"...What are you doing right now?"
The white hair covering Lawrence's face trembled slightly. He seemed taken aback by the unexpected situation.
"I'm sparring with the String Sword Lord."
Raon shrugged, pointing at the String Sword Lord.
"That's not what I meant. Why are you sparring here?"
Irritation seeped through Lawrence's low voice. It seemed the rumors about him hating noise were true.
"We came here because if the String Sword Lord and I fought in the city, it would turn into a mess."
Raon offered this impromptu explanation with a slight smile.
"You didn't follow me here?"
"It's just a coincidence."
He calmly shook his head, denying any misunderstanding.
-Isn't it obvious you followed him?!
Wrath frowned, seemingly dumbfounded.
-This is making me sick! Why are your acting skills improving faster than your swordsmanship?!
He waved his hand, suggesting Raon should quit being a swordsman and join a theater troupe instead.
"Since fate has brought us together again, may I request a rematch with you, Lawrence?"
Raon extended his hand with a broad smile.
"Of course, after I finish sparring with the String Sword Lord."
"Hey, old men."
Lawrence ignored Raon's request and turned a sharp gaze towards the String Sword Lord and the Demon Sword Lord.
"I'm sure I told you not to make unnecessary noise."
Thick veins bulged on the back of his hand. He seemed genuinely angry.
"Ah, no! It's not like that!"
"Y-yes! We were just..."
"I merely asked for your name."
Raon shook his head as he stood in front of the String Sword Lord.
"I should know who I lost to, right?"
"Hmm..."
Lawrence briefly smacked his lips, seemingly at a loss for words.
"Fine, just go somewhere else."
He waved his hand dismissively, as if telling them to disappear.
"Then what about our rematch?"
Raon curled his lips provocatively.
"It'll be a bit different from before."
This wasn't mere bluster. Now that he understood Lawrence's martial art style, he wouldn't be defeated as easily as before.
"...Not interested."
Lawrence slowly lowered his chin.
"I only accept one challenge per month. You've filled that quota, so there's no reason for me to fight. Now, disappear."
He turned his back, telling them to leave the mountain.
"Why should I?"
Raon shrugged, looking at Lawrence.
"What?"
Lawrence stopped in his tracks, his fingertips trembling.
"What did you just say...?"
"This mountain and land don't belong to you, Lawrence."
Raon spread his arms wide, lightly tapping his foot.
"This is a place shared by all members of the Holy Sword Alliance. You can't just chase people away as you please."
According to Rector, the Holy Sword Alliance hadn't been settled here for long. Even if they considered land ownership, it would belong to the Alliance leader. This argument was bound to be effective.
"Th-that's right! That's correct! This mountain has no owner!"
The Demon Sword Lord quickly nodded in agreement.
"Even if it had an owner, it would be the Alliance leader's land, not this ghost's!"
The String Sword Lord also quickly moved his lips, as if venting his frustration.
"How dare someone who's not even part of the Holy Sword Alliance..."
"But I am part of the Holy Sword Alliance?"
Raon proudly showed Lawrence a badge engraved with a sword. He straightened his back confidently, having received it directly from Rector, the Alliance leader.
"Hmm..."
Lawrence bit his lip, then pointed to his cave higher up the mountain.
"I was the first to settle here, so the rights to this land..."
"Huh? Then wouldn't they be first?"
Raon pointed to a hole in the Zelkova Tree near the cave.
"You know there are squirrels living in there, right? It looks like they've been here for years. Wouldn't they have the first claim to this place?"
"You..."
Lawrence chewed his lip, seemingly at a loss for words.
"That's right too! The squirrels' opinion comes first!"
The Demon Sword Lord clapped his hands loudly.
"Because they're cute, that's all!"
The String Sword Lord burst into hearty laughter at Lawrence's crumpled expression.
-These childish humans...
Wrath shook his head in disbelief.
'That's how old people fight, childishly.'
Raon smirked at Wrath. In situations like this, a childish approach was far more effective than trying to argue logically.
"Ngh..."
Lawrence glared at Raon, raising his fingertips.
'Is he relying on the Alliance leader's support? No, that's not it.'
At first, he thought Raon was being cocky because of his position as the Alliance leader's grandson, but his eyes told a different story.
'He genuinely wants to fight me.'
The child's eyes were burning with fighting spirit. They were filled with the determination to challenge and defeat him.
"So, about that match..."
"No."
Lawrence shook his head firmly.
'I can't just give in to this kid's whims.'
Besides being annoying, he absolutely hated breaking his routine. He was supposed to be sleeping at this time, so he had no intention of sparring.
"Do as you please."
Lawrence turned his back resolutely and headed back towards his cave.
"That was amazing!"
"To think that arrogant bastard would run away without a word!"
The Demon Sword Lord and String Sword Lord both sighed in relief, as if a weight had been lifted off their chests.
"Haa..."
Unlike the two old men, Raon let out a sigh of disappointment.
'What a shame.'
Lawrence had almost fallen for the provocation but regained his composure at the last moment. It was the mental strength befitting a Transcendent Warrior.
'Still, there's no need to be discouraged.'
This was just the beginning. From Lawrence's reaction, it was clear he hated noise. With a little more provocation, Raon felt he could achieve his goal.
-You've seriously messed up.
Wrath clasped his hands together, looking at the cave Lawrence had entered.
-You grasshopper. I pray for your soul.
He shook his head, saying it was a fate that should have been avoided.
'It's not that bad.'
Raon waved his hand dismissively and approached the String Sword Lord again.
"Then let's resume our match."
"Um, is it really okay?"
The String Sword Lord nervously licked his lips, glancing towards the cave.
"Don't worry, I'll handle it if he comes out."
Raon smiled gently as he raised his Heavenly Drive sword.
"If you're scared, step aside! I'll do it!"
The Demon Sword Lord gestured with his hand, as if telling the String Sword Lord to move.
"What are you saying! As if I'd be scared of that ghost!"
The String Sword Lord shook his head embarrassedly and stood in front of Raon.
"Let's begin."
"Yes."
The two martial artists began their match again with a light clash of swords. With a thunderous sound, Raon stepped forward and unleashed a Crimson Slash.
"Excellent!"
The String Sword Lord laughed with satisfaction as he brought down his great sword. It was heavy, overwhelmingly so. The massive aura, a harmony of heavy and strong sword techniques, pressed down on Raon's body and soul.
'He's insane!'
Despite being a Grandmaster, the String Sword Lord was an eccentric who had only trained in heavy and strong sword techniques. Raon felt a chill down his spine at the man's passion and obsession.
'I should dodge... No.'
He had to face it head-on here. He came to the Holy Sword Alliance not just to gain experience in sparring, but to become stronger. Rather than finding a way to win, he needed to clash, break, and become tougher. With a resonating hum, Raon extended his retreating leg forward and unleashed a Heavy Sky Cannon over the tip of his Heavenly Drive sword.
With an earth-shattering crash, the two swords, each condensed with the ultimate essence of heavy sword techniques, collided. The ground shook, and a brown storm surged upward.
"Huff..."
Raon bit his lip as he was pushed back ten steps.
'Still not enough.'
Even though they were both Grandmasters, the String Sword Lord had spent his entire life honing only heavy and strong sword techniques, so it was inevitable that Raon would be pushed back.
"You withstood that? Head-on?"
The String Sword Lord's jaw dropped in disbelief. His eyes blazed with fighting spirit, as if he'd finally met a worthy opponent.
"I didn't come here to run away."
Raon shook his head, voicing his current state of mind.
"After always fighting cowards who run away, I've finally met a true martial artist! My blood is boiling!"
The String Sword Lord's face flushed red as he clenched his fists tightly.
"Wh-what's wrong with dodging! It's all strategy! Strategy!"
The Demon Sword Lord shook his head quickly, as if he'd been personally attacked.
"Let's continue before the excitement cools down!"
The String Sword Lord charged forward with a wide grin on his face.
"Gladly."
Raon nodded and advanced straight towards the String Sword Lord. As Rector had said, he faced the conviction of an old swordsman who had built up only heavy sword techniques, becoming a challenger. With a deafening crash, the Heavenly Drive sword and the great sword collided, unleashing an even more powerful shockwave than before that swept across the surroundings.
Trees shook from their roots, and the river water surged upwards as if flowing in reverse.
However, unlike before, Raon was able to straighten his back after retreating only nine steps.
"Huh?"
The String Sword Lord's eyes widened, seemingly noticing the change in Raon.
"Y-your sword seems to have gotten heavier?"
"Not yet."
Raon shook his head with a calm expression.
"Because I need to become even stronger from now on."
* * *
With a resounding boom, Lawrence gritted his teeth as he covered his head.
'Damn it.'
He could block the sound using his aura, but he couldn't stop the vibrations in the ground. The earth's tremors were intensifying to the point where it was difficult to lie down properly.
'Why the hell is that bastard fighting with heavy sword techniques!'
A normal sword duel wouldn't be this noisy, but because those damned fools were engaging in a heavy sword technique battle, the mountain was shaking as if it would collapse. He could understand the String Sword Lord using heavy sword techniques since that's all he trained in, but he couldn't fathom why that young brat was fighting with heavy sword techniques too.
'If I had known it would be like this, I should have crushed them completely... Hm?'
Lawrence bit his lip and turned his gaze towards the cave entrance.
'The clashes are getting stronger.'
Rector's grandson's heavy sword technique was gradually getting stronger, causing more powerful reverberations. Unlike the beginning when he was helplessly pushed back, he was now gradually keeping up with the String Sword Lord's attacks.
'Huh...'
Could it be that he wasn't a monster nearing completion, but a monster just beginning? It seemed to completely surpass the value of talent as he had understood it. The existence of such a person was unbelievable.
'And there's something even greater than that talent?'
Rector had said that Raon's true talent wasn't in martial arts, but Lawrence couldn't help thinking that was a lie.
'I admit he's impressive, but...'
Still, he wouldn't go out. He had his own routine and pride to maintain. Even if he couldn't sleep, he had no intention of leaving his bed.
'I seem to be getting used to the vibrations too.'
As he synchronized his body with the earth's tremors, he only felt slight vibrations. Thinking he might be able to sleep like this, he slowly closed his eyes. Suddenly, just as his body was becoming heavy and drowsy, a different kind of resonance erupted, striking his back.
"Arghhhh!"
Lawrence finally couldn't take it anymore and rushed outside.
* * *
"Eek!"
The String Sword Lord lowered his sword and stepped back as soon as he saw Lawrence. Raon licked his lips at the sight of the String Sword Lord's reaction.
'That's understandable.'
Though he didn't know the exact method, Lawrence had the power to erase sword strikes themselves, so it was natural for swordsmen to fear him.
'That's why I want to defeat him even more.'
Lawrence was already a monster who had reached transcendence, so there was no way Raon could beat him now no matter what he did. But at least in swordsmanship, he didn't want to lose.
"You're out again? Need the bathroom?"
Raon tilted his chin slightly, wearing a deep smile.
"..."
Lawrence approached him with rough steps, as if he had lost his reason.
'He means to fight.'
Whether he had lost his reason or was serious, this was Raon's chance to spar. With a high-pitched ring, Raon lowered his stance. Stepping forward with his left foot, he thrust his Heavenly Drive sword towards Lawrence. The blade scattered like a phantom, flickering with silver light. It was the Silver Sword Dream technique he had created himself.
Lawrence raised his right hand in defense. The moment his hand drew a small circle, the aura forming the Silver Sword Dream began to disappear, and the flow of the sword started to stop.
In that moment, Raon's eyes flashed.
'As expected, it's nullification.'
That bizarre flow Lawrence was showing was nullifying his swordsmanship and erasing his aura. It was an alien power he had never seen before.
'Then...'
It's time for a change! Thanks to the String Sword Lord, his senses were sharp with heavy and strong sword techniques. He infused these into a new Silver Sword Dream. Instead of a deceptive flow, a nightmare-like intense wave emerged.
"Hmm!"
A fierce wind arose, pushing back Lawrence's white hair and revealing his golden eyes. A deeper light than before blazed in them. With another twist of his hand, even the newly created Silver Sword Dream lost its power and scattered.
'The nullification wasn't just once?'
As Raon gaped in disbelief, Lawrence struck his solar plexus with a clenched fist, as if releasing all his pent-up anger.
"Gah!"
Unable to withstand the impact, Raon rolled on the ground and fell into a stream.
"You won't be able to get up for a while. You should be satisfied now, so get lost."
Lawrence muttered that it was over and returned to his cave without looking back.
"H-hey!"
"Are you alright?"
The String Sword Lord and Demon Sword Lord rushed to Raon in shock.
-Hmm...
Wrath recalled Lawrence's golden eyes, paying no attention to Raon.
-Is that guy not human?
He licked his lips, feeling as if he had seen those eyes somewhere before.
"I-I'm fine."
Raon shook his head as he wiped the blood from his mouth.
"I told you, didn't I? That guy's a ghost that devours swordsmanship! It's best not to face him!"
"That's right. Unless you're at a higher level, you absolutely can't win against him from below!"
The two old men grabbed Raon's arms, urging him never to fight Lawrence again.
"I see."
Raon nodded calmly. Seeing how Lawrence erased even the second sword technique, it was clear this wasn't an ordinary power. Especially in Lawrence's golden eyes, Raon sensed a strange force.
"He seems really irritated, so let's go down now. That guy is truly terrifying!"
The String Sword Lord, perhaps having grown fond of Raon through their sparring, showed genuine concern for him.
"That's fine, but..."
Raon grinned and beckoned to the Demon Sword Lord.
"Demon Sword Lord, you should warm up a bit too."
* * *
"It should be better now."
Lawrence let out a soft sigh as he lay back down on his bed.
'Even if he wants to move, he probably can't.'
When he struck that guy earlier, he had delivered a powerful blow to his solar plexus. Unable to move his limbs properly, let alone use aura, it should be quiet for a while.
'Now that I'm at ease, I'm starting to feel sleepy.'
Lawrence closed his eyes, feeling the approaching drowsiness. Just as he was about to drift off to sleep, a high-pitched whistle and the clashing of swords echoed from outside the cave. With a start, Lawrence sat up and looked towards the cave entrance.
'N-no way...'
As soon as he extended his aura perception, he knew. It was that guy. That monster-like fellow was now sparring with the Demon Sword Lord.
'How...?'
Whether physically or in terms of aura, he should have been unable to move properly for a while. Lawrence couldn't believe he had already started sparring.
'It doesn't make sense...'
Lawrence closed his eyes again, blocking his ears with aura. But this time, it wasn't the ground, but the air that vibrated, causing his head to ring.
"So that was his real talent!"
Unable to bear it any longer, Lawrence grabbed his disheveled hair and rushed out again.
* * *
Raon licked his lips as he exchanged sword strikes with the Demon Sword Lord.
'This person is the complete opposite.'
While the String Sword Lord focused on heaviness and strength, the Demon Sword Lord was a swordsman devoted to speed. His soul resonated with lightning-fast strikes that could take one's head off in the blink of an eye. With a resonating hum!
Just as he did with the String Sword Lord, Raon wrapped the principles of Quick Sword and Wind Sword around the flow of the Fangs of Insanity to clash head-on with the Demon Sword Lord.
With a piercing shriek! Though not as heavy as before, the sword strikes were so fast that blades of wind spread out in all directions.
'Fast...'
The Demon Sword Lord's strikes were certainly faster than his own, but not to the point where he couldn't handle them. With a mindset to learn, he pressed forward. With a rapid series of clashes!
In less than a second, dozens of sword strikes collided. The continuous ringing of metal created a noise like thousands of birds chirping.
With a high-pitched ring! As his concentration heightened, Raon felt his sword moving faster and faster.
"You rascal! So you're quite skilled in Quick Sword techniques too!"
The Demon Sword Lord laughed excitedly as he unleashed even faster sword strikes.
'It's not just about wrapping wind around Quick Sword techniques.'
The sword must ride the wind. Just as Raon gained this small realization while exchanging blows with the Demon Sword Lord, Lawrence leapt down from mid-air, crushing the ground beneath him.
"Are you really insane?"
Lawrence's eyes widened in disbelief.
-To call him just insane is an insult!
Wrath shook his head in disagreement.
-This guy is the craziest in all dimensions!
He waved his hand as if stressing that fact, leaving no room for mistake.
"I hear that occasionally."
Raon grinned and nodded slightly.
"How about a match after this sparring session?"
"Grrr!"
Lawrence's face contorted like crumpled paper.