Chapter 714
"Hmm..." Raon tilted his head, gazing at the vast Lable River. Following Flumen's guidance, they had arrived at the supposed battlefield where Zieghart and the South-North Union were fighting. But all he could see was the gently flowing river.
"Why... why isn't there anything?" Flumen blinked, looking around in confusion. "They were definitely fighting here! I swear!"
He waved his hands insistently, as if to prove he had seen it with his own eyes.
"I know. They did fight here," Raon murmured, shaking his head as he looked at the wooden planks floating in the river. Those planks were unmistakably pieces of warship decks—clear evidence that a major battle had taken place here.
"I'll go ask around!" Flumen dove into the river, claiming he would get information from the fish living there. Raon narrowed his eyes, watching as Flumen submerged into the depths.
It's certain that Zieghart pushed forward...
Zieghart's military strength ranked among the top of the Six Kings and the Five Demons. Even with the South-North Union leveraging the river's geographical advantage, they were not opponents that could be defeated head-on. Still, Raon couldn't relax. Derus Robert would likely be plotting ways to turn this unfavorable situation to his advantage.
Where did they go?
He extended his Aura Perception, but there was not even the faintest ripple of mana. That suggested the forces had moved far from this location.
"Wrath." Raon beckoned to Wrath, who had been surveying the river.
"Can you tell where the battle is taking place?"
"It's very faint, but I can sense it... at the far end." Wrath raised his round hand, pointing upstream along the river. Seemingly understanding the gravity of the situation, he indicated the direction immediately, unlike his usual playful demeanor.
"That's quite far..." Raon muttered. If Wrath described the presence as faint, the war must still be ongoing at a distant location. Judging by the position, it seemed to be near the South-North Union's headquarters.
"We should prepare to leave immediately."
As Raon waited for Flumen to resurface, he tried to calm his senses. But just then, he felt a faint presence from the right bank. He turned his gaze and saw a long-haired, middle-aged man in Water Demon attire rolling over on the gravel beach. Raon pushed the river water aside, approaching the figure with quiet caution.
"Black Wolf Branch Leader?"
The middle-aged man, who had collapsed on the gravel, was the Black Wolf Branch Leader—the same one Raon had encountered during the life-and-death battle with Axe King Roman. He had a severe wound on his chest and was on the brink of death.
"Ra... Raon Zieghart?" The Black Wolf Branch Leader exhaled a bloody breath, lifting his eyes. "You're alive. Thank goodness. I'm... truly relieved..."
He smiled weakly, his voice breaking with each word.
"You're relieved that I'm alive?" Raon furrowed his brows, surprised by the Black Wolf Branch Leader's words.
"The Axe King wished for your safe return. I felt empty when I heard you were dead, but now that emptiness has been filled." The Black Wolf Branch Leader smiled, seemingly oblivious to the wound on his chest.
Raon was left speechless for a moment.
"What happened after I fell?" Raon asked, pushing past the initial shock.
"Ti-time is short, so I'll be brief. After you were reported dead, Zieghart declared war on the South-North Union. After that..." He didn't hesitate, quickly explaining everything that had happened since Raon's supposed death.
"...Since Riquias' cloth is connected to our headquarters, the war should be continuing at the South-North Union's headquarters by now."
"Where's the one wearing the blue dragon helmet?" Raon asked, his voice low but urgent.
"He disappeared after your supposed death. All contact was cut off, enraging the Union Leader." Unlike The Fallen, the Black Wolf Branch Leader shook his head, indicating they couldn't contact the swordsman in the blue Dragon Helmet.
"I see." Raon nodded gravely. Now I understand the entire situation.
Raon had regretted killing the Specter without extracting more information for fear it might escape. But thanks to the Black Wolf Branch Leader's words, he now had a clearer understanding. The only forces involved in the war were Zieghart and the South-North Union, and Zieghart had the upper hand.
Eheheheheh! Wrath nodded quickly, as if to say he knew it already.
With my subjects present, victory is only natural!
It wore a haughty smile, its earlier sigh of relief quickly forgotten.
I wasn't worried about the war from the start. The real problem is... Derus Robert. Thanks to the Black Wolf Branch Leader's testimony about the loss of contact with the blue Dragon Helmet swordsman, Raon had a clearer understanding of what Derus might be thinking.
He'll definitely target the Head of House.
Raon knew that Derus would likely attempt to betray Glenn while the war was still in full swing, deceiving even the South-North Union Leader. It was the perfect opportunity for him to enact his scheme.
That's how he'll create the situation he wants.
The only person who could be considered definitively stronger than Derus was Glenn Zieghart. If the Head of House were to disappear, it would be as good as Derus's victory. His plan was clear.
It seems... Raon licked his lips as he gazed at the calmly flowing river.
I'll have to change my plan.
-What plan are you changing? Wrath asked curiously.
At first, Raon had planned to quickly join the battlefield and end the war. But now, he realized he needed to think further ahead.
If I appear on the battlefield now, Derus Robert will abandon his plan to target Glenn and return to House Robert, staying inactive for a while. That's absolutely not what I want.
Raon paused, considering the bigger picture.
I need to use his plan against him and unmask him. Since Derus would undoubtedly try to target Glenn directly, this war was the perfect opportunity to expose his true nature.
"Raon Zieghart." The Black Wolf Branch Leader raised his hand weakly, his lips trembling. "Survive... and never stop rising. You're proof that the Axe King lived in this world..."
He dropped his hand after imparting his last words to Raon. His eyes remained open, but his breath had already left him.
"..."
Raon carefully closed the Black Wolf Branch Leader's eyes, then stood up. His thoughts were already on the next move.
"Raon! I found out where they went!" Flumen suddenly emerged from the riverbank, waving his hand energetically.
"Flumen." Raon approached him and extended his hand. "I have a request that might be really dangerous. Can you do it for me?"
"Yes!" Flumen grabbed Raon's hand without a moment's hesitation. "Because we're friends!"
The Zieghart warships advanced through the water, heading toward the gap in the barrier cut by Glenn. The South-North Union wasn't idle either, firing magic cannons from atop their water walls to block Zieghart's approach. As dozens of magic shells rained down on the warships, Zieghart's executives sprang into action.
Alice, Karoon, Sheryl, and Rimmer's slashes cut through the incoming shells. Powerful explosions erupted in midair, sending massive waves crashing into the river, but the warships didn't stop. As arrows followed the magic barrage, the Light Wind division's ships continued moving forward.
The swordsmen in formation unleashed their Gale Wind Style, creating a wind barrier that deflected the arrows. The arrows, losing their force against the wind, fell harmlessly into the river. Despite the continuous barrage of magic and arrows, Sheryl and Rimmer's sword strikes dissipated them all.
"Keep going!" Rimmer shouted.
"Don't stop, no matter what!" Sheryl added.
Following their commands, the Light Wind division's ships were the first to breach the South-North Union's walls, as if they were fearless.
"Yes, sir!" Dorian gripped the helm tightly, pushing through his fear of the war. The Light Wind division's ship ultimately broke through the port, reaching the South-North Union's main compound ahead of anyone else. Sheryl, Trevin, and Rimmer stepped onto the port, raising their blades high.
The South-North Union martial artists preparing to defend the port were torn apart like paper by the fierce slashes of the trio.
"Heavenly Blade Division!"
"Warring Steel Division! Enter immediately!"
"Sweep them all away!" Sheryl, Trevin, and Rimmer shouted, urging their comrades forward.
With their orders, the swordsmen aboard the ships disembarked, pushing into the South-North Union's territory.
"Advance!" Burren cried, rushing toward the South-North Union headquarters, the Light Wind division following closely behind. They deployed their Light Wind Formation, and the cool wind of the Gale Wind Style pushed them forward.
"Block them!" South-North Union martial artists shouted, unleashing their auras to block the path.
Martha screamed in fury as she charged forward, her sword raised. The Titan's Aura, swollen to twice its size due to her berserk mode, crashed toward the port's axis. The outskirts of the port cr
umbled, and the sword pressure pierced through hundreds of South-North Union soldiers.
At the same time, the other division commanders and their forces cut into the fray. The battle continued on, with Zieghart showing no mercy.
A figure stood on the distant mountain peak, his face shadowed by the setting sun. Ariel held the ancient Celestial Scriptures, her fingers running across the mystical text.
"The Destructive King of the North... Shall rise, drawing the flame of destruction... and the end of the Black Heaven will come..." Ariel whispered softly, her voice distant.
The prophecy read was clear, the words lined with grim certainty.