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The roaring Plutonian was the 10th battle king, Kaio.
'Brother Kaio?'
Everyone turned to look at Kaio. Seeing how enraged he was, Kaio's clenched fists trembled.
"B-Brother 10th battle king what's the matter?"
"Did you bet on the brother Garmund!?"
Kaio did not respond to the words of several ordinary warriors who could not read the atmosphere properly. Tantel, who had a good sense of humor, covered their mouths and coughed.
Instantly, a heavy silence filled the air.
Jin had never seen any of his brethren express such anger since he came to Laprarosa.
"... You seem to be dissatisfied with me, brother 10th battle king."
Garmund narrowed his eyes and looked at Kaio. His pupils held a much deeper and darker fighting spirit than what he showed while facing Jin just moments ago.
"Yes, now you show a gaze ready for a proper fight."
"Don't beat around the bush and say it straight."
"You should have shown that look in your eyes when you were fighting Brother Jin, not me."
"What?"
"If you're going to treat Brother Jin like a child, why not change his diapers too?"
"Your words are harsh... Brother 10th battle King. You are crossing the line."
"The ones who crossed the line first were you, brother 8th battle king. Do you think the other brethren won't notice that you deliberately lost to brother Jin just now?"
"I just lost! The accumulated fatigue from the battle in the morning was bigger than I thought, and again! It just means Brother Jin was stronger than expected."
"That kind of thing is usually called unwritten intention. Brother 8th battle king, you secretly hoped that brother Jin would win. So, even during the match, you deliberately didn't use your moves properly."
"I said it, it's not like that but you keep saying nonsense...!"
"If it's really not true then."
Kaio strode toward Garmund.
"Put the honor of the sister Battle God and all the brethren at stake. Did you fight with all his heart, brother 8th battle king? If you say yes, then I will cut off my right arm."
Looking at the determined face of Kaio right in front of him, Garmund unknowingly stepped back.
It wasn't because he was overwhelmed by Kaio's spirit, or because he was afraid of confrontation.
It was because something stabbed him. In fact, every word of Kaio hit the nail on the head of Garmund.
"Why can't you answer, Brother 8th battle king?"
"Hmm, hmmm! That's it. I'm not really, as you would cut off your right arm, brother 10th battle king."
"It's embarrassing that you, 12th battle king and I are the same battle Kings."
"Uh... It's true that I fought properly and lost. Do I have to endure this criticism like that? Brother 10th battle King?"
When Teto spoke in a voice that seemed unjust, Lumora wrapped her arm around his neck roughly.
'Be quiet, brother 12th battle king. It's an important matter.'
'No, the way brother 10th battle King is talking doesn't look pretty at all. Don't stop me! Why is he yelling at me when I didn't do anything wrong? Am I really that weak that I look like a pushover?'
'Do you want to fight brother Kaio? Will you fight him, brother 12th battle King, uh, will you!? Listen to this sister. And anyway, since you were also defeated by brother Jin, it is true that it hurt the pride of the Battle Kings.'
Teto seemed to be struggling against Lumora's strength.
Kaio doesn't even seem to care about Teto.
"Are you going to endure such a humiliating situation and still refuse to answer? Brother 8th battle king."
"Brother 10th battle king, it seems you are mistaking yourself as sister battle god. Why should I follow your words, brother 10th battle king...…."
In the next moment, all the members of the Plutonian tribe had no choice but to be frightened.
Bang-!
Suddenly, Kaio struck Garmund's jaw with his fist. It was such a powerful blow that a shock wave spread throughout the main hall.
[Oh, oh. That must really hurt. Looks like his jaw might be broken.]
Garmund, swaying as if about to collapse, blinked his eyes.
"Kaio, you son of a bitch!"
Then, as Garmund tried to counterattack.
"Enough."
Vahn spoke for the first time.
And Vahn looked down at everyone for a while from the top of Lingling and said nothing more.
"The Seventh match is over. The winner is brother Jin. The next match will be held after an hour break."
After announcing the results of the fight in a composed voice, she disappeared.
There is no hierarchy among all Plutonians except battle god. To put it bluntly, Jin, the successor of battle god and inheritor of Sigmund, had a nominal position second only to Vahn, but actual recognition was another matter.
That's why an event like this happened.
Jin had undoubtedly risen to the ranks of the strong even among the Plutonian tribe, and became the inheritor of the shadow sword and the successor of the battle god. But his strength was not yet recognized by everyone.
Being recognized as a brethren and being recognized as a battle king or a successor were clearly different things.
'Sister battle god left without mediating the fight....'
'Does this mean that battle kings should not stop fighting? It's the first time something like this has happened since the battle with the gods.'
'It almost never happened before the war. . It's perplexing.'
'By the way, is it true that brother 12th battle king and 8th battle king intentionally lost?'
'Is that why they are fighting? How does it matter if brother Jin is doing well? Honestly, it seems like the 10th battle king is harboring some resentment. Brother Jin is our only hope anyway.'
'Exactly. Without brother Jin, we can't go outside. Besides, brother Jin has never believed in the sister battle god's favor and went wild like a lightning bolt, right? He has always proven himself. That's why he became our brethren!'
'That's true, but considering the meaning of the Great War...… I can understand the feelings of brother 10th battle king. Honestly, it hasn't been long since Brother Jin became our brethren.'
'And brother Jin got everything that battle kings wanted so much in a short period of time. Although he was chosen by the sister battle god. In any other era, all of this would have been nearly impossible.'
'Above all, the brother 10th battle king... worked harder than anyone else to become the successor of the sister battle god before our destruction. No one can deny that.'
The ordinary warriors whispered and exchanged opinions.
They had no idea why Vahn had just walked away. So they didn't rashly intervene in the fight.
It was equally confusing for Jin.
The brethren that he knows never bare their fangs at each other.
In addition, from the moment he was recognized as a brethren, Jin had never experienced discrimination or prejudice, always receiving wholehearted support.
This was the nature and characteristic of the race called the Plutonian tribe.
Jin sometimes felt that there was no group with a more ideal society than the Plutonians.
One absolute leader, equality, trust, and people who never betrayed each other.
However, as Tantel said earlier. The Plutonians were also living beings.
-We didn't always care for each other as sincerely as we do now, Brother Jin. Even in the history of the Plutonian, there were many betrayals, murders, conspiracies, and schemes. It's just less than other races.
-The era of the current battle god, sister Vahn, was truly the age of peace and prosperity for the Plutonian tribe. That's why there was never a murder in the Great Tournament of Battle Kings, which was held before the destruction, but it wasn't like that before. There were factional fights, and some intentionally killed others to achieve political purposes.
Jin suddenly remembered what Boras had said.
'The peaceful era of sister battle god... In the end, it challenged the gods and faced destruction.'
Perhaps the ideal appearance of the brothers that Jin had witnessed so far might have been possible because Laprarosa was a "dead world."
Time for the Plutonian tribe has stopped. When Temar found Laprarosa, as the first inheritor, even when Jin came a thousand years later, Laprarosa was a society without a future.
The only thing the Plutonian tribesmen, who had only been visited by two people in a long time, could do was to give everything they had to the inheritor.
So, they no longer needed to compete with each other. There was no need to strive for the succession of the battle god, and there was no reason to devote themselves.
But now Jin had declared that he will bring them back to the human world, their time had regained meaning.
They had a reason to live, desires were revived, and the spark of dreams was ignited.
In other words, it was not just a ghost who wanted to become a successor, but it is now possible to face tomorrow as a living being.
That's why some brethren were convinced that this fight between the Battle Kings had to be brutally fair.
Regardless of the outcome, Jin would inevitably be the inheritor of the shadow sword, but they believed that the successor of the Battle God could change.
'In order to remove the rust and moss attached to the stagnant history of the Plutonian tribe, inevitably, there must be struggles and fights.'
The Great Tournament of the Battle Kings was the final test and the stage of purification given to Jin by Vahn and to all the other members of the Plutonian tribe.
If you want to make history flow again, you have to lay everything bare.
To achieve that, Jin concluded what he needed to do.
"Brother 10th battle King."
Jin looked at Kaio with his back to Garmund.
"If you don't like the actions of brother 8th battle king, then when it's your turn, you can trample on me with all your might."
"I intend to do that, Brother Jin."
"And no matter how sincere brother 8th battle king was, the fact remains that the result will be my victory. This is not a sparring match; it's a fight. Now, it doesn't matter whether brother 8th battle king did his best or not."
"True, that's a valid point."
"So it's better to stop this disgraceful scene now. Just like brother 8th battle king said, you are acting as if you are sister battle god, brother 10th battle king. There is no hierarchy between brethren. You can neither command nor force us. It means that only sister battle god is allowed to do so."
The Plutonian tribe was divided into those who nodded in agreement with Jin's opinion and those who remained silent.
Jin decided to become the antagonist who would incite their struggles.
In the end, he would have to win and be acknowledged as the antagonist.
"In my opinion, it seems you are convinced that you are stronger than brother 8th battle king. Otherwise, you cannot humiliate him like this in front of all brethren."
Kaio's demeanor became even fiercer.
"... Really? What an interesting story. Does that mean you are pushing me now in the same context? Is it because you are confident that you are stronger than me, brother Jin?"
At that, Jin smiled.
"Exactly. Brother 10th battle king, you won't be able to defeat me."
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Kaio remained silent, staring at Jin with cold eyes for a while.
"When it is our turn to fight, as brethren. I will give you a lesson and engrave it in your bones."
"You're saying that we're brethren with that bloodlust in your eyes. Looking back, it seemed that you did not like me from the beginning, brother 10th battle king."
"Brother Jin!"
"What nonsense is this? You are going too far! How can you talk like that with brother 10th battle king...…!"
A few members of the Plutonian tribe, who were watching, were frightened and shouted. Even Garmund opened his eyes wide in surprise.
"Do you think I am wrong, brethren? When sister battle god handed me Sigmund, I don't remember being congratulated from brother 10th battle king. Besides, now he dares to mock my victory in front of everyone."
There were a few more who didn't congratulate Jin at that time, but he deliberately pointed out Kaio.
"That's because brother 10th battle king was angry at brother 8th battle king...…."
"If brother 10th battle king was really angry with only brother 8th king, he should not have talked about changing my diapers. The words clearly reveal how brother 10th Battle King truly thought of me. Besides, brother 12th battle king fought with all his might. But why is brother 10th battle king talking as if I can't beat him?"
The Plutonians could not immediately refute Jin's words. Jin skillfully continued to speak, preventing his brethren from intervening.
"Furthermore, why do I think that the reason brother 10th Battle King caused a disturbance just now had nothing to do with my honor."
"Why do you think that way?"
"Brother 10th battle king assumed that brother 8th battle king had lost to me deliberately, so he expressed his anger. But what did he say right after that?"
Jin looked around once.
"Are you really the battle king of the Great Plutonian tribe? This was it. If I had been the brother 10th battle king, I would have said something different. 'Fighting like that is an insult to Brother Jin.' Shouldn't it be the priority to take care of the brethren who have never participated in the Great Tournament, rather than the honor of the battle kings?"
Silence hung in the air.
While Jin intentionally made his words more provocative, he wasn't wrong.
To drive the wedge deeper, Jin locked eyes with Kaio once again.
"Brother 10th battle king. I want to say this one last time. Brethren don't tarnish the honor of the great Plutonian tribe. Just now, you insulted the brother 8th battle king and me based on mere speculation, and you assaulted a brethren. It was far from the behavior of a brethren. It's disappointing."
"Brother Jin, stop now. Both the Brother 8th battle king and brother 10th battle king have made mistakes. But isn't it too much to assume that brother 10th battle king disliked you from the beginning?"
Jin nodded his head at Baltirok's words.
"I, too, have only speculated on the emotions of brother 10th battle king, like he did, brother 1st battle king. And I've never been wrong. See you in our battle, brother 10th battle king."
As Jin turned and left the main hall, Tantel hurriedly chased after him.
"Brother Jin! What are you trying to do? Have you already forgotten everything I told you?"
"I did that on purpose."
"What?"
"It was necessary to stimulate the fighting spirit of the brethren. Seeing how brother 8th battle king lost to me, it seemed like something like this was necessary sooner or later."
"Huh, tell me more."
"Okay, just you know Brother Tantel. Promise on the honor of sister battle god and all brethren."
***
After that day, the atmosphere of Laprarosa changed.
First of all, gambling with jewel wine has stopped.
Jewel wine gambling was for everyone's entertainment, in which virtually no one was victimized.
Whether someone won or lost, in the end, they all shared the Jewel wine used in gambling, laughing and chatting together.
Everyone was just trying to lighten the mood. Such entertainment was only possible when Jin came and made time flow in Laprarosa.
With the disappearance of jewel wine gambling, the laughter of the Plutonians preparing for the Great Tournament of Battle Kings also faded away.
Even though they fiercely fought each other until just before killing the opponent, the Great Tournament of Battle Kings fundamentally fundamentally pursued friendly competition.
Now, the atmosphere was different. Just like before the peaceful era of battle god Vahn, invisible factions had emerged.
The side that acknowledged Jin as the successor of the battle god, and the side that thought he was not enough.
The former took the stance that they must unconditionally support Jin as a brother, while the latter argued that the situation had changed, and strict scrutiny was needed.
"I don't know if we have to stay locked up, but if we can get out, the competition for the successor of the sister battle god should be clear."
"That's right, that's a good thing for Brother Jin too. If the successor of the battle god is not someone everyone can recognize, our Plutonian tribe will eventually become weak. So, we won't be able to go out and support brother Jin properly."
"Brethren, you're talking nonsense! Brother Jin is the one chosen directly by sister battle god. Are you doubting sister battle god's foresight?"
"No. At that time, we didn't have the hope of going out into the human world. As sister battle god, she had no choice but to choose brother Jin."
"Nonsense!"
"If that's not the case, why did sister battle god just leave when brother 10th battle king and 8th battle king fought? It must be because it is not right to forcibly push forward brother Jin like brother 8th battle king. It could have looked strange if sister battle god stepped forward."
"That is an insult to sister battle god. Also, since when did the Great Tournament of Battle kings become a competition to determine the successor of sister battle god?"
"It has always been implicitly like that. The final winner of the Great Tournament of Battle Kings usually became the next battle god."
"Damn it, brethren! In my eyes, it just looks like a meaningless fight. Is this all we can do to cherish each other? Are you going to test Brother Jin, who has already been designated as the successor? It's embarrassing to see brethren fighting and arguing for just that reason!"
"The arm eventually bends inward. Surely, there must be brethren who think of brother Jin as a stumbling block? Ungrateful, ignorant...!"
"Brother Shaku, don't say that. No one thinks that way!"
"That's something I don't know. To be honest, I think brother 10th battle king views brother Jin as such. Am I the only one who saw brother 10th battle king laugh as if it was ridiculous when brother Jin lost his two battles in a row this time?"
2 consecutive losses.
Jin was defeated by Palem in the 12th match and by Dalpir in the 17th match.
Unlike when Jin defeated Teto and Garmund, this time, he suffered a devastating defeat.
"In addition, brother 3rd battle king and 6th battle king were also quite biased when dealing with brother Jin. They didn't finish him in one go even when they had the upper hand. If they truly care for Brother Jin, could that have happened? Also, those two are very close to brother 10th battle king."
"We, Plutonians, are all close, and don't make baseless speculations!"
"Even if they intentionally made Brother Jin suffer, it was probably to give him enlightenment as a battle king. And, whatever the reason, Brother Jin was defeated. It means he's even farther from qualifying as the successor of sister battle god."
"Have you said enough, Brother Mouka? It happens that we are included in today's preliminary battles. Let's settle it there. The opinion of the winner will be considered correct?"
"Heh, is that how it's going to be? I have no intention of stepping back. Don't regret it!"
Day by day, the conflicts among the Plutonian tribe members were deepening. It was hard to believe that just a while ago they were living together so peacefully and idealistically.
Those who tried to remain as neutral as possible felt like they were standing on thin ice every day.
It hadn't collapsed yet, but at any moment, given the chance, everyone might explode, and it wouldn't be surprising.
"Oh my gosh... I thought there wouldn't be such childish conflicts in our era. Aren't we all ashamed in front of our deceased brethren? How can this happen?"
Beliz, who was watching them from afar, touched her forehead. She was the one who welcomed and cherished Jin the most from the beginning, but now she was worried about maintaining neutrality as the conflict escalated.
"Doesn't sister battle god say anything else, brother 5th battle king?"
Belize asked Boras, who was sitting next to her.
Boras shrugged his shoulders and shook his head.
"Is it too disgusting to look at, or does she have something in mind? Outside of the Great tournament, everyone seems to be playing around."
"This is crazy. If brother Jin meets brother Kaio like this, it seems like a tragedy is about to happen..."
The 22nd match, the battle between Jin and Kaio was right around the corner.
Jin was still recovering from the injuries he sustained in the previous defeat, while Kaio, having engaged in even more battles, was already in peak condition.
"... I don't think brother 10th battle king has any intention of going easy on him. He harbored resentment."
The conflict was the fuel, and the match between the two was the spark.
All the members of the Plutonian tribe predicted Kaio's overwhelming victory, and since then, the divisions between factions had deepened even further.
Someone needed to step back and stop this conflict, but Jin and Kaio seemed far from having any intention of apologizing to each other.
"Ha, there's no way brother 10th battle king would kill brother Jin, right?"
"Surely he wouldn't do such a crazy thing! He is just angry. What's wrong with you, sister 7th battle king? Can't you trust brother 10th battle king? There's no reason for brethren to kill each other."
"Damn it, I don't know. How brother 10th battle king behaved that day was just like watching his madness back in the day."
When Kaio went mad. Beliz and Boras clearly remembered how Kaio was during that time.
At that time, Kaio was always ready to cross the line.
Everyone worried and, at the same time, anticipated.
Without resolving anything, time reached the day of the battle between Jin and Kaio.
Above the main hall, all the members of the Plutonian tribe gathered, staring at Jin and Kaio in suspense.
Vahn, as always, had a calm face that could not show her emotions.
"We finally meet, brother 10th battle king."
In response to Jin's words, Kaio nodded his head. Kaio only replied in a cold, monotone voice.
"If you feel like you're going to die, scream for mercy. Otherwise, there might be an incident."
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"Why do you openly declare that you will kill? It looks like you could do that."
It wasn't a bluff; Kaio genuinely had that kind of gaze. To the point where he was trembling even if he was deliberately sarcastic to make Jin more angry.
Jin smiles on the outside, but his mouth is dry.
'I can't even play a villain. This one is scary.'
Jin came to Laprarosa to purify the chaos, regained all his strength, and gained further enlightenment through battle god fusion. Jin never thought he would be so deeply and heavily pressured by Kaio's 'fighting spirit'.
Jin knew from before that Kaio is one of the highest level battle kings of the Plutonian tribe.
Even when the opening ceremony was held with the battle god fusion, all the battle kings fought with the support of Kaio.
Kaio assisted everyone with a single bow, and his arrows were the most elusive and threatening attacks even in the Battle God Fusion state.
"The 22nd match, begin."
As Vahn's words ended, a storm of lightning energy gathered around Kaio's Great Bow, 'Godkiller.'
[T/L:- 신살(神煞):- God Killer(神-God, 煞- to kill).]
Energy also gathered in Sigmund, but Jin was slightly slower than Kaio.
The difference was enough that it could only be recognized by those at least at the level of Battle Kings. The moment the blade and arrow collided, the ordinary warriors perceived that the two had attacked at the same time.
It was heavy.
The feeling was completely different from Teto, Garmund, Palem, and Dalpir, whom Jin had competed with before.
Especially in the previous two matches, even though Jin lost, he thought that the result might have been different if he used the Plutonian Reign Sword to its limit.
This time, Jin was sure from the first blow. At this moment, there was no way to defeat Kaio in a 'normal match.'
'If I continue training, there might be a chance.'
At the current rate of growth, it won't take very long. The sense of battle god fusion is growing Jin rapidly day by day.
Bang-!
A blunt impact shook his body whenever he parried the arrows that flew in a series of shots.
As if there was no need to check your opponent's moves, Kaio pushed Jin to the limit from the very beginning.
Jin was barely keeping up with his flow. In the eyes of the ordinary warriors, it seemed like a close match, but the battle kings already judged that Kaio had gained the upper hand.
No wonder.
Even the ordinary warriors, who felt that the two were fighting on an equal footing, believed that the outcome of the 22nd match was decided.
'It's a matter of time. At this rate, brother Jin will tire out soon.'
'I hope brother 10th battle king doesn't hurt brother Jin too much....'
Those who argued that Jin, as the successor, had to undergo another test with other Battle Kings, and those who saw him as confirmed successor, all shared the same worry.
When Kaio said "an accident might happen", it wasn't only heard by Jin.
"Didn't you say you could definitely defeat me? It's disappointing."
"Why don't you shoot one more arrow while you have time to talk? I am still holding on...… Kut!"
The arrow broke and a lightning bolt pierced Jin's left arm. The shrapnel deeply embedded, almost touching the bone, was not a coincidence but Kaio's intention.
It wasn't that Jin broke the arrow, but it was 'Scattered Arrows'(散矢). [Kaio's battle king Mystic Technique]
Unlike the mana cannon's explosive-type bullets, all of the dozens of shards of Kaio's scattered arrows moved according to his will.
At the opening ceremony, Jin did not experience Kaio's scattered arrows.
At the time, in order to pierce Jin's lightning energy, which was enhanced by battle god fusion, it was necessary to concentrate the destructive power to one point to the limit, so he didn't use this ability.
Moreover, during the three victories, he didn't reveal it to the other brethren, making it an entirely unexpected attack for Jin.
A shrapnel that had dug into his left arm was dislodged, severe bleeding followed. Then, in the second round, Jin had no choice but to take another blow to the injured area.
'This is no joke.'
To change the situation, a significant technique was required.
However, Kaio did not allow Jin even the slightest amount of time. He had fought against countless opponents, but it felt like Kaio was the first one who didn't even give him a chance to catch his breath.
He can't close the distance.
Kaio leaped like the wind, shooting arrows from all directions. It seemed like not one person but around ten archers were indiscriminately firing.
'Compared to this, Yulian's thunderbolt Harmilla is cute.'
Rather, it felt like an archer with the divine power of the storm god.
[T/L:- 폭풍신 :- Storm god. (폭풍- storm, 신- god)]
Even if Jin barely succeeded in defending, each time a vulnerability appeared, scattered arrows exploded, preventing him from moving away from his current position.
Jin changed his sword.
"Shadow Sword Ultimate technique? Ah, now that I think about it, it seems like you believe in that, brother Jin. Yeah, that sword is a bit dangerous."
Having said that, Kaio immediately increased his firepower even further.
Jin's shadow sword ultimate technique, that even blocked Lingling's senses, was not released.
It was because the curtain of shadow force that was trying to color the main hall was being torn apart by Kaio's lightning bolts.
It wasn't entirely ineffective. The accuracy of the bow decreased due to the obstruction of vision, and a considerable amount of lightning energy wasted in pushing out the shadow force.
"Brother Jin, you know very well that there is no point in buying time like this."
Every time Jin thought that Kaio would stop at this point, the firepower of the god killer increased.
In the end, Jin couldn't fully use the ultimate technique of the shadow sword, and had to replace the shadow sword technique with magic sword technique.
Even that wasn't perfect. In a state where his entire body was shaking from the impact like a ship trapped in a storm, he couldn't properly execute any technique. He couldn't even borrow Tess's most crucial power.
Even so, the flames showed tremendous power. He set the arrow on fire, pushed the lightning energy out and spread it, and even attacked Kaio.
The opponent that crossed Jin's mind at that moment was Hedo, the Tower Keeper of the White Night. The unsteadily unfolding fire had as much destructive power as the moment he hit the Hedo in the Sota Desert.
And, just like Hedo did at that time, Kaio showed his strength to shake off the blue flames without difficulty.
If Tess's power was added and fully used, even Kaio wouldn't have been able to take it so easily.
However, in combat, the assumptions were meaningless.
Because of this, Kaio did not feel much threat from Jin's flames.
Suaak-!
Dark sword energy was erupting between the blue flames. Kaio gracefully evaded the sword energy and began to close the distance with Jin.
It was not because he underestimated Jin to the point of giving up the advantage of dominating the distance. Rather, it was a deliberate choice to finish Jin more decisively.
The closer he gets, the more the destructive power of god killer is multiplied. The lightning energy that engulfed the entire main hall was converging towards Kaio as he got closer.
It was like tightening your grip. Even though the area encroached by Kaio's lightning energy shrunk, Jin couldn't spread his energy there. A stronger force continues to suppress Jin.
The shadow force curtain, that had been spread out in front of him, had been pierced.
With the final defense line crumbling, Jin had to endure the lightning energy of god killer, which had begun to seep into it.
Maintaining an absurdly advantageous state while eroding the opponent's territory with lightning energy is one of the characteristics of the Plutonian Reign Sword. Kaio's technique resembled that.
Swoosh-! Tak!
While frantically blocking the arrows, scattered arrows exploded again. With the third burst, Jin felt his vision darken for an instant.
Eyes.
The two shards had precisely pierced both of Jin's eyes.
Thanks to Multa's runes and protective shield, he wasn't really stabbed, but his head rang to the point where he felt dizzy.
"You won't be able to stop the next one, will it be okay? Brother Jin? It seems better to shout for mercy."
Ten steps, the distance between Jin and Kaio narrowed to that point.
Just like Kaio said, Multa's rune was completely torn on the eyes.
A chill ran down to Jin's spine and a cold sweat broke out. The instant his eyes were damaged, it could never be restored, even with Boras's healing power.
It was impossible to know for outsiders exactly how the battle between the two was going because of the lightning energy and shadow curtain.
Even if Jin were to lose both eyes, it would only be an "accident."
Jin's heart pounded wildly.
'If I retreat, I can never achieve my goal.'
Great Tournament of Battle kings, a fight to determine the successor of the battle god.
In that fight, all members of the Plutonian tribe risk their lives. Losing eyes was nothing compared to that.
It was even more so when he thought of it as a price to unite his brethren by becoming a villain.
"You are weak. If it were me, I would take your eyes right away without warning you, Kaio."
"I think so too."
Kaio let go of the bowstring he had drawn.
Then, along with the lightning energy hanging from the bow, all the arrows that were set up like pillars everywhere rained down on Jin.
Even if they were covered by lightning energy and shadow force, it was a movement large enough for all the brethren outside to notice.
The Plutonians gasped.
"In the end, brother 10th battle king...!"
"For heaven's sake, he didn't need to go that far! You could have made him incapable of combat!"
"This is not right. Sister battle god, we need to intervene!"
"It's already too late...… As brother 10th battle king said, Brother Jin should have declared surrender before it came to this. We could have stepped forward and prevented it."
Aaaah-!
Jin let out a scream in a cracked voice.
The accident finally happened.
After about ten seconds, the immense forces that had shaken the entire temple were now settling down as if all of it was a lie.
After everything was cleared, what Plutonians saw was Jin with arrows stuck all over his body and blood pouring out of his entire face, and Kaio looking down at him while breathing heavily.
The Plutonians couldn't blame Kaio. The Great Tournament of Battle kings was originally such a fight, and he just did his best.
The constant use of battle king mystic techniques was a huge burden for Kaio as well. He barely supported his trembling legs and aimed his god killer at the fallen Jin.
"Whoa, whoa...."
If Vahn doesn't announce the victory and he let go of the arrow, Jin will surely die.
Vahn watched it for a while.
"The 22nd match...."
But just as Vahn was about to announce the end of the match.
Suddenly, Jin, who fell down, stood up and stabbed Bradamante into Kaio's chest. With his sword in his mouth.
"What the hell is this!"
"Brother Jin!?"
Jin moved incredibly fast like the arrow, but it was not at a speed that Kaio couldn't react to.
But Kaio wasn't able to stop Bradamante that pierced his chest. To avoid being stabbed, he had no choice but to release the bowstring that had been aimed at Jin's head.
"You, you bastard...!"
Even as Kaio was stabbed in the chest, he did not release the bowstring.
On the other hand, Jin turned his head and even rotated the sword in his chest as if he was really going to kill Kaio.
"I told you, Kaio... You can never defeat me. Never."
Then, as Bradamante's energy exploded in his chest, the arrow grazed Jin's cheek and split the sky.
Kaio vomited blood and collapsed, and Jin trembled for a few seconds, staring down at him before losing consciousness.
619
[T.L: punisher87]
The two men, who had a shocking 22nd match, were unconscious for over a week.
During that time, battle god Vahn stopped the progress of matches. Originally, even if an 'accident' occurred, the Great Tournament of Battle kings always continued immediately, but this time was different.
This was because Jin was the only hope for the Plutonian tribe to get out of the dead world. His death means stopping the history of the Plutonian tribe again.
"Brother 5th battle king!"
"What happened, are our brethren alright!?"
"Brethren? Hey, brother 8th battle king! Didn't you see what Jin did to the brother 10th battle king after the match…!"
"Brother 10th battle king was the first one who treated brother Jin like an enemy. It's not that brother Jin also did a good job, but brother 10th battle king should not have to go that far in the first place."
"So stabbing the unwary brother in the chest and even exploding sword energy in it? This is not an accident, it is an intentional attempt of murder."
"Brethren, calm down! Listen to what Brother 5th battle king has to say!"
Boras had a haggard face from the intensive surgery that lasted over a week.
"... both of them are fine. They won't suffer any disabilities, and their lives are not in danger. But they need extreme rest, so don't meet them until I say it's okay."
The Plutonians nodded.
Boras, anticipating any unforeseen circumstances, had separated the two individuals' hospital rooms. The Plutonians took their places in front of the rooms of the individuals they supported.
Even before the 22nd match, the Plutonians were divided and engaged in daily skirmishes.
However, there were now overwhelmingly supporters of Kaio compared to before when the faction had been split in half.
It had to be. It's true that Kaio acted as if he couldn't acknowledge Jin at first, but he didn't cross the line.
Jin, on the other hand, clearly crossed those lines. Moreover, strictly speaking, Kaio followed the traditions and principles of the Great Tournament of the Battle Kings.
Until Jin's provocation, Kaio had not directly attacked Jin.
The battle kings in front of Jin's hospital room were Linpa, Beliz, and Garmund.
Since there were less than 10 ordinary warriors, including Shaku, it clearly showed how the majority of the Plutonians felt.
However, even among those gathered on Jin's side, there wasn't an unconditional stance of supporting him.
They also believed that Jin had committed a grave sin.
Still, it was only to point out that Jin isn't expelled from the position called 'brethren'. The rest of the brethren were mostly in the favor that Jin should be expelled, and not just expelled, but that strong punishment should accompany it.
"Darn it, how did it come to this...?"
Garmund said, touching his forehead.
He felt the greatest responsibility for this incident.
He believed that if he had fought properly, the situation would not have escalated to this extent.
"Stop blaming yourself... Brother Garmund. It's not…. your fault."
"Yes, let's think about how to solve this problem. Ha, is this the extent of our brethren's unity? This way, we're no different from the stupid other races we used to hate in the past."
Those who wanted to expel Jin, and those who didn't.
Actually, they didn't have a choice. The absolute decision-making power of the Plutonian tribe rests only with the battle god, Vahn.
Vahn only stopped the Great Tournament of Battle kings, but she still did not express her intention otherwise.
Not only that, but she completely isolated herself with Lingling from everyone.
"Sister battle god should say something at a time like this."
"This is the first time sister battle god has stayed quiet at a time like this. What on earth is she thinking?"
While the concerns and anger of the Plutonians grew, Jin and Kaio woke up only two more days later.
Upon awakening, Jin immediately expressed his thoughts to the brethren who ran to him after receiving permission from Boras.
"Unless sister battle god personally disciplines me, I will continue to participate in the Great Tournament of Battle kings as scheduled. If necessary, I will continue to adhere to the same methods as defeating Brother Kaio."
It was unexpected for the brethren who had been waiting.
They naturally expected Jin to reflect on his excessive actions and apologize to enraged Plutonians.
"Brother Jin, are you crazy!? Are you going to do that again?"
Jin quietly nodded in response to Beliz's furious voice.
"Yes. The Great Tournament of Battle kings is fundamentally not just a sparring match, but a fight, sister 7th battle king. And I will prove my will and qualifications in this fight."
"Is it okay to do such things just for victory? Do you really think trampling on the faith and affection of brethren and winning is truly fair competition!?"
"I can do even more than that. If you think it's unfair, the brethren who fight against me can do the same."
"... Unlike brother Jin, brother 10th battle king suffered injuries so severe that he can no longer continue the Great Tournament of Battle kings. Brother Jin, you exploded your sword energy in his chest! It will take at least a year for him to recover. He is currently at a point where he can't even eat alone! Can't you feel anything?"
"I also almost lost both my eyes to brother 10th battle king. In the end, my whole head was about to disappear."
"But that didn't happen. Why? It is because brother 10th battle king was not able to shoot you in the end."
"That's right. Whether they really couldn't finish me off, I don't know. Anyway, brother Kaio lost, and I will win in the next match. Can't kill me because we're brethren? From the start, participating in a battle where accidents and deaths are inevitable, adopting such a withdrawn mentality is the problem."
"What...?"
"And do you think the reason brother 10th battle king didn't shoot the arrow at me was because he really cared about me? It's probably because if it's not me, the hope for the brethren to go outside disappears."
Beliz raised her arm as if to slap Jin. Then, she lowered her trembling arm again.
"I hope the brethren treat me properly. If you truly accept me as a brother, you shouldn't have denied me being Sigmund's successor just because another possibility arose now."
"Not all of my brethren did that."
"But many did. Even sister battle god did not restrain the atmosphere. And what's the result? The brethren are already divided, and most of them support brother Kaio. In a way, it's not even a division. Now that the opportunity to deny my succession, which they haven't liked from the beginning, has come, it's closer to unity."
To Jin's malicious words, the brethren by his side all bit their lips. It's to the point where they wonder if it's the same Jin that they knew.
"... I guess we might have misunderstood Brother Jin."
"I have never truly felt included in the words 'our Plutonian tribe.' Now even you, in the end, will turn away and stand on the other side. After all, the arm will eventually bend inward."
When Beliz turned around and left the hospital room, the ordinary warrior followed. Linpa and Garmund stayed for a while and looked down at Jin.
"Brother Jin…. why are you….. doing this?"
"Brother Jin! You aren't like this. It started with my fault, but now you are definitely wrong! Brother 10th battle king might have been a bit rough, but do you really think the reason he couldn't shoot an arrow at you was because he wanted to go outside?"
"Please leave."
Jin closed his eyes, and the two stood in silence for a while.
"... Brother Jin….. just remember this. If you continue like this, all the brethren might truly... turn away."
* * *
On the other hand, the atmosphere in Kaio's hospital room was a bit heavier.
Everyone was silently suppressing their anger. If the thunderbolts had exploded in a slightly more dangerous position, Kaio's illuminating heart would have been shattered and he would be almost crippled.
"He should be banished."
"You are right! Brother Jin, Ha. Now I don't even want to call him a brother, he has crossed the line. This is clearly an attempt of murder against a brother."
"If we banish him, we won't be able to leave forever, but we can't just sit still."
Kaio silently swallowed the porridge that Battle King Baba fed him.
"Sister battle god just gave the order!"
Mouka, who had just entered the hospital room, shouted.
"What did she say!?"
"She said the Great War of Battle Kings would continue as soon as Brother Jin fully recovers."
Sighs flowed from everywhere.
Of course, they knew she would punish Jin, but it was not easy for them to accept it since it was announced that she would proceed with the Great war of battle kings.
The fact that the Great Tournament of battle kings continued again meant that Kaio would be excluded.
Kaio is now in a state where he can no longer participate in the Great war of battle kings.
"... This made it clear. Sister battle god has no intention of directly disciplining Brother Jin."
However, the Plutonian tribesmen did not think it was Vahn's favoritism.
Rather, they considered it as giving them a 'choice'. About what to do with Jin. Or, they thought it was giving Jin one more chance.
To see how he behaves in the next match and how he treats his brethren.
"Sister battle god must have the same thought. Even if it means we can't get out, we can't just get over it."
"Yes. If she meant to never punish Jin, she would have given orders never to avenge."
"Brother Jin is not qualified to inherit the battle god. Not only was he lacking in strength, but he even tried to kill brother 10th battle king by using the fact that we couldn't go outside if brother Jin died."
"When it's my turn, I'll take the place of brother 10th battle king...…."
When several members of the Plutonian tribe revealed their intentions to kill, Baba put down the porridge.
"By the way, brother Jin didn't kill brother 10th battle king in the end. Everyone, let's calm down a little bit."
"Sister 9th battle king. You mean we need to think more?"
"When brother 8th battle king did something stupid, the reason why brother 10th battle king got so angry was because of sister 9th battle god. Don't tell me you don't know that."
9th battle king, Baba.
Until their destruction, most of the Plutonian tribesmen thought that the person who will succeed Vahn would eventually be Baba.
The battle kings, including Kaio, have been struggling to defeat her all their life. Baba was the final winner in the last Great War of battle kings before the destruction.
"Ha, I know. I know but do you really want to kill Brother Jin? It could be a mistake. Besides, in fact, even if everyone says so, you don't have the confidence to banish or kill brother Jin."
"Baba...."
Finally Kaio raised his head with a hoarse voice, and everyone looked at him.
Kaio opened his eyes and said.
"If…. if Jin makes another mistake. Then you kill…. him yourself."
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* * *
"Are you really going to keep doing this?"
"What made Brother Jin so angry?"
"Was it so upsetting when we said that a new test is necessary when you have already become the successor of sister battle god? Enough to stab your brethren! Brother Jin can understand this if he really thinks about the situation of other brethren."
"Besides, not all the brethren claimed that he must be tested again. Even brother 10th battle king only wanted a fair Great tournament of battle kings. It's not about taking away what brother Jin has."
"Say something!"
As Baba said, even though the members of the Plutonian tribe were so angry, they still didn't have the heart to kill or banish Jin.
In Kaio's hospital room, they talked about it as if they were about to throw Jin away, but what they wanted the most was a conversation with him.
The Plutonian tribe's law that brethren do not calculate favors among themselves was still applicable to Jin.
But Jin was making things worse and worse.
The Plutonians were ready to settle things if Jin made a sincere apology, but he only dismissed all the brethren, who visited him, coldly.
As time passed, the disappointment of the Plutonians deepened. Watching Jin being increasingly cold, selfish, and ruthless, they began to question if the person they knew truly existed.
"Everything he showed us so far has been fake. How can a person change so much in an instant? We were willing to give everything!"
"Would we have ignored it if he had honestly told us not to test his ability further since he has already inherited Sigmund? Not only brother 10th battle king, but all the brethren would have accepted that."
"He seems convinced that we are causing a fuss just to take away what is his. Was it so unbearable to give equal opportunities to other brethren? If it's not me, you can't even go outside, yet now you dare to verify my qualifications? He has that kind of attitude."
"He can never become a true Plutonian. In the end, he was just a human being, the race that was always greedy!"
Sadness turned into anger, and anger soon turned into a feeling close to hatred. The depth of the rift between them was a problem that nobody could have imagined happening in just a moment.
77 individuals, adding Jin makes 78, and including Lingling makes it 79.
The city, once filled with golden glory, always exuded a lively and shining atmosphere even with these few numbers when Jin arrived. However, now it was filled with a tense and uneasy atmosphere.
"Phew."
Jin spent his time in empty houses on the outskirts of Laprarosa, away from the hall of battle gods.
Even during the Great Tournament, if it wasn't his match, he didn't visit the main hall.
'I've felt it since the last time, but it's really something that I can't do.'
Jin didn't feel comfortable.
When he provoked Kaio, when he stabbed him maliciously, and even when he continued to provoke all his brethren now. Of course, his heart was bitter and pained, as if filled with acid.
But as the situation became more serious, he became more certain that he had to go through this process at least once.
'I shouldn't leave the feeling that my inheritance of Sigmund was a reward obtained too easily.'
Hierarchy.
Except for the battle god, all the members of the Plutonian tribe were equal. However, looking back, Jin had always been in an exceptional position.
Even though he was not a brethren, he mastered the Plutonian swordsmanship, and after becoming a brethren, he succeeded Sigmund right away.
That's why, even when lining up, Jin's position is next to Vahn, and in the opening match, he battled with all the Plutonians.
All this happened in just a few years they spent together.
They never fought a life-and-death fight with their back left to others, never defended a territory, never conquered, never slaughtered enemies, never joined a war where fate was at stake.
Jin has always been here to receive. However, as Tantel said, the Plutonians were also living beings, so they had very ordinary emotions.
Even after the Plutonian tribe accepted Jin as their brethren, even after Jin was ranked next to Vahn, they always regarded Jin as someone they had to 'take care of'.
They were trapped in a dead world and their time with Jin was very short, so they couldn't treat him completely equally. In other words, the Plutonians only saw Jin as a younger brother.
Jin, as a Plutonian brethren with a second-ranked status, believed that he should be a subject not to be cared for, but a target of struggle. Beyond equal treatment, beyond equality, he believed he should be a subject to transcend.
If he had shown a transcendent power like Vahn, if there had been a time when he could do that, there would have been no need for conflict like now.
It was the same even when the Plutonian tribe was still confined in Laprarosa.
There would have been no problem as long as he was treated as a beloved youngest brother without conflict.
But in order to fight with his brethren outside and eventually control them as a leader, a real fight was necessary. Not a play that resembled reality.
After this fight, it was crucial to confirm what would remain.
It's not that Jin isn't worried at all. There was no guarantee that the results obtained after the fight would be favorable.
'I have to clear my head. Until the Great Tournament of battle kings is over, I just need to focus on training.'
Meditation and retrospection.
After waking up, Jin continued to grow at all times except for the matches.
The injuries he obtained from the battle with Kaio stimulated the sensation of battle god fusion, and Jin's training took place on a higher level than what he had done before.
The optimal paths for stabbing and slashing, the unyielding composure maintained in any situation, the sense of avoiding death, and landscapes that seemed to be seen only by those who had transcended, and more...….
In other words, the world of martial arts that only transcendent beings can understand.
In his mind, the image of that world was constantly being drawn without rest. Jin absorbed all of it astonishingly quickly, of course it's thanks to the sense of Vahn that he experienced through fusion.
But that wasn't all.
'Sister battle god's senses are of a person who has been strong from the moment they were born. Just like my father.'
Jin's own domain was being added to that sensation.
Jin Runcandel's unique domain, which he obtained through the abyss of the bottom and long despair, as well as through one death, further enriched the transcendent world.
As a result,
In the 31st match, which took place three days later, Jin defeated Nata, the 11th battle king, head-on.
Nata was very spiteful, and a fierce battle ensued, but in the end, Jin emerged as the winner.
'Did he not use all his strength when fighting the 10th battle king?'
'No, he is getting stronger. In that short time.'
'Huh, Jin must have known exactly how fast he was growing. That's why he crossed the line and became so arrogant. He doesn't think that all of it was due to the privileges obtained through battle god fusion.'
In the ensuing battle against Beliz, the 38th match, he was defeated. However, Beliz was threatened to death with right arm cut off, and Jin did not stop there, as he had warned her before.
"This...!"
Even after the victory or defeat had been decided, he thrust the sword towards her neck once more as he did with Kaio.
The Plutonian tribesmen were paying more attention to Jin than before, so fortunately, the sword did not cut Beliz's throat or there was no unfortunate incident in which Beliz fought back and killed Jin. The Plutonians shot lightning bolts and separated the two.
Jin's limbs were twisted in the process, but Beliz was unharmed. Now, even the Plutonians had no qualms about suppressing Jin aggressively.
The anger towards Jin intensified even more.
"Crazy bastard...… You really want to kill your brethren again."
"Sister 7th battle king defended you until this very morning. Now, Sister 7th battle king must have changed her mind."
Again, after Jin's recovery was over, he defeated Garmund in the 46th match, and in the 50th and 54th match, he was defeated by Baltirok and Lumora, respectively.
Every time he was defeated, he rushed forward like a demon until the end, only to be subdued. But now, no one was surprised by that sight.
Jin's body was gradually deteriorating.
Even with Runcandel's blessed body, he couldn't continue to withstand the battles against the other battle kings, which he repeated after recovering.
The other Plutonians were also accumulating injuries, but they were fighting a completely different battle than Jin.
The other Plutonians' battles were not full of bloodlust and hatred that was found in Jin's battles.
Those dark energies were consuming Jin like a parasite.
"I... cannot...… fight."
In the 60th match, Linpa, who faced Jin, said that as soon as the battle began.
She couldn't bring herself to fight a beaten-up Jin. The other Plutonians respected her decision.
Linpa was the one who stopped her brethren from challenging the gods until the very end, and she was the one who stopped talking with a sense of guilt for her failure.
'Anyway, the next battle is with sister 9th battle king.'
'No matter how fast he gets stronger, he can never win against sister 9th battle king. He's already been defeated by the other battle kings...….'
'In the end, sister Baba will put an end to it. Sister Baba, who has endured Jin's rampage until now, is now trembling.'
Baba, like Beliz, was also a person who did not give up on Jin until the end.
Even now, she was ready to forgive Jin if he held out his hand.
She hoped that Jin would not go deeper into the darkness and to a place of no return.
"You won't fight me?"
In response to Jin's icy voice, Linpa nodded and turned away.
"Yes...."
"I am warning you, Linpa. If you take one more step there, I will cut you down right where you stand. Do not avoid the fight."
Linpa continued to move forward, unfazed, and Jin...
Swung the Shadow Sword towards her back.
The cut was shallow because Linpa reacted, but there was a long scar left behind.
Red blood spurted out. The bloodstain, which seemed as if the red lines had been cut off, seemed to symbolize the end of the relationship between the Plutonian tribe and Jin.
"S-Sister 4th battle king!"
"That crazy bastard...!"
Vahn raised her hand to stop Plutonians, who were about to rush.
"He hasn't broken the rules yet. If Brother Jin kills sister 4th battle king, I will personally handle it. Will you continue, sister 4th battle king?"
"... I quit."
Tension hung in the air. Jin looked down at the fallen Linpa. When Vahn declared the end of the battle, he turned away indifferently.
And in the moment when Jin was about to leave the hall, Baba suddenly moved towards the center of the hall and spoke.
"Sister battle god."
"Speak, sister 9th battle king."
"Sister battle god, just now, you referred to Jin as a brother, but we can no longer consider him as such."
"What do you want to say?"
Baba glared at Jin's retreating figure and spoke.
"Therefore, may I kill Jin Runcandel in the next battle?"