-Hey! Who said I was dancing because I liked it!
Wrath shouted at the top of his lungs.
-I'm angry about being stuck here eating only Nadine bread...
'If you don't want to eat Nadine bread before your stomach even empties, then be quiet.'
Raon narrowed his eyes as he looked at the Nadine bread placed in the corner of the training room.
-Fine!
He lowered his head with his mouth shut like a child. Even he thought it was absurd that bread was the weapon to subdue a demon king.
Raon sat in the center of the training room, leaving the now-quiet Wrath alone.
'The first thing to do is...'
It would be breaking down the martial arts.
Creating a new martial art is like solving a puzzle.
It was no different from overturning all the completed puzzles and picking up only the necessary pieces to put together a new picture.
With his eyes closed, he ruthlessly dissected the five martial arts manuals given by Glenn, the Sword Saint's True Demon Sword and Demon Soldier Blade, Rimmer's Garunua, and various other martial arts he was already familiar with.
-Ugh! It's so complicated!
Wrath muttered that his head was noisy and retreated into the ice flower bracelet.
However, Raon had already entered a state of extreme focus and didn't even realize that Wrath had disappeared.
'I'll keep the techniques of the True Demon Sword, but it's better to remove the complexity of the Demon Soldier Blade. The kids won't be able to keep up. The super senses from the Fangs of Insanity and Blizzard Sword Art are absolutely necessary. However, it's better to discard the basic forms.'
If all the advantages of various martial arts were mixed, it would surely create an incredible transcendent martial art, but the difficulty of learning would be so high that even I, who created it, wouldn't be able to master it.
I needed to include only the essential advantages while removing mediocre or unnecessary elements to maintain simplicity.
As I pieced together the puzzle of martial arts in my mind, my brain began to heat up intensely.
As the Ring of Fire naturally resonated, my vision cleared and a pure white space opened up.
It was a mental world where swords were stuck in the ground like a knight's grave.
It seemed I had come here thanks to my concentration pushed to the extreme.
However, there was a difference from before.
Originally, half of this world was engulfed in flames and the other half in cold energy, but now, albeit small, wind and earth had taken their places.
Raon licked his lips as he looked at the swords embedded in the ground.
'It'll be easier to put the puzzle together here.'
As I recalled the True Demon Sword in my mind, a blue sword stuck on the right side sprang up and unleashed a heavy sword strike. It was a basic form of the True Demon Sword.
Next, as I visualized the Demon Soldier Blade, a red sword on the left side unleashed, spewing a crimson aura. It was a basic form of the Demon Soldier Blade.
Just by recalling martial arts in my mind, the swords embedded in the mental world reproduced those forms exactly. The time to combine the puzzle pieces began to shorten drastically.
Whoosh!
Before I knew it, all the swords stuck in the mental world rose up and began to draw countless forms. It was like watching a storm of swords.
'Perfect.'
Raon's red eyes followed the countless sword forms extending out, not missing a single one, as he began to separate the lines to discard and the lines to keep.
* * *
"I will not return."
Burren answered without the slightest hesitation.
"What's the reason?"
Karoon raised his dry gaze, not surprised as if he had somewhat expected this.
"Because the Central Martial Palace is not where I should be."
Burren answered without avoiding Karoon's eyes.
'That's right. This is not where I belong.'
In the past, I would have accepted father's proposal without any hesitation.
Becoming a leader within the Central Martial Palace and learning martial arts from father was both my goal and dream.
But now, I am different from who I was then.
After going through countless life-and-death situations with the Light Wind Division, they have become not just comrades, but true family.
The place where I should live now, and continue to live, is not the Central Martial Palace, but the Fifth Training Ground where the Light Wind Division stays.
"I am Burren Zieghart, the third squad leader of the Light Wind Division."
Burren placed his hand on the sword at his waist. He recited his affiliation as if making a declaration, revealing a firm look in his eyes.
"Even if I personally pass down the supreme martial art to you?"
"My thoughts remain unchanged."
He nodded, looking towards where the Fifth Training Ground was located.
"Right now, the Light Wind Division Leader has secluded himself to create a martial art for the Light Wind Division. Even if that martial art is not as good as the supreme martial art you would pass down, it will be the best for me."
My feelings for Raon are not just as a superior or a friend, but as a lord and a brother.
For him, I could even give up my life, so giving up martial arts is nothing.
"Creating a martial art for the Light Wind Division..."
Karoon nodded, following Burren's gaze.
"He certainly has that ability. Once-in-a-thousand-years talent. Superior to any human I've ever seen. That's why..."
His eyes sank into a cold color.
"You will become a shadow of Raon Zieghart."
"Pardon?"
"Raon Zieghart is a great light. Wherever he goes, he draws people's attention and devours fame. You will be gradually swallowed by that light, becoming a dark shadow that doesn't even know its own color."
Karoon twisted his lips as if sneering.
"Are you really satisfied with that?"
"..."
"I asked if you're satisfied living as a shadow under someone else, born as a direct descendant of Zieghart."
His voice flashed sharply as if sharpened.
"How many people know the name of the Light Wind Division's third squad leader, even if they know the Light Wind Division? What Whirlwind Sword? It's just an empty title."
"..."
Burren ground his molars. Karoon was gnawing at a spot where inferiority complex was bound to sprout.
"But it's different if you come to the Central Martial Palace."
A strange heat blazed in Karoon's eyes.
"Even if it's unreasonable for you to surpass Raon Zieghart, I can prevent you from becoming his shadow. I'll make it possible for you to become the Palace Master of the Central Martial Palace in the future and be the protagonist of your own life."
He stretched out his hand as if he truly meant it.
"Take it. This is the last chance you'll be given."
Karoon remained motionless with his right hand raised, as if confident.
"Father."
Burren looked not at Karoon's hand that was right in front of him, but into his eyes.
"Seeing that you're even looking for the son you once abandoned, it seems you're having a hard time lately."
He curled his lips into a smile.
"That's right."
Karoon calmly nodded, as if revealing his great capacity even in the face of sarcasm.
"I haven't given up on the position of head of house."
His voice didn't waver. It was a voice firmly believing in himself.
"To revive the Central Martial Palace, we need capable people. You could fulfill that role."
"...I used to respect you, Father."
Burren looked out the window, saying something unrelated to Karoon's proposal.
"Even a small compliment from you would make me so excited I couldn't sleep. I practically lived in the training ground to keep hearing those praises. Being acknowledged by you and inheriting your position was my only dream. Now I've achieved that."
He smiled faintly, recalling his childhood when he nurtured his dreams while watching Karoon's back.
"So then..."
"But that dream, that goal has already sunk into the ground. Not by me, but by you yourself, Father."
Burren continued, watching Karoon's slightly trembling eyes.
"I'm not rejecting your offer because I was shamefully abandoned. It's just that now, the Fifth Training Ground is more important to me than this Central Martial Palace. Raon and the Light Wind Division have become more precious to me than you and my brothers."
Burren continued in an unwavering tone.
"You said you'd make it possible for me to become the Palace Master of the Central Martial Palace? Yes, I will. I will consume this Central Martial Palace. But not for my own desires, but for Raon and the Light Wind Division."
He clenched his right fist and thumped his left chest.
"I have pledged to dedicate my heart to the Light Wind Division Leader. If the leader wants to become the head of the house, I will pave the way. If the leader wants to leave the family, I will break down the doors. If you stand in Raon's way, I will face you with my sword."
Burren struck his left chest again, revealing the pledge he had made when he survived thanks to Raon.
"I will proudly live as the shadow of the Light Wind Division Leader, as the third squad leader of the Light Wind Division."
He bowed his head, uttering words of refusal without the slightest hesitation.
"..."
Karoon said nothing. He just silently gazed at his changed son with his eyes.
"If you've finished speaking, I'll take my leave now."
"There's an incorrect part in what you said."
As Burren was about to leave the hospital room, Karoon lowered his hand.
"Pardon?"
"The martial art that Raon Zieghart will create won't be inferior to the supreme martial art I would teach you. That's the kind of person he is."
Karoon brought up an unexpected topic. Honestly, it was more bewildering than when he had asked him to return.
"Make sure to learn it well."
After saying that, he turned his gaze to the window as if no longer interested.
"...I'll be going then."
After watching Karoon's back, he bowed his head and left the hospital room. For a moment, just a brief moment, he seemed to see the back of the father he had respected when he was young.
'No, that's not it.'
Burren shook his head to erase the absurd thought.
* * *
The office of the Robert family head.
As Derus Robert was looking at the window where the sunset light was fading, a dull knock was heard.
"Come in."
He answered softly, as if he knew who was outside the door.
Thud!
The door opened roughly and Derus's youngest son, Lephon Robert, entered.
"Father! Have you heard? There's a huge commotion on the continent!"
Lephon bounced excitedly as he rushed to Derus.
"Running around as soon as you return from your mission, you haven't changed."
Derus smiled as he patted Lephon's head.
"So, what kind of commotion has happened that you came to see me right after returning?"
"Of course, it's about Sir Raon! He conquered the Sword Saint's Tomb and established the Sanctuary of Blades! There are even rumors that the Archmage of Eternal Flame and the Silent Sword Master have acknowledged the area!"
Lephon clenched his fists, his face flushed with excitement.
"He's a true hero! Everyone is calling out Lord Raon's name right now!"
"Tsk tsk."
Derus clicked his tongue while smiling without the slightest wrinkle.
"For a fan of the Light Wind Division Leader, you're quite slow with the news. I knew all about it long ago."
"W-well, it couldn't be helped! I've been on a mission for over two months! I barely heard this at the tavern in front of our family estate..."
"So you're saying you went into the tavern in front of our family estate before even reporting back from your mission?"
"Oops!"
Lephon covered his mouth with his eyes wide open like a puppy.
"This won't do. I'll have to have a word with the Young Sword Division Leader."
"Ah, Father. No, Dad! Please!"
He clasped his hands, begging for leniency.
"Heh."
Derus smiled softly as he patted Lephon's head.
"Alright. Did you complete your mission well?"
"It was a breeze. Should I tell you about it right now?"
"It's almost dinner time, so I'd like to hear it together with your mother."
He shook his head and smiled.
"Ah, that sounds good!"
Lephon left the office, saying he'd quickly wash up and return.
Derus maintained his smile even after Lephon left. The servants passing by in the corridor saw this and smiled along with him.
A moment later, Kubara entered the office and closed the door. Only then did the smile on Derus's face turn cold.
Kubara felt a chill run down her spine as she saw Derus's cold smile.
'This is beyond just being cold-hearted.'
Derus didn't stiffen his expression even though Lephon was praising and respecting Raon, who was practically his enemy.
Instead, he joined in the praise and showed a kind smile. Only that monster could control his emotions to such a degree.
"It seems the rumors about Raon Zieghart have spread across the entire continent."
Derus sat back on his desk, tilting his chin.
"It was an event that attracted a lot of attention."
Kubara's expression hardened as she mentioned that the story of the Sword Saint's Tomb and the Sanctuary of Blades had spread throughout the continent.
"It's quite regrettable that we couldn't bury his sword in that Sanctuary of Blades."
Derus twisted his lips upward. It was similar to the smile he had shown Lephon, but its color was filled with eeriness rather than warmth.
"Has he returned to Zieghart?"
"Yes. However, it seems he's stirred up trouble there as well."
"Trouble?"
"Killian, the Vice Head of the Zieghart Council of Elders..."
Kubara recounted the incident as if she had been there herself, telling how Raon had subdued Killian and made him his slave.
"The revival of Sylvia Zieghart..."
Derus narrowed his eyes, focusing more on Sylvia's name than Raon's.
"Wasn't she said to have the best qualities among Glenn's children?"
"Yes. She was rumored to have a gentle personality but outstanding talent. And…"
Kubara lowered her voice as if whispering.
"There are stories that her artificial energy center was created using the Dragon Heart of Kaivar, the Blue Dragon."
"An artificial energy center made from a Dragon Heart..."
Derus licked his lips as if craving it.
"If the opportunity arises, we should take at least that. Of course, even an energy center made from a Dragon Heart wouldn't be enough to cover the losses from this incident, but..."
He chewed his lip as if Raon's face had come to mind again.
"Indeed. The losses are severe. Originally, war should have broken out by now, turning the entire continent into a sea of flames."
"..."
Kubara's shoulders trembled at the eerie aura that seemed to choke the breath out of her.
"However..."
A blazing fire began to burn in Derus's eyes.
"That spark hasn't been completely extinguished."
He curled his lips as he looked at the peaceful Robert territory.
"The Six Kings and Five Demons will soon become the Five Kings and Five Demons."
* * *
Swords clash and one disappears.
Even the surviving sword sinks, unable to overcome the newly born sword.
In the mental world, countless martial arts were being born and disappearing repeatedly.
Even Raon himself didn't know how many he had created and how many had disappeared.
However, thanks to creating and erasing numerous martial arts, he had firmly established the pillars of the Light Wind Division's martial art.
'Wind.'
Not just an ordinary wind, but a sensory wind that could permeate any martial art.
A wind that seemed alive, adding speed and sharpness when attacking, and filling in walls when defending.
That was the martial art I had envisioned for the Light Wind Division.
As he established the solid pillars, dozens of lightning bolts struck his mind.
The eight rings of fire filling the center of the mental world spun madly. As the upper dantian opened, the scattered puzzle pieces of martial arts gathered.
Countless pieces of martial arts rose on their own and began to fit into his mind.
The distorted parts straightened out, and the broken pieces put on harmonious garments.
Whoosh!
The moment the last piece fit, the image of a new martial art arose.
A grand light and wind. A blue wind that would cover the world quietly spread and enveloped my entire body. (E/N: who knows what a blue wind is)
As the brilliantly scattered pieces of light and wind settled in his energy center, the Garunua, which hadn't fully established itself, built its own domain.
Boom!
Raon opened his eyes, feeling the massive resonance erupting in his head. The mental world had subsided, and the cozy-looking training room came into view.
"Haa..."
He exhaled a heavy breath while rubbing his lower abdomen. It wasn't a dream after all. The newly created martial art's essence was already engraved in his body and spirit.
-Hey! You brat! You said you'd spread jam on the Nadine bread! Where did you learn such bad manners to starve me for a whole week! I'll kill... huh?
Wrath stopped mid-yell and widened his eyes.
-W-what is this? Is this your new martial art?
'Yes.'
Blue light-infused wind rose from the tip of Raon's index finger.
-T-this is pretty good, isn't it?
Wrath blinked, seemingly surprised that a not-so-bad martial art had been created.
"I didn't expect to hear praise from you."
-This king is a demon king who calls good things good!
'Right. That's true.'
-So, what's the name of this martial art?
'Name...'
Raon nodded after thinking for a moment.
"Gale Wind Style. Since I created it for the Light Wind Division, there's no better name than that."
It seemed the most fitting name as it utilized both light and wind, beyond the Light Wind Division.
-You suck at naming. You have no talent for naming...
Just as Wrath was sneering.
[You have created the transcendent martial art
[You have received
[Due to the effect of the title
[Acquired Garunua...]
[All abilities have...]
A message appeared indicating that not only had he created a martial art, but thanks to Wrath's acknowledgment, the transcendent martial art had changed into a supreme martial art.
-Ugh...
Wrath's jaw dropped as he saw the message.
-Damn it all! I didn't acknowledge it, I just said it was okay!
He flailed his arms and legs, demanding that his words be heard.
"Wow..."
Raon smiled as he patted Wrath's head.
"It's been a while. Sucker. No, I mean, generous Wrath!"
-You just called me a sucker! You brat! I am the Monarch of Wrath and of the Devildom...
"Yes, yes. Sucker."
-I-I'm not a sucker!
Tears welled up in Wrath's round eyes.
-You angelic bastard!