389
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The power of the Plutonian Tribe's Battle God was being recreated on the melted ground of the arena.
They were the mightiest beings in the world, who had challenged the gods as conquerors of the world five thousand years ago. From inside the lightning that resembled their souls, Jin examined the eyes of the Runcandels fixed to himself.
There was fear in the eyes of those who were protected, and there was bewilderment in the eyes of those who were protecting. They were all biting their lips.
Who could have expected that someone would show such battle prowess against the entire Runcandel, and that too after unleashing the flame of hell?
[And I will give one command to the members of the clan below the flagbearer.]
The voices of dozens of Plutonians resonated as if they were speaking at once. The clan members felt a kind of reverence in their voices.
Although they had never met the Plutonian Tribe's Battle God even once, they instinctively felt that Jin was exuding her aura.
[Do your best to protect the guardian knights so that not a single knight dies because of my sword.]
Pzzzzt!
As Jin's body was covered by lightning, blue sparks burst out. The pale light of Sigmund, the sword of Plutonian Battle God, stood out in the hands whose fingernails were dyed with lightning.
It seemed as if death had a color; it would be this pale.
And it was added to the heat of flame of hell that had not yet completely subsided.
As the hot air, hot enough to make rocks melt and burst, pressed heavily on their chests, the Runcandels were strangely overwhelmed by the sensation of their whole body growing cold, as if touching a long-dead corpse.
"Everyone, get out of here...!"
As soon as the sword began to fall, the first person to scream out loud was none other than Luntia.
I let my guard down.
I thought I could finish him now, that I could kill the youngest at any moment.
But that youngest had become a monster that far exceeded her expectations.
I should have realized that fact earlier. I should have known earlier that if I confronted him with such an arrogant attitude, I would not be able to win, that I had to bet my life too.
As Luntia’s pupils flickered, what she saw was Jin’s sword, which was rushing toward her with lightning.
With a speed that felt like thunder striking, the power contained in that single strike was, by no means, inferior to any swords Luntia had experienced before.
Her body couldn't react immediately. In that moment, she raised her voice in concern for the knights behind her, and that was a blunder.
Slash!
Blood sprayed from the center of Luntia's chest. If she hadn’t fallen back her body might have been split in half.
“Ugh!”
Fortunately, there was no damage to her vital organs.
However, the injury, which could not be considered Charleslow by any means, shook Luntia's focus once again.
Before she could even readjust her stance, Sigmund's lightning surged toward her.
Her entire body was engulfed in excruciating pain as if it were on fire.
A strong body surpassing even Luna.
How much pain did she have to endure to develop such a body?
After Luna announced that she was giving up on becoming the patriarch, Luntia had briefly entertained many people's expectations as a possible alternative.
The reason Luna found it difficult to deal with Luntia was because she had watched Luntia ‘destroying’ herself to have such a strong body.
That was how she obtained her rigid body.
A rigid body obtained by going down the unhappy answer that life is only boredom and pain, without even the slightest pleasure, or having any thoughts or actions.
That rigid body was now being shattered.
Flesh was tearing, bones were splitting, and blood was bursting. The horrifying pain digging into the wounds took away her breath.
‘Damn it...!’
Luntia grit her teeth and cursed.
Due to the thick mist-like caused by the lightning that covered the arena, it was not easy to pinpoint Jin’s exact location. The sharp bolts of lightning piercing through the eyes added a constant sense of impending darkness.
However, at that moment, what Luntia thought was not the desire to escape this place without getting hurt, or the desire to survive.
‘At this rate the knights will die.’
There were her mother, the flagbearers, the core members of the Elder Council, and the enforcement knights. No matter how formidable Jin's power was, surpassing them all was beyond imagination.
However, "fighting" and "protecting" were clearly different things.
Could other strong individuals protect the knights who faced imminent death in the storm of this lightning?
She couldn't be certain. Above all, there was no one to protect the knights who had first rushed in to stop the blaze of flame of hell.
Because their lord, herself, was fighting Jin.
Above all else,
‘Mother isn't someone who will protect the knights.’
Luntia bit her lip. Rosa was still sitting in her seat, taking no action.
The reason she was so convinced wasn't because she disliked Rosa.
It was her perception that Rosa Runcandel, her mother, was someone who wouldn't bother saving guardian knights who were being swept away like discarded goods by the "swords of the 12th flagbearer."
Such individuals were considered useless in Runcandel. Or maybe she was trying to leave only stronger knights in the Garden of Swords after this incident.
That's how Luntia perceived Rosa.
And others also saw Rosa the same way.
Even so, she could still be a person who cared for others.
There were no screams just like before when the flame of hell unfolded. However, Luntia and everyone else were well aware.
How much agony the Guardian Knights, who were engulfed in flames and lightning, were enduring, not to mention the screams.
A new shining aura covered Charles. Luntia had made her decision on how to end this fight.
"You've shown a glorious sword, youngest... So, I must respond with a sword befitting that glory."
In her eyes, which were filled with killing intent and shock, something new was reflected—a newfound sense of responsibility as a flagbearer that she had long forgotten.
Runcandel's Third Secret Technique:
Annular solar eclipse
As Luntia extended Charles, a single circle, no bigger than an egg, appeared in the space brimming with lightning. The circle emitted a peculiar light as if it allowed no intrusion.
Thump!
Jin tried to strike the circle with Sigmund but it bounced off.
It was unexpected that Sigmund, which had been strengthened by the Plutonian Reign Sword, bounced off like this. Moreover, the Annular solar eclipse was growing larger, expanding its territory.
Although it possessed enough power to repel the attack of Sigmund, Jin strangely didn't feel threatened by the Annular solar eclipse.
‘A decisive killing move? Or perhaps a secret technique? Either way, it's an unusual sword.’
A sword with absolutely no killing intent.
Not long after, Jin realized that the purpose of this sword wasn't killing. The Third Secret Technique, Annular solar eclipse, was the only sword in Runcandel that intended to protect others. The firm sword energy forming the circle acted as a kind of shield.
It wasn't difficult for Jin to reach a conclusion.
‘If I break it, it's over.’
The blood of the Battle God and the lightning was surging inside the illuminating heart. If it didn't crumble under a single strike, he would wield an even stronger powerful strike again.
Jin had no intention of ending it with moderation today.
He had no intention of using only as much power as necessary to avoid killing his opponent. He was determined to finish it in any way possible.
After all, it is a sword that even withstood the great sword of one of ten great knights, Sylderay.
No matter how sturdy Luntia's Annular solar eclipse appeared, it couldn't continue to block Sigmund indefinitely.
Crack, boom!
When Jin swung Sigmund again, the same result occurred. The blade was deflected by the expanding ring of the Annular solar eclipse.
However, amid the fluttering aura and lightning, Jin observed something keenly. He saw Luntia, who had just repelled the second sword strike, spitting out a handful of fresh blood.
She had already suffered injuries even before unleashing the Annular solar eclipse. It was uncertain whether she could have blocked Sigmund's strike when she was at full strength.
Having done so while already injured, Luntia's struggle was quite understandable.
She had staked her life on this.
However, the meaning of her determination is different for the first time she had faced Jin. She didn’t intend to kill Jin, but to protect her own knights from him.
The clash between the sword and the ring created a thunderous noise.
Although not a single word could be exchanged between them in the midst of this battle, Jin could understand Luntia's mindset.
Having seen the faces of those who sought to rescue people several times, he knew what they looked like.
‘You are not someone to be taken lightly, second sister."
Ironically, Jin felt relieved.
If Luntia, with all her strength, could block Sigmund, there would be no unnecessary deaths among the knights.
Not even one.
There was no room for mercy in Jin’s blade.
Jin swung Sigmund without caring about Luntia’s life.
All the members of the Runcandel clan were watching if he showed any signs of weakness here, the declaration would surely lose its meaning.
‘If you survive, I will recognize you as a worthy rival, elder sister.’
Creak, creak!
It seemed like massive fangs were tearing into their prey. Under the relentless rain of sword strikes, Luntia's bleeding grew worse.
On the other hand, Sigmund became increasingly fierce. The lightning, moving along Sigmund, poured down like a torrential rain onto the expanding ring of the Annular solar eclipse.
The sword energy in Charles's blade, which was supporting the ring, was trembling. She had been enduring 50% power of the Plutonian Reign Sword on her own, so it was clear that Luntia had reached her limits.
Suddenly, the form of the lightning that was attacking the ring changed.
Battle God Technique, 3rd sword
Condemnation
The awl of condemnation, imbued with the power of the Plutonian Reign Sword, exuded overwhelming energy even within the storm of the lightning that had pervaded in all directions.
As the five awls pushed forward simultaneously, the ring of the Annular solar eclipse eventually shattered. Luntia didn't let go of Charles until the very end.
However, the Plutonian Reign Sword and the energy of the condemnation were already sweeping past her, heading towards the knights who were holding their ground outside.
Just as he was about to unleash his lightning energy once again, Jin saw Luntia, who had stopped in the same posture as when she had unleashed the Annular solar eclipse.
There was no need to confirm whether she had lost consciousness or died. Either way, it didn't matter.
Jin took confident strides.
His gaze was fixed on Rosa, who was sitting on the seat of honor as if she were the matriarch of the clan. It was time to break that seat.
In the moment when Jin tried to emit his lightning once again...
Thunk...
Suddenly, something solid and sharp lightly pricked Jin's back.
It was Luntia's sword, Charles.
Even so, Jin didn't turn around to check his second sister. He knew that the action of placing Charles on his back was the last bit of strength Luntia had left.
Jin thought that what had touched his back was not Charles, but the determination holding it.
It was a determination he could respect as a martial artist, and as a sibling.
Dump…!
With that, Luntia fell to the ground.
Jin and Rosa's gazes met.
[Will you continue sitting there like that?]
389
[Support me here:- https://bmc.link/punisher87 ]
The power of the Plutonian Tribe's Battle God was being recreated on the melted ground of the arena.
They were the mightiest beings in the world, who had challenged the gods as conquerors of the world five thousand years ago. From inside the lightning that resembled their souls, Jin examined the eyes of the Runcandels fixed to himself.
There was fear in the eyes of those who were protected, and there was bewilderment in the eyes of those who were protecting. They were all biting their lips.
Who could have expected that someone would show such battle prowess against the entire Runcandel, and that too after unleashing the flame of hell?
[And I will give one command to the members of the clan below the flagbearer.]
The voices of dozens of Plutonians resonated as if they were speaking at once. The clan members felt a kind of reverence in their voices.
Although they had never met the Plutonian Tribe's Battle God even once, they instinctively felt that Jin was exuding her aura.
[Do your best to protect the guardian knights so that not a single knight dies because of my sword.]
Pzzzzt!
As Jin's body was covered by lightning, blue sparks burst out. The pale light of Sigmund, the sword of Plutonian Battle God, stood out in the hands whose fingernails were dyed with lightning.
It seemed as if death had a color; it would be this pale.
And it was added to the heat of flame of hell that had not yet completely subsided.
As the hot air, hot enough to make rocks melt and burst, pressed heavily on their chests, the Runcandels were strangely overwhelmed by the sensation of their whole body growing cold, as if touching a long-dead corpse.
"Everyone, get out of here...!"
As soon as the sword began to fall, the first person to scream out loud was none other than Luntia.
I let my guard down.
I thought I could finish him now, that I could kill the youngest at any moment.
But that youngest had become a monster that far exceeded her expectations.
I should have realized that fact earlier. I should have known earlier that if I confronted him with such an arrogant attitude, I would not be able to win, that I had to bet my life too.
As Luntia’s pupils flickered, what she saw was Jin’s sword, which was rushing toward her with lightning.
With a speed that felt like thunder striking, the power contained in that single strike was, by no means, inferior to any swords Luntia had experienced before.
Her body couldn't react immediately. In that moment, she raised her voice in concern for the knights behind her, and that was a blunder.
Slash!
Blood sprayed from the center of Luntia's chest. If she hadn’t fallen back her body might have been split in half.
“Ugh!”
Fortunately, there was no damage to her vital organs.
However, the injury, which could not be considered Charleslow by any means, shook Luntia's focus once again.
Before she could even readjust her stance, Sigmund's lightning surged toward her.
Her entire body was engulfed in excruciating pain as if it were on fire.
A strong body surpassing even Luna.
How much pain did she have to endure to develop such a body?
After Luna announced that she was giving up on becoming the patriarch, Luntia had briefly entertained many people's expectations as a possible alternative.
The reason Luna found it difficult to deal with Luntia was because she had watched Luntia ‘destroying’ herself to have such a strong body.
That was how she obtained her rigid body.
A rigid body obtained by going down the unhappy answer that life is only boredom and pain, without even the slightest pleasure, or having any thoughts or actions.
That rigid body was now being shattered.
Flesh was tearing, bones were splitting, and blood was bursting. The horrifying pain digging into the wounds took away her breath.
‘Damn it...!’
Luntia grit her teeth and cursed.
Due to the thick mist-like caused by the lightning that covered the arena, it was not easy to pinpoint Jin’s exact location. The sharp bolts of lightning piercing through the eyes added a constant sense of impending darkness.
However, at that moment, what Luntia thought was not the desire to escape this place without getting hurt, or the desire to survive.
‘At this rate the knights will die.’
There were her mother, the flagbearers, the core members of the Elder Council, and the enforcement knights. No matter how formidable Jin's power was, surpassing them all was beyond imagination.
However, "fighting" and "protecting" were clearly different things.
Could other strong individuals protect the knights who faced imminent death in the storm of this lightning?
She couldn't be certain. Above all, there was no one to protect the knights who had first rushed in to stop the blaze of flame of hell.
Because their lord, herself, was fighting Jin.
Above all else,
‘Mother isn't someone who will protect the knights.’
Luntia bit her lip. Rosa was still sitting in her seat, taking no action.
The reason she was so convinced wasn't because she disliked Rosa.
It was her perception that Rosa Runcandel, her mother, was someone who wouldn't bother saving guardian knights who were being swept away like discarded goods by the "swords of the 12th flagbearer."
Such individuals were considered useless in Runcandel. Or maybe she was trying to leave only stronger knights in the Garden of Swords after this incident.
That's how Luntia perceived Rosa.
And others also saw Rosa the same way.
Even so, she could still be a person who cared for others.
There were no screams just like before when the flame of hell unfolded. However, Luntia and everyone else were well aware.
How much agony the Guardian Knights, who were engulfed in flames and lightning, were enduring, not to mention the screams.
A new shining aura covered Charles. Luntia had made her decision on how to end this fight.
"You've shown a glorious sword, youngest... So, I must respond with a sword befitting that glory."
In her eyes, which were filled with killing intent and shock, something new was reflected—a newfound sense of responsibility as a flagbearer that she had long forgotten.
Runcandel's Third Secret Technique:
Annular solar eclipse
As Luntia extended Charles, a single circle, no bigger than an egg, appeared in the space brimming with lightning. The circle emitted a peculiar light as if it allowed no intrusion.
Thump!
Jin tried to strike the circle with Sigmund but it bounced off.
It was unexpected that Sigmund, which had been strengthened by the Plutonian Reign Sword, bounced off like this. Moreover, the Annular solar eclipse was growing larger, expanding its territory.
Although it possessed enough power to repel the attack of Sigmund, Jin strangely didn't feel threatened by the Annular solar eclipse.
‘A decisive killing move? Or perhaps a secret technique? Either way, it's an unusual sword.’
A sword with absolutely no killing intent.
Not long after, Jin realized that the purpose of this sword wasn't killing. The Third Secret Technique, Annular solar eclipse, was the only sword in Runcandel that intended to protect others. The firm sword energy forming the circle acted as a kind of shield.
It wasn't difficult for Jin to reach a conclusion.
‘If I break it, it's over.’
The blood of the Battle God and the lightning was surging inside the illuminating heart. If it didn't crumble under a single strike, he would wield an even stronger powerful strike again.
Jin had no intention of ending it with moderation today.
He had no intention of using only as much power as necessary to avoid killing his opponent. He was determined to finish it in any way possible.
After all, it is a sword that even withstood the great sword of one of ten great knights, Sylderay.
No matter how sturdy Luntia's Annular solar eclipse appeared, it couldn't continue to block Sigmund indefinitely.
Crack, boom!
When Jin swung Sigmund again, the same result occurred. The blade was deflected by the expanding ring of the Annular solar eclipse.
However, amid the fluttering aura and lightning, Jin observed something keenly. He saw Luntia, who had just repelled the second sword strike, spitting out a handful of fresh blood.
She had already suffered injuries even before unleashing the Annular solar eclipse. It was uncertain whether she could have blocked Sigmund's strike when she was at full strength.
Having done so while already injured, Luntia's struggle was quite understandable.
She had staked her life on this.
However, the meaning of her determination is different for the first time she had faced Jin. She didn’t intend to kill Jin, but to protect her own knights from him.
The clash between the sword and the ring created a thunderous noise.
Although not a single word could be exchanged between them in the midst of this battle, Jin could understand Luntia's mindset.
Having seen the faces of those who sought to rescue people several times, he knew what they looked like.
‘You are not someone to be taken lightly, second sister."
Ironically, Jin felt relieved.
If Luntia, with all her strength, could block Sigmund, there would be no unnecessary deaths among the knights.
Not even one.
There was no room for mercy in Jin’s blade.
Jin swung Sigmund without caring about Luntia’s life.
All the members of the Runcandel clan were watching if he showed any signs of weakness here, the declaration would surely lose its meaning.
‘If you survive, I will recognize you as a worthy rival, elder sister.’
Creak, creak!
It seemed like massive fangs were tearing into their prey. Under the relentless rain of sword strikes, Luntia's bleeding grew worse.
On the other hand, Sigmund became increasingly fierce. The lightning, moving along Sigmund, poured down like a torrential rain onto the expanding ring of the Annular solar eclipse.
The sword energy in Charles's blade, which was supporting the ring, was trembling. She had been enduring 50% power of the Plutonian Reign Sword on her own, so it was clear that Luntia had reached her limits.
Suddenly, the form of the lightning that was attacking the ring changed.
Battle God Technique, 3rd sword
Condemnation
The awl of condemnation, imbued with the power of the Plutonian Reign Sword, exuded overwhelming energy even within the storm of the lightning that had pervaded in all directions.
As the five awls pushed forward simultaneously, the ring of the Annular solar eclipse eventually shattered. Luntia didn't let go of Charles until the very end.
However, the Plutonian Reign Sword and the energy of the condemnation were already sweeping past her, heading towards the knights who were holding their ground outside.
Just as he was about to unleash his lightning energy once again, Jin saw Luntia, who had stopped in the same posture as when she had unleashed the Annular solar eclipse.
There was no need to confirm whether she had lost consciousness or died. Either way, it didn't matter.
Jin took confident strides.
His gaze was fixed on Rosa, who was sitting on the seat of honor as if she were the matriarch of the clan. It was time to break that seat.
In the moment when Jin tried to emit his lightning once again...
Thunk...
Suddenly, something solid and sharp lightly pricked Jin's back.
It was Luntia's sword, Charles.
Even so, Jin didn't turn around to check his second sister. He knew that the action of placing Charles on his back was the last bit of strength Luntia had left.
Jin thought that what had touched his back was not Charles, but the determination holding it.
It was a determination he could respect as a martial artist, and as a sibling.
Dump…!
With that, Luntia fell to the ground.
Jin and Rosa's gazes met.
[Will you continue sitting there like that?]
