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The rift in the barrier had almost completely opened, revealing the other side. It was one of the secret spaces of the felinoids tribe.
The appearance of the Spectre corp could not be confirmed yet.
'Shatter a little later...!'
Due to the rush, Jin has not been able to fully unleash his move.
If the Spectre corp entered the cave just 5 seconds later, no, even 3 seconds before the completion of the move, it was highly likely that Jin would be the first to be attacked.
'I was certain of it.'
If that happened, he would be defeated. Assuming the enemy consisted of three high-level mages in the late stages of the 9-star.
Three seconds was more than enough time for skilled individuals to kill their opponent ten times over. Especially in a situation like the current one, where he was exposed and defenseless due to engaging in the decisive battle.
'I needed to focus.'
Not losing composure in moments like this was one of Jin's greatest strengths.
Within the curtain of shadow force, Jin's eyes were engulfed in flames. Flames emanated from his body, spreading within the dark curtain.
Those flames looked like fierce beasts restrained by loose chains. Whenever Jin wished, he could simply remove the curtain, and the flames would spread in all directions, engulfing his enemies.
Time seemed to flow slowly.
Amidst the intense beating of his own heart, the mana flowed through the runes engraved on Jin's body to unleash the move.
The Spectre corp' mana was becoming increasingly immense.
Even within the confines of the curtain, Jin's face was tingling due to overflowing mana.
Whoosh, crackle, boom...!
The sound of Jin's flames spreading and the sound of the barrier shattering intermingled chaotically.
Crack!
As the barrier broke, a deafening roar echoed in Jin's head.
'They're coming!'
Soon, Jin saw the Spectre corp. He could only see the blurry silhouettes in the distorted space covered by the curtain and the shattered barrier.
The most elite mages of Zipfel in the Gray Robes, Jin tightly gripped the hilt of his sword.
Fortunately, Jin's move was complete. Before they arrived.
The flames first engulfed Jin's body. Then they permeated, transforming Jin into fire itself. Jin's burning eyes became even more intense, and even his hair turned into flames.
'I shall repay that debt, Spectres.'
Ever since that day when Jin fled from Veradin's mansion, leaving only Misha behind, he often thought about it after becoming a flagbearer.
If he had been stronger, he could have fought alongside Misha.
It was never an act of disgrace for Runcandel's reserve flagbearer to run away against 15 Spectres, but Jin felt a sense of shame when he recalled that day.
It was time to erase that feeling.
Runcandel Magic Sword Secret move.
Flame of Hell - Sarah Runcandel.
When Jin inherited this Magic Sword Technique from Sarah.
Jin had really liked the name "Flame of Hell" from the moment he received the Sword. When he looked back at all the atrocities committed by the Spectre corp, there seemed to be no name more fitting than "Flame of Hell" for the act of engulfing them in flames.
Kwaahhh...!
Sharp flames tore through the curtain and poured outwards.
As soon as the Spectres crossed the barrier, they were faced with those sharp flames, leaving them no choice but to widen their eyes in surprise.
"Huh!"
One member of the Spectre corp exclaimed and erected a protective shield. The shield, engulfed in flames, trembled unstably.
The shield seemed on the verge of shattering. At first glance, it seemed unable to withstand the power of the Flame of Hell, and Jin clicked his tongue inwardly.
'Can they really withstand this with a shield that they didn't even properly cast?'
There would not be many mages in the world capable of such a feat. Moreover, the Spectres had just expended a significant amount of mana to break through the barrier.
Of course, the Flame of Hell was only just beginning.
Kaaaah!
Jin let out a roar, raising his mana up one level. He completely dissipated the remaining curtain of shadow force and unleashed the bound flames within.
The flames erupted like a flood. In an instant, the cave transformed into a hellish scene of raging fire, and the Spectre' protective shield was completely engulfed in flames, its magical essence no longer visible.
The rocks inside the cave melted away.
Runcandel's Magic Sword Technique, Flame of Hell, bore a striking resemblance to the Plutonian's Reign Sword of Battle god, covering a considerable area.
Instead of thunderbolts, the flames covered every direction, creating a space of flames where those who had not reached a certain level could not even breathe.
In reality, a thousand years ago, Temar's advice played the most crucial role in the completion of Sarah's Magic Sword. And Temar's advice was derived from the Plutonian's Reign Sword.
All the flames that filled the cave were pouring towards the Spectres.
"Oh, damn it!"
One Spectre cried out in an urgent voice, filled with confusion. Jin was incredibly satisfied to hear that voice.
Although it was just an ambush, the fact that the flame of hell was effective against the Spectre corp sent thrills coursing through his entire body.
Feeling oneself grow stronger always comes with a sense of exhilaration.
'There's no way their shields can handle this.'
Crackle!
Amidst the sea of blazing flames, a single blue spark emerged.
The flame of hell was originally a martial art that was being used with the power of the phoenix. Although Sarah, from the second tomb, couldn't use the power of the Phoenix Maniere as a guardian, but Jin had Tess.
Gaaaah!
As a single blue flame opened the dimensional gate of the Fire dimension, accompanied by a sharp yet resounding roar, the King of the Phoenixes revealed itself.
The power symbolizing blue and pressure, the power of Tess.
As this power combined with the flame of hell, the Spectres groaned. And the moment Jin heard their groans, he was certain.
He could kill them.
There is no problem with a martial artist's aura shield or sword shield, but once the mage's shield is breached, it is difficult to catch what comes next.
Because they didn't possess physically robust bodies like martial artists. Therefore, when mages were directly hit, their abilities would inevitably decline significantly.
Jin had seized the advantage.
'Now, to prevent their body from burning, it forces them to manipulate mana recklessly, which leads to a backflow.'
Just like the absolute proposition that all humans die, reckless manipulation of mana always led to a backflow. Even the Spectres couldn't escape that law.
However, Jin assumed that the members of the Spectre corp had the ability to quickly recover from a mana backflow.
'Their ability to control the backflow may not be as good as the teacher's, but there is a high possibility that Spectres can stabilize their mana within 5 seconds after the initial symptoms of the backflow.'
He would slit their throats before they could grasp onto the backflow.
Making a quick decision, Jin found the figures of the Spectres amidst the flames. Jin had only seen their silhouettes since their arrival, and he hadn't even properly seen their gray robes.
He could only guess their positions and attack based on the energy emanating from the Spectres and their silhouettes.
'At the moment when their energy fluctuates due to the backflow, I'll strike and end it. I don't have much time left either.'
Jin was in a precarious state where he could also suffer from backflow at any moment. It was quite strange that such a grand technique was suddenly unleashed, especially along with the curtain of shadow force, and yet there was no backflow.
Still, time was on Jin's side.
Before a full minute had passed, he could feel the Spectres' mana diminishing greatly.
The energy emanating from the Spectres that had made his face twitch even after breaking through the barrier had now dropped to the level of an ordinary mage.
It was the result of the backflow.
Jin stepped into the flames. As Tess exhaled a breath of pressure, the flames of the hell gently receded, creating a path.
Step by step, as Jin moved forward, the Spectres hid their bodies amidst the flames.
"You shouldn't have moved at all."
Swoosh!
Jin spoke, swinging his sword towards where he sensed movement. With a cynical smile on his lips.
Pluck!
A definite sensation of flesh and bone being severed was transmitted to Jin's fingertips through the sword's blade.
The Spectres desperately stifled their groans, but it was an action that held no real meaning.
Their positions were already exposed, and the fight was over.
Swish!
Jin, radiating a fiery glint in his eyes, threw himself in the direction where he had swung his sword.
'I've gained the advantage, but since there are three of them, I can't waste time and need to finish it quickly.'
During the five seconds it took for the Spectres to suppress the mana backflow, Jin knew he had to eliminate all three of them.
Thud!
Sigmund's blade pierced through the chest of a member of the Spectre corp.
"Kuk!"
It was the last cry before death. The mage was swept away by the flames surrounding Sigmund, reduced to ashes.
It was unbelievably shabby death for the most elite secret mage of Zipfel.
It also signified just how remarkable Jin was.
Excluding Luna, there was no other sibling who could achieve such a result in the same situation.
Even though there is an element of surprise attack, the opponents were the Spectres.
'Now, two remains.'
Hook. Jin took a short breath. His body, engulfed in flames, was becoming unbearably hot, and it seemed that the backflow would start soon.
Three seconds remained.
Within the flames, Jin had enough time to find the two mages caught in the backflow and sever their throats.
But as soon as he prepared to move again, Jin felt a strange unease.
'What is it? I only killed one of them, but the remaining trace of the Spectre' mana has completely disappeared.'
He quickly scanned the flames.
For some reason, he couldn't find the remaining two members of the Spectre corp, excluding the one who died.
'Where did they suddenly vanish to? It's unlikely they had gone to the barrier again. It seemed like the powerful mana belonged to the one dead member…'
Jin abruptly stopped in his tracks.
'Could it be that it wasn't the combined mana of the three of them...!?'
What Jin had killed was only one of the three members of the Spectre corp.
The remaining two members had successfully broken through the barrier of another secret residence of the felinoids tribe and had just entered the cave.
Jin had mistakenly believed that the mana he felt from the member of the Spectre corp he killed with the flame of hell belonged to all three of them.
Boom!
Once again, Jin felt powerful mana from beyond the suddenly shattered barrier.
Feeling a chilling sensation down his spine, Jin turned his head and saw the other two members of the Spectre corp emerging from the broken barrier.
'This is insane…'
Unlike the recently deceased member of the Spectre corp, these two had already confirmed the flames unfolding within the cave even from beyond the barrier.
It was only natural because the mana of the flame of hell was not concealed by the curtain of shadow force.
"Heh, looks like Lokai got hit. Here, this is his staff."
"The flames are dying down. The one who killed Lokai is probably not in perfect condition either. They probably couldn't have gone far. Before we track down those insect-like beastmen, we should pursue that person first..."
Jin's gaze met the eyes of the Spectre corp mages.
"...there is no need for that. Jin Runcandel, you're the one who killed Lokai."
A smirk crept up on the lips of the Spectres hidden beneath their gray hoods.