561
He will use the power of the Demon God's orb to make Ron fight again.
The situation was so urgent and perilous that Stam honestly hadn't thought about it until now.
Deciding to manipulate someone who was an enemy just a little while ago, and that too, the patriarch of Zipfel, was not an easy decision even when thinking calmly.
Stam could see Jin's grip on the sword trembling.
It wasn't due to fear or a reaction to backflow. He was trembling because he had to face the grim reality of having to make such a decision.
What kind of thing was the Demon God's orb?
Until Glyek woke up, the Vamel alliance and knights of Hairan risked their lives to protect the Sword emperor castle, with Ron and Jin at the center.
And now, Jin said he would use that thing to revive Ron and make him fight again.
It was a decision that he hated to make more than anyone else, and he couldn't fathom how he had made it.
'I made a big mistake with the 12th flagbearer.'
Stam was ashamed. Also, Stam could now understand once again why Chiron had shown such interest in Jin.
Boom-!
Stam and the Black Knights parried the swords and spears aimed at Jin.
"I will definitely take responsibility for the rudeness I just committed, 12th flagbearer."
Jin was frantically running between hundreds of falling swords and spears with Ron on his back.
'It can't end like this, Sir Ron!'
Ron's murmuring voice, echoing from his back, was louder and heavier than any noise on the battlefield.
My grandson is there.
Those words, faint but like a lifeline, were resonating in Jin's heart.
It was certain that Dante's consciousness remained. Otherwise the hesitation in Glyek's sword right before he attacked Jin and Ron could not be explained.
However, if only a part of Dante's consciousness remained.
After killing Glyek, what next? If he was killed, would the remaining Dante's consciousness also completely disappear?
Can Dante come back?
There was no time to ponder such questions. Tess' flame vanished, Ron was incapacitated, and the Black Sea transformation was progressing.
Glyek's attacks were pressuring the group more intensely with each passing moment.
The only fortunate aspect was that Glyek's attention was still concentrated on Jin's side and the rear.
Talaris and the Vamel Alliance were helpless, but ironically, they were hardly being affected by Glyek's attacks.
Jin was slowly feeling the heat. It meant that Kelliark's fire was cutting through the chaos and drawing closer to Glyek.
He was just desperately pushing away the chaos and approaching Jin. Kelliark couldn't see the inside situation properly from the outside, and even Tess's blue flames were gone, so he was on the verge of going insane.
Glyek's twisted limbs were returning to their places.
The more it happened, the sharper his sword and spear became, and Stam and the Black Knights' defenses were reaching their limits.
Boom-!
An energy of chaos exploded behind Jin. He hurriedly stepped on the side, but it was impossible to completely avoid the shock while carrying Ron on his back.
Rashid, which had been in Ron's grasp until then, rolled on the ground with a thud.
Attempting to go in to retrieve the sword was nothing short of suicidal.
Reluctantly, Jin was about to run towards Kelliark's fire.
"Now you've even lost your sword, you pitiful man."
A chilling energy suddenly surged, enveloping Jin and Ron.
Talaris Endorma, the master of the hidden palace, had finally completed her recovery and rejoined the battlefield. Her eyes were moist as she looked at Ron who was in a state of disrepair.
[...… There was also a human who was chosen by Myriad Ice.]
Glyek looked down at Talaris.
Talaris exuded a completely different level of energy than before after drawing some of her power from the seal of Elona Zipfel.
But she couldn't sustain that power for long. It was because she had already suffered an internal injury while executing Ultimate move, White, and it was also because she couldn't handle waking Elona Zipfel in this situation.
The attack momentarily halted. Glyek had started to clearly recognize Talaris.
Stam and the Black Knights caught their breath, and Talaris picked up Rashid and approached Jin and Ron.
She, too, shared the same thoughts as Jin.
"Your beloved grandson is still fighting that monster alone. Ron, it's not yet time for you to stop..."
Talaris judged that Dante had not completely disappeared yet.
If the seal holding back Glyek had been completely broken, everyone near Glyek would have been unable to survive.
-[You're persistent.]
Glyek didn't just say that for Ron. He also said this to Dante, who was still holding back his full awakening.
Ching...….
The myriad ice created a resonant sound, spreading cold energy in all directions.
The energy froze the ground and the transformation of Black Sea visibly slowed down, but Glyek was able to realize the fact that Jin was not Solderet, but a contractor under the protection of the shadows.
Even so, his killing intent did not fade. On the contrary, Glyek will fight more carefully and leisurely from now on.
Because if the opponent was a contractor, not a Solderet, he needn't be afraid and impatient.
Glyek was afraid of Jin even though he thought Solderet had lost his power when he hadn't regained his rationality.
Glyek's mouth tore open sharply and smiled. Then, as if playing a prank, he thrust his sword and spear into the direction of Jin's allies.
His attack was blocked by a massive wall of ice formed by Talaris before it could overwhelm the Vamel alliance, and Glyek seemed amused even by continuing to slam on the ice wall and burst into laughter.
[Ghahaha…!]
Every time Glyek laughed, the chaos that filled the battlefield vibrated wildly.
Talaris was well aware of the fact that from where his leeway was coming from.
The power to defy fate.
In records of the Hidden Palace, it was recorded that only beings reaching the domain of the Genesis knight could defy and kill the King of Chaos.
No matter how deep and immense the power one possessed, the only thing that could fundamentally hurt the kings of the Black Sea was the sword and magic of the Genesis knight.
The reason why the patriarch of Hairan had not been able to cut the white stone was no different.
It was because no Genesis knight had ever appeared in Hairan.
If the information about White stone had not disappeared at some point in history, like being swept away by the tide. would have handed over the White Stone to those who reached the domain of Genesis knight in Runcandel or Zipfel.
However, assumptions were meaningless in the face of history that had already happened, and Glyek awakening in this land today was a predetermined fate.
"Jin."
"Yes, Madame Talaris."
"All we have to do is hold him back until your father arrives."
Or I can only hope that the records I know are wrong.
Talaris swallowed her words and placed Rashid in Ron's limp right hand.
Even in the midst of losing all his senses, Ron did not let go of the hilt in his hand again.
Talaris didn't put much importance on Dante's remaining consciousness in Glyek.
Since he could not have the power to go against fate, his extinction was inevitable.
Buy time, until Chiron arrives.
Despite having the most powerful humans, excluding Chiron, and almost the entire elite forces of Runcandel and Zipfel gathered in one place, it was a grim reality that their only option was to wait for Chiron.
Although the energy of Myriad ice was blocking the Black Sea, it had not stopped. As the ground turned black, Glyek's body grew larger and larger.
An indescribably ominous purple light shone from the empty eye sockets. Just looking at the eyes made them feel a severe headache along with a tinnitus that seemed to burst their ears.
Kyaaaaagh!
The more perfect Glyek condition becomes, the more violently the Demon God's orb was expressing its fear.
And finally, Kelliark Zipfel broke through the wall of chaos and entered the interior. The first thing they saw when the rear opened was the hull of Kozec, which was rapidly descending as if it were falling.
Kuung, Kkgggrgrk...!
Kozec landed scratching the blackened ground. Kelliark, who had spread a magic circle in front of him, looked around in all directions with bloodshot eyes.
It was to find Jin. Soon, he realized that Jin was alive, the breath he was holding back unknowingly burst out.
'He's alive!'
A flame orb like the sun rose behind Kelliark's back.
[Are you the owner of that hideous imitation?]
"Kelliark!"
Talaris shouted.
Kelliark also has the same thoughts as Talaris. He also thought that if Ron had already been killed or fell into a state where he could not fight, he would heal Ron with the power of the Demon god's orb and make him fight again.
However, there was hardly any black energy characteristic of the Demon God's Orb mixed in Kelliark's flame orb.
That was the problem. The Demon God's orb was still unable to properly give Kelliark its power. The power was entwined as if hiding in Kelliark's staff, Hroti.
The power of the Demon God's orb that entwined within Hroti was not released.
Jin, Talaris, and the Black Knights couldn't help but sense that something was wrong.
The most bewildered person was Kelliark himself. He knew that the Demon God's orb had shrunk, but he didn't expect it to be to this extent.
'This is... impossible!'
The Demon God's orb is incomplete. The powers of the gods imprisoned within it are not yet fully under Kelliark's control.
A failure.
Kelliark and Talaris simultaneously thought the same word.
'If Ron can't fight again, I don't know how long I can hold out against that even if Runcandel comes.'
'Is this mean even the will of over thirty gods cannot go against the King of the Black Sea?'
But at that moment.
Suddenly, Ron got off Jin's back and strode towards Kelliark. The murmur had ceased.
He is dead.
Ron was walking with his life cut off. As if time had stopped for a moment, everyone froze as they watched Ron approaching Kelliark. Rashid was still in Ron's grasp.
For some reason, as Ron got closer to Kelliark, the Demon God's orb fearful screams died down.
'Demon God's orb… reacting to dead Ron, not me...!'
Ron plunged his sword into the ground and knelt in front of Hroti's black energy. As if praying.
Then the Demon God's orb fell silent, and Kelliark could feel it.
The fact that the frightened gods were giving him strength.
562
Oooh...…!
A bleak and dark energy began to flow from Hroti. The energy of the Demon God's orb was wrapped around Ron like hundreds of black snakes.
That power became Ron's flesh, bone, and blood.
Hot breath escaped from his gaping mouth, and his shattered body was gradually restoring to its original form.
Ron's resurrection took a different form from those who had been resurrected with the power of the Demon God's orb so far. It was incomparable to the Spectres who just had a physical body.
It was the result of all the gods in the Demon God's orb admiring his will.
Since the disappearance of Numerus, the god of hope, the gods had never witnessed a human overcoming death solely with his pure will, without the protection of Numerus.
They never even heard of it.
That's how shocking this event was. Even though the gods were trapped within the Demon God's Orb, even though they felt fear towards Glyek and were in daze, they could still clearly recognize the miracle Ron had brought about.
A miracle so brilliant that not even the Demon God's Orb, nor any other deception or trick, could conceal. And lit up this dark and terrifying land.
'I thought such a near-perfect resurrection would be impossible without the completion of the Demon God's orb...…! Ron Hairan, how many times do you intend to surprise me?'
Awe beyond respect.
Kelliark's heart was beating faster. Before Glyek woke up, the fact that he looked down at Ron while drunk on the power of the Demon God's orb was humiliating.
Even Glyek seemed impressed.
The power of the gods to bring back the dead did not inspire him, but a miracle achieved solely by the will of a single human was worth watching.
Glyek wasn't complacent. It's just that in a lonely and long immortality like punishment, he doesn't think there will be another chance to see such a shining miracle.
Also, Glyek was looking forward to it.
That human named Ron Hairan could possibly become a being like them. Just as Kail and the other kings of the Black Sea had such a wish for Chiron.
Unfortunately, Dante's will remaining inside Glyek was not aware of Ron's miracle. After the beginning of the Black Sea, Dante's will, which had been like a faint candle, was being erased more rapidly.
Whoa.…..
Eventually, the black energy of the Demon God's orb completely permeated, and Ron opened his eyes with a long breath.
His body was no longer frail, as when he had awakened from the brink of death.
The newly attained state of near domain of Genesis knight made him feel the strong power that he had never experienced in his lifetime, and all the bones and organs that he lost in return for the sword of overlord were restored to their place.
Amidst the complete healed body.
There was only one thing that remained the same.
The sadness of having lost everything. The sorrow that even death couldn't make him forget continued to tear, claw, and shatter his heart.
"Sir Ron."
Ron turned to Jin.
Jin couldn't bear to raise his head. Jin was suffocated by the guilt that he had thought of resurrecting Ron with the Demon God's orb and he had witnessed it in action.
Ron didn't say anything to Jin.
Instead, he gently patted his shoulders. It was because there were no words he knew that could convey gratitude and comfort to Jin.
Slowly walking toward Glyek, Ron passed Kelliark Zipfel.
The Demon God's orb no longer trembled in fear.
It wasn't because it thought it could defeat Glyek now, but to show respect to the human named Ron Hairan.
Kelliark followed him without a word. Talaris, Stam, and the Black Knights also naturally formed a formation around Ron.
Along the path that Kelliark had pierced while coming here, Octavia and the Spectres and other mages of Zipfel also entered the interior, and Rosa and the knights of Runcandel also joined the battlefield at the same time.
Unlike Zipfel's troops, where it was difficult to find healthy people, Runcandels seemed to have suffered almost no power loss.
Unlike Kelliark, who threw everything aside and jumped in to save Jin, Rosa came while protecting all the knights of her clan.
'Did Kelliark resurrect Ron Hairan? No, that's not all.'
Rosa didn't witness the miracle Ron caused directly.
But she could tell. The fact that Ron didn't just resurrect through the power of the Demon God's Orb.
It was because an indescribably pure and strong energy was radiating from his back. The meaning of that energy was clear.
'He's continuously transcending his limits....'
Continued transcendence.
The current Ron is stronger than the Ron from earlier. Rosa's whole body was shuddering just with the energy that flowed out of him.
However, Rosa also knew about the King of the Black Sea. The fact that it was an existence that can never be cut without Genesis knight.
In the past, she had seen Chiron leaping over the wall every moment just before he reached the genesis knight, just like Ron now.
But even Chiron needed a considerable amount of time to climb the last stair.
Rosa thought that no matter how much Ron transcended in this fight, it would be impossible to reach the end.
Most of all, she was concerned that if there was even the slightest possibility, she might unknowingly rely on it and it could cloud her judgment.
Except for the Black Knights and the first division of the Black Sword Association, all the Knights of Runcandel took their positions on the side of the Vamel Alliance.
They had been ordered to quickly evacuate Jin's companions and escape from Glyek once the battle began.
It wasn't a consideration for Jin.
If Rosa had only been concerned about Jin, she would never have given such an order.
The reason Rosa saved Jin's companions was to avoid increasing the number of variables in the already difficult fight.
It was impossible to know how Jin would act if his companions died. At other times, she would control it by force, but she couldn't be able to afford it against Glyek.
Like Talaris, Rosa also knew that there was only one thing they could do.
'If Chiron has already reached beyond the depths of the Black Sea... it takes at least 10 days even if we use the snow toad Mort of the master of hidden palace.'
That meant they had to hold Glyek for more than ten days.
This place was now like the last line of defense for the world.
The moment Glyek breaks through the knights and mages gathered here and goes outside, the world would be under the threat of destruction from that day.
There were no forces outside that could stop the King of the Black Sea.
Kinzelo was still there.
But the fact that Kinzelo was not here, even though they were the only one who knew the identity of the white stone, meant that this was a scenario they wanted in the first place.
'We can never last that long with purely combat alone.'
Rosa met Talaris's eyes.
'So the key is not Ron Hairan who has become so strong, nor Zipfel who has taken out the Demon God's orb, nor our Runcandel, but the master of the hidden palace.….'
The absolute seal of the Hidden Palace.
That alone could buy time until Chiron arrived. Rosa and Kelliark, the two people who knew the sealing ability of Hidden Palace, were thinking the same thing.
The question was whether the absolute seal of the hidden palace could buy more than ten days.
Glyek's shadow fell upon those who stood against him.
[Say your name.]
It was the first time Glyek showed such undivided attention to someone other than Jin.
"Ron Hairan. The grandfather of the child you devoured, the owner of the land whom you are exterminating, and the man who will kill you."
[Just now, the last will of your child has disappeared.]
Ron remained undisturbed by those words. The emptiness within him could no longer be influenced. He could no longer feel sadness.
The pain entrenched in his heart was like the sea. Whatever was added to the Sea of Sorrow, the result was that it would sink into the depths of the sea and disappear, and Ron himself couldn't gauge its size and depth.
"Is that so?"
[Even death could not erase your pain. The only path to salvation is to become an existence like me.]
Rashid turned gray. The pattern of the sword of overlord was engraved on Ron's body once again.
He had no lingering feelings about the life he had regained just a few minutes ago. Even if Glyek was killed, what meaning could life hold for him afterward?
One of Glyek's colossal limbs extended towards Ron, as if to grab him.
[So, if you want to escape eternal agony, come to me.]
Instead of answering, Ron lifted Rashid up and cut off his arm. However, the arm that fell to the ground was absorbed into the Black Sea land and returned to Glyek again.
[You always fail to see one step ahead.]
It was the moment when Glyek's interest in Ron suddenly disappeared. Glyek fixed his gaze on Jin again, and the battle resumed immediately.
Hundreds of swords and spears pressed the humans faster and more precisely than before, and Ron screamed like a demon and swung Rashid.
The gray sword that spread like a raging sword was colliding with the energy of chaos.
However, Glyek seemed to have judged that even the sword of overlord, which Ron had spread out in perfect condition, was not that great of a threat.
He hardly blocked the attack even if Rashid cuts anywhere in his body, and he was pouring almost all of his attacks only on Jin.
Just as Rosa predicted.
Glyek kept Talaris in check more than Ron.
It was because he saw through to the fact that there was a person in the present world who has the power to defy fate, and humans planned to bring him here.
Just as Kial and Chiron recognized the moment Glyek woke up, he was also aware of their existence.
Glyek felt their power more clearly as the black sea was formed and his mind become awakened.
Glyek thought nothing would be a problem as long as he can stop the demigod from coming here who was fighting with his sibling.
However, even if the demigod came here, the possibility of becoming a threat was very low.
It was because he couldn't be fine right after the battle with Kial. In other words, whether or not Chiron came here, Glyek's keeping Talaris in check was just an act that ruled out even the slightest possibility.
Because the power to defy fate was always dangerous under any circumstances.
"Master of hidden palace. If you open the seal, how long can it last against that thing?"
Rosa asked, stepping in front of Talaris.
"... It's hard to get past three days, Rosa Runcandel."
Upon hearing the answer, Rosa had no choice but to grit her teeth.
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Three days.
It was impossible for Chiron to arrive here within that time. In fact, even if it were not ten days but a few months, it would still be insufficient.
Chiron's expedition had already entered the terrain of the kings' Black Sea a long time ago, and only they knew the way to get there.
Even if Rosa and others knew the way, they couldn't reach the territory of the kings in a short period of time even with Mort's dimension travel ability.
'Kinzelo... what the hell do they want?'
Kinzelo, the only faction that knew the identity of the white stone.
Suddenly, a question popped into Rosa's mind. What are they trying to achieve by putting the world in danger of destruction?
Of course, it couldn't be just destruction itself. It was only a while ago that Kinzelo emerged from being labeled as a third-rate terrorist group and rose as a fourth major faction.
Even after their potential was revealed, they continued recruiting members and expanding their influence in the same way as before.
However, those who were seduced by their forces and power, from the bottom rowers to the real talents, were flocking to them incomparably more than before.
'Their leader is convinced that the world will not come to an end with this incident. It's probably not because of Chiron. He may not know that he's not leaving the Black Sea.'
The King of the Black Sea could not be killed without the power of genesis knight. The gathered individuals here knew this fact, and Kinzelo, who was aware of the true identity of the White Stone, probably knew it too.
'Kinzelo probably has a means or something to stop Glyek.'
Then it was clear what they wanted.
Runcandel and Zipfel.
The decline or extinction of the two great clans that divided the world.
Therefore, if Kinzelo participates in this battle, it will surely be right after both clans are on the verge of annihilation.
'Those bastards have really bitten off more than they can chew.'
Assuming all these guesses are correct. There was only one way to slightly deviate from Kinzelo's plan, and that was to withdraw immediately.
Just in time, the Knights of Runcandel, excluding the Black Knights and the first division of the Black Sword Association, were trying to escape after rescuing Jin's companions.
'But what happens after the retreat?'
Runcandel, Zipfel, Hidden Palace, and Ron.
The moment even one of them leaves, the balance of the battlefield will quickly collapse.
Kelliark will also retreat, and Talaris will be forced to remain because of the secret mission and Ron because of revenge but he will surely die.
It does not require much imagination what will happen after a monster that even the combined might of the world's strongest martial artists and mages couldn't handle is released into the world.
From then on, the great forces could not join hands again, and Glyek will regain his full original power without any interference.
It was not even possible to estimate how far the Black Sea transformation would go.
Beyond the territory of the Sword emperor castle and the Empire, there was no law saying that the land of Runcandel and Zipfel could not turn into the Black Sea. There is no way to stop the Black Sea for those who are currently fighting on the battlefield.
Therefore, the retreat eventually only postponed the situation, and the expected cost was by no means small.
'I didn't expect for the fate of the clan to hang in the balance at such an unexpected moment.'
Even if Jin hadn't come to the sword emperor castle, she wouldn't have been able to escape Kinzelo's trap.
The moment Rosa confirmed that Zipfel was obsessed with the white stone, Runcandel would have had no choice but to come here anyway.
In other words, it was bound to happen from the beginning.
'It's rather fortunate to have the youngest on the battlefield. If that special and enormous power that he showed at the end of the first battle can be used again, then it might become a variable.'
The mighty sword manifested through the will of Solderet and Kallum, the power of Gods.
Rosa had seen that power with her own two eyes. Its sheer force was undoubtedly inferior to Chiron's sword, but the magic sword used by Jin at the time was clearly imbued with the dignity of defying fate. Although it was an instant, the realm itself was akin to genesis knight.
'But if the youngest could use that power again, he would have used it sooner.'
It was not a situation where he could save the cards.
Thud! Clang-!
The Knights of Runcandel, who had managed to rescue the Vamel alliance, were breaking through the energy of chaos that blocked their retreat path.
Rosa saw other children who were about to join them.
Myu and Anne.
The daughters who were presumed to have met the 'Prophet'. They maintained their expressionless faces just like when they were in the barracks before Runcandel joined the war.
During the moment when Rosa was contemplating whether to ask them if the Prophet had foreseen this situation, Myu and Anne approached her first and whispered.
"Acting matriarch."
"Speak."
"Please reinstate the second flagbearer. Then the Prophet will help you."
Rosa's eyes widened. No one else heard the voices of Myu and Anne.
Soon Rosa looked at her daughters with a smile.
"Yes, you are indeed my daughters if you don't disappoint me."
Rosa's gaze, looking down at Myu and Anne, darkened. They bowed their heads, but unlike before, their faces were not filled with fear or shame.
"Get out of here. When I return to the clan, if even one of the 12th flagbearer's companions is dead, then you two will be immediately executed."
Rosa rejected Myu and Anne's proposal as if there was no more worth in listening.
Rather, she felt like her thoughts were sorted out thanks to the two of them openly speaking about the prophet's intentions.
'If the Prophet is merely weaving lies to reinstate Joshua, there's no point in accepting it, and if she really has a way to stop the King of the Black Sea, then the clan will not perish anyway. She exists to fulfill the prophecy.'
Myu and Anne lowered their heads and retreated.
'The 8th and 9th flagbearer of Runcandel? Were they in a position to say something to Rosa Runcandel about this situation?'
Kelliark thought as he watched them.
'Prophet. It looks like Joshua fell and the 8th and 9th flagbearer became her messengers.'
He was also going through almost the same flow of thinking as Rosa. About Kinzelo's purpose and how to overcome this situation.
And Kelliark's conclusion was the same as Rosa's. Even in his opinion, retreat was pointless.
'The Demon God's orb has become more stable than before because of Ron's transcendence, but if it is not completed, it cannot harm the king of the Black Sea. It is unlikely to assume that Kadun and Hedo join the war while buying time, and sacrifice Veradin.'
It is impossible to complete the Demon God's orb if Glyek absorbs Jin here on this day.
That's why Kelliark had no choice but to feel more angry than anyone else on the battlefield.
The battlefield was chaos itself.
Even as he thought, Glyek's attacks were constantly pressing the humans.
The transformation of the Black Sea gradually accelerated, and Glyek showed no signs of backing down even after being cut dozens or hundreds of times by Ron's sword.
Jin, along with Murakan, was in charge of the rear, leading the knights trying to escape with the Vamel Alliance.
Kelliark's gaze fell on him. In an instant, a picture came to mind in which Zipfel could benefit the most.
'I guess I'll have to secure Jin Runcandel and get out of the battlefield.'
Jin was obviously tired. It was not that difficult for Kelliark to subdue a tired Jin in an instant.
And if he secures Jin and escapes, and completes the Demon God's orb, it would be possible to eliminate the King of the Black Sea in the future.
Is that all?
Runcandel will suffer near-destruction damage, Ron and the master of hidden palace will die, and Kinzelo's plan will go awry.
On the other hand, it doesn't matter how much damage Zipfel would suffer if only the Demon God's orb was completed.
Perhaps, Glyek's awakening could be the greatest opportunity for Zipfel.
However, it was impossible for Kelliark to subdue and secure Jin right away.
It was because Runcandel, Talaris, and Ron Hairan were holding firm with their eyes wide open. When Kelliark tries to capture Jin, they can't stand still.
'I will stop Glyek for the time being, but when Ron is done, Rosa and Talaris are tired. I will subdue Jin Runcandel. The process will surely not be smooth.'
The situation might be difficult, but Jin was undoubtedly someone who would figure out his plans, and he was by no means someone to be easily handled. Not only Rosa and Talaris, but even Ron, who had become a vengeful demon, would have predicted this much.
'Does Rosa Runcandel have a separate belief? It seems that she rejected the proposals of the 8th and 9th flagbearers. Then it's Jin Runcandel's turn to make a proposal to me.'
The knights of Runcandel opened the retreat path.
"I wish you luck!"
"Good luck!"
In the end, the knights succeeded in escaping with the Vamel Alliance.
As soon as the knights left, the retreat path was blocked again. The wall of chaos imprisoning humans was getting thicker as time passed.
Ron and Talaris went into battle, without thinking about the aftermath, for revenge and mission, while Kelliark and Rosa were calculating the survival and profit of their own clan.
Amidst all this, Jin was in contemplation.
Jin's top priority was his comrades who had fled from the battlefield. So all that was left was for himself, his clan, and Ron and Talaris to survive.
Jin hadn't let go of Ron, to be exact, 'Hairan' yet. Even though Glyek had said that he had swallowed Dante's last consciousness, Ron opened his sword of overload again.
It was because the moment he gave up Hairan, all the meaning of him coming to this battlefield would disappear.
That's why he had no intention of giving up on Hairan until the very end.
'Father can't come.'
The moment Jin heard the answer that it was three days from Talaris, he saw Rosa clenching her teeth.
'And in the current situation, if I were Kelliark... One way or another, he will somehow secure me and escape. That's the only best option Zipfel can choose.'
However, even if he anticipated that plan, it was challenging to come up with an immediate way to stop it.
The current situation was such that everyone was holding each other's leash, and Kelliark had the most advantage.
That's why Jin had no choice but to throw a gamble.
First of all, to ensure that Kelliac wouldn't change his mind.
"Sir Kelliark."
Jin approached Kelliark and met his eyes.
"You know that in order to deliver a fundamental blow to the King of the Black Sea, the power of a genesis knight is needed. However, it is impossible for my father to come within three days, and...… you might want to secure me and leave the battlefield when the opportunity arises."
"What are you trying to say, Jin Runcandel?"
"Three days. While Madame Talaris can seal him away, let's negotiate with Kinzelo. So, please do everything in your power to assist Madame Talaris in opening the seal."
Kelliark narrowed his brows.
As soon as he was about to answer something, Jin continued to say.
"If you do not comply with my offer, I will jump right in front of Glyek and die without dodging his sword."
564
-Secure Jin Runcandel, he must not be consumed by chaos!
Not long after Glyek woke up, Kelliark had called out so urgently that it made his throat brust.
And Jin was able to realize something from that order.
'Even though there is the means of resurrection through the Demon God's orb, Kelliark showed bewilderment as soon as Glyek woke up.'
That meant only one thing.
Jin doesn't know about the other forms of death, but if he was killed by Glyek, the completion of the Demon God's orb would be fatally disrupted.
'That's why Kelliark is most wary of me dying or getting into any type of trouble because of Glyek.'
Also, Jin felt some kind of grudge from Glyek.
The fact that Glyek wasn't just trying to 'kill' Jin. But Glyek was trying to absorb him just as he devoured Dante.
"If I get beaten by Glyek, Zipfel won't be able to complete the Demon God's orb."
Jin nailed it.
Kelliark did not deny that.
It was Kelliark himself, not anyone else, who gave Jin a clue, and that was an obvious mistake.
"As far as I can see, you would never carry out those words even if I were to refuse the proposal. To be precise, you can't."
"Is that so?"
"You are also a human, and you carry a lot of things on your back. How many people have risked their lives to save you, and what about the actions you've taken to save Hairan? But risking your life just to stop my obvious plan is unacceptable. You're bluffing with too much bravado."
This time, Kelliark cut off Jin's answer and continued while keeping an eye on Rosa.
"But not your mother."
Rosa was listening to the conversation between the two.
"The moment I refuse that offer, your mother will not hesitate a moment to throw you into Glyek's jaws. Isn't that right, Rosa Runcandel?"
Rosa smiled coldly.
Rosa evaluated Jin's judgment precisely and accurately. If Jin had said something different, she would have directly made a similar proposal to Kelliark.
The moment you try to do something unnecessary, Jin's life is gone.
And it wasn't a bluff or a gamble, as Kelliark said, it was a real threat.
Rosa also read Kelliark's weakness when he said that Jin "must not be consumed" by Chaos, and was mindful of what he might come up with.
That's why she was not using her power in earnest yet.
"You know it well, Kelliark Zipfel. So, if you want to continue hoping for the completion of the Demon God's orb, it would be wise not to play petty tricks."
Jin's proposal to Kelliark was also one of the reasons why Rosa outright rejected Myu and Anne's proposal.
She still had the means to shake Kelliark's leash by using Jin as leverage.
"It's tiring to have weaknesses."
"We've lived like that for a thousand years, so there's no need to feel unjustly treated."
Kelliark shrugged his shoulders.
"I accept the offer. It is a temporary alliance."
"12th flagbearer, what kind of negotiations are you going to have with Kinzelo?"
In the front, Ron and Talaris, knights and mages were attacking Glyek.
Talaris was still unable to begin the casting of absolute seal in earnest.
Jin made eye contact with Rosa.
"It seems they knew the true identity of the White Stone from the beginning, and there's a high possibility that they had the means to stop Glyek. Whether it's the power of genesis knight, or something else. And what they want seems to be the result of everyone here attacking each other and Glyek, and taking irreversible blows."
Jin pointed behind him. Towards the Knights of Runcandel who escaped after rescuing the Vamel Alliance.
"We will ask them to come forward and deal with Glyek. If those bastards don't join this fight, we'll get out of here immediately and go to their headquarters."
If Kinzelo doesn't comply with the terms of dealing with Glyek, then we will attack Kinzelo even if we have to give up the world's last line of defense.
That's what Jin said.
'Is it to choose whether to come and stop Glyek together or die together? It's a strong hand.'
Kinzelo wants to reduce forces, not the destruction of the world.
Whether they have the power of genesis knight as a means to stop the King of the Black Sea, or some other means.
It might not be possible to win this war with all those who were fighting Glyek right now.
So far, Jin had confirmed that Kinzelo's strongest forces were the leader and Zephyrin.
However, the leader was not in perfect condition, and Zephyrin, who was actively using his power, was also in a state where she was not able to show her full strength.
Of course, even if they were excluded, there were demons who had newly appeared in the Sota Desert, along with the battleship Grenil and Berakt, beastmen warriors, and living golems called Plutonian-type golem.
Among them, there were those who showed the level of a first-class superhuman, such as Bianca Kaligo.
There must be other forces that have yet to be revealed, but it was unlikely that they could immediately withstand the combined attack of Runcandel and Zipfel.
If so, world supremacy would have already passed into Kinzelo's hands a long time ago.
Rosa was very satisfied with Jin's plan.
The fact that he proposed an offer that Kelliark could not refuse, even with his life as a hostage, and urging Kinzelo to act immediately, even if the clan and the world were to perish, matched perfectly with Rosa's thoughts.
"It's been decided then."
Rosa's sword was stained with brilliance. Her aura, which started to explode like an active volcano, was forming another vortex on the battlefield.
Wooo...…! Kelliark's hroti also began to radiate its energy, creating a melancholy resonant sound.
Rosa paved her way alone while defending the knights of the clan, but Kelliark showed no signs of getting tired after a long battle.
If Glyek wasn't the king of the Black Sea, but merely a monster with the same level of battle prowess as him. Killing him didn't require a genesis knight.
They wouldn't have needed to negotiate with Kinzelo, putting the world at stake.
Now they had only one thing to do. To help Talaris open the absolute seal of the Hidden Palace, and determine the number of people for negotiations with Kinzelo.
However, even after the casting of seal was over, Rosa, Kelliark, Ron, and Talaris cannot leave the battlefield.
It was because Talaris had to keep the seal, and the rest had to keep their seats in case of an emergency.
Even if the seal was completed, there was no guarantee that Glyek would stop moving completely, and the time frame of three days mentioned by Talaris was not certain.
Jin couldn't go.
He has always brought favorable results against Kinzelo, but sending Jin to Kinzelo's headquarters now was nothing more than exposing vulnerabilities.
The only reason Runcandel and Zipfel can temporarily unite was Jin's life.
If Kinzelo were to capture Jin, Zipfel would negotiate with them, not with Runcandel. If that happened, Runcandel would definitely be doomed.
"Sir Stam!"
Stam stepped out of the front line and stood in front of Rosa.
"At your command."
Rosa briefly explained to him the results she had drawn with Jin and Kelliark.
"Inform the master of the palace, and proceed with the negotiations with Kinzelo yourself."
"Alright, acting matriarch."
"Octavia!"
This time, Octavia approached Kelliark.
"Negotiate with Kinzelo along with the Leader of Black Knight of Runcandel."
"I understand, patriarch."
Thus, Stam and Octavia decided to go to Kinzelo's headquarters.
Stam then conveyed the plan to Talaris.
Talaris showed signs of discomfort because the plan to negotiate with Kinzelo could deviate from the secret mission of 'defending the world from anomalies'.
If Kinzelo refuses negotiations, and if Runcandel and Zipfel's forces really go to their headquarters and don't deal with Glyek, then the destruction of the world is a foregone conclusion.
In that case, Talaris would have to fight Glyek alone or with Ron.
However, Talaris had no choice but to agree to the plans of the major factions. Chiron couldn't come, so there was no other way.
'… I can't help but think about completely unsealing Elona Zipfel.'
If Kinzelo refuses to negotiate, things will turn irrevocably.
Talaris would have no choice but to release Elona's seal. Her power in the records was clearly comparable to the genesis knight, so she should be able to stand up to Glyek.
However, what would happen when she reappeared in the world was an unknown variable.
-Hidden palace has been hiding this woman from Zipfel for a thousand years.
-You're saying that if they find out, this woman could become active again.
-I don't want to imagine that future. If such a monster is added to Zipfel, which is already dominating, the balance will no longer exist.
A conversation Talaris had with Jin in the past when she first revealed the mission of the Hidden Palace.
As those words suggested, even if Elona stops Glyek, she will stand on Zipfel's side...… Talaris didn't know if that would be a better outcome than Glyek consuming the world.
'Anyway, the moment Kinzelo rejects the offer, there's no solution. I mean, I can't do anything as the master of the hidden palace.'
Whii-!
A cold wind began to spread across the battlefield.
"I will begin the absolute seal!"
Talaris shouted, slipping to the rear and taking up position. She raised Myriad ice in front of her.
At the same time, Rosa and Kelliark threw themselves at Glyek, and Stam and Octavia also stood on either side of Talaris and opened their protective shields.
Jin stood in the middle and looked at the backs of the fighting giants.
Despite Ron's gray sword energy, Kelliark's magic, and Rosa's decisive killing moves that raged like a storm, Glyek showed a slight hesitation but he was smiling.
As if he knew all about their plans.
565
While swords, magic, and chaos intertwined and clashed in all directions, only the small space where Talaris had begun to cast the sealing was emitting a pure white glow.
It looked like a pearl that never lost its light even in the deep sea.
And as soon as Talaris began to cast her absolute seal, Glyek focused all of his attacks on her alone.
Glyek didn't even defend himself in the slightest even though his entire body was being hacked to pieces by the giants.
The black flesh of chaos that was cut and burst continued to return to the Black Sea land, but that was not the concept of high-speed regeneration that humans were familiar with.
For the king of chaos, 'form' was just a means for minimal convenience.
The real Glyek was not the body that becomes larger and more elaborate as the Black Sea progresses, but the chaos energy scattered and mingled throughout the surroundings.
In other words, the attacks of the giants were not actually hurting Glyek, but they were merely distorting his form.
Even if there was a sword that can cut the sea with one stroke, even if there was magic that can erase the sky with one blow.
The sea and the sky cannot perish itself. Even if the waves would cease and the clouds would disappear, the sea and sky would always remain there.
Glyek was the same. Even though he received so many attacks and chaos was dissipating, not a single point was extinguished.
"What in the world is that?"
Murakan transformed into a human and stood next to Jin. Misha and Murakan, among the Vamel Alliance, chose to stay and fight alongside Jin instead of escaping.
"Hey, devil. Is there really no answer to that?"
Misha shook her head. She was exhausted to the limit, and was enduring by absorbing Murakan's shadow force.
"I think it will be manageable if I regain all my old strength, so can't you do something like surgery right away? Even if it's a bit risky."
"If that was possible, I would have done it right away. Say something that makes sense, please. I mean, show some composure and do what's called thinking. Right now, there is only one way as Jin said. Kinzelo must have the means. They have to agree to the negotiations."
"Oh, then why did you stay? You are using all my strength. You should have retreated with others earlier! If things go wrong, Jin and I have to take care of you too!"
"The situation has been messed up since that thing woke up. For now, I need to focus, so just shut up."
The reason Misha had exhausted most of her strength and remained on the battlefield was no different.
It was because there was still one thing she could do.
The casting of the absolute seal of the Hidden Palace.
Misha was going to help with that. She also thinks that the absolute seal of the hidden palace is the only means by which they could be prepared to respond to Glyek the moment he awoke.
"Master of the hidden palace, I will help you to seal it. The wall of chaos is getting thicker, so it will be difficult for the snow toad to open the way and help with the seal of the Hidden Palace."
Mort is a high-ranking being who can be said to be on par with Tess, but because of that, he cannot use all of his original abilities in the human world like Tess.
In addition, Mort was still exhausted from long-distance dimension movement after the sword emperor castle war began.
This means that in such thick chaos, Mort's ability to move in dimensions may not be used. Misha planned to offset that part with her shadow force.
"I didn't think of that part because I was in a hurry. Then I will trust you, Miss Misha."
Talaris didn't ask Misha if she'd ever casted a hidden palace secret sealing.
In the first place, you wouldn't be able to participate in casting the seal of the Hidden Palace if you could not read the flow.
Like food falling on the white snow, the shadow force began to mix with the energy of myriad ice.
The energy of myriad ice and shadow force showed a better combination than Talaris expected.
'It looks like she had casted a seal with the predecessors of the hidden palace in the past. That way, the burden will be much less.'
Amidst the battlefield resounding with clamor, the space where the sealing spell was taking place was filled with a faint but strangely pleasant sound of wind.
But that didn't mean it was safe.
"Kuh…!"
Talaris, who was in the midst of casting the seal, suddenly spat out blood.
It wasn't Glyek sword and spear, or the chaos energy that struck her. All those attacks were filtered out by giants, knights, mages, Jin and Murakan.
"Madame Talaris!"
The Black Sea land was like Glyek's body. Glyek was not only striking, but he was also performing attacks using the black ground where Talaris stood.
It was only blocked by the frost of the myriad ice that covered the black ground.
The myriad ice, which was like a shield, was breaking through little by little.
Others could not block the chains and awls of chaos that came up out of nowhere from the ground, and Talaris, who started casting the seal, had to maintain perfect immobility.
The black awls of chaos protruding through the sole of her foor.
Even though Talaris was being pierced by Glyek's attacks in this way, she couldn't respond. That means she has to be exposed to chaos for a long time.
If the frost of the myriad ice hadn't immediately frozen the awl and the affected part, even Talaris wouldn't have lasted more than 10 minutes in that state.
Jin was going crazy as he watched her. But showing signs of distress can only hinder Talaris.
Jin gritted his teeth and devoted himself to parrying the attacks pouring in from the front.
Two hours passed like that.
Myriad ice was forming a huge light that was incomparably stronger than the one that spread over a small area at the beginning.
It was completed.
Talaris's whole body was impaled by the awls of chaos and she was bound in chains, and covered in blood.
'I might not have succeeded without Ms. Misha.'
Talaris, who had kept her immobility all along, reached out for the floating Myriad ice for the first time.
Then the myriad ice light shifted to her all at once.
Myriad Sword Magic Seal Casting
Great Ice field
Then the moment Talaris opened her eyes. All movement on the battlefield stopped for an instant.
The hundreds of weapons that Glyek swinging, the giants who fought against him, the knights and mages. All of them stopped moving for an instant due to the energy of the absolute seal of the Hidden Palace.
Befitting the name of the great field covered with ice, there was no area that was not frozen no matter where you looked around.
The chaos energy that had violently swung over humans just now froze and shattered, turning into thick sleet and scattering across the ice fields.
Talaris stood like a tree in the middle and spread white energy. It was almost blinding when you looked straight ahead.
Glyek was frozen and cracked by the energy of the seal. Like a sandcastle collapsing, the chaos energy that formed his appearance was flowing down.
To those who didn't understand the nature of the being called the King of the Black Sea, it might seem like he was completely finished.
Even this did not essentially annihilate Glyek's chaos.
When the sealing time is up, the scattered chaos particles will again form Glyek's appearance.
Also, Talaris was not satisfied with the results of the sealing at all.
'Damn it, I even exerted the power used to seal Elona Zipfel once again. Ha, Is this really the limit…..!'
The Great Ice field was clearly casted properly. However, it could not completely seal Glyek.
Talaris's gaze fixed on the one thing that remained behind, beyond the ice fields like a black star.
It was a white stone.
Amidst all the chaos frozen and crushed, the cursed stone that awakened Glyek gleams black.
And everyone was feeling it.
The fact that the white stone was spreading chaos and causing cracks in the Great Icefield.
The three days that Talaris predicted at first became meaningless.
At most, it would be a long two days, or a short one day.
Talaris concluded that she was only able to keep the seal that long.
Fortunately, thanks to Mort's ability, they are able to go to the headquarters of Kinzelo.
"We only have two days or a day, that's all. Miss Misha, please open the way."
Booong-!
Mort emerged from the Great Ice Field. As Misha conjured the frozen path in the air, the shadow force formed a circular passage like a dimensional portal.
Mort immediately recognized that the passage played a supporting role to open the portal to the snow garden.
Stam and Octavia climbed onto Mort's back. Kelliark used the seal of fire to form a letter announcing the temporary alliance between Runcandel and Zipfel and gave it to Octavia.
"Master of hidden palace, how long will it take for the Snow Toad to reach the land of the beastmen?" Rosa asked.
"With Mort's current state, I think it will require three to five hours."
"If Sir Stam doesn't come back within 12 hours, we can consider that the negotiation failed. Good luck, Sir Stam."
"Please be careful, acting matriarch."
The shadow force passage closed as Mort entered.
And Ron was still swinging Rashid at the white stone even after it was sealed.
Clang-!
However, Ron's sword was blocked by the barrier of stone, and he swung his sword over the barrier without stopping even after being bounced back.
Nobody dared to stop Ron. Since his resurrection, he seemed like a demon determined to fight until his body ceased to move.
The sound of blade clashing against the barrier sounded like Ron's longing roar.
* * *
As Talaris had said, Mort was able to reach the Land of the Beastmen after five hours.
Unlike those who suffered in hell itself, Kinzelo and the land of the beastmen were not much different from usual.
Kinzelo had already deployed members throughout the land of beastmen to ensure a smooth and direct route to the headquarters.
As soon as Stam and Octavia arrived, they followed the White Wolf warriors and headed to Kinzelo's headquarters. There was a maze that seemed to have been built by the Felinoids tribe, so it was not possible to memorize the way to the headquarters.
"... So, are you saying that Runcandel and Zipfel have temporarily sealed the King of the Black Sea, and they will abandon him and send their entire army here?"
It was Zephyrin who came out as Kinzelo's representative and listened to Stam and Octavia's proposal, and confirmed the seal of fire.
"Yes."
Zephyrin looked at the two without smiling for a while and raised the corners of her mouths.
"Well, it might sound a bit rude, but you really don't know much, do you?"
"What do you mean?"
"Do you really think that you can escape from the fifth King of Chaos and come to attack us?"
After saying that, Zephyrin erased her smile.