Raon swallowed nervously as Sterin's bowstring grew tighter and tighter.
'If you can take it, then take it….'
Does this mean he wants to teach me?
Considering what Sterin said, it seemed like he wanted to show his archery skills rather than fight.
When they first met, he said they would meet again after the World Tree Purification, but now he seemed ready to teach right away, indicating he liked the advice given to Siyana.
"The archery technique I use is called Harmony Bow. However…."
Sterin paused with a subtle smile, his bowstring drawn halfway.
"Humans call Harmony Bow the Arrow Control."
"Arrow Control…."
Arrow Control is the highest level of archery where the archer can control the arrow's trajectory with their willpower. The thrill of seeing a transcendent martial art similar to Sword Control made his heart pound with excitement.
"Get ready."
Sterin gave a relaxed look as if to say, "Tell me when you're ready."
However, the eerie energy emanating from his arrow was enough to raise goosebumps.
Raon bit his lip as he looked at the cold, glinting arrowhead.
'This is also a serendipitous encounter.'
A Transcendent Warrior, and one using a bow at that. Fighting such an opponent was a serendipitous encounter among serendipitous encounters. Experiencing new martial arts would further expand his mental image.
'I must not think I have the advantage just because it's close range.'
While a swordsman would usually have an overwhelming advantage over an archer at close range, this did not apply to Sterin, who could use Arrow Control.
I had to fight as if I were at a significant disadvantage.
"I am ready."
Raon nodded, thinking of ways to block Sterin's arrows.
"You're quick to prepare because you're young."
Sterin slightly tilted his chin back and drew the bow fully. As the string made a sound as if it might snap, a chill ran down Raon's spine.
'The atmosphere has changed.'
Just a moment ago, Sterin had a serene demeanor, but now an intensely sharp aura flowed from him, making him seem ruthless. This seemed to be his true nature in battle.
Just meeting Sterin's eyes made Raon's hair stand on end. The overwhelming pressure transcended the word "strength."
'I can't break here.'
If I crumble now, I won't gain anything. I resonated the Ring of Fire, pushing beyond my limits.
Wooooong!
Raon couldn't even think of wiping the cold sweat from his forehead as he raised the Heavenly Drive to mid-guard. The faint hum of the sword slightly eased his tense body.
"You have a good look in your eyes."
Sterin nodded approvingly and lightly plucked the bowstring.
The arrow he shot approached in an instant, faster than sound, making Raon think it moved through magic.
'Right side of the waist!'
The saving grace was that the Killing Intent in the arrow allowed him to know where it was aimed.
Chiiiiing!
Raon tilted the Heavenly Drive held in mid-guard to the right, blocking the arrow's path.
'Huh?'
However, Sterin's arrow stopped just in front of his waist and didn't move.
It was impossible for an arrow flying faster than sound to stop without any movement, but Sterin's martial prowess made the impossible possible.
Fwoooong!
As soon as the Heavenly Drive sliced through the air, Sterin moved the arrow again.
The white arrow rushed towards Raon's chest even faster than when it was released from the bowstring.
'I was deceived!'
Raon pushed off the ground with his heels and used the Supreme Harmony Steps.
But naturally, the arrow was faster than his retreat and bore into his chest.
'But I've bought some time.'
Using the brief moment he gained, he extended the Requiem Sword held in reverse grip.
Chiiiiing!
The blue-glowing blade of the Requiem Sword blocked the white arrow, but Sterin changed the arrow's direction to target another vital point.
'I anticipated this.'
The Frost blade following the Requiem Sword like a shadow struck the center of the redirecting arrow.
Zhoooong!
Even though it struck the arrow shaft instead of the tip, it felt like his hand would tear apart. The entire arrow was protected by powerful Aura.
"Hm!"
A small exclamation escaped Sterin's lips.
"Two sword strikes with a single swing, impressive."
He evaluated Frost Snap with a relaxed smile. The vibrating arrow in the air lightly floated back to Sterin.
"I didn't know you could use Killing Intent to create a sensory illusion."
Raon narrowed his eyes, watching Sterin nock another arrow.
"You truly meant it when you said to take what I can."
Sterin wasn't kindly teaching like a Sword Fanatic; he was coldly instructing, telling Raon to take only what he could earn himself.
"Things easily gained are easily lost."
Sterin nodded briefly. The feathers of the arrow, imbued with his sharp willpower, quivered.
"If you understand, can we proceed properly?"
"Of course."
As soon as Raon nodded, he dashed forward, extending the Heavenly Drive that was held back.
The orb of Aura that bloomed from the sword hilt opened its black maw and spewed a breath of flame.
Kuwaaaaaa!
The crimson flames surged grandly, as if they would burn not only Sterin but the entire Great Forest.
"You still lack control over your power."
Sterin laughed coldly and twisted the flow of the Flame Dragon Strike as he released the arrow.
Wooooong!
The spreading heat condensed into a single line, targeting Sterin's chest.
"A trick within a trick."
Sterin kept the smile on his lips as he plucked the bowstring. The white arrow literally became a white light and charged toward the Flame Dragon Strike.
Kwooooong!
The white radiance and the breath of flame collided, spreading a tremendous shockwave.
But the flames of the Flame Dragon Strike soon began to melt away.
Raon frowned as he watched the sinking flames.
'It's not that the Flame Dragon Strike is weak.'
The Guardian's martial arts are overwhelmingly superior.
Sterin didn't just use power to break it; he exploited the gaps in the Flame Dragon Strike with his arrow's trajectory. It was a fight with much to learn from.
Paaaaaang!
In the end, the flames of the Flame Dragon Strike couldn't withstand Sterin's arrow and completely subsided.
"Hoo…."
Raon exhaled a murky breath and adjusted his grip on the Heavenly Drive.
'Let's see properly.'
I'm not here to defeat a Transcendent Warrior.
The reason I wield the sword now is to gain inspiration for my Mental Image through Arrow Control. I must focus on the fight but not lose sight of my goal.
'How does he control the arrow at will?'
Sterin and the Leader of the Holy Sword Alliance control arrows and swords with their willpower.
There must be a special method, as it's not a martial art that can be used just by reaching transcendence.
Wooooong!
He resonated the eight Rings of Fire to their extreme and utilized the Evil Eye of Wrath and the Perception of the Snow Flower.
The rising realm of the soul called forth the realm of Transcendence, making my perception of time slow down.
'A little more….'
Even as the fiercely incoming arrow aimed for my forehead, I heightened my concentration further.
Gooooo!
The upper dantian ached and a pain like my head was about to burst arose, but my concentration soared without end. In the slowly halting world, I could see only myself and the arrow.
I leaned my upper body back to avoid the incoming arrow.
Fiiik!
But Sterin's arrow, as if predicting the movement, subtly changed direction and grazed my right cheek.
Raon used the thinly spreading pain from his cheek as a driving force to heighten his concentration even more. He could see his reflection in the red blood droplets scattering in the air.
'Not yet… hmm?'
As the Ring of Fire trembled as if it were about to break, a white line seemed to pass through my blood.
'An illusion? No, it's not an illusion.'
It's connected to the arrow.
The faintly flickering white line passed in the same direction as the white arrow that had just grazed my cheek.
'No way….'
I turned my gaze forward. The thin line connected to the white arrow started from Sterin.
'Now I understand!'
Raon swallowed nervously and narrowed his eyes.
'That line is the Guardian's Willpower.'
Willpower is the strength embedded in the resolve to achieve something. Sterin's Willpower, having reached transcendence beyond Grandmaster, was freely controlling the arrow.
'The path of Willpower is vast.'
I thought Willpower only added strength to martial prowess and momentum, but I didn't know it could be used like this.
This must be why they say a martial artist who can't handle Willpower can never defeat one who can.
-Of course.
Wrath nodded briefly.
-The paths of Willpower and Mental Image are boundless. All of this king's techniques require some level of Willpower to show their true power.
He indicated that the reason I became stronger after reaching Grandmaster was because the Willpower I had clumsily handled gained proper strength.
'Thanks for the advice.'
-It's not advice! You were so clueless that I just informed you a little!
Wrath waved his hand, telling me not to talk nonsense.
Raon chuckled and focused again on Sterin's arrow, no, on his Willpower.
Wooooong!
He felt Sterin's arrow, which had retreated, aiming for his back while spinning.
Raon retreated to the left and thrust the Heavenly Drive. The red flames formed a wall, but the white arrow easily pierced through the gap and came inside.
At the moment the arrow struck like lightning, he shot out the lightly held Requiem Sword.
Piaaaang!
The Requiem Sword, wrapped in the Hidden Blade Art's intricacy, spread powerful demonic energy as it extended.
But Sterin's arrow evaded the Requiem Sword with a slight change in trajectory and dug into my space.
'As expected.'
I anticipated Sterin would react this way, so I imbued Willpower into the Requiem Sword.
Zzziiiiing!
Because it was my first time attempting a Willpower shift, an immense pain struck my mind. It felt like my upper dantian would be crushed.
'But I must continue….'
This excruciating pain was the backlash from trying to exert more than I had.
I was definitely overexerting myself, but as Sterin said, I had to endure to gain even a little.
'Descend!'
Descend and strike down the arrow!
As I sent out a chaotic line of Willpower, the demonic energy of the Requiem Sword connected with one of the lines, bursting into a thin light in the air.
Bboooong!
At the moment I felt a sense of unity with the sword, the Requiem Sword dropped like a string-cut puppet and struck the arrow shaft.
It was possible because the Requiem Sword had its own will.
-Huh!
Wrath widened his eyes in surprise at the unexpected situation.
Wooooong!
Even Sterin seemed taken aback, as the white arrow lost its direction and swayed greatly.
But his arrow quickly regained its composure and flew toward Raon's chest.
"Huuuh…."
Raon couldn't move as he watched the approaching arrow. His mental strength had reached its limit after using all his Willpower earlier.
The arrow that had been flying as if to kill him stopped right before his nose, trembling slightly.
"Hoo…."
Raon caught his breath and looked up. Sterin's gaze wavered as much as the arrow he controlled.
"Now…."
He opened his trembling lips slightly.
"Did you control the sword with Willpower?"
"I, I don't really know. I just had the mindset to try…."
It was the truth. In a state of enlightenment, I didn't even know what I was doing.
I only knew that the Requiem Sword helped me.
Fwoooong
Sterin flicked his fingertips, and the white arrow was drawn back into his hand.
"What did you feel from me?"
"It looked like you and the arrow were connected by a thin thread. I felt your Willpower from that thread…."
Raon honestly shared what he had felt earlier.
"You didn't just feel it, you saw it?"
Sterin laughed incredulously while holding the arrow.
"I've heard many stories about monsters and geniuses appearing on the continent, but most were exaggerated. Now I finally see a real one."
He shook his head in genuine astonishment.
"Then truly…."
"Yes. The foundation of the Harmony Bow technique is Willpower and Mental Image."
Sterin pointed to his own temple with his finger.
"The more developed your upper dantian is, the more freely you can use Harmony Bow. It's strange. Even though your upper dantian is developed compared to your martial prowess, it's not yet at the level to manifest Harmony Bow."
He narrowed his eyes, unable to understand.
"It's probably because of this sword."
Raon gently stroked the Requiem Sword.
"It has become a demonic sword, but it originally belonged to good people, so it seems to follow my will."
"I know that demonic sword has grasped your Willpower. What I mean is that your Willpower reached the sword."
"I don't really know about that."
"That answer makes it even clearer that you're a monster."
Sterin answered firmly and reached into his bosom. He took out a red fruit that looked like a cherry and tossed it.
"Eat it. It will quickly soothe your internal injuries."
"Thank you."
Raon received the fruit with both hands and bowed his head.
"I said to take what you could, but I didn't expect you to actually take it."
Sterin chuckled and turned his back.
"It might be alright."
"Pardon?"
"The World Tree Purification is the day after tomorrow. You should come with Rimmer."
With that, he walked back into the forest path from which he had appeared.
Fwoooo.
As Sterin moved away, the forest grew denser, recreating the initial scenery.
"Haa…."
Raon sighed and lay down spread-eagle.
"I feel like dying. But…."
It's exciting.
Facing new martial arts was always thrilling. It felt refreshing, as if the inspiration that had stagnated since reaching Grandmaster suddenly burst open.
Both body and mind were exhausted, leaving no strength to even move a finger, yet I wanted to get up and swing my sword immediately.
'Moreover….'
I'm going to see the World Tree.
Coming to Sepia, I never imagined I would see the World Tree. I thought they would never show it to a human, but it felt like I had gained another serendipitous encounter.
'How big will it be?'
-Raon Zieghart.
As I imagined the World Tree and smiled, Wrath slowly approached with a very serious expression.
-I have an important proposal.
'A proposal?'
-Yes. This king will grant any request….
He usually didn't talk like this, so I got nervous.
-Let's secretly pick and eat a fruit from the World Tree. I'm dying to know what it tastes like!
Wrath wiggled his chubby fingers, suggesting it would be okay to secretly eat just one.
'I knew it. Do you want to see me chased by elves for the rest of my life?'
Not just the leaves, but eating the fruit of the World Tree would make me an enemy of the elves, having to dodge their arrows forever.
-Even if you're chased, isn't it worth it to taste the fruit?
"..."
Raon closed his eyes tightly, seeing Wrath drooling.
'Come out, demon. Let me see your face.'
Why did you choose this parasite as Wrath!