his enormous body crashed down.
[Kuhhhh…]
Groaning, he lifted his head.
[Y-You human…]
The golden-haired swordsman stood before him, serene and composed.
Launching a sword unseen, breaking his shield, severing both wings—none of it was something Desius could comprehend. For the first time in centuries, he felt fear.
“Right. You wouldn’t be a lizard if you didn’t try to run.”
Raon clicked his tongue.
“But I’ve dealt with your kind too many times to let you escape.”
Dragons—supposedly mediators of the world—were little more than lizards that shed their tails and fled when danger came.
“You only have two ways out.”
Raon pointed to the Light Wind swordsmen.
“Kill them… or be killed by them.”
Then he looked back at Light Wind.
“Same for you. Fight—and win.”
He stepped back, refusing to interfere any further.
[So that means…]
Desius slowly lifted his body.
[If I kill those humans… you’ll let me go?]
“You understand fast.”
Raon smiled at the Dragon’s bloodshot eyes.
“Just don’t use Breath. And don’t even think about running in the middle.”
If he did, Raon would personally handle the rest.
[Good…]
Desius bit his bleeding lip and rose, unleashing murderous intent toward Light Wind.
[Don’t regret your decision!]
* * *
“That crazy bastard really sold us out.”
Martha let out a hollow laugh.
“He’s trusting us. Think of it positively.”
Burren nodded. This was Raon’s test.
“We can do it…”
Runaan blinked calmly, more certain than ever.
“You’re unusually confident. Did you eat something weird?”
Martha lowered her eyebrows.
“Because we can.”
Runaan clenched her fist—less determination, more certainty, as if she could see victory.
“O-Okay! Let’s go for it!”
Krein yelled, “Let’s die!” and raised his sword.
“Aghhhh…”
Dorian, crying, gripped his sword with both hands.
“I’m glad I joined Light Wind Palace. Fighting an Ancient Dragon… what an opportunity.”
Trevin smacked his lips—excited.
“That’s the beauty of Light Wind Palace.”
Mark Gorton bowed gently.
[You have no chance left!]
Desius lowered his bloody hand, flames unraveling into threads that fell toward Light Wind.
“Too late to dodge! Brace for defense!”
At Burren’s shout, the swordsmen gathered at the center of the formation, compressing their Aura into a blue shield that collided with the falling flames.
Kuwahhhhh!
Flames and Aura clashed, creating purple sparks and shockwaves.
“Hmmm…”
Raon narrowed his eyes.
‘Their strength holds up.’
Desius’s 9-Circle magic and the Light Wind Sword Formation were evenly matched. If Desius couldn’t use Breath or Transcendent Magic, Light Wind wouldn’t be pushed back.
‘If Breath is unusable, I only need to block Transcendent Magic.’
And for that—
He turned to Light Wind, remembering the answer to defeating Desius.
“Don’t give him time!”
Burren stomped the ground.
“Attack immediately!”
He moved forward, leading from the center.
“I know!”
Martha—Light Wind’s assault captain—shot ahead even before Burren finished.
Chiahhhhh!
Prepared to die if she must, she thrust her sword at Desius’s torso.
Puhuhuhuh!
Her heavy strike pierced scales and carved deep into his flesh.
[Y-You brat!]
Desius retaliated with blades of fire.
Chiahhh!
Just before Martha’s body was skewered, a wall of frost blocked the flames.
“I saved you…”
Runaan clicked her tongue, unsurprised.
“I won’t thank you!”
Martha charged again, having fully expected Runaan’s support.
“Didn’t expect you to…”
Runaan followed, erasing every falling flame. Despite their usual bickering, they moved like sisters—perfect offense and defense.
[Kuaaaaa!]
Desius cried out, unleashing blue flames.
“Back—”
Runaan sensed she couldn’t block it and yanked Martha away.
“Unstoppable Breakthrough Formation!”
Burren split the descending flames like a waterfall using the condensed power of the formation.
[Insects!]
Desius dropped Dragon Tongue magic and 9-Circle spells repeatedly, desperately trying to force distance.
“We can block it! Forward!”
Light Wind pushed ahead without hesitation, cutting down the magic.
Kuwahhhhh!
Sword and magic collided. The Dragon’s scales shattered by sword aura; the swordsmen endured burned skin to continue attacking.
The endless clash stretched onward—until the Dragon’s patience broke first.
[I’ll… kill you!]
Desius roared as crimson flames gathered in front of his chest, the heat distorting the air.
“Black flames…”
“I-Is that Transcendent Magic?”
“Could that be Hellfire…”
Light Wind swallowed nervously.
“It’s a bluff!”
Burren roared back.
“Even an Ancient Dragon needs time to cast Transcendent Magic!”
He charged.
“He can’t use it right now—his mind is shaken! Follow me!”
Martha didn’t flinch at the black flames; she moved even faster.
“We have the advantage…”
Runaan struck his ankle with a frost-covered sword.
Kwahhhhh!
Once their strikes broke Desius’s defense, Light Wind flooded forward.
“Go!”
“Stab!”
“D-Damn it!”
Following Mark Gorton’s lead, Krein and Dorian stabbed through with sword aura.
Puhbuhbuhbuh!
Dozens of strikes tore Desius’s body apart. Blood gushed like a broken dam.
[You bothersome flies!]
Desius finally released the incomplete Transcendent Magic—
“Where are you going!”
Trevin immediately redirected the black flames into the desert.
Kuwahhhhh!
Even incomplete, Transcendent Magic melted the desert into flowing glass.
‘Not bad.’
Raon smacked his lips.
‘They’re doing well.’
Their strategy—to give him no time—was perfect.
They clung to him like leeches, executing the plan flawlessly.
‘They’ve all grown.’
Burren now embodied the role of Vice Palace Lord. Martha’s courage was unmatched. Runaan coordinated the formation so no one fell behind.
Dorian blocked magic while crying. Krein trusted him and pressed forward.
Mark, Trevin, and everyone else fulfilled their roles perfectly.
-They’ve grown up well…
Wrath sniffled, oddly proud.
‘Yeah. They’re worth watching.’
Raon nodded.
[Kuaaaaa!]
Desius screamed, blood raining down from countless wounds.
[I don’t need anything anymore! I’ll kill you all!]
He opened his maw—
Kugugugugu!
Lava-like flames condensed in his throat.
‘Breath of Fire.’
Unable to focus, he abandoned Transcendent Magic and turned to Breath.
-What are you doing!
Wrath panicked.
-Block it! The kids will die!
‘Wait.’
Raon stopped him and watched Light Wind.
‘They’re planning to try.’
The swordsmen strengthened the formation and raised their swords, eyes blazing with determination.
‘Alright. Go ahead.’
The first Breath would have annihilated them—but the current Desius was barely capable of releasing it properly.
It seemed that if the Light Wind Palace swordsmen truly steeled their will and focused their intent into the sword formation, they might be able to stop it.
Kuaaaaaaa!
Desius, unable to fully unleash his Breath of Fire due to pain and desperation, managed to condense only about half of it before pouring it toward the Light Wind Palace.
“Light Wind Tempest!”
At Burren’s shout, the Light Wind Palace swordsmen raised their swords at once. Their individual Sword Auras merged, forming a deep-blue radiance.
Kuaaaaaaaang!
The Breath of Fire clashed with the ultimate Light Wind Sword Formation, and a massive shockwave erupted in all directions. The sand crumbled, and the black flames burning behind them flickered and died.
Kugugugugu!
But the Light Wind Palace swordsmen’s expressions stiffened as they were gradually pushed back, cold sweat running down their foreheads.
[This is the end!]
Desius, no longer caring about consequences, poured out his Breath of Fire with even greater force.
“Endure!”
“Believe in the path we walked, enduring Raon’s training!”
“We can cut him down too…!”
At the cries of Burren, Martha, and Runaan, the swordsmen drew out their remaining strength and stepped forward.
Hwaaaaaaaa!
The instant their hearts and minds aligned like a single blade, a familiar green wind swept over them, forging their energies into one.
Ultimate Light Wind Sword Formation.
Light Wind Tempest.
The true final technique of the Light Wind Sword Formation—created by Rimmer and Raon—unleashed with the green wind, cleaved through Desius’s Breath of Fire and carved deeply into his neck.
[Kueueueuk….]
Desius trembled violently, unable even to scream as before. His Reverse Scale was struck. Normally, he would have fought wildly to survive, but he no longer had the strength.
“Now’s the time!”
“Advance!”
The Light Wind Palace swordsmen, their skin burned red by the Breath, refused to retreat and drove their blue blades into Desius.
Paaaaaaa!
Astral Rings and Sword Aura rained down, tearing into the dragon’s scales and ripping apart his flesh and bone.
Uuuuuuuung!
Realizing he had no hope of winning, Desius gathered what little power remained and prepared a teleportation spell.
[T-Teleport….]
Just as he began weaving Dragon Tongue magic, a heavy, icy blade plunged into his mouth.
[Keuheuheup!]
His spell was severed, and a ragged scream tore from his throat.
“Where do you think you’re going?”
“We can see everything.”
Martha and Runaan, anticipating this after watching Raon, twisted the blade embedded in Desius’s mouth.
“Kill him now!”
Burren called out, urging everyone to strike the final blow.
“Stop.”
Raon stepped forward and lifted his hand.
Cheoeok!
At that single gesture, the Light Wind Palace swordsmen immediately erased their killing intent, returned to formation, and straightened their backs. They trusted him completely.
“It wasn’t a bad battle.”
Raon nodded, giving them approval.
“Haaa…”
“It’s over…”
Martha and Burren lowered their swords and collapsed the moment Raon finished speaking.
“I said we’d win…”
Runaan nodded calmly, as if she had seen the outcome beforehand.
“I—I fought because I was more scared of the Lord than the dragon…”
Dorian shivered, wiping tears.
“That’s understandable.”
Krein nodded, fully empathetic.
“To think we actually killed a dragon…”
“And not just any dragon—an Ancient Dragon!”
“I never imagined standing in front of a Breath of Fire and surviving…”
“This is the Light Wind Palace!”
“Even the Lord will praise us. We fought well!”
The swordsmen, energized by victory, raised their swords and cheered.
“However!”
Raon shook his head as he looked at their celebration.
“There were a lot of unnecessary movements. If you had used your power properly, you could’ve killed this lizard without even seeing his Breath.”
He clicked his tongue, saying there were many disappointing points.
“And there was a mistake at the beginning. Well, we’ll discuss that slowly when we get back.”
Raon gestured lightly—time for reflection after returning to Zieghart.
“Ah…”
“He’s saving it for later…”
“Seriously! Can’t we enjoy victory for five seconds before he scares us again?”
“I’m already anxious…”
The Light Wind Palace swordsmen groaned, accusing Raon of lacking human emotion.
-That tenacious bastard…
Wrath also sighed, calling him terrible.
“Desius.”
Raon ignored the complaints and stepped onto the dragon’s blood-soaked head.
“You broke your promise not to use Breath. And you broke your promise not to run.”
He curled his lips as he stared into Desius’s massive red eyes.
“Then I can do whatever I want now, right?”
[Eueueueueu….]
“Good. Look forward to it.”
The huge dragon’s body trembled like the wings of a trapped insect.
“I’ll make you spit out everything you know—and even what you don’t.”