Chapter 216: Ill-Fated Relationship (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 216: Ill-Fated Relationship (2)
Joshua appeared equally flustered. His pupils trembled slightly as he stared at Jin.
However, the moment was fleeting. A treacherous smile soon crept onto Joshua’s lips.
“I should be the one asking that, little brother. I find it hard to understand what business a Reserve Flagbearer like you has on this island… It doesn’t quite make sense.”
While Joshua spoke, Jin observed him, assessing the situation. He needed to know why Joshua had suddenly come to this island, if he had brought anyone with him, and how to handle the encounter.
Questions flooded his mind, but he organized them quickly.
He didn’t lure me here with a trap. If it were a trap, he wouldn’t have let me run into Kuzan and Beris.
The man had sent his subordinates to this island for some reason and had been nearby. Then, seeing the lightning and spirit energy that had covered the island, he must have come to investigate and happened upon Jin.
Having reached that conclusion, Jin scanned his surroundings.
There seemed to be no companions. Even on the sea visible behind Joshua, there was only a single small rowboat.
“Regardless, it’s good to see you. I’ve had so much I wanted to discuss with you.”
Pfft.
Jin shrugged.
“We aren’t exactly on terms where we’d be happy to see each other and have a chat, are we?”
“What?”
“The pretense is over, so let’s stop acting coy. Just as you know my secret, I know all about that dog-like stunt you pulled on me…”
A heavy silence fell between them.
Jin and Joshua remained motionless, their eyes locked. Then, Joshua let out a soft chuckle and shook his head.
“You’re quite full of spite. I suppose I can understand why, but I can’t say your attitude is appropriate. Shouldn’t your elder brother punish you for this?”
“Did you receive the message I left in Kidad Hall’s laboratory?”
You shall not be permitted to die such a peaceful death — Jin Gray.
That was the message Jin had carved into the lab wall with his sword after killing Kidad Hall. When Jin brought it up, Joshua nodded.
“It was an impressive message. Every newsletter covered the incident, yet not a single faction figured out that Jin Gray was you.”
“You should have killed me back then. When I was in the Cradle of the Storm Castle, the moment you placed that curse on me—that’s when you should have killed me.”
Screeech—!
Jin slowly drew Bradamante.
“Then you wouldn’t have to face what’s coming to you today.”
Jin had decided to kill Joshua.
There were no subordinates and not a single witness. There was no need to worry about prying eyes or to weigh the consequences. This was a golden opportunity to kill the man and walk away unscathed.
A head-on clash might be hopeless, but I have enough spirit energy left.
This desolate island in the Blue Bird Archipelago would become Joshua’s grave today.
“Heh… You speak of absurdities. Yes, you were always like this, youngest. I remember your childish arrogance when you first arrived at the Garden of Swords and provoked all your siblings.”
“Why didn’t you bring any knights with you? Like you did when you went to meet Sister Luna. Traveling alone isn’t your style. I took you for the type who only feels secure when surrounded by knights and elders.”
The smile vanished from Joshua’s face.
In contrast, Jin smiled as he coated his blade in spirit energy.
“This power. You’ve probably spent all this time deluding yourself that the only reason you haven’t killed me is because you covet this. If that weren’t the case, there would have been no reason to leave me alive when the curse failed. Am I wrong?”
Joshua’s gaze fixed on Bradamante’s black blade. As if possessed by its dark light, a raw desire burned intensely within his eyes.
“That power was originally meant to be mine.”
Joshua shook his head, feigning bitterness.
“Your delusions are getting out of hand. If you want it, take it. You still haven’t drawn your sword. Are you afraid to fight me? Raise your weapon, Joshua Runcandel. Let’s settle this.”
Hooo…
Joshua let out a long sigh, his face flushing red.
Though he had shown nothing but a cowardly side to Jin until now, he was still the eldest son of Runcandel, the 2nd Flagbearer, and a 9-star Knight.
Being looked down upon by the youngest Reserve Flagbearer was an unbearable insult.
“You’re mistaken, little brother. Solderet’s authority… it is indeed a covetable power. But do you truly believe you can face me already? Even Mary isn’t this arrogant.”
Sling. Joshua drew his sword. A silver blade enveloped in a faint aura stood in stark contrast to Bradamante’s dark edge.
Silver Sword Sran. It’s not the sword he was granted by Mother.
Joshua’s favorite sword was the Black Sword Kiner. Known as the second-best sword in Runcandel after Barisada, its dark blade made it one of the swords that symbolized the family. The reason Joshua was widely known as the next Patriarch was due in no small part to the influence of the Black Sword Kiner. Public perception held that Kiner was the sword one used before becoming Patriarch and obtaining Barisada.
Of course, whether he used Kiner or Sran, Joshua’s fundamental martial prowess did not change.
“Or perhaps you have some trick up your sleeve? Well, it doesn’t matter. I’ll teach you a lesson. After today, you will never be able to hold a sword again.”
The moment he finished speaking, in the time it took to blink—
Jin found Joshua’s blade right before his eyes. The distance of nearly ten paces between them had vanished in that split second.
He probably isn’t provoking me because he knows about my previous life, but I almost lost my cool.
It was a provocation that had been a reality in his past life.
If he had been even slightly agitated by Joshua’s final words, his reaction would have been too slow. Fortunately, Jin had regained his composure just before the fight began, allowing him to dodge Joshua’s thrust without much trouble.
And he didn't just dodge.
Slash!
The blade of the Silver Sword Sran grazed Jin’s cheek.
This was the result of Jin lunging into Joshua’s guard instead of retreating. It was a response Joshua hadn't expected. He had assumed Jin would naturally create distance after evading, judging that the vast gap in their skills would dictate at least that much.
Spirit Sword 1st Form: Soul Slash.
The moment he successfully closed the distance, Jin unleashed his Spirit Sword technique.
He already knows all my powers anyway, so hiding them won't create an opening.
The same went for the Flash Cannon and Tess. The only weapon that could serve as a variable was Sigmund, but after the final battle with Julian, there was almost no lightning energy left in his Heart of Light.
Screeech—!
Bradamante swung upward, drawing a sharp, black arc through the air.
To Jin’s surprise, Joshua parried the Soul Slash with a horizontal strike, knocking it off course. He had inserted a new movement in the instant it took to recover his sword from the initial thrust.
Joshua’s sword had moved only about two finger-widths horizontally.
Clang!
A shattering sound erupted, one that seemed impossible to have been caused by a mere two-inch movement of the blade.
Jin gritted his teeth and steadied his stance.
A 9-star of Runcandel was on a level incomparable to the 9-stars of other martial houses. Just as Jin possessed the blessed body of a Runcandel, so did Joshua.
“Is this that Spirit Sword? Not bad.”
There was no time to answer.
A Flagbearer is a Flagbearer for a reason.
Even accounting for his exhaustion from the fight with Julian, Jin could feel it in a single exchange—the vast difference in the realms they had reached. Though overshadowed by the monster known as Luna Runcandel, Joshua was also a warrior who vied for the top spots among the Flagbearers.
“Did you think I used schemes and kept people by my side because my skills were lacking? Because I could never become an absolute warrior like our eldest sister?”
Clang! Crash! Screee—!
Light and darkness intermingled every time their swords clashed.
“Far from it! I could have caught up to our eldest sister whenever I wished. But little brother, do you know? Do you know what lurks in the world you haven't experienced yet, up there at the top?”
Suddenly, Joshua threw Jin back and pointed a finger toward the sky.
“Why do you think Runcandel hasn't surpassed Zipple even with Father here? Why do you think Father hasn't cast me aside despite his disappointment? It’s because he knows that even if I don't satisfy him, I am the one in the Garden of Swords who is more wary of our enemies than anyone else!”
Jin didn't answer, catching his breath.
My body isn't responding… it’s much worse than I thought.
Joshua was already a burdensome opponent. With his physical strength depleted from the battle that had lasted all night, a proper fight was impossible from the start.
[Krrraaa!]
Shuri let out a roar and stood beside Jin. She had realized her master was facing an opponent he couldn't defeat.
Joshua’s gaze then shifted toward the fallen Murakan.
“It’s okay, Shuri. Protect Murakan.”
Jin gently pushed Shuri back.
“What a touching scene. Do you really think I would go so far as to take that defenseless Black Dragon hostage while fighting you?”
“Based on everything you’ve shown so far, it seems like something you’d be more than capable of.”
“Rest easy. I won't take that Black Dragon’s life until the fight is over. Nor the life of your beast.”
“You’re acting relaxed, but it doesn’t suit you. Most of those who acted relaxed in front of me met a miserable end. You’d do well to keep that in mind, Joshua.”
“Aha, I see now. Youngest, you’re certain that I can’t kill you… because if I do, I won't be able to steal your contract. That’s why you’re being so insolent.”
Jin heard the words ‘steal the contract’ directly from Joshua’s mouth.
As I thought… he knows there’s a way to transfer the contract. Just like Zipple and Kinzelo.
However, Jin suspected that Joshua hadn't secured a ‘certain method’ like Zipple or Kinzelo had. If he had, he would have tracked Jin down long ago and seized the contract by any means necessary.
“I’ll commend you for deducing that much. But it changes nothing. Today, you will become someone who can never hold a sword again, and for a Runcandel, that is a punishment worse than death.”
He meant to cripple and imprison Jin, then kill him once he could secure Solderet’s contract.
Grit…!
Jin clenched his teeth.
“Do you understand the situation you’re in now? If you beg, I’ll handle you without too much pain. Or, you could try to run. That seems like your best bet.”
“…Insolent attitude, you say. You’re right, Joshua Runcandel. I was certain you couldn't kill me.”
Jin spoke as he gathered spirit energy once more.
Slowly, he swung his sword toward the empty air.
“But that wasn't because you had to keep me alive for the contract. It was because my allies are scheduled to arrive.”
“Haha, I’ve issued a total lockdown on the waters around the archipelago. Even if that ally were a dragon, they couldn't enter the Blue Bird Archipelago right now. How unfortunate for you.”
Jin smirked.
“What can I say? They aren't a dragon.”
Spirit Sword Special Technique.
Call of the Black Light.
Jin had swung Bradamante into the air for this very purpose.