章節 339: Chapter 498
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No, why is this falling now? Jin looked at the key with that thought.
It felt like his heart sank.
If the battleship blueprint had already been stolen by someone, then Runcandels had been through all the trouble for nothing.
'Could it be Joshua? No, considering the time and the situation, it doesn't make sense. Even when handing over the key, he seemed to have made his own decision.'
If that's the case, the only one left was Kinzelo.
'Only the four Spectres left in the 2nd Magic Tower because the rest of the forces went to trace the stolen blueprint!'
At the moment, there was no other plausible deduction.
However, Hedo's goal was still a mystery.
-If you happen to have picked up something here, give it to me now. Then I'll consider sparing your life for now.
Logically, it was not something one would say to the enemy.
Thunk, thunk, clatter, whoosh-!
The fallen key was swept away by the hot wind of flame of hell and disappeared into the fire. Hedo exhaled a sigh as if he couldn't believe what had just happened. It was a moment that could lead to further misunderstanding.
It was not easy for Hedo to quickly realize what the situation was.
Because Jin also had the same key that Sandra gave him.
'Why did Jin Runcandel have the vault key?'
Up until now, Hedo knew there was only one key. At least, that was the case until a moment ago.
"12th flagbearer, I don't know where you got that key from. But what I just said is still available."
Hedo narrowed his eyes and spoke as if he didn't want to think too complicatedly.
Whether the key was duplicated, or if there were actually extras that he didn't know about, or if Runcandel had stolen it – whatever the case might be, the judgment was simple. As long as he could recover the blueprints and send Jin away alive, that was enough.
Sandra Ziphel was waiting for Jin on the rooftop of the tower, fully adorned.
There was even a table set for a dinner just for the two of them in the middle (Hedo prepared it himself right before the group arrived), and to endure the anticipation and excitement, Sandra was enjoying the sight of secret shipyard in the Sota desert exploding while she sipped her pre-dinner drink.
As that disturbing image came to mind, veins on his forehead thickened.
-Young lady Sandra.
-What!"
-You must report it.
-What report?
-Jin Runcandel has arrived at the shipyard. You should report this to the patriarch. Since you are currently on duty.
-Hedo, then my husband is dead. Or he will no longer be Jin.
-Probably so. Well, considering the survival skills the 12th flagbearer has shown so far, you never know.
-So don't spout such nonsense twice.
Considering that conversation, he felt that it would be better to keep Jin alive and send him away if possible.
He had set up the table to calm her down, but it would be unrealistic to expect dinner.
"I don't have the blueprints."
"You just dropped the key, didn't you? Don't make foolish judgments. I don't want to kill you if I don't have to."
"It brings tears to my eyes. But what do you want me to do if I don't have it? And it seems like you've forgotten."
We're still fighting, Tower Keeper.
Jin could continue his words, and the flame of hell became even more fierce. The flames clinging to Hedo's body caused an explosion, and the spreading flames gathered to engulf him.
The secret technique of Sarah Runcandel, the renowned strongest among the ten great knights of ancient Runcandel.
Although it was still incomplete, it could not be taken lightly.
With a short groan, Hedo took a step back for the first time. The flame of hell had a power far beyond his expectations.
'Blocking or avoiding this sword from the start would have been the right choice. I might have been too complacent, as Jin Runcandel said. This could be a bit tiring...'
The heat of the flame of hell penetrated through the protective shield and flesh, reaching his internal organs.
It's been a long time since he felt this much pain. Even if he emitted energy to push it away, it seemed that it would take some time for this fierce heat to subside.
The problem was that the flame of hell was not the end.
Other Runcandels had been waiting for just this moment.
"Well done, youngest!"
The first to follow up was Diphus.
The second meteor shower he executed was pouring down behind Hedo.
Not only that, the destructive power of the meteor shower was undoubtedly one of the highest in the decisive killing move, but it seemed that it alone wouldn't deliver a proper blow to the giant.
Diphus had prepared one more sword move, the most refined sword he possessed.
Runcandel's Fifth Secret Technique: Light-Speed Thrust.
A sword that he had honed beyond the limits several times with Mary.
Flash!
A dazzling flash surged towards Hedo's back before the meteor shower. It was the Light-Speed Thrust, surpassing Mary and reaching the pinnacle.
Hedo couldn't evade Diphus's sword.
The Light-Speed Thrust distorted the space and pierced his mountain-like back.
Hedo was bent forward and vomited blood, but even the Light-Speed Thrust couldn't penetrate his immense body. The shockwave that spread along with it shook the entire tower.
There were six streaks of such flashes in succession.
Diphus would inevitably fall into a backflow, but there was no going back anyway. Diphus perceived that this was his last chance to turn the tide.
After finishing the attack, Diphus spat out a dark pool of blood.
Kraaaah!
Hedo screamed in agony.
It was unclear whether it was a scream or a roar. However, one thing was certain: Hedo showed no signs of collapsing even after being hit six times by a Light-speed thrust along with a meteor shower.
Even in the midst of this, Hedo continued to swing his longsword to restrain Jin and was conscious of another sword that would come next.
'Monster...!'
Next were Joshua and Jane.
Though the six Light-Speed Thrusts didn't land a significant blow on Hedo, it didn't mean he was unscathed. Jane approached amidst the meteor shower, driving her sword into the wounds created by the Light-Speed Thrust.
The wounds were just a finger's breadth.
Nevertheless, Jane's blade clearly dug into Hedo's wounds. Blood splattered, and flesh was torn.
"You!"
Hedo rolled his eyes and pushed Jane away, spraying out sword energy. Jane shallowly stabbed Hedo about five times, and Hedo threw Jane all the way up the wall, shattering her wrist and causing significant internal injuries.
Yet, Jane was not disappointed. Blood gushed from deep within her chest, but she finally managed to deal a valid blow to that monster, creating a small opening. A very small opening.
Joshua's sword was piercing through that gap.
"Kaaaah!"
A desperate and venomous cry, a wholehearted effort.
No one said that Joshua was the best flagbearer in pure martial prowess. He was always overshadowed by Luna, and among the siblings, the dominant opinion was that he became the next patriarch not through swordsmanship but through Rosa's full support.
That was not entirely wrong.
However, he was undoubtedly the 2nd flagbearer of Runcandel. He had challenged and lost to the strongest flagbearer of Runcandel many times.
In other words, Joshua also had potential. He had gained enlightenment through numerous defeats and humiliations, learning how to incorporate it into his sword.
This was the result.
The black sword, Kainer, was enveloped in a dark aura.
The energy was similar to shadow force but not as intense, possessing the distinctive radiance characteristic of aura.
It was not Joshua's unique domain like Luna's Mind's Blade, but rather a uniquely colored sword energy that one must achieve to obtain the ultimate technique of Runcandel.
Runcandel's 4th Secret Technique:
Black Cross
Joshua's sword drew a perfect cross.
Shining black sword energy spread across a perfect cross without a single inch of deviation.
The place where the intersection point of the sword energy was pointing was Hedo's shoulder.
Originally, it was aimed at the center of his face but altered due to his reaction. However, the Black Cross was not a type of sword that significantly lost its power if slightly deviated.
The Black Cross was not a cross formed by two lines, as the name suggested. As soon as the secret technique began, Joshua's black sword energy expanded in a giant circle, targeting Hedo from all directions.
Suaaak, swish!
As if the snipers who had finished the siege opened fire all at once, numerous black sword energies in the shape of a cross gathered at the intersection and began to slash at Hedo.
If Joshua alone executed the Black Cross, it would have been challenging to deliver a proper blow. However, the Runcandel's swords that had earlier engaged Hedo were not in vain.
Finally, he was writhing in agony. Although small, he let out more of a groan than a roar. And he couldn't deflect at least 10% of the countless black sword energies from the Black Cross.
If it were anyone other than Hedo, that 10% alone would have torn the body into hundreds of pieces, becoming minced meat.
"Ugh, heuk!"
Joshua sat down and breathed heavily.
'Damn it, was it not enough...!'
Hedo, who began to shake off the Black Cross, seemed to regain strength with each passing moment.
He was covered in blood but didn't suffer fatal injuries.
"Just as the Black Dragon said Murakan is Murakan, a Runcandel is still a Runcandel. I was a little surprised."
Tsk, Hedo spat out blood, wiping his face, and spoke.
[I am sick of this bastard.]
Murakan was absorbing the remnants of the flame of hell with a vortex.
By now, the Spectre corps was barely standing, having exhausted their strength in constantly shielding against the flame of hell, the Decisive killing moves, and the Secret Techniques.
[Hey, kid. It seems that won't work. It's a hopeless situation. Take care of the others and run. I'll deal with him somehow and catch up.]
"Well, it seems like a reasonable plan, but unfortunately, I can't help you, Lord Murakan. Unless Runcandel returns what they stole, I have no choice but to take back my words."
[What?]
"This means that I will request support from the main house. I don't want to waste my strength unnecessarily anymore. My patience is running out."
[You are saying two things with one mouth. You are starting to show your true colors. It's not that you don't want to waste your strength unnecessarily, but it seems that you're starting to find the battle burdensome. You've taken more beating than expected.]
"Feel free to think as you wish. But you know very well that doing so will not make the situation any better, the Black Dragon."
[Hmph, and what kind of bullshit is it that we stole the blueprints? We haven't raided the vault here yet, have we? You're making baseless accusations.]
Murakan and the other Runcandels hadn't witnessed the moment when the key burned in the flame of hell. They also didn't hear the conversation between Jin and Hedo.
Hedo decided to talk to Jin instead of Murakan.
"You have a knack for making simple problems difficult, 12th flagbearer. If you keep insisting, you'll regret it. Before that happens, let me make one thing clear; I will give you the utmost consideration that I can provide..."
Just as he finished saying that—
Hedo suddenly turned around and swung his sword longsword. He sensed that someone had evaded his senses and approached him at close range.
It was an assassination attempt.
And the number of people in the world who could attempt an assassination attempt against Hedo is so small that you can count them on one hand… One of them is a rare assassin born in the Garden of Swords.
It was Yona.
章節 340: Chapter 499
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***
On the day Mary led the fleet and Puberty to Tikan, Yona had nowhere specific to go so she immediately returned to the Nameless city of Samil.
She was in a bad mood all day, feeling sad and upset that she couldn't take a proper walk with her youngest, so she looked at her mission list.
It was to erase distracting thoughts by doing something. The more difficult and complicated the mission, the more effective it would be, so she only looked at requests classified as the highest grade or those decided to be rejected.
One of them was Kinzelo's request.
Owal was just going to tear up the request letter as it was asking to steal an item from Zipfel's second magic tower.
"Heh, Sir Owal. Why don't you accept that?"
"Because it's a perfect job if you wish to die."
"Why?"
Considering the recent unusual trends among major factions, the international situation, the complicated relationship of interest, and the position Samil should take in this flow, etc.
"...So I thought it would be better not to accept it. Do you understand?"
"Even if I hear such annoying stories, I don't really know what you're talking about. You just don't want to do it, right?"
"That's how it may sound. But you still listened, so it's much better than the days when you didn't even listen to what I said and then suddenly disappeared."
"Hehe, anyway, it seems like a very important matter. Why doesn't my clan look for me?"
Perhaps they are planning to use you for an even bigger purpose than this, and there are orders from Sir Chiron.
Owal hid those words behind a sly smile.
"Well, whatever the reason, it's better not to look for it. Especially in cases like this."
"Did Kinzelo's leader personally make the request?"
Leader of Kinzelo.
Ever since Yona was able to control chaos, she became somewhat interested in him. It was because she knew that he understood 'chaos' well.
"Why are you asking?"
"I just wanted to meet him once."
"Why?"
"I wanted to ask him a few questions."
Owal shrugged his shoulders.
Though he complained about the difficulty of the mission, in reality, Owal wasn't entirely without ambition.
'It's an item from Zipfel's second magic tower.'
Owal was convinced that the item was the blueprints of a battleship.
He was also aware that Zipfels had recently intentionally leaked information about a secret shipyard in the Sota Desert.
Getting hold of the blueprint was an excellent deal from Nameless's standpoint. It had a high potential of becoming the best means to negotiate proactively among the major factions.
'Regardless of the request, if Yona, not me, acts unilaterally, the major factions will find it difficult to hold us responsible.'
Especially, Runcandel would never ask for accountability.
No, beyond that, if Yona secured the blueprints, it would actually be a matter of protecting and thanking the Nameless.
Also, in the first place, Yona would not leave even a trace of having entered the 2nd Magic Tower. Her infiltration and assassination abilities had long surpassed Owal's.
'She is not the kind of person who will listen to me even if I try to stop her anyway... It might not be a bad idea to just let her go once.'
Without the need for further consideration from Owal, Yona had already made up her mind.
"I'll take on this request."
"No, you can't."
"Even if you stop me, I'll go, hehe."
"If you really have to go, I have some conditions that you have to follow."
In the end, after having a non-negotiable agreement with Owal, Yona headed towards the second magic tower.
And in the process, she learned that Joshua, Diphus, and the youngest had also participated in this mission. From that moment on, Yona's top priority became not completing the request, but confirming the life or death of her youngest brother.
It wasn't just because her youngest brother seemed to be alone in the middle of Zipfel's territory.
'Wow, can there really be something like that in the second magic tower, it is not even the Drakka? Seriously?'
While stealing and returning the key at the second magic tower, the siblings witnessed a monster that was far beyond what they could handle.
***
This was the background of Yona's arrival at the second magic tower.
She had been watching Jin and Murakan from the moment they first entered the underground shipyard.
And she was searching for the right moment, a moment when she could approach her youngest brother while avoiding the surveillance of the crystal ball, Hedo's senses, and Kinzelo's eyes.
In the end, she did not succeed. Even Yona had her limits, and not everything was possible for her.
Therefore, what had just appeared was inevitably a compromise she had chosen. The optimal moment to assassinate the monster named Hedo was far from ideal, but if she didn't step forward now, her youngest brother could really lose their life.
Swish!
Squeak!
Yona's sword, 'Death,' and the longsword, Bale, crossed, leaving sharp traces.
Except for one person, Hedo, who was targeted for assassination, no one else was aware that Yona had appeared. It was a moment when the transcendent power of Hedo's strength became even more apparent.
'Elder sister Yona?'
'Yona!?'
All the Runcandels opened their eyes wide. Yona's sudden appearance was shocking, but even more surprising was the fact that Yona had left a long and deep wound in Hedo's chest with a single sword move.
Tsuuaaak!
A stream of fresh blood gushed from Hedo's sturdy body. The wound left by Yona was much more severe than all the decisive killing moves and secret techniques the group had used to stake their lives.
On the other hand, Hedo's counterattack only cut off the tips of Yona's hair, and she had already thrusted the blade into his side once again.
"Ugh...!"
Death had plunged into Hedo's side for a moment before pulling back out.
It was a clear severe injury. Usually, Yona should have seized this opportunity to finish the target, but she refrained from continuing the attack and distanced herself.
The extremely limited advantage she gained using the 'Silver Dragon's Claw' that Jin had given to Nameless was now over.
The assassins of Nameless had always regarded the Silver Dragon's Claw as a divine artifact. If it was processed in its unique way, it could freeze any target for a blink of an eye.
The reason Yona could easily cut and stab Hedo's body was thanks to the divine power of Nameless's weapon. Of course, her assassination skills were exceptional as well.
"Youngest, ugh!"
"Elder sister!"
As Yona retreated from Hedo, her legs wobbled, and she suddenly swayed towards Jin. A thin stream of blood flowed between her lips.
When she slashed and stabbed Hedo with Death, the longsword, Bale, didn't directly touch Yona, but she still suffered internal injuries from the energy that Hedo explosively released. This was due to the aftermath of using chaos not too long ago and her chaos had not yet completely subsided.
"...It was you!"
The one who stole the blueprints!
Hedo, with blazing eyes, charged towards Yona like a bullet.
Murakan blocked his path with his breath and awl, and then, the siblings and Jane stood in front of Hedo.
Despite being heavily injured, Hedo's formidable strength persisted. Like a wounded beast becoming even more ferocious. The group was astonished by his relentless charge, even after being hit by the shadow force awl and breath directly.
But Hedo was still a human.
He might be close to the strongest among the 10-star martial artists, but he was not a Genesis knight. He endured the accumulated shocks through sheer willpower.
The Runcandels were well aware of this fact.
'We must escape together with elder sister Yona!'
This was the first and last opportunity to shake off Hedo.
The whole group was thinking the same as Jin.
Moreover, since Yona had the blueprints, if they could escape unharmed, this situation would be a victory for the Runcandels.
The long sword veil was falling on the heads of the gathered siblings, with the feeling of a falling mountain.
Kraaaaah!
The screams of martial artists echoed as their swords clashed.
The ankles of the Runcandels who defended against Hedo's strike were driven into the ground, and eventually, the robust space that hadn't collapsed even in the midst of the battle crumbled entirely.
The ceiling was also completely shattered. The shockwaves created by the swords swung by the Runcandels to parry longsword and Murakan's awls were responsible for this destruction.
The entire tower was crumbling. As the Runcandels and Hedo fell, they stepped on the debris, engaging in a mid-air battle.
Every second, dozens of sword energy clashed fiercely, intertwining and devouring the airspace.
'The wound is deep. A pretty extreme poison has seeped into me, and it even spreads every time I move.'
Hedo gritted his teeth and analyzed the situation.
Even Hedo never expected the variable Yona Runcandel.
If he had known about her existence, he would never have engaged in the fight as casually as he did, as Jin had suggested.
'In the end, I need to request reinforcements from the main house.'
As long as the Runcandels kept fighting, Hedo had the confidence to defeat them all.
However, the Runcandels were not fools. Escaping was the only natural course of action.
Therefore, Hedo could no longer tolerate this.
Thud!
Among those falling, Hedo was the first to reach the ground.
At the same time, the thick gold ring on his index finger, engraved with mysterious runic characters, began to emit light. His ring was an artifact, a type of signaling magic similar to that inscribed on the staffs of each tower master.
The signal was immediately transmitted to Drakka, the main house of Zipfel. Even before three seconds had passed since the ring emitted light, a large-scale alarm magic was activated from afar.
'I am sorry, young lady. I can only hope that the 12th flagbearer have a heavenly luck beyond the rumors. Hopefully, he can survive even the pursuit from Drakka's main force.'
Hedo still had no intention of killing Jin. However, in this situation, if he let the Runcandels go, he would not only raise suspicions about himself but also potentially incur disadvantages for Sandra. It was an unavoidable choice.
Now Hedo had only one thing to do.
To eliminate the 'witnesses' who had seen him offer to spare Jin's life.
The plan was to either let them die as a warning to Octavia or deal with them directly.
The Spectres were either exhausted and still falling, or were gasping for breath while trapped in the cracks of the broken tower.
Hedo raised his head to confirm their positions and prepare to shoot sword energy, but he was surprised to see the ceiling of the tower was completely open.
'Certainly, the rooftop didn't collapse? Why is it open like this?'
Throughout the fight, Hedo controlled his energy to ensure that, even if the inside of the tower was destroyed, the rooftop would not suffer much damage.
In other words, someone had damaged it.
Hedo had a feeling he knew who the culprit was, and the thought gave him a throbbing headache.
Hedoo-!
The owner of this incredibly loud, sharp and irritable voice was none other than Sandra Zipfel.
She had been waiting for Hedo to bring Jin the whole time, and upon realizing the activation of the support signal, she broke through the floor and threw herself into the battlefield.
"You stupid, useless muscle pig! Are you insane!? Are you out of your mind!? Why did you call the main force!? Are you planning to kill my Jin!?"
While vehemently shouting, Sandra, who had just landed on the ground, made eye contact with Jin. Afterward, she spoke in a different tone.
"Honey! I've been waiting for you. Where do you think you're going? Let's go together!"
Even in the midst of the urgency, Jin felt a shiver down his spine at Sandra's words.
Yet, at the same time, he had an intuition that she might be of significant help in escaping from this place.
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