Chapter 296

Inside the underground training ground, where sunlight couldn't reach, shouts of concentration were resonating like cries of despair across the fine sand covering the ground.

The ones making those shouts were the Light Wind squad. Every member of the Light Wind squad was gathered in the training ground, practicing sword formations.

Even though little time had passed, and they still hadn't recovered from their injuries, their spirit was completely different from before.

They hadn't simply become stronger—the endless stream of ferocious aura blades emerging from them made them look like completely different people.

"Rest for twenty minutes."

Burren ordered them to rest after the training ended.

"Rest for twenty minutes!"

Even though the Light Wind swordsmen heard the order to rest, they didn't simply sit down. They distanced themselves a bit from each other and started their personal training.

Even though it was break time,  the sound of the swinging swords and footsteps were the only things that could be heard in the training ground. Their expressions were extremely ferocious, as if they were facing an enemy even though it was just training.

After consecutively performing the Barren Wind Sword five times, Burren straightened his back.

'Damn it…'

A moment. A brief moment of idleness was enough for horrible thoughts to appear in his mind.

Raon might have ended up wearing Eden's mask, or Dorian might have been turned into a bloody demon and would be drinking blood by then. Even thoughts about the worst-case scenario, where both of them had already died, kept crawling around in his mind.

'Please stay alive, both of you.'

He'd developed an indescribable amount of gratitude for Raon. As even his soul had been saved, on top of his life, he wanted Raon to stay alive even if he had to die himself.

'Please.'

While Burren was praying for their safety while biting his lip, Martha walked up to him.

"It's time."

"Alright."

He nodded and looked at Martha. Her face was pale. She wasn't in a good condition at all because she was supposed to focus on recovery instead of training.

However, he couldn't tell her to rest. She wasn't going to comply anyway, and he couldn't even begin to imagine how she must've been feeling when her archenemy had kidnapped her companion.

"Don't mind me. Instead, do something about that."

Martha seemed to have realized what Burren was thinking as she furrowed her brows, then pointed behind her. Runaan was swinging a sword of frost with a frightening atmosphere around her.

"She's gone completely nuts. She's been swinging her sword nonstop, not even sleeping. She's really going to die at this rate."

"Hmm…"

Burren bit his lip while looking at Runaan. Even though Runaan's injury was as severe as Martha's, she kept training violently, to the point that it was difficult to approach her.

The girl who stared blankly at the sky wasn't there anymore, and a bloodthirsty swordswoman had replaced her.

"I can't stop her."

Burren sighed deeply and shook his head. It wasn't just Runaan and Martha. Others also kept swinging their swords like madmen while thinking about Raon and Dorian.

Since he understood their feelings, it was impossible for him to stop them.

"Gather up! We are going to resume the Light Wind Formation's practic—"

Creak.

Just as he was about to resume formation practice, the training ground's door opened smoothly and Rimmer entered the room. His eyes were calm, unlike his usual appearance, and emotionless to a scary extent.

"We've managed to locate Raon."

The Light Wind swordsmen suddenly stopped moving upon hearing Rimmer's quiet voice. A ray of hope sparked in their exhausted eyes.

"R-really?"

"Where is he?"

"Is Raon still alive/"

"Wh-what happened to Dorian…?"

The Light Wind swordsmen ran up to Rimmer and barraged him with questions that they'd been waiting to ask.

"He's located near Cameloon, and I don't know the details yet."

Rimmer shook his head.

"The Black Market is preparing a large-scale dimensional shift. We will be using a dimensional door to reach Cameloon. Since we still have some time before that happens, tell me now if you want to withdraw."

No one answered his question. They were telling him that all of them wanted to join the operation.

"Despite your resolve, your eyes are brimming with nervousness."

Rimmer smiled lightly, like always.

"You must be worried that you might not be helpful in the fight, or about how many enemies will be waiting for you and how strong they will be. However, you will regret it forever if you don't join the operation today."

His words removed their doubts, and they clenched their fists.

"I can't solve the other anxieties, but there's one thing that I can guarantee. It doesn't matter who we have to face, or how many."

A frightening smile appeared on Rimmer's face as he met the Light Wind squad's fervent gazes.

"Because the strongest person in the continent is wielding his sword once again."

* * *

Raon licked his lips while looking at the red crocodile mask in his hand.

'I think it's some kind of Crocodile.'

The sharp and large teeth and the bumps on its skin suggested that it was the large monster, Crocodile.

'I wonder which one it is.'

Crocodiles appeared in various places in the continent, and judging from the red color of the mask, it was most likely a Crocodile from a warm region or a desert.

'And it must be a king.'

Eden didn't use average monsters. Instead, they used the magic stones left behind by chieftains or kings to craft helmets like the one he was holding. Raon could guess with certainty that the soul dwelling inside the helmet was from the Crocodile king.

Aren't they going to find out if someone else enters while you are wearing that helmet?

Wrath frowned while pointing at the treasury's door.

'That might happen.'

Wrath was right, since wearing the helmet after telling them he was looking for armor and a weapon was enough to gain anyone's suspicion.

'That's why I'm not planning to put it on.'

What? But you said you were going to wear…

'I have a method to connect into the mental world without wearing it.'

Raon smiled faintly while placing his hand inside the helmet.

N-nonsense! You are a human being. It's impossible for you to control your soul as you please!

'It's true. It would've been impossible by myself.'

He nodded and looked at Wrath, who was tilting his head.

'But I have your wrath.'

Wrath's wrath was stuck to his soul. Using that wrath was going to allow him to clash against the monster's soul without wearing the helmet.

'You are really the best door—I mean, helper.'

The wrath must've been planted in him in order to help Wrath take over the body one day, but it was proving helpful to him in various ways.

Wrath ended up benefitting him even though he was trying to harm him. Even the Giving Tree from the story wasn't as good as him.

Ack!

Wrath's jaw dropped, as he hadn't expected that at all.

N-no way! Why is the wrath helping you when it's supposed to be a hindrance? Why are you using it as if it were yours to begin with?

He burst out in a rage and flailed his fists around to attack him. Obviously, it hurt even less than a cotton swab because he was too weak.

'Thank you for your continuous donations.'

Raon pushed Wrath back with a grin on his face.

Damn it!

Raon gathered the wrath attached to his soul while watching Wrath turn blue from depression. Sparks appeared from his right hand, which was holding the helmet, and his vision turned white.

"Hmm…"

Once he opened his eyes again, the world had changed.

The silent treasury wasn't there anymore, and an erupting volcano could be seen instead. The dry, heated air was storming through his lungs.

'I got the perfect one.'

Raon smiled while watching the boiling lava. He thought it was going to be a desert, but he was at a volcano instead. The mask must've belonged to a Lava Crocodile King.

Rumble!

As Raon examined the area around the volcano with a satisfied smile on his face, an extremely large eruption occurred at the center of the volcano.

Wham!

A huge shadow appeared behind the lava surging to the sky. It was the Lava Crocodile King. The Crocodile with a crimson glare in its eyes was bigger than any other Crocodile he'd seen before.

Even though his power was far weaker than Loctar, his size alone was comparable to his dragon form.

"Are you the human who will be offering their body to me?"

The Lava Crocodile King raised his chin and looked down on Raon.

"No."

Raon snickered and shook his head.

"I'm the human who came here to boil you up and eat you."

"What a fearless one."

The Lava Crocodile King snorted.

"Humans who tried to hunt me have always looked like you. However, they all ended up in my stomach, without exception."

He arrogantly shook his snout.

"A mere human is nothing but food. That's how it went in the past, and the same goes in the present."

The Lava Crocodile King confidently stomped the ground.

'That's understandable.'

The volcanic area was the worst terrain, one that could make people run out of breath and exhaust their stamina just from walking through it.

Even the excellent knights and magicians would have had difficulty slaying the Lava Crocodile King, who could casually stroll around the volcanic area.

'This is different, though.'

Their current location wasn't an actual volcanic area, but a mental world. The lava's influence could be easily stopped with willpower.

"I'm missing the softness of the human flesh after seeing you. I'm going to have a feast right after I devour your soul and leave this place. Don't try making this difficult, let's quickly…"

"Yes, let's finish this off quickly."

Raon nodded and drew Heavenly Drive.

"Before the more annoying one arrives here."

"Such arrogance!"

The Lava Crocodile King widened his mouth, crimson lava gushing from his throat.

Swaaa!

Raon lowered Heavenly Drive until it almost reached the ground before striking upwards. The blue frost emerging from the silver blade turned into a majestic wall to clash against the lava.

Pssh!

The huge wall didn't melt down from the Lava Crocodile King's lava, instead staying the exact same as it had been in the beginning. It wasn't because Raon's coldness was stronger than the crocodile's heat, but because of the difference in willpower.

"Wh-what? How could mere ice stop my lava?!"

The Lava Crocodile King's eyes widened in astonishment.

"Such a tiny ice shard should be unable to last even an instant against the lava!"

"It is not simple ice."

Raon chuckled and took a step forward. Blue frost was bursting from Heavenly Drive's blade.

"I guess you are rather ignorant about this place."

Probably because he didn't get a proper explanation after the helmet was made, he seemed to be completely ignorant about battles of willpower.

Raon smoothly kicked the ground.

"You are digging your own grave, you idiot!"

As soon as Raon jumped into the air, the Lava Crocodile King stomped the ground. Lava erupted from the fissures on the land and surged towards Raon's body.

"Are you calling an attack of this level my grave?"

Raon made the rings of fire resonate. He increased his soul level and unleashed the Silver Cyclone of the Blizzard Sword Art.

Whoosh!

The storming frost spread out from the blade and froze the five streams of lava created by the Lava Crocodile King.

"H-how is this happening?!"

The Lava Crocodile King stepped backwards. His chin was trembling in fear, overwhelmed by the resonance of the soul created by the Ring of Fire.

"Where are you trying to go?"

Raon kicked the frozen lava and unleashed the Blizzard Sword Art techniques one after the other. A sharp wind of frost severed through the Lava Crocodile King's skin and tore his flesh apart.

"Kuaaah!"

The Lava Crocodile King screamed in pain.

'It's a relief that he's different from Loctar.'

Raon would've been reluctant to kill him if the crocodile acted like a knight just like Loctar did, but he was just a beast who wanted to feed on humans. Raon didn't feel guilty about killing him at all.

"You bastard…"

The Lava Crocodile King engulfed his body with lava.

"I'll make you disappear completely!"

He turned into a lump of lava to charge at Raon. He could attack and defend himself at the same time with that strategy.

"That's impossible, unfortunately."

Raon stomped the ground. He crushed the lava covering the ground and thrust Heavenly Drive, which he'd pulled back and to the left.

Swoosh!

The sharp silver line severed through the thick lava, the frozen blade following up to dash into the Lava Crocodile King's head and pierced through it.

"Kuaah…"

The Lava Crocodile King slammed on the ground and groaned.

"H-how is it even possible, when I'm the king of the volcano…?"

He collapsed without even realizing what hit him. The light slowly faded from his crimson eyes.

"Was he the weak one? Or…"

'Is it because I got stronger?'

It was probably because his willpower had grown a lot stronger than he thought after absorbing Loctar's soul. Raon felt like it was unlikely for him to lose unless he faced an opponent like Wrath.

Rumble!

The volcanic area collapsed, and the Lava Crocodile King's corpse disappeared. It was signaling the end of the world.

Cring!

As Raon was waiting to return to the real world, the blue dimension opened up in the air.

"The King of Essence has arrived… Why is it already over?!"

The cotton candy who was about to cross the dimension, widened his mouth upon seeing the collapsing volcanic area.

"You bastard! That was way too fas—"

Even before Wrath could finish talking, his vision turned black.

'Why did he even come here?'

* * *

Raon opened his eyes. He could see the Lava Crocodile King's helmet in his hand.

'The color faded slightly.'

Probably because it lost the Lava Crocodile King's soul, the helmet looked slightly paler than before.

'Wrath.'

Raon tapped on the ice flower bracelet where Wrath was dwelling.

'How long has it been?'

Kuh, the King of Essence doesn't know either.

Wrath turned his head away. He sounded slightly salty.

'Why not?'

H-he was too focused on getting into your mental world…

'He's really useless.'

'Why did you even get there when you have already exhausted your energy?'

H-he was just curious…

'Do you have nothing better to do?'

Raon shook his head at Wrath, carefully placing the Lava Crocodile Helmet back in its original spot.

What kind of nonsense is that? The King of Essence has lots of things to do! He needs to plan for future meals and check the food's components…

Raon covered Wrath's mouth upon seeing the messages appearing in front of his eyes.

[You've absorbed the Lava Crocodile King's soul.]

[All stats have increased by 6.]

[Ring of Fire's proficiency has increased.]

[Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation's proficiency has increased.]

[The Trait Fire Affinity has been created.]

Those were the rewards he had received from absorbing the Lava Crocodile King's soul. It was absorbed faster than the last time, probably because the soul was smaller than Loctar's.

'This is also pretty good.'

The messages were telling him that all of his stats had increased, as well as the proficiency for the Ring of Fire and the Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation. He didn't gain a new martial art because it wasn't a humanoid monster, but he had received a new trait that was even more satisfactory.

'Fire Affinity.'

Just as Water Affinity could enhance coldness, Fire Affinity was capable of enhancing heat, which was extremely satisfactory for him.

H-how does this even make any sense?!

Wrath's eyes were trembling as he watched the messages.

How come everything is going so well for you?! Why is the entire world spinning in your favor?!

He ground his teeth violently, saying that he had never received so many benefits when he was using the system himself.

Why are you taking everything for yourself when the King of Essence can't even eat meals because of you?

'Because I've been a good person?'

Woof, woof! That's a freeaking dogshit!

Wrath glared at him while barking like a puppy.

You have the worst personality among any of the humans and demons the King of Essence has seen so far! No one is worse than you, even in Devildom!

'Is that what Devildom feels like?'

Devildom felt familiar because he kept hearing about it. Raon felt like it wouldn't be a bad idea to visit Devildom one day, since it didn't sound like it was a bad place.

"Hmm…"

Raon licked his lips while looking at the exit of the treasury.

'I don't think too much time has passed, but…'

He felt like not even an hour had passed, but he could've been wrong about it because time passed differently in the mental world.

'I should leave for now.'

He wanted to get the other helmets but shook his head.

'They might grow more suspicious of me if I spend too much time here.'

He figured he should just take a sword and come back later to devour the other helmets' souls.

Raon took a longsword that looked similar to the one Loctar used from the table where swords were displayed in a line.

Rumble!

Just as he was about to leave with the sword equipped around his waist, the room—or, rather, the entire land—started to tremble.

'What's going on?'

On top of the trembling, Raon could feel that people were busily moving around outside of the treasury.

Raon turned around with a frown on his face, and the treasury's floor opened up. The warrior wearing a goblin helmet who'd been waiting outside climbed into the room.

"We are in trouble. Please come outside, since the treasury needs to be sealed."

"Trouble?"

"An intruder has passed the Lunar Barrier."

"An intruder? Who is it?"

"I'm not sure about that either."

'Can it be…?'

Raon's heart started pounding violently upon hearing about the intruder.

Raon spread his aura perception as wide as possible while leaving the treasury. His eyes filled with anticipation, turning dark before he even left the palace.

"Huh…"

His steps came to a halt because of the overwhelming presence coming from outside.

'What is this?'

He thought that someone like Sheryl or a division leader had come to his rescue from Zieghart, but that was definitely not the case.

The mysterious presence he felt didn't even lose to Glenn himself.

Raon swallowed nervously and went to leave the building.

'What kind of monster is that?'