C639
A black ship that seemed to trample the sky as it floated.
With a hull length of nearly 5 km, "Ram" completely overwhelmed other battleships in the sky with its size.
"Is that... a battleship?". Octavia spoke with an incredulous voice.
As she said, Ram's shape was more like an "airborne fortress," like the main hall of the battle gods' hall than a flying ship.
It wasn't a battleship, but rather it looked like an entire black island floating in the air.
"When did Runckandel manage to create something like that...!". Kardun exclaimed through gritted teeth.
The main factions, who had visited Hufester with great vigor, once again felt their blood freeze at the hidden power of Runcandel.
It was almost despairing.
How much did we really know about Runcandel until now?The leaders of each faction could only ask themselves the same question.
'We knew nothing... absolutely nothing...! How could we be so unaware of the terrifying power they hid'!
Regret was useless.
"....I was wrong. We shouldn't have come to Hufester," Hedo quickly admitted, realizing that his decision to prepare for a total attack had been wrong.
"It's not your mistake. Kelliark also gave his final approval himself, believing that judgment was correct. It's the mistake of all of us, who had no idea of their power until now. Damn it! Even fleet rotation seems difficult."
They were already too deep into enemy territory to retreat.
Even far behind each fleet, the sky was black as coal. Chaos energy blocked the battleships' way back.
It was also confirmed that the fleet was being drawn towards Ram beyond the rotation disruption. Zipple was forced to make a decision.
Stay and fight.
Ram's attack had not yet begun.
It overwhelmed just by its energy and appearance, but they wouldn't know until they joined.
The main factions also brought out their maximum firepower.
"If we try to retreat by force, we'll only get unilaterally attacked. Moreover, there must be limitations in operating such a huge battleship. We must find and exploit those limitations somehow. Kinzelo must be thinking the same."
Kinzelo was thinking exactly what Kardun said.
[This is unexpected even for me. To think they have already created something like this. Was the despair harbored by Rosa Runcandel and Joshua Runcandel really of such magnitude? It's truly a manifestation of the evil god...]
Orgal was the only one who had seen Ram firsthand in the past.
At that time, Orgal had come to the conclusion that not even he, at his best, could withstand Ram's firepower.
If there was any hope in despair, it was that Orgal believed Ram was not yet complete.
[Jin Runcandel, it all depends on him]
"Leader, what do you mean by that?"
"Master?"
[Although it's not yet complete, as long as Ram exists, neither us nor Zipple can penetrate the airspace and enter the Garden of Swords. Retreat would only result in great losses]
The leader's dimensional portal was also affected by chaos. Chaos put restrictions on all kinds of transfer portals, like Mort's dimensional movement and the red owl's spatial jump.
If the dimensional portal were forced open, Kinzelo would suffer catastrophic damage without being able to inflict any significant blows to Runcandel in the meantime.
[The only one fighting from within is Jin Runcandel. We can only hope he can strike a blow at Ram's power. Neither attacking nor retreating. Only then will it make sense]
Ram's power.
The Chaos enveloping the entire Garden of Swords centered on Rosa Runcandel.
There had to be a problem with that.
So that Zipple and Kinzelo could gain even a little ground and plan their next move.
[I'll give new orders. The entire fleet responds to Ram and supports Jin Runcandel. Saving him is our top priority].
Directing the war to inflict damage on both Zipple and Runcandel.
Orgal quickly reversed this order.
He judged that if Jin died without reaching Ram's power, then the only result the giant forces would receive would be catastrophe.
Thus, the aerial battle between the two main factions and Runcandel began.
Of course, it was Ram who initiated the preemptive strike.
The center of Ram's hull distorted like a whirlpool, gathering Chaos energy.
The main cannon, typical armament of a conventional battleship, was unleashed by Ram.
But the next moment, Ram's onslaught surpassed in scale all known types of cannons in the world.
It seemed to mock any comparison.
Kwaaaaah...!
The black streak dividing the sky first struck Zipple's fleet.
Kadun, who had already transformed into his true form and had come out of the battleship, had to spread the flames with all his might from the beginning.
The battleships were close to each other, deploying a protective shield.
The protective shield containing all of Zipple's technology and mana seemed to fight against the black energy thrown by Ram.
But in a matter of seconds, they were mercilessly torn apart.
The shield centered around the flagship of the second fleet, Kozec 2, was the first to break.
Kadun and the other strong ones, along with nearby fleets, had no time to intervene.
[Ahhh......!]
Kadun's roar was drowned out by the thunderous destruction of the fleet.
Rosa, standing at the front of Ram, let out a laugh at the sight.
[It's so good to see you fighting like bugs... Zipple's Fire Dragon].
Rosa's voice trembled slightly, as if she were invaded by ecstasy. However, the Prophet felt uneasy about her behavior.
'The speed at which your mind collapses is too slow. I'm showing everything, but why do you still distrust my power, Rosa Runcandel...'
A single cannon blast silenced Kozec 2 and brought Zipple's Second Fleet almost to annihilation.
The current power of Ram that the Prophet anticipated was at least 50% greater than that.
It was not fully realized due to Rosa's caution towards her.
Rosa saw through the Prophet's internal thoughts completely.
[I guess you were bothered that I distrusted fully assimilating you despite you demonstrating such a level of capability].
"It's not that."
[The day will never come when Runcandel is completely subordinated to you. All you have to do is provide power. You're just a parasite feeding off my Family...]
"Ha, it's regrettable that you reject a more effective path. You always do."
[It all depends on my judgment. Don't forget you're nothing more than a servant of the Family, Ilina Runcandel. Is my younger son still there?]
"Since Stam and Lionel-nim are there, it will be resolved soon......."
[That alone won't be enough, surely you know that. You expect me to take matters into my own hands]
The Prophet inclined her head.
Rosa was definitely on a different level than Joshua. The Prophet couldn't control her in the slightest.
[This is your last chance. If, after today, you dare to question me again, even once... I will terminate our contract.]
"I'm sorry."
[Call it.]
When Ram's first discharge ended, scales covered Kadun's entire body, and he was breathing heavily.
For the first time in his life. He felt a sense of complete loss of will to fight.
A feeling he hadn't even felt when facing Murakan a thousand years ago shook his core.
However, Kadun gathered fiery breath with all his might. If it had been any other dragon but him, they would never have done it.
[Sheenu's protection will be with us...!]
As Kadun charged, Zipple's fleet also advanced at the same speed using Ram's gravitational pull.
Indeed, they also had potential.
The spot where Kozec 2 disappeared was filled with a new fleet of Specters that had been summoned before anyone realized it, and the shield that had collapsed due to Ram's attack was instantly restored.
They all relied on the fire emitted by Kadun.
Hedo, along with Octavia, rode on the Salion Wind Dragon and shot sword energy, and after that, the Specter performed chain magic.
Ram's main cannon took some time to be ready again. As far as they could see with their eyes, the speed at which Chaos energy accumulated in Ram was not very fast.
From the rear, Kinzelo charged.
Unlike Zipple, which had withstood Ram's attack, they had not yet suffered any damage.
Zephyrin, who was at the vanguard, was larger than ever.
She was drawing upon all the power of Orgal, which she had not been able to use due to the restrictions.
However, since Orgal had not fully recovered yet, there were obviously limits.
About an hour.
Although not too long, during that time, she could engage in battle as one who approached the strongest in the Demon World.
Therefore, Zephyrin was filled with confidence.
Unlike those stupid bastards of Zipple who didn't bring Kelliark, she was quite sure that she would be able to deal a decent blow to Runcandel.
Until Ram unleashed what it held within.
[Didn't I tell you, Zephyrin? Before Jin Runcandel creates a variable on the ground, you won't be able to strike at Ram. Don't be greedy.]
[Damn it, Master! What else is that?]
[Chaos, its creatures...]
Aaaaaaagh-! Aww!
Hundreds of Dragons burst forth from Ram's hull.
The creatures of Heluram that should be called 'Chaos Dragons'. And similarly, there were hundreds of black ships.
The Chaos Dragon and the Black Ship escorted Ram.
Constantly breathing and firing its main cannon, and extending a shield to withstand the attacks of the two main factions.
The entire sky burned in chaos.
The war scene did not seem like a battle between humans, but rather mortals fighting against an evil god.
The Chaos Dragons let out grotesque cries as they bit into Zephyrin and the fleet.
Amidst explosions of blood, flesh, chaos, and bones everywhere,
Orgal looked down, in the midst of the Garden of Swords.
Jin's Hellfire flame faded.
-----------------
Ha~...!
Jin gasped and looked at the fallen.
Stam had stopped moving and only half of his body remained, and Lionel was on one knee, coughing up blood foam.
'Lionel's Final Movements were definitely dangerous... Even if his mind was corrupted, a patriarch was still a patriarch.'
Jin's wounds were revealed among the broken Myulta Runes and armor.
It was true that his stamina had been rapidly depleted, but not to the point of being unable to continue fighting.
Before going to finish off Lionel, Jin looked up at the sky.
He saw Ram, the Chaos Dragon, the Black Ship, and the fleet of the main factions fighting below him.
'Let's go against those things... I don't know if the Chief Elder will be able to survive.'
Just like those outside, Jin was getting a little nervous about the unexpected strength of the Family.
Even at a glance, it seemed that the two main factions were already being pushed back.
Lionel raised his head.
[You're the strongest descendant of Runcandel I've personally faced... You were born in the wrong era. If there had been someone like you in my era... then the Evil God wouldn't have been born in our Family]
Jin didn't respond but approached Lionel and decapitated him.
Then, as he tried to locate the Prophet, Lionel's severed head kept talking.
[Moreover, the heroes of the Family wouldn't have to fight such a dishonorable battle against their brightest descendant...]
Jin felt the energy of another old hero appearing from the mausoleum.
It was an energy that Jin had already seen once.
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