The dark night sky illuminating the Holy Sword Alliance trembles as if it's about to shatter. The vibration is so strong that it feels like an earthquake on the ground.
"W-What is that?"
Dorian, who had just breathed a sigh of relief after the sword duel between Raon and Darkan, trembled as he looked up at the sky.
"What's happening now, before we can even celebrate!"
He clutched his head, crying out if this was hell. He seemed bewildered by the situation that defied understanding.
"T-The sky looks like it's about to collapse..."
"Even the moon is shaking. Is it my time to die?"
The Demon Sword Lord and String Sword Lord blinked blankly as they scanned the sky.
"I'm not sure either, but..."
Zalek raised his long eyebrows as he examined the sky.
"It seems there's an unbelievable monster behind that."
He trembled his beard, saying he could feel an incredibly strong power.
"...It's only a matter of time before the barrier breaks."
Lawrence brushed back his hair as he straightened his back. His golden eyes were shaking as if hit by waves.
"I don't know why it has to be now, of all times."
Lawrence chewed his lips as he looked at Darkan, who was coughing up black blood from internal injuries, and Rector, who hadn't yet recovered his strength.
"It doesn't seem to be a welcome guest."
Burren swallowed hard as he tightly gripped the hilt of his sword.
"Ugh, that crazy human was annoying enough, and now what's this!"
Martha gritted her teeth as she deeply furrowed her brow.
"Why does something always have to happen!"
She stomped her foot hard, complaining that only bad things seemed to happen to them.
"Raon. Are you alright?"
Runaan supported the staggering Raon first, seemingly unconcerned with the crumbling sky.
"Yeah. I can manage."
Raon shook his head with a faint smile. Although he had severe internal injuries from the duel with Darkan, he could endure thanks to the Ring of Fire.
'However....'
He looked up at the night sky, exhaling a breath mixed with the scent of blood.
'What on earth is that?'
The sky shook as if it was about to split, and the constellations were distorted by the immense force pounding on the barrier. Even the moon was warping. At the very least, it had to be a Transcendent Warrior.
'And not just any Transcendent Warrior.'
The barrier protecting the Holy Sword Alliance was created by the first Zieghart head of house and his mage companion. If it could destroy this barrier, it likely possessed power that wouldn't lose even to the former Holy Sword Alliance leader standing next to him now.
'You know who it is, don't you?'
Raon narrowed his eyes as he turned his gaze to Wrath. Just before, the entity had shouted to erase anger and said that a crazy stalker was chasing them. It clearly knew who was trying to break the barrier.
-Ugh....
Wrath's jaw trembled as it looked at the sky, seemingly in fear.
'Wrath!'
-Gah! Didn't this king tell you! That there's a crazy stalker like that in the Devildom too!
Wrath screamed that there was a demon as crazy as Merlin.
'So that stalker chased you here?'
-Looking at that brute force and behavior, it's certain!
It shrugged, saying it was obvious from the way the barrier was being smashed by force.
'Then is that Pride....'
-What nonsense! It's Lust!
'Huh?'
Raon had thought it must be the Monarch of Pride, confident in their strength, for breaking the barrier by force, but the answer that came back was the Monarch of Lust.
'The Monarch of Lust is breaking the barrier with force? Not magic or spells?'
A wry laugh escaped at the answer that was so different from his expectations.
-That's why I'm saying it's crazy!
Wrath shook its head, saying that's why it wasn't normal. The already blue entity seemed to turn even more bluish.
-Ugh! It was hard enough in the Devildom, I can't believe it chased me here.
Wrath let out a murky groan, seemingly pained as it recalled the past.
-Everywhere that damned thing goes gets destroyed! Even this king's castle... ugh!
It whimpered that this place would be ruined too.
'Hmm, this seems quite different from the Monarch of Lust I had in mind....'
Listening to Wrath's words, the demon king outside seemed very different from the Monarch of Lust Raon had imagined.
'You seem pretty scared. Is it strong?'
Wrath hadn't feared even Pride, considered the strongest among the demon kings, but it seemed to be terrified of Lust.
-It is strong, but that's not the problem....
Wrath clenched its plump hands tightly, saying that wasn't the issue.
-That thing doesn't die!
'Huh?'
-That damned stalker should have remained in the Devildom, why is it here....
It bit its lip hard, muttering that it didn't make sense.
'If it's a stalker, didn't it follow you?'
-Uh...?
Wrath blinked blankly at Raon.
-I-Is that so? Damn! That's highly likely!
Wrath's shoulders trembled as it said that seemed to be the case. It really seemed to fear Lust.
'This seems more dangerous than I thought.'
Just in case, Raon pulled down his sleeve to hide Wrath's ice flower bracelet.
"Hmm...."
Darkan nodded as he wiped the black blood that had flowed down to his chin.
"It's a bit embarrassing right after saying I'd disappear, but may I stay a little longer?"
He curled up the corners of his mouth as he looked at Raon.
"It seems like something interesting is about to happen."
Darkan threw his gaze towards the night sky, as if curious about the figure breaking the barrier.
"Sure."
Raon nodded without hesitation.
'Having him here is much better than not.'
Darkan currently held goodwill towards him. Though an uncontrollable figure, he could be a useful card in dangerous situations.
"Raon...."
Rector struggled to his feet and approached Raon.
"I'm sorry."
He bit his lip until it bled, as if apologizing for not being able to protect him.
"It's alright."
Raon shook his head with a faint smile.
"Thanks to you fighting first, I was able to grasp the former Holy Sword Alliance leader's sword techniques. If it weren't for that, I would have died too."
This wasn't just to ease Rector's guilt. Thanks to him showing Darkan's fighting style, Raon was able to leave a deep impression on him.
"You've raised a good grandson, Holy Sword Alliance leader."
Darkan smirked as he looked at Rector. He kept calling Rector the Holy Sword Alliance leader, as if he really had no lingering attachment to the Holy Sword Alliance.
"Indeed. He's more than I deserve."
Rector nodded heavily. A flame of determination to protect Raon at all costs burned in his eyes. It was different from mere fighting spirit; it was conviction.
"I'd like to say 'hand him over if he's too much,' but I've already given my word. So, protect your grandson well...."
Darkan raised his hand with a twisted smile.
"From that monster."
The moment his index finger pointed to the sky, the full moon split, and snake-like cracks appeared. The barrier created by the first Zieghart head of house and his companion crumbled, and a purple hole opened in the sky.
-Oh, it's coming! Wah! That crazy thing is coming! Eeek!
Wrath's eyes began to spin like lollipops. Though Raon had spent over ten years with this entity, he had never seen it panic like this.
'Lust....'
What kind of demon king could it be to frighten Wrath so much? Raon focused his aura perception towards the split sky, filled with both curiosity and fear. A figure in a black robe jumped out from the purple crack in the sky.
Though the face was hidden by a hood, the figure wasn't tall and had a slender build.
While the appearance was quite different from what he had imagined, there was something even stranger.
'I can't feel any emotion of lust.'
Unlike how Wrath always emanated anger and Sloth spread the emotion of sloth as soon as it woke up, Lust didn't emit any feeling of lust. The martial prowess conveyed by the powerful aura was astonishing, but it didn't feel like a demon king. It felt more like watching a human who had trained martial arts to the extreme.
'Is this really Lust?'
Raon tilted his head as he watched the robed figure slowly descending to the ground.
'It just looks like a martial artist.'
Judging by the bulge at the waist of the robe, it seemed to be a swordsman who used a sword.
-T-That's not that maniac's true form.
Wrath covered its round eyes with its hands, shoulders trembling.
-It's putting on an act right now!
It bit its lip, saying that unlike other demon kings, this one wasn't revealing itself at all.
-If that crazy thing's hair turns pink, don't make eye contact at all costs! It might affect you too!
Wrath tightly closed its eyes, saying to run away immediately if Lust revealed its true form.
'I'll keep that in mind.'
Raon looked into the hood of the approaching Lust. He couldn't see clearly, but the hair seemed to be light blue for now. The figure climbed onto the ruins of a collapsed house, seemingly unconcerned with the gazes of the many people around.
The powerful aura emanating from her caused the swordsmen of the Holy Sword Alliance to freeze, unable to even blink.
-D-Don't even breathe! This king's anger might leak out!
Wrath shouted not to provoke any anger, saying they might go unnoticed if they just stayed still.
"Surely..."
A sea-blue light flashed from inside Lust's black robe.
"I felt it here."
A voice like sticky grape wine resonated through the silent Holy Sword Alliance.
-Ugh!
Wrath covered its nose and mouth with its round hands. It seemed determined not to even breathe.
"What did you feel?"
Darkan looked at Lust's waist as he brushed back his hair.
"Wrath."
Lust's red lips moistly uttered Wrath's name.
"It's here."
Her eyes rolled from side to side with certainty, as if she knew everything.
-Eeek!
Wrath couldn't contain its fear and screamed.
"..."
At that moment, Lust's gaze dropped directly towards him. It might have been a coincidence, but it was chilling. It felt as if all his clothes were stripped off and his bare skin was exposed. He could somewhat understand why it was terrifying.
-Damn! We've been discovered!
Wrath clutched its head, saying that while the exact location was hidden, it had been discovered that it was in this place.
-But no matter how I think about it, it's strange! That maniac shouldn't be able to come here!
It frowned, saying it was odd that Lust had appeared in this place.
'Can't demon kings come to the Human World?'
-That's not it! That thing!
Wrath pointed at Lust, who was looking around at the others, its lips trembling.
-She has no sense of direction!
'Uh...?'
Raon blinked.
'N-No sense of direction? The Monarch of Lust?'
-That's right! It's a stalker with no sense of direction!
Wrath shook its head, saying it hadn't come here knowing anything.
-Even when it first came to this king's castle, it was because it got lost while targeting Greed!
'Ah....'
Raon let out a breath as he looked at Lust.
'Then how did it get here?'
-It must have detected the anger this king used to pull that moth into the mental world. It has an incredibly good sense of smell! Just look at how it smashed the barrier instead of finding the entrance! It must have been in a completely different place!
Wrath wrinkled its nose bridge, saying there was absolutely no way Lust had tracked it here.
'So it was nearby by chance?'
-That's right!
It waved its arms, saying its luck was terribly bad.
"Hmm...."
Raon swallowed dryly.
'So what happens now?'
He couldn't predict how Lust would act, given that she was said to be a maniac. As he was pondering how to move, Lust's gaze, which had been moving restlessly, suddenly stopped at one point.
"You...."
However, Lust's eyes were not directed at him, but at Darkan.
"You smell the most strongly of Wrath."
Lust revealed a cold gaze towards Darkan, as if she had already made her choice.
'Hmm....'
Raon exhaled softly as he looked at Darkan.
'Is it because he entered Wrath's mental world?'
Darkan had been directly hit by anger in Wrath's mental world, suffering damage to his soul. It was natural that he would give off the strongest scent of anger here, as both his Heaven's Rift and Sword Control were infused with anger.
-A-Alright! It's alright!
Wrath raised its arms.
-That maniac's gaze has shifted! Quickly, escape!
It waved its hands rapidly, saying to take everyone and run.
"I don't know who Wrath is, but...."
Darkan licked his lips as he looked up at Lust.
"I smell a swordsman on you."
He narrowed his eyes as he looked at Lust's waist.
"You must have met Wrath."
"What kind of swordsmanship are you practicing?"
"Where is Wrath?"
"Is your realm transcendent like your aura?"
"Tell me where Wrath is."
"Your sword is unusual too. It's been a while since I've seen a curved blade."
"Wrath?"
"Draw your sword."
"Wrath."
"Sword."
Lust and Darkan continued a parallel conversation, staring at each other.
"Are you not human? You don't seem to understand words."
Lust pulled back the robe at her waist. She drew out a long curved blade from a scabbard with an upturned end.
"Kuh, the sword's aura is sharp!"
Darkan grinned as if his mouth would split, excited at the prospect of tasting a new swordsmanship. The fight between the demon king obsessed with Wrath and the martial artist obsessed with swords was about to begin, ridiculously enough.
"Wow."
Raon's eyes glazed over blankly.
"My heart is pounding...."