Lightning..."
Raon let out a small groan as he met Glenn's intense gaze.
"Since the Head of House created it, it must be a powerful and refined swordsmanship, but I'm not sure if it's suitable for me."
Currently, he possessed auras of flame, frost, wind, and earth, the latter obtained from the Sword Saint. While Glenn's Thunder Sword would undoubtedly be destructive, Raon wasn't convinced it would benefit him, having already mastered four elemental auras.
'Too much power can become a poison.'
He had mastered flame and frost, was in the process of familiarizing himself with wind, but was still far from adapting to the earth aura. He worried whether he could effectively use the Thunder Sword in his current state.
"It's natural for you to think that way, given the number of attributes you've mastered."
Glenn stroked his chin calmly, as if he had anticipated Raon's question.
"As you said, most Transcendents focus on one or two attributes. However, this isn't because additional ones are unnecessary, but because mastering other attributes requires an enormous amount of time and effort."
He lowered his eyebrows, explaining that someone who learned the flame aura would need more than three times the effort to master cold energy.
"But you, Raon, are different."
A star of expectation rose in Glenn's red eyes.
"Even as an Expert, you freely used flame and frost. After becoming a Master, you incorporated both attributes into your swordsmanship, and now you've created a sword technique that incorporates wind as well."
He nodded approvingly as he continued.
"Yet your capacity isn't fully filled. After perfecting the earth aura and mastering the Thunder Sword you're about to learn, your level will rise even further."
Glenn smiled, saying he had never seen someone with such a large capacity for martial arts.
"It might seem chaotic now, but when all the auras and martial arts you've learned become one, no one will stand above you."
He looked up at the dark night sky, saying Raon could even surpass him.
"That seems difficult."
Raon shook his head firmly.
'It would take a lifetime of training to reach that level.'
After reaching Transcendence, Glenn's level seemed even higher. The mere sight of it was overwhelming. Realizing how high the Head of House supporting Zieghart stood made his skin crawl.
"No, you can do it."
Glenn shook his chin without hesitation, as if certain.
"You might even transcend constraints and laws."
He laughed, saying Raon might not even be bound by causality like himself.
-This king has similar thoughts.
Wrath waved his finger, saying he finally agreed with the old man.
-With that cheating ring you possess, you could learn the Thunder Sword or any other technique.
He muttered that Raon's capacity had grown even larger with nine Rings of Fire.
-But don't let your guard down! If the opportunity arises, this king will devour your body!
'Tomorrow too?'
-Not tomorrow, but the moment the opportunity presents itself!
'Ah, I was planning to make dragon barbecue tomorrow, but I guess that won't work.'
Raon said disappointedly, licking his lips.
-W-well, this king might be busy tomorrow, so it could be fine?
'No, no. It's dangerous, so I should just eat the food I'm given.'
He shook his head, saying he'd eat at the fifth training ground's cafeteria.
-Just eat it! This king won't take it!
Wrath shouted that he wouldn't take it tomorrow or the day after, telling Raon to make the dragon barbecue. Though he claimed to be after Raon's body, it seemed he had already given up.
"Since you seem to understand, shall we begin?"
Glenn placed his hand on the hilt of the Heavenly Tremor and continued.
"The sword technique is called Celestial Thunder Arts."
"Celestial Thunder Arts...?"
"It's not just an aura cultivation method, but a martial art that incorporates swordsmanship, like the Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation."
He said he was inspired by the Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation he used as he gripped the sword hilt.
"As I mentioned, I had its connection with the Azure Sky Sword in mind, so watch carefully."
Glenn drew the Heavenly Tremor at an excruciatingly slow pace. He aimed the sword tip at the ground and took a short breath. In the blink of an eye, Glenn's sword was touching the sky, and the clear night sky had turned into dark clouds.
The eyes of the thunder dragon writhing between the pitch-black clouds filled with crimson lightning.
As Glenn quietly lowered the Heavenly Tremor, the red lightning that filled the sky became a single sword and struck down. The sword strike, transcending the concept of speed, fell before Raon and Glenn, creating a tremendous shockwave. It was strong enough to push him back despite bracing himself.
"This is the tenth form of the Celestial Thunder Arts, Mighty Thunderstorm."
Glenn lightly shook off his hand holding the Heavenly Tremor, calling it the first move of the Celestial Thunder Sword. (E/N: I am as confused as you probably are - tenth form yet first move. I am probably missing something, but here we are, but decided to leave it like that in case it actually means something)
"Ah..."
Raon exhaled, looking at the black hole carved in front of him.
'The speed and power are beyond what I can follow.'
Glenn had just compressed the lightning energy that filled the sky thinner than a sword blade and struck down. Despite the powerful shockwave that shook Raon's body, only a small hole was created, showing the overwhelming control and penetration of the lightning energy. He had seen many magic spells and sword techniques incorporating lightning, but never a power this different in caliber.
The lightning energy was so extremely condensed that he felt even using the Sword Domain Heaven's Rift wouldn't be able to block it.
-H-he's quite s-something.
Wrath shook his head, stuttering twice.
-I don't understand why the old man keeps getting stronger when it's time for him to leave.
He moistened his dry lips with his tongue, seemingly quite shocked.
'Are you giving up now?'
-What nonsense! This king never loses!
Wrath shook his head vigorously, saying the Demon King never loses.
"What do you think? Will you learn it?"
Glenn spread his hands as if to say he would do as Raon wished.
"If I backed down after seeing this, I wouldn't be a swordsman."
Raon nodded after exhaling briefly.
"I'll do it."
It would be unworthy of a swordsman to refuse after witnessing the sword technique Glenn had just demonstrated. Accepting was only natural.
"That's a good resolve."
Glenn revealed a look of pride, as if he had expected this.
"Then, from now on, I'll teach you the mantras and forms of the Celestial Thunder Arts."
Standing there, he recited the theory of the Celestial Thunder Arts in one go. Raon resonated his Ring of Fire, memorizing every single word of Glenn's without missing anything.
'The usage method isn't difficult.'
While Glenn could have created a more complex martial art, it was as easy to understand as an intermediate-level sword technique. It seemed like a martial art created from the beginning with the intention of passing it on to others.
"Next are the forms."
After conveying all the mantras of the Celestial Thunder Arts, Glenn stepped forward, holding the Heavenly Tremor. He demonstrated all the postures in detail, from the first form to the twelfth, before lowering his sword.
'It really does pair well with the Azure Sky Sword.'
As Glenn had said, the sword forms of the Celestial Thunder Arts were connected in pairs with the forms of the Azure Sky Sword. Easy-to-understand mantras and familiar sword forms. If he wasn't mistaken, it seemed Glenn had created the Celestial Thunder Arts specifically for him.
'I'm probably right.'
Grandfather wouldn't need to create any more martial arts beyond this. The current Glenn could express the ultimate swordsmanship just by swinging his sword. The fact that he created such a refined martial art was clearly not for himself, but for others.
"You will be able to imbue more value into your sword than I can. I look forward to seeing that day."
Glenn told him to envision all aspects of the Ten Thousand Swords as he sheathed the Heavenly Tremor.
"Thank you."
Raon raised the Heavenly Drive in a sword salute.
"I'll perfect the Celestial Thunder Arts to be of help to Zieghart."
"While those words please me, I didn't pass this on for Zieghart's sake, but for yours."
Glenn stepped forward and grasped Raon's shoulder.
"Think about yourself a little."
He smiled faintly, telling Raon to have some leisure in his heart.
"Like that master of yours who's resting, stuck in his sword even after death."
"Ah, yes..."
Raon chuckled as he touched the Blade of Requiem.
"Then let's start again."
Glenn said he would correct Raon's posture as he stepped back.
"I'll be in your care!"
Raon bowed deeply and drew the Heavenly Drive.
* * *
The night had passed completely, and the late sun had risen when Glenn finally lowered his hand.
"This should be enough."
Glenn nodded, seemingly satisfied.
"Now that you've got the posture down, you should be able to practice on your own."
"Thank you."
"I thought it would take a few days to teach you, but to grasp the basics in just one night..."
He let out a dry laugh, as if in disbelief.
"Your capacity seems to be growing even larger."
Glenn narrowed his eyes, saying Raon might be able to learn other energies besides lightning.
"It's thanks to grandfather's excellent teaching."
"I-is that so?"
Glenn's lips trembled slightly, seemingly pleased at being called grandfather.
"Yes. The mantras and forms were all easy to understand. Thank you, grandfather."
"Hup!"
Glenn momentarily held his breath, as if moved that Raon had realized his intention.
"W-well then. Go and rest. Y-you've worked hard all night."
He waved his hand, panting to hide his emotional expression.
"You've worked hard too."
Raon said he'd come back later and left the Head of House's training ground.
'It's an amazing sword technique.'
He smiled faintly as he generated lightning energy on his fingertips.
'It lacks nothing in power, speed, or penetration.'
The strength of the Celestial Thunder Arts lay in its swift speed and powerful force, befitting a lightning-based sword technique. But more than that, the sword technique's trajectory was both grand and intricate. It seemed that even a Transcendent of the same level would have difficulty blocking it after seeing it just once.
'To learn such a technique in one night, even I find it unbelievable.'
Even for a Transcendent, mastering a top-tier sword technique in one night should be impossible. His original self would have needed at least a week just to get the posture right, but he never expected to learn the Celestial Thunder Arts Glenn created in just one night.
It seemed he was becoming a true monster, both mentally and physically, as his Ring of Fire reached nine stars.
-No matter how I look at it, it's cheating.
Wrath shook his head in disbelief.
-Where on earth did you get that damned ring?
'Well, I'm not sure myself...'
He let out a small sigh as he looked back at Glenn, whose cheeks and ears were turning red in the center of the training ground.
'The closer I get to others...'
The more my heart aches. Glenn considers him a born genius, but the secret to that talent is the Ring of Fire. Learning the true Ten Thousand Swords, gathering multiple attributes simultaneously without slowing down the learning speed - it's all thanks to the Ring of Fire.
To honestly explain this reason, he would have to bring up his past life, but he wasn't sure if he could say those words.
'It's right not to do it, but it's funny that I want to do it at the same time.'
While he wanted to continue living as Raon Zieghart, he also felt a pang of conscience, wanting to reveal the truth to those who believed in him.
'Whatever happens, I guess the first one...'
He licked his lips briefly, looking at Wrath singing a dragon barbecue song.
'Will be that guy.'
He didn't know how Wrath would react, but to him, Wrath was the closest being. Before revealing the secret to others, it was right to tell that guy first.
-What are you staring at?
Wrath waved his hand as if telling Raon to go grill the meat.
'Forget it, you bastard.'
Raon snorted and turned his head away.
* * *
Raon headed towards the annex building, bickering with Wrath. Having trained all night before his fatigue from traveling had even subsided, he wanted to lie down in bed quickly. As he hurried towards the annex building, he heard someone's breathing from behind Federick's mansion.
'That sound, could it be...'
Raon entered the small garden behind Federick's mansion, suppressing his presence. Hiding his form and raising his gaze, he saw Alice running in the garden.
"Huff! Huff!"
Alice's forehead and upper clothes were already soaked with sweat, as if she had been running for quite some time.
'I still can't feel any aura.'
Despite feeling the emptiness of her dantian and the void of her depleted muscles, Alice was running through the garden with all her might. Her determined expression revealed a desperate will.
'Is she already up?'
He had seen her doing push-ups indoors, but he didn't expect her to be out running already.
'As expected of Aunt.'
Seeing her rise again and run despite losing all the martial prowess she had built up over decades after being betrayed by the son she had desperately searched for, he felt truly respectful towards her.
-Indeed, that woman's spirit is strong.
Wrath nodded as if impressed.
'That's right. I made a good decision.'
-Decision? What do you mean?
'...'
Raon stood up without answering, as if telling Wrath to see for himself.
"R-Raon?"
Alice stopped running and opened her eyes wide.
"What brings you here so early in the morning?"
Her eyes trembled as if she still felt guilty towards him.
"I'm on my way back from learning swordsmanship from the Head of House."
"Ah, I heard that father agreed to teach you swordsmanship after you caught the dragon..."
Alice clapped her hands, saying it was good. Her capacity was evident in the way she praised him without any hint of resentment, despite having lost her martial prowess.
"I also brought a gift for Aunt on my way back from Sepia."
Raon smiled faintly as he took out his subspace pouch.
"Will you accept it?"
"Of course! I could eat even mud bread if it's from my nephew!"
Alice stretched out both arms, saying she would accept anything. Though her emotions weren't fully settled, it was clear she was trying to overcome them.
"Thank you."
Raon nodded and took out a Dragon Heart emitting rainbow-colored light from his subspace pouch.
"...A Dragon Heart?"
Alice lowered her outstretched hands as she saw the Dragon Heart.
"W-why are you giving this to me..."
"It's the Dragon Heart from the one I caught this time. I wanted to give it to you, Aunt."
"No!"
Alice shook her hand vigorously, as if she couldn't understand.
"I'm just a fool who lost her power after being stabbed by her son! Why are you giving me this precious thing when even your master died because of me!"
She shook her head, telling him to take it back.
"I'm giving this to you because you're my aunt, not someone else."
Raon grabbed Alice's wrist as she tried to pull her arm away.
"Aunt, you helped me even though I couldn't be of any help. You casually gave me the Dragon Heart I got after defeating Kaivar. I'm giving this to you because of what I learned from you."
Alice had always helped him without expecting anything in return. He too had taken out the Dragon Heart not expecting anything, but hoping to alleviate Alice's pain even a little.
"You look best when you're confident, Aunt."
Raon smiled as he placed the Dragon Heart in Alice's hand.
"You have to get revenge on Derus, and you have a promise with Martha, don't you?"
He bowed his head, asking her to return to being Alice Zieghart, the Pirate King roaming the sea.
"..."
Alice bit her lips hard as she stared at the Dragon Heart in her hand. Faint moisture began to gather in her eyes.
"I hope to see you in your original bold appearance next time."
"...Thank you."
Alice let out a trembling voice with her head bowed low.
"It's nothing."
Raon lightly waved his hand and turned his back.
"Young Master Raon. Thank you."
Lawaine, who had been hiding in the doorway, bowed deeply as Raon was about to leave the garden.
"No, thank you for always watching over Aunt."
Raon returned the thanks to Lawaine and headed back towards the annex building.
-So it was that crazy woman you were giving the lizard heart to.
Wrath nodded, saying he understood completely.
'She's helped me a lot.'
-Ahem! There's also a demon who's given you overflowing help, beyond just a lot...
He licked his lips as if asking if Raon could think of anyone else.
'What do you want?'
-Hmm! It's a bit awkward for this king to say it with his own mouth?
'Nadine bread?'
-You crazy bastard!
Wrath shouted, swinging his fist.
-I wouldn't eat that even if you gave it to me! It's a six-letter food! You should know if you think about it a little! (E/N: needless to say, it makes more sense in korean)
'Six letters... Ah!'
Raon clapped his hands while looking into space.
'Nadine bread barbecue?'
-Why would you grill Nadine bread whole, you idiot!
Wrath frowned as if dumbfounded.
'Then what is it?'
-This bastard knows everything!
'You said I lack tact. I really can't think of anything.'
-You'd be better off just dying!
'I've almost died many times, but you've always saved me.'
-Arghhhh!
As Raon was chuckling while teasing Wrath, he sensed someone approaching from behind using footwork.
"Light Wind Division Leader!"
When he turned around, he saw Chad, the Shadow Agents' Leader, running towards him waving a white envelope.
"Shadow Agents' Leader?"
"A-a letter for you, Division Leader!"
Chad handed him the letter while panting heavily.
"I should have seen you yesterday, but I was busy, so even now..."
"Ah, it's fine."
Raon smiled faintly as he received the letter from Chad.
"Borgos?"
Raon's eyes widened as he saw the name written on the letter. It was a letter from Borgos, the dwarf master blacksmith that Sterin said he would relay a message to.
'The reply is unexpectedly fast.'
Sterin had said the reply might be late, but seeing it arrive so soon after reaching Zieghart, it was the opposite.
'Did he view it positively?'
Since dragon bones, teeth, and scales are materials that even master craftsmen can't easily handle, he thought it was quite possible as he opened the letter.
"...Huh?"
But as soon as Raon read the single line written in the letter, his red eyes trembled.
"Help me?"