Chapter 550: Omen (19)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 550: Omen (19)
For Octavia, focusing entirely on only two people proved to be a fatal mistake.
To be more precise, she had no other choice.
There was a reason Murakan had been so worried about Misha. Fewer than ten people in the entire world could afford to be careless when facing her.
Furthermore, with Jin joining the fray, even someone of Octavia’s caliber struggled to fight while simultaneously commanding the entire Wraith Squad.
Conversely, Jin and Misha couldn't land a direct hit on Octavia, even after unleashing Erosion. Her magic was a perfect harmony of offense and defense.
“The members of your Wraith Squad who just died were caught in the openings you created while trying to dodge your own spells.”
It was exactly as Misha said. The Wraith Squad members who had just perished were victims of the very magic Octavia had unleashed to counter the spirit energy dolls.
“I can see that for myself without your kind explanation, Misha.”
“Is that so? I was just trying to get under your skin.”
“Then you’ve succeeded. If you wish for a messier fight, I shall gladly oblige.”
Octavia pointed her staff toward the Barmul Alliance and the Swordmasters.
“We have overcome even the providence of death. But what about you?”
“Murakan!”
Hundreds of light rays streaked from her staff, faster than Misha’s voice could carry. The beams effortlessly tore through Murakan’s veil of spirit energy, aiming for the warriors within.
Through the shredded veil, the warriors could be seen parrying the rays.
Luyan, the leader of the Swordmasters, was particularly noticeable. The moment the barrier was breached, he stepped forward and demonstrated monstrous strength, single-handedly deflecting nearly half the beams that got through.
Behind him, the other Swordmasters and the Barmul Alliance endured the continuing bombardment.
“Gah!”
A cry came from Rata. He had been struck in the chest by a ray while trying to assist Amela, whose close-combat capabilities were relatively weak.
“Cu-Cutie!”
“Dammit! You’re still calling me that in a situation like this!?”
“Because you are a cutie! Are you okay!?”
“If you have the energy for that, use your turbid energy to make a shield or something!”
“They’re all broken!”
Fortunately, Rata’s injury wasn't deep, but in a battle of this scale, even a minor wound quickly took its toll.
Valkas, the Prochi siblings, Amela, Casimir, Alisa, Julian, Kuzan, and Murakan—along with five Hairan Swordmasters who had unleashed their Overlord Swords—held a defensive line together.
Yet, Octavia’s magic pressured them with terrifying ease.
“It seems you still have the breath to scream.”
Just as the rays were about to spread again, Jin and Misha blocked Octavia’s path once more. The Black Spear and a spirit-energy-infused Bradamante descended toward her back and face.
Once again, their weapons struck only afterimages. Octavia darted across the battlefield with a mobility unbelievable for a mage.
Every time she shifted positions, a blinding flash stung the eyes, and the two divided fronts on the ground were forced to merge back into one.
If Jin had been alone, he never could have protected his allies while fighting. Several would have already sustained fatal wounds, if not died outright.
I have to concentrate. If I show even a single opening, Octavia will stop targeting Misha and me and go after my comrades behind us.
Spirit Sword 1st Form: Soul Slash. 2nd Form: Scissors. 7th Form: Shadow Assault.
He relentlessly unleashed the techniques he usually reserved for turning the tide in lethal moments. Occasionally, his attacks reached Octavia, but they did little more than leave faint grazes or scratches.
The thunder of Erosion was nearing its end. Once the lightning ceased, Octavia would be able to attack the allied camp even more freely.
Before that happened, he had to prepare his most powerful magic sword technique, all while maintaining pressure. Misha had the same idea.
They also had to consider what came next.
Even if the battle with Octavia ended, the war would continue. Though Kelliark was currently being pushed back, there was no telling how the tide of battle would shift the moment the release of the Demon God Stone was complete.
Thus, Jin chose Karma Fire instead of Pluto’s Sovereign Sword.
He’s going to unleash the magic sword Sir Hedo mentioned.
Octavia accurately predicted Jin’s Magic Sword Secret Technique. She had already heard about the power of Karma Fire from Hedo and had devised a counter.
Crackle—!
Amidst the light scattered in all directions, a sudden, blood-red flame flared. It was Octavia’s eyes that were spreading the fire.
Red Lotus Demon Eye – Octavia Zipple
It was Octavia’s own ultimate technique, a variation of the Eyes of Azure Fire. It had been refined so that it would not lose its power even within ‘true blue flames.’
The problem isn't Jin Runcandel’s magic sword, but Misha’s Black Spear.
That was something even she couldn't predict.
After her battle with Misha on Veradin’s island two years ago, Octavia had scoured all of Zipple’s records for information on her. Not many remained. The previous generations of the Wraith Squad who had fought her had all died or gone mad, failing to leave proper accounts.
But the way Misha killed the previous Wraith Squads wasn't through head-on confrontations; it was through agonizing assassinations carried out over long periods.
That was why they couldn't leave proper records. Like a ghost, she had spent decades breaking them down, both physically and mentally.
There must be something more. The martial prowess she has demonstrated so far is already at a transcendent level.
Whatever it was, Octavia was confident she could counter it head-on. Her position as the second-ranked mage of Zipple wasn't just an empty title.
Rather than petty tricks like spirit energy dolls, a clash of pure power was exactly what Octavia desired most.
The power of the Red Lotus melted the earth. The warriors' feet sank into the liquefied ground as the smell of burning flesh filled the air.
One by one, casualties began to mount in the allied camp. Rata retreated, gasping for breath, while Casimir, Amela, and Fey barely managed to deflect the magic aimed at him. Even so, blood stained their lips.
Julian’s lightning bow, Harmila, fired bolts even stronger than before, but it was closer to a final, desperate act. Kuzan, who was covering him, continued to drink deadly poisons to recover at the cost of his life force, but even that was reaching its limit.
Valkas, a fully armed Alisa, Murakan, and the Swordmasters were holding out, but at this rate, it was only a matter of time before someone fell.
As Octavia’s attacks intensified, even the Overlord Sword formation began to show signs of faltering.
Yet, even as the scales of battle tipped against them, the Swordmasters and their comrades never once thought they were about to die.
It wasn't because they believed they were superior to the Wraith Squad, or because they thought Jin and Misha were stronger than Octavia.
The power of existence.
That difficult-to-explain, mysterious force the ancient Runcandels had felt from Temar, and that Talaris had confirmed in Jin, was pushing back the fear in their hearts.
Octavia also stared at the power radiating from Jin, focusing her mind to erase the foul intuition it gave her.
Like Misha’s spirit energy dolls, this too must be an illusion. Before it becomes real… I will shatter it.
At that moment, Jin’s Magic Sword Secret Technique was unleashed.
Just as Octavia had expected.
“Do you truly believe you can do anything to me with the mere dregs of the old Runcandel!”
Kzzzt—!
As if a great mountain had suddenly surged forth, flames of the Red Lotus erupted.
And mixed within them was the mana of wind. She was the new contractor of the Wind God Melzaier—a fact Jin only realized now.
A wind, incomparably rougher and more savage than the magic of Andrei Zipple, the so-called Wind King, whipped the fires of the Red Lotus.
The resulting Red Lotus Storm began to swallow the sparks of Karma Fire that had just started to bloom.
The blue flames, which were supposed to connect from points to lines and lines to planes along the runes left by Sarah Runcandel, were being consumed by the Red Lotus.
The runes were scattered by the wind, unable to find their places, and Jin’s body, which had become fire itself, flickered precariously as if it might be extinguished at any moment.
The scattered rays of light from Octavia's earlier attacks converted into fire mana, further strengthening her spell.
Octavia judged that she had overwhelmed Jin’s Karma Fire. The very essence of the mage known as Octavia filled the battlefield.
Now, all that's left is Misha's finishing move, right?
It didn't seem to matter what flew at her from where. The power of the wind and the Red Lotus had already turned the entire area into her absolute domain.
But in the next moment, Octavia couldn't help but wonder why Jin’s shimmering blue eyes… were so calm and steady.
It was not the gaze of a man whose ultimate technique had been thwarted.
[Wow… it’s been a long time since I’ve seen this. I’d almost forgotten.]
Contrary to Octavia’s thoughts, Misha had not prepared a separate finishing move of her own.
What she had prepared was a recreation of a battle from a thousand years ago, one she had fought alongside Sarah Runcandel.
Just before unleashing Karma Fire, Jin had received these words from Misha amidst the demonic flames:
‘Don't be afraid if Octavia's magic extinguishes the Karma Fire. I will become your strength.’
Misha, who had transformed into her true form at some point, was spreading her wings from Jin’s back. Just as she had guarded Sarah’s back on some grueling battlefield a thousand years ago.
There was a reason why countless mages in the world always chose Solderet as the supreme god. It was because of the superiority of the power known as ‘spirit energy.’ Mages had always yearned for Solderet, hoping to open new horizons in their magic through the authority of spirit energy.
And though most mages did not know it, spirit energy was a power originally better suited for the sword than for magic—and even more so for the magic sword. Misha was a Black Dragon specialized in the authority of spirit energy itself, rather than individual martial prowess.
Misha had always supported Runcandel in this manner.
[Did you call us the dregs of the old Runcandel?]
Misha’s wings were dyed in azure fire.
Simultaneously, the fire enveloping Jin regained its strength. Sarah’s runes, which had lost their way in the Red Lotus Storm, thickened with spirit energy and found their rightful places.
The flames of the Red Lotus and Melzaier’s winds were being pushed back. Octavia released even stronger mana in response, and in terms of sheer magnitude, she was still ahead.
However, raw power has its limits when faced with superior quality.
[That is incorrect. This boy's magic sword is Runcandel as it stands today, you arrogant Zipple mortal.]
Runcandel Magic Sword Secret Technique
Karma Fire – Jin Runcandel, Shadowless Spear: Black Shadow
As Jin thrust Bradamante forward, a tidal wave of black and blue flames surged toward Octavia.