章節 253: Chapter 412
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Cough-!
The claws had struck Jin in his neck. While the shadow force armor had no joints and therefore perfectly protected the neck, but it was impossible to completely block the strike of a Black Knight-level attacker without any shock.
Blood spilled into the helmet formed by Multa's runes. The pain was so intense that Jin felt like his throat had been ripped open and caused shivers throughout his entire body.
Thunk! Thud!
The claws struck Jin's neck again. Jin managed to move Sigmund even in the midst of excruciating pain that made his hair stand on end.
"You talked about being the next Patriarch, yet you're risking your life so easily. What's the value of such friendship? If you didn't have this armor, you would be dead by now."
It was because I had the armor that I could withstand the blow. You knew that, and that's why you aimed for my neck.
Though Jin wanted to give such a response, but his voice wouldn't come out immediately. Kuh, all he can hear is the blood bubbling in his throat.
'I took a direct hit. It hurts like hell...!'
The attacker's motive was not to kill Dante but to kidnap him.
Jin had forgotten about it because of the sudden actions of the attacker. If Jin had just stayed still, the claws would have stopped before piercing Dante's neck.
But Jin wasn't just going to take the hits.
Suddenly, a peculiar shadow force sphere began to form behind the attacker who was frantically swinging his claws. It was a sphere that started from Bradamante stuck in the ground.
And the attacker did not notice this energy. Shadow force was an energy that could not be sensed unlike mana and aura.
Zap!
Sigmund was emitting brilliant lightning strikes, and the attacker had no opportunity to focus on what was happening behind him.
However, Jin couldn't help but silently marvel at how the attacker held its ground without flinching, even as the lightning energy assaulted his body with each clash between claws and the blade.
"Phew, I can finally talk. You keep saying that I am risking my life for Dante... What about you?"
Shouldn't you risk it too?
As Jin muttered behind him, he unleashed the mystic technique of Plutonian swordsmanship– Waterfall.
Countless lightning bolts pouring from his sword were disturbing the attacker's vision.
The claws managed to deflect the lightning energy, leaving afterimages behind, and Jin intentionally slowed down his tempo as if he was catching his breath.
Ask away.
Jin eagerly awaited the attacker's relentless approach with the patience of a fisherman who had cast his fishing rod.
Because the attacker was not yet aware of what was happening behind him.
'He took the bait.'
The attacker received part of the lightning from the waterfall with his body and closed the distance toward Jin. His glowing eyes behind the mask sent shivers down Jin's spine.
Jin threw Sigmund away with all his strength. It was a blow filled with tremendous power, and it was impossible for the attacker to block it with just one hand.
Instead, the attacker overlapped his claws to block Sigmund, then twisted the blade downward and aimed for Jin's neck once again.
No matter how formidable the armor might be, if you kept taking hits in the same spot, it would eventually break.
'He's overly confident. Did he think I'd give way if he attacked with all his might?'
However, it was at that moment that the shadow force sphere formed behind the attacker began to move.
The attacker's reaction was so sudden and sharp that it could only be explained by the unique instincts of those who had experienced countless life-and-death battles.
'What is this out of nowhere...!'
A dangerous feeling as if a blade was touching his neck.
Certainly, he had blocked the attack of the 12th flagbearer from front, so he should have tried for a counterattack, but for some reason... Jin seemed to be smiling behind the helmet.
He withdrew claws that had come close to Jin's neck.
At that moment, what the attacker had gained by withdrawing was just a brief moment, a split-second of opening where one might barely blink his eye.
In order to gain such a brief moment, the attacker had to give up on a strike that might have even rendered Jin unconscious.
'Impressive, he's worthy of being called a Black Knight.'
Jin was genuinely impressed by that sight. This was because he knew very well that in this situation, giving up an effective hit and preparing for defense would not be an easy decision.
'Well, if the pawn dies, it's a problem in itself.'
If he hadn't gone on the defense, the attacker would have lost his life. Jin was convinced of that.
"Kuk...!"
Something passed by and grazed the attacker's back.
It was the black sword energy emitted from the shadow force sphere. Just before throwing Bradamante, Jin had stored his shadow force in it.
Shadow force moved according to Jin's will like when forming a curtain or artificial flower. It was an attack that could never be achieved by controlling shadow force alone; it belonged to the realm of 'authority' rather than mere 'power.'
Due to the sword energy pouring out from the shadow force sphere, oddly enough it was the attacker whose stance was disrupted.
Jin wouldn't miss this opportunity. Sigmund was rushing towards the attacker at that moment, filled with lightning energy.
The attacker judged that stopping Sigmund was a higher priority, even if a single ray of black sword energy cut his back.
But even that wasn't a real attack.
'I can't let this hard-won opportunity end with just one move.'
Whaaack!
Suddenly, a mass of mana with a light attribute burst from Jin's palm.
It was the Flash Cannon, an ancient spell, the legacy of the great mage Chenmi. It was a magic of little use against top-tier martial artists, but in the current situation, things were different.
No matter how skilled the Black Knight might be, when an unexpected light suddenly flashed in his eyes, there was nothing he could do. Unless there was a significant difference in skill that even closing one's eyes wouldn't make much of a difference.
Blood splattered.
Sigmund had cut into the attacker's chest. This time, it was definitely not a shallow wound. Jin clearly felt the heavy sensation of blade cutting through flesh and bone.
The attacker hastily used claws as a shield, but that wasn't the end of it. Recovering the vision affected by the Flash Cannon wouldn't be easy even for a highly trained knight like him.
The initiative was completely in Jin's hands until the attacker's vision was restored.
"How about it? This must be your first time fighting a Magic Swordsman, right?"
Thump!
This time, the sword pierced through the shield and hit the attacker's thigh. Despite reacting promptly to each attack, it seemed that regaining the upper hand would not be easy for the attacker, even when his vision returned.
For the attacker, it felt like an eternity, like hell, but for Jin, it was like a refreshing oasis in the desert. Almost five seconds had passed since the attacker had lost his vision. Slowly, the attacker's sight began to return.
Hoo, hoo...
Unlike the calmness he showed throughout the battle, the attacker's breath was now rough as he adjusted his posture.
Jin made eye contact with the attacker with a smile and said, "It seems like you didn't understand what I said earlier, so let me explain it again. Go back; this mission is a failure. Tell your master that I will handle Hairan my way."
The black knight had heard the rumors about how formidable the 12th flagbearer is.
He hadn't witnessed the scene of the Garden of Swords being turned upside down himself, but even those who tried to reject the 12th flagbearer still praised its immense power, so he wanted to clash swords with him.
He wanted to see for himself what kind of person the 12th flagbearer is.
At first, he was disappointed.
It seemed like a waste to let go of the opportunity to bring down Hairan over something as trivial as friendship. All those rumors about being an incredible fighter felt like they were all lies.
Next, he felt a sense of frustration when Jin used a crude sword. He wondered if Jin still didn't realize that with mere tricks and abilities he could never reach the pinnacle of swordsmanship.
Yet, here he was, allowing himself to be overwhelmed by that very trick.
Even though he clearly has the upper hand in terms of power.
'No... but even the 12th flagbearer hasn't fully used his strength yet. I can't guarantee victory if both of us fought for our lives.'
It was strange. Such thoughts crossed his mind while facing Jin.
Even though he didn't look like someone with the dignity of an Emperor. Jin is a swindler who does everything to achieve his goal but his gaze was so deep that it defied easy analysis.
Jin has a unique demeanor that he had ever felt from other flagbearers.
He began to have doubts. Should he push on to secure Dante no matter what, or should he retreat as it was? Which was the right judgment?
Jin seemed to read his mind perfectly.
"No, you can't do that, Black Knight."
The attacker's eyes widened behind the mask.
"The black helmet is for the sake of the clan, not for the flagbearer. What you need is not struggle but to efficiently accomplish your mission. Risking your life for a mission that has already failed is a significant loss for the clan. Go back and prepare for the next one."
Kudduk, Kururur...!
The shockwaves from the ongoing battle outside continued to reverberate within the castle.
Cracks formed in the walls of the main hall, as if they would collapse at any moment and debris rained down from the ceiling.
The pillars supporting it are dangerously shaking and look like they would break if they get hit.
"It seems like a good time to leave when you have the opportunity."
As Jin spoke, one of the pillars broke, and the floor started to give way.
The destruction of the main hall meant that the entire Sword Emperor Castle was crumbling.
In the end, the attacker turned away.
He carried the corpses of other fallen attackers on his shoulders. Before leaving, he spoke without looking back.
"I will pretend I didn't notice that you were bluffing. If your choice today poses a threat to Runcandel, then the black helmets themselves will come to take your head."
Before Jin could respond, the attacker left through the broken wall of the main hall.
And as he disappeared from sight, Jin knelt on one knee and gasped for breath.
'Even though the shadow force armor protected me, I still got some injuries…'
If the attacker had continued the fight, Jin would have suffered considerable damage. He had the last resort of the Black Light Call, so he wouldn't have lost his life, but whether he could protect Dante was uncertain. What choices the attacker would have made when cornered were unknown, after all.
Even Dante's death wouldn't be entirely bad from the perspective of Runcandel.
The fatigue from the consecutive intense battles was hitting him all at once.
"I should escort Dante and take a look outside.'
Crash!
The ceiling began to collapse entirely. Jin swiftly picked up Dante and left the main hall, heading towards the outside of the castle.
The outer walls near the main hall also appeared to have collapsed. As Jin climbed up the still intact outer wall, he saw the battlefield where Ron and Berakt were fighting.
There was nothing left in the vicinity of the battlefield. The central arena had disappeared without a trace, and nearby buildings had all crumbled, leaving only the marks of destruction.
"Ugh..."
Dante regained consciousness and let out a heavy groan.
Are you awake, Dante?
But Jin didn't ask him that.
That was because Jin's mind went blank after looking at Ron Hairan, who was soaked in blood and struggling to breathe. He could also see injured Berakt beside Ron.
章節 254: Chapter 413
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"Grand... father."
Dante's voice didn't sound loud, perhaps because he had just woken up and had no energy. It was so small that Jin could barely hear even though he was right next to him.
However, Ron turned his head at that faint call. His gaze was fixed on the outer wall where Jin and Dante were standing.
"Grandfather!"
Smirk.
Ron smiled as he looked at his grandson. Despite having blood all over his body, it seemed that not all of it was Ron's blood.
'Berakt is undoubtedly one of the strongest figures in the world, so I expected this fight to be quite impressive but I can't believe Sir Ron was injured that much....'
It didn't feel like reality at all when Jin saw Ron injured firsthand. Except for Chiron, Ron is one of the top contenders when discussing the strongest individuals in the world.
'Besides, Berakt's injuries seem somewhat less severe.'
Is Berakt stronger than Ron?
It didn't quite make sense. Jin had heard countless heroic tales and praises about Ron since his previous life, whereas Berakt was someone he had just come to know in this life.
A while ago, he had realized that Berakt was Rosa's adversary, but that was all he knew.
Certainly, Berakt didn't seem to be a very famous figure in the hierarchy of the human world. It seemed that even Ron and Berakt were meeting for the first time.
"Calm down, Dante."
Dante was struggling while he attempted to go to his grandfather, but he was so exhausted that all he could do was struggle.
"But... Grandfather."
"We're in the Sword Emperor Castle, and that gentleman there is Ron Hairan, the world's greatest knight. Do you think your grandfather would lose here?"
Ron Hairan being defeated by someone in the middle of the Sword Emperor Castle,... It was an unimaginable sight for anyone.
Such things seemed impossible unless Runcandel or Zipfel launched a combined attack.
Even if the Emperor of Vermont led a large army and personally intervened, there were many doubts about what he could do to the Sword Emperor Castle guarded by Ron.
The world was vast. Even if Berakt was stronger than Ron, it wasn't an entirely implausible thing.
However, Jin had a gut feeling that something else was involved.
He calmed his startled heart and calmly surveyed the battlefield once more.
The shape of the collapsed outer wall and buildings looked unfamiliar. The slashed surfaces were excessively rough for something that had been destroyed by sword energy. It looked as if some giant had torn them apart haphazardly.
Of course, it could be explained as fragments of energy flying in all directions when their sword energies clashed or the building could be being shattered by shockwaves, but that explanation alone was insufficient. Most of the debris appeared charred black.
Jin looked up at the sky.
'Grenil…'
Grenil, Kinzelo's aerial battleship.
Thick smoke was rising from the forefront of Grenil's cannon.
'Is Sir Ron pushed back because he's trying to stop those cannon fire?'
At that moment, mana began to gather in the cannon as if in response to Jin's thoughts.
Crackling!
An enormous lightning bolt was building up in the barrel even from Jin's perspective. It was shocking that such a lightning bolt could be generated without any warning.
'This is insane!'
Just before the cannon fired, Jin hastily erected a protective shield.
Kwaaaah...!
The cannon emitted an utterly colossal lightning bolt.
The blinding light was brighter than daylight, and the shockwave that was spreading from the cannon, not only tore apart the clouds but also struck the ground.
And an unimaginable massive formless sword energy that wasn't visible to the eye blocked the cannon fire.
It was Ron Hairan's sword energy. Its role was to disintegrate the cannon fire before it reached the ground.
The cannon fire was shattered by the sword energy and its debris was wreaking havoc on the Sword Emperor Castle and emitting an ominous blue light. Hairan's Knights and warriors were desperately blocking the cannon fire's fragments.
The shockwave from the cannon fire's aftermath struck Jin's protective shield violently.
Dante's bloodshot eyes were trembling as he gritted his teeth in helplessness. He even vomited a handful of blood and his backflow was accelerated due his anger.
"Kaaaah...!"
"Dante, please listen to me. I'll evacute you as soon as the explosion ends, so calm down. Your backflow is getting worse due to your anger. Please. Think about Sir Ron; he wouldn't want you to get hurt more."
It reminded Jin about the moment when he faced Kozec at the ancient ruins of Colon.
He could say with certainty that the power of the battleship Grenil was incomparable to the Kozec from back then. At that time, it was Talaris who had mostly blocked the cannon fires alone, and Jin had barely survived by deflecting the falling debris towards the natives.
Currently, there are thousands of knights and warriors within the Sword Emperor Castle. Unlike during the Colon incident, it seemed like it was not enough to stop the destruction of Sword emperor castle even though they were all clearing away the debris.
'Is this why they were so confident when they invaded Sword Emperor Castle?'
However, the Sword Emperor was still the Sword Emperor.
Originally, just one or at most two cannon fires would be enough for the entire Sword Emperor Castle to crumble, and it wasn't an exaggeration. But Ron Hairan was preventing the castle from collapsing.
Like the shattered cannon fire, his formless sword energy was divided into small pieces and was intercepting the falling debris before they reached the ground.
In other words, Ron wasn't just facing Berakt; he was fighting while protecting the entire allied camp.
It wasn't easy to describe such great battle prowess with just the adjective "strong."
That's why Jin didn't see the Sword Emperor Castle meeting its end today despite the unfavorable situation.
'I don't think those Kinzelo bastards plan to destroy Hairan. If they did, they wouldn't have created a situation where the Bishkel group is isolated in the Sword Emperor Castle from beginning.'
Furthermore, the fact that they were firing the cannons meant they had already secured the Bishkel group and there was a high probability of their retreat.
The shockwaves pounding the protective shield were subsiding.
"Shuri, take Dante to the healers. It seems like the infirmary has also collapsed, so take him to the healers who look the most capable in the rear of the battlefield."
[Mya!]
Jin said as he tied Dante to Shuri's back. Dante had almost no strength left.
Just before Shuri took a step, Jin tightly grabbed Dante's shoulder.
"My fight is your fight, and your fight is mine. Today, I'll fight for your share as well. I will never let those bastards go, so pull yourself together."
Dante responded by blinking his bloodshot eyes.
Jin's gaze turned cold as Shuri started to move to leap off the outer wall.
Ron and Berakt's swords clashed once again as soon as the aftermath of the explosion ended.
"It would have been better if you had followed my suggestion and moved to the outside. Ron Hairan, the mountain of corpses has formed because of you today!"
Ron swung his sword, Rashid, without saying a word. However, it wasn't because of overpowering strength that he couldn't answer but he had nothing to say to a beast who knew nothing of honor.
Their fight was progressing where both seemed on equal, but Ron might have had the upper hand if Grenil hadn't been there.
-You will benefit greatly, Sir Jin.
Suddenly, he recalled what Margiella had said when the situation had started. Something hot surged within him as Jin looked at the battered Sword Emperor Castle.
The Sword Emperor Castle is his friends' home. They are also people who would one day become his comrades in the battle against Zipfel.
'Benefit? I will make sure you scoundrels suffer such a huge loss that you won't ever dare to do something like this again…'
Sssssss...
Shadow force started gathering around Bradamante. It was a special technique that he had saved as a last resort when facing a formidable foe.
Shadow Sword: Special Technique
Black light call
The sword enveloped in shadow force sliced through the air. Following its path, the surrounding space distorted and formed a single black door—a gateway leading to the world of the ancient Plutonian tribe.
It was impossible to predict which brethren would appear through the Black light call. Even if an ordinary warrior was summoned, it would still be a significant help in turning the tide of battle. Jin concentrated his mind and completed the special technique.
Then, Jin couldn't help but smile with relief when a brethren emerged from the black door.
The one who stepped out of the door was Linpa, 4th battle king.
"It's been... a long time, brother Jin. I... I won."
It had been a short time since she started speaking again, so Linpa's speech was somewhat slurred. However, her few words contained a deep and powerful aura that made everyone on the battlefield turn their attention to the outer wall.
'Who is that person?'
'Could it be a new enemy...!'
'No, they are with Jin Runcandel. They appear to be an ally.'
'But still, where did they suddenly appear from?'
As the warriors exchanged glances and opinions, Linpa drew a massive sword from her back.
Whoosh!
Even though she had just unsheathed her sword, a heavy sword wind swept in all directions.
"I apologize for summoning you, sister Linpa."
"No... I'm fine. Are they... enemies?"
Linpa pointed her massive sword at the battleship Grenil and Berakt.
"What do you want... brother Jin."
"Completely wipe out my enemies."
Linpa nodded her head in response to the firm answer.
"I understand….."
The battleship Grenil was loading its cannon again. Ron was exerting his strength to block the cannon fire, and Berakt couldn't take his eyes off Linpa.
'That's... the Plutonian tribe that the leader talked about,' Berakt thought to himself.
It was the first time he had ever felt such a strange emotion. He had never seen a Plutonian before, let alone fought one. He had only heard tales of their tremendous power and he hadn't personally experienced it.
Even so, it was enough to make him feel a surge of nausea and the fur all over his body stood on end. He was absolutely certain that if it were other White Wolf Tribe warriors instead of him, their legs would have given way.
A terrible sense of crisis weighed heavily on his body. He hadn't felt an ounce of fear even when facing Ron Hairan, but now, even that Berakt was experiencing dread.
'Ha, damn it...! I am Berakt Sidricker, the great warrior of the White wolf tribe. I shouldn't be so afraid of someone like that.'
Haaaaa!
Berakt roared with determination and shook off his fear. His heart was now filled with anger towards Linpa, not fear.
"I am... Linpa, the fourth battle king of the great Plutonian tribe."
The cannon was aimed and ready, and everyone on the battlefield braced themselves for the impending explosion. However, Linpa continued calmly, as if nothing unusual was happening.
"I answered my brother's call… and came here…. My duty is to…. be his sword. As for my enemies..."
Leave your last words.
Boom!
As Linpa finished speaking, the cannon unleashed its devastating thunderbolt and painted the ground in blue.
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