C701
Shortly after returning to the Tikan launch platform on a red owl, Bale explained that the sword Jin had obtained possessed the characteristic of being "indestructible."
"Indestructible?"
"Well, I thought you already knew that, but you seem unaware."
"I perfected this sword technique while facing you for several days. I had a feeling that once I unleashed its flames, I would be able to subdue you easily."
Jin had yet to name the new magic sword technique.
Although he had named secret techniques and decisive killing moves passed down to him by others, this was the first sword he had created on his own.
That’s why naming it felt uncomfortable.
It was his first sword made entirely by himself, and naming it something grandiose and magnificent like the decisive killing moves of Runcandel, the secret techniques, or the Hellfire of Sarah, and the Sword of Legends felt even more embarrassing.
"The fire you possess doesn’t extinguish once it touches a target. It probably wouldn’t even go out if you died.""Really? How do you know something I don’t?"
"Well, I have divine vision due to my divine status. Ever since you defeated me, I’ve been contemplating the nature of that flame. If you had cut me that day, I would never have been able to extinguish that fire on my own."
Bale possesses the power of the Sun God.
And according to Orgal’s explanation, the Sun God is undoubtedly a being with a significantly higher level than other gods known in the current world.
If Bale couldn’t extinguish Jin’s fire, it was very likely that even those who wield divine powers of a lesser degree would be defenseless.
Of course, Bale’s power as the Sun God was only a small part, but even with just that, Bale possessed a level that surpassed most of the lesser gods.
"It’s interesting, but hard to believe."
"I can’t believe you managed to create such a flame. It belongs to the realm Sarah wanted to reach... You’re her successor, so I don’t feel bad about it. Sarah would have surely liked it. Cut me with that fire, right now."
"Right now?"
"You said you can’t believe it unless you see it. And you need to understand the effect of that fire well to use it effectively when you seek revenge against Sarah in the future."
Bale activated his power and extended an arm toward Jin, as if urging him to cut.
"It’s a bit uncomfortable. If, as you said, the fire doesn’t go out..."
[You’ve reached the realm Sarah desired and can’t control the fire, how is that possible? Cut me! Just a little!]
Without hesitation, Jin ignited his sword with a flash of fire and slightly grazed Bale’s forearm. It was so slight that even an ordinary person wouldn’t need ointment.
[Ah, it stings and burns!]
Bale quickly pulled back his wounded arm, grimacing. Jin instantly realized that Bale’s words were true.
'He really can’t extinguish the fire that remains in the wound...'
Bale demonstrated to Jin by channeling a golden aura with his other hand and pressing it against the wounded arm, as if trying to stop the bleeding.
However, the faint form of the fire still lingered, despite Bale’s attempts to cover it and smother it with his powers.
[See? Even someone of my caliber can’t erase it. So, that Orgal guy is probably the same. The power of the Sun God he possesses doesn’t seem to be superior to mine. Unless beings like your Phoenix or the God of Fire himself intervene personally, there’s no way to avoid it.] ʀ𝔞Ν𝔬𐌱ΕŠ
"Here you go, Jin."
As the two spoke, Hedo and Euria entered the departure area.
"Yes, Hedo-nim."
Unintentionally, Jin glanced at Hedo and Euria.
It felt uncomfortable seeing Hedo with Euria instead of Sandra. There was something odd about it.
But, strangely, Euria didn’t seem cheerful.
"Hey, Euria too?"
"Yes... Jin oppa."
"Is something wrong? You seem a bit down."
As the Thousand Year Contractor of Azmil, Euria had experienced various tragedies and indirectly witnessed many hardships since she was young.
Her friends always made special efforts to ensure her mental well-being.
Thanks to that, Euria had always been cheerful and lively. She was also very aware of her role as a princess and was much loved by the people of the Tikan Free City.
"Oh, it’s nothing. I just feel a bit down for some reason. That’s why Sir Hedo is trying to cheer me up."
"Well... Did you know? By the power of Truth."
Hedo spoke awkwardly, and Euria smiled.
"Thank you for thinking of me, Sir Hedo. Thanks to you, and seeing that Jin oppa has returned safely, I feel a bit relieved."
Euria suspected that the sudden dizziness she felt was due to Jin’s condition. She had felt a sense of unease ever since he headed to the Kinzelo headquarters.
"It’s good if it helps. By the way, why is Bale still twisting his body? Does something hurt?"
[It’s because you two appeared, and he’s keeping the fire alight!]
"Fire?"
Jin explained the nature of his self-taught sword and retrieved the remaining fire from Bale’s wounds.
As Bale had anticipated, Jin’s will was conveyed, and the fire was extinguished.
"I was aware that you crossed that wall that day. But to think that your new sword possesses such power... Try it on me as well."
Jin executed the same sword strike towards Hedo.
Similarly, with his iron hand, Hedo lightly touched the small, faint flame on his wound, but it didn’t go out.
"Oh... It really doesn’t extinguish. It might not be as painful as Bale’s reaction, but if it cuts deeper, there’d be no remedy."
"Would it be difficult to bear if it cuts deeper?"
"Well, I can’t say for sure until I experience it myself. But it will be incredibly painful, like burn victims who couldn’t receive timely treatment. Have you named the sword?"
"Not yet."
"What about 'Eternal Flame'?"
"Eternal Flame?"
"Yes, a fire that never goes out. Everyone who has faced you so far, including myself, probably felt that you were an unquenchable fire. The sword’s actual effect also aligns with that. I think it suits well."
"It sounds too grandiose and embarrassing."
Somehow, Jin remembered the moment when Cosmos gave him the nickname "Dark Crown Prince."
"It’s customary to give names to techniques in this way. I’m sure the techniques you’ve learned also received similar names. If it’s alright with you, I think it’s a fitting name."
And so, the technique’s name became Eternal Flame.
Hedo, as the warrior he was, felt satisfied for having given a name to Jin’s sword. He took out a cigarette to admire it, but noticed that Euria was still by his side and quickly put it away.
"Did you have any fruitful meeting with Kinzelo?"
"Let’s go to the conference room, and I’ll explain step by step."
As they headed to the conference room, Jin cautiously observed Euria.
Her expression seemed slightly improved, but the atmosphere around her remained heavy.
‘I hope the power of Azmil doesn’t imply a dark future for Euria...’
Upon arriving at the conference room, their companions were already gathered.
For a while, Jin discussed the information he had received from Orgal about the roles of the Sun God, the Demon King Zito, and Joshua.
Most of his companions shared Jin’s feelings of unease and growing concern.
Despite the already overwhelming burden, the increasing worries added to the weight.
"Ugh, to think that eliminating the evil god isn’t the end is increasingly suffocating. But, what can we do? In the end, we must deal with the temporary alliances after dealing with the evil god," Kashimir spoke first.
"If we can’t handle them all, the world will eventually become something we no longer recognize. Whether it’s the purification proposed by Kinzelo, or becoming a hell due to the Demon King’s arrival, or Zipple manipulating history to become the only god, or the evil god causing destruction. No matter how burdensome it is, we must continue doing what we’ve been doing," he continued.
Although he was stating what everyone already knew, there was something about Kashimir that exuded the regal dignity of a king. He possessed a royal charisma.
"As King Kashimir says, we must continue resolving things step by step, just as we have so far. Therefore, for now, we should set aside matters like the Sun God or the Demon King and focus on Rosa," Jin added.
"Yes, my lord."
"As you all know, Rosa is becoming stronger than Orgal expected, and it’s presumed that the reason behind it is the desperation generated by Joshua. Orgal has taken on the task of investigating this matter, so let’s coordinate and eliminate Joshua as soon as we receive any updates. And..."
Jin looked attentively at his companions.
"It would be best to bring forward the battle with Rosa as much as possible."
Rosa’s strengthening isn’t solely due to Joshua’s desperation.
Chaos is spreading, corroding ordinary humans worldwide.
The Vamel alliance and temporary alliances are doing everything they can to contain the contamination in various contaminated areas around the world, but there are limits.
Especially in the Huphester region, the situation is so severe that even they can’t intervene.
It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that half of the world is already engulfed in despair.
"Of course, the longer the battle is delayed, the more desperation will be generated. It’s just my intuition, but I think Rosa... is waiting for the opportune moment when we believe we are fully prepared. She needs to defeat us when we’re at our best, so that the despair is at its peak."
If not for that reason, Jin couldn’t be convinced that Rosa wouldn’t leave the Garden of Swords even with so much power.
"Of course, that doesn’t mean we should rush. However, we must find an unexpected moment for Rosa. We mustn’t be more desperate than Rosa wants us to be, and we must seize the moment when Rosa is incomplete..."
Although it was somewhat abstract, understanding Rosa’s ability to "use despair" was difficult from the beginning.
Jin and his companions had to make difficult inferences like this, and they couldn’t be sure of the results.
They weren’t facing humans but beings turned into evil gods.
"Starting today, we’ll work with the temporary alliances to verify these expectations to some extent. If we can roughly confirm the relationship between Rosa’s completion speed and despair, then we’ll set the date for the final battle."
When Jin finished speaking, a member of the Seven-Colored Peacocks entered the conference room hastily.
"Your Majesty, Jin-nim! Mary-nim has just returned!"
"Escort her immediately!"
Mary had recently embarked on a rescue mission within the Hufester area to save survivors, along with the Tona siblings and others.
Her body was covered in wounds when she returned with some rescued survivors.
As soon as she saw Jin, she closed her eyes tightly, seemingly in pain.
He had found Dyfus in Hufester.
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