It was quiet. Even though the great training ground was brimming with people, it was completely silent.
Raon calmly lowered his gaze. Even though the arena was made of flourite, which was supposed to be an extremely hard rock, a huge rectangular hole was created on it.
The shape was the same as Heavenly Drive. It was the power of the Azure Sky Swordâs first technique, the Great Bind of the Heavy Sky.
âI think Iâm starting to understand what it means to incorporate heaven.â
It was so powerful even though it wasnât as perfect as Glennâs demonstration. The result was shocking even though he was focused on heaviness.
âBut the aura consumption is huge.â
Because of his lack of proficiency, the aura consumption was the worst. He was so exhausted that his head felt dizzy, but he didnât show it on his face and walked towards the hole heâd created.
Ayad was stuck like a worm under in hole that was completely dark because of how deep it was.
âKuhâŠâ
He raised his distorted gaze while groaning like he was about to die.
âYou look comfortable in there.â
Raon looked down on Ayad coldly.
âI bet you couldnât scream even if you wanted to.â
Ayadâs bones were shattered all around his body, his muscles were ruptured, and his energy center was destroyed.
He mustâve been feeling pain worse than death, and he couldnât scream even if he wanted to.
âIs it painful?â
Raon rolled his lips into a smile while looking at Ayadâs face, full of veins because of the intense pain.
âIt mustâve been even more painful and lonely for the ones you abandoned.â
The swordsmen whoâd entered the White Lotus division mustâve trusted Ayad and wielded their swords to bring honor to the house.
However, Ayad simply used their resolve and loyalty as a foothold to gain achievements, only to throw them away without hesitation after using them.
Heâd sent the swordsmen to their graves in order to recruit new ones that would be more useful to him. It was an unforgivable action.
âK-kill me.â
Ayad barely managed to open his mouth. His voice was ruined, but Raon could understand what he was saying.
âDeath is a luxury for you.â
Raonâs frightening voice was devoid of any emotions.
âIâll never let you die until you feel the pain and fear even worse than the swordsmen who were abandoned by you who ended up dying.â
He was actually fully capable of killing Ayad when heâd used the Great Bind of the Heavy Sky.
Since it was a sword duel, and Ayadâs reputation was at rock bottom, he wouldnât have been punished for it even if heâd killed him.
However, Raon let Ayad live on purpose. He wanted to make him feel pain even worse than death.
He wanted him to live a life of vanity and pain, without his powerful might or even his fame and position.
âHuuâŠâ
Raon bit his lip while watching Ayadâs body tremble in terror.
âThis reminds me of the past.â
His previous life was a neverending nightmare. He was kidnapped by Derusâs subordinates and lived as an assassin for his entire life, only to eventually be boiled inside a pot.
Since he felt like his dark previous life was similar to the lives of the swordsmen whoâd been killed by Ayad, his wrath was merciless.
âJust you wait, Derus Robert. Iâll take everything away from you just like himâno, even worse than him.â
âPl-pleaseâŠâ
âI wish you a long life.â
Raon smiled cheerfully at Ayad who was pleading for Raon to kill him before he turned away.
Good job!
Wrath jumped like a frog.
People like him, who use their subordinates as their foothold when they should cherish them, deserve pain even worse than death!
He swung his round fist while looking back at the hole where Ayad was.
If the King of Essence were here, he wouldâve pierced his body with tens of thousands of ice needles before freezing him, only to leave him for ten thousand years at least.
âThatâs a bit scaryâŠâ
Raon broke out in cold sweat because it sounded like a pain that even he couldnât withstand despite having been an assassin.
Anyway, are you going to prepare the bead ice cream buffet for the King of Essence now, since itâs all over?
Wrath asked the question with a flushed expression on his face. He mustâve been waiting for that moment.
âWait a bit longer. I still have something to do.â
Raon waved his hand at the master of ceremonies, who had fallen on his ass and was staring at him blankly.
âItâs over now.â
âHuh? Ah!â
The master of ceremonies briskly stood up while blinking rapidly. He ran towards the hole that used to be the arena and confirmed Ayadâs state before he raised his hand.
âR-Raon Zieghart is the winner of the sword duel!â
His hoarse voice echoed throughout the great training ground, and the spectators returned to their senses one after the other.
âAhâŠâ
âI-itâs Raon! Raon is the winner!â
âIt wasnât a simple victory. It was an overwhelming one!â
âWhat the hell is that trace? Can it even be called a trace at that point?â
âI thought it was over when Ayadâs astral energy covered the sky, but what was that techniqueâŠ?â
âW-was that really a battle between humans? It almost feels like heâs a different species from us.â
The warriors swallowed nervously while thinking about the last clash between Raon and Ayad.
âRaon.â
âGood job, Raon!â
âHmph! Thatâs the least I ask from the Light Wind vice division leader.â
âBy the way, what have you learned this time?â
âOur vice division leader is so crazy!â
âIâll be buried under the ground if I disobey him in the futureâŠâ
The Light Wind swordsmenâincluding Runaan, Burren, and Marthaâwaved their hands at him with smiles on their faces. Their expressions showed that theyâd been believing in him all along.
âWhoaaa!â
âRaon! Raon! Raon!â
âWhite Sword Dragon! White Sword Dragon!â
âThank you for messing Ayad up! It felt so great to watch!â
âIt was so wild! Iâm afraid Iâll never see anything like this ever again!â
The spectators started shouting Raonâs name after the Light Wind swordsmen.
It felt like the entire training ground was cheering for Raon because Ayadâs reputation was so bad.
Raon looked around the spectators while listening to their cheers, which were at least twice as loud as when heâd made his entrance.
âRaon!â
âYoung master!â
âYou did really well!â
Raon looked in the White Lotus divisionâs direction while listening to the teary voices of Sylvia and the maids.
The higher members, who seemed to be the vice division leader and the team leaders, were scowling, but the common swordsmen behind them were biting their lips with their hands gathered in prayer.
It looked like Ayadâs shadow oppressing their shoulders was finally gone.
Raon smiled gently at the swordsmen whoâd obtained the freedom that heâd desired so much in his previous life.
âI hope you make the correct choice next time.â
* * *
* * *
âTh-thatâs!â
Balder briskly stood up, destroying his chair in the process.
âHow can a mere Master incorporate his will into his martial artâŠ?â
His chin trembled violently in disbelief as he watched Raon.
âThis is impossible!â
Incorporating the swordsmanâs will in their sword was only possible after becoming a Grandmaster.
He couldnât believe that a novice who hadnât even reached the Grandmasterâs wall had managed to incorporate his will into his sword.
âHmm.â
Karoonâs quiet groan also sounded like he was panicking.
âIt looks like that technique is an extremely advanced one by itself. But no matter how excellent it is, how could a Master use such a thingâŠ?â
He was also chewing his lips while glaring at Raon in disbelief.
ââŠâŠâ
Denier stared at Raon with a pale face, unlike the other times. He almost looked like he was wearing a mask.
âThatâs crazyâŠâ
âThe White Lotus division leader was single-handedly defeatedâŠâ
âAm I really supposed to believe that heâs just a child who is turning twenty-one years old soon?â
âEven among the division leaders, he is one of the strongest. No, I think that no one else will be able to win against him except for the Void Sword division leader.â
âWhat the hell? I know he is of our lordâs bloodline, but isnât this just too much?â
âWhy is he even a vice division leader? I think heâs stronger than Rimmer.â
âA sword of willâŠâ
The division leaders and the squad leadersâ faces turned pale. Their widened eyes looked like they were about to pop out because they were aware that Raon was powerful, but they had never expected him to be that powerful.
âHahahaha!â
Serena broke into loud laughter.
âSo thatâs your answer. I see. I was going too easy on him.â
She nodded in acknowledgment as she watched Raon, who was standing confidently on the training ground.
âAmazing.â
Roenn licked his dry lips. He seemed to be impressed from the bottom of his heart.
âThe White Lotus division leaderâs last attack was so powerful that anyone less than Grandmasters wouldâve been unable to defend against it, but he cut it down perfectly.â
âI was also surprised this time.â
Sheryl gasped while blinking her eyes, which were as wide as a billiard ball.
âHe has far surpassed my expectations of his talent. We might not even need to attack the South-North Union at this rate.â
She shook her head, saying that it really looked like Raon might become a Grandmaster before twenty-two years old.
âAhem.â
Glenn released the muscles that were suppressing his lips upon hearing the compliments of his vassals and the shouts of the spectators. The corners of his lips soared high enough to pierce through the ceiling and reach the sky.
âYou managed to do it.â
Raon hadnât managed to achieve the Great Bind of the Heavy Sky until the last lesson that was carried out the previous night.
Glenn was thinking that he was forcing him too much, but Raon had displayed the beginning of the Azure Sky Sword in that important scene.
âIâm so proud of you!â
His heart pounded upon witnessing the way his cherished grandson had punished the sinner of the house with the swordsmanship that heâd personally taught him.
He wanted to shout Raonâs name just like the spectators, but he clenched his fists and barely managed to suppress his urge.
âHaha.â
âHuhuhu.â
Sheryl and Roenn smiled while looking at the bright smile on Glennâs face when a cheerful wind blew from the edge of the executivesâ stand.
âI donât know who taught him, but heâs such a great fighter.â
It was Rimmer. He came up to the executivesâ stand while fiddling with his sleeve.
âDonât you agree? Do you know who his teacher is?â
âErm⊠Isnât it you, Sir Rimmer?â
The squad leader at the front pointed at Rimmer.
âThatâs right! So you knew about it!â
Rimmer clapped his hands and nodded his head.
âHe became such a monster because the great me was his teacher! It wouldnât have happened if it were anyone else!â
He shouted and claimed that it was all thanks to his teachings and training that Raon became that powerful.
âUghâŠâ
Glenn bit his lip. The urge to smash the head of the elf that was shouting that Raon was his disciple and declare that it was himself whoâd taught him the technique heâd used was welling up like a tide.
âHaaâŠâ
Sheryl sighed and went down from the platform.
âSeriously, youâŠâ
âBy the way.â
When she was about to stop Rimmer, his voice became serious.
âIt looked like some rat gave something to Ayad.â
His cold gaze skimmed through the executivesâ stand.
âI previously visited Ayadâs hospital room to make fun of him, but he wasnât that powerful back then. The realm was the same, but that much output was impossible for him. It looks like someone played a trick, huh?â
âHmmâŠâ
Sheryl lowered her hand and closed her mouth.
âThatâs indeed true.â
She could understand because she was the one in charge of Ayadâs investigation. He was completely different from a month ago.
It wasnât just the amount of his aura. He was using an impossible amount of aura, almost like heâd learned some special technique.
Sheâd forgotten about it because of Raonâs victory, but it was definitely strange.
âAre you suspecting us right now?â
Karoon glared at Rimmer with a fully irritated gaze.
âSomeone like you isnât allowed in here. Stop talking shit and scram.â
âItâs too bad for you, but Iâm also an executive.â
Rimmer pointed at the emblem on his chest with the division leaderâs mark on it. The mark was even more visible thanks to his wrinkled clothes.
âYou love talking nonsense like always.â
Balder frowned while glaring at Rimmer.
âWhat can you even tell with your shabby skills?â
âWoof woof!â
Rimmer smiled like a fool while barking like a dog.
âYou!â
âYou damned bastardâŠâ
âAh, I haven't finished talking yet.â
He shook his hand towards Karoon and Balder before walking towards the center of the platform.
âHmmâŠâ
Rimmer rolled his lips into a smile while looking up at the executives.
âWell, it doesnât really matter whether they gave Ayad some elixir or some martial art. I donât know who did it, but Iâd like to thank them for their useless efforts. Thank you for the money!â
He shook his gambling ticket between his fingers while climbing to the highest platform.
âWhat do you think, my lord?â
Glenn looked below the platform while listening to Rimmer. The executives swallowed nervously with trembling shoulders upon facing his frightening gaze tightening their hearts.
âYou have a point. They are free to help him. HoweverâŠâ
He slowly lowered his gaze and looked at Raon.
âIt was pointless in the end. They even wasted their Blue Spirit Elixir and Hundred Potentials Sword Art. It mustâve been a huge waste, whoever that was.â
Glenn sneered. He had already noticed what Ayad had obtained.
âI know, right? I get to make money and even make fun of that idiot. This is catching two birds with oneââ
âShut up!â
Sheryl smacked Rimmerâs head, and he finally stopped laughing.
âMy lord, I believe itâs time to wrap it up.â
Roenn smiled faintly and bowed to Glenn.
âIndeed.â
Glenn nodded and stood up from the highest seat before walking to the edge of the platform.
âThe Light Wind vice division leader, Raon Zieghart, is the winner of todayâs sword duel.â
âOooooh!â
âWhoaaaa!â
âRaon! Raon! Raon!â
People shouted their heads off from all over the training ground upon hearing their head of houseâs declaration. It wasnât just the warriors. Even the servants and the executives were shouting Raonâs name.
âThe conditions that Raon Zieghart has set for this sword duel will be disclosed.â
The conditions that the participants set for each other during a sword duel were usually revealed after the match was decided. The spectators stopped their cheers and fixated their gazes on Glennâs mouth.
âRaon Zieghart wanted the White Lotus division leader, Ayad, to be banished from the White Lotus division to protect the swordsmen whoâve confessed the fact that heâs been using and sacrificing the White Lotus swordsmen for his personal benefit.â
âWowâŠâ
âW-was that really his condition?â
âWhich means he wasnât trying to take revenge for disturbing him during the mission, butâŠâ
âYes. He started the sword duel to protect the White Lotus swordsmen.â
âHuh, even his personality is on a whole different level, on top of his might.â
Since it was a serious matter, the rumors about what Ayad had been doing to the White Lotus division were already widespread. The sword duelâs condition was still not revealed, and people dropped their jaws upon learning about Raonâs caring heart as he tried to protect the White Lotus division.
âAccording to the winnerâs condition, Ayad will be forever banished from the White Lotus division. Moreover, the Heavenly Blade division leaderâs investigation revealed that multiple swordsmen had been sacrificed by Ayad. Therefore, he will be sentenced to life imprisonment.â
âWhoaaa!â
The spectators cheered loudly once again upon hearing Glennâs declaration.
âKuhâŠâ
Ayad couldnât withstand the mental shock added to his physical damage and fell unconscious, his eyes rolled back.
âRaon Zieghart.â
Raon shook off the blood flowing from his forehead and stood in front of Glenn.
âGood job.â
The direct lines looked at Glenn upon hearing that. All of them seemed surprised because it was the first time he was showing so much attention to the winner of a sword duel.
âThank you.â
Raon bowed to Glenn before he turned around. He thanked the people whoâd been cheering for him by bowing to them as well.
âWhoaaa!â
âWhite Sword Dragon! You are the best!â
âIâll be looking forward to your future!â
âThank you, Sir Raon!â
âKeep rising higher!â
The warriors waved their hands while shouting their heads off. Raonâs heart pounded upon seeing that most people in that place were yelling his name.
âThis feels different every single time.â
He felt like his whole body was heated up whenever people cheered for him while calling his name. It mustâve been because neither his face nor his name could be known in his previous life.
Itâs over now, right?
Wrath smiled while tapping on his shoulder.
Itâs time to keep your promise! Go to the ice cream shop right now and buy everything they have!
âI know.â
Raon nodded. Since Wrath had been holding it back for an entire month, he was planning to keep his promise to prepare a bead ice cream buffet no matter what.
Letâs go right now!
Raon nodded and was about to leave the great training ground when he spotted him.
âHuhâŠ?â
There was a middle-aged man who was waving his hand at him while crying. His face was familiar.
âLook! He is a regular at our shop! Sir Raon! You were really cool!â
The middle-aged man with a noticeable mustache was the manager of the bead ice cream shop.
Ehh?
Wrath also recognized him and his jaw dropped.
Why is Mustache even here?! Why are you away from your shop?!
His head trembled violently from the unforeseen problem.
âWoah! Todayâs drink is on me! Follow me!â
The bead ice cream shopâs manager and his companions put their arms around each otherâs shoulders as they went to have a drink.
God damn it! Hey! Why are you leaving your shop?!
Wrathâs body, which was normally like blue cotton candy, became a red strawberry-flavored one.
âHmm, I donât think it will be possible todayâŠâ
Bullshit! Catch Mustache right now! Drag him to the shop and force him to open it!
âI canât really do that.â
It was the managerâs decision to close the shop and take a day off. It was impossible to force him to open.
Why are you doing this to me?! How can this world do this to the King of Essence? Heâs been living a life of virtue!
Wrath pointed his finger at the sky while saying that his life was virtuous despite being a demon king.
There must be a faction thatâs trying to sabotage the King of Essenâ
While he was writhing while screaming, messages appeared in front of Raonâs eyes.
[Youâve achieved an overwhelming victory against a stronger opponent.]
[All statsâŠ]
[The traitâŠ]
Wrath dropped his hand from above upon seeing those messages.
This is driving him nuts!
This đŹontent is taken from f(r)eeweb(n)ovel.đđđą