Chapter 466: People with Good Instincts, People with Bad Instincts (10)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 466: People with Good Instincts, People with Bad Instincts (10)
A black tide born in the heavens crashed down upon the earth.
To the four great powers frantically erecting their shields, that was exactly what it looked like. It seemed as though a merciless black tsunami would wipe the entire island off the map.
The Pressure attribute imbued within the Azure Fire added a crushing weight, as if a great mountain were bearing down on them.
Crr-crack! Crack!
Even before the Karma Fire touched the ground, massive fissures split the island. The mortals below could only wonder if this was what the end of the world looked like.
In truth, if their shields failed, the Karma Fire Murakan had unleashed possessed enough power to wipe the island from existence.
This was the result of a synergistic effect.
Simply put, Murakan’s spirit energy—bolstered by the recovery of fifty percent of his original strength—had merged with the Karma Fire Jin manifested.
Instead of canceling each other out, the two forces fused as if they were always meant to, creating a power far more formidable than the sum of its parts.
The Karma Fire Jin had manifested on his own was powerful enough to turn the guardian knights of the Garden of Swords to ash, had Luntia not intervened. It went without saying how much more devastating it was now with Murakan’s strength added to the mix.
Of course, it still couldn't compare to the Karma Fire Sarah had wielded in her prime, but it was now powerful enough to be considered a close second.
In other words, not a single person among the four great powers gathered on the archipelago could block this attack alone.
Whoosh! Craaaack!
The Karma Fire began to ravage the earth.
The moment the edge of the black tsunami swept over their shields, the warriors on the ground trembled in fear and shock.
Dozens of layered shields, erected with the desperate might of the four great powers’ top elites, shattered as easily as dry leaves.
Cr-crack! Shatter! Boom!
Fragments of the broken shields scattered, reflecting chaotic patterns of light. But in less than a second, the pitch-black Karma Fire blotted out everything, plunging the world into darkness.
"Aaaargh!"
"Gah!"
Screams erupted from all sides.
The Karma Fire turned everything it touched to ash. A mere brush against a fingertip was enough for the flames to consume an entire body, while the aura of Pressure made it impossible to flee. Not that running would have made any difference.
The mortals caught beneath the black tide felt as if they were standing in hell itself.
And if this hell had a god, it was surely the terrifying Black Dragon, Murakan, who laughed like a madman as he watched them burn. In reality, however, his gaze was wandering aimlessly.
[Khahahaha! Khahak! Kah-hah-hah-hah!]
His laughter was merely an expression of uncontrollable joy, but those on the ground could never have known.
To them, he was a chilling god of death, capable of slaughtering the elites of the four great powers as easily as crushing ants.
"Giggle! Hey, you bastard! Do you really have to fight that? Mess with that Black Dragon and you’ll be in real trouble. If you’re so eager to end up like Brother Myuron, I can recommend plenty of other ways."
Sandra shouted, pushing back the Karma Fire with ice magic. Sweat poured down her face like rain as she fought off the black flames.
"Every day… I imagined killing them. Those who are the enemies of Brother Myuron…!"
Midore used spatial explosions and fire magic to protect himself and the mages near him.
"Really? ‘Enemies of Brother Myuron?’ You’re hilarious. You talk as if you two were actual brothers!"
Contrary to her words, Sandra wasn't being sarcastic; she spoke with a strange, bubbly tone.
"Well, do what you want! Not that I think you'll succeed, even if you die and come back. I really wanted to meet Jin Runcandel at least once, too… Aaaah!"
Suddenly, the Karma Fire intensified without warning, forcing a scream from Sandra.
The elder-level mages near her failed to react in time and were swallowed by the surge of spirit energy, vanishing without a trace.
In that single surge, the Zipple contingent lost nearly half of its mages.
Despite this, Sandra simply grinned.
"Whew, I almost went with them. How charming. Truly!"
The situation was even worse for Kinzelo.
Unlike the White Wolves, the Red Tiger tribe was proving to be of no help whatsoever. In fact, it was worse than that. Many Red Tigers thrashed about wildly, dragging the White Wolves down to their deaths like vengeful spirits from a watery grave.
"You crazy Red Tigers! Let go! Let go of me!"
"P-please save me! I was wrong! I won't do it again!"
"Won't do what?!"
"Save me too, gah!"
"Your kind is getting our people killed…!"
In the end, the White Wolf tribe’s high-ranking warriors had no choice but to bring their hammers down on the heads of the very Red Tigers who blocked their path. If they didn't, total annihilation was certain. Occasionally, a warrior of Big Tiger rank would try to fight back, but their mindless claw strikes posed little threat to the White Wolves.
Though the two tribes rarely got along, the White Wolves couldn't help but feel it was a "waste" as they killed the Red Tigers.
Damn it! To think the soldiers for our Great Cause would die so pointlessly…!
Losing ordinary Red Tiger warriors was one thing, but losing the Big Tigers so senselessly was a particularly painful blow. "Big Tiger" was a title reserved for those whose combat prowess rivaled the White Wolves’ own "highest warriors."
Heads and torsos of Red Tigers flew in all directions, swallowed by the black flames. Meanwhile, the weaker White Wolves continued to die off as well.
While Kinzelo’s forces descended into a bloody shambles, the members of Viment were enduring their own horrific ordeal.
It was absurd enough fighting Amela this whole time, but now it’s the Black Dragon Murakan…! Latz, the leader of Special Task Force Unit 3, thought as he grit his teeth.
Like the other factions, the Viment agents had never imagined such a scenario unfolding when they first came to the Gaifa Archipelago.
Who could have predicted Amela would actually fight all four great powers at once, all while cursing them, no less?
They had assumed there might be minor skirmishes, but never a full-scale battle. Each faction was wary of the others. A show of force was one thing, but escalating to open combat would result in devastating losses for everyone. No matter who secured Amela, they all would have preferred to negotiate.
But for someone to just unleash a wide-area attack like this… it was unthinkable.
The attack had only just begun, yet Murakan was already overwhelming all four great powers by himself.
Latz and the other unit leaders felt a chill crawl down their spines as they watched their agents die, one after another. It wasn't just one or two. They couldn't begin to estimate the time and money required to replace so many elite agents. It was uncertain if they would even survive to return to the Empire.
Zipple, Kinzelo, and Viment all assumed the Karma Fire was Murakan’s technique. The Runcandels, however, came to a different conclusion.
This isn't Lord Murakan’s power… it’s the Young Master’s! Vigo swallowed hard as he cut through the Karma Fire.
Though it was somewhat different from the technique manifested during the contest for Patriarch, Vigo clearly recognized the Karma Fire as a Magic Sword Secret Technique.
It’s far more powerful than what Lady Luntia blocked back then, but there’s no doubt. This isn’t Lord Murakan’s power—it’s the Young Master’s!
Goosebumps rose as if a cold blade had grazed his spine.
Furthermore, a strange mix of inferiority, admiration, shame, self-loathing, and fighting spirit swirled within him, creating an indescribable feeling.
This was because the black tsunami of Karma Fire was noticeably weaker where it spread toward the Runcandels. Of course, this was because Murakan was controlling its output, but Vigo mistakenly believed Jin was showing consideration for him and the family.
Regardless, unlike the other factions, Runcandel had not suffered a single casualty.
In other words, the Runcandel knights felt their very lives were in Jin’s hands. If he wished it, they would die. If he wished it, they would live.
[Yes, feel it! You insignificant wretches. Realize the power of the Great Black Dragon and die; it will be the greatest moment of your pathetic lives.]
Murakan said, his laughter momentarily subsiding.
He looked down at the ground being ravaged by the Karma Fire, a satisfied smirk on his face as he admired his own enhanced power.
It was thrilling, and the laughter came easily. His mouth was stretched in a wide, undignified grin, but fortunately, no one could see his face. They were all too busy trying to survive the Karma Fire.
Only one person, Jin, looked up at him and let out a sigh of relief.
That guy seems to have suddenly become incredibly strong. What is it? It feels like some kind of restriction has vanished.
Whatever the reason, it was undoubtedly a good thing.
He had saved Amela, Murakan had grown stronger, and they had unexpectedly created a situation where they overwhelmed the four great powers.
He quickly racked his brain, trying to figure out how to reap the most benefit from this situation. He didn't need to think for long.
"Lady Amela."
[Yes—no. Yeah. Th-thanks for saving me.]
"I'll listen to your thanks and get the details later. For now, I have a proposal."
[Say anything! I'm done being friends with Bubar and Kinzelo. I'll be your friend instead!]
"We'll see about that. Whether I can accept you as a friend is also a factor. For now, hide."
Flash!
[Mya!]
Shuri was summoned from the Red Jade. The moment Amela saw Shuri, her eyes sparkled intensely, just as they had when she saw the Prochi siblings.
"She will help you. Before this chaos subsides, hide yourself as quickly as possible. Find a spot not too far from the archipelago and wait there until I give the signal."
Jin intended for the world to believe Amela was dead. Since she had already turned her back on the four great powers, he judged it best to have her feign death and secretly recruit her to his side.
Of course, that was a conversation for after he could truly trust her. But once the Karma Fire ended, she would lose her chance to escape unseen.
[With this one? Really? Can I take the cuties too?]
"No. And if you deceive me or run away, I don't care where you are or who's protecting you. I will find you and ki—"
[That won't happen! See you later then.]
[Mya-mya!]
As Amela departed on Shuri's back, Jin saw Bubar's soul, which had been bound to the Prochi siblings, fading rapidly.
I’ll hear about that from Amela herself in due time… Now, shall I finish cleaning up here?
Jin and Murakan’s eyes met.
Through the shape of his mouth, Jin mouthed the words:
Prepare Line 3, Murakan.