Inside the castle, the saints and medical staff were busy taking care of the wounded.
Even though they won a great victory in the first battle, there were about 2,000 casualties in the sword emperor castle. It was impossible for the healing saints to deal with all of them in just two days.
Outside, Amela was in the midst of repairing the defense equipment of the sword emperor castle.
Her speed in restoring the equipment was truly remarkable. Even if there were thousands of gifted professional engineers, they could not match her ability alone.
However, repair of equipment was also a problem that could not be solved within two days, as was the case with the recovery of the injured.
The dozens of hands formed by murky energy did not rest even for a moment after the war, but about 20% restoration was completed.
"Old man Valkas! From now on, I'll just focus on improving and distributing the dragon lances. Since Enya can't use the dragon fire shield, I have to calculate numerous variables when under attack... I must find positions where I can shoot the cannon at least two or three times even if I'm hit hard... Ugh, it's really frustrating not to find a good angle!"
She has fought countless wars, but it was the first time she had prepared for a war that felt so meaningless.
"Rather than staying idle, it's better to concentrate on improving even a bit. This is really like hitting a rock with an egg. If Kelliark is on board, the range of their cannons will far exceed the dragon lance in the first place. The results are too meager compared to the efforts I put into it."
Sword emperor castle had to fight with lower power than the first battle, while the Zipfel clan was coming with the largest force.
Even if Ron was in good health and the Empire was not betraying them, there was no chance of winning this fight.
Runcandel was the only clan in the world capable of making a fight worth calling a 'battle' against Zipfel's full force.
"Ghost blade."
Valkas found Kashmir.
"What do you think, sir?"
"Are you talking about Runcandel?"
Even without any other explanation, Kashmir immediately understood what Valkas meant.
The Vamel Alliance knew that Runcandel was camped nearby.
They hadn't witnessed it directly, but they were confident that Jin's predictions about the camp were accurate.
"Now that Zipfel's main force has moved, the value of the White Stone has been proven, just as Lord Jin said, so they won't stand still. However, Runcandel will want the White Stone to be destroyed in some way during the war, without their involvement."
"I think so too. It's a dangerous item that even the master of the hidden palace is wary of due to its unknown use, so Runcandel must be hoping for it to be destroyed during the war."
"Regardless of the value of the stone, the likelihood of the two clans engaging in an all-out war is low. I'm sure it will flow into a negotiating atmosphere...… In my opinion, the key is not the two giant clans, but Lord Jin's choice."
Whether Runcandel and Zipfel would engage in an all-out war or negotiate depended on Jin's choice.
Kashmir interprets the situation that way.
"If the lord gives up Hairan with his friend, there will be negotiations, and if he does not give up, it will be an all-out war... That's what you are saying."
"That's right. And as you know...."
"The Lord is never the one to choose the former."
"But he is not the kind of person who will choose the latter without any countermeasures, driven by emotion."
The two nodded at the same time.
"Lord Jin believes in his clan. To be precise, he's in the process of using them."
Are you really going to take the white stone even while engaging in an all-out war with Runcandel?
Will you be able to afford it?
Kashmir thought that Jin would put pressure on Zipfel with his clan, Runcandel, behind him.
That's why he chose to persist with his first plan, that is, to rescue Dante and the knights of Hairan and leave the sword emperor castle, even though it failed.
So far, Jin has been able to overcome almost all adversity without the help of his clan, only with the power of himself and his companions.
In this way, it was the first time that he used the power of his origin, called Runcandel. Even when Rosa is in charge.
"If Zipfel comes under that pressure and starts an all-out war, Lord Jin will force the Vamel Alliance and all the knights of Hairan out of the fight. From then on, this war will not be the Sword emperor castle's War, but will be a rotating battle between Runcandel and Zipfel, so he will exclude all non-Runcandel allies even by using the clan's force."
"It's the Lord's way. I'm sure he will do as you said. He wanted to send everyone out in advance during the process of excluding those other than Runcandel in case of a full-scale battle, but the ones gathered in Hairan did not withdraw."
"What do you think of the possibility that Madame Rosa subdues Lord Jim and negotiates with Zipfel?"
Kashmir was most worried about that.
Except for Chiron and the former Black Knights, the most elite knights in Runcandel, led by Rosa herself, are close to the full strength of Runcandel. The Vamel Alliance now has the power to rise to the 5th faction, but it was not enough to protect Jin against Rosa.
"I don't think you need to worry about that. The lord is now the closest flagbearer to becoming the Runcandel's next patriarch. It is impossible to subdue or punish the lord by force in front of Zipfel."
"Then, Madame Rosa has no choice but to respect Lord Jin's judgment after all."
"The lord is also Runcandel. Although the methods are different, Madame Rosa and the lord have the same goal as Runcandel. As long as the Lord's actions do not deviate from the assumption that it is an act that prevents Zipfel's interests, even if it looks like the Lord is forcibly carrying the clan on his back, it won't be a fatal problem."
"… I have a feeling that this war may decide the fate of not only the sword Emperor castle, but also the world."
"I feel the same way."
"Even if Sir Dante wakes up and we all escape from the sword emperor castle, it will only put the situation on hold in the end. All-out war or negotiation. One of the two is bound to happen. Unless the White Stone is destroyed."
The white stone was destroyed, and the chaos that had been dormant within it never awakened.
That was the only scenario that could bring the situation to a stable conclusion, but Talaris evaluated the possibility of it happening very low.
"We just need to focus on supporting the lord in any situation. The lord will not give up on his friend, but if the lord is in danger of falling because of that...."
We must make sure that the lord does not fall even if we have to trample on his heart.
Valkas continued in a dark voice.
The words had many meanings.
If Jin risked his life saying that he would not give up on Hairan even after the worst situation, they were prepared to make Jin step back, even if it meant killing everyone in Hairan right in front of him.
"The lord is obviously a strong man. However, that very strength within him is sometimes his weakness. I haven't served the Lord for a long time, but it seems that way to me."
"… I understand what you're saying."
"May there never be such a situation."
It's past midnight.
May the sword emperor wake up and raise the dignity of this land again, may Dante safely escape from the seal of chaos, may the enemies arrive a little later, and may today's dawn, which is probably the last, not be bleak and desolate.
Time flowed cruelly and swiftly, mocking the countless hopes and prayers gathered at the Sword emperor castle.
"… Zipfel's main force has been confirmed above the Ketu Mountains. They will arrive at Sword emperor castle in about three hours."
The knights who went out for scouting informed the castle that the enemies were close to their noses.
"Sir Kashmir."
"Yes, Lord Jin."
"Order the healing saints to return to the Holy Kingdom, and give orders to Sir Luton and my Guardian Knights to also return. In addition, please evacuate all the wounded from the Vamel Alliance as well as Gilly and below her level."
The youngest division officially belonged to Runcandel rather than the Vamel Alliance. Luton, who led them, was an outcast, so it was only right to leave the battlefield before Runcandel came to the front.
The healing saints did their duty.
"All right."
The name of this war is still the Sword Emperor Castle War.
That's why Jin only commanded the Vamel alliance, but the knights of Hairan regarded Jin as their commander.
Jin did not give them separate orders. Strictly speaking, the current commander-in-chief of the Hairan army in the Sword Emperor Castle is Ruyan, the head of the five sword saints.
However, Ruyan did not give orders to the knights of Hairan, and he also treated Jin as his commander-in-chief.
There was no need to issue an order because all the knights of Hairan are already standing in their respective positions in a desperate fight, and the reason why Jin is the one who puts everything aside as soon as the war begins and puts all of himself into the Sword emperor castle. It was a sign of respect and admiration for them.
Before climbing the castle wall, Jin looked at Dante, who was imprisoned in a seal, for the last time.
"Dante."
The seal of chaos that imprisoned Dante contained a much deeper darkness than the first.
Neither the color of the white stone that shone as if it was laughing at someone nor the blurry figure of Dante were visible.
Jin was silent for a while as he touched the seal.
He couldn't find words that would express his feelings, and he feared that if his troubled voice reached his friend, it might affect the internal battle Dante was waging against the chaos.
Instead, Jin stared at his friend for a long time. It conveyed that there was someone steadfastly standing and waiting, someone who would never give him up.
The time had come.
Jin's companions approached him, signaling that the enemies had arrived.
"See you later."
Eventually, as Jin climbed the wall, the five Sword saints and the leader of the Dragon Knights, Calmaine, saluted him, expressing their respect and gratitude.
"I am Sword Saint Ruyan. I express my respect and gratitude to you on behalf of Hairan. It is an honor to fight alongside you."
"I, Calmaine Aita, the leader of the Dragon Knights, Hairan and this land will not forget that you were our benefactor even in death."
Jin slowly met their gaze.
"I, Jin Runcandel, Commander-in-Chief of the Vamel Alliance, 12th flagbearer of Runcandel. I am infinitely grateful to Hairan and to those who have gathered for Hairan for allowing me to fight for my friend."
Jin raised his eyes and looked at the dark dawn sky behind Ruyan and Calamine.
He could see the fleet of Zipfel, engulfed in the fire mana, all blazing red. It looked like an ominous sun rising.
And in this world, the person who could protect the entire fleet with a vast and profound fire, displaying awe-inspiring might.
There was only one.
'Kelliark Zipfel...'
The pinnacle of heartless and dirty magic.
He personally led the Zipfel and came to the sword emperor castle.