Whack!
Martha slammed the scabbard of her sword against the shoulder of a middle-aged man who appeared to be an executive of the Lakion family.
"Don't think you're safe just because you're alive."
She grabbed the kneeling man's hair and lifted his head, revealing her fierce eyes.
"I can kill any of you who betrayed Zieghart and sided with the Holy Sword Alliance whenever I want."
"Kuh…."
"Whether your head stays attached to your body depends on how useful your tongue is. So you better think carefully about what you say."
At Martha's chilling words, the Lakion executive swallowed dryly, his shoulders trembling.
"Where is the Holy Sword Alliance?"
"Who are you dealing with?"
"What the hell is that Demonic Sword?!"
It wasn't just her. All of the Light Wind Swordsmen, having forced the Lakion Swordsmen to their knees, began their interrogation.
"...."
Runaan, standing back to prevent anyone from escaping, watched the Light Wind Swordsmen and the kneeling Lakion Swordsmen with vacant eyes.
"Sigh."
Rimer leaned against the wall of the Lord's Manor, which was now split in half, and sighed.
"This is why being nice is pointless."
"When were you ever nice?"
Burren, who hadn't shown even a sliver of reaction until now, glared at Rimer.
"All you did was make us do independent training and then go off to gamble."
He snorted as if he couldn't believe it.
"Come to think of it, you've been pushing everything onto Sir Raon and gambling since the Light Wind division days."
Krein stood next to Burren and nodded in agreement.
"Lately, I feel like I see the Gambling Monster more often than the Vice Division Leader at the great training ground."
Dorian also frowned, looking at Rimer's skin, which was as smooth as if it had never seen the sun.
"Fake Vice Division Leader."
Runaan looked at Rimer and shook her head curtly.
"Fa, fake Vice Division Leader is a bit harsh, don't you think? It's not like that…."
Rimer tried to retort but stopped abruptly.
"Wait a minute! You all heard all of that and just stayed quiet?"
He blinked, dumbfounded.
"These insolent brats! You dare ignore and not answer your Vice Division Leader?"
Rimer narrowed his eyes and raised his fist as if he were about to pounce.
"Ahem!"
"Spit it out!"
"Staying quiet will only harm you!"
Burren, Krein, and Dorian went back to pretending to be deaf and started beating the demonized humans again.
"Fake Vice Division Leader."
Runaan, however, simply repeated the phrase with vacant eyes, as if to say, "What are you going to do about it?"
"Ugh, these brats…."
Rimer let out a long sigh and shook his head. But unlike before, his eyes, resembling rain-soaked leaves, were deeply sunken.
'Right. They don't need to see me.'
He smiled faintly, looking at the Light Wind division members who followed Raon like he was their true leader.
'There's no guarantee that I'll still be here after I get my revenge.'
Even after losing his right arm and wielding his sword with his left, the Dragon Sword Master had recovered most of his former strength.
Even back then, if Sheryl hadn't been by his side, he might have lost to the Dragon Sword Master. To kill that monster who had regained his power, he, too, would have to risk his life.
'It'd be a little easier if I prepared them for our separation now.'
Rimer looked up at the sky that was clearing up as the demonic energy dissipated, then closed his eyes.
'Now then, who will come here?'
Raon had told them, based on Bells and Basion's conversation, that the Holy Sword Alliance's Sword Fanatics would arrive today. Knowing who it was would be a great help in the upcoming battle.
'If that bastard Dragon Sword Master comes, it'll be both an opportunity and a crisis.'
It would be the best outcome if he could kill the Dragon Sword Master here, but he was also afraid of losing the Light Wind division to that monster's strength.
'Like back then…. No, don't think about it.'
Rimer shook his head, emptying his mind of the unpleasant memory, and called out to Raon.
"Raon! That's enough, get some information out of them! Even if you're angry, you have to get what you need!"
* * *
"Understood."
Raon gave Rimer a brief nod and looked down at Juan with dry eyes.
'The Vice Division Leader is right.'
As he watched Juan writhe in pain, his anger subsided. He had inflicted enough pain; it was time to extract information.
'However….'
Something felt off.
The battle with Juan was fierce and brutal.
It was a perilous fight where one wrong move could cost him his life, but for someone as renowned for his swordsmanship as Juan Lakion, wielding a Demonic Sword enhanced by the souls of countless humans, his skill hadn't seemed that impressive.
Even considering his own improved swordsmanship and physical abilities, it was strange.
However, Juan didn't seem to be hiding anything. He was terrified of him, unable to even meet his gaze.
Raon clicked his tongue softly and twisted the Heavenly Drive Sword embedded in Juan's shoulder.
Crack!
With the sound of bones grinding, Juan squeezed his eyes shut and trembled all over.
"Aaaaagh!"
"Shut up."
Raon forced Juan's eyelids open and glared at him.
"When will the Sword Fanatic from the Holy Sword Alliance arrive?"
"Gulp…."
Perhaps because of the pain and fear he had experienced so far, Juan immediately opened his lips, crusted with dried blood. He was the most pathetic sight Raon had ever seen.
"H-He'll be here around evening. They always come after sunset."
He shook his head, adding that the Holy Sword Alliance had never visited during the day.
"Evening, huh…."
Raon nodded, glancing at the dried corpses of Bells and Basion.
'It's the same as what I heard this morning.'
Bells had told Basion that someone from the Holy Sword Alliance would be visiting around evening. Considering their conversation, Juan's words seemed to be true.
'I need to prepare quickly.'
To lure the Holy Sword Alliance into a trap, they had to wrap things up as soon as possible and recover their stamina and aura. There was no time to waste.
"Who is this person coming from the Holy Sword Alliance?"
"H-He is…."
Juan tried to speak, but his entire body convulsed. His mouth foamed, and a terrifying amount of demonic energy began to erupt from every pore in his body.
"What, what's going on…?"
Raon backed away, holding both the Heavenly Drive Sword and the Requiem Sword. The amount of energy surging was unlike anything the Requiem Sword had drawn out before, as if all the previous instances were mere child's play.
-It's the Demonic Sword!
Wrath, who had been lying down, abruptly stood up and shouted.
'Demonic Sword?'
At the word "Demonic Sword," Raon's gaze shot towards where Criatus was.
The Demonic Sword, its twelve blades and hilt completely shattered, was rising into the air, emitting a powerful vibration.
-That Demonic Sword is targeting the children! Go and stop it!
Wrath, realizing that the Demonic Sword was aiming for the Light Wind division members, frantically gestured with his hand.
Raon followed Wrath's gaze. The Light Wind division members were standing there in a daze, seemingly bewildered by the demonic energy flooding the ground once more.
"Ugh…."
As he tried to move, a sharp pain shot through his legs. His body wasn't in peak condition due to the aftereffects of using both the Sword Domain and Wrath Release, but he forced himself to take a step forward with the Supreme Harmony Steps, rushing toward the Light Wind division members.
"Everyone, get back!"
"Get away from the demonic energy!"
As soon as Raon yelled for everyone to retreat, Rimer also rushed over, riding the wind. It seemed he, too, had sensed the dangerous energy emanating from the Demonic Sword.
Clang!
However, as expected, the Light Wind division's reaction was delayed. The sharp blades of demonic energy were already upon them.
In that split second, too short even for a breath, Raon exchanged glances with Rimer.
As Raon moved to the right, Rimer charged to the left, unleashing a barrage of sword attacks toward the blades of demonic energy surging from the ground.
Booooom!
Flames engulfed in the Spatial Sword's trajectory, along with wind-infused lightning, spread like a carpet, shattering all the demonic energy blades aiming for the Light Wind division members.
But the Demonic Sword's assault wasn't over yet.
The last blade, hidden deep within the mire of demonic energy, shot out with a delay, aiming straight for Raon's heart.
'Damn it!'
Raon clenched his teeth, feeling a chill run down his spine.
'I can't dodge it.'
His aura and physical reactions were slow from using a powerful sword attack in his exhausted state. Even if he twisted his body forcefully, he wouldn't be able to avoid a fatal wound.
Moreover, the ones behind him were Yua and Julius. The two children wouldn't be able to dodge the attack; he had to block it.
As he raised his sword, accepting his impending death, a fierce wind erupted from his left. In a flash of light, Rimer appeared beside Raon and opened a spatial rift.
Fwoosh!
However, even then, they couldn't completely avoid the attack. Raon's side was slashed open, and Rimer's forearm was also wounded.
"Ugh…."
Rimer immediately cut off the flesh of his forearm, where the demonic energy had seeped in. It was a brutal method, but in their current situation, it was the best way to stop the demonic energy from spreading.
"Are you alright?"
He asked Raon, clutching his bleeding forearm.
"I'm fine."
Raon nodded, gritting his teeth. Black blood oozed from his side wound, a clear sign that the demonic energy had already invaded his flesh.
'It's even worse than when Juan had it.'
It was an attack infused with the energy released from the Black Dragon Coat. If it weren't for Rimer, he might have actually died.
-You fool.
Wrath shook his head, clicking his tongue.
-What good will it do to save your subordinates if you get yourself killed?!
He shook his head, exasperated. However, knowing that Raon was exhausted, he didn't say anything further.
"It seems that was the real deal."
Raon frowned, looking at the Demonic Sword floating in the air. It wasn't the twelve blades, but the hilt itself that seemed to be the Demonic Sword's true form.
'Was this the odd familiarity I felt from Juan?'
He had thought it strange that Juan wasn't as strong as he'd expected even with the Demonic Sword, but it seemed the true power didn't lie with Juan, but with the Demonic Sword itself.
"Yo-Young Master…."
"…Are you alright?"
Yua and Julius, who had been standing right behind him, approached with trembling chins.
"I'm fine."
Raon gave the two children a faint smile.
"V-Vice Leader…."
"Y-You're badly hurt…."
"Don't worry and stay back."
He gestured for the Light Wind division members to keep their distance and turned to face the floating Demonic Sword alone.
"Haah."
Rimer approached him with a sigh.
"I thought it ended too quickly."
"You've worked hard. I think I'll have to ask for your help again."
Raon shook his head, clutching his side.
"It can't be helped. It's time for this Vice Division Leader to step u…."
"Still only caring about your own hide."
A dignified voice cut off Rimer's words from atop the collapsed roof of the Lord's Manor.
"That voice is…."
Raon lifted his trembling gaze. A middle-aged man with his hair neatly tied back like a scholar stroked his beard with his remaining left hand.
The Dragon Sword Master. The Sword Lord of the Holy Sword Alliance, who had appeared in the city of Barene, built by the Five Divine Orders, had revealed himself.
The young man beside the Dragon Sword Master was also someone Raon couldn't mistake. Cloud, the Leader of the Holy Sword Alliance's disciple. The one he'd spared despite having the chance to kill, now stood there with a new arm, his eyes burning with malice.
"Dragon Sword Master! Was this your doing?"
Rimer glared at the Dragon Sword Master, grinding his teeth.
"Stooping to such despicable tactics. You've fallen far."
"Despicable? I am a sword of the Holy Sword Alliance. A sword doesn't need personal thoughts. However…."
The Dragon Sword Master shook his head leisurely.
"Right now, orders aside, I simply want to kill you."
As he spread his left hand, the Demonic Sword, Criatus, flew smoothly into his grasp.
Crack!
The Dragon Sword Master completely broke off the remaining blade of the Demonic Sword, Criatus.
As he stroked the hilt, a blade of light, seemingly shrouded in darkness, shot out from the hole where the blade used to be. The blade, burning with demonic energy, gleamed with a terrifyingly smooth edge.
"Beautiful."
The Dragon Sword Master smirked, looking down at the demonic blade. His composed expression warped into something sinister.
"This is the true awakening of the Demonic Sword, Criatus. What you fought before was just a shell."
He raised the fiercely blazing Demonic Sword and pointed it at Rimer.
"Dr-Dragon Sword Master…."
Juan, spewing black blood, reached out to the Dragon Sword Master.
"S-Save me…."
"Very well. I shall save you."
The moment the Dragon Sword Master nodded, Juan dissolved into a pool of blood. The Demonic Sword, Criatus, absorbed the blood of its former owner, radiating even denser demonic energy.
"You've done well. Thanks to you, Criatus has awakened sooner."
He smirked, gazing at the Demonic Sword's blade.
"Now then, let's finish this."
"Dragon Sword Master!"
Rimer's relaxed expression turned ashen, and his hand, clutching his sword, trembled uncontrollably.
There was another person who was just as agitated and unable to compose himself.
"Raon Zieghart!"
Cloud, his fists clenched so tightly that his knuckles turned white, glared at Raon.
"I've returned to take your head!"
He drew the sword from his right arm, a grotesque grin spreading across his face.
"You begged for your life back then, and now you act tough?"
Raon activated the Ring of Fire at its peak. Suppressing the demonic energy seeping into him, he sneered.
"You're only alive because you have a good master."
"Shut up!"
"Where did you get that arm? I turned it to dust."
"None of your business!"
He had completely incinerated Cloud's right arm, making it impossible to reattach. Considering the subtle difference in skin tone, it was likely another person's arm or an artifact.
"I'll kill you. I swear I'll kill you no matter what!"
"I've heard that before."
Raon took a short breath and raised both the Heavenly Drive Sword and the Requiem Sword.
'This isn't good.'
Perhaps due to the new arm, the energy radiating from Cloud was stronger than before. He couldn't use the Sword Domain, and his body wasn't in peak condition. This was the worst possible scenario.
Gooooooooo!
Behind Cloud and the Dragon Sword Master, the Sword Fanatics of the Holy Sword Alliance knelt. Every single one of them was a master swordsman. It seemed even the Light Wind division would have a tough battle ahead.
'But if we endure, there's still hope.'
He had heard Bells and Basion's conversation yesterday and immediately contacted the family for reinforcements. If the message had arrived safely, then people from Zieghart would be here soon. He just had to hold on until then.
"This brings back memories."
The Dragon Sword Master flicked his index finger.
"Back then, you couldn't protect your subordinates and survived alone, clinging to your pathetic life. What about now?"
"You…."
"History repeats itself, but this time, even you won't survive."
"Shut your mouth!"
Rimer's aura exploded as if he were about to charge at any moment.
"Vice Division Leader."
Raon called out to Rimer, but he was too consumed by his rage towards the Dragon Sword Master to hear.
"Vice Division Leader!"
Raon raised his voice and kicked Rimer's butt.
"Ugh…."
"Get a hold of yourself."
Raon grabbed the bewildered Rimer by the shoulders and shook his head.
"We need to go back together."
At those words, the rage that had filled Rimer's eyes slowly faded.
"Right. We have to."
Rimer took a deep breath and nodded.
"By the way, who taught you to kick my butt like that?"
"Who else could it be?"
"Hmm, don't imitate anything else. That woman is strange."
He cracked a small smile as he badmouthed Sheryl.
"It changes nothing."
The Dragon Sword Master's annoyance at Rimer regaining his composure was evident as a vein bulged on his forehead.
Raon observed the Dragon Sword Master's expression and narrowed his eyes.
'It was definitely him who destroyed the Vice Division Leader's energy center.'
Based on their conversation, it seemed the one who killed Rimer's subordinate and destroyed his energy center was none other than the Dragon Sword Master. And Rimer, in turn, had likely severed the Dragon Sword Master's arm.
It was clear that Rimer, known for his Light Sword and elegant swordsmanship, had become slothful after that incident.
"Kill them all."
At the Dragon Sword Master's command, the Sword Fanatics of the Holy Sword Alliance charged toward the Light Wind division members.
"No one passes."
Rimer stepped forward and drew his sword. Just as he was about to cut down the Sword Fanatics with his wind-whirling blade, the Dragon Sword Master moved.
Clang!
The Dragon Sword Master intercepted Rimer, blocking his path with Criatus, now blazing with demonic energy. He smirked.
"You are no match for me in your current state."
"That's not for you to decide."
A red lightning bolt crackled on Rimer's silver blade as a smile spread across his face.
"The Destructive King of the North's lightning. I've seen it before."
"No, it's different this time."
As soon as he finished speaking, the lightning bolts intertwined like chains, emitting a blinding light.
Booooooooooom!
Rimer raised his sword, surrounded by a red storm, his eyes gleaming with cold determination.
"Today, in this place, I will end our ill-fated relationship."