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Padler swung his sword instead of answering.
Along with the blade, blue thunder poured from behind it like a storm. It was as if a sea of lightning spread from Padler out of nowhere.
Kaio swiftly fired a series of arrows to counteract the rushing blue thunder. The space, tainted with chaos, was illuminated by the intermingling blue energies.
"Looking at it again, it seems that you are not a descendant, but his ghost. Was your name Padler Runcandel?"
[I no longer use that name.]
The god killer's arrow pierced through blue thunder and aimed at charging Padler. Kaio calmly distanced himself, while Jin plunged into the fray to intercept Padler from pursuing him.
The sword that stood in the way of Silus was Sigmund, not Bradamante. After changing the sword, Jin's whole body was filled with lightning energy.
Lightning energy based on aura, blue thunder based on mana.
Even though the lightning emitted by the three people were completely different, they looked exactly the same.
"I don't know why you became a ghost, but your killing intent is deep. Although my memories of Temar aren't quite complete, he seemed to hold you in high regard."
[I also forgot a lot. However, I don't think I've heard that Plutonian tribesmen talk so much. Why do you need a long talk? You just need to face my weapon.]
Swift and precise. If you could sum up the Padler's sword in two words, that would be it.
The only downside of his swordsmanship that reached the realm of transcendence was its destructive power, but even that was overcome by the addition of blue thunder.
Kaio engaged from mid-range, while Jin fought up close.
Because of this, Jin and Padler both fought while conscious of Kaio. Padler was convinced he had to defeat Kaio to target Jin, while Jin believed Kaio had to remain unharmed for what came next.
It was because the battle with Padler was not the last.
'I have to finish it before Kaio gets tired.'
'I need to quickly kill that Plutonian named Kaio in order to deal with Jin.'
They didn't need to check each other's strength.
The three of them were exerting their full strength from the start.
The ground and sky screamed every time when blades, arrows, and lightning collided as if they were turning upside down.
As if the sun was rising over the rotten sea, the lightning bolts of the three were tearing apart the chaos in the Garden of Swords.
If this sight were not a battle between the ancestor of a thousand years ago and the current descendant...… but it looks like a brilliant light that purifies the clan.
It couldn't have been any better.
The inevitable reality scratched Jin's inside. That fact made Jin suffer even more than the blue thunder stabbing his whole body.
Since Padler was a person from a thousand years ago, Jin had never truly felt a connection with him. He had only glimpsed a few of his records as an observer.
Still, it felt like cutting a close friend with whom he had been very close until yesterday, with whom he had a deep connection.
[Argh!]
Padler didn't feel such pain.
It was certainly true that he had no personal feelings towards Jin before mixing the swords.
However, he didn't see Jin as a distant descendant in the first place, but as a manifestation of Temar, the Runcandel of those days.
You lose everything too.
Padler's dark eyes said so.
"Brother Jin!"
Blood spurted from Jin's neck. Multa's rune is now completely broken and has no function.
Even if it was fine, it would not have any meaning against one of the ancient ten great knights.
The wound was not deep. But had it been just a bit deeper, it would have led straight to death.
It was only in that moment, as he watched droplets of blood scatter into the air, that Jin realized unnecessary emotions were dwelling within him during the fight.
Sympathy, pity, guilt, or complex emotions are hard to articulate. Padler was not an opponent who could be faced with such sentiments.
It's not just about doing your best, it's about having the tenacity to kill him.
Jin knew this better than anyone else.
Jin's body transcended beyond human limit, but not his mind. Whether Padler's words are true or not, there was no doubt that he gave his all for the ancient Runcandel.
But, as Padler said, the camaraderie they once shared couldn't replace his lost entirety.
He cannot defend him, whose heart that once protected the clan has become a ghost.
Jin can understand this situation as much as he wants if it was in normal circumstances. But now, Jin stood against Padler as the next patriarch of Runcandel.
Regardless of the reasons, harboring grim feelings towards one seeking to destroy the clan was unacceptable.
"There is one last thing I want to ask, Sir Padler. Do you have any intention of stopping now?"
[Not at all.]
"Then I will eliminate you not as a descendant of Temar, but as a member of current Runcandel."
Jin closed his eyes for a moment. In that fleeting moment when his eyelids shut, the sentiment directed towards Padler closed as well.
Before he opened his eyes again, Padler was unleashing his magic sword that he had created.
Blue Thunder Sword Ultimate Technique, Runcandel Magic Sword Secret technique
Thunder of Retribution - Padler Runcandel
A magic sword secret technique paired with Flame Empress Sarah Runcandel's flame of hell.
At a glance, Jin and Kaio could think of the sword that was the basis of this technique.
The flame of hell and thunder of retribution were finally completed after Temar taught the ten great knights how to use Plutonian swordsmanship.
Kaio's eyes hardened.
"So you, too, have spent your life chasing after the shadow of the Absolute."
Kaio also had dedicated his life to reaching that sword. To resemble the sword of battle god.
"But that is an realm that can never be reached unless it is the original."
Against the thunder of retribution, Kaio opened 10th battle king mystic technique, 'tsunami'.
The lightning that started with Padler and Kaio took on a form so identical that it could be called the same technique.
The process of those who want to climb to the top will eventually give birth to similar results.
[Do you mean to say you're the original, Plutonian?]
"No. I simply wish to pay my respects. To acknowledge that someone who was never a member of the Plutonian tribe is fighting in the same way as me."
If there was one difference between Kaio and the Padler, it was the 'body'.
The lightning energy symbolizing the Plutonian tribe needed a body that could handle it. Just as you need a blessed body to use Runcandel's decisive killing moves.
"But can you withstand it? With that helpless human body."
That's why Padler's old comrades called him a weakling. His sword was covering up his inherent defects with his life as collateral.
[I've already died once anyway, you keep saying useless things.]
Kaio smiled. Unlike Jin, he didn't harbor any special feelings towards Padler.
He simply found it satisfying to have a strong opponent standing before him, fighting for his brother.
Tsunami and thunder of retribution were overlapping. Jin continued to restrict Padler from closing the distance with Kaio.
It was to raise the strength while holding out until the Padler's energy was consumed as much as possible.
From then on, Padler began to pressure Jin rather than Kaio, and Kaio appeared to be covering Jin with all his might.
As a result, wounds were forming on Kaio's body. If they had maintained the same combined formation as before, Padler would have been the one to start suffering significant injuries.
'It's not efficient.'
On the surface, it certainly seemed that way. Padler couldn't help but speculate. There must be a reason for this inefficient offensive attack.
That's probably because of the energy that's shining in Jin's illuminating heart right now.
Of course, even that was an overwhelmingly vast power.
But for now, that was all it was.
As Kaio implied, it did not occur to Padler that this power could be sublimated to the 'original'.
Because Jin was not a genesis knight.
It was unlikely that Jin would be able to show the realm of the peak that even he had never set foot on, the realm that only Temar had reached a thousand years ago.
However, by the time the tsunami and thunder of retribution reached their climax, Kaio said with a confident voice:
"Brother Jin, show your ghostly ancestor now."
The original sword of the peak.
Kaio continued his words, and the energy in Jin's illuminating heart began to explode in all directions.
Plutonian Swordsmanship Battle God 10th Sword
Plutonian Reign Sword – Open
In an instant, the tsunami and thunder of retribution stopped moving, it was like fighting beasts hesitating when a larger beast appeared.
Jin did not stop there, and opened the next form, Plutonian swordsmanship battle god 10th sword 2nd form, Plutonian reign sword - War.
Sigmund had a heavy will to annihilate those who opposed the Plutonian tribe.
Kaio breathed proudly, and Padler briefly stared at Jin with a stiffened body.
He now saw Temar itself from Jin, and soon realized that it was just an illusion.
The man standing in front of himself is neither Temar nor a member of the ancient Runcandel.
It was Jin Runcandel. Not someone from a thousand years ago like himself, but a shining Runcandel who lives right now.
'But... nothing changes.'
Padler was neither moved nor frightened by the sight.
Nothing changes; the determination to eliminate him and witness Runcandel's downfall didn't waver in the slightest.
The clouds that had gathered according to Jin's will covered Ram, who was oppressing the sky.
Rosa, the Prophet, and the major factions attacking Huphester could witness that sight.
[Even if my body and soul can't remain in the abyss of heaven and hell, even if my name and everything I've lost are erased from this world once again.]
The light of thunders of retribution, which started to fluctuate again, spread a more brilliant light.
The renewed thunder of retribution transcends all the swords that Padler had used during his lifetime.
[I will not let you save Runcandel.]
Suddenly, a faint memory surfaced in Padler's mind.
It seemed like a long time ago, he had spoken words similar to the ones he just said.
-Even if my body and mind, and those I love ultimately vanish completely from this world. Even if all that remains in the end is despair and nightmares. I will protect Runcandel with you.
For some reason, what Padler said at that time was spreading like a distant echo inside Jin.
However, Jin did not stop the sword.
Tears welled up in Jin's eyes, soaked in lightning energy, and Padler's eyes were filled with endless emptiness.
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Ha...…!
Lightning poured down wherever Sigmund and Silus's blades collided. They showed no signs of backing down, even as they were hit by the lightning of Plutonian Reign sword vomited by the clouds and the blue thunder poured out by thunder of retribution.
On the contrary, they stepped towards each other more ferociously and quickly.
The aftermath of their battle now ravaged the entire Garden of Swords. The storm of their sword energies had spread beyond the tombs where the ancestral guardians' swords were embedded, reaching the outer walls and the main house.
Kaio, who started attacking again, was not affected by the Plutonian Reign Sword.
Rather, he seemed to strengthen the god killer with Jin's lightning energy, just as he resonated with the energy of battle god.
Still, the whole of Kalon was eroded by chaos, but the energy of chaos could no longer be found in the Garden of Swords.
It was because the lightning of Jin, Kaio, and Padler had erased the chaos in the Garden of Swords.
But to Jin, seeing the blue shining garden of swords now seemed more agonizing than when it was filled with chaos.
[Ahhhhh...!]
Padler roared.
His body was being torn apart. There was a hole in his left cheek, while his waist twisted and snapped, emitting gruesome sounds of bones breaking and resetting.
Just then, a giant arrow from god killer pierced the middle of his chest. Through the gaping hole in his chest, one could see the lightning behind him.
Even so, Padler did not fall down and swung his sword again.
His body, which should have died and stopped more than ten times, only emitted more formidable power with each blow.
Where do I have to cut to finish him?
It seemed like he wouldn't stop even if his neck was dropped. It seemed that he would stop only if everything that made up Padler's body destroyed—his blood, his flesh, and even the last piece of bone.
"Stubborn ghost...."
Kaio said as he pulled back his bow string.
The word "stubborn" didn't refer to the chaos energy that composed Padler. It meant a special condition that Padler was going through.
Transcendence.
The transcendence of a martial artist who overcomes the limits while facing a formidable enemy, allowing Padler to continue wielding his sword despite being torn apart.
Just as Ron Hairan had transcended the fate of death in the war of the sword Emperor castle...… Padler is also crossing the boundary by clashing swords with Jin.
'Temar. I can see it now too...… the next realm.'
With each passing second, Padler felt his body grow lighter.
It seemed that the destructive power of the original, Plutonian Reign Sword, which overpowered the thunder of retribution at the beginning, no longer seemed like a threat.
There wasn't much emotion while he was driving away Sigmund, and even when lightning cut through his body, he didn't feel any pain.
"But even if you go beyond that realm... what meaning does it hold?"
The arrow of god killer passed through Padler once more.
"Nothing but futile hatred, unable to overcome even chaos. You could never defeat Brother Jin. Even if he didn't call me."
Just because you're transcending like Ron, it doesn't mean everyone can achieve results like Ron.
The values of protecting people despite being consumed by chaos and the desire to kill couldn't be the same.
As if to refute, Padler dug in and left a long gash on Jin's chest.
Jin pushed Padler away without flinching, and there was a sound of something snapping as Padler hit the ground.
Then he stood up again and aimed Silus.
As his appearance became more miserable, the energy of the thunder of retribution was amplified.
It was growing endlessly. In terms of power alone, thunder of retribution reached a level comparable to that of Plutonian Reign Sword.
It appeared to be out of control. The blue thunder went beyond the cloud formed by the Plutonian Reign sword and caused damage to Ram, the chaos dragon, and the black battleships.
"In the end, you've lost your reason and started striking even your allies. From brother Jin's perspective, this isn't bad at all."
[He is not losing his mind, brother Kaio.]
Jin rather thought the opposite.
"What?"
[Since it's going to be the end anyway, it seems like he is trying to destroy everything possible in Runcandel...….]
Wow...…!
A massive crack appeared beneath the lower part of Ram. The chaos dragons and black ships that were flying below them instantly turned to ashes.
The major factions waiting outside were able to see Ram becoming unstable for the first time.
Space began to open in the sky.
"As the leader said, the 12th flagbearer is damaging Ram's power...…."
Berakt said. He was mesmerized by the immense lightning illuminating the Garden of Swords, following the blue flame from earlier.
They felt awe and excitement at the sight of such immense power, something they would never have seen unless it was the patriarch, Chiron Runcandel, or the dead Ron Hairan.
[It is not the power of the 12th flagbearer, but the power of the great knight of Runcandel, the Blue Thunder King. Rosa Runcandel and the Prophet have been overly ambitious.]
"... Are you saying that there is another knight like the 12th flagbearer in the Garden of Swords?"
[Yes. But it's a dying ember. The entire fleet, ready for intensive bombardment. We cannot afford to miss this opportunity.]
Unlike Zipfel, Kinzelo's fleet has not yet suffered significant damage.
As the battleships, led by Grenil, gathered at the forefront, the fleet of up to five hundred battleships all loaded their main cannons.
Aaaaa...…!
Like a meteor shower, the bombardment rained down towards Ram and the Garden of Swords. More than 80% of the fleet's attack was directed at the garden of swords, because it seemed that their attack would not be enough to hit Ram, but Zephyrin's breath struck Ram's side.
Upon seeing Kinzelo's bombardment from the opposite side, Zipfel also rallied its fleet. Their main cannons were all aimed at Ram.
[We must strike before Runcandel's battleship recovers...…!]
A mountain of fire was forming behind Kadun. He managed to release all his stored power while enduring Ram's main cannon and tearing apart the Chaos Dragon and the black ships.
'Damn it, the soul of ten great knights from the tomb...… I didn't expect this to happen.'
The Prophet chewed on his lip, eyeing Rosa.
It was Rosa who was instructed to summon Padler. So, even if Padler failed against Jin, Rosa would not blame her.
However, regardless of whether the mission to kill Jin succeeded or not, the Prophet's inability to control Padler stemmed from her own lack of ability.
If Rosa were to later question her about it, the Prophet would once again find herself vulnerable to her scrutiny.
'Ha, nothing ever goes as planned. Judging from the situation, it seems even Padler...… might not be able to defeat Jin. I should have warned her about the dangers of using the soul of the Great Knight.'
Even the Prophet had predicted that Stam and Lionel would not be enough, but Padler's case was truly unexpected.
She knew that even if there were variables such as summoning Plutonian tribesmen and Plutonian Reign sword, if it was Padler, he would be able to put an end to Jin.
'... Perhaps, it might actually be for the best. If even Padler is defeated, then Rosa Runcandel will have to take action herself.'
If so, it is highly likely that the speed at which Rosa's mind collapses will accelerate.
However, the Prophet did not have the justification to speak out before Rosa. So while she was thinking about it, Rosa opened her mouth first.
[I understand why Joshua in the past got defeated like that. Retrieve Padler's soul.]
"Are you saying you'll personally intervene?"
Rosa didn't answer, instead deflecting the incoming flames from Kadun.
Fragments of Ram, chaos dragons, and black ships floated in the messy black sky. In the meantime, Kinzelo's bombardment was hitting the garden of swords.
"Are these humans daring to challenge the gods like us? We only heard from you that it was dizzy outside, but I didn't expect it to be like this."
Kaio fired the god killer and intercepted the cannon fire falling towards Jin. Most of them were offset by Plutonian Reign sword and blue thunder, but occasionally, some shells managed to penetrate through.
Because Jin is arranging the power.
It was only natural because he was dealing with strong men like Stam, Lionel and Padler, one after another. They would have been absolute beings in any era without Chiron.
However, unlike Jin, Padler had no one to block the bombardment, nor the will to fend them on his own.
He didn't even dodge the cannon fire, and continued to radiate blue thunder all over the garden of swords and Jin.
An evil ghost who transcends through hatred, the final destination Padler was reaching resembled a monster like Smarion.
His appearance was no longer of a human. More than 70% of the body, which had been emitting a faint bluish light, had disappeared. His body, floating without legs, was riddled with holes.
How he was holding the sword with only three remaining fingers, with his half head gone, and his only eye was still filled with hatred.
Can this truly be called the result of transcendence?
In truth, the outcome was decided from the moment the Plutonian Reign Sword was executed.
The reason Jin couldn't finish him off was simply a matter of efficiency.
If Jin waits a little bit, the thunder of retribution will disappear and Padler would self-destruct.
After that, if even one of his fingers was left, it was clear that Padler wouldn't be a threat even if he crawled on the floor and came towards him.
The thunder of retribution started to subside.
But the next moment. Just like what happened to Lionel. Jin could see the soul draining from Padler's remaining body.
Unlike Lionel, the soul was refusing to leave the body. He was clearly resisting the Prophet's control.
"I have never seen such a grudge in my life, Brother Jin. Brother? Why are you approaching him? Isn't your shadow sword still unable to cut the soul? He is not even worthy to be cut. He's already a wreck."
Jin had a completely different thought when he was trying to cut Lionel's soul.
Jin was approaching Padler because he wanted to tell him something.
[Sir Padler.]
Padler swung his sword at the approaching Jin. The sword was just as powerful as a child wielding it. There was not even a scratch left on Jin's body.
No matter how great the grudge was, Padler's energy had really run out.
[Sir, you will be summoned again. That's the only reason why the person who summoned you is trying to retrieve the soul now.]
Even then, Padler continued to swing his sword. Resisting the Prophet's soul retrieval.
[So at that time, take revenge on me, rather than Runcandel and Temar from a thousand years ago...…. Please harbour hatred towards me, not the distant past about which even your memories are unclear.]
That would surely be better for you....
With those words, Jin watched Padler's soul escape.
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The lightning bolts of the Plutonian Reign sword were slowly fading. Jin was breathing heavily. The fatigue from consecutive battles and the mental shock made him feel nauseous.
"Brother, are you okay?"
"I'm fine, for now."
He could still continue fighting. Although his condition wasn't optimal, they still felt he could unleash his maximum battle prowess at least once more.
Jin and Kaio lifted their heads at the same time and looked up at the sky.
When the cloud formed by the lightning disappeared, Ram's lower part was visible again.
The sight of chaos dragons and black ships pouring down like a swarm of bees escaping from the nest, and the scenery of them being destroyed by cannon fire, also shook their eyes in a dizzying way.
At first glance, it seemed that Runcandel was finally on the defensive...… but it was far from over.
As if to ridicule the external assessment that Runcandel was lagging behind in technological development, Ram was constantly spitting out chaos dragons and black ships.
Besides, Ram was reloading its main cannon.
The black cannon that had driven the 2nd fleet of Zipfel to annihilation in a single blow was now aimed at Kinzelo.
"However... we must prepare for escape."
To inflict maximum damage and rescue the knights when the clan does not know his strength exactly.
That was the reason Jin visited the Garden of Swords alone today, and he expected that he had achieved the former to some extent.
'The knights killed today will be resurrected sooner or later, and summoned knights like Lionel or Sir Padler will appear again... but there must be limitations. There will definitely be a significant cost.'
Rikalton. The land that was expected to be the area where humans are sourced to make clones of Joshua's body.
Just cloning him required at least hundreds or thousands of humans.
It is unmeasurable how many human lives would be needed to revive people like Padler and Lionel.
'Escape of the rebels depends on the elder chief's skills and luck.'
Jin wanted to pursue and protect them even now, but that would rather endanger them.
There was no new energy emerging from the mausoleum.
Intuitively, Jin sensed that Rosa would come looking for him.
The chaos that wrapped around the garden of swords was converging to one place again. The center of the black ships, probably where Rosa would be standing.
As of now, there was no chance of winning against her.
As expected, all the maximum power of Kinzelo and Zipfel has come, but even after dealing with the Captain of Black Knights, the summoned former patriarch, and the great knight, Runcandel was still holding out.
"Good idea. Even in my opinion, it would be better to plan for the future. We will need the help of our brethren if we have to defeat the master of this land."
"The same goes for escaping now. Please provide cover, Brother Kaio."
Kaio snorted at Jin's solemn voice.
"Hah, it looks like you are feeling sorry for using me as a meat shield. Don't feel sorry brother, death of summoned beings is not real anyway."
Kaio was already convinced. He knew that for Jin to leave this place, his sacrifice would be necessary.
Jin's gaze turned towards the mausoleum.
Before he started his escape, he wanted to hit the mausoleum one last time, but some of the chaos gathering in Ram's center was forming a barrier near the mausoleum.
"They are openly wary of any trouble with the mausoleum...."
"I was going to suggest hitting that place before leaving, but I guess it's better to just go. Brother."
Needless to say, it seemed that the barrier of chaos could only be destroyed with unleashing a sword that's at least the level of flame of hell or Plutonian reign sword. Or the ultimate technique of shadow sword.
But after that, escaping from here will be impossible.
"I'm convinced that the mausoleum is a very important place and weakness, so it's not bad."
Jin turned around.
Talaris was located in a forest about 150 km away from the Garden of Swords. After breaking through there, Jin had to ride Mort and move to the area where the Red Owl was hidden.
"Shuri."
[Mya!]
The two got on Shuri, who had just been summoned from the ruby.
Far away, Jin saw the chaos knights who had begun to gather again like cockroaches.
However, no matter how many there were, they weren't much of a threat. They would just waste a bit of stamina.
"Let's go to Madame Talaris."
Following the trajectory of Shuri running at full speed, the knights of chaos began to explode in heaps.
And not long after the escape began, Jin and Kaio realized one thing.
"I've been curious about it since before. Aren't those also your enemies?"
Kaio pointed to the rear with his chin.
Kinzelo's fleet had been providing support fire on the ground ever since the two of them battled against Padler. Even now, their support continued to the extent that Kaio didn't even need to cover Jin.
The chaos dragons descending to catch Jin didn't even reach Shuri and oxidized in the air, and all the cannon fire of the black ships were being intercepted.
"They are enemies. They just recognize that they'll need me later. They must have judged that neither Zipfel nor Kinzelo was able to defeat the Garden of Swords alone."
It would be the same for Jin if he can't call his Plutonian brethren back to the human world.
No, he thought that even if he called his brethren, he might need a temporary alliance with his enemies.
Current Runcandel is not just a huge force..…
Just like Glyek, Runcandel had become a huge disaster that hit the entire world.
"Well, they're not completely stupid."
They killed the knights of chaos that stood in the way and broke through the main gate. Ahead, the endless black landscape of chaos continued.
Eventually, even when they arrived near the center of Kalon, the scenery did not change. Only then did Jin know that not only the Garden of Swords, but the entire Kalon was encroached by chaos.
It wasn't entirely unexpected. Surely, materials were needed to harness such chaos.
However, he couldn't help but feel his head go blank when he saw it with his own eyes.
-To me, the survival and prosperity of Runcandel are of greater value than anything else. Nothing can surpass that value.
-Even if billions of humans die in the process of achieving it, in the end, even if the world perishes in that devastating struggle and fight, only a few members of Runcandel remain in it. It doesn't matter to me.
Jin suddenly remembered what Rosa had said in the past.
'Really... are you going to destroy the entire world, leaving only Runcandel behind….'
Like a beast baring its fangs, Ram's center was splitting in half.
The main cannon fired straight ahead and hit Kinzelo's fleet. Zephyrin's huge body was pierced in the middle, and the overlapping protective shields behind it were bursting.
It was the first time Jin felt relieved to see the enemy not dead. Even though Zephyrin's torso was pierced, she fired her breath as if she hadn't been hit, and her power didn't diminish at all.
For the first time in the counterattack of Kinzelo, including Zephyrin, the damage was spreading to Ram's hull as well. The left side of the hull was collapsing.
Clearly, Ram looked weaker than before. That fact means only one thing.
Rosa's power, which was being used by Ram, was being withdrawn. The total amount of chaos was by no means diminished.
Amidst the intense war continuing with no regard for the passage of time.
Before Jin knew it, Shuri covered 50km outside the Garden of Swords. And Jin faintly felt the cold air passing through him.
Talaris was also approaching Jin.
In the past, whenever Talaris came to rescue him, Jin used to feel an indescribable sense of relief.
But now it was the exact opposite.
'No!'
The fact that coldness was already transmitting this far meant that Talaris had already entered the battle, and she was not currently in a state where she could unleash her full power.
And the land stained with chaos was Rosa's domain. An ominous intuition stabbed Jin's head that Rosa could not be unaware of Talaris' movements.
'Rosa Runcandel will definitely try to deal with Madame Talaris before me...!'
It was not known for certain how strong Rosa had become after accepting the chaos. However, even before the Garden of Swords became like this, Rosa was one of the strongest in the world.
The current Talaris couldn't handle her.
[Myaaaaaah!]
After reading Jin's anxiety, Shuri tried to speed up, but she was already at her limit.
"Damn it, Madame Talaris...!"
If something goes wrong, Jin would not be able to face Syris or his other companions. He would have no way to repay the favors he had received from the hidden palace.
This thought was driving him crazy.
"Calm down, brother Jin."
Kaio looked up at the sky and said.
He had been observing the fleet of each faction that had been supporting only Jin and himself, confirming that they were now aiming at a distant point.
Kinzelo and Zipfel also found Talaris and started providing support fire.
"The owner of the cold energy must be a precious person to you, brother. Should I provide cover?"
"Is that possible, from this distance?"
Kaio lifted his longbow.
"It seems you've forgotten my specialty. I am the only Battle King who can fight while supporting my brethren. When it comes to ultra-long-range support, maybe I'm better than sister battle god. I need to concentrate, so clear out the nuisances."
"I got it...!"
Aww-!
Arrows of god killer bow were soaring into the sky. The shining lightning energy flew over a distance of 25km and created huge pillars of light.
With each shot, cold sweat flowed down Kaio's body like rain. Blood flowed from between his clenched lips, and his heart pounded as if it was going to burst at any moment.
Jin didn't ask Kaio about how the situation was unfolding.
It was clear that the cold energy was not extinguished. It was just precarious. It seemed dim enough to go out at any moment.
Finally, when they reached the pillars of light formed by arrows.
Jin was able to see Talaris, gasping for breath with blood all over her.
As soon as he saw her, his heart skipped a beat.
The blood did not belong to Talaris. It was the blood of snow toad Mort. Mort had been continuously teleporting within Rosa's chaos energy while protecting Talaris.
Even that would have been impossible without the supporting fire from Kaio and the fleet. Mort's pure white body was soaked in blood.
"Jin!"
"Madame Talaris!"
Jin wanted to rush over immediately, but he saw a single black blade tearing through the god killer bow's pillars of light in front of Talaris.
It was the sword of Rosa Runcandel, frenzy soaked in chaos.
[Have you come?]
Rosa greeted Jin with a smirk and Jin was drawing Bradamante.
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Somehow Talaris avoided fatal wounds, but her condition was not very good. She had internal wounds, and the breath she exhaled was covered with blood.
The martial artist who challenged Chiron the most, if it wasn't for that, Talaris would have already been torn apart by frenzy.
"The enemies of Runcandel are attacking the Garden of Swords, yet you came all the way here to Madame Talaris. I didn't realize you held such a deep grudge against her."
The energy of chaos that protected the Garden of Swords, Kalon, and Ram has weakened.
All of that chaos converged on Rosa. In other words, it now solely relied on Rosa's personal strength.
Jin was recalling the nightmare of sword emperor castle war from the enormous chaos that Rosa released.
Rosa narrowed her eyes as if Jin's words were amusing.
[Wouldn't you have done the same if you were in my place?]
Rosa Runcandel would undoubtedly prioritize dealing with Madame Talaris before me.
Jin immediately thought of that the moment he faintly felt the Cold energy of Talaris.
Looking back, there was no reason to be so sure.
It was much more efficient for Rosa to continuously overwhelm the formidable forces of Zipfel and Kinzelo than to deal with Talaris without question.
After the energy of chaos between Ram and the city faded, the cannon fire from each force penetrated the sky above the Garden of Swords more easily than before.
When Jin didn't answer, Rosa smiled.
[You may not want to admit it, but you resemble me a lot.]
Taang-!
A thunderous sound rang out from the god killer. Rosa lightly knocked down Kaio's arrow.
Even though Kaio lost his energy due to ultra-long distance support, even Jin, before he grew tired, wouldn't have been able to easily withstand such power.
"What do you mean by he resembles you? Do not compare the 13th battle king of the great Plutonian tribe with a monster like you."
[Plutonian tribe, this is the first time I've seen you in person. But the first impression is quite disappointing. You are provoking me to save that child...… the Plutonian swordsmanship that the youngest often showed didn't give off such a pathetic feeling.]
"The power obtained through immorality, are you so arrogant to believe in that?"
[Immorality...… I have never been wary of such ambiguous human standards. Even before this body becomes chaos.]
Squeak-!
Suddenly, a black blade swept across Kaio's back. If Kaio's reaction had been delayed, his body would have split in half.
Rosa didn't move. What slashed Kaio was the blade of chaos formed at his feet following Rosa's will.
Before they knew it, dozens of such swords had been formed. The pillars of light are mercilessly sliced leaving only shining traces.
Before the traces were even erased, the black blades swirled and aimed at Jin, Kaio, and Talaris.
"Brother Jin! Don't worry about me, save your companion!"
Kaio shouted as he pushed back the swords of chaos with his arrows.
Jin didn't even have time to answer. Talaris and Mort's frost protective shield, which had been deployed in time for blocking the attacks, were breaking too quickly.
On the other hand, the number of Rosa's blades increased in number with each blink. One hundred, two hundred, three hundred...… Rosa's first move was the moment Jin rushed to Talaris.
[The value of the clan is dominance by force, not immorality. That's what you often said. It was like that before. I've often thought about it but I don't know the difference no matter how much I think about it.]
Jin, who blocked the frenzy, took a step back.
[Runcandel has killed countless people so far, and enjoyed conquests and plunder. This will also be immoral for some people. What are your standards?]
Jin didn't hesitate to answer.
"I am a human born in the sword clan and a legitimate heir of magic sword, not a plaything of chaos. That's all."
[That's a good answer.]
Jin took a step back and countered the frenzy.
Rosa's power, which he felt in just one clash, clearly surpassed his own.
It would have been the same even if Jin didn't have the accumulated fatigue and injuries from the previous battle.
In addition, he felt the energy digging into his body through the clashed swords.
'Like poison, chaos is poisoning my body...!'
Chaos, a dark force that plunges humans into demonic nature.
Rosa herself is a huge chaos and the most powerful source of contagiousness. Ordinary martial artists would be engulfed in chaos just by standing near her.
Perhaps even martial artists of 9-star or higher wouldn't be able to withstand her, and even the superhuman would find it impossible to engage her in direct combat for an extended period.
No, it wasn't just a thought, it was a certainty.
Jin could feel the battle god's blood and the illuminating heart beating like crazy and pushing away the chaos transmitted from Rosa.
'It didn't happen when I first encountered it in the Garden of Swords...…. Is it the result of receiving something more from the Prophet after our conversation turned, or was it hidden?'
Either way, Rosa's contagiousness meant one thing. Currently, Jin is the only human who can fight against Rosa in the human world.
[Ilina's words about the Plutonian tribe being immune to chaos are true. If so, you are also beyond human.]
"I can't help but feel that you still want to engage in conversations with me as equals. What's the reason? Do you want some false comfort knowing that you're not the only one who's crossed the line?"
[You'll understand once you have a child, a satisfactory child. How much joy it brings to have a child like oneself. That's all there is to it.]
"You are completely insane. I'd prefer not to be treated the same as you who has succumbed to chaos."
[Well, in that case, Runcandel would have been finished before you came. It seems you're still misunderstanding this aspect about me.]
Madness, or demonic nature.
Although she was said to be insane, Rosa was different from Ron before he defied his fate or Smarion in the Ghost Castle, who had lost his reason.
If she had accepted such chaos, she should have lost her sanity long ago, but Jin couldn't sense anything like that from Rosa.
Instead, Rosa seemed more like a "living person" than ever before.
In Jin's memories the acting matriarch of the clan rarely showed any emotion. Especially emotions such as joy and satisfaction.
The current Rosa genuinely seemed joyful.
She also appeared sad, knowing that she would have to kill her beloved child with her own hands.
Jin's gaze fell on the rear of Rosa, where he saw Talaris and Mort were barely holding on amidst the chaos blades.
[Do you want to save the master of the hidden palace? Well, you probably considered her more like a mother than me.]
The blade of frenzy pierced Jin's chest. He manages to block it with a Bradamante, but he loses his balance and is thrown backward.
I am jealous, huh...
Having spoken thus, Rosa ignored Jin's attempt to block her subsequent attack and turned her body to face Talaris.
For a moment, thoughts about Talaris flooded in Rosa's mind. Looking back, it seemed like she had always been jealous of the master of the hidden palace, not just now. Chiron had always been closer to her than herself.
[I wonder what it would be like if the first sword that saved you took the life of the master of the hidden palace. If so, will it hurt you a little?]
Meteor shower.
The third decisive killing move of Runcandel, the bloodline sword that saved Jin for the first time. The frenzy raised high was calling out black meteors.
The power, surpassing Luna's Mind Blade: Blood Moon that wiped out an entire island that day, shook the entire battlefield before even striking the ground.
However, the black meteor remained suspended in the sky for a while, as if caught in a noose.
1st Ultimate technique of Shadow Sword
First night.
Blocking senses, the first sign of the ultimate technique of shadow sword.
For an instant, Rosa's senses were blocked.
However, before three seconds had passed, Rosa regained her senses and began to control the meteor shower once again.
The first night's shadow force and the meteor sword's chaos began to push each other away, and the struggle between Jin and Rosaa began.
[Is this the best sword you have currently completed?]
The hundreds of black sword energy that seemed to overwhelm the entire battlefield stopped moving. It was the result of Rosa focusing entirely on meteor shower.
Thanks to this, Kaio, Talaris, and Mort were able to stop for a moment to catch their breath.
However, they could not move. The blades that had stopped moving blocked their path like prison bars.
Kaio still had the strength to break through them, but not Talaris.
Mort attempted a short dimensional shift, but the fatigue and thick chaos blocking the dimensional portal to the snow garden made it impossible.
It seemed like time had stopped on the battlefield. The meteor shower and the first night were moving so slowly that one had to look closely to notice.
The ultimate technique of Jin was losing the ground. The layered curtains of shadow force were being torn apart silently by the meteor shower.
Rosa lowered her head, seemingly disappointed.
[Very... impressive sword.]
Her disappointment was not because she thought Jin's ultimate technique was ridiculous.
Contrary to appearances, Rosa knew that her meteor shower was being completely blocked by the first night's shadow force.
The disappointing fact was that she couldn't kill Talaris with that sword.
Cracking...…!
As soon as Rosa finished speaking, the meteor shower disappeared as if absorbed into the first night.
Jin was bleeding from every pore of his face, and Rosa seemed to be staggering from the impact.
But that was all. Rosa would soon unleash her next sword move to finish off Talaris.
Jin didn't have much strength left, but he still threw his body forward.
'If I use my last bit of strength to unleash the Plutonian reign sword again...!'
What comes next?
He couldn't think that far ahead. The only conviction filling Jin's mind was that he couldn't let Talaris die.
In that single moment, his heart was completely dominated by emotion.
To Jin, Talaris was such a person. A comrade who always had significant meaning to Jin.
Kaio also broke through the blades of chaos and went forward with Jin, and Talaris tried to scream. She tried to tell them not to come, to escape and survive.
She also received Rosa's sword before Jin came. That's why she knew that Jin was Rosa's only opponent.
If Jin dies trying to save her here, the world will no longer be able to stand against Rosa.
But before Talaris could say those words. Jin realized that he didn't need to risk his life to save her at this moment.
Above Talaris's head, a dragon was descending. A black light was descending like salvation.
[Long time no see, kid.]
The black dragon, Murakan, Jin's guardian dragon.
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Runcandel's 4th secret technique, the Black Cross.
Rosa unleashed the sword as the meteor shower shattered.
Frenzy's blade, marked with a black cross, emitted a black energy.
The black cross-shaped energy poured towards Talaris in a circle around the intersection point of the cross.
Rosa was not a pure-blooded Runcandel, but she perfectly executed the decisive killing moves and secret techniques even without a blessed body due to accepting chaos. Her power was comparable to Chiron.
There was no way Talaris and Mort could escape from the countless black cross-shaped blades.
Originally, Jin and Kaio were supposed to risk their lives to pass through Rosa and dive into the energy.
However, it was uncertain whether their exhausted bodies could withstand Rosa's secret technique.
Perhaps they wouldn't just fail to save Talaris but face death themselves.
If Murakan had not appeared now, it would have most likely ended that way.
As the black cross-shaped energy attacked Talaris and Mort, Murakan's huge body suddenly appeared behind them like a black mountain.
At first glance, his body was much larger than Jin's memory.
His wings, spread like a wall, blocked the Black Cross, leaving enough room even for Mort to fit within them.
The sword energy extended from the frenzy was constantly causing cracks in the wings.
It seemed as if the wings would tear apart in an instant, but it was just an optical illusion caused by the flickering shadow force.
[And you too, master of the hidden palace. How did you become so weak? It seems like Mr. Mort is also injured quite a bit.]
Talaris raises her head.
She gave a sly smile because of the relief of being surrounded by Murakan's protective shield.
Although she had just doubted death, now she felt that this dark and gigantic dragon's embrace was the safest place in the world.
"You came at the perfect moment. How did you become so strong, Black dragon oppa?"
[I've just recovered what I lost a little more. And thanks to that, I think neither kid nor I will lose you today.]
"Uhhh, I'm going to fall in love with you."
Murakan possessed 50% of his old strength during the sword emperor castle war when he fought with his comrades.
Not only Jin but also Talaris, who could not feel shadow force as sensitively, could easily recognize the fact that Murakan's current power level was close to his prime.
Jin's shadow force, which had finally reached 10-star, and the crises that Murakan had overcome on behalf of Solderet were returning his old strength.
Murakan spread his wings again. Talaris and Mort took no damage from the Black Cross, and Rosa's expression was distorted.
[The clan's ancient guardian dragon...… I didn't feel any sign of your coming.]
That was why Rosa was angry.
She could feel all the battles that were taking place in the Garden of Swords and the entire Kalon area as if it were her own body.
However, she didn't feel the presence of Murakan at all. It means that Murakan didn't come from outside the Garden of Swords, but suddenly appeared from within.
[It seems your enlightenment is still lacking, Rosa Runcandel.]
Rosa turned around and looked at Jin.
[You and your comrades are truly lucky, the youngest. Whenever you're in a crisis like this, someone always comes to rescue you.]
Rosa didn't know all the details of Jin and his companions' adventures.
But she knew that they had always managed to overcome difficulties with the help of others or each other.
There had never been such a thing in her Runcandel.
No matter how long she waited, there was no hope that returned, and Rosa didn't bother to hide the bitterness that stemmed from that fact.
[This mother... will break that cycle.]
The blade of chaos that stopped in the air began to whirl again. The blades pushed the party even more ferociously than before, as if they were fueled by Rosa's anger.
At the same time, part of Murakan's body scattered into shadow force and caught Talaris and Mort. He quickly moved like a hawk, and instantly appeared next to Jin.
Rosa dispersed blades in all directions from her position. Parts of Murakan's body, transformed into smoke-like forms, were swept away, but it didn't deal him a significant blow.
Despite Murakan's arrival, the situation is still overwhelmingly in Rosa's favor.
Jin, Talaris, and Kaio were not in any condition to fight properly.
And that wasn't all.
Jin could sense Murakan's urgency without the chance for proper greetings.
"Don't tell me you're not in a condition to fight either?"
[It's not that, but my time is running out.]
After the end of the Sword Emperor Castle war, Murakan had been acting as a substitute for Solderet in place of Misha.
Even Misha, who had been in charge of Solderet's affairs before, didn't fully understand the details. As it was beyond the understanding of mortals, Misha and Murakan's roles were simply to maintain their "existence" in Solderet's realm. And leaving that position poses a great threat to the world.
In particular, Murakan is not as skilled as Misha, so his absence could only be brief, especially when using such immense power.
This was why Rosa hadn't sensed Murakan's presence. Murakan had manifested here without any physical movement, directly from the realm of the gods.
There was no time to explain in detail.
[So we need to escape quickly. You can't keep fighting in your current state anyway.]
Furthermore, Elona Zipfel's seal was also a problem. As Talaris's internal injuries became serious, Misha had to bear extra burden for sealing. Talaris had been worried about the seal ever since Rosa attacked her.
Jin nodded. If it's a good thing. In Murakan's view, there were still some limitations to Rosa's power.
[Don't underestimate me, Murakan. Do you think you can escape?]
[Don't be pretentious, Rosa Runcandel. I'm not the only one who's short on time. Right now, I can see things that mortals can't.]
[You're talking arrogantly when your only option is running away...]
Swish!
Rosa dashed forward and split Murakan's breath in half, which he had just exhaled.
The shadow force awls from all directions blocked her path, but the frenzy only stopped when it collided with Bradamante.
"I can feel your anger."
Rosa continued her attack, but Murakan's shadow force and Kaio's arrows limited her movement.
While Frenzy parried Kaio's attack, the shadow force awl grazed Rosa's forehead and cut the horn on her forehead about half a finger and black blood splattered.
Rosa's chaos, which had previously been stable enough to resemble shadow force, began to fluctuate from the moment the Black Cross was intercepted by Murakan, her chaos was in disorder. The color and power became inconsistent.
'As expected, Murakan was right. There are limitations to this infinite power. It doesn't seem to be due to an injury to the horn. Is the medium lacking? Or... there might be some psychological reason.'
Unlike Ron and Smarion before they went against their fate, she remained perfectly rational.
Jin thought that might be the key. It reminded him of what Rosa herself had said: "I have not yet succumbed to chaos."
Regardless, the priority now was escape. Even if her chaos became unstable, it had no effect on her transcendent strength.
Suaak-!
Rosa's sword was relentlessly aiming at Talaris. Every time the frenzy and shadow force collided, the sky opened up.
Murakan used all his strength to prevent the impact from reaching Talaris. He had to worry about the life of Talaris and the seal of Elona, so his nerves were on edge as each second passed.
The battle was at a stalemate. It meant Jin's group was still at a disadvantage.
Even if Rosa had limitations, Murakan's forced return would be faster.
"The escape point is in the forest about 75 km away, black dragon oppa. Can you break through there? There is a teleportation flying ship."
Talaris pointed her finger at the location where the red owl is hidden.
[It's going to be a bit risky, but which way?]
If he amplifies the shadow force to break through, his forced return will be faster.
Murakan raised his shadow force without hesitation. It was better to try to escape than to continue the stalemate, even if his energy would be depleted before reaching the escape point.
"I'll buy you some time, Black Dragon Murakan. Escape with Brother Jin."
The moment Kaio said that. Suddenly, a voice echoed from the sky.
[Murakan! I will cover you!]
It was Orgal's voice. The first flagship of Kinzelo, Grenil, was floating in the air, loaded with an immense amount of lightning energy.
The other battleships were still far away. Orgal had read the situation and opened a dimensional portal to the battlefield where Murakan and the others were.
Of course, due to the chaos, his dimensional movement ability was affected. However, since all of Kalon's chaos was concentrated on Rosa, the constraints were weaker than before.
Murakan recognized that he was Orgal without Jin's explanation.
The lightning bolts were raining down on Rosa.
At that moment, Murakan flew into the sky with Jin and Kaio on his back. Rosa's sword energy pierced Grenil's lightning and surged after Murakan.
It was the 5th secret technique, the light-speed thrust. Although it left deep wounds on Murakan's tail, back, and left wing, he pressed forward without hesitation.
"Are you okay, Murakan!?"
[Of course I am fine, it just hurts. But it's a cheap price for saving you and the master of the hidden palace.]
Thanks to Grenil, Murakan didn't have to amplify his power, so he had some time.
But there was one element that Murakan didn't take into account. Ram, the fact that the huge black ship of Runcandel was approaching. And Rosa was no longer visible in the place where Grenil's lightning disappeared.
She stood in front of Ram, watching the direction in which Murakan was moving. Ram and she were practically one body.
Ram reloaded the main cannon incomparably faster than before. The chaos energy that darkened the sky was becoming more unstable.
"Madame Rosa, how about stopping here?"
At the prophet's question, Rosa burst out laughing.
[Don't you always want my sanity to crumble?]
"Honestly, it's a bit dangerous right now."
Rosa silently accelerated the amplification of chaos, and Ilina watched her with anxious eyes.