Chapter 645: Land of the Malevolent God (7)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 645: Land of the Malevolent God (7)
Runcandel 4th Secret Technique: Black Cross Star.
Rosa unleashed her blade the moment the meteor shower shattered.
The frenzied blades, slashed in a cross, discharged dark sword energy. Centered on their intersection, the energy of the Black Cross Star poured toward Talaris in a swirling vortex.
Rosa was not a pure-blooded Runcandel.
Yet, perhaps thanks to embracing chaos, she perfectly manifested their decisive and secret techniques even without a blessed body. Her prowess was so overwhelming that one might be reminded of Cyron rather than Rosa.
Faced with the torrential sword energy of the Black Cross Star, Talaris and Mort had no way to evade.
Normally, Jin would have had to risk his and Kaio’s lives to bypass Rosa and dive into the fray. Even then, it was uncertain whether their exhausted bodies could withstand her secret technique.
More likely, they would have failed to save Talaris and met their own deaths instead.
Had Murakan not appeared at that exact moment, that would have been their fate.
Just as the Black Cross Star was about to engulf Talaris and Mort—
Murakan’s massive body descended behind them, like a black mountain surging from the earth.
Even at a glance, his form was far larger than Jin remembered. His pair of black wings, spread forward like a rampart to block the Black Cross Star, were wide enough to shield even Mort with room to spare.
The sword energy erupting from Frenzy incessantly cracked his wings. It looked as if they were being shredded in an instant, but it was merely an optical illusion caused by his flickering spirit energy.
[It’s been a while, Palace Master. Why have you become so weak? And Master Mort, you’ve been hurt quite badly as well.]
Talaris lifted her head.
She grinned, a profound sense of relief washing over her in the shadow of Murakan’s darkness. Though she had been prepared for death just moments ago, the embrace of this giant dark dragon now felt like the safest place in the world.
“You certainly know how to make an entrance. By the way, Big Brother Black Dragon, how did you get this strong?”
[I simply reclaimed a bit more of what I lost. And thanks to that, it seems the kid and I won't have to lose you today.]
“Oh my, I might just fall for you.”
Fifty percent.
That was the level of his past power during the Sword Emperor Holy War, the last battle his comrades had fought alongside him.
Not only Jin, but even Talaris—who was less sensitive to spirit energy—could tell at a glance: Murakan’s current power was remarkably close to his prime.
Jin’s spirit energy, which had finally reached 10-star, combined with the crises they had overcome while Murakan acted as Solderet’s proxy, were restoring his ancient strength.
Murakan raised his wings again.
Talaris and Mort remained completely unharmed by the Black Cross Star, causing Rosa’s expression to contort in fury.
[The ancient guardian dragon of the clan... I didn't sense your approach at all.]
That was the true reason for Rosa’s fury.
Currently, she could feel every battle occurring throughout the Garden of Swords and the Kalon area as if they were happening within her own body. Yet, she had failed to perceive Murakan’s arrival. This meant he hadn't approached from outside the Garden of Swords; he had suddenly manifested from within.
[It seems your enlightenment is still lacking, Rosa Runcandel.]
Rosa turned her gaze to Jin.
[You and your companions are truly lucky, youngest. Just like now, whenever you fall into a crisis, someone always comes to save you.]
Rosa did not know the full history of Jin and his comrades. However, she knew enough to realize they had overcome every obstacle through the help of others or by supporting one another.
In her Runcandel, such a thing had never happened.
There was only hope that never returned, no matter how long she waited. Rosa did not bother to hide the bitterness born from that fact.
[This mother... will break that cycle.]
The blades of chaos, which had paused in midair, began to whirl again. As if imbued with Rosa’s rage, they pressed down on the group even more ferociously than before.
Simultaneously, part of Murakan’s body dispersed into spirit energy, grabbing Talaris and Mort. Moving as fast as a hawk and as freely as a ghost, he reached Jin’s side in an instant.
Rosa sprayed sword energy in all directions. Parts of Murakan’s smoke-like body were swept away, but it didn't deal him any significant blow.
Despite Murakan’s arrival, the tide of battle was still overwhelmingly in Rosa’s favor. Jin, Talaris, and Kaio—none of the three were in a condition to fight properly.
Furthermore, Jin could read Murakan’s urgent thoughts before they even had a chance to exchange greetings.
“Are you also unable to fight properly?”
[It’s not that. But time is short.]
Since the end of the Sword Emperor Holy War, Murakan had been acting as Solderet’s proxy in place of Misha. Even Misha, who had previously managed Solderet’s affairs, didn't fully understand the exact nature of the task.
Because it was a matter beyond mortal comprehension, Misha and Murakan’s roles were simply to maintain a ‘state of existence’ within Solderet’s realm. If that maintenance was broken, it would pose a great threat to the world.
Murakan, in particular, was not as skilled as Misha, so the time he could spend away was even shorter—especially while wielding such immense power.
This was why Rosa hadn't sensed Murakan’s presence. He had manifested here directly from the divine realm without any physical movement.
There was no time for detailed explanations.
[So we must escape quickly. You can’t keep fighting in your current state anyway.]
Moreover, the seal on Elona Zipple was a problem. As Talaris’s internal injuries worsened, the burden of the seal that Misha had to shoulder increased. Talaris had been worried about the seal ever since Rosa struck her.
Jin nodded.
If there was any silver lining, it was that Murakan could see Rosa’s power was not without its own constraints.
[You underestimate me too much, Murakan. Do you really think you can escape?]
[Don't bluff, Rosa Runcandel. We aren't the only ones pressed for time. Right now, my eyes can see a realm that mortals cannot.]
[You talk big for someone whose only option is to run...]
Sshrk!
Rosa lunged, splitting the breath Murakan had just exhaled in half. Spirit energy spikes erupted from all sides to block her, but Frenzy only stopped after clashing with Bradamante.
“I can feel your rage.”
Rosa continued her assault, but Murakan’s spirit energy and Kaio’s arrows restricted her movements. While Frenzy parried Kaio’s attack, a spirit energy spike grazed Rosa’s forehead.
A piece of the horn on her forehead, about half a finger’s width, was gouged out, and drops of black blood splattered into the air.
Until now, the chaos Rosa emitted had appeared stable enough to mimic spirit energy. However, immediately after the Black Cross Star was blocked by Murakan, her chaos energy began to grow erratic. Its color and intensity fluctuated inconsistently.
‘As I thought, just as Murakan said, there are limits to this infinite power. It doesn't seem to be because of the wound on her horn. Is she lacking a medium? Or... there might be a psychological reason.’
Unlike Ron or Smarion before they defied their fates, her reason remained perfectly intact. Jin suspected that might be the key. He recalled Rosa saying, ‘I have not yet succumbed to chaos.’
Regardless, their priority now was escape. Even if her chaos energy had become unstable, it didn't diminish her transcendent status.
Swish!
Rosa’s sword relentlessly targeted Talaris. Every time the sword energy of Frenzy and the spirit energy collided, the sky seemed to tear open and shut.
Murakan struggled to ensure the impact didn't reach Talaris. Between worrying about Talaris’s life, Elona’s seal, and his own time limit, his anxiety grew with every passing second.
The battle was reaching a stalemate.
That meant Jin’s party was still at a disadvantage. Even if Rosa had constraints, Murakan’s forced return would surely happen first.
“The escape point is a forest about 150 ri away, Big Brother Black Dragon. Can you break through to there? We have a space-jump flagship.”
Talaris pointed toward the location where the Red Owl was hidden.
[That’ll be tight. Which way?]
If he amplified his spirit energy further to break through, his forced return would trigger sooner. Still, Murakan didn't hesitate to draw out more power. It was better than continuing a stalled battle, even if his manifestation ended before they reached the escape point.
“I will buy us time, Black Dragon Murakan. Escape with Brother Jin.”
The moment Kaio spoke, a voice suddenly echoed from the sky.
[Murakan! I shall provide cover!]
It was Orgal’s voice. Kinzelo’s first flagship, the Gruneil, was hovering above, laden with immense lightning.
The other ships were still far away. Having read the situation, Orgal had opened a dimensional gate to jump directly to the battlefield where the group was located.
Of course, his dimensional travel was also affected by the ambient chaos energy. However, since all the chaos in Kalon was currently concentrated on Rosa, the restrictions were lighter than before.
Even without Jin’s explanation, Murakan recognized him as Orgal.
Lightning poured down in a concentrated point, striking directly at Rosa.
In that moment, Murakan hoisted Jin and Kaio onto his back and soared into the sky. Another of Rosa’s sword strikes pierced through the Gruneil’s lightning and surged after him.
It was the Runcandel 5th Secret Technique: Light Speed Thrust. The sword energy left deep gashes across Murakan’s tail, back, and left wing, but he pressed forward regardless.
“Murakan, are you okay?!”
[Of course I am. It just stings like hell. But it’s a small price to pay for saving you and the Palace Master.]
Thanks to the Gruneil, he hadn't needed to amplify his power, buying him a bit more time.
However, there was one factor Murakan hadn't accounted for.
The Ram, Runcandel’s massive black ship, was approaching. And in the spot where the Gruneil’s lightning had vanished, Rosa was no longer there.
She stood at the prow of the Ram, watching the direction Murakan was heading. The Ram and she were practically one and the same.
The Ram charged its main cannons at a speed incomparable to before. The chaos energy that dyed the sky dark was becoming even more unstable.
“Lady Rosa, why don't you stop here?”
At the Prophet’s question, Rosa let out a short laugh.
[Isn't my mind collapsing exactly what you’ve always wanted?]
“To be honest, it’s a bit dangerous right now.”
Rosa silently accelerated the amplification of her chaos, and Ilina watched her profile with trembling eyes.