Chapter 533: Omen (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 533: Omen (2)
The fleet was crumbling under the blades of the Five Sword Saints and Kalmain.
The Authority of Shadow and Time continued to ravage the enemy forces.
Debris from the destroyed mass-produced ships plummeted threateningly toward the ground, but even that was deflected by the Dragon Fire Barrier, failing to inflict any significant damage on the knights of the Barmul Alliance and Hairan.
Amela’s long-range artillery support also persisted.
The number of captured Dragon Spears now exceeded twenty, all of which had been modified into howitzers to strike the enemy’s rear.
“Dragon Knights! Crush the enemy! Block their magic so they cannot counterattack!”
At Kalmain’s command, the Dragon Knights took flight toward the enemy lines.
No group in the world could match the Dragon Knights in mobile warfare.
The thirty Dragon Knights, weaving through the sky at breakneck speed, demonstrated the ultimate aerial superiority against mages.
“Aaaargh!”
“Avoid it, avoid—ugh!”
Whenever Kalmain and the Sword Saints pierced through the shields, the Dragon Knights would infiltrate the gaps and slit the mages' throats.
No one could have imagined that Zipple’s mages, accompanied by a fleet and dragons, would die so helplessly.
From the air and the sky, from every direction, the screams and pleas of the enemy echoed.
Whenever they met the eyes and voices of those begging for their lives, the Five Sword Saints and the Dragon Knights gave the same answer:
“Did you really think you could invade the Land of the Sword Emperor with such pathetic resolve?”
“Not a single one of you will leave here alive!”
Fwooooosh!
Of course, the Zipple forces did not just take the beating.
While the rank-and-file mages were struggling, the White Night showed their fighting spirit and tenacity even as they were pushed into a corner.
“The brilliant light of the Great Zipple will eventually swallow you all!” one of the White Night commanders shrieked, thrusting his staff upward.
Immediately, the ship serving as the unit’s flagship was dyed in mana, emitting an ominous resonance.
Though few had extensive experience with flying ships or full knowledge of Zipple’s magic and combat tactics, they could tell instinctively.
They knew exactly what that resonance meant: self-destruction.
[Playing dirty, I see. Murakan, you’ll have to stop that. Its power is too immense for my Authority to bind. I suppose a flying ship is still a flying ship, even if it’s just a mass-produced one.]
[What a nuisance... these insects...]
“Praise... Zipple!”
“Dragon Knights, scatter!”
Just before the flagship could explode, Murakan, who had closed the distance in an instant, wrapped his wings around the vessel.
His wings, expanded by spirit energy, were now massive enough to completely shroud the flying ship.
“Lord Murakan!”
“The explosion!”
“Foolish... do you really think you can stop—!”
Boom...!
The worried shouts of the Hairan knights were drowned out by the ensuing muffled roar.
The White Night commander, who had been spitting out a mocking final curse, was disintegrated by the explosion of his own ship within the confines of Murakan’s wings.
However, the flagship’s self-destruction was not visible from the outside at all.
It had failed to pierce through Murakan’s wings.
When Murakan unfurled his wings again, only the ashen remains of the flagship fell to the ground like black rain, mingling with the dissipating spirit energy.
[You lot certainly have a talent for displeasing me. It’s been that way for a thousand years...]
Thousands of black spikes erupted from his wings, which still maintained their colossal form.
Amazingly, these spikes caused no harm to his allies in the sky; instead, they spread out to slaughter only the Zipple mages, their dragons, and their fleet.
Murakan.
The people were witnessing it.
The power of the legendary Black Dragon, whom everyone had revered as the Overlord of the Skies a thousand years ago.
No one could have known that this was a mere fifty percent of his true strength.
Because of this, the Zipple dragons were under the illusion that Murakan had fully regained his power.
For Zipple, this was enough to shatter their will to fight.
The tide of battle had already turned the moment Jin appeared.
With the addition of Murakan, Quicantel, the Dragon Knights, and the Sword Saints, Hairan’s momentum now seemed to be heading toward a total victory.
[Murakan!]
A Blue Dragon took a position in front of Murakan.
It was Laramakua, whom he had encountered once before at the Black King Mountain Fortress.
[Blue Dragon Laramakua. Have you come to throw away the life I spared back then?]
[...Murakan, I know why you are intervening in this fight. It must be to save the friend of your contractor, Jin Runcandel.]
[You sound as if you find that displeasing, Laramakua.]
[Far from it. There is no being in this sky who would dare to displease you. However... I wish to make a proposal.]
Murakan’s wings grew even larger.
Laramakua seemed overwhelmed by his intimidating presence, finding it difficult even to maintain eye contact.
[Speak.]
[Would you be willing to withdraw if you could take your contractor with you?]
[I gave you permission to speak, and you choose to insult me?]
[I mean not just your contractor, but his comrades and all the knights of Hairan as well. If you do that, Zipple will immediately and officially declare defeat and the end of hostilities. I swear this on my honor, the honor of my kin, and the name of the God of the Sea, Kaon, whom I serve.]
At Laramakua’s words, the eyes of everyone on the battlefield widened.
The Emperor, who was at the very rear of the battlefield, was particularly incensed, his eyes bloodshot with rage.
“What on earth is that mad Blue Dragon blabbering about...!”
If Zipple officially declared defeat, the Empire would naturally have to follow suit.
That wasn't just a matter of plummeting prestige; it was a situation that could potentially lead to the destruction of the entire Imperial Family.
When the Emperor had made a deal with Zipple to borrow their strength for this civil war, he had heard nothing of such a possibility.
To the Emperor, it was an incomprehensible proposal.
Zipple’s reinforcements would continue to arrive anyway, and the ‘Spacetime Device’ hadn't even been used yet.
The Imperial Army also had a trump card prepared for the worst-case scenario.
Even if Cyron Runcandel himself were here instead of the Black Dragon Murakan, he wouldn't be able to take on all of Zipple alone. Why the hell is he talking such nonsense! Is he really saying these measly troops are too precious to lose? This is our chance to obtain the White Stone!
The moment Murakan accepted those terms, the Barmul Alliance and Hairan would achieve an overwhelming victory against Zipple and the Empire.
Not only that.
As Jin had first told Dante, he could leave the battlefield having saved not just Dante, but the entire Sword Emperor Castle.
His prestige within his clan would rise even further for achieving a great victory against Zipple single-handedly, and there was a high probability that Hairan, which still maintained its core strength, would become his faction.
The explosions and screams that had echoed across the battlefield just moments ago vanished, replaced by a terrifyingly heavy silence.
People stopped fighting and fixed their gazes on Murakan and Laramakua.
Murakan did not answer.
He knew the question wasn't his to answer.
The decision belonged to his contractor, the Commander-in-Chief of the Barmul Alliance and the representative of Solderet.
“I refuse!”
As Jin shouted, a smile spread across the Emperor’s face, Laramakua gritted her teeth, and the Imperial Army let out sighs of relief.
The knights of Hairan showed no change in emotion.
From the moment they decided to stand against the Emperor’s tyranny, what they sought to protect was their honor, not their lives.
Furthermore, what was done could not be undone.
Though Hairan’s casualties were not yet catastrophic, if even one of them had died by the blade of betrayal, it was as if all of them had died.
In that case, they had to protect one more thing besides their honor.
They must never give up what the enemy coveted.
“The Blue Dragon is mistaken. Why did this war start? It was because of the White Stone, the object the Emperor claims as his own. Because of such a trivial thing, the Empire betrayed the Sword Emperor Castle, and Zipple joined the fray, revealing their foul desires.”
[12th Flagbearer of Runcandel... you go too far.]
“I stand here not as the 12th Flagbearer of Runcandel, but as the Commander-in-Chief of the Barmul Alliance. So, watch your tongue and show proper respect, Blue Dragon.”
Laramakua was flabbergasted by those words, but the Murakan before her was radiating a murderous intent, as if he would tear her wings off at any moment.
To show respect—the command was unspoken, but clear in his eyes.
Jin was not looking up at Laramakua.
Eventually, Laramakua descended to the ground in front of Jin and transformed into a human.
Jin stared at her with an expressionless face.
Is this truly the same human I faced at the Black King Mountain Fortress? It hasn't even been a year since then...
The pressure was different.
Back then, Laramakua hadn't felt much from Jin because of Murakan’s overwhelming presence, but that was no longer the case.
A heavy and powerful aura, one befitting his position not just as the leader of the Barmul Alliance but as a representative of Runcandel, was weighing down on her soul.
It wasn't a feeling that stemmed solely from the brilliant growth Jin had achieved in the interim.
It was because the ‘Power of Existence,’ first mentioned in the records left by Solderet, was slowly awakening within Jin.
The numerous changes Jin had brought to the world, and the power awakened by the people who followed him.
That power was forming a transcendent status that surpassed mere martial might or political authority.
“...May I ask why you are refusing my proposal?”
“As I said before, this war happened because of greed for the White Stone. Therefore, if anyone should withdraw, it is you, not us. Give up on Hairan’s White Stone and retreat. If you accept my revised proposal, I will immediately persuade Dante and the Sword Emperor Castle to declare an end to the war.”
“Is it not enough to save your friend and his people? That White Stone shouldn't even be that important to Runcandel...!”
“Whether it is important to Runcandel or not is not for you to judge.”
“Do you truly intend to go to all-out war with Zipple!”
Considering the immediate situation, Laramakua’s words might have been right.
If they continued to fight like this, Jin and his people, as well as the Sword Emperor Castle, would have to brace for devastating losses.
However, Jin was certain that if the White Stone fell into the hands of the enemy, the ultimate result would be even more horrific.
Judging by how much Zipple craved it, it would eventually become a tool to destroy those who were not Zipple.
“I have no reason not to. But in truth, aren't you the ones who are actually afraid of an all-out war? That is why you proposed a negotiation before the war escalated further. If you are confident, then continue. Just know that I will not allow you to insult me, my comrades, and the Sword Emperor Castle with such a pathetic proposal.”