Chapter 1167

Chapter 1167
Chapter 1167

Raon stood across from Rector in the open space behind the annex building’s lake.

“Are you certain you are fit for this?”

Rector had been confined to bed since suffering the loss of his right arm, a grave wound that left his entire body stiff and unyielding. Regardless of how durable the mechanical limb created by Ensia was, and despite his standing as a Transcendent, engaging in immediate combat seemed ill-advised.

“Father! Shouldn’t you remain in bed?”

Edgar shouted toward Rector, cupping his hands around his mouth.

“Raon has grown far stronger! Even if you retain your past mastery of the sword, it will not be an easy task now. You will likely end up severely battered! Just rest inside… Ugh!”

He was hurling sharp critique—or rather, direct condemnation—at his own father when Rector delivered a swift kick, sending him tumbling across the dirt.

“Sigh…”

Sylvia observed the display and released a soft, weary sigh.

“Ehehe!”

Sia mimicked Sylvia, offering a cheerful little sigh directed at Edgar.

“Hold your tongue!”

“Dad, please lie still.”

The two clearly cared for Edgar despite his antics, grasping his waist and shoulders to help him regain his footing.

“A practitioner of the blade communicates through his steel.”

Having kicked Edgar aside, Rector stepped back into position and unsheathed his sword. Though he had been bedridden, he had kept the weapon impeccably maintained, its metal shining with a refined gleam.

“Is it not far better to converse with our blades than to exchange noisy words?”

Rector curved his lips upward, eager to convey his inner state through the path of the sword.

“Hmm…”

Raon shifted his gaze toward Ensia on his right.

“It is completely fine!”

Ensia raised her arms overhead, forming a wide circle.

“The greatest quality of the mechanical limb I constructed is its resilience!”

She beamed with absolute assurance, indicating there was no cause for concern.

“If that is your assessment, then I shall comply.”

Raon offered a faint smile and unlinked Heavenly Drive from his belt.

“Ultimately, swordsmen ought to speak through their weapons.”

At the realm of a Transcendent, practitioners could comprehend one another’s true intentions simply by trading blows rather than relying on speech. It appeared Rector wished to express his sentiments through combat rather than verbal exchange.

‘Furthermore, he undoubtedly longs to move his body once more.’

Acquiring a replacement arm would naturally fill any swordsman with the urge to wield his blade. Discerning Rector’s desire, Raon chose to grant the request.

“Phew.”

Rector slowly shut his eyes. Upon reopening them, an icy sharpness glinted within his gaze, as if the formidable leader of the Holy Sword Alliance, Sword Demon Rector, had returned to the battlefield.

“Let us commence.”

Dispensing with formal courtesies typical of a senior warrior, Rector deployed swift footwork to cross the space and thrust his blade forward. True to his Transcendent foundation, he had adapted to his new mechanical limb instantaneously, keeping the point of his weapon lethal and precise. The metal whistled with a piercing ring!

Raon met the thrust cleanly and initiated a counter strike without delay. His flaming edge twisted as it descended toward Rector’s right shoulder.

“You appeared courteous, yet…”

Rector let out a dry laugh as he observed Heavenly Drive coming down precisely where his shoulder met the mechanical arm.

“You aim to sever my new arm straight away!”

He curled his mouth and deflected the heavy descent of Heavenly Drive. The resulting impact resonated loudly across the yard! Raon smoothly absorbed the force of Rector’s deflection and gave a slight shrug.

“You mentioned that swordsmen converse through their blades. I was merely testing the waters.”

He grinned playfully, hinting that he wished to confirm if the limb functioned properly and whether Rector harbored any lingering hesitation.

“Like father, like son, without a doubt!”

Rector cast a brief glance back at Edgar before raising his weapon once more. He launched a flurry of swift, accurate strikes, showing no trace of recent injury or prolonged bed rest. Every strike carried the weight of a Transcendent’s ultimate skill, proving his legacy as one who had mastered Ten Thousand Swords. Steel collided against steel in rapid succession!

Raon pressed his lips together as he parried Rector’s assault, which eloquently conveyed a multitude of sword principles.

‘Grandfather…’

Rector’s innermost feelings flowed across the meeting of their blades. He was extending his gratitude by demonstrating every martial concept he had acquired over a lifetime. Through the language of combat, he voiced his appreciation for being saved from the Archangel, for the strength to stand anew, and for the creation of his replacement limb. The ground beneath them vibrated!

Raon’s fingers tingled from the sheer weight behind Rector’s blows. Being a person of deep sentiment before a warrior, he felt those emotions strike directly at his core.

“Phew…”

Rector uttered a faint chuckle while maintaining a two-handed grip on his hilt.

“I have certainly remained idle too long—we have not even fought for a full hour, yet my endurance is spent.”

He wiped away the sweat trickling down his brow and bit his lip.

‘It must prove exhausting.’

Raon gave a brief nod as he observed Rector, whose eyes remained bright with vitality despite physical fatigue.

‘He executed his techniques with absolute intensity.’

Throughout their duel, Rector continuously altered his styles so that Raon might observe and absorb further martial insights. The nature of his sword shifted at every instant, and because he poured everything into each form, fatigue was inevitable. It was his personal way of expressing gratitude.

“I shall present one final technique.”

Rector raised his weapon high above his head with both hands. Behind him, an aura resembling a luminous blue halo manifested, followed by a overwhelming strike that appeared capable of cleaving both heaven and earth asunder.

‘This is no longer an instructional strike.’

Raon tightened his hold on Heavenly Drive.

‘He is presenting himself purely as a martial artist.’

If Rector had been offering thanks as a grandfather until this moment, he had now reverted to a swordsman seeking a true test of skill. His cold, focused eyes implicitly challenged Raon to unleash a technique capable of overcoming him.

‘I accept.’

Raon stepped forward with his left leg and swung Heavenly Drive in a sharp upward arc. The crimson blade rose, cutting past the blue expanse of the lake, and completely neutralized Rector’s earth-splitting blow. His sword, having thoroughly absorbed human emotion, had already surpassed ordinary martial limitations. A heavy surge of wind howled through the clearing!

The tempest of light summoned by Rector faded, and the turbulent surface of the lake gradually settled into stillness.

-Hmm!

Wrath twitched his nose slightly as he monitored the path of the strike Raon had produced.

-At long last, your martial technique looks somewhat decent.

Uncharacteristically, he offered praise for the execution, muttering that it was acceptable.

“Haah…”

Standing amidst the drifting gray haze, Rector lowered his blade and let out a deep breath. A wry chuckle escaped him as he looked toward Raon, who had utterly dissipated his ultimate technique.

“My gratitude.”

Suppressing the shock stirring within his chest, Rector vocalized the sentiments he had previously communicated through combat.

“If you are truly grateful, then stand beside me in battle.”

Raon offered no false modesty, choosing instead to smile and request his active presence on the battlefield.

“Indubitably! Though I must labor tirelessly for a time to regain my former state.”

Rector nodded, declaring his resolve to restore his peak martial strength regardless of the difficulty.

“Father, achieving that might prove overly ambitious, so perhaps aim to recover roughly half? In truth, given your advancing years, overexerting yourself is unwise… Agh!”

Edgar began blabbering once more, only to receive a swift blow to the back from Sylvia, sending him rolling onto the grass.

“My father-in-law is fully capable of it.”

Sylvia offered a graceful smile while resting her foot lightly on Edgar’s back.

“Indeed. I shall assist as well!”

Sia, proposing that they conduct their training together, took hold of Rector’s mechanical arm with a firm grip.

“My thanks to both of you as well.”

Rector regarded Sylvia and Sia with a warm, gentle gaze.

“While fortune may have failed me regarding my son, I am blessed beyond measure with my daughter-in-law and grandchildren.”

He thoughtfully stroked his chin, appearing to have finally shed his lingering remorse. With a smooth metallic sound, Raon returned Heavenly Drive to its sheath and looked down at the hand that had wielded it.

‘To think I would experience growth through such a path.’

In the past, he typically breached his limits by entering the State of Enlightenment through sudden realizations. Indeed, that had been the pattern for the vast majority of his breakthroughs. Yet this time, without relying on sudden awakening or the State of Enlightenment, he had advanced through an understanding of life itself, allowing him to employ his heightened standard immediately without requiring a period of adjustment.

Even if Rector had possessed his peak strength prior to losing his arm, Raon felt confident he would not be driven back now. Furthermore, were the confrontation to turn into an extended trial of endurance, he possessed complete assurance of victory.

‘Very little time remains.’

Raon compressed his fist tightly as the memory of those chilling blue eyes surfaced in his mind.

‘Derus Robert.’

—

“Ahem!”

Glenn stood along the slope of North Grave Mountain, observing the sparring session between Raon and Rector, and cleared his throat softly as though displeased.

“Head of House. Is something amiss?”

Roenn tilted his head, watching Glenn’s furrowed brow. He blinked in confusion, unable to discern why Glenn appeared discontented when the matter had concluded so favorably.

“I believe I comprehend the reason for the Head of House’s demeanor.”

Sheryl let out a sigh as she looked down at the courtyard.

“He is pleased by Lord Rector’s recovery, yet annoyed because Rector is commanding all of Raon and Sia’s focus.”

She scoffed, implying that Glenn’s internal thoughts were transparent.

“Hmph, preposterous!”

Glenn dismissed the notion with a wave of his hand, denying it outright, though the faint reddening of his cheeks betrayed his words.

“Honestly! Head of House, you have claimed Raon’s time continuously, and you interact with Sia almost daily. Meanwhile, Lord Rector was confined elsewhere, unable to see them even if he wished! How can you harbor envy over this?”

Sheryl shook her head repeatedly, noting that Glenn was becoming as exasperating as Rimmer.

“Grrr…”

Recognizing the validity in Sheryl’s statement, Glenn merely twitched his nose and refrained from arguing further.

“Hehehe.”

Roenn let out a soft laugh, finding the exchange amusing.

“Yet precisely how formidable has Lord Raon become at present?”

He narrowed his eyes, recalling the calm yet overwhelming swordwork Raon had used to neutralize Rector’s full-power strike.

“…I cannot say.”

Glenn narrowed his eyes as he offered a response quite uncharacteristic of his usual certainty.

“Pardon?”

Sheryl’s eyes widened in surprise.

“You… you are uncertain, Head of House?”

She swallowed hard, looking more astonished than if she had witnessed an impossible miracle.

“Raon’s current realm corresponds to the leaders who occupied the middle ranks during the era of the Six Kings and Five Demons. However…”

Glenn lowered his gaze as he watched Raon inspect Rector’s arm.

“The actual combat power that child can exert undeniably exceeds that baseline. Even I am unable to measure his precise boundary.”

He let out a heavy breath, stating that even he could not determine it accurately because Raon’s development was far too swift and unprecedented.

“I eagerly await the passage of eleven months.”

Glenn curled his lips upward in a cold, mocking expression directed elsewhere.

“To witness just how far the blade of an even further developed Raon will reach.”

—

The following day. Having slept within the annex building for the first time in a long while, Raon stepped outdoors prior to sunrise.

-I assumed you might have grown somewhat relaxed…

Wrath let out a sigh while gazing at the purple hues of the early dawn.

-You are swinging your blade at daybreak once more? After claiming you would live as a human!

He mashed his teeth together, questioning whether that relentless regimen was resuming already.

‘Not all humans remain in bed or act lazy. Countless individuals begin their labors at dawn.’

Raon shook his head, noting that early morning practice had no bearing on living an authentic human life.

-Well, that is true enough…

Wrath clicked his tongue, unable to muster a counterargument on that point.

-B-but you still lack a vital human quality.

‘A quality I lack as a human?’

Raon paused in drawing his weapon and shifted his focus toward Wrath.

‘What might that be?’

-Love!

Wrath lifted his chin proudly.

-You possess no understanding of love!

‘What? I certainly…’

-Not familial affection! This King is fully aware that you cherish the humans residing in this annex!

He shook his head vigorously, clarifying his meaning.

-This King refers to romantic love between a man and a woman! You most certainly do not…

Just as Wrath was on the verge of declaring Raon an absolute novice in romantic matters, a resonant humming sound echoed through the air! A bright blue dimensional passage expanded, and from its depths stepped a handsome young man bearing golden hair, blue eyes, and an elegant white robe.

“Bartius?”

Raon’s eyes widened upon recognizing the Gold Dragon Bartius, who had previously made contact through the blue window.

“Raon Zieghart!”

Bartius thrust his face forward without taking a moment for standard greetings. His eyes looked wide enough to burst through the spatial divide.

“I have uncovered a method to reach the Lord!”