Chapter 701

Splash!

The Axe King Roman started to sink into the violent current of the Rable River, unable to control his body anymore.

“Kuh...”

Raon executed the River Footwork, black blood gushing out from his mouth. He couldn’t use the Supreme Harmony Steps because his aura was exhausted and he was about to collapse at any moment from his severe injuries.

“Roman!”

Roman had sunk up to his neck when Raon lifted him by grabbing his shoulder. He was bleeding so much that the water around him had become completely red.

“Raon Zieghart,” Roman called Raon’s name with an unwavering voice despite his condition. “I already told you, only one of us can leave here alive. Let me go. There’s no hope of survival with these wounds.”

He lifted the black coat with his trembling hand. A hole the size of a child’s head had been made on his left chest, crimson blood gushing out from it.

“I’m well aware.” Raon nodded while looking at Roman’s wound.

‘There’s no way I wouldn’t know that fact when I was the one who cut him down.’

Raon and Roman had bet their lives on that final clash. Since they couldn’t afford to go easy on each other, nor should they have, it was inevitable that one would live and the other would perish. The wound left by Genesis couldn’t be healed even if the Ragged Saint Federick.

“You still have subordinates who follow you. Leave a last word as the Axe King, at least.”

“Huh. Why are you being so respectful now? You even called me the Axehole before.” Roman giggled, saying that the name gave him goosebumps.

“Because you were a true warrior today, worthy of respect as a senior.” Raon nodded as he watched the color fade from Roman’s eyes.

“......”

Roman didn’t speak any further. Raon couldn’t tell if he had nothing to tell or if he was saving the last bit of his strength to speak to his subordinates.

“Huff...”

Raon finally exited the Rable River and put Roman down on the sandy shore. He almost collapsed on the way a few times because his strength was leaving his body, but he bit his tongue to withstand it.

“Raon Zieghart.” Roman raised his eyes, letting out a weak breath. “If the South-North Union’s vice leader starts to attack you, leave through the river.”

“The river? Why the river?”

Raon naturally lowered his eyebrows upon hearing that he should run away through the river when mountain and river were the South-North Union’s main battlefields.

“I destroyed the warship in advance because the vice leader might decide to act if you win.” Roman chuckled, glancing at the half-destroyed warships and ships.

“You destroyed the warship?”

Raon found it strange that Roman destroyed the warship with the dark red flame before the duel started, and he could finally understand the reason.

“Since it’s you, you must’ve prepared a ship already. You should be able to escape just by following the river...” Roman’s hand dropped weakly, a faint smile on his face. His weak voice suggested that he’d reached his limit.

However, the same went for Raon. He wasn’t going to die thanks to the authorities, but he would have to rest for quite a long time to recover.

“Sir Roman!”

“Pl-please! Open your eyes!”

"You must not fall here! You still have things to do!"

The Black Wolf Boss, the White Mountain Boss, and the Rogue Wanderer Boss hurriedly brought a healer to Roman by force.

“Hmm...”

The South-North Union’s vice leader, Hellgrum, and his followers were still unable to move. They seemed to be shaken by Roman’s spirit at the end.

“Division leader!”

“Why are you so beaten up?! You should’ve dodged a bit more!”

“Raon, damn handsome. Are you okay?”

Burren, Martha, and Runaan came up to him and supported him by holding his shoulders and waist.

“D-division leader! Get yourself treated for now!”

“Uuh, such severe wounds...”

Dorian and Krein watched his waist, which was torn apart, with trembling lips.

“You did well.” Rimmer came up to him and held his shoulder. His hand was drenched in sweat, implying that he was also worried.

“Open your mouth,” Sheryl demanded.

“What?”

“We don’t have any time to waste! Open your mouth already!”

Raon opened his mouth, and Sheryl put the red pill that she was holding in it. She didn’t stop there, placing her hand over the wound on his abdomen. A warm aura flowed into his heart and the pain started to subside.

“Haa...”

Raon exhaled roughly and forced himself to raise his eyes. The decreased pain made the tension leave his body, and his eyelids grew heavy. He felt like he would lose consciousness the moment he let his guard down.

‘I was too hot-headed.’

His original plan was to maintain his composure until the very end to leave enough strength to fight after the duel to the death, but he started having too much fun during the fight against Roman, making him unable to think about what would happen afterward.

That was because growing stronger during a battle and alongside his opponent on top was exhilarating, even surpassing that of enlightenment. Since he’d even used the Divinity Blooming from the Underworld for offense, it wasn’t an exaggeration to say that he didn’t think about what would happen after the duel at all.

His plans had gone a bit awry, but he guessed that it would still be fine because he had prepared other things.

Raon shifted his gaze to the right, getting rid of the blood covering his vision with the back of his hand. Roman was also looking at him. His lips were curled into a smile, as if he were asking if Raon had fun with the duel just like he did.

‘It was fun.’

Raon blinked his eyes, and Roman smiled in satisfaction.

“Everyone...” Raon turned. He nodded at Rimmer, Sheryl, and the Light Wind Division. “I leave the rest to you.”

It was the last thing he said before his vision darkened.

* * *

Above a dark hill overlooking the turbulent Rable River.

“I-is that even possible?”

Cubara’s lips trembled as she gazed down upon Raon. It was a rare occurrence for her to initiate a conversation with Derus. She couldn’t hold herself back even though she was fully aware that it was an insolent act. It couldn’t be helped—she’d never seen both parties growing at the same time during a battle.

“...It doesn’t make sense.” Derus shook his head, biting his trembling lip. “It’s impossible.”

Warriors growing through battles did exist in reality. After all, that was already the case for himself, who’d gotten stronger through battles against powerful warriors.

‘However… There was no case of both parties influencing each other like that and growing stronger.’

Raon and Roman didn’t simply achieve growth in their martial arts. They evolved their martial arts with the other party’s influence.

Raon learned the destructiveness and heaviness that he was lacking, while Roman established a solid root in the profoundness that he was lacking. Both warriors had made up for their shortcomings through the battle.

Moreover, the speed of their growth was unbelievably fast. It almost felt like Roman and Raon had entered a trance at the same time. It was so ridiculous that his hands were still shaking even after the battle was over.

Shrr.

Derus Robert took off his leather glove. Blood was dripping from the back of his hand just from watching Raon’s battle.

‘Is he really supposed to be a youngster who will soon become twenty-two years old?’

He was already aware of how dangerous Raon Zieghart was, but he was actually far more dangerous than he had expected. Once he regained his consciousness, his realm would be at least the peak of advanced Grandmaster, if not the highest level of Grandmaster.

‘Even Glenn and I weren’t as shocking as him.’

The speed of his growth was far from normal. Even the leaders of the Six Kings and the Five Demons, or those as gifted as them, had only reached the Master’s realm by Raon’s age.

‘If he keeps growing up at this rate...’ Derus Robert bit his lip hard. ‘He might reach Transcendence before thirty. No, it might even happen before he is twenty-five years old...’

He could ascertain that the wall that should’ve been impossible to breach for a human being was going to be destroyed by Raon Zieghart.

‘How is that even possible?’

Even if Raon Zieghart really was the assassin Raon, such insane growth should’ve been impossible. Derus had the thought that something else was helping him.

‘I’m glad I came here today.’

Derus Robert incinerated the blood-soaked glove and pulled on a new one.

‘I can’t let him live.’

Raon’s elimination took priority over the countless powerful warriors on the continent. Raon was definitely going to be a huge hindrance to his plan if he was left alone.

“The South-North Union isn’t taking action.” Cubara narrowed her eyes, watching the party bosses not leaving the Axe King Roman’s side.

"Idiots. They’re getting lost in their emotions." Derus Robert took out a blue dragon helmet from his subspace pocket and equipped it.

His presence was rapidly twisted. The energy of death that looked like it shouldn’t exist in the world was creeping out of him.

“......”

Cubara lowered her head and rapidly twitched her lips. The assassins from the Shadow hiding in the area started to act without making a sound.

“It won’t change anything. The star that would rise to the highest is going to fall today, and soon after that...” Derus twisted his lips while gazing down upon Raon and the Light Wind Division. “The biggest star will fall.”

“Th-this is helpless...” The healer treating Roman’s wounds said with trembling lips, both his hands completely covered in blood. “It’s already too late.” He shook his head, saying that even God couldn’t save him.

“Stop your bullshit!”

“Keep doing it!”

“You motherfucker! Do you have a death wish?!”

“Stop it.” While the party bosses were yelling at the healer, Roman lifted his hand powerlessly. “I already told you, I have no regrets in my life.” Roman chuckled while looking around the party bosses.

“Axe King, but...”

“What are you doing right now?!” The South-North Union’s vice leader, Hellgrum ground his teeth violently enough to make a cracking sound. “I clearly told you to attack Zieghart! Why are you still there?!”

He raised his hand, ordering them to immediately start attacking Zieghart.

“I can’t do it.” The Black Wolf Boss shook his head while biting his lip. “I can’t sully the Axe King’s honor.”

“Raon Zieghart has to return alive.”

The same went for the White Mountain Boss and the Rogue Wanderer Boss. They stood up and blocked the path, showing that they weren’t going to tolerate it.

“You idiots!” Hellgrum moved forward while yelling. “If Raon Zieghart returns, he will become a huge danger to our union! Even I might be unable to stop him when it happens!”

“Even so, this duel to the death was a fair match. We need to let the Dragon Slayer go for today, even if that will get us killed later on.” The Black Wolf Boss closed his eyes firmly, as if Roman’s soul was dwelling in him.

“Huhuhu...” Roman put his trembling hands on the ground to lift his body. “You seem to be having a hard time, vice leader.”

He twisted his lips into a smile, his face bloodless and pale.

“You...” Hellgrum swallowed nervously upon meeting Roman’s serious eyes.

‘The last burst of brilliance.’

Just like how candlelight burns the most brilliantly right before it is extinguished, the last bit of Roman’s life was burning.

“The South-North Union was originally founded by the heroes of the mountain and river, those who understood honor and the weight of their power. However...” Roman shook his head with a sneer. “Shameless people like you have gathered, making it even worse than a sewer now.”

He put strength into his legs and got up. He stood on two feet and gazed down at Hellgrum even though he looked like he would collapse at any moment.

The healer’s eyes trembled intensely. It wasn’t an exaggeration to call it a miracle.

“Being undefeated doesn’t mean that you are strong. Being able to walk forward without being ashamed of yourself is what it means to be truly strong.” Roman’s gaze shifted towards Raon, who had collapsed. He nodded towards the party bosses who were listening with teary eyes, standing in front of him.

“Did you watch my fight?” he asked.

“I-I did.”

“That’s good enough. You shall live a life where you won’t be ashamed of yourselves.”

It was the last thing he said before he collapsed. Roman didn’t close his eyes even after his death. It almost looked like he was watching what Hellgrum and the South-North Union’s warriors were going to do.

“You damned bastard!” Hellgrum clenched his fist to the point of bleeding, glaring at Roman, who had stopped breathing. “This is your last chance! Attack Zieghart.”

He raised his finger as if he were giving them the last chance.

“We refuse.”

“We won’t withdraw even if we have to die.”

“Raon Zieghart was acknowledged by the Axe King. We are going to let him return alive no matter what.”

The Black Wolf Boss, the White Mountain Boss, and the Rogue Wanderer Boss blocked the path with weapons in their hands.

“Hah!” Hellgrum exclaimed at that ridiculous behavior. “Sure! If that’s what you want, I’ll kill you all along with him!”

He furrowed his brow and raised his hand, but Rimmer and Sheryl stepped up at the same time.

“Even the South-North Union still has some trustworthy people.” Sheryl put her hand on the hilt of her sword while looking at the party bosses.

“I know, right? It’s pulling my heartstrings, probably because I had no expectations for them.” Rimmer sniffled while drawing his sword.

“But you know.” He raised his chin sharply, pointing his blade at Hellgrum. “It’s up to us whether we leave from here or not. It’s nothing that someone like you can decide.”

Rimmer beckoned with his finger, gesturing for him to attack if he wanted.

“Beorn,” Hellgrum called Beorn’s name while biting his lip. “Kill them all.”

“Yes.” Beorn lowered his head and unsheathed his sword.

Whir!

Hellgrum also clenched his spear, implying that he was going to personally join the battle.

“Haa.”

The Black Wolf Boss bit his lip tightly.

‘I might end up dying here.’

Even though Zieghart’s swordsmen were supporting him, they were facing the South-North Union’s vice leader. Since he was a Transcender, no one among them was able to stop him.

‘And Beorn is also an issue.’

Beorn was a powerful warrior who’d reached the Grandmaster’s realm at a young age. He had the feeling that Beorn was also going to be a difficult opponent.

“Get Raon Zieghart and get out of here!” The Black Wolf Boss turned his head around and shouted at Sheryl and Rimmer. “The river is the way to live! We’ll stop them here, so focus on the escape!”

“That won’t do.” He was about to tell them about the river, but a dark shadow surged from the right side. “A toy shouldn’t decide to act on its own.”

A swordsman wearing a blue dragon helmet suddenly appeared from the dark shadow and swung his dark sword with a sneer.

“Ah...” The Black Wolf Boss watched it with trembling lips.

‘I won’t be able to defend.’

The beautiful trajectory told him that he was bound to die even if he was ready to defend. His throat started to ache as if he had already perished.

‘I’m sorry. I won’t be able to keep the promi—’

The Black Wolf Boss’s eyes were closing while looking at Roman, but—

Rumble!

A wall of red lightning appeared, incinerating all the energy of death approaching him.

Zap!

An old swordsman with blond hair and red eyes revealed himself amid the lightning strike capable of destroying the space itself. It was the Lightning God, Glenn Zieghart. He should’ve been in Zieghart, yet he was lifting Heavenly Tremor at the Rable River.

“So you came after all.”

An evil radiance rampaged from inside the blue dragon helmet. Derus curled his lips into a smile as if he had been expecting Glenn’s appearance.

“Who are you?” Glenn narrowed his eyes, pointing Heavenly Tremor at Derus.

“The Heavenly Demon,” Derus stated the Heavenly Demon’s name while raising his chin sharply. “I’m the Heavenly Demon from Eden.”

“If those are your last words...”

A frightening radiance sparkled from Glenn’s eyes, as if he were seeing through everything in Derus.

“Die under that name.”

Footnotes:

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