"Raon. How did you..."
Alice stared at Raon with trembling eyes, unable to comprehend the situation.
-He... he burns away the magic itself?
Wrath also gaped in astonishment, his mouth forming a perfect circle.
"I deciphered the magic."
Raon said with a faint smile as he sheathed the Blade of Requiem.
"De-deciphered? You deciphered the magic?"
"Yes. The magic I've seen in this dungeon varied, but the principles were the same."
He squeezed his finger to drop another drop of blood, intensifying the flames that burned away the magic as he looked at Alice.
"Blood and iron. They were using the concepts of death and weapons that create death to amplify the power of their magic."
While blood and iron certainly have positive connotations, the Iron Chain's shamans used only negative energies to strengthen their magic. It was no different from a curse imbued with malice.
"Knowing the principle and deciphering the magic are two different things."
Alice shook her head, acknowledging that she knew that part, but insisted that deciphering the magic was impossible.
"Yes. That's why..."
Raon calmly shook his head.
"I dismantled and analyzed all the magic we encountered in the dungeon."
Thanks to closely examining all the magic he had seen so far, he was able to familiarize himself with the flow of Iron Chain's magic. While casting the magic himself was beyond his abilities, dismantling it was entirely possible.
"Huh..."
Alice blinked blankly, as if she couldn't believe what she was hearing even though she heard it directly.
"So that's what you were thinking about while staring at the ground all this time."
Rimmer chuckled as if he finally understood.
"I knew you'd surprise us, but I didn't expect this much."
He patted Raon's shoulder, saying it was impressive.
"It's not that impressive. Thanks to Aunt quickly breaking through the dungeon's traps, I had plenty of time to examine the magic."
Raon nodded, giving credit to Alice.
"...It is impressive. I couldn't decipher magic even if I had the time."
Alice exhaled roughly while looking at Raon.
'This child is the real deal.'
She knew Raon had an innate talent for swordsmanship. She couldn't not know, since she had tried to awaken that genius herself. But deciphering and erasing magic he'd never seen before was on a different level from martial prowess. She was so shocked by Raon's monstrous ability that she could barely speak.
"Aunt seems very surprised. He's always like this."
Martha shrugged as if it were a common occurrence.
"You'll get used to it soon."
Burren also nodded calmly.
"No matter how I think about it, it doesn't make sense! Even Father wouldn't be able to decipher magic right after seeing it for the first time here!"
Alice shook her head vigorously, still unable to believe it.
"Aunt."
Runaan approached Alice and wiped the blood off her hands.
"Handsome Raon can do it."
She nodded, telling Alice to just accept it.
"You said you knew your nephew well, but it seems you don't at all."
Rimmer wagged his finger teasingly at Alice.
"Your nephew always keeps his word."
"His word?"
"He said he'd finish faster than breaking through with the Sword Domain, remember?"
He pointed at the ground where all the magic had been burned away. The thick layers of magical energy had completely disappeared, making it seem like the floor would collapse with just a punch.
"Ah..."
"We'll talk about this later. First, let's prepare to go down."
Raon pulled back his clenched fist behind his shoulder.
"We need to catch them before they escape."
He brought down his fist, concentrating his aura while gritting his teeth. The ground collapsed, opening a black hole leading downwards. This was possible because he had burned away all the magic blocking the path.
"He-here! Those shaman bastards went through this hole!"
Paras pointed at the flickering black passage, waving both fists.
"It's a bit smaller now, but it definitely leads downwards!"
He stamped his feet, saying they needed to enter before it closed.
"Alright. Then..."
"I'll take the lead now."
As Alice was about to enter the black path, Raon blocked her way.
"Ra-Raon?"
"You said you trusted me."
Raon gave Alice a small smile before descending into the black path.
"Leave it to him."
Rimmer smirked as he stood next to Alice.
"That kid's grateful to you too, so he'll want to help."
He dusted off his hands, telling her to leave it to her talented nephew.
"Aunt. We'll clear everything out. Take your time coming down!"
"We'll clean it up neatly."
"Okay. Take care."
Martha, Burren, Runaan, and the Light Wind division swordsmen also followed Raon, telling Alice to trust them.
"Hah..."
Alice let out a hollow laugh as she looked at the bandage on her fist that Runaan had wrapped.
"Was I too excited? Enough for those kids to notice?"
"You were like a wild boar."
Rimmer nodded as he looked at Alice.
"You even had tears in your eyes, like a young lady. It's the first time I've seen you wail like that."
He chuckled as he wiped away the tears that had formed in the corners of Alice' eyes.
"Young lady..."
Alice exhaled a long breath as she looked at Rimmer.
"It's been a while since I heard that from you. No, I haven't heard that title at all lately."
She lowered her gaze, saying she missed it.
"I just realized, raising a child is hard in many ways. Father must have had a lot on his mind."
Alice clicked her tongue, saying she finally understood a bit.
"As long as you understand."
Rimmer nudged Alice' arm with his elbow.
"I should go see Father with that damn son of mine. We should have a meal together after so long."
Alice straightened her back, saying she'd visit Glenn with Sif.
"But first, let's see how much our nephews and nieces have grown."
She descended into the black passage with a renewed look of composure in her eyes.
"We can't call him the little king anymore."
Rimmer smiled contentedly as he recalled Raon's sturdy back before finally descending into the black path.
* * *
Thanks to Alice crushing the ground, they didn't have to go too deep before they saw the iron floor.
'Paras was right.'
Just as Raon stepped onto the iron path, thinking how strange it was...
"They're here!"
"Shoot!"
Along with a throat-tearing roar, brown flames and blue lightning flew towards them. The sound and impact were so great that it seemed the Iron Chain's shamans had been waiting. Raon stepped forward with his left foot and drew the Heavenly Drive. He raised the sword firmly, creating an unbreakable shield.
Raon Zieghart Style Sword Technique.
Fifth Form: White Shadow Slash.
With the pale, undulating blade, he erased all the magic rushing towards him. Huuuuuh! Behind the melting mist-like magic flow, armed warriors and shamans in iron armor appeared. They all seemed to be remnants of the Iron Chain.
'It's a strange space, just as I heard.'
The ceiling, walls, and floor were all made of iron, and a strong smell of magic wafted through the air. The mess of broken furniture and documents showed that they had been preparing to leave. However, unlike Paras' testimony, there was no sign of captives in the vicinity.
It seemed they had either killed them or moved them elsewhere.
"Block them even if it costs your life!"
At the shout of a middle-aged man who appeared to be a high-ranking shaman, the Iron Chain's martial artists simultaneously stomped the ground. It seemed they were trying to block the path and buy time, even if it meant throwing away their lives.
"A fight right as we arrive?"
"Perfect timing."
"We'll handle this..."
Just as Raon was about to bring down the Heavenly Drive, Martha, Burren, and Runaan leapt forward and drew their swords. With their unsheathing, sharp sword energy extended. Each of their Astral Energy, imbued with wind, earth, and frost, sliced through all the charging Iron Chain martial artists.
"Gaaah!"
"Argh!"
The Iron Chain martial artists collapsed on the spot, clutching their throats as blood spurted out.
"Uh..."
"D-damn it!"
The shamans stepped back with terrified expressions. It was completely different from the martial artists who didn't waver even as they died.
"Let's go!"
At Martha's cry, even the Light Wind division swordsmen who were descending joined in, pushing back the shamans and martial artists.
'They all seem exhausted.'
The shamans, having used all their strength to control the dungeon's traps and block the path, couldn't use their full power and were dying. It was like cutting down scarecrows.
"Block them! Hold out to the end!"
The high-ranking shaman, seeming to think the outcome was already decided, threw his subordinates away and started to flee.
"Where do you think you're going?"
Raon blocked the high-ranking shaman's path and shook his head.
"Ugh..."
The high-ranking shaman sat down on the spot, his lips trembling in fear.
'They really are different.'
Raon narrowed his eyes as he looked at the pale shaman. Unlike the steadfast martial artists, the shamans' minds were as soft as pudding.
"Are you the leader?"
"Uh..."
"If you don't want to speak, that's fine. We have plenty of mouths."
Raon pointed the Heavenly Drive at the shaman's Adam's apple, saying he'd kill him if he kept his mouth shut next time.
"N-no, I'm not."
The high-ranking shaman shook his head, saying he wasn't the leader of this place.
"Where did you take the people you kept here?"
"...They were taken there."
He pointed at a large iron door attached to the inner corridor.
'Fortunately, it seems they didn't kill them.'
Usually, when publicly branded organizations flee, they kill their hostages, but fortunately, it seemed they hadn't processed everyone yet.
"Among the hostages, is there..."
Just as Raon was about to ask the high-ranking shaman about Sif, the innermost iron door opened, and shamans and martial artists poured out.
"To think you'd come this far!"
"Block them even if you die! We must not let them through!"
"Operate the Spirit Armor!"
At the command to operate the Spirit Armor, martial artists in silver armor came forward, and shamans stood behind them, chanting bizarre incantations. Strangely, it wasn't the shamans' energy that grew stronger, but the martial artists', as an aura almost on par with Masters began to emanate from them.
"Light Wind division."
Raon beheaded the high-ranking shaman and jerked his chin.
"Clear them out."
"Yes!"
The Light Wind division resolutely answered and advanced towards the martial artists. They pushed back the negative aura created by the shamans with the wind of the Gale Wind Style, raising blue Astral Energy. The Iron Chain martial artists also charged forward, emitting even stronger magical energy, as if unwilling to back down.
The outcome of the battle between the Light Wind division and the Iron Chain martial artists was decided at the first clash.
"Ugh..."
"Argh!"
The Iron Chain martial artists, whose bodies and aura were enhanced by magic, crumpled, spitting blood, unable to overcome the Light Wind division's unity despite charging in with more than double their numbers.
"Is that all you've got? Come at us harder! This is too easy!"
Martha mercilessly struck down the martial artists, telling them to use every ounce of strength they had left.
"They seem to have weakened from using their strength to block the path. Now's our chance."
Burren calmly slit the throats of the shamans, saying this was their opportunity.
"You can't escape."
Runaan froze the ankles of the fleeing shamans and shook her head.
"Hah..."
Alice let out a hollow laugh as she watched the Light Wind division overwhelmingly crushing the Iron Chain.
"I told you. Just trust them."
Rimmer shrugged, saying, "See?
"Hmm..."
Paras looked around, letting out a sigh.
"I-I definitely heard people breathing around here, but there's no one."
He shook his head, saying it seemed all the hostages had disappeared.
"They're inside there."
Raon pointed to the innermost door from which the martial artists and shamans had emerged.
"Aunt! Go!"
"We'll handle this here."
Martha and Burren gestured for Alice to go in, telling her to trust them.
"That's right."
Raon took Alice' hand with a faint smile and walked along the iron path to open the innermost door. A cavity filled with black mist was revealed, accompanied by a chilling sound like a child screaming.
It was a place with a ceiling so high that even if he ran at full speed, he'd have trouble reaching it, and all the walls were painted bright red.
'This can't be...'
-It is.
Wrath nodded heavily as he surveyed the entire cavity.
-It's all human blood. It seems all that filthy and terrible magical power came from here.
He bit his lip, saying this space seemed to have been both an execution ground for people and an experimental lab for the shamans.
"These damn bastards!"
Alice also ground her teeth, seemingly sensing the malice permeating this space. As Raon, Alice, and Rimmer were about to walk further inside, a human figure emerged from the darkness.
"So you've finally come."
An old man in a purple robe sighed as he looked at them.
"Are you the head?"
Alice twitched her fingers holding the sword, looking ready to pounce at any moment.
"Head? You use such childish expressions despite your great martial prowess."
The old man calmly shook his head.
"Just answer!"
"Yes. I am the leader of this branch."
He revealed his position, showing a cold gaze.
"Your face says it all. Filthy and dirty bastard."
Alice raised her sword above her head, saying she'd kill him right now.
"You're quite impatient."
As the old man snapped his fingers, the black mist cleared, revealing people in tattered clothes and shamans.
"If you move even a finger, all of these people will die."
He jerked his chin, saying they could do as they pleased if they wanted the hostages dead.
"Ha! You think we came here just to save hostages?"
Alice didn't even glance at the hostages. It was impressive for her to act like this when Sif could be among them.
"I don't think so."
The old man calmly shook his head.
"Didn't you say you were looking for the man with red eyes?"
He brought up the story of the man with red eyes, as if he knew everything that had happened on the first floor.
"You..."
"The one you're looking for is here. However, if you make any rash moves, you'll only see his head."
"He's not here?"
Raon shook his head as he looked over the hostages.
"We hid him in another location, not knowing what you might do."
"What if that's a lie?"
"Sif... He was stronger than expected, giving us trouble subduing him. It would have been difficult if he wasn't alone."
He casually mentioned Sif's name.
"Of course, he was mentally and physically complete, so he was a great help in our magic experiments."
The old man twisted his lips into a smile, as if trying to provoke Alice.
"You bastard!"
"Don't move."
The old man shook his head at Alice.
"I know you use the Spatial Sword. Drop your sword right now."
He licked his lips, saying he'd order Sif's death if she moved even a finger.
"The same goes for you. Throw away your sword."
The old man flicked his finger towards Raon.
"Alright."
Raon pretended to throw away the Heavenly Drive but instead drew the Blade of Requiem with his left hand and threw it at the old man. However, a wall of magic sprouted next to the old man's face, deflecting the Blade of Requiem. The sword, having lost its momentum, stuck into the wall of the cavity.
"I knew you'd do that. Your eyes showed you were going to cause trouble."
The old man sneered at Raon.
"This is your last chance. If you attack me in any way, I'll kill not only Sif, whom you're looking for, but also every human here."
As if to prove his words, the shamans began to release magical energy as they grabbed the hostages' necks.
"Raon..."
"Yes."
Raon made eye contact with Alice before they simultaneously lowered their swords. As the two swords fell overlapping each other with a metallic sound, Raon activated Sword Control. He pulled the Blade of Requiem stuck in the wall of the cavity and used the Revolving Sky technique.
The blade of the Blade of Requiem, bent at a strange angle, cut through the wall of magic and lightly pierced the old man's crown, stopping there.
"Wh-what..."
The old man trembled his chin, raising his eyeballs upward.
"Ugh!"
"B-Branch Manager!"
"Don't move. If you twitch even a finger, your Branch Manager dies."
Raon shook his head at the bewildered shamans. He stood in front of the pale old man, holding the Heavenly Drive again.
"Now who's the captive?"
"S-Sword Control? How at that age..."
The old man shook his head in disbelief.
"Where is Sif?"
Raon pierced the old man's crown deeper with the Blade of Requiem, tilting his head.
"If you kill me, Sif won't survive either..."
The old man forced a smile, as if threatening. However, that was just a bluff. Unlike the martial artists who seemed brainwashed, the shamans' will wasn't that strong.
"Oh, really?"
Raon smirked and brought down the Heavenly Drive vertically. The old man's arm fell to the ground with a horrifying sound of tearing space.
"Aaaaargh!"
The old man screamed, clutching his severed shoulder.
"There won't be a next time."
Raon looked at the old man with cold eyes.
"Where is Sif?"
"Th-there!"
The old man pointed to the wall on the right with his remaining arm. At his gesture, the darkness split, and a new door opened.
"Aunt."
"Y-yes!"
Alice opened the door, biting her lip until it bled.
"Branch Manager. It's all resol... Huh!"
The shamans inside froze like statues, apparently not expecting their Branch Manager to be taken hostage.
"Everyone stop. If you move, the Branch Manager dies."
As Raon was shaking his head, threatening the shamans, Alice ran to the center, calling out the name she had been longing for.
"Sif!"