C390 - Who Is the Real Runcandel? (10)
The momentum of the Sword of the Reign of the King of Legends was growing stronger by the moment. It seemed as if the world's lightning was converging on the Garden of Swords.
Amidst the earth crumbling under the lightning's onslaught, the shattered Golden Ring Eclipse fluttered through the air like flowers.
For several seconds, Rosa remained silent, gazing at her younger son.
Amid the devastation of the training ground, only Rosa's high and intact seat of honor remained, like a solitary pillar.
Neither the Hellfire's glow nor the lightning of the Sword of the Reign of the King of Legends could penetrate her energy.
Just meeting Rosa's gaze made Jin feel as if a mountain was crushing him, and his entire body became heavy.
"She is truly strong, stronger than I could have ever imagined."
There was no doubt about that.
Rosa Runcandel.
The Black Panther.
She was more formidable than any enemy Jin had ever faced.
She possessed a power that far exceeded his expectations.
And it was natural.
The figure seated in the place of honor was none other than the second-in-command of the great Runcandel, who had been leading the Garden of Swords in Cyron's place for a long time.
She was the Empress of the Runcandel and had earned the recognition of the entire family, as well as the admiration of all the world's master swordsmen.
In the presence of such an influential figure, if Jin had not felt that overwhelming presence from her, he would have been disappointed.
Slowly, Rosa rose from her seat.
Rosa's field of vision only increased slightly, but the sense of intimidation had multiplied exponentially compared to when she was sitting.
Jin felt his body as heavy as if he were submerged in water.
"You might think you've relaxed, but I never imagined you would come this far after defeating Luntia."
Rosa's voice lacked all emotion.
In Jin's mind, memories of Rosa passed like a landscape.
Memories of a past life when he had recognized her not as an enemy but as his "mother."
After Jin's exile, his mother had cut off communication with the outside world for two days.
And before his exile, she had even violated the family's rules to transmit certain information to prepare him for when he became a Flagbearer.
"She must have known that Joshua cursed me when I was just a baby, so why..."
Why had she regarded him with such disdain? Was it her last shred of motherly consciousness?
But Rosa Runcandel was not a weak human swayed by something as insignificant as conscience.
Jin couldn't know, and he didn't want to know.
He would probably never understand the reason.
What mattered now was breaking that seat.
That was the only representation Rosa was offering of Runcandel, a significant blot on the authority of the second-in-command.
Sigmund's lightning grew stronger.
[I'm also surprised to have come to this, but I never thought you would still be so relaxed, Mother.]
"Go on."
[If it were my father, he would undoubtedly have done the same.]
Rosa smiled slyly.
"I must admit, you've achieved impressive growth."
[Perhaps I can give you a chance.]
"A chance..."
[Everyone in the family has seen my power. That means Runcandel sees the potential for me to become the future successor.]
When Rosa's sword was drawn from its sheath, it made a sharp, hissing sound.
[In this situation, do you really think the Second Flagbearer can become the Patriarch?]
"So, do you want me to support you instead of the Second Flagbearer?"
[No. I don't need your help to ascend to the throne.]
Jin replied.
"Just disappear somewhere at the right moment. When I become Patriarch, there won't be a place for you in the Garden of Swords, Mother."
Even with such a strong provocation, Rosa remained unfazed.
Instead, she seemed subtly satisfied and smiled in secret.
Yes, she had that typical Runcandel look.
It also meant that she recognized Jin.
On the other hand, it was a smile that hinted that Jin was not yet up to her level.
"I'll put an end to that arrogant confidence."
A bitter taste of blood filled his mouth as Jin clenched his teeth.
Using Hellfire and then the Sword of the Reign of the King of Legends had carried the risk of a backlash.
Rosa was aware of it, so she kept her composure.
Moreover, she believed that just this incident, going this far, was already Jin's victory.
As Jin said, since he had shown such power in front of everyone, there would now be an important and certain variable in the family's succession structure.
Perhaps the family would descend into uncontrollable chaos.
Rosa had foreseen this day since Jin's return, from the moment Cyron forgave him, or perhaps even before.
"You've won the game, so you can stop now. But your greed knows no bounds."
Rosa raised her sword and spoke.
"Come to me, my son."
Her favorite sword, 'Frenzy,' shone with a dazzling light.
A single sword shining like a beacon in the midst of the blazing lightning storm.
As Rosa's energy increased, chunks of the ground rose into the air like bubbles and disintegrated.
Finally, Jin began to move slowly.
And the moment he took his first step, those gathered there felt an ominous premonition weighing on their shoulders.
It was because a sudden earthquake had occurred, and the entire Garden of Swords began to sway slightly with Jin's steps within the intense thunder's noise.
Thud~.
In the midst of the intense thunder noise, a strong vibration arose, growing more pronounced.
The earthquake was the messenger of the change brought by the Sword of the Reign of the King of Legends.
It was the battle anthem that only those who inherited Sigmund's power could sing.
Sword of Legends.
Battle God's Combat Technique: Tenth Sword, Second Movement.
Sword of the Reign of the King of Legends: War
Open, a roar signaling that a person had reached the pinnacle among the kings of light.
It was simply a gesture to boost morale before the battle.
The second form of the 'War' god of battle movement displayed the solemn will to annihilate the enemy.
Rosa's pupils dilated.
Once again, even more powerful.
It was a phenomenon that even Rosa couldn't help but be amazed at, witnessing gigantic lightning bolts.
"You still have this kind of power...!"
The word that Rosa thought of first was incomprehensible.
Living as a Warrior for decades, she had never witnessed something like this.
Unleashing such overwhelming force, far superior to anything Jin had shown before, even when he could suffer a backlash!
But Jin, her younger son, was human.
As a human, he couldn't escape the consequences of defying the world order.
Rosa immediately understood what Jin had staked on this power.
What Jin had wagered to unleash this power was his own life.
Is it really worth risking your life just to shatter this symbol, this seat I occupy?
After gaining so much...
Even without destroying Rosa's seat.
Today, Jin had gained immeasurable things.
Even if he were to fall now, upon waking, he would see countless master swordsmen offering him their loyalty.
But risking his life for this, what the hell...
Rosa, who had ridiculed Jin just moments ago, ground her teeth in anger.
The judgment she had made with a smile, realizing that Jin knew what a true Runcandel was.
She realized her judgment was wrong and arrogant.
"This is Runcandel, Mother."
Like a person always thirsty for battle, who never backs down when the battle begins.
Even making clearly stronger enemies doubt and hesitate before their fighting spirit.
Creating a phenomenon that would deny that the fight was over even when the opponent thought it was.
That's what Jin and those who believed in the ancient Runcandel thought Runcandel was.
Suddenly, as if millions of migratory birds had taken flight, a dark cloud covered the sky.
Under that ominous cloud, the only ones who could remain unscathed were the Legends and those who ruled over them.
Craaack...!
Incredible lightning rained down like an absurd electrical storm.
Countless thunders struck the ground without warning.
A deluge of lightning ravaged the Garden of Swords.
Throughout the Garden of Swords, Flagbearers and Elders unleashed their Final Movements.
They fought with desperation on their faces, giving it their all as if their lives depended on it.
However, even the several dozen Final Movements that were deployed simultaneously seemed minuscule compared to the thousands, even tens of thousands, of lightning bolts falling.
Can this be called Sword Technique?
It seemed more like an authority.
The master swordsmen defending against the lightning felt as if they were trapped in a long and dark nightmare.
They couldn't believe that this horrible nightmare had been initiated by the Twelfth Flagbearer.
Rosa, who had maintained her composure until now, also felt overwhelmed by the power she was sensing.
With each swing of her sword, the thunder was annihilated, but the cloud continued to unleash even more violent lightning.
Amidst this chaos, Jin advanced calmly.
He advanced with confidence, as if he were a king reclaiming his territory, heading straight for Rosa.
The resonant sound of Sigmund reverberated strongly.
Jin's sword was aimed at Rosa's throat.
His mother's imposing posture, sitting high and mighty, seemed strangely bitter as she brandished Frenzy.
Now was the time to decorate the end of the statement.
Crack!
As Jin raised Sigmund, it seemed almost unbelievable.
The lightning ceased.
The thunder, which had been roaring as if announcing the end, disappeared abruptly.
But the lightning hadn't vanished.
It was simply converging toward Sigmund's sword at great speed.
So much power effortlessly converged into that single sword.
Everyone was witnessing something they had never seen before.
Everyone knew what was going to happen in the next moment.
That sword... that had swallowed everything... was about to fall towards Rosa.
The distance between them as they faced each other was short.
Jin thrust his sword directly into the center of her.
There was no way for Rosa to dodge that sword.
As the second in command of Runcandel, her only option was to face it head-on.
Kwak...!
When Sigmund clashed with 'Frenzy,' the veins in Rosa's eyes burst.
Her eyes, which had widened for a moment, narrowed and expanded again, causing spasms.
Although there was only one tear of blood, it was the first time someone had seen Rosa cry.
The seat she had been sitting on collapsed as if it were nothing more than a toy in the hands of a giant.
"I, Jin Runcandel, the Twelfth Flagbearer, declare..."
Before losing consciousness, Jin managed to conclude his words.
"...I will become the Patriarch."
As Jin collapsed...
Rosa vomited a mouthful of blood.
The master swordsmen couldn't help but feel a strange sense of dismay as they gazed at Rosa's pale face and the unconscious Jin, as if reality were crumbling.
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