The fiercely flying axe curved as if riding the wind, leaving only a thin wound on Siran's forehead before plunging into the river.
"Ugh!"
As soon as the axe grazed his head, Siran hastily used his footwork to create distance from Raon.
"Hmm..."
Raon frowned as he watched the axe sink into the river.
'My reaction was slow.'
If the axe had targeted me, I would have easily deflected it and cut Siran's throat, but from the start, the axe had rushed in as if to split Siran's head.
That unexpected situation slowed my reaction, creating an opening for Siran to escape. It irritated me to realize I had moved according to the intention of the one who threw the axe.
Instead of chasing after the already distant Siran, Raon looked in the direction from which the axe had flown. A massive black ship could be seen approaching, cleaving the wide and deep Peren River in half.
It was the Black Cloud, the warship of the South-North Union, unforgettable once seen.
Kuguuuuu!
A colossal presence encompassing the entire river emanated from the Black Cloud as it approached, breaking the remains of the Maritime Market into pieces.
Kuuuung!
With a roar like the deck collapsing, an old man holding a red axe stepped down onto the river's surface.
The overwhelming spirit transmitted through his mere breath caused the churning waves to subside as if frightened, and the waterspout that had risen to touch the sky dissipated.
Raon raised his gaze, feeling a fierce aura that made his heart sting.
From his roughly swept white hair and black robe full of scars to the blood-red, gleaming dragon-headed axe, it was Axe King Roman, said to be no different from the god of the Lable River.
-Why is this small fry appearing like a main character!
Wrath grumbled, seemingly displeased. Sometimes I envy that strong heart and composure.
"Well, well! You've come, Roman!"
Siran ran towards the Axe King, nodding his head quickly.
"That guy is dangerous! We shouldn't wait until next year, we must kill him right now!"
He pointed, insisting that Raon should be killed before he grows stronger.
"..."
The Axe King didn't respond to Siran's cry, instead looking at Raon.
"It's been two years, hasn't it?"
"It's been a bit longer than that."
Raon sighed as he met Roman's gaze.
"Sighing right in front of me, you're still ill-mannered."
Contrary to his words, Roman displayed a refreshing smile.
"Pretending to target him to make me careless."
He clicked his tongue briefly as he turned his eyes to Siran.
"You used your head well, unlike your appearance."
"It's been a while since I've received praise from others."
Roman chuckled and nodded.
"Roman! What are you doing!"
Siran frowned as he stood beside Roman.
"I'm telling you to kill him quickly! An opportunity like this won't come again!"
"Elder Lord."
Roman exhaled a heavy breath, seeming frustrated as he looked at Siran.
"How unsightly."
"What?"
"When I promised that youngster a duel to the death in three years, Lector asked me something."
He continued, looking at Raon's calm eyes.
"He asked what I would do if you killed him before the three years were up. What do you think my answer was?"
"Uh..."
Siran's lips trembled as if he already knew the answer.
"I said I wouldn't care. If he dies at your hands, old and toothless, then that's as far as he goes, and there's no need to regret it."
Roman twisted his lips thinly as he looked at Siran's trembling eyes.
"So the opposite is also true."
"What...?"
"There's no need to help just because the Elder Lord is at a disadvantage. I, too, am a martial artist who knows shame. I won't do the ugly deed of interfering in a one-on-one battle."
He waved his hand, displaying a chilling smile.
"Continue. I'll be the notary witnessing the outcome."
"Wh-What nonsense is this!"
Siran's pale lips trembled.
"Shouldn't we just kill him here and now!"
"Why should I do that?"
Roman shrugged his shoulders, broad as the river.
"My duel to the death with that youngster is on January 1st next year. Picking unripe fruit now will only taste astringent."
He closed his eyes, cradling his axe in his arms as if he truly had no intention of participating in the battle.
"Roman! You damn bastard!"
Despite Siran's call, Roman didn't open his eyes again.
"There's something I want to ask."
Only when Raon called out did Roman slowly lift his eyelids.
"What is it?"
"If you don't intend to get involved in the fight, why did you save him?"
Just a moment ago, Roman had uncharacteristically used his head to save Siran. I naturally thought they'd both attack, so it's strange that he says he won't participate in the fight.
"You ask a simple question."
Roman raised his chin and moved his lips.
"Because I wanted to see for myself how much you've grown."
He curled up the corners of his mouth, saying that was all.
"You crazy bastard! If the Alliance Leader knew about this..."
"He would praise me."
"Wh-What!"
"The order not to touch Raon Zieghart was from the Alliance Leader. You were the first to disobey the Leader's order, so there's no reason to find fault with me for not saving you."
Roman shook his head, saying it was a simple matter.
"Ugh..."
Siran twisted his lips and stepped back. It seemed he was trying to escape via the warship, lacking confidence in winning the battle right now.
"Elder Lord. Where are you going?"
Roman blocked Siran's path, revealing a fierce gaze.
"I am the notary for this duel to the death. I cannot leave this place until one of you dies."
He raised a malevolent aura as if he truly intended to act as a notary.
"You insane bastard! Stop this nonsense!"
"I am always serious."
Roman gestured with his chin as if telling Siran to quickly return.
"If you go back, I will never forgive you!"
Siran, seemingly intimidated by Roman's aura, returned to his original position while breathing heavily.
"As you wish."
Roman smiled leisurely, as if it didn't matter to him.
"What are you doing?"
He gave a nod to Raon, who stood in front of Siran.
"I've set the stage for you, so see it through to the end."
"How am I supposed to believe that?"
Raon frowned as he looked at Roman.
"Are you saying you can't trust me?"
"Of course."
That answer came from Rimmer, who stepped forward instead of Raon.
"You attacked me saying you were excited even after I withstood three strikes. The duel to the death next year was created due to your whim, and now you're asking us to trust you?"
Rimmer gritted his teeth as he looked at Roman.
"Where did you sell your arm?"
Roman narrowed his eyes as he looked at Rimmer's right shoulder.
"Never mind that, just answer the question."
"Then was then, and now is now."
He twisted his lips after looking over Siran and Raon in turn.
"A battle between an old man who dragged his aged body here to avenge his grandson and a genius trying to kill the grandfather after the grandson. Such a fight will never happen again."
Roman stomped his foot violently and burst into laughter.
"I will absolutely not interfere in this battle, and I will escort the winner home without touching a hair on their head. I stake my title as the Axe King on this."
He beat his chest, promising to stake his title on this.
"Whatever he's thinking, we need to see this through."
Raon nodded as he looked at Rimmer.
"Sigh, alright."
Rimmer stepped back and sighed.
"If the Axe King interferes, I'll stop him somehow, so finish Siran first."
"Understood."
Although Rimmer's physical condition wasn't good, unlike Roman, he was a man who kept his word. Trusting him, Raon stepped forward.
Ppudeudeuk!
Siran glared at Raon, grinding his teeth so hard they might break.
"I'll shred you so finely even the fish won't be able to eat you!"
He raised his fishing rod. The waves surged again as powerful aura began to concentrate.
Raon narrowed his eyes as he looked at Siran's reddened eyes.
'His willpower alone is impressive.'
Siran knew he had been defeated. Despite his spirit being greatly broken, he was creating willpower solely from his desire for revenge to avenge his grandson.
"Huaaaah!"
Siran swung his fishing rod in a wide arc. The fishing line, imbued with Astral Ring, curved like a whip, aiming for Raon's neck.
Wooong!
Raon covered his blade with the sparks blazing from his energy center. He slashed at the descending fishing line with a red-hot heat wire.
Chwaaaaak!
The fishing line, once as sturdy as a steel wire, was easily torn and fluttered away. Even the float and hook attached to the line broke off and sank into the water.
Raon licked his lips as he watched the staggering Siran.
'As expected, he's weakened.'
The aura Siran possessed was still intense, but his willpower to kill me had subsided. It seemed to be because he had experienced defeat.
'Still...'
I shouldn't underestimate him.
A person consumed by such revenge might do anything. Instead of rejoicing over an already won victory, I need to maintain focus until the very end.
Raon incorporated the flow of the river into his footwork. He approached with the fluid steps of the Supreme Harmony's Third Step and thrust the Heavenly Drive towards Siran's neck.
Kyaaaang!
Siran clenched his teeth and raised his fishing rod to defend. Blood mist rose from his mouth. It seemed he had suffered severe internal injuries.
Chiiing!
Raon didn't miss the moment Siran adjusted his breathing and dove into his space.
"Kugh!"
Siran retreated with a desperate expression and swung his fishing rod. Though not deeply imbued with willpower, the amount of aura was overwhelming.
'It won't be easy to break.'
Raon gripped the hilt of the Heavenly Drive tightly and stomped his right foot. As he calmed the surging river, he extended the Requiem Sword in his left hand. A white shadow fell on the red blade, enveloping the approaching Astral Ring.
Raon Zieghart Style Sword Technique.
Fifth Form: White Shadow Slash.
The White Shadow Slash unleashed by the Requiem Sword erased the Astral Ring that had exploded from the fishing rod as if washing it away.
"Huh?"
Siran widened his eyes in disbelief as the massive Astral Ring was erased in an instant.
Chiiiiing!
Raon pounced on the bewildered Siran, thrusting in with the Thirty-Six Crimson Slashes. The blade of fire that cut thirty-six directions in one strike slashed Siran's vital points.
Pukaaaak!
Although he blocked the most critical points of the heart and neck, other wounds burst open, instantly covering Siran's entire body in blood.
"Keuuugh..."
Siran lowered his fishing rod weakly. His expression revealed pain and despair.
As Raon was about to bring down the Heavenly Drive to finish it, Siran grasped the sword with his left hand and grabbed Raon's wrist with his right.
"Caught you!"
Despite the savage amount of blood pouring from his hand, Siran's lips curled into a wide grin.
Raon tried to pull out the sword and his wrist, but they wouldn't budge, as if Siran was using not just aura but his very life force.
"If I can't kill you, then let's go together!"
Siran's skin turned bright red as if burning as he spoke of dying together.
His energy center pulsed violently, beginning to emit an enormous force. It seemed he was trying to self-destruct by exploding the aura in his energy center.
"Did you think you could kill my grandson and live? You will never..."
"I thought you might do that."
Raon nodded briefly as he looked at Siran's sneering face.
"What?"
"Your acting was too clumsy."
Siran had shown weakness and retreated with eyes full of vengeance. Raon hadn't been fooled from the start, suspecting a ploy.
Clang!
Raon released his hand from the Heavenly Drive held by Siran and opened his palm.
"Y-You!"
After deflecting Siran's desperately swinging left hand, Raon thrust out his extended right hand.
Demon King of Wrath's Ultimate Technique.
Silver Moon Demonic Seal.
-Ack! My technique!
Along with Wrath's scream, the moment the silver flash hit Siran's chest, his entire body froze blue.
Jjeojeojeojeojeok!
Because he had concentrated all his aura in his energy center for self-destruction, he became an ice block, unable to defend against the cold energy of the Silver Moon Demonic Seal.
"You..."
"I told you. I'd send you to where your grandson is."
Raon looked at Siran's wavering eyes as he struck down on the right arm that was holding his wrist.
"D-Die..."
Siran fell into the river, completely frozen before he could finish his last word.
His eyes, which had briefly surfaced, were bloodshot as if unable to believe his own death.
"Reunite with your grandson in hell."
Raon watched until Siran's cold body sank into the river.
Clap! Clap! Clap!
As Raon exhaled a rough breath, he heard loud applause like the beating of a gong. Turning around, he saw Axe King Roman clapping with a refreshing smile.
"Excellent. It was a splendid psychological battle."
Roman nodded and stepped forward.
"You really didn't move at all."
"I told you, didn't I? I'm a man who keeps his promises."
Roman waved his hand as if it were only natural.
"Hah..."
Raon sighed briefly and shook his head.
"So, can I go now?"
"Of course. The fight between you and the Elder Lord here was a fair duel."
Roman nodded as if it were obvious.
"However..."
He unfolded his arms and firmly grasped the red axe handle with his right hand.
"A new fight is different."
"What?"
"What I want to see is not a psychological battle, but a contest of strength against strength."
Roman grinned and took another step forward. Being so large, it seemed like he closed several meters with each step.
"I need to check if your sword is sharp enough to engage in a proper duel to the death."
"What does that mean?"
"Three exchanges."
He raised three fingers of his left hand.
"If you can withstand three of my attacks, I promise to let you go without laying a finger on you."
Roman lowered his axe. The water began to boil where the axe blade slightly touched it.
"Ah, that lying bastard."
Rimmer frowned as he looked at Roman.
"Can't even keep a promise once! You said you'd stake your title!"
He twisted his lips and gripped his sword as if ready to step in himself.
"Then don't call me Axe King anymore."
The Axe King laughed, saying he'd give up his title since he broke his promise.
"Ah, that dog..."
"Leave this to me."
Raon pushed Rimmer back and stepped forward.
"You said you wanted to see my skill?"
"That's right. Many spectators will come, we can't show them a trash battle, can we?"
"Fine."
Raon nodded and readjusted his grip on the Heavenly Drive and Requiem Sword.
"Then I'll check something too."
"What?"
Roman frowned as if asking what Raon meant.
"If your axe isn't as heavy as I expect..."
A crimson lightning flashed in Raon's eyes.
"I'll behead you right here and now."