“I-I’m really going to die… Everyone’s going to die at this rate…”
Dorian crawled on the floor of the training ground with a trembling chin. His eyes didn’t have any focus.
“It’s already morning. Kukekekeke!”
Burren was lying flat on the ground and burst into laughter while watching the rising sun. He looked a bit crazed in contrast to his usual composure.
“Shit, shit, shiiit!”
Martha was rhythmically swearing towards the sky at the same pace as her breathing. Her voice was getting weaker and weaker from her exhaustion.
“Raon is the ugliest person in the world…”
Runaan kept calling him ugly with her head slammed on the ground. She sometimes murmured that she missed the ice cream from the previous night.
“H-how the hell is his training always so difficult?”
“I can never get used to it. The intensity increases whenever I’m getting used to it, and it’s really killing me…”
“I-it’s partly because of the Black Converter.”
“I told you to destroy it already!”
“It’s pointless to destroy it. It gets multiplied inside that Dorian bastard’s belly pocket.”
“In that case, let’s destroy Dorian.”
The Light Wind swordsmen were also lying on the training ground. They looked like they had finally lost it since they kept saying nonsense.
Raon stood in front of the Light Wind squad with the exact same appearance as when he started the training session.
“Listen while you rest.”
“Wh-what are you trying to do this time…?”
Dorian’s eyes were completely terrified, and his hands were trembling.
“I’ll teach you theory from now on.”
Raon straightened his back like the instructors who used to teach them when they were trainees and folded his hands behind his back.
“Let’s start with the Owen Kingdom. The characteristic of Owen’s swordsmanship is its sharpness and precision. It won’t miss the smallest opening and will pierce through without fail.”
“Opening…”
“Precision, hmm.”
“Moreover, they have a great perception. Their ability to notice their opponent’s weakness and flow are the best among the Six Kings. You can’t be careless against them even for an instant.”
The Light Wind squad swallowed nervously upon hearing that they had the best eyes among the Six Kings.
“Next up is the Beast Union.”
Raon raised a second finger.
“The Beast Union’s warriors have the best physical abilities among the Six Kings and the Five Demons. Their bodies can even withstand a sharpened sword without using aura.”
“Ugh…”
“Aren’t they just monsters, then?”
“You said it. They are monsters.”
Raon nodded at the swordsman who called them monsters.
“People in the continent usually call them monsters. Their bodies are as sturdy as steel, their superstrength can even tear a boulder apart, and their martial art has been polished through their beastly instincts. Even though they don’t use any weapons, they are many times more dangerous than warriors who wield a weapon.”
“But they looked like simpletons.”
“Yeah, they felt similar to monsters.”
The swordsmen licked their lips while thinking about the Beast Union warriors they saw in the banquet hall.
“They are even more fearsome because they are simple. Your knees will be shaking when you see them charging towards you like wild boars while enduring aura blades with their bodies without any strategy.”
Raon smiled coldly and created his aura on his fist. His fist was engulfed in fire that expanded to the size of a boulder. If anyone were to be hit by it, injuries would be the least of their worries. It was powerful enough to burst their bodies.
“This is how the Beast Union uses their aura.”
“Wow…”
“Th-that’s a bit scary.”
“Th-that’s going to kill me if it hits me…”
Chills ran down their spines, and their bodies started to tremble.
“Third is Balkar’s magicians and knights. Balkar magician’s characteristic is their fast casting speed. Thanks to the blessing of mana they have, their chanting is fast and precise at the same time. You shouldn’t try to quickly end the fight like you would against the ordinary magicians, as you’ll get knocked out instead.”
Raon raised the third finger and briefly clicked his tongue.
“On the other hand, Balkar’s knights are mainly focused on protecting their magicians, and that’s why their swordsmanship and aura are focused on defense. It won’t be easy to break through their defensive swordsmanship. It’s even harder than steel.”
Magicians were the main forces of the Balkar Kingdom, but that didn’t mean the knights were weak. Even the warriors from the other Six Kings had a hard time breaking through their defense when they protected the magicians.
“Lastly, Robert.”
Raon used the Ring of Fire in order to stop the rage he felt as he mentioned Robert.
“Their swordsmanship is similar to the southern ocean.”
“Isn’t the southern ocean clean and calm?”
Dorian asked while raising his eyes.
“Yes. It’s even calmer than Gazel River, which we’ve to been before. Their swordsmanship took after that ocean and is characterized by its softness and fluidity. It’s even capable of removing the aura and flow from the opponent’s swordsmanship.”
“Huh…”
“Th-they can remove the aura and flow from swordsmanship…?”
“Aren’t they practically invincible in that case?”
The Light Wind swordsmen’s jaws dropped upon hearing that they could remove the flow.
“It’s even worse. The waves of the southern ocean rise high enough to reach the sky for about a month every year. Just like that wave, Robert’s swordsmanship can create a destructive wave upon finding an opportunity after defending with softness and fluidity. You need to be careful about it, as their attack becomes even more powerful than the other Six Kings when that happens.”
Raon quietly sighed after explaining about House Robert’s swordsmanship.
‘It’s frustrating because I can’t tell them more than the basics.’
He wanted to teach them how to completely counter Robert’s swordsmanship, but that would only aggravate Derus’s suspicion. The Light Wind squad had to defeat them with their own skills.
“But how do you even know about all of this, vice squad leader? You’ve never been to the other Six Kings before.”
Dorian tilted his head.
“…The squad leader taught me.”
Raon pondered for a short time, but he just blamed Rimmer like always.
“Ugh…”
“C-can I really win against those monsters?”
“All of them are older than us.”
“Argh, I’m feeling nauseous.”
Their lips were trembling in fear after they heard the four factions’ characteristics.
“You cowards!”
Martha stood up while wobbling.
“Do you really believe there’s anyone in the world who’s experienced more difficulty than us? They are just shitters!”
She ground her teeth while glaring at the swordsmen behind her.
“You are right for once.”
Burren snickered and nodded his head.
“We’ve overcome life and death crises multiple times already. Even though they are Six Kings, it’s unlikely for them to have experienced something like that.”
He clenched his fist and smiled.
“We already decided that we won’t be protected forever.”
Runaan’s eyes were sparkling like stars as she looked at Raon, unlike her usual blank expression.
“That’s true.”
“Yes. We are Zieghart’s Light Wind squad. We won’t be frightened before the fight even begins.”
“Let’s think about how to defeat our opponents.”
The Light Wind swordsmen were encouraged by the team leaders and stood up to get into their positions.
“I like your eyes.”
Raon smiled while looking at the passionate eyes of the Light Wind swordsmen.
“Let’s start with Owen. What would be the best way to deal with their sharp and precise swordsmanship?”
“First strike for the win. It should work if we attack faster than them, right?”
Krein raised his hand and answered.
“Or we could also focus on defense until they get exhausted and attack.”
Burren stood up and licked his lips.
“They are both decent, but I have a better way.”
“A-a better way?”
Martha’s voice was trembling. She must’ve noticed something bad was coming.
“Yes. You just need to not have any openings.”
“Uhh…”
“Are you telling us to remove our openings?”
“I-is that even possible?”
“We’ve only got one day until the match though!?”
“Of course, it’s possible.”
A cold smile appeared on Raon’s face. Even though the sun had already risen, his smile looked even darker than during the night.
“Humans definitely get better if they are pushed to the brink of death. I know it because I’ve done it before.”
“B-brink of death?”
“P-push them?”
“H-his eyes flipped over! They flipped even harder than yesterday! His eyes are gonna pop out!”
Dorian crawled back on all fours. He started taking out boulders and sand from his belly pocket to build a wall.
“You are just imagining things.”
Raon walked up to the Light Wind squad with a gentle voice. Flames burst from Heavenly Drive as he destroyed Dorian’s wall.
Slaam!
Raon’s red eyes sparkled in between the falling rubble.
“Hiee!”
“Uaah!”
“Kyah!”
Dorian wasn’t the only one. Every single Light Wind member was screaming in fright.
“I’ll kill yo—I mean, I’ll draw your true potential until tomorrow.”
* * *
* * *
“I think he’s drawing out their inner rabid dog rather than their true potential.”
Rimmer gasped while secretly observing the training ground where Raon and the Light Wind squad were practicing. His lips were trembling as he watched Raon’s eyes burning even more intensely than the sun itself.
“Tut. I’d rather not have them called the Mad Dog Squad.”
“I like it though.”
Sheryl smiled faintly while watching the Light Wind squad, who could only tremble in fear since they couldn’t even run away.
“Crazy dogs that bite anything in their path are better than cowards that tremble in fear even before the fight starts. Don’t you agree?”
She turned her head to ask for agreement.
“I concur.”
Roenn slowly nodded.
“It’s better to bite the head off and die together instead of losing.”
He was saying something frightening despite his gentle appearance.
‘Everyone here must’ve gone insane.’
Rimmer shook his head and turned his head towards Glenn, who was standing right next to him.
“What do you think, my lord?”
“Raon’s training method consists in drawing out the hidden potential from their bodies and minds. It’s not about a martial art they haven’t learned before. He’s trying to surface the parts of them that they’ve already learned but haven’t gotten used to yet.”
Glenn nodded while watching Raon corner the Light Wind squad.
“How does he even know about such a training method? I don’t even understand how he grew up to be so smart and wise.”
“What?”
“Look at how kind he is. He’s teaching his companions instead of minding his own business right before the tournament because he cares so much about them. He really is a flawless boy.”
“Kind, you say?”
Rimmer frowned and turned his head towards the training ground.
‘He’s being kind? He’s literally a demon!’
Raon’s face looked like an evil spirit as he kept beating up the Light Wind squad. Rimmer couldn’t understand which part of him looked kind at all.
“You can see that his eyes are flipped…”
“He must be tired from teaching the kids all night long.”
“No, but they are screamin—”
“I like their shouts of concentration. They all seem to be enjoying it.”
Nothing was going through Glenn’s head because he was already blinded by love towards his youngest grandson.
“Rimmer.”
“Yes?”
“I didn’t expect you to teach him all that knowledge about the Six Kings. I guess you do your job sometimes.”
Glenn patted Rimmer’s shoulder to praise him before jumping down from the tree.
“You aren’t completely useless.”
“Huhu.”
Sheryl and Roenn followed Glenn with smiles on their faces.
“Ahahaha! That’s how good I am.”
Rimmer scratched the back of his head with a grin on his face because he was complimented for once.
“But…”
He narrowed his eyes and tilted his head while looking at Raon.
“Did I actually tell him about that?”
* * *
Day of the Martial Tournament Preliminaries
Although there was still an hour left until the start of the preliminary, the arena was already jam-packed with spectators from various places.
“Wow, I never thought I would see the fight between warriors from the Six Kings with my very eyes. Nothing’s going to make me cry ever again.”
“You can never watch something like this if you miss this priceless opportunity.”
“Even though they are just future prospects, it feels so exciting because they are carrying the names of the Six Kings!”
“I can’t wait anymore. When are they starting?”
The spectators in the stands were happily talking to each other in anticipation of the matches they would get to witness.
“Who is going to win, I wonder?”
“Owen is obviously going to win. The hosting party is bound to have an advantage when it comes to a suddenly organized competition like this.”
“But there are too many outstanding participants to conclude that.”
“I’m guessing his highness the third prince is going to win the tournament between the Experts.”
“You won’t know until it happens. Malcor from the Beast Union shredded a bishop from the White Blood Religion with his bare hands.”
“Don’t forget Princess Jayna from Balkar. You can’t stop her magic even if she casts it right in front of your eyes.”
“Every single swordsman from House Roberts is also excellent.”
The spectators licked their lips while guessing who was going to win the tournament. Some people had even started gambling while hiding from the knights.
“Then what about the battle between the Masters, which is the main dish today?”
“That’s obviously the fifth rank of the Twelve Stars of the Continent, Cadis Robert.”
“I guess you are right, as no one participated between first and fourth place.”
“No, I heard the seventh place, Borini Kitten, has gotten a lot better than before.”
“Don’t forget Garona the Dragon Slaying Beast from the Beast Union. I heard he’s pretty much an advanced Master even though he’s not one of the Twelve Stars of the Continent.”
“Ah, my heart is beating too fast. I wish they would start already.”
The spectators clenched their fists while imagining the duels between the Masters that were planned after the Experts’ matches.
“How about Zieghart?”
“Hmm, they aren’t too bad, but it’s difficult to say that they can win.”
“First of all, they lack experience and age compared to the others.”
“Two years is a huge difference at that age. It’s too early for them to catch up to the other participants.”
“Honestly, they are easy opponents.”
“It would’ve been a different story if that guy was participating though. You know, the second place of the Twelve Stars of the Continent…”
“I admit that Sir Glenn is the strongest among the Six Kings, but the other swordsmen are honestly not good enough.”
Because Glenn got all of the spotlight recently because of his achievement, everyone was focused on him, and the other swordsmen were hardly noticed.
“But they have Raon Zieghart, the Frostfire Sword of Valor.”
“He’d been doing pretty well, but he ended up getting kidnapped by the enemies.”
“That’s right. He didn’t even manage to escape on his own, and the house had to help him.”
“He’s just too young. It’s impossible for him to fight against the Azure Razor Sword or the Blade of Shattering Wave, who are rumored to have reached advanced Master.”
The spectators shook their hands, saying that Raon wouldn’t have a great result from the Masters’ tournament since he was still too young.
Thud!
While everyone was looking forward to the preliminary with different thoughts in their heads, the arena’s main gate opened up.
Clack.
Along with a tense sound of metal clashing against each other, Owen’s knights—clad in silver armor—entered the arena. The knights walked towards the center with proud gazes coming from their eyes.
“Woaaah!”
“Owen! Owen! Owen!”
“They are the Blue Eagle knights!”
“The Stratus Cloud knights are also here!”
“Azure Razor Sword!”
Since they were inside Owen’s domain, the spectators filling the arena shouted their heads off.
Whoosh.
A cool breeze brushed past them like a tidal wave. The second to enter were swordsmen from House Robert. Robert's swordsmen were wearing blue uniforms, going to the right with gentle smiles on their faces.
“Woaah!”
“House Robert!”
“The Swift Lotus Sword Division is here!”
“That’s the Blade of Shattering Wave! Cadis Robert, the Blade of Shattering Wave!”
“Twelve Stars of the Continent!”
Although their cheers weren’t as loud as when Owen made their entrance, it was still loud enough to match their fame.
Slam!
The footsteps were enough to tremble the land. The Beast Union warriors, who weren’t even wearing any protective equipment, entered the arena while spreading wild energy waves from their bodies.
“The Beast Union is here!”
“Woooow!”
“The Dragon Slaying Beast is at the lead!”
“There are so many of them from the Evil-Eyed Tribe!”
“This is going to be so interesting!”
The Beast Union, who fought violent battles with their strong bodies without using any equipment or weapons, was almost as popular as the Owen Kingdom.
Cring!
Along with a resonance of refined mana, Balkar’s magicians entered the arena. A visible blessing of mana was surrounding the magicians, who were clad in silky robes.
“Woaah!”
“Balkaaaar!”
“I knew Salaman would be here!”
“Princess Jayna! You are killing me!”
“It’s the Magician of Annihilating Strike!”
Since Balkar was located near the Owen Kingdom, they were extremely famous as well.
Step.
The resonance engulfing the arena was different from before.
It wasn’t as proud as Owen, nor as soft as Robert, nor as heavy as the Best Union, nor as mysterious as Balkar.
Step.
There was nothing but toughness in those steps, but it was strangely making everyone prick up their ears and turn their attention towards them.
Step.
Along with footsteps drawing everyone’s attention, Raon and the Light Wind squad passed through the gate. Golden madness was boiling from their eyes, which were as deep as the abyss.
“Woaah…”
“I-is this…”
“Zieghart?”
“Th-they feel different somehow.”
“…Who called them easy?”
The ferocious madness emerging from Zieghart’s swordsmen was oppressing the spectators, and they couldn’t even cheer for them.
“Hmm!”
“Those guys…”
“What the hell…?”
The warriors and magicians from the other Six Kings were also swallowing nervously upon feeling the frightening pressure coming from the Zieghart swordsmen.
Haaa!
After bringing silence to the arena, Zieghart’s swordsmen went to the left and exhaled roughly. It looked like gray smoke was surrounding them.
Whir.
Raon turned around after everyone got into position. He smiled in satisfaction while watching the heated murderous aura and cold madness enveloping their eyes.
“You’ve done well following my instructions for the past two days.”
While watching the Light Wind squad, who were insulting him with their eyes, he destroyed the invisible chain that was binding them.
“It’s time to bite.”
