Chapter 655: Traces of the Caldran Snowy Plains (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 655: Traces of the Caldran Snowy Plains (2)
"My lady, please calm yourself."
"Hedo! Did you hear what that crazy Demon Dragon just said?!"
"I heard her."
"Then how can you tell me to stay calm? Jin belongs to me! That wretched… Jin! He’s not actually married, is he?!"
"Lord Jin Runcandel would likely not appreciate your current behavior, my lady. Furthermore, he is unmarried."
"Right? That trash was just spouting nonsense, wasn't she? The day will come when that Demon Dragon truly dies by my hand."
Sandra wanted to throw a bigger tantrum, but she fell silent when she saw Jin’s face in profile. He looked profoundly sorrowful.
The hazy sky above the snowy plains was rapidly turning black under the spread of Zephyrin’s demonic energy. She was quite literally erasing the knights who had begun to swarm her.
She displayed none of her usual arrogance, no facade of laughter or elegance. She was simply keeping her promise to Jin.
"We should get moving as well, Tower Keeper. It seems we don't have much time."
Not all the knights had charged Zephyrin. About twenty percent remained near the cave, keeping a vigilant watch on their surroundings.
"Hedo."
"Yes, my lady."
"You can handle that many knights on your own, right?"
"Why do you ask?"
"Can you, or can't you?"
"It is possible."
"Then you open the path for Jin. Alone."
Hedo was momentarily shocked that Sandra was capable of such a considerate thought.
"I could certainly do that, but I suspect the 12th Flagbearer would object."
"Why?"
"He is not the type to let others carry his burdens. Regardless, that was a very commendable suggestion."
Jin was already moving forward, pitch-black spirit energy coiling around Bradamante.
There were about a hundred knights left near the cave.
By the time they realized Jin had approached, thirteen of them had already been cut down. In the blink of an eye, he had unleashed a succession of Spirit Sword 1st Form: Soul Slashes.
As I thought… the erosion is complete for all of them.
The knights tainted by chaos had become hideous monsters that could no longer be called Knights of Runcandel.
Their twisted arms swung swords grotesquely, and their legs, transformed into thorny brambles, wounded themselves with every step, spilling chaos instead of blood.
Their eyes were hollow pits, and only eerie breaths and monstrous shrieks escaped their mouths.
Jin swung his sword, granting them immediate rest. It was the only thing he could do for those who had once pledged their loyalty to the family as fellow flagbearers and knights.
Rosa… you will pay for your sins soon. I will make sure of it.
Hedo didn't even need to draw his sword.
In fact, watching Jin’s swordsmanship, he judged it better not to intervene.
Not a single wasted movement… It’s just like Lord Cyron’s sword.
In terms of precision alone, Jin was hardly inferior to Cyron.
That was how Hedo saw Jin’s blade.
For a moment, he almost forgot his position and circumstances, becoming lost in Jin’s form as if admiring a great work of art.
"What’s with that stupid look on your face? Don't tell me you've fallen for Jin too, Hedo?"
"I am merely a bit shocked, my lady. Those who have never seen Lord Cyron in person would likely believe the 12th Flagbearer has already entered the Realm of Creation."
"It was only a few years ago that he almost died at your hands in the Sota Desert. Back then, you overwhelmed Jin and his entire group. What about now?"
"What do you mean?"
"Could you win?"
"I do not think so. I expected as much since he tore through the Garden of Swords alone, but seeing it up close is a different matter entirely."
Sandra burst into laughter as if boasting of her own achievement.
"See! I knew Jin had the potential. I didn't think so at first either, so it’s not your fault, Hedo. So, why don't we do what I suggested last time—ah! You startled me!"
Hedo cut down a stray bolt of demonic energy that fell near Sandra. While dealing with the corrupted knights, Zephyrin was subtly sending shockwaves in their direction.
"Ha, she’s surprisingly petty. Acting like a child when she’s thousands of years old."
While they conversed and moved, Jin had already dealt with more than half of the knights remaining near the cave.
Standing directly in front of the cave were those presumed to be former Black Knights, high elders of the Black Sword Council, or top-tier enforcement knights.
As Jin approached, cutting through the ranks, their killing intent grew heavier.
Were they hiding their strength?
There were fifteen in total.
Their state of mutation differed from the knights he had just slain. Instead of twisted and grotesque forms, they possessed stable appearances, like exquisitely crafted dolls.
It seems they've retained their reason.
Their eyes weren't black holes but resembled those of normal humans. However, like Rosa, they had horns, and blades of chaos reinforced various parts of their bodies.
"I am the 12th Flagbearer, Jin Runcandel. State your names."
[Your status as a flagbearer has been revoked, traitor Jin.]
The man standing in the center of the group stepped forward.
Though somewhat transformed, his face was entirely unfamiliar. Jin deduced from this that he must have been a Black Knight.
"It seems you once wore the black helmet. Until Rosa embraced chaos and restructured everything, that was a truly honorable helm. Why are you standing there in such a state?"
[Whether one wore the black helmet or not, the duty of the family’s swords is solely to fight for the family. The knights you are killing now have simply changed for the sake of Runcandel.]
"I heard from my uncle Jorden that very few became monsters of their own free will."
[Free will? Do you think Runcandel would have existed until now if it were a family that permitted such things? Runcandel has always been built on dominion, command, and strength.]
"Which means that, unlike the others, you are a group that truly sympathizes with Rosa’s rebellion."
[You are merely trying to fulfill your personal ambition to become the Patriarch, traitor. That is why you have already formed alliances with the other powers. Thanks to Lord Rosa, Runcandel has finally been reforged into the world’s greatest family. But did you know? If you hadn't betrayed us, Lord Rosa would have made you the Patriarch.]
Whoosh…
The spirit energy coating Bradamante vanished.
[What do you think would have happened to Runcandel, and by extension the Huphester Alliance, without Lord Rosa? We would have been trampled and erased by Zipple and Kinzelo, the very ones you begged for an alliance…]
"I will show you no mercy. And don't try any pathetic tricks on me."
Instead of spirit energy, blazing aura now enveloped Bradamante.
Simultaneously, a flash of light erupted, and the right arm of the Black Knight who had been speaking fell to the ground.
It was a step slower than a Light Speed Thrust infused with lightning, but it was more than enough. After all, it was still a Secret Technique.
"Did you think I wouldn't realize you were spouting sophistry just to buy time until reinforcements arrive?"
The Black Knight’s severed arm began to regenerate rapidly. He attempted to prepare a counterattack, but Jin had already pushed past the other knights and gotten behind him.
"Did you think you dodged it? I unleashed that strike specifically to take your arm."
The regenerating right arm was severed again, and the left arm, which had been attempting a counter, also tumbled to the ground.
Jin then grabbed the knight by his horn and slammed his head into the floor.
[Guh!]
"I told you, I will show you no mercy…"
While the Black Knight struggled underfoot, the remaining knights drew their swords on Jin.
Jin calmly parried all their blades without moving from his spot.
Shockwaves rippled out in layers, blowing back the charging knights. They all coughed up black chaos like blood, their bodies trembling.
"Be grateful that I am busy. If I had my way, I would meticulously inflict pain on every single one of you, but I don't have that luxury."
Despite his words, the knights who had attacked Jin were feeling a pain that seeped into their very bones—a level of agony far beyond what the knights being killed by Zephyrin were experiencing.
At that point, Hedo joined in and began to finish off the remaining knights.
Hedo didn't intentionally double their pain, but since his swordsmanship was inherently more destructive than Jin’s, it naturally resulted in a more agonizing end.
Five minutes.
That was all the time it took to eliminate the fifteen knights who had once been at the pinnacle of the family, including the Black Knight.
Part of it was because the two were among the strongest in the world, but Jin also knew that the caliber of knights tainted by chaos actually dropped—unless they were special cases like Stam.
It would have likely taken more time if the knights hadn't embraced chaos. Rosa and the Prophet were choosing to increase their total military power even if it meant lowering the individual quality of their soldiers.
Or perhaps, once they embrace chaos, that is the only path available.
Jin drove his sword into the back of the pinned Black Knight.
[Inside… the person you are looking for is not there. You will never find her.]
"Is that the only bluff you have left? I already know Hister isn't in the Garden of Swords."
At those words, the Black Knight smirked.
[Yes, you are right. Because that red-haired woman is already dead… Heh heh heh.]
"What?"
Seeing Jin’s reaction, the Black Knight let out a mocking sneer.
For a few seconds, Jin stood still, looking down at him.
The knight twitched and pulled something from his chest. Upon seeing it, Jin almost let out a roar of fury.
What the Black Knight pulled out was a lock of red hair.
Instead of roaring, however, Jin regained his composure and manifested a sphere of blue flame in his palm.
"I believe I told you not to play tricks. If it were her head instead of just hair, I might have believed you a little more."
As the flame dropped onto the Black Knight’s back like a bead of water, blue fire instantly erupted across his entire body. A bone-chilling scream followed.
[Aaaagh…! If you keep trying to find Hister’s body, you too… will die on this land…]
The Black Knight couldn't finish his sentence before he was reduced entirely to ash.
Jin turned his gaze toward the depths of the cave, leaving the ashes behind.
He prayed that Valeria was still alive.