C542
Meanwhile, Talaris looked at Ron deep within the castle.
Ron's breath was so faint that even Talaris had to concentrate to hear it.
He had weakened since the day of his first visit.
The mighty body of the Sword Emperor lay stretched out in a way that couldn't be concealed by clothes or blankets, and the air was thick with the scent of death.
"Ron..."
Talaris sat beside the bed, cautiously holding Ron's fragile hand.
"Your beloved grandson, the friend of that boy, and your knights... they are all fighting for Hairan. Did you really not know this was going to happen?"
There were only two people Talaris could call friends.
Cyron Runcandel and Ron Hairan.Talaris shook his head, reminiscing about their past.
"Ah, these pitiful people. The stronger they become, the more they disappoint me."
Of course, the fact that Kelliark Zipple could come in person was anticipated by many...
But people felt a choking sensation when faced with his majesty.
The entire fleet was enveloped in fire magic.
The flagship, Kozec, looked so distant that it could only be seen as a dot.
Still, everyone in the Sword Emperor Castle felt like they were facing Kelliark directly.
An overwhelming presence, the fleet led by the patriarch of the world's number one clan was slowly approaching the Sword Emperor Castle.
Not a single knight among the Sword Emperor Castle feared death.
However, no one thought they could defeat him.
It seemed impossible for any change or miracle to occur.
But their morale did not waver.
They were only slightly worried.
Worried that even if they couldn't win, the battle might end without a single significant counterattack.
"I will finally get to see the face of the current head of the Zipple clan," Murakan said quietly.
It was the first time Jin would see Kelliark Zipple in person.
In both past and present lives, he had only seen him through news articles and clan records.
"A giant among giants. I wonder how he'll be in person."
Fortunately, Zipple's main force did not immediately attack the Sword Emperor Castle upon appearing.
The issue Amela had feared did not occur.
The current Kozec was able to unleash a power different from what Jin had experienced so far.
"Ruyan-nim."
"Yes, Jin-nim."
"Runcandel must have finished preparing for total war as well."
"I suspected as much. If it's the object Zipple so coveted, Runcandel won't stand idly by. If Runcandel intervenes, some Hairans might survive, but..."
"I will save everyone. Not just some."
"I know you're sincere and capable of doing it. But we will never retreat leaving the young patriarch."
"That goes for me too, Ruyan-nim. However, I'd like to ask for one promise."
"Promise?"
"The Chaos seal that imprisoned Dante happened because he resisted the Chaos."
Jin informed Ruyan that Talaris was here.
She had agreed to let Ruyan know more about the hidden palace's mission and the dangers of Chaos.
Talaris allowed it out of consideration for Jin, not for Ruyan.
For a while, Jin explained the stories about it, and Ruyan listened.
"...If the young patriarch can't overcome the power of the White Stone, he will awaken a monster that not even the Hidden Palace Master can handle, correct?"
"That's right."
"Then how do you give the young patriarch... ah."
Ruyan didn't wonder why Jin was bringing out this information now.
It was only because he knew Jin was the reason the Hidden Palace Master was handling the situation even while informing foreigners about the hidden palace's mission.
Moreover, the situation wouldn't change even if Jin informed them in advance.
"...If such a thing happens, please promise to withdraw all remaining Hairan Knights at that time."
When Dante died, Chaos would awaken, and the Sword Emperor Castle would become a battlefield between Zipple and Runcandel, or a battle to subdue Chaos. The right thing to do was for the Knights of Hairan to leave.
Dead from the war between the two clans or dead from the monsters of Chaos.
It would only lead to senseless death.
Even in that case, Chaos would kill the young patriarch, we must fight and kill that monster.
Ruyan couldn't bear to say that.
Ruyan also understood how Jin felt by making such a promise.
Facing the possibility of Dante's death was itself a heartbreaking experience for Jin.
"...I will," Ruyan replied with a somber voice.
Hairan's fate was absurd.
Jin risked his life to protect Dante and the pride of Hairan...
But Hairan could only survive if the Chaos from the White Stone didn't devour Dante and awaken.
A miserable and terrible existence.
"In return, please promise me one thing too."
"Tell me."
"In some way, if the young patriarch comes back... come back when we're gone. Please help the young patriarch so that he doesn't turn into a monster."
No one knew how things would end.
Ruyan was talking about when only Dante survived, and Hairan was destroyed.
At that time, he asked Jin to help Dante, who knelt under the weight of loss, pain, and wounds, not to lose his way and not to become a monster.
That's something only friends can help with.
"The young patriarch has already endured too many wounds. It must have been tough. Even now."
"I won't let go of Dante, even if Dante falls into hatred and attacks me."
"Yes, you're that kind of person. I just wanted to say it. There's so little Hyiran can do for that boy."
Kelliark's fire now dyed the Sword Emperor Castle red, and the fleet stopped advancing.
Everyone on the walls looked up and stared at the fleet.
An elderly man with long gray hair wearing a white robe emerged from among the magicians on Kozec's deck.
It was Kelliark Zipple.
"Deploy the shields!"
Shouted the leader of the Dragon Knights, Kalmain, with wide-open eyes.
It was because the heat from the fire that had already engulfed the fleet was permeating the entire Sword Emperor Castle.
For the middle-tier knights, it was too hot to bear.
The stones forming the walls were red-hot, emitting heat, and the air was hot enough to melt every lung and organ.
That was something no one expected.
Magic had not yet been cast correctly, and the entire fleet had not moved, and only Kelliark, at the forefront of Kozec, was the cause of this phenomenon.
The knights deployed their shields and activated their defensive equipment.
Instantly, the entire castle was covered in a blue film that seemed to block the heat.
However, in the next moment...
Kelliark brandished Zipple's exclusive wand, "Hroti."
And the protective shield surrounding the Sword Emperor Castle continued to disappear.
As if it had never been deployed in the first place.
"I have only come to share a few words with someone I am curious about, so there is no need to get too worked up."
"You speak nonsense after spitting fire with enough force to melt our castle."
In response to Kalmain's words, Kelliark smiled gently.
Like a gentle elder listening to a mischievous child's chatter.
"Ah, I haven't been on the battlefield for a long time. I haven't paid much attention to that. I'll take care of it for you."
As soon as he finished speaking, the heat disappeared as if it were a lie.
The fire mana still burned around the fleet, so Kelliark's power definitely reached the realm of power beyond magic.
"And, I say this out of consideration, do not interrupt my conversation any further. If I decide, I could end all of you in a matter of seconds. Show me the same consideration I have shown you."
"Kelliark...! How much do you intend to mock us!"
The one who shouted that was Golo, the commander on the left side of the wall.
He had evacuated non-combatants and civilians during the first battle.
He shouted with no particular intent; it was an unconscious act of defiance against overwhelming pressure and fear.
"Your words sound ominous."
Those who had reached a certain level of enlightenment could anticipate what might happen.
However, there was no way to stop it, and no time to warn of danger.
Moreover, their intuition was misguided.
Boom!
Spatial explosion.
Kelliark Zipple cast his magic.
But the target was not Golo.
Everyone expected Golo to explode and die, but Kelliark's magic harmed another person:
Kalmain Aita.
An explosion erupted from Kalmain's shoulder.
The explosion completely tore off his right arm.
The right arm, torn and bounced by the explosion, scattered without a trace in the subsequent spatial explosion.
The only remnants were the pitiful sound of the fallen sword hitting the stone floor.
"Kughh...!"
"Leader!"
"Kalmain!"
The Dragon Knights and Sword Saints shouted at the same time and tried to approach Kalmain.
Kelliark halted their movements, detonating spatial explosions right in front of their faces.
It seemed to be the final warning.
And he even said...
"Consideration ends here."
Most of the inhabitants of the Sword Emperor Castle had never heard a more chilling voice than the one Kelliark had just used.
An oppressive and sudden silence fell.
Kelliark waited for about five seconds to make sure no one was moving, and then locked eyes with Jin.
With an indescribably benevolent smile.
Jin Runcandel.
Kelliark Zipple.
Jin felt his blood chilling and his bones tingling under Kelliark's gaze.
Now, he emitted an energy completely different from the transcendent figures Jin had encountered before.
Gentle yet powerful, elusive yet sharp, light yet heavy, kind yet evil...
That's how Jin defined the feeling of Kelliark Zipple.
I understand why people who have seen Kelliark in person compare him to a god.
Undoubtedly, he was a figure that left an indescribable impact.
But I see why Kelliark is number two.
Jin sensed the divine and mysterious atmosphere surrounding Kelliark, and the emotion hidden behind his smile.
That perception allowed him to understand why Kelliark was behind Cyron.
So, Jin smiled at him.
"You hate me, Kelliark Zipple-nim."
If the person Jin had in front of him were Cyron instead of Kelliark, Jin would never have been able to discern his emotions as he did now.
First of all, his father is in a position where he wouldn't harbor emotions as clearly human as hatred towards someone like him.
Even if Jin had tried to provoke Cyron in some way, he would have felt nothing but annoyance.
Even if Jin had been born as a Zipple and had killed everyone in Runcandel.
"Is it noticeable?" Kelliark asked in a calm voice.
"Yes, to the point where the divine power you have shown so far seemed dimmed," replied Jin, wiping away his smile.
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