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No, why is this falling now? Jin looked at the key with that thought.
It felt like his heart sank.
If the battleship blueprint had already been stolen by someone, then Runcandels had been through all the trouble for nothing.
'Could it be Joshua? No, considering the time and the situation, it doesn't make sense. Even when handing over the key, he seemed to have made his own decision.'
If that's the case, the only one left was Kinzelo.
'Only the four Spectres left in the 2nd Magic Tower because the rest of the forces went to trace the stolen blueprint!'
At the moment, there was no other plausible deduction.
However, Hedo's goal was still a mystery.
-If you happen to have picked up something here, give it to me now. Then I'll consider sparing your life for now.
Logically, it was not something one would say to the enemy.
Thunk, thunk, clatter, whoosh-!
The fallen key was swept away by the hot wind of flame of hell and disappeared into the fire. Hedo exhaled a sigh as if he couldn't believe what had just happened. It was a moment that could lead to further misunderstanding.
It was not easy for Hedo to quickly realize what the situation was.
Because Jin also had the same key that Sandra gave him.
'Why did Jin Runcandel have the vault key?'
Up until now, Hedo knew there was only one key. At least, that was the case until a moment ago.
"12th flagbearer, I don't know where you got that key from. But what I just said is still available."
Hedo narrowed his eyes and spoke as if he didn't want to think too complicatedly.
Whether the key was duplicated, or if there were actually extras that he didn't know about, or if Runcandel had stolen it – whatever the case might be, the judgment was simple. As long as he could recover the blueprints and send Jin away alive, that was enough.
Sandra Ziphel was waiting for Jin on the rooftop of the tower, fully adorned.
There was even a table set for a dinner just for the two of them in the middle (Hedo prepared it himself right before the group arrived), and to endure the anticipation and excitement, Sandra was enjoying the sight of secret shipyard in the Sota desert exploding while she sipped her pre-dinner drink.
As that disturbing image came to mind, veins on his forehead thickened.
-Young lady Sandra.
-What!"
-You must report it.
-What report?
-Jin Runcandel has arrived at the shipyard. You should report this to the patriarch. Since you are currently on duty.
-Hedo, then my husband is dead. Or he will no longer be Jin.
-Probably so. Well, considering the survival skills the 12th flagbearer has shown so far, you never know.
-So don't spout such nonsense twice.
Considering that conversation, he felt that it would be better to keep Jin alive and send him away if possible.
He had set up the table to calm her down, but it would be unrealistic to expect dinner.
"I don't have the blueprints."
"You just dropped the key, didn't you? Don't make foolish judgments. I don't want to kill you if I don't have to."
"It brings tears to my eyes. But what do you want me to do if I don't have it? And it seems like you've forgotten."
We're still fighting, Tower Keeper.
Jin could continue his words, and the flame of hell became even more fierce. The flames clinging to Hedo's body caused an explosion, and the spreading flames gathered to engulf him.
The secret technique of Sarah Runcandel, the renowned strongest among the ten great knights of ancient Runcandel.
Although it was still incomplete, it could not be taken lightly.
With a short groan, Hedo took a step back for the first time. The flame of hell had a power far beyond his expectations.
'Blocking or avoiding this sword from the start would have been the right choice. I might have been too complacent, as Jin Runcandel said. This could be a bit tiring...'
The heat of the flame of hell penetrated through the protective shield and flesh, reaching his internal organs.
It's been a long time since he felt this much pain. Even if he emitted energy to push it away, it seemed that it would take some time for this fierce heat to subside.
The problem was that the flame of hell was not the end.
Other Runcandels had been waiting for just this moment.
"Well done, youngest!"
The first to follow up was Diphus.
The second meteor shower he executed was pouring down behind Hedo.
Not only that, the destructive power of the meteor shower was undoubtedly one of the highest in the decisive killing move, but it seemed that it alone wouldn't deliver a proper blow to the giant.
Diphus had prepared one more sword move, the most refined sword he possessed.
Runcandel's Fifth Secret Technique: Light-Speed Thrust.
A sword that he had honed beyond the limits several times with Mary.
Flash!
A dazzling flash surged towards Hedo's back before the meteor shower. It was the Light-Speed Thrust, surpassing Mary and reaching the pinnacle.
Hedo couldn't evade Diphus's sword.
The Light-Speed Thrust distorted the space and pierced his mountain-like back.
Hedo was bent forward and vomited blood, but even the Light-Speed Thrust couldn't penetrate his immense body. The shockwave that spread along with it shook the entire tower.
There were six streaks of such flashes in succession.
Diphus would inevitably fall into a backflow, but there was no going back anyway. Diphus perceived that this was his last chance to turn the tide.
After finishing the attack, Diphus spat out a dark pool of blood.
Kraaaah!
Hedo screamed in agony.
It was unclear whether it was a scream or a roar. However, one thing was certain: Hedo showed no signs of collapsing even after being hit six times by a Light-speed thrust along with a meteor shower.
Even in the midst of this, Hedo continued to swing his longsword to restrain Jin and was conscious of another sword that would come next.
'Monster...!'
Next were Joshua and Jane.
Though the six Light-Speed Thrusts didn't land a significant blow on Hedo, it didn't mean he was unscathed. Jane approached amidst the meteor shower, driving her sword into the wounds created by the Light-Speed Thrust.
The wounds were just a finger's breadth.
Nevertheless, Jane's blade clearly dug into Hedo's wounds. Blood splattered, and flesh was torn.
"You!"
Hedo rolled his eyes and pushed Jane away, spraying out sword energy. Jane shallowly stabbed Hedo about five times, and Hedo threw Jane all the way up the wall, shattering her wrist and causing significant internal injuries.
Yet, Jane was not disappointed. Blood gushed from deep within her chest, but she finally managed to deal a valid blow to that monster, creating a small opening. A very small opening.
Joshua's sword was piercing through that gap.
"Kaaaah!"
A desperate and venomous cry, a wholehearted effort.
No one said that Joshua was the best flagbearer in pure martial prowess. He was always overshadowed by Luna, and among the siblings, the dominant opinion was that he became the next patriarch not through swordsmanship but through Rosa's full support.
That was not entirely wrong.
However, he was undoubtedly the 2nd flagbearer of Runcandel. He had challenged and lost to the strongest flagbearer of Runcandel many times.
In other words, Joshua also had potential. He had gained enlightenment through numerous defeats and humiliations, learning how to incorporate it into his sword.
This was the result.
The black sword, Kainer, was enveloped in a dark aura.
The energy was similar to shadow force but not as intense, possessing the distinctive radiance characteristic of aura.
It was not Joshua's unique domain like Luna's Mind's Blade, but rather a uniquely colored sword energy that one must achieve to obtain the ultimate technique of Runcandel.
Runcandel's 4th Secret Technique:
Black Cross
Joshua's sword drew a perfect cross.
Shining black sword energy spread across a perfect cross without a single inch of deviation.
The place where the intersection point of the sword energy was pointing was Hedo's shoulder.
Originally, it was aimed at the center of his face but altered due to his reaction. However, the Black Cross was not a type of sword that significantly lost its power if slightly deviated.
The Black Cross was not a cross formed by two lines, as the name suggested. As soon as the secret technique began, Joshua's black sword energy expanded in a giant circle, targeting Hedo from all directions.
Suaaak, swish!
As if the snipers who had finished the siege opened fire all at once, numerous black sword energies in the shape of a cross gathered at the intersection and began to slash at Hedo.
If Joshua alone executed the Black Cross, it would have been challenging to deliver a proper blow. However, the Runcandel's swords that had earlier engaged Hedo were not in vain.
Finally, he was writhing in agony. Although small, he let out more of a groan than a roar. And he couldn't deflect at least 10% of the countless black sword energies from the Black Cross.
If it were anyone other than Hedo, that 10% alone would have torn the body into hundreds of pieces, becoming minced meat.
"Ugh, heuk!"
Joshua sat down and breathed heavily.
'Damn it, was it not enough...!'
Hedo, who began to shake off the Black Cross, seemed to regain strength with each passing moment.
He was covered in blood but didn't suffer fatal injuries.
"Just as the Black Dragon said Murakan is Murakan, a Runcandel is still a Runcandel. I was a little surprised."
Tsk, Hedo spat out blood, wiping his face, and spoke.
[I am sick of this bastard.]
Murakan was absorbing the remnants of the flame of hell with a vortex.
By now, the Spectre corps was barely standing, having exhausted their strength in constantly shielding against the flame of hell, the Decisive killing moves, and the Secret Techniques.
[Hey, kid. It seems that won't work. It's a hopeless situation. Take care of the others and run. I'll deal with him somehow and catch up.]
"Well, it seems like a reasonable plan, but unfortunately, I can't help you, Lord Murakan. Unless Runcandel returns what they stole, I have no choice but to take back my words."
[What?]
"This means that I will request support from the main house. I don't want to waste my strength unnecessarily anymore. My patience is running out."
[You are saying two things with one mouth. You are starting to show your true colors. It's not that you don't want to waste your strength unnecessarily, but it seems that you're starting to find the battle burdensome. You've taken more beating than expected.]
"Feel free to think as you wish. But you know very well that doing so will not make the situation any better, the Black Dragon."
[Hmph, and what kind of bullshit is it that we stole the blueprints? We haven't raided the vault here yet, have we? You're making baseless accusations.]
Murakan and the other Runcandels hadn't witnessed the moment when the key burned in the flame of hell. They also didn't hear the conversation between Jin and Hedo.
Hedo decided to talk to Jin instead of Murakan.
"You have a knack for making simple problems difficult, 12th flagbearer. If you keep insisting, you'll regret it. Before that happens, let me make one thing clear; I will give you the utmost consideration that I can provide..."
Just as he finished saying that—
Hedo suddenly turned around and swung his sword longsword. He sensed that someone had evaded his senses and approached him at close range.
It was an assassination attempt.
And the number of people in the world who could attempt an assassination attempt against Hedo is so small that you can count them on one hand… One of them is a rare assassin born in the Garden of Swords.
It was Yona.