Kuguuuuu!
Raon felt Roman's martial prowess through the Red Dragon Axe that pushed forward as if it would shatter the Heavenly Drive.
There was nothing to say except that it was heavy. Roman was wielding the massive weapon called the Red Dragon Axe perfectly.
'It feels so heavy my arm might fall off, but...'
I can't be pushed back in terms of strength.
My current strength and agility had surpassed the level of a Grandmaster.
If I were to be pushed back in physical strength, Wrath would jump up from his sleep and dance in anger. (E/N: dance is correct, it's a wordplay of the 'lie' he always say to Burren I guess)
Kuung!
He exerted strength in all his muscles while pressing down on the river water with his toes. The heavy energy from his thigh muscles connected to his shin muscles, transferring a divine-like power to his right shoulder and grip.
Jijijijijik!
Intense sparks burst forth as the Red Dragon Axe slowly started to be pushed back.
Roman's pupils trembled slightly at the strange sight of a thin sword overcoming a massive axe. His expression seemed to show disbelief at being pushed back in strength.
"Did you think you'd win by pushing with brute force?"
Raon sneered as he roughly pushed Roman away.
Pueoeoeong!
Roman stepped back three paces, breaking the waves. Each time he stepped, the river water was deeply carved.
"Khuhu!"
Roman let out a hollow laugh as if in disbelief.
"I didn't expect to be pushed back in strength. You really don't disappoint!"
"It's still too early to be impressed."
Raon stepped on the Supreme Harmony Steps with his right foot. He advanced against the waves and stuck to Roman's left side. The red-wet blade shot towards Roman's brow, evaporating water droplets.
"Hmph!"
Roman swung the Red Dragon Axe as if he had been waiting, blocking the trajectory of the Heavenly Drive.
Kuuuuung!
When the sword and axe collided, a thunderous sound rang out as if iron pillars had crashed together.
It wasn't just the sound that was evenly matched. The Heavenly Drive and the Red Dragon Axe were locked in a contest of strength in mid-air, neither giving an inch.
Huuk.
Raon swirled the Ring of Fire as he watched the blade of the Red Dragon Axe ignite with dark red flames.
Gooooo!
As the eight rings resonated, his heartbeat echoed in his ears.
He could see his face in the splashing water droplets, and the scent of rough wind stimulated his nose.
Extreme concentration. It was the realm of Transcendence where time flowed slowly and senses reached their peak.
This wasn't something to be happy about. The fact that he entered this state as soon as the battle began meant that his opponent was just as dangerous.
"To block the Red Dragon Axe head-on, what monstrous strength. However..."
As Roman smiled with pleasure, the energy imbued in the Red Dragon Axe suddenly amplified.
Kuuuuung!
Despite blocking with all his might, Raon felt an impact as if his shoulder would tear.
"It's too early to be satisfied. The real fight starts now."
'Ugh...'
With Roman's roar, the Red Dragon Axe grew even heavier. The fingertips gripping the sword hilt tingled.
Though my physical strength was greater, Roman's martial prowess was still superior.
Jjijik.
Raon bit the edge of his lip with his canine tooth.
'If I back down here, it's over.'
Roman's Heaven-Shaking Axe Strike was a martial art that grew stronger as the opponent retreated. Instead of fleeing, he had to push forward.
Hwaaaaa!
He employed the Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation to its extreme. The flames enveloping the blade of the Heavenly Drive rotated like a saw, creating a sharp sword strike. It was the Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation Revolving Sky.
"What a fine sword strike!"
Roman, as if not to be outdone, imbued Astral Rings onto the blade of the Red Dragon Axe and brought it crashing down.
Kwaaaaa!
Flames that seemed capable of melting blades collided, creating a deep furrow in the river.
The sunken waterway erupted, sending massive waves spreading in all directions.
The South-North Union's warships anchored at the riverbank were half-destroyed, their shattered decks soaring into the air.
This clash was so intense it wouldn't be strange if it had taken their breath away, yet Raon and Roman swung the Heavenly Drive and Red Dragon Axe with smiles on their faces amidst the storm of Aura.
Kuguuuuu!
With one sword strike, the river split, and with one axe swing, the sky twisted.
As the seemingly superhuman contest between Raon and Roman continued, dark clouds gathered in the sky as if the end was near, and the river water flipped over, revealing its bottom.
Kuuuung!
Roman seemed to gain even more strength in battle, crushing the flames of the Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation and applying increasingly stronger pressure.
Jeoeoeoeong!
Raon narrowed his eyes as he struck away the fiercely advancing Red Dragon Axe.
'Even his speed has increased.'
The speed of the Heaven-Shaking Axe Strike gradually increased until now the Red Dragon Axe looked blurry.
Roman was displaying even stronger martial prowess as time passed.
Huuk.
After taking a deep breath, he raised the Heavenly Drive diagonally.
Chiiiing!
The Red Dragon Axe that Roman swung down rode along the blade of the Heavenly Drive and struck the river. The river was deeply carved out along with a massive shockwave.
Chwaaaaak!
Raon didn't miss the gap as the Red Dragon Axe went down, and drew a Frost Snap. Two streams of sword energy imbued with extreme swiftness dug into Roman's neck.
But Roman moved to the left as if he had anticipated it, stepping with his footwork technique.
The speed and accuracy were such that it wouldn't be strange to call it teleportation magic. It was a perfect evasion.
'Is that the Nine Palace Steps?'
The Axe King likes to fight by overpowering from a stationary position, but I heard that once he moves, he's so elusive it's hard to catch up. That footwork seems to be the Nine Palace Steps that creates such movement.
Huuuuuk!
As the Axe King raised the Red Dragon Axe, hot air rushed in. The dark red flames burning from the axe blade turned into hundreds of Astral Rings, shooting towards Raon's vital points all over his body.
Teong!
Raon twisted his ankle and stepped on the Supreme Harmony's Third Step. Instead of cutting through the river water, he used a footwork that followed the flow of the river to deflect the rain of Astral Rings pouring down.
Kuuuu!
But Roman's offensive wasn't over yet. He stuck close using the Nine Palace Steps and directly swung down the Red Dragon Axe. There was no space to dodge. It was an attack that could only be blocked.
Gooooo!
Raon gritted his teeth and raised his gaze. As he rotated the Ring of Fire to the point his heart ached, he could see the flow of the descending Red Dragon Axe.
Kuguuuuu!
He twisted his wrist and thrust the Heavenly Drive towards the Red Dragon Axe. The flames that had been dyeing the blade stretched out as elegant heat lines. It was the blade of the Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation - Crimson Slash.
Jeoeoeoeong!
The pressing Red Dragon Axe and the rising Heavenly Drive clashed, once again causing an intense shockwave.
Between the sword and axe, countless waves of Aura burst forth in succession.
'This is my chance.'
Raon twisted the heat line erected at the tip of the Heavenly Drive. The thin flames drew concentric circles, creating the Fire Wall shield of flames.
Kwang!
He struck away the Red Dragon Axe with the Fire Wall and entered Roman's space.
Chiiiing!
Stepping forward with his left foot, he slashed down with the Heavenly Drive. The tip of the sword scattered like a heat haze, drawing a dream-like curve. It was the Silver Sword Dream, a sword strike that would behead before pain could be felt.
"Hmm!"
Roman frowned as if sensing the danger of the Silver Sword Dream. He erected a wall of Aura in the air without even raising the Red Dragon Axe.
Jeoeoeoeong!
The moment the Silver Sword Dream crushed the wall of Aura, the dark red burning Red Dragon Axe flew in. Roman had regained his posture in an instant and launched a surprise attack.
'I have no choice but to block it.'
He pulled the Heavenly Drive, which was bending to the right, inward. His body, which had transcended human limits, made an impossible movement to block the Red Dragon Axe.
Kuwaaaaaaang!
But because he couldn't assume a perfect defensive stance, his arms and shoulders shook, and a severe impact resonated inside. His legs stopped due to the pain.
"Now I see an opening!"
Roman grinned as he swung the Red Dragon Axe upward from below. It was a strike that seemed like it would split his body in half.
'It's a crisis, but...'
This is also an opportunity.
He imbued the Heavenly Drive with the cold energy of Glacier. He invoked the ultimate technique of the Blizzard Sword Art to deflect the Red Dragon Axe that was shooting like a cannonball.
As the axe twisted, Roman's chest was greatly exposed.
'Now!'
Grinding his molars, Raon drew the Blade of Requiem with his left hand. The demonic energy that surged over the red blade swept across Roman's left chest.
Piaaak!
Red blood flowed down Roman's black robe.
"You're not giving an inch, are you?"
He laughed heartily as if seeing blood was actually enjoyable.
"This is the most exciting fight I've had since I was born."
"Same here."
Raon nodded as he wiped the blood flowing from his lips.
'I'm giving it my best shot, so why not have some fun?
My chest burned hot as the Axe King Roman, one of the top martial artists on the continent, acknowledged me and fought with all his might.
Despite my internal injuries, a smile spread across my face.
"Then shall we continue?"
Roman bared his white teeth as he gripped the handle of the Red Dragon Axe with both hands.
"As much as you want."
Raon summoned all of his Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation and Glacier. The wind of the Gale Wind Style wrapped around the incompatible flames and frost. The blazing flames and frosty blade emitted a noble light.
This time, without waiting for Roman to approach, Raon advanced first. He entered Roman's space and unleashed the Fangs of Insanity.
Jijijijk!
A beast stained with madness pierced through Roman's Aura and sank its fangs into the Red Dragon Axe.
"Kuhahaha!"
Roman raised the axe handle as if trying to reverse the momentum from the Fangs of Insanity.
He unleashed a series of rapid attacks as if he had changed his weapon to a club.
However, since he was still using the Red Dragon Axe, its heavy power remained the same.
The right arm holding the Heavenly Drive felt like it was about to be crushed.
Kuguuuuu!
Roman swung his wrist and raised the axe blade again. It felt as heavy as if the entire Lable River had been placed on the Red Dragon Axe.
Hwaaaaa!
Raon thrust the Heavenly Drive towards the edge of the Red Dragon Axe. Flames and frost blazed over the shooting blade, drawing the shape of a dragon.
Like a flying dragon breaking through the sky and ascending, the sword strike of the Heavenly Drive pushed back the Red Dragon Axe.
'Ugh...'
He was able to push Roman back by simultaneously using the Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation and Glacier, but his chest hurt even more. It seemed his internal injuries had worsened.
'It's not time to stop yet... Huh?'
It was when he was about to move to the left, aiming for an opening in Roman's defense. The Flame Dragon Strike that had advanced with a massive wave split in half.
What was visible between the split flames was the Red Dragon Axe. It seemed Roman had completely split the Flame Dragon Strike.
'What?'
Raon watched Roman, who contained the flames in his eyes, and let out a sigh.
'His momentum has gotten stronger.'
Roman's energy, which he had thought was at full power, had risen even further.
"We're not done yet!"
Roman charged forward with a smirk. The blade of the Red Dragon Axe, slashing from left to right, emitted an eerie light.
Kuwaaaang!
Despite spreading the Fire Wall with the Heavenly Drive and invoking the Dance of the Golden Flame with the Blade of Requiem, the impact still penetrated.
His head shook as if dizzy, and a severe pain arose in his shoulder.
'It's certain.'
That guy is getting stronger through this battle right now.
It's not that Roman wasn't giving his all. He was growing through this battle.
* * *
"We came here for nothing."
Helgroom, the Vice Leader of the South-North Union, clicked his tongue briefly.
"Pardon...?"
The Black Wolf Branch Leader blinked his eyes as if asking what he meant.
"Raon Zieghart is undoubtedly the continent's top talent, no doubt about it. However..."
Helgroom snorted and shook his head.
"He's still not enough to reach Roman. No, I should say he's no match for a growing Roman."
"But until just now, they were fighting almost evenly..."
"Roman gained an insight just yesterday. It means he hasn't had enough time to fully embody that insight yet."
"Then, then..."
"Yes. Right now, Roman is embodying his insight through this life-and-death battle with Raon Zieghart. In other words, he's getting stronger and stronger."
He waved his hand as if shooing away a fly.
"He already had the upper hand, and now he's getting stronger while fighting? There's no answer to this."
Helgroom dusted off his hands, saying it was already a finished fight.
"But Raon Zieghart has the Sword Domain."
"The Sword Domain alone isn't enough to overcome that difference."
He shook his head firmly.
"It's fortunate that we can eliminate that young monster in advance. In the future, he would become a true monster that no one could match."
Helgroom put down his wine cup and looked to the left. The Zieghart swordsmen were clenching their fists tightly, as if not giving up even as they watched Raon being pushed back.
"Is it that they don't want to admit it?"
Sheryl, the Heavenly Blade Division Leader, and Rimmer the Light Sword should have grasped the situation, but their expressions didn't change at all.
It was as if they completely trusted the human called Raon.
"How pathetic."
"That might not be the case."
Beorn, who was standing behind Helgroom, shook his head.
"What do you mean?"
"Because those aren't the faces of people who have given up."
He pointed at Raon, who had switched positions with Roman. Raon was smiling deeply even as blood flowed from his mouth and chest.
"Hmm..."
Helgroom frowned as he looked at Raon.
'Why is he smiling?'
He should be feeling his opponent getting stronger, but the reason for his smile was incomprehensible.
'This fight is already over. Roman is pressuring, and that guy is either dodging or barely enduring... Wait.'
Dodging or enduring?
Roman had clearly risen to an even higher level while embodying his insight. To endure the full power of his growth means...
Helgroom's lips trembled as he looked at Raon.
'It means that guy has grown too!'
* * *
"Haah..."
Raon exhaled hot breath as he dodged the endless trajectories of the Red Dragon Axe.
'I feel like I'm going to die. But...'
I'm enjoying this.
When I first felt that Roman was getting stronger while fighting, I was overwhelmed with despair.
I thought there was no answer, already being pushed back and now he's growing.
As I was forcibly enduring, I saw the ice flower bracelet that had slid down below my shaking wrist.
'Wrath.'
Thinking about how that arrogant guy would have giggled and teased me if he saw this situation, anger buried deep in my soul rose up.
Vowing to plunge my sword into Roman's chest even if it killed me, I resonated the Ring of Fire to its limit.
As my heart pounded as if it would burst and my realm of the soul surged to its limit, the swords I had built up in my mental image materialized before my eyes.
As if the trees of swords that had sprouted were now bearing fruit, my swordsmanship realm rose dramatically.
Jeoeoeoeong!
Encompassing medium swords, broad swords, severing swords, and blunt swords, I was able to block Roman's axe strikes without taking a single step back.
Chiiiing!
Harmonizing wind swords, quick swords, light swords, and variable swords, the Heavenly Drive advanced faster than the previously shot Red Dragon Axe and split Roman's shoulder.
I was also wounded in the waist, but I felt no pain.
The elation of being able to become stronger consumed my entire body.
As I brought to life the swordsmanship I had only imagined in my head, it felt like there was nothing I couldn't do.
"Excellent!"
Strangely, Roman seemed to share that emotion. As he continued to grow stronger, he raised the Red Dragon Axe above his head with a smile.
"However, this time will be a bit different!"
Red light clusters of Astral Rings scattered between the axe blades of the Red Dragon Axe. It was the Heaven-Shaking Axe Strike that had decorated the end of their third duel. But the level of energy was on a completely different scale from before.
Kuuung!
Roman used the Nine Palace Steps to approach right in front of Raon and unleashed the wave of the Heaven-Shaking Axe Strike. It was a transcendent martial art that exploded a long-range bombardment right before one's eyes.
Huu.
Raon inhaled as he watched the wave of Astral Rings filling his vision.
Gooooo!
Time slowed down even further. In the realm of Transcendence where he could see himself reflected in his enemy's pupils, he raised the Heavenly Drive.
Chiiiing!
What dyed the silver blade wasn't just simple Aura.
All the swordsmanship he had built up in his mental image seemed to transform into one sword, seeping into the silver-gray blade.
'Now I understand.'
The reason why the new Sword Domain kept failing was because I tried to weave together too many groups that I couldn't contain in my current vessel.
I emptied the groups that were still lacking, and discarded the flow of Aura that was still insufficient.
Only then did a sword befitting my vessel appear in my mind.
A golden sky settled in Raon's pupils.
"Sword Domain."
The new Sword Domain, not yet even named, drew a single line that split heaven and earth.