Nedro Jureon, the head of the prestigious martial arts family Jureon from the south and known by the alias Thousand Flow Spear, blinked as he watched Raon emerge from the tomb.
'What's this?'
Is this the right course of action?
The martial artists who remained here had made a silent agreement.
They had sworn to join forces and attack whoever among the Six Kings and the Five Demons came out with the Sword Saint's Legacy, but the other side had made the first move, leaving everyone immobilized.
The martial artists who should have rushed forward according to the plan were now just eyeing each other nervously. It was a bewildering situation.
However, their hesitation was understandable, as the spirit emanating from Raon Zieghart, who stood at the forefront, was overwhelmingly strong. With an aura that shook the earth and made the sky tremble, who would dare to charge in?
'At this rate, we'll have no choice but to let them go...'
Nedro Jureon narrowed his eyes as he gazed at Raon.
'Wait. He's severely injured?'
Ignoring Raon's powerful aura, upon closer inspection, Nedro noticed that his black robe and uniform were torn to shreds, with blood pooling underneath. It looked like a serious injury.
'It's not just him. They're all severely injured.'
Serena, the Void Sword Division Leader, had blood soaking her uniform to the point where it wouldn't be surprising if she died at any moment, and Rimmer and the other swordsmen were covered in wounds from head to toe.
'Their expressions don't look good either.'
The complexions of the Light Wind division, the Void Sword division, and the neutral forces behind them were ashen. It meant they were exhausted from excavating the tomb.
'Now I understand.'
Nedro clenched his fist tightly.
'That bastard is putting on an act right now.'
The Five Demons who entered the tomb were the White Blood Religion, Black Tower, and Holy Sword Alliance. If they had defeated all of them and secured the Sword Saint's Legacy, there's no way they could be in normal condition.
Raon Zieghart had stepped forward first to erase their disadvantage. He was certainly a good actor, but the complexions of the swordsmen behind him were too pale to hide.
'This is our only chance.'
If they leave this place, we won't be able to catch them. We must end this here.
Nedro quickly sent out an aura message. He persuaded the leaders of other factions that Raon and Zieghart were bluffing and urged them to move according to the original plan.
The leaders of other factions also noticed that all of Zieghart's group were severely exhausted and immediately nodded in agreement.
'Should I take the lead?'
Usually, it's best not to take the front when hunting a fierce beast. But now, that beast was severely wounded, and there were plenty of archers behind to shoot arrows.
With safety guaranteed, it was the perfect opportunity to step forward and increase one's fame and influence.
Nedro emerged from the bushes with a relaxed smile. He approached Raon with calm steps.
"Put down your weapons and leave? I don't understand."
He stopped ten paces away from Raon and shook his head.
"Zieghart is not the master of this place. We have no intention of putting down our weapons or leaving..."
As he spoke, resting the spear shaft on his shoulder, a sudden, intense wind pressure blew towards him. It felt like his skin would tear.
Zzzzzzzzt!
Before the wind pressure had fully dissipated, a powerful impact struck his right cheek. The world spun, and all sensation left his body.
"Ah..."
Before he could even groan, his consciousness left his body. The last thing he saw with his closing eyes was Raon Zieghart's insolent expression.
Kwaaang!
The moment Nedro crashed to the ground with his face caved in, all the martial artists who were preparing to charge stopped in their tracks. It was as if time had frozen.
***
"Ten seconds have passed."
Raon clicked his tongue after smashing the face of the martial artist who approached first. He slung the sheath of the Heavenly Drive over his shoulder as he looked at the people frozen like wooden dolls.
"Uh..."
"It wasn't a bluff, but for real?"
"Crazy..."
The martial artists trembled their lips as they looked at the calm Raon and the face-smashed Nedro.
"The warning is over."
Raon tilted his chin defiantly, stepped on the fallen Nedro's back, and walked towards the martial artists.
"Wh-what are you doing!"
"How can we throw away our weapons in a place like this!"
"You should say something that makes sense!"
"Why is this Zieghart's land! Don't spout nonsense!"
The martial artists who seemed to be the leaders of each faction raised their voices as they retreated in fear. Raon turned his gaze, memorizing their faces and positions.
Tueong!
He lightly stepped in the Supreme Harmony Steps as if riding the wind. Moving at a terrifying speed that seemed to sweep the sand on the ground backwards, he stood in front of the martial artist directly ahead.
"Kugh!"
Despite being flustered, the martial artist extended his fist with discipline.
After lightly dodging the fist by raising his elbow, Raon struck down with the Heavenly Drive, sheath and all.
Paaaaaak!
With a sound like bones being crushed, the martial artist spewed blood from his head and fell backwards.
"I guess I'll start by smashing their heads first."
Raon kicked the ground with his ankle bent. He then approached the swordsman who had spoken next and pressed down with the Heavenly Drive.
"Kugh!"
The swordsman let out a battle cry and deployed a sword barrier for defense.
Peoeoeoeok!
But the power contained in the Heavenly Drive was a force beyond his ability to handle. The sheath of the Heavenly Drive shattered the swordsman's sword barrier and split his forehead.
"Kehek!"
The swordsman let out an ugly scream and fell spread-eagled.
"R-run away!"
The archer who mumbled third slid backwards. He retreated faster than he could move forward with his footwork.
However, even an archer's footwork couldn't match the speed of the Supreme Harmony Steps.
Ppudeudeuggeuk!
After catching up with the Supreme Harmony Step, Raon smashed down on the archer's head.
"Aak!"
The archer let out a piercing scream before collapsing with his body bent like a sickle.
-Um....
Wrath cautiously spoke up.
-Didn't you say you'd do this with words?
'I did use words, but they didn't listen.'
Raon tilted his head.
-That's not talking, it's threatening! And when you said you'd crack their heads, you didn't mean defeating the enemy leaders, but literally cracking their heads!
Wrath widened his eyes in disbelief.
'Yep.'
-You're completely out of your mind....
He shook his head, saying that Raon was becoming more and more insane.
'It'll be over soon. Just wait a bit.'
Raon smiled faintly and moved towards the magician who had mumbled fourth.
"Heuk!"
The magician, realizing he had become the target, bent over in shock. He quickly put down his staff and raised his hands.
"I-I surrender!"
The magician shook his head with a forced smile.
"You should have done that earlier."
Raon approached the magician with the sheath of the Heavenly Drive slung over his shoulder.
"Haa...."
The magician sighed in relief, brushing his chest.
"But it's already too late."
Twisting his lips, Raon swung the sheath of the Heavenly Drive he had been gripping tightly and struck the magician's head.
Peoeoeok!
The magician collapsed without even screaming. His trembling eyes, which he couldn't close, were filled with resentment.
"B-but he put down his weapon...."
"Why are you hitting him?"
"Wh-where is there such a law! This isn't even Zieghart's land!"
The martial artists and magicians shouted, their shoulders trembling.
"I told you. From today, this place has become Zieghart's land again."
"F-from today, again?"
The red-haired swordsman narrowed his eyes.
"That's right. This land originally belonged to Zieghart. The owner of the tomb has acknowledged it, so we're taking it back."
"You think that makes any sense...."
"If I say it, that's how it is."
Raon moved as if teleporting and split the red-haired swordsman's head.
"Kheuk!"
The swordsman collapsed, biting his tongue as he was struck in the head mid-sentence.
"He-he's insane."
"He's lost his mind!"
"He's completely unreasonable!"
The martial artists, who had gone from attackers to being attacked, turned pale.
"W-wait! I'll go back!"
"We'll throw away our weapons and retreat, so please stop!"
"It's already too late."
Raon chased after the martial artists who were throwing away their weapons and retreating, with a cold smile. His eyes were truly tinged with madness.
"...Is that what he calls resolving things with words?"
Serena opened her eyes wide in disbelief.
"Am I misunderstanding what 'words' mean?"
"It's because our Division Leader learned his letters wrong. It's not your fault at all, Void Sword Division Leader."
Burren sighed and shook his head.
"Still, today is a bit better. At least he didn't draw his sword."
"He didn't draw his sword, but they seem to be dying all the same...."
Serena let out an empty sigh as she watched the martial artists who were not just spewing blood but now gushing it.
"The title of Miss Rakshasa should have gone to him, not me."
Martha wrinkled her nose.
"How is that a chivalrous swordsman? He's just a thug."
She snorted as she looked at Raon.
"Handsome Raon."
Runaan shouted "Handsome Raon" and then sat down on the ground, starting to doze off. She seemed to have complete trust in Raon.
"How long will it take him to finish?"
"There are a lot of them, so maybe 20 minutes?"
"There are many, but they're all scared of the Division Leader. I think he'll be done in less than 5 minutes."
"I say 10 minutes!"
The Light Wind division members took comfortable positions and started betting on when the situation would end.
"Instead of just guessing, why don't we bet some money?"
Rimmer approached the swordsmen with a grin and started collecting bets.
"Is the Light Wind division always like this...?"
Serena let out a hollow laugh as she watched the Light Wind division setting up a gambling ring.
"As usual, I'm the only normal one in the Light Wind division."
At Dorian's voice, she looked to the right. He had pulled out a soft-looking sofa and an already burning campfire from his stomach pouch, and sighed.
"..."
Serena closed her mouth and shook her head.
'This place is a den of lunatics....'
***
Halfway up the mountain where the Sword Saint's tomb was visible as a small dot.
Kubara was kneeling, her hands trembling. She silently swallowed as she looked at the back of Derus Robert standing in front of her.
Derus showed no outward sign of emotion or intent. The atmosphere was dry, as if he were a doll, but he was exuding a deeper anger than ever before.
Even though he was angry, the fact that he didn't show it made him more terrifying than anyone else.
Kubara touched her own throat. She couldn't breathe. Just Derus' presence made her feel as if her heart was being constricted by wire.
"Hueuk...."
When she finally couldn't hold back and let out a groan, drooling, Derus slowly nodded.
"So it has come to this."
A sticky anger was embedded in Derus' calm voice. It felt like her skin was burning in flames.
"I thought Delphros, Sabi, and the Sword Saint we made into a puppet would be enough no matter who came, but it seems that bastard ruined everything again."
Raon's face formed in his cold eyes. It was eerie, as if melting in blood.
"He's gotten stronger. It was reported he reached Grandmaster, but he's already settled into the intermediate level."
"..."
Kubara glared at where Raon was with wide eyes.
'Intermediate?'
Rumors that Raon Zieghart had reached Grandmaster had spread earlier this year. But to already be at the intermediate level, it was an unbelievable growth rate even for a genius.
Raon's growth felt more frightening than her fear of Derus.
She had always thought her strength was never being flustered in any situation, but today it felt like that strength had disappeared.
"Scrap the second plan. It's meaningless since they survived."
Derus shook his head while keeping his eyes on Raon.
"Continue with the division of the Five Divine Orders. Now that things have come to this, that might be the key."
"...Understood."
Kubara swallowed dryly and nodded.
'To think of the next plan right away.'
Even after witnessing the failure of a plan that consumed much time and resources, Derus thought of the next move rather than getting angry. Despite serving him for a lifetime, she felt a chilling shudder.
"If we don't come up with a definite strategy, our grand plan will be delayed by 10 years."
Derus sighed shortly and shook his head.
"It's all my fault."
He bit his lip as he watched Raon tearing through the martial artists like a wolf among sheep.
"It's my fault for not prioritizing him even though I knew he was dangerous."
Derus let out a self-mocking laugh and raised his hand.
Wooooong!
A dark, ominous energy, shaped like a full moon, rose above his grasp.
Seueueuuk!
Derus sharpened his hand and carved the black energy. In the time it took to take a breath, the circular energy had become a thin spear-like form in his grasp.
Kubara's lips trembled as she looked at the spear Derus had carved. There was no killing intent or any aura, but it was chilling. Because all that was contained within was the phenomenon of death itself.
"Could this kill that bastard?"
Derus turned around with a faint smile.
"...Of course."
Kubara nodded. Even if Derus had controlled his power, it would be impossible for the current Raon Zieghart to block that.
"The thought that I shouldn't do this tickles my mind, but being human, I can't resist."
Derus looked at Raon and pulled back the black spear.
"If he survives this too, I suppose it would be fate."
With his low voice, the spear of darkness disappeared into the shadows of the night.
***
Kwaaaaaang!
Raon curled his lips as he looked at the mountain of unconscious martial artists.
'My body feels light.'
Thanks to the earth aura passed on by the Sword Saint, his Middle Dantian had become excessively solid. With his body, mind, and aura finding stability, vitality overflowed throughout his body.
"Stop! Please stop!"
"P-please stop now!"
"I surrender!"
The martial artists shouted their surrender, dropping their weapons and kneeling. All that could be heard were the sounds of metal hitting the ground and groans of pain.
It was when Raon was about to approach the mound formed by the piled up swords, spears, and knives.
-Raon!
Wrath's urgent scream was heard.
'Why are you calling...'
Raon stopped mid-response.
Something was approaching.
No, not something. Death. The stench of death he had felt in his past life was right before his eyes.
Was it because life had reached its end? Extreme focus came alive. Time slowed down to the point where he could see the flow of air.
He couldn't block it. He couldn't avoid it either.
Even if he entrusted his body to Wrath, his heart would be pierced the moment his soul switched.
The only thing he could do was thrust forward the scabbard he was holding. That was all.
But thrusting the scabbard would be meaningless. What was rushing towards him now contained a death that couldn't be blocked even with an Astral Ring.
Was it his life flashing before his eyes?
Scenes from his past life to his current one quickly flashed by.
But even searching through all those memories, he couldn't find a way to survive.
Just as the endless stream of memories was about to abruptly end, the last scene caught his eye.
The scene of receiving martial arts from the Sword Saint. The Broken Sword Dance, the swordsmanship technique on the very last page of the martial arts he had learned, came to mind.
A secret technique that saves one's life by destroying the sword, just as its name suggests.
He might not be able to use it properly, but it could buy him a very brief moment.
Biting his lip until it bled, he unleashed the Broken Sword Dance with the scabbard in his hand.
Pajijijik!
The scabbard crumbled into a web-like form, creating a thin sword barrier before his eyes.
But the energy containing death pierced through the Broken Sword Dance in an instant and bored towards his heart.
It was a delay of 0.5 seconds. No, not even 0.1 seconds.
Was it all meaningless in the end...
He felt death piercing through his skin.
But he didn't close his eyes.
It was the moment he strained his eyes to fight until the very end.
The space on the left split diagonally, and a blue radiance flashed from the right sky.
Jeoeoeoeng!