Chapter 726: The Skirmish That Began Within (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 726: The Skirmish That Began Within (1)
The Grave of Swords.
That was the name Huphester had given the castle that had begun to rise within the Garden of Swords.
Newsletters from Huphester were filled with endless praise for Rosa’s power and her army of Chaos as they constructed the fortress.
The Temporary Alliance held strategy meetings daily, gathering intelligence on the Grave of Swords. Every day, Orgal scouted the vicinity of the Garden of Swords through the Steel Gate.
“It looks like it’s already finished from the outside…? A castle that massive? The first report only came in two days ago!”
“To think she can wield such power without even reclaiming the strength she gave to the 4th Flagbearer. A god truly is a god,” Octavia and Veradin remarked.
The others in the room were visibly shaken as well. It was only natural, considering a castle far larger than the old imperial palace of Viment had been completed in just a few days.
It was also entirely unexpected.
Until now, the only major concerns for the Temporary Alliance were the stalled construction of the ship Ram and the wounded Rosa. The sudden appearance of a super-fortress, on a scale never before seen in human history, was something they hadn’t even considered.
For a while, the conversation revolved entirely around the castle.
Why on earth had Rosa built it? What did she hope to gain? And could the forces of the Temporary Alliance even break through a fortress made of Soul Energy?
Of course, no one could reach a definitive conclusion.
However, a prevailing opinion emerged regarding Rosa’s ‘purpose’ for building the castle.
“To me, it seems like a measure to recover from the blow dealt by the 4th Flagbearer’s death. A sort of display—to show that she still possesses this much power.”
Ronil nodded in agreement with Kadun’s words.
“I agree. The fortress was completed with such speed, yet the construction of the ship Ram—which truly symbolizes the Evil God’s authority and power—remains at a standstill.”
“A display, you say…”
When Jin finally spoke, all eyes turned toward him.
Unlike the first meeting, Jin looked utterly haggard. There were dark circles under his eyes, his hair was brittle, and his face was gaunt.
It was because of the nightmares.
Ever since Rosa began building the castle, Jin had been suffering from agonizing nightmares every single day. Nightmares featuring Rosa.
These weren't nightmares born of psychological pressure or anxiety.
Rosa's power and will were directly infiltrating Jin’s consciousness. It was just as Gliek, from within the White Stone, had once devastated Dante’s mind.
Thus, every time Jin fell asleep, he was fighting a war against Rosa’s will.
No, even while awake, he felt her influence every single moment.
The alliance and his comrades knew this. Though the final battle had not yet begun, an ‘internal skirmish’ had already started between Jin and Rosa.
“Rosa doesn't need such things.”
His words were heavy.
Since the first all-out attack, Jin was the only person in the Temporary Alliance who had directly felt Rosa’s power.
From Jin’s perspective, Kadun’s talk of a ‘display’ seemed laughable.
“Then what is your take, 12th Flagbearer?”
“Just as the name of the castle suggests, I think she simply built a grand grave. A grave for me to be buried in.”
Silence hung in the air for a good ten seconds.
Jin slowly looked around at his allies and comrades.
He saw the anxiety flickering in their eyes as they looked at him.
Jin was the only one capable of standing against Rosa. It was no exaggeration to say that the entire war against the Evil God depended on his one-on-one duel with her.
Seeing Jin grow more haggard by the day, suppressed by Rosa’s energy even before the fight began, they couldn't help but be worried.
[Considering the obsession the Evil God has shown toward you, that is a distinct possibility.]
Jin nodded as Orgal spoke.
“There’s no chance to analyze the castle’s structure or check their internal strength anyway. One battle, one result. That will decide our… no, the world’s survival.”
Jin stood up from his seat.
“In fifteen days.”
[Fifteen days?]
“We strike the Garden of Swords then. Until that time, I will prepare myself to overcome Rosa’s nightmares and fight in peak condition. The rest of the alliance can finish their battle preparations in the meantime.”
“And if you haven't overcome Rosa’s nightmares by then?” Veradin asked.
“In that case, we’ll have to push the date back. Isn't that obvious? There’s no way I can win if I fight in this state. Conversely, if I manage to push back Rosa’s energy and recover sooner, we begin the invasion immediately.”
“Which means we could deploy as early as tomorrow if things go well. Understood. I’ll have everything ready. Does Kinzelo agree?”
[I agree.]
“From now until the final battle, may I participate in these meetings only when there is something I absolutely must hear in person?”
He was asking to focus entirely on his physical and mental recovery. It was far more important for Jin to overcome the nightmares as soon as possible than for him to attend meetings.
“As you wish. The details of the operation will be relayed to you regardless, so speak up whenever you have an opinion.”
* * *
From that day on, Jin spent his time at the Secret Palace.
There was no place more suitable for him to ignore everything else and end the internal war against Rosa’s energy.
The only comrades who accompanied him were Gilly, Valeria, and Quaul. In the quiet, cold space, Jin spent most of his time sitting cross-legged in meditation.
Though invisible to others, a fierce battle was unfolding within Jin every second.
When he opened his eyes, Rosa’s voice ransacked his mind; when he closed them, Rosa’s sword surged toward his heart.
When he fell asleep, he dreamed of Rosa murdering him and his loved ones while he could only watch helplessly. He had to desperately distinguish whether it was reality or a dream.
The method Jin chose was to minimize sleep and meditate. There was no other way to resist Rosa’s mental assault.
‘You must know that these tricks won't work on me.’
‘You say that, and yet you’ve grown quite gaunt, my son.’
‘I’ll admit it’s having an effect. But if I win this fight, I don’t think you’ll come out of it without losing something yourself.’
‘I wonder… If I have anything left to lose, it is only you. You are my last remaining pleasure.’
No one else could hear the conversation continuing inside Jin. Instead, he relayed the contents to his worried comrades.
Peek.
A group of small Beastmen poked their heads through the entrance of the training ground, watching Jin.
They were the managers of the Gold Top Merchant Group and members of the Water Tail Tribe.
“I see. It's hard. Jin. Is he dying? No.”
“Ah, what do you mean, dying! Hmph, though he doesn't have a drop of blood in his face, like he’s caught some disease. He looks dehydrated, so why is he sweating so much? He keeps groaning, too. It breaks my heart.”
Dark Flame and Top spoke with concern.
“Shouldn't we brew him some kind of restorative medicine?”
“We have. Eel jerky. Should we give? Jin. Eat, get strength.”
“You think that’ll be enough? Hmph! I heard the Secret Palace is full of elixirs. What is the Little Palace Master doing, not bringing them out? Is she seriously being stingy at a time like this?!”
“No, it’s because elixirs are useless for this.”
Top clamped his mouth shut at the sudden sound of Siris’s voice.
Before they knew it, Siris was also peeking toward Jin, just like the small Beastmen.
“Ugh, you startled me! I didn't look like I was talking behind your back, did I, Little Palace Master? I just said it because I’m worried about Jin. Haha.”
“Correct. Top. Talked. Behind back.”
“That brat only speaks clearly at times like this!”
Siris ruffled the small Beastmen’s hair and placed her index finger to her lips, signaling them to be quiet so as not to disturb Jin’s meditation.
Every day was like this. Jin meditated, and his comrades watched him from a distance, walking on eggshells. It was like a family being careful around someone preparing for a major exam.
One day, Siris was the first to ask Jin a question.
“Jin, I could let you use my mother’s private training room. Why do you insist on the public training ground?”
“Because it’s a bit better to feel the presence of those close to me.”
Siris flinched at the unexpected answer and met Jin’s eyes.
“For resisting the Evil God’s mental attack?”
“Yes. The fact that my comrades are nearby occasionally serves as a milestone. When my sense of self begins to be swallowed by her assault, a comrade's voice, footsteps, or even a cough can suddenly pull me back to my senses.”
“So you’re saying you need a moderate level of familiar noise.”
“Exactly, Lady Siris. If it were too loud, I wouldn't be able to focus on the mental attack at all.”
“It’s hard to believe, even seeing it with my own eyes, that a mental attack alone could make someone as strong as you look so emaciated.”
“It’s like… being dropped into the deep sea with your hands and feet bound. As you sink deeper, you see the corpses of the people you cherish. That’s the best way I can describe it. That terror lasts twenty-four hours a day on the boundary between reality and the mental assault.”
“...That sounds devastatingly bleak. Is it getting any better?” Siris asked cautiously.
Jin’s face looked much worse than the day he first arrived at the Secret Palace.
“To be honest, I’m not sure. And… when the time comes to completely end the mental assault, I will need the private training room then.”
“So you will eventually need a moment to fight entirely alone.”
“Yes. It’s just an intuition, but I’m certain of it.”
For Siris and the other comrades, it was frustrating. Even before the Temporary Alliance could begin their all-out attack, Jin was already fighting a difficult and lonely battle by himself.
All they could do was vaguely imagine the struggle he was going through and cheer him on.
However, starting four days after Jin arrived at the Secret Palace…
Rosa’s mental attacks began to spread to his comrades and the key figures of the Temporary Alliance.
The first person to have the same kind of nightmare as Jin was Siris.
“Aaaaah!”
“Little Palace Master!”
“Captain!”
At the sound of Siris’s scream, the 7 Swords of the Secret Palace and the guards rushed into her chambers.
They saw Siris trembling violently, her entire body drenched in sweat.
It was the first time any of them had seen her so paralyzed with fear.
Even as a child, Siris was the type to calmly catch her breath and close her eyes again after waking from a nightmare. Even during the harshest training as the Little Palace Master, she had never once shown a sign of suffering.
“Captain, are you alright?”
“Pant, pant… Jin. Where is Jin?”
“Little Palace Master?”
“You mean… he’s been enduring this every single day?”
Siris remained dazed for a long time.
As the terror of the Evil God named Rosa paralyzed her limbs, an unbearable wave of pity for Jin washed over her.