C645
Fourth Secret Technique of Runcandel: Black Cross.
Rosa released the sword as the meteor shower shattered.
The blade of Frenzy, marked with a black cross, emitted black energy.
The energy in the form of a black cross spilled towards Talaris in a circle around the intersection point of the cross.
Rosa was not a pure-blood Runcandel, but she executed Final Movements and secret techniques perfectly even without a blessed body due to Chaos acceptance. Her power was comparable to Cyron's.
There was no way Talaris and Mort could escape the countless black cross-shaped blades.
Initially, Jin and Kaio were supposed to risk their lives to pierce through Rosa and plunge into the energy. However, it wasn't certain that their exhausted bodies could withstand Rosa's secret technique.
Perhaps not only would they fail to save Talaris, but they themselves would face death.
If Murakan hadn't appeared now, it would most likely have ended like this.As the black cross-shaped energy attacked Talaris and Mort, Murakan's huge body suddenly appeared behind them like a black mountain.
At first glance, his body was much larger than Jin remembered. His wings, spread like a wall, blocked the Black Cross, leaving enough space even for Mort to fit within them.
The energy from Frenzy's extended sword constantly caused cracks in the wings.
It seemed as if the wings were about to tear apart in an instant, but it was nothing more than an optical illusion caused by the flickering Shadow Energy.
[And you too, Mistress of the Hidden Palace. How did you become so weak? It seems that Sir Mort is also quite injured].
Talaris lifted her head.
She smirked in relief at being surrounded by Murakan's protective shield.
Although she had just doubted death, she now felt that the embrace of this dark, gigantic dragon was the safest place in the world.
"You've come at the perfect time. How did you become so strong, Brother Black Dragon?"
[I've just recovered a bit more of what I had lost. And thanks to that, I think neither the brat nor I will lose you today].
"Uhhh, I'm going to fall in love with you."
Murakan possessed 50% of his former strength during the War of the Sword Emperor Castle, when he fought alongside his comrades.
Not only Jin but also Talaris, who couldn't sense Shadow Energy with such sensitivity, could easily recognize that Murakan's current power level was near his prime.
Jin's Shadow Energy, which had finally reached ten stars, and the crises Murakan had overcome on behalf of Solderet, were restoring his former strength.
Murakan spread his wings again.
Talaris and Mort received no damage from the Black Cross, and Rosa's expression distorted.
[The former Guardian Dragon of the Family... I didn't feel any signal of your arrival].
That's why Rosa was angry. She could feel all the battles that were happening in the Garden of Swords and throughout the Kalon area as if it were her own body.
However, she didn't feel Murakan's presence at all.
This means that Murakan didn't come from outside the Garden of Swords, but suddenly appeared from within.
[It seems you still lack enlightenment, Rosa Runcandel]
Rosa turned around and looked at Jin.
[You and your comrades are really lucky, younger son. When you're in a crisis like this, someone always comes to rescue you].
Rosa didn't know all the details of Jin and his companions' adventures. But she knew they had always managed to overcome difficulties with the help of others or among themselves.
Nothing like that had ever happened in her Runcandel. No matter how much she hoped, there was no hope that 'someone' would return, and Rosa didn't bother to hide the bitterness that fact caused her.
[This mother... will break that cycle].
The Chaos blade that stopped in mid-air began to spin again.
The blades pushed the group more fiercely than before, as if fueled by Rosa's anger.
At the same time, parts of Murakan's body dispersed into Shadow Energy and trapped Talaris and Mort.
He quickly moved like a hawk and instantly appeared next to Jin.
Rosa scattered swords in all directions from her position.
Parts of Murakan's body, transformed into smoke-like forms, were swept away, but didn't deal him a significant blow.
Despite Murakan's arrival, the situation still overwhelmingly favored Rosa.
Jin, Talaris, and Kaio were not in a condition to fight properly.
And that wasn't all.
Jin could sense Murakan's urgency without having the chance to properly greet him.
"Are you not in a condition to fight either?".
[It's not that, but my time is running out].
After the end of the War of the Sword Emperor Castle, Murakan had been acting as Solderet's substitute in place of Misha.
Even Misha, who had previously been in charge of Solderet's affairs, didn't fully understand the details.
As it was beyond mortal understanding, Misha's and Murakan's functions were simply to maintain their "existence" in the Realm of Solderet.
And leaving that position poses a great threat to the world.
In particular, Murakan is not as skilled as Misha, so his absence could only be brief, especially when using such immense power.
That's why Rosa hadn't sensed Murakan's presence.
Murakan had manifested here without any physical movement, directly from the Realm of the Gods.
There was no time to explain it in detail.
[So we have to escape quickly. You can't keep fighting in your current state anyway].
Furthermore, Elona Zipple's seal was also a problem.
As Talaris's internal injuries worsened, Misha had to bear an extra burden to seal them.
Talaris had been worried about the seal since Rosa attacked her.
Jin nodded.
In Murakan's opinion, Rosa's power still had some limitations.
[Don't underestimate me, Murakan. Do you think you can escape?]
[Don't be pretentious, Rosa Runcandel. I'm not the only one with little time. Right now, I can see things that mortals cannot].
[You speak with arrogance when your only option is to flee...]
Swish!
Rosa lunged forward and split Murakan's breath in half as he had just exhaled.
Shadow Energy tendrils from all directions blocked her path, but Frenzy only halted when it collided with Bradamante.
"I can feel your anger."
Rosa continued her assault, but Murakan's Shadow Energy and Kaio's arrows limited her movement.
While Frenzy halted Kaio's attack, the puncture of Shadow Energy grazed Rosa's forehead and cut her horn by half a finger, splattering black blood.
Rosa's chaos, which had previously been stable enough to resemble Shadow Energy, began to fluctuate from the moment the Black Cross was intercepted by Murakan; her chaos was chaotic.
The color and power became inconsistent.
'As expected, Murakan was right. There are limitations to this infinite power. It doesn't seem to be due to an injury to the horn. Is the half missing? Or... could there be some psychological reason.'
Unlike Ron and Smarion before facing their fate, she remained perfectly rational.
Jin thought that might be the key.
It reminded him of what Rosa herself had said: I have not yet succumbed to Chaos.
In any case, the priority now was to escape.
Even if her Chaos became unstable, it wouldn't affect her transcendent strength.
Suaak-!
Rosa's sword aimed relentlessly at Talaris.
Every time Frenzy and Shadow Energy clashed, the sky cracked open.
Murakan used all his strength to prevent the impact from reaching Talaris.
He had to worry about Talaris's life and Elona's seal, so his nerves were on edge every passing second.
The battle was at a stalemate.
That meant Jin's group was still at a disadvantage.
Although Rosa had limitations, Murakan's forced return would be quicker.
"The escape point is in the forest about 75 km away, Brother Black Dragon. Can you clear a path there? There's a teleporting flying ship."
Talaris pointed her finger to where the red owl was hidden.
[It's going to be a bit risky, but where?]
If he amplifies Shadow Energy to clear a path, his forced return will be quicker.
Murakan raised his Shadow Energy without hesitation.
It was better to attempt an escape than to continue at a standstill, even if his energy ran out before reaching the escape point.
"I'll buy you some time, Black Dragon Murakan. Escape with Brother Jin."
The moment Kaio said that. Suddenly, a voice resonated from the sky.
[Murakan! I'll cover you!]
It was Orgal's voice.
Kinzelo's flagship, Grenil, floated in the air, charged with an immense amount of lightning energy.
The other battleships were still far away.
Orgal had read the situation and opened a dimensional portal to the battlefield where Murakan and the others were.
Of course, due to Chaos, his dimensional movement ability was affected.
However, since all of Kalon's chaos was concentrated on Rosa, the restrictions were weaker than before.
Murakan recognized it was Orgal without Jin's explanation.
Lightning rained down on Rosa.
At that moment, Murakan flew into the sky with Jin and Kaio on his back.
Rosa's sword energy pierced Grenille's lightning and emerged behind Murakan.
It was the fifth secret technique, Light Speed Thrust. Although it left deep wounds in Murakan's tail, back, and left wing, he continued on without hesitation.
"Are you okay, Murakan?"
[Of course I'm okay, it just hurts. But it's a small price to pay for saving you and the Hidden Palace Master.]
Thanks to Grenille, Murakan didn't have to amplify his power, so he had some time.
But there was one element Murakan hadn't taken into account.
Ram, the fact that Runcandel's huge black ship was approaching.
And Rosa was no longer visible where Grenille's lightning disappeared.
She stood in front of Ram, watching the direction Murakan was moving.
Ram and she were practically one body.
Ram reloaded the main cannon incomparably faster than before.
The Chaos energy darkening the sky became increasingly unstable.
"Rosa-nim, how about we stop here?"
At the Prophet's question, Rosa chuckled.
[Don't you always want my sanity to crumble?]
"Honestly, right now it's a bit dangerous."
Rosa quietly accelerated Chaos amplification, and Ilina watched her with anxious eyes.
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