Chapter 1224

 Chapter 1224

 

Raon watched Derus Robert’s gaze and curled the corners of his lips upward.

‘Everything is going exactly as planned.’

Just as Raon had anticipated, the moment Glenn revealed his full strength, Derus Robert tried to instantly condense all the energy of death that existed around them and erase the entire area in one sweep.

‘If I hadn’t noticed, things would be dangerous right now.’

The energy of death Derus Robert had gathered was so overwhelming that even grandfather, the strongest swordsman on the continent, was breaking into a cold sweat.

If things were to go the way Derus Robert intended, Grandfather would have been forced to pour all the might he unleashed into defense just to protect me and the Zieghart elites. In doing so, he would have exhausted everything he had, failed to kill Derus Robert, and ultimately been forced to ascend, leaving Derus alive and resulting in the worst possible outcome.

‘But watching how he moved, I got a feeling.’

Just as Derus Robert had grown, I too had sharpened my insight through countless incidents and trials. Now, I could read the changes in his psychology and his plans.

If I hadn’t grasped Derus Robert’s scheme in time, the damage would have been irreversible, but I had read his intentions beforehand.

‘Thanks to that, I was able to prepare a counterattack.’

Raon raised both hands and drew forth a brilliantly shimmering mass of desire.

‘Using the power you handed over to me.’

What flickered in his grasp was the same multicolored desire that had risen from archangel Raphael’s corpse, the power Raphael had manifested to grant Raon’s wish.

It was power that should have vanished with Raphael’s death. Yet, strangely, it did not disappear and remained exactly as it was in his hands.

Goooooo!

Wrapped in the pure desire Raphael had left behind, Raon drew out the authorities of the Demon Kings that had been sleeping deep within his soul.

The instincts of the Demon Kings, suppressed until now in case Derus might sense them, erupted at once, flaring up together with golden flames.

The authority of the Demon Kings normally did not respond well to his control, but perhaps thanks to the Ring of Fire having reached the ten stars, it followed his will faithfully, moving just like the flames of Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation.

Kuuuuurrrrrr!

<Sloth>, <Envy>, <Gluttony>, <Lust>, <Greed>, and <Wrath>. The emotions of the six Demon Kings surged explosively, each adding its own color to Raphael’s multicolored desire.

Zzzzzzzzt!

The sphere of desire, which had been shining brilliantly, began to be dyed in darkness.

And yet, before something called desire, that pitch-black darkness felt perfectly fitting.

“R–Raon Zieghart!”

Derus Robert ground his teeth so hard that blood seeped out. Realizing that Raon had anticipated his plan and stepped one move ahead, his face drained pale with shock.

“You filthy rat!”

Spitting back the very insults once hurled at him, Derus Robert opened a white, gleaming dimensional gate behind his back.

Wooooong!

Judging by the condensed mass of energy of death before Derus Robert’s chest flashed violently, it was clear he intended to detonate it and escape through the dimensional gate. Exactly as Raon had expected.

Woooooong!

Raon clasped his hands together and hurled the black, rippling mass of desire, something that looked capable of granting any wish, straight toward Derus Robert.

‘Let none of my people be harmed, not even a single hair… and let Derus Robert die in utter agony!’

It was an outrageously greedy desire. But in truth, it was both a wish and a prayer, a desperate plea to fate after staking everything he had.

“It’s useless! You’re already too late!”

Derus Robert shouted that the explosion could not be stopped as he clenched his fist. At his gesture, the sphere of condensed energy of death shone pure white, releasing a terrifying surge.

“No, this time, I am not late.”

Filled with certainty, Raon spread the mass of desire wide, completely covering the grand explosion of death energy.

Woooooooong!

The mass of desire he unleashed wrapped around Derus Robert's exploding energy of death like a shroud, then continued to push forward.

Its destination was obvious, Derus Robert himself, and the dimensional gate he had opened to escape.

“Wh….”

Derus Robert’s jaw trembled violently as he stared at the black sphere approaching him. His pupils twisted chaotically with shock.

“You bastard, to the very end—!”

Even then, Derus Robert steadied himself and tried to force the mass of desire back.

“Ghk!”

Raon spat blood as he felt Derus Robert’s ferocious strength. He had poured everything into killing Raphael, fought Derus while maintaining his sword field, and condensed the authority of the Demon Kings into desire. His strength and stamina were completely drained, making it hard to hold on.

Woooooong!

The sphere of desire enveloping the energy of death began to warp as if it were about to tear apart. The explosion inside was simply too great to withstand any longer.

“Eat it, damn you, Raon!”

Derus Robert erupted with power and malice, forcing the sphere of desire back instead. He seemed desperate as well, likely because his true headquarters and elites were right behind him.

“Damn it…!”

Raon bit down on his lip as he watched the sphere of desire being pushed back inch by inch.

What are you doing?!

Wrath screamed.

We’ve basically won already! Push harder!

Flailing his fists wildly, he shouted for Raon to squeeze out every last drop of strength.

‘I want to, but it’s not that easy….’

Just as Raon shook his head at Wrath’s furious outburst—

“You’ve done well.”

Glenn stepped up beside him and offered a faint smile.

“I was going to step in, but here, it would be better if you finish it.”

Saying that since he had started this, Raon should also bring it to an end, Glenn placed a hand on Raon’s shoulder

Woooooooong!

Through Glenn’s grasp, a vast aura, like an ocean, flowed into Raon. It was energy carrying the flow of Heavenly Lightning Cultivation, adjusted so Raon could use it.

“G–Grandfather, but….”

“It is alright. You can do it.”

Glenn nodded calmly, as if to say he could handle everything.

Honestly, that geezer…

Wrath let out a hollow laugh.

What are you hesitating for? With a warrior like that backing you up, you’d be crazy not to go all in!

Wrath thrust his hand forward, urging Raon not to hesitate.

If it really doesn't work, the King of Essence shall help you as well!

Wrath nodded firmly, telling him to unleash everything he had without holding back.

‘Alright….’

Raon gave a heavy nod, his gaze fixed on the sphere of desire that was barely containing the explosion.

‘Here….’

With the sword I was wielding now, I couldn’t cut down Derus Robert. The only thing that could stop him at this point was the Heart Sword.

“Slowly.”

Glenn lowered his voice.

“Raise your own sword. Right now, you can do it.”

Hearing those words, Raon closed his eyes.

Fwoooooosh!

He drew forth the sword forged within his soul, tempered through pain, acceptance, and countless moments of realization.

Perhaps because all ten rings were now complete, the blade that had once been far shorter than an ordinary sword had grown noticeably longer. It still hadn’t reached the length of a true longsword, but it felt close, within reach.

“A magnificent sword.”

Glenn praised him in a warm voice, as if he could see the Heart Sword that hadn't even been fully drawn yet.

“I was right to trust you.”

As his words ended, an eerily sharp presence rose beside them.

Fwoooooosh.

Glenn’s Heart Sword manifested, the sword of the heart that contained everything the continent’s strongest swordsman was.

The sword of the heart, which should not be visible to the eye, was shining more brilliantly and transparently than any weapon in this world.

It was terrifying, as if merely looking at it would sever one's life, yet it also felt strangely warm.

“G–Grandfather!”

Raon stared at Glenn with widened eyes.

“It’s something you did just moments ago. You can do it.”

Glenn waved his hand lightly, smiling as if everything was fine.

“Ah!”

Realizing Glenn’s intent through that gentle smile, Raon let out a breath.

“Yes. I’ll do it.”

“Good. I’m counting on you.”

Glenn nodded calmly and launched his Heart Sword.

Ignoring time and space alike, a peerless sword strike, one capable of cutting even a god’s soul, descended toward Derus Robert.

“I expected this!”

Derus Robert sneered, claiming that he had anticipated Glenn using his Heart Sword, he drew forth his own Heart Sword, forged from his soul.

Hwaaaaaaa!

Derus Robert’s Heart Sword had a grotesque form, as if the bodies of thousands of humans had been stretched thin like taffy and then crushed together like clay. Merely looking at it induced revulsion and made the stomach churn.

“With my current self, I can withstand your sword for a moment! And then….”

Derus Robert laughed as black blood spilled from his mouth.

“Once the energy of death erupts, all of you will be wiped out!”

He roared that if he could just hold Glenn back with his Heart Sword, even for a moment, the energy of death would inevitably break through the sphere of desire and kill everyone.

“Come on—!”

Certain of that outcome, Derus Robert shifted all his focus to defense, raising his Heart Sword to intercept Glenn head-on.

Fwoooooosh!

Glenn’s Heart Sword did not pierce him. Instead, it twisted through the air like a swallow, flipping gracefully before coming to a halt.

“W–What…?”

In the instant Derus Robert blinked in confusion—

Boooooom!

From behind Glenn’s Heart Sword, its presence concealed until the last moment, another Heart Sword burst forth in silence and stabbed straight into Derus Robert’s soul.

“Ghhk!”

Because all his focus was fixed on Glenn’s Heart Sword, Derus Robert failed to notice Raon’s sudden ambush and dropped to his left knee in shock and pain.

‘Ha! Is this really a human soul?’

Raon felt the sheer enormity of Derus Robert’s soul, thicker and more massive than even the World Tree, and his jaw trembled. Without Glenn’s sword, killing this monster would have been impossible.

‘No, I must do it.’

I couldn’t let grandfather go like this. As he had said, since I had created this situation, I had to be the one to bring it to an end.

“J-Just a little more….”

Grinding his teeth, Derus Robert forced himself upright, trying to endure Raon’s Heart Sword with his soul alone, without the protection of his own Heart Sword. He split the power of the Heart Sword he had been using to block Glenn, attempting to use it to stop Raon as well.

‘Just a little more!’

Raon clenched his teeth as well, pouring every shred of focus into his Heart Sword, refusing to be pushed back.

‘Even as I learn grandfather’s sword, I won’t lose my own color!’

As he recalled the terrifyingly perfect Heart Sword Glenn showed him, Raon reflected on his own life.

Goooooo!

The Ring of Fire’s ten rings resonated violently, as if on the verge of bursting apart, forging the blade of his Heart Sword longer and longer, its sharpness doubling.

In that fleeting instant, Raon’s sword, and his soul, grew another step stronger.

‘Now!’

Raon took one more step forward and poured everything remaining in his body and soul into his Heart Sword.

Raon Zieghart Style Swordplay.

Ninth Form, Die to Live.

Die to Live, Raon’s Heart Sword, which governed life itself, finally cut deep into Derus Robert’s soul.

Tukwaaaaaang!

A sound like a massive tree collapsing rang out as Derus Robert’s movements froze, blood bursting from his eyes and mouth.

“Kuh—hhhk!”

Coughing up dead blood, Derus Robert lifted his trembling head. With white eyes stained by black blood, he looked at Raon.

“I told you….”

Raon exhaled raggedly and thrust his hand forward.

“I don’t need the trash you gave me.”

Letting out a snort, he shoved the sphere of desire, turning white from the explosion, together with Derus Robert into the dimensional gate.

“Y–You…!”

Derus Robert reached out with a trembling hand, but he and the sphere of desire had already crossed through the dimensional gate. The white-flickering portal received its master, and then closed completely.

KRAAAAAAANG!