611.
[T.L: punisher87]
Lingling.
A month has passed since Vahn gave that name to the chaos that became her companion.
Thanks to becoming the familiar creature of the battle god, Lingling naturally gained a position like a mascot among the Plutonians.
"Lingling, the name sounds cute, don't you think?"
As Jin took a bite of the Cakto and said, Lingling, which was on Vahn's shoulder, suddenly bared its fangs.
[So, are you dissatisfied?]
Still, Jin and Lingling often engaged in playful bickering. Although they harbored no real animosity towards each other.
"Dissatisfied? I just thought sister battle god has an unexpected side."
[Hmph! Are you saying you didn't like that Vahn picked that name for me?]
"You're interpreting it wrong again. I'm just amazed that the sister battle god prefers cute names like that...…."
[I don't like you.]
"Ha, is that so? I'm not particularly fond of you either."
[Want to try me!?]
"Enough, both of you."
[Mya mya!]
Vahn and Shuri, who were listening, shook their heads. They've been watching Jin and Lingling fight like this for a month now, whenever they run into each other.
"Sorry, sister battle god."
[Okay, Vahn.]
"And Lingling. Brother Jin is right. Why do you always misinterpret Brother Jin's words?"
[Why does Vahn always take his side?]
"Because you were in the wrong."
[Hmph... If Vahn said so. I'm sorry?]
Jin shrugged his shoulders, and Lingling clung to Vahn's cheek, showing a mischievous look.
"Brother Jin, you didn't do anything well either. Lingling has just started living in a group, so there are many things he lacks. So even if he makes some mistakes, you should understand."
Nyeh, nyeh! Lingling teased Jin by sticking out his tongue and pulling down its lower eyelids, but Jin swallowed a laugh and stayed still.
Whenever Lingling did that, it received a light smack from Vahn.
Bang!
[Ouch!]
Lingling briefly massaged his forehead, then leaned against Vahn's cheek again.
'Anyway, he is very fond of the sister battle god. To think that guy was such a dreadful chaos... I just can't adapt to it.'
Jin thought it was very nice to see Vahn and Lingling living together.
"Then, since you seem to have had enough rest, let's start training again."
Vahn and Jin sat down facing each other.
After deciding to accept Lingling, they are practicing 'battle god fusion' every day.
Naturally, battle god fusion was stabilizing at a rapid pace unlike before.
Now, they could control 'Harmony.' Accidents where Jin lost consciousness or Vahn became exhausted due to unintentional battle god fusion has completely disappeared.
It was thanks to Lingling voluntarily becoming a link between the two.
Whoa-!
As the two's illuminating hearts shone, Vahn's energy began to flow to Jin.
Adding Vahn's power to the already reached 10-star energy did not have a dramatic 'visible' effect.
According to Vahn, Jin was still in a state where he couldn't properly control his power.
Only the size of his power has reached 10-star, but Jin was not able to produce that much efficiency because he did not have control over his power unique to a first-class superhuman.
"We need to know exactly how much power you can handle, brother Jin. So focus."
"Yes, sister battle god."
Vahn's method is similar to Luna's mind eye training in the past.
Just like when awakening his mind eye, Jin is "recognising" his own energy with his eyes closed.
It was like swimming in the sea. It was a task to form the image of a sea of power into his mind and find out its size.
How far can you go and where is the end?
As always, Jin was completing the process faster than Vahn expected.
Eventually, as Jin narrowed his brows, Vahn gave a satisfied smile.
"Do you recognize it?"
"Yes. As you said, the sister battle god, I can clearly feel that I've reached the end. This is the limit. And beyond this...… I can see the sea that seems to be a manifestation of your power. In between, there is a layer of dark energy."
The dark energy belonged to Lingling. It served as a conduit connecting Jin and Vahn's powers and also acted as a kind of safety mechanism.
Lingling's will is preventing the two people's powers from mixing excessively.
Without it, Jin and Vahn have no choice but to have problems, just like when the battle god fusion had been manifested before.
"Now that we have reached this point, the control of battle god fusion is no different from being completed."
"... Right now, my vessel is not enough, so even if I synchronized with you, sister battle god, I cannot generate more power than the total amount of my strength."
When Lingling took away Jin's strength, he felt his entire body filled with Vahn's energy. At that time, Jin's vessel was empty, but not now. There was no room for Vahn's strength to intervene.
However, the battle god fusion was still transcendental for two reasons.
"Now, as long as you are with me, you never get tired."
In the state of battle god fusion, the power of Vahn is added whenever Jin's energy is drained. It means that he can always have the maximum amount of strength.
If the 'mirror' gave Jin divine mana at the time of the Sword Emperor castle war, Vahn gave him infinite aura and lightning energy.
But there was something else that really surprised him.
"Yes, on top of that, the experience, senses, and perspective of the sister battle god are being added...."
Jin, who had been talking until there, suddenly shuddered. It was because a thrill ran through him, making his spine shiver.
Just now, Jin accurately recognized the maximum level of his strength, and recognized the connection point of the lingling and the strength of Vahn beyond it.
Thanks to the progress Jin had made in one month, the battle god fusion was showing a different level of synchronization than before.
The result is the sharing of experiences, senses, and perspective of Vahn.
Everything Vahn had accumulated through her battle god experience was seeping into Jin's brain.
Like Boras shared his experience through memory transfer blacksmithing technique, Valeria's recording magic, and Solderet's recording device.
If they are legacies, what Jin is experiencing now is a literal 'fusion'.
In other words, Jin was no different from being Vahn.
'I guess this is how a blind person feels when he opens his eyes....'
Even the sight of the training ground, which was familiar like home, looked completely different.
Jin could discern which wall was weak, which ground was firm, how the wind flowed diversely; he could recognize all of it.
It was a sensation like overseeing the world as a god, not a human. Jin was thrilled by that feeling.
Even the breaths of the other brethren far away from the training ground were distinctly transmitted.
'Is that meaning sister battle god usually lived with this feeling?'
The current Jin could not maintain that state for long. Just standing still overwhelmed him with information and sensations that were hard to bear. Dealing with it alone was enough to make him breathless.
Jin felt as if he was reborn when he experienced first battle god fusion. That was nothing compared to now.
The light that dyed the hearts of the two became weaker. Before Jin became too exhausted, Vahn canceled the battle god fusion.
"Hoo."
Jin could only wear a bewildered expression, as if a person who had just experienced an unbelievable miracle that no one would believe.
Moreover, he had to barely suppress an extremely disappointed feeling.
It feels like the world has returned to a monochrome as soon as the battle god fusion is lifted.
The ground and wind at the training ground were no longer conveyed accurately and perfectly, and the breathing of the brethren could not be felt. The feeling of becoming a god disappeared as if it were a dream.
"You look quite shocked, Brother Jin."
"Not quite like that. Just now...… I felt like I had reached the realm of genesis knight without any effort."
"It is wrong to say that there was no effort. In the first place, my senses were conveyed to that extent because you have that level of skills."
Just as Jin felt Vahn's feelings, Vahn also keenly felt Jin's sensations.
"... To that extent? Are you saying that wasn't everything?"
At that, Vahn smiled softly and replied:
"Brother Jin, I am a battle god."
[Yes, Vahn is a battle god! You poor bastard, I think it's an honor!]
[Mya, mya mya?]
At Lingling's reaction, Shuri screamed as if she was proud of Jin, but Jin couldn't get out of his shock for a while. He just realized that the 'Vahn' he had experienced wasn't everything.
'How strong is the sister battle god...?'
At the time of the first training in the past, the day when Jin was able to share battle god fusion. Even then, Jin felt Vahn like a huge wall, and it has always been that way ever since.
But now, stronger than ever before, it seemed more distant than ever.
"You will be able to step into the same realm as me. If you couldn't, you wouldn't even be able to accept my senses at all."
Vahn does not speak empty words. Jin silently nodded his head. Jin doesn't know when it will be, but if she said that, it meant he could definitely reach it.
"The senses may be gone, but the memories will remain, Brother Jin."
"Yes, sister battle god."
Even though it seemed like the world had returned to monochrome, Jin vividly remembered the sensations he experienced during the fusion.
"We will proceed with training through those sensations. In other words, you learn how to fight like me. Also, try to extend the duration of the battle god fusion concurrently."
There was no training that could make one grow faster than that. Jin was convinced of that.
[If you want to increase the time, it would be better to behave well towards me.]
"Uh-huh, Lingling."
[Huh.]
"When brother Jin's skills reach a certain level, from then on, he will start sparring again with the battle king brethren. The first opponent is brother 12th battle king."
12th battle king, Teto. The reason Vahn singled out Teto as Jin's first opponent was because he was the weakest of the battle king.
Vahn was looking forward to seeing Jin defeat the battle kings one by one in order of battle prowess.
"All right."
612.
[T.L: punisher87]
January 15, 1802.
It had been over a year and a half since Jin entered Laprarosa.
Most of that time was spent on purifying chaos, so it was only about two months since Jin devoted himself entirely to training. From the time Vahn accepted Lingling until now.
However, over the past two months, Jin had experienced a period of astonishing growth.
"Ha, ha."
Jin sheathed his sword, catching his breath.
In front of him, there remained the massive sword mark he had just created. It was much deeper and more ominous than the one Temar left in the training ground.
Then, as always, a strong sense of exhaustion came and the battle god fusion was lifted.
For 10 minutes, the current Jin and Vahn were able to stably maintain the highest level of synchronization for just that amount of time.
This meant that, for those 10 minutes, Jin became nearly invincible.
"How does it feel, Brother Jin?"
"It's a shame. I still need your power to achieve this state, sister battle god."
"You're talking nonsense. If you say that somewhere else, you will be resented."
"I know. Where else would I talk about such hardships if not with my brethren?"
Pouring everything into the act of becoming stronger, feeling the thrill of clear accomplishments every day—it was a happiness that Jin wouldn't trade for anything.
Of course, the power available during the Battle God Fusion couldn't be solely claimed as Jin's.
However, what he gained through training with Vahn's shared experiences and senses was undoubtedly Jin's strength.
'I thought so, but... as expected, the ultimate skill of the shadow sword when I cut Lingling was at a level that could never be called complete.'
Vahn's experience.
As the synchronization rate of the Battle God Fusion increased, Jin vividly absorbed everything from Vahn.
Thanks to this, he could also glimpse the insights of the Shadow Sword and Plutonian Swordsmanship.
In other words, Jin learned the shadow sword and Plutonian swordsmanship without any dedicated training.
Certainly, there is a significant gap between understanding something intellectually and applying it in practice, so repetitive training is always required. However, training with a clear understanding of the core promises overwhelming efficiency.
'If it's now, I can execute a better shadow sword than back then. Plutonian sword also...….'
Unlike when Jin temporarily became stronger due to the demonicization of chaos, there are no side effects of training through battle god fusion.
'If I can continue to grow like this, I might be able to return faster than expected.'
Rosa allowed him three years. Now that half of that time had passed, Jin suddenly became curious about how much the world outside had changed.
"What are you thinking? Brother Jin."
Boras, who had just entered the training ground, sat beside Jin and asked.
"Brother Boras. I was just reminiscing about the outside for a moment."
"You look worried."
Jin shook his head.
"We don't get along very well, but my mother, who is now the acting matriarch, is strong. She's a person who will take responsibility for what she says. There probably won't be any problems with the clan within three years."
Jin trusted Rosa's obsession with survival as a Runcandel. As long as Rosa was there, Jin believed that there would be no problems with the Runcandel clan even in his absence.
'... If my mother weren't here, coming to Laprarosa might have been a much more difficult decision.'
Looking back, the majesty of the Runcandel he knew from his past life had considerably diminished.
In Jin's view back then, Runcandel was an absolute fortress that would never crumble if one member of the clan was missing.
But not now.
'My father and older sister Luna are still absent and after the Sword Emperor castle war, the clan does not have the same solidarity as before. It's the reason why I brought Joshua down, but that's not all.'
Kinzelo hid the existence of Orgal, the Demon Beast King, and their powers, and Zipfel is attempting to transcend 'humanity' by creating a Demon God's orb and fleets, and even the empire has created a Majin that is so good that it negotiates with such forces. And developing it using Temar's body.
In the meantime, only Runcandel remained stagnant.
The fact that clearly revealed this was the Sword Emperor Castle War. Until that dreadful war was finally concluded, Runcandel failed to live up to its name.
The fact that Rosa, who is clearly his 'enemy', is supporting the clan is bitter.
When Jin returns, he will have to bring her down and reorganize the entire clan.
To regain the dignity that could match the ancient Runcandel, to restore the glorious appearance of the former Runcandel.
"Brother 5th battle king."
"Yes, sister battle god."
"Call all the brethren to the hall of battle gods."
Jin could intuitively know what Vahn would say.
'Is it time to start my duels with the Battle God brethren?'
Jin was gradually becoming curious. How much of a difference was there between himself and the Battle king brethren now?
Until a year and a half ago, all of the battle kings of the Plutonian tribe had stronger battle prowess than Jin.
Although it was a light sparring, even Teto, the 12th battle King, almost dominated Jin and overwhelmed him.
All the other battle kings were stronger than Teto.
"Shall we move now?"
"No, you and I will go after we have had enough rest. To the extent that we can use battle god fusion again."
"Yes."
A few hours later, as the two slowly headed towards the hall of battle gods, they saw the brethren who had already gathered waiting in line.
When Vahn ascended to the throne of the hall, 76 Plutonians excluding her, all surviving Plutonian erased from history, looked up to her. Their and Jin's illuminating hearts resonated with Vahn's energy and generated a stronger light than usual.
The radiance spreading from the illuminating hearts filled the atmosphere, but the sight of them gathered gave a somewhat empty and lonely feeling.
At one time, the entire main hall of Hall of battle gods was filled with their light like an expansive plain.
Now, from a distance, it would probably look like barely a handful of light.
"The reason I gathered the brethren today is to commemorate."
Lingling also read the atmosphere and behaved properly.
"Since our time stopped, the first one to awaken us was Temar. However, more than Temar, the one who helped us enjoy time even more is none other than Brother Jin here."
When all of them nodded, Jin felt awkward once again.
Jin believed that what he received from the brethren was much greater than what he gave.
"And Brother Jin declared that he would bring us back into the human world."
At present, there were only clues, and definite means were not yet available, but the Plutonians had no doubt that Jin would surely do so. Jin himself believed in it.
"Our history will soon begin again. Therefore, I want to revive one tradition that we have long forgotten. A tradition allowed only for the strongest among the strong."
"Oh, oh!"
"No way!"
The Plutonians showed a lot of excitement at Vahn's words.
"The revival of unbroken history and tradition should naturally be initiated by Brother Jin. Don't you all think so?"
"Yes!"
When the Plutonians responded vigorously, Vahn smiled and shouted:
"We will start the Great Tournament of Battle Kings!"
While everyone roared, Jin had no choice but to sneakily ask Vahn.
"Sister battle god, what is the Great Tournament of Battle Kings?"
"It's the greatest festival of the Plutonian tribe. As the name suggests, it's a competition where warriors battle against the Battle kings. The same goes for battle kings."
"Battle? Not a duel?"
"Yes. The Great Tournament of Battle Kings is the only fight in which it is permitted to harm each other with a blade."
The Plutonian tribe does not have enmity. Also, Plutonians never fight for the purpose of killing each other.
No matter what form of dispute, the problem between siblings is solved by bare-handed fighting, and it is only possible to use blades to the extent that they do not cause fatal injuries.
However, such prohibitions did not apply in the Great Tournament of Battle Kings.
Of course, 'murder between brethren' is absolutely prohibited, but fatal wounds that can be treated are allowed.
As Vahn explained, Jin tilted his head in puzzlement.
"Accidents can happen, can't they? If you fight without such restrictions, there's a possibility of killing each other."
"Accidents are unavoidable."
"... Yes?"
"Unexpected accidents are originally applicable to everything in the world."
It was indeed a response befitting someone who said, 'Training is originally something that can lead to death.'
"We have always cherished each other sincerely, brother Jin. But even in the history of the Plutonian tribe, there were many betrayals, murders, conspiracies, and schemes. It was just less than other races."
As always, Boras continued his explanation instead of Vahn.
"The era of the current battle god, sister Vahn, was truly the age of peace and prosperity for the Plutonian tribe. That's why there was never a murder in the Great Tournament of Battle Kings, which was held before the destruction, but it was different before. There were times when factions were divided into fights, and they deliberately killed opponents to achieve political ends."
There were two reasons why the Plutonian tribe was enthusiastic about the revival of the Great Tournament.
The first is that all the fights of battle kings that took place under the leadership of the battle god Vahn were purely clashes of force, and secondly. The revival of tradition meant the realization of hope.
After resisting the gods and being destroyed, the Plutonian tribe has always lived like dead people in this dead world.
There was no reason to continue traditions or festivals.
The fact that Vahn revived the Great Tournament of Battle kings symbolized her faith in Jin and the history of Laprarosa, which would be liberated by it.
"Kyakya, this time I'll also break free from being the weakest among the Battle Kings!"
"Dream on, brother 12th battle king."
"When does it start? Sister battle god! Today? Tomorrow!?"
"The opening ceremony will begin immediately."
At Vahn's words, the battle kings' eyes immediately changed.
Their eyes gleamed with a bloodlust to kill Vahn, who was right in front of them.
'... This gaze isn't just a duel close to a real battle; it's a gaze that truly intends to kill sister Vahn. Is it possible?'
Bang...…!
Vahn stomped her foot once, suddenly the main hall of Hall of battle gods was separated from the other buildings and began to rise into the sky.
The main hall of battle gods is being transformed into a stage for the Great Tournament of Battle kings.
Of course, it was a series of shocks for Jin.
Then, when the main hall was settled in the middle of the sky, Vahn pointed to Jin.
"As you all may already know, the opening match of the Great Tournament of Battle Kings originally begins with me fighting against all my brethren."
"We are all ready."
"But this time, I'm going to let Brother Jin, who has battle god fusion, take on that role."
As soon as those words were dropped, all of the bloodlust of battle kings, which was directed towards Vahn, began to turn towards Jin.
613.
[T.L: punisher87]
'No, what is this all of a sudden? But more importantly, is nobody bothered by the fact that the main hall is floating out of nowhere?'
There was no more time to think.
Jin and Vahn's illuminating hearts resonated, triggering the Battle God fusion. Right after that, a spear flew in front of Jin's eyes.
It was Teto's spear.
'Darn it, I'm late...! No, are you leisurely waiting?'
It was clear that he would have seen his blood. Or, he suffered an internal injury while pushing it away.
But now Jin couldn't see the blue spear blade flying into his face so slowly.
To the extent that it takes effort to overcome it!
'This is why the sister battle god said to rest long enough to perform the battle god fusion before coming to the main hall. As soon as the opening battle started, everyone really showed their bloodlust, it's because there's no point in clumsy fighting spirit against sister battle god.'
Jin doesn't even have to draw his sword.
'Well, I wanted to use the power of the sister battle god in real combat at least once.'
Jin extended his fist towards the spear blade at almost the speed of light. From Teto's perspective, he couldn't even perceive the moment when Jin moved.
Bang-!
The blow containing the aura of the 12th battle king and the fist of a human collided, but the one pushed back was Teto.
No, it was not just being pushed back.
"Ugh!"
Teto, spewing blood, was sent flying far away from the main hall. It was as if he was thrown away like an arrow or shards when a rock breaks.
As soon as Teto flew away, all sorts of weapons flew into Jin's clear vision.
Swords, spears, bows, and even a mysterious net suitable for capturing giant monsters.
The fact that everything had come this far with a 'safe' feeling made Jin unconsciously feel thrill.
'Was it really this powerful...!'
It is a fact that Jin has known for a long time that the martial arts of Vahn are the same as the great sea.
However, wielding that power directly was a literally different experience.
Aaah-!
With just a single burst of energy, Jin could repel the brethren who were rushing like hungry ghosts.
Baltirok's Longsword, Lumora's Spear, Palem's Longsword, Linpa's Greatsword, Boras's Fists and Hand Cannon, Dalpir's Twin Swords, Beliz's Greatsword, Garmund's Greatsword, Baba's Longsword, Kaio's Bow, Nata's Flying Kick, Teto's spear that joined the fray again.
And countless weapons from the ordinary warriors. All of those attacks couldn't penetrate Jin's released energy.
On the other hand, Jin was able to successfully attack so easily. The ordinary warriors were swept away like fallen leaves with the strong wind, and the battle kings raised their energies.
The entire sky trembled as if it was about to collapse under their collective pressure.
To the extent that the surging energy created a storm like a tidal wave in an instant, and in the distorted space, screams resembling cracks resounded.
In an instant, a scene reminiscent of the apocalypse unfolded. Already, some ordinary warriors could not withstand the storm and collapsed.
To prevent further harm to the fallen ones, Jin sent his energy towards them, forming protective shields around them. Naturally, as if it were his own strength.
It seemed that he could afford to protect all ordinary warriors in that way.
"Haha...."
A bitter laugh escaped him. This was the power of the 'Battle God' of the Plutonian Tribe.
"Kaaaa!"
The first battle king to break through Jin's lightning was Nata. Kaio shot an arrow to clear the way, and within that opening, Nata roared and leaped.
It was then that Jin drew Sigmund.
The blade was imbued with an unparalleled lightning energy compared to any other time. And as the blade emerged from its sheath, Jin had one firm conviction.
That if he set his mind to it, he could cut down the charging Nata with a single slash.
Jin didn't articulate those thoughts, but Nata instinctively understood.
"If it had been the real sister battle god, she would not have hesitated. Brother Jin."
Swoosh! Pzzz! Lightning energy swirled and gathered into Nata's fist.
'An illusion? No, it's a variable. Created by sister Nata.'
The moment Jin was certain, he had to strike anywhere. Even if it meant Nata wouldn't die and somehow managed to take one more step to deliver a punch.
She was the battle king of the Plutonian.
Although she was not up to the level of battle god, she wasn't someone to fall to a mere sword.
Even the real Vahn had to be sincere to kill her. Especially in a situation like this where all the twelve battle kings and all the ordinary warriors were attacking at once.
Nata's fist passed by Jin's ear. He lost his sense of balance momentarily due to the shockwave, but it wasn't enough to pose a problem for a counterattack.
Jin slashed her fists with the hilt of his sword and unleashed a sweeping strike.
Just as Nata's blood was about to evaporate into lightning energy, Beliz's greatsword entered for the second blow.
Dodge and stab, shoot sword energy while parrying Kaio's lightning arrows, twist the trajectory of Palem and Lumora's attack, push back Baltirok, topple Dalpir and Garmund, deflect Linpa, and strike Boras's chin. (he adjusted the force, considering Boras's busy schedule) and struck down Teto's spear.
It took 3 seconds to do all this.
Jin hadn't received any effective hits yet, and amidst the chaos, he attempted to counterattack as their formation crumbled.
But one person remained.
9th battle King, Baba. The direct descendant of the former battle god Nana. Her blue blade rushed through the chaotic battlefield.
'This is dangerous.'
A chill ran down Jin's spine. Amidst the turmoil, a sense of danger, seemingly impossible in the Battle God fusion state, abruptly awakened his senses.
The perfect solution to overcome this danger was to precisely counterattack.
The eyes and senses made him able to wield the sword without wavering even in the midst of such a desperate situation.
However, receiving this blow would either kill or severely injure Baba.
If it weren't for Nata's earlier example, Jin might have hesitated again. After all, they were not enemies but brethren engaged in a sparring match.
'To react clumsily for fear of hurting sister Baba is rather an insult to her.'
As if it were a lie, Jin's lightning energy, spread in all directions, gathered around Sigmund before anyone could blink.
Before the edges of their swords met, there was an extremely brief moment when all of Jin's energy concentrated.
Crackle...…!
Baba's sword was distorted. Her arm, holding the sword, twisted, yet Jin didn't stop even after seeing it.
A shockwave that seemed to destroy the entire hall instantly spread.
Nearby Battle Kings were thrown in random directions, and Jin didn't retract the released energy.
Instead, he amplified it, fueled by the intention to annihilate every Battle King. The explosion tinted the surroundings entirely white, and due to the immense shock, Jin couldn't immediately grasp the situation even with the sense of battle god.
And what Jin regrets didn't happen.
Breaking through that massive explosion, what appeared next was Baba's sword descending like a lightning bolt once again. A sword threatening him, tearing through the white storm of the shockwave.
It wasn't as threatening as the first time.
Jin effortlessly blocked Baba's sword and slammed it to the floor, not giving her a chance to get up. He lunged towards her like a beast, aiming the blade at her throat.
Kaio's arrow, which flew right before the stab, pushed Sigmund away.
Once again, the linked attacks of the Battle Kings showed an even more formidable momentum.
Moreover, some ordinary warriors were cunningly following the path cleared by the Battle Kings and entering the fray.
At that moment, Jin could only display an exhilarated look once more.
Even after using the Battle God Fusion, facing such a 'tiring' situation was possible, revealing that his opponents were indeed his powerful and persistent brethren.
Jin felt proud of the greatest fighting race in history.
"Give me cover, brother 10th battle King!"
"Charge! Don't face him one-on-one!"
"Sister 9th battle king, you need time to recover!"
The longer the fight, the more scratches were forming on Jin's body one by one. Other members of the Plutonian tribe had broken bones and crushed muscles in most cases, but their momentum did not diminish at all.
Rather, it was becoming more ferocious.
It would have been impossible if they were alone, but personal injury was not a problem for the Plutonian tribe, who were engaged in a coordinated attack.
They moved as one regardless of battle kings and ordinary warriors. There is no difference at all depending on the level of battle prowess, and anyone can become the center of attack whenever the opportunity arises.
Jin rushed between them without hesitation and broke the formation.
However, no matter how toppled it, the Plutonian tribesmen showed no signs of collapsing.
Vahn watched them with satisfaction from above, riding on Lingling's back, who had transformed his body.
[Huh... Seeing him fight well annoys me. He is strong, but with Vahn's power added, he's like he grew wings.]
"Lingling, why do you act like you dislike brother Jin even though you don't really hate him?"
[Why do you ask when you are reading my mind, Vahn?]
"That's right."
[... More importantly, do you really think it's okay to give everything to him, Vahn?]
Vahn smiled.
"I'm ready to give everything to brother Jin and all my other brethren at any time."
[Sheesh, how can you say that sincerely, Vahn?]
"And so do you, Lingling. You are not a brother, but a part of me, no. Because we became a family."
Lingling didn't answer but flapped his wings bashfully.
Whoa...….
Vahn picked her breath as if exhausted.
The time has come for the battle god fusion to end.
The 10 minutes, which was the maximum earlier, had been extended, so the current battle god fusion was causing even greater fatigue.
The moment the battle ended,
Jin breathed heavily and held his blade against Baba's neck, while the other Battle kings pointed their weapons at his body.
At first, Jin overpowered them, but gradually the synchronization rate of battle god fusion decreased, and in the end he was pushed back.
The Plutonian tribesmen stopped all attacks as soon as the battle god fusion was over.
Although it was a short battle of less than 10 minutes, Jin and the Plutonians were all showing signs of exhaustion like people who had been on the battlefield for days.
"Phew, that was intense. Brother Jin!"
"The battle would have ended in an instant had it not been for the power of sister Vahn."
"That's obvious. Anyway, it was an enjoyable fight!"
As always happens whenever Jin achieves an 'achievement', the Plutonians suddenly open their mouths in the air of the main hall.
Then, like young beasts trying to eat the falling snow, they swallowed the air.
It was a bit embarrassing, but burst into laughter at the innocent appearance of his brethren.
"Excellent. With this, let's conclude the opening match of the Great Tournament of the Battle Kings."
614.
[T.L: punisher87]
It was like a dreamlike battle.
The sense and experience of the battle god that Jin had in the opening battle lingered in Jin's mind, stimulating his thoughts even days later.
It felt as if an artist had been exposed to a powerful inspiration just before creating a masterpiece. Jin constantly replayed the opening match in his mind, and his eyes remained distant.
'I was just blocking brother Kaio's arrows. Instead of blocking it, if I had countered and redirected it as it was, it would have been easier to deal with the follow-up attacks of the brethren. And....'
The Plutonian tribesmen clicked their tongues in concern after seeing Jin like that.
"Since the opening battle, brother Jin has become strange."
"He seems to have gained a taste. Is it because he regrets that the power of the sister battle god is not really his?"
"Brother Jin is not like that. I think he is just organizing the enlightenment he gained from that day's battle."
"Anyway, now that everyone has been treated, the Great Tournament of Battle Kings will begin today. That's why I'm worried about whether brother Jin will properly face the brother 12th battle King."
As Vahn said, the first battle after the opening battle was between Jin and Teto. Unlike Jin, Teto continued to train hard every day as soon as Boras's treatment was over.
Jin can no longer use battle god fusion until the Great Tournament of the Battle Kings is over.
He must compete with his brethren entirely with his own strength.
The ordinary warriors gathered to chat or train together, but the battle kings did not even exchange glances, except for Boras.
It was as if the once-close brethren were no longer so.
Regardless of who the opponent was, an intense mind battle was inevitable, leading to a fierce showdown with willpower and fighting spirit.
Even if one were to become the final winner, aside from the Battle God, all the members of the Plutonian tribe were simply brethren.
At least, that's how it had always been in the era of Vahn.
Yet, the Battle Kings were taking such a stern stance due to their inherent pride and self-esteem.
They believed that giving their all was the only act of consideration towards their opponents.
Above all, the final winner of the Great Tournament of Battle Kings signifies being "closest to the Battle God."
The existence of battle god is the ultimate goal of the Plutonians.
The fact that they become the closest to the battle god is the greatest honor that a Plutonian can enjoy.
Jin also wanted to be the protagonist of that glory.
Kururuk-! Pzzz!
Suddenly, lightning struck from above the main hall.
It meant that the match was about to begin. Defying the pouring lightning, the Plutonians on the ground threw themselves into the main hall.
Using ropes, creating sword winds to fly, or stepping on the backs of climbing brethren and leaping.
It was a bizarre sight, but amidst defying the lightning, there was a sublime atmosphere surrounding the Plutonians ascending the main hall.
Vahn awaited them at the center of the main hall.
"Brother 12th battle Kings and Brother Jin, step forward."
It was then that Jin and Teto looked into each other's eyes for the first time.
Unlike his usual playful demeanor, Teto was filled with a fighting spirit, while Jin remained composed.
"The rules are simple. Make the opponent incapable of fighting or throw them outside the main hall for victory. Also, murder is strictly prohibited, but there are no restrictions on using any type of sword techniques."
All the Plutonian tribesmen waiting, including the battle god, were safety personnel, so even if you use sword techniques to your heart's content, you couldn't easily kill the opponent.
However, accidents were inevitable.
As the lightning subsided, a moment of silence enveloped the surroundings.
The fight began with Vahn turning away as a signal.
Suaaak-!
Jin extended his sword first. Sword energy and lightning exploded in all directions, and in the meantime, Teto thrust his spear.
From the very first clash, both aimed clearly for fatal blows. Jin aimed for the chest, and Teto aimed for the neck, and both areas sprouted sparks without leaving a trace.
As soon as the drops of blood splashed, it evaporated without a trace in the lightning.
The distance of about a hundred steps relentlessly narrowed and widened repeatedly, and afterimages of the two were left everywhere.
It was incomparable to when they sparred to check Jin's skills before purifying the chaos.
Those who were watching the fight were also very nervous. It was because it was so intense that it wouldn't be strange if an accident happened at any time.
"This can't be all you've got, right? Fight properly, Brother Jin!"
Teto shouted and repelled Jin with a burst of energy.
Jin, who had been pushed away, became unstable due to the consecutive attacks, and Teto relentlessly pressed on in that opening.
However, something was off.
Even with Jin losing his center of gravity, Teto couldn't leave more than superficial wounds on him.
Of course, even if they were small wounds, they were rapidly accumulating, and the impacts were bound to build up. Still, for some reason, Teto exercised caution with an uneasy sensation.
'I didn't feel like this....'
Meanwhile, Jin continued to reminisce about the opening battle, attempting to utilize that sensation to the fullest in his current state without the use of battle god fusion.
"Ah!"
When Jin opened his eyes wide and exclaimed, Teto suddenly stopped attacking.
"Sorry, brother 12th battle King. I couldn't concentrate because I was thinking."
It wasn't a lie, but he intentionally spoke with a sneer for provocation.
Teto narrowed his eyes and replied:
"Throwing such shallow provocations suddenly ruins the mood, Brother Jin."
"Well, then, I apologize."
It was just a test for provocation. Jin recalled a part of that sensation from that moment.
Then, felt confident that he could defeat Teto in an instant. Even though it might be the weakest among Battle Kings, he was still the battle king of the Plutonian tribe.
Zzzzz...…!
The swirling lightning gathered into Sigmund.
At that moment, not only Teto but also those watching could see what kind of sword Jin would execute.
"As a gesture of apology, I will consider your opinion, brother 12th battle king."
10-star.
Jin's aura had already reached that realm. However, it was not enough to just have a strength of 10-star.
The important thing is how transcendently and efficiently one can handle that power.
"I hope this sword will remain as a glorious memory for you, brother 12th battle King."
Plutonian Swordsmanship Battle God, 10th sword
Plutonian Reign Sword – Open
Except for Vahn, the brethren never saw Jin using the Plutonian reign sword.
Even if they saw it, the Plutonian tribesmen probably wouldn't have been particularly moved. The Plutonian Reign Sword that Jin had displayed in the meantime could not even be compared with the original version of the Vahn, and was fundamentally incomplete.
However, the current Plutonian Reign Sword was different.
While its power still fell far short of the original, its form and execution were close to completion. This was achieved by Jin's body, using Vahn's senses to execute.
'Brother Jin... as expected, did he learn the ultimate technique of the battle god?'
9th battle King, Baba, who was watching, unconsciously smiled with a bitter expression.
Teto, who was faced with the ultimate technique, couldn't help but be astonished.
The ground of the main hall was crushed and lightning bolts erupted like lava. Jin's eyes glowed blue with lightning, and the illuminating heart vibrated as if it would explode at any moment, spreading brilliance.
The vicious lightning bolts stirred up a storm, rapidly forming Jin's domain.
Against this, Teto also performed his Plutonian spearmanship of battle king. Within Jin's domain, Teto's illuminating heart swayed, clearly forming a point that stood out.
The energies emanating from the two hearts clashed, creating a blue flame.
"Compared to the real thing... It is nothing!"
The outcome was decided the moment Teto shouted so. If it truly was nothing, he wouldn't have hastily executed the Battle King Mystic Technique.
Nevertheless, even though Jin was confident of victory, he didn't halt the progress of the sword.
As he experienced in the opening battle, battle kings were beings who can create variables at any time, even in absolutely unfavorable situations.
They were opponents who could hone the Plutonian Reign Sword with all their might.
Following the Battle God 3rd sword move-Condemnation, the newly learned 7th sword move-Dragon Slayer and 9th sword move - Annihilation aimed at Teto.
An ordinary warrior would not be able to withstand even one of them. Instead, the ordinary warriors were enduring the storm of Plutonian reign sword without the help of Vahn and the battle Kings.
"Kaaaaa...!"
Teto's spear instantly pushed away Jin's lightning energy. If Jin hadn't spread his Plutonian Reign sword, it held enough power to put Jin in a crisis.
[You shouldn't have given me time to think, brother 12th battle Kings.]
The second form of ultimate technique, Plutonian Regin Sword, the War was not executed. If the intention was not to take Teto's life deliberately, it was already enough to end the fight.
It was the 9th sword move - Annihilation that defeated Teto.
A massive blue energy spread around Jin like giant wings, generating a storm of lightning bolts that battered Teto.
Teto can't escape. Dodging, blocking, enduring – that was all Teto could do. Teto was gradually pushed back and stepped back, and the blade of annihilation slashed him more ferociously. With the power amplified to the limit through the Plutonian Reign Sword.
"Ha, huh...!"
When Annihilation finally ceased, Teto appeared lifeless, covered in blood, and Jin didn't stop there.
He fired the awl of condemnation one last time.
Even as Teto lost consciousness, he tried to fend off the condemnation until the last moment.
It was inevitable that Teto would fall outside the hall, unable to withstand the impact.
Jin suppressed the surging energy, took a deep breath, and other brethren immediately rushed towards the falling Teto.
When the battle was over, it was a tradition of the Great Tournament to rescue the loser in any form.
Thud!
Lumora grabbed Teto, and the other brethren pulled them back to the main hall.
"Darn it... I had to break free from the weakest."
"I told you to wake up. Brother 12th Battle King, it was because you fought with such a fragile mind that you were injured so badly. Try again next time, Brother Jin. Originally, brother 12th battle King had to win to be normal."
"The battle is over, the winner is brother Jin."
After Ban solemnly announced the result, Jin didn't hear the usual thunderous cheers of the Plutonians.
Instead, what greeted him was the fierce gaze of the Battle Kings, as if they would devour him immediately.
Even in the midst of this, there were battle kings who secretly swallowed air and ate Jin's achievement.
'This is the first and last easy victory.'
Jin had no choice but to swallow dry saliva while meeting the murderous gazes of his brethren with a smile.
615.
[T.L: punisher87]
***
Even after opening the Plutonian reign sword, Jin did not burn out immediately like before.
It is the result of Jin growing up through the enlightenment that he gained from crossing life and death several times in the Sword Emperor Castle war and the sense of Vahn that he gained through battle god fusion.
Jin defeated the 12th battle King of the Plutonian tribe in an instant, and did not even use the newly learned shadow sword ultimate technique.
However, Jin was not satisfied at all. He experienced the apex of martial arts, so it was difficult for him to feel a great sense of accomplishment, even after achieving something remarkable.
Even after the first battle of the Great Tournament of Battle Kings ended, Jin continued to wear a blank expression, as if his mind was somewhere else.
The only moments when his gaze sharpened were at the time of the other Battle kings' fights proceeded. Only then did he concentrate his mind to analyze.
Instead, after the matches were over, Jin roamed aimlessly through Laprarosa like a ghost with blank eyes.
"I'm worried that Brother Jin might really lose his mind at this rate."
Pong! Tantel uncorked a bottle of jewel liquor and sat down next to Jin.
Jin was looking up at the sky from the spire near the Hall of battle gods.
"Oh, Brother Tantel. You are here?"
"You didn't even notice that I came?"
"What did you just say?"
"Oh, never mind. What's wrong with you, explain it to me."
It was a dilemma. Also, a dilemma of abundance. Due to experiencing the sensations of the Battle God, Jin felt that his martial prowess was mediocre.
"Even though I'm full, it seems like I've overindulged."
Upon hearing the circumstances, Tantel shook his head.
"If you think about your age, brother Jin, there is a huge difference between us. However, just a few moments ago, you defeated 12th battle king of the Plutonian tribe. Although brother 12th battle king is the weakest of them all, he is clearly a battle king."
The fact that Jin defeated Teto meant that he had the qualifications to become the battle king of the Plutonian tribe.
"I know."
Jin knew better than anyone else.
However, this training was his last opportunity before the inevitable large-scale war between major factions. The stronger he became, the more anxious Jin felt.
He wondered if he could protect his companions and clan from enemies when he returned.
Just as Tantel mentioned, despite the considerable achievements and power he had gained compared to his age, the enemies were undoubtedly formidable.
If Jin can take out his brethren right away in the human world, he could change the situation in an instant. However, it was uncertain when that would happen.
"Be careful if you know, Brother Jin. Read the atmosphere a bit."
"Atmosphere?"
"Don't you feel jealousy?"
"My brethren are jealous of me?"
"Ha, why wouldn't they be?"
Jin had received all kinds of privileges in Laprarosa. Before he became a brother, he had already mastered Plutonian swordsmanship and had even received the Battle God's Blood Transfusion.
"Of course, since you have become our brethren, all the achievements that you had made are our pride. But, the other brethren are living beings too. Brother Teto trained for more than a hundred years before becoming the Battle King, and there are many brethren who worked even harder than that and never became the Battle king."
It was a problem that Jin hadn't thought of.
After being recognized as a brethren, Jin had always been loved by the Plutonians. His brethren always tried to help him, wanted to share in his achievements first, and were proud of themselves when they were summoned by the Black light call as if it was the blessing of life.
It was difficult for Jin to imagine that such brethren would be jealous now.
"... I feel sorry for them."
"Well, you don't need to feel sorry for everyone. Some brethren not only don't feel jealousy but also think it's impressive. I'm one of them."
As Tantel handed him the jewel liquor, Jin felt a warmth in his stomach.
"This Great Tournament of Battle Kings is the only opportunity for everyone to express their resentment and jealousy. Although the tournament follows the rule of no killing, all the participating brethren are really putting their lives and hearts into it."
As Jin listened to Tantel, his face grew warm, and his chest tightened.
It was embarrassing.
"So, you should pull yourself together and fight more seriously. When the Great Tournament of Battle kings is over, regardless of the results and the process, the brethren will surely cherish you as they did before... but never forget that brethren are also living beings. If even a slight resentment remains, it will eventually fester."
Jin meets Tantel's eyes.
Suddenly, Jin recalled the image of the Battle Kings who seemed to harbor a killing intent towards him after his battle with Teto.
"Thank you, Brother Tantel. Thanks to you, my mind is cleared. By the way, what is that paper?"
"Oh, this is nothing. Nothing."
Jin caught Tantel's wrist as he hurriedly tried to hide the paper. The paper contained the following content:
7th match of Great tournament of Battle Kings
Greatsword Emperor of Hell, 8th battle King, brother Garmund vs Successor of the storm, brother Jin.
Odds 1.5 : 7
Who will be the winner!
"... Gambling?"
"Well, it's just a simple pastime. Just betting with jewel liquor. It's a secret from sister battle god!"
Come to think of it, Jin had recently seen Tantel carrying around multiple bottles of jewel liquor.
Tantel had placed a bet on Jin during the 1st match.
"You don't really think sister battle god is completely unaware of it."
"Anyway, you must win, Brother Jin! I've bet all my jewel liquor. If you win this time, I won't have to worry about alcohol for the rest of my life!"
Watching Tantel disappear like he was running away, Jin chuckled.
* * *
The next day, the main hall floating in the sky was once again enveloped in blue lightning bolts.
"I will start the 7th match of the Great Tournament."
Jin and Garmund.
As the two faced each other, the lightning bolts subsided.
Jin assessed Garmund's skill to be around the level of a mid-ranking among the Battle Kings of the Plutonian.
'He might be below that level, but in any case, he's undoubtedly different from brother Teto.'
Originally, Jin couldn't win against him.
However, Garmund's physical condition was not perfect. Unlike Jin, who had rested since the battle with Teto, Garmund had engaged in intense battle with ordinary warriors who had challenged as a group this morning.
He wasn't seriously injured, but he looked a little tired.
"Did you underestimate me, Brother Garmund?"
"Think what you want. The result is already decided."
Garmund showed none of his usual carefree demeanor. Only a resolute will to overwhelm his opponent was evident.
Swish-!
As soon as Vahn backed away, Garmund's greatsword descended just inches from Jin's nose. When he blocked it, the impact felt as if his entire body would be crushed by the blade.
And Jin unwittingly used the aura to dissipate the shock to the outside, and Garmund had no choice but to narrow his eyebrows.
'It's that sense!'
A sense of battle god.
It was difficult for the previous Jin to dissipate the shock that should have led to internal injuries so easily.
The training to awaken the sense of Vahn, which had been started in earnest, was beginning to bear fruit.
Not only that, but the memory of blocking Garmund's sword in the Battle God Fusion state during the opening match also vividly came to mind.
'Brother Garmund is slow.'
Of course, in a relative sense. He possessed the brute strength to wield a greatsword like a dagger, easily exceeding the weight of several strong men, and left afterimages every time he stepped forward, but he could never be said to be agile compared to other battle kings.
Instead, Garmund compensated for his lack of speed in battles against opponents of similar level with destructive power. His method was to fill the gaps created by the absence of speed with explosive strikes and aura.
'If I can expose that weakness, I can have an advantage over brother Garmund.'
The exposure had already ended in the first exchange. It was a matter of dispersing the shock transmitted to the body outward.
Jin executed it immediately, and Garmund had no choice but to hastily respond. It was an unexpected turn of events right from the start of the battle.
'Ha! Having tasted the sensations of sister battle god, does that mean that he has already developed his physical skills to this extent? I shouldn't have accepted the challenge of ordinary warriors in the morning.'
Of course, Garmund did not openly show his confusion or panic. He skillfully pushed away Jin, who had exposed his weakness, and devised a new tactic.
'I'll execute my techniques. It will be over in one go.'
Garmund expected that Jin would unleash the Plutonian Reign sword. While dispersing shocks was working well, Jin couldn't perform anything beyond that.
Therefore, a decisive blow was needed, so a sword with such destructive power must be unleashed.
Plutonian Reign Sword, Flames of hell, or Shadow Sword Ultimate Technique.
As far as Garmund knew, those three were Jin's strongest swords.
'Flames of hell cannot exert its power without Tess, and Brother Jin wants to keep the Shadow Sword ultimate technique as a trump card.'
All that remains is the Plutonian Reign Sword.
'He must be confident. He experienced firsthand how brother Teto couldn't even use his moves properly and was defeated.'
Garmund believed that he could attack Jin's current Plutonian's Reign sword head-on and break it.
No, it wasn't a belief—it was a certainty. He was sure that his Battle King technique surpassed the power of Jin's Plutonian Reign sword.
As expected, lightning energy was gathering in Jin's illuminating heart.
'Now, when the brother Jin executes the Plutonian Reign sword, I must break it down with the battle king technique at once and cause a backflow reaction....'
Garmund seized the opportunity like that.
Garmund had been looking for that opportunity, but even as the exchange continued for over 30 minutes, the aura gathered in Jin's illuminating heart showed no signs of transforming into an overpowering force.
"Hoho, you knew my thoughts all along?"
Garmund realized it belatedly, and Jin smiled.
"There will be no brethren who cannot read the thoughts of Brother Garmund. It is always written all over your face, brother."
"Well, then there's nothing I can do. I'll make the first move from my end!"
Even if his intentions were read, it wasn't a problem. Garmund's attempt to lead the backflow was just a consideration to minimize Jin's injuries.
Swoosh-!
Garmund's energy began to gather into one point.
Even at a glance, the greatsword was surrounded by energy that was enough to defeat Jin with a single sword move.
"You can't handle this sword anyway."
But unfortunately, there was one more thing that Garmund couldn't calculate.
Garmund was about to unleash his move, but he did not realize that Jin, who had increased his speed even more, dug into his blind spot.
He didn't expect that Jin's physical skills and swift footwork, which had offset his destructive power, could become even faster there.
'He was able to move even faster than before!? Penetrating my energy...!'
He felt the tip of Sigmund's blade on the back of his neck.
"It is over, Brother Garmund."
Garmund shrugged his shoulders and dispersed the energy gathered in his greatsword.
"Damn it, I didn't expect to lose so anticlimactically."
[Ha, another battle king lost to that nasty guy? You guys weren't this weak when you pressed me!]
Lingling interjected with a word, and Vahn stopped the battle, announcing Jin's victory in a low voice.
'If Brother Garmund had thought a little more deeply, I would have definitely lost. It's good, I didn't expect to win like this again after Brother Teto...….'
The moment Jin thought that far.
A member of the Plutonian tribe who was watching screamed.
"Damn it! Everyone's just playing around. Brother 12th battle King and brother 8th battle king. Can you still say that you are the battle kings of the Great Plutonian tribe?"