Chapter 1170

Chapter 1170
Chapter 1170

The stretched-out neck of Igni Serpang, now separated from its head, arched like a scythe as it plunged toward the earth. Fortunately, the neck appeared to weigh less than the head, so the lair’s ground did not cave in any deeper.

Raon quietly encased his Heavenly Drive blade within its sheath while observing Igni Serpang’s frame as life slipped away from it.

‘Is this my full power.’

Eager to evaluate his heightened martial mastery, Raon had delivered a blow with his Heavenly Drive at maximum strength precisely as Igni Serpang was preparing to unleash its fire breath. His strength surpassed even his most extreme expectations, resulting in Igni Serpang’s neck being severed before the creature even comprehended what was happening, instantly terminating its life.

As it tumbled into the molten rock, Igni Serpang’s gaze reflected shock, fury, and profound terror. It indicated the dragon only realized its neck had been severed after death had already taken hold of it.

‘Even had Igni Serpang attempted to shield against my blade, its neck still would have been sliced open.’

Now he could perceive it with absolute certainty. Even if Igni Serpang had breathed out its fire breath and cast high-tier magical spells one after another, the outcome would have remained unchanged—death delivered by a single strike.

The capability to slaughter the commander of the Red clan, recognized as the most merciless among dragons—a species deemed the mightiest on land—with a solitary stroke. He felt as though he had finally attained the realm of genuine transcendence.

‘How was that?’

Raon turned toward Wrath with a subtle grin.

‘Appears I’ve developed a bit, just as you predicted, correct?’

-This guy…

Wrath bit his lips in clear astonishment.

-How could you simply blow off the lizard’s head like that!

He roared as though demanding a rationale.

-The head flesh is one of the most exquisite sections, why would you cast it aside!

Wrath ground his teeth, appearing enraged not concerning Raon’s strength but over losing the fresh dragon’s head.

‘…’

Raon let out a sigh as he looked upon Wrath.

‘That glutton truly never changes.’

He whispered that unlike himself who was step-by-step transforming, Wrath had not shifted in the slightest, and shook his head.

-This monarch is already flawless!

Wrath scoffed as he looked down at his own form.

-Unlike you who is still unformed, I possess no requirement to alter!

He gestured with his hand, indicating not to compare himself to Raon.

-Well, even so…

Wrath narrowed his eyes as he gazed at the cleanly decapitated corpse of Igni Serpang, the commander of the Red clan.

-Not terrible at all. It was indisputably a sword stroke that displayed your development.

Although displeased at losing Igni Serpang’s neck, he gave a nod, stating it was swordsmanship impressive enough to cause him to momentarily forget that loss.

‘That’s the ultimate compliment, isn’t it?’

Raon whistled briefly.

‘It implies you took note of my swordsmanship prior to the lizard feast.’

As expected of a demon monarch, Wrath rarely exhibited shock or bewilderment over mundane matters, concentrating exclusively on his grandest fascination—appetite. For such an entity to take note of Raon’s blade before the dragon’s remains signified that Raon had advanced significantly.

-Hmph! Your sword remains nothing extraordinary, so persist in refining it!

Wrath creased his eyes as if instructing Raon not to become arrogant.

-You still haven’t even attained this monarch’s knee!

‘Naturally.’

Raon rested his hand upon the Heavenly Drive and wiped his lips.

‘My drive for development won’t lose even to Greed, so do not stress.’

-The same applies to the Demon Monarch.

Wrath squeezed his fist tightly as though to demonstrate he too possessed intense longings.

-That is, my hunger! Cook that lizard’s corpse right this moment! The molten rock and flame beneath are ideal for it!

‘…’

You’re meant to be the demon monarch of wrath…

—

“What…is…this…?”

Bartius swallowed hard as he analyzed Igni Serpang’s corpse, its life force having departed in an instant.

“What just occurred…”

He hadn’t clearly witnessed or felt it. The precise moment he registered that Raon Zieghart had lifted his weapon, Igni Serpang’s head was already split open and falling.

‘I can’t accept it.’

Igni Serpang was not merely a clan commander, but the monarch of the Red clan, renowned for their passion for combat. Having clashed with countless formidable warriors and gathered immense experience, even preparing to strike first, it was unbelievable that its neck would be sliced open by Raon’s lone strike.

‘This martial power lies beyond understanding.’

Bartius let out a empty chuckle as he noted Raon’s serene composure after slaying the Red clan’s commander.

‘Was Raon Zieghart this formidable?’

The motive behind selecting Raon was not simply due to his martial strength, but because he deemed him reliable through the various affairs that had granted him the title of Sword Emperor. Indeed, Raon had met those expectations by placing faith in him today without requesting anything in return.

Yet the Raon Zieghart he witnessed presently displayed martial strength vastly beyond expectations. He had believed they would need to fight desperately to slay Igni Serpang, yet Raon had managed the Red clan’s commander single-handedly, and with such quickness.

“Ha…”

Valasiur let out a hollow laugh in disbelief.

“Were you always this formidable?”

He blinked repeatedly as though he had foreseen the result but never imagined the progression would happen in this fashion.

“You weren’t at this tier when we clashed previously! Did you hold back back then? Or have you grown stronger since?”

Valasiur’s fingertips shook as he noted the mind-boggling martial power. It appeared to be strength that would instill dread even in dragons belonging to the Red clan, who reveled in battle.

“While you were searching for the Lord’s location, I experienced an unexpected discovery. No, rather than a discovery, I gathered certain insights from existence itself.”

Raon gave a nod as he gazed at Valasiur.

“Naturally, it’s also true that I held back at that time.”

He grinned as though to imply both were accurate.

“It’s only been two months.”

Bartius scowled as he curled his fingers.

“Mortals don’t typically grow stronger at that pace, do they?”

He shook his head, remarking that Raon was vastly distinct from the mortals he knew.

“Raon isn’t a typical mortal.”

Evelyn grinned warmly as she drifted near Raon’s shoulder.

“He evolves with every passing second. It would be wise to watch him attentively right now.”

She grinned casually as though she had anticipated Raon defeating Igni Serpang with ease.

“Wow, I-I’m breathing…”

Dorian let out a heavy sigh as he collapsed to the floor, as if finally regaining his bearings.

“I truly believed I was going to perish… Aaaagh!”

He leaped up abruptly as his trousers ignited from the scorched floor.

“To slay the commander of the Red clan with a solitary stroke…”

Burren roughly brushed back his neat hair, seemingly astonished despite knowing Raon’s martial strength.

“I wonder how far that individual will reach. Does he truly intend to slay the Dragon Lord single-handedly?”

Initially, he believed the assistance of other dragons would be required, but presently it seemed Raon could manage the Dragon Lord by himself.

“Phenomenal!”

Martha struck her palms together as though she could only articulate marvel.

“That’s it! A swordsman ought to always communicate through a single edge!”

She gave a firm nod, seemingly gratified with Raon’s blade that had terminated the rival’s existence with a solitary strike.

“Hmm…”

It was right as Bartius lightly tapped his own cheek to recover his focus. Woooong! With a flare of azure light, three dragons in mortal shape manifested from behind. They were Blue Dragon Sirtiren, White Dragon Bursiarabi, and Black Dragon Dariauran, who had been maintaining the seal from the exterior.

“I assumed something had gone awry when Igni Serpang’s presence vanished in an instant…”

Sirtiren stared open-mouthed as she observed Igni Serpang’s remains.

“It’s dead? Already?”

She turned toward Bartius as if inquiring what had transpired.

“Swordsmanship. Slain with a solitary stroke…”

“Unbelievable. Exquisitely terrifying.”

Dariauran and Bursiarabi swallowed hard, as though detecting Raon’s swordsmanship through Igni Serpang’s remains.

“Bartius.”

Raon called to Bartius with a calm glance, as though he had merely taken a sip of tea.

“Start now.”

He gestured with his chin, directing him to retrieve the key that could connect to the Dragon Lord.

“Understood.”

Bartius nodded and joined his hands. As he recited an enigmatic incantation in the language of dragons, a clear golden key surfaced from Igni Serpang’s lifeless frame. Bartius took hold of the key in his palm and nodded.

“This is the initial key to open the lock leading to the Lord’s realm. Now two remain.”

He placed the golden key within his spirit, stating they could travel to the realm where the Lord was concealed once they eliminated the remaining pair of ancient dragons.

“Then let’s proceed to the next.”

Raon was about to propose they depart immediately when he noticed Valasiur standing motionless. He was quietly watching Igni Serpang’s frame growing cold. Judging by his reactions and their prior dialogue, they seemed to have been closer than anticipated.

“Shall we leave the remains behind?”

Raon lowered his hand, showing he would act as Valasiur desired.

-Wh-what foolishness are you uttering!

Wrath glowered as though Raon had lost his mind.

-Why would you leave that flesh behind! We must cook it right this second!

He seized Raon’s collar, instructing him not to talk foolishness.

“Master Raon, what are you stating! That dragon’s remains possess astronomical value!”

Dorian’s eyes widened dramatically, thrilled for different reasons than Wrath.

“If you wish, I’ll leave the remains right here.”

Disregarding Wrath and Dorian, Raon stretched out his palm toward Valasiur.

“Do as you desire.”

In times past, he would have claimed the remains regardless of Valasiur’s reaction, but present day, having developed an understanding of human bonds and care, he wished to consider the emotions of his comrade Valasiur first.

“No. Take it.”

Valasiur shook his head as though to state it was fine.

“If left here, it would simply vanish back into nature regardless, so it would prove more beneficial if you claimed it and utilized it.”

He spoke like a true mediator, stating it was presently merely a corpse.

-Ooooooh!

“Wowaaaaaah!”

Wrath let out an enthusiastic shout, and Dorian promptly dashed forward alongside him to shove Igni Serpang’s corpse into his pouch.

“Huh?”

“Th-that all fits inside?”

“What manner of spell is that? I’d like to analyze it.”

Even the dragons’ eyes widened in astonishment at the pouch’s unbelievable compression capacity.

‘If this situation resolves properly, the dragons will transform significantly as well.’

Raon offered a subtle grin as he watched Valasiur keeping calm logic despite the demise of a companion dragon he had been close with.

‘Not as “lizards”, that insulting label, but as the dragons of old, deserving of the title “mediators.”‘

—

“Preparations are finished.”

Following the stabilization of the golden key, Bartius drew near Raon.

“Are you certain we can head out right away?”

He gestured with his chin as though to suggest they had time and could leave tomorrow.

“It’s fine. I could battle the Lord right now without any problems.”

Raon grinned, advising him not to stress and recommending they head out.

“I wouldn’t have credited those statements previously, but presently I find them believable.”

Having observed Raon’s martial mastery directly, Bartius offered a faint grin, signaling he had no reservations.

“Then let’s head out right away.”

As he linked his fingers and murmured in dragon language, a golden realm portal expanded ahead of them.

“Proceed inside.”

“Let’s do that.”

Raon calmly nodded and passed through the second realm portal created by Bartius. On this occasion, a chilly breeze swept past the moment they stepped inside the portal.

Unsealing his eyes gradually, he observed a boundless sea and a small landmass adrift in its midpoint. The initial site had been a volcano burning with fires, but the second location was the polar opposite—the midpoint of a vast sea glowing with emerald light.

“This is the lair of Azgoros, the commander of the Blue clan.”

Bartius lifted his shoulders slightly, as though inquiring if they could view the lair of Azgoros, the commander of the Blue Clan.

“Ah, I don’t spot it?”

Dorian blinked his eyes as though he had no clue.

“A lair? That landmass appears excessively small?”

Martha narrowed her eyes as she gazed at the landmass in the midpoint of the sea.

“The ocean. I’ve gathered that the Blue clan frequently constructs their lairs beneath the water.”

Burren nodded, stating the lair was without question beneath the water.

“That’s correct!”

Blue Dragon Sirtiren nodded as she gazed at Burren.

“The Blue clan’s lairs are underwater, rendering them challenging to breach. Furthermore…”

She grinned brightly as she gazed down at the ocean.

“Azgoros is a remarkably guarded dragon who keeps numerous sea beasts protecting his lair. He’s trained them to strike everyone aside from himself.”

Sirtiren licked her lips, stating they wouldn’t be able to slip into Azgoros’s lair silently.

“In addition to that…”

Just as she was preparing to proceed with extra clarification.

“There are additional Blue dragons as well.”

Raon narrowed his eyes as he inspected beneath the ocean.

“You actually detected that? I wouldn’t have recognized it if I hadn’t been informed beforehand.”

Sirtiren let out an empty chuckle in disbelief.

“My perception is quite sharp right now.”

Raon lifted his shoulders, stating it was merely perception.

“If you possess that sort of perception twice, you’d uncover all the secrets of the realm.”

Sirtiren blinked and gestured with her hand.

“Regardless, that’s accurate. Azgoros recently gathered the full-grown dragons of the Blue clan to safeguard the surroundings for his security. They’re considerably formidable, so it’s impossible to slip in without being noticed.”

She knitted her brows, stating they could hinder Azgoros from fleeing or reaching the exterior, but a clash would break out inside.

“That’s fine.”

Despite listening to Sirtiren’s words, Raon nodded as though the current circumstances were advantageous.

“The dragons down there…”

Raon pointed toward the bed of the ocean with his finger and gave a broad grin.

“You’ll manage them. If you cannot, consider yourselves deceased.”

He gestured with his chin, giving the command for Burren, Martha, and Dorian to hunt down the dragons.

“What…?”

Dorian’s jaw dropped as he witnessed Raon’s harsh grin.

“It’s not merely considering being deceased, we’ll actually perish! This is entirely water here!”