Chapter 1169

Chapter 1169
**Chapter 1169**

“Hmm!”

Glenn’s lips twitched slightly as he took in the sight of Raon, whose serene expression exuded complete self-assurance.

“Dragons are inherently treacherous and deceptive, yet with the level of martial mastery you now possess, I am confident you can handle whatever schemes they throw your way.”

He gave a heavy nod, fully acknowledging the young man’s indisputable power and poise.

“I share that sentiment.”

Sheryl’s lips curled into a fond smile.

“The young boy from the Light Wind division whom I once escorted out for training is no longer here. Seeing you stand as a Palace Master—one who has borne so many trials and embraced true responsibility—brings me great pride, alongside a touch of nostalgia.”

She closed her eyes briefly before opening them with an affectionate gaze, seemingly overlapping the memory of the youth from his days in the Light Wind division with the figure standing before her now.

“It is precisely because I walked through those early years that I have become who I am today.”

Raon offered Sheryl a subtle, gentle smile.

“I am eternally grateful.”

He bowed his head deeply, offering sincere gratitude for the care and guidance she had provided during his formative years.

“Haah, I still find it hard to wrap my head around it.”

Sheryl let out a wry, hollow laugh, resting one hand against her hip.

“How could someone like you possibly spring from the shadow of such a buffoon?”

She shook her head, pointing out the stark contrast between Raon and his master, Rimmer.

“You are well aware of it yourself, Heavenly Blade Division Leader.”

Raon smirked gently, taking note of the faint crease near Sheryl’s eyes.

“That my master was far more than just an idle slacker, a gambler, a liar, and a thoughtless fool.”

He tilted his head slightly, asserting that his master possessed qualities and strengths that far outweighed those obvious flaws.

“I-I never claimed any such thing!”

Sheryl blinked rapidly, protesting that his words were far too harsh.

“That man may have engaged in countless foolish antics, but he always acted with a purpose!”

Her voice rose slightly, instinctively jumping to Rimmer’s defense.

“Is that so?”

Raon’s lips curled upward into a teasing grin as he watched her furrowed brow.

“It appears the Heavenly Blade Division Leader is openly defending my master.”

He murmured playfully, letting out a light, mischievous laugh.

“Huh? Urgh!”

Realizing at last that she had walked right into his subtle trap, Sheryl gasped and took a swift step backward.

“Hmm…”

Glenn’s eyes narrowed slightly, visibly amused by Sheryl’s flustered reaction.

“That’s completely false!”

Sheryl let out a heavy sigh, forcing her contorted features to relax.

“I hold no affection for that master of yours. Therefore, I will never dance to his tune!”

She snorted softly, declaring that she had no intention of fulfilling any of Rimmer’s wishes either.

“I see.”

Raon folded his hands together as he observed her sharply avert her gaze.

‘Just as I suspected…’

Sheryl truly harbored deep feelings for him. Rimmer desired for Sheryl to move on with someone else and find happiness, but conversely, Sheryl had engraved Rimmer into her very core, choosing to walk her path alone for the rest of her days.

‘So this is what love truly is.’

Through the dynamic between Rimmer and Sheryl, he felt as though he were catching a glimpse of genuine romantic affection. Little by little, the nature of love was beginning to make sense to him.

‘Father and mother were much the same, even if their circumstances differed.’

Sylvia and Edgar had likewise been denied a simple, peaceful romance. They had managed to reunite only after enduring agonizing trials in a world that sought to tear them apart. The sheer depth of their devotion and their ultimate reunion were now beginning to resonate deeply within his mind.

Perhaps because he was unlocking these unfamiliar emotions, the sword forged within his very soul felt as though it were growing sharper, sturdier, and far more refined.

-No…

Wrath’s gaze grew cold and utterly dumbfounded.

-Discover love on your own terms! Stop leeching emotional understanding from the romance of others!

He bellowed in frustration, questioning why Raon insisted on processing feelings in such a bizarre manner.

-You are truly a human beyond my comprehension! No, at this point, I genuinely doubt whether you can even be classified as human anymore!

Wrath gritted his teeth, declaring that the mere sight of Raon filled him with irritation.

‘I am human. Perhaps a bit unusual, but human nonetheless…’

Raon offered a faint smile toward the fuming Wrath. He gave a quiet nod to himself, silently vowing that when the time was right, he would lay bare the entire truth.

“Hmm.”

Glenn scrutinized Raon, his eyebrows twitching almost imperceptibly.

“It seems I can entrust any burden to you now without hesitation.”

He gave a slow, deliberate nod, having sensed the subtle evolution within Raon’s spirit just as Wrath had.

“The fact that such a relaxed atmosphere can prevail even as we prepare to face the premier ancient dragons stands as absolute proof of your martial prowess and unshakeable resolve.”

Glenn gestured with an open palm, signaling for him to proceed as he saw fit.

“Thank you.”

Raon adjusted his posture, offering a flawless, respectful bow to Glenn.

“I will ensure your faith in me remains unbroken.”

He raised his gaze, declaring that he would handle not only the leaders of each respective dragon clan, but the Dragon Lord as well.

“Who do you intend to bring along on this excursion?”

Glenn narrowed his eyes, curious as to who would accompany him on such a dangerous venture.

“It seems wisest to leave Runaan behind, as she has reached a critical phase in her training. I intend to bring Burren and Martha so they may gain practical combat experience. Dorian’s inclusion is essential for supplies, and as for Evelyn, even without me stating it explicitly…”

“Hmm, I understand.”

Though Raon left his sentence unfinished, Glenn nodded in clear comprehension.

“Should you ever require my strength, do not hesitate to call upon me.”

Glenn lowered his hand, urging his grandson not to fall into the trap of carrying every burden alone simply because his power had reached new heights. He desperately wished to spare the young man from enduring the solitary trials he himself had once suffered.

“I will bear that in mind.”

Raon smiled gently, reassuring him that he lacked the hubris to believe he could resolve everything by his own hands alone.

“In that case, I shall take my leave.”

After promising to exercise caution and return unharmed, he pushed open the grand doors of the audience chamber.

“Hmm?”

The moment the doors parted, he spotted Karoon and Roenn standing in wait just beyond the threshold.

“Lord Raon. May your journey be safe and victorious.”

Roenn offered a warm bow accompanied by a hearty chuckle, clearly having overheard the discussion within.

“Yes. We shall speak again upon my return.”

Just as Raon returned the courtesy and prepared to take his leave…

“Make sure you push Burren to his absolute limits.”

Karoon tossed out those harsh words regarding his son’s ordeal before stepping past him into the audience chamber. Yet, beneath the stern exterior, a faint trace of fatherly warmth laced the mention of Burren’s name.

“Understood. I shall push him until he collapses.”

Raon gave Karoon a subtle nod and stepped out from the Lord’s Manor.

‘Now, it is no longer merely the annex, but the entirety of Zieghart…’

He cast a backward glance toward the audience chamber Karoon had just entered, a soft smile gracing his features.

‘It feels like a true family.’

A soothing warmth bloomed within his chest, knowing that Zieghart had transformed into a true sanctuary—a home to which he could always return with a smile.

‘Without fail…’

Raon tightened his right fist as he exited the Lord’s Manor, taking in the sweeping expanse of Zieghart stretching out before him.

‘I will defend this place.’

—

By the following morning. Woooong!

Once Raon had completed all necessary preparations and stepped into the garden outside the annex, Bartius’s visage materialized within a brilliant blue light window, precisely as it had the day prior.

“Are all of you prepared?”

Bartius tilted his head slightly, inquiring if they were ready for immediate departure.

“Eeeek, we-we’re actually setting off.”

Dorian’s shoulders trembled visibly from sheer anxiety.

“I had only just finished my cultivation session and was hoping for a brief rest…”

Even as he grumbled under his breath about needing a break, his hands instinctively verified the contents of his spatial pouch. He had clearly stuffed it with an enormous array of goods in a single day, and the aura of Gluttony emanating from him seemed distinctly potent.

“Dragons. And clan leader-tier entities at that…”

Burren took a deep, controlled breath, regulating his breathing.

“Merely observing a battle of that magnitude will yield invaluable insights.”

He tightened his grip on his sword hilt, quietly resolving to absorb every single detail of the encounter.

“Simply observing? Absolutely not! We are going to plunge right into the fray!”

Martha snorted disdainfully, dismissing his cautious mindset.

“We must apply what we’ve mastered in actual combat!”

She rested her hand against her sheath, her eyes burning with an intense desire to clash against genuine dragons.

“Must be wonderful having such a simple brain?”

Evelyn offered a mocking smile, lightly brushing past Martha’s shoulder.

“With your current level of martial skill, attempting to engage an ancient dragon directly is nothing short of suicide.”

She gestured sharply, advising Martha to return to reality.

“Hmph! Do you honestly believe the clan leaders move completely alone without lesser subordinates? There will undoubtedly be weaker targets for us to handle.”

Martha roughly slapped Evelyn’s hand away, telling her to wipe that arrogant smirk off her face.

“Save the bickering for later.”

Raon let out a tired sigh, stepping between the two confrontational women.

“Bartius. Guide us.”

He took a step forward, signaling for the ancient dragon to lead the way.

“Our destination is the territory of the Red clan’s leader.”

Bartius gave a sharp nod, confirming the spatial connection was established. Woooooong!

As he raised his hands, a shimmering, golden dimensional portal expanded directly before Raon.

“Step through the gateway.”

Bartius directed a steady gaze toward them, advising them to place their trust in his spatial manipulation and enter.

“U-Um, Palace Master.”

Dorian swallowed hard, his throat dry with trepidation.

“S-Should I take the lead?”

Though terrified to his core, he stepped toward the portal first out of concern for Raon’s safety.

“I have no habit of sending my subordinates ahead as meat shields.”

Raon chuckled softly, catching Dorian by the collar and pulling him back.

“Furthermore, once I choose to extend my trust, I maintain it until a blade is buried in my back.”

He locked eyes with Bartius, who watched through the blue screen, before fearlessly stepping through the golden dimensional gateway. Woooooong!

After experiencing a brief sensation of weightlessness, his boots met solid ground once more. He found himself standing atop the peak of a colossal volcano, where rivers of molten lava boiled furiously and violent explosions of flame ruptured the sky.

“Woaaaah…”

Dorian gasped sharply at the overwhelming heat, instinctively taking a step back.

“Starting right off with an active volcano…”

Burren pressed his lips into a tight, tense line.

“In environments like this, I almost miss that weird girl.”

Martha smacked her lips, wondering how Runaan would react to such blistering heat and missing the soothing frost she could summon at will.

“So it was located here after all.”

Evelyn gave a calm nod, having already anticipated this environment.

“Hmm.”

As Raon scanned the vast volcanic landscape, the golden dimensional portal collapsed behind them, and Bartius stepped out from the void.

“I admire your absolute lack of hesitation.”

Bartius curled his lips into a faint smile as he looked at Raon.

“Though, I suppose that fearless nature is precisely why I selected you.”

He nodded approvingly, satisfied with his choice of ally.

“This location…”

Raon narrowed his eyes, surveying the scorched domain.

“This is Sky Fire Volcano, the dwelling place of Igni Serpang, ruler of the Red clan.”

Instead of Bartius, a deep, rasping voice reminiscent of crackling embers echoed from behind them. Valasiur, the adult dragon representing the Red clan, strode forward with a furrowed brow.

“From this point, I shall act as your guide.”

Valasiur dusted off his hands, gesturing for the group to follow as he pointed toward a vast, dark opening right at the edge of the lava pool. Though obscured by thick plumes of soot, rising heatwaves, and soaring flames, a massive cavern mouth capable of accommodating an ancient dragon’s frame yawned open before them.

This place, where searing heat and natural magma served as an impenetrable barrier, was indeed the lair of Igni Serpang, leader of the Red clan.

“Let us proceed.”

Raon followed behind Valasiur, stepping into the subterranean cavern. The thermal pressure inside was just as suffocating as on the surface, yet none among their current party lacked the martial foundation needed to withstand such heat.

“Grant me a moment to speak with him first.”

Valasiur muttered in a quiet tone as he led the way. Replacing his usual aggressive stance was a distinct caution, indicating he still harbored internal conflict regarding this course of action.

“A moment to speak?”

Raon’s eyes narrowed slightly.

“If Igni Serpang sends out a distress signal or alerts external forces, our position becomes severely compromised.”

Allowing a brief dialogue was harmless in itself, but should word leak out, the entire operation would fall apart, meaning he could not grant the request blindly.

“You need not worry on that front.”

Bartius calmly raised his hand to reassure him.

“Dariauran, Sirtiren, and Bursiarabi have already established an absolute spatial barrier around this region.”

He nodded, confirming that the three dragons were actively suppressing any attempt at flight or long-distance communication from Igni Serpang.

“Hmm.”

Raon cast a brief glance back at Evelyn.

“Unless he had countermeasures prepared beforehand, that spatial seal will not be broken easily.”

Evelyn offered a firm nod, confirming the reliability of that assessment.

“Very well. Proceed as you wish.”

Raon gave a calm nod of agreement.

“You have my thanks.”

Valasiur expressed quiet gratitude for the understanding and quickened his pace, venturing deeper into the subterranean lair. Numerous dragon Guardians were stationed throughout the tunnels, but noticing Valasiur’s presence, none made a move to intercept them.

“Whew.”

Valasiur paused to collect his breath before a cavern opening so immense it could easily house tens of thousands of souls at once.

“This is the heart of the lair. Now…”

Just as he steeled his resolve and prepared to step through…

The colossal cavern—no, the entirety of Sky Fire Volcano—shivered violently as the massive head of a fiery dragon, large enough to pierce the clouds, emerged from the subterranean darkness. Every person present held their breath, awed and stifled by an alien magnitude that defied mortal imagination.

[Valasiur. And Bartius.]

Igni Serpang, ruler of the Red clan, thrust forward a colossal body larger than a mountain range, radiating a searing aura capable of vaporizing flesh and bone instantly.

[What business brings you to my domain? And why have you brought mere insects into my presence?]

Igni Serpang glared down at Valasiur and Bartius, his presence heavy with suppressed fury.

“Uuugh…”

“Is this truly the leader of the Red clan?”

“What an absurdly oppressive aura!”

Dorian found himself unable to draw air into his lungs, Burren gripped his hilt tightly while forcing his trembling legs to stay upright, and Martha bit down on her lower lip until blood trickled down her chin, glaring back up at Igni Serpang with fierce defiance.

“…”

Raon refrained from stepping forward, honoring the agreement made moments ago. Positioned with his hands resting calmly behind his back, he erased his aura entirely, his sharp gaze fixed intently upon Igni Serpang.

[Leader. Our clan is currently sprinting down a path of self-destruction.]

Valasiur stepped closer to Igni Serpang, raising both hands in a non-threatening posture.

[Dragons exist within this world to preserve its fundamental balance. That is precisely why we are revered as mediators and neutrals, and why we were granted such immense power from birth.]

He raised his head, channeling dragon speech through his humanoid vessel.

[Yet the dragons of today have strayed far from that purpose. The Dragon Lord and the clan leaders—those who ought to maintain absolute neutrality above all others—are actively collaborating with entities from external dimensions to eradicate humanity, an integral species of this realm. Attempting to bring about the tyrannical reign of the Demonic Dragon by our own hands is a catastrophic mistake that defies our very origin!]

Valasiur discarded the arrogant demeanor typical of the Red clan, attempting to reason with Igni Serpang using absolute logic and composure.

[Valasiur…]

Igni Serpang shifted his massive gaze toward Valasiur, his brow—wider than a massive hillside—knotting in deep anger.

[To think that you, the chosen successor to lead this clan, would spout such drivel! Why can you not grasp the grand vision! Humans have rotted to their very core. Only by wiping the slate completely clean and allowing life to sprout anew can the true balance of this world be restored!]

He let out a thunderous roar, utterly disregarding Valasiur’s arguments.

“Even if humanity required correction, that task falls upon us alone. Joining forces with invaders from another dimension completely strips dragons of their inherent purpose for existence.”

Bartius chimed in with a cold snort, reinforcing Valasiur’s stance.

[Valasiur, Bartius. It appears that being designated as future leaders and shielded from reality has rotted your minds.]

Igni Serpang released an overwhelming wave of fury as he fully emerged from the cavern depth. His entire massive body was now exposed, generating a suffocating pressure that made oxygen feel scarce.

“Uuuugh…”

“Huuuurp!”

“Aaaagh…”

As Igni Serpang released his unreserved, terrifying aura, Burren, Martha, and Dorian lost their ability to breathe and were forced onto their knees under the sheer weight of the pressure.

“Dammit…”

“Ha! So it comes down to violence in the end.”

Valasiur and Bartius felt their shoulders tremble as they retreated a step, clearly strained under the genuine, full-throated hostility of Igni Serpang.

[Today, I shall instruct you on the insurmountable gap in our strength! As well as the true conviction required to protect this continent!]

Igni Serpang unleashed his ablaze red mana, announcing his intention to discipline Valasiur and Bartius as their elder. Sky Fire Volcano shuddered violently from the sudden release of such monstrous energy, giving rise to a tremor so profound it felt as though the continental plate itself were twisting.

“As expected, words are useless.”

Raon let out a brief sigh, stepping forward with calm composure. He appeared completely unfazed, as though Igni Serpang’s boundless fury could not touch him in the slightest.

“I can tell simply by listening to this debate. You have already crossed the point of no return.”

[A human? How dare a mere human insect address me—]

Just as Igni Serpang let out a dismissive snort and prepared to incinerate them with his dragon breath…

A flash of silent, brilliant blue light split the space.

[Uh…]

Igni Serpang, his breath mid-charge, froze instantly like a stone statue, his massive frame shivering uncontrollably.

[I-Impossible…]

Igni Serpang could not even finish his declaration of disbelief before a clean, horizontal seam opened across his throat, and his colossal head detached, plunging heavily onto the cavern floor. Despite being only his head, its monumental weight shattered the bedrock of the lair, crashing straight into the subterranean pool of boiling lava below.

Igni Serpang’s massive head, severed so cleanly it seemed impossible, began to dissolve as it sank beneath the magma—a substance sharing a hue nearly identical to his own scales.

“You don’t even deserve a moment of reflection.”

Raon gave the Heavenly Drive a casual flick, clearing it before sheathing the blade he had drawn without anyone registering the movement.

“Perish like the trash you are.”