Chapter 647: After the Shock (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 647: After the Shock (1)
The Red Owl failed to reach its Tikan coordinates in a single jump.
Normally, the Red Owl and Mort were unaffected by Chaos particles, but the sheer density of the Chaos Rosa had unleashed over Kalon defied all known standards.
The ship was forced to make several emergency landings—in nameless forests, across desolate seas, and on forgotten islands.
Chaos energy clung to the Red Owl’s hull like rust. Every time they attempted a new dimensional jump, an ominous grinding noise echoed from the power source.
‘According to the manual, as long as the power core and the passenger cabin aren't completely destroyed, we should eventually reach the set coordinates, but…'
The real problem was Talaris.
She was unconscious, her body radiating a heat as intense as a fireball. Her pulse was erratic, and she was suffering from a severe backflow reaction, causing her aura to discharge in violent, sporadic bursts.
She needed treatment immediately.
Jin wanted to put her on Shuri and send her to the healers first, but from their current, unknown location, even Shuri would have to wander for a long time to find the way.
He had no choice but to keep attempting dimensional jumps, praying they would either land near the Holy Kingdom by a stroke of luck or finally arrive in Tikan.
Five more jumps followed. Every single one failed. The Red Owl continued to materialize over the wrong lands.
However, it was certain they were moving further away from Huphester. With each jump, more of the Chaos energy clinging to the hull was shaken off, and the grinding from the power source began to stabilize.
He felt as though they would reach Tikan soon.
Just as he was about to press the button in the center of the cabin once more, Jin suddenly heard a familiar voice.
(Wait, Jin!?)
It was Ling Ling’s voice. It felt incredibly distant, but it was unmistakably hers.
“...Ling Ling!?”
Startled, Jin looked around as if he had seen a ghost. Naturally, Ling Ling was nowhere to be found.
And it wasn't just her voice he heard.
(What the hell? Why are you suddenly popping into my head!? No, more importantly, can you hear me?)
“I can hear you. Can you hear me too?”
(Ugh, that’s creepy!)
(What? Did you say Brother Jin!?)
(Brother Jin!? Weren’t the Kaio Brothers just summoned?)
(Where is Jin!? Ling Ling, are you really talking to Jin right now?)
(How am I supposed to explain this? That idiot’s face just popped into my head, and I heard his voice. He was muttering something while pressing a button. There’s a white-haired human collapsed next to him.)
(A button? Muttering? A collapsed human? Brother Jin isn't in danger, is he!?)
“Brothers! Can you all hear my voice?”
(You guys can't hear that?)
(What sound are you talking about? Ling Ling, are you playing a prank?)
(Argh, how frustrating! It’s for real! Jin can hear your voices!)
For several seconds, a chaotic exchange flew between Jin, Ling Ling, and the Pluto Tribe. Jin could hear everyone, but it seemed those in Laprarosa could not hear him.
(Brothers, Ling Ling is not joking. She truly is hearing Brother Jin’s voice.)
(Oh! What is happening, Fighting God Brother!)
Since Ban was mentally linked to Ling Ling, she immediately grasped the situation.
(It seems a point of synchronization has formed between Brother Jin and Ling Ling for some reason. Ling Ling, relay Jin’s words to us. Jin, how is the outside world? You summoned the Ten Fighting Kings; did something happen that was too much for you to handle?)
Jin summarized the events at the Garden of Swords as briefly as possible.
(So the human world is turning into hell. I wish we could go out there right now to help our brother.)
“You have already been a great help, Fighting God Brother.”
(Still, seeing Laprarosa and the human world connect so suddenly makes me think the day we step outside isn't too far off.)
Wavelength tracking synchronized space-jump.
Jin guessed that this sudden ‘connection’ was related to that.
“It’s likely because of the flying ship my companion built. It seems the ship accidentally latched onto Laprarosa’s wavelength.”
His guess was correct. The Red Owl catching Laprarosa’s wavelength was a sort of glitch.
(First, I heard your companion is in a critical state. If it’s a white-haired woman, it must be Talaris Endorma, the one who has saved you many times.)
“Yes. Her internal injuries are severe.”
(Close your eyes and concentrate. Perhaps I can help her through Ling Ling and you.)
Ban was proposing nothing less than the Fighting God Union. Jin immediately closed his eyes and focused on the synchronization point with Ling Ling.
Then, just as it had in Laprarosa, his Heart of Light began to glow, and he felt Ban’s senses and energy slowly flowing into him.
‘It’s weaker than when we did it in Laprarosa… but the Fighting God Union is definitely happening…!’
Perhaps due to the dimensional distance between the human world and Laprarosa, Ban’s senses weren't transmitted perfectly. However, it was more than enough to examine Talaris’s condition.
(Her dantian and meridians are all damaged. A cold-attributed authority is preventing the worst-case scenario, but at this rate, she will reach her limit within an hour or two.)
“And if that happens…?”
(Even if she doesn't die, she will never be able to wield the same martial prowess again.)
Before entering the Fighting God Union, Jin could only guess at her state, but now he could perceive exactly what Ban felt.
(Follow my lead and breathe strength into her body. We will purge the cold energy before it shatters and replace it with my lightning energy.)
Following Ban’s instructions, Jin placed his hand on Talaris’s back.
Navigating her chaotically tangled meridians, Jin’s lightning energy slowly delved toward her internal wounds.
Even though it was only for a moment, Jin broke into a cold sweat. Talaris coughed up clumps of black blood even while unconscious, and Jin felt as though he were walking a tightrope made of her very life.
But Jin trusted Ban. Unlike his own anxiety, he felt not a shred of worry from her.
“Phew…”
Eventually, the feverish heat from the internal injuries subsided, and Talaris let out a warm, steady breath. Though she still hadn't regained consciousness, she now looked as if she had fallen into a peaceful sleep.
(It is done. However, Brother Jin, this is only a stopgap measure. You must begin proper treatment within three days at the latest.)
“I understand, Fighting God Brother!”
He wanted to spend more time with his brothers, but the situation didn't allow for it. He had to attempt another dimensional jump. They had luckily passed the immediate crisis with Talaris, but they were by no means safe until they returned to Tikan.
The aftermath of their return was also a major concern.
The power of Rosa’s Runcandel, which he had experienced firsthand, was overwhelming. He needed to inform his comrades of this fact as soon as possible and prepare for what was to come.
He might even have to decide on a total evacuation of Tikan.
If the current Runcandel were to immediately begin a pursuit and strike Tikan with its full force, Jin and his allies had no power to stop them.
This applied not just to Tikan, but to every other faction. No matter what hidden strengths they possessed, it seemed unlikely any could surpass Rosa’s Runcandel.
The allied forces had brought fleets near their full strength, yet they had been defeated.
Jin hadn't stayed to watch the battle to its end, but he couldn't imagine that Rosa had lost.
“Brothers, Ling Ling. I must go now. As soon as I return, I’ll look into this coincidence. As the Fighting God Brother said, this might be a major clue for you all to come outside.”
The Fighting God Union was fading. Ban was withdrawing her power before Jin could even release it himself.
(Go quickly, Brother Jin. We shall wait for the day we can contact you again.)
(Hmph, just get lost already! And don't go getting beaten up somewhere else.)
After saying goodbye to his brothers, Jin pressed the button on the Red Owl once more.
*
February 27, 1803.
Jin was only able to reach Tikan two days later.
After stabilizing Talaris’s internal injuries, there were about ten more dimensional jumps, but none of them connected to Laprarosa again.
Talaris was transported to the Holy Kingdom immediately upon arrival. In the meantime, Jin was briefed on the information collected by his other comrades.
Fortunately, Runcandel had not yet sent its forces outside its territory since that day.
“We still need to confirm whether they are choosing not to send them or if they are unable to,” Gilly said.
“I suspect it’s the latter. Runcandel will need time to recover its strength. Above all, using that much power must have come with a terrible price.”
“I agree, Young Master. However, reports say that over fifty percent of the Huphester Alliance territories, including the Garden of Swords and the city of Kalon, have already been eroded by Chaos. This happened in the two days since you escaped. In just… two days.”
It was no exaggeration to say the entire continent of Huphester was being dyed in Chaos. Such vast erosion had occurred in a mere forty-eight hours.
It was impossible to confirm the situation inside. The air itself was so corrupted that even entering the un-eroded lands bordering the region was impossible.
“Perhaps the Garden of Swords plans to consume the entire world this way. If the whole world is eroded by Chaos, they won't even need to track us or other factions…”
Zipple and Kinzelo had continued their all-out assault after Jin escaped, only to eventually decide on a retreat. Both had suffered immense damage.
“According to a report that came in at noon today, only three of Zipple’s fleets appeared in the territorial waters of the Lutero Magic Federation.”
“If that’s true, they’ve lost half of their six fleets. Is there any word from Kinzelo?”
“No, but since no retreat was spotted on any of their expected routes, we assume they retreated using Orgal’s abilities. If so, they are likely in a better position than Zipple.”
Unlike Jin, his comrades were understanding the situation solely through reports from the Seven-Colored Bird.
Every single one was shocking. No one, including Jin, had expected Runcandel to emerge victorious against all the other factions combined.
Furthermore, Rosa Runcandel was no longer the Acting Patriarch.
As soon as her enemies retreated, she announced to the entire world that she had become the ‘Patriarch’ of Runcandel.
First, he needed to meet with the leaders of the two major factions.
“Zipple and Kinzelo will contact us soon. They likely have the same thoughts as I do. Let me know immediately when they do.”
“Understood, Young Master.”
“And the knights who escaped… is there still no news?”
The knights who had resisted Rosa until the very end.
Just as he was feeling a knot of dread tighten in his chest over their unconfirmed fate, Jet burst into the meeting room, panting.
“My Lord! The survival of the knights you saved has been confirmed…! Lady Quicantel has personally gone out to escort them!”
Jin closed his eyes, a wave of profound relief washing over him.
If they had all died, there would have been very few people left in the world who could truly be called Runcandel.