Raon bit his lip. His body weakened, and his vision blurred. If he didn't pull himself together, he felt he would collapse.
'The recoil is as severe as I heard.'
Rimmer and the Gambling Monster had said that the Sword Domain technique was like a weapon of last resort.
They advised that if used, it must either kill the enemy or end the battle immediately.
Only now did Raon understand why they said that.
'It feels like all my muscles have exploded. My energy center is empty.'
His limbs trembled as if they would give way. The heat and cold of his energy center were empty, leaving only the energy of the wind and the Divinity Born from Darkness.
If he hadn't managed to cut down Cloud in the end, he would have been defeated instead.
'Whew…'
But I can endure.
Thanks to various titles and Sloth's recovery effect, his stamina and Aura were quickly replenishing. If he held on a bit longer, he would recover enough to move normally.
Raon was confident in pretending to be unharmed. Fixing his gaze and expression to show no signs of injury, he approached the kneeling Cloud.
"Ugh…"
Cloud clawed at the two sword scars etched into his chest.
"Kraaaagh!"
Unable to bear it, he let out a scream filled with excruciating pain.
Looking closely, there was no blood flowing from his wounds.
The scar running from his left shoulder had been seared, and the one from his right shoulder had been frozen.
Thanks to the burns and frostbite, there was no blood, but the pain seemed worse than death.
"Ugh…"
Blood bubbled from Cloud's mouth. His bloodshot eyes turned over, making him look less human and more demonic.
"You, you monster…"
Cloud forcibly lifted his head. Despite the pain making his lips tremble, he began to mutter.
"You're not human. No human could do this…"
Cloud drooled red saliva and shook his chin, muttering about demonic talent as he weakly pounded the ground with his fist.
-He's right! Finally, someone who understands!
Wrath nodded eagerly.
-This monster is just wearing a human mask. He's another species entirely! Not even a Demonized Human! Just a madman by himself!
Wrath suggested that Raon should be made into a demon king as he tapped his shoulders.
"I am a very normal human. More human than anyone."
Raon replied to both Cloud and Wrath simultaneously.
-Don't make me laugh! The humans I've seen are nothing like you!
"N-no way!"
Both a human and the demon king shook their heads simultaneously.
"And, you're wrong."
Cloud bit his lip, clutching the scar on his chest.
"The Holy Sword Alliance didn't lose to Zieghart, I lost to your talent…"
"Here we go with the talent talk again."
Raon kicked Cloud's chin with his right foot.
Crack!
Even without Aura and being exhausted, Raon's strength was such that Cloud's body was lifted to his height, spitting out teeth soaked in blood.
"Grrr…"
Cloud groaned, belatedly covering his mouth where his teeth had been knocked out.
"If you lose, shut up."
-As expected of the demon king's talent…
Raon pushed Wrath, who was touching his chin, aside and picked up Cloud's broken sword and blade.
"What, what are you going to do!"
Cloud dragged his feet as he retreated. Without Aura and with his body ruined, he was slower than a crawling slug.
Moreover, he didn't get far before his back hit a tree stump, stopping him.
"It's nothing much."
Raon exhaled calmly and approached the trembling Cloud.
Kneeling down, he stabbed the broken blade in his right hand into Cloud's left shoulder.
Crunch!
With the Aura barrier that protected Cloud gone, the blade easily cut through bone and muscle, piercing into his flesh.
"Gyaaah!"
"Be quiet."
Raon struck Cloud's chin again as he screamed. Three more teeth were knocked out before he finally shut his mouth.
"You'll be better off not moving."
This time, he stabbed Cloud's lower abdomen with the broken sword. Cloud's body trembled from the pain, but he didn't resist further, perhaps too afraid of being hit again.
Sizzle.
Because he didn't pull out the sword, the wound sealed itself, and only a thin trickle of blood flowed out.
"Grrrr…"
Unable to endure the pain, Cloud let out a grotesque groan as his eyes rolled back.
"I stabbed above your heart and next to your energy center."
Raon grabbed Cloud's hair, his eyes cold.
"Ugh…"
Cloud couldn't meet Raon's gaze and lowered his eyes. Fear had been implanted in his mind, making him unable to resist.
"If you move, the swords will pierce your heart or energy center."
Raon laughed coldly, throwing Cloud's head against the tree stump.
-Oh? You're not killing him?
Wrath tilted his head in surprise.
-Didn't you eliminate all future threats before?
'I did. But this time is different.'
-Ah, because of that guy, huh.
Wrath blinked as he looked towards Barene where the Holy Sword Alliance leader was.
'Right. I don't know how that sword maniac will react.'
Just as Wrath said. With the Holy Sword Alliance leader's apprentice dead, they couldn't predict his reaction, so they had to keep Cloud alive.
If the Holy Sword Alliance leader disregarded everything else to avenge his apprentice, the Light Wind division would be annihilated.
But keeping Cloud alive greatly reduced that possibility. No matter how miserably the apprentice lost, he wouldn't abandon someone who reached the rank of Grandmaster.
Not much time had passed since the incident. The news likely hadn't reached Zieghart yet, so expecting help from the family was unrealistic.
Assuming the Holy Sword Alliance leader acted in the worst way, they had to make plans and move accordingly.
"So, in the end, you're afraid of the leader too."
Cloud twisted his lips, realizing Raon couldn't kill him because of the leader.
"I won't lose next time. Before you can use the Sword Domain, I'll twist your neck…"
"I never lose to someone I've already beaten. Are you thinking of winning next time despite being afraid of my talent?"
"Ugh…"
"And you're mistaken…"
Raon coldly smiled as he channeled the energy of Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation and Glacier into his fingers, stimulating Cloud's mana circuits.
"It's not over yet."
"What did you do!"
"Wait and see."
After injecting heat near Cloud's spine, he withdrew his fingers.
"Guh!"
Cloud's body contorted like a squid. His bones and muscles twisted, feeling like thousands of insects were gnawing at his flesh while experiencing extreme cold and heat, the worst form of torture, causing thick veins to bulge on his face.
"Grrr…"
"Oh? You'll die if you move."
As Raon smirked, Cloud's body flinched and stopped.
"Argh…"
But Cloud couldn't endure the pain and began to struggle again.
Thicker streams of blood started flowing from the swords embedded in his shoulder and abdomen.
"Gyaaah!"
"I told you, moving will kill you. And no screaming either."
"Huff…"
"Not very smart. Keep your limbs still too. Your heart might get split."
"P-please! Stop!"
"Ask your precious leader to save you."
"Urgh…"
Caught between excruciating pain and the fear of death, Cloud started foaming at the mouth as he trembled.
-Wow…
Wrath widened his eyes, shaking his head.
-Is this really human nature?
'It's human nature because I'm human.'
-Oh, right…
Ignoring Wrath's muttering, Raon grabbed Cloud's hair again.
"What did you say earlier? That you'd kill me and all my children to remove the danger?"
Raon breathed heavily as he stared into Cloud's fear-stricken eyes.
"Try it if you can. The next time we meet, your neck will be the first to go."
Raon smiled coldly and roughly threw Cloud's body.
"Ugh!"
To avoid dying, Cloud clutched the swords stuck in his shoulder and abdomen. However, the pain intensified, causing his entire body to tremble as he collapsed.
"Whew…"
Raon turned his gaze to Barene, where a bizarre vortex was rising.
'I hope those two are okay.'
Worrying about Rimmer and Sheryl, he knew it would be foolish to go back there now. He would only be a hindrance, not a help.
Raon wished for their safe return along with the Heavenly Blade Division as he pulled out Heavenly Drive and the Requiem Sword embedded in the ground. For some reason, the two swords felt heavy.
The Holy Sword Alliance leader's black sword, savoring the swordsmanship of the Queen of Swords and the Demonblade, drew a semicircle and sparked black lightning.
"This is…"
The Queen of Swords frowned as she watched the movement of the black sword.
"You, you… no way…"
The Demonblade bared his yellow teeth, forcibly deflecting the black sword.
"Did you copy my swordsmanship!"
"It's a good style unrestricted by form. I liked it."
The Holy Sword Alliance leader nodded slowly. Reflecting his delighted mood, the black sword floating in the air trembled thinly.
"Whew…"
The Queen of Swords exhaled softly, sheathing her sword, and immediately drew it again.
As the blade appeared silently, a tremendous energy compressed into a single point, radiating outwards. It was a point thinner than a strand of hair, but within it lay the true essence of a transcendent swordsman.
"This is quite impressive…"
The Holy Sword Alliance leader nodded, showing a faint blush. The black sword, which had been pressuring the Demonblade, flew in front of him as if teleporting, forming a palm-sized sword barrier.
Boom!
A thunderous sound erupted, unimaginable for such a small clash of sword strikes and barriers, and the sky seemed to be crushed by a giant fist, creating a huge crack.
"Tsk."
The Queen of Swords clicked her tongue briefly. However, as if she never intended to end it with the first strike, she immediately prepared her next attack.
"Hmm…"
The Demonblade, regaining his composure, bit his lip and surrounded his sword with a purple aura, forming a hexagonal sword formation in midair.
Despite being surprised by the Holy Sword Alliance leader's ability, they maintained the posture of transcendent warriors who trusted their own martial arts.
"Hahaha!"
The Holy Sword Alliance leader laughed while looking at the distorted sky.
"Yes. This is the reason to exist in this world."
His face turned red as if he had drunk alcohol. His eyes, which were indulging in the swords of the Queen of Swords and the Demonblade, glowed red.
"I'm curious about the other side too…"
The Holy Sword Alliance leader turned his head to the right. The auras of Raon and Cloud had simultaneously subsided, making it unclear who had won.
He wanted to extend his senses to figure out the situation, but the distance was too far. While fighting against two transcendent beings, thinking about other things could lead to a counterattack, so it was right to focus here for now.
"Kellin."
At his call, a masked swordsman descended below the Sword Wing.
"If Cloud defeats Raon, he might kill him, so stop him. If it's the other way around, bring them both."
"Understood."
The woman called Kellin waved her fingers, and warriors dressed similarly appeared behind her.
They were the Ghost Squad, who guarded the invisible flying warship, Sword Wing.
Thunk!
As they moved to the fallen castle walls, a red bolt of lightning struck from the sky.
Boom!
It was Rimmer. Even while utilizing the Sword Domain, he was surveying the entire battlefield, blocking Kellin's path.
However, taking advantage of that gap, the Dragon Sword Master's sword grazed Rimmer's waist.
Ssst!
Although not a large wound, it was thick enough to determine victory or defeat in a battle among top masters.
"Ugh…"
Rimmer frowned and bit his lip.
"I heard you used the Sword Domain, and it's true."
The Dragon Sword Master nodded slowly, shaking off the blood from his sword.
"And you even have lightning energy. Did you beg Glenn for it?"
"..."
"Anyway, you're different from before."
A twisted smile spread across his lips.
"Do you value your disciples more than your subordinates?"
"Shut up!"
Unable to withstand the mocking provocation, Rimmer charged at the Dragon Sword Master.
"Hmm."
Kellin nodded at the Dragon Sword Master and moved towards the castle walls again, but this time, a white flash curved in, blocking her path.
"Where do you think you're going?"
As Sheryl created a sword barrier, an apostle reached out as if waiting for this moment. A transparent energy-filled hand descended with terrifying speed.
Boom!
The speed was not the only thing. The power, as if to split the earth, made Sheryl's foot sink into the ground.
"Kyaaa!"
Despite the situation of being unable to move her legs, Sheryl didn't panic. She crossed her two swords, and the black and white energies, distorted like sunlight hitting a lake, fiercely repelled the apostle's hand.
"You idiot!"
She bit her lip and screamed at Rimmer.
"Don't fall for the provocation!"
"I know. I know! But…"
Rimmer no longer wore a vicious expression. With eyes that seemed ready to cry at the slightest touch, he shook his head.
"Huff, idiot…"
Understanding Rimmer's feelings, Sheryl muttered idiot again with a different tone and pulled her legs out of the ground.
"Heavenly Blade Division, defend the castle wall!"
She stomped the ground with her blood-soaked bare feet, roaring.
Boom!
The Heavenly Blade Division, as if they would rather die than retreat, created a storm-like sword barrier over the shattered castle wall.
"Come if you dare."
Sheryl lowered her white sword to the top and her black sword to the middle, twisting her lips.
"The only thing you'll take from here are your heads!"
Tsk.
Raon clicked his tongue as he retraced his steps.
'I've come too far.'
Having finished the fierce battle with Cloud and gained a small respite, he began to worry about the Light Wind division.
Although he had done it to minimize the damage to the Light Wind division, the distance was much farther than expected.
Even with Ensia and Denning Rose's escorts considered, there was a flicker of anxiety burning in his chest.
'Damn it.'
The lack of Aura to continuously use the Supreme Harmony Steps annoyed him, causing him to unknowingly bite his lip.
-It will be fine.
Wrath, sitting on his shoulder, shook his head.
'Hmm?'
-Aren't they my subordinates? They will all certainly be alive.
Wrath insisted that he hadn't trained his subordinates to be weak and shook his head.
'They are my subordinates, and I trained them. You didn't do anything…'
-Anyway, they are my children!
Wrath declared that the demon king always kept his word and shook his head.
'Is that so.'
Raon chuckled at Wrath. It seemed Wrath was trying to ease his worries in his own way. So he shrugged his shoulders.
-Hey!
'My shoulders were itchy.'
Chatting with Wrath, Raon continued along the path.
While moving as quickly as possible to restore his Aura, Wrath wrinkled his nose.
-The fight is over.
'What?'
-No one is there.
He shook his head, stating that the presences had completely disappeared.
-It seems my subordinates have won.
Wrath grinned, satisfied with his children's performance.
'Then…'
Raon stopped and looked towards where Cameloon was.
'They must have gone there.'
Just as I trust the Light Wind division, they trust me.
Seeing that no one was left in that spot, it was clear that Burren had led the Light Wind division towards Cameloon.
-However…
As Raon started moving towards Cameloon, Wrath smacked his lips.
-You seem to have some work left.
As soon as he finished speaking, the sounds of the forest vanished. In the quiet breeze, there was a very faint noise.
Someone was approaching. Silently, like a shadow.
-What have you been doing all your life?
Wrath tilted his head, asking.
-Why do you have so many enemies at just 21 years old! Who are these guys!
'I don't know. But…'
Raon extended his senses around the forest, frowning.
'I recognize that foul stench.'
End of Chapter 502