Chapter 710

Bang!

Sylvia pushed off the deck of the sinking ship and jumped into the river.

Without even catching her breath, she stepped toward the next warship.

Kwaaang!

Once again, Sylvia's body was enveloped in a golden shining light. It was the Shining Light Style’s Light Cloud Eight Steps that Raon had taught her.

“St-stop her!”

“Don’t let that monster get here!”

“Fire!”

Red flashes lit up from the South-North Union’s warship as magic cannons and arrows flew toward Sylvia.

Zzzing!

Instead of blocking the magic cannons and arrows, Sylvia increased her speed. Her body, moving with the Light Cloud Eight Steps, advanced as if it had become a flash of light.

Boom boom boom!

The magic cannons fell into the river where Sylvia had passed, creating high waves.

Splash!

Using the surging waves as a stepping stone, Sylvia ascended onto the second warship.

“Kill her!”

“Block the way and push her back!”

The enemies on the deck thrust their swords and spears at her as if they had been waiting. Dozens of energies extended, blocking her view.

Slash!

Sylvia wielded the Shining Light Style’s slash technique. The sea-colored radiance she summoned swept through the enemies’ chests.

“Argh!”

“Wh-what is this…?”

“Monster…”

The enemies died with their weapons still in their hands, not even knowing what had hit them.

“Damn you, bitch!”

The warship’s captain, who seemed to be in charge, roared as he charged forward. The fierce astral energy he shot flew toward her.

Bang!

Sylvia did not defend. She twisted her upper body to the right to avoid the thrust and infused the Shining Light Style’s light into her lowered sword.

Boom!

The blue light from her sword shattered the captain’s spear and slashed his chest.

Slash!

The captain staggered backward, clutching the wound on his chest.

“Ugh…”

His face turned pale as if he were in excruciating pain.

“Where is Beorn?”

Sylvia raised her blood-stained sword and aimed it at the captain.

“Beorn? Where he is…?”

The captain twisted his lips into a crooked smile and lifted his chin.

“Ask in hell!”

Despite his pain, he threw the broken spear. The spear, enveloped in green astral energy, flew toward her at tremendous speed.

“Then… die.”

Sylvia used the Shining Light Style and thrust her sword. The sea-colored astral sphere from her sword shattered the spear and formed a dense cluster of light.

Kra-boom!

The terrifying wave of energy caused the captain’s upper body to explode, and the remaining enemies fell into the river, vomiting blood.

“Haa…”

Sylvia lowered her sword and exhaled a heavy breath. Her hands trembled—she had never committed such a massacre before, even before losing her power.

But she couldn’t stop here. She had to find Beorn, even if she had to kill all the enemies here.

Grit.

Sylvia clenched her teeth and turned her gaze. Fierce battles were occurring all over the Rable River.

While Zieghart had the upper hand in terms of strength, the South-North Union had the advantage due to the river terrain, making the battle almost evenly matched.

I need to do more.

Finding Beorn was important, but to reduce Zieghart’s casualties, she had to destroy more warships.

Crash!

Sylvia stomped heavily. The deck and keel crumbled, and the warship began to sink into the river.

She kicked off the bow and rushed toward her next target.

Thud!

Upon boarding the third warship, she saw dead Zieghart swordsmen with their flesh crushed.

Even a division leader was among them, but it seemed they hadn’t put up much of a fight, as the deck was clean.

“Another moth has flown in.”

A middle-aged man in a pure white priest’s robe slowly opened his eyes.

“The Yellow Sand unit leader, huh.”

Sylvia bit her lip. The only weirdo who wore a priest’s robe despite being a bandit pirate was the Yellow Sand unit leader, so she immediately recognized him.

But he was more famous for his strength as a Grandmaster than his peculiar outfit.

“That appearance. You’re a witch, aren’t you?”

The Yellow Sand unit leader clicked his tongue, seeing Sylvia’s blood-red eyes and disheveled blonde hair.

“Come. Red-eyed witch.”

He gestured with his finger, beckoning her to attack.

Clang!

Sylvia increased the Shining Light Style outputs to the maximum and charged toward the Yellow Sand unit leader’s right side.

“Fast, but predictable.”

The Yellow Sand unit leader slowly extended his hand. The mere wave he created by clenching his fist pushed Sylvia back.

Whooom!

Using the recoil from stepping back, Sylvia charged at him again.

She concentrated her astral energy at the tip of her sword and fired a blue astral sphere.

“Hmph.”

The Yellow Sand unit leader snorted and threw a punch as big as a boulder. A white astral sphere flared from his fist.

Boom!

The collision of astral spheres sent out shockwaves that violently knocked Sylvia into the railing.

“Ugh…”

She groaned from the impact on her back and wrists but quickly regained her stance.

“Your mental strength is commendable, but astral sphere without will is merely condensed energy.”

The Yellow Sand unit leader shook his head, saying she was immature.

“You cannot defeat me.”

“I don’t care if I can’t defeat you. I just need to kill you.”

A sharp murderous aura flashed above Sylvia’s red eyes. She became a golden flash, darting across the deck.

Clang!

The blue blade flew toward him at tremendous speed, but the Yellow Sand unit leader easily blocked her attack, frowning.

“I told you it’s impossible.”

“So what!”

Sylvia’s movements became even faster. So fast that the Yellow Sand unit leader’s eyes couldn’t keep up.

Splat!

Blood splattered from her shoulders, knees, and wrists. It meant she was pushing her body beyond its limits.

Thud!

The Yellow Sand unit leader couldn’t withstand the force behind Sylvia’s sword and was pushed back.

Clang clang clang!

Sylvia, ignoring the fact that her body was breaking down, continued to unleash a relentless barrage of sword strikes, not wanting to miss this opportunity.

“Ugh…”

The Yellow Sand unit leader let out a low groan, unable to continuously block Sylvia’s fierce sword attacks, with cuts on his shoulders, waist, and thighs.

“Letting your sword sacrifice yourself… What have you been through?”

“Do you know what the word danjang means?”

Sylvia trembled as she gripped her sword, her lips twitching.

“Danjang?”

“It’s the pain parents feel when they lose a child. Literally, an excruciating pain as if your intestines are being torn apart. I went through that twice because of you Five Demons! If I can’t get revenge, I’d rather die here!”

She screamed and slashed at the chest of the Yellow Sand Unit leader.

“……”

The Yellow Sand Unit leader narrowed his eyes as he watched the blood gush from his chest.

“Are you the mother of Raon Zieghart?”

He nodded as if he now understood.

“I didn’t like the attack after the duel to death either. To be honest, I wanted to avoid this war altogether. But as someone who survives by plundering, I have no choice.”

The Yellow Sand Unit leader clenched his fists and bent his knees.

“I’ll send you off without pain.”

He extended the fist he had folded at his waist. His fist seemed to stretch out, followed by a line of white light, and a huge astral sphere surged forth.

Swish!

Sylvia drew all the aura from her artificial energy center and slashed down with the ultimate technique of the Shining Light Style, White Spirit Slash.

Kuwaaaaa!

In their second clash, the astral spheres collided. But again, Sylvia was the one pushed back.

“Ugh!”

Sylvia extended her sword, biting her lips hard until it bled. She had more aura, but she couldn’t block the Yellow Sand Unit leader’s fist technique.

Is it because of that damn will?

As he said, astral sphere without will could never defeat a real astral sphere imbued with will.

Fine. I’ll put in as much as you want!

Sylvia roared as she advanced toward the Yellow Sand Unit leader’s astral sphere, closing her eyes and burning with a single desire.

All I wish for is the enemy’s death.

That was all.

She poured her murderous will into the swelling sphere of energy, aiming to cut the enemy’s throat.

The river retreated, and the wind fled. Such deep and intense murderous will blazed at the tip of Sylvia’s sword.

The intense murderous will formed a blue sphere that engulfed the Yellow Sand Unit leader’s astral sphere.

Kraaaash!

The two distorted spheres exploded, and Sylvia was thrown back, crashing onto the deck.

“Cough….”

She spat blood as she struggled to rise.

“Impressive.”

The Yellow Sand Unit leader nodded in admiration, showing a calm expression despite a head-sized hole in his abdomen.

“They say Raon Zieghart is the greatest prodigy on the continent. Now I understand why.”

He collapsed, saying that a lion’s cub can only be born a lion.

“Hah….”

Sylvia trembled as she got to her knees. She had won by luck, but she had suffered severe internal injuries that made her head spin.

She wanted to rest, but now was not the time.

Whoosh!

Forcing herself to stand, she moved toward the next warship.

I can’t stop.

Not until she found Beorn.

* * *

Raon closed his eyes, gathering the heat of Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation in his right hand and the cold of Glacier in his left.

If it stays like this, they’ll keep clashing.

The two energies kept confronting each other—whether buried underground, infused into a sword, or split within the mental world.

Fire and ice were attributes of extreme opposition. If left alone, they would fight endlessly.

I can’t expand the mental world either.

His mental world was already expanded beyond his current level thanks to the Ring of Fire. To grow further, he had to increase the Ring of Fire to nine.

In the end, it’s about how to control the cold and heat…

Simply gathering them wouldn’t make the Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation and Glacier grow. They needed a definite form.

A form…

Right. It’s always been about the image.

Glenn, Rector, Rimmer—even Wrath. The strong always emphasized the importance of visualizing an image in their minds.

For an image of fire and ice…

Raon looked up at the white sky with a faint smile.

There’s a perfect one.

Thinking about how to raise the Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation and Glacier naturally brought to mind the sun and moon.

The sun and moon that rise during the sword field of Harmony of Heaven and Demon.

The image of the mystical sun and moon, which normally couldn’t intersect, would be of great help in the growth of Glacier and the Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation.

Raon slowly closed his eyes. He visualized the sun and moon of the Harmony of Heaven and Demon, drawing all the energy of Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation and Glacier.

The sun, made of fire, revealed its fierceness within its weight, while the moon, condensed from ice, exuded calmness within its madness.

Hummmm!

As he envisioned his own sun and moon, the fire and ice enveloping the mental world slowly rose and established their domains in the sky.

The sun settled in the west, radiating brilliant fire, while the moon rose in the east, wrapped in a chilling cold that could freeze anything it touched.

Rumble!

The simultaneous rise of the sun and moon filled the mental world with majestic energy.

But the change didn’t stop there. The swords embedded in the white ground emitted a vivid light and sprouted thicker buds.

Raon let out a gasp, watching the swords.

Have my sword techniques also grown?

The sword techniques, freed from the pressure of intense energy, revealed their distinct colors, bringing new achievements.

He had thought sword techniques and energy were inseparable, but it seemed that wasn’t always the case.

I’ve learned something new again.

Raon took a deep breath, lifting his gaze.

The eight Rings of Fire floating in the center of the sky, with the sun and moon orbiting among them, radiated an energy of mystery and nobility that drew an involuntary exclamation.

As he nodded in satisfaction, black cracks began to appear throughout the mental world.

Is it time to leave?

With the Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation and Glacier reaching new realms, it seemed it was time to depart.

Whoosh!

As he felt a sensation of slowly descending like a feather, he opened his eyes to a low, transparent ceiling.

Am I underwater?

He felt water flowing around him, though breathing posed no problem.

If this is the case…

Predicting the situation, he smacked his lips when a message appeared before his eyes.

[You have achieved a great feat.]
[All stats have increased by 30 points.]
[The rank of the trait <Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation> has increased.]
[The rank of the trait <Glacier> has increased.]
[The rank of the trait <Fire Affinity> has increased.]
[The rank of the trait <Water Affinity> has increased.]

The rewards from the duel against the Axe King Roman and the enlightenment he gained in the mental world surged all at once.

Thanks to the 30-point increase in stats, his body felt as light as a feather.

It felt as if he was on land rather than in water, moving his body freely.

But the bigger change was within his body.

The heat of Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation and the cold energy of Glacier in his energy center conveyed a sense of omnipotence, as if he could do anything.

Eh?

While looking at the messages with a pleased smile, a startled voice came from above his head.

Wh-what is this! Why is that suddenly appearing!

The blue cotton candy, Wrath, grabbed his head in shock as he looked at the messages.

All stats increased by 30 points! This is too much!

Wrath shouted in disbelief, trying to grab Raon by the collar.

What’s so excessive about it?

Raon smiled as he looked at Wrath.

It’s the reward I obviously deserve.

Hiek! When did you wake up?!

Just now.

Raon laughed at Wrath, who was staring at him with wide eyes.

When did you wake up?

When you were about to die!

Wrath frowned, recalling the blade that almost pierced Raon's heart.

Heart?

Raon looked down at his left chest. As Wrath said, there was a small hole in his black dragon coat and uniform.

So you saved me?

O-Of course!

Wrath nodded quickly.

Because of you, the causality was disrupted again. You’ll have to buy ten boxes of mint chocolate!

He spread his chubby fingers, saying he was in a very dangerous situation.

Hmm? No coughing despite breaking causality?

Huh? Oh… cough, cough!
Ah, it-it hurts…

Looks like even the Demon King who doesn’t lie can’t help it in front of ice cream, huh?

Raon chuckled as he watched Wrath’s eyes dart around.

H-How did you know that?!

While you were sleeping…

Raon was about to explain, laughing, when suddenly—

The door, seemingly made of seaweed, opened, and a blue-skinned blue lugh with a cute pufferfish-like appearance entered.

“Raon!”

The young blue lugh, with round eyes blinking, ran toward Raon.

“Flumen.”

Raon smiled, patting Flumen’s head as he hugged him.

“You saved me, didn’t you? Thank you.”

“We’re friends!”

Flumen shook his head, saying it was only natural.

W-Wait, did you give orders to this little Gloomen beforehand?!

Yes. I asked him to save me and Zieghart’s swordsmen if we were in danger. And it’s not Gloomen—it’s Flumen.

Raon beckoned Flumen with his finger.

His skills have improved a lot.

Before the duel to the death, Raon had visited the Gazel River to meet Flumen.

His physical strength was still weak, but he had mastered shamanism to an extreme level, demonstrating unbelievable feats.

So Raon had asked Flumen not to fight, but to save anyone in danger.

Ugh….

Wrath’s face turned red with embarrassment, and he lowered his head.

Still, thank you.

Raon lightly patted Wrath’s head, smiling faintly.

What?

Flumen didn’t do it alone.

Judging by the fact that he had no injuries, it was clear Wrath had helped as well.

Besides, seeing that fluffy cotton candy again just made him happy.

How’s your body?

The King of Essence has recovered so much that he could eat ten boxes of mint chocolate without getting a stomachache!

Hmm…

He didn’t know how much better he was, but at least he looked brighter, so Raon was relieved.

“Flumen, what’s the situation?”

Raon gestured to Flumen as he got up. He could guess why he was here, but he needed more detailed information.

“Yeah, I found out everything. People think you’re dead…”

Flumen nodded and explained everything that had happened.

“I see.”

As expected. House Zieghart thought I was dead and declared war, and it seems they’re in the middle of war.

“…Humans are fighting among themselves. Even the friends living in the river are too scared to go near.”

Flumen shuddered, saying it was sad.

“Don’t worry.”

Raon shook his head, holding Flumen’s shoulder.

“The war will end soon.”

With those words, he strapped Heavenly Drive, which had been lying on the ground, to his waist. It seemed he had to move now to avoid being late.

“Ah!”

As he was about to leave the room, Flumen grabbed his wrist.

“I saved one more person!”

“Saved? Who?”

“A human woman wearing a mask, she saved you.”

Hearing about a masked human woman, he immediately knew who it was.

The Madwoman?

Yes. It must be Merlin.

Raon nodded heavily, looking at Flumen.

“Is she here too?”

“No?”

Flumen lowered his gaze, shaking his head.

“I had to hide her in the river because I was following you…”

Flumen swallowed dryly and continued.

“When I went back, the river was swarming with skeleton monsters. I couldn’t get close. If I don’t cast a new spell soon, she’ll be discovered…”

Flumen trembled, saying the spell allowing her to breathe would soon break.

“Skeleton monsters?”

Raon exhaled sharply.

Don’t tell me…

Has the Specter been resurrected?

Merlin had said she prevented the Specter from being resurrected.

But with the undead surrounding the river, it meant he had come back to life.

“Did any of those pursuing me wear a skull mask?”

“Yes! Skull mask! That person is surrounding the entire river.”

Flumen nodded, saying the human with the skull mask was searching the whole river.

His guess was right. It seemed Merlin had been attacked by Specter.

“Hah…”

Raon let out a low sigh.

“If that’s the case…”

You’ll have to make a decision.

Wrath, understanding the situation, frowned.

Whether to go to the war or save that madwoman.

Raon looked at Wrath and Flumen in turn and clenched his fist.

“I will….”

***

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]