Excluding Ron, Jin was the only martial artist with the longest range attack in the sword emperor castle camp.
The light-speed thrust enveloped in lightning bolts did not lose its power even in flames of 2nd version. The fiercely advancing sword energy was cutting the runes and lines hidden deep within the flames of 2nd version.
If it would have been before Jin had risen to the ranks of the 'powerful warriors' he might have faced many doubts and verifications before undertaking such actions, so he might have missed the opportunity.
But not anymore.
He didn't have to explain how he knew the weakness of the 2nd version and why one should follow baseless words.
Ron just had to act according to his will. Because Jin had never disappointed those who believed in him even once.
The Vamel Alliance and the Sword saints, who were cutting the runes and lines, were checking that the flames of 2nd version were getting smaller and fading each time.
It was a disaster that came from perfect harmony.
Ron's formless sword wind that can protect and float all allies, Jin's magical ability and dispelling, and martial artists floating in air.
Without any one of them, this disintegration could not have succeeded. Even if they knew the dispelling, not many could wield mana in this dreadful inferno and properly swing a sword.
'For Lord Jin... It has the power to call victory. An inexplicable, such power.'
'How can you not serve my lord!'
The scene of Jin and Vamel alliance, and sword saints blocking 2nd version while floating in the formless sword wind gave off a mythical atmosphere in itself.
It was filled with a sublime feeling.
The desperate and pure struggle of those who would not yield, would not break, to protect something precious was always like that.
That's why those who oppose Zipfel, even in the malicious flames of 2nd Version, in battles where they face life and death every second, even while swinging their swords and screaming.
They could feel their inside becoming full.
"Khuh...!"
Kelliark swallowed the heat rising through his throat and widened his eyes. His eyes were bloodshot, and the drops of blood flowing down his nose stained his beard red.
"Patriarch!"
Octavia shouted.
Neither Chiron nor Ron. It was difficult to accept the fact that Jin Runcandel had made the blood of the patriarch seep for the first time in decades.
Kelliark raised his hand to her as if to reassure her. Unlike the mana backflow reaction, his hand holding the hroti did not tremble at all.
"It seems that Hister was informed about the weakness of the 2nd version. Hister, they're terribly persistent….."
Kelliark was calmly recovering 2nd version mana despite the mana backflow reaction.
He had already gone beyond the mage's limit of 'mana backflow' a long time ago.
There may be physical damage, but not being able to use mana because of the backflow was no longer an issue for Kelliark Zipfel. It was not the power of the Demon God's orb, but an achievement solely of human Kelliark Zipfel.
"Octavia, I will open the path again. Take care of annoying ones, so I can focus on Ron Hairan."
"All right."
Kelliark's eyes were stained with blue. The Gaze of Azure Flame, Zipfel's vision magic used by Myuron Zipfel in the past.
Naturally, its power couldn't even compare to Myuron's magic. At the same time, another flame formed in his left hand, and Hroti began to emit blue lightning.
Kelliark also went beyond the realm of 'initial simultaneous chanting' that uses three or more types of magic. He was using four great magic spells at the same time, up to the 2nd version whose recovery had not yet been completed.
The Gaze of Azure Flame
Crazy lightning
Annihilating Dark Sky Flame Orb - Kelliark Zipfel
Annihilating Dark Sky Flame Orb, Demon empress 2nd version
Among them, the 2nd version was quickly recovered and replaced with Zipfel's ice barrier vision magic, 'Frost Hell'. Each of those four magic spells had power comparable to the 2nd version.
The total amount of mana was three times that of the 2nd version, so it also meant that the weight of mana that Ron had to endure increased by that much.
Lightning fell like crazy from the sky, and the disappearing 2nd version was replaced by the Annihilating Dark Sky Flame Orb improved by Kelliark Zipfel, and a cold explosion was heard in the frozen air, and blue flames bloomed wherever his gaze landed.
And the progress of the invisible sword that had landed on the battlefield slowed down. Ron's swordsmanship was losing strength as it collided with Kelliark's magic spells.
The flight of the martial artists riding the formless sword became precarious. Their center of gravity, which had been solid as if they had stepped on the ground, was shaken, and fire, cold, and lightning bolts attacked them from all sides.
Kelliark Zipfel's power was completely outside the realm of magic they knew.
Rather than magic, it is closer to an irresistible disaster. The group gritted their teeth and had to find a safe path through the invisible sword, feeling as if stepping on a bomb.
In the air entwined with wild magic, a drop of cool sweat drenched their back with each step they took.
When they stepped on the frozen formless sword, their ankle felt as if it would be cut off, and when they looked for a place to step again, two flames pressed their whole body.
The crazy lightning tore through their shields so easily, it felt like their wrists would burst if struck with a sword.
Until Ron reached the pinnacle, Kelliark Zipfel was clearly the world's most powerful mage. The reason the group could even 'feel' fighting him was because Ron existed.
Jin did not know about the releasing the casting of the new magic spells.
Even if he knew, he couldn't dispel them in this state. In terms of purely magical achievements, Kelliark was clearly far beyond what Jin had achieved.
That fact did not dampen the fighting spirit of Jin and the others.
It just made things more complicated in their head. Their heart ached as to how they could hit that pinnacle of magic again.
"Yeah, you can't say you're the patriarch of Zipfel if you get knocked down by Jin. Isn't that right, Kelliark?"
Ron stands in a completely different realm from those struggling in the sky.
That's why he wasn't troubled like them. For him, it was a matter of going head-to-head with strength.
Ron was watching Octavia's battleship heading towards the castle.
Just as Kelliark entrusted Octavia to deal with the Vamel Alliance and the Sword saints, Ron had to entrust Octavia to them.
The fight to focus on the opponent that suits each of them has begun.
Kelliark, Fleet, Dragon and Ron.
Octavia, the Spectre Corps, Vamel Alliance, and Sword saints.
The battlefield was rapidly splitting into different areas. As Octavia got closer, Ron gradually reduced the invisible sword wind that protected allies, and Kelliark also reduced the mana that helped Octavia penetrate as the Vamel Alliance and the Sword saints got farther away.
It took less than three minutes for Kelliark and Ron to pour all their power onto each other.
At that time, Jin's group and Octavia's battleship were on the ground, avoiding the clash between the two giants in the sky, and settled on the plain in front of sword emperor castle.
Those who did not reach the level could not even breathe properly in the overwhelming storm of the battlefield.
Crash-!
Octavia's battleship landed on the ground as if crashing. Because it was swept away by sword strikes and magic, it was already half-destroyed and unable to function properly.
Even that was the result of Octavia and the Spectres desperately spreading a protective shield. They had much longer flight distances compared to Jin's group, which meant they had to withstand the power of the two giants all the more.
"Jin Runcandel…."
In Octavia's dark and low voice, there was a deep killing intent in her eyes as she looked at Jin.
Even beyond the hoods of the Spectre Corps, bloodlust was vibrating all over. They all have memories of losing members because of Jin.
"Octavia Zipfel."
"I never expected that letting you go alive on the island of Veradin would come back as such an annoying problem."
Octavia was recalling the conversation she had with Murakan that day.
-Do you think Runcandel can defeat us and ascend to the throne of the world? You must have forgotten the lesson of your old contractor a thousand years ago.
-[Puheh...… ha ha! Who said anything about the Runcandel clan becoming the king of the surface? I am referring to my current contractor. You guys are making noise without even knowing that today was the last chance to change the future.]
Back then.
Octavia couldn't help but scoff at the grandiose words that Jin Runcandel, not Runcandel clan, would become the king on the surface.
So the horribly unpleasant memory came to her mind, and that nasty intuition was still creasing Octavia's forehead.
She had never felt a more ominous sensation throughout her life.
'Why?'
And just how?
It was in early 1798 that she failed to kill Jin at Veradin's villa. Now it was April 1800, so not even two years had passed since then.
However, during those two years, Jin had become unbelievably strong, a veritable giant, facing her directly in the war. In just two years...
"First of all, I genuinely pay my respects. Jin Runcandel, you are an insane, awe-inspiring human being. It's inexplicably impressive... you even survived after meeting me and Sir Hedo."
Jin didn't answer.
Objectively, the Vamel Alliance and the Sword saints were clearly inferior to Octavia and the Spectre Corps.
The 30 members of Spectre Corps, led directly by Zipfel's second-in-command, was at a level that could only be dealt with by Runcandel's 1st division, including the Black Knight.
If the Sword saints hadn't executed the seal called the Sword of Overlord, the odds of winning wouldn't have existed in the first place.
'Even if I use the Plutonian Reign Sword, the odds of winning are not very high. But if I get pushed... My clan won't be able to keep watching.'
As Jin thought, Rosa read the flow of the battle and inferred the situation Jin was facing.
'The youngest's power can't handle Octavia and the Spectres. Will the master of the hidden palace participate in the war? I will have to send the black knights if she doesn't step up.'
Even if problems arose in negotiations with Zipfel later, even if they go into an all-out war, Runcandel couldn't afford to lose Jin now. Rosa thought so.
However, rather than relying on the clan, Jin drew a picture of stopping Octavia by bringing out the variable that he had, the Plutonian reigning sword, to the limit.
The odds of winning are low, but there was still a chance. Because he had countless victories with such a low probability so far.
'If my mother intervenes, Dante's chances of survival will disappear entirely. My clan is here just to destroy or obtain the White Stone, his life doesn't count at all.'
Above all, that was what mattered.
Dante, his friend, may have already been put in a state of 'no return'. Jin had no intention of letting go of the bond with him, regardless of the circumstances.
Octavia was seeing right through Jin.
"You want to save your friend. But if your clan steps forward, he will surely die. If you had handed him over to us, you might have been able to save your friend. About an 80% chance, as our patriarch said."
"Do you think Runcandel will step forward to save one person, Octavia Zipfel?"
"Absolutely. Now you hold such a position within Runcandel."
"Thanks for the praise, but that won't happen."
"You must be saying that because you still have hidden power. I look forward to it, show me everything."
"And rather, it would be better for you to pray that my clan doesn't come forward, if you want to live."
Octavia smiled.
She wasn't afraid of Rosa stepping forward herself.
"Come to think of it, I don't see your guardian dragon. I have something to pay him back...," Octavia said, but abruptly stopped.
It was because two black stars suddenly rose above the sky where Kelliark's magic and Ron's sword clashed madly.
She had seen the same sight two years ago.
[Kid!]
Murakan.
[Jin.]
and Misha.
Two guardian dragons for Solderet's contractor were descending toward Jin. At the same time, Octavia had to feel a terrible discomfort pressing down on her brain once more.