Glenn looked up at the darkened window, biting his lip. He rarely showed such deep emotions as he placed his hand on the hilt of Heavenly Tremor.
'Orgoth and the Light Wind division….'
Chad had mentioned that Orgoth of the Black Tower and the Light Wind division would clash, but that wasn't accurate.
If they encountered Orgoth, not a single member of the Light Wind division would survive.
Although Orgoth wasn't a leader among the Six Kings and the Five Demons, he was still a Transcendent Warrior who had reached the heavens with his power.
Even with Raon, Rimmer, and Sheryl together, it would be difficult to hold out. With just Raon and the Light Wind division, it was impossible.
'Assuming they won't meet is meaningless.'
Orgoth was targeting Raon. With his level of skill, he would find the Light Wind division even if they tried to hide or flee upon noticing the anomaly in Cameloon.
'Using that ring might be difficult.'
The ring of Chamber, the prize of the duel tournament in Owen Kingdom. If Raon used that ring in time, he might escape this crisis.
However, the ring's power was so immense that it required not only his mana but also Chamber's mana. Given that she was currently fighting the Black Tower Master, she wouldn't have that luxury.
Buzzz!
Glenn's fingers trembled as he tapped the hilt of Heavenly Tremor. As if understanding its master's anxiety, the sword hummed softly.
'Is there no way to arrive on time?'
Given the timeframe Chad had mentioned, it was impossible to arrive at the location before Orgoth and the Light Wind division clashed unless the dimensional gate in Cameloon was restored.
Hoo.
Glenn exhaled a cloudy breath, closing his eyes.
Raon's awkward gaze and sometimes startled expression came to mind.
When the faces of Burren, Martha, Runaan, and the other children overlapped in his mind, his heart tightened as if bound by chains.
'Even if it's too late, still….'
I will go.
Thinking alone here won't yield any answers.
Even if it means expending all my energy, it is right to run to Raon and the Light Wind division.
"Shadow Agents' Leader, where is the nearest dimensional gate?"
Having made up his mind, Glenn removed his hand from Heavenly Tremor.
"There is a small city called Dior southwest of Cameloon. It's closer than Owen or Balkar," Chad replied without hesitation, as if he had prepared beforehand.
"Roenn."
Glenn threw off the cloak that covered his shoulders and headed for the door of the audience chamber. His steps were as cold as his resolved mind.
"I won't look back."
Roenn placed his hand on his chest and bowed his head. His usually kind eyes were now dark and sunken.
"I will follow."
An unnamed forest connecting the trading city of Cameloon and Barene, the city of the Five Divine Orders.
Warriors, battered and bruised like defeated soldiers, walked the snowy forest path, where white snowflakes had replaced the green leaves.
Dorian adjusted the bandage on his shoulder and turned his gaze back, not looking at his companions but at a far-off place, biting his lip.
'Will he be okay?'
He had witnessed Raon perform miracles up close more than anyone else, but this time he couldn't feel at ease.
'Because the opponent is a Grandmaster.'
The difference between a Master and a Grandmaster was even greater than that between an Expert and a Master.
Even Raon would undoubtedly be fighting with death in mind, which made his stomach churn as if he had an upset stomach.
'I hope he returns safely, whether he wins or loses.'
As Dorian pressed his temples, wishing for Raon's safe return, he heard someone murmuring on his right.
When he turned his head, he saw Burren looking at his hands, his lips moving.
"I became a Master. I became a Master. I…"
Burren kept repeating the same words, as if he still couldn't believe he had become a Master.
Dorian looked at Burren's scarred hands and smiled faintly.
'It's not strange that he became a Master.'
Burren was a direct descendant of Zieghart. It was a given that he would reach the Master rank.
Of course, the surprising part was that he became a Master at the age of 21, but considering what he had been through, it wasn't that extraordinary.
'He faced death more than once.'
Raon always treated training as real combat, so he had nearly died countless times within the family and constantly risked his life in actual missions, making it natural for his power to grow rapidly.
'He got what he deserved.'
Dorian left Burren, who was pinching his own cheek, and looked ahead.
Runaan, wrapped in bandages like a mummy, was rotating her arms with a blank expression. Blue frost blossomed at her fingertips.
'Runaan seems to be in a good mood too.'
Seeing Runaan, who was usually only interested in Raon and ice cream, unable to stay still, it seemed she was also surprised at becoming a Master.
Runaan, too, had worked hard, even more than Burren, so it wasn't surprising that she became a Master.
'Actually, the most surprising one is….'
Dorian looked to the left, where Mark Goetun was.
'That man.'
Mark Goetun was holding the Black Line Sword given by Raon tightly, tears welling up in his eyes.
'He's a crybaby. I would have been the same….'
No, I wouldn't have endured it.
Mark Goetun became a Master quickly but then stagnated, watching others surpass him.
He wasn't ignored from the beginning but fell from being revered, making others' criticism more painful.
But Mark Goetun overcame such wounds, insults, and despair, rising again. Serving a much younger Raon as his lord, he steeled his resolve.
Others mocked him for being late, but he never let go of his sword, even while training with juniors in the Light Wind division.
After many hardships and pains, he finally reached his goal of becoming an Intermediate Master, which was more moving than others becoming Masters.
'I hope he keeps progressing.'
Dorian bowed his head slightly with respect to Mark Goetun.
'Will I ever become a Master?'
Honestly, I never thought I could become a Master.
But with three leaders becoming Masters and me touching the wall of the Master rank, I started to think it might be possible.
'Without Raon, I would never have dreamed of becoming a Master.'
From the trainee days, Habun Castle, the Light Wind division, Sephia Company, to the Light Wind division, I received countless help.
Thanks to Raon, I became a Zieghart swordsman, so I was just grateful to him.
'I owe him my life.'
It might sound unbelievable from a coward like me, but I could truly sacrifice my life for Raon.
Dorian smiled, thinking of Raon's face.
'Of course, if I said that to Raon, he would just scold me to swing my sword more.'
Now, I can roughly see how he moves and what he thinks.
Since I spent the most time with him, I could predict what he would say.
"You don't need to worry too much."
When Dorian turned back, thinking of Raon, Burren shook his head, lowering his hand.
"That monster will come back after finishing everything and think about training us."
"Yes, we just need to think about how to surprise Raon."
Runaan nodded, saying she would boast about becoming a Master and ask for ice cream.
"Don't you trust our division leader?"
"The division leader is Rimmer…."
"Ah, right."
"It doesn't matter. Raon feels like the real division leader."
The Light Wind division warriors made light jokes, dispelling their anxiety about Raon.
"Exactly."
Dorian laughed and nodded when Denning Rose and her guards at the forefront stopped walking.
"Why…."
Just as he was about to ask why they stopped, the forest ended, revealing the plains and the view of Cameloon.
"What, what!"
Dorian's eyes widened. The walls and buildings of Cameloon were crumbling, and black smoke rose into the sky.
The city was being destroyed in real-time. Despite the distance, the powerful waves of energy from within Cameloon made his fingertips tremble.
"Cameloon is under attack too?"
Denning Rose bit her lip, looking at the collapsing towers.
"Damn…."
"Ah…."
Burren and Runaan couldn't continue their words, staring at the burning Cameloon in disbelief.
"Wh, what should we do?"
"If not Cameloon, then Owen or Balkar…."
"Owen and Balkar are the ones guarding Cameloon. They wouldn't be safe either!"
The neutral warriors were also panicking, their faces turning red. The civilians didn't know what to do, just looking around at each other.
"Ugh…."
Dorian grabbed his trembling wrist, his chin quivering.
'What on earth is happening?'
I thought everything would end if we arrived in Cameloon and waited for Raon, Sheryl, and Rimmer, but even here was under attack.
The subsided crisis surged over his body like a tidal wave.
"..."
Denning Rose examined the view of Cameloon, with light and darkness flashing, then turned around. Her face was as pale as the snow covering the fields.
"It seems the Black Tower is attacking Cameloon. Balkar is defending, but it doesn't look good."
She shook her head, saying going to Cameloon was not a good choice now.
"Put out the fires first!"
Burren quickly assessed the situation and instructed the warriors to extinguish their torches and lanterns.
People, with hardened expressions, extinguished their torches and lanterns. They realized that Cameloon had become a gate of death, not life.
"It's not good to stay here either."
Denning Rose looked at the plains leading to Cameloon and shook her head. It was a dangerous open area.
"Let's go back into the forest."
Hearing Denning Rose, Burren immediately turned around and moved toward a small hill he had noticed on the way.
"Poyen."
At Denning Rose's snap of her fingers, guards in night clothes emerged from behind her.
"Erase the traces."
At her command, the guards spread out toward the entrance and exit.
"Kasia, help them."
"Understood."
At Ensia's gesture, a guard called Kasia moved to the entrance.
Kasia and the guards from the Black Market split into groups, erasing the traces on the ground.
Though the snow made it more likely to be discovered, it was better than doing nothing.
"What should we do now?"
Burren asked Denning Rose with a sigh.
"We can't go to Cameloon. With Balkar's mages there, Balkar doesn't look safe either. The only options are Owen or Dior, a small city…."
Denning Rose gave several choices, allowing the group to decide.
"Owen or Dior…."
"But we must leave this forest for both, increasing the chance of being detected."
She frowned, noting the risk of being attacked while moving.
"Th-then how about staying here for now?"
Dorian crawled over to the two.
"Um, I also think staying here is best. If the Black Tower attacked Cameloon with an objective in mind, they wouldn't come here…."
Burren agreed with Dorian's opinion, looking at Denning Rose.
"I think it's a good idea. But…."
Denning Rose rubbed the ground with her finger, biting her teeth.
"Why?"
"Because Raon has issues with the Black Tower, I think they might come down here…."
She sighed, saying the Black Tower was the most persistent among the Five Demons.
"Ah…."
Dorian's fingertips trembled as he held the scabbard.
'Right.'
Raon had issues with the Black Tower. As Denning Rose said, the Black Tower might be targeting Raon.
"For now, let's stay here and watch the situation. If a rescue team comes from Owen, we move then."
"Understood. Then we'll…."
As Burren nodded, Denning Rose's guards, who had been erasing traces, returned.
"We couldn't erase everything, but we covered the important parts."
"Thank you, Poyen."
Denning Rose smiled at Poyen.
"No problem…."
Poyen stopped mid-sentence, her head snapping 180 degrees with a cracking sound.
Thud.
The Master-level warrior who had been breathing moments ago fell dead.
"En-Ensia!"
Kasia, Ensia's guard, tried to tell her to flee, but blue flames erupted over her shoulder.
Fwoosh!
Kasia tried to push back the flames with her energy, but the blue fire only intensified, turning her to ash in an instant.
A moment of silence. Then terror and screams spread.
"Aaah!"
"What, what!"
"What is…."
"Poyen!"
"Kasia!"
Everyone recoiled in horror, and Denning Rose and Ensia screamed, falling to their knees.
"Denning Rose!"
"We must retreat!"
As Dorian tried to pull Denning Rose and Ensia away, he saw something massive floating in the sky.
His jaw trembled as he looked up. A creature with dark skin and white eyes, as if shrouded in darkness, was standing in the air as if climbing stairs.
Though neither tall nor large, his presence covered the entire sky.
In my low state, he seemed no different from the leaders of the Six Kings or the Holy Sword Alliance, or the Leader of the White Blood Religion.
"The Flame Demon General Orgoth…."
Hearing Denning Rose's dripping voice, Dorian let go of her arm.
'Flame Demon General….'
I didn't know the name Orgoth, but I couldn't not know the name Flame Demon General. The Vice Master of the Black Tower who reached transcendence. His dark skin and white eyes were exactly as I heard.
Orgoth's white eyes twisted. Without pupils, it was impossible to tell where he was looking.
No, more than that, his overwhelming presence silenced everyone.
"Zieghart."
He spoke as if he knew the Light Wind division was here, saying Zieghart's name at once.
"Where is Raon Zieghart?"
"Ah…."
Dorian's heart tightened at Orgoth's words.
'Did he come to find Raon personally?'
Denning Rose's information was correct. He came here to kill Raon, who had interfered with his attempt to capture the Drake in Weather's Village.
Bang!
A sound of something exploding came from behind. Hot liquid fell on his head, smelling of blood. Someone had died.
"Second time. Where is Raon Zieghart?"
Orgoth asked again. No one could answer, and someone else exploded.
My jaw trembled. I was afraid Orgoth's eyes would turn this way, and I worried someone might reveal Raon's location.
Bang!
Another person died. It was unclear whether it was a member of the Light Wind division, a neutral force, or a civilian. I didn't have the courage to look back.
Drip, drip.
Blood dripped beneath Orgoth's feet. It wasn't blood from here but from those who went to Cameloon ahead of us.
'Raon will die.'
Having crossed the line of life and death countless times, I could tell. If we revealed Raon's location, we might live, but Raon would surely die.
No matter how talented he is, he cannot survive against a monster who reached the heavens.
'If so….'
I must act. Now is the time to die in his place.
It's time to fulfill the resolve to sacrifice my life for Raon, but I lack courage. I fear pain and death.
But if I survive here doing nothing, I would regret it for the rest of my life, which I hate more than death.
"This is the last time. Where is Raon Zieghart?"
Orgoth raised his hand as if to kill everyone. A chilling flame of light burned above his hand.
Crack!
Dorian bit his tongue with his teeth and raised his head. Fear made his entire body tremble, but he used pain to clear it.
What came to mind was not only gratitude towards Raon.
Their first meeting. The sickly boy with lonely, desolate eyes.
Now, thinking of that boy who shed loneliness and treated his comrades like family, I straightened my fear-stricken back.
Boom!
Like a flag ceremony of the person I respect most, I grasped my sword and stomped the snowy ground.
"I am."
No voice came out. Forcibly pulling aura from my aching energy center, I continued.
"I am Raon Zieghart!"
Everyone's gaze, including Burren, Runaan, and all those present, shifted from Orgoth to Dorian.
"..."
Orgoth twirled his fingers.
Crack!
A sound like bones being crushed echoed as Dorian's arm twisted.
"Argh!"
Dorian clutched his mangled right arm, collapsing to his knees.
"How insolent."
At Orgoth's gesture, Dorian's body floated up.
"What did a bug who hasn't even reached Master say?"
"Are, are you deaf, old man?"
Dorian's distorted eyes simultaneously reflected fear and relief.
"I am. White Sword Dragon. Raon Zieghart!"
"Ha."
Orgoth laughed derisively, breaking Dorian's left shoulder this time.
"Argh!"
Dorian flew back, crashing into the ground. Spitting a massive amount of blood, he seemed severely injured internally.
"If you spout nonsense again, I'll twist your neck."
Orgoth's white eyes sharpened with genuine intent.
"I, I am Raon…."
Dorian struggled to stand, his broken arms shaking. Spitting black blood, he lifted his head.
"Zieghart…."
"I am Raon Zieghart!"
Burren blocked Dorian, roaring.
"I am Raon Zieghart."
Runaan stepped in front of Dorian, drawing her sword of frost.
"I am Raon Zieghart."
Mark Goetun stood in front of the three, holding the Black Line Sword.
"Bugs."
With a light gesture from Orgoth, Burren's shoulder flew off, Runaan's abdomen was pierced, and Mark Goetun was slammed into the ground, breaking his sword.
"Ugh…."
"Ah…."
All three coughed up blood, unable to fully recover from their injuries.
But none of them stayed down.
Burren and Runaan stood up, clutching their wounds, Mark Goetun gritted his teeth, holding the broken sword in both hands, and the most injured Dorian leaned against a rock, exhaling bloody breath.
With death in mind, the Light Wind division warriors stood before them, raising their swords.
And they all shouted.
"I am Raon Zieghart!"