'Soul Sword?'
Raon swallowed dryly while looking at Karoon's sword, whose very existence had vanished.
'No, that's...'
A Formless Sword. The ancient martial art that erases the sword's existence itself, drawing swordsmanship that cannot be seen or felt, was being wielded by Karoon's hands.
'It's been a long time since I've seen that.'
The Formless Sword literally cannot be seen, and even its presence is erased, so enemies have their heads severed without even sensing its existence. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to call it one of the pinnacles of swordsmanship.
'However...'
In the realm of supreme masters, that advantage is inevitably diluted. Transcendents, especially top-tier Transcendents, don't merely perceive opponents with their eyes. They sense an enemy's movements and intentions through willpower beyond Aura Perception, which ruins the Formless Sword's greatest advantage of being invisible.
'It's also blocked by the Soul Sword. In fact, it wouldn't be wrong to call it a lesser version of the Soul Sword.'
Darkan had absolute confidence in his Formless Sword, but after ultimately losing to Glenn, he removed his eyes and stepped into the realm of the Soul Sword.
'Karoon couldn't possibly be unaware of this?'
The intelligence capabilities of the Central Martial Palace that Karoon manages are as exceptional as the Shadow Agents. He couldn't understand why someone like him would choose the Formless Sword, which is inferior to the Soul Sword.
'What is he thinking?'
Raon exhaled briefly and focused his gaze on Karoon. With a whooshing sound, Karoon swung as if holding a sword with his empty hand. His Formless Sword wasn't much different from what he'd felt from Darkan. It seemed he could completely shatter Karoon's Formless Sword with just a light extension of his Soul Sword.
'If this was the true nature of the hidden energy wave, I'm disappointed.'
Just as Raon was clicking his tongue in disappointment.
"Hm!"
Glenn calmly watched Karoon before narrowing his eyes.
-Oh ho!
Wrath also rolled his eyes in wonder. With a whooshing sound, Karoon's sword suddenly changed. The Formless Sword that had been vividly apparent to his Transcendent senses vanished without a trace in an instant.
'It disappeared!'
As if becoming truly formless, Karoon's sword escaped his perception for an extremely brief moment. With a fierce sound, Karoon bared his teeth like a beast and roughly extended his hand that seemed to hold nothing. At that moment, a chilling energy wave spread above the dais where Glenn sat before subsiding. With a whistling sound!
A single strand of Glenn's golden hair fluttered down to the ground like a falling leaf.
"T-This is what I have realized."
Karoon seemed to have overexerted himself beyond using his full power to the point of internal injury, his face pale and dripping with cold sweat. He seemed to lack the strength to stand, his knees trembling.
'It's still incomplete.'
Raon slightly lowered his eyebrows.
'The duration is too short.'
Since the Formless Sword disappeared completely for such a brief moment, it could be adequately blocked. However, if that sword were perfected, it would certainly become a threat even to him.
"Karoon. Why did you choose the Formless Sword?"
Glenn, seemingly sharing the same question, slightly narrowed his eyes.
"Huu."
Karoon slowly steadied his breathing before straightening his back.
"At first, I wanted to enter the realm of the Soul Sword like you, Head of House. I actually had grasped a slight clue, though very small."
He said he was overjoyed at the time, clenching his fist with trembling hands.
"But..."
Karoon's gaze turned to Raon, who stood one step behind.
"If I only chase from behind, I won't even be able to catch up, let alone surpass."
Though he didn't explicitly state who he was referring to, everyone present understood that the one he couldn't surpass was Raon.
"So, though inexperienced, I created a different type of Formless Sword through the small mysteries of the Soul Sword I had grasped."
Karoon nodded while looking at his sword, which had regained its form.
"Honestly, I thought it was impossible, but I gained enlightenment here while doing different training from what I'd done before."
He steadied his breathing while saying that the current Formless Sword was created thanks to developing his wildness through sparring with the Blade Queen and Warlord.
"You made a good choice."
Glenn's lips curved gently upward, seemingly pleased with the growth of the son he had thought immature.
"That is the true Formless Sword."
He nodded calmly, as if confirming that the path Karoon had chosen was correct.
"What?"
Karoon raised his head, eyes widening.
"What do you..."
His jaw trembled, unable to comprehend the meaning.
"I mean that the direction you've chosen is the way to obtain the true Formless Sword. The true Formless Sword is a colorless blade that even Transcendents cannot read through willpower. The Formless Sword isn't some inferior version of the Soul Sword—it's an entirely different path."
Glenn smiled subtly, congratulating him on making a good choice.
"I'll give you related books soon."
He lowered his hand after saying he would personally visit the Central Martial Palace.
"...Thank you."
Karoon bowed his head, showing rare emotional changes in his expression. He maintained that posture for a while before straightening his back and returning to his original place.
"Hey! Getting stronger alone, that's unfair!"
Alice draped her arm over Karoon's shoulder, asking why he was advancing alone.
"Why didn't you take me with you!"
She tapped Karoon's head, saying they should get stronger together.
"Brother! Teach me too! How do you use that Formless Sword thing?"
Balder also licked his lips, saying it was so cool he wanted to learn it.
"Congratulations."
Raon also slightly bowed his head to Karoon standing beside him.
'He was much more impressive than I expected.'
If most people's competition was a monster who grew stronger just by breathing and achieved breakthroughs before days even passed, they would give up fighting altogether. Honestly, if he had been in Karoon's position, he might have long given up the competition for succession and lived comfortably.
But Karoon, for the sake of growth, reformed his originally stubborn personality and spirit, and without giving up until the end, pioneered his own path.
Now he felt he could acknowledge and accept being told that Karoon was more impressive than himself.
"It's thanks to you."
Karoon turned his gaze toward Raon.
"Because you were ahead of me, I could live desperately pondering and researching."
He nodded as if grateful that Raon had been ahead.
"For your goal, Karoon, wouldn't it have been better if I didn't exist?"
Raon knew Karoon had changed, but he deliberately provoked him, wanting to hear what he would say.
"That's true. But if that were the case, Zieghart would be much weaker than now. What I want is..."
Karoon clenched his fist while looking at the burning sword emblem carved on the throne where Glenn sat.
"For Zieghart to remain Zieghart. For that, I don't mind not becoming the head of house."
His low voice carried a chilling conviction.
-Whoa!
Wrath let out a genuine exclamation.
-Who would've thought that big-eyed guy would look cool!
He gaped, saying he was having all sorts of amazing experiences since coming to the Human World.
"Of course, I have no intention of giving up."
Karoon said he wouldn't give up until the end before lowering his gaze again.
"Having come this far, I have no intention of giving up either."
Raon said he felt the same and looked forward again.
"Ah, you're both good at conversations like that..."
Balder slightly tilted his head toward Karoon's side, pouting his lips.
"But...My martial arts still haven't come?"
He muttered to himself while smacking his lips.
-Just give him something already!
Wrath frowned, saying the lump was pitiful.
"..."
It seemed he really would have to create martial arts for him.
'I'll do it. But since I'm doing it anyway...'
Raon smiled thinly while organizing the inspiration that was coming to him now.
'I should create a path that can lead to Transcendence.'
***
After two months of training ended, Raon returned to the annex building with Sylvia and Sia.
"Raon! How was I today?"
Sia waved her hand, appearing curious about how much her achievements had progressed.
"You've really changed a lot. I think Mom can't keep up anymore."
Sylvia praised Sia on Raon's behalf, even clapping for her.
"Yes. I could see you worked hard as Mother said."
Raon said she had done well and observed Sia's internal state.
'Her talent itself is certainly different from others.'
Sia seemed to have fully embodied the talent of the Green King, absorbing the strengths of new martial arts and others. Her talent was at the level of the mid-tier Ring of Fire, and even seeing it with his own eyes, it was astonishing. If Sia grew just a bit more mentally, reaching Transcendence would only be a matter of time. (E/N: Forgot Ring of Fire was even a thing. When was the last time it got upgraded?)
"As expected, my Younger Brother recognizes it!"
Sia lightly patted Raon's back, saying this was why she liked having a younger brother.
"Mother, you worked hard too."
After praising Sia, Raon also slightly bowed his head to Sylvia.
"It must have been tough taking care of Sister and doing your own training, but you endured well."
Though not as much as Sia, Sylvia also possessed talent that ranked among the best in Zieghart's history, growing remarkably over the two months. She too seemed capable of surpassing Transcendence if given the opportunity. (E/N: Everyone has talent ranking among the best in Zieghart's history, kinda cheapens it)
However, since Sylvia's nature itself was gentle and warm, empathizing with others' pain, it would be difficult for her to break through the wall without a special catalyst.
"Hm? No, it was fun."
She smiled subtly, saying it was enjoyable training with others after a long time.
"You worked harder, actually."
She massaged his shoulders, saying he must have been the one who struggled more.
"I'll give you a massage too!"
Warm heat emanated from where Sia touched his back and where Sylvia massaged his shoulders. It felt like family affection was conveyed through their touch.
'Even this feels different now.'
Perhaps because he had decided to live as a person rather than a swordsman, the emotions his family conveyed seemed to be felt more deeply.
'Actually...'
Raon bit his lip slightly while listening to Sylvia and Sia's laughter behind him.
'These two people. No, everyone in the annex building should live happily.'
But that would be impossible. Derus Robert had declared he would start a war in the trading city of Cameloon, but given his nature, he would certainly target the understaffed main forces of Zieghart and other Five Kings.
He wished that Sylvia, Sia, and the others in the annex building could live without seeing others' blood, but to survive, they had no choice but to train harder.
'Those two will definitely become great assets.'
He felt it once again during this training period. Sylvia and Sia, who excelled beyond combat capability, needed to grow stronger for more of Zieghart's people to survive. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to call those two the guardian deities of Zieghart.
-Now that you've become human, you think about all sorts of things.
Wrath snickered.
-Just train them! They need to survive first to feel family affection or anything else!
He sneered, saying Raon was worrying about strange things.
'I know. I was just thinking about it.'
Raon shook his head with a smile.
"Since it's been a while, shall we stop by Grandfather's place?" (E/N: Grandfather = Rector = currently being healed)
He raised his hand, suggesting they visit the Ragged Saint Federick's mansion before returning to the annex building.
"I was going to go too!"
Sia also smiled brightly, saying she missed Grandfather.
"We should. It's been over a month since we last saw him."
Sylvia nodded, saying she was curious since she hadn't seen Rector except during vacation breaks during training.
"It might be nice to bring Father along and have dinner together..."
Just as she was smiling while looking at Federick's mansion in the distance.
"Raon! Sylvia!"
A refreshingly beautiful woman waved energetically in front of Federick's mansion.
"Ensia?"
Raon's eyes widened when he saw that the person waving was Encia Yonaan.
"If Ensia is here, could it be..."
His fingertips tensed since he had asked her for something.
"Rector's artificial arm is complete!"
Ensia said she had completed Rector's artificial arm as previously requested, beaming brightly.
"With new functions included!"