C637
He also had to be a Knight born from chaos, the power of the Prophet.
However, his appearance was different from that of the other knights. Instead of the dense, typical black sensation of Chaos energy, his entire body was tinged with a subtle silver hue. Not even his pupils harbored the ferocity of a bloodthirsty beast.
Rather, they bore the deep and solemn gaze of a Warrior who had reached the pinnacle.
Strong. To the point where there was no need to test it by clashing swords.
Jin examined him carefully and searched his memory.
He recalled the description of an ancient patriarch of the Family that he read in the library of Storm Castle.
The ancient patriarch of Runcandel, called the "Lion King" for his long mane that spread in all directions like a mane.
Lionel Runcandel, that was the name of the man who emerged from the mausoleum.
"The youngest son of Runcandel greets the sixth patriarch of the Family."Jin showed courtesy to Lionel with a calm attitude.
[Oh, so you recognize me. I've heard there are hardly any stories about me left. Admirable.]
Almost all records about him remained in the library of Storm Castle.
Since his time was shortly after Runcandel's defeat against Zipple, most records about him were erased.
"You said admirable, so can I ask you a question in return?"
[What is it?]
"Unlike other Knights of Chaos, you seem to have clear reason and will, ancestor. In that case, the current state of the Family must not seem very good to you. Which side did you punish with that corpse?"
[Haha! If I don't take your side, it seems you'll jump right away.]
"Please answer me."
[I'm just a ghost bound to the summoner. So my job is to punish you. You're asking the obvious. Well, in my opinion, Rosa's judgment isn't so bad.]
"Then I can no longer respect you, Lionel. Even if from now on you endure the shame of being cut by the sword of your descendant, I hope you accept it humbly..."
[You are truly a descendant with great spirit]
The blue flames in Jin's eyes sharpened.
At the same time, Lionel sliced through the air with a long sword formed by Chaos.
Swoosh...!
Lionel's light strike distorted space and released a sword energy that had reached the pinnacle of swordsmanship.
The nearby Knights of Chaos were swept away by the force and repulsion generated by his swordsmanship.
Lionel paid no attention to their safety.
Except for Temar and the current patriarch of Runcandel, who was undoubtedly the strongest of all time.
Lionel was full of thoughts that he had to kill the descendant who was obviously the boy who most resembled Cyron.
As Lionel's sword energy enveloped Jin.
Stam aimed at Jin's rear and was inwardly astonished.
'Even though he completely exposed his back... there's no opening.'
Stam couldn't recklessly extend his sword against Jin's exposed back. He was convinced that even if he rushed, the result would be a meaningless battle.
The Twelfth Flagbearer of the Family, whom he had saved just a few years ago, was revealing the dignity of an absolute Warrior.
Even Jin casually... 'tore' Lionel's sword energy.
Not even with a sword, but with bare hands.
"I thought you'd give me the first chance to attack, but it's shameful."
Swoosh.
Jin was looking at Lionel, who was taller than him, but Lionel felt like his gaze had come from a higher place.
[Though I've lived my whole life in arrogance, I don't feel secure enough to allow such behavior against you.]
Lionel wasn't surprised when he saw his sword energy converging on Jin's hilt and disappearing.
He immediately recognized the fact that Jin was stronger than him.
[Little ones, get out of the way. Staying here won't pose the slightest threat to him.]
Ran, Vigo, Miu, Anne.
Those four were the ones Lionel referred to as the little ones. They were Knights of Chaos, and they were looking for an opportunity to attack Jin all the time.
"You can't do that, Lionel. My mother's orders take precedence."
[Rosa couldn't have told you to kill him. Can't you tell heaven from earth? If they don't want to waste their lives, do as they please.]
Siah-!
Once again, Lionel closed the distance first.
The air shattered as he charged, sending shockwaves, and Jin countered with Bradamante.
In terms of strength, Lionel had the advantage.
When their swords clashed, Jin was pushed back, and that was when Stam found his first opportunity to strike.
A small crack spread through the Rune of Myulta and into the breastplate of the Shadow Energy Armor.
If Jin hadn't avoided it, Stam's sword would have pierced his armor and broken his throat and heart.
Although Jin's sword touched Lionel's chest and Stam's armor, it was clear that Jin was being pushed back in the composition of the first fight.
The three swords, clashing several times in a second, produced a rumble and vibration akin to the collapse of a mountain or fortress.
The swords of the clan guardians stuck in the garden were being erased as a result of the battle of superhumans.
The rusty and shiny swords, which preserved history and pride, were being shattered.
Jin was the only person in this garden whose heart was breaking at the sight.
[You're strong. Incredibly strong. Can't you now stand by your mother's side and fight? With your strength and Rosa's, you'll be able to hold the world in your own hands!]
"Lionel, you presented yourself to me as nothing more than a ghost bound to a summoner."
Jin pushed Stam aside and received Lionel's diagonal slash.
"I say the same. I too am a human bound to the values of the Family. However tempting an easier path may seem, or however sweet the seduction, I cannot stray from those values... The struggle. That is the bitter truth."
[It seems I spoke futile words out of pure regret. However, survival is the essence of the struggle. Your mother fulfills it more faithfully than anyone.]
"I acknowledge that. If Rosa Runcandel belonged to another Family, I would have considered her a remarkable individual."
Zas!
A pale stream of blood spurted from Lionel's right cheek.
He hadn't realized the moment Jin's sword passed through his face. It was the first time in his life that an opponent's sword had completely failed him during a battle.
If he hadn't reacted instinctively, he might have ended up there and then.
But Lionel wasn't even surprised.
He only reaffirmed the fact that he was facing an opponent of unprecedented strength, one he had never encountered even in life.
Fear and joy tingled down Lionel's spine. Stam too was engulfed in a similar sensation.
"Though you possess the power to be an absolute ruler in your era, you still cling to the dream of a mere child. It's likely that's why you'll die here today."
Jin didn't respond and swung his sword again.
The magnitude of raw power still favored Lionel and Stam. The speed at which the runes and Multa's armor cracked increased as time passed.
Jin's breathing also quickened.
On the other hand, Lionel's and Stam's swords gradually moved in perfect synchrony.
Every time Lionel created an opening, Stam's sword pierced the armor without fail.
Blood dripped beneath the helmet.
As expected, facing two people in this state was impossible.
Just a bit more.
Though he had managed to maintain composure at all times, Jin was clearly being pushed back.
Lionel showed no signs of fatigue despite relentlessly using decisive movements to kill, and Stam controlled the flow of battle as if she had combined Yona's and Luna's traits.
Stam was surprisingly silent when striking openings, and overwhelmingly heavy when being attacked.
Because of this, Jin concluded that Stam was a more formidable opponent than Lionel.
"Plus, I'm sure they both have some moves saved."
Jin thought the same.
However, Jin was constantly aware of an uncontrollable variable. It would be a waste to play his cards now.
"The Chaos Energy hitting the flames is gradually fading. If this continues, the time I have to endure without playing another card..."
About 5 minutes.
As long as he held out, it would be fine to regain the power of the hellfire protecting the fleeing knights.
That had been Jin's reason for facing Lionel and Stam only in a power struggle until now.
"Until then, it's hard to know if I can withstand the attacks of both with pure swordsmanship skill..."
The moment Jin thought that far.
He could feel the chaos energy suddenly weakening, pushing back the hellfire.
And from afar, someone's aura began to seriously push the chaos energy.
Jorden Runcandel.
He began releasing the power he had stored under the protection of the hellfire.
Roaring, Tess, who protected the knights from above, let out a roar. It was the signal for them to leave the Garden of Swords and head to Kalon.
Jin unconsciously smiled.
Finally...
The hellfire that had filled the Garden of Swords disappeared immediately.
At the same time, Lionel and Stam distanced themselves.
It was because they recognized that Jin's energy had changed as soon as the flames disappeared.
However, the fire didn't vanish, but returned to Jin. The fire centered around Jin returned to envelop him in blue light.
When Multa's rune and shadow force armor were released, Jin's body was exposed, perfectly reproducing the empress of flame.
"Could it be that the hellfire we've been facing all this time was only half of his true power...?"
For Lionel and Stam, it was completely unexpected. They knew the flames were protecting the knights, but they couldn't believe he couldn't wield his full power because of it.
It wasn't because they lacked insight.
No one would have guessed that the transcendent fire that had repelled chaos from the entire Garden of Swords all this time was only half the strength.
"Lionel, I think I must tell you something before we end this."
Lionel's wide eyes trembled with astonishment.
Like a descendant blessed to witness the legend of the Flame Empress, Sarah Runcandel.
"Unlike you, Lady Sarah fought for Runcandel for a thousand years even after death. Though her entire body was broken and her mind more devastated than that... during those long years, she never compromised on anything."
Would you still dare to qualify her thousand-year struggle and determination as a mere child's dream?
Lionel couldn't choose a response to Jin's following words.
"I see you can't answer. That's why today you'll face death once again in this place."
Bradamante rushed towards Lionel and Stam, like the blade of a guillotine falling upon a traitor.
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