Chapter 687

“Hmm…” Rimmer swept his hair back roughly while looking at the determined expression in Raon’s eyes. “We can’t really do that right now.”

“Why not?”

“Because the Beast King’s defeat is a much bigger issue than you know.” He shook his head, rubbing the ground with his shoes. “It’s currently forbidden to go outside of Zieghart’s domain, and all armed organizations carrying out a mission outside the house have been ordered to return.”

“Ah…” Raon quietly groaned upon hearing his explanation.

‘That’s true. It’s the natural thing to do.’

The Six Kings and the Five Demons had maintained a subtle balance for dozens of years. Since every single one of those factions was powerful enough to be the strongest in the continent, it was impossible for them to easily win against another if a war broke out between them.

The loser would fall to ruin, and the winner would take a tremendous amount of damage, rendering them unable to fully rejoice in their victory. Moreover, there was no way other factions would leave the winner alone after they took that much damage.

An injured lion could be devoured by hyenas. The Six Kings and the Five Demons weren’t the only issues anymore, since even the factions like the Five Divine Orders would definitely attack them while drooling at the mouth. They couldn’t exactly expect the other factions from the Six Kings or the Five Demons to help either.

‘Because the Six Kings and the Five Demons aren’t related so desperately to begin with.’ Raon sighed deeply. ‘This is a serious situation.’

Ogram’s defeat against the White Blood Religion’s leader didn’t simply imply the Beast Union’s fall. It could be the fall of the Six Kings.

‘The bigger issue is… the White Blood Religion only took a small amount of damage.’

It wasn’t a war between the White Blood Religion and the Beast Union. Since it was a duel between their leaders, the White Blood Religion wasn’t even weakened as a result. It was impossible to annihilate the White Blood Religion, and it was clear that the factions following the Five Demons were going to flare up like wildfire, making it the worst situation possible in many ways.

‘That’s why it’s even more important to go there.’

Even if he couldn’t rescue Ogram, he still had to head to the Chiran tribe since it might allow him to get a clue about the White Blood Religion’s leader and Derus Robert.

“Hmm…” Rimmer licked his lips while scratching his chin. “You must have an important reason for it.”

“Yes, I need to go there no matter what.”

“Then there’s a way.” He raised his finger and pointed at the lord’s manor. “You’ll have to complain to the person who gave out the order.”

“But it’s the middle of the night…”

“He should be awake.” Rimmer casually shook his finger. “When you get old, you tend to sleep less.”

He smiled while saying something that would get him struck by lightning if Glenn had heard it.

* * *

“Haa…”

The White Blood Religion’s leader removed her red lips from Ogram’s neck. Her lips curved in delight while looking at the punctures on Ogram’s throat.

“I didn’t expect it to be this good.”

As soon as she absorbed Ogram’s blood, an indescribable sense of exhilaration surged through her. The wounds on her body and soul that would have made her collapse at any moment were healed, and an uncontrollable amount of bloody energy overflowed from her.

She had consumed a Transcender’s blood before, but it was her first time drinking blood from a Transcender who was more powerful than herself. She wasn’t sure what was going to happen, but it was even better than she’d anticipated.

She could feel that her White Spirit Aura had reached a higher realm even though Ogram’s blood hadn't become her own yet.

“Congratulations on completing your art.” The tenth apostle bowed to the White Blood Religion’s leader.

“Complete? It’s not complete. I’m only getting started.” The White Blood Religion’s leader casually shook her hand at the tenth apostle. A deep red hue appeared on her white cheeks.

‘If I can make all of Ogram’s energy mine… I might be able to reach Glenn Zieghart.’

Drinking the blood had already given her a dizzying amount of power. If she managed to convert all of his energy into the White Spirit Aura, it wouldn’t going to be impossible to destroy the sky of the North.

‘No, that’s not even my final destination.’

Since her newly gained power would allow her to attack the other leaders of the Six Kings and the Five Demons, she could even become the true ruler of the continent.

“It’s going to be fun in the future.” The White Blood Religion’s leader curved her lips into a seductive smile while licking her blood-soaked lips.

“What do we do with the Beast King?” The tenth apostle pointed at Ogram, who almost seemed dead, his breathing faint.

“Hnn…”

The White Blood Religion’s leader narrowed her eyes while looking down at Ogram.

‘He said his soul was separated from his body.’

The man in the dragon helmet had explained that he wouldn’t be able to wake up on his own because his soul had been separated from his body. She wanted to figure out what kind of ability that was.

“Leave him alone for now. There’s something I’d like to investigate after my cultivation.”

“Understood.” The tenth apostle lowered his head, showing that he was ready to obey no matter what she asked.

“And as for the bloody energy remaining here… Hmm?” The White Blood Religion’s leader narrowed her eyes while looking at the back of her hand. There was a long tear on the back of the White Hawk Gauntlet she was wearing.

‘It ripped?’

She hadn’t noticed because she was too focused on the battle against Ogram, the war of nerves against the man in the dragon helmet, and absorbing Ogram’s blood, but she just realized that the White Hawk Gauntlet was broken into an unusable state.

‘Well, I guess it’s understandable. It wasn’t an easy battle.’

Ogram was so powerful that she couldn’t win in a one-on-one battle. The gloves were a cheap price to pay for defeating him and absorbing his blood.

“You should absorb the bloody energy remaining here.” The White Blood Religion’s leader nodded at the tenth apostle while handing over the torn White Hawk Gauntlet.

“How could I do that instead of the first and the second apostle…?” The tenth apostle asked.

“At least try to make it believable when you lie,” she snorted, leaving the Room of Sacrifice.

“…Thank you.”

The tenth apostle bowed at the White Blood Religion leader’s back while holding onto the White Hawk Gauntlets tightly. His eyes sparkled in white as he slowly raised his gaze.

* * *

“Did you just say that you want to go to the scene of battle between the White Blood Religion’s leader and Ogram?”

Glenn furrowed his brow deeply while gazing down at Raon, who was kneeling on the ground.

“Yes.”

Raon lowered his head while biting his lip, trying not to be crushed under Glenn’s pressure.

“You don’t seem to realize what kind of situation we are in.” Glenn exhaled roughly while shifting his gaze toward the window, where the moonlight was passing by. “Ogram’s defeat isn’t just a matter of himself. Countless factions that had been suppressed by the name of the Six Kings are going to rise like a breaking dam.”

He violently tapped on the throne’s armrest, expressing his disbelief at the current situation.

“The Five Demons won’t miss this golden opportunity to lead the villains from the front. The balance of the continent is already broken at this point.” Glenn clenched his hand, saying that the rumor about Ogram’s defeat was spreading at an impossible speed.

“This is our current situation, the worst that we could ever have. If you start to move now, when your fame alone is no less than the Transcenders, the villains who wish to follow in the White Blood Religion leader’s steps are going to chase after you.” He was unusually worried about Raon, a sharp gaze in his eyes.

“I won’t lose to some moths looking for fame.” Raon pounded his chest, asking for trust.

“A thousand ants can even lift a millstone.” Glenn calmly shook his head. “No matter how powerful you are, you’ll need to escape if countless people flock to you.”

“I… still have to go.”

“Hmm.” Glenn raised his eyebrows slightly, showing his surprise at Raon’s insistence. “For what reason?”

“......”

Raon didn’t respond right away. He could make up a random reason, but he wanted to give a sincere response since Glenn was treating him with sincerity.

“I happened to enter the mental world during my training.”

“Again? You went there again?” Rimmer’s eyes widened, and he asked if the mental world was some store in the neighborhood for him.

“I was about to leave that world after I was done with my training, but Sir Ogram suddenly appeared.”

“Sir Ogram appeared?”

“Really?”

Sheryl and Roenn walked up at the same time.

“Yes, inside my world, he…”

Raon told them about how Ogram taught him Tidebreaker and then fought against someone before he was dragged into the darkness. He skipped the part about Derus’s energy of death for now because he wasn’t sure about it.

“The look in his eyes made it seem like he was desperately asking for my help. That’s why I need to go.”

“That’s impossible…” Sheryl’s chin trembled in disbelief.

“No, it’s possible,” Rimmer interrupted Sheryl. “Raon wasn’t surprised when he heard about the Beast King’s defeat. His reaction was more like he was expecting that news. I thought it was strange, and I finally understand the reason now.”

“Huhu…” Roenn laughed in disbelief while stroking his beard. “If that’s true, then I can understand why Sir Raon is trying to go to that location.” He nodded his head, showing that he believed his story.

“Did you say that you learned Tidebreaker from Ogram when you were in the Suran tribe?” Glen’s forehead tightened as he put his hand on the throne’s armrest.

“Yes, I did.”

“He really taught you a martial art, one that is pretty much his ultimate technique. He is seriously a dull guy.” He clicked his tongue in displeasure. “I can understand why you want to go there so much. Of course, it’s still dangerous even though you have a good reason for it. After all, the White Blood Religion or the Five Demons might still be there.”

Glenn closed his eyes for a moment before opening them again and calmly shook his head.

“Hmm, but…”

“That’s why…”

Raon furrowed his brow, thinking that Glenn was still going to be against it, but Glenn continued.

“…I’ll be going with you,” Glenn declared, standing up from the throne. His majestic pressure, akin to a huge mountain erupting from the land, made it feel like the space itself was being distorted.

“What…?” Raon blinked, dumbfounded by his words.

“I said that I’m coming with you. Do you have a problem with that?”

“No, not at all.” Raon shook his head quickly.

‘Of course I have no problems with it…’

Whir!

Raon looked behind him as he emerged from the closest dimensional door to the Beast Union. Glenn, Roenn, Sheryl, and Rimmer followed him one after the other, their faces hidden with black hoods.

“Do you know the path?” Glenn casually inclined his head.

“Yes…” He was familiar with the path because the Chiran Tribe wasn’t too far away from the Suran tribe.

“Lead the way.”

“Understood.”

Raon swallowed nervously and guided the party from the front.

‘What’s even going on…? Why are all these people behind me…?’

Three out of the four people were Grandmasters, and the other one was a Transcender who might be the strongest in the continent. It were just four people, but it wasn’t an exaggeration to say that they made up half of Zieghart’s power.

‘I might be killed if I don’t manage to find it…’

Judging from what Glenn had told him, Raon could guess that he and Ogram were close in the past. Raon suddenly felt like he was going to be killed if he didn’t manage to find Ogram’s traces.

‘No, I should think about my death later.’

He still couldn’t forget Ogram’s eyes in his last moments. It was important to focus on finding his traces and think about the rest later.

Whaam!

Raon deeply caught his breath and executed the Supreme Harmony Steps at full power. His body became a black ray of light, dashing through the grassland. Glenn, Sheryl, Roenn, and Rimmer met each other’s proud gazes as they ran behind him.

Since all of them were at least a Grandmaster, it didn’t take that long until they arrived at the Chiran tribe.

Sheesh.

Raon stopped in front of a scorched tree and lowered his body. He couldn’t enter right away because the Beast Union’s warriors were blocking the entrance of the Chiran tribe.

[I don’t sense any presence inside the village. Let’s enter quietly.]

It wasn’t a good idea to announce Glenn’s arrival since a spy might be hidden among them. Raon sent an aura message, suggesting that they enter secretly.

[Look at my division leader, his orders are so clear!]

[That sounds good.]

[Huhuhu.]

[......]

Rimmer, Sheryl, and Roenn nodded their heads, agreeing with his decision. Glenn didn’t say anything. He was simply looking at him, the hand covering his mouth trembling intensely.

‘He is so peculiar.’

Raon shrugged his shoulders and removed his presence. He went over the half-destroyed wall and entered the Chiran tribe. The four people behind him followed him without even leaking the smallest bit of presence.

Fortunately, there was no one inside. Raon assumed that the troops were dispatched outside because they might accidentally erase the traces of battles from being on the site.

‘Hah…’ Raon gasped while looking at the ground inside the village. ‘I don’t even need to search for the location of their battle.’

There was no reason to look for the traces of the battle between Ogram and the White Blood Religion’s leader. The traces of their battle were pristine, all around the village.

“It started here.” Glenn raised his finger and pointed under his feet.

“Yes.” Raon nodded and stood in front of it. “Sir Ogram was the first one to attack, and the White Blood Religion’s leader must’ve withdrawn by using bloody energy.”

Examining the traces on the ground, bushes, and walls allowed him to fully understand their battle. It was exactly the same as Ogram’s movements in his mental world.

“The first attack must’ve been a greeting, and the real battle started from here.” Raon followed the deep traces of Ogram’s footsteps.

“Sir Ogram had the upper hand all along. The White Blood Religion’s leader pushed him back from time to time with the sheer amount of her bloody energy, but she ended up being harmed instead because of Tidebreaker.”

“How can you tell so well?” Rimmer furrowed his brow at how absurdly good he was at analyzing the battle.

“Even I can’t analyze it so quickly…” Sheryl’s eyes also widened in surprise.

“Young master even has a talent in this aspect,” Roenn complimented him like always.

“It’s nothing special.” Raon shook his head, saying that it was all thanks to having seen Ogram in his mental world.

“And here.” Raon pointed at the ground that had been deeply dug out—as if someone had used a shovel. “They clashed for the last time here. The White Blood Religion’s leader activated the Goddess of Blood Devouring Anguish, and Sir Ogram must’ve maximized Tidebreaker’s output.”

Raon went on his knees and showed the deeper traces. “Those traces implied that Sir Ogram won the clash, but someone interfered here.”

“Interfered?” Glenn narrowed his eyes despite having been quiet all along.

“Yes, I’m sure of it.”

That was the part where Ogram had faltered in his mental world. It must’ve been the location where Derus had interfered with his blade.

“There’s no trace at all, though.”

“I can’t see anything either.”

Rimmer and Sheryl shook their heads, saying that they couldn’t find anything. It was only natural. After all, Raon himself wouldn’t have noticed either if he hadn’t seen Ogram in the mental world.

“It’s true…” Glenn stroked his chin while looking at the ground that Raon had pointed at. “It looks so natural that it looks artificial.” He licked his lips, saying that the traces must’ve been removed by a professional.

“It was his one-sided loss after that.” Raon followed Ogram’s movement that he’d witnessed in his mental world and stopped walking in front of mud, where no traces remained.

‘This is where the battle was concluded.’

He could assume that Ogram had unleashed his full power to overcome the two-on-one situation, but he only managed to harm the White Blood Religion’s leader and was defeated by Derus.

‘The issue is…’ He had to find the evidence for everyone to see it, instead of just himself. ‘It’s going to take some time.’

Since the trace must’ve been left after Ogram’s defeat, he might need to search the entire village.

‘No.’ Raon stroked his chin and suddenly widened his eyes. ‘I have a way.’

He came up with an idea about how Ogram would’ve left the trace and how he could find it.

‘Tidebreaker.’

Since it was a formless and colorless energy that could bypass the enemy’s aura, it was also capable of hiding from the White Blood Religion’s leader and Derus.

Whir!

Raon closed his eyes and unleashed Tidebreaker. He would’ve normally used a very small amount of that energy, but he spread it outside his body instead, similar to how he used aura perception. His head was aching because it was his first time spreading Tidebreaker into the air, but he endured it and increased the area of it.

‘Huh…?’

Just as his skin started to prickle, he sensed a small flow that felt like it was tickling his Tidebreaker from the ground ten steps to the right.

‘Is it over there?’

Raon dug the ground where he’d received the signal while maintaining Tidebreaker. He moved his fingers carefully, as Ogram couldn’t have dug too deeply into the ground if the trace was left after his defeat.

He dug the mud around five times, and a small piece of cloth surrounded by Tidebreaker’s energy showed up.

‘This is it!’

He could sense the energy of death inside the cloth. It was definitely the trace left behind by Ogram.

‘Amazing.’

Even Derus must not have noticed because the energy of death was surrounded by Tidebreaker, which didn’t have any color or form.

‘However… There’s no bloody energy.’

Unfortunately, the White Blood Religion leader’s bloody energy didn’t exist in the piece of cloth. Only the energy of death remained.

Tsk.

Raon clicked his tongue in regret, only for Glenn to shake his head.

“Look underneath.”

“What?” Raon lowered his hand holding the piece of cloth and took off a bit more mud, and that was when he saw that a wave as white as milk was plugged by the piece of cloth.

Whir!

The Blade of Requiem let out a violent sword resonance as soon as it saw the white wave.

Glenn’s lips curled into a smile as he looked at the piece of black-smeared cloth. “It looks like you’ve found the right place.’

***

If you find any errors or have suggestions, please feel free to provide feedback.

Thank you for reading!

[Author – Writing Ant, 글개미]

[Translator – Anowa]

[Proofreader – Harley]