C681 As the power of the graveyard giants infused into the seal's core, it emitted an even more intense light.
The light that rose to the sky resembled a pillar that could be the center of all the oceans in the world.
Those who had been tormented by the red lightning momentarily mistook it for another form of attack, but what emerged from the seal was only a beautiful light.
The cylindrical shape of the underwater ground, as well as the force of the shadows, the seawater, and the sky, which had been stained by battles, were all immersed in the light.
The attack of the graveyard giants ceased, and the chaotic landscape cleared in an instant, eliciting the devotion of the people.
Jin remained vigilant and observed the core.
His face gradually filled with astonishment.
"Valeria..."
"Yes, I can feel it too."
The energy of the graveyard giants connected to the core was continuously amplifying, like plants that had been exposed to light for a long time and were now standing tall.The two had expected the power of the graveyard giants to deplete upon opening the seal, but the opposite was true.
Even though the graveyard giants became stronger, they were merely a more potent weapon without an ego. But Jin felt it was more than that.
The graveyard giants were kneeling with their shields and spears lowered, like faithful performing a religious ritual.
It was not an act that a weapon without an ego could perform.
The light spreading in all directions converged in an instant, and the seal began to open. As the seal slowly broke, Valeria opened the record window.
<Jin Runcandel, Valeria Histor, and 156 graveyard giants are releasing the seal of the ancient Runcandel...>
<...... Releasing the seal of Bale Runcandel, the tenth great knight of the ancient Runcandel.>
Bale.
The owner of Hedo's sword and a presumed figure of the ancient Runcandel.
He was receiving the worship of the graveyard giants and awakening from a thousand-year-long sleep.
"Bale Runcandel..."
Without even looking further at the record window, Jin and Valeria immediately recognized him as the "Forgotten God."
He was both a member of the ancient Runcandel and a forgotten God at the same time.
In the middle of the sea, a figure was rising from the depths.
It had a human-like form and a build similar to Jin's.
However, a faint golden color flowed all over his body, his pupils were cross-shaped, and runic characters and seams were visible all over him.
He had large white wings on his back and a shining ring floating above his head.
His appearance was almost identical to that of an angel from religious mythology.
Before they knew it, the sword embedded in the center of the seabed was grasped in his hand.
Ten small blades protruded from each side of the sword, indicating that this was its true form and its owner.
"I am Jin Runcandel, the youngest son of the Runcandel Family, here to pay my respects to my ancestor," Jin said with a bow.
No one had heard of a non-human among the ten great knights, as history had been manipulated, and even the Dragons could not remember.
But just after Bale awakened, Quikantel, who was in the sky, felt her memories returning rapidly.
'Bale...! The creation of the sun.'
When Quikantel met Bale a thousand years ago, that was how he introduced himself. He did not explain what "creation of the sun" meant, but he was unique in many ways.
Even after Bale became one of the ten great knights, he was the only person who swore loyalty to an individual, not to Runcandel, and to someone other than Temar.
"Quikantel-nim, it seems the Sir has awakened the ancient Runcandel. That shining being..."
[Now I remember, damn it. If I had known it was Bale, I wouldn't have opened this tomb. Besides, that appearance... it's as if all the seals have been broken.]
"What do you mean?"
[Because Sarah is gone... I have to go down and tell Jin about Bale... Kut!]
When the bewildered Quikantel rambled, Jin's companions felt overwhelmed by anxiety.
Suddenly, hundreds of golden magic circles formed all over the sky.
The magic circles targeted all the forces and seemed more authoritative than magical.
Stop, everyone, Bale's deep voice resonated. Quikantel gritted her teeth and halted her descent, but the rest of the forces that didn't know Bale seemed to ignore his words.
Chiiiiing!
Golden rays of light shot out from the magic circles, destroying the battleships and dragons of the three forces.
'...Is that the ancient owner of my sword?'
Hedo's nerves were on edge.
Even though he did not practice swordsmanship, he doubted he could protect Sandra from the owner. Not to mention that he didn't even have a sword.
A magic circle formed behind Jin and Valeria.
[Jin Runcandel?]
Jin turned his head to look at the magic circle behind him.
"Yes, Bale Runcandel-nim."
[Where is Sarah?]
"During the time you were sealed, a thousand years have passed."
[I asked where Sarah is.]
"Do you ask because you really don't know?"
[Sarah! If she is dead, I will destroy the entire world!]
Jin shuddered at Bale's outrageous words, sensing they were not mere nonsense.
[No, it's impossible for Sarah to be dead... I said something strange. Guide me, Jin Runcandel. I must go see her.]
"Sir, you have not lost your mind, and unlike the other ten great knights, you are alive and your memories are intact, am I correct?"
[Why are you making irrelevant comments when I want to see Sarah?]
"Lady Sarah died as a warrior during the time you were active a thousand years ago."
[Shut up! You, the redhead, guide me. I can't talk to this guy. Say one more time that Sarah is dead, and I will twist your neck. Consider yourself lucky, at least you have the surname she likes, so I will let you go this once.]
Valeria made eye contact with Jin. She didn't know the being awakened from the seal was so deranged.
[Now that I think about it, you resemble the steward. Are you a descendant of Lueth? If you don't know where Sarah is, at least guide me to where Lueth is. She should know.]
As soon as Jin heard that, he remembered meeting the living Lueth, not just the "recorded Lueth."
-When I leave here, will Miss Lueth be alone again? Will I forget my memories of Miss Lueth...?
-[You will only remember what you saw in the recording device. As for me, I am practically a forgotten person who has died. It is more worthwhile to save the living outside than to comfort my loneliness.]
-...I will return. Without a doubt.
Jin remembered the conversation he had in the third tomb. The memories Bale possessed had the power to nullify the manipulation of the faded history.
When Valeria was about to respond, Jin spoke first.
"Very well, let's go see Miss Lueth first."
Jin promised to reunite with Lueth, bring her out of the subspace, and help her regain her memories through Valeria.
Jin seemed capable of fulfilling that promise with Bale's power.
[I don't want to talk to the person who said Sarah was dead. I asked the descendant of Lueth. Now, tell me. Where is Lueth, redhead?]
"Goooh! Ohh!"
"Oh!"
The kneeling graveyard giants chimed as if urging them to answer.
"Um... What will you do if Miss Lueth doesn't know Dame Sarah's whereabouts either?"
As soon as Valeria answered, Bale's eyes filled with bloodlust.
[You are lying... I can smell the dirty unique scent of humans who lie.]
"What lie?"
[You also believe Sarah is dead, don't you?]
Finally, Valeria let out a faint sigh.
"First of all, I never lied. It is true that Dame Sarah died in battle, and you are causing problems for us, who have awakened you after a thousand years. When did I say Dame Sarah was alive? That is a lie."
[I will not speak with you anymore, descendant of Lueth.]
Chiing-!
A golden ray shot out from the magic circle extending behind the two. Jin quickly embraced Valeria and dodged the ray, but Bale had flown and was brandishing his sword.
"Bale-nim, I have inherited the Hellfire directly from Lady Sarah. Would Lady Sarah be pleased if you attacked me?" Jin said as he blocked Bale's attack with Sigmund while switching swords.
As Jin showed signs of deploying the Hellfire by creating a burning flame, Bale sneered.
[Then it makes even less sense that Sarah is dead. How could a dead person pass on the sword with runic-shaped letters to you? It's clearly Sarah's Swordsmanship.]
His words made no sense.
He is obsessed with Sarah Runcandel.
For some reason, Jin saw Hedo's appearance in him for a moment. It is a little different, but the fact that he blindly cares about someone is essentially the same.
Hedo also seemed to say that if Sandra died, he would become a vengeful demon and destroy the entire world.
'He is not an opponent that can be suppressed.'
Bale is an ancient ten great knights and a divine being who may have the same level of power as him or even more.
Moreover, with just a few words, he had already partially undone the manipulation of Lueth's history, and he had all the memories of the past.
[You also try to monopolize Sarah like Padler, don't you?]
"What nonsense is that?"
[I know everything. That bastard who took Sarah while pretending to be weak, I have to kill him now.]
"Sir Padler died a thousand years ago."
[Really? Then, what is this blue lightning energy I have begun to feel from afar? You are a liar.]
When Jin sharpened his senses, he could indeed feel Padler's energy.
It was like when he was summoned in the snowy field of Kaldran.
Jin wanted to respond that it was not the real Padler but a being summoned by the Prophet, imbued with his soul in Chaos...
But Jin was sure that, anyway, he would not listen.
[Hu, I will kill him and reclaim Sarah....]
When Bale finished speaking, Sandra, who had been unconscious, suddenly opened her eyes.
She immediately looked at the situation underwater and shouted.
"What is that monster? Jin is in danger."
"My lady, my lady?"
Then, without hesitation, she jumped and launched herself.
Hedo swallowed a gasp and jumped off Quikantel's back after Sandra.
"Jin, I'm going to save you!"
"My lady, even if you save him, it will be pointless. Once this is over, I will definitely kill the Twelfth Flagbearer!"
Sandra?
In the midst of the confusing situation, Jin and Valeria saw Bale looking at Sandra, who was falling, and said.
[Saranda...!? Sarah, Yes. She is here!]
- -