"What are the bishops doing?!"
At the Second Apostle's call, the Blood Demons revealed themselves and stepped forward.
Their bloody energy was of a different caliber compared to the ordinary believers. They were archbishops and bishops with blood veins etched into their robes.
"Kill those brats!"
At her gesture, the archbishops and bishops kicked off the ground with a cold glint in their eyes. The bloody magic spells erupting from their hands turned into lightning, raining down on the Light Wind division. From the Black Tower, three Deputy Floor Master-level demonized humans also stepped out and clasped their hands together.
The horrifying demonic energy rising behind them turned into a black wave, crashing down towards the Light Wind division.
"How dare you!"
Rimmer stood in front of the Light Wind division with a refreshing smile. The pale green wind emanating from his sword split all the bloody spells that were pouring down towards the Light Wind division.
"You shall not pass."
Lawaine took a heavy step forward and raised his sword. With a thunderous roar that seemed to split the sky, the black wave that was about to disrupt the Light Wind Formation crumbled.
"It seems I won't need to step in."
Lawaine took a step back to protect the relatively weaker crew members.
"Wipe them all out!"
Martha, seemingly having forgotten that she nearly died at the hands of the Second Apostle just moments ago, stepped forward again and slashed a White Blood Religion follower's throat.
"These bastards are useless for the world's prosperity! Don't hold back!"
While encouraging the Light Wind division, Burren stayed close behind Martha to maintain the sword formation and ensure she wouldn't be isolated.
"Focus on defense rather than attack..."
Runaan maintained the center of the Light Wind Formation in place of Martha and Burren who had rushed forward, protecting the swordsmen in dangerous situations. The Light Wind division also emitted sharp aura waves, cutting down the White Blood Religion followers and demonized humans without hesitation.
"Aaargh!"
"Aaah!"
"These young bastards, how..."
The White Blood Religion followers and demonized humans were pushed back, unable to counterattack, seemingly intimidated by the Light Wind division's vigor as they charged in like wild bulls. The difference in martial prowess was significant, but the gap in momentum was even greater.
"How far do you intend to advance?! The Apostle is right beside us!"
A red-haired Blood Demon who appeared to be an archbishop shouted with a cracked voice.
He seemed flustered by the Light Wind division's fearlessness despite the Second Apostle's presence right in front of them.
"With someone watching my back, what's there to be afraid of!"
Martha, expressing her trust in Raon, pressed even more fiercely against the White Blood Religion followers.
"I-I'm a little scared... No, I'm very scared, but I believe the Division Leader will protect us."
Dorian turned to look at Raon and gave a brief nod.
"That's right."
Raon nodded slightly as he watched the Second Apostle's trembling eyes.
"I'll say it again, I'm your opponent. Don't look elsewhere."
He pointed the Heavenly Drive at the Second Apostle's brow, challenging her to attack.
"Haaah..."
The Second Apostle exhaled a white breath, her arms hanging loosely.
"To think these worms with their pitiful strength could be so disgusting."
The white bloody energy rising from beneath her feet sent chills down their spines. Just looking at it felt like their hearts were being squeezed.
'This is where it really begins, huh.'
Raon exhaled softly, his smile fading.
'I heard her strength fluctuates greatly, but judging by her aura alone, she's above even Lawrence.'
It would be correct to consider her a Transcendent Warrior.
Although the Second Apostle wouldn't admit it, the nickname that followed her was "The Witch of Fluctuation." It was a unique epithet given to her because her martial prowess varied from high-level Grandmaster to Transcendent depending on her physical condition on any given day.
In reality, no matter how much her strength fluctuated, it should be impossible for a Grandmaster to display Transcendent-level martial prowess.
In other words, it seemed correct to accept that the Second Apostle was a Transcendent Warrior, but there were times when her power weakened.
"As you wish, I'll take your head first."
The Second Apostle clenched her fist and vanished like white smoke.
'Where to...'
Before he could even turn his gaze, her fist strike came rushing in from the right.
Raon pivoted on his left foot, raising the Heavenly Drive. Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation - Fire Wall. He blocked the Second Apostle's fist with a barrier of flames.
Boom!
With the intense shockwave, Raon was pushed back five steps, while the Second Apostle also retreated three steps, slightly bending her knees.
"Huh?"
The Second Apostle let out a surprised breath, as if she couldn't believe she had been pushed back.
"How could a mere Grandmaster..."
She furrowed her brow, seemingly shocked that Raon had not only blocked her attack but also counterattacked.
"It's troublesome if you're surprised already."
Raon twisted his lips into a smirk as he drew the Blade of Requiem with his left hand.
"I still have a lot more to show you."
As he planted the Blade of Requiem and the Heavenly Drive sword into the ground, he opened the mental world. Sword Domain - Divine-Demonic Harmony. Holding the divine sword that shone like the sun and the demonic sword that clung to the moon in both hands, he nodded.
"Your petty tricks are meaningless."
The Second Apostle's eyes burned bright red, and wings made of white bloody energy sprouted from her back like those of an angel.
"I'll show you what the realm of Transcendence truly is!"
As she spread her wings of bloody energy, she vanished from sight without leaving even an afterimage.
Raon narrowed his brows as he tried to track the Second Apostle's presence.
'To think it'd be this hard to catch her even in my Sword Domain state.'
Despite resonating the Ring of Fire and utilizing the Perception of the Snow Flower, he couldn't pinpoint her location. The Second Apostle was now moving in a realm far faster than his own.
Whoosh!
As Raon spread his aura perception in all directions, the Second Apostle's fist strike pierced through space, aiming for the left side of his chest. It seemed she intended to crush his heart along with his ribs.
'If I'm going to block, might as well attack!'
Raon abandoned defense and unleashed a point-blank Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation Revolving Sky towards the Second Apostle's incoming fist.
The flames roared.
The rotating flames, like a carriage wheel, collided head-on with the Second Apostle's fist.
A deafening explosion resounded.
Orange sparks, a blend of flames and bloody energy, scattered in all directions as both Raon and the Second Apostle retreated three steps each.
'The power is strong, but...'
Raon licked his lips as he looked at the slightly trembling Divine Sword.
'It's not quite at her speed level.'
In terms of raw destructive power, he, with his Sword Domain open, was superior.
However, it seemed that even at full power, he wouldn't be able to match the Second Apostle's speed.
'Is that speed the Second Apostle's true ability?'
From what he'd heard from others, the Second Apostle was said to have a warrior-like tendency to overpower opponents with brute force, but what he was seeing now was completely different.
Boasting absolute speed and not recklessly engaging in close combat, her cautious approach seemed more like that of a strategist than a warrior.
'If I can't catch her, then maybe I should let her come to me...'
As he was pondering how to deal with the Second Apostle, he sensed a powerful bloody energy from behind.
'Ugh!'
He tried to turn quickly, but the Second Apostle's fist strike was already approaching.
'I can't block this.'
Raon extended his elbow, reinforced with the Magic Armor of the Snow Flower, to block the Second Apostle's strike.
The impact sent a pain through his arm as if it might tear off, and his body lurched forward. Fortunately, no bones were broken, but the shock reverberated up to his head.
As he tried to regain his balance by stepping forward with his left foot, a snow-white fist came flying towards his face. The Second Apostle had already moved in front of him and launched another strike.
A resounding clash echoed.
Raon thrust his Demonic Sword forward to deflect the Second Apostle's fist.
The fist, wrapped in bloody energy, was so close that the shockwave tore off a piece of flesh from his cheek.
The moment Raon suppressed his pain and thrust forward with his Divine Sword, the Second Apostle had already retreated, mockingly yawning.
'Did she get even faster...?'
Despite priding himself on his adaptability thanks to the Ring of Fire, strangely, he couldn't keep up with the Second Apostle's movements.
It seemed she had become even faster than before.
-You've seen correctly.
Wrath nodded calmly.
-That vampire wench is getting faster and faster.
He furrowed his brow, suggesting that even now she might not be at full power.
'Then even Sword Control won't be able to catch her.'
Sword Control was certainly fast, but his mastery of it was still insufficient to track the Second Apostle.
'In that case, it's better to keep it hidden.'
The White Blood Religion and the magic tower were unaware that he could use Sword Control. Rather than using it clumsily and raising their guard, it was better to save it for the final moment.
"Where did your initial composure go?"
The Second Apostle tilted her chin as she brushed her hair back.
"It's too late for regrets now."
She wore a cold smile, as if the outcome had already been decided.
"You'll die without even seeing my face."
The Second Apostle charged forward, spreading her wings of bloody energy. The moment he saw a faint afterimage, her fist was already flying towards his abdomen.
'She's certainly faster than I can handle, but...'
Raon lowered his stance and twisted his lips into a smile.
'Strangely, I don't feel like I'm going to lose.'
* * *
"Hmph."
The Second Apostle sneered as she watched Raon narrow his body to reduce the target area.
'Of all days to challenge me, you're quite unlucky.'
While the Blood Demons of the White Blood Religion were generally stronger at night than during the day, she was special among them. On nights with a full moon like tonight, she could draw out her peak martial prowess, making her feel invincible. And her opponent was just a brat below her level.
Though his swordsmanship power alone might be worthy of a Transcendent Warrior, the vast difference in speed made this fight as easy as eating cold porridge.
With a powerful thrust!
The Second Apostle struck Raon's waist with a deep smile. He swung his sword in delayed response, but she had already retreated.
'I'll make it so you can't move at all!'
This time, she feinted towards his left shoulder before pivoting to the right and targeting his thigh. Though his body was sturdy enough not to fall, Raon's face turned ashen from the impact.
'Now it's over.'
To finish him off for sure, the Second Apostle drove her fist towards Raon's neck.
The moment her fist was about to pierce Raon's neck, he turned his body naturally as if he had anticipated it, deflecting her punch.
The Second Apostle was sent flying backward as if she were a pebble kicked by a foot.
"Huh?"
The Second Apostle's jaw trembled as she watched Raon slowly regain his stance.
'He saw that coming?'
She had moved at her fastest speed yet, and she couldn't believe her attack had been blocked.
'No, it must be a fluke. He shouldn't even be able to see me, let alone block me!'
Thinking it was just luck, she extended her fist again towards Raon's vital point. But Raon raised his Demonic Sword diagonally, perfectly blocking the strike aimed at his solar plexus.
The Second Apostle retreated, leaving deep footprints in the sand. Her pupils trembled as if hit by a wave.
"What is this..."
The Second Apostle chewed her lip as she stared at Raon.
"How on earth!"
"I told you."
Raon nodded, holding both his Divine Sword and Demonic Sword upright.
"I still have a lot more to show you."
"Shut your mouth!"
The Second Apostle's eyes flashed with a chilling light as she kicked off the ground where her footprints remained and charged forward.
* * *
A resounding clash echoed!
Raon twisted his blade as he blocked the Second Apostle's upward strike coming from the lower left. Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation - Crimson Slash. A thin line of flame drawn in the air grazed the Second Apostle's shoulder.
"Ugh..."
The Second Apostle clutched her shoulder where white blood was flowing and hastily retreated.
"That's just the beginning."
Raon curled his lips into a smile as he pointed at the Second Apostle's shoulder.
'She must be flustered now.'
His ability to predict the Second Apostle's movements was thanks to the insight he had learned from the Holy Sword Alliance.
While he couldn't read the opponent's mind like Dorian, he had become able to roughly grasp her movements as they fought.
"You shouldn't be able to see me, so how..."
The Second Apostle's lips trembled, still in disbelief.
"There are ways to fight even without seeing. And..."
Raon revealed his bright red eyes and sneered.
"Now I'm starting to get used to seeing you."
The adaptability of the Ring of Fire and the Evil Eye of Wrath transcended human limitations, allowing him to gradually become accustomed to the Second Apostle's movements.
He felt that with a little more time, he could definitely defeat her.
"...Fine."
The Second Apostle bit her lip as she looked up at the full moon in the sky.
"From now on, I'll make it so you can't even see my shadow!"
She disappeared with a step that shook the entire island.
'Shoulder!'
The Second Apostle was targeting his right shoulder. He thrust out the Heavenly Drive to counterattack, but she had already moved from that spot.
A thunderous impact resounded!
The Second Apostle deflected the Heavenly Drive from the left and struck his waist.
Her increased speed had amplified her power. The heavy impact sent his body flying into the gravel.
"You're still far behind!"
True to her words, the Second Apostle moved even faster, attacking from all directions. As she surpassed the speed he had grown accustomed to, it became difficult to track her movements again.
A rush of wind!
He swung his sword, predicting the Second Apostle's direction, but she could move faster even after seeing his attack, allowing her to evade and counterattack simultaneously.
A heavy thud!
Struck in the chest by the Second Apostle, he was sent flying and fell into the sea.
"Huff."
Raon pushed back his wet hair and looked at the Second Apostle.
'Blood vessels are bulging all over her body. Is she pushing herself too hard?'
White blood vessels were protruding on the Second Apostle's face and entire body.
Seeing her move with such strain on her body and mind, it seemed she wouldn't last long either, but he felt he might collapse first.
'Then I'll have to go fishing.'
Even though the Second Apostle was moving at speeds beyond perception, the trajectory of her strikes hadn't changed much.
If he couldn't keep up, the right approach was to bait the hook and wait.
Raon raised his Demonic Sword to block the Second Apostle's fist coming towards his face.
A piercing screech!
However, unable to withstand the Second Apostle's twisted punch, the Demonic Sword was knocked away and stuck in the sand.
"Looks like you've shown all you've got?"
The Second Apostle mocked as she began pummeling Raon's entire body at an increasingly rapid pace.
A series of rapid impacts resounded!
Raon tracked the Second Apostle's movements while simultaneously employing the Fire Wall and Magic Armor of the Snow Flower.
He narrowed the areas hit by her strikes to a minimum while continuously resonating the Ring of Fire.
"Where's that spirit from earlier! Move! You little turtle!"
Even as his wounds increased and blood filled his insides, he focused all his attention on the Second Apostle's movements.
'Now I'm starting to feel it.'
After perfectly grasping the Second Apostle's movements, Raon used Sword Control to lift the Demonic Sword from the sand.
A fierce blaze erupted!
Knowing the Second Apostle wouldn't miss the flying sword, he imbued the rising Demonic Sword with the principles of the Spatial Sword.
'This is the final move.'
Raon deliberately exposed an opening while pretending to be exhausted. It was the final stage of dangling the bait.
"It's over!"
The moment the Second Apostle stepped back into the left empty space to end Raon's life, the Demonic Sword that had cut through space suddenly appeared.
A thunderous impact!
Before the Second Apostle could defend herself, the blue blade of the Demonic Sword pierced her back, tearing through bone and flesh.
"Gah!"
The Second Apostle screamed in pain and shock, her body curling inward.
"W-What is this!"
As she panicked and tried to pull out the Demonic Sword, a red shadow fell before her eyes. Raon's Divine Sword, which had risen unnoticed, came down as if splitting the enormous full moon.