Raon narrowed his eyes as he watched Karoon enter through the doorway. ‘The Central Martial Palace swordsmen aren’t with him.’ It seemed Karoon had experienced something similar; none of the Central Martial Palace swordsmen were in sight. He had also climbed the tower alone. “Looks like the Light Wind Palace Lord left his people behind as well.” Karoon glanced briefly at Jaina and the mages behind Raon and nodded. He tilted his chin slightly, as if asking Raon to explain what had happened so far. Burren was not present, so he likely wanted to know the situation. “There was a floor that replicated Montiro exactly. There…” “You left it to them…” Karoon looked into Raon’s eyes and lightly moved his lips. “Seems it was similar. We had a floor where each room held a monster. I left that to my subordinates and came up alone.” He nodded heavily, saying he had also entrusted things to his men and climbed alone. “What happened to Lord Morel?” Jaina clasped her hands as she mentioned Morel Kazan’s name. “He took care of the next floor. He’s a man more reliable than he seems.” Karoon placed a hand on his sword, saying he was able to save time thanks to Morel. “He’s someone who will bring everyone up here without worry.” He seemed to trust Morel Kazan as he nodded to Jaina. Jaina let out a sigh of relief at Karoon’s confident tone. Karoon narrowed his eyes as he looked at the two entrances, the training arena in the center, and the sealed portal on the far wall. “Hmm, now I understand why you called it twisted.” He seemed to realize the nature of this floor and lowered his brows. “Yes. Of the two who come through these doors, only one will be able to ascend.” Raon clicked his tongue at how vile the setup was. As Karoon looked at the training arena in irritation, a ghastly voice scraped like metal echoed through the space. [Only one of the entrances is connected to the portal.] It seemed to be a message from the floor master. Just as expected, the master had no intention of letting both through. “Have you tried breaking the wall or the door?” Karoon ignored the message and immediately asked Raon. “Yes. I struck with full force, but it didn’t break.” Raon sighed lightly and shook his head. “It seems they’re using condensed Demonic Energy and artifacts like on the outer wall of the Black Tower.” Even though his current strength was the highest it had ever been, he couldn’t leave a scratch—clearly, some special artifact was in use. Karoon slowly raised his sword and slashed at the sealed portal. A massive shockwave exploded as if pulling power from the domain of transcendence, but not even a dent appeared on the door or wall. Karoon lowered his hand, seemingly unsurprised. “The floor master wasn’t here from the beginning?” He now turned his gaze around, trying to locate the floor master. “Yes. It’s hiding somewhere.” Raon shook his head, saying he couldn’t sense even the faintest presence. – “The Demonic Energy is raging wildly, even this king finds it hard to locate them.” Wrath scowled at the space, clearly displeased. – “But it’s certain you’re being watched.” He turned his gaze, saying he felt someone’s eyes on them. All the demons they’d encountered thus far had tried to buy time while keeping a constant, intense gaze fixed on him, looking for a chance to strike. “The floor masters are willing to destroy their own domains to block our path. It seems what the Black Tower Lord is preparing really is their ultimate weapon.” Karoon looked up at the ceiling, saying it was best to ascend as quickly as possible. Raon glanced over Karoon, who was cloaked in calm energy, and smacked his lips. ‘Is that really Karoon Zieghart?’ He had been wondering ever since Karoon first stepped onto this floor. That could be the real Karoon, but there was also the possibility that a demon had taken his form. “Central Martial Palace Lord.” Raon placed his hand on the hilt of his sword and looked at Karoon. “May I ask you one thing?” “…Are you doubting me?” Karoon turned his gaze toward Raon without any change in expression, as if reading his mind. “It’s not a bad decision. Go ahead.” Instead of getting angry, Karoon nodded, saying it was a reasonable move. ‘It needs to be a question that will fluster him, something hard to answer—but something where I know the answer.’ After thinking for a moment, Raon slowly opened his mouth. “Do you love Burren?” To provoke even more, he addressed him simply as ‘Karoon’ rather than by his title and asked about his affection for Burren. It was a question he never would have asked before, but based on what he saw today, he felt certain. Karoon widened his eyes, as if he hadn’t expected a question about Burren. Raon drew Heavenly Drive, making it clear he would cut him down if he didn’t respond. “The answer changes depending on the time. But if you’re asking me now…” Karoon stared back at him with sharp eyes, as if he had made up his mind. “I love him. As much as I love Zieghart.” He nodded, saying he loved Burren just as much as he cherished the entire Zieghart household. Wrath’s jaw dropped as he stared at Karoon. – “T-That bastard’s a fake! There’s no way his eyes-for-brains dad would say something like that!” Raon smacked his lips briefly. ‘As he said, he’s changed a lot.’ Karoon had reflected deeply on his past—blinded by jealousy and ambition—and that had allowed him to reach transcendence. Now, he would stay up all night helping Burren train, and earlier, he had congratulated him in front of everyone for reaching Grandmaster. Knowing that, it wasn’t strange for the current Karoon to say something like that. “Can I ask you a question as well?” Karoon tilted his chin with a cold look. Raon nodded without hesitation. Karoon was likely still suspicious of him too, so it was only right to answer. “What would you do if you became the Head of House Zieghart?” “Head of House Zieghart…” Raon furrowed his brows deeply. He hadn’t expected a question about becoming the Head, and his mind went blank for a moment. However, recalling the conversations he had with Glenn and Rimmer in the past, he knew what he truly wanted. “Rather than making Zieghart the strongest among the Five Kings or Five Demons, I want to make it a place where everyone in the house can live happily.” He looked up, saying he preferred the people of the house to live peacefully and joyfully over being the mightiest faction. “That’s just like you.” Karoon nodded calmly. The fact that he erased his cold gaze and even smiled faintly meant he wasn’t dissatisfied with the answer. “Then shall we begin?” He raised his sword toward Raon, saying they didn’t have time to chat any longer. “Yes. I’ll go all out.” Raon emphasized the words ‘all out’ and raised Heavenly Drive toward Karoon’s neck. “Y-You’re seriously going to fight…?” Jaina lowered her head, as if she couldn’t believe it. “There’s no other way.” Raon and Karoon, swords drawn against each other, both told her to move away. As Jaina backed off from the training arena, overwhelmed by the immense pressure of the Transcendents, Raon and Karoon simultaneously kicked off the ground. Unlike their matching red eyes, their auras—one crimson, the other blue—clashed as they aimed their swords at each other’s necks. Their full-power clash as Transcendents carved up the training arena, and the entire Black Tower seemed to quake with the impact. Raon twisted his lips as he pushed back against Karoon, cutting through the aura of his Ten Thousand Flames. Karoon was genuinely trying to kill him. If Raon had let his guard down even slightly, his neck would’ve been gone with that first strike. ‘But that’s the best approach now.’ Raon nodded and intensified the flames of his Ten Thousand Flames, using the roaring inferno to burn away Karoon’s aura. Karoon, as if expecting it, condensed his blue aura into a blade sharp enough to cut through the fire. Seeing the aura of his Ten Thousand Flames get sliced gave Raon chills down his spine. ‘He’s going for the heart.’ Raon deflected Karoon’s sword aimed at his heart and bit his lip. ‘Precise and powerful. But even more dangerous is that refined swordsmanship.’ Karoon had refined orthodoxy, speed, and destructive swordsmanship to their limits, then placed them atop a foundation of elegance. Normally, elegance is valued more in sword dance than actual combat—but at the level of transcendence, it formed a unique power unlike any other swordsmanship. Though his body and aura were being pushed back, Karoon overcame it all with graceful strikes. Something once thought impractical had transformed into real power at the peak of martial arts. ‘Still, I can’t lose here.’ Raon unleashed [Thirty-Six Crimson Slashes] toward Karoon, who blocked every strike like an iron wall. “That swordsmanship, huh.” Karoon seemed to already know it, and with a shimmering blue blade, drew an arc to intercept the thirty-six strikes aimed from all directions. Red and blue sword flashes collided endlessly, sending hundreds of sparks flying across the training arena. Raon, determined to end it here, swung a mighty strike imbued with crimson sky, while Karoon condensed the aura of a conqueror into his blade, trying to erase everything before him. Clash of force against force. The sheer magnitude of aura overwhelmed even the spectators—Jaina and the Balkan mages collapsed to their knees, unable to open their eyes. Raon and Karoon dove into the exploding space, swords aimed at each other. Karoon’s shoulder split from Raon’s sword, blood spraying into the air. Karoon’s sword tore across Raon’s waist, ripping flesh and drawing blood. No longer comrades, they clashed like sworn enemies, unleashing even greater killing intent as their blades sought each other’s hearts. As Raon and Karoon fiercely clashed, matching each other’s breath and rhythm, a transparent eye rose above their heads. It was a detection spell from Treive, a top-tier floor master ruling a high-ranking floor above. ‘They’re fighting more seriously than I expected.’ Treive curled his lips as he watched Raon and Karoon aim relentlessly for each other’s vitals. ‘They’re consuming a lot of power and taking heavy injuries.’ Normally, Transcendents can draw mana from the air and fight all day—but in this upper floor of the Black Tower, where Demonic Energy is thicker than mana, the energy they used couldn’t be recovered quickly. And with the blood loss from their many wounds, Raon and Karoon’s complexions were visibly pale. Their combat power had clearly been halved since arriving here. Originally, this was his own domain. But thanks to the artifact gifted by the Black Tower Lord, it had changed to its current form. Even if one survived, the portal would not open unless Treive granted permission—or was killed. He had planned to let one survivor go and ambush them later, but now he felt confident he could kill them both. ‘If I kill two Transcendents here…’ I might surpass the sub-tower lords. The Black Tower was in a special state now. If he killed two Transcendents in this swirling Demonic Energy, he would surely reach transcendence—perhaps even rise above the sub-tower lords. Treive slowly shook his head. ‘If I mess up here, it’ll be dangerous.’ Above this floor was the realm of the sub-tower lords, and beyond that, the very top floor where the Black Tower Lord resided. If he acted on greed and failed, he would suffer even in death. ‘But I may never get a chance again…’ Tempted by the thick Demonic Energy, greed gnawed at his thoughts. ‘Fine. I’ll only move when they’re truly trying to kill each other.’ He resolved to strike only when they were no longer pretending—when they were genuinely trying to kill each other—and gently gathered his Demonic Energy. As the fight reached its climax, blood burst from Raon’s collarbone and black blood spilled from Karoon’s mouth. “Sword Field Creation.” “Sword Field Creation!” As if truly ready to end it, Raon and Karoon invoked [Sword Field Creation], and their auras surged with enough power to sweep away the surrounding Demonic Energy. Treive, burning with greed, revealed his form from the shadows and unleashed his gathered Demonic Energy. The Black Tower Lord’s orders were already forgotten in his mind. ‘This is the only chance!’ At the moment they invoked [Sword Field Creation], they would be vulnerable to attacks from behind. And if he struck now—when their energy had surged—he would gain the greatest reward. As their swords began to glow, Treive detonated his gathered Demonic Energy behind them. Not even Transcendents could survive this—so he grinned, thinking he had ascended. But suddenly, Raon and Karoon’s eyes turned toward him—calm, unreadable. Treive found his body frozen. The explosion fizzled out, scattering into pieces, and even the world before him seemed to tear apart. His arms and legs were gone. Pain surged in, and his thoughts vanished as he collapsed backward. Agonizing screams followed. Looking down, he saw his limbs severed. “Your greed was your downfall.” Raon wiped the blood from his mouth and shook his head. “Of course no one would pass up a chance to kill two Transcendents.” With a piercing gaze, he smirked. “You knew I would come?” Treive trembled as his chin quivered. “I’ve seen enough of your kind. You all try to stall for time while hiding, but you can never suppress your desire to grow stronger as demons.” Raon gave a cold chuckle. “That greed doomed you.” Karoon nodded calmly. As Treive cursed and tried to sink into the floor, blood burst from his neck and his head rolled to the ground. The demon who dreamed of transcendence died, buried by his own ambition—and the door to the next floor opened. Raon approached Karoon and handed him healing medicine and holy water. Though his wounds were deep, none were fatal, and he would recover soon. “We were thinking the same thing.” Karoon narrowed his eyes, saying he had the same idea. “You gave me a hint when you said ‘all out.’” Raon nodded and smiled softly. “But you came in a bit too hard.” He clicked his tongue and pointed to the wound on his chest. “…I figured you’d endure it.” Karoon lowered his hand, saying he trusted Raon. Raon let out a quiet laugh and gestured toward the stairs. “Not many left now. The next one might be the final floor.” He stepped up, inviting Karoon to go with him. Karoon poured holy water on his stomach and waist wounds, then looked at Raon’s back as he ascended. ‘Someday, we might really fight for real. But…’ Karoon glanced at his hand and furrowed his brow. ‘Why did I go so far just now…?’