Burren swallowed nervously as he watched the meteor shower of bloody energy.
'He really destroyed that…'
He couldn't even move a single finger when the sun disappeared and the sorcery array revealed itself. He was overwhelmed by the huge scale of the bloody energy covering the entirety of Grand Seville, and swallowing nervously was the only thing he could do.
The same went for the others. Even Runaan was visibly breaking out in a cold sweat, despite the fact that she usually looked like she was incapable of feeling panic.
While every member of the Light Wind squad was staring at it nervously with trembling hands, Raon's aura message could be heard.
[You look like chickens.]
Hearing his vulgar voice in the serious situation made a vein bulge on his forehead.
[I didn't teach you to become such weaklings.]
His cold voice reminded him of the training he had to go through. The tag game of death, sleepless spars, training camps aimed to destroy his humanity, and more. Just thinking about those hellish times was enough to send a chill down his spine.
'He's right. We can't die to sorcery like that now, after coming all the way here.'
Burren grasped his sword tightly. Because he'd already experienced true hell before, his fighting spirit returned to him.
"I can't die before punching that shithead."
"Yes, we are definitely going to smack him real good."
"Let's survive."
"This is nothing compared to that bastard's training."
The other Light Wind members also braced themselves and glared at the sorcery array. Their eyes weren't reflecting fear anymore, but their confidence in overcoming the situation.
[I like those eyes.]
Raon nodded in satisfaction, without even looking at them.
[Don't worry about the sorcery array, because I'm going to destroy that one. You should focus on your task.]
And Raon ended up destroying the sorcery array on his own, just like he promised, and even managed to stab the seventh apostle.
Burren and the Light Wind squad clenched their fists as they watched Raon.
The man, who once used to be nothing but a fellow trainee, had become their companion at some point and was now standing in front of them. They prayed for his victory as they watched his back.
* * *
Raon narrowed his eyes while looking at the injury he left on the seventh apostle.
'It could've been better. It wasn't deep enough.'
The seventh apostle managed to avoid a fatal injury by bending himself backward the moment the Blade of Requiem was thrust at him. He even lowered his posture after that while stopping the bleeding on his chest to prepare against the next attack.
'So, he isn't going out of control.'
He was agitated for sure, but he still remained reasonable. He must've learned from the previous fight that losing his mind would lead to his loss.
"I have to confess."
The seventh apostle nodded while pressing on his wound to stop the bleeding. He must've been feeling extreme pain because of the ghastly energy even if he managed to stop the bleeding, but he wasn't really showing it on the outside.
"I didn't expect you to stab me like this. This is rather original."
"Are you a professional confessor or something? Why do you keep admitting to things no one cares about?"
Raon snorted and twirled Heavenly Drive.
"I don't need your acknowledgement. I just want your head."
He caught his breath and crossed his arms while holding the two swords.
'I should finish him off quickly.'
He was trying to pretend he didn't, but he had to spend a lot of aura to destroy the Surreal Blood Manifestation Array. Raon decided to quickly finish him off without delay.
"You are just an insect…"
The seventh apostle frowned heavily as he raised his saw sword towards him. Raon's mockery was apparently more irritating than the blow he took. The bloody energy burst from the saw sword was threatening enough to make his hair stand on end.
Thud!
Raon violently kicked the ground. He used the Supreme Harmony's Second Step to charge at the seventh apostle from the front like lightning.
"You bastard!"
He must've thought Raon was underestimating him because he was attacking from the front like that. He swung his saw sword.
Whoosh!
The deadly blade, surrounded by powerful bloody energy, reached right in front of Raon's eyes. It was fast, heavy, and sharp at the same time.
'Even his technique has changed.'
He hadn't only become more powerful. He had even learned a new swordsmanship of the highest grade.
Thud!
Raon turned his left foot slightly to step forward. His smooth step made it look like he was walking on water as he brushed the atmosphere with Star Connecting Sword.
Clang!
The silver blade, incorporating icy cold energy, flowed like a constellation to block the seventh apostle's saw sword.
Raon leaned forward. It was time to attack, since he managed to defend. He grabbed the Blade of Requiem lightly to use the Flame Spirit.
The yellow and red flower petals blooming from the short blade turned into a sharp storm to engulf the seventh apostle.
"I've also seen this one before."
The seventh apostle stepped back softly. He spun the saw sword like a windmill to create a barrier of bloody energy.
"It will be different from back then."
As soon as Raon's voice could be heard, the movements of flower petals changed. The pieces of flames advanced like living organisms to explode their raging heat in front of the seventh apostle's vital points.
Whaaam!
The seventh apostle's bloody barrier faltered violently from the consecutive blasts.
"Kuh, this power…"
"You aren't the only one who got stronger."
Raon jerked his chin and raised his lips into a smile.
"You are going to die before you try anything if you keep believing that you are still ahead of me."
"What?"
"You were weaker than me in the past, and you are still weaker than me right now. Stop blabbering and die."
The seventh apostle's trembling chin almost looked anxious upon hearing Raon's confident declaration.
"You arrogant bastard!"
He screamed and charged at Raon. His explosive power came from a fit of rage, but his attacks became even sharper than before. He'd managed to strengthen his attacks without losing his reason.
Clang!
Raon held the Blade of Requiem in a reverse grip to block the seventh apostle's strike, which was charging at him like a wild boar. The all-out blow was powerful enough to numb his shoulder and arm, and the impact even managed to reach his stomach.
"You little worm! I'll crush you right away, so you won't be able to hold a sword ever again!"
The seventh apostle must've predicted that Raon would block his strike, since he immediately turned his wrist to follow up with a second strike.
Whap!
The bloody energy on the saw sword expanded three times in an instant to crush Raon's body. It seemed to be a special technique with maximized weight and power—to the detriment of sharpness.
'It's powerful for sure.'
The seventh apostle's strike was as powerful as that of an advanced level Master. However, he didn't actually reach the advanced level. He was only an intermediate at best.
'In that case… I have the upper hand.'
He couldn't catch up to his level, but he was more than capable of catching up in terms of power, speed, and aura.
"Haa."
Raon exhaled the impure energy in his lungs and resonated the Ring of Fire as fast as he could.
Cring!
The falling saw sword of the seventh apostle became slower, and the flow of power became visible.
'His proficiency isn't that high.'
He polished his focus to find the opening in the seventh apostle's downward strike. He could feel the weakness around the sword's tip in the midst of the raging bloody energy.
Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation, Hundred Flames.
Crimson Slash.
A line of raging fire dashed over Heavenly Drive's blade like a ray of light to smack the saw sword's tip.
Clang!
The saw sword was violently bounced back despite the tremendous power it contained.
"H-How dare you?!"
The seventh apostle tried to slip away like a loach, and Raon used the Supreme Harmony Steps. He folded the space to catch up to him and swung down with the Blade of Requiem, aiming for his shoulder.
Crack!
The seventh apostle's collarbone was torn apart, and impure blood gushed out like a fountain.
"Kuaah!"
He grasped his shoulder and screamed in pain while stepping back.
"H-How did you manage to shatter the Demon's Heavy Blood Art?"
"..."
Raon didn't respond, instead using the Supreme Harmony Steps once again. His advance looked like he was riding the tide as he pierced into his left side.
"Get away!"
As expected of a Master level warrior, the seventh apostle quickly stopped his panic and swung his saw sword. His strike was almost as powerful as the previous one.
'I knew he would put up this much resistance.'
Raon didn't withdraw. He used the Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation to create a sphere on top of the Blade of Requiem, which he was holding in a reverse grip.
Cring!
It was Firewall of the Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation. The raging heat emerged like a shield to fend off the seventh apostle's saw sword. Raon followed up with Heavenly Drive, brimming with Glacier's coldness.
Claang!
The saw sword was trembling violently in between the two swords, and it looked like it could break at any moment.
Pssh!
Blood gushed from the injuries on the seventh apostle's chest and shoulder, which he'd barely managed to stop from bleeding earlier.
"Argh!"
Raon pushed the seventh apostle back by adding in all his physical strength on top of the Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation and Glacier.
Rumble!
The land collapsed from the overwhelming power and the seventh apostle fell.
Are you not going to do what you usually do?
Wrath narrowed his eyes while looking at the crumbled land.
'What do I usually do?'
You know, that dirty trick where you steal the opponent's techniques while making fun of them.
'I don't need anything from him.'
Raon shook his head and followed the seventh apostle down the hole.
There was a huge cavern below, and countless corpses were spread around in the outer part. The floor was brimming with traces of dried blood.
'Because they aren't even worth learning.'
The cavern must've been used by the seventh apostle and Tius to gather their bloody energy by killing people. He didn't want a technique from scum like him. He was planning to finish him off after overwhelming him enough to make him afraid.
"You little insect…"
The seventh apostle ground his teeth violently and held the saw sword with both hands. He almost looked like he had become one with his sword as the extremely sharp bloody energy soared to no end.
Raon's flame was small in comparison, but intensified even further as he kicked off the blood-covered ground to strike him.
Wham!
The seventh apostle bit his lip while blocking Raon's blows with difficulty.
'Why is this happening? Just why!'
'Why can't I win against this bastard when I'm close to reaching the advanced level of Master?!'
'Why is it so difficult to block the sword of a mere novice?'
Even though his stage was higher, and the amount of his bloody energy was much higher than Raon's, the impact reverberated throughout his organs each time he blocked his strikes. Moreover, he was rapidly losing the bloody energy from his body because his wounds, which he had barely managed to stop from bleeding, opened up again.
'How is this even possible?'
The stage and amount of aura were the most important factors when it came to a duel between warriors. It was rare for a warrior at a lower stage to win against one at a higher stage, no matter how great their skills were.
However, Raon Zieghart's blade was reaching him, just like in the past. And his blade had become even sharper and more powerful than before.
He couldn't understand how that was even possible.
"Uryaaaa!"
The seventh apostle screamed, exploding all of his remaining bloody energy. He clad himself with that powerful energy to unleash the special technique of the Celestial Blood Art, Blood Spirit Flash that he'd learned from the religious leader.
Swaaa!
Two sparks could be seen between his all-out strike. The blue and red lights told him that Raon's attacks contained coldness and heat.
Claang!
The slash coming from the two swords mowed down the Blood Spirit Slash, and the seventh apostle was bounced back into the wall.
"Kuh…"
The seventh apostle's chin was trembling as he looked at the bloody rubble falling towards him.
'Even the Blood Spirit Slash lost against him…'
The Blood Spirit Slash was the Celestial Blood Art's most powerful technique. The loss of Blood Spirit Slash implied that it was impossible for him to win in terms of power.
Step.
He raised his head upon hearing a footstep weighing down on the sticky ground. Raon Zieghart was walking towards him with a frightening gaze.
"Ugh…"
That bastard was nothing but an insect that he believed he could easily crush to death, yet he looked like a giant. Not only did he look even taller than himself, but he also seemed like he was huge enough to fill the whole cavern.
'I-Is this fear? Am I afraid of him?'
That wasn't allowed to happen. Since he was the Blood God's apostle and a disciple of the Blood Religion's leader, he was never allowed to be afraid of an insect like him.
'I need a way! But how?'
The seventh apostle's eyes rolled, and he noticed the blood filling the cracks on the floor and the walls.
'Ah!'
The seventh apostle secretly nodded.
'I can do it. I can kill him!'
The cavern was where they activated the Surreal Blood Manifestation Array and replenished the bloody energy. The bloody energy that flew out from the array was gathering back in that place, and he figured he would be able to kill Raon by absorbing it.
"Huff!"
The seventh apostle maximized his footwork to move aside. He unleashed the White Spirit Aura at the same time to absorb the bloody energy gathering inside the cavern.
'Alright, it should be possible.'
Even though he had only cultivated for a short time, he managed to gather a significant amount of bloody energy. He figured he just needed to buy a small amount of time to gather enough bloody energy to recover from his injuries and kill Raon.
'I need to focus on footwork as much as possible.'
He looked aside in order to run away from Raon, but he wasn't chasing him—instead, he slammed his possessed dagger into the ground.
"What are you doing…huh?"
The seventh apostle's jaw dropped. The bloody energy that was gathering towards him split into two, and half of it was now flowing towards Raon.
Whir!
The dagger's ghastly energy was increasing as it devoured the bloody energy.
"Kuh! That's mine! Why are you absorbing the bloody energy?"
"This isn't bloody energy. It's the resentment of the people that you've killed."
A cold light shone from Raon's eyes as he pulled the dagger from the ground.
"Those people…"
The clusters of bloody energy gushed into the air. Raon could be seen lifting his two blades through the bloody fog.
"…Are asking me to make you experience hell before you die."
* * *
Raon tightened his grip as he felt the powerful energy transferred from the Blade of Requiem.
Whir!
A painful sword resonance could be heard from the Blade of Requiem. It was telling him that the original owners of the bloody energy, the vengeful spirits of the people who were killed by the seventh apostle, craved vengeance.
There was more bloody energy gathering towards the Blade of Requiem than the seventh apostle, as if they were trying to prove it and give him a tremendous amount of power.
'I shall grant their request.'
Raon lowered his posture and charged towards the seventh apostle.
Wham!
The Blade of Requiem, wrapped in the Fangs of Insanity's principles, clashed against the seventh apostle's saw sword. The power of resentment and desperation in the small dagger single-handedly pushed the saw sword back. The frightening amount of ghastly energy crushed the bloody energy.
"Kuh! It's just the power of weaklings!"
"You are the weakling here."
Raon held his breath and pulled Heavenly Drive backwards. The flame dragon descended upon the silver blade and opened its jaw. Once its yellow eyes sparkled, a raging breath was unleashed.
Swaaa!
Multiple veins became visible on the seventh apostle's face as he witnessed the tremendous power of the Flame Dragon Art.
Rumble!
He was fending off the Blade of Requiem and Heavenly Drive at the same time by the explosive power of bloody energy, but the hand holding his saw sword was visibly trembling, showing that he was reaching his limits.
Cring!
Raon leaned forward to add more power to his swords. The blue and red energies pushed the seventh apostle back like a great mountain.
Thud!
The seventh apostle's legs slammed into the bloody floor, and his body faltered like a paper doll.
"Kuh…"
"The people you've killed couldn't even put up a resistance."
Raon's eyes were burning like a flame as he looked down on the seventh apostle.
"I'll trample you to death like one of the insects you like so much."
Raon stomped the ground to advance even further. He used the ghastly energy transferred from the Blade of Requiem to amplify the Ring of Fire, the Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation, and Glacier.
"Uaaaah!"
The seventh apostle screamed desperately and struggled for the last time, but Raon ignored his efforts and gathered all of the power he could muster to crush the seventh apostle.
Creak!
The intensified pressure created a white crack on the saw sword.
Clang!
There was only one fissure at first, but the number increased exponentially and shattered the saw sword into pieces. The seventh apostle's astonishment could be seen in his eyes between the fluttering pieces of the saw sword.
"It's over."
"Daaaamn iiiit!"
Raon lifted the Blade of Requiem and Heavenly Driver to behead the seventh apostle as he screamed.
Whoosh!
A frightening energy charged at him like lightning from behind. Someone's hand was stretching towards him at a speed far surpassing a Master's. Raon twisted his waist and thrust Heavenly Drive behind him.
Raon Zieghart style swordplay.
Second form, Reversed Heavenly Heavy Cannon.
The Heavenly Heavy Cannon with maximized repelling force instead of force of attraction fended off the person who charged at him from behind.
"Kuh!"
The seventh apostle didn't miss the opportunity and tried to run away.
'I can't let him escape.'
Raon grit his teeth. He endured the burning pain of his mana circuits and slashed down with the Blade of Requiem on his left hand.
"Fuck off already!"
The seventh apostle swung his shattered saw sword. He was trying to buy time for the one behind Raon to approach by blocking the Blade of Requiem.
Cring!
As the saw sword rose towards him from below, blue light sparked in Raon's eyes.
Raon Zieghart style swordplay.
Third form, Sword's Silvery Dream.
A blue aurora brushed past them like a dream, and the Blade of Requiem was thrust into the seventh apostle's neck.
Whack!
Raon turned to look at the new challenger and twisted his lips.
"You won't get me a second time."