Chapter 718

“Leader of the Holy Sword Alliance!”

The Leader of the White Blood Religion clenched her fist as she shouted at the woman now standing between them and Glenn.

“Have you gone mad? What are you doing?”

She bared her white teeth, growling like a beast.

“Do you realize what you’ve just done?”

The Fallen took a deep breath, eyes locked onto the Leader of the Holy Sword Alliance.

“We had a chance. An opportunity to kill the Northern Destroyer King, Glenn Zieghart. And instead of helping, you protected the enemy. Why?”

His voice trembled. The calm he usually held was gone.

[Leader of the Holy Sword Alliance.]

The Dragon Lord narrowed his golden eyes, gazing down from the sky upon her.

[How am I supposed to interpret this?]

A gust of white mist escaped his mouth as he shifted his fury from Glenn to the Leader of the Holy Sword Alliance.

“...”

Derus Robert said nothing. He simply moved his eyes within the depths of his blue dragon helmet.

—I felt it from the moment I first saw him...

Wrath let out a dry, hollow laugh, as if he himself could barely believe what he was witnessing.

—That guy is also a madman.

‘Indeed.’

Raon touched his lips, not watching the Leader of the Holy Sword Alliance—but rather looking at Derus, whose eyes were cast downward.

‘He’s bewildered.’

Though Derus maintained his usual composed expression, the slight tremble in his eyes betrayed the truth.

‘This situation… is beyond even his predictions.’

As soon as Glenn’s ambush had failed, Derus had immediately called out to the Fallen and the White Blood Religion’s Leader, commanding them to kill Glenn on the spot.

In other words, he had known that Chamber and King Lecross would arrive soon—and intended to kill Glenn before their interference.

Of course, thanks to the quick intervention of Owen and Balkar, they had stopped the second ambush before it could even begin.

But even then, Derus hadn’t seemed nervous.

‘He must have expected the dragons and the Leader of the Holy Sword Alliance to show up as well.’

He was likely waiting for them, thinking that with their presence, he could annihilate not only Glenn but everyone on the battlefield.

‘However…’

The Leader of the Holy Sword Alliance, blinded by her obsession with the sword, had defied his expectations.

Derus’s trembling eyes made it clear that he had never imagined she would side with Glenn.

‘I never thought I would see that broken expression on his face twice.’

Seeing Derus’s distorted gaze once again—just like after the ambush failed—soothed the agitation inside Raon. His heart, torn with tension, settled as if his internal injuries were being healed.

“Are you saying that I saved Glenn Zieghart?”

The Leader of the Holy Sword Alliance raised her chin, her golden eyes sharp and cold.

“Have you all hit your heads with swords?”

She let out a dry, mocking laugh, her gaze falling upon the Five Demon leaders like she was looking at bugs.

“What do you mean by that?”

Derus opened his mouth for the first time, frowning deeply.

“I also find it hard to understand.”

The Fallen’s handsome, youthful face darkened with confusion.

“The Northern Destroyer King’s condition is at its worst, to put it mildly.”

He gestured toward Glenn’s pale face, his voice laced with scorn.

“His internal injuries from a few days ago have been worsened. He’s physically exhausted from constant combat. And now, after even using his Sword Domain… there’s nothing left to fear—”

“Sword Domain?”

The Leader of the Holy Sword Alliance raised her floating sword and laughed manically as she brushed her bangs back with one hand.

“As I thought… you don’t understand.”

“Excuse me?”

The Fallen frowned, confused and irritated.

“That monster, weakened by internal injuries, using his Sword Domain to protect himself? What utter nonsense.”

Bwaaaaang!

Her sword vibrated with a loud, ringing Sword Chant, the sound echoing with her contempt.

“Let me be clear.”

She paused, her voice sharp and cutting.

“I didn’t save Glenn Zieghart. I saved you.”

A chilling light flared in her golden eyes.

“What do you mean…?”

Derus’s voice grew lower as he narrowed his eyes at her.

“You two should know better than anyone.”

Her gaze slowly swept across the Leader of the White Blood Religion and the Dragon Lord.

“Glenn Zieghart’s true sword isn’t affected by trivial things like internal injuries or aura.”

She curled her lips as she rubbed the back of her neck.

“Isn’t it strange?”

Her tone grew dry.

“That the blood-crazed idiot who usually charges at Glenn without a thought is now hanging back, playing with Ogram like some bored spectator?”

Her gaze locked onto the Leader of the White Blood Religion, her smile dripping with irony.

“And what about the dragons?”

She turned her head to the Dragon Lord.

“Why are you all still up in the sky, even though it weakens the power of your breath? You should have come down long ago.”

She waved a hand toward them lazily, mockingly.

“You’re afraid. All of you are terrified because you’ve experienced Glenn Zieghart’s true sword.”

She reached out and gently caressed the blade of her levitating longsword.

“That’s why the Leader of the White Blood Religion risked attacking Ogram. Why the Black Tower Master is desperately collecting artifacts. Why dragons—who should remain neutral—have taken Glenn’s side.”

Her calm, measured voice struck a nerve.

The Fallen and Derus’s eyes trembled at her words.

“So, when you say you saved us…”

“The moment Glenn would reveal his true sword…”

Her finger slowly traced down the length of her sword.

“...was the moment the dragons’ breath would’ve clouded the battlefield.”

She smiled softly, her voice cold and steady.

“That old fox was waiting for the perfect moment to slaughter all of you in one strike.”

She looked toward Glenn and nodded slowly.

“Isn’t that right, Glenn Zieghart?”

“...”

Glenn didn’t answer. He simply looked at her with a pale complexion, his lips pressed together in silence.

“Ah…”

Raon let out a slow breath, his eyes turning to Glenn.

‘Is it… true?’

Thinking back, Glenn hadn’t looked tense—not until the Leader of the Holy Sword Alliance arrived.

If what she said was true… then Glenn wasn’t surprised by the danger.

He was disappointed that the opportunity he had painstakingly prepared had been lost.

“That’s absurd!”

The Fallen turned away and shouted in disbelief.

“...”

[...]

However, the Leader of the White Blood Religion and the Dragon Lord remained silent.

Their silence confirmed everything the Leader of the Holy Sword Alliance had said.

“The Northern Destroyer King was acting…”

Derus nodded slowly, biting his lip.

“It seems to be true.”

“But how did you see through his intentions?”

“Because I’ve reached the same level as Glenn Zieghart.”

The Leader of the Holy Sword Alliance curved her lips, extending her arms like a saint receiving the heavens.

“I can now imbue my sword with my life… and my soul.”

“The same level…?”

Raon exhaled slowly, stunned as he looked into her confident golden eyes.

‘Wrath.’

—Not quite.

Wrath shook his head slightly.

—The old baker Nadine is still stronger. But…

He yawned.

—She’s strong enough now to shake the balance the lizards keep whining about.

“If you understand, then get lost.”

She waved her hand dismissively, as if shooing away flies.

“It’s not like I saved you because I like you.”

“Then why did you block the breath?”

Raon asked, his brow furrowed.

“Because Glenn Zieghart’s sword is too precious to waste on monkeys like you!”

Her eyes burned with obsession.

“Only I have the right to test that sword!”

She extended her arms wide, her expression trembling with ecstatic madness.

Only one thought came to Raon’s mind.

‘She’s insane.’

“I don’t like that.”

Derus shook his head and stepped aside.

“If he hasn’t used such powerful swordsmanship until now, there must be restrictions.”

“You’re not a monkey. You’re a swordsman worthy of being cut down.”

She licked her lips while staring at him.

“You’re right. Of course there are restrictions. But for those of us who have given our lives to the sword…”

She lowered her gaze.

“Those restrictions mean nothing.”

She muttered that Derus could do whatever he wanted if he wanted to die, then turned to face Glenn.

“I’ve solved the task you gave me, Glenn Zieghart.”

At her gesture, her longsword lifted into the air with a soft curl of aura.

“Task…”

Glenn narrowed his eyes as he looked at her.

“You get crazier every time we meet.”

“Being obsessed with the sword…”

She took a long breath, her golden eyes glowing.

“…is a happy thing.”

“Step back.”

At Glenn’s command, the knights of Owen, the mages of Balkar, and the Beast Union’s martial artists who had been fighting the Five Demons quickly retreated.

“Will you really be alright?”

“Old man…”

“I honestly have no idea what’s going on anymore.”

King Lecross, Ogram, and Chamber also stepped back, but they remained alert—ready to jump in at a moment’s notice.

“Raon.”

Glenn looked to the Six Kings, then gestured to Raon.

“Stand beside me.”

“Huh? What do you mean…?”

“I wanted to show you this.”

He exhaled, the scent of blood thick on his breath.

“…it might be difficult to show it again.”

“You intend to kill that child?”

The Leader of the Holy Sword Alliance scoffed, as if she couldn’t believe it.

“I’m sorry, but I still can’t fully control my power.”

“Don’t worry.”

Glenn looked up with calm eyes and shook his head.

“You won’t be able to touch a single hair on his head.”

Despite the blood dripping from his lips, he waved his hand like it was nothing.

“Fine. It’s a shame, but now…”

She smiled.

“A far more important feast has been prepared!”

Fwoooosh!

As the Leader of the Holy Sword Alliance brought her hands together, brilliant light erupted from her sword. An inky black aura surged as the blade expanded—massive enough to split the heavens.

“Ugh…”

Raon looked up, body trembling. Her Sword Flight overflowed with energy that surpassed even Glenn’s Heavenly Sword.

‘She’s… insane.’

Even just brushing against her energy from afar, his breath caught. It felt like his soul was being ripped apart.

‘Will you really be okay…?’

He turned to Glenn beside him. The man was still pale. Dead blood still dripped from his mouth.

He didn’t look like he was pretending.

—He’ll be fine.

Wrath nodded solemnly.

—Trust your precious old man.

He perched on Raon’s shoulder, as if telling him to see it through to the end.

‘Hmm…’

Now that he thought about it, Wrath had never once expressed worry about the Light Wind division.

He’d only ranted about rewards.

As if… he already knew how it would all end.

‘Alright.’

Raon clenched his jaw and gathered strength in his trembling legs. He straightened his back.

His red eyes gleamed—clear and focused.

* * *

“This time… I’ll settle it once and for all.”

With a solemn vow, the Leader of the Holy Sword Alliance moved her sword.

Within the enormous, spiraling waves of energy that rose from the black blade, a hunger burned. The desire to consume all swords. To stand above all swordsmanship in existence.

“Soul Devouring Sword.”

It was her sword.

A blade that embodied the life she had lived until now, and the life she would live from now on.

Her ultimate technique. The absolute sword meant to bring all the continent’s swordsmanship under her heel.

The Soul Devouring Sword was revealed to the world.

Glenn inhaled quietly as he watched it.

‘She’s truly entered that realm.’

As she had claimed, she had indeed reached another dimension.

Her soul had crossed a threshold.

There may be no one more unhinged than her—who would create such a deadly sword technique, then smile and return saying she'd “completed a task.”

“Ugh…”

Raon’s body convulsed as blood spilled from his lips.

The pressure from the Soul Devouring Sword was unbearable.

“Raon.”

Glenn opened his eyes slowly and held Raon’s shoulder.

“It’s okay.”

The martial art he was about to unleash was one he had achieved thanks to Raon.

A sword born not of endless rage, but from new emotions—joy, comfort, happiness.

The sword of a grandfather who had finally found peace in his heart.

“Don’t watch it with your eyes. Feel it with your heart.”

His voice was unusually gentle, warm—something Raon had never heard from him before.

Glenn raised Heavenly Tremor.

At that moment, the world itself seemed to tilt toward the Soul Devouring Sword.

It felt as if everything would be severed.

There was no brilliant light.

No overwhelming wave of aura.

The sword simply advanced—

Blade raised.

Quietly.

As if its only reason for existing was to cut the enemy before it.

But the result…

Was beyond all reason.

The dark clouds in the sky split apart.

The tidal waves that churned the riverbed fell still.

The overwhelming aura of the Soul Devouring Sword—erased.

The pressure that had blanketed the heavens and earth—gone.

As though it had never existed at all.

“What… is this…?”

The Leader of the Holy Sword Alliance’s eyes widened to the brink of bursting.

Spurt!

Red blood shot from her mouth as she staggered.

“Now!”

The Leader of the White Blood Religion raised her hand and invoked the Divine Blood Summoning Ritual, unleashing all the blood energy she had stored.

The Fallen moved as well—launching gray magic fused with sacred and demonic power.

The Dragon Lord and ancient dragons let out their breath, the attacks they had been preparing now aimed straight at Glenn.

“How despicable!”

“You wretched cowards!”

“I knew it would end like this!”

“Let them be.”

As King Lecross, Ogram, Chamber, and the Spirit Kings moved to intervene, Glenn calmly raised his hand to stop them.

He slowly raised Heavenly Tremor again.

There was no urgency. No tension.

His movements were as steady as flowing water.

What Glenn was cutting now…

Was not aura.

Not technique.

Not power.

He was cutting the very existence behind them.

This was a sword that severed the soul.

[Everyone, fall back!]

“Damn it!”

“W-What is that sword?!”

The Dragon Lord and the leaders of the Five Demons shouted in panic.

They turned and fled, abandoning their forces and retreating from the battlefield.

“Grrraaahh!”

Derus Robert tore off a bracelet from his wrist and exploded an aura of pure death around him.

But it was meaningless.

Glenn’s sword swept forward, slicing through everything—

Light.

Darkness.

Magic.

Aura.

All of it vanished.

Fwaaash!

A wave of pure, colorless energy engulfed the battlefield.

And when that light passed—

There was nothing.

Nothing at all.

No corpses. No weapons. No ashes.

Just silence.

Just space.

Just emptiness.

“The name of this sword…”

Glenn slowly turned his gaze.

A faint smile rose on his lips.

His eyes, filled with warmth, trembled weakly as if they would disappear at any moment.

“The Soul Sword…
Also… the Heart Sword.”

***

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

Thank you for reading!

[Author – Writing Ant, 글개미]

[Translator – MurimTang]

[Proofreader – Mayank]