Chapter 691

“I want to fight him.” Raon faced Glenn’s proud and dignified eyes without wavering.

“I believe I already said it would be dangerous.”

Glenn’s low voice carried an overwhelming presence weighing down the surroundings. The intense pressure made him feel like his shoulders were going to shatter.

“You might be killed if you lose to the Axe King. The South-North Union might start attacking altogether, and the other Five Demons might also start an assault. Yet you still want to fight him?”

“Yes, I still want to fight him.” Raon nodded, clenching his fist to the point of bleeding. “Ever since I’ve promised the Axe King a duel to the death, I managed to achieve faster growth than when I was a trainee. The approaching date of the duel isn’t something I feared. It’s exhilarating, looking forward to even more growth.”

As the date of the duel against the Axe King approached, the fear gradually disappeared, and he was filled with anticipation of how far he could reach. He was also curious about how much stronger he could get through the duel against the Axe King.

The duel to the death wasn’t a shackle binding his neck but a rope guiding him to heaven. He couldn’t possibly miss such a great opportunity because of Derus Robert.

‘And it shouldn’t be just me who thinks this way.’

The Axe King had become so much stronger that he could barely recognize him during the previous encounter. Raon could guessed that the Axe King managed to reach a new height in both strength and spirit as he waited for the duel to the death against him.

“The Axe King could’ve killed me and the Light Wind Division twice already, but he let us go both times. Something might happen before the duel, but he would never play a trick during the duel.”

The Axe King was a weirdo who didn’t attack him even though he had a chance to kill him. Since battles were the only goal in his life, there was no way he would resort to a dirty trick during the duel to the death.

“I’m glad to hear that.” Glenn curled lips into a faint smile. “I was going to force you if you tried to run away from the duel to the death. I won’t need to do that since you’ve made up your mind.”

His small smile implied that he was satisfied with the response. Even though he said it was going to be dangerous, he apparently wanted Raon to fight. Raon thought that he couldn’t understand his thought process after all.

“There’s another reason why I need to fight.” Raon raised his index finger. “The swordsman who attacked Sir Ogram might reappear.”

He curled his finger into a fist. There was no way Derus Robert’s reason for the incident was simply to hand over Ogram to the White Blood Religion’s leader. He definitely had a greater purpose behind it.

“My duel to the death will serve as an opportunity to get him.”

“Yes, indeed.” Glenn calmly nodded, implying that he thought the same thing. “He is one person that I can’t leave alone.”

His calm gaze changed into a frightening hue. Raon swallowed nervously as he watched Glenn’s eyes.

‘I knew it. He’s furious about what happened to Sir Ogram.’

Glenn was extremely angry at the swordsman using the energy of death. He even looked like he would immediately head to attack House Robert if the man’s identity as Derus Robert was revealed.

“As for you…” Glenn briefly clicked his tongue and addressed Raon. “You managed to think that far in that short amount of time?”

He narrowed his eyes, surprised that Raon managed to think so far into the future despite the chaotic situation.

“I just thought about what was going to happen because I could afford it.” Raon shook his head while rubbing the back of his neck.

“You don’t need to be humble. The fact that you can think of such a thing in this situation is already amazing.” Glenn shook his hand, saying that a quick judgment like that was an advantage.

“Thank you.” Raon watched Glenn’s calm and unwavering eyes for a while before he lowered his head.

“Hmm?” Glenn crinkled his nose, wondering why he was thanking him.

“I really appreciate that you trusted me.”

In fact, there was no reason for Glenn to listen to his ridiculous claim about saving Ogram, especially when he came to see him in the middle of the night. Despite this, Glenn had personally followed him all the way to the Beast Union even after hearing his unbelievable story about his mental world. Raon could only thank him for it.

‘Moreover, he even saved my life.’

Glenn had come to him instead of returning through the Blood Spirit Passage, stopping the White Blood Religion leader. It was all thanks to his decision that Raon had managed to survive.

“Ahem! Whatever.” Glenn turned around swiftly enough to stir the air with a sharp whoosh. He nonchalantly waved his hand behind him. “We managed to save the animal thanks to you and even became the Beast Union’s benefactor. There’s no reason for you to thank me like that.”

“There’s another reason.” Raon tapped on Heavenly Drive’s scabbard. “I managed to gain an idea for creating the new Sword Field thanks to witnessing your sword, my lord.”

Raon managed to decide how he should proceed with the Sword Field upon seeing Glenn’s Seamless Perfection again, as well as with the memory of Wrath’s Flower in the Snow. He would be able to get a clear grasp of the new Sword Field once he finished putting them together after returning to Zieghart.

“Ahem!” Glenn cleared his throat again and shook his head. His ears seemed to be flushed red. “It was you who managed to see it so well! I didn’t do anything!” He declared, returning to the palace of the Beast Union’s leader.

‘Why did he get angry at me…?’

Raon had thought that he’d gotten closer to Glenn after hanging around with him, but he felt like he’d gotten further away again.

“Haa!”

“Ugh!”

As Raon was tilting his head, Rimmer and Sheryl, who’d been watching from behind, smacked their foreheads hard while groaning.

“Huhuhu…” Even Roenn’s laughter was unusually quiet, implying how frustrated he was.

“When is that shy lord going to learn his lesson…?”

* * *

White Blood Religion’s Headquarters

Blood God’s Palace

Whaam!

Bloody energy viciously exploded in the white space, the crimson drapes billowing in the air.

“How did those filthy mongrels manage to set foot into our holy land?” The White Blood Religion’s leader twisted her lips while glaring at the executives.

“They must’ve intruded by forcing a Blood Spirit Passage open before it completely closed down.” The tenth apostle lowered his head, putting his hand on his chest. His pale face was sign of his internal injury.

“Those little rats…”

The White Blood Religion’s leader violently swept up the blood flowing from her forehead and looked at the archbishop standing at her right side.

“M-more than fifty people died, and more than double that number have been injured. Buildings and sacred relics were severely damaged as well…” The archbishop reported the damage with trembling lips upon feeling her gaze.

“Damn it!” The White Blood Religion’s leader clenched her fist, biting her lip to the point of bleeding.

‘The damage is greater than expected.’

All of the believers in the headquarters had an important role, even if they weren’t executives. The fact that a large number of important resources had perished smarted.

“What about the eighth apostle?”

“He’ll have to rest for a while because he received a serious internal injury.” The tenth apostle quietly sighed while lifting his gaze.

“You seem to be in a serious state, too.” The White Blood Religion’s leader furrowed her brow while looking at the tenth apostle’s yellow cheeks.

“It’s not that bad.” The tenth apostle shook his head, saying that his internal injury would be healed in no time.

The White Blood Religion’s leader didn’t speak any further and shifted her gaze to the right. She noticed the first apostle standing with a straight back.

“My internal injury isn’t that serious either.” The first apostle lowered his head, putting his hand on his chest.

“You’re all bluffing.” Lastly, the White Blood Religion’s leader looked at the second apostle.

“I really am in perfect condition,” the second apostle answered while twisting her own hair with her finger.

The White Blood Religion’s leader clicked her tongue while looking at the haze of bloody energy wavering around the second apostle.

“You are still in that shape even though you were born with the most noble bloodline.”

“It’s not like I could do anything about it.” The second apostle shook her hand, showing that she didn’t want to hear about it anymore.

“You…”

“A-are you okay, my lady?” the archbishop asked with trembling fingers, watching the white blood flow from the White Blood Religion’s leader’s head.

“Don’t mind it. I took the blow on purpose.” The White Blood Religion’s leader twisted her lips.

“On purpose…?”

“Glenn, that old raccoon, opened up his Sword Field, asking me to spend Ogram’s energy that I hadn't managed to absorb yet. That’s why I took it with my body, prepared to die in the process.”

Her black eyes glowed with yellow madness.

“I just need to recover from this damned injury and the path towards a higher realm will open up.” The White Blood Religion’s leader twisted her lips into a smile, saying that it wasn’t over yet. “I’ll ground that old man into dust and drink his blood no matter what it takes.”

House Robert

Lord’s Office

Derus Robert took off his leather glove. A twisted smile surfaced on his face as he took out a new glove.

‘Interesting.’

The battle risking his life was more exhilarating than any game. His fingers were still shaking because of the lingering sensation of piercing through Ogram’s chest.

‘Of course, I didn’t go there just to have fun.’

The White Blood Religion’s leader probably believed that she’d benefited the most since she managed to drink Ogram’s blood, but she was gravely mistaken. He’d made countless progress in his martial arts from defeating Ogram. In fact, he might have made even more progress than the White Blood Religion’s leader.

“It’s starting now.”

Derus took the bottle of liquor from the desk and drank it right away. It was as he was greeting the rising sun with a twisted smile that it came.

Knock Knock.

With a quiet knocking sound, Cubara entered the office.

“What’s the matter? I believe we still have some time remaining until the morning appointments.” Derus simply gestured with his finger without even looking back.

“We’ve received an urgent report from the spy in the White Blood Religion.” Cubara knelt on the ground and lowered her head. “Zieghart assaulted the White Blood Religion.”

“…What?” Derus Robert’s eyes twisted even though they seemed like they were never going to waver.

“Glenn Zieghart, the Heavenly Blade Division leader, the Sword of Light, the Assassin King, and…” Cubara swallowed nervously before she continued, “Raon Zieghart carried out a surprise attack at the White Blood Religion’s headquarters and managed to rescue the Beast King.”

She bit her lip, showing her disbelief at her own words.

“But how…?”

“It was mentioned that they used the Blood Spirit Passage, but even their executives haven’t managed to figure out the exact circumstances.”

“What about blood? Did she drink his blood?”

“Yes, she already finished drinking his blood, fortunately.”

“......”

Derus stood up from his chair. He stared at the sun breaking through the cloud with his clouded eyes for a while before he nodded calmly.

“That’s even better.”

“What?” Cubara’s eyes widened and she wondered about the meaning behind his statement.

“The broken balance won’t be restored even if Ogram has been rescued. Moreover…” Derus raised the corners of his lips. “He won’t be able to wake up.”

He had severed the connection between Ogram’s body and soul with the energy of death. Even for Glenn, the soul wasn’t something that he could easily interfere with. That was why it was impossible for Ogram to wake up.

“It’s actually a perfect situation now. The best way to engrave fear in people’s minds.”

If Ogram never woke up despite being rescued by Glenn, he could drive the continent into an even deeper state of fear. He could guess that Zieghart’s assault on the White Blood Religion would actually be beneficial to him.

“The South-North Union must’ve heard the news as well. Have there been any messages from them?”

“About that…” Cubara was about to respond, but the office’s door opened without a knock sound, and Lephon Robert entered the room.

“Father!” Lephon hurriedly ran inside and slammed his hands on Derus’s desk. “I-is it true that the White Blood Religion’s leader defeated Sir Ogram?”

His chin was trembling in disbelief.

“Where did you hear that from?” Derus asked.

“The swordsmen who returned from outside told me about it! The rumor is already spreading throughout the continent…”

“That shouldn’t be true.” Derus shook his head with a faint smile on his face. “My senior, the Beast King, is the most patient warrior that I’ve seen so far. There’s no way he would lose to someone like the White Blood Religion’s leader,” he claimed and held Lephon’s hand.

“Th-that’s true! I’ve always thought that it was a fake rumor!” Lephon smiled in relief because he liked everyone in the Six Kings.

“Yes, just believe in him.” Derus looked at Lephon warmly. An evil aura was emanating from his gentle voice. “He’s a strong man. He wouldn’t even flinch if he was stabbed by a blade.”

* * *

“Why is he not waking up at all?!”

Bellerton, the Beast Union’s vice leader bit his lip while glaring at the healer assigned to Ogram’s treatment.

“There’s no way our leader wouldn’t wake up from a small wound like this!”

“I-I don’t understand.” The healer shook his head, examining Ogram’s wound once again. “Just as you said, he should’ve been up by now already…”

His chin trembled, saying that he couldn’t understand why Ogram wasn’t waking up.

“How is this happening…?” The Suran Chief was holding Ogram’s wrist, opening his eyes while groaning.

“Suran Chief, did you figure something out?!”

“I-it should be impossible, but the connection between our leader’s body and soul has been severed.”

The Suran Chief’s teeth clattered as he said that he couldn’t believe it was happening.

“What do you mean by that…?”

Bellerton walked up to him with a blank expression on his face, implying that he couldn’t understand what he was talking about.

“His soul is clearly in his body, but they aren’t able to reach each other.”

“Th-then what’s going to happen to him?”

“O-our leader won’t ever wake up at this rate.” The Suran Chief lowered his head, saying that it was hopeless.

“What the…?” Bellerton ground his teeth in disbelief, then decided to examine Ogram’s state by himself.

‘What the hell…?’

His severely wounded body was returning to normal, and the distorted flow of aura was also restored, yet Ogram wasn’t opening his eyes or reacting like a dead person. It was similar to a vegetative state.

“…Is it the White Blood Religion’s sorcery?” Rimmer furrowed his brow while watching Bellerton massage Ogram’s arms and shoulders.

“I’m not sure. I’ve never even heard of it,” Sheryl sighed in regret.

“S-Sire.”

Bellerton asked for help from Glenn with his eyes after confirming that Ogram wasn’t going to wake up no matter what he tried.

“Step aside.” Glenn nodded and caught Ogram’s wrist. After a short time, he lowered his brow deeply and shook his head. “It’s exactly as the Suran Chief has described. The energy of death is separating his body and soul. The wrong treatment will render him as a blank-minded cripple even if he wakes up."

“Ah…” Raon’s eyes widened upon hearing Glenn’s explanation.

‘The Division!’

What separated Ogram’s soul from his body was definitely Derus Robert’s doing instead of the White Blood Religion leader’s sorcery.

‘You damned bastard…’

On top of taking him by surprise, he had separated his soul with the Division. He was such an evil bastard.

“Leader!”

“Kuh…”

Bellerton and the executive started to scream and sob while holding Ogram. Raon scrunched up his nose, sweeping his disheveled hair back.

‘Damn it.’

He’d seen Derus’s Division before, but he didn’t know how to restore the soul.

He sighed and tried to probe with the Perception of the Snow Flower, but he couldn’t sense anything, implying that the soul couldn’t be perceived with it.

‘If only Wrath was here with me now…’

The cotton candy would’ve told him which part he had to remove as soon as he saw the situation. The fact that he was still asleep was truly regrettable.

‘Wait a second, he’d have been able to tell as soon as he looked at him, which means…’

Raon gasped and activated the Evil Eye of Wrath.

Whir!

Once the wrath seeped into his red pupils, he started to see things that he hadn’t seen before.

‘That’s…’ He found some black chains confining something white in Ogram’s body.

Gulp.

Raon slowly walked up to Ogram and put his hand on his forehead.

“Benefactor? What are you…?”

Bellerton tried to stop him, but Rimmer interrupted him and shook his head.

Whir!

Raon executed the Evil Eye of Wrath and the Ring of Fire at the same time, and he could sense Derus Robert’s dark blades shackling Ogram’s soul as vividly as if he were touching them.

However, he didn’t have the power to tear away the blades.

“We might be able to save him.”

Raon extended his hand towards Glenn, blue wrath dwelling in his red eyes.

“Please help me.”

Footnotes:

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