"Hah..."
Lawrence swept his white hair back as he gazed at the blazing divine sword.
"I've seen enough of your guts. Are you saying you want to fight with full power now?"
He nodded approvingly and raised both hands in front of him.
"Very well. Let me show you how high the wall of transcendence truly is."
A pure white aura blossomed above Lawrence's shoulders. He wrapped the cloud-like Reverse Wave Arts energy around his hand, signaling his readiness to fight at full strength.
"Then, let us begin."
Raon performed a respectful sword salute to Lawrence before activating the Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation and stomping the ground. He accelerated with flames and aimed for Lawrence's neck with an extremely swift sword technique.
"Bring it on!"
Lawrence extended his right hand as if he had anticipated Raon's charge. His hand shot out like an awl, clashing with the blade of the Heavenly Drive. The collision of sword and hand resounded like massive iron blocks crashing together.
"Hah..."
Raon bit his lip as he felt the powerful recoil pushing back his divine sword.
'As expected, transcendence is on another level.'
Seeing his divine sword wobble as if it might break, Raon realized that Lawrence had no intention of going easy on him.
'It's not just about being overpowered by sheer force.'
His swordsmanship was easily nullified. Unlike previous sparring sessions, his sword techniques were being erased with disappointing ease. It was clear that Lawrence had been concealing not only his martial prowess but also the true extent of his Reverse Wave Arts.
'This is going to be interesting.'
Determined to break through Lawrence's full power, Raon stepped forward with his right foot on the tilted ground. He thrust the demonic sword at his waist, summoning the cold energy of Glacier. The blade of the demonic sword extended in line with his left arm, scattering like a mirage and blooming into countless petals.
Frost Fire Spirit. Blue petals imbued with cold energy enveloped Lawrence's entire body.
"What a troublesome sword technique."
As Lawrence gracefully lowered his left hand as if summoning butterflies, the frost fragments surrounding him completely melted away. It was the mystical power of the Reverse Wave Arts.
'I expected this much.'
Anticipating that Lawrence would erase the Fire Spirit from the start, Raon dove towards Lawrence's left side just as his hand descended and the cold energy dissipated.
"Hmm!"
The moment Lawrence furrowed his brow at him, Raon unleashed the Thirty-Six Crimson Flash Techniques with his blazing divine sword. In an instant, he infused each of the thirty-six sword techniques with different swordsmanship principles.
Rather than a single sword strike of the Thirty-Six Crimson Flash Techniques, thirty-six distinct sword strikes shot towards Lawrence's vital points.
"You're insane..."
Lawrence's eyes widened, seemingly bewildered by the dizzying variety of the Thirty-Six Crimson Flash Techniques. However, befitting a transcendent being, he quickly regained his composure and drew a circle with both hands.
The white aura spreading from his fingertips erased the flow of the Thirty-Six Crimson Flash Techniques. It was clearly not an easy feat, as the Reverse Wave Arts energy in his hands significantly diminished.
'I need to keep pushing.'
Even Lawrence couldn't use the Reverse Wave Arts indefinitely. If he kept improving his swordsmanship, like countless water droplets piercing through rock, he might eventually break through the Reverse Wave Arts. Raon unleashed Frost Snap with his divine sword and drew Silver Sword Dream with his demonic sword.
'Ordinary sword techniques are meaningless.'
He needed to add variation. In Frost Snap, which launched the true sword and frost sword with a time difference, he incorporated phantom sword techniques to summon dozens of blades. In Silver Sword Dream, designed to bewilder the opponent, he infused heavy sword and blunt sword techniques to constrict space.
The cold blades of Frost Snap erased the white aura of the Reverse Wave Arts, followed by the faint yet powerful sword strikes of Silver Sword Dream that pierced into Lawrence's chest.
"Ugh!"
Lawrence furrowed his brow as he watched the oncoming flames of the divine sword. He seemed astonished by how drastically different Raon's swordsmanship had become from what he was used to seeing.
"You've prepared thoroughly to defeat me!"
Lawrence spread his hands with lowered eyebrows. The aura emanating like smoke from his hands coalesced into an Astral Ring-like form, crushing Silver Sword Dream. White mist swirled around Lawrence as if protecting him, and the energy of the Reverse Wave Arts seeped into his hands, becoming a sword that could cut through anything.
That form seemed to be the true power of Lawrence, the transcendent being.
"Now, the real fight begins."
Not content with defense, Lawrence thrust forward the Astral Ring of Reverse Wave Arts concentrated in his right hand. The energy of the Reverse Wave Arts, carrying a massive wave within a calm ripple, broke through the defense of both divine and demonic swords, striking Raon's chest.
"Gah!"
Raon coughed up blood as he was thrown back, rolling on the ground. As it wasn't a severe internal injury, he immediately got up and prepared to counterattack.
"Hmph."
Lawrence stopped in his tracks and tilted his chin, seemingly considering Raon's counterattack dangerous.
"We've shown all our cards. Now it's time to see whose hand is stronger."
His eyes glinted ominously, signaling his readiness for a serious fight.
"Agreed."
Raon advanced towards Lawrence, intensifying the flames of his divine sword and the cold energy of his demonic sword. He had already forgotten about being hit. The only thing filling his mind now was the swordsmanship needed to break through the Reverse Wave Arts. Lawrence's eyes flashed a deep golden color, indicating that he was reading all of Raon's sword movements.
'It doesn't matter.'
If Lawrence could understand his swordsmanship, Raon just needed to evolve beyond that and fight. That's why he had been honing his sword skills day and night.
"My limit is not my true limit."
Raon wasn't afraid of his prepared sword techniques being broken. Instead, he smiled as if enjoying it and clashed with Lawrence at full force.
"I know that your real talent lies in that relentless tenacity of yours!"
Lawrence bit his lip as if exasperated and extended a pure white Astral Ring. As the red sword and white hand collided, a storm of mist and flames surged up to the sky.
* * *
"Well..."
The Demon Sword Lord let out a sigh as he watched Raon and Lawrence clash relentlessly.
"To think that Lawrence was hiding such power..."
He shook his chin, admitting he never knew Lawrence's nullification techniques were at this level.
"Indeed. I thought the current Raon would be more than enough..."
The Demon Sword Lord nodded in agreement.
"It seems that arrogant bastard was really going easy on us."
He rubbed his own neck as he observed Lawrence's cold eyes.
"Is that the Reverse Wave Arts?"
Burren swallowed dryly as he watched the white aura.
"It really does erase Raon's martial arts with ease. It's like painting white over his swordsmanship."
"Rather than erasing, it's meticulously breaking it down."
Martha furrowed her brow as she watched the white aura dissolving Raon's swordsmanship.
"It's not some magical power, but definitely overwhelming Raon's sword."
She exhaled heavily, seemingly astonished by the very existence of the Reverse Wave Arts.
"I can see Raon's swordsmanship. But..."
Runaan nodded, her blank eyes filled with a glimmer of intelligence.
"Raon is changing too."
She nodded gently, as if expressing her faith in Raon.
"Master."
Mustan stood beside Rector, lightly biting his lip.
"Who do you think will win?"
His voice was loud enough that everyone turned to look at Rector.
"Lawrence, of course."
Rector answered without hesitation.
"Lawrence's eyes and senses are special. The more he fights an opponent, the easier it becomes for him to read their moves. He's been fighting Raon for two months, so he's likely figured out all of his sword techniques by now."
He nodded firmly, as if the outcome was already decided.
"Moreover, we can't ignore the difference in their levels. Even though Raon is at the peak of Grandmaster, he's still far from transcendence. It won't be easy for him to win."
Rector looked at Zalek, who was standing quietly, as he declared that Raon couldn't win.
"Alliance Leader, you don't know your grandson well enough."
Zalek raised his white eyebrows as he met Rector's gaze.
"That leech's swordsmanship is growing even as we speak. It's quite maddening."
He clicked his tongue as he observed Raon's swordsmanship.
"If he were just a puppet repeating the same sword techniques, I would have crushed him long ago."
Zalek gritted his teeth, seemingly recalling how Raon had tormented him.
"Really?"
Dorian stuck close to Zalek, his eyes sparkling.
"So, does that mean Lord Raon will win?"
"I don't know if he'll win or lose. It's just..."
Zalek shook his head, furrowing his brow.
"He's not one to break so easily."
He looked back at Rector as he said this.
"How's that? Is this the answer you wanted?"
"It's quite alright."
Rector winked at Zalek, who had spoken on his behalf. He clasped his hands together, seemingly trusting his grandson, and immersed himself in the battle of flames and mist.
* * *
Raon smiled even as he watched his Flame Dragon Strike dissolve futilely.
'He erases even this?'
Despite infusing the Flame Dragon Strike, his most powerful fire technique, with the principles of the breaking sword, it couldn't penetrate Lawrence's Reverse Wave Arts. It felt like building sandcastles only to have them destroyed by waves, but strangely, it made him smile.
'Maybe it's not strange, but natural?'
It's an opportunity for me to improve further. Like the Mind's Eye, the Reverse Wave Arts isn't invincible. As his swordsmanship progressed, it was slowly revealing cracks. With Silver Sword Dream and Flame Dragon Strike, although the Reverse Wave Arts had blocked his sword, Lawrence had also been greatly shaken.
If his sword continues to evolve, an opportunity to shatter that white mist will arise.
Raon resonated the Ring of Fire to its extreme. Elevating his realm of the soul and concentration, he focused not on Lawrence, but on his own mental image and heart. He mixed Wind Sword and Thunder Sword techniques into an extremely swift falling strike. His divine sword, blazing with flames, extended forth wrapped in lightning and wind. It was truly a god-like speed.
Lawrence concentrated the energy of the Reverse Wave Arts in his hands and struck down the divine sword wrapped in wind, lightning, and flames. However, it wasn't easy for him either, as a bead of cold sweat dropped from his forehead.
'Next!'
Expecting his sword strike to be blocked, Raon infused the Silver Wind Flowing technique of the Blizzard Sword Art with Blizzard Sword, Fluid Sword, and Breaking Sword techniques. A sword strike as quiet yet firm as an untrodden winter snowfield extended towards Lawrence's chest. Lawrence overlapped his left and right hands to block this new sword strike.
"How far will you..."
He bit his lip, seemingly flustered by the significant amount of Reverse Wave Arts energy that had disappeared.
"I'm still far from done."
Raon didn't organize the numerous sword techniques that came to mind. Like a child freely putting together a puzzle according to their own thoughts, he unleashed his unique swordsmanship without considering the compatibility or synergy of sword principles. Slow but sharp swords, heavy yet soft swords, swords that extended grandly only to target a single point.
A variety of sword techniques, unconcerned with efficiency or flow, unfolded one after another from Raon's fingertips.
This wasn't something one could do alone, even with a once-in-a-millennium talent. It was only possible because Lawrence was there to receive all of Raon's sword strikes.
"Crazy..."
Lawrence bit his lip until it bled as he watched Raon unleash a series of unparalleled sword strikes.
'What on earth has this guy gained?'
The sword techniques he had seen over the past two months were evolving before his eyes. The familiar techniques had changed so much that his previous experience was almost becoming a hindrance. Moreover, as the depth of the swordsmanship had increased, it wasn't easy to block the evolving techniques. Each time he blocked Raon's sword, a chunk of the Reverse Wave Arts energy was drained.
At this rate, it seemed the Reverse Wave Arts might be broken not by aura or physical strength, but truly by swordsmanship.
'That can't happen.'
For the sake of Raon's growth, he needed to be a wall. If not for that, he had no right to stand here.
'I absolutely cannot lose!'
If Raon was getting stronger, he would just have to grow his Reverse Wave Arts as well. With his transcendent energy, he pressed down on Raon's entire body as he approached with new sword techniques. He shattered Raon's swordsmanship and exploded the energy of the Reverse Wave Arts right in front of Raon's chest.
"Gah!"
Raon coughed up black blood as he was thrown back, rolling on the ground. Although his entire body trembled from the severe impact, he never let go of his two swords.
"Hah..."
Raon slowly got to his feet. Despite the blood flowing from his mouth, he wore a joyful smile as if enjoying himself.
"...Are you really a monster?"
Lawrence chewed on his lip.
"Come on then! Let's see what else you've got!"
"Of course."
Raon smiled as he charged at Lawrence. As they clashed for tens, even hundreds of exchanges, the two swords in his hands continuously transformed.
Fast and slow, strong and weak, heavy and light, disciplined and formless. Now, he was aiming for Lawrence's neck with swordsmanship that defied description.
Lawrence roughly pushed Raon away and gritted his teeth.
'...This won't do.'
He needed to end it here. The flow of the Reverse Wave Arts was starting to break. Having never fought this long before, he was also reaching his limits. Raon, too, was fighting beyond his limits and his body was deteriorating. For both their sakes, it seemed best to finish it here.
Lawrence simultaneously erased the waves of flames and frost created by the divine and demonic swords, then rushed at Raon. He spread both hands, aiming for Raon's chest and abdomen. He concentrated all the energy of the Reverse Wave Arts in both hands to erase any attack Raon might make.
The moment Raon's vision was filled with white aura, he instead stretched his left foot forward.
'This can't be blocked.'
With the difference in aura and realm, it was impossible to overcome the energy of the Reverse Wave Arts with his current sword. There was only one way. He had to erase the Reverse Wave Arts with his swordsmanship. He calmed the Divine-Demonic Harmony. Erasing the flames of the divine sword and the frost of the demonic sword, he revealed the silver blade of the Heavenly Drive.
Emptying both flames and cold energy, he opened the world of mental images. The path of Ten Thousand Swords. His unique sword techniques pursuing true Ten Thousand Swords concentrated on the Heavenly Drive, causing a golden flash.
"Whatever it is, it's too late!"
Lawrence spread the energy of the Reverse Wave Arts in all directions, as if to erase any sword technique. It seemed as if the entire space was under his control. Raon swung down the Heavenly Drive, held in both hands, towards the pure white mist that was extending like the grasp of a god.
Sword Domain. The golden radiance containing all the world's sword techniques clashed with the white mist that erased all sword techniques, causing a dragon's roar to erupt in all directions.
With a sound like a mountain being shattered, an enormous shockwave exploded, turning the earth inside out and plunging everything into darkness.
"Hmm!"
Rector furrowed his brow and lowered his hand, causing a wind to blow away the black smoke that filled the clearing. As the dust settled, they could see Raon kneeling and Lawrence with his hands on the ground. A draw. Their final duel had ended in a tie.
"You crazy bastard..."
Lawrence gritted his teeth in disbelief.
"Were you trying to kill me!"
"I knew you could handle it, Sir Lawrence."
Raon shook his head, laughing weakly.
"You're truly insane. Even crazier than the previous Leader of the Holy Sword Alliance!"
Lawrence's eyelids trembled as he spoke words that could be either praise or insult.
"I hear that a lot."
Raon chuckled before collapsing to the ground.
"Thank you for going easy on me."
He bowed his head to Lawrence as he said this.
"Bullshit."
Lawrence furrowed his brow and lay spread-eagle on the ground.
"If I had gone easy on you, would I be like this?"
He waved his hand, telling Raon not to talk nonsense.
"If you had used your full power from the start, it would have ended immediately. You gave me time to grow. Even at the end, you held back."
Raon smiled, indicating he knew everything.
"I'm truly grateful..."
"Enough. Congratulations on reaching the peak of Grandmaster."
Lawrence said this while lightly tapping Raon's shoulder.
"Oh? Is this the first time you've praised me?"
"Yes, after being tormented by you for two months, I wanted to say this first."
He said this and quickly turned his reddened face away.
"Thank you."
Raon forced himself to stand up and bowed his head to Lawrence.
"I'm greatly indebted to you."
"Not indebted, you were a nuisance!"
Lawrence wrinkled his nose, telling Raon to use the right words.
"I suppose that's true."
Raon scratched his head with a faint smile.
"However..."
Lawrence tilted his head as he looked at Raon.
"Have you found a clue to reaching transcendence?"
"Hmm..."
Raon didn't answer immediately. After scanning Lawrence, Rector, and the people around them, he looked up at the night sky and nodded.
"Yes. I think I've found it now."
* * *
After finishing his duel with Lawrence, Raon returned to the mansion and went straight to his room. Having exhausted all his strength, fatigue overwhelmed him, making it difficult to even stand.
'How was today's duel?'
Raon leaned against the bed and reached out to Wrath, who was wagging his tail.
- Not quite there yet!
Wrath knocked away Raon's hand, saying he was still pathetic.
-If that grasshopper had gone all out from the start, you wouldn't have even been able to counterattack. Your swordsmanship has improved, but the combinations were too crude. You need to study a lot more. And because you focused so much on swordsmanship, your aura movements have become dull!
He chattered about Raon's shortcomings as if he were eating bead ice cream.
-But! It's true that you've improved. These two months here were probably worth more than a year in Zieghart.
Wrath nodded, acknowledging Raon's truly rapid growth.
'Thanks.'
Raon smiled, recalling the weaknesses Wrath had pointed out.
-If you're grateful, buy me some bead ice cream!
Wrath waved his hand, telling Raon not to just say it.
'When we return to Zieghart, I'll buy you so much you'll burst.'
Raon made this promise to Wrath and then looked at his own hands.
'There's still a lot I'm lacking.'
As much as his swordsmanship had grown, he needed to pay attention to the combinations, and focus on the movements of his aura and body as well. There was still much to do to reach transcendence.
-By the way.
Wrath furrowed his brow and came close to Raon's face.
'Yes?'
-What's the clue to reaching transcendence that you thought of?
He tilted his head, asking what value Raon had in mind.
'Well, there are two things. It's a bit embarrassing, but...'
Just as Raon was about to speak, licking his lips...
[The sprout of Ten Thousand Swords has begun to grow.]
[All abilities increase by 20 points.]
[The rank of the trait
[The rank of the trait
[The rank of the trait
[The rank of the trait
[New title...]
The rewards accumulated from two months of training at the Holy Sword Alliance came all at once.
-Damn it all!
Wrath struck at the messages and shook his head.
-This bastard has terrible timing! At this point, it's clearly waiting to mock me... Huh?
He was grinding his teeth, vowing to tear it apart, when he saw the title and his eyes widened.
-Puhehehehe!
Wrath burst into laughter, pointing at the new title.
[New title
-It's 'leech'! Now even that thing acknowledges your leech-like nature!
He giggled, saying that finally his words were being taken seriously. However, Raon was too busy looking elsewhere to pay attention to the title.
'