Chapter 649: After the Shock (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 649: After the Shock (3)
A small sailboat was heading toward Tikan. Behind it, white foam churned as a fleet of about fifty submersible ships breached the surface.
It was a sight Jin had seen once before, just before leaving for the Sota Desert.
Sister Mary…!
Was Cosmos, who now served her, coming with dire news? Or had she already been tainted by Rosa’s Chaos and come to attack Tikan?
Fortunately, as the ships drew near, Mary appeared on the deck. Jin was able to welcome her with a sigh of relief.
“Youngest!”
“Sister!”
The siblings’ resonant voices echoed across the vast blue sea.
The Runcandel knights currently undergoing purification also rushed outside and offered their sword salutes to Mary.
As Mary made her way up to the mansion, she didn’t look drowned in defeat, helplessness, or sorrow. Instead, she was brimming with a fierce, bitter resolve.
The sight pained Jin’s heart.
Though Mary bore traces of Chaos, it wasn't at a critical level. Jin could tell this was the result of her desperate resistance against the corruption.
“…Just as I thought. You were the one who struck the Garden of Swords recently. Zipple and Kinzelo must have been looking for an opening based on your movements.”
When Jin explained what had happened, Mary nodded as if she had expected it. She recognized Jin’s growth at a single glance.
“First, I must pay my respects to Great-Uncle Jorden.”
“I will escort you.”
Mary stood in silent prayer before Jorden’s coffin for a long time.
She, too, had never been on good terms with Jorden, but they had formed a sense of solidarity and camaraderie while rebelling against Rosa together. Mary, in particular, felt a deep respect for the fact that he had ultimately sacrificed his life to save the remaining knights.
“Looking at this, you truly never know how things will turn out. Rosa Runcandel, who seemed like she would never betray the family no matter what, has become a monster of Chaos. Meanwhile, our Great-Uncle, who struggled so hard to swallow the family whole, ended up becoming its protector. Once we reclaim the family, his body must be interred in the Mausoleum.”
“That goes without saying. By the way, sister, how have you been? And Brother Dipus…?”
“Brother Dipus is imprisoned beneath the Garden of Swords. The knights Rosa unleashed on the day you attacked were likely everyone but him.”
“Did you see it yourself? Brother Dipus being captured?”
Mary’s eyes narrowed.
“No, I didn’t see it personally, but I heard about it.”
“Please, tell me everything.”
“That day, even after most of the rebels were suppressed, Brother Dipus and I continued the fight. In the chaos of the melee, we pushed too deep—all the way to the Inner Chamber, where Rosa was waiting.”
There, the siblings had faced Rosa in direct combat.
To be precise, only Dipus had directly parried Rosa’s sword. The moment he took a single strike, he felt the Chaos burrowing into his body and immediately shoved Mary out of the fight. He had judged that even a few more clashes with Rosa’s blade would be the end for them.
“Rosa has become so strong she’s almost like Father. On top of that, she infects you with Chaos. There was nothing we could do. We planned an immediate escape, but it wasn't long before Brother Dipus lost consciousness. To Rosa’s sword.”
Mary’s body trembled as she recalled that moment.
She had been able to escape Rosa only through Dipus’s sacrifice. The only reason she had left him behind was to ensure his sacrifice wasn’t in vain.
“The impulse to just die there with him was overwhelming. But if I did that, I wouldn't be able to avenge him… However, getting past the Inner Chamber wasn't the end. I managed to get out of the Garden of Swords, but a pursuit force surrounded me before I could leave Kalon.”
The pursuit force consisted of about a hundred knights tainted by Chaos—the Black Sword Council.
At the time, Mary had no strength left to deal with them. She had already sustained horrific injuries while escaping the Garden of Swords.
“It was Lin Milkano. Apparently, the President of the Guardian Association, Lin Milkano, became the new Head of the Black Sword Council in Great-Uncle’s place. And Lin Milkano… she just let me go.”
“She let you go?”
“Lin Milkano was also rebelling against Rosa. I don’t know if Rosa knows this or if Lin Milkano was lying to me… but the fact remains that she let me live.”
— I’ll give you these painkillers, 7th Flagbearer. Leave. I’ll report to Rosa that I lost you.
— What are you plotting?
— Don’t think you were the only ones who wanted to restore the Garden of Swords.
— You say that, yet you’re all using the power of Chaos.
— I, too, made a separate contract with the Prophet, just as Rosa did. Only the method differs. We also do not believe Rosa’s decision is correct.
— A contract? Damn it, what are you thinking?
— And what were you thinking, attacking the Garden of Swords? Did you really think you could fight a decisive battle with that level of strength? You couldn’t have been ignorant of Rosa and the Prophet’s power. It was nothing more than a meaningless suicide mission!
— Ha. What will happen to Brother Dipus and the knights now?
— They will all be confined in the underground prison. As for the 4th Flagbearer… Rosa has coveted him for a long time. There is a high possibility he will be turned into one of Rosa’s puppets. Through Chaos.
— Damn it, that kind of filth…
— Go, now. Go find the Patriarch, or bring the 12th Flagbearer. I don’t know how much longer I can hold out.
Mary recounted the conversation she’d had with Lin that day.
Thanks to Lin, she had narrowly escaped Kalon and found refuge with Cosmos’s pirates. However, as her injuries and the Chaos infection deepened day by day, she could do nothing but focus entirely on recovery.
As soon as she recovered, she came to Tikan.
Jin couldn't even imagine the agonizing time she must have endured.
“If you hadn't been in Tikan, I was planning to head for the Black Sea immediately. Like Uncle Zed.”
She, too, no longer believed Cyron was alive. It was simply the only path she had left.
But Jin had returned, and change was already beginning. When Jin entered the Garden of Swords, all the major powers had joined forces to attack Runcandel.
Even though Kinzelo and Zipple were enemies, forming a temporary alliance with them was a far better prospect than relying on Cyron, whose life or death remained uncertain.
Jin organized his thoughts for a moment and met Mary’s eyes.
“First, it’s highly likely that Lin Milkano’s betrayal is real. I didn't see her during this battle.”
“Then she has likely already been purged. If she truly held a rebellious heart like us, I doubt Rosa would have remained ignorant of it for this long.”
“I agree. Furthermore, even if she hasn't been purged, the Head of the Guardian Association has already made a contract with the Prophet. That alone means she cannot be a true ally. She will eventually succumb to Chaos.”
Therefore, it was right to exclude their support from the upcoming final battle with Rosa.
“And as for Brother Dipus… we can only hope he hasn’t been corrupted beyond the point where my Chaos Purifier can heal him. As long as he hasn't undergone physical mutation or complete erosion, he can be saved.”
“Brother is a strong man.”
Mary gritted her teeth as she continued.
“No matter what Rosa does, he won't break easily.”
“Yes, I’m sure of it.”
“What do you plan to do now?”
“First, I’m holding a meeting with the two major powers. We’ve agreed to gather in Tikan tomorrow afternoon, so I’ll need to exchange information with them—about the strength of Rosa’s Runcandel and why they aren't making a move. Then, we will decide when to strike the Garden of Swords.”
“Zipple and Kinzelo must have taken significant damage this time as well, so they won't be able to launch another attack so quickly.”
“That depends on how many hidden cards they’re willing to play. Also, if the Garden of Swords is truly immobilized for some reason, it might be better to take our time and prepare thoroughly.”
During his escape from the Garden of Swords, Jin had accidentally connected with Laprarosa through Ling Ling, and Quaul was currently researching it.
If my brothers and sisters from the Pluto Tribe can come out before the final battle with Rosa…
Even if that proved difficult, if he could at least perform ‘Fighting God Union’ without relying on such a coincidence, it would be an immeasurable help in the final confrontation.
To bring down the Garden of Swords, Rosa had to be killed, but anyone other than Jin would be consumed by Chaos just by fighting her. That meant they could turn into Rosa’s thralls mid-battle.
Since Jin would essentially have to handle the fight against Rosa alone, Fighting God Union was desperately needed.
And Murakan’s return…
Murakan. He hadn't been able to manifest since his last appearance. With Talaris injured, Misha had to bear the full burden of Elona’s seal, extending Murakan’s time as her proxy.
Fighting God Union, Murakan’s return, and the Golden Fleet.
As Jin shared his best cards, a faint smile spread across Mary’s lips.
“You’ve really grown up, Youngest. Having you here… I feel reassured.”
“We must do everything we can to ensure all three are ready. We need to know exactly why the Garden of Swords isn't moving so we can prepare properly. And I’m reassured to have you here too, sister. So… please don't cry.”
Mary had leaned into Jin’s embrace and burst into tears.
The guilt of leaving Dipus behind, the agony of failing to protect the family—for the first time in six months, she was finally letting it all out. To her youngest brother, who was now all grown up.
“Our Runcandel hasn't fallen, sister. Not yet. We just have to take it back together. Our home.”
“This is the last time you’ll see me look this weak.”
“You don't look weak at all. But if you're struggling, you can always lean on me like this. We’re family, aren't we?”
Suddenly, they sensed a presence behind them. The Tona brothers were approaching, tentatively watching the situation.
Seeing Mary crying, the Tona brothers were startled and tried to turn back, but Jin quietly beckoned them over.
The Tona brothers then embraced Mary and wept as well, and Jin held them all together, patting their backs.