The battle between the Light Wind division and the Sword Fanatics of the Holy Sword Alliance came to a halt as if doused in cold water.
"Cr-Cloud!"
"No way…"
"Cloud is d-dead?"
The Sword Fanatics trembled, unable to believe that Cloud, a disciple of the Leader of the Holy Sword Alliance, had been defeated by the injured Raon.
"Ha! That madman really!"
Martha let out a chuckle of disbelief.
'Using Sword Domain and still capturing a Grandmaster?'
No other word but madness came to mind. Raon Zieghart was an incomprehensible being, whether seen up close or from afar.
"I didn't expect them to finish first."
Burren looked at Raon, raising his fist.
'You've really done something great.'
At this battlefield, the most dangerous was Raon.
Using Sword Domain had exhausted most of his Aura, and he was injured, making victory seem unlikely. But he erased all doubts and beheaded Cloud.
The time spent worrying about Raon felt wasted.
"Vice Division Leader!"
"We believed in you!"
"Leave the remaining Sword Fanatics to us!"
Dorian and the Light Wind swordsmen waved excitedly at Raon.
However, Runaan's violet eyes were not directed at Raon but at the Sword Fanatics of the Holy Sword Alliance.
Swoosh!
The cold energy from Snow Flower pierced a Sword Fanatic's chest and impaled his heart.
"Guh…"
The Sword Fanatic fell, his wound frozen solid, dying instantly.
"There's no time to rest yet."
Runaan gave a brief nod to the Light Wind division and moved on to her next target. It wasn't that she wasn't concerned about Raon; it was a sign of her complete trust in him.
"Runaan is right?"
"That makes me even more furious!"
Burren and Martha, sensing the battlefield's shift towards the Light Wind division, spared no Aura as they slashed through the Sword Fanatics.
"Phew."
Rimmer wiped the sweat from his hair and smiled.
"It looks like we won the divine battle on our side."
He alternated his gaze between Cloud's decapitated body and the confidently standing Raon, chuckling.
"Hm…"
Even the Dragon Sword Master furrowed his brows, not expecting Cloud's defeat.
"Your master's disciple is dead; it must hurt a lot. You'll probably get scolded when you return. No, wait."
Rimmer gestured cutting his throat with his finger, expelling the demonic energy from his lungs.
"You won't mind since you'll die here anyway."
"Yes, it doesn't matter."
The Dragon Sword Master regained his composure with a deep breath.
"Raon Zieghart has left the battlefield anyway."
He narrowed his eyes, looking at Raon vomiting black blood.
"I'll kill you here and take Raon Zieghart. The Alliance leader will have no complaints."
"Taking Raon?"
Rimmer frowned, confused.
"The Alliance leader desires that talent. It will help him rise further."
The Dragon Sword Master spoke coldly, as if planning to use Raon as an experiment.
"What nonsense."
Rimmer summoned a chilling wind over his blade.
'They still haven't given up on Raon.'
The Holy Sword Alliance had targeted Raon in the city of Barene, within the Five Divine Orders. It seemed more than mere curiosity.
'I need to finish this quickly.'
Blocking the demonic energy emitted by the Demonic Sword Criatus to protect the Light Wind division and Raon was gradually taking a toll on him.
With Raon's situation resolved, it was time to end this quickly.
"Sword Domain."
Rimmer raised his sword towards the stormy sky.
"Song of Wind and Lightning."
A savage voice echoed from the sky to the ends of the earth.
Rumble!
The world shook as storms and thunderbolts raged endlessly. Within the sword's boundary, where the mana itself was being shredded, Rimmer's blue eyes glowed fiercely.
It seemed as if he had returned to his prime, known as the Light Sword.
"Yes, it wouldn't be fun to kill you otherwise."
The Dragon Sword Master calmly nodded and pointed the Demonic Sword Criatus at Rimmer.
Crack!
The demonic red eye on the trembling blade surged. The fierce demonic energy from the bloodshot eye distorted the space vertically.
"Let's start the second round."
Raon wiped the black blood from his lips. He suppressed the urge to faint from the internal injuries and demonic energy, surveying the battlefield.
'The Vice Leader has opened the Sword Domain.'
Rimmer, having cleared his concerns here, was fully engaged in a direct confrontation with the Dragon Sword Master.
Though it was an even match, the Dragon Sword Master, utilizing the Demonic Sword's power, seemed to have the upper hand.
'It can't be helped. He was protecting the Light Wind division and me.'
The Demonic Sword Criatus spread demonic energy throughout the area, not just at the opponent.
While fighting the Dragon Sword Master, Rimmer was using an Aura barrier to prevent the demonic energy from reaching the Light Wind division, making it a disadvantaged fight from the start.
I thought he would be consumed by rage and only see the enemy, but he's surprising.
Even Wrath was almost praising Rimmer for his judgment.
'Indeed.'
Raon bit his lip and nodded.
'Damn…'
He wanted to help Rimmer, but touching that mana wave would turn him to dust. Staying still was the best help he could offer now.
'Then here…'
He looked at the Light Wind division fighting behind Rimmer and the Dragon Sword Master. Though the Sword Fanatics of the Holy Sword Alliance outnumbered them, the Light Wind division's martial prowess was slightly stronger.
Thanks to Runaan and Mark Goetun breaking the balance, they seemed likely to win eventually.
'But if the Vice Leader loses, it's all over.'
Even if the Light Wind division captured the Sword Fanatics, if Rimmer lost to the Dragon Sword Master, the situation would end badly.
Rimmer, still protecting the Light Wind division while fighting, didn't seem likely to overcome the Dragon Sword Master.
'A mutual destruction or the Vice Leader's death would be the end of this battle.'
I have two choices now.
The first is to leave it to Rimmer and retreat with the Light Wind division. Rimmer can't fight properly because of the Light Wind division, so it's not a bad decision for both sides.
But there might be other Sword Fanatics of the Holy Sword Alliance nearby, and since I am of no help, it could be very dangerous.
The second and last option is to break through the wall here.
I gained the first insight while fighting Cloud. If I can grasp that hazy blur lingering in my mind, it might not be impossible to surpass the Grandmaster's wall right here.
If I wait too long, that realization might disappear. It's also a good opportunity for me.
But in my worst state and with enemies in front, the second option wasn't an easy decision.
'That's the only way.'
Raon finished his brief agony and drew up the faintly rising Aura. He sent an Aura message to Burren, Martha, Runaan, and Mark Goetun simultaneously.
[Don't look here and focus.]
The Squad Leaders and Mark Goetun flinched briefly at his words but continued swinging their swords.
[I'm going to break through the wall now.]
The Squad Leaders and Mark Goetun trembled even more.
[You crazy bastard! What nonsense is that all of a sudden!]
Martha couldn't hold back and screamed through the Aura message.
[Hah!]
Burren let out a breath of disbelief.
[At least do it hiding somewhere!]
[If I move, the Dragon Sword Master or other guys might follow. Pretending to rest and organizing my realization is the best.]
The Dragon Sword Master wasn't an idiot. If I moved, he would follow, so it was best to hold on here, pretending I couldn't do anything.
[Okay.]
Runaan answered firmly, pushing back her opponent.
[Don't worry. I'll protect you even at the cost of my life.]
Mark Goetun also nodded with a voice full of trust.
Raon looked at Rimmer's back one last time and took out the Subspace Pouch.
He pulled out the Sea Spirit Flower's leaf and two elixirs he had received from Glenn. He wrapped the red pill filled with heat and the blue pill filled with cold in the Sea Spirit Flower's leaf and put them in his mouth.
Fwoosh!
The elixirs turned into liquid as soon as they touched his tongue and went down his throat.
A scorching heat and a freezing coldness came simultaneously, as if his chest would explode and his body would freeze.
The pain was intense due to his worst condition, but thanks to the effect of the Sea Spirit Flower's leaf, the pain subsided quickly.
'Phew…'
I must do this slowly.
If they realize I am trying to break through the wall, the Dragon Sword Master and the Sword Fanatics will rush at me madly. I had to act as if I were doing light cultivation while organizing my realization.
Raon closed his eyes, standing. He operated the Ring of Fire, spreading the energy of the elixirs throughout his body through his mana circuit.
Rumble!
The energy of the elixirs rushing through the mana circuit gathered at the Middle Dantian, erupting like a volcano.
The demonic energy tearing through his body was expelled, pushed into a corner by the intense, pure energy.
The heated energy from the Middle Dantian slowly climbed the mana circuit, reaching the upper dantian.
When the heat and cold touched the upper dantian, the vague realization gained from defeating Cloud sparkled clearly.
The mental world opened.
The Aura Perception, spread out to sense external reactions, calmed itself, creating a world where he could only observe himself.
'This is better.'
Since I've started cultivation, external reactions will be slow anyway. Entering a state of enlightenment to cross the wall as quickly as possible was better.
'Much has changed.'
The mental world had widened, but the form of a graveyard of swords stuck in the ground had not changed.
As I was looking at the Divine Sword and Demonic Sword floating in the air, someone grabbed a sword stuck in the ground.
'That's…'
It's me.
The younger me in training clothes pulled out a practice sword and started basic swordsmanship.
Then, a slightly older me grabbed another practice sword and performed refined swordsmanship.
Raon wielding Fangs of Insanity, Raon extending the swordsmanship of Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation, and Raon executing Raon Zieghart Style Swordsmanship that he had created.
The same number of Raons as there were swords appeared and performed swordsmanship.
'No, that's not all.'
Not only my swordsmanship but also the swordsmanship of others I had fought against was being reproduced in the mental world.
Watching this, I recalled a conversation with Glenn and the Sword Demon.
[What is a sword? A sword is just a sword. Don't overthink it.]
[The Head of Family is right. The more complicated it gets, the harder the sword becomes. Don't think of Ten Thousand Swords as something special.]
[But to advance further, you need to master swordsmanship and give it proper meaning when you wield it. You need to surround it with Willpower.]
[Don't frown. It's not that difficult. The answer is always within you.]
Both gave similar answers, as if they had learned the same martial arts.
The answer.
To find the answer I couldn't find back then, I watched the swordsmanship performed by another me.
Each one was powerful, potent, and splendid. They seemed capable of cutting through anything with their profound subtleties.
However, after watching for a while, I noticed something strange. All swordsmanships, except for the basic swordsmanship, were disconnected from each other.
Like broken chains, they couldn't connect and perform their roles.
'Did I learn too many swordsmanships? No, that's not it.'
Learning many swordsmanships wasn't the issue. The problem was increasing the number of swordsmanships without solid Willpower.
I didn't realize it when the swords were stuck, but now that they were wielding swordsmanship, the problem was apparent.
Despite having gained much realization and sufficient Aura, I couldn't reach Grandmaster because this world wasn't organized.
'And…'
I hadn't embedded proper Willpower into my swordsmanship yet.
I fought without thinking about what I wanted to achieve or what I desired, only reacting to the moment.
In other words, I hadn't changed much from the young Raon swinging basic swordsmanship.
"Phew."
Raon slowly lifted his gaze.
The dark mist cleared, revealing seven red rings. Perhaps due to the wavering of my mind, even the Ring of Fire seemed distorted.
'My starting point.'
To organize this realization, I needed to return to the Ring of Fire, my beginning and starting point, and complete the eighth ring.
'Then first, I need to erase the demonic energy…'
No, there's no need to erase it.
As my mind cleared, a new thought emerged.
'I don't have demonic energy, but I have the Demon King's Authority, which is a higher concept.'
Raon gritted his teeth as he looked at the seven rings spinning in the air.
'Let's do this.'
Boom!
The Light Sword of Wind and Lightning in Rimmer's hand and the demonic Light Sword held by the Dragon Sword Master clashed, sending endless meteors of light shooting out.
In the turbulent waves of mana shaking the heavens and earth, Rimmer tore through the space.
The sword tip rotated counterclockwise, releasing countless stormy bolts of lightning. It was a graceful yet explosive display, as if he had reclaimed the name of the Light Sword from his prime.
Buzz!
The Dragon Sword Master set Criatus diagonally. The demonic energy condensed to the extreme and surged, distorting the sky as it extended.
Bright light and dark light intertwined, exploding with a tremendous impact. The ground trembled as if the entire Lakion family would collapse.
Rimmer twisted his body in mid-air and rushed to the Dragon Sword Master's left. He aimed his sword, infused with wind, at the Dragon Sword Master's neck.
However, the Dragon Sword Master had already predicted Rimmer's move, tilting Criatus diagonally to create a shield of demonic energy.
Clang!
The powerful wave of the Light Sword of Wind and Lightning gnawed at the demonic Light Sword, but it couldn't penetrate. The Dragon Sword Master still had the upper hand in power.
Buzz!
The Dragon Sword Master extended Criatus, and nine strands of demonic energy rose from the rotating sword tip. The whiplike demonic energy mercilessly lashed at the surroundings.
Boom!
The ground hit by the demonic energy turned black as if poisoned. Even a single hit could be fatal.
Rimmer, wrapped in wind, retreated to the right. He abandoned counterattacking to focus on evasion, avoiding wasting energy.
But the Dragon Sword Master, not giving Rimmer any chance to choose, flew at him with an even faster speed, bringing Criatus down.
"Ugh!"
Rimmer frowned at the demonic sword blades surrounding him like a cage.
'Annoying!'
He bit his lip and advanced towards the narrowing demonic sword blades.
Swoosh!
The Light Sword of Wind and Lightning split two strands of demonic energy, but the remaining seven twisted like a tornado, rushing towards his heart.
Rimmer charged at the Dragon Sword Master's demonic sword, his blade infused with wind and lightning.
Rumble!
Red and blue radiance surged from Rimmer's Light Sword, but the darkness of Criatus did not break.
"Dark Blood."
The Dragon Sword Master tilted Criatus to the left. The blade, which was at the size of a longsword, extended endlessly, forming a greatsword fit for a deity. The blade gleamed with a crimson light as it fell, ready to cut through the world.
Rimmer felt the narrowing space of the Sword Domain and raised his Light Sword. The light from the blade spread forward, causing a grand storm of light.
Boom!
A massive crater formed in the ground, with Rimmer and the Dragon Sword Master skidding back.
Ptui.
Rimmer spat out the black blood filling his mouth, furrowing his brow.
'This is tough…'
The Demonic Sword Criatus scattered increasingly intense demonic energy, seemingly without limits. The sickness made him feel nauseous, and his fingertips trembled.
The Dragon Sword Master, relying on the demonic sword, hadn't exhausted much of his Aura, worsening the situation.
'Should I at least send the children away?'
As he considered a mutual destruction after saving the Light Wind division, the Dragon Sword Master sneered.
"You seem to have a lot on your mind."
He tore through the ground with Criatus, raising his chin.
"Are you thinking of making your subordinates escape? You can't defeat me during the Sword Domain's time, the Light Wind division's fight isn't over, and you can't expect help from Raon Zieghart. It's a reasonable judgment. But even that concern is meaningless."
He gestured left and right with his chin.
"This place is already surrounded. Your choices are dying here together or dying here alone while the others die outside."
The Dragon Sword Master smiled confidently, certain of the encirclement.
"I told you, you can't save others. Now you can't even save yourself."
"You bastard…"
An eerie aura filled Rimmer's eyes. The space melted by reason was filled with blazing anger.
"This will be your last… huh?"
The Dragon Sword Master, who was speaking, suddenly closed his mouth. His eyes trembled thinly.
"What…"
Rimmer followed his gaze and turned around.
Raon, who seemed on the verge of collapse, was slowly rising into the air.
'Is he… is he trying to break the wall here?'
Raon's current state seemed like he was on the verge of breaking through the wall.
'How dare he!'
Trying to break the wall in the middle of a battlefield, something even the Continent's greatest madman wouldn't do.
"Crazy…"
The Dragon Sword Master also felt it and gritted his teeth.
"Grab him! Pull him down immediately!"
In contrast, Rimmer gestured to the Light Wind division.
"Block them! Stop them at all costs!"