Chapter 602

“Wahahahaha!”

Roman laughed like a madman, covering his forehead with his hand. His aura seeped into his emotions, creating a huge wave on the river.

“What’s so funny?”

Raon furrowed his brow because Roman’s laughter was resounding too loudly.

‘Don’t tell me, did he become even stronger?’

Roman’s pressure felt even heavier than two years ago on the Rable River.

Raon could guess that he had reached an even higher realm unless he was imagining it.

“My heart’s started to pound again. There’s no way I wouldn’t be laughing.”

Roman lifted the axe that was submerged in the river and rested it on his shoulder.

“You are the only ones who interest me, after all.”

He curled his lips into a smile, glancing at Raon and Rimmer one after the other.

“Get ready.”

Roman fiddled with the shaft of his axe, suggesting that they start the three-strike battle.

“I’ll check your skills in only three strikes.”

“Three strikes? Don’t make me laugh.”

Raon bit his lip while looking at Roman’s eyes, which burned with madness.

‘He’s definitely going to attack me as soon as the three moves are over.’

Roman easily broke his promises, even throwing away his name as the Axe King.

He was most likely going to start an all-out assault as soon as the three-strike battle ended, saying that he was getting excited.

‘I should save the Sword Field Creation.’

Fending off the three strikes in his usual state and using the Sword Field during the real battle that would follow seemed to be the strategy with the highest chance of survival.

Clench.

Raon made the rings of fire resonate around his heart. He entered an extremely focused state and unleashed the Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation and Glacier to the maximum output.

Rumble!

The wave rushing towards him from Roman’s pressure suddenly froze and crumbled into pieces. That implied that his aura wave didn’t lose to the liar’s.

“The three-strike battle.”

Raon calmed his pounding heart and stood in front of Roman.

“Let’s get started.”

* * *

Rimmer bit his lip, as he watched Raon as he stood in front of Roman.

‘This is even worse than the last time.’

Judging from Roman’s behavior so far, he was definitely going to attack after the three-strike battle.

‘But we still have a way out of this.’

Fortunately, Roman hadn’t brought many subordinates with him. They would be able to escape without many issues as long as Roman was killed.

Tsk.

Rimmer briefly clicked his tongue and went next to Siyan.

“R-Rimmer…”

Siyan seemed to be worried about Raon, her trembling hands clasped together in front of her chest. Even though she had absolute trust in Raon, she was still intimidated by Roman’s destructive pressure.

“Get ready to fight.”

“Are you saying that Sir Raon is going to lose…?”

“That’s not it.”

Rimmer shook his head and glared at Roman.

“He lies as often as he breathes. He is going to attack even if Raon wins the three-strike battle. You and I have to interfere when that happens.”

“Ah…”

Siyan gave a small nod, showing that she understood.

“You can summon a highest-tier spirit, right?”

“Yes, I’ll summon it right now.”

She snapped her fingers. The water giant protecting the ship disappeared, and an adorable crow-tit made of water spread its small wings.

The crow-tit landed on Siyan’s shoulder, chirping with a tremendous amount of mana despite its cute appearance.

Rimmer nodded, sensing the huge amount of energy emanating from the crow-tit.

‘It’s doable.’

Even though she had only recently made the contract, the crow-tit was a highest-tier spirit. It was definitely going to be helpful in the battle against Roman.

“Haa…”

Rimmer placed his hand on his hilt and sighed deeply.

‘It’s sad that all I can do is to watch him.’

Roman seemed to have become even stronger than before, and the one facing him was Raon, his disciple and his subordinate.

His own incompetence felt so painful. It made him feel even more bitter than when his fighting ability was impaired from injuring his energy center.

‘If we manage to survive… I’m going to use that prosthetic arm.’

He was still contemplating when Sterin had talked to him, but he made up his mind.

He was going to get that prosthetic arm even if he had to beg Encia for it—assuming he returned to Zieghart alive.

‘So please.’

Rimmer swallowed nervously, looking at Raon’s broad back.

‘Withstand it.’

* * *

“I heard you can use the Sword Field…”

Roman tilted his chin, holding his axe with one hand.

“Aren’t you going to use it?”

“I’ll use it if it’s necessary. Don’t worry about it.”

Raon shook his head, meeting Roman’s sparkling eyes.

“So arrogant.”

Roman curled his lips into a deep smile, showing his satisfaction while saying the opposite.

Rumble!

He lifted his axe towards the sky. His powerful aura seeped into the darkish-red axe blade. It sounded like the sky was roaring even though all he was doing was concentrating his energy.

“The first strike!”

With a thunderous shout, Roman’s axe fell towards him. The energy blazing on the axe blade was emanating a frightening bloody glow.

Rumble!

Raon clenched his teeth as he watched Roman’s axe descend like lightning.

‘What is this?!’

Even though the axe was still falling, a tremendous pressure was crushing his body. He felt like his shoulders were being torn off.

‘I can’t lose in sheer strength.’

The Axe King Roman was an extremely powerful warrior, unmatched in terms of sheer power and spirit.

If he already had difficulties fending off the first strike, he wouldn’t even be able to continue the three-strike battle. He had to block it even if he had to muster all his strength.

Wham!

Raon stomped the river with his left foot and raised Heavenly Drive, which was tilted downwards. He incorporated the principles of the versatile sword from his mental world onto the merciless silver blade.

The blade smacked the crimson axe, wrapped with his will to never be defeated.

Whaaam!

Even though it was just a clash between a sword and an axe, it sounded like a mountain was collapsing. The river flowed backward, as if it were terrified by it, and a dark fissure appeared on the gravel on the riverside.

Crack!

Raon bit his lip, feeling the intensifying pressure of Roman’s axe.

‘Has it always been so heavy?’

Roman’s axe felt much heavier than what he’d seen before. He couldn’t even breathe properly.

‘I need to push it back as fast as possible.’

He added the principle of the severing sword onto Heavenly Drive’s blade, which was bending like it was going to snap. He severed every single fiber of energy seeping into the axe and unleashed the highest output of Glacier.

Whaaam!

A dark gray light exploded in between the axe blade and the sword’s blade, and Raon took five steps back as a result.

However, Roman was smiling without taking a single step back.

“That was pretty good.”

Roman gave a big nod of satisfaction and pulled the axe downwards. He was going to use the Axe of the Sky-Rendering Surge, a rising slash powerful enough to destroy the sky.

Raon furrowed his brow, as he watched the intensifying light on Roman’s axe.

‘I can’t take it in my current state.’

He wanted to save the Sword Field Creation, but it was impossible to withstand Roman’s second strike in his state.

Raon took Heavenly Drive and the Blade of Requiem in a reverse grip and unleashed his mental world.

Sword Field Creation

Divine and Demonic Harmony

Once the Sword Field opened up, the rampaging river calmed and a golden sun rose to the sky with a silver moon.

Raon lifted the divine and demonic swords, shining proudly in that silent world.

“So this is your Sword Field. I like your quick decision.”

Roman chuckled and raised his axe.

“Your head would’ve been split apart if you kept acting arrogantly.”

He wrinkled his nose, sounding like he was going easy on him for the first strike.

“Axe of the Sky-Rendering Surge. Here it comes.”

A dark-red sphere was condensed above the axe blade lowered towards the river.

It was smaller than the astral sphere from the first strike, but the frightening pressure tightening the neck implied that even more power was compressed in it.

Whaam!

Roman stomped with his log-thick leg and swung the axe upwards, showing that he was getting serious. The brutal will to destroy the sky emanated from the axe’s blade, blazing with a blackish-red light.

‘This is a battle of will.’

Raon gathered the energy from the mana circuits all around his body and put them into his hands.

All the energy of his body combined into one and became a blade of flame and frost blazing upon the swords. He covered his undefeatable swords with his will to protect his sky.

Azure Sky Sword, Second Technique

Unreachable Azure Sky

He slammed the two swords that were wrapped in a dazzling radiance towards the axe blade soaring to split the sky.

Whaaam!

The frontal clash between the astral spheres created tremendous storms of aura one after the other. The water violently exploded, and even the river bed was exposed, as if the god of the river was enraged.

Zap!

The clash of wills followed the clash of astral spheres.

Roman’s will to destroy everything and Raon’s will to be never defeated started a gruesome war against each other.

Boom!

The auras tearing each other apart geared together, creating a huge explosion. The powerful light radiating from it made them unable to open their eyes, and the entire river flooded, spreading to the surroundings.

Whaam!

Roman took a single step back, while Raon took four steps back.

Raon looked at Roman, enduring the pain in his grasp.

‘This confirms my suspicion… He’s gotten even more powerful than two years ago.’

He was aware that Roman hadn’t gone all-out during his three-strike battle against Rimmer two years ago, but his power had ascended to a whole different level.

The Axe King Roman had reached a higher realm than two years ago.

“You must’ve noticed.”

Roman calmly nodded, lowering his axe.

“You’re right. I managed to reach an even higher realm after that day.”

“Did you have some special occasion?”

“Yes, I did have a special occasion. It was you.”

He raised his axe and pointed it at Raon and Rimmer one after the other.

“What?”

“Mental stimulation contributes a lot more than physical training to increase your realm after you become a Grandmaster. I managed to get even higher thanks to the stimulation of our encounter at the river.”

Roman clenched the shaft and raised his chin sharply.

“It’s all thanks to you that I’m the way I am right now.”

“Hmm…”

The situation was the worst, surpassing his expectations. However, his sword was already drawn and it was impossible to retreat. All he could do was fight to the best of his abilities.

“I talked too much during a match.”

Roman wielded the axe with both hands and pulled it behind his shoulder. A huge astral sphere surged above the darkish red axe blade and rotated like a whirlwind. The light flickered in crimson, giving off a frightening impression—as if death itself were dwelling in it.

“Revolving Void Axe Strike will be the last one. You will be the victor if you can withstand this.”

“Stop your bullshit and come at me.”

Raon held his breath and bobbed his finger.

“I really like you!”

Roman started to swing the axe but suddenly stopped halfway. He used an explosive footwork in that state to get right under his nose and continued the remaining trajectory of the axe.

It was an exquisite move, maximizing the aura’s power using the astral sphere and the physical strength.

‘I already knew about it.’

He would’ve been surprised if it was his first time seeing it, but he’d seen that technique from behind Rimmer’s back in the past.

‘However… An average technique won’t be able to block it, even if I knew.’

Survival had the highest priority even if he had to show everything he had in return. He decided to show his everything and mustered all of his aura from his energy center.

Raon stomped on the river’s surface. He wrapped the demonic sword pulled behind him and the divine sword raised next to his waist in the Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation and Glacier’s energies, which were dashing throughout his body.

He swung the divine and demonic swords toward Roman’s attack, which filled his entire vision as it approached.

The tremendous heat and coldness burst from his hand and advanced like a storm to empower the two blades.

A golden glow brushed past Raon’s eyes. The Red-Blue Invincible Sword. The extremely advanced technique that deserved to be called invincible pushed the Axe King’s astral sphere back along with an auspicious radiance.

Zap!

The dark flame and the golden radiance competed endlessly, surrounded by their respective wills.

Rumble!

The condensing energy geared into each other, and a destructive light emanated from it.

Everything reached by the purple ray disappeared as if it’d never existed to begin with.

A huge explosion occurred after that, splitting the Peren River apart, and the water fluttered in all directions. The entire river was destroyed.

“Huff…”

Raon exhaled roughly, standing at the river bed. Even his head was hurting from the scorching pain in his hands where they were holding the divine and demonic swords.

‘But I managed to withstand it.’

The Axe King’s attack was way heavier than he’d expected because of how powerful he’d gotten. It was ridiculously powerful and destructive, making him want to praise himself for withstanding it.

However, there was no time to rest. He could feel Roman’s presence amid the thick steam and smoke.

‘The real battle is only getting started.’

Judging from Roman’s personality, he was definitely going to start attacking, saying that he was getting excited. It wasn’t an exaggeration to say that the battle was just getting started.

Raon prepared for the battle while maintaining his breath, and a wind started to blow to remove all the steam and smoke in the area.

Roman was smiling at him, having taken two steps back from where he was standing in the beginning.

Whir!

As expected, he lifted his axe. Raon held his breath and braced himself, but the axe lowered instead of attacking him.

‘Huh?’

Raon thought it was strange, and huge energies surged from behind. It was Rimmer and Siyan’s.

They’ve been gathering their energy all along during the match, and they unleashed their powerful sword strike and spirit magic towards Roman.

“Tsk.”

Roman raised his axe with a furrowed brow and violently fended off Rimmer’s strike and Siyan’s magic.

“What are you even doing?”

“We just went for the preemptive strike since it was obvious you were going to break your promise anyway.”

“Uhh…”

Rimmer shrugged his shoulders and Siyan bit her lip tightly while standing next to him.

“Bullshit.”

Roman snorted and rested his axe on his shoulder.

“The three-strike battle is over.”

He shook his head, saying that he had no intention of continuing the battle.

“I’m satisfied with the match. It was so good that it would be fun to have a duel to the death right now. However…”

Roman grinned while looking at the divine and demonic swords blazing from Raon’s hands.

“You haven’t reached the level I want you to yet. You are going to die if you end up fighting me in that state next year.”

He extinguished his aura. He really looked like he wasn’t going to continue the battle.

Raon narrowed his eyes while looking at Roman’s serious eyes.

‘What’s going on?’

He’d believed that Roman was definitely going to see the end of it since he’d even sold out his name to insist on the three strikes.

However, Roman had lowered his axe way too easily.

‘What is he even thinking…? Huh?’

He had an idea as he thought about what Roman had told him.

‘Was he actually warning me that I’m going to die if I remain in this state until our duel on the first day of next year?’

Roman had only confirmed his ability and never attacked him intending to kill him.

Judging from his warning about dying during the next encounter, he must’ve started the three-strike battle to warn him.

“Hey, were you warning me just now?”

“Fishermen sometimes release their catch.”

“......”

“They release small fish that haven’t grown yet so they can grow bigger. However, it won’t happen more than twice.”

He touched his axe with a grin.

“I’ll be taking my leave since I finished saying what I wanted.”

“Wait.”

Raon stepped forward, stopping Roman who had turned around.

“I have a question.”

“What is it?”

“Raptor.”

Raon furrowed his brow, looking at the location where the marine marketplace used to be located.

“Why did he fall so low?”

“…I see, so he is dead.”

Roman followed Raon’s gaze and shook his head. His gaze looked bitter for the first time.

“He was devoured by talent.”

“What?”

“Raptor was talented enough to be called a genius even though he wasn’t at your level. However, he lost to a talent even better than him during the war between bandit gangs and was devoured.”

“Did he lose to a person named Beorn?”

“So you already know that name.”

He nodded while chuckling.

“Beorn used to be Raptor’s subordinate. He was hiding a lot of things. You should be careful about him. Well, you only need to do that if you can stay alive next year,” Roman advised, and then he turned around again.

“Hey.”

Raon was watching him with a furrowed brow, and Rimmer came next to him to call out to Roman.

“Regardless of the situation, you gave up on your name, right?”

“Indeed.”

Roman nodded, saying that he didn’t regret it.

“Then I’ll make a new nickname for you.”

Rimmer raised his chin sharply and twisted his lips.

“Your new nickname will be Axehole. It means that you are a lying asshole who uses an axe.”

The serious atmosphere suddenly disappeared from his single line.

“......”

Even Roman furrowed his brow deeply, despite saying that he didn’t regret it.

Haa…

Wrath shook his head at Rimmer.

He’s just a madman no matter how you look at him.

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