C640
The weak blue glow illuminating Lionel's body faded.
His soul departed.
Lionel's body, now devoid of soul, turned into a shadowy, dark form like other masses of Chaos.
The soul went to the mausoleum like the wind.
Jin immediately unleashed the Shadow Sword, guessing it was the key to summoning Lionel again later.
Upon touching the blade, a distinct sensation occurred, as if cutting through flesh, yet the soul kept returning even as it was being torn apart.
Lionel will reappear.
However, it wasn't Lionel who was the issue now, but the owner of the new energy emanating from the mausoleum.
"This energy..."A blue energy like the lightning energy of the Legends surged from the distant chaos.
The energy of one of the ten great knights Jin saw at Temar's Tomb in the past.
Padler Runcandel.
The second Knight summoned from the mausoleum was Padler.
Like Lionel, he too possessed a body glowing with a faint light.
There seemed to be some difference between ordinary Chaos summonings and Lionel and Padler.
"I, one of the ten great Knights, Padler Runcandel, have been granted the name Runcandel by the Patriarch and have enjoyed infinite glory since then. I will atone for the attack on the Patriarch, even after my death."
Upon seeing Padler, Jin recalled what had been said on the recording device.
A thousand years ago, when Temar was consumed by Chaos and Murakan decided to kill Temar, who was in the Black Sea Tower, he was one of the two Knights Murakan took with him.
Jin didn't know much about Padler.
All he had seen were some fragmentary aspects in the records left by Solderet.
But one thing was certain.
It was an undeniable fact that Padler should never have been here.
First of all, none of the ten great knights were enshrined in the mausoleum.
Not only in the mausoleum, but nowhere in the Garden of Swords could mention of them be found.
Zipple had completely erased their history.
The ten great knights Jin had encountered so far had become guardians of Themer's tomb, waging a solitary war for a long time.
"The Garden of Swords has announced the discovery of Temar Runcandel's legacy, the First Patriarch... No specific details have been revealed, but it indicates a firm determination to reclaim the forgotten history of the Family."
A phrase suddenly appeared in Jin's mind.
"The fifth tomb of Temar... Sir Padler, probably guarded it."
The Prophet was using Padler, who was the guardian of the Fifth Tomb.
Either the Family reached Temar's tomb before Valeria, or they attacked whoever found the tomb.
In any case, Jin felt like his heart was about to rot.
As Padler approached, the bodies of Ran, Vigo, Miu, and Anne, who had been pushed away after the battle, disintegrated into particles.
Their particles seemed to flow towards Padler.
They became a material to summon Padler.
However, Jin didn't think of it as the death of the four.
"....Padler Runcandel-nim. You may not know me, but I know you."
[No, I know you. Jin Runcandel, the Twelfth Flagbearer of the current Runcandel. Ilina spoke to me about you.]
"What did she say about me?"
[You are someone who resembles the man who was my lord, Temar Runcandel.]
"I've often heard such comments."
[But I have very few memories of him.]
"I thought I might hear stories from that time, but it's a pity about what you said. Then, the reason you block my path now is... for Runcandel?".
Padler raised his eyebrows as if he had heard something strange.
[Jin Runcandel. You revered someone, devoted your kingdom and your whole being to them, and then they betray you... Can you fight for them?]
Jin didn't respond and made eye contact with Padler.
Black tears sprouted from his eyes like dead blood.
[I only remember one thing about Temar Runcandel. He ended up destroying my kingdom, Idal, with his own hands, leaving not a handful of land or life behind.]
Padler Runcandel. Originally he was not a pure-blooded Runcandel. Like Sylderay, he was influenced by Temar and given the name Runcandel.
His real name was Padler Idal.
King of the Idal Kingdom that existed a thousand years ago, a magical swordsman called the "Blue Thunder King," and an uncommon genius who perfected the magic sword considered exclusive to Runcandel.
Jin couldn't tell if Padler's words were true or false, or if the story was made up.
But it seemed like no word could quell the hatred filling his heart.
[What I desire is not the rebirth of Runcandel, but its corruption and downfall. Descendant of Temar, your mother. This power that chose Rosa Runcandel will ultimately lead Runcandel to ruin.]
"Before meeting you, sir, I met Sylderay and Sarah-nim in Temar's Tomb. Although to be exact, they were guardians made with a soul. I glimpsed them too, sir, and they were speaking on Solderet's recording device. They...."
[You mean they were different from me? Because you want to impose sacrifices on me too?].
A satisfied smile formed on Padler's face.
"Do you remember them?"
[I don't. I don't remember and I don't want to.]
Seureung...
Padler slowly unsheathed his sword.
'Silus', the sword symbolizing his thousand-year-old blue thunder, emitted blue light.
The sword was not forged by Chaos energy, but by what existed a thousand years ago.
[I will defeat you today and get my revenge against Temar, and that's my only reason for becoming a demon. I have no personal grudge against you.]
"I don't know everything about what happened a thousand years ago, Padler-nim. And when I mentioned Sylderay and Sarah-nim, it wasn't to say you should be like them."
Jin closed his eyes tightly.
"...I just wanted to say that you seemed to deeply appreciate each other, sir. Probably in your memory would be the time before the fall of the Idal kingdom."
-[Before you came, I killed them all. To be exact, I swept them away with Padler. You're late again. Where have you been this time?]
-[Padler is a bit injured. I'm as strong as ever, but that weakling probably should be trained by you or the patriarch.]
-What the hell, shouldn't you stop using expressions like "melting people"?
-For me, people are only those who are not enemies of Runcandel, weakling. Don't act surprised when you find out.
-Still, it doesn't seem good for you emotionally.
-Am I a teenager? Take care of your health instead of worrying about my emotions.
The words Jin heard when facing the guardian Sarah and the conversations he saw on the recording device.
Sarah and Padler seemed to have a particularly close relationship, almost lovers rather than mere companions.
But now, Padler was devoid of all enthusiasm, even as he looked around at the remnants of Hellfire.
When Jin opened his eyes again, he gripped Bradamante.
It's already possible to reopen Hellfire. He had lost the resistance from the previous battle, but that posed no problem.
However, it was too cruel to stab Padler with the sword inherited from Sarah.
Regardless of the circumstances Jin was unaware of, even considering Sarah, who was the first to utter Padler's name upon awakening after a thousand years.
[The camaraderie we once shared cannot replace my lost wholeness.]
Jin nodded sadly.
"To cut you down today goes beyond discerning truth from falsehood, sir... It's because I see it as the path for your own good, sir. Please, don't blame your poor descendants for their inevitable choices."
Padler clearly died a thousand years ago.
The life of the dead awakened by Chaos was only filled with useless hatred.
The only thing Jin could do for Padler was to quickly stop the time that dragged him like a broken carriage.
[Sure, they say you resemble Temar, yet you speak such arrogant words. How dare you want to cut me down with that tired body...]
As he said, Padler was not someone Jin could handle alone in a tired state.
He was one of the ten strongest knights, who always fought alongside Sarah. What that fact meant was simple.
Sarah, who was mentioned as the strongest among the ten great knights, thought of him as the most reliable companion.
Even if Jin's physical condition were normal, he wouldn't have been able to guarantee victory.
"Also, don't blame me for not being able to handle him alone, sir."
Shadow Energy enveloped Bradamante.
Ultimate Shadow Sword Technique.
Black Light Call.
Bradamante's black blade cut through the chaos-filled air.
Then, as always, following the path carved by the blade, a black gate opened leading to Lafrarosa.
Jin was nervous.
A Battle King had to be invoked to subdue Padler as soon as possible and receive help in the subsequent battle and even escape.
Although summoning an ordinary warrior would undoubtedly be of great help, Jin had to bet too much on the fight against Padler.
Fortunately, upon seeing the summoned brother, Jin sighed inwardly.
A great bow, incredibly huge for a weapon used by humans, the 'GodSlayer' shot lightning bolts.
The Tenth Battle King of the Tribe of Legends, Kaio. He was coming out of the portal created by the Black Light Call.
"Forgive me for calling you, Brother Kaio."
"Brother Jin, has the time come when you need the strength of the other brothers even after becoming a Battle King?".
He seemed to speak straightforwardly, but after Jin left, Kaio was wishing for such a moment to come before anyone else.
Just as Jin still harbored a feeling of guilt towards him, Kaio felt the same.
Although the brothers don't keep count.
"Anyway, this is what it feels like to be chosen. I am Kaio, the Tenth Battle King of the Great Tribe of Legends. I came to this world by my brother's call, so name the enemy."
Kaio suddenly stopped talking.
He recognized Padler's lightning bolts, which resembled the energy of the Tribe of Legends.
"A human who wields powers similar to ours... Could it be that you are the descendant of Temar's human companion called the Blue Thunder King?".
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