Chapter — 720
Raon held his breath, focusing all his attention on Glenn's swordsmanship.
What is this…?
There was no sense of overwhelming aura, no mysterious movements, no extreme willpower. Glenn's Heavenly Tremor simply advanced quietly. Yet the results produced by that small, thin blade were extraordinary.
The vast light unleashed by the Leader of the White Blood Religion and The Fallen was cut away. The Dragon Lord's breath was erased. The death aura spread by Derus Robert melted into nothing.
Even the dark sword of the Leader of the Holy Sword Alliance, which had been cleaving the sky and earth, was broken in half.
I can't believe this is possible…
It was a mysterious strike that shattered all the martial arts and knowledge Raon had accumulated so far. Glenn lowered his Heavenly Tremor after cutting down everything that stood before him.
"This sword is called the Soul Sword."
He smiled differently than before, as if asking Raon if he had seen it.
"Soul Sword…"
Raon raised his gaze again to look at the world created by Glenn's sword. A power that erased not just aura, but the enemy itself. It was a transcendent sword that turned everything into nothingness.
Soul Sword, you say.
Wrath narrowed his eyes as he looked up at Glenn.
You've given it quite a fitting name.
A fitting name?
Indeed.
The creature nodded and spread out his round fingers.
Old man Nadine's sword had something more important than aura, martial arts, or willpower imbued in it.
What's more important?
Although he felt he knew the answer, Raon looked at Wrath, wanting to hear it clearly.
Life and soul.
Wrath poked Raon's chest with his finger.
Old man Nadine captured his life up to now, his future life, and the soul that would exist in between, within that sword.
The creature said it was interesting and curled up his lips.
It seems it won't be easy to determine a winner now.
Wrath licked his lips, saying he wanted to properly face Glenn.
Not easy to determine a winner…
Wrath had always said he could beat Glenn. Saying it was difficult to determine a winner meant Glenn and Wrath were now standing in the same realm. Raon swallowed dryly and looked at Glenn. His red eyes held a warmer light than usual. Strangely, Raon's chest felt ticklish and ached.
"W-What on earth is that…?"
Ogram stammered, as if in disbelief.
"What kind of swordsmanship!"
His eyes trembled as if he couldn't understand Glenn's Soul Sword either.
"That is swordsmanship, yet not swordsmanship."
King Lecross lowered his eyebrows, as if he had sensed something.
"Head of House. Are you alright?"
He lowered his voice as he turned to look at Glenn.
"Yes."
Glenn nodded calmly as if he was fine.
"What are you all doing! We need to check if those bastards are dead!"
Chamber frowned as she floated into the air.
"Especially those two-faced lizards, we can't let them escape. I'll chase them to their nest and skin them alive!"
She gritted her teeth in anger, more at the Dragon Lord clinging to the tails of the fallen Five Demons than at the corrupted Five Demons themselves.
"Let's go!"
Chamber grabbed the back of King Lecross's neck and disappeared like lightning.
What are you doing! Chase after them at once!
Wrath raised his round hand toward where Chamber's presence could be felt.
This is a chance to eat roasted dragon!
He shouted to hurry and chase after them, asking if it wasn't a waste to miss out on dragon meat.
Sigh…
Raon let out a long sigh. He had seemed a bit better, but his gluttonous behavior was starting again. He pushed Wrath away with his eyes closed.
Glenn had already turned his back, his eyes calm as if he already knew what the outcome would be.
"Aries, Karoon, Sylvia."
He looked at them in turn, then stroked his chin.
"What did you feel from my sword?"
Glenn waited for his children's answers as if telling them they could take their time, his hands behind his back.
"I felt vast freedom." Aries raised her gaze with confident eyes. "It was a free sword that could extend anywhere."
She smiled with her cheeks flushed red as if excited.
"I saw the aura of an emperor."
Karoon bowed his head with his trembling hand on his chest. "I felt an absolute power that could split anything."
He revealed his clear red eyes, saying he had seen a goal.
"I, I…"
Sylvia hesitated before answering, her lips quivering.
"I felt bitterness and sorrow."
She bowed her head with her nose tip turned red, as if thinking her own words were strange.
"I see."
Glenn stroked his chin at Aries, Karoon, and Sylvia's answers, then finally looked at Raon.
"Raon. What did you feel?"
"I…"
Raon raised his gaze to meet Glenn's red eyes that resembled his own.
"I felt warmth from your sword, Head of House. Although it was clearly a sword that cut everything down, more than that, I felt a gentleness that wanted to protect this place."
He spoke honestly about what he had felt, even if it might sound crazy.
"Warmth, you say."
Glenn smiled for the first time as he looked at Raon's trembling eyes.
Indeed, they all felt something different.
The freedom Aries felt was himself when he traveled the continent and experienced many things before becoming the head of the house. The spirit that moved Karoon was himself when he was immersed in demonic energy, destroying everything in sight and dominating the battlefield.
The sorrow and bitterness that made Sylvia whimper was himself regretting his past actions after escaping from demonic possession.
And…
Glenn looked at Raon with a faint smile.
The warmth that child felt… must be me now. Now, rather than regretting the past, I only wish for Raon, Sylvia, and Zieghart's children to live happily. It doesn't matter if I'm not part of that happiness. Even if I become fertilizer to nurture a tree, I can die willingly for those children.
"I see."
Glenn showed a sincere smile toward Raon as he calmed his heart, which seemed to be straying from its path.
"Head of House?"
Raon grabbed Glenn's torn sleeve. Strangely, he felt as if Glenn might disappear from this place, and his hand moved before he realized it.
Glenn lightly patted Raon's head and stepped forward.
"Clean up the remnants of the Five Demons. Today, we erase the name of the South-North Union from this continent."
"Yes!"
The Zieghart swordsmen beat their chests and rushed toward the South-North Union headquarters. The eyes of the swordsmen who had witnessed Glenn's divinity up close were filled with respect for the head of the house and the family.
"Head of House. Are you alright?"
Raon stood beside Glenn and swallowed dryly.
"I'm fine for now."
Glenn shook his head calmly as he looked at Raon's trembling fingertips.
"There's still much I need to pass on to you all, much to teach. And don't you have a promise to keep with me?"
He smiled gently, like the setting sun.
Raon bit his lip as he looked at Glenn, who seemed somehow different.
For now?
Meanwhile, Mustan had his lips trembling as he looked at Glenn, who had cut down the Five Demons and the Dragon Lord in one strike.
"Truly magnificent."
He sighed in admiration, then bit his lip.
"It's a shame I can't fight against that man before I die…"
Mustan's hand shook as if he were holding back his regret.
"Now is not the time for that!"
Rector frowned, hitting Mustan's back.
"Head of House, let's clean up these remnants."
"Yes."
Glenn nodded. The heroes who had fought against the South-North Union gathered their remaining strength and struck down the remnants.
"Kuhuhu…"
Chamber stepped on the corpses of the fallen dragons and returned with blood dripping from her chin.
"The Dragon Lord escaped. But it won't be easy for him to recover from this wound."
She sighed and clenched her teeth.
"Tsk. He should have died here. Truly persistent."
Ogram furrowed his brows as he pulled his sword from the neck of a fallen dragon.
"For now, we've ended their plans here. The rest will follow."
King Lecross nodded firmly.
"Yes. From today, the South-North Union no longer exists on this continent."
Flumen raised his arms and bowed deeply to Glenn.
"Thank you, Head of House. Without you, today would have been the end of everything."
He spoke with a trembling voice filled with sincerity.
Glenn waved his hand as if it was nothing.
"It is simply the role of Zieghart to stand against such evil."
Ding!
A familiar system message appeared in Raon's mind.
[You have witnessed a sword that transcends aura, martial arts, and willpower.]
[You have gained insight into the true meaning of the Soul Sword.]
[Your swordsmanship grows ever closer to its ultimate form.]
Raon clenched his fists, his chest heating up.
So this is the path I must follow…
Huh? This is…?
Wrath tilted his head, staring at the message floating in front of Raon.
Why does the system recognize something even I did not expect?
He frowned as if something was out of place, but Raon ignored him and kept his eyes fixed on Glenn's back, burning the sight into his heart.