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Jin decided to follow Joshua and his group and slowly head towards the 2nd Magic Tower.
Joshua and his group were moving forward while slaughtering Zipfels and members of Kinzelo in the next sections, so there was no need to get involved in battles or hide.
The scenes of corpses, blood, and destruction continued. From behind, the vibrations and noise of the ongoing battles were still heard, and it seemed like the entire shipyard might collapse at this rate.
I guess it's our turn to be dragged by Joshua.
As they moved, Diphus recalled Jin's last words.
'Yes, even Jin can't perfectly grasp everything.'
That fact didn't disappoint him at all.
'Joshua, that snake is not only skilled in scheming but also has the abilities of the prophet... I can say it is already impressive just by perfectly understanding the flow of events up to now. Honestly, I couldn't have kept up.'
Diphus felt a sense of anguish knowing that he still couldn't be of much help.
-Second eldest brother, honestly, I didn't plan to make this proposal to you. I thought I could kill Joshua on my own. But elder sister Mary asked me to return with you without getting hurt.
He recalled the words Jin had told him just before the operation began.
If things continued this way, even if he succeeded in killing Joshua, he would end up being carried away by Jin. As a fellow flagbearer, and as an elder brother. He couldn't accept such an outcome.
'I need to be of help. Just like during Barton's time, I must not fall into a situation where I have to retreat unless I get help from Jin.'
As Jin had mentioned not knowing why Joshua was confident right now, Diphus also couldn't immediately come up with a solution.
However, the important thing was that he was able to hold on to his spirit and will, which had been momentarily lost in the excitement of being able to kill Joshua.
Diphus had rarely failed to do what he had set his mind to so far.
The group soon crossed into the 20th section after passing through the 19th section.
According to the shipyard's layout, there was an emergency passage closest to the 2nd Magic Tower.
Looking around, they saw signs that Joshua and the Black Knight had forcibly opened the passage and destroyed it.
"Jin, it seems there was no fighting in the passage. Did Kinzelo use a different passage?"
"Or perhaps they used their leader's steel gate."
"That ability he showed during the Sword Emperor Castle's terror attack, damn. Except for Runcandel, they've all exceeded the limits of the transfer gates."
"Vermont hasn't shown such advanced technology or capabilities yet."
"The Empire can't compare to us. That's why those Vermonts haven't shown up here yet. Anyway, I feel sick. Let's move on."
Outside the passage was the Sota Desert.
Whirrrr!
Fierce and thick sandstorms covered the entire desert. The giant sandstorms scattered here and there gave an ominous feeling.
Naturally, from this point on, there were no traces of Joshua and the Black Knight's movements. The footprints didn't last even for a moment and were covered with sand, and it was difficult to breathe without forming a protective shield.
The environment.
Natural disasters and adverse conditions that would be no different from catastrophes to civilians did not have a fatal effect on most trained martial artists.
Even dying a futile death from falling rocks, or getting struck by lightning with astronomical odds, individuals with a power level of 8-star or higher would never die unexpectedly.
Let alone those like Jin or Diphus, who could be called superhumans.
The environment of the Sota Desert that was currently threatening the group far exceeded that normal level.
'It's no joke…'
It was an environment so vicious that a civilian could not survive even for a second. The heavily sand-laden wind sliced through protective shields like a sharp knife.
The entire desert seemed to be infested with terrible destructive magic.
Indeed.
'These are large-scale barriers and chained defense magic being maintained at all times. They are to protect the 2nd Magic Tower from intruders.'
The 2nd Magic Tower was one of Zipfel's most important areas. It was near the center of the Lutero Magic Federation, right next to their headquarters, Drakka.
Such levels of barrier and defense magic were only natural.
Diphus pointed beyond with his hand. The White Night Tower could be seen in the distant hazy sky, obscured by the sandstorm.
The problem was that there was not one tower.
"It is an illusion barrier."
"I never observed this phenomenon during all my scouting before your arrival."
"These defensive magic, including the illusion barrier, are likely to activate when someone deviates from the predefined path or enters a specific area."
There were a total of five towers.
All but one of them were illusions created by the illusion barrier. And as is the case with these types of barriers, another trap would trigger when you reached one of the fakes.
This time, Murakan gestured toward the sky.
"Hey, why is it so dark like this... Kid, Diphus, take a look at that."
Numerous battleships were hovering in the sky.
At first glance, it seemed like there were over a hundred. If Jin, Murakan, and Diphus had a fear of Zipfel, it was a sight that would have made their legs feel weak.
Unlike the towers, they couldn't be sure that the battleships covering the sky like a group of whales were an illusion.
Considering the size of the shipyard they had just checked, it was a number that could easily exist if one assumed there were several more shipyards.
In other words, these battleships could be finished products of mass-produced battleships that were deployed to support the shipyard.
"Shall I fly up into the sky and take care of those first? I can also check which one of those towers is real."
"If you start flying up there in your original form, the three of us are as good as dead, Murakan. And by the looks of it, there are over a hundred."
Even if these battleships were illusions like the towers, flying in plain sight above the Lutero Magic Federation was a crazy thing to do. If it were that easy, there would have been no need for the infiltration plan.
"Ah, this is a specialty of that despicable devil."
"Ms. Misha?"
"Yes, that's right. I don't have the skill to discreetly remove these barriers. I might be able to break them with brute force, though."
"I can roughly understand the basis for the confidence Joshua has shown. He has a means to avoid being exposed to the barriers. Unlike me, he probably planned to rob the 2nd Magic tower, not the inside of the shipyard, from the time we set up camp, so he must have prepared the necessary means ahead of time, using the power of the prophet."
Diphus said. Jin had similar thoughts.
"And he probably didn't think we couldn't break through this. He moved as if he wanted us to follow him."
Diphus continued.
As he said, Joshua had an ulterior motive to 'actively use' Jin and his group.
Since Jin and Kinzelo won't be able to break through the barrier as quickly as he can with the key, he naturally wants to use them as bait after breaking the vault.
Even if the vault is opened without a trace using a key, the fact that there was a break-in and theft will soon be revealed.
Naturally, Zipfel would have to track down the culprit.
To do that, all the barriers near the 2nd Magic tower would have to be removed to make it easier for allies to search, and then Jin and his group, along with Kinzelo, who were still wandering within the barriers, would become primary suspects and be subject to intensive pursuit.
This was part of the scenario that Joshua desired.
Crack! Diphus gritted his teeth, vaguely guessing the process. He couldn't just let things continue like this.
"Lord Murakan."
"Yeah."
"What do you think of advancing forward while using my body to shield you? I'll do my best to handle the traps as much as possible in the lead, while Jin and you follow Joshua as quickly as possible."
"Is that so? Are you as sturdy as Runcandel's first or second daughter?"
"I can hold my own to some extent."
"Do you know how destructive these traps can be?"
"Just like Jin said last night, this is just a time to take risks. This kind of risky opportunity may not come again. We're going in, getting real information, and killing Joshua."
"That's bold, I like it. Put your body on the line and let's overcome this crisis."
Murakan, who spoke like he agreed, glanced at Jin for a moment. As always, the decision was for him to make.
Jin flatly refused with the attitude that there was no need to worry.
"No, that's the last resort. If by any chance you are caught in a trap, the losses will be too great, elder brother Diphus, and if our location is exposed due to the activation of the barriers, there will be no way out."
"I knew you'd say that, the youngest. Do you have any other options?"
Srrung!
Bradamante came out of its sheath.
"...I have experienced this terrible desert once before. I have a sword I obtained along with an enlightenment at that time, and I think it might work."
Shadow Sword 1st technique, Soul Slash.
Jin had passed through the final gate of the Great Desert of Mitra with that sword. Even if Zipfel's barrier and magic were formidable, they didn't seem to be superior to Solderets trial.
After forming a blood alliance with Ghost mercenaries, the Soul Slash had also been effective when remnants of the Seygal clan, attempted suicide in the nameless desert in the eastern part of the Empire
Fwoooh...
Bradamante's blade darkened.
"If the Shadow sword doesn't work, then I'll consider using my knowledge to personally unravel the barriers and spells. And if that doesn't work, then I can consider putting you in the forefront, elder brother."
Jin closed his eyes and began to concentrate.
The will to cut, the belief that he can cut, the will to cut and pass. The willpower and insights he gained from the Great Desert of Mitra pierced through his entire body and mind.
Before swinging the sword, a smile appeared on Jin's lips.
This was because a mysterious, indescribable sensation was spreading through the tip of his sword, as if he had already glimpsed the future and the outcome.
The barrier and magic were cut with a gentle strike of the sword.
Each time he swung the sword lightly, the sandstorm abated, and the illusions that covered the tower were gradually washed away.
Jin continued to swing Bradamante until every spell was erased, and it looked as though he was performing a sword dance.
When Jin opened his eyes again, he felt refreshed, as if he had just taken a bath.
The horrific sandstorm and tempest had mysteriously disappeared. In the serene twilight with a gentle breeze blowing, the solitary White Night Tower appeared.
The White Night Tower was much closer than what the illusions had concealed.
"The moment when you must risk your life for the clan won't be due to mere barriers like this, elder brother."
After saying that, Jin waited for Dipus to respond. He feels that he owes him right.
But for some reason, there was no answer even after a few seconds.
Instead, the sound of Murakan clicking his tongue was heard.
"Hmm... Tsk. Well, they were all real after all."
Diphus was momentarily speechless as he realized that all the flying ships filling the sky were indeed "real."