Chapter 700

KRAAAASH!

The golden arc drawn by Heavenly Drive tore through the sky heavy with thunderclouds and churned up the stormy river below.

But at its center stood a man who blocked that divine trajectory with a single, red-streaked axe.

The Axe King—Roman.

His evolved Revolving Void Axe Strike stood firm, even against Raon's newly created sword field.

He wasn't unscathed, though. Black blood poured from his mouth, and a fine crack appeared on the once indomitable Red Dragon Axe.

“Huff…”

Raon curled his bloodstained lips into a faint smile.

‘He withstood it...’

Roman had fortified his Revolving Void Axe Strike enough to endure Raon’s sword field.

Though Raon had confidence in his enlightenment, he hadn't fully internalized it yet. But this confirmed something—monsters from the old era were truly built different.

“Khuhuhu!”

Roman laughed, blood coating his teeth.

“This much blood... it’s been far too long!”

Even with his internal organs shaken and wounds deep, he looked euphoric—genuinely delighted.

“You must feel the same, right, young one?”

“Of course.”

Raon nodded, gripping Heavenly Drive tighter, still tasting the thrill of his sword field’s success.

‘It’s more than fun. It’s exhilarating.’

The stronger Roman became, the more Raon’s body, energy center, and sword realm expanded with him.

This duel—it wasn’t just survival. It was enlightenment itself.

“Then let’s begin again!”

Roman laughed and swung the Red Dragon Axe.

RUMMMMBLE!

The swirling axe whipped up a black-and-red whirlwind, devouring the Rable River in a storm of murderous aura.

“If you want to live, defeat me!”

Roman roared and surged forward using Nine Palaces Steps, unleashing a chain of Revolving Void Axe Strikes.

Each move flowed like water, as if every step and swing had been choreographed in his mind long before.

Crackle!

Raon smirked as the Red Dragon Axe came down like a meteor shower.

‘No matter how far ahead he gets...’

‘I’ll just keep catching up.’

He angled Heavenly Drive diagonally in his right hand and held the Blade of Requiem in reverse grip in his left. The two blades spiraled together—one in blazing red, the other in icy blue.

Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation: Thousand Flames. Firewall.

The crossing waves of fire and frost collided with Roman’s next axe strike.

KRAAAACK-BOOOOOM!

A roaring explosion ripped through the air, creating twisted tears in the very fabric of the sky.

It was as if heaven and earth were being shredded apart.

The river darkened like doomsday had arrived. But neither Raon nor Roman stopped. They poured everything into each other’s throats—blades roaring, wills clashing.

WHOOOOOM!

Every clash carved out chunks of the river. The water twisted into whirlpools, rising into the sky to form dense rain clouds.

“This is like a dream!”

Roman grinned wildly.

“To finally wield axe techniques I only dared imagine!”

As he swung the Red Dragon Axe to the side, a blood-red streak arced across the river horizon.

That malice now carried a certain depth to it—refined like a master swordsman’s blade.

“Same here.”

Raon nodded at the blazing astral wave.

“It feels like there’s nothing I can’t do.”

His sword techniques—ones he couldn’t master in his mental world—now flowed from his fingertips as if they’d always belonged there.

THUUUUMP!

He stomped hard and met Roman’s technique with a blade of clear blue sky—his Heavenly Drive glowing with sword field energy.

KAAANG!

Sword and axe collided once more. Crimson thunder burst out, evaporating the river around them and raising a thick mist.

Raon squinted. The Red Dragon Axe descended again—fluid, elegant.

‘He’s influencing me.’

Raon was absorbing Roman’s malicious energy.

Roman, too, had adopted traces of Raon’s profound swordplay.

This wasn’t just a duel of techniques. They were learning from each other. Growing together.

An immortal-level duel.

Each saw his own reflection in the other’s eyes as their weapons crashed again.

JUUUUUNG!

* * *

“What… is this…”

Helgurum, the vice union leader of the South-North Union, shot up, trembling. His chair cracked and fell apart under him.

“How can someone like that exist…”

Roman should’ve won already.

If he had gone all-out from the start, Raon should have been torn apart and sunk beneath the river.

But Raon hadn’t crumbled. He’d grown. He’d evolved mid-fight. And now… he stood on equal footing with Roman.

It defied logic.

‘This makes no sense.’

Helgurum had seen it all—Six Kings, Five Demons, Glenn Zieghart, the Black Tower’s master, Derus Robert…

But this?

Raon Zieghart was no mere "young monster."

If Roman so much as faltered, he would be overtaken.

Raon wasn't just strong.

He was a force of nature still in the making.

“Ghhrr…”

Helgurum trembled, hands clenched.

‘That boy… is dangerous.’

It wasn’t just a matter of South-North Union’s pride.

Letting Raon walk away alive, with that potential, under Glenn Zieghart's banner? Terrifying.

“What a rivalry…”

Beorn, watching the storm of aura, bit his lip.

“They’re both evolving in real time…”

“Beorn.”

Helgurum motioned him closer.

“What did you say earlier?”

A voice interrupted—it was Rimmer, standing at the river’s edge, chin tilted mockingly.

“Didn’t you say we were too proud to admit defeat?”

He grinned wide.

“Well, here’s the truth. This isn’t pride. This is trust.”

“He’s right.”

Sheryl nodded.

“We never thought Raon would lose—not even for a second.”

She smiled toward the Light Wind swordsmen.

‘This is what true belief looks like.’

They weren’t panicking. They’d watched Raon overcome impossible odds before.

That kind of faith… was earned.

"You lot, on the other hand—" Sheryl turned to Helgurum. "Seem pretty shaken."

“Shut it!”

Helgurum barked and cast a sound barrier, muting the surroundings. Then, he faced Beorn and the others with a grim glare.

“Be ready to move.”

“What?”

“W-what are you saying…”

“But… Vice Union Leader, the Axe King won’t lose—!”

“That’s not the point!”

Helgurum growled.

“That Zieghart boy is a monster. Even if he survives today, he’ll become unstoppable. We can’t let him leave alive.”

Blood dripped from his clenched fists.

‘No matter what it takes… he dies here.’

Beorn’s red eyes glinted as he lowered his gaze.

* * *

CLANG!

Raon grinned as he deflected Roman’s axe once more with Heavenly Drive.

It was a joy like no other—growing stronger with every strike, matching his foe inch for inch.

But that dreamlike rhythm was fading.

Their bodies were reaching their limits. Their internal injuries severe. Even one more hit could be fatal.

BOOM!

A shockwave burst between them. They both stepped back—five paces each. The riverbed cracked underfoot.

“I’d love to fight forever, but this…”

Roman chuckled, wiping blood from his chin. His stomach wound dripped black-red fluid.

“Let’s finish this.”

Raon spat more blood and cauterized his shoulder wound with heat.

The pain was blinding.

But the thrill of this fight—was worth it.

“You’re just as obsessed as I am.”

Roman laughed and hoisted his axe.

“I’ll pour every technique I’ve ever learned into this. One final blow.”

He twisted his waist and lifted the Red Dragon Axe high overhead.

“Radiant Soul Dance. This strike will end you.”

WHOOOOOOOM!

All the energy of earth and sky gathered on the axe’s edge. Roman’s enlightenment fused with destructive force. A martial art without flaw.

RUMMMMBLE!

As Roman prepared to strike, red flames spiraled up around him.

Time felt frozen. The world faded, leaving only those flames.

CRACK.

The dark clouds parted.

The setting sun glowed gold.

Raon closed his eyes and raised Heavenly Drive with both hands.

‘I have to go further.’

Through this fight, he had gained clarity. His sword had evolved.

“Sword Field—Creation.”

This time, he shaped it with something more.

Azure Sky.

The light surrounding his blade shimmered deeper.

Not the golden light of a dying sun…

But the brilliant light of dawn.

The Radiant Soul Dance and Raon's new sword field clashed.

For a moment, all light vanished. All sound died.

Only two wills—two legacies—collided in a clash that shook the very air.

KUUUUWAAAAANG!

A belated explosion tore through sky and earth. It was as if the sun had risen again.

WHOOOOOOSH!

The storm of aura finally cleared.

Raon and Roman stood at the center.

HACK!

Raon dropped to one knee, coughing blood laced with organs. His waist had been slashed deep.

Roman stood—tall, unmoving.

“URAAAAAAH!”

“Sir Roman!”

“We knew you’d win!”

The South-North Union warriors screamed in victory.

“Raon!”

“Get up, damn you!”

“If you die, I’ll kill you myself!”

Zieghart’s swordsmen shouted, their voices desperate.

Roman exhaled and looked down at Raon.

“What do you call that sword field?”

“…I haven’t named it.”

Raon spat more blood.

“It was born today.”

Roman smiled faintly, his gaze drifting to the cracked Red Dragon Axe.

“I trained by the Rable River for a year. Watched countless sunsets. I poured that golden glow—the fear of death—into this axe. That’s why this technique is Radiant Soul Dance.”

He looked Raon in the eye.

“But your sword… it didn’t carry fear. It carried hope. That golden light wasn’t a dying sun. It was dawn. A new beginning.”

Raon nodded slowly.

“That light... felt like creation itself.”

Blood continued dripping from Roman’s coat.

“How about… Genesis for its name?”

“…Genesis.”

Raon looked skyward.

The dark clouds were gone.

Only golden sunlight remained.

He nodded.

“Good name.”

“Th—ugh!”

Roman tried to speak but coughed black blood. His skin paled like snow.

“Sir Roman!”

“Dammit, retreat!”

As the vice union leader waved, the unit leaders rushed toward the river.

KWA-KOOOOOM!

Roman struck the river with his axe, raising a massive wave to block them.

“Don’t.”

He smiled grimly, eyes still blazing.

“I was born a warrior and lived like one. I chose my battlefield—and I found my match. I have no regrets.”

He raised the axe, defying them.

“Don’t tarnish my name. Don’t insult Roman Reycal, the Axe King!”

Even Helgurum froze under that chilling energy.

“The arrogant brat from three years ago…”

Roman looked at Raon again.

Smiled.

“This is your victory, Raon Zieghart.”

With that declaration, the broken pieces of the Red Dragon Axe sank into the Rable River, swallowed by the golden reflections of the sun.

“Sir Roman!”

“Damn it!”

The unit leaders of the South-North Union shouted and rushed forward, but it was too late. Roman's body slowly tilted, knees hitting the riverbed as he crumpled with a peaceful expression on his face.

Raon, breathing raggedly, extended a trembling hand toward him.

“Roman…”

The moment their eyes met, Raon felt something. It wasn’t regret or resentment—it was peace. A man who had fought with everything he had, and passed on what he could.

He had chosen his end.

Roman Reycal, the Axe King, a monster of the old era, had died smiling—not as a tyrant, but as a warrior satisfied with his final battle.

“Whew…”

Raon let out a shallow breath and lowered his head.

Even if his body screamed and his mind was foggy from the pain, he couldn’t let himself collapse—not yet.

“Raon!”

The warriors of the Light Wind rushed to his side.

“Sir Raon!”

“Get a healer! Right now!”

Burren supported Raon’s back while Runaan crouched to check his wounds.

Martha stood protectively in front, eyes burning with wariness toward the remaining South-North Union members.

“Raon…”

Rimmer was the last to arrive. He silently looked at Raon, then Roman’s fallen body. He smiled bitterly and sighed.

“You’ve grown too fast, kid.”

Rimmer’s eyes turned misty as he watched his disciple who had now surpassed even the legends of the old.

Behind him, Sheryl, Glenn, and the other Zieghart forces remained silent.

They didn’t speak. They didn’t need to.

Because Raon Zieghart had already said everything—with his sword.

***

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

Thank you for reading!

[Author – Writing Ant, 글개미]

[Translator – Irving]

[Proofreader – Mayank]