* * *
The recovered Octavia and the Spectre Corps fiercely pursued Jin and his group.
Valkas and the Sword Saints who were supposed to be in charge of the rear were already exhausted, but fortunately Ron's gray sword aura was scattered all over the path to the castle.
Strangely, his sword aura did not block allies at all, only oppressing the Spectre Corps. Just as a divine being gives help only to those who receive its protection.
Octavia's tremendous mobility was also obscured by the gray sword aura and losing its light. Thanks to this, the group moved toward the castle more easily than expected.
That doesn't mean they were moving fast. In the sky, the shock waves of the giants exploded non-stop, and the ground turned upside down and screamed every time they stepped on it.
As the battle between Ron and Kelliark intensified, the aftermath was being transmitted to the sword emperor castle. And for the most part, Octavia and the Spectres had to endure it.
It was a strange formation. The Spectre Corps seemed to be covering the retreating Jin and his group like an umbrella.
Octavia couldn't help but burst into anger. Since the ground battle began, she and the Spectre Corps had been taking more damage from Ron and Kelliark's battle.
'Sir Hedo said that he seemed to be a human being whom Heaven cherished... it seems like endless luck is favoring me.'
-If Heaven is favoring you, it's probably because your father has become Heaven itself.
Just like what Hedo said to Jin in the Sota Desert, Octavia felt the same way. Strangely enough, Jin seemed to be lucky.
Of all things, the giants' battlefield caused more damage to themselves with their backs to the sky, and as soon as the battle started, reinforcements called Misha came at the right time, and they couldn't put an end to it even after they were strengthened with Demon God's orb.
Again.
Octavia couldn't help but feel a sense of impending doom. A dirty intuition was sticking in her mind, suggesting that they might not be able to kill Jin and his group.
It felt like something was about to pop out from somewhere. Someone to help the cornered Jin's group.
'Shit…!'
Even if it wasn't enough, Valkas and the Sword Saints hadn't fallen yet was horrific.
The Black King leader and the Sword Saints were of course very strong, but they were by no means comparable to herself and the Spectres. Even if they were able to withstand the shock of the giants, they should have already been dealt with.
Especially the five Sword Saints.
At a glance, they already looked like corpses. Their faces were not just gray but almost black, and the swords they swung while retreating were not as sharp as before.
Still, they didn't die. The chest was pierced, so this will be the end, the running speed will be slowed down, the leg will be broken, and now they should fall...….
Octavia can't count how many times she has missed all those expectations.
With a battered body, they wielded their sword almost as if they were floundering, but why and how could they keep defending the rear, even against herself and the Spectre Corps!
There were moments when the consciousness of Sword Saints flickered like a flashing magic light.
Inner castle was getting closer.
After the Demon god's orb was opened, the sword emperor castle lost most of its castle shape.
However, the inner castle was still almost the same as the first time.
Between the collapsed buildings and the broken ground, the only intact inner castle was somehow exuding a sublime aura.
It gave the feeling that something precious, which must be protected even if the world falls apart, was right here.
However, even Ron could not block Octavia from hitting it directly. If Jin's group and the Spectres enter the castle, the inner castle will eventually collapse.
"You can't pass, Zipfels…."
The sword saints stopped retreating in front of the castle. Jin and his companions paused and looked back at them.
They could tell without even saying it.
We will buy time one last time, check on Dante, and if possible, if possible... take him with you.
The backs of the Sword Saints were saying that. Anyway, among them, there was no one who can live even if they receive treatment right now.
Sacrifice, truly terrible.
"Yes, the right choice... It's going to be really hard to have meaning now."
Octavia said in a low, hateful voice. She and the Spectre Corps were aiming their staffs at the Sword Saints.
As she said, the miracle of the Sword Saints, which had continued hundreds of times until now, was about to end here.
Jin turned around and took a step towards the Sword Saints. Pulling out the blue pale sword, Sigmund.
'My Lord… !'
'Lord Jin!'
Jin's companions feel the same way as him. They also did not want to move on to the next step by stepping on the sacrifice of their companions.
But they had to make a rational decision. This must have been something the sword saints also didn't want. Feeling the energy of Jin getting closer to them, they also wanted to shout, "please just leave."
That's why all of his companions had to stop Jin, but Jin wasn't just losing his mind and heading to the sword saints because of his emotions.
Won't you come forward even if I do this?
Runcandel, Jin was asking his own clan by his action.
'Whoever comes from the clan. If I fight with them, even executing my Plutonian reign sword here, you won't know that it's not just the Sword saints who will die.'
It was a kind threat, and as always.
Jin was able to achieve what he wanted.
The moment when Octavia and the Spectres' magic rained down on the Sword saints and Jin's companions tried to forcefully bring him back.
A group of knights who were hiding in the fire blocked the front of Jin and the sword saints. There were five Black Knights.
'Again, do you really mean again…!'
Octavia gritted her teeth and glared at the black knights.
-Do you think Runcandel will come out to save me, Octavia Zipfel?
-I'm sure. Now you have such a position in Runcandel.
Just as she had a conversation with Jin as soon as they met on the ground, in fact, Octavia had in mind from the beginning that Runcandel's support would come.
Even so, the reason she was shocked was because she was just sick and tired of it.
The fact that the situation was created in favor of Jin every time made her blood flow backwards.
Aww-!
The swords of the knights cut the magic of Octavia and the Spectres. They, too, must have endured the might of the giants along the way, but they showed no sign of fatigue.
On the contrary, one of the sword aura was stronger than any active black knight Jin had ever seen and blocked his front in an instant.
Jin's companions could breathe a sigh of relief, and Jin finally felt a bit of satisfaction at that moment.
He wasn't just pretending to fight alongside Sword saints, but it was a prelude to knowing that the black knights would never have stepped up if he hadn't really shown his willingness to participate in the battle again.
"The 12th flagbearer."
Stam's calm and heavy voice remained undisturbed even amid the chaotic battlefield.
Jin had never heard Stam's voice and had no idea about his status, but he knew it instinctively. The fact that he was the leader of the Runcandel Black Knights.
"To think you'd pull me out like this, you always have a knack for surprising clan members."
Stam's sword created a fierce resonant sound and pushed away other energy around it. As soon as he appeared, Octavia and the Spectres had no choice but to change their formation again from pursuit to a battle.
"Stam... Didn't Rosa Runcandel come in person?"
Stam didn't answer Octavia and looked back at Jin and the others. As if there was no problem at all even if there was Spectres in front of him.
For a few seconds, Stam's gaze moved back and forth between Jin and the others and the unbroken inner castle. In the end, it landed on the battered Sword Saints.
Before being a Black Knight, before being a human, he was a martial artist. He felt a deep respect for them.
"Thanks to the 12th flagbearer, I can pay my respects to you all. It's not my intention, but it's an honor to help you in your final moments."
Even if you were moved by them as a martial artist and wanted to help them as a human, the original mission and clan were the first priority for the black knights.
Therefore, it was not very appropriate to step forward now, but considering Jin's injury or death, he couldn't help it.
"... Sir Stam, definitely. The day will come when Hairan will repay the favor. Even if it takes a thousand years."
Stam and the Black Knights appeared, but the death of the Sword saints was already inevitable.
Jin was aware of this fact. The reason he forcibly brought in the clan was because it was necessary. Realistically, he knew better than anyone else that the sword saints alone would not be able to buy them enough time.
Stam nodded and met Jin's eyes.
"Go, 12th flagbearer."
He didn't make a request for Stam to create time for farewells with the Sword Saints.
Since the battle on the ground began, Jin and his companions had already said farewell to the Sword saints.
The fight itself was like a long farewell to them.
For once, Jin and his companions caught sight of the backs of the sword masters and turned to the castle again.
As they left, Octavia wasn't able to capture them.
"A little while ago, you asked if Madame Rosa hadn't come in person, Octavia Zipfel."
Stam pointed his sword and continued to talk.
"Be thankful that Madame Rosa chose to send me in her stead."
Stam's disdainful voice pierced Octavia's lungs.
* * *
Dante Hiran.
In an inner war with the white stone, he was walking on an endless gray path.
How much time had passed, why he was here in the first place, what he was resisting against... he couldn't remember those things now.
Am I doing well...?
He vividly recalled the fact that he had engaged in an intense struggle, a fight so fierce that it seemed impossible to express in words. But now, he felt calm.
He could no longer hear the voice that had seduced him, the voice that he didn't know why, but he didn't think he should ever follow.
I'm doing great. And, I got over it...
Suddenly, such a thought sprouted like a horn, and his steps became lighter. He didn't know what he had overcome, but somehow good things seemed to happen if he kept walking.
After going through that gray area for so long, Dante was able to hear a new voice.
Dante...!
Dante!
It was not a tempting voice that he thought he should never pass over, but a completely different, very friendly and familiar voice.
It was the voice of a friend.
'Jin!'
Dante smiled broadly and started running towards the direction of Jin's voice.
The voice kept getting closer before he got too far, and he saw a door standing out of nowhere in the gray ground.
He put his hand on the door.
'By the way, even if I open it and go out... Is it okay?'
Suddenly, an unknown feeling of uneasiness filled his heart that was beating with joy.
Dante!
He heard his friend's urgent voice once more, and Dante opened the door, stopping his troubled thoughts.
And as soon as he stepped out of the door, White Stone looked at the wide open door and thought:
Finally,
I can go out.