章節 79: CHAPTER 238

"Em-Emergency! Save… Ugh!"

A mage, standing on the outer wall, was cut in half as he tried to erect a barrier.

He was cut by a blade made of spiritual energy floating in the air.

Not one, not two, and not ten. Over a hundred black blades moved in the air in accordance with Murakan's will.

Every time the blades danced, a scream echoed into the night.

Some had their breaths cut short, some had their bodies sliced, and some were crippled.

Even the brave White Wolf warriors were momentarily unable to look away from the scene of this massacre.

[I said you won't get out of here alive.]

Murakan spoke softly as he looked at a group of mages running out of the outer wall.

As soon as those words passed his lips, black blades struck their backs.

Several more mages died without even being able to let out a final cry.

Murakan's appearance amidst the black blades that tore through the 7-star mages' barriers as if they were paper was as if a god of death had descended.

"Keahahah…!"

Roar~

Just hearing it was enough to cause bones to chill and flesh to melt.

The humans slumped over and covered their ears at Murakan's roar, while the warriors of the White Wolf and Orange Tiger Tribes reflexively raised their weapons.

They didn't raise it to fight back. They didn't raise them to fight back. They raised them because their instincts were screaming to somehow cover their bodies and block it.

Unlike the Orange Tiger Tribe, the White Wolf Tribe were at least able to open their eyes wide and glare at Murakan. But even they couldn't help their legs shivering like a frightened dog.

The king of the skies.

This is what the other dragons once called Murakan.

Indeed, Murakan was showing dignity that benefited that title.

If the goal was to simply 'punish', then the fight would have been over long ago.

They stopped destroying the castle because they had to save the citizens, not because they lacked strength.

'Crazy…'

Jin looked up at Murakan, bewildered.

Was this really that stupid black dragon who scrounged around for strawberry pies?

'Hmm, him making a fuss about how great he used to be back in his prime was actually deserved. If he's this strong at only 40%, once he regains all of his strength… He'll be just as strong as my father or the Battle Goddess.'

To tell the truth, Jin was actually a little worried before he arrived at the old capital.

Even though Murakan had regained some of his strength, he wondered if it was truly possible for the two of them to fight against all those opponents.

But there was no need to worry. It seemed like even if all four 9-star wizards were at the base, he and Murakan would not face any trouble.

'The only problem is what condition the captured citizens are in.'

-It's been about half a year since they started conducting experiments. Every month, more than a hundred citizens and soldiers of the kingdom are taken to their base and turned into test subjects.

'According to Vitura, at least six hundred citizens have been brought here so far. Probably more than that, and only a few of them will still be safe.'

There had to be a few sane people left. If they had all been completely turned into Living Golems, there was no choice but to kill them.That would mean having them testify was impossible.

Jin started walking. He looked like an intruder at first glance, since he was wearing a black and had Myulta's Rune activated. The mages, running around while panting, didn't catch him, though.

The castle was collapsing due to the black dragon's unexpected attack, so all they could do was run for their lives.

In fact, Jin was the one who caught a mage trying to pass by. He threw the mage to the floor and put a knife against his throat.

"Where are the citizens of the holy kingdom?"

"I d-don't know."

Shunk.

Jin stabbed him without hesitation.

He held no sympathy or pity for the Kinzelo Group's mages.

Like so, he captured three mages and asked them the same question, but none could give him an answer.

'They've been locked up in a place unknown to the low-level mages.'

He grit his teeth, climbing down the collapsed outer wall. He spotted humans and beastmen coming out of the inner entrance.

There were two familiar faces.

Chukon Tolderer and Susan Lilistar.

They appeared to be shouting and giving instructions while pulsating blood vessels protruded from their necks.

"Mages rank 1 or higher, prepare the crimson chain barrier!"

"Those who run away will die by my hand! It's impossible to escape that black dragon's eyes anyway, so somehow draw his attention while I set up the barrier!"

"We have to hold on somehow until Sir Joe finishes his preparation!"

Both Susan and Chukon were sweating profusely.

They must have felt it more than the two hundred mages who died on the outer walls.

Murakan's formidable power.

'Cold Joe. I guess he was in the castle too.'

Whatever Joe was preparing, it didn't seem like it would harm Murakan.

Jin began to move closer to the darkness of the shadows, avoiding their sight.

And as soon as he entered the hallway, he encountered a group of Orange Tiger warriors who were rushing out.

'One, two… five.'

As he counted their numbers, he released the energy of the Illustrious Legend Tribe he'd been suppressing.

The enemy warriors tried to draw their weapons but took a step back. Sigmund was already engulfed in lightning energy.

Pzzzt!

The enemy convulsed from the lightning that had struck down.

They were already gripped with fear because of Murakan's assault, but with the energy of the Illustrious Legend Tribe added onto that, there was nothing they could do.

Four were burned to death, while one was captured after he had his arm severed.

Jin asked him the same question he had asked the mages.

"Th-the underground concentration camp. Right now Joe is gathering the… test subjects!"

"What do you mean?"

"The… the test subjects had an energy like yours…"

The energy of the Illustrious Legend Tribe.

The ominous premonition came true.

The Kinzelo Group were restoring the Illustrious Legend Tribe.

Feeling a surge of repulsion, Jin glared, grabbing the Orange Tiger by his throat.

"Heek, spare me! Please spare me! I told you everything!"

"Take me there. The concentration camp."

"Y-Yes, sir!"

The Orange Tiger warrior crawled on the floor, foaming at the mouth.

Jin looked around before following him.

There was a chance someone would intercept Jin, but nothing happened.

This was because as soon as Murakan's attack began, most of the troops in the castle rushed out.

"I-It's here! I've… I've been taking care of them. It, uh, it won't be long."

The hallway leading to the underground concentration camp was filled with footprints.

The footprints belonged to humans, and there were numerous pairs. Hundreds of people had shuffled through together.

It was evidence that Cold Joe had taken them somewhere.

The entrance to the camp was open.

Slice!

After decapitating the Orange Tiger warrior, he decided to jump down and check inside. He planned to follow the footsteps.

Contrary to its name, the concentration camp looked closer to a mage's lab.

Glass bottles containing all kinds of liquids were rolling around and booklets were scattered all across the floor. There were also steel-barred open windows.

It was larger than the central hall.

Just as Jin was about to conclude that Joe had taken all the citizens away, a woman's voice entered his ear.

"Were you sent by the holy king? The black dragon outside as well?"

The woman's eyes were trembling with fear, but as with those prepared to die, they were also filled with her strong will.

"I'm the one asking the questions. Tell me what happened to the citizens. Did Cold Joe take them all?"

Judging by her white lab coat, it seemed like she had been conducting experiments on the citizens here just moments ago.

Just as Jin was about to threaten her with a blade, she raised both hands.

"I'm a saint belonging to the Chariots of Dawn. My name is Mertual Scylla, a first-class priest serving directly under Holy King McLan. Following His Majesty's orders, I infiltrated the Dark Magic Association three years ago, currently undercover as a researcher. After I became a researcher, I was unable to contact my homeland because the security was so severe."

"Are you asking me to believe that?"

As he said that, the woman opened a pendant and showed him the pattern inside.

A dormant volcano, the symbol of the holy kingdom.

Jin looked between the dormant volcano pattern and the woman for a moment.

"As expected, I have many questions for you, but I don't have time to talk. Explosion magic has been activated in the testing facilities. Take a look at the floor."

A white magic circle was just beginning to form on the floor.

It was a type of barrier magic that the mages of the Dark Magic Association had installed in preparation for times like this.

"In five minutes, the testing facility will disappear without a trace. We must save the remaining citizens."

"Where are they?"

"There is an underground passageway that only researchers know about. Of the 823 citizens captured as test subjects, 813 have now become combat-type Living Golems following Joe."

"What?"

"Once the testing facility begins to close, the mana injection equipment will also disappear. If that happens, we can't save the remaining ten."

Creak.

When Mertual opened the floor as if it were a door, a hidden space was revealed.

In the space leading to the underground passage known only to researchers, ten humans were standing around drooling, as if their souls had been removed.

They were citizens of the holy kingdom.

"We have to save them. We can't return to the holy kingdom empty handed, can we? This will probably be your last chance. If we can't take these survivors back to the holy kingdom…"

According to what Mertual said, those ten subjects were the only ones who could testify.

'Should I trust this woman?'

She could be making this up in order to survive.

He had only been thinking for about three seconds when he suddenly heard a familiar noise from outside.

Rumble, rumble…!

Although it sounded very faint due to the distance, Jin was able to recognize it right away.

That was definitely the sound of lightning energy. It was clearly different from natural thunder or lightning.

They were Joe's Living Golems, the revival of the Illustrious Legend Tribe. They were the source of the noise.

"Joe has begun the Living Golems. No matter how great the black dragon outside is, they can't hold out for long. I don't know about you, but Joe will…"

"You created Living Golems modeled after the Illustrious Legend Tribe?"

"How did you know that? Could it be that the holy kingdom already obtained that information?"

"Agh, damn it. Fine. Mertual Scylla, I'll trust you. The ten witnesses must be saved, no matter what. Is there a way?"

"You just need to move the mana injection device to the secret passage."

"Is this it?"

Jin pointed to a steel barrel connected to a transparent tube.

Mertual nodded. She was indeed the holy king's spy.

The testing facility was destroyed in a sudden attack,and the woman didn't have the ability to move the heavy device down to the passageway. As that was happening, the only remaining citizens who could testify were just stomping their feet as if they could sense their impending death.

The device weighed enough that even with the physical strength of the average 5-star warrior, it wouldn't budge.

However, Jin easily picked up the device and moved it into the passage without delay.

"Please come in and wait a moment. Now, there's nothing I can do other than to pray to Ayula that the black dragon doesn't fall. From now on, I will infuse all of my mana into the citizens. As soon as it's finished, take them with you and escape."

"No. I have to do something outside, so take responsibility and save the citizens."

"Wouldn't it be better to escape quietly while Joe doesn't know you exist? The black dragon can fly, so it can escape later, but how are you supposed to escape with ten people without a dragon? The Dark Magic Association has also tamed demonic beasts."

Mertual fully knew how shameless it was to tell Jin to run away, risking Murakan's safety. However, she could not help but feel that this was her last chance to send a witness to the holy kingdom.

"The holy kingdom is important, but to me, that guy takes priority. I can't ignore the possibility of something happening to Murakan and only help the holy kingdom."

"…All right. I was discourteous."

"I understand. I'll return as quickly as I can."

"May Ayula's eyes reach you and the black dragon."

Slam!

Jin closed the entrance to the secret passage and turned around.

He knew the power of the Illustrious Legend Tribe better than anyone else.

If the 813 Living Golems were truly similar, then even Murakan was in danger.

As soon as Jin reached the surface, a peculiar sight entered his view.

Thousands of lightning bolts blanketed the sky.

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章節 80: CHAPTER 239

The sky was filled with the bluest of hues.

A deafening sound and a blinding light. Below, a hoard of monsters that could no longer be called human.

Living Golem test subjects numbering 813.

They finished their transformations, and their bodies were wrapped with lightning. Just like a member of the Illustrious Legend tribe using the Heart of Light.

Each time the light got brighter, the lightning spread further throughout the sky.

The light of the golems looked impressive, but it wasn't as bad as Mertual's worries.

The form merely looked similar. There were vast differences in the power it had.

'Well, Murakan wouldn't have a problem with that.'

Jin came to check because he was worried about the golems overwhelming Murakan. Mertual mentioned that they could definitely overtake anything, and those words weren't completely wrong.

Some eight hundred golems with three 9-star magicians, an entire army of dark magicians, and two wolf tribes.

Maybe fleeing was a better option, even for the greatest dragon or warrior.

But Mertual didn't know Murakan's ability, and didn't know the true strength of an Illustrious Legend.

'To make these innocent citizens into monsters and insult my brethren? You motherfuckers…'

Pzzzt—

Jin drew Sigmund.

The Dark Magic Association.

They would disappear from the face of the planet today.

"Murakan!"

Jin shouted his name.

Under the bright blue sky, a black spiral appeared, signaling Murakan's arrival.

All of the non-golems looked at Jin.

"Him! Why is he here?!"

The Grand Magician of Anz, Chukon Tolderer, began to panic. He realized the moment he saw Myulta's Rune, while the others looked confused.

"Sir Chukon, do you know him?"

An anorexic man with a bony facial structure… Cold Joe.

"That's the one who intercepted the compass in the Bellard Empire! Be careful, the lightning he wields is incomparable to the golems' lightning."

Before Joe and Susan could reply, Murakan announced his question.

[Ready?]

A question regarding the location of the citizens and the evidence to show the holy kingdom.

Jin nodded.

[No need to play along. What shall we do?]

"Kill all of the golems and immobilize the 9-star magicians for capture."

[That's a bit restrictive. Can't I just kill them all?]

"Then just capture Joe."

Murakan smiled.

[Alright. That's not too hard.]

"They're beyond crazy. Do you bastards think you're Cyron or Kelliark?"

Thud!

Joe slammed his staff onto the ground.

With the castle destroyed, laboratory locked, and ego destroyed by some teenager, Joe's blood began to boil.

Susan Lilistar had a similar reaction. She never would've thought that the entire association would fall from one measly dragon and one little warrior.

Only Chukon Tolderer wore a grim expression. He knew how strong Jin was.

However, he still knew that Jin couldn't take on everyone at once.

Even the black dragon in the sky probably couldn't eradicate them all with three 9-star magicians present. He was confident that they would win.

'But why do I feel so scared…?'

Chukon felt a tightening around his chest.

Wooooooom~!

Shadows poured from Murakan's wings as he flapped them. It swallowed the lightning whole.

"Wow, truly a dragon of shadows. We'll see how high and mighty you are after we defeat you! Beastmen, get him!"

Joe shouted to the troops, and the beastmen raised their weapons. They proceeded to march toward Jin.

Pzzt!

Lightning began to dance around Jin and Sigmund.

Beastmen with good instincts flinched and backed off, but the others ramped up their march to a charge.

Pillars of light then shone on the ground.

[HAHAHA!]

Murakan released all of his spirit energy.

His eyes turned orange and the entire battlefield turned pitch black.

Excluding Jin, every entity around Murakan couldn't see a thing.

Although it was only for a short time, instantly losing one's vision definitely caused paranoia.

"My… eyes…!"

When their vision returned, the magicians and beastmen touched their faces to check if anything was wrong.

And they thought nothing had actually happened, but then their shadows began to move on their own.

"Ah, hey! What's that?!"

"My shadow!"

The shadows began to fall apart, while some of the people present merged with their shadows.

Seeing such a horrible sight for the first time, they immediately felt fear for what could happen next.

Only about half of them got eaten by their shadows. The other half could do nothing but watch in shock.

[I need to reduce the numbers, you see. It's a bit hard to deal with hundreds of corpses, and I hate stepping on them.]

Here and there, the sounds of explosions were heard.

"Help…!"

"Please…!"

Some of them began to face the effects of the release of spirit energy.

Their bodies began to shatter and fall apart like corroded statues. Each of them faced the same fate as their own shadow.

If the head of their shadow was severed, the shadow's owner was beheaded. If the shadow was bisected, so was the owner.

The number of corpses began to increase, and each time more and more shadows gathered around Murakan.

Joe and Susan realized something was truly wrong. Even after spending dozens of years studying magic, they couldn't process what was happening.

Chukon had been casting a defensive barrier, and Joe began to frantically copy him.

Losing six hundred to one ability was something they would never forget.

And during this time, Jin had already prepared his move.

With Sigmund embedded in the ground, shadows dyed the skies once again.

Illustrious Bladeworks, Fourth Form.

Disintegration.

Lightning bolts fell from the sky, tormenting all those below. The lightning swallowed the ground whole.

The 9-star magicians experienced what true lightning was like.

Krrrrr!

This was the move that the 10-star knight, Vanessa Olsen, barely avoided instinctively.

Normal beastmen wouldn't stand a chance.

A few seconds later, thunder arrived. The rumble shook the ground and vibrated the air, growling for more.

"Get away!"

Joe shouted at the beastmen charging toward Jin.

But it was too late. Countless lightning bolts indiscriminately descended from on high. Every beastman in Jin's vicinity perished.

Joe and Chukon managed to save a few with their barriers.

However, the other beastmen who dodged the attack just stared at the ground. Paralyzed in fear, they couldn't dare to look up at Jin.

Jin drew Bradamante.

The black blade sliced across the throats of the survivors. Heads dropped to the floor like swatted flies.

The eyes of Jin and Joe met.

About five hundred golems survived. Joe ordered the golems to attack Jin, and they charged without fear.

However, incomplete 4- or 5-star golems couldn't do anything, and Joe knew this. He just needed to buy some time.

No matter how many golems he had, no amount could make a dent in this battle. Their power was just beyond his comprehension.

'We should've escaped instead of gathering them here…! Shit!'

But there was no point in regretting it now.

Fwoooosh~!

Jin summoned Tess, burning through all of the peons as he stomped toward Joe.

"It's time for your debt to be collected."

Susan and Chukon were busy dealing with Murakan. Joe helplessly watched the golems fall to the blue flames, one by one. He imagined what Jin meant by 'capture'.

'I must survive. If I survive, the leader will save me…!'

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