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Jin and Luntia slowly closed the distance between them.
And belated screams echoed over the arena.
Kwaak, Aaak...!
Roughly, more than a hundred guardian knights lay groaning all around.
The martial artists who had protected them had barely taken a breather, but they had a premonition that a new shock was about to come.
'The 3rd flagbearer is furious...'
'Until just now, we had no choice but to save the knights, so we couldn't intervene to stop the 12th flagbearer. But now, we won't be able to interfere.'
In particular, those who 'knew a bit' about Luntia (mainly the core members of the Elder Council) judged that it would be difficult to prevent the fight from starting again.
They knew how dangerous Luntia, who had pushed aside the lethargy, was.
And there was no need to stop her.
'The clan's guardian knights were almost burned to death.'
'If this isn't treason, then what is?'
Jin had obliterated the entire central arena of the clan, and in a worst-case scenario, more than dozens of guardian knights could have turned into ashes.
Thanks to the efforts of the top flagbearers and the high ranking knights, there were no casualties, but it was an incident that could easily be called treason. Moreover, they had witnessed bold statements that not only questioned the legitimacy of the clan but also undermined it from the perspective of Runcandels who were attacked.
Of course, Jin had unfolded 'Flame of Hell' under the judgment that the top flagbearers and the knights could adequately protect the guardian knights, and there was a situation where Lynn Milcano encouraged the situation by talking about 'display of strength.'.
However, it would be difficult for that to be a mitigating factor. There is a limit to everything.
From now on, what Jin had to show was nothing else but value.
To prove that the declaration of reinstating Runcandel to the Magic Swordsman Clan was not just words.
And for that, there was no need to mention that he must win.
The moment he got defeated in the battle against Luntia.
No matter how shocking the words, how remarkable the challenge, how powerful a warning, how shining a truth it was, all the words Jin uttered would lose their value.
Originally, just engaging in a decent fight with the 3rd flagbearer as the 12th flagbearer would have been a remarkable achievement, but not now.
Responsibility for the heavy words that contained a thousand years of history rested on his shoulders. As an individual from Runcandel.
With ten steps between them, Jin and Luntia stared at each other in silence for a moment.
Fighting spirit and the killing intent filled Jin's eyes, while Luntia's eyes held a mysterious gaze.
Bradamante, the sword that had consumed the Flame of Hell, and Charles, the sword infused with the aura, were vibrating.
The two swords emitted sharp resonances like beasts trying to tear each other apart.
There was no signal. Yet, both of them swung their swords at each other without the slightest error. It was as if they were wielding a club, not swords, without any restraint. Thus, the first clash between the two began.
Boom!
As the energy bound within the swords was released, there was a thunderous sound and a shockwave. Before the shockwave could escape the arena, the swords clashed once more.
Like giant pieces of glass breaking, a shower of flames and aura erupted from their blades.
"Kkup!"
It felt as if a nail had been driven into their bones and organs. Jin's expression contorted in pain, and Luntia tightly clenched her teeth.
Despite being covered in flames, Luntia seemed to be composed, and she was even managing to withstand the Flame of Hell flowing through Bradamante.
I will kill you.
She didn't open her mouth, but it seemed like he could hear Luntia's voice. Her killing intent seemed to take on a form and pierce through Jin's mind like an icicle.
'There's no way she hasn't taken any hits.'
No matter how resilient Luntia was.
What Jin had just unleashed was Sarah Runcandel's magic sword secret technique. It may still be inferior to what Sarah in her prime could unleash, but it was a sword that had pressed the entire Runcandel present at the arena until just now.
'You can't keep enduring like this, elder sister. That's impossible for anyone in the world, except for Father.'
Just because Jin had an indifferent attitude didn't mean he wasn't genuinely shocked. The Flame of Hell entwined with Bradamante was constantly gnawing at Luntia's body.
But Jin's body was breaking apart at a much faster rate than Luntia's.
'Flame of Hell alone is not enough.'
If he had unfolded it solely to defeat Luntia from the beginning, the story might have been different.
However, over half of the power of the Flame of Hell had been consumed in dealing with the other Runcandels. Just igniting the remaining flame would not be enough to deal with Luntia.
'Elder sister hasn't even brought out her decisive killing moves yet. If this continues, I'll surely lose.'
He had to play his trump card. With a sword that matched or surpassed the Flame of Hell.
Hwaaaah-!
Jin poured out the last remaining flames of Bradamante and distanced himself. The flames roared with a mighty energy, enveloping Luntia.
At that moment, Luntia showed signs of hesitation for the first time.
But it was only for a moment.
In the next instant, as Luntia emitted her aura, the Flame of Hell turned into embers, emitting a faint light.
The flames that had surrounded Jin were also dissipating. His body that had burned like fire was returning to its original state.
Hoooook, hoo, hoooook...!
Jin's breathing became heavy. Blood trickled from his dry lips. Even the wounds that had blazed like fire were now oozing blood, and his staggering appearance seemed like he could collapse at any moment.
On the other hand, Luntia's movement became light as the flame of hell that had been bothering her had disappeared. Also, she wasn't showing any sign of exhaustion like Jin.
'It's over...'
'It was certainly remarkable, but it's the victory of the 3rd flagbearer. Judging by the condition of the 12th flagbearer, the match will be over within three minutes.'
'The 3rd flagbearer won't spare the 12th flagbearer. Even if he lives, she will surely cripple him.'
The onlookers naturally thought so.
It was a fact that Jin, as a magic swordsman, had demonstrated an incredible power that they couldn't comprehend.
However, from the beginning, the 3rd flagbearer, who was considered the strongest after Luna, and the now nineteen-year-old 12th flagbearer were too different in class.
It was still shocking, though.
Some Runcandels were on the verge of going mad with regret, thinking it was a pity that Jin would end up like this. Just ten minutes ago, they had wanted to strangle the 12th flagbearer after seeing his actions.
They were thrilled by the power of the magic sword that Jin had demonstrated. They felt that Jin's words about the possibility of that power breaking Zipel had credibility.
So they thought about other possibilities.
'If the acting matriarch steps forward, the 12th flagbearer can survive.'
'If we kill the 12th flagbearer, it will become more difficult to find out about the tomb of the first patriarch. If the acting matriarch intervenes before the 3rd flagbearer kills him...!'
Contrasting thoughts swirled in the minds of the Runcandels.
However, those who wished for Jin's death and those who wished for his survival shared one common thought.
Jin's fate lay in the hands of Rosa Runcandel.
Rosa Runcandel, and the seat of honor in the arena where she was sitting, remained unchanged from before the Flame of hell unfolded.
She sat calmly, pushing aside the surging flames of the Flame of Hell with nonchalant expression.
While the top flagbearers and knights protected the guardian knights, Rosa had watched Jin and Luntia's battle from start to finish.
"The 3rd flagbearer."
At Rosa's call, Luntia came to a stop.
If Rosa hadn't called, Luntia would have taken two more steps and cut off Jin's throat.
"Yes."
"Are you going to kill him?"
"Yes."
Rosa didn't add any further words to Luntia's response.
In the silence, Jin's rough breathing sounded especially loud. Even to those unfamiliar with swords, it was clear that his stamina had reached its limit, considering how rapid his breaths were.
After about fifteen seconds had passed like that, Luntia finally had no choice but to ask.
"Is there any problem with killing the 12th flagbearer? I'd like to know why you haven't said anything."
Upon hearing this, Rosa slowly raised her head.
"I had my doubts, so I was thinking."
"What doubts..."
"I find it curious why everyone thinks the fight has ended."
At Rosa's words, all Runcandels turned their gaze towards Jin. He was still gasping for breath, and he was standing while plunging the Bradamante into the ground.
Jin drew a new sword. The blade that emerged from the sheath was as pale as the dawn sky.
The Thunder Sword Sigmund.
A divine sword of the Plutonian tribe that Jin inherited from the battle god, Vahn.
Pzzzzz...
The blade, imbued with thunderbolts, emitted a low and gloomy sound.
The pupils of the Runcandels who saw this were filled with astonishment.
'Does he still have the strength to fight...!?'
'After unleashing that insane flaming sword just now, he still has energy left?'
"No, the acting matriarch must have just examined the fact that the 12th flagbearer still has some will left. His actual stamina won't support it any longer.'
Jin no longer had the strength to fight.
Even if he did, it would never be enough to change the tide of the battle. That's what the Runcandels believed.
"Huff... I thought I had completely destroyed everything, but there was one left."
Finally, when Jin opened his mouth, Luntia felt her hair stand on end.
She also thought that Rosa's words were meant to signify that Jin still had some remaining willpower.
That's not it.
"It seems that today, I must completely destroy even the seat of honor where my mother is sitting for my declaration to become more meaningful."
Upon hearing this, the Runcandels once again felt as if their heads had been struck by a heavy hammer, numbing their senses.
Plutonian Swordsmanship Battle God Technique 10th sword:
Plutonian Reign Sword – Open
[T/L: 개 - Begin/Beginning/Open]
Jin's eyes filled with lightning.
The ground twisted and darkened as the lightning radiated outward, splitting the scorched earth. A malicious heat, different from the fire of the flame of hell, spread rapidly and engulfed the surroundings.
[Everyone, open your eyes wide... and look closely. What is the real Runcandel and what has been protecting the Runcandel. And…]
What the current Runcandel has forgotten.
With his blazing eyes, Jin turned to look at the Runcandels and continued speaking.
The Plutonian Reign Sword's lightning covered the shattered ground.