626
[T.L: punisher87]
The first emotion that came to Ranke Halovice's mind was confusion.
'My jaw, broken?! And in a single punch...!'
Ranke was proud of having the best physique in the four great dukes of the demon world.
It was the first time his bone was broken in a single blow in his reign as a powerful demon.
The next emotion that filled Ranke was anger. How dare someone interrupt him and even throw a punch without hesitation!
However, it was not yet the time to lose composure. Just because the opponent was uncouth didn't mean a noble like himself should stoop to the same level.
Creak! Ranke, who had distanced himself, forcibly aligned his misaligned jaw.
The displaced bone quickly healed as it returned to its original position.
"Attacking an unsuspecting opponent has always been the prerogative of the lowly. Hmph, I greeted you first with a welcoming heart, and you responded with such impoliteness... Kek!"
Bang!
The jawbone that Ranke had just realigned was once again broken as Jin swung his elbow.
Ranke increased the distance again and felt his tears welling up.
"Oh, come on!"
Ranke fixed his jaw when he stepped back again.
"Did you let your guard down again?"
"No, I only tried to maintain my dignity."
"Then you have died twice by my hands for trying to keep your dignity. If I had hit you properly, your head would be gone."
"Then, I have no reason to respect you anymore!"
Ranke's eyes turned red like blood.
A thorny whip materialized in his hand before anyone knew it.
"A thorny whip? What an elegant weapon you use."
Shaaak!
The whip flew with a bang.
Ranke turned dozens of remnants of chaos into ashes just by lightly waving his hand and releasing the demonic energy.
Of course, the power of the whip, properly imbued with energy, would be beyond comparison.
'Come to think of it, this is the first time I've faced someone since the last sparring with sister Baba.'
Was it because of that?
To Jin, Ranke's whip felt harmless.
It was like watching the clumsy swordsmanship of a novice knight.
Jin just couldn't get the impression that Ranke was strong.
'Don't you have any plans to avoid it?'
Thud, quack...…!
As Jin grabbed the thorny whip with his bare hands, Ranke's eyes widened as if they were about to pop out.
The sturdy thorns of the demon world's thornwood were breaking lifelessly within Jin's grip.
'I heard that he was far below Bianca until two and a half years ago...! Did everyone lie to me!? He just grabbed it with his bare hands.'
All the information Ranke had about Jin came from the stories of the members of Kinzelo.
Therefore, he knew that Jin's battle prowess was already around 10-star even 2 years and 6 months ago, and he also kept in mind that Jin would have achieved considerable growth after entering closed door training.
But the human who now held the whip was different from what the members of Kinzelo had described.
"The only reason I haven't killed you outright is for one thing, demon."
"Ranke. Ranke Halovice!"
"Because I have some questions. Why did the Great Desert of Mitra come to this state, and why did you call this place a playground? Explain in detail, and I might show some mercy."
"Show mercy? Ha, I'm so speechless."
"I mean, I'll kill you in a way that won't be too painful."
"You seem to have grown a little more than what I have heard, but don't get too ahead of yourself. This Lord Ranke is indeed very strong."
"Is that so? Compared to Bianca Kaligo, I think you're very ridiculous."
"I am superior to that inferior Kaligo... Don't compare myself to that lowly bitch!"
Swoosh!
Ranke pulled the whip with all his might.
However, Jin was immovable like a giant stone, and Ranke's stance only became more ridiculous. Moreover, Jin seemed at ease, using only one hand.
"Ha, ha, ha. Alright, I admit it. Your strength... surpasses mine!"
Ranke took out a new thorny whip, resumed his attack on Jin. Only then did Jin effortlessly fend off the whip with Sigmund.
"Do you really not understand the situation, or do you have something to believe in? Are you waiting for your friends to come to your rescue?"
"This Lord Ranke doesn't need such things."
As Ranke said that, he suddenly felt a chill on his neck.
It was because Jin, who was supposed to be beyond the shower of the whip, had disappeared.
"It seems you're not accustomed to fighting against opponents stronger than yourself. In such situations, it's not about forcing courage by pushing away fear...," Jin's voice came from the side, ten steps away.
It was such a distance that it wouldn't be strange if Ranke was decapitated in the blink of an eye.
"It's best to quickly admit defeat and plan to survive. To do that, you need to prove your worth to the opponent. Present immediate reasons and evidence why you shouldn't be killed right away, so you can have a chance for the future. Besides, didn't I personally tell you what I want from you?"
Aaaah-!
The demonic energy shot by Ranke attacked Jin like a dragon's breath.
Of course, Jin easily avoided demonic energy and took his position again.
Demonic energy, which stretched into the air, went far by sweeping away everything that stood in its way.
Thump, thump, thump...! Ranke's heart pounded in his chest like the beating of a war drum.
Fear, an emotion he hadn't felt in quite a long time, now overwhelmed him.
"Tell me why the Great Desert became like this."
There is no killing intent in Jin's voice. It was a calm tone, but Ranke could feel cold sweat oozing from every pore.
Haa, haa, Ranke's breath became ragged.
He was thinking of his father.
'Is this green horn... really on par with my father's strength?'
It seemed like his father was standing in front. A terrible sensation, as if a huge unbreakable wall was closing in from all sides and threw Ranke into a swamp of panic.
"The Great Desert...."
"Well, it seems you've finally decided to get a bit smarter."
"The desert... the desert is, um, you see..."
Jin waited for a while, but Ranke trembled and couldn't say anything.
'This guy's in a strange state.'
Just as Jin was about to threaten him, Ranke's whip passed right in front of Jin's eyes.
Although he reacted promptly, it was a distinctly sharper attack compared to just a moment ago.
It was an attack that Ranke threw unconsciously.
Now Jin's eyes were filled with bloodlust.
"I don't know if you are scared or if some unpleasant memories surfaced in your mind. But you'll come to your senses if I give you a beating."
* * *
At the same time. The former headquarters of Kinzelo, Land of the Beastmen.
"What? Ranke suddenly went out, saying something happened in the desert?"
"Huh? Is there a problem with that?"
Ainas Kaligo and Bubare Gaston. As usual, the two shared sweet potato croquettes and received reports from beastmen.
Among those who remained in the old headquarters, Ranke was the only person outstanding enough to sense the battle in the Great Desert.
"If it's Ranke's summoning technique experiment, that's possible."
"Oh, that strange experiment where he wanted to summon the souls of the old grand dukes."
"Hmm. What do you think, Bubare! Should I tell the Grand Duchess or my sister?"
"Wouldn't Lord Ranke get angry if it was a simple experiment accident like last time? Lord Ranke is the kind of person who can't stand taking other people's help."
"What if it wasn't Ranke's experiment, but an intruder or something? The Great Desert is also the area where Jin Runcandel is believed to have moved last...…."
"Ah, it's already been over a year since the Great Desert was contaminated. Since then, everyone has been using it as a dumping ground for experiments. Do you think that damn guy stayed there because he wanted to train? We also did a search."
"Indeed, that makes sense, right? Bubar is undeniably smart! But well, even if it's an intruder, there's probably no one but the Tikan's people who came to retrieve waste."
"Although Lord Ranke is a little stupid, but he is not someone to be beaten by the Tikan's people."
"Well, it wouldn't even be a problem for my older sister. But Ranke is strong too. He's really strong, especially when he loses control. Even before the downfall of the demon world, we were well aware of rampaging Ranke. Anyway, when Ranke comes, let's ask him to prepare some food. Something delicious!"
"Let's try out new cookies that will break Latrie's refreshment shop!"
***
"Keuk, kek...."
While Ainas and Bubare chatted away, Ranke suffered a devastating defeat against Jin.
Whenever the trauma related to his father was triggered, Ranke usually went into a rampage, becoming stronger. In that state, he was invincible against anyone.
However, as of today, the undefeated streak of 'Rampaging Ranke' has been broken.
When he won, he didn't remember the process, but not this time.
Although it was a close battle, from the point when he started to be pushed back in earnest, the rampage was stopped and his consciousness returned.
"Whoa."
Jin wiped his forehead and caught his breath.
He was also bleeding from cuts and bruises all over his body.
He was not fatally wounded, but there were several injuries that could be called serious.
However, if he hadn't fought while protecting the backpack containing the items from Laprarosa, he would have ended up with only minor wounds.
"So demon, you mean."
"Stop... calling me...… demon. My name is...… Ranke...… Halovice. Since I listened to your request... You too... should show some... cough, respect..."
Ranke vomited blood. He was barely breathing, with all his limbs broken.
"Yes, Ranke Halovice. I'll acknowledge your tenacity. Anyway, according to your explanation, the reason the desert turned out like this is that all the factions used it as an experimental disposal site after contamination. You just used it as a playground because you liked it here, is that what you're saying?"
"Yes...."
"The first reason is acceptable, but the second is not enough. You were trying to do something here."
"Just... I like it here, that's all."
Jin thought for a moment about what Ranke was trying to do here.
And Ranke was conscious of the backpack that Jin had been trying to protect.
Finally, it seemed that the only way to survive was to create an opening by aiming for it.
And Jin decided that whatever Ranke was trying to do here, it was a matter of knowing later.
"Well, that's enough. I'll take care of the rest. Oh, and I'll tell you in advance. If you're thinking of doing something to my backpack to get out of this crisis, forget about it."
Ranke lowered his head.
He had attempted to do so even before things got this messy, but he couldn't even leave a small scratch on the backpack.
It would be even more challenging now, and as long as Jin was aware of it, it was absolutely impossible.
"I lost, kill me...."
"I am going to. Is there anything you want to say?"
"At this place, erect a monument that commemorates my glory and nobility..."
While listening to Ranke's last words.
Suddenly, Jin struck down his sword at the fallen Ranke.
Whenever an important figure in Kinzelo was in danger, he would appear without fail and unexpectedly. It was because the steel gate of Orgal, the Demon Beast King, was formed over Ranke.
'Ha! It's been a while since I've seen that damn steel gate.'
Ching-!
The speed at which the metal gate sucked in Ranke was a little faster. Jin narrowed his eyes in annoyance and glared at the steel door.
Even after saving Ranke, the steel gate didn't disappear right away and Jin heard his voice.
[You're back, Jin Runcandel.]
It was the voice of Orgal, the leader of Kinzelo.
627
[T.L: punisher87]
"Demon Beast King, Orgal...."
Jin gazed at the blurry landscape beyond the steel gate.
Instead of Orgal's figure, a distorted and blurry form of space appeared.
[You disappeared two years and six months ago and appeared out of nowhere in the Great Desert. It seems like your god has hidden the remaining Plutonians somewhere here. As soon as you returned, you pushed my loyal subordinate to the brink of death...….]
"If you don't like it, come out the door right away. Thanks to him, my body has warmed up a bit."
[You've become too strong to kill right now. There is no reason for it either.]
Of course, Kinzelo had no reason to kill Jin.
There's no better hand than Jin to keep Runcandel and Zipfel in check.
Through Orgal's answer, Jin could surmise that the balance and tension between the major factions were still being maintained.
"The day will surely come when your lot will be wiped out while trying to keep the other factions in check through me."
[Considering the actions you've shown so far, that's a possibility. But don't worry, we'll prepare on our end as well.]
"Doesn't that sound more like a warning than a worry?"
[If that's how you want to interpret it, it must be quite a threat.]
"I don't know if it's because of the confidence, or if it's because you had no choice but to save that demon. But you've made a mistake again this time. You revealed that you haven't fully recovered your strength yet. Let's hope that Ranke's life was worth enough to pay for it."
There was a moment of silence.
Soon, as if there was no point in talking further, Jin turned around first.
Orgal looked at Jin's back and added these words.
[There will be many mountains for you to overcome before meeting me. I also hope you won't die during it.]
When Jin disappeared beyond the winds of chaos, the leader immediately opened a new steel door to Kinzelo's old headquarters. To the very place where Ainas and Bubare were chatting while Ranke was being attacked.
"It's the leader!"
"Oh, leader!? Why are you coming here all of a sudden?"
[Ranke was beaten by Jin.]
"What? Ranke? Jin Runcandel was there!?"
"Did Lord Ranke get hurt? By him!?"
"Ranke's not dead, is he?"
[Fortunately, he survived. Quickly gather the remaining important documents from the headquarters. And how many of those Plutonian-type golems are there?]
"Five. No, was it four?"
[Whatever it is, just you and them come through the steel gate. Issue evacuation orders to the rest of the members to their designated branches. As of now, the whole old headquarters is closed.]
"I don't know how he defeated Ranke. He would have been exhausted if he had fought Ranke, so I'd rather deal with him now."
[Jin wasn't even tired, and that's too big of a blow. Get ready quickly.]
Ainas and Bubare hastily gathered the documents. Four Plutonian-type golem also crossed the steel gate.
And while they were leaving, Jin exited the Great Desert of Mitra and started destroying all the contaminated areas in the land of the beastmen at random for twelve hours.
In the process, all the contaminated areas outside the Great Desert of Mitra were reduced to ashes, and the old headquarters of Kinzelo, which was hidden deep underground, was completely pulverized.
* * *
Vamel alliance, Tikan Free State.
Kashmir and Jin's allies were receiving reports from the seven colored peacock. The reports about the huge destruction that had taken place in the contaminated area in the land of beastmen and the old headquarter of Kinzelo.
In the beastmen area where Kinzelo's old headquarters was located, large and small battles between each faction had occurred frequently. Until about a year ago, all factions agreed to use it as a waste dump.
However, those who knew the details of those battles were actually evaluating Kinzelo as the final winner of the fight.
The Great Desert is used as a common dump, but it was managed by Kinzelo's Demon, Ranke alone. Zipfel and Runcandel failed to place personnel in the Great Desert.
Therefore, since the Great Desert was put under Ranke's management, Tikan had made constant efforts to determine what Kinzelo was doing there.
Of course, it was for Jin.
They judged that there could be a big problem when Jin returns and he faces Ranke or some other strong person from Kinzelo as soon as he gets out of Laprarosa.
In addition, the reason why each force had so many unofficial battles in the Great Desert, even violating the ceasefire agreement, was also a problem.
If the major factions somehow found out that Jin was in Laprarosa, then they will plan to wait for his return and eliminate him.
Tikan also had to be determined and prepared.
Of course, the reason why Runcandel was obsessed with the Great Desert could have been different from Zipfel and Kinzelo.
In the first place, as soon as Jin left for closed door training, Runcandel side first spread relevant articles.
The next patriarch of Runcandel has left for the closed door training.
Therefore, unlike the other two forces, Runcandel's reason for securing the Great Desert must be for Jin's safety.
Recently, the atmosphere in Runcandel, as perceived by Tikan, had been unsettling.
To the point where Tikan judged that even Runcandel might be trying to secure the Great Desert to eliminate Jin.
The Seven Colored peacock's informants only figured out that there was a problem in the land of Beastmen, but they didn't know exactly what type of fight was going on.
"Since a large amount of lightning energy was observed... Maybe it's Lord Jin? Sir Kashmir." Valkas said.
"If that's the case, it's even better. The attacks were strong enough to devastate the entire land of Beastmen. It is more likely to be a battle between groups rather than individuals," Kashimir replied, sounding frustrated, causing Valkas and Gilly to sigh.
Even if Jin reached 10-star within 3 years, it was hard to imagine that he would destroy the entire beastmen area alone.
Besides, Ranke was there. The demon who fought numerous battles against Runcandel and Zipfel in the Great Desert and always showed an overwhelming strength.
Tikan had confirmed that Ranke had also won against the Black Knights and the Spectres.
"Furthermore, the beastmen's land and the old headquarters of Kinzelo were all destroyed...… This battle would be Kinzelo's defeat. The authority over the Great Desert will pass to the victor."
Runcandel, Zipfel.
No matter which of the two had the Great Desert, it was a greater problem than Kinzelo. Unlike Kinzelo, there will be no room for negotiation with other factions.
"Whoa, if they confirmed the existence of Laprarosa... We need to find out what they are doing."
"Worst of all, if Lord Jin is attacked as soon as he exists Laprarosa. Since we can't be certain just by discussing here, we have no choice but to go and verify ourselves."
A heavy silence descended upon the meeting room. Currently, Tikan is suffering from a severe shortage of manpower.
Thanks to Qwaul's ability, they built a perfect fortification, but Murakan was still acting as Solderet's proxy, and Misha was also sealing Elona.
Most of all, ghost castle had a problem. Currently, all of Tikan's strongest members, except for Valkas, were waiting near ghost castle.
[T/L:- Ghost castle is the base of ghost mercenaries.]
They couldn't even ask for help from Hidden palace and Nameless.
The internal injuries of Talaris, that she suffered during the Sword Emperor castle war, did not heal at all, similar to Ron's condition, and even Yona, who often visited Tikan after Jin left, had suddenly stopped contacting them.
And Tikan couldn't rule out the possibility of Yona succumbing to chaos.
"Sir Valkas, it's too dangerous for you alone. I will go to my clan and Hairan to ask for help."
"No, Gilly. Runcandel is too dangerous. It would be better to go to Hairan."
"Your Majesty!"
Someone urgently shouted and entered the meeting room.
It was Jet. And others could sweep their hearts out as soon as they saw Jet's excited expression and Jin standing behind him.
"Lord Jin!"
"My lord...!"
"Young master...!"
"Ha, ha, our lord has finally returned!"
Gilly was the first to rush over and embrace Jin. Jin comforted her for a while and smiled.
"I'm back, Gilly."
"Young master, I'm relieved to see you back safely...! But these wounds..."
The traces of battle were evident everywhere on Jin's body.
"Ah, as soon as I left Laprarosa, a guy named Ranke attacked me. I couldn't able to kill him because Orgal saved him."
At that point, everyone present in the room couldn't help but be shocked to the extent that their worries from just moments ago seemed trivial
"R-Ranke Halovice? Then, the beastmen area...… Did you really destroyed it by yourself, young master!?"
As Gilly examined Jin's body, she noticed that all the black spots of chaos had disappeared. Also, he had become noticeably stronger compared to before.
"I guess we were worrying for nothing, Kashmir."
"I guess so.... What kind of training did you undergo for three years, Lord Jin? Anyway, I'm glad you came back safely!"
"There's a lot to discuss and a lot to hear. But first, it seems I should go to the ghost castle."
On the way to the meeting room, Jin heard the story about the ghost castle from Jet.
Smarion Proch. The father of Lata and Faye, and the former leader of the ghosts, who was considered the strongest in the history of the ghost mercenary corps.
The reason why Tikan's strongest members are currently waiting near ghost castle was because his seal was on the verge of breaking.
"Let's discuss on the way there. Sir Kashmir can't leave his post, so for now, only Gilly, Sir Valkas, and I will go."
"What is this, Jin Runcandel? Did you just come back?"
Qwaul also entered the meeting room. He came to inform Kashmir about the research situation without knowing that Jin had returned.
He looked even more disheveled than before, as if his previous research had been particularly taxing.
"I believe you haven't been smoking five cigarettes at once even in the presence of the kids, Dr. Qwaul."
"Hmph, no matter how tough I am, I don't do things like that. It looks like you got things from the Plutonian tribe."
"Please analyze while I go to the ghost castle. Dr. Qwaul, I also brought some blueprints that would drive you crazy. I'll listen to the details of your research when I return."
"Oh, I see. That's great, there's an airship that I completed a month ago, so go ride it. The performance is pretty amazing. It'll serve as an answer to your research questions."
628
[T.L: punisher87]
"The fact that you've already built the airship exceeds my expectations."
"You will take the first flight except for the few test flights that I had done with Valeria. Take pride in it, I have created something that no one else can even imagine! I will come after inspecting the airship, so please wait while talking about back stories."
"All right."
Originally, the fastest way to reach the ghost castle was to use the transfer gateway.
The ghost castle was located in the Vermont Empire, and the Vermont Empire had the most transfer gateways in the world.
Besides, since the current ruler of Vermont was Regent Dante, there were no procedural problems.
However, in the three years since Jin left, a lot had changed in the world.
"By the way, wouldn't it be faster to use the transfer gate?"
At Jin's words, Valkas shook his head. First of all, all transfer gateways in the world have been disabled.
"It is because of the chaos that has spread all over the world, Lord Jin. Originally, the transfer gates became extremely dangerous only during heavy snow and rain, but now the omnipresent Chaos Particles play that role."
"In addition, all factions entered a cold war called a ceasefire and closed all connecting points. They can't use it anyway because of the chaos particles."
Also, battleships, which were considered exclusive to Zipfel until Grenil appeared, are now quite common.
Not to mention Zipfel and Kinzelo, even the imperial family (they were incorporated into Zipfel along with the eastern part of the Empire, as Jin predicted) received blueprints from them and operated a number of battleships.
"If Dr. Qwaul hadn't completed the flying ship, we would have had to use land and sea routes to the ghost castle."
"He has completed more than ten flying ships so far, my lord. He just smashed all of them, saying that this kind of thing is trash. If it hadn't been for the Gold snow tribe's merchants, Tikan would have gone bankrupt already."
"In any case, geniuses are known to be eccentric, aren't they?"
In addition, there has been a rapid development in Zipfel's living golem, the imperial family's Majins, and Kinzelo's Plutonian-type golems.
The subjects that Jin saw in the Great Desert were engulfed in chaos, and there were certain codes.
At that time, as Jin predicted, each force was strengthening the test subjects through their own 'chaos control'.
Kinzelo had the highest Chaos Control, followed by Zipfel and the Imperial Family.
However, each faction did not exactly know each other's technological prowess.
Valkas and Gilly took turns explaining these things.
"By the way, the things that I was worried about when I saw the Zipfel fleet in the Sota Desert happened exactly the same. I think it's fortunate that the enemies haven't added a few Kozec or Grenil-class battleships yet."
Unlike other factions, Runcandel only captured a few battleships.
Although seven colored peacock confirmed that Runcandel had kidnapped the ship builders, they were not able to secure key personnel.
Even if they secured key personnel and all blueprints, finding an engineer to produce them would be another matter.
Runcandel made no progress at all in chaos control either.
It was, of course, praiseworthy to train only pure knights in the midst of horrific living golems and modified humans, but it was undeniable that Runcandel was falling behind the times.
'But there must be some things that the Prophet has arranged. If my clan is already under the control of the Prophet, they must be just hiding it...….'
The blueprints and parts of the spatial-time device obtained from the Sota Desert were still in Tikan's possession, as they were three years ago.
And while Jin was away, Runcandel never targeted Tikan.
'If the technological gap is really severe, mother would have interrogated my companions even if she had broken her promise with me.'
Jin said that he would complete both the blueprints and the machine through the brethren of the Plutonian tribe, but it was not difficult for Rosa to notice as long as Qwaul's research materials were continuously being supplied to Tikan.
'But the reason my mother never pressured Tikan is because she judged it is okay. Or... it's the prophet, not my mother.'
After the rapid development of each faction's technology, Runcandel's external status had fallen to third place after Zipfel and Kinzelo.
The perception of the people was definitely like that. Some even commented that Runcandel was a clan with only limited time left until it perished.
"If that assessment is true, it seems that Zipfel would have put more pressure on Runcandel whether it was a ceasefire or not."
"Yes, young master. The major factions still avoid serious conflict with our clan."
"Because they are conscious of the existence of my father and the Prophet."
There was still no news of Chiron's expedition.
At least, as far as Tikan was aware.
"Didn't you say it was half a year ago that the Garden of Swords started controlling news about me?"
"Yes, young master. Until then, articles were periodically published about your achievements and the progress of your closed door training. It felt like imprinting the status of the next patriarch on both the clan members and the public. Now even newsletters that don't belong to the clan don't publish an article about you, young master."
It was the reason why Jin's companions were worried about the possibility of Runcandel threatening Jin right before he came to Tikan.
It wasn't just media control. Half a year ago, Runcandel had completely hidden all the activities of the clan's leadership, and sealed off the entire city of "Kalon," where the garden of the sword was located.
So, rumors were circulating that the fallen Joshua Runcandel had been reinstated, or that Rosa had usurped the throne while Chiron was absent.
"As far as we know, my lord, there have been a total of seven explosions and earthquakes detected near Kalon since you left. We couldn't confirm if it was a civil war or caused by something else."
"There's a high possibility it was caused by Mother's rampage. If Tikan detected seven, there must have been many more."
It was difficult to guess the current state of the Garden of Swords just by hearing the story.
If Rosa went on a rampage and command of the clan was in jeopardy, or if civil war spread, other factions wouldn't have stood idly by. If the gap in technology was serious, they would have attacked Tikan, and if Joshua had been reinstated, it should have already been revealed to the front.
None of those scenarios were happening. That made Jin even more uneasy.
The worst-case scenario is this:
The Prophet has already taken control of the clan, and its power is enough to make other factions fear. Runcandel has protected and left Tikan alone so far only to confirm and incorporate the "new information" Jin would bring.
"... I'm sorry. We should have gathered more information before you came, my lord."
"The world has changed much faster than I thought. I am more than grateful that all of you endured it without any deaths or serious injuries. Don't talk like that, Sir Valkas. Everyone did better than expected."
Indeed, Jin felt like it was a miracle that all his companions remained unharmed amidst the upheavals of the world.
"Anyway, it's better to reserve all judgments about my clan until I visit it myself. Depending on the situation, I'll have to either make more progress during the remaining six months promised by my mother, or go back right away. Dealing with urgent matters like Smarion Proch is important for now."
As the conversation continued until there, Qwaul reported that the inspection of the flying ship had been completed.
Following him to the ship building area prepared in Tikan's middle layer, Jin couldn't help but marvel.
'The scale is not comparable to the construction site of the Sota Desert, but anyone will be able to recognize it at a glance that Dr. Qwaul's ships building is far surpassed Zipfel's technological prowess at the time.'
Tens of thousands of cogwheels, machines that operate so elaborately that they look beautiful. In the middle of it, in a spacious space prepared like an altar, the first masterpiece that Qwaul didn't smash was showing off its elegant figure.
It was not a large ship known to the world like Kozec, Grenil, and other mass-produced battleships.
"It's small."
"Yes. It can board five people, and the mounted firearm is only one main cannon, which is an improved version of the imperial family's mass-produced dragon lance."
Because of this, Qwaul said that the firepower of the flying ship was poor, but the dragon lance was the strongest war weapon in the Empire until before the Sword Emperor Castle War.
Downsizing the mass-produced version of the dragon lance without deteriorating performance and installing it on a small ship was something only Qwaul could do in the world.
In the first place, only Qwaul is able to produce a 'small battleship'.
"However, the performance of the built-in protection artifact is comparable to Enya's dragon fire shield. It is an artifact created by Valeria and me, akin to a definitive example of magic and magical engineering at this point in time."
Qwaul's eyes turned red as he explained.
How many walls of magic and magical engineering have they broken before making this...…. At the moment of completion, even Valeria seemed to be in tears.
"You have worked hard, Dr. Qwaul. Here's a handkerchief...…."
"Hey, fuck it. There's just a speck of sawdust in my eye. Anyway, the official name of this battleship is wavelength-tracking synchronous spatial-jump ship. If I can easily define it in one word."
"... Are you saying it's a ship capable of instantaneous teleportation?"
"Yes. Also this ship overcomes all the shortcomings of the transfer gates, which has now become a symbol of the ancient era. But, it requires immense power, which is a challenge we'll need to address."
Despite Qwaul's credibility, it was hard to believe until experienced firsthand. It was just that shocking.
"The name Valeria and I gave to this ship is Red Owl."
It seemed like Valeria came up with the name alone.
"It is not going to happen, but the manual is inside, so check it out in case of an emergency situation. Now, give it a try!"
Jin, Gilly, and Valkas went up to the Red Owl's cabin with bewildered faces.
"Do we not need to operate it separately?"
"The arrival and return coordinates were set to ghost castle and Tikan. When the launch bay opens, just press the button in the center of the cabin. In the blink of an eye, you'll be in front of the ghost castle. Also, cloaking is still under development, so when you arrive there, pay attention to exposure first."
"Cloaking?"
"I don't know when it will be developed. Anyway, keep in mind that on the day the Red Owl is damaged, Valeria and I will kill you no matter what."
Creak...…!
When Qwaul opened the launch bat, Jin could see the endless sky and sea.
Then, when Jin carefully pressed the button in the center of the cabin, the red owl was enveloped in mana and vibrated for a moment, and the red owl began to rush with explosive acceleration.
Just like the ship of the Pirate King Cosmos when he was a reserve flagbearer, or faster than that.
Jin and his companions were stunned by the absurd acceleration, and in an instant, they felt their heads go blank and their vision darkened.
When they opened their eyes a few seconds later...
Jin and his companions blinked at the bleak scenery of the Ghost Castle beyond the window of the cabin.
"... Is this really happening? Is this real?"
Even after seeing it with their own eyes and experiencing it firsthand, it was still hard to believe it was real.
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Wavelength Tracking Synchronous Spatial-jump ship, Red Owl was not affected by Chaos Particles, unlike the Transfer Gate.
According to the manual, the spatial-time device embedded in the Red Owl operates differently from conventional transfer gates, as it utilizes invisible 'wavelength' existing in the world instead of mana for instantaneous teleportation.
"I've seen previous failed works break during spatial jumps... It is difficult to describe the abilities of Lord Qwaul and Miss Valeria, young master."
Jin had already seen Zipfel using the spatial-time device in the Gaifa Islands, but comparing the Red Owl to Zipfel's technology at the time was in itself rude.
"It feels like entering a whole new world after 2 years and 6 months."
Brrrrrrr...
Eerie cries echoed from the gloomy forest surrounding the Ghost Castle.
The coordinates set for the Red Owl were the encampment of companions and Ghost mercenaries. Jin was able to realize the seriousness of the situation once more just by seeing that they formed a campsite and gave up on ghost castle, the headquarters of the Ghost mercenaries.
As the Red Owl descended slowly, all eyes in the campsite were fixed on it.
Everyone was witnessing the operation of the Red Owl for the first time.
But what surprised them most was the presence of Jin among the passengers of the Red Owl.
"Lord Jin...!"
"You're back, Jin!"
Ghost mercenaries saluted, and companions shouted his name and ran.
Cuicantelle, Alisa, Kuzan, Veris, Yulian, Enya, Lata, Faye, Amela. And about 30% of the members of the Black Kings mercenaries and more than 80% of the ghost mercenaries.
Tikan was literally concentrating on Smarion, leaving only the bare minimum force for defense.
All of them have haggard faces due to the operation that had stretched on for over three months.
'A terrifyingly thick chaos covers the whole forest of Ghost Castle.... The non-combatant would have gone mad just by being around here.'
The nerves in Jin's whole body were on edge even if he didn't want to be conscious.
Others also vaguely felt that the chaos of Smarion encroaching on Ghost castle was enormous, but it fell far short of the level that Jin recognized. It's because they don't have the same senses as Jin.
Such immense power could only be properly recognized by those at least on the level of the Battle King of the Plutonian tribe.
For a while, they exchanged words regarding each other's well-being. But given the gravity of the situation, the conversation quickly shifted.
"I'm sorry to burden you so soon after your return, my lord," Lata spoke with a heavy tone.
-The reason I showed this place to you first is because this is currently the biggest and only problem with the Ghost castle. It's embarrassing to admit, but this seal could be said to threaten the existence of the Ghost mercenary.
From the moment Lata first decided to serve Jin as his lord, he felt sorry for sharing the risk of 'Smarion Proch'.
"Sir Lata, please don't say such things. From the moment you became our comrade, this became everyone's problem. If anything, I should apologize for leaving my post until the situation reaches this point."
As Lata lowered his head, Amela came to Jin's side.
"Our little cutie here suffered a lot trying to handle things before you arrived, my lord. We all tried our best, but with our own strength, there was just nothing we could do..."
Fortunately, the chaos of Amela, Lata, and Faye did not resonate with the energy of ghost castle.
Jin took out the chaos purifier that he had brought with him.
"This is a chaos purifier made by the Plutonian brethren. I brought it just in case, but I don't think Sir Lata and Faye's father can be healed by it."
The chaos purifier was only effective against the infected people before complete encroachment and body transformation took place.
Smarion had already deviated from that standard at the time he was sealed, and even if he wasn't, the size of the chaos itself was too huge.
Hence, purification was impossible, and the only way to resolve the situation was by killing him.
"... Jin. If you're troubled by the thought of having to kill our father, don't be. We were here waiting precisely to deal with the monster that was our father."
Lata and Faye didn't have very good memories of Smarion. It was because they had endured nothing but abuse and training from an early age.
Rather, the emotions evoked when they thought of their father were closer to hatred. Yet, they were not entirely devoid of ordinary family memories.
When Chiron was concerned about Smarion's chaos and often visited the Ghost castle, Smarion became a benevolent father and gave the two of them sweets while they sit on his lap.
Though these instances were few and far between, they were undoubtedly precious moments from their childhood for the Proch siblings. Even if they didn't want to admit it, given their resentment toward Smarion.
"We rather think that getting rid of that monster as soon as possible is the duty of the Ghost mercenary. It's the right thing to do for our comrades. Of course, even considering such things is a shameless request to burden you with, my lord... but please, I ask of you."
Jin nodded heavily.
Then, Cuicantelle briefed Jin on the current situation. According to her, there had already been three chaos explosions in the Ghost Castle.
The first explosion caused about 30 casualties, and from the second explosion, there was no damage thanks to the expansion of the encirclement in advance.
"... The explosions are occurring more frequently and becoming stronger. If this continues, there's a high possibility that the damage will extend beyond the forest to neighboring Vermont territories."
Since the Ghost Castle was within Vermont's territory, Dante was already supporting the Vamel Alliance.
The knights of the Hairan and Perral clan were completely sealed off the area. This was to prevent other major factions from exploiting the Vamel Alliance's vulnerability.
In the meantime, Jin's companions were just waiting and unable to do anything.
They couldn't intervene first because the expected casualties would be too high, and they could not use their cards because they might be 'annihilated'.
It was because Talaris, Misha, Murakan, and Jin, their powerful allies, were not there.
"We stopped Dante Hairan from going in to subdue him alone."
If the seal was completely broken and they judged that the Vamel alliance alone cannot handle it, then Dante will have no choice but to step in.
Dante was the hope of the Empire and the ruler supported by all the people. In a situation where everything was uncertain, it was right to exclude him from participating in the subjugation as much as possible.
Moreover, Dante was already busy traversing contaminated areas within the empire and single-handedly restraining major factions. He had no spare capacity.
In such a situation, if Dante chose to enter the Ghost Castle for Jin and his companions, it would inevitably result in more deaths elsewhere.
"You've done well," Jin said, looking towards the main gate of the Ghost Castle.
'Smarion Proch... Are you aware of my arrival?'
The pervasive chaos energy in the Ghost Castle area was deepening. It had started right after Jin's arrival, and once again, only Jin was keenly aware of this fact.
As if waiting for an opponent, the energy of chaos spread by Smarion was slowly concentrating on Jin.
Jin calmly faced that mighty energy. And he came to a conclusion right away.
"I'll rest for a day, and enter the Ghost Castle tomorrow morning."
He needed some time to recover from the exhaustion and injuries sustained in the battle against Ranke.
"Tomorrow?"
Yes. If the seal holds until tomorrow, or rather, if Smarion Proch waits for me until then, to be more precise. He's already in a state where he can break the seal."
"What are you talking about?"
"As soon as I arrived, Smarion's energy started amplifying. If the seal hadn't completely lost its function, the energy couldn't have grown at such a rapid rate. The deep killing intent and hostility are all directed at me."
Jin's companions did not know whether he had achieved enlightenment or acquired the sense of genesis knight. They only had a vague feeling that Jin had become stronger.
Thus, even though they might doubt whether Jin could single-handedly kill Smarion despite his newfound strength, they didn't voice it. Because he was Jin.
"Then what should we do?"
Jin scanned the artifacts installed in the campsite.
They were the artifacts he had encountered firsthand on the day he first met Qwaul in the cabin.
It was an artifact that claimed to be all sorts of obstacles, including the blue rod made for the great knight battle, the 'Aura Disruptors' and the net.
"Prepare for the aftermath of the battle nearby. Neighboring cities can also be damaged if the protective shield is not tightly formed. And concentrate all the Aura Disruptors on the battlefield where I and Smarion will fight."
"Do you mean that those who are skilled enough to withstand the shock wave should keep their distance and continue to use disruptors against you and Smarion?"
"Exactly, Miss Cuicantelle."
Naturally, such a strategy would impose some constraints on Jin and Smarion's use of Aura. Consequently, external damage would be reduced accordingly.
If Jin were an ordinary martial artist, such a method would never be considered, as Smarion could still wield the chaos energy even without Aura.
However, Jin had shadow force and mana.
"I can't predict exactly how far the impact of battle will spread, so it's undoubtedly better for both Smarion and me to have our strength diminished. As long as the disruptors can handle it."
"Anything else?"
"Please use all possible means to prevent damage to the imperial lands other than the ghost castle. Also, keep an eye on the Red Owl so that it doesn't get into trouble. That's it."
* * *
Noon, next day.
Fortunately, Jin was able to head towards the Ghost Castle after a full day of rest.
He meditated all night, so he didn't get a chance to talk more with his companions.
Jin classified Smarion as a target that required his utmost concentration.
"There's a high possibility that the battle will start as soon as I enter. So, Miss Cuicantelle, Sir Valkas, Lady Amela, and Enya, please be especially cautious."
"Yes, sir!"
Those four people were closest to the battlefield and had the role of protecting the disruptors and those who used it.
Enya's dragon fire shield and Cuicantelle's divine power of time were the core of the protective shield.
Five hundred disruptors were stationed near the ghost castle. That was more than 80% of the current disruptors possessed by the Vamel Alliance.
"My lord, I wish you luck."
"Don't worry too much, everyone."
Jin turned to Lata and Faye. They were still uncomfortable with entrusting Jin with such a role, but they had a determined look in their eyes to ensure Jin didn't feel more uncomfortable.
"If we hadn't met you, my lord, the Ghost Castle would have undoubtedly been annihilated by that monster that consumed my father. Just like our mother. Please take care, my lord."
Jin patted the Proch siblings on the shoulder once and headed towards the Ghost Castle.
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As Jin drew closer, all kinds of energies emanating from the Ghost Castle became even more powerful.
Now, it was to the point where not only Jin, but also his companions and lower-ranking members of the Ghost mercenaries and the Black king mercenary could also felt it.
'I expected that the energy of Smarion Proch would be strong... but is it really this intense?'
'Will the young master be alright alone? It's hard to breathe even from this far away.'
Jin's companions looked at his back and thought.
They had heard about Jin turning Ranke Halovice into a living corpse as soon as he arrived, but the energy emanating from Smarion now was beyond that.
Besides, what Smarion was emitting now was not all of it.
'If it was for the preparation in Tikan, we would never have been able to handle the Smarion Proch with the power that we came here in the first place....'
Jin's companions became stunned when they confirmed the reality of the power that Smarion had.
If Jin hadn't returned from training at this point, they didn't even want to imagine how many casualties the Vamel Alliance would have suffered.
Jin also swept his heart that he was not late.
'I'm glad that I came right away.'
If he had continued his training, if the Red Owl hadn't been completed, or if Smarion had broken the seal sooner. If any of these had gone wrong, people would surely have died.
As Jin approached the edge of the forest, the landscape darkened.
The Ghost Forest, eroded by chaos, looked as barren as the Black Sea, and the towering ghost castle was shaking as if it would explode at any moment.
Jin swung open the castle gate without hesitation.
The chaos clinging to the gate stuck to his hands like ash, but it was soon washed away by lightning energy.
Before long, Jin reached the lowest level where Smarion awaited.
The huge iron gate that covered the seal melted into chaos and left only traces.
The seal, made by the elders of the Ghost mercenaries with their lives, was already broken as Jin predicted it from the outside.
"Why don't you come out now, Smarion Proch?"
[Yes, you must be Chiron's blood...….]
Despite never having seen Jin, Smarion was confident.
'Has any shred of reason remained in him?'
Jin thought it might be. If only his instincts and demonicization were left, Smarion would have no reason to give time to Jin as if you were facing your dream opponent.
However, what remained in Smarion's consciousness was closer to blind enmity than reason.
Toward Chiron, and toward the existence that handles the shadows. It was a common trait among all chaos: an aversion to the shadow force.
[You also have unpleasant powers.]
Swoosh...…!
A crack pierced through the seal from the inside, and a pitch-black hand emerged.
When that hand completely tore the seal, a sharp shriek, akin to that of a human, pierced the ears.
It was the sound of the trapped souls of the Ghost mercenaries elders, now released.
The spirits appeared hazy and seemed to be trying to escape somewhere.
Caught in the grasp of Smarion, they became his 'prey'. Smarion devoured the souls as if chewing the raw meat of a beast.
"Before I draw my sword, let me ask one thing. I don't think I'll be able to relax while fighting against you."
Jin locked eyes with Smarion. In his red eyes, there was no trace of anything human.
"Outside, there are children, Sir Laya Proch, Faye Proch, and my companions. Do you have any intention of making a choice or cooperating for their sake?"
[Why should I bother with tasteless things like them?]
Sigmund and Bradamante made a ghastly friction sound as they came out of the scabbard. Jin's eyes softened for a moment with bitterness before hardening.
"Regrettable. If you hadn't been consumed by chaos, you might have considered them even a little."
As soon as he finished answering, Jin's vision darkened.
The chaos that Smarion held exploded.
The explosion that started at the lowest level of the basement destroyed the entire Ghost Castle in the blink of an eye.
An earthquake spread outside, and those waiting reinforced their shields, opening their eyes wide.
It was more than 1500m away from where they were, but the shockwave hitting the shield was fierce and relentless.
Jin took the brunt of it at close range.
Surprisingly, amidst the aftermath of the explosion and the debris of the shattered castle, Jin appeared unharmed.
Jin unleashed his shadow sword to offset all the chaos that poured onto him.
In the midst of the explosion, Jin's eyes, cold and shining, followed Smarion's movements.
Smarion also formed his dual swords with chaos to confront Jin.
The ground collapsed.
Due to being eroded by chaos for a long time, the Ghost castle could not withstand the slightest shock and crumbled to dust.
The Proch siblings and the ghost mercenaries members did not sigh even after witnessing that the ghost castle was collapsing.
They thought it was an insult to Jin who was fighting for them.
The exploding chaos naturally created a battleground for the two. The ground dug into a huge semicircle, leaving the bodies of the two in the air for an instant, and before their feet could even touch the ground again, they swung their swords at each other.
Shadow force, chaos, and three black blades were intertwined in a dizzying way.
Every time chaos exploded, the curtain of shadow force offset it, and with each clash of swords, the cracks in the ground widened incessantly.
In just a few seconds, the destruction unfolding seemed unbelievable.
"Battle begins, we are entering too, prepare to open the disruptors!"
At Cuicantelle's command, the Vamel Alliance headed to the battlefield in perfect order.
They couldn't enter swiftly. It was because shadow force, chaos, aura, mana, and lightning energy were surging like a storm.
[I have been waiting for someone like you. The same kind as Chiron Runcandel...…! I will devour you and find him.]
Boom...…!
The endless pouring chaos ravaged the ground, distorting space.
If left alone, Smarion won't tire even after wiping the area off the map. The size of his pure power clearly exceeded Jin's.
'As expected, even if consciousness remains, in the end he is just a demonic murderer.'
What makes a martial artist strong is not the total amount of strength, but the enlightenment of level and martial arts gained through struggle.
And Smarion forgot most of the enlightenment that he had gained during his time as a human.
Bang-!
Jin blocked Smarion's twin swords, which had fallen like lightning. The twin swords created by chaos broke and scratched Smarion's neck.
The shards of the broken twin swords changed like Kaio's scattered arrows and attacked Jin.
One of them grazed Jin's cheek, but in the gap, Jin sliced through Smarion's chest. Black blood splattered, and Smarion spread black chaos as he increased the distance.
Hundreds of chaos projectiles falling in the form of spheres tore through the shadow force and aura shields.
Chaos that broke through it and went out of the battlefield hit the whole forest.
It was around the time when Jin's companions entered the battlefield and saw Jin and Smarion fighting for the first time.
'Is that our lord?'
'This huge power is not giving the lord a proper blow...!'
On the way, it was mostly Smarion's power, not Jin's, that made their entry difficult. Because of this, Jin's companions thought that Jin might be pushed back.
But it was far from the truth.
If a ship existed in the world that could not be shaken even in the face of raging waves and storms, it would resemble Jin, steadfastly holding his ground against Smarion's onslaught.
The difference in caliber was evident.
At that point, Jin's companions were able to feel the fact that he had risen to the ranks of transcendence beyond 10-star.
Just looking at Jin's back, which started to look like a distant dot, felt like a giant who was standing right in front of their nose.
His opponent was the highest level of chaos infected and arguably the strongest ghost leader of all time.
Despite facing such a legendary figure and Smarion's overwhelming control of space with his immense power, Jin's companions never thought for a moment that Jin would lose.
In reality, Jin's task wasn't about winning the fight. The key was how much external damage he could minimize. That was the crux of the matter.
The outcome was practically decided the moment they drew their swords. What mattered was achieving maximum results with minimal damage.
That's why Jin asked before the fight started.
You cannot defeat me. How about giving up?
"Deploy the disruptors!"
As Cuicantelle shouted, more than five hundred blue rods shot up into the air. The disruptors floated in a circle and connected by mana, and the next moment the phenomenon occurred that blocked the aura of the two people, who had been shaking the battlefield the whole time.
'There is no need to doubt Dr. Qwaul's stuff. If this works for me as well, it will be no different from rat poison to the martial artist below me.'
Of course, concentrating five hundred disruptors on just two individuals was only possible because of Jin's prowess.
The size of the aura released by Jin and Smarion has been significantly reduced, and the speed at which forests and ground were being destroyed slowed down.
Smarion tried to intensify the chaos even more, but Jin raised his senses and parried the attacks.
The sense of operating the aura.
'But even five hundred would be far from enough to hinder the operation of the aura of those who transcended.'
Before the disruptors were deployed, a much larger aura than before was already forming in Jin's illuminating heart. It was something that Smarion, soaked in demonic energy, could never accomplish.
'As it stands, thanks to that, it's now easier for me to protect my companions.'
Plutonian Swordsmanship 4th Battle King Mystic technique
Guardian Brethren
As Jin's illuminating heart emitted a radiance, lightning rained down on the heads of Jin's companions.
Instead of striking a blow, the lightning bolts turned into a protective shield that protected the target.
All of the forces of the Vamel Alliance nearby were protected by the guardian brethren.
Smarion's chaos, which had passed through the Aura Shield and the Dragon fire shield, could not break through the dense blue shield.
Jin tightened his grip on Bradamante once again, fixing his gaze on Smarion.
"Now, you can't kill anyone, Smarion Proch."