Chapter 612: Opening Ceremony (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 612: Opening Ceremony (1)
January 15, 1802.
A year and a half had passed since Jin first entered Laprarosa.
Most of that time had been spent purifying chaos, leaving him with only about two months dedicated purely to training. That period began the moment Ban accepted Ling Ling and had continued to this day.
Yet in those two months, Jin had grown more than ever before.
"Huff, huff."
Jin sheathed his sword and caught his breath.
Before him was the massive sword scar he had just carved—a mark far deeper and more brutal than any Temar had left on the training ground.
Then, as always, an intense lethargy washed over him as the Fighting God Union deactivated.
Ten minutes. That was exactly how long the current Jin and Ban could stably maintain the Fighting God Union at their highest level of synchronization.
For those ten minutes, Jin became a being who could stand among the strongest.
"How do you feel, Brother Jin?"
"Disappointed. This is still a realm I can only reach by borrowing the Fighting God's power."
"You're being greedy. Say that anywhere else, and you'll earn nothing but resentment."
"I know. But where else can I afford to be this greedy, if not among my brothers?"
Pouring his all into getting stronger, feeling the thrill of tangible progress each day… for a warrior, there were no happier times.
Of course, the power he could wield during the Fighting God Union could not be called entirely his own.
However, everything he learned by training with Ban's shared experience and senses was undoubtedly his own.
‘I suspected as much… As I thought, the Spirit Sword Supreme Technique I used on Ling Ling was nowhere near complete.’
Ban’s experience.
As his synchronization with the Fighting God Union increased, Jin absorbed everything about Ban more vividly. This allowed him to glimpse the enlightenment behind the Spirit Sword and the Pluto Sword.
In a way, he was learning the Spirit Sword and the Pluto Sword without having to train them from scratch.
Of course, a vast gap remained between mental understanding and physical application, so repetitive training was still required. However, training with a clear understanding of each technique's core promised overwhelming efficiency.
‘I could perform a much better Spirit Sword now. The Pluto Sword, too…’
Unlike the temporary strength he’d gained from the demonization of chaos, training through the Fighting God Union carried no side effects.
‘If I can keep growing like this, I’ll be able to return sooner than expected.’
The time Rosa had granted him was three years. With half of it already gone, he suddenly felt curious about how much the outside world had changed.
"What are you thinking about, Brother Jin?" Boras asked, entering the training ground and sitting beside him.
"Brother Boras, you're here. I was just thinking about the outside world for a moment."
"You seem worried."
Jin shook his head.
"Our relationship isn't exactly great, but my mother, the current Acting Patriarch of my family, is strong. She's also someone who stands by her word. The clan should be fine for the next three years."
That Runcandel obsession with survival. Jin trusted that part of Rosa. He judged that as long as Rosa was in charge, nothing would go wrong with Runcandel in his absence.
‘…If it weren't for my mother, I probably would have had to think much harder about coming to Laprarosa.’
Looking back, the majesty of the Runcandel he had known in his previous life had faded significantly.
To the Jin of his past life, Runcandel was an absolute, impregnable fortress that could never fall—a clan so vast that one missing member meant nothing.
But that wasn't the case now.
‘My takedown of Joshua was the catalyst, but to think the clan would be in this state just from that…’
Kinzelo was hiding the Beast Demon King Orgal and their true power. Zipple was trying to transcend humanity with their Demon God Stones and fleets. Even the Empire had advanced their demonization technology so far that they were negotiating with those powers—all while using Temar's body.
In the midst of all this, only Runcandel remained stagnant.
The Sword Emperor Holy War had laid this bare for the whole world to see. Until that terrible war finally ended, Runcandel had failed to live up to its name.
It left a bitter taste in his mouth that Rosa—his clear enemy—was the one propping up the clan.
When he returned, he would have to drag her down and reorganize the clan from top to bottom. He would restore its majesty to be no less than the Runcandel of old and reclaim the clan's true, brilliant form.
"Brother 5th Fighting King."
"Speak, Fighting God."
"Summon all the brothers to the Fighting God Temple."
Jin knew instinctively what Ban’s words meant.
‘I suppose it’s time to start my sparring with the Fighting Kings.’
Jin himself was curious. How wide was the gap between his current self and the Fighting Kings?
A year and a half ago, every single one of the Pluto Tribe’s Fighting Kings possessed martial prowess greater than his.
Even in a light spar, the 12th Fighting King Teto had practically toyed with him and overwhelmed him.
And all the other Fighting Kings were stronger than Teto.
"Are we leaving now as well?"
"No, you and I will rest first. Rest enough that we can perform the Fighting God Union again."
"Understood."
A few hours later, as the two slowly made their way to the Fighting God Temple, they saw the gathered brothers lined up and waiting.
As Ban ascended the throne in the Main Hall, seventy-six pairs of eyes looked up at her—all that remained of the Pluto Tribe, erased from history. Their Hearts of Light, along with Jin’s, resonated with Ban’s energy, emitting a light stronger than usual.
Though the hall was filled with the radiance spreading from their Hearts of Light, the sight of them gathered together felt somewhat empty and lonely.
Once, their light had filled the entire Main Fighting God Temple, a hall as vast as a plain.
Now, seen from a distance, it would look like barely a handful of light.
"I have gathered you today, my brothers, to commemorate something."
Ling Ling, sensing the atmosphere, straightened its posture.
"Since our time stopped, Temar was the first to wake us. But the one who has helped us enjoy this time even more is Brother Jin, who stands before you now."
As the brothers nodded, Jin felt a renewed sense of embarrassment. He believed that what he had received from the brothers was far greater than what he had given.
"And Brother Jin has declared that he will bring us back out into the world."
For now, they only had clues, no certain method. But the Pluto Tribe believed without a shadow of a doubt that Jin would succeed. And Jin believed in himself, too.
"Our history will soon begin anew. Therefore, I wish to revive a tradition we have long forgotten—a tradition permitted only to the strongest of the strong."
"Oh, ohhh!"
"Could it be!"
The Pluto Tribe members grew visibly excited at Ban’s words.
"It is only right that Brother Jin be the one to begin this revival of a history and tradition that will never again be broken. I trust you all agree?"
"We do!"
As the Pluto Tribe members answered vigorously, Ban grinned and shouted.
"I declare the start of the Fighting King Tournament!"
While everyone roared with cheers, Jin couldn't help but whisper a question to Ban.
"Brother Fighting God, what is the Fighting King Tournament?"
"It is the greatest festival of the Pluto Tribe. As the name suggests, it is where our warriors battle the Fighting Kings. And where the Fighting Kings battle each other."
"A battle? Not a spar?"
"That’s right. The Fighting King Tournament is the only time brothers are permitted to harm one another with blades."
The Pluto Tribe didn't hold grudges. Furthermore, they never fought with the intent to kill one another.
No matter the dispute, problems between brothers were resolved with bare-handed combat. Even when blades were drawn, it was only permitted so long as no fatal harm was inflicted.
However, those taboos did not apply to the Fighting King Tournament.
Of course, murdering a brother was absolutely forbidden, but critical injuries—so long as they were treatable—were permitted.
As Ban explained, Jin tilted his head in confusion.
"Couldn't there be accidents? If you fight without constraints like that, you could end up killing each other."
"Accidents can't be helped."
"...Excuse me?"
"Unexpected accidents are a natural part of all things in the world."
It was an answer befitting the woman who had once said, 'Training is something you can die from anyway.'
"We weren't always as caring toward one another as we are now, Brother Jin," Boras took over the explanation for Ban, as he often did. "The history of the Pluto Tribe has seen its share of betrayals, murders, and schemes—just fewer than other races."
"The era of our current Fighting God, Ban, was a golden age of peace for the Pluto Tribe. That's why no murders occurred during the Fighting King Tournaments held before our destruction. But it wasn't always like that. Factions were divided, they fought, and people were killed to achieve political goals."
There were two reasons the Pluto Tribe was so enthusiastic about the revival of the Fighting King Tournament.
First, because every tournament held under the rule of Fighting God Ban had been a clash of pure martial prowess. And second…
Because the revival of tradition was the realization of hope.
Since their destruction by the gods, the Pluto Tribe had lived like ghosts in this dead world. There had been no reason to continue traditions or festivals.
Ban's revival of the Fighting King Tournament was a symbol of her faith in Jin—and in the future of a liberated Laprarosa.
"Kyaha! This time, I’m going to stop being the weakest Fighting King!"
"Keep dreaming, Brother 12th Fighting King."
"When does it start, Brother Fighting God? Today? Tomorrow!?"
"The opening ceremony begins immediately."
At Ban’s words, the eyes of the Fighting Kings changed instantly. A murderous intent blazed from them, as if they were ready to kill Ban where she stood.
‘This isn’t just a spar that’s close to a real battle… They look like they genuinely intend to kill Ban.’
Rumble…!
As Ban stomped her foot once, the Main Fighting God Temple suddenly separated from the other buildings and began to float into the sky.
The Main Hall was transforming into the stage for the Fighting King Tournament.
Naturally, for Jin, it was one shock after another.
Then, as the Main Hall settled in the middle of the sky, Ban pointed at Jin.
"As you all know, the opening match of the Fighting King Tournament traditionally begins with me fighting all of you."
"We are all ready."
"This time, however, Brother Jin will take my place, using the Fighting God Union."
The moment those words fell, the killing intent that had been fixed on Ban shifted entirely to Jin.