If you defeat me in swordsmanship, I'll tell you where to find the one you're looking for."
Darkan curled his lips confidently, seemingly forgetting his own injuries.
"You'd better keep that promise."
A dark lightning flashed in Lust's blue eyes.
"If you're lying, I'll make you live a fate worse than death."
She raised an ominous aura as she tilted her curved sword diagonally. Their auras clashed, creating a dark blue vortex in the air. The powerful shockwave pulverized building debris and uprooted trees.
"Hah..."
Raon let out a sigh as he watched Lust and Darkan prepare to fight.
'Now they're finally communicating...'
Lust and Darkan had been unable to understand each other, as if speaking different languages, but ironically they found common ground when it came to fighting.
'But how did it come to this?'
Raon had been pondering how to handle Lust's arrival to save everyone, but Darkan's sudden intervention caught him off guard. It was so unexpected that his mind went blank.
'Or maybe it was inevitable...'
The sword-obsessed Darkan met a new transcendent swordsman, while the Wrath-obsessed Lust encountered a human radiating anger. Their clash wasn't so strange after all.
'The movements of transcendent beings are hard to predict.'
Raon let out a short sigh as he observed Darkan and Lust.
-It's not because they're transcendent! It's because those two are lunatics!
Wrath shook his head vigorously, insisting Darkan and Lust were simply crazy.
-And now's not the time to be impressed, it's time to run away!
He tugged at Raon's sleeve, urging him to flee while the two were fighting. It felt like a cat begging for food.
-Even this king is terrified of that madwoman's obsession! She's on par with your crazy woman!
Wrath shouted that Lust was on the same level as Merlin and they should escape quickly.
'If we move now, it might draw Lust's attention to us.'
Raon shook his head and took a step back. It would look suspicious if he moved while everyone else remained still. Now was the time to wait.
-Hmm...
Wrath nodded briefly, seemingly unable to argue with that logic.
-Th-then run as soon as they start fighting!
'Alright.'
Though he agreed, Raon had no intention of fleeing immediately. A battle between Darkan and Lust would surely provide much to learn from.
"Ugh..."
Dorian sank to the ground, overwhelmed by the aura Darkan and Lust were emitting. As soon as he hit the floor, the two transcendent beings lunged forward. Lust swung her curved sword with a low stance. Her fluid posture belied the ferocious attack. She pounced like a tiger eyeing its prey.
"Not just your sword, but your style is unique too!"
Darkan had already regained Zalek's sword and precisely blocked Lust's strike. Yet despite the proper defense, his shoulder was sliced open, spraying blood.
"...What's this now?"
Darkan furrowed his brow as he touched the wound on his shoulder.
"Penetrating swordsmanship? No, it doesn't feel like that."
He grinned deeply, as if pleased to taste a new sword technique despite being injured.
"Tell me where Wrath is before you die."
Lust frowned, still searching for Wrath even in this situation.
"Show me more! The fight's not over yet!"
Darkan licked his lips and beckoned with his finger.
"This time I'll cut off your arm."
Lust swung her curved sword in a reverse grip, clearly intending to end it. A mighty gust of wind accompanied her slash that seemed to cleave space itself.
"Not just my arm, I'll give you my whole body!"
Darkan lowered Zalek's sword and spread his arms, taking Lust's attack with his entire body. His chest was deeply gashed, spraying a terrifying amount of blood.
"So that's how it works."
Darkan grinned as he looked at the wound erupting from his chest.
"You really do have to experience a sword firsthand to understand it."
He nodded with satisfaction, as if he now grasped something.
-Ugh...
Wrath gaped in disbelief.
-Th-that's not just a lunatic, but a perverted lunatic!
He shuddered, unable to comprehend Darkan.
'He's certainly a perverted lunatic when it comes to swords.'
Raon nodded gravely. Darkan's obsession and madness for swords far surpassed his own. The man had always been this way.
"Where is Wrath?"
Lust coldly extended her curved sword, uninterested in Darkan's madness. Her blade rotated with a wide arc, becoming a crescent that filled the Holy Sword Alliance headquarters and poured down over Darkan's shoulders.
"The same trick won't work thrice."
Darkan twisted his lips and released the sword in his hand. The sword he let go rose with an elegant vibration and advanced towards Lust's slash. Darkan's Sword Control broke through Lust's attack like a salmon swimming upstream, slicing deeply across her waist as it passed.
This time, blood spurted from Lust's waist, splattering red on the ground.
"Don't you have anything more interesting?"
As Darkan tilted his head playfully, the blade of his Sword Control trembled finely, as if taunting Lust.
"Yes. This too must be a trial to meet Wrath."
Lust smiled faintly like a devout monk and readjusted her grip on the curved sword. Her blade elongated, then bent like a snake and dropped sharply towards Darkan's chest. It was a Flexible Sword in the form of a curved blade.
"I thought your sword looked fun!"
Darkan shot out his Sword Control to block the bending slash, as if he had known Lust's sword was flexible from the start. Yet even though he properly defended, his shoulder was split open and blood sprayed out.
Countless clashes between Sword Control and the Flexible Sword that seemed to transcend space created spiky cracks in the sky and ground.
"Hmm..."
Raon furrowed his brow as he watched the increasingly fierce duel between Darkan and Lust.
'This is no joke.'
He knew Darkan was strong, of course, but he hadn't realized Lust's swordsmanship was at this level. It was especially surprising that she displayed such martial prowess without even using her Demon King's Authority.
'A Flexible Sword...'
A Flexible Sword has a soft blade that bends like a whip, but the swordsmanship itself doesn't necessarily change just because the blade is flexible. However, Lust's Flexible Sword moved as if truly alive, blocking all of the bizarre moves Darkan's Sword Control created.
'This isn't the Demon King's talent...'
It was skill built through direct experience. Having poured his own talent and effort into swordsmanship, Raon could tell. The swordsmanship Lust displayed was steeped in blood and sweat.
'That's why it's even more educational.'
Both Lust's method of using the Flexible Sword and the angles of Darkan's Sword Control movements were contributing to his growth. But this insane battle didn't seem likely to continue indefinitely.
'Wrath.'
Raon reached out to Wrath.
'If they keep fighting like this, who will win?'
-Obviously Lust.
Wrath shook his head as if there was no need to even ask.
-If that moth were in his right mind, he might have put up a real fight, but as things stand, he'll end up dead.
He frowned, saying that Darkan's initial internal injuries and soul wounds were too severe.
'I see.'
Darkan was certainly among the strongest of the transcendent beings, but he had suffered soul wounds from Wrath. Though he could endure for now, cracks would eventually show as time passed. Meanwhile, Lust hadn't even revealed her true power yet. She was this formidable without using her Demon King's Authority, so her victory seemed inevitable in the end.
'Not even the Soul Sword would work?'
-A Demon King's soul is different from a human's.
Wrath slowly shook his head.
-As you saw in this king's mental image, souls thicken with the years lived. The same goes for causality.
'Hmm...'
-Unless your swordsmanship reaches the extreme heights of your grandfather's Soul Sword, that man's blade cannot cut Lust's soul.
He frowned, saying the outcome was already determined.
'I see.'
Raon briefly licked his lips.
'I wanted to keep watching this fight.'
A battle between strong opponents, especially those far above his level, greatly helps develop mental images. He had hoped this fight would continue for his own growth, but it seemed to be inevitably nearing its end.
-Ugh, you're not right in the head either!
Wrath's lips trembled.
-You're just as crazy as those two!
'Come on, I'm not that bad.'
Raon shook his head, telling him not to make such comparisons.
-From this king's perspective, you're exactly the same! No, forget it! Just leave now!
Wrath pointed behind them, saying it was the perfect moment to escape.
'Ah, just one more thing.'
Raon grabbed Wrath's tail and pulled him back to the front.
'Why doesn't Lust reveal her true form and just follow you around?'
-Because she doesn't like her own power! And as for following this king...
Wrath deeply furrowed his brow as he looked at Lust.
-It's because this king gave her advice...
'Advice?'
-This king regrets it even now! Why did I say such a thing...
As he ground his teeth, Darkan's Sword Control briefly sliced through Lust's hood as it passed. Her face was revealed as the hood fell away. Ocean-blue short hair cascaded over fair skin.
Her beauty was breathtaking, but different from what one might expect of the Monarch of Lust. She exuded an air of purity instead.
'So that's Lust... Huh?'
Raon frowned as he gazed into Lust's blue eyes.
'That woman...'
He tilted his head and turned to look at Wrath.
'She looks a lot like you.'
Except for the short hair and small stature, her appearance was almost identical to Wrath's true form.
-O-of course...
Wrath's lips trembled even more fearfully.
-She takes on that appearance to imitate this king!
He clutched his head, saying that's why he called her a lunatic.
"Ah..."
Raon swallowed dryly.
'That is pretty serious...'
Learning that she even imitated his appearance sent chills down his spine.
-If you understand, then let's run away already!
Wrath shook his head, urging them to leave.
'Just a little longer.'
Ignoring Wrath tugging at his arm like a child excited at a market, Raon studied Darkan and Lust's swords.
'When the Sword Control bends like that, it's best to deflect the aura diagonally.'
'How can I replicate that flexibility of the Flexible Sword with a normal blade?'
Raon used the Ring of Fire technique while observing Darkan and Lust's clash, using it as a foundation for his growth.
"Such luck striking twice! I must be nearing my death!"
Despite his grave injuries, Darkan unleashed increasingly powerful sword strikes, seeming to enjoy his duel with Lust. His Sword Control rained down like meteors, combining overwhelming power with elegant movements.
"Wrath..."
It was such a tremendous attack that Lust had to switch to defense rather than offense.
'Where is he getting this strength from...?'
Darkan had taken direct hits from Rector during their duel, suffered soul wounds from Wrath, and even had his back sliced by his own Sword Control. His body and mind should be in tatters, yet he could still endure to this extent. When Raon first met Darkan, he thought him just a brutish sword maniac, but he was far beyond that.
'Impressive... Hm?'
As Raon exhaled softly, Darkan's gaze turned towards him. His eyelids fluttered as if about to close.
'Darkan?'
-That man is nearing his limit.
Wrath furrowed his brow.
-The soul wound inflicted by this king is starting to tear open.
He bit his lip, saying that a duel of this caliber was bound to take a heavy mental toll as well.
'Come to think of it...'
Raon swallowed dryly as he watched Darkan push back against Lust.
'Darkan must know who Wrath is.'
Lust had said she smelled Wrath's scent as soon as she appeared, and that it was strongest on Darkan. Having met Wrath twice, Darkan would surely realize the soul within him was Wrath, unless he was a complete fool.
'Is he hiding it?'
On second thought, it seemed Darkan knew everything but was keeping quiet.
'So even now...'
Darkan's gaze now clearly seemed to be warning him to retreat. He probably meant for Raon to survive and keep his promise.
'Darkan...'
Raon bit his lip as he met Darkan's gaze. Once again, he was reminded that people can be such different beings depending on one's perspective.
"Hah..."
Raon let out a long sigh and took a step back.
"Raon?"
Rector swallowed dryly as he looked at Raon.
"Wh-what are you planning to do?"
"I have somewhere I need to go briefly."
Raon bowed his head to Rector and turned his gaze to Burren, Martha, Runaan, and Dorian.
"Stay here. I'll be back soon."
After saying that, he left the Holy Sword Alliance headquarters. Using the Supreme Harmony Steps at full power, he climbed to the peak of the mountain where the Zieghart ancestor had planted the seed.
-How dare you try to escape alone!
Wrath shook his head vigorously, shouting what madness this was.
'I'm not running away.'
Raon calmly shook his head as he surveyed the ground. Judging by the shape of the rocks and earth, this was indeed the place he had seen in his memories.
'It should be somewhere around here...'
He searched his memories, looking for the original seed that should be here somewhere. Back then, it had been a seed overflowing with vitality that he could sense instantly, but its power seemed to have diminished after nurturing this place.
'Ah!'
Raon's eyes stopped on a pale red flower. Though he couldn't sense its vitality, a very faint scent of the Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation wafted from it.
'This is it!'
He was certain. That seed had become this flower and revived this mountain and forest.
"Hah..."
After confirming everything, Raon rolled up his sleeve and turned his gaze back towards the village. The fight between Lust and Darkan grew even more intense. However, Darkan was now clearly being pushed back. Rector was gathering his energy, ready to jump in at any moment.
Raon watched Darkan's Sword Control and Lust's Flexible Sword collide violently, then rolled up his sleeve.
He clearly revealed the ice flower bracelet and drew upon Wrath's anger.
-Huh?
Wrath perked up his ears in surprise.
-Wh-what are you doing! Turn off the anger right now!
He grabbed Raon's collar, asking why he was doing something so crazy.
'I don't want to let that man die.'
He calmly shook his head. Just as Darkan had saved his life, he didn't want Darkan to die.
'And...'
Raon grinned as he looked at the bracelets on his wrist.
'I'd like to get a new bracelet.'
-You, you can't mean!