Chapter 435: Raiders, Brothers (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 435: Raiders, Brothers (3)
Out of nowhere, the very air split apart, and Mort emerged from the rift.
“Gah! What the—what is that?!”
“A toad…?”
The Tona brothers cried out in unison. Mort’s massive white body cast a looming shadow over them and the assassins' boats.
Though they cried out in shock, the brothers knew the Snow Toad Mort was the summoned beast of the Palace Master of the Secret Palace. They had simply never seen him in person, and the dire circumstances prompted an instinctive reaction.
The lead assassin facing the brothers also widened his eyes, though his face remained hidden by a hood.
The Palace Master, Talaris Endorma…?!
He had no idea why that monster had appeared here.
The elders hadn't even told him about the Tona brothers, but that was a manageable variable.
However, Talaris was a different story entirely.
The Spider of the Abyss—that was what the world commonly called her. Yet, very few people knew exactly why she had been given such an epithet.
In fact, considering the elements that defined Talaris and the Secret Palace—terms like 'The Lone Tower of the West Sea,' 'Ten Thousand Ice,' and 'Winter'—other titles would have seemed more fitting.
Most assumed the name came from the dark and fearsome imagery of the words 'abyss' and 'spider,' or perhaps as a symbol of her staggering history with men.
The assassin's gaze met Talaris's. To him, Mort’s descent looked like a scene playing out in slow motion.
From the assassin's perspective, it was as if the apocalypse itself was descending upon them.
Crack, cra-crack, shiver!
Even before Mort’s four massive feet touched the seawater, the sound of the sea rapidly freezing and cracking filled the air.
It was the sound of the sea around Tikan freezing solid.
Pure white frost radiated from Talaris, spreading across the ocean like a giant spiderweb.
The pouring rain froze mid-air, and the waves subsided.
The waves didn't just stop; seized by the chill, they surged toward the sky, freezing as they climbed.
In less than five seconds, the frozen waves formed a massive shield over Tikan, blanketing the entire island.
The sky grew dark as the ice blocked the sun, but the Ten Thousand Ice in Talaris’s hand pulsed with cold energy and Aura, providing its own light.
“Hmph, you stupid toad. You were supposed to arrive at the mansion inside the island, not here.”
[Boong...]
Talaris shrugged as she scolded Mort. As she said, they had intended to warp directly into the mansion, but Mort had made a mistake and dropped them onto the sea.
Fortunately, that mistake turned out to be a stroke of incredible luck for the Tona brothers.
“M-Youngest!”
“Jin…!”
The Tona brothers shouted in unison.
Talaris wasn't the only one on Mort’s back; Jin, Murakan, Siris, and the 7 Swords of the Secret Palace were all there as well.
“Well, you still did a good job, Mort. This isn't exactly an irrelevant location.”
[Boong!]
“It looks like those dimwitted fellows were trying to fight for our son-in-law, hm? How precious…”
As Talaris spoke, the assassin suddenly lunged for the Tona brothers. They had been trading blows only a moment ago, so the distance was short. He intended to seize the brothers and use them as hostages.
If Jin had been alone, he would have struggled to stop the attack. The distance was just too short.
However, without even moving from her spot on Mort’s back, Talaris blocked the assassin’s path with a casual gesture.
Whoosh! Crackle!
A pillar of ice shot up between them, following Talaris’s gesture. The assassin hurriedly swung his sword but failed to break through, and the Tona brothers immediately scrambled back toward Mort.
“Honestly, how rude to interrupt while someone is talking.”
“Brothers, are you okay?”
The Tona brothers nodded vigorously. A strange feeling washed over Jin as he watched them, but he couldn’t help but feel proud.
In my past life, they were the ones who tormented me so much… but now, they were willing to fight to protect my comrades.
Even at a glance, it was clear the enemy was a master far beyond the Tona brothers' capabilities. Nevertheless, they had stood their ground, ready to fight.
“We're fine!”
“Thanks to you showing up.”
The Tona brothers replied, their voices instantly regaining their confidence.
Patter, patter!
Raindrops, now frozen into hail, drummed against the ice barrier, creating a pleasant white noise.
If we had been even a moment later, my brothers would have been in grave danger.
Enemies were likely scattered throughout Tikan, meaning his other comrades were also in danger. The civilian casualties would have been catastrophic.
If not for the Secret Palace, Jin would have arrived only after the terror attack was over.
—Young Master, the atmospheric currents and weather around Tikan are so poor that the teleport gates cannot be used.
—…The Secret Palace! What about the gate leading to the Secret Palace?
That was the conversation he’d had with the butler, Petro, just before coming to Tikan.
The Secret Palace currently had an open gate to Runcandel, so Jin was fortunately able to ask Talaris for help.
Furthermore, thanks to a 'hotline' with Lucas Manfran—a public agent of the Seven-Colored Bird stationed in the Secret Palace—Talaris had been alerted to the situation just before Jin arrived.
Even if Jin hadn't sought her out, Talaris would have sent Mort to help Tikan anyway.
Ever since she was shown the seal of 'Elona Zipple'—or perhaps even earlier, from the moment she first took an interest in Jin—the Secret Palace had become his most reliable ally.
“Daughter.”
“Yes, Mother.”
“Take the 7 Swords of the Secret Palace and our son-in-law, and go protect the interior of the island.”
“Understood. 7 Swords, move inland immediately! Your objective is to protect Tikan's forces and its civilians. Subdue the enemy if possible, but do not hesitate to kill if necessary.”
“By your command!”
“My darling—no, my handsome older brother—why don't you transform into your true form and survey the battlefield?”
[I was planning to do that anyway. But who are you calling 'darling'?]
“Oho, a slip of the tongue.”
Murakan transformed, revealing his massive black wings. Jin climbed onto his back and reached out a hand to the Tona brothers.
“Brothers, why don't you hop on and help me out?”
The Tona brothers’ expressions said it all. C-Can we really ride on the back of the Great Black Dragon?
However, instead of letting them ride on his back, Murakan picked the Tona brothers up in his mouth.
[As if I’d let these things ride on my back. I’ll drop you off somewhere appropriate, so make sure you rack up some achievements, got it?]
Murakan took flight with a whoosh. As he and Siris—leading the 7 Swords from atop Mort—headed inland, only Talaris and the assassin remained on the frozen sea.
“Do you want to surrender and die painlessly, or struggle and die cruelly? I hope you're the type of friend who knows how to choose a wise answer.”
Talaris spoke, pointing the Ten Thousand Ice at him. With her arrival, any hope the assassins had of returning alive had vanished.
The assassin adjusted his stance, his own extraordinary aura flaring to life. It only seemed to pale in comparison because he was facing Talaris; he was by no means a warrior destined to fade into nameless obscurity.
“…Why does the Palace Master move for the likes of the Runcandel 12th Flagbearer?”
“I'll take that as you choosing the latter.”
Flash!
Talaris charged as if sliding across the ice and swung the Ten Thousand Ice. The assassin parried the blow, scattering sword energy.
Of course, she hadn't poured all her strength into the first strike, but Talaris seemed surprised that the assassin was able to deflect it so cleanly.
“Before we came, our son-in-law said the Elder Council must have hired you. I assumed that meant the Black King Corps or Amela’s mercenaries, but your style feels nothing like theirs.”
In her youth, Talaris had fought numerous battles against the Black King Corps and Amela’s mercenaries. The patterns of their swordplay were completely different from this assassin's.
And yet, his sword style felt far more familiar than that of the Black King Corps or Amela.
“Assassin. We've met before, haven't we? I recognize your scent.”
Though he was impressively trading blows with Talaris, he had no leisure to answer her questions. The assassin was giving his all, while Talaris was merely toying with him.
“I'm getting a bit curious. Why don't you just tell me nicely which group you belong to?”
As Talaris increased her tempo, the assassin’s footwork grew precarious.
On the sea, armed with the Ten Thousand Ice, Talaris was virtually invincible. The physical prowess of a top-tier 10-star knight, combined with the power of the Ten Thousand Ice surging from all directions, put immense pressure on the assassin.
Slash!
Soon, Talaris’s sword energy grazed the assassin’s right cheek. The force blew back his hood, revealing his face, and at that sight, even Talaris couldn't help but flinch.
The skin of his face was so melted it nearly covered his eyes. His lips were almost gone, exposing his teeth even with his mouth closed, and his ears were mangled beyond recognition.
It was a face one wouldn't wish on their worst enemy. His breathing was a harsh, scraping sound, indicating damage to his respiratory system as well.
Hiss, hiss, wheeze…!
The assassin caught his breath, and Talaris stopped her attack, staring at him intently.
It was because, amidst that mangled mess, she saw a flicker of a familiar face.
“You… no way.”
Talaris’s eyes widened. She remembered him—not his name, but his affiliation.
“Aren't you a Runcandel Enforcement Knight? You all attacked me together once before, didn't you?”
Talaris nodded as if she understood everything.
“Ah, I suppose you're an Exile now, not an Enforcement Knight, judging by the state of your face. No wonder your swordsmanship felt familiar. Yes, I'm certain now. I remember crossing swords with you a long time ago. You were the leader of the 1st Division of Enforcement Knights back then. Your name was…”
“I have no name.”
“What do you mean you don't have one? I think I'm about to remember it.”
Rip! The assassin tore the rest of his hood, using the cloth to cover his face like a mask as he spoke.
“Now that you're here, none of us will leave this place alive. Whether you kill me cruelly or peacefully… do as you wish.”
Drawing his energy once more, the assassin’s sword radiated a shimmering heat.
But looking at the assassin, Talaris broke into a wicked smile.
“No? Why would I kill you? It would be better to keep you alive if possible.”
“What are you talking about, Palace Master?”
“I think our son-in-law might be able to make use of you if things go well. For now… just pray. Pray that the guys inside didn't hurt our son-in-law's people.”
Because if they did, not even I will be able to save you, Talaris thought, spreading her frost toward the assassin.