Meanwhile, Talaris was looking down at Ron in the deepest part of the castle.
Ron's breath was so faint that even Talaris had to concentrate to hear it. It had weakened since the day she first visited.
The strong body of the sword emperor lay sprawled in a way that could not be concealed by clothes or blankets, and the air was filled with a thick scent of death.
"Ron."
Talaris sat on the bedside, cautiously holding Ron's frail hand.
"Your beloved grandson, that child's friend, and your knights—all are fighting for Hairan. Do you really not know this was going to happen."
There are only two people whom Talaris could call friends.
Chiron Runcandel and Ron Hairan. Talaris shook her head, recalling their past.
"Ah, these pitiful people. The stronger they become, the more they disappoint me."
Of course, the fact that Kelliark Zipfel might come in person was foreseen by many, but people felt a sense of suffocation when they came face to face with its majesty.
The entire fleet is shrouded in the magic of fire. The flagship, Kozec, seemed so distant that it could only be seen as a dot.
Still, everyone in the sword emperor castle felt that they were facing Kelliark directly.
An overwhelming presence, the fleet led by the patriarch of the world's number one clan was slowly approaching the Sword emperor Castle.
Not a single one was afraid of death among the knights of the Sword emperor Castle.
However, no one thought that they could win against them. It seemed impossible for any change or miracle to happen.
But their morale did not go down.
They were just a little worried. The concern that even if they couldn't win, the battle might end without a single meaningful counterattack.
"Finally, I'll get to see the face of the current Zipfel clan head."
Murakan said in a low voice.
This was the first time Jin had seen Kelliark Zipfel in person. In past life and in present life, he had only seen him through news articles and clan records.
"A giant among giants. I wonder what he looks like in person."
Fortunately, Zipfel's main force did not immediately attack the Sword Emperor castle upon appearing. The problem Amela had feared did not occur.
The current Kozec was able to unleash a power that was different from what Jin had experienced so far.
"Sir Ruyan."
"Yes, Sir Jin."
"Runcandel must have finished preparing for an all-out war as well."
"I suspected as much. If it's an object that Zipfel coveted so much, Runcandel won't just sit idly by. If Runcandel steps in, some of Hairans might survive, but..."
"I'll save everyone. Not some."
"I know that you are sincere and that you are capable of it. But we will never retreat, leaving the young patriarch."
"That goes for me too, Sir Ruyan. However, I would like to ask you for one promise."
"Promise?"
"The seal of chaos that imprisoned Dante occurred because he resisted chaos."
Jin informed Ruyan that Talaris was here.
It was because she had agreed to let Ruyan know more about the hidden palace's mission and the dangers of chaos. Talaris allowed it out of consideration for Jin, not Ruyan.
For a while, Jin explained the stories about it, and Ruyan listened.
"... If the young patriarch can't overcome the power of the white stone, a monster that even the master of the hidden palace can't handle will awaken, is that correct?"
"That's right."
"Then how do you give young patriarch... ah."
Ruyan didn't question why Jin was bringing up this information now.
It was only because he knew that Jin was the reason why the master of the hidden palace looked after the situation even while informing the foreigner about the hidden palace mission. Also, the situation won't change even if Jin informed them in advance.
"... If such a thing happens, please promise to withdraw all remaining Hairan knights at that time."
When Dante died, Chaos awoke, and the Sword Emperor Castle became a battlefield between Zipfel and Runcandel, or a battle to subjugate Chaos, it was right for the knights of Hairan to leave.
Whether killed by the war between the two clans or killed by the monsters of chaos. It would only lead to a meaningless death.
Even in that case Chaos killed the young patriarch, we must fight and kill that monster.
Ruyan couldn't bear to say that. Ruyan also understood how Jin felt about making such a promise.
Confronting the possibility of Dante's death was itself a heartbreaking experience for Jin.
"...I will."
Ruyan answered in a dark voice.
The fate that befell Hairan was absurd.
Jin risked his life to protect Dante and the pride of Hairan, but Hairan can only survive if the chaos of the white stone does not devour Dante and wakes up. A miserable and terrible existence.
"In return, please promise me one thing as well."
"Tell me."
"Somehow, if the young patriarch returns… returns when we're gone. Please help the young patriarch, so he does not become a monster."
No one knew how things would turn out.
Ruyan was talking about when Dante alone survived and Hairan was destroyed.
At that time, he asked Jin to help Dante, who would kneel under the weight of loss, sorrow, and wounds, not lose his way, and not become a monster.
That's something only friends can help.
"The young patriarch has already endured too many wounds. It must have been difficult. Even now."
"I will not let go of Dante, even if Dante falls into hatred, and attacks me."
"Yes, you're that kind of person. I just wanted to say it. There's so little that Hyiran can do for that child."
Kelliark's fire now dyed the Sword emperor castle red, and the fleet stopped advancing. Everyone on the walls raised their heads and glared at the fleet.
An old man with long gray hair wearing a white robe was walking out of the middle of the mages standing at the deck of Kozec.
It was the Kelliark Zipfel.
"Deploy the shields!"
The leader of the Dragon Knights, Calmine, shouted with his eyes wide open.
It was because the heat from the fire that had already engulfed the fleet was penetrating the entire sword emperor Castle. For average knights, it was too much heat to endure.
The stones that made up the walls were red hot and emitting heat, and the air was hot enough to melt all lungs and organs.
That was something no one expected.
The magic hadn't been properly casted yet, and the entire fleet hadn't moved, and it was only Kelliark alone at the front of Kozec caused this phenomenon.
The knights spread their shields and activated their defensive equipment. The entire castle was instantly covered with a blue film that seemed to block the heat.
However, in the next moment, Kelliark swung the Zipfel clan's exclusive wand, 'Hroti'. And the protective shield surrounding the sword emperor castle continued to disappear. As if it had never been deployed in the first place.
"I just came here to share a few words with someone I'm curious about, so there's no need to get too worked up."
"You are talking nonsense after spewing fire with the momentum to melt our castle."
At Calmine's words, Kelliark smiled softly. Like a gentle old man listening to a child's mischievous talk.
"Ah, it's been a long time since I've been on the battlefield. I haven't paid much attention to that. I'll take care of it for you."
As soon as he finished speaking, the heat disappeared as if it were a lie. The fire mana still blazed around the fleet, so Kelliark's power definitely reached the domain of divine power beyond magic.
"And, I'm saying this out of consideration, don't interrupt my conversation anymore. If I decide, I could wipe you all out within seconds. Show me the same consideration I've shown you."
"Kelliark…! How far do you plan to mock us!"
The one who shouted that was Golo, the commander standing on the left side of the wall. He had evacuated the non-combatants and civilians during the first battle.
He didn't shout with any particular intention; it was an unconscious act of defiance against the overwhelming pressure and fear.
"Your words sound ominous."
Those who reached a certain level of enlightenment could now anticipate what might happen. However, there was no way to stop it, and there was no time to warn of the danger.
Also, their intuition is wrong.
Boom!
Spatial explosion.
Kelliark Zipfel casted his magic spell.
But the target was not Golo. Everyone expected Golo to explode and die, but Kelliark's magic harmed someone else—Calmaine Aita.
An explosion erupted from Calmaine shoulder.
The explosion completely took away his right arm. The right arm, torn and bounced by the explosion, was scattered without a trace in the ensuing spatial explosion. The only remnants were the pitiful sound of the dropped sword hitting the stone floor.
"Kuk…!"
"Leader!"
"Calmine!"
The dragon knights and the sword saints shouted at the same time and tried to approach Calmine. Kelliark restrained their movement, detonating spatial explosions right in front of their faces. It seems to be the last warning.
And he even said,
"Consideration ends here."
Most of the people in sword emperor castle had never heard a voice more eerie than the one Kelliark used just now.
An oppressive and sudden silence settled in. Kelliark waited for about five seconds to make sure no one was moving, then met Jin's eyes. With an indescribably benevolent smile.
'Jin Runcandel.'
'Kelliark Zipfel.'
Jin felt his blood cooling and his bones tingling in the face of Kelliark's gaze. He now emitted an entirely different energy compared to the transcendent figures Jin had encountered before.
Soft yet powerful, elusive yet sharp, light yet heavy, gentle yet wicked—Jin defined the feeling of Kelliark Zipfel.
'I can see why people who have seen Kelliark in person compare him to a god.'
Undoubtedly, he was a figure that left an indescribable impact.
'But, I can see why Kelliark is number two.'
Jin grasped the divine yet mysterious atmosphere around Kelliark, and the emotion hidden behind his smile. That insight allowed Jin to comprehend why Kelliark stood behind Chiron.
Therefore, Jin smiled at him.
"You hate me, Sir Kelliark Zipfel."
If the person in front of Jin were Chiron instead of Kelliark, Jin would never have been able to discern his emotions as he is now.
In the first place, his father is in a position where he would not harbor such distinctly human emotions as hatred towards someone like himself. Even if Jin had tried to provoke Chiron in any way, Chiron would never have felt more than annoyance.
Even if Jin was born as a Zipfel and killed everyone in Runcandel.
"Does it show?"
Kelliark asked in a calm voice.
"Yes, to the extent that the divine power you have shown so far looks dull."
Jin answered, erasing his smile.