Chapter 337: Debt and Debt and Debt (4)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 337: Debt and Debt and Debt (4)
Mana gathered in the palms of the Wraith Squad mages.
It happened so fast it could hardly be described as ‘gathering’; the energy seemed to simply manifest within their hands instantaneously.
Yet, the mana formed so swiftly contained a power so immense it distorted the surrounding space.
Jin gasped and reflexively deployed a shield.
Boom—!
If he had been even a second slower, he wouldn't have lived to see the next day. Mana cannons, fired from the hands of the two Wraith Squad members, slammed into the shield Jin had woven from spirit energy and mana.
Even with the shield up, it felt as though his entire body was being pummeled by the fists of a master warrior. He managed to deflect the beams that pierced the barrier, but a thick mouthful of blood surged up his throat once more.
Spurt!
Jin spat out the blood and steadied his stance.
Dammit. Right. This is the Wraith Squad.
The only reason he had killed the mage named Rokai so quickly was because of a perfect surprise attack.
Jin had mistaken Rokai’s mana for that of three people, a testament to the fact that the Wraith Squad was the strongest group of mages in the world. They were on a level incomparable to any other magic unit.
“…He blocked that? The 12th Flagbearer of Runcandel?”
“So the rumors from Young Master Veradin’s secret villa were true. They might have been caught off guard, but killing Rokai wasn't just a fluke.”
“It’s certainly shocking to experience it firsthand after only hearing stories.”
Jin caught his breath and scrutinized the two.
Both of them are at a similar level to Rokai, the mage I just killed.
They weren't merely in the mid-to-late 9-star rank. Their mana was so vast it could only be explained if they were 10-star.
No, this might be a level of mana that’s difficult to explain even by 10-star standards.
While a massive gap existed between 9-star and 10-star, it wasn't a level where one’s mana suddenly tripled. Jin had faced several 9-star mages, and though he had never met a 10-star directly, he could roughly deduce their realm by comparing them to warriors of equivalent rank.
From that perspective, there was definitely something strange about the mana of the Wraith Squad.
“What are you thinking about, Jin Runcandel?”
Zing—!
Mana beams fired from the mages' hands once again.
Skreeee!
This time, Tess exhaled the Flame of Pressure, twisting the beams’ trajectory while Jin quickly deployed another veil of spirit energy.
“You’re not running? You intend to fight us? How admirable.”
“The Wraith Squad members I met last time weren't so chatty. You lot talk too much.”
In an instant, Jin deployed five veils of spirit energy, hiding between them to successfully evade the mages’ attacks.
On the surface, it looked as if he was effectively holding his own against the Wraith Squad, but he saw no opening for a counterattack.
I can't move properly because of the backflow. I don't know how much longer I can stall.
The moment he encountered the two remaining Wraith Squad members, the choice he should have made was obvious: summon Shuri and flee. But Jin stayed to fight for a reason.
If he fled now, the beastmen who had just begun to leave the cave would inevitably be slaughtered.
I can't hold out for long. Tess is about to be unsummoned.
Tess could only remain in the human world as long as Jin provided her with mana. With the mana backflow now in full swing, her state was bound to become unstable.
Unlike when he faced Cold Jo’s summoned beast, Jin was in no position to let Tess manifest by borrowing his power. He was on the verge of a full mana backflow; if he lent his power recklessly now, his life would be at risk.
Ultimately, after a few more seconds, Tess had no choice but to return to the fire realm.
There was only one thing left to do.
He had one last resort to break through this situation.
He could summon the Pluto Tribe brothers using the Pluto Sword Special Technique: Blacklight Call. Even if a regular warrior came instead of a Fighting King, they would be more than enough to stall for time against two Wraith Squad members.
However, he wanted to save the Blacklight Call for a true worst-case scenario. Zipple did not yet know that he could summon the Pluto Tribe. If that fact became known, they would be even more cautious when dealing with him in the future.
A trump card must always be saved. There would be plenty of more decisive moments in the future to screw over Zipple with the help of his Pluto Tribe brothers.
Furthermore, in Jin’s estimation, the situation wasn't quite at its worst yet.
Whichever side it is, get here fast!
Runcandel or Kinzelo.
One of the two factions was bound to come to this cave. A battle of this scale, which was destroying not just the cave but the entire surrounding area, wouldn't go unnoticed.
Kinzelo would most likely be first. This was the land of the beastmen, after all.
Boom! Bang! Rumble…!
The cave was collapsing under the barrage of mana beams from the Wraith Squad mages. Jin didn't know it, but more than half of the massive labyrinth inside the cave had been destroyed the moment the barrier fell. Rocks fell incessantly from the continuous impacts, and holes were punched through the ceiling where the beams passed, revealing the sky.
By then, the Wraith Squad mages couldn't help but feel extremely annoyed.
It would be one thing if he were in perfect condition, but the 12th Flagbearer of Runcandel was suffering from mana backflow and his phoenix had been unsummoned. He was holding out for far too long.
Though ‘long’ was only a matter of minutes.
“I wanted to take you back in one piece if possible, but it looks like I’ll have to settle for just keeping you breathing.”
Whoosh, crackle! Whirrrr…!
New magic began to coalesce in their hands. Each of them formed two 9-star destruction spells—a secret Zipple magic Jin had never seen before.
Both of them were users of simultaneous casting.
“From the looks of it, someone like you might actually survive being hit by this.”
“Is that so? You seem to be overestimating me,” Jin retorted with a smirk.
“No, if anything, we’ve been underestimating you all this time. And it doesn't really matter if you die anyway.”
As if making a decision, Jin grit his teeth. It seemed he would have to call the Pluto Tribe brothers after all.
“I’ll make one last offer. If my brothers arrive, you might not be able to return alive today. How about it? Let’s both just call it a day. If this goes wrong, it’s all-out war.”
It was nothing more than nonsense intended to buy a few more seconds.
“By the time the Runcandel Flagbearers arrive, you’ll already be in the Lutero Magic Federation. I didn't know you had a talent for jokes.”
It wasn't those brothers he meant, but there was no need to correct them.
“Then you lot should develop a talent for taking a joke. What’s the point of being great at magic if you’re so inhuman?”
“I’ll take that into consideration. Oh, and I’m telling you this in advance,” the Wraith Squad mage shrugged and continued. “It seems your intention in holding out is to save the beastmen. That’s pointless. By now, the others have likely gone to catch those cosmetics-selling rats.”
“The Catfolk’s barrier was quite interesting. Between you and them, this mission has been full of things that cause more trouble than expected.”
There were originally five Wraith Squad members who had attacked the Catfolk’s barrier. The reason Jin had calculated he would face three of them was because Lulu had informed him just before he left that she was tying up the other two.
—The other two are currently trapped in our labyrinth barrier and can't get out. They’ll be stuck for at least three days.
Lulu had definitely said that.
However, the Wraith Squad mages were stronger than the Catfolk had anticipated. They had deployed their signature chain magic to erase the entire barrier and force their way in. In the process, the labyrinth containing the other two members was also destroyed, and they had immediately moved into the beastmen’s lands outside the cave.
Dammit, if the barrier fell… are the Catfolk safe? This isn't the time to be saving the Blacklight Call.
Sigh. Jin let out a low breath.
Just as he was about to activate the Blacklight Call…
Thud…!
Suddenly, a massive steel gate slammed down between Jin and the Wraith Squad mages.
There would never be another day in Jin’s life when the sound of a steel gate hitting the ground would sound so beautiful.
“Hello, everyone!”
A cheerful and bubbly voice was heard first. The strangest woman Jin knew.
It was Margiella Ivliano. She was in her wheelchair as usual, but she was wearing a ridiculous mask shaped like a cat’s face.
Does she seriously think she can hide her identity with that? There isn't a person in the world who doesn't know the daughter of the Ivliano family has a disability.
Surprisingly, the Wraith Squad did not recognize Margiella. Their expressions clearly asked, Who are these people? They didn't attack recklessly, seemingly wary of the bizarre ‘Steel Gate’ Margiella had arrived through.
“Nice to meet you. I’m Moruriela. You could say I’m the owner of this land.”
Beside her was another familiar face.
“Well, well, if it isn't the Wraith Squad? I bet a few of my old colleagues are in there. How’s Rokai, that piece of trash, doing?”
Cold Jo.
He let out a snickering laugh as he looked at the Wraith Squad. From Jin’s experience fighting him, Jo was nowhere near the level of the mages he faced, but there was a reason he could act so bold.
“Jo, shut up. I’ve warned you not to act tough using me as your backup. You piece of trash, try to be half as good as the Vice Captain. I feel like killing you several times a day.”
Verakt Sidriker.
The Great Warrior of the White Wolf Tribe and one of the cores of Kinzelo. He was the reason Jo could laugh so unpleasantly even while facing the Wraith Squad.
—Kid.
—Yeah.
—That guy is seriously strong. I’m not even sure your eldest sister could guarantee a win.
The conversation he’d had with Murakan while watching Verakt offer condolences for Holy King Miklan during the Holy Kingdom incident.
Just as those words suggested, Verakt was the strongest warrior of the beastmen tribes, worthy of the title ‘Great Warrior.’
“No need for long words, human mages. I’m in a very foul mood right now, so if you don't get lost within three seconds, I’ll chew you all up and shit you out as dung in twenty minutes. One, two, three.”
Rumble—!
After counting to three in the span of a single second, Verakt drew the greatsword from his back and unleashed a strike. With a single blow, the cave was split in two, and the Wraith Squad mages were sent stumbling back.
Jin thought that Murakan’s assessment—that even Luna couldn't be guaranteed a win—might have actually been an understatement.
As soon as Verakt attacked, Margiella rolled her wheelchair toward Jin.
“Hurry and retreat. And you mustn't forget this debt, okay?”
Margiella winked at Jin and smiled.
