"A vessel that can hold anything..." Raon swallowed dryly as he repeated Glenn's words. "What does that mean?"
Although he had been honing the Ten Thousand Swords, he never once thought he was special. He couldn't understand how he was supposed to fill a realm that neither Glenn nor Rector had achieved.
"Polishing the Ten Thousand Swords means training in all the swordsmanship and sword principles that exist in this world. But it's impossible to truly master every single sword technique."
Glenn slowly lowered his gaze to look at his own feet. "Inevitably, there will be sword techniques you focus on more and others you let go. Among the Precision Swords, I put a lot of effort into the Thunder Sword, while I only dipped my toes into evil sword techniques. The Sword Demon is probably similar."
He shook his head, adding that Rector's swordsmanship was also close to Precision Sword.
"But you're different." Glenn raised his gaze to meet Raon's trembling eyes. "From the swordsmanship you learned as a trainee to the Azure Sky Sword, you've trained in everything without letting go of a single one. Thanks to that, you don't have any biased sword techniques, attributes, or principles. It means your path for development is endless."
He continued with a proud smile.
"I just poured time into training..." Raon bit his lip, feeling embarrassed.
"If it had just ended with training, I wouldn't be saying this." Glenn tapped his temple as if to make Raon self-aware. "In this war, you didn't overwhelm the enemy with strong swordsmanship, but used techniques that broke down their martial arts. You used all the forms you've learned, from basic swordsmanship to the Azure Sky Sword. And you did it against stronger opponents. Even I can't do that."
He nodded, saying it was a realm beyond talent.
"Raon. Your vessel is so high and deep that even I can't fathom it. You could achieve the true meaning of the Ten Thousand Swords."
Glenn's eyes shone with expectation, as if only Raon could do it.
"That's..." Raon turned his gaze away, unable to meet Glenn's eyes. I don't know what to say.
Coming for sword training and receiving such a look, he didn't know how to react. It was especially burdensome because it was Glenn.
"The old geezer is talking nonsense!" Wrath lifted his head arrogantly. "It's only natural that your soul's vessel grows larger when you're with a great being like myself!" He fluttered his round hands, telling Raon to be grateful.
Of course, your help was significant, but it wasn't everything. Raon closed his eyes, feeling the Ring of Fire circling his heart. The Ring of Fire played a bigger role than Wrath.
The Ring of Fire expands the realm of the soul and develops the body and mind in the most suitable direction for a Martial Artist. If his vessel had truly expanded enough to hold the complete Ten Thousand Swords as Glenn said, the Ring of Fire would have been the biggest reason.
"I'll try my best." Raon bowed his head after judging his own talent and capacity. It's not like anything will change from now.
If anything, it would be enjoyable. What he had learned in his past life were unwanted killing techniques. He had only learned assassination techniques to kill Martial Artists and Magicians who had reached higher realms than him, so training in swordsmanship for himself was the happiest thing.
"Then how should I train from now on..."
"Didn't I tell you? Learn as many sword techniques as possible and gain a lot of experience."
Glenn approached Raon and nodded. "From today, I'll pass on all the sword techniques I know to you." He raised the Heavenly Tremor as if to start immediately.
"The first sword technique I'll teach you is called the Bewitching Flower Sword. It contains the principles of bewitching and evil swords that you haven't yet mastered."
Glenn slowly raised the Heavenly Tremor. Unlike when it rose straight, his sword now fell with a sinister flow, striking the ground.
"It's an evil sword technique different from the Precision Sword you've learned so far, but if you master it, it will surely be helpful."
Glenn showed all the forms of the Bewitching Flower Sword, recited the Mantra, and then stepped back.
"Now, show me the Bewitching Flower Sword as you felt it."
"Understood."
Glenn's eyes narrowed as if looking at a blade of grass. "Have you learned or seen the Bewitching Flower Sword before?"
"No, I haven't." Raon immediately shook his head.
"Then how did you perform such bewitching and evil sword techniques..."
Glenn let out a sigh, saying it was unbelievable how Raon had captured the essence of bewitching and evil swords despite the rough form.
"I've faced similar sword techniques many times." Raon shrugged. Although it was his first time with the Bewitching Flower Sword, he had faced many martial arts imbued with bewitching and evil sword principles, which greatly helped him in executing the form.
"You're saying you learned from your enemies?"
Contrary to his answer, Raon didn't move immediately. He closed his eyes, harmonizing the Bewitching Flower Sword Glenn had shown with the image in his mind, then opened his eyelids. With a sharp sound, he swung down his sword, imbuing the sinister yet graceful sword path Glenn had demonstrated with his own will. Swish!
With a sharp sound splitting the air, the blade of the Heavenly Drive rippled like a mirage, pressing down on the earth.
Seeing that sword, one of Glenn's eyebrows shot up as if lost. Raon, ignoring Glenn's reaction, lowered the Heavenly Drive after displaying his own version of the Bewitching Flower Sword.
"Raon." Glenn let out a hearty laugh as he looked at the lowered Heavenly Drive. "I think there's more to learn from enemies than from training."
"That's a good mindset." He curled his lips, seemingly pleased with the answer. "I guess my library won't last very long at this rate."
Raon took a short rest in the annex building and left the room before sunrise. Although he had slept for less than three hours, he felt no fatigue at all.
"Hmm..." Wrath let out a low groan, rubbing his eyes as if sleepy. It seemed that just as Envy had evolved into admiration, Sloth had also begun to evolve.
"How dare you change the Monarchs' authorities as you please! If the Demon God knew, he would be greatly angered!"
"But he doesn't know." Raon waved his hand, pointing at the ground.
"T-The Demon God sees everything..."
"Then he must have seen you drooling over mint chocolate too, right?" Raon continued, poking Wrath's reddened nose bridge.
Seeing how he lets that slide, your Demon God must be quite benevolent. Wrath, seemingly at a loss for words, just chewed his lips.
"Y-You'll get into big trouble someday... sniff... You must be the only one using Sloth in such a way! Why does an authority that's supposed to make you stronger just by being lazy only enhance your ability to not feel tired even when you sleep less!"
Wrath wrinkled his nose bridge as he looked at Raon's clear eyes.
"That's what I'm saying." Raon chuckled and nodded.
Perhaps because he had reduced his sleep time and continued training, the Authority of Sloth had strengthened even further. His ability to recover physical and mental energy as if he had slept for eight hours after just three hours of sleep had been enhanced. Despite the lack of sleep, his whole body was filled with vitality as if he had slept deeply.
The little one suddenly started sniffing the air, interrupting his own warning about getting into trouble.
"I smell freshly baked bread! And it's coated with egg!"
Wrath leaped up and flew towards the entrance. "Hurry up! There's toast!"
"Oh boy..." Hearing the sound of Wrath's drooling, Raon went to the entrance and saw Judiel holding an egg toast.
"I prepared this thinking you might leave early." Judiel handed over the toast and milk, telling him to have a light meal before leaving.
"At this hour?"
"It's my job as your dedicated maid." She bowed her head, saying that it was her natural duty.
"Thank you." Raon smiled faintly as he put the toast in his mouth. The crispy yet warm texture of the bread, the salty ham, and the soft egg blended perfectly.
"Ahoho!" Wrath grinned, rubbing both his cheeks. "This is good too! It's worlds apart from Nadine bread!" He laughed, seemingly having forgotten that he had mentioned the Demon God earlier.
"Information about Derus Robert and other Five Demons will likely be passed to me through Denning Rose." Judiel bowed her head, saying that unlike the information from the main building, information about the Five Demons would also be provided to the annex building.
"Alright. I'll leave it to you." Raon nodded as he returned the empty plate. He could trust and rely on Judiel because her information-processing ability was on par with or better than the Shadow Agents.
"It's nothing compared to what you've done for us, Young Master." Unlike before, Judiel bowed with a genuine smile.
"That's not..." He waved his hand lightly. "We've helped each other."
"Ah..." Judiel bowed deeply, feeling the sincerity in Raon's words.
As Raon was about to enter the Fifth Training Ground, he heard the sound of swords being swung from inside.
When he opened the door and entered, all members of the Light Wind division were practicing swordsmanship in their respective positions.
"Why did you all come out so early?" Raon blinked as he looked at the pre-dawn sky. There was still more than an hour until training was supposed to start, and seeing everyone gathered made him chuckle involuntarily.
"The Division Leader set the goal for us to become Masters. When I imagined using Astral Energy, my eyes just opened on their own." Dorian clenched his fists, saying he couldn't just wait quietly.
"I came first! This Krein here! Please believe me!" Krein raised his hand high, claiming he was the first to arrive.
"I'm the opposite of them. I came to confront you." Martha leaned forward with furrowed brows.
"C-Confront?" Raon took a step back under Martha's intense pressure.
"Why should we aim for the pinnacle of Master level! That's not enough anyway!" Martha shook her head fiercely. "I'm setting my goal as Grandmaster." She bared her white teeth, declaring she would definitely overcome the Grandmaster barrier.
"Me too." Runaan nodded calmly. "If Miss Rakshasa does it, I'll do it too." She swung her sword while blinking sleepily.
"If two Squad Leaders are aiming for Grandmaster, I have no choice but to do the same." Burren raised his right hand with a deep smile. "I'm changing my goal too. To Grandmaster." He nodded, saying that becoming a Grandmaster might be necessary to gain Karoon's recognition.
"Grandmaster... I feel like I might be able to overcome that barrier now." Mark Goetun also grabbed his sword, saying he'd join them.
"You damn fools! Why are you copying me!" Martha shook her shoulders in frustration. However, contrary to her intention, the new goal seemed to have a big impact on others as well. Not just the Squad Leaders, but all the Swordsmen set their determination to aim for higher goals.
"How admirable!" Wrath nodded as he looked around at all the members of the Light Wind division. "My subordinates will surely become stronger! Ah, except for the shifty-eyed one!" He pouted, still disliking Burren's gaze.
Raon smiled faintly as he watched the Swordsmen intensify their training as if competing. It feels like we've gone back to the old days.
The Light Wind division Swordsmen were burning with intense enthusiasm as if they had returned to their trainee days. It was like watching them compete with each other again.
"That's a good idea. The higher the goal, the better." Raon nodded as he stood on the platform. The sensation of reaching Master and Grandmaster himself was still vivid, giving him confidence he could lead the Swordsmen to even greater heights.
"I've prepared a new training method for those of you who want to reach higher." Raon drew his Heavenly Drive and pointed it at the dark pre-dawn sky.
"Starting today, one person from dawn to noon, and another from after lunch until evening. Two people a day will come out to spar." He lowered the Heavenly Drive as he spoke about continuing one-on-one sparring.
"That's just what we've been doing every day!" Krein frowned.
"It'll be a little different." Raon smiled faintly, telling them to look forward to it.
"Volunteers, raise your hands."
"Me!"
"I'll go first!"
"Start with me!"
Unlike the times when they would run away at the mention of sparring, all members of the Light Wind division raised their hands. It seemed that being a bystander was more painful than the hardship of sparring and training.
"M-Me too..." Seeing even Dorian, who would normally just stare at his toes, raising his hand was touching.
"I'd like to say 'Dorian, it's you!' but I can't break the basic rules. Krein, come forward." Raon smiled faintly and pointed at Krein with his Heavenly Drive.
"Phew..." Krein stepped forward, taking a deep breath.
"T-This time, I won't be defeated so easily..."
"Never mind that. What's your most confident sword technique?"
"Huh? Me? Um, it's the Formless Sword..."
"Show me all the forms." Raon stepped back while instructing Krein to demonstrate his swordsmanship before they sparred.
"Ah, understood." Krein blinked his eyes but demonstrated all the forms of the Formless Sword. Raon observed all of Krein's swordsmanship through the Ring of Fire and licked his lips. The phantom sword, variable sword, and Quick Sword are harmonized appropriately. It's not a bad sword technique.
After grasping all the forms and principles of the Formless Sword, he stepped forward. "From now on, I'll face you using only the Formless Sword."
"Huh? W-What do you mean..."
"Let's begin right away." Thinking the conversation might drag on, he immediately demonstrated the second form of the Formless Sword. With a sharp sound!
The blade of the Heavenly Drive curved and split into three, causing Krein's eyes to widen.
"T-This is the real Formless Sword!"
"Think about how your sword differs from mine." Raon pressed Krein with a tone as cold as his sword. Clash clash clash clang! Krein broke into a cold sweat, seemingly unable to believe he was being pushed back in his most confident sword technique.
"What is this..."
Raon wasn't using Astral Energy or pouring out a large amount of aura. He was using less aura than Krein, yet it was difficult to block even though the forms were familiar. It was unbelievable that he had achieved such perfection after seeing it just once.
"Don't back down, watch till the end!" Raon advised the flustered Krein while demonstrating the fifth form of the Formless Sword.
"This is the best way." Thanks to Glenn, he had an idea of how to train himself and how to nurture the Light Wind division. It was a win-win training method where he would learn the Light Wind division's swordsmanship to expand his martial arts knowledge, while showing them how their swordsmanship could evolve and what level of perfection it could achieve, thus helping both sides grow.
"Uaaaaah!" Krein shouted as he unleashed the fourth form of the Formless Sword. With a sharp sound, Raon deflected Krein's sword with the sixth form of the Formless Sword and struck his abdomen.
"Ugh..." Krein, about to fall, forced himself to stand and smiled.
"In the past, I would have despaired at the Division Leader's talent, but now it's different."
He bit his lip till it bled but didn't take his eyes off Raon's sword.
"I am Krein of the Light Wind division. I won't be the first to fall, but the first to move forward!"