Chapter 434: The Raiders, The Brothers (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 434: The Raiders, The Brothers (2)
The Tona brothers were fishing on a small, uninhabited island just off the coast of Tikan.
With their weapons hidden in a rowboat and straw hats pulled low as a disguise, they looked like nothing more than a pair of idle loafers.
"When on earth are we going to see the youngest?"
The moment Heitona spoke, a fish took the bait.
Plink, plop.
As the bobber dipped, Daytona gave the rod a sharp tug.
The taut line drew a graceful arc against the sky, promising a prize catch, but what he reeled in was a minnow so small it was almost pitiful.
The Tona brothers clicked their tongues in unison as they watched the tiny fish flop on the deck.
"I think the youngest has gotten too big for guys like us to just drop in on."
Daytona carefully removed the hook and released the minnow back into the sea.
Of course, that minnow could never become a master of the vast ocean. Among whales, sharks, and countless other predators, it was just a tiny life form whose existence barely mattered. No matter how fiercely it struggled, just surviving would be a monumental task, let alone ruling the sea.
As they watched the minnow dart away, the Tona brothers saw a reflection of themselves.
Lately, the two had been feeling a sense of crisis more profound than ever before. Their older siblings treated them as if they were invisible, and they had never received even a shred of expectation from Cyron or Rosa.
The youngest, at least, showed them some interest, which was why they wanted to get a little closer to him.
This wasn't about using the youngest's power to secure their position in the clan or ensure their survival, as their nanny Emma had suggested. They simply wanted to talk to him, with no ulterior motives.
In a way, it was an unconscious desire for encouragement—for comfort from someone they admired. But the Tona brothers didn't recognize the emotion. No one had ever taught them that it was natural to feel this way when exhausted and struggling. After all, the place they were born and raised was Runcandel.
"That’s true. The youngest isn't someone you can just meet without a reason. But honestly, it’s a problem even if we do meet him. What if he asks why we came, and we say we just felt like it? We’ll look pathetic, won't we?"
"Well, it’s the truth."
"Sigh. If we hadn't acted like idiots when we were kids, would the youngest think a bit better of us now?"
"We really were fearless back then, both of us."
Their gazes drifted past their fishing rods toward the Tikan Free City, which towered over the blue sea. That island, rising like a spire, was a brilliant stronghold their youngest brother had built.
They wondered if it might be more meaningful to belong to that island rather than Runcandel. In the Garden of Swords, it seemed unlikely they would ever prove their worth beyond a certain point.
"…Let’s just go back. Even if we met the youngest like this, we’d probably just disappoint him. To think I was going to tell a guy that busy that I just came to see him… I must have lost my mind for a second."
"Yeah. Let’s go hunt down some of those Zipple fanatics or inspect our territories."
"Haaa…"
Just as the brothers were reeling in their lines with heavy sighs, it happened.
"Wait, look!"
"You've got to be kidding me!"
The Tona brothers bolted upright, pointing toward a small vessel. That ship had a different purpose than the other fishing boats working the waters near Tikan.
The vessel they were pointing at was carrying warriors, not fishermen.
A total of twenty warriors appeared on deck. The ship was already dangerously close to Tikan, and without a moment's hesitation, the warriors drew their swords and fired off a volley of sword energy toward the Free City.
Swaaa— Boom! Crackle!
The outer walls, reinforced with magic, were sliced and blasted apart like tofu by the sudden barrage.
"What the hell are those guys!?"
They couldn't immediately identify their affiliation. However, as soon as the attack began, the brothers were certain of one thing: this was an assassination squad composed of incredibly skilled individuals.
At least 7-star, maybe up to 9-star. Perhaps even higher.
Where did they come from? Mercenaries? There aren't many mercenary groups with this much nerve. Zipple? The Imperial Family?
Whoever sent them, if we fight… can we win?
No, we can't. And strictly speaking, there’s no reason for us to fight. We don't know what will happen if we get involved. Besides, the youngest has his comrades in Tikan.
The thoughts flashed through their minds in an instant.
The rational decision was to stay put or retreat, but the Tona brothers shouted in unison:
"Let's go!"
If they could come to see the youngest for 'no reason,' then they could also fight for him for no reason—without weighing the gains and losses.
As they leaped into their rowboat and sped toward Tikan, the brothers didn't even think of it as an opportunity to 'look good' to the youngest. Their only thought was that they had to stop those bastards, even a second sooner.
They channeled wind with their swords, using the gust as propulsion. The distance was short, and they reached the outer walls of Tikan in no time.
They had already concluded they couldn't win, but as the battle drew near, manic grins spread across their faces.
The world hadn't given them the moniker 'Darlings of Hell' for nothing.
"Kh-kh, kehehe. Stop right there, you vermin. Kh-kh-kh, no. Just die!" Daytona shouted, his eyes rolling wildly. He swung his greatsword, aiming for the assassins who were just about to breach Tikan's walls.
Whoosh—! Flash!
The sword energy that erupted from his greatsword carved heavily through the air. Simultaneously, Heitona unfurled his chain sword.
Both brothers were currently at the 7-star level, but their sword energy, bolstered by the monstrous strength characteristic of a Runcandel, was easily comparable to that of higher-ranked warriors.
Five assassins moved to block the attack. The other fifteen had already entered Tikan and were engaging the defenders inside.
"I said die!"
Daytona and Heitona unleashed their sword energy again.
Faced with such momentum, four of the five assassins momentarily faltered. Blocking that much power while on a swaying ship required immense skill.
However, the four didn't need to parry the attack.
The fifth man had blocked it perfectly. He was the leader of the assassins left outside the island.
Perhaps to hide their affiliation, all the assassins carried ordinary longswords.
"This wasn't in the briefing."
"What should we do?" the assassins asked their leader.
Even after seeing the Tona brothers' spirited entrance, they reacted with indifference. It was as if a couple of small fry like them couldn't possibly change the outcome.
It was as if they could decide whether to let them live or die on a whim.
That was what drove the Tona brothers mad.
"'What should we do,' you say? You bastards, were you just discussing what to do with us?"
"Kha-ha-ha! You’re standing before two Runcandel flagbearers… you’re not just relaxed, you’re insane. This place you’ve attacked is the stronghold of the 12th Flagbearer!"
The Tona brothers fired another burst of sword energy, but once again, the leader dissipated it without any effort.
"Daytona Runcandel and Heitona Runcandel. I heard you were stupid, but I didn't realize it was to this extent," the leader said, shaking his head.
"What?"
"Didn't you get a feel for it from that first exchange? You couldn't defeat me even if you died and were reborn."
The Tona brothers couldn't deny it.
"Ah, a feel? Yeah, we got it. So what?"
"It seems you don't value your lives much. Even if you die fighting me here, do you think the 12th Flagbearer will even care?"
"Heh… Are you telling us to back off quietly because you're showing us mercy?"
"I am."
"Unfortunately, someone recently reminded us that struggling against a stronger opponent is an essential virtue of a Runcandel. So, we can't do that."
As the Tona brothers leaped simultaneously, their small boat shattered under the force of their kick. They landed on the assassins' ship, their eyes glowing red with murderous intent.
"If you insist on throwing away your chance to live, I won't stop you."
"It’s been a long time since we’ve crossed blades with someone who isn't intimidated by the name Runcandel."
"Come at me, kh-hik! No, I'm coming for you!"
The moment Heitona and Daytona charged, the leader swung his sword once, easily pushing them back as he spoke.
"I'll remain outside. I'll finish this as quickly as possible and join you. The rest of you, go meet up with the team that entered first."
The assassins scattered. The Tona brothers didn't stop them from entering Tikan. To be precise, they couldn't.
They knew that even with just the leader remaining on the ship, they were in over their heads.
He’s just standing there, but the pressure is incredible… He’s definitely someone hired by the 2nd Flagbearer or the Elder Council. Where did a guy like this crawl out from?
There are at least a few more warriors of his caliber inside Tikan. Daytona and I need to take down at least one of them, but looking at this guy's prowess, that’ll be difficult…
The outcome the Tona brothers were hoping for was something else entirely.
Endurance.
The news that Tikan is under attack must have reached the youngest. We just have to hold out until he gets here. It won't take long if he uses a teleport gate.
Of course, there was a chance Jin’s comrades inside Tikan could defeat the assassins and come to their aid, but that possibility wasn't very high.
The number of elite assassins who had gone inside was far greater, and there could be even more infiltrating through other routes.
The swords of the Tona brothers and the leader clashed, creating a thunderous roar. With every strike they blocked, the brothers gritted their teeth, while the leader looked relaxed, as if he were toying with them.
"You're probably expecting the 12th Flagbearer or other forces to come to your aid," the leader said in the midst of the exchange, pointing toward the sky. An unusually large number of clouds had gathered.
"You must know that teleport gates cannot be used during heavy snow or rain."
Rumble—! Pitter-patter!
As if on cue, thunder rolled across the sky, and heavy raindrops began to pour down.
"How… Don't tell me, did you control the weather?" Heitona asked through gritted teeth.
The leader shrugged. "Let's just say it was a matter of observation, prediction, and experience. It will continue for at least two days. By then, you and Tikan will no longer exist in this world—"
Booooong—!
A sound cut through the howling wind, the pouring rain, and the leader's despair-inducing words.
It was the sudden cry of a phantom beast—the cry of the Snow Toad, Mort.