Chapter 388: Who is the Real Runcandel? (8)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 388: Who is the Real Runcandel? (8)
The distance between Jin and Luntia slowly closed.
Belated screams began to echo across the ruins of the training hall.
“Aaaargh! Argh…!”
At a rough estimate, over a hundred Guardian Knights lay scattered in every direction, groaning in agony.
The warriors who had managed to protect them finally caught their breath, only to instinctively feel a new, more terrifying clash approaching.
‘The Third Flagbearer is enraged…’
‘We were too busy saving the knights to stop the Twelfth Flagbearer before, but now… it’s impossible to even intervene.’
Those who truly understood Luntia—mostly the core members of the Elder Council—knew it would be impossible to stop the fight that was about to resume. They knew exactly how dangerous she became once she shed her usual listlessness.
Furthermore, there was no reason to stop it.
‘The clan’s Guardian Knights were nearly annihilated by fire.’
‘If this isn’t treason, then what is?’
He had completely obliterated the clan's Central Training Ground, an act that could have turned dozens of Guardian Knights to ash in an instant.
Fortunately, thanks to the efforts of the Flagbearers and high-ranking warriors, not a single person had died. However, the incident was more than grave enough to be considered treason. To the Runcandels who had been attacked, Jin’s words were a direct assault on the clan's very legitimacy.
Of course, Jin had only unleashed the Karma Fire after calculating that the Flagbearers and high-ranking warriors were strong enough to protect the Guardian Knights. He had also been goaded by Lin Milkano’s challenge to put on a "show of strength."
But that was unlikely to earn him any leniency. There was a limit to everything.
From this point on, there was only one thing Jin had to show:
Value.
He had to prove that his declaration to return Runcandel to a clan of Magic Swordsmen was not mere talk. To do that, there was only one path forward.
‘I must win.’
The moment he lost to Luntia, it wouldn’t matter how shocking his words had been, how great his challenge, how intense his warning, or how brilliant the truth he spoke—everything would become worthless.
Normally, for a Twelfth Flagbearer to put up a decent fight against the Third Flagbearer would be a remarkable achievement in itself. But not now. He had to take responsibility for his heavy words, which carried the weight of a thousand years of history. As a Runcandel.
With ten paces left between them, Jin and Luntia glared at each other in silence.
Fighting spirit and murderous intent filled Jin’s fire-lit eyes and Luntia’s mysterious gaze.
A sword that had swallowed Karma Fire and a sword imbued with Aura.
Bradamante and Charles vibrated in their hands. The blades emitted a sharp resonance, like beasts straining to tear each other apart.
There was no signal.
Nevertheless, the two thrust their swords toward each other simultaneously, without a hair’s breadth of error. Without form or technique, they swung as if wielding clubs. That was how the first clash of their resumed battle took place.
Boom!
The energies bound to their blades were unleashed, creating a deafening roar and a shockwave. Before the shockwave could even dissipate, their swords struck each other once more.
Like massive sheets of glass shattering, fire and Aura poured from their blades with every impact.
“Kh!”
It felt as if a handful of iron nails had been driven into his bones and organs. Jin’s expression contorted in pain, while Luntia kept her mouth tightly shut.
Despite being wreathed in flames, Luntia was the one who appeared more composed. She was enduring the very essence of the Karma Fire flowing from Bradamante with every exchange.
I will kill you.
She hadn't spoken, yet her voice seemed to ring in his ears. Her killing intent took on a physical form, piercing his mind like an awl.
‘There’s no way she’s taking no damage.’
No matter how strong Luntia was, what Jin had unleashed was Sarah Runcandel’s Magic Sword Secret Technique. While it was still a pale imitation of what Sarah had performed in her prime, it was the same power that had just brought every Runcandel in the training ground to their knees.
‘She can’t keep this up forever. That’s impossible for anyone in this world except Father.’
Her indifferent expression didn't mean she was unaffected. The Karma Fire clinging to Bradamante was constantly gnawing away at Luntia’s body.
However, Jin’s body was also breaking down—at a much faster rate than hers.
‘Karma Fire alone isn't enough.’
If he had unleashed it from the start solely to harm Luntia, the story might have been different. But more than half of the Karma Fire's power had been consumed in dealing with the other Runcandels. Gathering the remaining flames was not enough to overcome her.
‘She hasn't even used a Decisive Technique yet. At this rate, I’ll be the one to fall.’
He had to make a move. He needed a sword with destructive power comparable to, or even exceeding, the Karma Fire.
Whoosh!
Jin poured out the last of the flames from Bradamante and widened the distance. The fire surged along with his Spirit Energy, enveloping Luntia.
In that moment, Luntia faltered for the first time.
But it was only for an instant.
The next moment, she released her Aura, and the Karma Fire faded to embers, emitting only a faint light.
The fire surrounding Jin scattered as well. His body, which had been glowing like molten slag, returned to its original color.
Haa, haa, haaaa…!
Jin’s breathing was ragged, and blood trickled from his parched lips. It now poured from the raw wounds where the fire had coursed over his skin, and his staggering form looked as if it might collapse at any second.
On the other hand, with the torment of the Karma Fire gone, Luntia’s movements seemed even lighter. She wasn't gasping for air like Jin.
‘It’s over…’
‘It was impressive, but it’s the Third Flagbearer’s victory. Looking at the Twelfth Flagbearer’s condition, it’ll be over in moments.’
‘The Third Flagbearer won't let him live. Even if she leaves him breathing, she’ll cripple him for life.’
This was the natural conclusion everyone reached.
It was an undeniable fact that Jin, as a Magic Swordsman, had demonstrated incredible, incomprehensible strength. However, the gap in weight class between the Third Flagbearer—considered the strongest after Luna—and the nineteen-year-old Twelfth Flagbearer was simply too vast.
And yet, what they had witnessed was still shocking.
Some Runcandels felt so regretful about Jin’s impending end that it was driving them mad. These were the same people who, just ten minutes ago, had wanted to personally take his head. They were thrilled by the power of the Magic Sword he had shown. They felt that his words—that this power could be the key to defeating Zipple—carried weight.
And so, they thought:
‘If the Acting Patriarch steps in, the Twelfth Flagbearer can be saved.’
‘If the Twelfth Flagbearer dies, it will be impossible to learn the secrets of the First Patriarch’s tomb. If only the Acting Patriarch would act before the Third Flagbearer takes his life…!’
Conflicting thoughts swirled in the minds of the Runcandels.
However, those who wished for Jin’s death and those who wished for his life shared one common thought:
Jin’s fate rested in Rosa’s hands.
Rosa Runcandel. The high seat where she sat remained untouched, exactly as it had been before the Karma Fire was unleashed. She had repelled all the encroaching flames while remaining seated, her expression never once changing.
While the Flagbearers and high-ranking warriors had been protecting the Guardian Knights, Rosa had watched the fight between Jin and Luntia from beginning to end.
“Third Flagbearer.”
At Rosa’s call, Luntia stopped in her tracks. If Rosa hadn’t spoken, she would have taken two more steps and ended Jin’s life.
“Yes.”
“Will you kill him?”
“I will.”
Rosa said nothing more in response.
In the silence, Jin’s ragged breathing sounded exceptionally loud. It was so heavy that even someone who knew nothing of swordsmanship could see his stamina was at its absolute limit.
After ten seconds passed in this tense quiet, Luntia finally had no choice but to ask.
“Is there a problem with me killing the Twelfth Flagbearer? May I ask why you are silent?”
Rosa slowly shook her head.
“A doubt crossed my mind, so I was thinking.”
“What kind of doubt…?”
“I wonder why everyone thinks the fight is over.”
At Rosa’s words, every Runcandel turned their eyes to Jin. Still exhaling ragged breaths, he was in the process of sheathing Bradamante.
And drawing a new sword. The blade emerging from the scabbard was as pale as the dawn sky.
The Sealed Lightning Sword, Sigmund.
The divine sword of the Pluto Tribe, inherited from the Fighting God Ban.
Crackle…
The blade, now imbued with lightning, let out a low, somber cry.
The eyes of the Runcandels widened in astonishment.
‘He still has the strength to fight?!’
‘After unleashing that insane sword of flames, he still has energy left?’
‘No… the Acting Patriarch is just pointing out that the Twelfth Flagbearer still has the will to fight. His body can’t possibly support him anymore.’
Jin had no more strength. Even if he did, it would never be enough to turn the tide. That was what the Runcandels believed.
“Phew… I thought I’d smashed everything to my heart’s content, but one thing remains.”
When Jin finally spoke, Luntia felt the hair on her neck stand on end. She, too, had assumed Rosa’s words referred to Jin’s lingering will to fight.
She was wrong.
“That high seat where Mother is sitting. I think the meaning of my declaration today will only become clear once I’ve obliterated that as well.”
At those words, the Runcandels were once again plunged into a daze, as if struck in the head with a blunt weapon.
Pluto Sword Fighting God Technique 10th Sword.
Pluto’s Sovereign Sword – Open (開).
Jin’s bloodshot eyes began to fill with lightning.
The ground distorted. The blackened, scorched earth cracked open, vomiting arcs of pure lightning. A wicked heat, different from the flames of the Karma Fire, rode the electrical torrent and instantly surged through the ruins.
Everyone, keep your eyes wide open… and watch closely. See what a real Runcandel is, what has truly protected this clan. And… what the current Runcandel has forgotten.
Jin looked back at the clan, his eyes crackling with lightning as he finished his silent declaration.
The lightning of Pluto’s Sovereign Sword blanketed the shattered earth.