Chapter 699

Rumble!

Raon could feel Roman’s power through the Red Dragon Axe, which was pushing its way forward strongly enough to destroy Heavenly Drive. Heavy was the only word to describe it. Roman had perfect control over the Red Dragon Axe despite its huge size.

‘It’s so heavy that I feel like my arms are falling apart, but… I can’t lose in terms of strength.’

His strength and agility had already surpassed the Grandmaster realm. If he lost in terms of strength, Wrath would wake up from his slumber and start a wrathful dance.

Wham!

He strained the muscles all over his body, crushing the river with the tip of his toes. The heavy energy passed through his legs, delivering miraculous strength to his right shoulder and hand.

Zap!

The Red Dragon Axe started to be pushed back for the first time alongside a powerful spark.

Roman’s eyes trembled faintly upon seeing that his huge axe was being pushed back by a thin blade. It showed his disbelief at the fact that he was losing a battle of strength.

“Did you think you could win with sheer strength?” Raon sneered and fended Roman off violently.

Whaam!

Roman took three steps back, destroying the waves in the process. A deep hole was made in the river every time he took a step.

“Kuhuhu!” Roman laughed in bewilderment. “I didn’t expect to lose when it came to strength. You seriously never fail to disappoint me!”

“It’s too early to be surprised.”

Raon executed the Supreme Harmony Steps with his right foot. He advanced against the waves and closed the distance from the left side. The reddened blade rushed toward Roman’s forehead, evaporating the water drops in the process.

“Hmph!” Roman immediately swung the Red Dragon Axe to block Heavenly Drive’s trajectory.

Whaaam!

Even though it was a clash between a sword and an axe, the thunderous noise resulting from it sounded like two steel pillars were colliding against each other. The sound wasn’t the only thing that indicated their equal footing. Heavenly Drive and the Red Dragon Axe clashed with sheer power, neither yielding an inch.

“Haah.”

Raon rotated the Ring of Fire, watching the Red Dragon Axe’s blade unleash the dark red flame.

Whir!

The eight rings of fire resonated with each other, and the pounding sound of his heart echoed in the ear. He could see his own face reflected on the splashing water drops, and the scent of the violent wind stimulated his nose.

It was an extreme focus. An advanced realm where the flow of time was slowed down, and the senses reached their peak. It wasn’t anything to be happy about. The fact that he’d entered that world right off the bat implied how dangerous his opponent was.

“What a monstrous strength, to be able to fend off the Red Dragon Axe in a frontal clash. However...” Roman laughed in satisfaction, and the energy dwelling in the Red Dragon Axe amplified rapidly.

Whaaam!

Even though Raon was going all out in defense, the powerful impact made it feel like his shoulders were tearing apart.

“It’s too early to be satisfied, We’re just getting started.”

“Kuh...”

Roman roared, and the Red Dragon Axe became even heavier. A tingling pain spread through Raon’s fingers gripping the hilt. He was superior in physical strength, but Roman was still more powerful overall.

Rip.

Raon bit the tip of his lip with his fangs.

‘It’s all over if I withdraw from this.’

Roman’s Raging Axe Crush was a martial art that became more powerful the more the opponent withdrew from it. It was necessary to push forward instead of running away from it.

Whaaap!

Raon maximized the Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation’s output. The flame surrounding Heavenly Drive’s blade started to rotate like a saw blade, unleashing a sharp sword strike. It was the Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation’s Revolving Sky.

“What a nice move!” Roman struck back, pressing down with the Red Dragon Axe’s blade, imbued with the astral sphere.

Whoosh!

The flames that seemed capable of even melting the steel clashed against each other, creating a deep furrow in the river. The water that had calmed erupted explosively, spreading huge waves in all directions.

The South-North Union’s warships anchored at the riverbank were demolished, scattering the shattered decks into the air.

The clash was powerful enough to take their lives in a single strike, but Raon and Roman kept swinging Heavenly Drive and the Red Dragon Axe amid the storming aura, smiles on their faces.

Rumble!

A single sword slash split apart the river, and a single swing of the axe twisted the sky.

As Raon and Roman’s battle, which seemed to transcend human limits, continued to rage, the apocalyptic sky darkened with storm clouds, and the river churned violently, revealing its riverbed.

Whaam!

Roman crushed the Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation’s fire and continued to press Raon harder, as if he were growing stronger as the battle progressed.

Claaang!

Raon narrowed his eyes while fending off the Red Dragon Axe’s violent assault.

‘Even the speed has improved.’

The Raging Axe Crush gradually accelerated, and he even started to only recognize the Red Dragon Axe as a blurry shape. Roman’s prowess was getting more powerful as time passed.

Huff.

Raon raised Heavenly Drive in a diagonal while gasping for breath.

Cring!

Roman’s Red Dragon Axe descended along Heavenly Drive’s blade and smacked the river. A deep crater was made on the river alongside a huge shockwave.

Slaash!

Raon executed Frost Pond, seizing the opportunity when the Red Dragon Axe was lowered. Two lines of his sword strike, infused with extreme speed, pierced toward Roman’s neck.

However, Roman used his footwork to move to the left as if he were expecting his attack. It was so quick and precise that it would’ve been believable if someone called it teleportation. It was such a perfect evasion.

‘Is that the Nine Sky Footwork?’

The Axe King’s preferred combat style was to crush his opponent with sheer strength without moving from his spot, but he was rumored to be extremely swift once he started to move. Raon could guess that the footwork he was witnessing was the Nine Sky Footwork.

Whoosh!

The Axe King brandished the Red Dragon Axe, and even more heat rushed into the air. The dark red flame blazing from the axe blade turned into hundreds of astral spheres, launching toward the vital spots all over Raon’s body.

Thud!

Raon turned his ankle and executed the Supreme Harmony’s Third Step. Instead of going against the current, he used footwork that followed the river’s flow to deflect the rain of astral spheres.

Rumble!

However, Roman’s assault wasn’t over yet. He caught up with the Nine Sky Footwork and swung the Red Dragon Axe down at him directly. There was no escape. Blocking it was the only choice Raon had.

Whir!

Raon gritted his teeth and raised his gaze. He accelerated the rotation of the Ring of Fire until his heart started to ache, and he could see the Red Dragon Axe’s flow falling toward him.

Rumble!

He turned his wrist and thrust Heavenly Drive towards the Red Dragon Axe. The flame seeping along the blade turned into beautiful lines of heat advancing toward his enemy. It was the blades of the Crimson Slash, the Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation’s technique.

Claaang!

The descending Red Dragon Axe clashed against the rising Heavenly Drive, unleashing a powerful shockwave once again. Countless waves of aura erupted one after the other between the sword and the axe.

‘This is my chance.’

Raon twisted the rising heat from Heavenly Drive’s tip. The faint flames spread out in concentric circles, forming a fiery shield—the Firewall.

Wham!

He used the Firewall to fend off the Red Dragon Axe and closed into Roman’s space.

Cring!

He stomped the ground with his left foot and slashed downward with Heavenly Drive. The tip of the blade wavered like a mirage, tracing a dreamlike curve. It was the attack capable of cutting the opponent’s neck before they could even feel the pain, the Sword’s Silvery Dream.

“Hmph!” Roman furrowed his brow, noticing how dangerous the Sword’s Silvery Dream was. He created a wall of aura in the air without even lifting the Red Dragon Axe.

Claaang!

The moment the Sword’s Silvery Dream crushed the wall of aura, the Red Dragon Axe rushed at Raon, blazing in a dark red flame. Roman had regained his posture in a split second and proceeded to a surprise attack.

‘Blocking is the only choice I have.’

Heavenly Drive was turning to the right, but Raon forcibly pulled it toward him. The physical abilities transcending human limits made the impossible movement a reality and blocked the Red Dragon Axe.

Whaaam!

However, since Raon couldn’t get into a perfect defensive posture, his arms and shoulders were shaken violently, and a serious impact was delivered inside his body. His legs stopped moving because of the pain.

“I can finally see an opening!” Roman swung the Red Dragon Axe upwards with a huge grin on his face. The trajectory was testifying his intention to cleave Raon’s body in half.

‘This is a crisis, but… It’s an opportunity at the same time.’

He incorporated Glacier’s coldness into Heavenly Drive. He unleashed the ultimate essence of the Blizzard Sword Art to deflect the Red Dragon Axe that was rushing at him like a cannonball.

The axe tilted, leaving Roman’s chest wide open.

‘Now!’

Raon grit his back teeth and unsheathed the Blade of Requiem with his left hand. The ghastly energy bursting from the red blade brushed past the left side of Roman’s chest.

Psshh!

Red blood flowed from Roman’s black coat.

“You aren’t even yielding an inch.” He openly laughed, as if he were entertained by the bloodshed. “I’ve never experienced such a fun fight in my life.”

“Same goes for me.” Raon nodded, wiping the blood flowing from his lips.

‘There's no way it wouldn’t be entertaining when he is going all out for me.’

Even though the Axe King Roman was one of the strongest warriors on the continent, he acknowledged Raon’s prowess and took the battle seriously. It made his heart boil.

Even though the Axe King Roman was one of the strongest warriors on the continent, he acknowledged Raon’s prowess and fought with his full strength, making his heart burn with excitement.

Raon couldn’t stop his smile despite gaining an internal injury.

“Then let’s keep going.” Roman bared his white teeth, gripping the Red Dragon Axe’s shaft with both hands.

“As you wish.”

Raon unleashed all the Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation and Glacier. Even though the flame and frost couldn’t harmonize with each other, the Light Wind Style’s wind engulfed them. The blade of raging flame and frost emanated its noble radiance.

This time, Raon took the initiative instead of waiting for Roman to approach. Raon entered his space and slashed down with Fangs of Insanity.

Creak!

The beast of madness broke through Roman’s aura and shoved its fangs into the Red Dragon Axe.

“Wahahaha!”

Roman lifted the axe shaft, trying to turn the crisis caused by the Fangs of Insanity to his advantage. The consecutive attacks he unleashed were so swift and relentless that it almost felt as if he had switched his weapon to a club.

However, the heavy power was still there, since the Red Dragon Axe was still the weapon he was wielding. A shattering pain could be felt from Raon’s right arm, which was holding Heavenly Drive.

Rumble!

Roman turned his wrist and lifted the axe blade upward again. It felt like the Rable River’s weight was placed upon the Red Dragon Axe.

Whaaap!

Raon thrust Heavenly Drive toward the Red Dragon Axe’s tip. Flame and frost blazed from the rushing blade, forming the shape of a dragon.

Heavenly Drive pushed the Red Dragon Axe just like an ascending dragon breaking through the sky.

‘Kuh...’

Raon managed to push Roman back by controlling the Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation and Glacier at the same time, but the pain in his chest had further intensified. That implied that his internal injury had worsened.

‘This isn’t the time to stop yet... Huh?’

Raon noticed Roman’s opening and was about to move to his left. The Flame Dragon Art that was advancing with a majestic wave was split in half.

The Red Dragon Axe could be seen from the gap in the flame. Roman had completely cut apart the Flame Dragon Art.

‘What?’ Raon gasped, watching the flame blazing in Roman’s eyes. ‘His pressure became even more powerful.’

Even though he was thinking that Roman’s pressure had already reached its peak, it was further empowered.

“There’s still a long way to go!” Roman rushed at Raon, curling his lips into a smile. The Red Dragon Axe’s blade scattered its frightening radiance, cutting from left to right.

Whaaam!

Even though Raon unleashed the Firewall with Heavenly Drive and the Golden Void Infusion with the Blade of Requiem, the damage was still breaking through them. His head spun as if he were experiencing motion sickness, and an intense pain radiated through his shoulders.

‘There’s no doubt about it. He’s getting stronger as he fights right.’

It wasn’t because Roman wasn’t going all out before. He was just getting stronger as he fought.

* * *

“I came for no reason.” The South-North Union’s vice leader, Hellgrum briefly clicked his tongue.

“ What...?” The Black Wolf Boss blinked, wondering what he was talking about.

"Raon Zieghart is indeed tremendously talented, nothing short of being the greatest genius on the continent. However..." Hellgrum shook his head while snorting. “He still can’t reach Roman. No, I should be saying that he is no match against Roman in his improved state.”

“But they were equally matched until a moment ago...”

“Roman was only enlightened yesterday. He didn’t have enough time to assimilate his enlightenment.”

“Th-then...?”

“Yes. Roman is assimilating his enlightenment right now through the duel to the death against Raon Zieghart. He is getting stronger and stronger.” He casually shook his hand as if he were chasing away a fly. “Roman already had the upper hand, yet he is getting even stronger. It’s just futile at this point.”

Hellgrum shook his hand off, saying that the fight was over.

“But Raon Zieghart still has his Sword Field.”

“The Sword Field isn’t enough to make up for that difference.” He firmly shook his head. “I’m glad that we managed to eliminate that young monster in advance. After all, he was going to grow up into a real monster that no one could deal with.”

Hellgrum looked to his left while putting down his glass. Zieghart’s swordsmen were clenching their fists, watching Raon being pushed back.

“Are they just refusing to admit it?”

Sheryl, the Heavenly Blade Division leader, and Rimmer, the Sword of Light, should’ve already understood the situation, yet there wasn’t the slightest change in their expressions. They seemed to have complete trust in Raon.

“Pathetic.”

“That might not be the case.” Beorn shook his head, standing behind Hellgrum.

“What do you mean?”

“That’s not an expression that a person who has given up on a fight would make.”

He pointed at Raon, whose location was switched with Roman’s. Raon was smiling deeply even though blood was flowing from his mouth and chest.

“Hmm...” Hellgrum furrowed his brow while looking at Raon.

‘Why is he smiling?’

He must’ve noticed that his opponent was getting stronger and stronger. He couldn’t understand why he was laughing.

‘This fight is already over. Roman is pressuring him, and he is barely dodging or defend—Wait a moment. Dodging and defending?’

Roman had definitely ascended to a higher realm by assimilating his enlightenment. The fact that Raon could hold his ground against his improved state implied that...

Hellgrum’s lips trembled as he watched Raon.

‘He has improved as well!’

* * *

“Haa...” Raon let out a heated breath, dodging the endless trajectories of the Red Dragon Axe.

‘I feel like I’m about to die. However… It’s fun.’

Despair struck him when he first noticed that Roman was getting stronger as he fought. He’d thought there was no way to win if his opponent, who already had the upper hand, got even stronger.

He was barely holding on and saw the ice flower bracelet that had descended under his wrist.

‘Wrath.’

Thinking about how that arrogant Wrath would have giggled and made fun of him if he had seen the situation made the wrath buried deep within his soul surge.

Resolving himself to stab Roman’s heart even if he had to die as a result, he made the Ring of Fire resonate to the limit. His heart pounded to the point of bursting, and his soul reached its limit. The swords he had accumulated in his mental world materialized in front of him.

The realm of his swordsmanship rapidly increased, as if the sprouting sword trees were finally bearing fruit.

Claaang!

Combining the heavy, powerful, severing, and slow swords, he managed to block Roman’s axe without taking a single step back.

Cring!

Harmonizing the wind and the swift, light, and variable swords, Heavenly Drive advanced faster than the Red Dragon Axe, which had started moving earlier, severing Roman’s shoulder.

He was injured at the waist in the process, but the pain didn’t exist. The exhilaration of getting stronger was taking over his body. As he executed the swordsmanships that he had only imagined before, he felt like he could do anything in the world.

“Nice!” Surprisingly, Roman was sharing the same feeling. He lifted the Red Dragon Axe above his head with his lips curving into a smile, continuously getting stronger as he fought. “But it’ll be a bit different this time!”

The red radiance of the astral sphere fluttered from the Red Dragon Axe’s blade. It was the Revolving Void Axe Strike, the last move he’d used in the three-strike duel. However, the wave of energy emanating from it was on a whole different level from before.

Whaam!

Roman executed the Nine Sky Footwork to appear right in front of Raon and unleashed the Revolving Void Axe Strike’s wave. It was a transcendent martial technique, detonating a long-ranged artillery shot right in front of him.

Haa.

Raon inhaled while watching the astral sphere’s wave filling his vision.

Whir!

Time slowed down even further. He raised Heavenly Drive in a realm of supreme elevation, where he could even see himself reflected in his enemy's eyes.

Cring!

It wasn’t just his aura that was seeping into the silver blade. All of the swordsmanships that he had accumulated in his mental world were being absorbed into the silver-gray blade, as if they were turning into a sword.

‘I finally understand it.’

The reason he kept failing with the new Sword Field was because he tried to weave too many martial principles together, surpassing his capacity. He got rid of the principles that he wasn’t proficient enough with and threw away the flows of aura that weren’t good enough yet.

He could finally imagine the sword appropriate for his vessel.

The golden sky dwelled in Raon’s eyes.

“Sword Field Creation.”

He drew a single line, cutting through heaven and earth, with the new Sword Field that he didn’t have a name for yet.

Footnotes:

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