On a hill that rose like the horn of a buffalo—
"Ah…"
Rector, the Sword Demon, who had been watching the war between Zieghart and the South-North Union, let out a weary sigh.
"Raon…"
He couldn't take his eyes off the boy who now stood beside Glenn. His dry lips trembled.
"M-Master!"
Mustan lowered the telescope from his right eye and rushed toward Rector.
"Is that really Lord Raon? I can't believe it, even though I'm seeing it with my own eyes!"
He panted, breathless with disbelief, as he recalled the sight of Raon saving Glenn from certain death.
"It is. It really is…"
Rector clutched his rapidly beating chest, his gaze never wavering.
"It's Raon. The child has returned."
Only Raon could exude such a mysterious yet bold aura. His grandson—thought to be dead—had returned, stronger than ever.
"Haa…"
Rector placed a hand on the ground as his legs gave out beneath him. He could no longer stand.
Thank goodness.
He had stayed on the battlefield only to protect Sylvia, never imagining he would see Raon again. Just seeing the boy alive and well soothed even the piercing pain in his heart.
Especially—seeing his grandson stand proudly after saving Glenn Zieghart from a Transcendent Warrior's ambush made even his seemingly dead heart beat again.
Should I say it's a pity…
For a fleeting moment, an absurd thought crossed his mind—that he wished it had been him Raon had saved, not Glenn.
No, that's not right.
Rector let out a hollow laugh and shook his head.
"Master, what shall we do?" Mustan asked.
"For now, we watch."
Rector's eyes remained fixed on Raon.
On the Six Kings' side stood Zieghart, Owen, Balkar, and the Beast Union. The Five Demons had the South-North Union, Eden, and the White Blood Religion. The power of the blue Dragon Helmet Demon was still unknown, but with the Sepia elf and two Spirit Kings at Raon's side, they would not lose.
Still, just in case… it would be better to get a bit closer.
He decided to descend the hill, ready to intervene if Raon were in danger.
"He'll be here soon too, so let's go down to the riverbank."
"Understood."
Mustan nodded, signaling to the subordinates behind him.
"Raon…"
Rector clenched his fist, eyes burning with determination.
"Thank you for coming back."
The war, which had paused at Raon's defiant shout, resumed.
The first to move were Ogram and the Beast Union's warriors.
"Follow me!"
Ogram leaped toward the right harbor. Even in his weakened state, barely holding off the First Apostle, he charged fearlessly at the White Blood Religion.
His colorless fist aura exploded forward, bursting the heads of five cultists at once.
"You mosquito bitch."
Ogram stopped before the Leader of the White Blood Religion, a sinister smile on his face.
"Did you enjoy my blood?"
"Indeed. It was quite sweet."
The Leader licked her lips, her crimson eyes fixed on Ogram's neck.
"Thanks to that, I've gained the power to crush you—easily—even before your strength waned."
Her voice was ecstatic.
"Oh really? Let's see you try!"
Ogram twitched a finger as if daring her to make her move.
"You'll die, you know. I don't need your blood anymore."
The Leader curled her lips into a sneer.
"A warrior of the Beast Union does not fear death!"
As Ogram roared and prepared to charge with his subordinates, the clear sound of horse hooves echoed from behind.
King Lecross, the Silent Sword Master, arrived astride his steed, silver knights at his side.
"The Leader of the White Blood Religion has become unbelievably strong," he said, frowning at the overwhelming bloody aura emanating from her. "We'll need the Beast King's help."
He raised the white sword hanging from his saddle. Though he spoke of needing aid, his smile conveyed respect rather than condescension, as if not to wound Ogram's pride.
"Your courtesy is excessive," Ogram chuckled. "Fine. The more hands to kill this mosquito, the better!"
"Will the two of you be enough?"
The Leader scoffed, slamming her palms together. Behind her, a Blood God materialized—larger than before, its arms swollen with power, a white halo blazing behind it.
The bloody energy rolling off her was suffocating.
"Kuh…"
"Six Kings bastards!"
"Protect the Leader!"
Her followers' eyes glowed with frenzy as their energy surged.
"Let's go!"
Ogram stomped the ground, his aura exploding outward.
"Charge."
King Lecross spurred his horse forward, his clear aura shaping into a massive lance.
The clash between the White Blood Religion, Beast Union, and Owen Kingdom sent shockwaves across the South-North Union's headquarters.
While blood and steel clashed on the ground, Eden and Balkar collided in the sky.
"Why don't you summon the other two instead of wasting time?"
The Fallen narrowed his eyes at Chamber, who was sucking on a lollipop.
"Don't try to be clever."
Chamber tilted her witch's hat with a sneer.
"You think we'd bring the others when we don't even know what you're plotting?"
She smirked, her voice dripping with scorn.
"The Holy Sword Alliance is one thing, but the Black Tower has a huge grudge against Raon and Zieghart after the Flame Demon General incident. The fact that they're not here means they're scheming elsewhere. We're not crazy enough to invite them all."
She waved her hand dismissively.
"The little Derus and the shut-in are guarding our home. Don't worry about it."
"It won't be easy."
The Fallen shook his head, eyes sweeping across the chaotic battlefield.
"This war will bring more losses than gains."
"Is this really the time to think about that?"
Chamber spread her arms wide.
The sky and ground inverted as if the world were an hourglass flipped upside down. The Fallen and Eden's executives found themselves standing on nothing but air.
"Forget gains and losses—worry about your life!"
As Chamber clasped her hands, space itself compressed. The bodies of The Fallen and Eden's warriors bent unnaturally, nearly tearing apart.
"Kuh…"
"Argh!"
"T-This is…"
But The Fallen snapped his fingers. With a crisp sound, the distorted space straightened. The inverted world returned to normal, bathed in radiant light.
"I've become quite familiar with your magic," he said calmly. "It's not hard to unravel."
"What a coincidence. Same here."
Chamber tilted her chin upward, and once again the world began to twist to her will.
The battlefield darkened, caught between the overwhelming powers of two Transcendent Warriors.
"Kill them!"
"Destroy them all!"
Eden's warriors and Balkar's magic battalion clashed, shaking the heavens. For the first time in decades, the Six Kings and the Five Demons had collided head-on.
Raon quickly assessed the escalating battlefield.
The Leader of the White Blood Religion has grown stronger.
She radiated a ferocity unlike before, her power heightened by Ogram's blood. But with both Ogram and King Lecross pressing her, that front seemed stable.
The Fallen and Lady Chamber are evenly matched.
Though The Fallen seemed to hold a slight edge, neither side could easily overwhelm the other.
And here…
Glenn stood at his side, their enemies the South-North Union Leader and Derus Robert. All three bore serious injuries, but none could easily overpower the others.
However… we have the Spirit Kings.
Ifrit, the Fire Spirit King, and Elayim, the Water Spirit King, stood ready. With their aid, they would not lose.
"Raon!"
Sylvia rushed toward him, forgetting the war around them, and embraced him tightly.
"Raon. Raon…"
Her shoulders trembled as though they might break.
— Mom…
Wrath sniffled, burying himself against Sylvia's head.
"I'm sorry," Raon whispered, clutching her shaking frame.
"It's okay. As long as you're alive, it's okay."
Her eyes shimmered with tears, grateful just to see him again.
"You bastard, what happened to you!"
Martha snarled, her teeth bared, eyes reddened.
"Raon. Are you alright?"
Burren nodded firmly, relief in his gaze.
"Uh…"
Runaan only pursed her lips, words failing her.
"Division Leader!"
"Raon…"
Dorian and Yua rubbed their noses, both red with grief.
"Let's catch up later," Rimmer said, standing before Raon. "We need to end this war first."
Though his words were calm, his eyes gleamed with joy.
"Of course."
Raon nodded, turning back toward Derus and the South-North Union Leader.
The South-North Union Leader is worse off.
Derus was severely injured but still brimming with energy. The Union Leader, however, was both gravely wounded and nearly drained. He was the easier target.
"Ifrit." Raon pointed at Derus. "Attack him."
"Leave it to me!"
Ifrit lunged, scattering crimson flames that clashed against Derus's death aura.
"Lady Siyana, I'll need your help too."
"Ah, yes!"
Siyana advanced with Elayim. Waves of moonlit water blocked Derus's escape, while fire and frost raged around him.
Derus only sneered. "Was I always this popular?"
His eyes, however, lingered on Raon.
He's hiding something.
Raon narrowed his eyes. We'll force it out of him.
But before he could move, Glenn spoke.
"Raon. Come this way."
He raised Heavenly Tremor.
"Me too?"
"Yes. Follow me."
Glenn's body became a streak of red light as he surged forward. Raon followed, Heavenly Drive blazing with the power of Ten Thousand Flames.
Flower petals of fire bloomed across the battlefield.
"Nothing!"
Dranos roared, shattering the petals with sheer force, but the instant they scattered, Glenn's sword struck—an even deeper crimson light bursting forth.
"Kuhak!"
Dranos coughed blood, falling to his knees on the river's surface.
Black blood also dripped from Glenn's lips, but he did not falter.
"Let's finish this."
Raon nodded, unleashing Flame Dragon Strike.
"Kuhehe…"
Despite his wounds, Dranos grinned, his Sea Spirit Spear trembling in his hands.
"You're so desperate to kill me. Fine. I'll die!"
He screamed, his body igniting with power drawn from his very life force.
"He's burning his life." Glenn's eyes narrowed.
"Raon," he said. "Have you mastered the tenth form of the Azure Sky Sword?"
"Yes. I grasped it this time."
"Then use it. Watch my back and follow."
"Understood."
Dranos hurled the spear.
"Great Canal!"
A colossal Water Dragon surged forth, blotting out the sky.
But Glenn's Heavenly Tremor shone with a noble red light, weighing down the heavens.
Raon's Heavenly Drive shimmered with the endless azure of the open sky—the tenth form, Azure Sky Drive.
The skies of red and blue merged, a harmony of grandfather and grandson.
The Water Dragon's roar was silenced.
Its body split apart, torn asunder.
And a crimson line, drawn across the neck of the South-North Union Leader, sealed his fate.