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Ron's back heaved with accelerated breaths.
Trembling legs, a body more emaciated than before, and the thick gray patterns on Lord's sword showed how dire his condition had become.
"Ron-nim!"
Ron didn't look back and swung Rashid again to unleash the sword's wind.
The gray blades halted the fall of Gliek's swords and spears.
Ron wasn't the only one standing in Gliek's way to protect Jin.
Ruyan, Aquita Hairan, Errol Lyman, Bell Artemiro, and Franz.
The Five Sword Saints of Hairan also stood beside Ron, pointing their swords at Gliek.
They also unleashed all the remaining energy when the Chaos storm erupted and helped Ron reach Jin.The Sword Saints standing next to Ron remained unmoving.
After clearing the path for Ron, they faced death while standing.
That was the true end of the Sword Saints.
'Sword Saints...!'
Jin didn't know how they were able to fight until this happened.
The bodies of the Sword Saints turned into ashes and scattered.
It felt like his heart had been cut with a blade.
The prolonged battle seemed like a farewell, but the Sword Saints had dedicated everything to Hairan and those who fought for him until the end.
When the Sword Saints vanished into the wind, only Ron became the figure guarding the vanguard.
Everyone gazed at Ron's back.
That's why no one knew what expression he wore.
Tears, sweat, and blood flowed through the deep wrinkles around his eyes, and sobs escaped like the wind from his empty mouth as he tried to suppress his sorrow.
The Sword Emperor Castle had been destroyed without a trace, and his grandson, more precious than anything and irreplaceable, had been devoured by that monster.
Finished...
Almost everything Ron Hairan had cherished and loved throughout his life had gone far beyond his reach.
To a place he would never see or touch again.
And as always...
Despair didn't give humans time to cry.
Gliek waved his hundreds of arms in all directions as if he didn't care about Ron's pain.
Most of them were heading towards Jin.
Kaaagh...!
Ron's hoarse voice, roaring in agony, resembled Dante's, who had been born with frailty and hardened through despair.
Revenge was out of his reach.
He was exhausted, and the newly emerged enemy was too colossal.
Ron couldn't ignore Gliek and engage in a final battle against Zipple and the traitors.
However, the only reason he returned here and fought without giving up was one.
If everything ended like this, he wouldn't even be able to see his grandson's face, not even in death.
Still, there were things to protect, and his grandson's friend who fought for him.
He had to send him off alive and give him the chance to live as an adult.
Even if he couldn't repay the favor, he couldn't let him die in this desolate land.
The gray glow of Rashid intensified.
Only Ron had diverted more than 70% of Gliek's blades falling on Jin.
The rest were blocked by Stam, the Black Knights, and Jin himself.
He still possesses that power, even now...
Kelliark Zipple, watching Ron leap like a wild beast from a distance, fell into shock once again.
It should have ended, but it didn't; he should have died, but he didn't; he should have stopped, but he didn't.
Ron fighting against Gliek was obviously an advantage for Kelliark now, but Zipple's members were still demoralized by the Knights of Hairan.
Both Kelliark and Octavia felt an unfamiliar anxiety about Ron and the Sword Saints.
Even after using the Demon God Orb, he couldn't easily move towards the ground.
He was still vastly superior in terms of sheer strength, but it didn't make sense.
Although Ron was a bit closer to Gliek, Kelliark knew that even if it were him in that position, he wouldn't have reached the ground faster than Ron.
Moreover, if he were Ron, Kelliark would have kept fighting somehow against Zipple instead of rushing towards Gliek to save Jin. Even if that meant taking a shortcut to mutual destruction.
Trust and loyalty were everything between Hairan and Jin, unlike Zipple, whose goal was to complete the Demon God Orb.
Even if he had made the decision to save Jin, it would have been for negotiating with Zipple afterward, not out of trust.
'Anyway, thanks to his naivety, I can relax for now. Please wait until we and Runcandel can join properly.'
Kelliark looked down, forming the Decimating Flame Orb Of The Dark Sky-Second Version Of The Demon Empress.
Its pure flame, not mixed with the power of the Demon God Orb, was clearing the chaos.
Rosa, Runcandel, and even Octavia and the Spectres were heading to save Jin from the ground behind them.
Rosa didn't order any attack even when she saw Octavia and the Spectres' unprotected backs in the distance.
It was time to join forces.
'Although Ron-nim is blocking him, if we continue like this, almost all my comrades will die.'
Since the attacks had consistently targeted Jin from the start, he had to move for the safety of his comrades.
But changing places was a risky gamble.
There were no guarantees that Gliek would completely neglect that side if Jin left that position.
It's better than standing still.
Instead...
Jin tried once before moving.
He deliberately decided to further reinforce Bradamante's Shadow Energy and observe Gliek's reaction.
[Solderet...!]
Gliek reacted as Jin's Shadow Energy amplified, attacking with increased ferocity.
"Murakan!"
"Yes!"
"I'll divert the attention of that monstrosity. You, and Tess, protect everyone. Until Talaris-nim regains his strength!"
"Damn it, I got it!"
As Jin started running with all his might, Ron and the Black Knights followed suit.
Fortunately, Gliek immediately shifted its focus.
All chaos swords and spears moved in Jin's direction.
"Good job, Jin. I lost my moment of emotions and didn't think about your companions."
Jin felt a warm sensation choking his throat at Ron's words.
"Ron-nim, please don't say such things. More importantly, your body..."
"I won't die until I save you. I'll endure stubbornly until that monster gets bored and gives up."
Boom!
The seven swords of the knights clashed continuously with Gliek's weapons.
Just like at the beginning of the second battle, Ron's sword energy was aiding everyone, and it seemed they could hold on until reinforcements arrived.
However, that feeling lasted briefly.
[You dare mock me.... Solderet!]
As Gliek awakened in an incomplete state, it seemed to recognize Jin as Solderet himself, not as a contractor.
"Kugh!"
Simultaneously, Ron, who had taken swords, leaned forward and vomited black blood.
Jin, Stam, and the Black Knights quickly covered his opening, but the balance was broken.
Gliek's means of attack were not limited to hundreds of swords and spears.
As soon as Ron lost balance for a moment, a tremendous pulling force suddenly generated from Gliek.
Naturally, Gliek was trying to pull Jin towards him with the power of chaos.
Stam burst his energy and created a counterforce, but he couldn't prevent Jin from being dragged through the air.
Following Gliek's gaze, Jin rose into the air.
Tess, who confirmed it belatedly, let out a sigh.
If the strong pressure contained in the blue flames hadn't suppressed Gliek's pull, Jin would have been dragged right into Gliek's eyes.
Fortunately, it stopped midway, and Jin met Gliek's eyes.
Gliek's trembling eyes were like an endless abyss.
Although it seemed like he could be absorbed just by looking at them, Jin focused his mind and gripped the sword.
Dante.
The monster that swallowed his friend.
The fear of the overwhelming power that even dominated the strongest of the century was overshadowed by a deeper and darker hatred.
[Now, I see.]
Smile~
Gliek's mouth opened like a crescent moon.
[Solderet, bastard, it seems you also lost... your power.]
"Damn monster, what did you do to Dante?"
[Now I see... a human... Somehow it seems, you are Solderet's Contractor.]
"What...?"
[If I couldn't imitate your voice, it would have been more troublesome...]
As if something had struck Jin's head, his spine tensed, and a sharp ringing sound rang in his ears.
Jin intuitively knew it without needing detailed explanations.
Dante was fighting against Gliek in the Chaos seal and was deceived by his voice in a certain situation.
"...Then what happened to Dante? Is he still inside that seal?"
Jin asked with barely calm voice.
[You keep... asking useless questions..., Solderet. It's strange, you should know best.]
"I don't know."
[He disappeared.]
Jin's eyes widened.
[He disappeared.]
"What a load of crap."
[Yes... And now it's your turn.]
"Tess!"
Just as Gliek was about to move, Jin shouted Tess's name, revealing his intention.
It meant lifting the heavy pressure.
'I need to create an opening for Ron-nim to attack.'
Having Ron jump to rescue him was just another loss in the battle.
'Even if I deepen, Tess can pull me out at least once. I've only been defending all this time, so I have to make an attack at least once.'
When the pressure decreased like a broken rope, Jin's body rose towards Gliek.
Hundreds of enormous blades formed a black forest.
It felt like it would cut off his limbs even if he brushed against it. Jin rotated his body, reached Gliek's eyes, and thrust the sword.
Thud...!
However, Jin realized that even though he stabbed Gliek's eyes directly, he felt no impact.
"Kaak!"
Instead, it was Jin who was struck.
As soon as he stabbed Gliek's eye, one of Gliek's swords pierced through Jin's chest.
The Shadow Energy armor didn't break, but all the bones in his body trembled as if they were about to shatter.
Gliek tried to attack Jin again as he fell, but Ron had already thrust his arms and swung his sword, as Jin wished.
The moment he hit the ground, Jin vomited blood.
He couldn't help but recall the moment Gliek's sword struck him.
He felt the sword before it touched his body, so it undoubtedly had enough power to break the Shadow Energy armor.
Right before hitting Jin, someone or something seemed to withdraw Gliek's sword, stopping the attack.
'It can't be.'
Thump, thump!
Jin's heart pounded wildly.
It was because he thought it might be Dante who made Gliek hesitate at that moment.
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