"Leader of the Holy Sword Alliance!"
The Leader of the White Blood Religion clenched her fist as she called out.
"Have you lost your mind? What are you doing?"
She bared her white teeth, snarling like a beast.
"Do you realize what you've just done?"
The Fallen exhaled deeply as he looked at the Leader of the Holy Sword Alliance.
"We have a chance to kill the Destructive King of the North, Glenn Zieghart. Instead of helping, you protect the enemy. Why?"
His usually calm eyes trembled.
[Leader of the Holy Sword Alliance.]
The Dragon Lord narrowed his golden eyes as he looked down at the Leader of the Holy Sword Alliance.
[How am I supposed to interpret this?]
He exhaled a white mist, directing his anger from Glenn toward the Leader of the Holy Sword Alliance.
"..."
Derus Robert remained silent, quietly shifting his eyes within his blue dragon helmet.
—I sensed it from the moment I first saw him…
Wrath let out a hollow laugh, as if in disbelief.
—That guy is a lunatic too.
Indeed.
Raon touched his lips, observing Derus's downcast gaze rather than the Leader of the Holy Sword Alliance.
He's taken aback.
Although Derus maintained a calm expression, his eyes revealed that he was greatly surprised by the Leader of the Holy Sword Alliance's actions.
It means the Leader of the Holy Sword Alliance's words and actions were beyond his predictions.
As soon as Glenn's ambush failed, Derus called for the Fallen and the Leader of the White Blood Religion, ordering them to kill Glenn immediately. In other words, knowing that Chamber and King Lecross would appear, he tried to kill Glenn as quickly as possible.
Of course, thanks to Owen and Balkar's swift intervention, they prevented the second attack before it even began, but Derus didn't seem particularly flustered then.
He must have known the dragons and the Leader of the Holy Sword Alliance would come.
Thinking that if the dragons and the Leader of the Holy Sword Alliance arrived, he could kill not just Glenn but everyone on the battlefield, he must have been biding his time.
However…
The sword-obsessed Leader of the Holy Sword Alliance defied his expectations. Derus's eyes were trembling, suggesting he hadn't anticipated the Leader of the Holy Sword Alliance would aid our side.
I never thought I'd see his broken expression twice.
Seeing Derus's distorted eyes once more, following the thwarted ambush, my churning heart settled comfortably. It felt as if my internal injuries had healed.
"You say I saved Glenn Zieghart?"
The Leader of the Holy Sword Alliance raised his chin with a cold gaze.
"Did you all get hit on the head with swords?"
He let out a hollow laugh, as if in disbelief, looking down at the leaders of the Five Demons.
"What do you mean by that?"
Derus spoke for the first time. He furrowed his brow as if he didn't understand what the Leader of the Holy Sword Alliance was saying.
"I find it hard to understand as well."
The mask of a handsome youth worn by the Fallen darkened with confusion.
"The Destructive King of the North's condition is at its worst, to say the least."
He narrowed his brow, gesturing toward Glenn's complexion.
"We've exacerbated the internal injuries from a few days ago, and he's physically exhausted from continuous fighting. Now that he's even used his Sword Domain, there's nothing to fear…"
"Sword Domain?"
The Leader of the Holy Sword Alliance levitated the sword in his hand. He burst into maniacal laughter as he brushed back his bangs.
"As I thought, you don't understand."
"Pardon?"
The Fallen frowned as if to ask what he meant.
"That monster weakened by internal injuries and using his Sword Domain? What nonsense."
The Leader of the Holy Sword Alliance's sword resonated with a loud Sword Mantra, as if echoing his mockery.
"Let me be clear. I didn't save Glenn Zieghart, I saved you lot."
A chilling light flashed in his golden eyes.
"What do you mean…"
Derus Robert slightly lowered his eyebrows as he looked at the Leader of the Holy Sword Alliance.
"You two should know, right?"
The Leader of the Holy Sword Alliance's eyes swept over the Leader of the White Blood Religion and the Dragon Lord in turn.
"That Glenn Zieghart's true sword isn't affected by trivial things such as internal injuries or aura."
He twisted his lips as he touched his nape.
"Isn't it strange? That the bloodsucking idiot who would normally charge at Glenn recklessly is now standing far away like a spectator, playing with Ogram?"
The Leader of the Holy Sword Alliance smirked as he looked at the Leader of the White Blood Religion.
"The same goes for the dragons who won't come down from the distant sky, even if it means reducing the power of their breath as a result."
He waved his hand as he turned his gaze to the Dragon Lord.
"The reason they're so scared is because they've faced Glenn Zieghart's true sword."
The Leader of the Holy Sword Alliance stroked the blade of the floating longsword with his finger.
"The reason the Leader of the White Blood Religion risked attacking Ogram, why the Black Tower Master is frantically collecting artifacts, why the dragons who should remain neutral have sided with you—it's all because of Glenn Zieghart's swordsmanship."
The Fallen and Derus's eyes trembled slightly at his matter-of-fact tone.
"Then when you say you saved us…"
"The moment Glenn would reveal his true ability was when the dragons' breath obscured your vision."
The Leader of the Holy Sword Alliance smiled as he stroked the blade of the floating longsword.
"That fox-like old man was waiting for the chance to kill all of you with a single strike. Isn't that right, Glenn Zieghart?"
He nodded toward Glenn.
"..."
Glenn said nothing. He just stared at the Leader of the Holy Sword Alliance with a pale complexion.
"Ah…"
Raon swallowed dryly as he turned to look at Glenn.
Is it true…?
Come to think of it, Glenn hadn't been flustered except for when the Leader of the Holy Sword Alliance appeared at the end. If what he said was true, it seemed Glenn was surprised not because of danger, but because the opportunity he had prepared for had vanished.
"That's absurd!"
The Fallen turned around in disbelief.
"..."
However, the Leader of the White Blood Religion and the Dragon Lord remained silent, as if proving the Leader of the Holy Sword Alliance's words were true.
"The Destructive King of the North was acting… It seems to be true."
Unlike the Fallen, Derus immediately accepted the situation and bit his lip.
"But how did you read the Destructive King of the North's intentions?"
"Because I've reached the same level as Glenn Zieghart."
The Leader of the Holy Sword Alliance curled up the corners of his mouth, spreading his arms. He laughed, saying he could now imbue his life and soul into his sword like Glenn.
"The same level…?"
Raon exhaled emptily as he looked at the Leader of the Holy Sword Alliance's confident gaze.
Wrath!
—Not quite.
Wrath shook his head lightly.
—The old Nadine bread man is still superior. However, that guy has indeed reached a level that can disrupt the balance the lizard folks speak of.
He yawned long after saying it was still not enough.
"If you understand, get lost."
The Leader of the Holy Sword Alliance waved his hand as if shooing away flies.
"It's not like I saved you because I like you."
"Then why did you block the breath?"
Raon frowned as he looked at the Leader of the Holy Sword Alliance.
"Because Glenn Zieghart's sword is too precious to be wasted on monkeys like you! Only I can taste his true sword!"
He spread his arms with eyes full of ecstasy. The only words that came to mind were that he was insane.
"I don't like that."
Derus shook his head firmly as he stepped aside.
"The fact that he hasn't used such impressive swordsmanship until now means there must be restrictions."
"You're not a monkey. No, you're a swordsman worth facing."
The Leader of the Holy Sword Alliance licked his lips as he looked at Derus.
"You're right. Of course there are restrictions. But for those of us who have dedicated our lives to the sword, such restrictions don't matter."
He muttered that Derus could do as he pleased if he wanted to die, then stood in front of Glenn.
"I've solved the homework you gave me, Glenn Zieghart."
At the Leader of the Holy Sword Alliance's gesture, his longsword rose with a gentle ripple.
"Homework…"
Glenn narrowed his eyes as he looked at the Leader of the Holy Sword Alliance.
"You grow more insane every time we meet."
"Being obsessed with the sword is a happy thing."
The Leader of the Holy Sword Alliance exhaled deeply with his eyes half-closed.
"Step back."
At Glenn's gesture, the magicians of the Balkar Kingdom, the knights of the Owen Kingdom, and the martial artists of the Beast Union who were facing off against the Five Demons retreated behind him.
"Are you sure you'll be alright?"
"Old man…"
"I have no idea what's going on."
King Lecross, Chamber, and Ogram stepped back behind Glenn. However, the three remained tense, ready to move at any moment.
"Raon."
Glenn nodded to the leaders of the Six Kings and then gestured to Raon.
"Stand beside me."
"What? What do you mean…"
"I wanted to show you this."
He exhaled a breath mixed with the scent of blood after saying in a very low voice that it might be difficult to show it again.
"Do you intend to kill that child?"
The Leader of the Holy Sword Alliance let out a hollow laugh as if in disbelief.
"I'm sorry, but I still can't properly control my power."
"Don't worry."
Glenn calmly raised his gaze and shook his head.
"You won't be able to touch a single hair on his head."
Glenn waved his hand casually even as blood trickled from his lips.
"Fine. It's a shame, but now a more important feast is laid out!"
As the Leader of the Holy Sword Alliance brought his hands together, a brilliant light bloomed over his longsword. Along with an ink-colored light, a tremendous aura surged up, raising a massive blade that seemed as if it would split this world.
"Ugh…"
Raon looked up at the sky, his whole body trembling. The Leader of the Holy Sword Alliance's Sword Flight was swirling with energy beyond Glenn's Heavenly Sword.
He's insane.
Even indirectly receiving the Leader of the Holy Sword Alliance's energy, his breath stopped, and he felt pain as if his soul was being torn apart. He couldn't even begin to imagine how to block this monster's sword.
Will you really be alright?
He turned his gaze to Glenn standing beside him. His complexion was still pale, and dead blood was flowing from his lips. It didn't seem like he was acting exhausted.
—He'll be fine.
Wrath shook his head solemnly.
—Trust your precious old man.
He perched on Raon's shoulder as if telling him to watch until the end.
Hmm…
Come to think of it, Wrath had never worried about the Light Wind Division since meeting Glenn. He only warned that Derus was targeting them, but only expressed anger about the reward I would receive. It seemed as if the outcome of this war was already visible in his eyes.
Alright.
Raon nodded and put strength into his trembling legs. He straightened his back, revealing clear red eyes as if to watch everything.
"This time, I'll settle it for good."
With the Leader of the Holy Sword Alliance's solemn will, his longsword moved. Within the massive energy wave surging above the black blade, desire and ecstasy to devour all the swords and swordsmanship of this world burned.
"Soul Devouring Sword."
The Leader of the Holy Sword Alliance's own sword, embodying the life he had lived so far and the life he would live from now on. The absolute technique that would put all the swordsmanship of the continent under his feet—the Soul Devouring Sword—revealed itself to this world.
Glenn quietly gathered his breath as he watched the new dimension of Sword Flight that encompassed the Leader of the Holy Sword Alliance's life.
He really has entered that realm.
The Leader of the Holy Sword Alliance had indeed reached a different level, as he had claimed. Glenn could sense that his soul had advanced to a higher dimension. There was probably no one crazier than him, who had developed a killing technique but came back saying he had solved the homework.
"Ugh…"
Blood began to seep from Raon's lips due to the energy wave emanating from the Leader of the Holy Sword Alliance. It seemed difficult for him to endure.
"Raon."
Glenn calmly opened his eyes as he held Raon's shoulder.
"It's alright."
The martial art he was about to show was a swordsmanship he had been able to attain thanks to Raon. It was a sword of the soul that he had drawn while erasing the endlessly rising anger and feeling new emotions of happiness and joy, thinking of his grandson.
"Feel it with your heart, not your eyes. You should be able to do it."
Glenn raised the Heavenly Tremor, speaking to Raon in a gentle voice he hadn't used before.
The world itself tried to split apart toward the Leader of the Holy Sword Alliance's Soul Devouring Sword. The Heavenly Tremor advanced. There was no brilliant light, no massive wave of aura.
The sword simply advanced with its blade raised, as if its only reason for existence was to cut down the enemy.
But the result created by that small sword was different.
The dark clouds parted, the tidal waves subsided, and the Leader of the Holy Sword Alliance's Soul Devouring Sword was erased. The massive pressure that had covered the heavens and earth disappeared as if it had never existed.
"What is this…"
The Leader of the Holy Sword Alliance's eyes bulged as if they would burst. Red blood spurted from his mouth.
"Now!"
The Leader of the White Blood Religion summoned the Godly Blood Summoning Ritual as soon as Glenn's sword passed, pouring out all the bloody energy she had condensed. The Fallen also seemed to think this was an opportunity, as he shot forth gray magic that combined holy power and darkness. The Dragon Lord and the ancient dragons once again struck down with the breath they had gathered.
"How despicable!"
"These bastards!"
"I knew it!"
"Let them be."
As King Lecross, Ogram, Chamber, and the Spirit Kings tried to help, Glenn calmly shook his head.
He slowly swung the Heavenly Tremor as if it didn't matter at all.
What Glenn was cutting wasn't the enemy's aura or martial arts. It was the existence itself behind them. It was a sword that split the soul.
[Ev-Everyone, retreat!]
"Damn it!"
"Wh-What is that!"
The Dragon Lord and the leaders of the Five Demons were shocked by the phenomenon caused by Glenn's sword and abandoned their subordinates, withdrawing their bodies.
"Ugh!"
Derus Robert threw the bracelet on his wrist and exploded a death aura around him. But Glenn's Heavenly Tremor cut through all the energy present before him, causing a colorless wave. After the pure white sword wave passed, nothing remained in its path.
"The name of this sword is…"
Glenn slowly turned his gaze. He drew a warm smile with a faint gaze that seemed about to disappear.
"The Soul Sword."