C615
Even after unleashing the Sword of the Reign of the King of Legends, Jin was not immediately consumed as he had been before.
This was a result of Jin's growth, gained through the enlightenment he achieved by crossing life and death multiple times in the war at the Sword Emperor Castle and the sense of Vahn he obtained through the fusion of Battle Gods.
Jin defeated the Twelfth Battle King of Legends in an instant, without even using the newly learned Ultimate Shadow Sword Technique.
However, Jin was not satisfied at all.
Having experienced the pinnacle of martial arts, he found it difficult to feel a great sense of achievement even after accomplishing something remarkable.
Even after the first battle of the Great Battle Kings Tournament ended, Jin still stared blankly, as if his mind was elsewhere.
The only moments when his gaze sharpened were when the other Battle Kings' matches began. Only then did he focus his mind to analyze.
However, once the matches ended, Jin wandered aimlessly around Lafrarosa like a ghost with vacant eyes.
"I'm worried that Elder Brother Jin will really lose his mind at this rate."Pop!
Tantel uncorked a bottle of jewel liquor and sat down next to Jin.
Jin was gazing at the sky from the spire near the Hall of Battle Gods.
"Elder Brother Tantel. Are you here?"
"Didn't you even realize I had come?"
"What did you just say?"
"Oh, never mind. What's bothering you? Explain it to me."
It was a dilemma. Also, a dilemma of abundance.
Due to experiencing the sensations of the God of Battle, Jin felt that his martial prowess was mediocre.
"Even though I'm full, it seems I've overdone it."
Upon hearing the circumstances, Tantel shook his head.
"If you think about your age, Elder Brother Jin, there's a big difference between us. However, just moments ago, you defeated the Twelfth Battle King. Although Elder Brother Twelfth Battle King is the weakest of all, he is clearly a Battle King."
The fact that Jin defeated Teto meant he had the qualifications to become a Battle King.
"I know."
Jin knew this better than anyone.
However, this training was his last chance before the inevitable large-scale war between the major factions. The stronger Jin became, the more anxious he felt.
He wondered if he could protect his companions and his clan from the enemies when he returned.
As Tantel mentioned, despite the considerable achievements and power he had gained compared to his age, the enemies were undoubtedly formidable.
If Jin could end his brothers immediately in the human world, he could change the situation in an instant. However, it was unknown when that would happen.
"Be careful if you know, Elder Brother Jin. Read the atmosphere a little."
"Atmosphere?"
"Don't you feel jealousy?"
"Are my brothers jealous of me?"
"Ha, why wouldn't they be?"
Jin had received all kinds of privileges in Lafrarosa.
Before becoming a brother, he already mastered the Sword of Legends and even received the Blood Transfusion of the God of Battle.
"Of course, since you became our brother, all the achievements you've made are our pride. But, the other brothers are also living beings. Elder Brother Teto trained for over a hundred years before becoming a Battle King, and many brothers worked even harder than that and never became Battle Kings."
It was a problem Jin hadn't considered.
After being recognized as a brother, Jin had always been cherished by the Legends.
His brothers always tried to help him, wanted to be the first to share in his achievements, and felt proud of themselves when they were summoned by the Black Light Call, as if it was the blessing of life.
Jin found it hard to imagine that those brothers were now jealous.
"...I feel sorry for them."
"Well, you don't have to feel sorry for everyone. Some brothers not only don't feel jealous but also find it impressive. I'm one of them."
As Tantel handed him the jewel liquor, Jin felt warmth in his stomach.
"This Great Battle Kings Tournament is the only opportunity for everyone to express their resentment and jealousy. Even though the tournament follows the no-kill rule, all participating brothers are putting their lives and hearts into it."
As Jin listened to Tantel, his face warmed, and his chest tightened.
It was embarrassing.
"So you should pull yourself together and fight more seriously. When the Great Battle Kings Tournament ends, regardless of the results and the process, the brothers will surely appreciate you as before... but never forget that the brothers are also living beings. If there remains any minimum resentment, it will end up festering."
Jin looked into Tantel's eyes.
Suddenly, Jin recalled the image of the Battle Kings who seemed to harbor a murderous intent towards him after his battle with Teto.
"Thank you, Elder Brother Tantel. Thanks to you, my mind is clearer. By the way, what's that paper?"
"Oh, it's nothing. Nothing."
Jin grabbed Tantel's wrist as he hurriedly tried to hide the paper. The paper contained the following:
Seventh Duel of the Great Battle Kings Tournament
Eighth Battle King, Elder Brother Garmund vs Successor of the Storm, Elder Brother Jin.
Odds 1.5 : 7
Who will be the winner?
"...Betting?"
"Well, it's a simple pastime. You only bet with jewel liquor. It's a secret we even keep from Sister Goddess of Battle!"
Come to think of it, Jin had recently seen Tantel carrying several bottles of jewel liquor.
Tantel had bet on Jin during the first match.
"You don't truly believe that the Goddess of Battle Sister is completely ignoring it."
"Anyway, you must win, Brother Jin! I've bet all my jewel liquor. If you win this time, I won't have to worry about alcohol for the rest of my life!"
As Tantel vanished as if fleeing, Jin let out a chuckle.
The next day, the main hall floating in the sky was once again enveloped in blue lightning.
"I will commence the Seventh Duel of the Grand Tournament."
Jin VS Garmund.
As the two faced off, the lightning ceased.
Jin evaluated Garmund's skill to be around the mid-range level among the Battle Kings.
'He might be below that level, but nonetheless, he's undoubtedly different from Brother Teto.'
Originally, Jin couldn't win against him.
However, Garmund's physical condition wasn't perfect.
Unlike Jin, who had rested since the battle with Teto, Garmund had engaged in an intense battle with ordinary warriors who had challenged him in a group this morning.
He wasn't severely injured, but he seemed somewhat fatigued.
"Have you underestimated me, Brother Garmund?"
"Think what you want. The outcome is already decided."
Garmund showed none of his usual nonchalance. Only a determined will to crush his opponent was evident.
As Vahn retreated, Garmund's great sword descended within inches of Jin's nose.
When he blocked it, he felt the impact as if his entire body were to be crushed by the blade.
Unconsciously, Jin used the aura to dissipate the impact outward, and Garmund had no choice but to furrow his brows.
'It's that sense!'
A sense of God of Battle.
It was difficult for the former Jin to so easily dissipate the shock that should have caused internal injuries.
The training to awaken Vahn's sense, which had begun in earnest, was starting to bear fruit.
Not only that, but the memory of blocking Garmund's sword in the God of Battle Fusion state during the initial fight also vividly came to his mind.
'Brother Garmund is slow.'
Of course, in a relative sense.
He possessed the brute strength to wield a great saber like a dagger, easily surpassing the weight of several strong men, and left aftershocks every time he took a step forward, but he could never be said to be agile compared to other battle kings.
Instead, Garmund compensated for his lack of speed in battles against opponents of similar level with destructive power.
His method consisted of filling the gaps created by the absence of speed with explosive blows and aura.
'If I can expose that weakness, I can gain an advantage over Brother Garmund.'
The exposure had already ended in the first exchange.
It was a matter of dispersing the shock transmitted to the body outward.
Jin executed it immediately, and Garmund had no choice but to hastily respond.
It was an unexpected turn of events from the beginning of the battle.
'Ha! Having tasted the senses of the Goddess of Battle Sister, does that mean he has already developed his physical abilities to this extent? I shouldn't have accepted the challenge from ordinary warriors in the morning.'
Of course, Garmund didn't openly show his confusion or panic. He skillfully sidestepped Jin, who had exposed his weakness, and devised a new tactic.
'I'll execute my techniques. It will be over in one go.'
Garmund expected Jin to unleash the Sword of the Reign of the King of Legends.
Although dispersing the blows worked well, Jin couldn't perform anything beyond that.
Therefore, a decisive blow was needed, so a sword with such destructive power had to be unleashed.
Sword of the Reign of the King of Legends, Hellfire, or the Ultimate Shadow Sword Technique.
As far as Garmund knew, those three were Jin's strongest swords.
'Hellfire can't wield its power without Tess, and Brother Jin wants to keep the Ultimate Shadow Sword Technique as a trump card.'
All that's left is the Sword of the Reign of the King of Legends.
'He must be confident. He firsthand experienced how Brother Teto couldn't even use his moves correctly and was defeated.'
Garmund believed that he could attack Jin's current Sword of the Reign of the King of Legends head-on and break it.
No, it wasn't a belief, it was a certainty. He was sure that his Battle King Technique surpassed the power of Jin's Sword of the Reign of the King of Legends.
As expected, lightning energy began to gather in Jin's Light Heart.
'Now, when Brother Jin executes the Sword of the Reign of the King of Legends, I must break it with the Battle King Technique at once and provoke a backlash...'
Garmund seized the opportunity like that.
Garmund had been looking for that opportunity, but even though the exchange lasted for over 30 minutes, the aura gathered in Jin's Light Heart showed no signs of transforming into overwhelming force.
"Hoho, did you know my thoughts from the beginning?"
Garmund realized too late, and Jin smiled.
"There wouldn't be brothers who couldn't read Brother Garmund's thoughts. You always wear them on your face, Brother."
"Well then, there's nothing I can do. I'll make the first move from my side!"
Even if his intentions were read, it wasn't a problem. Garmund's attempt to lead the counterattack was only a consideration to minimize Jin's injuries.
Swoosh-!
Garmund's energy began to gather at a point.
Even at a glance, the great sword was surrounded by enough energy to defeat Jin with a single sword stroke.
"Anyway, you can't handle this sword."
But unfortunately, there was something else Garmund couldn't calculate.
Garmund was about to unleash his move, but he didn't realize that Jin, who had increased his speed even further, had darted into his blind spot.
He didn't expect Jin's physical skills and quick footwork, which had compensated for his destructive power, to be even faster there.
'He's been able to move even faster than before!? Penetrating my energy...!'
He felt the tip of Sigmund's sword on his neck.
"It's over, Brother Garmund."
Garmund shrugged and dissipated the accumulated energy in his great sword.
"Darn it, I didn't expect to lose so anticlimactically."
["A-Another Battle King loses to that unpleasant guy? Weren't you so weak when you pressed me!"]
Lingling intervened, and Vahn stopped the battle, announcing Jin's victory quietly.
'If Brother Garmund had thought a little more, I would have undoubtedly lost. Well, I didn't expect to win like this again after what happened with Brother Teto...'
At the moment Jin thought up to that point.
A member of the Tribe of Legends who was watching shouted.
"Darn it! Everyone is playing. Twelfth Battle King and Eighth Battle King. Can you still say you're the Battle Kings of the Grand Tribe of Legends?"
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KO-FI
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