"Alice Zieghart, huh."
Rector clicked his tongue shortly as he looked at Alice standing in front of Raon, seeming regretful.
"No, it's not just you."
He turned his eyes to the right while facing Alice.
"What?"
Alice narrowed her eyes as she pushed Rector's hand away with her sword.
"The dogs of the Holy Sword Alliance only know how to use swords, but they're clueless about information. How did you know my name?"
"You shouldn't fail to recognize the Pirate King of the Five Divine Orders."
"I'm not the Pirate King!"
She clenched her teeth tightly and thrust her sword toward Rector's left chest.
Chiiing!
Rector drew a half-circle with his right hand. His elegant motion, descending like a setting moon, nullified Alice's sword attack. It was a mystical flow that seemed to erase the aura itself.
Kuwaaang!
Alice's twisted sword strike hit the ground, causing a ferocious crack to appear.
Huuuuuuk!
Black smoke rose, forming a thin wall between Alice and Rector.
"How did you get here, Lady Alice…."
Raon swallowed dryly as he watched Alice adjust her grip on her sword.
"...."
Alice did not respond. She glared at the smoke with a fierce spirit, as if she did not like Rector.
'It was a mistake to talk during the fight.'
-You really have no sense in this area!
When Raon was about to step back, Wrath shook his finger.
'What?'
-It's not because of the battle, it's because you used the wrong title.
'Title….'
Something came to mind, but he wondered if it could really be that. Still, just in case, he tried calling her by that title.
"Aunt."
"Yes! My dear nephew!"
Alice turned her head quickly and smiled sweetly. She looked like a different person compared to when she was showing her killing intent towards Rector.
"How did you get here?"
Raon stammered unintentionally, feeling overwhelmed by Alice's excessive reaction.
"I kept being called back to the family, but you weren't there. I was waiting just to see you, but then I heard that the Light Wind division needed support, so I came running."
"Ah…."
Raon momentarily forgot his words as he looked into Alice's confident eyes.
'Such determination.'
Alice would have come here alone, disregarding even Glenn's orders.
He had felt this from the first time he saw her; she seemed to live freely, independent of the Zieghart name.
"Aunt, huh…. I see. You are indeed an aunt."
Rector looked at Raon and Alice alternately before nodding calmly. His gaze seemed to deepen.
"Are you envious?"
Alice tilted her head, curling her lips up.
"Of course you would be. If you had a nephew who became a Grandmaster at 21, you'd be bragging to everyone in the neighborhood too."
"Nonsense."
"If not, why were you trying to take him?"
"...."
Rector did not answer and revealed a cold gaze. Seeing his desolate eyes, the earlier situation replayed in Raon's mind.
'But….'
Couldn't he have caught me earlier?
Given that Raon had been at close range to ambush Rector with the Requiem Sword, Rector could have caught him by simply clenching his fingers.
Even though Alice had used the Spatial Sword, Rector was faster, making it seem like he had let Raon go on purpose.
-You are right.
Wrath nodded while looking at Rector.
-That old man deliberately didn't catch you.
'I knew it….'
Raon bit his lip as he looked at Rector. Wrath's words were always reliable.
Though he didn't know the exact reason, it was clear that Rector had intentionally not caught him.
'His eyes look strange too.'
Having received one-on-one instruction from Rector, Raon could tell. The man who had demonstrated and explained swordsmanship still remained in those fierce eyes.
Especially since Rector was connected to his father. Such a sudden change indicated that something was involved.
'Brainwashing? Or did someone catch a weakness?'
Raon had never heard of anyone being able to brainwash a Transcendent Warrior, but the situation was so bizarre that his thoughts went in that direction.
"Rector. What happened? Were you brainwashed or did someone catch a weakness…."
"Brainwashed?"
Rector turned his cold gaze toward Raon.
"Do you think a Transcendent Warrior can be brainwashed?"
He let out a mocking laugh with slightly raised lips.
"I am in the Holy Sword Alliance of my own will."
Rector calmly revealed the truth as he drew his sword. The sword, which had guided Raon in swordsmanship, was now aimed at him, exuding killing intent, making Raon's chest ache as if he were stabbed.
'Is this also fate….'
In his past life, when Raon had lived as a shadow, he would have immediately stabbed Rector with his sword without any emotion if he felt betrayed.
But now that he knew what connections between people were, he couldn't simply show malice.
Knowing human relationships was not always advantageous.
"Rector."
Alice moistened her dry lips and nodded.
"Indeed, you are a Sword Demon. The fact that a Sword Demon of all people belongs to the Holy Sword Alliance will tarnish all the honor you've built up until now."
"Honor that others value is unimportant."
Rector raised his head proudly as if he felt no shame. His sword, imbued with his will, shone with an imposing light.
"What matters is the meaning I possess."
"Such a despicable person knows how to say good things too."
Alice chuckled and sheathed her sword, lowering her stance. She seemed to be planning to gain the upper hand with her Drawing Technique, which sliced through space.
"Anyway, it's better for both of us to finish this quickly."
"What?"
"Because this guy's grandfather will come soon. You know who he is, right?"
She laughed, pointing at Raon.
"Ah…."
Raon widened his eyes. She seemed to be trying to use the same lie he had told the Dragon Lord again, but it wouldn't work on Rector.
"Indeed, that might be the case."
Contrary to expectations, Rector nodded briefly, seemingly believing Alice's words, and lifted his sword. As his sword moved forward like a creeping turtle, it looked immensely gigantic.
Kugugugugugu!
It seemed as if he were stabbing the entire land, no, the entire world with his sword. Seeing the near-perfect Ten Thousand Swords from an enemy's perspective sent chills down Raon's spine.
'This is the true Ten Thousand Swords.'
The Ring of Fire spun on its own, analyzing the essence of Rector's Ten Thousand Swords.
Middle Sword, Fluid Sword, Blunt Sword, Phantom Sword, Severing Sword, and Crushing Sword. Like instruments in an orchestra blending their sounds, each essence harmoniously combined to transcend the concept of swordsmanship, unleashing formidable power.
Kuung!
Alice stamped her left foot on the ground and drew her sword. The radiant slash of space that soared up struck Rector's sword attack.
Jjeoooong!
It was as if not swords, but pillars collided, generating a tremendous roar and overturning the ground with the waves of aura.
"Krr…."
Raon trembled as he faced the terrifying sight.
'I must not retreat. I have to stay here.'
He needed to maintain his distance from Alice to ambush Rector.
But rather than focusing on the ambush, his eyes were drawn to the art-like chain of sword attacks between Alice and Rector.
Even in such a bewildering and life-threatening situation, all he could think about was the development of swordsmanship. It seemed he had truly become a swordsman.
Chiiing!
Alice stepped back from Rector and thrust her sword backward.
The space in front of Rector's chest split, and a thunderous sword strike surged forth.
However, Rector dodged with ease as if he knew where Alice's Spatial Sword would strike. He was reading the flow of this battle.
'As expected….'
Raon narrowed his eyes as he watched Rector's calm expression.
'He's above.'
Though they were both at the Transcendent level, Rector was a cut above Alice.
"Are you sure you should be acting so relaxed? If you drag this out, his grandfather will come."
Alice taunted, beckoning with her fingers. She seemed to be trying to agitate Rector and create an opening.
"Hmm…."
Rector scattered the light imbued in his sword without changing his expression.
The rotating wrist guided the light streaks, which instantly dug into Alice's range. It was a new spatial slash different from her Spatial Sword.
"Tsk."
Alice clicked her tongue and slashed diagonally with both hands. The unformed aura interlocked strongly, pushing back the wall of space.
Within the split fissure, Alice's sword barrier and Rector's sword attack clashed.
Jjeoooong!
A massive shockwave exploded within the fissure, tearing the thin crack in the air.
Tuuung!
The waves of willpower spread thickly, causing the ground to collapse and a tornado to fall from the crumbled sky.
Chiiing!
Rector and Alice poured their sword attacks at each other from within the storm created by the collision of their willpowers.
Though it seemed evenly matched, Alice was gradually being pushed back.
Despite receiving wounds, she did not retreat but rather continued to slash her sword more fiercely, seemingly trying to buy time before Glenn arrived.
Kuuuung!
The earth shook as the battle between the Transcendent warriors unfolded. The ground, already split, showed black holes, and the sky cracked, emitting a subtle red glow.
Even within the crushed spatial fissure, Alice and Rector continued their relentless sword exchange. Their auras seemed infinite, and their breaths never faltered.
However, Rector's sword bent sharply, transitioning into a new form. The blade extended like a lightning bolt, surrounded by an integrated offensive and defensive attack.
Jjeoooong!
Alice's sword could no longer extend further and was blocked. Her entire path was obstructed by Rector's willpower. It was truly a prison of willpower.
Raon's fingertips trembled as he watched Rector's sword change like a thin wind or a fierce lightning bolt.
'Strange….'
In a battle of Transcendent warriors, even if he had reached the Grandmaster level, he shouldn't be able to see much.
In fact, Alice's Spatial Sword was beyond his understanding, so he couldn't grasp much of it.
But Rector's sword extended straight and honestly, just as it had during their instructional duels. His teachings resurfaced in Raon's mind, making him feel how the Ten Thousand Swords should be formed.
"Your talent is excellent. But…."
Rector lowered his sword and shook his head.
"You are still immature."
"Unlike you, I am still in my prime!"
Alice twisted the prison of willpower forcibly, even as blood flowed from her arms, legs, and lips, unleashing a final slash that broke Rector's fierce pressure.
"Since I've seen enough of your skills, let's end this."
Rector calmly nodded and raised his sword. As he aimed his sword at Alice, it seemed as if he alone existed in this world. It was an absolute presence, as if he had become one with his sword.
"You didn't just grow old."
Alice bit her lips, realizing she was being pushed back. She gripped her sword with both hands, creating a spatial slash that cut through the very aura.
Kuwaaang!
The grand blade, which could even cut through the breath of the blue dragon Kaivar, tore through Rector's space.
Rector, anticipating such an attack, extended his sword imbued with the essence of Ten Thousand Swords with a calm gaze. Just as the majestic light was about to fill the space, Raon moved.
Drawing his Heavenly Drive from its sheath, Raon imbued it with the force of Transcendence.
Raon Zieghart Style Swordsmanship.
Fourth Form, Azure Rain.
A piercing sword cry resonated from the blade that erupted from the sheath. The blue-sounding blade pierced Rector's ears.
But Raon wasn't the only one planning an ambush.
Paaang!
A crimson light shot out from behind the collapsed wall of the Lord's Manor.
A mask-wearing old woman with a shimmering robe revealed herself brilliantly. It was Merlin. Having prepared for this moment, her magic surged toward Rector's right side.
Kuwaaaang!
With Alice, Raon, and Merlin attacking from three directions, a tremendous storm of light erupted from where Rector stood. The successive explosions of magic and sword strikes sent countless radiances soaring into the sky.
"Are we soulmates?"
Merlin smirked slightly.
"The timing is perfect."
For once, her voice was tinged with sultriness as she raised her chin.
"Merlin?"
Alice frowned as she looked at Merlin.
"Why is that crazy woman here?"
She shook her head as if she couldn't comprehend the situation.
"They're targeting me too."
Raon joined Alice's side and shook his head.
"Let's deal with this situation first."
"We should."
Alice waved her hand, and the wind blew away the dust storm.
Huuuuung!
Rector stood in the same spot, unmoving. Though his clothes were slightly scorched and torn, he appeared largely unscathed.
However, a slight wound had opened on his right shoulder where Merlin had struck.
"From the timing of the ambush to the sharpness of the blades, you've improved greatly."
Rector looked at them. His eyes were cold, as if ready to stab them at any moment, but they also seemed proud. Raon felt he was losing his mind.
"And Merlin. Was this ambush ordered by the Fallen?"
Rector turned to look at Merlin.
"No, I just came because I was pissed that you were trying to take Raon Zieghart."
"One Transcendent Warrior and two Grandmasters…."
He wiped the blood dripping from his shoulder and nodded.
"It will take time, but it's not bad."
"Blood Sword Master."
As Rector began to move again, a middle-aged man, seemingly a senior Sword Fanatic of the Holy Sword Alliance, approached quietly and whispered.
"We must retreat."
"What?"
"Didn't the Alliance Leader tell you? We must not clash with him now."
The middle-aged man shook his head, mentioning the Alliance Leader.
"Tsk."
Rector clicked his tongue in displeasure and sheathed his sword.
"There will be no such opportunity next time."
"Oh, you talk too much."
Alice frowned.
"I told you, his grandfather is coming. You're running away, so why are you babbling?"
She seemed to instantly grasp who they shouldn't clash with, smirking.
"...."
Rector did not answer her, instead turning his gaze to Raon. He briefly made eye contact and disappeared.
"...."
Raon felt his heart pound as he recalled Rector's cold eyes.
'It's clear.'
He wants to tell me something.
Even if Rector genuinely wanted to be in the Holy Sword Alliance, he still wanted to convey something to Raon.
It felt like he had come to give warnings and teachings from the start. Perhaps his final teachings.
'What could it be?'
Rector stopped while following the Sword Fanatics of the Holy Sword Alliance.
"Blood Sword Master?"
"Go ahead and report first. I'll move after treating my wound."
He pointed to his ear, where blood had suddenly started flowing, and shook his head.
"Understood."
The middle-aged man nodded and led his subordinates out of the forest first.
As Rector rubbed his ear, sticky blood trickled down.
"Just as expected…."
"Master."
As he smiled, Mustan emerged from the depths of the forest.
"Are you alright?"
Mustan, with clear eyes unlike before, bit his lip.
"His talent is absurd."
Rector wiped the blood from his ear, murmuring Raon's praise. It was the first time he had smiled like himself.
"I wasn't asking if his talent was absurd, but if you're alright."
Mustan lowered his gaze with a somber expression, as if he knew everything.
"...."
Rector did not answer. He slowly raised his eyes to look at the clear sky.
"It doesn't matter if I'm alright. I just do what I must."
He sighed briefly.
"But it would be better if you told Raon."
"No."
Rector shook his head firmly.
"If I intervene, it will dim the boy's light. I'm tired of regrets. I'm content to watch over him from the shadows."
He smiled as if all his decisions were already made.
"You said you'd do anything for Raon, right?"
"Yes."
"Then follow me."
Rector grabbed Mustan's shoulder and stood up.
"Today's events have opened the way, and the end is approaching."