'It's not just the Heavenly Tremor.'
Raon swallowed dryly as he watched other swords passing by the Heavenly Tremor.
'There are swords of other Transcendent Warriors too.'
The swords of Transcendent Warriors like Alice Zieghart and Sword Demon Rector were freely roaming the air.
'And that's...'
Is that Wrath's Snow Flower?
He could see something transparent cutting through the frozen sky. It looked like Wrath's technique of tearing space with an invisible sword.
'Now I understand.'
Those swords floating in the sky are the swordsmanship techniques of the Transcendent Warriors I've witnessed so far.
Thanks to the increased achievement of Martial Prowess and Ring of Fire, and the awakening effects of the Sacred Return Pill and Holy Flame, sword techniques I didn't even know existed have surfaced in my mental image.
Raon smiled faintly as he watched the slowly rotating Ring of Fire.
'If Wrath saw this, he'd throw another fit.'
Imagining Wrath grabbing his head and complaining about how unfair this was, Raon couldn't help but laugh.
'Let's take a closer look.'
It's impossible to fully master those Transcendent Warriors' sword techniques right now. Deciding to at least examine their sword paths, Raon resonated the Ring of Fire to its fullest.
'What the Heavenly Tremor is drawing...'
Is it the sky?
Glenn's Heavenly Tremor was depicting a sky darker than night. It was the Azure Sky Sword he had first shown.
'He said it was dark.'
Glenn had advised me to develop my own Azure Sky Sword, saying that his was dark.
With a small smile, he turned his gaze to a sword moving in a complex manner. It was Alice's Empty Decree Sword.
'Alice's sword is still as free as ever.'
Alice's Empty Decree Sword drew a free trajectory, like its owner who had broken away from her family. It seemed to be blooming its own constellation.
'And that sword...'
It's Rector's Four Ring Sword.
Sword Demon Rector's Four Ring Sword was simply straight. Despite containing the Ten Thousand Swords that condensed numerous sword techniques, it didn't lose its straightness.
It felt like the breath of a master who had walked a single path his entire life.
'I can't believe someone like that betrayed us.'
No, there must be something.
Rector had two chances to kill me, yet he withdrew on his own. There must have been a relationship between him and Sylvia that I don't know about.
As Raon let out a frustrated sigh, a blurry sword emerged next to the Sword Demon's Four Ring Sword.
'That's...'
The Creation Sword?
Derus Robert's Creation Sword was also circling in my mental world.
'Well, I have seen that sword before.'
It seems Derus's swordsmanship remained in my mental image because I was learning the Ring of Fire in my past life too.
However, perhaps because I hadn't seen it as much as the others and my Ring of Fire realm was low, the sword was blurry as if buried in fog.
'Still, I should take a look at it.'
Even if it's a blurry sword path, seeing it and not seeing it is like the difference between heaven and earth.
Just familiarizing myself with it will be a great help in catching Derus in the future.
'Lastly...'
Raon licked his lips as he looked at the invisible sword cutting through the blue frost.
'Even though I've only seen it once, it's so vivid.'
Perhaps because he felt the sensation of directly moving Wrath's body, the invisible sword created by him was as vivid as the Heavenly Tremor.
Moreover, since the technique resembled my swordsmanship, it was familiar and easy to observe.
'He's been giving so generously, and now he's even helping while sleeping.'
Raon smiled faintly, thinking that Wrath would have a fit if he heard this.
'What luck.'
He had entered his mental image to create a new Sword Domain, but it seemed he would be able to return with even more than that.
'Three months of time.'
Raon curled his lips as he followed the trajectory of the Heavenly Tremor with his Heavenly Drive.
'I'll use it more efficiently than anyone else.'
* * *
Srrrrng.
The pebbles scraped across the axe blade engraved with a dragon, making an eerie sound.
Roman Leykal, the owner of the red axe Red Dragon Axe and known by the alias Axe King, was still sitting by the river, sharpening his axe blade.
However, there was one difference from before.
There were no more pebbles around him.
Only fine sand remained, without a single small stone. It meant that tens of thousands of pebbles that had filled the riverbank had all turned to sand.
Chiiiiik.
Roman carefully picked up the only remaining pebble and sharpened his axe blade. His body and soul seemed to be sharpened along with the axe blade, emanating a chilling aura.
As the sun rose, the moon set, and the sun rose again, the pebble in Roman's hand turned into fine sand and settled.
"It's finally complete."
Roman nodded after staring at the gleaming red blade of the Red Dragon Axe for a while.
The word "complete" seemed to be directed at himself, not the axe.
"Stop hiding like a rat and come out."
He lifted the Red Dragon Axe onto his shoulder and jerked his chin towards the back.
Swooosh.
A red-haired young man walked out, treading on the bushes as if they were making way for him. It was Beorn.
"So you finally ground away all the pebbles."
Beorn let out a sigh as he looked at the riverbank devoid of even a single pebble.
"I never knew one could become so strong just by sharpening an axe blade."
"You're not one to talk."
Roman narrowed his eyes as he looked at Beorn.
'What is he doing to grow every time I see him?'
Despite already being a Grandmaster, Beorn appeared stronger every time they met.
An impossible rate of growth. If he hadn't met Raon Zieghart, he would have thought this guy was the only true genius on this continent.
'I still don't like him.'
Beorn's red eyes were similar in color to Raon Zieghart's, but their texture was different.
While Raon's eyes burned with passion, looking into Beorn's eyes made him uncomfortable.
"Why did you come here?"
Roman openly frowned.
"I wanted to inform you of some interesting news."
"Interesting news?"
"News about your life-and-death battle opponent, Axe King."
Beorn nodded lightly.
"You mean Raon?"
"Yes. In the Suphren Kingdom, he..."
"Enough."
Roman waved his hand as if annoyed.
"I can guess without hearing. You're probably going to say he saved the Suphren Kingdom from crisis."
"How did you..."
"The Raon Zieghart I saw isn't someone who causes trouble, but someone who solves it. And..."
He twisted his lips as he recalled Raon in his mind's eye.
"As my opponent, he should at least do that much. Letting him live was the best decision of my life."
"Is that really so?"
Beorn narrowed his eyes as if displeased.
"Raon Zieghart's growth defies reason. On the day of the final battle, he might appear as your equal."
He clicked his tongue briefly, saying too much time had been given.
"You are too narrow-minded."
Roman narrowed his brows as he looked down at Beorn.
"The stronger the opponent I fight, the stronger I can become. As always, a life-or-death battle will elevate this slow learner to greater heights."
He bared his teeth as he referred to himself as a slow learner.
"Yes. I hope you win too. If you lose, the Vice Alliance Leader won't sit idly by."
Beorn raised his cold eyes as if making a threat.
"Stop spouting nonsense and get lost. If he tries anything like that, I'll cut that bastard's throat even if I have to do it from the grave."
Roman emitted a chilling killing intent as if he would cut Beorn's throat right then and there.
"And don't ever come looking for me again. If we meet again, I'll take it as a death wish."
"It seems you don't like me."
Beorn smiled faintly.
"The duel with Lector was a fair fight."
"You not only defeated Lector but deliberately crushed his spirit. Was that necessary?"
"Wasn't the South-North Union a place where the strong decide everything?"
He shrugged nonchalantly.
"As that strong one, I'm telling you. If you don't want to die, get lost right now."
Roman fingered the axe handle as if giving a final warning.
"...I'll comply."
Beorn nodded with calm eyes and disappeared into the forest.
Roman clicked his tongue and turned his gaze. He bit his lip as he looked at the river where Lector was buried.
"Stupid fool..."
* * *
The training ground of the Siran Tribe.
"Isn't it amazing?"
Beast Alliance Leader Beast King Ogram burst into hearty laughter as he held a whole jar of alcohol.
"To think he overwhelmed a mid-high level Demon all by himself! Teaching him the Fierce Wave Arts was worth it!"
He downed the alcohol in the jar in one go, seemingly satisfied with Raon's performance.
"Of course he should crush Demons!"
Garona also nodded his head vigorously, as if proud of Raon.
"He's my brother, after all!"
"Then why aren't you, Raon's brother, making any progress?"
Ogram frowned as he put down the alcohol jar.
"You're still only working on the basics of the Fierce Wave Arts..."
"Ugh!"
Garona flinched and hunched his iron-like shoulders.
"It's, it's too difficult. I think I understand it in my head, but my body won't cooperate..."
"How pathetic."
Ogram said it was pathetic, but he smiled faintly as if finding Garona cute.
"Learn it calmly. Everyone has their own path. Even if you're behind now, you might stand ahead of everyone later."
"Then can I beat my brother too?"
"You know that's nonsense, right?"
"Yes..."
Garona hung his head low.
"Raon. That child is different from anyone else. Even I couldn't have kept up with him at that age."
Ogram snorted, saying that among the current Six Kings, no one could compare to Raon.
"I think I should go and see for myself."
"Huh? Where..."
"I mean Raon's life-and-death battle in a month. I'm not usually interested in fights between underlings, but I feel I'd regret missing the battle between the Axe King and Raon."
"I want to go too!"
Garona raised his hand high.
"If you can use the Fierce Wave Arts consecutively, I'll consider it."
"I must do it for my brother's sake!"
He clenched his fists, declaring that he would definitely watch Raon's life-and-death battle.
"Will you really manage it?"
Ogram was about to pick up a new alcohol jar with a smirk when...
"Leader!"
The Siran Tribe Chief came running with a pale face.
"What's the rush? Slow down a bit..."
"The White Blood Religion has attacked the Chiran Tribe!"
"What?"
The jar in Ogram's hand crumbled to dust.
"What nonsense is this!"
"It's an urgent report that just came in! They say the Leader of the White Blood Religion has appeared in person and is carrying out a massacre!"
The Siran Tribe Chief answered with trembling, pale lips.
"Damn it all..."
Ogram stood up. White alcoholic vapor puffed out from above his shoulders.
"Wait, just a moment!"
The Siran Tribe Chief blocked Ogram's path as he was about to rush out.
"You can't go alone! Please wait for the union's elites!"
He shook his head, saying it was dangerous to go alone since the Leader of the White Blood Religion had come personally.
"That'll be too late!"
Ogram gritted his teeth.
"Have you already forgotten how the Carl Kingdom was attacked by that woman? Even if we rush there now, I can't guarantee we can save them!"
He had been friends since childhood with the king of the Carl Kingdom, which was recognized by the Beast Union.
When he heard the kingdom had been attacked and rushed there, all he could see was the dried-up corpse of his childhood friend, like a mummy.
"This is actually an opportunity!"
Perhaps because he had been quietly staying within the Siran Tribe for a while, the White Blood Religion seemed unaware of his presence here.
He had to move quickly and cut that vampire bitch's throat.
"Th-then at least take our warriors and shamans with you!"
"I'll go too!"
The Siran Tribe Chief and Garona bowed their heads, asking to be taken along.
"...I'm not waiting."
"Yes! We'll follow even if we're late!"
Ogram nodded to the Siran Tribe Chief and Garona, then stomped on the ground.
A massive crack opened in the earth as his body stretched out, becoming a brown flash of light.
* * *
Kugugugugugu!
Ogram gritted his teeth as he looked at the distant village of the Chiran Tribe.
Flames raged over the village nestled in the jungle. His heart raced rapidly at the screams of the tribespeople.
"Damn it..."
Chiran was one of the larger tribes in the Beast Union, but there wasn't much life force felt from inside.
It seemed the Blood Demons had already held their festival of blood.
"Huff..."
He looked back while catching his breath. Garona and the warriors of the Siran Tribe were nowhere to be seen.
He left a warning sign for them to be careful, then entered the tribe.
Splash.
His feet sank as if stepping in mud. The ground was soaked red with blood and corpses.
"Grr..."
Ogram bit his tongue hard to maintain his composure.
"Why is there still someone alive?"
A Blood Demon who spotted him twisted its lips into a smile. (E/N: in case anyone forgot, Blood Demon is just a way to refer to White Blood Religion fanatics)
"I'll make it painless..."
Pwooong!
The Blood Demon charging at Ogram exploded into a spray of diluted blood.
"Huh?"
"Wh-what was that..."
"No way..."
The White Blood Religion disciples drinking the blood of Chiran tribespeople widened their eyes as they saw Ogram.
"You mosquito bitch! Come out right now!"
Ogram roared towards the Leader of the White Blood Religion.
Kwaaaaa!
An enormous aura exploded, extinguishing the flames enveloping the entire village, and the surrounding Blood Demons collapsed, spraying blood in midair.
"If you don't come out, I'll..."
"You're quite impatient."
Along with a dreamy voice that seemed to suck out one's soul, a woman with black hair and black eyes walked out. The red blood puddles she stepped on melted into pure white as if purified.
Kuuuung!
Ogram took a heavy step forward. His fist, extending with earthquake-like force, smashed into the head of the White Blood Religion Leader.