"This one is my mine, so please cover the back, Division Leader."
Raon raised a finger, pointing to the ferry carrying Dorian and the elves.
"Alright!"
Rimmer nodded lightly and immediately ran towards the ferry.
-...Is that pointy-ear really your master?
'Well...'
I thought he would hesitate at least once, but he left without the slightest hesitation. As I always feel, he truly was an amazing person.
'Still, that's easier than if he had been stubborn.'
Rimmer wasn't used to wielding a sword with his left arm, and his injuries from the fight with the Crimson Flame Demon hadn't fully healed either.
Knowing his own shortcomings and stepping back was much better than insisting on fighting together.
"You..."
Raon turned his gaze upon hearing Siran's cracked voice.
"What did you just say!"
"If you miss your grandson that much, I said I'll send you to his side."
He twisted his lips, watching Siran who seemed to exhale killing intent with every breath.
'They're similar.'
Siran and Tiller were alike not just in appearance, but in their trash-like personalities too.
It was laughable how he boldly came out seeking revenge, when he must have known about the evil deeds his grandson had committed.
'But that doesn't mean I should underestimate his skills.'
He calmed his heart, which was beating fiercely from tension.
Siran was a master who had reached Grandmaster long ago, and his weapon was a fishing rod. It was a weapon he had never faced before, so he needed to approach carefully.
-How pathetic.
Wrath frowned as he looked at Raon.
-Can't you just crush such trash with a single finger?
'That's something only you can do.'
-Then hurry up and finish him off somehow. I'm hungry!
'....'
Ignoring his words, he focused on Siran's movements.
"Huuu..."
Siran exhaled a dry breath, revealing his reddened eyes.
"I'll erase you without leaving a single bone fragment!"
He charged forward with a roar. His movement across the water was both ferocious like a wolf and agile. It seemed like footwork created specifically for running on river water.
Chiiing!
Siran threw the gray fishing rod in his hand as if he were actually fishing.
Before he could even exhale, the fishing float Siran had thrown was right before his eyes. The Astral Ring wrapped around the float spun rapidly, digging into his left chest.
Raon held his breath and bent his knees. He raised a fiery Astral Ring with the still-hot blade of the Heavenly Drive.
Zzeeoooong!
As the two Astral Rings collided, the thick Peren River was carved out in a semicircle. An enormous column of water shot up, then fell like a downpour.
A silver flash gleamed within the transparent raindrops. It was the fishing hook shot by Siran. At its tip, an Astral Ring sharp enough to be eerie had formed.
Raon unleashed Frost Snap towards the fishing hook that was cutting through the air itself. The blade of the Heavenly Drive deflected the hook, and the following frosty blade aimed for Siran's neck.
Zzeeoooong!
Like a true Grandmaster, Siran calmly raised his fishing rod to break the frosty blade.
'It seems he knows about Frost Snap.'
He immediately took a defensive stance with his fishing rod, as if he knew about the second blade in Frost Snap. It seemed he had researched my martial arts.
'Well, he did say he drew my face thousands of times.'
While the opponent had information about me, I knew almost nothing about the enemy and was faced with an unfamiliar weapon like a fishing rod. This wasn't a fight that could be won easily.
Chiiing!
Siran swung the fishing rod using his entire body. The rotating float and hook above his head stirred up the waters of the Peren River.
The once-steady river flow reversed, exuding a terrifying killing intent. He had added his aura to the river water.
Gooooo!
Raon employed the Ring of Fire. Eight rings wrapped around his heart resonated, opening the gates of the upper dantian.
Water droplets in the air sank slowly, almost boringly so, and the moisture touching his skin felt chillingly cold. Extreme focus. In the realm of transcendence, he advanced towards Siran.
"Where do you think you're going!"
Siran stepped back using his footwork to maintain an advantageous distance for his fishing rod, flicking out the fishing line.
Raon employed the Supreme Harmony Steps, deflecting the fishing line falling towards his shoulder.
Zzeeoooong!
As the fishing line and sword collided, a thunderous sound erupted as if rocks had crashed together.
Raon narrowed his eyes as he observed the tautly stretched fishing line.
'He's imbued not just an Astral Ring, but his willpower into the fishing line.'
It was an emotion so blatant that it couldn't be mistaken.
'Killing intent.'
It's filled with nothing but the intent to kill me.
Originally, martial artists each possess their own willpower based on the path they've lived.
But Siran had abandoned the willpower of a martial artist he had built up until now, filling it only with the desire for revenge to kill me. It was like a curse, determined to kill me even if it meant his own death.
Whaaaaa!
Raon gritted his teeth as he pushed back Siran's fishing line with the flames of the Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation.
'My willpower is unbreakable.'
If I can clash with and overcome this killing intent aimed at me, I'll be able to grow even more.
"Hmph!"
Siran killed the tension himself before the fishing line could break. After releasing the force on the line, he flicked the hook, aiming for the tendon in Raon's right arm.
Instead of the lowered Heavenly Drive, Raon drew the Requiem Sword with his left hand. He violently struck the fishing hook with the frost-imbued demonic blade, then charged towards Siran.
Paaang!
Siran once again employed footwork that seemed to ride the river water, maintaining a distance advantageous to him.
'He's fast, but...'
I'm faster.
He stepped with the Supreme Harmony Step, shattering the rough currents.
Before the splashed river water could fall, he took a second step forward. His speed increased so dramatically that his vision seemed to darken.
The Supreme Harmony Steps are connected to the Ten Thousand Swords, becoming more profound as one's swordsmanship grows. The change in speed of the Supreme Harmony Steps since becoming a Grandmaster could be called nothing short of an evolution.
"Kuuugh!"
Realizing he couldn't escape, Siran infused a terrifying amount of aura into his fishing rod and swung it down.
Raon raised a Fire Wall against the fishing rod falling as if to split the sky.
Kuwaaaang!
As the powerful forces clashed, an enormous shockwave swept through the surroundings. A massive tidal wave rose as if the river had become an ocean.
Chiiing!
Siran wrapped his aura around that tidal wave, continuing his offensive. A dark-colored water wall filled Raon's vision.
Raon drew a Crimson Slash towards the tidal wave reaching out like a giant's hand.
Zzeeeeok!
The red-tinted heat ray split the center of the aura-condensed tidal wave. Through the dreamlike parted waves, Siran's wavering eyes could be seen.
But like the experienced martial artist he was, he widened the distance again and swung the fishing rod he had drawn back to his left.
The fishing hook, extending along the line of the splitting river water, exuded a fierce aura as if it would crush Raon's heart.
Chiiing!
Raon stabbed the fishing hook with the Requiem Sword he was holding and exploded the aura of the Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation that he had gathered in the mana circuit of his hand.
Ten Thousand Flames Heavenly Drive.
Flame Dragon Strike.
A fire dragon born from the flames let out a magnificent roar. The fiery breath spread out, evaporating the river water.
Kuoaaaaaa!
As the Flame Dragon Strike and the water wave raised by Siran collided, the entire river shook. The river water spread out wildly as if a flood had broken out.
"Kuuugh!"
Siran's hand holding the fishing rod trembled as he revealed an even colder and more vicious killing intent.
Raon bit his lip thinly as he met Siran's distorted gaze.
'I'll break even that killing intent.'
* * *
Chwaaaaak!
The South-North Union martial artists approaching the ferry couldn't withstand Rimmer's single sword strike and sank into the river, spraying blood.
Those approaching from the right had their boats capsized, unable to even get close due to the highest-grade water spirit controlled by Siyana.
Leylan nocked five arrows to her bow and shot them into the water.
The South-North Union martial artists who were approaching underwater surfaced with arrows embedded in their heads.
Meanwhile, Dorian paddled with duck-foot shaped oars, rescuing all the elves who had fallen into the water.
Thanks to their coordination during the battle with the Crimson Flame Demon, everyone moved naturally without the need for communication.
"That's all of them, right?"
Rimmer narrowed his eyes as he surveyed the elves on the ferry.
"Yes. We've rescued everyone."
Leylan nodded after counting the number of elves.
"I thought we were done for, but thank goodness."
Rimmer let out a sigh of relief and turned his gaze towards the upstream.
Raon and Siran were engaged in a fierce battle, leaping across the surging river as if it were solid ground.
'What a shame...'
It was rare to meet a master who used a fishing rod, and it was regrettable to leave it to Raon alone due to his internal injuries.
'Wait, did I just think it was a shame?'
He opened his eyes wide as he recalled the thought he just had.
'When was the last time I had such a thought?'
Even when his dantian was damaged, he had never thought it was a shame not to fight a master.
To feel regret about not being able to fight a strong opponent now, that was a thought he used to have when he was young. He didn't understand why such a feeling suddenly arose.
'Could it be...'
Rimmer licked his lips as he watched Raon's back, breaking all of Siran's complex offensives.
'Is it because of that guy's fight?'
It seemed his blood was boiling at the sight of Raon's battle, fighting head-on without ever backing down, no matter who the opponent was or how strong they were.
He raised his left hand to touch his right shoulder.
To be honest, he hadn't thought about using a prosthetic arm.
He had practiced swinging a sword with his left arm, but hadn't really trained desperately. He thought his life as a swordsman was over, now that he had achieved his revenge.
But after facing the Crimson Flame Demon with Raon, and now watching Raon fight Siran today, it felt like the extinguished flame in his heart was starting to burn again.
'There was a saying...'
That those who stand above others lead by their back.
Raon had never once told me to stand up again.
But it seemed like his actions were telling me to grasp the sword once more.
'Is he really becoming a vessel for a king now?'
Rimmer smiled as he sat comfortably on the ferry.
'It was time for me to step back. However...'
I shouldn't live as a useless old man in the back room.
* * *
Siran raised his aura in the river's waves, enhancing the power of his Astral Ring. The wave of aura, flowing as majestically as the river itself, surged fiercely.
Chiiing!
Raon relaxed the strength in his right hand holding the Heavenly Drive. Following the flow of the churning water, he cut through the Astral Ring raised by Siran. It was a transcendent technique that utilized the opponent's power.
"You insolent bastard!"
Siran gritted his teeth and dropped his fishing rod. An intense killing intent emanated from the lightly bending fishing rod and line.
The moment the fishing rod fell towards his shoulder, Raon focused the Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation in the mana circuit of his legs standing on the river.
He burst through the river water and leapt into Siran's space.
The aura surging from his lower dantian connected to the middle and upper dantians, raising a vast willpower. His unbreakable will stood against the fishing rod filled with killing intent.
Zzeeoooong!
The fishing rod and line were violently repelled, but Siran's offensive wasn't over yet. With just a twitch of his finger, he moved the float and hook, aiming for Raon's back.
'I'm used to it now.'
As the fight with Siran continued, Raon had figured out his breathing patterns and movements. Now he could sense Siran's aura manipulation just by looking at his eyes.
Raon folded his shoulder inward to deflect the fishing hook, then took another step towards Siran. The thick river water surged up to block his path, but he tore through it with the demonic energy of the Requiem Sword.
Zzeeok!
The blade of the Heavenly Drive slashed Siran's chest for the first time. It was a thin wound, but due to the heat, the area around the scar turned black and charred.
"Kuuugh!"
Siran ground his teeth audibly, as if in severe pain.
"You bastard!"
He stepped back to the left while pulling back the fishing rod he had withdrawn.
Raon deflected the fishing line with the Requiem Sword, then brought down the Heavenly Drive imbued with the subtleties of the Fangs of Insanity.
Zzeeoooong!
Siran's fishing rod, unable to properly receive the force, shook as if it would break.
Raon pressured Siran with force, pushing back the fishing line with the Requiem Sword and the fishing rod with the Heavenly Drive.
"Kuhehe."
When they were close enough to hear each other's heartbeats, Siran twisted his lips.
"You've come."
"What?"
"It's over now!"
Siran let out a monstrous cry as he forcibly broke the fishing line. As the taut line snapped, the Requiem Sword sharply cut through Siran's waist.
'To think he'd abandon his weapon!'
As Raon furrowed his brow, Siran grinned and stirred the river water with his fishing rod. Once again, a thick killing intent surged in his weathered eyes.
Kuwaaaaa!
The entire wide stream of the Peren River rose up, forming the shape of a massive dragon. A Water Dragon. The water dragon, as if trying to ascend to the sky, opened its dark maw.
The Water Dragon fell, creating an enormous pressure as if to erase the river itself.
Each scale was filled with such intense killing intent that even the slightest touch would explode without leaving a single piece of flesh.
'So this is what he was waiting for.'
I thought Siran was excited, but I was mistaken. He had set a trap and was waiting for me to fall into it.
'Impressive.'
To put on an act in front of his grandson's enemy, it was an astonishing level of patience. No wonder he became the Head of the Elder's Council of the South-North Union.
'But you've given me too much.'
Siran had given me a lot of inspiration during our battle. Thanks to reaching Grandmaster and the 8-star Ring of Fire, his martial arts had already been thoroughly dissected.
Chiiing!
Raon gripped the Heavenly Drive firmly as he looked at Siran's Water Dragon that had obscured even the sky.
He held his breath as he thought of the sword that would shatter the Water Dragon, which was Siran's willpower itself. Pressing down on the river water with his left foot, he extended the Heavenly Drive that had been held at his waist upwards.
'Grandson, huh...'
Looking at the Water Dragon's eyes, which were distorted similarly to Siran's, strangely reminded him of Glenn.
'If I were to die, would he seek revenge for me?'
Probably not.
Even if this fight started suddenly, it was still a one-on-one duel. Glenn, a born martial artist, wouldn't seek revenge but would accept the result.
I think that's right too.
The person who suits me is not Siran, but Glenn.
Thinking of Glenn, who was both the sky and the goal itself, he drew out the Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation and Glacier to their extreme.
"A river cannot reach the sky."
Azure Sky Sword Fourth Style - Sky Piercing Point.
A magnificent beam of light blossomed along the sword strike, piercing through the head of the Water Dragon that was covering the sky. The brightly shining sword touched the sky, spreading a golden radiance.
When the vast blue light once again draped over the world, a dark axe flew in from the void.
'That's!'
Raon raised the Requiem Sword in defense, but the axe fell towards Siran's head.
Kuwaaang!