Chapter 731

“Would you be willing to listen to me?”

Raon looked at Derus Robert with feigned expectation in his eyes.

‘Of course, you’ll have no choice but to accept.’

The Six Kings had created an atmosphere of granting wishes, and Derus had also mentioned that he would listen to requests. He had even said they needed to become stronger, so refusing wasn’t an option for him.

“Of course, as I’m no match for you in a formal fight, I hope you can moderate your strength a little.”

Raon continued speaking as if he had already received permission.

“Please grant me the opportunity to witness the swordsmanship of House Robert, known for its mystery.”

He bowed deeply with his hand on his chest.

“Oh!”

“To think we’ll see a duel between the King Slayer and the Heavenly Sword Saint!”

“I’m already trembling with excitement…”

“Just seeing this duel will be a learning experience!”

The leaders of the neutral factions were already savoring the duel as if it had already taken place.

“Ah, Father.”

Lephon looked at Derus with his hands clasped together. His expression seemed to anticipate the duel as well.

“If that is your wish…”

Derus smiled faintly as he brushed his hair back.

“I should be the one making the request.”

He nodded, saying he would naturally agree.

“Wow!”

Lephon waved his raised fist, seemingly excited.

“Well, since it’s been mentioned, let’s begin immediately!”

Ogram rose from the round table as if he had been waiting for this.

“We just renovated the duel field for the kids to play on, so it wouldn’t be bad for the first fight.”

He said to hurry up and left the conference room first.

“I wish I had a chance too.”

King Lecross followed behind Ogram, smiling as if to say he was available if a duel partner was needed.

“Light Wind Division Leader. Will you be alright?”

Glenn called Raon by his title and cast a somber glance.

“Yes. Even if I get hurt a little, I don’t want to miss this opportunity.”

Raon bowed his head, saying he was asking permission.

“It’s your wish, so I’m not the one who should argue.”

Glenn nodded as if granting permission and rose from his chair.

“Don’t worry. No one will get hurt.”

Derus waved his hand as he followed Glenn outside.

“Hey? Aren’t you coming?”

Chamber looked at the Magic Tower Master.

“Go without me…”

The Magic Tower Master waved her hand weakly as if she was already exhausted.

“Don’t be silly!”

Chamber frowned and dragged the Magic Tower Master out of the conference room by the waist. Due to their height difference, it looked like a child dragging their mother.

“We should go too!”

“Yes. We might lose good seats at this rate!”

“Just participating in this conference is an honor, and now this fortuitous encounter!”

The leaders of the neutral factions rushed out of the conference room one after another. Raon clenched his fingers as if he was sharpening a sword as he left the conference room last.

‘The first part of the plan has been fulfilled.’

Of course, this duel was my plan. Thanks to Glenn and the Six Kings’ leaders playing their roles well, everything went smoothly.

‘However…’

Derus Robert must have noticed that this was a plan. It’s impossible for that sharp-eyed snake not to have understood the situation. He clearly accepted the duel knowing full well what was happening.

‘You must think I can’t probe your wounds.’

That arrogance. The complacency that doesn’t even consider arrogance will become the sword that pierces Derus’s heart. Raon left the conference room with his hand on the hilt of the Heavenly Drive. His eyes darkened as if they were enveloped in night.

‘This life will be different from the last.’

* * *

Before starting the duel, Derus stopped in his quarters to remove his robe.

“Lord Derus.”

Kubara bowed his head as he received the robe.

“Will you be alright?”

“I’m simply delighted.”

Derus smiled, interlacing his fingers.

“I was curious how he would approach, but a duel? Not a bad move.”

He curled his lips, saying it would be interesting.

“Raon Zieghart is a monster who has created countless variables.”

Kubara lowered his voice without changing his expression.

“Our plans have been thwarted more than once due to his words and actions, so you must be cautious.”

“Of course, I won’t be careless. However…”

Derus raised the corners of his lips as he turned his head left and right as if he was loosening his neck.

“They have no way. The aura of death is sealed at the bottom of my soul, and it’s impossible to open the scar on the back of this hand.”

He laughed and gave a slight tap on the back of his gloved hand.

“Since the outcome of the fight is obvious, the tension is meager. Even the old men’s acting is clumsy.”

“But…”

“Of course, it’s not that there’s nothing to acknowledge.”

Derus raised a finger.

“As it’s difficult to openly suspect me, requesting a duel was undoubtedly a good method.”

Raon and the Six Kings must have planned to use the duel situation to remove their gloves and expose the scar on the back of his hand. Even if they failed, they would have judged that there was no loss with the excuse of a duel.

‘But that’s just your thinking.’

Crisis turns into another opportunity. Contrary to what Raon and the Six Kings thought, he had planned to move in the opposite direction to tarnish his reputation and gain compensation.

‘I look forward to it.’

As he imagined the expressions of Raon and the old men crumbling at the sight of the Doppelganger Hide, he could already feel the excitement rising.

“Let’s go.”

Derus said he couldn’t wait any longer and left the room.

“…”

Kubara said nothing more and followed him silently.

* * *

Raon arrived at the duel field first and warmed up.

– You couldn’t win even if you died and came back to life.

Wrath shook his head, saying it was a fight between an elephant and an ant.

– Just leave it to this king!

He pounded his chest, saying he would trap him in a glacier and make him suffer for life.

‘That wouldn’t be bad, but this is my war. I can’t give it up to anyone.’

Raon shook his head vigorously.

‘And what’s important in this fight isn’t martial arts.’

The duel with Derus isn’t a swordsmanship competition, but a psychological battle. Who prepared more and who knows the opponent better will determine today’s victory.

“Raon.”

Glenn approached as he increased his concentration by resonating the Ring of Fire.

“I don’t like this plan.”

He shook his head, creating an aura barrier so that others couldn’t hear.

“Even now, if we change it and I finish it…”

“Then Derus will never reveal his true nature until he dies.”

Raon lowered his eyes as he turned around.

“Only I, who doesn’t pose a threat to him, can do this.”

He bowed, asking Glenn to trust him.

“Alright. I understand. However…”

Glenn revealed eyes full of determination as he returned to his original position.

“If you seem to be in danger, I will intervene no matter what.”

“Yes. I’ll count on you.”

His tense expression relaxed only after hearing the request. Raon smiled as he looked at the duel field again.

‘Not bad.’

To think the strongest swordsman on the continent was backing him, his fear disappeared. He felt like he could do anything.

– T-this king is here too!

Wrath suddenly shouted and jumped into the air.

– If it’s dangerous, summon this king!

He waved his arms and perked his ears as if he didn’t want to miss out.

‘Yes, yes.’

As Raon laughed and patted Wrath’s head, Derus entered the training field. He stepped onto the duel ground as if he didn’t need a warm-up.

“Are you ready?”

“Yes. I’m ready.”

Raon nodded and unsheathed the Heavenly Drive.

“Then, let’s begin.”

As Derus reached behind him, Varian, the Young Sword Division Leader, handed him a blue-toned sword.

“Are both of you prepared?”

The Beast Union’s Vice Leader had somehow climbed onto the duel field and was officiating.

“Yes.”

“Yes.”

Raon and Derus responded simultaneously, holding their swords at mid-level.

“Then I declare the duel to begin!”

The Vice Leader lowered his hand abruptly and descended from the duel field.

“I will give you three moves.”

Derus stepped back, saying that as a senior martial artist, he would allow the first three attacks.

“I won’t hold back!”

Raon took off from the duel ground without hesitation. Moving forward as if he were traversing space, he swung the Heavenly Drive. The tip of the reddened blade trembled misty, then bloomed into hundreds of flower petals.

Fwoooosh!

Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation. Fire Spirit. Even more fire fragments advanced at twice the previous speed, enveloping Derus’s entire body.

“Swordsmanship with sharpness hidden in its beauty. The execution speed is also fast, so not many could easily handle it. However…”

Claaang!

Derus exhaled in admiration as he swung his sword downward. His single, silent blow completely stifled the Fire Spirit petals surrounding him.

“It’s still insufficient. To bring down a master with a single strike, you must increase your speed and variability even further.”

He gave sincere advice as if this were an instructional duel. Raon had anticipated that the Fire Spirit would be knocked down and used the Supreme Harmony Steps to dive behind Derus’s back.

Flash!

Crimson Red Cuts Thirty-Six Strikes. The final move of the Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation, striking thirty-six points in an instant, shot out like lightning.

“Your swordsmanship is so well-honed that it is beautiful. Of course…”

Zzzing!

Derus turned his wrist. As his sword traced a semicircle, the sword energy of the Crimson Red Cuts vanished helplessly as if iron shavings were being attracted by a magnet.

“The power and speed are still insufficient.”

This time too, he smiled as he pointed out the shortcomings.

“Uff.”

Raon caught his breath as he secretly observed Derus’s hand. Despite unleashing the Fire Spirit and the Crimson Red Cuts Thirty-Six Strikes, not even the slightest mark had been left on his gloves.

‘A new sword technique? It seems he’s become stronger.’

True to his reputation of not being inferior even to Glenn, Derus didn’t hesitate at all in the face of the Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation swordsmanship. It felt like facing an unbreakable wall.

‘But it doesn’t matter.’

No part of his plan had been thwarted. He who laughs last is the true victor. Raon charged towards Derus, pushing forward the Heavenly Drive that had retreated.

Rooooaar!

A whirlwind of flames erupted from the sword, forming the figure of a huge fire dragon. Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation Heavenly Drive. Flame Dragon Strike.

The roar of the fire dragon, second to none in power, caused a tremendous explosion right before Derus’s eyes.

KABOOM!

A crimson flame like a snake’s tongue and acrid smoke rose endlessly from the center of the duel field. Derus used his sword to create a wind that pushed the smoke away, seemingly unaffected by the impact. However, his leather gloves were slightly torn.

“Hmm?”

Raon swallowed dryly as he observed Derus’s slightly torn gloves. However, his chest was beating very slowly, as if he wasn’t excited at all.

“A sword strike focused on power. It’s good that you deliberately approached to detonate this. If you correct the parts that lack precision, it will become excellent swordsmanship.”

Derus relaxed his defensive posture and stepped forward with his left foot.

“The concession is over. Shall we begin properly now?”

“Of course.”

Raon plunged the Heavenly Drive and the Blade of Requiem into the duel ground.

Clang!

“Sword Domain – Divine-Demonic Harmony.”

His low voice twisted the world. Another sun rose in the sky, and a crescent silver moon appeared on the opposite side.

“Sword Domain, eh…”

Derus licked his lips as if anticipating. His eyes shone ominously.

“This is getting more and more interesting.”

“Yes. It will be very pleasant.”

Raon charged towards Derus Robert, grabbing the Divine Sword and the Demon Sword.

* * *

Derus twisted his lips into a smile as he blocked Raon’s sword strike.

‘He’s absurdly strong.’

He had felt it when Raon blocked his surprise attack, but Raon Zieghart’s martial prowess was real. An absolute talent that even he couldn’t match. In the entire history of the continent, there might not be another person who reached this level at such a young age.

‘Of course, talent means nothing.’

No matter how strong Raon is, no matter how exceptional his talent, it doesn’t matter. In the end, he will sink into the ground without blooming. Raon’s sword traced an elegant change, like sunlight shining on water. The flaming sword that had been aiming at vital points all over his body now fell abruptly, aiming at his hand.

‘As expected, he’s aiming for my hand.’

Derus twisted his lips as he deflected Raon’s sword strike. From before, while pretending to aim at vital points, Raon had been subtly pushing his sword towards his hand. The successive displays of flashy swordsmanship also seemed to be part of a plan to hide his intention of aiming at the hand.

‘Your acting wasn’t bad.’

But this was a fight you could never win from the start. As if hearing his mockery, a tremendous weight settled on Raon’s sword. A sword strike that seemed to contain the sky. It appeared to be the Azure Sky Sword that Glenn had personally taught him.

‘With this, it should be enough to take.’

Although he could have blocked the Azure Sky Sword, Derus naturally allowed his leather gloves to be cut to see the despair on the faces of Raon and the old men of the Six Kings. Raon’s sword strike tore through the thick leather gloves, revealing the back of his hand.

Rip!

He could almost hear the eyes of Glenn, Ogram, Chamber, Lecross, and the Magic Tower Master, who were watching the duel, rolling rapidly.

“Those were gloves I liked.”

Derus held back his laughter and instead extended the back of his hand. Of course, not even the slightest wound was visible on his hand.

“Hmm…”

“As expected.”

“Haa…”

The Six Kings’ leaders let out inaudible sighs, unable to perceive the Doppelganger Hide.

‘Of course, you wouldn’t be able to notice.’

The Doppelganger Hide doesn’t move with mana. Even for a Transcendent Warrior, it’s impossible to detect its existence. However, unlike the Six Kings’ leaders who showed slight disappointment, Raon’s eyes remained unchanged. His face seemed to have anticipated this.

‘Right. You must have known.’

Derus nodded, laughing inwardly. Since he knows you well, he must have sufficiently foreseen this situation.

‘However…’

You can’t detect this hide either. The more Raon focused on the back of his hand, the more he sank into an endless swamp.

‘I can even see how you’ll move.’

Just as Derus was about to move again, mocking inwardly, Raon’s red divine sword shot towards him like a dart, obscuring his vision.

Whoosh!

“Hmm!”

Derus swung his sword downward to deflect the approaching divine sword. He opened his eyes as if he had been startled.

“What is this?”

“You were too fast, so this was the only way.”

Raon lunged forward, grabbing Derus’s wrist as if proposing close combat.

“You’re quite impulsive, it must be your youth.”

Derus opened his mouth as if he was surprised, but a rhythm of mockery bloomed in his chest.

‘As expected, you came on your own.’

No matter how strong Raon is, no matter how exceptional his talent, it doesn’t matter. In the end, this was the only method left for him to try to reopen the wound on his hand.

‘Your eyes are trembling.’

Perhaps due to impatience, Raon’s eyes flickered like waves hitting the shore.

It seemed he still hadn’t corrected that habit. Raon began to push his burning aura towards the back of Derus’s hand, attempting to reopen the scar.

‘It’s useless with your power.’

Derus had concentrated his aura between the Doppelganger Hide and his real skin, blocking any space for Raon’s energy to penetrate.

“It doesn’t seem to be working.”

Derus curled the corners of his mouth as he maintained an extremely subtle aura barrier.

“It’s absolutely impossible with your level.”

“There’s nothing absolutely impossible.”

Raon pushed more energy towards Derus’s hand as if he was struggling desperately.

“I told you it wouldn’t work.”

Derus scoffed as he reinforced his defenses even further. His gaze, which had been protecting his entire body, now flowed only towards the back of his hand.

As Glenn, the other Transcendent Warriors, and even Derus himself focused solely on the back of his hand, Raon saw beyond that.

The Blade of Death, hidden in the depths of his heart, emerged.

Fwoom…

The faintly glowing blade ignored the solid defense protecting Derus’s hand and penetrated his deepest core.

The Ring of Fire illuminated the darkness, the thrill of anger paved the way, and Alice’s dimensional sword and Ogram’s Fierce Wave Arts lent their power to pierce Derus’s soul.

“Wait…”

By the time Derus realized he had been tricked and tried to pull his wrist away, it was too late. The blade that divides death didn’t miss the fleeting opportunity and opened the seal of death sunk at the bottom of Derus’s soul.

Craaaack!

A sound as if the sky was splitting resonated, and Derus’s clear eyes turned pitch black. The Aura of Death danced like flames over his shoulders.

“…Damn bastard! It was all a ruse!”

Derus’s jaw trembled as he looked at the aura of death that had escaped his control.

“It’s not malice…”

Raon twisted his lips into a smile as he faced the aura of death writhing all over Derus’s body.

“It’s meticulousness, Derus Robert.”

***

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]