Chapter 1027
Chapter 1027
Chapter 1027
“Total annihilation?”
Raon pressed his palm against the surface of the desk, his brow knitting tightly.
“Even assuming a settlement suffered a catastrophic raid, using a term like ‘annihilation’ seems unfitting…”
He found it peculiar to apply such absolute finality to an ordinary coastal settlement rather than a grand lineage or a sovereign realm.
“I wish there were a softer term to describe it, but nothing else captures the reality. It was thoroughly wiped off the map.”
Lawaine sank his teeth so fiercely into his own lip that an indentation formed.
“Out of an entire population exceeding two hundred inhabitants, not a lone person survived. Every dwelling and structure was reduced to absolute ruin.”
He released a weary breath, maintaining that no other word could adequately convey the devastation.
“Did the identical fate befall both settlements?”
Raon kept his brow furrowed, his fingers rhythmically tapping against the wood.
“Indeed. Both locations gave the impression of having suffered through decades of rot and decay.”
“Were these hamlets adjacent to one another?”
“Not at all. A considerable expanse separates them.”
Lawaine shook his head, clarifying that multiple harbors and settlements were situated across the stretch between the ruined locations.
“And those intermediate ports…”
“Remained completely unharmed. The inhabitants reported not a hint of trouble.”
His frown deepened as he added that the waters had remained so calm that not even an unusual swell was recorded.
“If things unfolded in such a manner…”
Raon exhaled softly while reading the heavy tension etched into Lawaine’s features.
“Then we are certainly not dealing with a disaster born of nature.”
The complete absence of disruption across the intervening harbors ruled out any chance of a natural anomaly.
“Precisely. That same thought crossed my mind, prompting me to investigate further…”
A visible tremor ran through Lawaine’s fingers as his eyes locked onto Raon.
“That was when I came face-to-face with an abyssal beast.”
“A beast?”
Swallowing the dryness in his throat, Raon shifted forward, leaning closer toward Lawaine.
“To lay out the full account, word reached me that an identical calamity had struck a settlement lying outside our designated borders, prompting me to inspect the scene without delay.”
Lawaine dropped his tone to a hushed murmur, clasping his unsteady right hand within his left to steady it.
“There as well, not a single corpse remained in sight, yet the entire expanse was saturated with brine. It mirrored the aftermath of an immense surge of water having swept over everything.”
He grimaced, recalling how he had observed the tides rising and washing over the hollowed-out settlement.
“Which would suggest a natural event…”
“Because I initially suspected intentional, artificial foul play, the situation struck me as deeply bizarre. I began scouring the adjacent shores, and then…”
“You don’t mean to say…”
Raon felt his throat tighten once more as he noticed the persistent vibration in Lawaine’s gaze.
“You crossed paths with it firsthand?”
“I did.”
Lawaine brought both hands to his temples, as though replaying the terrifying encounter in his mind’s eye.
“A strange, unfamiliar tide drew the Azure Wind along its course, when suddenly, out from the boundless expanse of the deep, that gigantic creature manifested right before me.”
His voice wavered under the memory of a might so great it bordered on incomprehensible.
“What manner of beast was it?”
“A… a wolf.”
Lawaine uttered the name of a predator that had no business dwelling within oceanic depths.
“A wolf?”
“Far from any regular beast. It seemed to embody both the flesh and the soul of the ocean itself. Its scale was so staggering that it felt as though the very deep was staring down to crush me.”
A heavy groan escaped his throat as he recalled a presence so vast it stripped away his sense of significance.
“It vanished the moment our eyes met, seemingly finding me unworthy of notice. Had we clashed at that moment…”
Lawaine contorted his expression, well aware of the unavoidable conclusion.
“Every last one of us would have perished. The sheer pressure radiating from that beast rivaled that of a Transcendent.”
A shiver racked his frame, as though the creature’s crushing weight still pressed against his skin.
“Hmm…”
Raon’s eyes narrowed slightly as he studied Lawaine’s uncharacteristic dread.
‘For a beast to instill this degree of terror in Lawaine…’
Lawaine was a battle-hardened Grandmaster. For a warrior of his stature to tremble like this, the entity was undeniably extraordinary.
‘Even so, reaching the realm of a Transcendent is another matter.’
Excluding the Ancient Dragons, monsters possessing Transcendent-tier strength were practically nonexistent. Clouded by urgency and anxiety, Lawaine could easily have overestimated the beast’s true standing.
“Is this the reason you journeyed back to seek Alice’s intervention?”
Raon gave an understanding nod, now grasping the root of Lawaine’s somber demeanor.
“It is. The threat exceeds my capability, whereas Alice would undoubtedly be capable of putting that beast down. To complicate matters, rival pirate factions have been multiplying throughout those waters…”
Lawaine sighed, explaining that he had rushed back to the main house believing the crisis demanded immediate action.
“Yet with no clear idea of when Alice will conclude her secluded training…”
His brow creased with worry, clearly anxious over the safety of the remaining harbors and coastal homes.
“In that case…”
Raon set down his teacup and rested both palms upon the tabletop.
“The Light Wind Palace shall take up the task.”
“Excuse me?”
Lawaine widened his eyes, caught off guard by the suggestion.
“Wait, that wouldn’t be proper. This isn’t an affair concerning Zieghart directly, but rather our Pirate King’s…”
“In practical terms, the Pirate King is no mere distant ally to Zieghart; it functions as an affiliated arm of our clan, much like the Light Wind Palace itself.”
With Alice having formally returned to Zieghart, her seafaring fleet was effectively a wing of the family’s overall strength.
“Standing guard over those coastal settlements is only right, and our warriors could use an opportunity to test their mettle after an entire month of secluded refinement.”
Raon gave a reassuring shake of his head, urging Lawaine to cast aside his hesitations.
“Still… asking such an immense favor feels like far too heavy a burden…”
“Consider it our way of returning the goodwill extended to us by Aunt. Please accept without further protest.”
Lowering his head courteously, Raon framed his offer not as charity, but as a request of his own.
“Well then…”
Lawaine let out a breath of pure astonishment, bewildered to find himself on the receiving end of a humble plea rather than the one making it.
‘He has transformed yet again.’
In the past, Raon had possessed an unbending sense of righteousness that occasionally felt forceful. Now, he carried the tempered grace of someone growing not merely into a stronger fighter, but into a complete leader.
“Very well. I place my trust in your hands.”
Lawaine bowed with the same deep reverence he typically reserved for Alice, his gratitude unmistakable.
Instructing Lawaine to begin immediate preparations for their journey, Raon headed directly toward the audience chamber to present the details to Glenn.
“So…”
Glenn narrowed his gaze, his fingers lightly brushing across the newly restored armrest of the Throne.
“You intend to venture out onto the open ocean this time?”
“I do.”
Raon answered with steady composure.
“By now, word has spread far and wide that Alice Zieghart and the Pirate King are one and the same. It stands to reason that any settlement under the Pirate King’s banner is viewed by the world as being under Zieghart’s protection.”
He gestured toward a map, noting that regardless of technicalities, that was precisely how the public would interpret the situation.
“Two such settlements have already been wiped out, which could instill panic and doubt among those under our banner. Under normal circumstances, Alice would have set sail immediately, but since her seclusion must not be disturbed, we wish to handle the crisis in her stead.”
Bowing his head respectfully, Raon asked for permission to deploy alongside the Light Wind Palace.
“Hmm…”
Glenn shifted his gaze toward the tall windows, his hand stroking his beard thoughtfully.
“Does something give you pause?”
“Given that Lawaine witnessed the entity with his own eyes, that aquatic beast is almost certainly responsible. Even so…”
A soft sigh parted Glenn’s lips as he turned his attention back to Raon.
“The claim that this beast possesses a presence akin to a Transcendent troubles me.”
Glenn frowned, well aware of the peril involved should the report prove accurate.
-Well, the sea is an endless void, harboring all manner of bizarre abominations.
Wrath bobbed his head in apparent agreement with Glenn’s wariness.
-Diving into the darkest depths might very well pit you against horrors that could give even you a run for your money.
He puffed out his spherical limb in an attempt to look menacing.
“I suspect Lawaine’s judgment was slightly clouded by fear, but should it truly stand at the Transcendent tier, that would be all the better.”
A slight smile played on Raon’s lips, betraying his genuine anticipation.
“Clashing against such an opponent would serve as the ideal stepping stone for my own advancement.”
Confining himself to training grounds could no longer push his growth forward. Real combat against formidable adversaries was the only path left to sharpen his edge.
“I suppose there are exceedingly few who could pose a genuine threat to you at this stage.”
Glenn gave a resigned nod, yielding to the logic.
“Very well. You have my permission.”
With a flick of his wrist, he granted his approval while cautioning Raon to remain vigilant.
“Understood.”
Just as Raon bowed in gratitude and turned to step outside the grand hall, Glenn cleared his throat loudly.
“Ahem! Hold on a moment.”
Glenn lifted a hand to hide a slight, deliberate cough.
“W-Write to me as well. Do not direct all your correspondence to him alone.”
His gaze darted to the side, pointedly hinting that Raon should not reserve his letters exclusively for Rector.
-Unbelievable…
Wrath let out a dry, scornful scoff.
-Throwing a fit over some parchment when he sees his own flesh and blood day in and day out… this antique geezer is truly something else…
He swung his head from side to side, marveling at how anyone could tolerate such desperate clinginess.
“Understood.”
Raon suppressed a chuckle and nodded in agreement. Assuring the lord that dispatches would be sent regularly throughout the expedition, he departed the grand hall and made his way back to the fifth training ground where his squad remained occupied.
“Running off during practice hours is unacceptable!”
Martha snapped with a scowl, demanding to know where he had vanished while she was in the middle of instruction.
“Raon holds the authority to do as he pleases…”
Runaan shook her head faintly, reminding everyone that Raon held ultimate ownership over the grounds.
“Good grief, attempting to reprimand the commander…”
Burren pressed two fingers against his temple, looking utterly at a loss.
“That’s enough banter. Everyone, fall in.”
Summoning the warriors scattered across the dirt, Raon mounted the elevated platform.
“You know better than anyone how much sharper your martial arts and inner resolve have become after this past month of relentless practice.”
His eyes swept over the assembled swordsmen, all radiating the disciplined pressure of hardened veterans.
“The time has arrived to put everything you have forged to the test.”
Raon nodded firmly, declaring that a real battlefield awaited them.
“Finally, a proper deployment!”
Martha struck her fists together, wearing a ferocious grin of approval.
“What type of assignment are we facing?”
Burren’s eyes sharpened with calculation, already preparing to strategize.
“I would rather just stay put…”
Runaan let out a lazy yawn, clearly unenthusiastic about moving.
“Our objective is…”
Raon proceeded to detail everything Lawaine had reported to the Light Wind Palace.
“A… a Transcendent-tier monster?”
“Does such an absurdity even walk the earth?”
“H-He must have been mistaken from a distance, right?”
“If something like that actually exists, can it even be classified as a beast?”
“Whether exaggerated or not, anything capable of flattening entire villages in one stroke is no ordinary creature…”
A ripple of nervous tension washed through the ranks at the mention of a Transcendent threat. Yet rather than cowering in fright, several swordsmen subtly licked their lips, fueled by a desire to measure their newfound strength against the unknown.
-It seems these fledglings are finally shedding their shells.
Wrath expressed rare satisfaction at the fierce ambition shown by the unit.
‘Indeed. They have truly evolved.’
Stepping forward to test one’s limits despite recognizing the mortal danger was the very hallmark of a true Zieghart warrior.
‘Although a couple still remain reluctant…’
Raon breathed a quiet sigh, shifting his gaze toward his right flank.
“A-A Transcendent is taking things way too far, isn’t it? If we get dumped into the ocean, we’ll drown before our blades even clear their scabbards…”
“Precisely my thought. I really have zero interest in this…”
Krein and Dorian were huddled together, muttering anxious protests under their breath.
“Quit your whining and pack your gear.”
Martha threw an arm over both Krein’s and Dorian’s shoulders, flashing a chilling grin that made it clear backing out would result in immediate violence right there on the dirt.
“N-No, you misunderstood us completely!”
“We were planning on going all along!”
Both Dorian and Krein forced wide, panicked smiles, instantly retracting their complaints.
“In that case, report back here fully equipped at first light tomorrow.”
Raon lifted his chin, looking down at his assembled unit.
“At first light tomorrow?”
“That barely leaves us a few hours!”
Several members looked wide-eyed at the sudden schedule, lamenting the short notice.
“We have no way of knowing when another settlement might face destruction, so haste is paramount.”
Raon shook his head, admitting that he had initially considered setting out this very instant.
“Well said!”
Martha gave an approving nod, fully backing his urgency.
“That only leaves ten hours for rest…”
Runaan murmured, turning her back to head home before anyone else.
“Understood!”
Burren affirmed the order and immediately began distributing operational precautions among the members of the Light Wind Palace.
“I need to inspect the gear and rations!”
With their mobilization locked in, Dorian bolted toward the storeroom to fulfill his quartermaster duties.
“Hmm…”
A faint, pleased curve touched Raon’s lips as he took in the lively bustle of the courtyard.
‘This mission will serve as an ideal crucible for the Light Wind Palace, especially with rogue pirate crews running rampant in those waters.’
Naturally, the sea-dwelling predator remained the primary objective.
‘Let us see just how ferocious this ocean puppy truly is.’
By utilizing a sequence of Dimensional Gates under Lawaine’s guidance the following morning, Raon and the Light Wind Palace safely arrived at the coastline where the Azure Wind lay anchored.
“That vessel remains an absolute titan.”
Martha let out an appreciative whistle as she took in the towering silhouette of the Azure Wind.
“It appears even larger than before…”
Runaan blinked slowly, noting that the ship seemed to have expanded.
“You have sharp eyes. We reinforced the hull with ironwood, which widened its breadth considerably.”
Lawaine confirmed the observation, explaining that frequent skirmishes with marauders had necessitated reinforcing the exterior with durable timber. Although a polite smile touched his face, a slight twitch around his eyes betrayed his lingering worry for the coastal towns.
“Is the vessel fully supplied?”
Raon inquired, running his palm over the dark, reinforced timber of the hull.
“Indeed. Since we had no way of predicting when Alice would conclude her training, provisions and armaments were loaded in advance.”
Lawaine confirmed that the vessel was prepared to sustain over two months of independent travel right away.
“Then we should set sail without delay.”
Raon responded firmly, noticing the tight tension lingering on Lawaine’s face.
“Every moment we waste leaves another coastal town vulnerable. Quick action is our best course.”
“Ah, was my restlessness so obvious…”
Lawaine offered a self-deprecating smile, scratching his nape in mild embarrassment.
“Forgive me. And thank you deeply.”
Expressing his sincere appreciation for their haste, he took the lead up the gangway.
“Board the ship.”
Signaling the members of the Light Wind Palace to embark, Raon stepped aboard the deck of the Azure Wind.
‘The interior remains just as I remembered.’
While the outer defenses had been heavily reinforced, the corridors and decks inside held their familiar layout. Raon found an unbidden smile gracing his lips as memories of his first encounter with Alice in this very place resurfaced.
“All hands, prepare to weigh anchor!”
While Raon stood reminiscing, Lawaine had already rallied the crew into high gear.
“Commander of the Light Wind Palace.”
Having wrapped up all sailing checks within half an hour, Lawaine approached Raon with a respectful bow.
“We await your command.”
Lowering his head deeply, he formally acknowledged Raon as their acting captain.
“Set sail.”
Raon gave the nod to Lawaine and the assembled sailors whose eyes were fixed upon him.
“Cast off!”
“Weighing anchor!”
Shouts echoed across the deck as Lawaine relayed the command. Massive sails unfurled from the center masts, vast enough to blot out the horizon, and the colossal warship surged forward into motion. With the wind filling its canvas, the Azure Wind cleaved effortlessly through the deep blue swell, moving with deceptive grace.
“It will take roughly half a day to reach the harbor under our protection. Please, make yourselves comfortable within the main cabin.”
Lawaine offered a courteous bow, pointing out that the deck would remain chaotic with sailing maneuvers for some time.
“There is no need. I prefer to observe the water for a while. It has been quite some time since I last took to the sea.”
Raon indicated his desire to remain outside before turning toward his companions.
“Those who wish to rest may retire below, and those wishing to cultivate may do so freely.”
He gestured dismissively, granting the Light Wind Palace freedom to spend the voyage as they saw fit.
“Understood, I am going to sleep…”
The instant permission was granted, Runaan muttered her intent and slipped quietly into the quarters below.
“I shall spend some time in contemplation.”
Burren settled down cross-legged in a quiet corner of the deck, murmuring that his grasp on certain martial principles still required refinement.
“I need to audit our supplies! We might be missing something crucial!”
Dorian scurried off toward the lower cargo hold, treating the vessel’s inventory with the same frantic dedication as if the ship were his personal property. His dedication to logistics was undeniably remarkable.
“I… I believe I will go lie down…”
Krein rubbed his heavy eyelids, attempting to sneak his way toward the cabin entrance.
“Hold your ground.”
Raon extended an arm, cutting off Krein’s escape route entirely.
“Your foundation is the shallowest among them all. Sit beside me and circulate your internal energy.”
“Ugh…”
Krein’s eyes darted frantically in search of an escape route, but knowing better than to resist, he slumped onto the deck with a defeated groan. Just as Raon initiated his excruciating method of forcibly driving waves of searing heat and biting frost into Krein’s spine, Martha walked over.
“Do me next.”
Martha stood before him, demanding the exact same punishing regimen.
“Are you certain…”
“I need to squeeze every drop of strength into my foundation before that fateful confrontation arrives.”
She bit down hard on her lip, determined to elevate her prowess as high as humanly possible prior to facing the Leader of the White Blood Religion.
‘Her determination has only hardened.’
Ever since crossing the threshold into the mid-tier Grandmaster stage, Martha had chased higher power with desperate hunger. Knowing the weight of her personal vendetta, Raon could not bring himself to deny her request.
“Hah.”
Letting out a quiet breath, Raon placed his palm squarely against Martha’s back.
“This will not be gentle.”
Tuning the output to match her current capacity, he channeled the scorching flame of the Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation alongside the freezing chill of Glacier, driving the polarized energies directly into her meridians.
“…”
Even as a searing agony ripped through her flesh as if her body were being torn limb from limb, Martha refused to let a single cry escape her teeth, silently enduring the torture as she guided her internal energy.
-She possesses formidable grit.
Wrath observed Martha with a surprisingly subdued gaze, his tone betraying a hint of sympathy despite his harsh words.
‘She is undeniably resilient. Yet had I stood in her shoes, I would have subjected myself to even greater torment.’
Raon knew that under identical circumstances, he would have pushed himself beyond the absolute limit.
‘I cannot afford complacency either.’
Licking his lips, Raon leaned lightly against the wooden railing.
‘If I wish to aid her, my own blade must become sharper.’
Martha stood no chance of wresting her mother back from the Leader of the White Blood Religion through her own strength alone. It would demand the combined might of himself and an elite Transcendent just to stand on equal footing against the cult’s master.
‘Whether the path requires slaying the Leader of the White Blood Religion or severing the vessel’s connection…’
Everything hinged upon mastering the Soul Sword. Without reaching a higher plane in the Soul Sword, reclaiming Martha’s mother remained an impossibility.
‘Empty the mind…’
Just as Raon sought to project his spiritual consciousness outward to touch the realm of the Soul Sword amid the ocean breeze, an unnatural, piercing chill washed over his senses. It felt as though an immense entity was glaring down upon him from the distant edge of the horizon. It lacked the warmth or malice of a mortal presence. Instead, it was an eerie, suffocating sensation, as if the raw forces of nature had opened an eye to scrutinize him.
“What is this…”
Raon pivoted his stance instantly, directing his gaze toward the sunlit shoreline in the distance. There, looming at the furthest boundary of the boundless ocean, the colossal visage of a wolf materialized, its billowing mane formed entirely from crashing tides.
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