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***
"Runcandel and Kinzelo invaded the 2nd Magic tower. Is that all?"
The white-haired old man answered in a calm voice to the reporters who hurriedly crossed the transfer gate.
He was Kelliark Zipfel, the strongest archmage of this era and the leader of the world's greatest clan.
At the time when the shipyard was under attack, he was spending time on an uninhabited island in the western sea where Veradin's villa was located.
During the 'Battle of the Western Sea' fought by Talaris, Misha, Octavia and the Spectre Corps, the uninhabited island was completely destroyed and disappeared. But now, the island, the villa, and all the items used by Veradin had been perfectly restored.
"Moreover, Young lady Sandra has sent out all the forces of the 2nd Magic tower. If you give the order, I will immediately send Drakka's mages to the 2nd Magic Tower."
Scratch, scratch...
For a while, Kelliark flipped through the pages without saying a word. Then, as if finding an interesting passage, he raised mana in his fingers, underlining it, and smiled.
"Don't be too surprised, it's inevitable."
Before Kelliark opened his mouth, the reporters felt as if their insides were being torn apart. Time was of the essence.
However, Kelliark had anticipated from the beginning that external forces could attack not only the shipyard but also the 2nd Magic tower.
He wondered if there was a need for separate preparation.
'Hedo.'
Because that man was in the Tower of White Night.
'This incident might be an opportunity to test him again.'
Since Hedo became a member of Zipfel, Kelliark had always wanted to test him.
Even he couldn't easily guess whether Hedo was truly someone who would wholeheartedly dedicate himself to Zipfel.
"Send the reinforcements only to the shipyard. Also, since the capabilities of external forces have already been confirmed, further resource loss is meaningless. Preserve as many resources as possible."
"As you command!"
The reporters bowed in unison and retreated into the darkness.
Kelliark quietly cast his gaze across the sea, recalling the moment he first met Hedo a long time ago.
***
Ugh...!
Suddenly, Murakan covered his head with both hands. His back buckled as if he was being overcome by an unbearable headache.
Jin and Runcandels quickly surrounded Murakan, casting a protective shield. Although they had predicted it from the moment Hedo appeared, the tension after actually receiving the sword was nothing compared to before the battle began.
Needless to say, showing such a weakness in front of a transcendent being like Hedo was undeniably fatal.
Fortunately, he didn't exploit Murakan's weakness.
Not that he couldn't. Hedo didn't show it, but he felt a bit intrigued by Murakan's recent words.
'This is my first time seeing someone who speaks as if they know Bale. Even the patriarch and Sir Chiron seemed to have no idea about the identity of this sword.'
Bale.
Such characters were engraved in small letters on the blade of a longsword that Hedo obtained by chance long ago.
He didn't know exactly whether it was the name of the sword, the name of the blacksmith who made the sword, or the name of the person who used the sword.
In his youthful days, when he was actively seeking the extremes of martial arts, he was curious about the true nature of the longsword.
But shortly after, Hedo concluded that even if he knew the identity, it wouldn't be of much significance. So, he decided that Bale was probably the name of the sword.
Hedo didn't exploit the opening when Murakan's posture crumbled because he was simply waiting for him to talk about Bale.
It was also a matter of confidence.
Even with this level of leisure, the outcome would not change. The reason Zipfel didn't send reinforcements to the 2nd Magic tower was also in the same context. Kelliark knew Hedo was present here, so it was undoubtedly the case.
"Murakan."
Jin called in a low voice and checked Murakan's condition. He looked very distressed and confused.
'It's similar to the day when we first met the leader of Kinzelo in the old Oterium. I don't know why, but is Hedo's sword stimulating Murakan's confused memories...!'
Unlike Jin, the other Runcandels didn't know that Murakan's memories were incomplete and that such problems could occur in case of any conflict.
The fact that the clan's guardian deity suddenly fell into panic in a desperate situation was only bewildering.
"Krruh!"
Murakan groaned again.
1 second, 2 seconds, 3 seconds...
Runcandels felt a sense of crisis multiplying with each passing second.
If Murakan couldn't fight properly, there was a high probability that Runcandels would either be captured or be killed.
Jin made a decision.
'It has to work like it did back then. Like the day we first met the leader of Kinzelo, when he was spouting nonsense!'
Swoosh, bang-!
Suddenly, a fierce hitting sound that shook the eardrums erupted in the quiet hall.
Jin literally swung his fist with all his strength, delivering a swift blow to the back of Murakan's head.
Jin's actions were based on experience, but since the others did not know the circumstances, they could not help but think that Jin had gone mad.
After receiving such a strong blow to the back of his head, Murakan stood upright like a stiff pole for a while. He seemed to have turned into a stone statue.
Only his head was slightly bent in the direction where Jin's fist had struck.
"Jin, what's this?"
Diphus spoke with a trembling voice, trying to calm himself.
He thought for a moment that Murakan might have died.
Of course, that wouldn't make sense, but Murakan was so motionless that it wouldn't be strange even if he died standing up.
The direction of the neck seemed somewhat ambiguous, and taking a full-force blow from Jin in a defenseless state was as risky as it could get.
"Grr... Damn. It hurts like hell."
Fortunately, after what felt like an eternity to the Runcandels, Murakan finally spoke in an irritated voice.
"Are you awake?"
"I guess I had a, uh... Chronic illness? Yeah, it seems like I had a chronic illness. Kid, even if I was like that, why did you hit me that hard?"
Thud! Thud! Murakan turned his head, loosening the neck joints while continuing his rant.
"Can't you see how many eyes are looking at us, huh? My image is going to get ruined. My image! Huh? Huh..."
Murakan, who was talking excitedly, stumbled and lost his balance.
Although his consciousness had returned, there was a fact that Jin had overlooked. When he used the same shock therapy in the old Oterium, Jin was exhausted, and now he had full stamina. And he has also become much stronger than he was then.
'Geez, crazy. You should've controlled your strength a bit, you little brat! My bones are ringing, and the world is spinning. But what on earth is that damn sword? It seems to have a close connection with me. My head feels like it's going to explode when I try to remember.'
He was curious to the point that it's driving him crazy.
But for now, he had to focus on the fight. After all, he had to save his contractor.
'This physical beauty doesn't seem like a guy who would tell lies or use shallow tricks. He clearly said that reinforcements wouldn't come.'
It was time to unleash his full power.
"Kid."
"Yeah?"
"I'll transform into my true form. If, for some reason, that physical beauty turns out to be a petty liar and reinforcements come, leave me and escape. Got it?"
Jin nodded heavily.
He had no intention of actually abandoning Murakan, but for now, it was better to agree. Regardless of whether reinforcements came or not, if Murakan didn't go all out, there was no solution.
"...There are some parts that I don't quite understand, but let me make it clear that you needed time for the operation. Do I have to wait any longer?"
Hedo, who had been waiting for Murakan to talk about his sword, came to the conclusion that there was no need for further patience.
"Hmph, you're undoubtedly the best in this era among those I've seen with my own eyes. However, I am Murakan. Although my majesty and the long rivalry with your master's clan has faded over a thousand years, I am still Murakan."
Hooooong...!
As Murakan finished speaking, his shadow was growing larger.
Soon, he dispersed into black smoke with a gust of wind, he transformed into the true form of a black dragon, flapping a pair of dark wings.
Kaaaah!
Following the sharp and ominous roar, Hedo casually adjusted his glasses with a polite gesture.
"I'll look forward to it."
A black curtain spread out of nowhere, staining the ceiling black. The vortexes of shadow force spinning wildly within it looked just like the eyes of giants, and every single one of them was pointed at Hedo.
Blue flames formed on the Bradamante wrapped in shadow force, and dazzling aura soared from the swords of Joshua, Diphus, and Jane.
The members of the Spectre corps also gathered their mana, and Hedo took a deep breath.
The sky seemed to be torn apart by the amplified energy of the superhumans, and the entire tower vibrated uneasily and unpleasantly.
Expansion just before the collision.
It was Hedo who first broke that precarious situation.
"Hmm!"
The restrained spirit of the Hedo's longsword, Bale, rushed into the chaotic scene where shadow force, aura and mana were mixed.
It was a simple thrust.
Moreover, it was a perfect one. The trajectory of his sword cut through the center of the entangled energies in a diagonal line.
The target was Murakan.
It was a speed and distance that could never be avoided with the dragon's uniquely gigantic body. Offsetting it with similar or stronger force or counter attacking while avoiding fatal wounds were usually the dragon's only options.
However, at that moment, Murakan once again turned into black smoke, dispersing his body to avoid Hedo's sword.
At the same time, he counterattacked with dozens of shadow force vortexes.
'Ugh!'
He didn't escape unscathed. The level Hedo had achieved, the sword wave was striking by sweeping away the particles of Murakan scattered in smoke.
Hedo, too, instead of simply receiving the attack with his body this time, he used footwork to evade it. It was not only Murakan's awl that fell, but also the venomous strikes from the Runcandels follow.
As a result of Murakan avoiding Hedo's thrust, the extraordinary sword energy left no chance for the Spectre corps standing behind the Runcandels.
Therefore, the Spectres felt so betrayed and unjust that they almost went mad.
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A storm-like sword energy scratched the Spectres' protective shield.
The Spectres never expected Hedo to fight them with such intensity.
'I'm not hoping for Hedo to cooperate or join forces with us, but isn't this attitude towards the enemies not much different!'
Hedo, swung the Bale once again, showed no intention of ensuring the safety of the Spectres.
A flash of lightning spread beneath the black curtain that Murakan had spread. It was the light coming from Joshua's black sword, Kainer.
Runcandel's 6th decisive killing move, lightning flash.
It had already been proven that ordinary attacks couldn't inflict damage on that tremendous physique.
Unless it was a special attack like a decisive killing move, secret technique, or a crimson sword aura gained through some enlightenment, it might even become a vulnerability.
The aura condensed in Kainer exploded, scattering sharp fragments like shattered obsidian.
Thousands of fragments made an intense noise as if brain energy were erupting, and the dazzling light contained in each fragment repeatedly turned off and on surprisingly quickly.
Eventually, Kainer, leaving a varied trajectory, surged towards Hedo. The irregularly dispersed sword energies covered Hedo's figure momentarily as they reflected the light.
'He knows the form of the decisive killing move, lightning flash. Just like Barton Vicenna.'
Jin thought while tracking Hedo's movements with his eyes. He had already experienced Runcandel's decisive killing move several times. Thus, he adeptly predicted the path of lightning flash and used his footwork.
The ground trembled with each step Hedo took, and the air became stifling. Not only was he evading, but he was also deploying his energy to restrain the Runcandels.
Crack!
The lightning flash dissipated, and Hedo's figure was once again revealed.
Hedo mostly dodged or deflected it, and the group was no longer surprised to see him withstand the decisive killing move of the 2nd flagbearer of the clan without a single scratch.
They had all regained their composure. They were Runcandel's flagbearers and Black Knight. No matter how desperate the situation, those at the forefront of the Sword Clan always found a breakthrough.
Next was Diphus's sword.
The blade of the greatsword, Volgar, was descending as if it could touch the ceiling. The third decisive killing move, Meteor Shower. As the name suggested, countless sword energies were pouring like a meteor shower, eroding Hedo's area.
Hedo's figure blurred.
It wasn't obscured by the meteor shower as the lightning flash did. He simply escaped the point where the meteor shower was pouring down at an unbelievably fast speed.
Beyond the speed of sound.
A shock wave spread from where Hedo was standing and a sharp explosion sounded. The next moment, Hedo was standing under Murakan's wings. It was right in front of Jin.
Jin felt as if a wall had suddenly appeared before his eyes.
Diphus just executed the meteor shower, so he couldn't casually retrieve the aura. He adjusted his posture a beat late, and Jane couldn't keep up with Hedo's speed.
[Kid!]
Murakan descended like a hawk to protect Jin, but Hedo had already swung the longsword, now sprawled on the ground, towards Jin.
It was too late to dodge.
"That seems like a slightly dangerous sword, 12th flagbearer."
"Gah!"
Jin managed to parry the attack, but he couldn't exert his full strength because he was concentrating on gathering aura and mana for the magic sword. There was a risk of a backflow, just like Diphus had not recalled the aura used on the meteor shower recklessly.
Even though he activated the shadow force armor to mitigate the impact, Jin felt excruciating pain in every bone of his body when his and Hedo's swords clashed.
The subsequent slash was also an upward strike. Jin twisted his body to the side to avoid the sword, and in the meantime, Murakan, who had charged, breathed on Hedo's torso.
However, Hedo easily evaded the black breath. Thanks to this, the breath flew towards the Spectres who were behind Hedo once again.
One of them eventually let out a scream of death, but it was drowned out by the deafening noise of explosions and destruction throughout the hall.
Swish...
Jin's mask was split in half and fell to the ground.
Hedo's second upward strike wasn't intended to kill Jin from the start; its purpose was to remove the mask.
He glanced at Jin's face for a moment and said, "You are quite handsome. I'm not sure if it's worth celebrating to the extent that the young lady gave up her right arm."
The words from "the young lady gave up her right arm" were muttered so low that they were barely audible.
"Stop babbling nonsense and fight!"
Joshua shouted with bloodshot eyes. An afterimage remained in the trajectory of his rush towards Hedo, and the Black Sword Kainer was ready to execute the Fourth decisive killing move, the Falling Petals, with the prepared aura.
It wasn't that he was angry about being ignored and recklessly charged.
'I need to buy time...!'
Time for Jin to execute the Magic Sword's Secret Technique.
That seems like a slightly dangerous sword. Joshua was paying attention to what Hedo had just said.
If Jin could create a gap with his flame of hell just once, Joshua and other Runcandels, as well as Murakan, could deal damage to Hedo.
Even if they couldn't finish him off, they could inflict injuries and secure an escape route.
'If that's not enough, I also need to consider using that power…'
With such thoughts, Joshua threw himself into the fight.
Diphus and Jane also charged toward Hedo with similar determination.
'When Jin executes the flame of hell, I'll pour everything I have…'
However, the Spectres were not idle. Although they hadn't experienced the power of the flame of hell, they could clearly see how the Runcandels were moving and what plans they had.
Kwaaaah!
Murakan fired his breath and a barrage of shadow force awls towards Hedo and the Spectres. The awls now erupted not only from the ceiling but also from the floor. The aura scattered in the air continued to be converted into decision killing moves, pressuring Hedo.
It was not easy to even determine each other's location in the dazzling lights of the decisive killing moves. Jin prepared to attack again under Murakan's protection.
'But something feels off.'
Jin suddenly had a strange thought while gathering mana and aura.
'If I were Hedo, I wouldn't fight in this way.'
Frustratingly.
Hedo had two clear opportunities that could have been fatal for Jin. Perhaps, he could have killed Jin.
'It feels strangely passive. Why?'
Even now, Hedo could easily break through the defensive line. If he wanted to enjoy the fight or revel in the combat itself, he would have fought more aggressively. If he belonged to the category that worships the tension of life-and-death battles, the group was an inadequate opponent.
Actions follow the reasoning behind achieving goals.
And if you know the other person's purpose and can use it. The fight was bound to get easier.
'Does he want to capture me alive instead of killing me and use me as material for the Demon God's Orb? That doesn't make sense either. Is it just the whim of the powerful?'
There's no time for deep contemplation. The brothers who had thrown themselves at Hedo were continuously repelled and getting up repeatedly.
The flame of hell was complete.
The azure color within the blade deepened, and as the shadow force armor was released, brightly glowing rune characters created flames.
In an instant, Jin became a fire.
From him, the spreading flames began to surge like a tidal wave in all directions. The blue flames completely consumed the interior, yet it did not engulf the allies.
'Is this the achievement of the 12th flagbearer? Is this the power that single-handedly demolished the garden of swords...!'
The Spectres immediately ceased their attacks and focused all their mana on defense. Even in their best condition, the four Spectres couldn't completely block Jin's flame of hell.
They had to avoid the damage. However, it seemed impossible to evade with no place to retreat and with obstacles from all sides, including the Runcandels and Murakan launching an offensive.
'If Hedo doesn't help, we will suffer fatal injuries that will make us at least unable to fight. Or death!'
They were already worn out from the battle with Joshua and Jane before Hedo arrived, the Spectres were carrying significant fatigue.
Moreover, they were simultaneously enduring attacks from Runcandels and Hedo, so it seems difficult to survive in this situation.
'Remarkable.'
Hedo was impressed for the first time as he cleared away the blue flames that were flooding in.
The swords of the other flagbearers and the Black Knight were shabby compared to the Runcandels he knew, and Murakan's battle prowess, of which there were only rumors, was still below expectations.
On the other hand, Jin's Magic Sword Secret technique had something dazzling even in Hedo's eyes.
However, Hedo could intuitively sense that Jin's Magic Sword was not yet complete.
'Well, if he continues to grow like this... he might be able to handle my troublesome young lady. Of course, assuming the young lady is not a Zipfel and the 12th flagbearer is not a Runcandel.'
Hedo suddenly felt bitter.
Sandra's love had never borne fruit. Eventually, Jin and his clan were no different from patients diagnosed with a terminal illness, so maybe.
He wondered if it might be better to cut Jin's throat now rather than letting him become an ingredient for the Demon God's orb. Perhaps, it could be more honorable to let him die in such a battle.
What should I do?
In the moment of confusion, the shouts of the Spectres scratched Hedo's nerves.
"Hedo! Are you just going to stand there and watch?"
Hedo had no plans to help them from the beginning. Allowing them all to die would serve as a proper warning to Octavia Zipfel.
"Why are you calling me? You should be begging for your life from the enemies... hmm!"
Wooosh!
Suddenly, Jin, who had rushed forward, thrust his sword towards Hedo's face.
"Keeper of the White Tower, you are definitely a martial artist who deserves respect even if you are an enemy. But you are too relaxed."
Even though Hedo managed to block Jin, it felt like something oily fell on him. The flames were flowing over Hedo's body through the sword, Bale.
In an instant, his upper body was completely immersed in blue flames, yet Hedo looked down at Jin without any sign of pain.
At first glance, it seemed like the flames were burning him, yet there was no visible impact. Nevertheless, Jin did not falter.
The power of flame of hell and Runcandel's strength were not his only abilities.
"Twelfth flagbearer, I have a suggestion."
"A suggestion?"
"If you happen to have picked up something here, give it to me now. Then I'll consider sparing your life for now."
Something picked up here.
There was no need to think about what that meant; it was clear.
It was the blueprints of the battleship.
'What is he talking about all of a sudden? The blueprints have already been stolen?'
The moment Jin tried to suppress his absurd feelings and choose an answer.
Within the flames of hell surrounding Jin, something fell with a thud.
It was the key Joshua had given him.
Hedo was speechless for a moment and could only widen his eyes and fixate on the fallen key.
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No, why is this falling now? Jin looked at the key with that thought.
It felt like his heart sank.
If the battleship blueprint had already been stolen by someone, then Runcandels had been through all the trouble for nothing.
'Could it be Joshua? No, considering the time and the situation, it doesn't make sense. Even when handing over the key, he seemed to have made his own decision.'
If that's the case, the only one left was Kinzelo.
'Only the four Spectres left in the 2nd Magic Tower because the rest of the forces went to trace the stolen blueprint!'
At the moment, there was no other plausible deduction.
However, Hedo's goal was still a mystery.
-If you happen to have picked up something here, give it to me now. Then I'll consider sparing your life for now.
Logically, it was not something one would say to the enemy.
Thunk, thunk, clatter, whoosh-!
The fallen key was swept away by the hot wind of flame of hell and disappeared into the fire. Hedo exhaled a sigh as if he couldn't believe what had just happened. It was a moment that could lead to further misunderstanding.
It was not easy for Hedo to quickly realize what the situation was.
Because Jin also had the same key that Sandra gave him.
'Why did Jin Runcandel have the vault key?'
Up until now, Hedo knew there was only one key. At least, that was the case until a moment ago.
"12th flagbearer, I don't know where you got that key from. But what I just said is still available."
Hedo narrowed his eyes and spoke as if he didn't want to think too complicatedly.
Whether the key was duplicated, or if there were actually extras that he didn't know about, or if Runcandel had stolen it – whatever the case might be, the judgment was simple. As long as he could recover the blueprints and send Jin away alive, that was enough.
Sandra Ziphel was waiting for Jin on the rooftop of the tower, fully adorned.
There was even a table set for a dinner just for the two of them in the middle (Hedo prepared it himself right before the group arrived), and to endure the anticipation and excitement, Sandra was enjoying the sight of secret shipyard in the Sota desert exploding while she sipped her pre-dinner drink.
As that disturbing image came to mind, veins on his forehead thickened.
-Young lady Sandra.
-What!"
-You must report it.
-What report?
-Jin Runcandel has arrived at the shipyard. You should report this to the patriarch. Since you are currently on duty.
-Hedo, then my husband is dead. Or he will no longer be Jin.
-Probably so. Well, considering the survival skills the 12th flagbearer has shown so far, you never know.
-So don't spout such nonsense twice.
Considering that conversation, he felt that it would be better to keep Jin alive and send him away if possible.
He had set up the table to calm her down, but it would be unrealistic to expect dinner.
"I don't have the blueprints."
"You just dropped the key, didn't you? Don't make foolish judgments. I don't want to kill you if I don't have to."
"It brings tears to my eyes. But what do you want me to do if I don't have it? And it seems like you've forgotten."
We're still fighting, Tower Keeper.
Jin could continue his words, and the flame of hell became even more fierce. The flames clinging to Hedo's body caused an explosion, and the spreading flames gathered to engulf him.
The secret technique of Sarah Runcandel, the renowned strongest among the ten great knights of ancient Runcandel.
Although it was still incomplete, it could not be taken lightly.
With a short groan, Hedo took a step back for the first time. The flame of hell had a power far beyond his expectations.
'Blocking or avoiding this sword from the start would have been the right choice. I might have been too complacent, as Jin Runcandel said. This could be a bit tiring...'
The heat of the flame of hell penetrated through the protective shield and flesh, reaching his internal organs.
It's been a long time since he felt this much pain. Even if he emitted energy to push it away, it seemed that it would take some time for this fierce heat to subside.
The problem was that the flame of hell was not the end.
Other Runcandels had been waiting for just this moment.
"Well done, youngest!"
The first to follow up was Diphus.
The second meteor shower he executed was pouring down behind Hedo.
Not only that, the destructive power of the meteor shower was undoubtedly one of the highest in the decisive killing move, but it seemed that it alone wouldn't deliver a proper blow to the giant.
Diphus had prepared one more sword move, the most refined sword he possessed.
Runcandel's Fifth Secret Technique: Light-Speed Thrust.
A sword that he had honed beyond the limits several times with Mary.
Flash!
A dazzling flash surged towards Hedo's back before the meteor shower. It was the Light-Speed Thrust, surpassing Mary and reaching the pinnacle.
Hedo couldn't evade Diphus's sword.
The Light-Speed Thrust distorted the space and pierced his mountain-like back.
Hedo was bent forward and vomited blood, but even the Light-Speed Thrust couldn't penetrate his immense body. The shockwave that spread along with it shook the entire tower.
There were six streaks of such flashes in succession.
Diphus would inevitably fall into a backflow, but there was no going back anyway. Diphus perceived that this was his last chance to turn the tide.
After finishing the attack, Diphus spat out a dark pool of blood.
Kraaaah!
Hedo screamed in agony.
It was unclear whether it was a scream or a roar. However, one thing was certain: Hedo showed no signs of collapsing even after being hit six times by a Light-speed thrust along with a meteor shower.
Even in the midst of this, Hedo continued to swing his longsword to restrain Jin and was conscious of another sword that would come next.
'Monster...!'
Next were Joshua and Jane.
Though the six Light-Speed Thrusts didn't land a significant blow on Hedo, it didn't mean he was unscathed. Jane approached amidst the meteor shower, driving her sword into the wounds created by the Light-Speed Thrust.
The wounds were just a finger's breadth.
Nevertheless, Jane's blade clearly dug into Hedo's wounds. Blood splattered, and flesh was torn.
"You!"
Hedo rolled his eyes and pushed Jane away, spraying out sword energy. Jane shallowly stabbed Hedo about five times, and Hedo threw Jane all the way up the wall, shattering her wrist and causing significant internal injuries.
Yet, Jane was not disappointed. Blood gushed from deep within her chest, but she finally managed to deal a valid blow to that monster, creating a small opening. A very small opening.
Joshua's sword was piercing through that gap.
"Kaaaah!"
A desperate and venomous cry, a wholehearted effort.
No one said that Joshua was the best flagbearer in pure martial prowess. He was always overshadowed by Luna, and among the siblings, the dominant opinion was that he became the next patriarch not through swordsmanship but through Rosa's full support.
That was not entirely wrong.
However, he was undoubtedly the 2nd flagbearer of Runcandel. He had challenged and lost to the strongest flagbearer of Runcandel many times.
In other words, Joshua also had potential. He had gained enlightenment through numerous defeats and humiliations, learning how to incorporate it into his sword.
This was the result.
The black sword, Kainer, was enveloped in a dark aura.
The energy was similar to shadow force but not as intense, possessing the distinctive radiance characteristic of aura.
It was not Joshua's unique domain like Luna's Mind's Blade, but rather a uniquely colored sword energy that one must achieve to obtain the ultimate technique of Runcandel.
Runcandel's 4th Secret Technique:
Black Cross
Joshua's sword drew a perfect cross.
Shining black sword energy spread across a perfect cross without a single inch of deviation.
The place where the intersection point of the sword energy was pointing was Hedo's shoulder.
Originally, it was aimed at the center of his face but altered due to his reaction. However, the Black Cross was not a type of sword that significantly lost its power if slightly deviated.
The Black Cross was not a cross formed by two lines, as the name suggested. As soon as the secret technique began, Joshua's black sword energy expanded in a giant circle, targeting Hedo from all directions.
Suaaak, swish!
As if the snipers who had finished the siege opened fire all at once, numerous black sword energies in the shape of a cross gathered at the intersection and began to slash at Hedo.
If Joshua alone executed the Black Cross, it would have been challenging to deliver a proper blow. However, the Runcandel's swords that had earlier engaged Hedo were not in vain.
Finally, he was writhing in agony. Although small, he let out more of a groan than a roar. And he couldn't deflect at least 10% of the countless black sword energies from the Black Cross.
If it were anyone other than Hedo, that 10% alone would have torn the body into hundreds of pieces, becoming minced meat.
"Ugh, heuk!"
Joshua sat down and breathed heavily.
'Damn it, was it not enough...!'
Hedo, who began to shake off the Black Cross, seemed to regain strength with each passing moment.
He was covered in blood but didn't suffer fatal injuries.
"Just as the Black Dragon said Murakan is Murakan, a Runcandel is still a Runcandel. I was a little surprised."
Tsk, Hedo spat out blood, wiping his face, and spoke.
[I am sick of this bastard.]
Murakan was absorbing the remnants of the flame of hell with a vortex.
By now, the Spectre corps was barely standing, having exhausted their strength in constantly shielding against the flame of hell, the Decisive killing moves, and the Secret Techniques.
[Hey, kid. It seems that won't work. It's a hopeless situation. Take care of the others and run. I'll deal with him somehow and catch up.]
"Well, it seems like a reasonable plan, but unfortunately, I can't help you, Lord Murakan. Unless Runcandel returns what they stole, I have no choice but to take back my words."
[What?]
"This means that I will request support from the main house. I don't want to waste my strength unnecessarily anymore. My patience is running out."
[You are saying two things with one mouth. You are starting to show your true colors. It's not that you don't want to waste your strength unnecessarily, but it seems that you're starting to find the battle burdensome. You've taken more beating than expected.]
"Feel free to think as you wish. But you know very well that doing so will not make the situation any better, the Black Dragon."
[Hmph, and what kind of bullshit is it that we stole the blueprints? We haven't raided the vault here yet, have we? You're making baseless accusations.]
Murakan and the other Runcandels hadn't witnessed the moment when the key burned in the flame of hell. They also didn't hear the conversation between Jin and Hedo.
Hedo decided to talk to Jin instead of Murakan.
"You have a knack for making simple problems difficult, 12th flagbearer. If you keep insisting, you'll regret it. Before that happens, let me make one thing clear; I will give you the utmost consideration that I can provide..."
Just as he finished saying that—
Hedo suddenly turned around and swung his sword longsword. He sensed that someone had evaded his senses and approached him at close range.
It was an assassination attempt.
And the number of people in the world who could attempt an assassination attempt against Hedo is so small that you can count them on one hand… One of them is a rare assassin born in the Garden of Swords.
It was Yona.
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***
On the day Mary led the fleet and Puberty to Tikan, Yona had nowhere specific to go so she immediately returned to the Nameless city of Samil.
She was in a bad mood all day, feeling sad and upset that she couldn't take a proper walk with her youngest, so she looked at her mission list.
It was to erase distracting thoughts by doing something. The more difficult and complicated the mission, the more effective it would be, so she only looked at requests classified as the highest grade or those decided to be rejected.
One of them was Kinzelo's request.
Owal was just going to tear up the request letter as it was asking to steal an item from Zipfel's second magic tower.
"Heh, Sir Owal. Why don't you accept that?"
"Because it's a perfect job if you wish to die."
"Why?"
Considering the recent unusual trends among major factions, the international situation, the complicated relationship of interest, and the position Samil should take in this flow, etc.
"...So I thought it would be better not to accept it. Do you understand?"
"Even if I hear such annoying stories, I don't really know what you're talking about. You just don't want to do it, right?"
"That's how it may sound. But you still listened, so it's much better than the days when you didn't even listen to what I said and then suddenly disappeared."
"Hehe, anyway, it seems like a very important matter. Why doesn't my clan look for me?"
Perhaps they are planning to use you for an even bigger purpose than this, and there are orders from Sir Chiron.
Owal hid those words behind a sly smile.
"Well, whatever the reason, it's better not to look for it. Especially in cases like this."
"Did Kinzelo's leader personally make the request?"
Leader of Kinzelo.
Ever since Yona was able to control chaos, she became somewhat interested in him. It was because she knew that he understood 'chaos' well.
"Why are you asking?"
"I just wanted to meet him once."
"Why?"
"I wanted to ask him a few questions."
Owal shrugged his shoulders.
Though he complained about the difficulty of the mission, in reality, Owal wasn't entirely without ambition.
'It's an item from Zipfel's second magic tower.'
Owal was convinced that the item was the blueprints of a battleship.
He was also aware that Zipfels had recently intentionally leaked information about a secret shipyard in the Sota Desert.
Getting hold of the blueprint was an excellent deal from Nameless's standpoint. It had a high potential of becoming the best means to negotiate proactively among the major factions.
'Regardless of the request, if Yona, not me, acts unilaterally, the major factions will find it difficult to hold us responsible.'
Especially, Runcandel would never ask for accountability.
No, beyond that, if Yona secured the blueprints, it would actually be a matter of protecting and thanking the Nameless.
Also, in the first place, Yona would not leave even a trace of having entered the 2nd Magic Tower. Her infiltration and assassination abilities had long surpassed Owal's.
'She is not the kind of person who will listen to me even if I try to stop her anyway... It might not be a bad idea to just let her go once.'
Without the need for further consideration from Owal, Yona had already made up her mind.
"I'll take on this request."
"No, you can't."
"Even if you stop me, I'll go, hehe."
"If you really have to go, I have some conditions that you have to follow."
In the end, after having a non-negotiable agreement with Owal, Yona headed towards the second magic tower.
And in the process, she learned that Joshua, Diphus, and the youngest had also participated in this mission. From that moment on, Yona's top priority became not completing the request, but confirming the life or death of her youngest brother.
It wasn't just because her youngest brother seemed to be alone in the middle of Zipfel's territory.
'Wow, can there really be something like that in the second magic tower, it is not even the Drakka? Seriously?'
While stealing and returning the key at the second magic tower, the siblings witnessed a monster that was far beyond what they could handle.
***
This was the background of Yona's arrival at the second magic tower.
She had been watching Jin and Murakan from the moment they first entered the underground shipyard.
And she was searching for the right moment, a moment when she could approach her youngest brother while avoiding the surveillance of the crystal ball, Hedo's senses, and Kinzelo's eyes.
In the end, she did not succeed. Even Yona had her limits, and not everything was possible for her.
Therefore, what had just appeared was inevitably a compromise she had chosen. The optimal moment to assassinate the monster named Hedo was far from ideal, but if she didn't step forward now, her youngest brother could really lose their life.
Swish!
Squeak!
Yona's sword, 'Death,' and the longsword, Bale, crossed, leaving sharp traces.
Except for one person, Hedo, who was targeted for assassination, no one else was aware that Yona had appeared. It was a moment when the transcendent power of Hedo's strength became even more apparent.
'Elder sister Yona?'
'Yona!?'
All the Runcandels opened their eyes wide. Yona's sudden appearance was shocking, but even more surprising was the fact that Yona had left a long and deep wound in Hedo's chest with a single sword move.
Tsuuaaak!
A stream of fresh blood gushed from Hedo's sturdy body. The wound left by Yona was much more severe than all the decisive killing moves and secret techniques the group had used to stake their lives.
On the other hand, Hedo's counterattack only cut off the tips of Yona's hair, and she had already thrusted the blade into his side once again.
"Ugh...!"
Death had plunged into Hedo's side for a moment before pulling back out.
It was a clear severe injury. Usually, Yona should have seized this opportunity to finish the target, but she refrained from continuing the attack and distanced herself.
The extremely limited advantage she gained using the 'Silver Dragon's Claw' that Jin had given to Nameless was now over.
The assassins of Nameless had always regarded the Silver Dragon's Claw as a divine artifact. If it was processed in its unique way, it could freeze any target for a blink of an eye.
The reason Yona could easily cut and stab Hedo's body was thanks to the divine power of Nameless's weapon. Of course, her assassination skills were exceptional as well.
"Youngest, ugh!"
"Elder sister!"
As Yona retreated from Hedo, her legs wobbled, and she suddenly swayed towards Jin. A thin stream of blood flowed between her lips.
When she slashed and stabbed Hedo with Death, the longsword, Bale, didn't directly touch Yona, but she still suffered internal injuries from the energy that Hedo explosively released. This was due to the aftermath of using chaos not too long ago and her chaos had not yet completely subsided.
"...It was you!"
The one who stole the blueprints!
Hedo, with blazing eyes, charged towards Yona like a bullet.
Murakan blocked his path with his breath and awl, and then, the siblings and Jane stood in front of Hedo.
Despite being heavily injured, Hedo's formidable strength persisted. Like a wounded beast becoming even more ferocious. The group was astonished by his relentless charge, even after being hit by the shadow force awl and breath directly.
But Hedo was still a human.
He might be close to the strongest among the 10-star martial artists, but he was not a Genesis knight. He endured the accumulated shocks through sheer willpower.
The Runcandels were well aware of this fact.
'We must escape together with elder sister Yona!'
This was the first and last opportunity to shake off Hedo.
The whole group was thinking the same as Jin.
Moreover, since Yona had the blueprints, if they could escape unharmed, this situation would be a victory for the Runcandels.
The long sword veil was falling on the heads of the gathered siblings, with the feeling of a falling mountain.
Kraaaaah!
The screams of martial artists echoed as their swords clashed.
The ankles of the Runcandels who defended against Hedo's strike were driven into the ground, and eventually, the robust space that hadn't collapsed even in the midst of the battle crumbled entirely.
The ceiling was also completely shattered. The shockwaves created by the swords swung by the Runcandels to parry longsword and Murakan's awls were responsible for this destruction.
The entire tower was crumbling. As the Runcandels and Hedo fell, they stepped on the debris, engaging in a mid-air battle.
Every second, dozens of sword energy clashed fiercely, intertwining and devouring the airspace.
'The wound is deep. A pretty extreme poison has seeped into me, and it even spreads every time I move.'
Hedo gritted his teeth and analyzed the situation.
Even Hedo never expected the variable Yona Runcandel.
If he had known about her existence, he would never have engaged in the fight as casually as he did, as Jin had suggested.
'In the end, I need to request reinforcements from the main house.'
As long as the Runcandels kept fighting, Hedo had the confidence to defeat them all.
However, the Runcandels were not fools. Escaping was the only natural course of action.
Therefore, Hedo could no longer tolerate this.
Thud!
Among those falling, Hedo was the first to reach the ground.
At the same time, the thick gold ring on his index finger, engraved with mysterious runic characters, began to emit light. His ring was an artifact, a type of signaling magic similar to that inscribed on the staffs of each tower master.
The signal was immediately transmitted to Drakka, the main house of Zipfel. Even before three seconds had passed since the ring emitted light, a large-scale alarm magic was activated from afar.
'I am sorry, young lady. I can only hope that the 12th flagbearer have a heavenly luck beyond the rumors. Hopefully, he can survive even the pursuit from Drakka's main force.'
Hedo still had no intention of killing Jin. However, in this situation, if he let the Runcandels go, he would not only raise suspicions about himself but also potentially incur disadvantages for Sandra. It was an unavoidable choice.
Now Hedo had only one thing to do.
To eliminate the 'witnesses' who had seen him offer to spare Jin's life.
The plan was to either let them die as a warning to Octavia or deal with them directly.
The Spectres were either exhausted and still falling, or were gasping for breath while trapped in the cracks of the broken tower.
Hedo raised his head to confirm their positions and prepare to shoot sword energy, but he was surprised to see the ceiling of the tower was completely open.
'Certainly, the rooftop didn't collapse? Why is it open like this?'
Throughout the fight, Hedo controlled his energy to ensure that, even if the inside of the tower was destroyed, the rooftop would not suffer much damage.
In other words, someone had damaged it.
Hedo had a feeling he knew who the culprit was, and the thought gave him a throbbing headache.
Hedoo-!
The owner of this incredibly loud, sharp and irritable voice was none other than Sandra Zipfel.
She had been waiting for Hedo to bring Jin the whole time, and upon realizing the activation of the support signal, she broke through the floor and threw herself into the battlefield.
"You stupid, useless muscle pig! Are you insane!? Are you out of your mind!? Why did you call the main force!? Are you planning to kill my Jin!?"
While vehemently shouting, Sandra, who had just landed on the ground, made eye contact with Jin. Afterward, she spoke in a different tone.
"Honey! I've been waiting for you. Where do you think you're going? Let's go together!"
Even in the midst of the urgency, Jin felt a shiver down his spine at Sandra's words.
Yet, at the same time, he had an intuition that she might be of significant help in escaping from this place.
500
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Sandra had her arms wide open as she fell, wearing a radiant smile.
To those who did not know her circumstances or her eccentric personality, it seemed as if she was welcoming her lover whom she had not seen in a long time with an absolutely earnest heart.
'Is that Sandra Zipfel...!?'
'Just now, did she refer to the youngest as 'my Jin'!?'
'Is there some kind of relationship between the 12th flagbearer and Sandra Zipfel?'
Joshua, Diphus, and even Jane couldn't help but squint their eyes while looking up at Sandra.
It was absurd for her to appear out of nowhere and call Jin 'her', and it was shocking to see Hedo, who seemed like a monster, had an awkward reaction to her words.
Thud!
Sandra landed about ten steps away from Jin with agile and light movements that were uncharacteristic of a mage.
"Kyahaha, I thought you would catch me and hug me coolly. Are you going to avoid me like this?"
"In this world, there are people who consider avoiding a wise move."
"How about my outfit today? I ordered it with a special recommendation from the Golden Pengi's upper echelons. Is it okay?"
Jin's eyes were not on the black coat and shirt that looked similar to her Runcandel ceremonial uniform, but on the golden prosthetic hand. He could also recognize that the picture engraved on it was his own face.
-A right arm... it seems just right.
-What do you mean by 'just right'?
-I feel it's a bit too early to give away everything I have. A right arm is neither too much nor too little. We're just on our first date.
Jin got goosebumps once more as he remembered the conversation they had in the Gaifa Archipelago.
The ongoing battle came to a halt, and everyone fell silent for a while, with only the noise of debris and shattered stones falling to the ground.
Jin just nodded his head.
It wasn't a difficult decision. It suited his taste, and more importantly, it seemed like it could be of some help in getting out of this dreadful crisis.
"I'm relieved! If you had deceived me, I was planning to order that stupid muscle pig to kill those cute little rats... Damn muscle pig!.... Damn it! Hedo! How are you going to handle this? How are you going to take responsibility!"
Waaaang-!
The alarm sound was getting louder. In the sky above, Drakka's dragons had already begun their flight, and the battleship Kozec was preparing to move out.
"You said you would definitely let me have dinner with Mr. Jin!"
"...There was a bit of a setback, young lady."
"A setback? A setback! At this crucial moment, really, I'd rather die! How long have I waited?"
The Runcandels couldn't comprehend it at all. The sight of that monster being so helpless in front of Sandra was surreal.
And in that moment, Jin understood why Hedo didn't actively display his battle prowess.
'It's because of Sandra's orders.'
His feelings became complex.
The fact that he might be alive thanks to Sandra was more of a humiliation than a sense of relief.
He had no choice but to think so because her eccentric behavior, which did not seem like an enemy's prank, was beneficial in some way.
If it weren't for Yona and Sandra.
This mission was already a failure. It was probably possible to escape, but Runcandels had undoubtedly suffered a significant blow without any substantial gain.
'It wasn't just Zipfel and Hedo who were complacent. I and other Runcandels also thought it was too easy.'
But it wasn't the time for regrets or self-blame.
The problem could be fixed later, and today's humiliation would be repaid with an even greater disgrace.
'What's somewhat fortunate is that the enemies didn't calculate all these unexpected variables.'
So, even now, he had to be the first to read through the unexpected variables perfectly.
'I don't know why, but Hedo values Sandra Zipfel's orders the most. However, today, Sandra and I won't really be able to have dinner together. So he probably just tried to keep me alive to avoid Sandra's resentment.'
-If you have anything you picked up here, leave it and go. If you do so, I'll let you live for now.
As Hedo spoke those words, Jin couldn't help but feel uneasy about the phrase 'I'll let you live for now.'
'After retrieving the blueprints, Hedo planned to kill everyone except me and Murakan.'
Not only Joshua, Diphus, and Jane but also the Spectres who were pitifully acting like shrimp. Jin was convinced of that.
'The reason he wants to deal with the Spectres is either to erase evidence that he prioritized Sandra's orders over the clan or because he didn't want to be bothered. And the reason he called the main house even though I could die, was because if it's revealed later that we stole the battleship's blueprints and escaped unscathed, Sandra could also be in trouble.'
Jin felt his mind was about to explode with consecutive thoughts about the assumptions.
'Not only me and Murakan but everyone in Runcandels must survive. At least until we escape the 2nd tower!'
Drakka's main force would provide support, and after escaping the 2nd tower, there might still be a challenging battle.
Yona, Diphus, Jane, and even Joshua needed to survive in order to have even the slightest chance of breaking through that and escaping the Lutero Magic Federation.
'How should I do this? I need a way to negotiate with the Tower Keeper.'
As he pondered up to that point.
Jin saw far behind Hedo, through the fleet filling the open sky...
He could see something familiar.
And the word that came to mind at that moment was precisely this.
Heavenly luck.
'The heaven is helping me. No, perhaps this was already foreseen from the moment they arrived.'
Jin immediately concluded on how to use this newly revealed variable in the sky.
Furthermore, it seemed crucial not to miss the opportunity to grasp as much information about Hedo as possible.
Jin held his sword against Sandra Zipfel's throat. Even as the blade touched her neck, she seemed pleased to be closer to Jin.
"Open the way, Tower Keeper."
Hedo shrugged his shoulders at Jin's words.
"You plan to use the young lady as a hostage? You should know that's not much of a threat, considering what you experienced in Gaifa Archipelago."
"Of course, I know Sandra Zipfel is half-immortal. However, that fact itself hasn't been properly revealed to the outside world yet, has it? Moreover, the fact that Sandra tried to help me escape won't have a good effect on you or Sandra if it becomes known worldwide."
"I've said it several times already, return the blueprints. If you do, I'll let you live."
"I continue to give the same answer. I didn't steal anything. And when I said to open the way, it means not to harm anyone from Runcandel here, not just me and Murakan."
Hedo's gaze hardened.
"Don't you think you're making excessively unreasonable demands in enemy territory?"
"Even if you block the way, I am confident that I can escape this place with Sandra. Then, can you really control the mouth of this strange woman? There must be limits to media control."
"You're crossing the line."
"Even if we engage in intense battles during the escape, Sandra won't die, and the fact that she is half-immortal is actually an advantageous condition for me in the current situation."
"You're speaking with confidence, but I'm sure you're not unaware that it's impossible to take the young lady and leave the Lutero Magic Federation. Only you and Murakan can leave."
Jin shook his head firmly.
"I will say it one last time. Open the way, Tower Keeper."
Seemingly frustrated, Hedo took out a cigarette.
'The reason the 12th flagbearer is obsessed with the young lady is because they need insurance in many ways. Even if I let them go, it's impossible to shake off the main house's pursuit. Why is he insisting on this? I thought he wasn't such a foolish person.'
Regardless of whether I get out of the way or not, unless heaven's luck favors you, everyone in Runcandels here will inevitably face death...
Hedo had been thinking this since the moment he called the main house.
The reason he wanted to kill everyone, excluding Jin and Murakan, was because he needed a pretext.
He needs to have something to say when questioned by Kelliark in the future. Even though he missed Jin and Murakan due to negligence, he can claim that he eliminated everyone else.
"Uh, honey."
Sandra, who was so excited about looking at the side of Jin's face, opened her mouth.
"I roughly know why you're doing this. You hate that damn musclehead, don't you? I feel like tearing him apart today too. How dare he put himself in danger... But shouldn't you also consider Hedo's perspective a little?"
Surprisingly, she had accurately deciphered all the hidden currents between Jin and Hedo in their conversation. The fact that Jin needed insurance and Hedo needed a pretext.
However, she had been unable to notice the change in the sky because she had only been admiring Jin's profile.
"If everyone manages to escape safely, both Hedo and I will have a hard time. We'll definitely be questioned. You don't want that either, right? Our married life hasn't even properly begun, and if I'm stuck in some dungeon of my clan, you would be sad, right?"
"A dungeon? Young lady, you won't end up in a place like that."
"Hedo, just shut up! I'm handling it!"
Sandra yelled vehemently, then giggled and turned her gaze back to Jin.
"So, let's just the three of us, me, you, and the Black Dragon, leave quietly. That way, you can almost certainly survive. I'll be the bait. Then, nobody else will get hurt, right? We'll even have a dramatic escape date!"
She didn't seem to classify the other Runcandels as people, except for Jin.
Instead of responding to her, Jin locked eyes with Hedo.
"It seems the Tower Keeper still doesn't understand why I'm insisting so stubbornly."
Jin pointed his finger at the sky behind Hedo.
"When you see that, you'll think it's not a bad idea to accept my offer."
Hedo turned around.
In the sky, there were over a hundred of Zipfel's mass-produced battleships hovering, strangely, only one of them was illuminated.
It wasn't a Zipfel's battleship.
It was the battleship Grenil.
Kinzelo's flagship that attacked Sword Emperor Castle.
Grenil's cannons were aimed at the stationary mass-produced battleships.
"Wouldn't it be better if you let us go and stop that thing? I don't think there is a better pretext for you and your young lady than that."
Jin smiled, and Hedo's expression wrinkled as he smoked a cigarette.