Chapter 404


    <strong>sh!</strong>


    Rimmer didnt stop after the first sh. He regained his bnce from mid-air to attack consecutively until the Specters body was cut into pieces.


    <strong>Whaam!</strong>


    As soon as the ck hands released Raons limbs, he used the <em>Supreme Harmony Steps</em> to catch Yua and Yulius.


    Haa


    He breathed out a sigh of relief as he confirmed their state.


    <em>They are safe.</em>


    Fortunately, there were no problems whatsoever with Yua and Yulius except that they were unconscious.


    <strong>Whir.</strong>


    He used the <em>Ten Thousand mes Cultivation</em>s heat topletely erase the energy of death the Specter had used to make them sleep.


    Heave-ho!


    Rimmernded on the ground and put his sword on his shoulder. His lips curved into a huge smile, showing that he was getting carried away with his heroic arrival.


    Squad leader


    Uh uh!


    Raon tried to talk to him, but he extended his hand and shook his head.


    You dont need to thank me! Its my job to protect you!


    The smile on Rimmers face deepened. His nose was rising so high that it looked like it could reach the stratosphere.


    The Light Wind squads squad leader? Which means, is that elf Zieghart''s Sword of Light?


    A-amazing. I didnt even realize he was here!


    What amazing speed. I can understand why hes called the Sword of Light.


    He just destroyed the Specter


    I heard he was severely injured, but hes still amazing.


    Is this the Ziegharts power?


    The swordsmen and magicians who were being crushed by the Specters energy of death admired Rimmers swordsmanship.


    Aheem! That wasnt a big deal.


    Rimmer cleared his throat and raised his chin. He looked extremely arrogant.


    Haa


    Raon exhaled in irritation and walked up to Rimmer.


    <em>Im thankful that he saved us, but before that Why did hee sote?</em>


    Watching him boast made him extremely angry because it reminded him of how much he suffered for the past six days.


    Why did you arrive sote?


    Do you think you are the protagonist or something? What have you been even doing to arrive sote?


    I think he mustve been napping somewhere.


    Alwayste.


    Even Martha, Burren, and Runaan red at Rimmer and frowned just like Raon did.


    Yeah, the timing was too perfect.


    It was the perfect time for a heros arrival.


    I bet he was sleeping in a tree because he didnt want to fight and came rolling down.


    The Light Wind swordsmen also red at him in suspicion before anything because of what hed done in the past.


    Huh?


    Rimmers jaw dropped. He looked like he didnt expect that response.


    B-but Im your squad leader, and I just saved you


    You should do the squad leaders job since you are the squad leader. You didnte here right after you finished your training in seclusion, right?


    Th-thats true, but


    Rimmer nodded awkwardly at Raons question.


    Then what have you been doing Huh?


    <strong>Its not over yet.</strong>


    <em>I noticed.</em>


    Raon nodded and looked above him. The Specters robe, which was torn to pieces from Rimmers sword, was starting to gather together.


    That implied that the Specter was still alive.


    Burren! Dorian!


    Raon threw Yua and Yulius at Burren and Dorian behind him.


    Huff!


    Huh?


    They were surprised but still managed to smoothly catch them.


    Take the members and leave! Everyone, leave thisnd except for the Masters!


    Why Huff!


    Th-thats


    They were about to ask the reason why when their chins started to tremble as they noticed the Specters robe being regenerated in the air.


    He didnt die!


    Leave thisnd, everyone!


    Mind and Morell ordered the retreat to the swordsmen and magicians theyd brought.


    Your Highness! Retreat with the knights!


    You cant handle this!


    Borini Kitten and Trevin also made their knights and swordsmen retreat.


    Huh?


    Rimmer tilted his head while looking at the Specter regaining his original form.


    I knew he could revive, but Ive never seen that ability before.


    He briefly clicked his tongue, saying that he never knew that the Specter could immediately revive himself.


    It must be because of that bead.


    Raon pointed at the ck bead glowing from inside the Specters robe.


    Hes been using that bead to amplify the energy of death all along.


    Ever since the Specter first appeared, he used that dark bead to summon the ck hands and cast spells.


    Considering the fact that his body was gathering around the ck bead, it was a usible assumption.


    Which means


    Yes, we should attack it.


    Raon kicked the ground as soon as he finished talking. Rimmer also jumped and unleashed his astral energy.


    When Raon was about to sh the Specter with the de of Requiem wrapped in <em>Ten Thousand mes Cultivation</em>, dark energy emerged and created a round barrier.


    <strong>ang!</strong>


    The frightening ck barrier was sturdy enough to block the two astral energies.


    <strong>Crack!</strong>


    It was destroyed soon enough, but the Specter had already finished his regeneration and moved back in the meantime.


    Raon turned around mid-air to step on Rimmers shoulder and charge towards the Specter.


    <strong>ang!</strong>


    Heavenly Drive, wrapped in astral energy, smashed the bead he was holding. Unfortunately. it didnt even leave a scratch, let alone cut it.


    Scram!


    A dark light radiated from the Specters hand. Raon felt like his heart skipped a beat upon witnessing the light.


    <strong>Thud!</strong>


    Raon hurriedly increased his weight to return to the ground and used the <em>Supreme Harmony</em>s <em>Third Step</em> to withdraw.


    <strong>Whaam!</strong>


    The ground where he had been standing exploded, and a bottomless pit was created.


    Did you just fail to cut it? My shoulder was too good for you!


    Its harder than I thought.


    Raon shook his head at Rimmer, who clicked his tongue at his pathetic performance.


    <em>But this situation isnt too bad.</em>


    Since he showed that his astral de was incapable of cutting the bead, the Specter was bound to be careless.


    If he used that power at the correct opportunity, he would be able to destroy it.


    You vermin!


    The Specter was trembling so hard that his mask was getting shaken off. Raon could almost see the expression on his face.


    Ill remove you from this world without leaving the smallest trace!


    Like how you ended up just now?


    Rimmer smiled faintly while pointing at the Specter.


    Shut up!


    The Specter extended his hand holding the ck bead, and a huge wave urred in the Land of Death to revive the undead that theyd finally managed to kill with even more powerful energy of death.


    <strong>Whir!</strong>


    Every single one of them was d with even more power than low-ss death knights, and even powerful people like Mind and Borini Kitten werent going to be able to get rid of them easily.


    We just need to get rid of him instead of them.


    Rimmer smiled, saying that it wasnt a difficult task.


    Indeed.


    Raon nodded and used the <em>Supreme Harmony Steps</em>.


    <strong>Zap!</strong>


    Rimmer caught up to him and unleashed his wind and lightning. He mustve trained properly at least, since he could naturally control the lightning.


    <strong>Rumble!</strong>


    Raon tried to approach the Specter, but thend he was standing on started to fissure and copse as if an earthquake were happening.


    <strong>Whaam!</strong>


    The darknd became distorted and a dragons head covered with blue fire emerged.


    A dragons body and wings as huge as a mountain followed. A sharp tail appeared atst, like a long spear capable of reaching the sky, and mmed into the tremblingnd.


    Thats


    There was no mistake, as it was an ice dragon made of bones without skin. It was the bone dragon thatpeted for the ce of strongest among the undead.


    <strong>Roaaar!</strong>


    The Specter mounted on the bone dragons back as it roared and extended the bead to the front.


    Your chance is over. You wont be able to reach me ever again.


    He dered and floated into the air with the bone dragon.


    Raon!


    I know.


    Raon kicked the ground with enough power to burst his thigh muscles.


    <strong>sh!</strong>


    He cut the ck hands trying to stop him by surging up from the ground with <em>Blizzard Sword Art</em> and thrusting Heavenly Drive above him.


    <em>The technique I need to use is</em>


    The bone dragon had already started to fly. Since the Specter was probably going to fend off the attacks, dragging it back down on the ground was the highest priority.


    <em>Raon Zieghart Style Swordy.</em>


    <em>Second form, Heavenly Heavy Cannon.</em>


    The sphere of astral energy was created at the tip of Heavenly Drive, and the tremendous gravity from it dragged down the bone dragons body.


    <em>I knew it would work.</em>


    The<em> Heavenly Heavy Cannon</em> could create gravity, and he could pull his opponent with it.


    The gravity had grown even more powerful since he had be an advanced Master, stopping the bone dragon from flying.


    What the hell?!


    Our vice squad leader is pretty good, isnt he?


    The Specters chin trembled in panic, and Rimmer went above his head with a cold smile on his face.


    He has a bad personality, but his skills are the real deal!


    Rimmer gritted his teeth and shed down with wind and lightning.


    <strong>Whaaam!</strong>


    The Specter hurriedly created a dark spherical barrier, but it couldnt perfectly defend against the tremendous power of Rimmers strike. The bone dragon lost its bnce.


    <em>I should do it now.</em>


    Raon didnt miss the opportunity as the bone dragon tilted its body and exploded the <em>Heavenly Heavy Cannon</em>s energy focused at the tip of his sword.


    <strong>Baaam!</strong>


    The sh of light extending from Heavenly Drives tip destroyed the Specters dark barrier and severed the bone dragons left shoulder and wing.


    <strong>Whaaam!</strong>


    Rimmer crushed it from the top and Raon destroyed it from the bottom. The bone dragon ended up falling to the ground with its body turned upside down.


    <strong>Whoosh!</strong>


    Because of its huge size, a huge sandstorm urred from the ground.


    Raon dashed to finish it off, and a blue light burst from the dust.


    <em>Dont tell me</em>


    It was a tremendous amount of ice. The bone dragon was using the ice breath.


    Since it was an undead, it didnt feel any pain and counterattacked right away even though its body was destroyed.


    <strong>Swaaaa!</strong>


    The ice breathing from the bone dragon was iparable to the drakes breath that hed previously encountered.


    Even though Raons <em>Water Resistance</em> was at seven-stars, he couldnt tank it with his body.


    Even so


    <em>Ill do it.</em>


    Raon didnt dodge the ice breath. He increased the <em>Ring of Fire</em> and the <em>Ten Thousand mes Cultivation</em>s outputs to the maximum and dashed toward the ice storm.


    <strong>Crack!</strong>


    He cut through the coldness with the sharpness of the <em>Crimson sh</em> and stabbed the bone dragons jaw with the de of Requiem before using the <em>me Dragon Art</em>.


    <strong>Whaap!</strong>


    The fire breath unleashed from the red de pierced into the bone dragons body.


    <strong>Creak!</strong>


    The coldness surrounding the bone dragon was pushed back by the<em> me Dragon Art</em>s fire and its bones started to be crushed.


    <strong>Smack!</strong>


    The coldness was the bone dragons vitality. Once the coldness melted down from the heat, it couldntst any longer.


    <strong>Grr</strong>


    The bone dragons chin trembled in regret before it copsed.


    * * *


    * * *


    My side is done.


    Raon confirmed that the light had disappeared from the bone dragons eyes before he raised his head.


    <strong>Cring!</strong>


    Rimmer caught up to the Specter, who was trying to run away, and unleashed astral energies of wind one after the other.


    You failure!


    The Specter extended his bead. His energy of death was amplified in an instant, and countless ck spears started to rain down.


    <strong>Rumble!</strong>


    Every single one of the spears was as powerful as an advanced Masters astral energy.


    Uwaah!


    Rimmer screamed like a girl and turned his body to dodge the spears of death.


    <strong>Whir!</strong>


    However, the spears of death were endless. Raon could predict that Rimmer was going to die at that rateand so would the people behind him.


    Seriously.


    Raon gritted his back teeth and dashed towards the Specter.


    <strong>Cring!</strong>


    He unleashed the <em>White Shadow sh</em> with Heavenly Drive while he hacked with the <em>wless Sea of Fire</em> using the de of Requiem.


    The white shadow removed the spears of death and the crimson mes engulfed them.


    The white and red waves emerged as beautifully as a dancers performance, and the spears of death disappeared without even leaving a trace.


    <strong>Cring!</strong>


    Rimmer didnt miss the opportunity presented to him, advancing like the wind to sh down the Specter.


    <strong>ang!</strong>


    However, his sword didnt manage to reach the Specter. A red gate suddenly appeared from the ground and blocked the sword.


    Is this?


    Rimmer frowned while looking at the red gate.


    Do you believe that the strongest undead summoned by an archlich would be a death knight or a bone dragon?


    The Specter sneered, and the chains dropped from the gate. With a noise that sounded like thousands of people screaming in unison, the crimson gate opened up.


    From the darkness inside the door, a knight wearing red armor with noticeablyrge shoulder pads appeared.


    His face couldnt be seen because of his helmet, which was the shape of a dragons head, but Raon could tell that he wasnt alive. He mustve been an undead, just like the death knight.


    <strong>Rumble!</strong>


    The power of the red armored knight was even stronger than an advanced death knight. The will inside his crimson eyes wasnt malice towards the living but fighting spirit as he craved battle.


    What is this?


    Rimmer licked his lips in anxiety and leaped backward.


    <strong>Oh?</strong>


    Raon frowned while looking at the unknown monster, and Wrath quietly eximed.


    <em>Do you know him?</em>


    <strong>Of course, that monster also exists in Devildom.</strong>


    <em>What?</em>


    <strong>Thats a monster called a Hell Pilgrim. Its an evolved version of a corrupted death knight, which happens when its soul transcends and reaches Devildom.</strong>


    Wrath said that Raon should be careful about him since he was a pilgrim of Devildom.


    <strong>Shring!</strong>


    The Specter raised his hand, and the hell pilgrim unsheathed his longsword. The frightening sound of the sword draw made Raon nauseous.


    Go, kill them all!


    He shouted, and the hell pilgrim stepped forward.


    <strong>Whaam!</strong>


    It felt like his entire vision turned red as the hell pilgrim appeared in front of his eyes and shed down with his longsword.


    The extremely weak dark me burning on the de, unlike the Sword of Purgatory, made a chill run down his spine.


    <em>Ill die if I dont defend to the best of my abilities.</em>


    Raon unleashed the <em>Ten Thousand mes Cultivation</em> to the extreme and thrust the most defensive technique of the <em>Fangs of Insanity, Division sh</em>.


    <strong>ang!</strong>


    Astral energy burst from the sh between crimson and dark mes and created countless sparks in the air.


    <strong>Grr.</strong>


    The hell pilgrim seemed to enjoy the fact that Raon managed to block his attack, and he moved on to the next strike with grotesqueughter.


    <strong>Whoosh!</strong>


    His sword was falling in a curve from the right side, but it was fast and variable at the same time, which made it difficult to read the flow.


    Raon resonated the <em>Ring of Fire</em> as fast as possible, and he could finally see the trajectory of the hell pilgrims sword.


    <strong>Cring!</strong>


    He deflected the hell pilgrims strike with the <em>Blizzard Sword Art</em> using Heavenly Drive and extended his left foot to thrust the de of Requiem.


    <strong>Grr!</strong>


    The hell pilgrim wasnt surprised at all and deflected the de of Requiem with his shoulder pad before he attacked with his elbow.


    <em>He has a fast reaction time.</em>


    Since the close-quarterbat wasnt unexpected, he fended off the elbow with the back of his hand before he smacked the hell pilgrims stomach with his knee.


    <strong>Smaack!</strong>


    Since he was using the <em>Ten Thousand mes Cultivation</em>, the hell pilgrims armor was crushed like scrap metal, but he only groaned faintly and withdrew.


    Where are you going?


    Raon advanced with the <em>Supreme Harmony Steps</em> as smoothly as gliding through ice. He reached the hell pilgrims back and unleashed <em>Frost Pond</em>.


    <strong>aang!</strong>


    Raons two des attacked one after the other, and the hell pilgrim deflected Heavenly Drive while burning the frozen de with hellfire.


    The reaction was appropriate on top of being fast. Raon felt like he was facing a properly trained knight or swordsman instead of an undead.


    <strong>Grr!</strong>


    It was time for the hell pilgrims counterattack. He bent his right knee to lower his posture and raised his sword.


    <em>The upper posture.</em>


    The upper posture was the sword posture with the strongest attack. Focusing on defense was the best course of action.


    <em>However</em>


    Defense didnt suit him since he had the <em>Ring of Fire</em>. Raon believed in his own skills and advanced.


    <strong>Whaam!</strong>


    The hell pilgrims sword fell towards him. It was slow, but the heavy weight pressing upon his body gave the impression that it was unmanageably fast.


    The principles of the heavy sword polished to the extreme were dwelling in his sword.


    <em>That sword</em>


    Raon bit his lip.


    <em>Ill destroy it.</em>


    Raon had trained enough with the heavy sword that he wouldnt lose to any swordsman.


    He stomped the ground with his left foot and unleashed the <em>Ten Thousand mes Cultivation</em> to the extreme.


    The rotationing from his ankle was connected to his waist, shoulder, and wrist before he pushed with Heavenly Drive. A crimson sphere appeared from the tip of his sword and rotated violently.


    <strong>Cring!</strong>


    It was the <em>Ten Thousand mes Cultivations Revolving Sky</em>. The raging sphere condensed to the extreme and shed against the hell pilgrims strike head-on.


    <strong>Whaaam!</strong>


    Alongside a tremendous firestorm, the Land of Death fissured like a spiderweb, and the ground shook.


    Haa


    Raon exhaled heavily, and a frightening light flickered from the smoke. He wasing. Raon immediately prepared his defense.


    The longsword burning in ck pierced through the smoke and rushed toward Raons heart.


    <strong>ng!</strong>


    He deflected the blow with the de of Requiem, which was engulfed with the <em>Blizzard Sword Art</em>s wind, and shed down with Heavenly Drive wrapped with a crazy beasts bloodlust.


    <strong>ng!</strong>


    Raon twisted his lips while pushing the hell pilgrims sword back with his two swords from close quarters.


    <em>Hes rather strong.</em>


    He had an unreasonable amount of physical strength, probably because hed transcended from being a human and a death knight.


    <em>Moreover</em>


    Judging from the hell pilgrims unwavering eyes, he mustve been hiding his skills.


    Ill force you to use your power.


    He covered Heavenly Drive with fire and the de of Requiem with ice to push back the hell pilgrim, but he suddenly lost strength in his limbs.


    His head hurt from the dizziness, and the world started spinning and grew blurry. He lowered his gaze slightly upon feeling something flowing from his nose. It looked like it was bleeding.


    <em>The impact shouldnt be strong enough for that.</em>


    He did gain some internal injuries, but they were definitely not bad enough to lose strength in his limbs and have a nosebleed.


    <strong>You idiot.</strong>


    Raon swallowed nervously in confusion, and Wraths voice could be heard.


    <strong>The King of Essence warned you. Stamina and aura can be recovered, but not willpower.</strong>


    <em>Thats</em>


    <strong>Moreover, you already used the </strong><strong><em>Silver White Aurora</em></strong><strong> twice. Even though the King of Essence helped you, you were eating away at your soul. You are only getting the rebound from it.</strong>


    Wrathplimented him, saying that hested long enough for a human. It was such a rare urrenceing from him.


    <em>But I have to endure for now Kuh!</em>


    Raon tried to push the hell pilgrim back, but he mustve noticed that Raon was having some trouble since he kept pushing even more powerfully.


    <strong>Psssh!</strong>


    The hell pilgrims sword pushed Heavenly Drive and the de of Requiem to start burning Raons shoulder when a clear wind blew from behind to reduce the heat.


    <strong>ng!</strong>


    Rimmer had appeared before he knew it and easily fended off the hell pilgrims sword.


    <strong>Grr!</strong>


    The hell pilgrim briefly ground his teeth and stepped back.


    Huff


    Raon exhaled roughly, and Rimmer walked up to him.


    I didnt teach my disciple to grow so weak.


    Rimmer shrugged his shoulders while looking at Raon.


    How long did you even fight to be panting like a puppy?


    <em>Man, Ive been fighting for six days straight!</em>


    Raon bared his teeth and red at Rimmer. He wanted to argue that hed been fighting for six days straight without even sleeping, but his voice wasnting out.


    Well, I guess its not a bad idea to do a teachers work once in a while.


    Rimmer smiled and went towards the hell pilgrim.


    You asked me about the <em>Sword Field Creation</em>, right?


    Squad leader?


    You should witness it with your own eyes and learn what has changed.


    His sword pierced the dark sky and his left hand pointed at the ground.


    <em>Sword Field Creation</em>.


    Rimmers quiet voice crushed the darkness.


    <em>Song of Wind and Lightning</em>.


    Lightning capable of destroying evil struck the ground and pierced through the Land of Death alongside his aloof deration.