Chapter 707

Damn it!

Beorn kicked with his left foot to shove Federick away, then plunged his sword deeper into Raon’s heart, who had fallen into the river.

‘It’s pierced.’

He felt the distinct sensation of his blade cutting through flesh. But a Grandmaster’s life is tenacious. He had to ensure the end.

Bzzzzzz!

Ignoring the silver frost and the water droplets rising from the river, Beorn focused his power into the astral sphere at the tip of his blade.

“Stop!”

Rimmer, rushing like a beam of light, arrived just as Beorn detonated the astral sphere.

BOOOOOM!

The explosion sent out a violent shockwave in all directions.

A storm of water surged, flinging the Light Wind swordsmen into the air.

“Uwaaaaa!”

Rimmer screamed as he drove his sword toward Beorn.

CLAAANG!

Beorn lifted his bloodstained longsword, still wet from the river, and blocked Rimmer’s strike.

“It’s already over.”

“Shut up!”

Rimmer bit down and pressed forward with his sword, but Beorn’s eyes remained calm.

“I pierced Raon Zieghart’s heart and detonated an astral sphere. Not even a Transcender could survive that.”

Beorn shook his head, convinced Raon had been torn to pieces and was surely dead.

“You think he’ll die that easily?!”

Rimmer shoved Beorn aside and dove into the river.

“You will die!”

Martha’s black eyes gleamed with murderous red fury. She lost control and charged at Beorn in a frenzy.

“Shut up!”

Burren also clenched his fist and released blades of wind.

Shiiing!

Rather than confront the attacks from Rimmer, Burren, and Martha, Beorn retreated, parrying their sword energies.

“There’s no reason to fight you.”

He narrowed his eyes, claiming his mission was complete.

"Hey, you're sure you killed him, right?"
The Evil Goat Demon twisted his lips as he clashed with Labawin’s sword.

“As I said, I detonated an astral sphere inside his heart. Raon Zieghart is dead.”

Beorn coldly declared Raon’s death, crushing everyone’s last hope.

“You…”

“Ah…”

Burren and Martha lowered their swords as if all strength had drained from them. The Light Wind swordsmen trembled, unable to speak.

Just as silence descended—

“He’s not dead.”

Runaan stepped forward, shaking her head, her eyes unwavering.

“Raon isn’t dead!”

She shouted, and blue frost rose around her.

“Yeah. That madman wouldn’t die so easily!”

Martha nodded, stepping beside Runaan.

"I have no intention of fighting you."

Beorn once again retreated, fading into the shadowy waves.

“Khuhahaha!”

The Evil Goat Demon, coughing blood under Labawin’s pressure, let out a crazed laugh.

“The nuisance is finally dead.”

His twisted eyes turned to Runaan.

“Runaan. Now, you and I can finally be one. Such happy times…”

“That will never happen.”

Despite the Evil Goat Demon’s ominous aura, Runaan remained composed. Her eyes were unshaken.

“Raon isn’t dead. And I will kill you.”

“You will kill me?”

The Evil Goat Demon’s red tongue flicked out from his helmet.

“That wouldn’t be so bad.”

He laughed expectantly, waving his hand.

“I’ll be back for you soon.”

He sliced his palm with his longsword. The blood-soaked blade shrank, and his figure blurred like mist.

“What are you doing?!”

Labawin swung, but the Evil Goat Demon vanished like smoke—likely using the same artifact he’d used to appear.

“Damn it!”

Labawin struck the water in frustration. Slapping his cheek to clear his head, he shouted:

“Search the entire river! Find Raon!”

“Yes!”

The sailors aboard the Blue Wind grabbed their gear and dove in.

“We have to go too. That guy’s still alive—we must find him.”

“Right. He wouldn’t die here.”

Martha bit her lip and was first to plunge into the river. Burren and the Light Wind swordsmen followed close behind.

“……”

Runaan clenched her trembling fists and descended silently into the water.

* * *

Kugugugugu!

The riverbank where Raon and the Axe King Roman had once dueled was completely transformed.

The land and forest were gone, replaced by an expanse of water like a sea. The earth had collapsed inward and been filled by the river.

Thud!

A swordsman wearing a blue dragon helmet was hurled across the shallow water. He spat black blood, his right shoulder mangled, swaying like a snapped reed.

“Khehehe.”

Despite the pain, he straightened calmly. He looked at Glenn, who hadn’t moved a step from his spot, and smirked.

“Is this Seamless Perfection? You’ve definitely surpassed the human realm.”

“Do you find this amusing?”

The South-North Union leader wiped blood from his lips and frowned. He too looked pale and wounded.

“How can I not?”

The swordsman in the blue dragon helmet laughed and even clapped.

“I’ve obtained a miraculous opportunity.”

He gazed at Glenn's sword and scratched his neck, as though savoring a revelation.

KRA-KOOOM!

As the swordsman licked his lips and raised his black sword, the sky split open and Chamber and the Fallen burst from the heavens.

Both mages were battered and bloodied.

“Damn mask!”

Chamber threw away her half-torn witch’s hat and gritted her teeth.

“Even at your age, you still hold the title of Archmage of Eternal Flame.”

The Fallen brushed off his shredded robe and smiled faintly.

“However, I’m starting to see some cracks. Your spells are becoming shallow.”

“What a coincidence. I’ve also figured out how to clip your wings.”

Chamber gestured at him to come again.

“Step back.”

Glenn stood beside Chamber and raised Heavenly Tremor. Lightning crackled along the white blade, branching into thousands of arcs that filled the sky.

CRACKLE! CRASH!

The three Transcenders—the swordsman in the blue dragon helmet, the South-North Union leader, and the Fallen—were all blasted back, coughing blood under the force of the lightning storm.

“Let’s end this here.”

“What? Khahahahaha!”

As Glenn, his face pale, lifted Heavenly Tremor to finish it, the swordsman in the blue dragon helmet clutched his ear and cackled. It was an eerie laugh that stilled the battlefield.

“Yes. It’s finally come to this. Perfect timing.”

“What the hell…?”

“It’s better to stop the game here.”

He raised a hand.

“You will not leave this place alive.”

Just as Glenn furrowed his brows—

BOOOOOOM!

Two golden streaks fell from the sky, and a wall rose between the Six Kings and the Five Demons, splitting the river.

“This is…”

Sheryl, lowering her twin swords, looked up.

Five radiant lights flickered in the dark sky.

Dragons. Ancient dragons.

Hummmm…

The largest, a golden dragon, descended in human form and landed between Glenn and the blue dragon–helmed swordsman.

“Dragon Lord.”

Glenn bit his lip as the dragon lord approached.

“Stop.”

The dragon lord extended his hands to both sides.

“We cannot allow this battle to continue.”

He shook his head.

“You always show up at moments like this.”

Glenn curled his lip.

“If you don’t back off, I’ll cut you down too.”

“Do you intend to wage war against dragons?”

“You were the ones who started it.”

He raised Heavenly Tremor, the white brilliance burning brighter than lightning.

Hummmmmm…

His stance—reverent, absolute—befitted the title of Sword God. It radiated despair and majesty alike.

“You’re insane!”

The dragon lord recoiled. The South-North Union leader bit his lips until they bled. The Fallen’s mask twisted with unease.

“How about hearing me out before swinging that sword?”

Only the swordsman in the blue dragon helmet stepped forward, amused.

“I mean Raon Zieghart, the one you came here to protect.”

He drew a line across his neck and smiled.

“He’s dead.”

“……”

A torrent surged in Glenn’s red eyes, and the mighty Heavenly Tremor drooped low.

“Nonsense!”

Sheryl shook her head.

“Don’t believe him, my lord! It’s a trick!”

Roenn frowned.

“You’ll know if it’s true or not when you go. He died where your pirate ship was waiting.”

The swordsman shrugged.

“It’s sad—all the stars of the day, gone.”

Contrary to his words, he chuckled while covering his mouth.

“Pirate ship…”

Glenn, trembling, looked at the swordsman.

‘Could it be…?’

The Blue Wind had been lying in wait. If they knew about it… then something may have truly happened.

“If you don’t hurry, there won’t even be a body left.”

The swordsman waved casually.

“Mister. You can’t fight them in your state anyway.”

Chamber exhaled and raised her mana.

“Let’s check on Raon first.”

“…Alright.”

Glenn nodded grimly.

“If something happened to Raon… none of you will be allowed to live or die.”

He meant it. The flames in his eyes said so.

“Go ahead.”

The swordsman stepped back and spread his hands.

“Get ready.”

As Chamber closed her eyes, a giant magic circle appeared across the river, enveloping Zieghart’s swordsmen and the Balkar mages.

Wooooooosh!

She snapped her fingers. The group vanished in a flash of light.

“Hahaha.”

The swordsman—Derus Robert—whistled softly.

“Is Raon Zieghart really dead?”

The South-North Union leader narrowed his eyes.

“Yes. He’s certainly dead.”

Derus nodded, brushing off his hand.

“Then why let them go? We could’ve killed Glenn Zieghart!”

The Union leader clenched his fist.

“No. Attacking now would be suicide. Letting them go is right.”

The Fallen clicked his tongue, understanding.

“You’re smart as always.”

Derus chuckled and tapped his temple.

“I never intended to kill Glenn today. I couldn’t even if I wanted to.”

“Then why fight?”

“To sharpen the blade.”

“Sharpen…?”

“Yes. Now that the blade is ready…”

He stroked his black sword and smiled.

“All that’s left is to stab.”

* * *

Whoooosh!

Zieghart and Balkar’s forces descended like beams of light before the pirate ship, the Blue Wind.

“Hm…”

Glenn narrowed his eyes at the river, where fragments of the shattered deck floated.

There weren’t many visible, but many presences stirred beneath the water.

“Th-the head of house!”

Labawin, standing in the river, bowed deeply, his eyes trembling.

“What happened? What about Raon?”

Glenn descended in front of him.

“We were ambushed during escort. The Evil Goat Demon appeared using a teleportation artifact…”

Labawin quickly explained what happened.

“They said… young master Raon is dead. Then they disappeared.”

He bowed in shame.

“His chest was pierced and the astral sphere exploded?”

Sheryl gritted her teeth.

“Even I wouldn’t survive that…”

“Yes. But we couldn’t believe it, so we’re still searching…”

“Tell everyone to come out.”

“Y-yes!”

At Labawin’s aura message, Light Wind and Blue Wind members surfaced.

Their faces were soaked, with tears indistinguishable from river water.

“Haaack…”

“Ghhhhh…”

Rimmer, Burren, Martha, and Runaan surfaced last. Their pale faces looked as if they had just seen death.

“Th-the head of house…”

“Step back.”

Glenn raised his right hand.

RUUUMBLE!

His will surged, lifting the river into a massive bubble.

“I’ll hold it.”

Chamber raised a wall of mana to maintain the hollowed-out riverbed.

“Everyone, go down!”

Rimmer dove in. The Light Wind swordsmen followed.

“……”

Glenn observed the riverbed.

‘He’s not there.’

Only mud and gravel. No Raon.

‘Raon!’

You’re not someone who dies like this!

Ruuumble!

Clenching his teeth, Glenn lifted more water. Internal injuries flared; blood trickled from his mouth. He didn’t stop.

“It seems he’s not here…”

Chamber bit her lip, her voice stiff. She bowed her head.

“Ah…”

Martha let out a gasp upon seeing a red dagger among the debris. The Blade of Requiem—its sheath shattered.

“T-this…”

She brought the dagger to Glenn.

“It’s Raon’s.”

“……”

Glenn’s eyes narrowed.

Crack!

Blood dripped from Glenn’s clenched fist.

His wrath evaporated the water. Red heat rose.

“Sheryl.”

He wiped the blood from his lips.

“Convene the grand family meeting. The agenda…”

He looked up at the moonless sky.

“The destruction of the South-North Union. No—of the Five Demons.”

His words burned with unwavering resolve.

“My lord!”

Rimmer ran up and knelt.

“Raon is not dead yet!”

“That’s right! He wouldn’t die here!”

“He’s alive!”

Rimmer, Burren, Martha, and Runaan insisted, heads shaking.

“……”

Glenn closed his eyes, then opened them again.

“We’ll continue searching. But we cannot stay idle.”

The boy who wanted to be strong. The boy who declared he’d restore Sylvia to the direct line. The child never loved by his grandfather.

He would not be allowed to die here.

“Convene the family meeting—”

At that moment—

RUMBLE!

The wave Glenn had lifted split, and the Sword Demon, Rector, emerged.

He looked at the chaos and bit his lip.

“What’s going on here?”

“……”

Glenn and Rector’s gazes locked—sharper than any blade.

***

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]