Raon bit his lip as he aimed his Divine Sword at the TwinHeaded Demon.
'Is it a child?'
The Twin-Headed Demon wasn't just small in stature; its
demeanor exuded such childlike innocence that it felt like
looking at a kid. However, its eyes gleamed with sinister
malice, as if to prove it was truly a Ghost of Eden.
'Let's calm down first.'
A terrifying fighting spirit emanated from the Twin-Headed
Demon. It was an opponent Raon would have to face with
full strength from the start, as he wasn't confident he could
win in his current state.
'I need to consider the Green King too.'
The Green King, who had been pushed back, regained its
battle stance. Even if it had lost some strength, its basic
martial prowess was still formidable, so Raon couldn't let his
guard down. However, he didn't worry about the Severing
Sword behind him, as Rimer would block it even at the cost
of his life.
'For now, I'll focus only on my fight.'
Although he felt some unease and had questions about the
Severing Sword, the Twin-Headed Demon, and the Green
King, now was the time to focus solely on the battle. If he let
his guard down or became complacent, not just he, but the
entire Light Wind division would be annihilated.
"You intend to face the two of us alone?"
The Twin-Headed Demon snorted with a child's voice.
"I was already a Grandmaster when you were still in Sylvia
Zieghart's womb."
He tilted his chin as if finding it laughable.
"Then you've wasted over 20 years."
Raon looked down at the Twin-Headed Demon, his lips
curling into a sneer.
"You must have worked hard standing still while I grew
stronger than you."
"I see your mouth is as sharp as I've heard."
The Twin-Headed Demon bent over, giggling.
"Of course, that mouth of yours will be crushed today!"
As he raised his hand, an enormous wooden club, ill-fitting
for his small grasp, appeared.
"Raon. Be careful, that wooden club can't be cut by swords!"
Rimer managed to give advice about the Twin-Headed
Demon despite struggling to block the Severing Sword's
attacks.
"Vice Leader. Can you hold on?"
Raon exhaled softly as he observed Rimer, who had been
pushed back two steps.
"Who are you asking! Skeletons are nothing but food for
elves!"
Rimer shouted not to worry as he pointed his sword towards
the sky.
"Sword Domain: Song of Wind and Lightning."
His soul-imbued incantation summoned green winds and red
lightning. A storm of thunder bridging heaven and earth
raged between Rimer and the Severing Sword. However, the
Severing Sword remained unfazed. It cleaved through the
lightning and wind, its blade engraved with skulls and filled
with darkness.
"..."
The Green King, who had been glaring at Raon with
apparent anger, turned its gaze towards Rimer's Sword
Domain. Its red eyes glimmered faintly.
"Where are you looking!"
The Twin-Headed Demon screamed as it brought down its
wooden club. The massive club fell without delay, as if it
were a thin twig.
"Huh...."
Raon licked his lips as he watched the club descending as if
to crush his skull.
'He said it can't be cut.'
Trusting Rimer's advice was correct, Raon raised his Divine
Sword with the intent to block rather than cut. As the club
and Divine Sword collided head-on, an intense shockwave
erupted vertically. The heavy fighting spirit seemed to
pierce through his aura and embed itself in his bones. No
thought came to mind other than how strong it was.
"Right. You should at least be able to block this much."
The Twin-Headed Demon cackled as it swung the wooden
club horizontally. The club's shadow obscured Raon's vision
before he could even hear the sound. It was an incredible
display of power and speed. Raon narrowed his eyes as he
blocked the club with a Fire Wall deployed from his Demonic
Sword.
'The power and speed are impressive, but....'
It's simple. The Twin-Headed Demon didn't use fancy
techniques or a variety of martial arts; instead, he applied
pressure through sheer strength, speed, and the amount of
fighting spirit. Unlike his size, this was not the cunning
behavior typically associated with the Ghosts of Eden.
'Don't let your guard down.'
Considering that the Twin-Headed Demon's movements
themselves could be a deception, Raon thought of various
countermeasures before leaning forward and twisting the
wrist holding his Divine Sword. Swirling flames extended
from the sword's edge, violently pushing back the TwinHeaded Demon's wooden club.
"For someone who inherited the abilities of a Ghost of Eden,
you're weak."
Raon curled his lips as he looked down at the Twin-Headed
Demon. Contrary to his inner thoughts of countermeasures,
he pretended to focus on a simple fight as he wiggled his
finger.
"Why are you standing still! Fight quickly!"
The Twin-Headed Demon yelled at the Green King, who had
been focusing on Rimmer's Sword Domain.
"..."
The Green King, as if finally coming to its senses, shook its
shoulders before charging at Raon. It gazed intently at the
Divine Sword and Demonic Sword while unleashing even
sharper swordsmanship than before.
"We have the numerical advantage, so I don't need to go all
out!"
The Twin-Headed Demon swung its club down from behind
the Green King, as if using it as a shield.
"Then I don't need to fight head-on either."
Raon couldn't be drawn into the demon's psychological
warfare. He deflected the Green King's sword attacks and
dodged backward, avoiding the Twin-Headed Demon's club
without blocking it. The Green King, as if frustrated, lunged
forward even faster, thrusting its sword.
It still focused its gaze not on Raon, but on the Divine Sword
and Demonic Sword.
Raon deflected the Green King's slightly sloppier sword
attacks and redirected the Twin-Headed Demon's incoming
fighting spirit from behind. His plan was to drain their
energy like this and then strike when he saw an opening.
"So that's how you want to play it?"
The Twin-Headed Demon smiled as if Raon would regret it,
then rested its club on its shoulder.
"Then I'll fight dirty too!"
It dashed towards the castle walls, as if aiming for House
Arianne instead of Raon.
"Tsk."
Raon clicked his tongue briefly before using his Supreme
Harmony Steps. He caught up to the Twin-Headed Demon
and extended his Divine Sword's flames towards its neck.
"As expected!"
The Twin-Headed Demon sneered as if it had anticipated
this, swinging its wooden club down to extinguish the
flames. Raon didn't panic as his Divine Sword was pushed
back, instead raising his tilted Demonic Sword.
The silver blade scattered like the edge of an aurora, thinly
slicing the Twin-Headed Demon's shoulder as it passed.
Blood flowed from its wound.
"To think a human could match me in strength."
The Twin-Headed Demon let out a hollow laugh as it looked
at the blood flowing from its shoulder.
"It seems your bloodline is indeed strong."
It chuckled and shook its head.
-What nonsense are you spouting!
Wrath shouted at the Twin-Headed Demon.
-It's not because of bloodline, but because he stole my
abilities! Now I'm nothing but bones!
He yelled for the demon to speak if it knew, waving his
hands wildly.
"But you're not unscathed either."
The Twin-Headed Demon raised its chin as if it knew
everything.
"..."
Raon didn't answer, instead raising his Divine Sword and
Demonic Sword. As the demon said, Raon had the
advantage in strength and speed, but the monster's abilities
gave it superior physical durability. He had to be careful not
to worsen his internal injuries.
"However...."
The Twin-Headed Demon looked back, licking its lips.
"I don't understand why that one is slacking off."
It frowned as it watched the Green King alternately
observing Raon's and Rimmer's Sword Domains.
"Hmm...."
Raon narrowed his eyes. As the Twin-Headed Demon said,
the Green King had seemed a bit off ever since he and
Rimmer deployed their Sword Domains.
"You can't use it anyway! Stop watching and move!"
"..."
At the Twin-Headed Demon's shout, the Green King stomped
the ground. It seemed to be on a leash held by the TwinHeaded Demon.
As the Green King's sword blade trembled
finely, twenty sword strikes rushed towards vital points. It
was a mysterious swordsmanship that drew attention with
variable and phantom swords, finishing with quick and
severing swords.
The Twin-Headed Demon, to avoid counterattacks, once
again hid behind the Green King and brought down its club.
It was disgustingly cowardly. Raon employed the Flame and
Ice Unification technique with his Divine Sword and Demonic
Sword.
A storm of frost descended from the sky while a storm of
flames rose from the ground, completely incinerating the
fighting spirit of both the Green King and the Twin-Headed
Demon.
"..."
Despite coughing up blood from severe internal injuries, the
Green King didn't stop its sword. It glared at the Divine
Sword and Demonic Sword while unleashing a series of
improved sword strikes. Raon swung his Divine Sword and
Demonic Sword as if possessed, blocking all attacks from
both the Twin-Headed Demon and the Green King.
'Let's endure.'
While facing both the Twin-Headed Demon and the Green
King simultaneously was causing internal injuries to
accumulate, it wasn't unbearable yet. If he could find an
opportunity to use the Invincible Azure-Red Sword, he might
be able to neutralize both of them at once.
"Certainly...."
The Twin-Headed Demon frowned as it was pushed back,
still holding its wooden club.
"You're strong, but you'd better be a little rougher."
He flicked his finger towards the Green King. The Green
King, upon receiving the signal, looked up at the sky and let
out a roar. Hearing its cry, the monsters charged towards
House Arianne's castle walls as if there was no turning back.
Even the special monsters that had been standing still as if
guarding the King left it behind and leaped towards the
castle walls.
"Those are the royal guards protecting the King. It won't be
easy to stop them this time."
The Twin-Headed Demon licked its lips slowly, as if trying to
make Raon anxious.
"The Light Wind division will have their flesh torn off by
monsters, just like your father and sister."
"I don't think so."
Raon shook his head, not showing the slightest hint of panic.
"What?"
"I didn't raise our people to be that weak."
The moment Raon expressed his faith in the Light Wind
division, the brown-skinned troll that had climbed the castle
wall first fell, its arms and legs severed. As the troll's
massive corpse crashed down, it crushed five orcs beneath
it, killing them instantly.
"Listen, brat. Don't underestimate the Mad Dog Squad."
Martha, standing atop the castle wall, brushed back her
silky black hair.
"It's not us who'll be torn apart, but you."
She wiggled her finger, daring them to come at her.
"It's not the Mad Dog Squad, it's the Light Wind division!"
Burren shook his head as he wiped the troll's blood off his
sword.
"But you're not wrong. You're the ones who'll be torn apart."
He lowered his gaze, his eyes as cold and ruthless as
Karoon's.
"Raon. We can hold out here."
Runaan raised her fist as she froze the feet of the second
Twin-Headed Ogre that had climbed up.
"Stay strong."
She waved her sword, as if telling him not to worry about
the walls and focus on his fight.
"Um, maybe we shouldn't provoke them though?"
Dorian's lips trembled as he cut down an orc behind the
three squad leaders.
"Hahaha!"
Rimmer burst into laughter, seemingly delighted by his
disciples' performance despite being slightly pushed back
by the Severing Sword.
"You heard them, right?"
Raon smiled softly with his back to House Arianne.
"Then let's do this."
As the Twin-Headed Demon wiggled its finger, a red tide
began to surge from the forest. They were Eden's soldiers,
the Red Demons, with their faces covered by white cloth
and wearing red martial uniforms.
"The loss of troops is regrettable, but if we take you with us,
it's definitely worth it."
He grinned, baring his teeth as if ready to see this through
to the end.
'That's dangerous.'
There were even a few ghosts wearing helmets among the
Red Demons. If these were added to the endless waves of
monsters, even the Light Wind division wouldn't be able to
defend the walls. They absolutely couldn't be allowed to
pass.
"Tch."
Biting his lip, Raon shot Fire Spirit and Heavy Sky Cannon
towards the Red Demons rushing towards the castle.
However, the Green King and Twin-Headed Demon created a
wall of fighting spirit, making it impossible for Raon to stop
the Red Demons.
"These days, being too persistent just turns people off."
Raon frowned as he pushed back the Twin-Headed Demon
with his Divine Sword and pressed down on the Green King
with his Demonic Sword.
"It's fine. Eden doesn't have any sense of affection anyway."
The Twin-Headed Demon clung to Raon like a leech,
applying strong pressure as if intending to take him to Eden.
Unlike the monsters targeting the collapsed walls, the Red
Demons moved swiftly, aiming for weak points where the
defense was thin. With a sudden breakthrough, they pierced
through the castle walls in an instant.
Just as the Red Demons were about to jump down into the
castle to target the soldiers and rangers...
Two streams of Astral Rings surged from inside the castle,
tearing apart all the Red Demons and monsters that had
entered. As blood and screams erupted, two female
swordsmen appeared atop the now quiet castle walls. It was
Serena, the Void Sword Division Leader sent as
reinforcement from Zieghart, and Sylvia, the owner of the
annex building.
"Huh, Mom?"
Raon's eyes widened. He had heard reinforcements were
coming, but he never imagined it would be Sylvia. The word
"Mom" slipped out before he could stop himself.
"Why is Mom here...?"
"I told you."
Sylvia winked after cutting down a troll climbing the castle
wall.
"I said that what I need to protect isn't just the annex, but
you too."
She waved her hand, indicating that she had volunteered as
reinforcement.
"Leave the walls to us."
Serena also nodded firmly, as if telling him not to worry. The
Severing Sword, which had been pushing Rimmer as if to kill
him, suddenly stopped its hand when Sylvia appeared,
resulting in a deep cut to its waist.
"What are you doing?"
Although Rimmer had cut the Severing Sword, he couldn't
understand its intentions, so he lowered his sword and
frowned.
"But here is...."
Sylvia lowered her gaze to survey the battlefield. She tilted
her head curiously as she observed the seemingly frozen
Severing Sword and the dazed Green King, but when her
eyes fell on the Twin-Headed Demon, her jaw trembled.
"You...."
"I thought you wouldn't remember since you fled while
unconscious...."
The Twin-Headed Demon drew a long smile as if pleased by
this turn of events.
"Seems you remember me?"
It waved its finger, mocking Sylvia who was breathing
heavily.
"Twin-Headed Demon!"
Sylvia, as if having lost all reason, kicked off from the castle
wall and leapt down to the plain. She fired a beam of
Radiant Light Flow towards the Twin-Headed Demon, as if
blind to everything else.
"If I kill you and Raon, does that mean I'll have wiped out an
entire family?"
The Twin-Headed Demon swung its wooden club down at
Sylvia with a chilling smile. Its fighting spirit was faster and
more ferocious than before, as if it had been holding back
until now.
'Oh no!'
Raon moved to Sylvia's right side and unleashed his Flame
Dragon Strike. Even if she was a Grandmaster, she wouldn't
last five exchanges against the Twin-Headed Demon. He had
to block it at all costs. The Twin-Headed Demon, as if
expecting this, only blocked the Flame Dragon Strike before
stepping back. It seemed to be completely ignoring Sylvia.
"Aaargh!"
Sylvia, seeming even more enraged, screamed as she
charged at the Twin-Headed Demon.
"Stop!"
Raon yelled as he held back Sylvia, who seemed to have
lost all reason.
"If you don't come to your senses, you'll really die too,
Mom!"
"Ugh...."
Even after hearing Raon's cry, Sylvia seemed unable to
regain her composure, her arms and legs trembling
uncontrollably.
-Your mother's emotions are filled with rage.
Wrath bit his lip, his face reddening.
-It's almost as intense as the rage you felt when you
summoned me....
He let out a deep sigh, expressing that he hadn't known she
was hiding such deep sorrow and resentment.
"Let's fight together. We can win."
Raon firmly grasped Sylvia's hand. He wanted to tell her to
retreat, but he also wanted to help her overcome her
trauma through this fight.
"I'm sorry...."
Sylvia nodded heavily, seeming to have regained some of
her senses.
"Can you win? And even if you do win, will it truly be a
victory?"
The Twin-Headed Demon curled its lips, muttering
something incomprehensible. It constantly engaged in
psychological warfare, so Raon waved his hand dismissively.
Raon squeezed Sylvia's hand once more before raising his
Divine Sword and Demonic Sword. He unleashed Azure Sky
Drive with his Divine Sword and fired Heavy Sky Cannon
with his Demonic Sword.
Sylvia, reading Raon's gaze, immediately employed her
Radiant Light Flow, spreading powerful light.
Powerful sword strikes extended one after another, pushing
back the Twin-Headed Demon's club and leaving a deep
gash on its left thigh.
"Kuh, quite strong, but...."
As the Twin-Headed Demon was helplessly pushed back, it
called for the Green King. The Green King quickly moved
behind to support it. At that moment, Raon's eyes flashed. It
was a chance to neutralize both of them simultaneously.
Raon advanced with his Supreme Harmony Steps, crossing
his Divine Sword and Demonic Sword. Sunlight and
moonlight seeped into the two blades, creating a
magnificent radiance.
Divine-Demonic Harmony linked technique. Invincible AzureRed Sword. A powerful energy that seemed capable of
breaking the blades of both Divine and Demonic Swords
extended, striking down on the Twin-Headed Demon's club.
Seeing the club shake as if about to break, Raon stepped
forward, and Sylvia intensified her Radiant Light Flow
energy.
The Twin-Headed Demon rotated the fighting spirit around
its club, reducing the power of the Invincible Azure-Red
Sword. It was a movement befitting a ghost with countless
battle experiences.
'It's useless no matter what you do.'
Raon bit his lip as he concentrated power in his grip.
'I'll cut through here.'
To ensure a definitive end, he rotated the tip of his sword.
Flames and frost began to spin in the same direction as the
Twin-Headed Demon's fighting spirit, starting to cut through
its energy.
'This is the end.'
Just as Raon was about to unleash all the energy of his
Divine Sword and Demonic Sword to behead the TwinHeaded Demon...
"...Sword Domain."
The Green King's lips moved slightly, and a pitch-black
darkness, seemingly filled with despair, was released from
its sword.
"Huh...?"
Raon's jaw trembled as he watched the darkness that
seemed to be pushing back his Invincible Azure-Red Sword.
'Sword Domain?'
Although it was a much cruder form than the incomplete
Sword Domain he had used before, the sword technique
unleashed by the Green King was clearly following the flow
of a Sword Domain.
"A, a Sword Domain?"
Sylvia also noticed it was a Sword Domain and her hand
holding the sword trembled. Raon felt the unease and
questions he had suppressed in his heart rise like ripples as
he watched the darkness raised by the Green King.
'No way....'