Raon woke up and immediately realized that his world had changed. Grandmaster. He could feel on his skin that he had stepped into the realm of Transcendence, rare even among the Six Kings and the Five Demons.
It felt like he was sinking into the depths of the ocean; his body was heavy, and his arms and legs didn't move well, as if they were tied to rocks.
However, the world moved even slower and heavier than that. This must be the world one encounters when a Grandmaster fully unleashes their Willpower.
-What the hell are you doing!
Wrath jumped out onto the bracelet, glaring.
-What kind of fool enters a state of enlightenment in the middle of a battlefield! How big is your gut!
Wrath shook his head, shouting in disbelief.
-Why does a guy like this break through the wall! This is so unfair!
'I'll play with you later. Just stay quiet.'
Raon turned his back on the howling Wrath and faced the distorted eyes of the Dragon Sword Master.
'He is strong.'
The Martial Prowess of the Dragon Sword Master, holding the Demonic Sword Criatus, seemed to transcend the word 'strong'.
However, thanks to Rimmer tenaciously clinging to him and wearing down his Demonic Energy and Aura, a way to win was visible.
'I have to end this now.'
He could feel it. The tremendous Martial Prowess of the current moment couldn't be maintained. He had to behead the Dragon Sword Master before this state of awakening ended.
Hwaaaaa!
He lifted the Heavenly Drive while chanting the mantras of the Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation engraved in his mind. Eighteen pillars of fire, connecting heaven and earth, spread out and surrounded the Dragon Sword Master.
Each pillar was a prison of flames imbued with Astral Ring-level firepower.
"Flames!"
The Dragon Sword Master swung the Demonic Sword Criatus, trying to escape the heat of the Dance of the Golden Flame, but the eighteen pillars of flame devoured the Demonic Energy and became even stronger.
"What the!"
He struck the Demonic Sword violently as if he couldn't understand the flames consuming the Demonic Energy. Criatus spewed out vicious Demonic Energy as if it were rampaging, but the flames did not extinguish.
Raon compressed the range of the flame prison with his Willpower, his gaze steady.
'This is the Dance of the Golden Flame.'
The Dance of the Golden Flame was not merely an attack or defense but a special skill that created a prison resistant to Demonic Energy.
It was a martial art used by Zieghart's ancestor when fighting the monster whose pupils turned black and white. Raon hadn't expected to use it so soon.
Kwaaaaang!
The Dragon Sword Master seemed to have realized that the Dance of the Golden Flame was resistant to Demonic Energy, so he extracted his Aura above the Demonic Energy to cut through the bars of flame. The condensed Aura exploded violently, shaking the Dance of the Golden Flame.
"Damn it!"
He threw his body into the small space that only a child could barely escape from. It seemed he was willing to suffer burns to escape the Dance of the Golden Flame.
"You have to pay the rent."
Raon tightened the bars of flame as the Dragon Sword Master tried to escape.
Hwaaaaaa!
The rapidly narrowing flames left deep burns on the Dragon Sword Master's legs and waist.
"Ugh…."
The Dragon Sword Master ground his teeth, looking at the bright red burns embedded like slave marks. The furrow in his brow didn't relax, perhaps due to the pain.
"What the hell did you do!"
"No need to know."
Raon shook his head, aiming the Heavenly Drive at the Dragon Sword Master's eyes.
"Ha! Arrogant over a mere wound! The real fight begins now!"
The Dragon Sword Master stirred up a powerful wave of energy that seemed to crush the air, as if humiliated by being overpowered.
"Two wounds actually. Can't you even count?"
Raon deflected the Dragon Sword Master's wave of energy and pointed to the burns on his waist and legs.
"Shut up."
The Dragon Sword Master raised the Demonic Sword with chilling eyes.
"How dare a mere rookie at the starting line!"
Demonic Energy and Aura simultaneously ignited on the black blade, emitting a chilling darkness.
"This isn't the starting line; it's the finish line where your head will fly off."
Raon lifted the Heavenly Drive with a smirk. The flames running along the blade condensed into a radiant sphere, shining like the sun. Astral Ring. The technique exclusive to Grandmasters was finally within his grasp.
"I told you to shut up."
"Then don't provoke me."
"Shut your mouth!"
Unable to contain his fury, the Dragon Sword Master swung the Demonic Sword Criatus. The Astral Ring of Demonic Energy spun at a terrifying speed, distorting space.
Kyaaaaaaaang!
Raon thrust the Heavenly Drive into the swirling Demonic Energy. The radiant Astral Ring wrapped in a crimson glow pierced through the darkness.
Kwaaaaaaang!
The clash of the Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation's Astral Ring and the Demonic Energy's Astral Ring overturned the ground between them and split the darkened sky.
Raon plunged into the Dragon Sword Master's space on the descending crust. The flame-wrapped silver blade cut through the Demonic Energy, advancing further.
"Ugh!"
The Dragon Sword Master bit his lip hard enough to draw blood as he was pushed back.
"What is this…."
He glared at Raon with wide eyes, unable to believe he was losing in a power struggle.
Raon followed the Dragon Sword Master using the Supreme Harmony Steps. Riding the wind as if Rimmer were pushing him, he raised the Fire Spirit.
Hwaaaaa!
A tree soaked in red bloomed at the tip of the sword. In an instant, as if experiencing all the emotions of joy, anger, sorrow, and pleasure, petals filled with those emotions fell from the branches extending to the sky.
Hundreds, no, thousands of flame fragments opened a red path, imbued with Raon's Willpower. The delicate petals of flame became a storm, enveloping the Dragon Sword Master.
"This is nothing!"
The Dragon Sword Master roared, raising the blade of the Demonic Sword.
Criatus revealed thick branches as if returning to its original form, the Demonic Tree from Devildom, scattering blackened leaves.
Kwaaaaaang!
The black leaves released by the Demonic Sword Criatus crushed the petals of the Fire Spirit.
In the past, the petals would have fallen under this pressure, but the current Fire Spirit was different. The split petals gathered again to form a second storm.
"This, this is…."
The Dragon Sword Master's eyes twisted. As he tried to thrust the Demonic Sword again, the gathered petals moved forward, facing each other's patterns.
The red petals burned the black leaves, falling onto the branches created by the Demonic Sword Criatus.
Kwaaaaaaang!
When the black tree was decorated with red petals, displaying a chilling beauty, a tremendous heat exploded, wildly tearing apart the Dragon Sword Master's Demonic Energy and Aura.
"Ugh!"
The Dragon Sword Master emerged through the red heat, in terrible shape. His long robe was in tatters, and his face and left arm bore severe burns.
"Damn it…."
He looked at his burnt arm, biting his lip.
"What, what are you! How can someone who just became a Grandmaster wield such power!"
The Dragon Sword Master charged, shouting in disbelief, his face, once dignified, now contorted with fury.
"It's not just my power."
Raon responded calmly, raising a blazing flame. A wall of flames rose, creating a barrier.
Kwaaaaaaang!
The Fire Wall blocked the Dragon Sword Master's Astral Ring perfectly.
"A wall of Astral Ring?"
Raon pierced the Dragon Sword Master's space. He struck the Heavenly Drive wrapped in the flames of the Fire Wall deep inside.
"How dare you!"
The Dragon Sword Master reacted immediately, as befitting a Grandmaster, raising the Demonic Sword to create a shield of Astral Ring.
Raon, indifferent to his defense, continued to press the Heavenly Drive wrapped in flames.
Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation, Crimson Slash.
The thin line of heat on the blade split space like a thread.
Chwaaak!
The Dragon Sword Master's Astral Ring shield cracked slightly. It wasn't a mistake. The Crimson Slash imbued with the essence of the Spatial Sword split the Astral Ring.
"This!"
The Dragon Sword Master hurriedly tried to gather the Astral Ring, but Raon's sword stroke had already grazed his chest.
Pukaaak!
The red blood evaporated from the heat before it could see the light of day, leaving a severe burn on the Dragon Sword Master's chest.
"What the…."
The Dragon Sword Master staggered backward, clutching his chest with trembling hands.
Kwaaaang!
Raon stepped forward, thrusting the Heavenly Drive forward. The flames swirling around the blade formed the shape of a Fire Dragon.
The breath of flame spewed from the gaping maw, threatening to devour the world.
Kwaaaaaaang!
Flame Dragon Strike. The Fire Dragon's roar exploded, melting the ground where the Dragon Sword Master stood as if it had turned into a Lava Zone, sending black smoke billowing into the sky.
"Phew…."
Raon swallowed dryly as he looked at the blade of the Heavenly Drive, where faint golden flames flickered.
'This is the real Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation.'
The Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation was already powerful when it was at the level of a hundred flames, but at the level of a thousand flames, its power was on a different scale.
It seemed that Zieghart's ancestor had designed this swordsmanship with the Grandmaster level in mind from the beginning.
'I want to maintain this feeling.'
When this moment ended, it would be challenging to return to this state for a while.
To bring that time forward, he had to familiarize himself with the current sensation.
-Hey!
Wrath thrust his face forward.
-The techniques of the Great King were too advanced for you to use properly until now! You can follow them a bit now!
Wrath even taught him how to use his skills, boasting that his techniques were superior.
"Haah…."
The Dragon Sword Master stepped out of the scorched ground, panting heavily. His long robe was now in shreds, and his entire body was covered in crimson burns like crawling worms.
"Hot?"
Raon mocked, reaching out his hand toward the Dragon Sword Master as if to grab his head, and summoned Glacier.
Wrath's ultimate technique.
Silver Aurora.
Blue radiance flickered from his outstretched hand. The moment he witnessed that light, a blue chill had already enveloped the Dragon Sword Master.
Chiiiiik!
The blade of Frost pierced the burnt wounds, turning the Dragon Sword Master's injuries black with death.
Kwaaaaaaang!
The Dragon Sword Master stomped the ground with all his might, trying to escape, but the Silver Aurora clung to him like a leech, exerting enormous pressure on his legs.
"Get lost already!"
Unable to bear it, the Dragon Sword Master slammed the Demonic Sword into the ground, creating a storm of Demonic Energy.
But even the Demonic Energy froze under the chill, drastically reducing the space he could move.
Tremendous power surged into Raon's legs. He dashed forward, reaching the Dragon Sword Master's right side. His left hand, glowing with a blue halo, struck unhesitatingly.
Wrath's ultimate technique.
Silver Moon Demonic Seal.
A bead emerged between his palm and the Dragon Sword Master's right shoulder, spreading a cold wave of Frost.
Kwaaaaaaang!
A technique unique to Raon, different from Wrath's Silver Moon Demonic Seal, froze the Dragon Sword Master's entire right upper body.
"Kuhuhk!"
The Dragon Sword Master retreated, coughing up blood, trying to erase the chill of the Silver Moon Demonic Seal with the flames of Demonic Energy, but the chill did not extinguish.
-Uhehehehe!
Wrath swung his small fist with a grin.
-Did you see? That's the Great King's technique! Your flames are nothing compared to it!
He extended his lips, boasting that Glacier was superior to the Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation.
'Simpleton….'
In the past, he would curse when imitated, but now he praised when well imitated. It was hard to know how to dance to his tune when being with Wrath.
"This, this makes no sense. How can someone who just became a Grandmaster…."
The Dragon Sword Master trembled, trying to peel off the ice fragments sticking to his flesh with pale blue lips.
"You still don't get it."
Raon looked at the Dragon Sword Master with pity.
"It's not that I've become stronger; it's more that you've become weaker."
"What do you mean…."
"Didn't you notice anything while fighting our Division Leader?"
Raon turned his back on the Dragon Sword Master, whose life or death was uncertain, biting his lip as he looked at Rimmer.
"The Division Leader intentionally let you spread your Demonic Energy so that the Demonic Sword's power and your Aura would be consumed. In the end, even as he fell, he trapped the Demonic Energy within his body."
"Ah…."
At those words, the Dragon Sword Master's complexion turned pale. His eyes trembled as he glanced at Rimmer.
"That person doesn't fight without reason. He calculated everything and created the current situation."
Raon clicked his tongue at the Dragon Sword Master's darkening complexion.
'No need to tell him the most crucial part.'
He raised the Heavenly Drive. Golden light shimmered on the silver blade, spreading a divine aura like the light of dawn.
"Our Division Leader can only tease us. He's not someone you can mock and ignore."
Holding onto the remnants of his awakening, Raon approached the Dragon Sword Master.
"Rimmer! You filthy bastard!"
The Dragon Sword Master charged with a scream, drawing out all his energy, not just from the Demonic Sword Criatus but also his own, causing the world to tremble.
Raon advanced into the raging Demonic Energy, drawing up his Aura.
The Aura surged from his Lower Dantian, solidified in the Middle Dantian, and wrapped around the Willpower in the Upper Dantian. The Aura passing through the three Dantians turned into golden flames, soaking the blade of the Heavenly Drive.
Raon and the Dragon Sword Master simultaneously thrust their red and black sword strikes at each other's breaths.
Kwaaaaaaang!
The clash of the Heavenly Drive and the Demonic Sword created a fissure that stretched from the sky to the ground.
The repeated explosions of impact from the collision of their forces and martial arts sent shockwaves of unimaginable intensity. The earth around them overturned, and trees were uprooted.
Though it seemed an even match, the outcome quickly became evident.
Crack!
The hilt of the Demonic Sword Criatus, containing all the Dragon Sword Master's power, shattered, and the blade of Demonic Energy began to dissipate.
"Why, why is the Demonic Sword…."
He trembled as he looked at the disintegrating hilt of the Demonic Sword.
"That's the seed our Division Leader planted, which you called stupid."
The Dragon Sword Master, mentally pressured, didn't realize it, but Rimmer had inserted wind into the blade of the Demonic Sword, creating a fine twist.
The seed he left behind opened a path to cut the Dragon Sword Master's throat.
"Wait!"
Ignoring the Dragon Sword Master's desperate shout, Raon pushed the Heavenly Drive forward. Golden flames devoured the Demonic Energy, burning fiercely. The miniature sun on the blade's edge emitted a majestic light toward the center of the dissipating Demonic Energy.
Kwaaaaaaang!
The tremendous impact caused the buildings of the Lakion family to collapse like dominoes, with black smoke rising to the sky.
Fwoooosh!
When Raon lowered the Heavenly Drive, the Dragon Sword Master, whose upper and lower halves were completely separated, was revealed. He barely clung to life thanks to the shattered Demonic Sword.
"To think I would be defeated by a mere rookie…."
"Your defeat. No…."
Raon gestured towards Rimmer with his chin as he looked down at the dying Dragon Sword Master.
"It's our victory."