Chapter 648: After the Shock (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 648: After the Shock (2)
After Rosa was consumed by Chaos, approximately a thousand knights rose in rebellion against her control of Runcandel.
Led by Dipus, Mary, and Jorden, they engaged in skirmishes of varying scales against the forces occupying the Garden of Swords.
However, in less than a month, over sixty percent of them had been suppressed, leaving the survivors with a choice.
Would they retreat to plan for the future, or would they fight to the death?
They chose the former.
Yet, they never got the chance. Rosa discovered the rebels' hideouts with terrifying ease and herded them back toward the Garden of Swords like prey for a slaughter.
The rebels fought desperately against the family knights who had been tainted by Chaos, but in the end, they were all defeated by the summoned specters of past flagbearers and Black Knights.
At that time, about two hundred and fifty knights were imprisoned in the underground dungeons.
And now, the number of knights Quicantel had brought back was less than a hundred. More than half of the remaining rebels had lost their lives during the escape from the Garden of Swords.
Ninety-seven in total.
For a long while, Jin stared at them in silence. A heavy heat seemed to bubble up from his chest, weighing him down.
“You’ve all… been through so much.”
When Jin finally spoke, the knights offered a formal sword salute.
No one shed a tear. Jin also suppressed his surging emotions as he accepted their salute.
If there’s any consolation, it’s that none of the survivors are infected by Chaos to a degree that the purification device can’t handle.
The Chaos tainting the knights was not yet deep. However, many suffered from severe physical injuries and would need the assistance of the Holy Kingdom’s healers.
“It would be best to get everyone treated first. We have a device that can purify Chaos.”
Jin explained the purification device to the knights. He also informed them that the treatment period was long, its capacity was limited, and since it used the blood of a Fighting God as a medium, it would be of no use to those already fully consumed in the Garden of Swords.
“I am fine, 12th Flagbearer,” Jorden said.
“Elder Council Head?”
“What are you talking about? You should be the first one to receive treatment, more than anyone else—”
The Tona brothers stopped mid-sentence. They had belatedly realized the meaning behind Jorden’s words.
On the surface, Jorden appeared to have no fatal wounds, but he had sustained irreversible internal damage. His life was the price paid for the survival of these ninety-seven knights.
Jin had recognized Jorden’s condition the moment he saw him.
“Why are you all making such foolish faces? Everyone, go receive treatment and purification as the 12th Flagbearer said. I have one last task to perform before I die.”
Jorden locked eyes with Jin.
“12th Flagbearer.”
“Yes.”
“From this moment on, I will pass down every sword technique of the family that I know. It would be best to head to the training ground immediately. I do not have much time left.”
Jin decided to honor Jorden’s wish. Even if Rani herself were to come, Jorden could not be saved. The man deserved to die with dignity.
“I understand.”
“The transmission won’t take long, so don’t worry. I’ll explain things you might be curious about while we walk. You should also tell me what happened at the Garden of Swords.”
On the way to the training ground, Jorden frequently stumbled.
As Jin recounted his past battles, he could feel the immense willpower Jorden was exerting just to fulfill his final mission.
“So, in the end, you crossed blades with Rosa herself… and yet, you weren’t affected by Chaos at all.”
“I’ve gained an immunity.”
“It’s likely not the kind of immunity that can be shared with everyone. I’m envious. Looking back, I think I always felt that way toward you. Everyone in the family did.”
Jin did not reply, waiting for him to continue.
“The Garden of Swords began to turn into this mess six months ago.”
“They sealed Kalon and began controlling information about me around that time. I expected as much.”
“Until then, Rosa Runcandel had been suffering from constant seizures. Eventually, she broke her promise to you and joined hands with the Prophet. It was a time when a decision had to be made. While Zipple and Kinzelo were building fleets and mobilizing all sorts of new technology, we alone were falling behind. Of course, that doesn’t make it right.”
There was simply no other way, Jorden added in a bitter voice.
“Rosa would have made the same choice even if you hadn’t left. In that sense, your decision to enter closed-door training was for the best. Had you been with the family, the first thing Rosa would have done was eliminate you. With the Patriarch absent… no one could have stopped her.”
“Is there still no news about Father?”
Even now, as the era changed so rapidly, the dignity of the warrior known as Cyron Runcandel had not lost an ounce of its value.
If he and the knights who went on the expedition were present, Runcandel would still be a land that other factions wouldn’t dare to challenge, even without a Prophet or a fleet.
“…Rosa said the Patriarch is dead.”
Jin stopped in his tracks for a moment.
“Was there any evidence?”
“No. Whether she learned it through the Prophet’s power or simply said it to establish her own legitimacy, I can’t say. She merely stated that he was dead. However, I don’t expect the Patriarch to be alive, either. Almost everyone who rebelled against Rosa felt the same.”
Whether Cyron had survived or fallen in battle, it was difficult for it to hold much meaning now.
From an objective standpoint, a Patriarch who did not return while his family fell into such a state was already unqualified. He was as good as dead.
“But a few thought differently. Your uncle and your siblings did. Zed Runcandel—he left for the Black Sea to find the Patriarch as soon as Rosa’s tyranny began.”
Zed had not yet returned, so his fate remained uncertain.
“The 4th and 7th Flagbearers have been missing since the final battle. As I said, it’s unknown whether they’re alive or dead. But if they survived and escaped, they likely headed for the Black Sea as well. Those two also used to say that the only way to resolve this situation was to find the Patriarch.”
“Then no one actually witnessed the deaths of Brother Dipus and Sister Mary. Perhaps they’re imprisoned in the Garden of Swords. I doubt Rosa would have released everyone she held in the dungeons.”
“That may be so. But if that’s the case, they will likely appear as your enemies. The reason our one thousand and thirty-three knights could resist Rosa was partly due to our will, but largely because we weren’t directly exposed to the Chaos emitted by the Prophet.”
“Are you saying most of the knights remaining in the Garden of Swords didn’t turn against us by choice, but because they were consumed by Chaos?”
“There might be some who chose it. But as you said, most are likely in that state. What sane knight would want to fight under such a monster, no matter how strong that monster may be? The knights who make up Runcandel are, above all, people of immense pride.”
It was a well-known fact that it was nearly impossible for a human to resist the madness of Chaos.
Only an extraordinary individual like Ron could manage it, and even he had been completely consumed before Jin’s intervention.
Brother Dipus and Sister Mary might appear as my enemies…
Just imagining it made Jin feel as if his head would split open.
He didn’t let it show and continued to match Jorden’s pace.
“It seems we’ve arrived. It’s a decent training ground. Did you mostly hone your sword here during your time as a reserve flagbearer?”
“Yes.”
“Jin.”
“Yes.”
“You are now the family’s only hope. Never… ever forget that.”
As he spoke, Jorden gripped Jin’s hand tightly.
The only knight who could fight the monstrous Chaos of Rosa Runcandel without restriction. The only flagbearer who could set the family right.
Jorden was weeping.
A mixture of emotions—the current state of Runcandel, which had plummeted into the abyss; the regrets of his past, when he had struggled to become the Patriarch; his fallen comrades; and the powerlessness of having to entrust everything to the 12th Flagbearer—made him cry.
“…I understand, Uncle.”
For the next three days, Jorden passed down six Decisive Techniques, four Secret Techniques, and one Profound Technique to Jin.
Having already reached a high realm, Jin grasped the subtleties of the sword techniques in an instant. For most of them, he could demonstrate a perfect implementation through explanation alone, without even needing to see Jorden perform them.
Meanwhile, whenever Jorden took a break from exhaustion, Jin would go up to the mansion to receive reports on the current situation.
As expected, the leaders of every major faction were urgently requesting a summit in Tikan.
Runcandel had shown no particular movement since the incident. There were no troop movements, but there was a report that the speed at which Huphester was being consumed had slowed slightly.
There was still no word from Valeria. He wanted to confirm her survival by any means necessary, but he could not leave Tikan until the summit was over.
That was the proper order of things—for one who shouldered the family and the world.
“Now, the transmission is complete,” Jorden said, his voice raspy.
While passing down the sword techniques, they had conversed not as Elder Council Head and flagbearer, or as enemies, but with the friendly air of an uncle and nephew.
“Do you remember the day I cut off both your arms?”
“How could I forget, Uncle?”
“To be honest, on that day, I saw your father—the Patriarch—in you. The sight of you walking toward me with both arms severed haunted my nightmares for quite some time.”
“I was quite terrified that day as well.”
“Hah, trying to sweeten my memories now that I’m on my deathbed.”
“It’s the truth. I was terrified my arms might not reattach properly. And back then, I was certain your end would not be a good one, Uncle.”
“I suppose you were planning to make it so.”
“Back then, you and I were mortal enemies.”
“After that day, I thought you might be a more dangerous man than Joshua, or perhaps even Rosa.”
Wheeze, wheeze…
A metallic rasp came from Jorden’s breath.
The end had come.
“Has that thought changed?”
“No… You are the one who will strike down Rosa and become the Patriarch. However.”
Snap!
Suddenly, Jorden squeezed out his last ounce of strength and grabbed Jin’s shoulder.
“Never, ever think that you have already become the Patriarch. Not even if all the remaining rebels serve you as their lord. Not even if your father is dead. You are only qualified once you have reclaimed the Garden of Swords. Only when you have reclaimed the Garden of Swords… do you… understand…?”
Jin gritted his teeth and nodded. Jorden drew his last breath.
A day after his life had ended, another flagbearer of Runcandel was entering Tikan.