[T.L: punisher87]
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While Murakan remained on the battlefield for a moment, the disappeared enemies accounted for nearly 50%.
Mary, Tona brothers, and Yona, also killed the former patriarchs.
Even though the Black chains had already vanished, they couldn't put up a decent resistance.
The enemy formation was collapsing. The allies desperately exploited weaknesses, swinging their swords and casting spells.
Another fierce battle ensued.
However, the temporary alliance was clearly gaining the upper hand.
Although casualties were mounting, their side was taking down a significantly larger number of enemies.
"Victory is within reach! Stay focused until the end!"
"Any news from the 12th Flagbearer?"
Whenever they had a moment, the allies glanced towards the chaos curtain that contained Jin and the evil god.
Compared to when Murakan first broke through, the curtain had significantly shrunk.
It seemed too narrow for two people to stand side by side.
'Is Jin entering a new subspace with the evil god?'
Valeria furrowed her brow as she examined the records.
The records stated that Jin and the evil god had left the battlefield.
She became worried.
Since they used the Wavelength Tracking Synchronization Device and even called Murakan, Jin had no more secret weapons left.
Enya, who understood her concerns, grabbed Valeria's hand.
"Young Master Jin will definitely return."
Valeria widened her eyes for a moment and then smiled at Enya.
"Wow, it's a rare sight to see Valeria smile. It makes you even more beautiful... Should I create another fan club? Anyway, don't worry about Young Master Jin, help me a bit. Please use this."
Enya pulled out a "mirror" from her bosom.
"The chaos storm surrounding Ram is steadily narrowing. If we reinforce the shield with this Mirror, we might be able to delay it a little longer."
As the chaos storm continued to tighten, Ram was gradually sinking.
It wasn't due to some control mechanism lowering the altitude.
It was because of Murakan's breath and the ongoing destruction of the battle. Its functionality was gradually being lost.
People and monsters on the giant battleship that was plummeting.
Enya opened the mirror, hoping that all the people among them would survive unharmed.
Valeria, on behalf of Enya, read the flow of infinite mana and provided assistance.
Gradually, the traces of the subspace that confined Jin and the evil god were fading away.
Even as the Ram sank, there was no movement in the traces of the subspace suspended in the sky.
Thinking of Jin fighting alone within it, his companions continued to faithfully fulfill their assigned tasks.
***
Jin was facing the evil god.
At first, it was a gigantic creature resembling Glyek, but after merging with Ram, it took on a demonic form with horns and wings, drenched in chaos.
However, the current evil had taken on the most familiar appearance to Jin.
Calmly sinking black hair, cold and firm gaze, a straight posture that seemed unyielding.
The appearance of a human who had led the clan as the acting matriarch of Runcandel for many years.
Unlike when Jin faced young Rosa in the castle, he was no longer taken aback by the evil god's transformations.
"I somehow expected you to appear like this if I followed you..."
There was no slightest tremor in Jin's sword as he faced the evil god.
The intense emotions that had surged just moments ago had turned into a determination to kill his opponent, like a sword being forged.
For a while, the evil god stared at Jin in silence.
Jin could feel that no aura was forming in this subspace.
The same went for mana and shadow force.
Within this subspace, they couldn't use any special powers.
However, Jin was not afraid.
Even if he had to fight unarmed and without a sword, he was confident that he would not die in this place.
"What a lonely landscape."
The evil god spoke, its voice hollow and desolate, like that of a death row inmate who had accepted their fate and ascended the scaffold.
Unlike their previous encounters, the space where the two stood was devoid of any activity. A vast, empty white desert.
This was the evil god's inner world, the end of its subconscious.
"I wonder what your realm looks like. I suddenly became curious. It surely isn't as empty and bleak as mine."
"Because I didn't live like you."
There was no anger mixed in Jin's voice as he replied.
"No. Our lives are still similar, my youngest son. Just not entirely the same."
"What do you think caused that slight difference?"
"Do you want to call it the fighting spirit?"
"Yes."
"How relentless. Even if I were to be reborn, I wouldn't have the courage to live a more fervent life than my current self.I don't have the confidence to make a choice that doesn't turn me into the evil god. I truly sacrificed everything for the clan... I've controlled all desires throughout my life, never prioritizing myself over the clan, and never once complained. In that lonely and cold time."
"You took the wrong path."
"What is the right path? And is it something even a culprit like me can do? Like you, who had the opportunity to regress and live a new life with memories?"
[T/L:- Ron came to know about Jin's regression when he became genesis knight and same case with Rosa although she is more of a god. So, what about Chiron, he is already a Genesis knight. What do you think?]
Jin was not surprised even at the part where the evil god mentioned his regression. He had a suspicion that the death revealed one secret to the disappearing god.
"I've always had one question for you. In my past life, why did you stop eating for two days when I was banished?"
The evil god burst into a sly laughter.
"Of course, you're asking the obvious. Don't I seem like a human? I also feel sadness, fall into depression, and struggle in agony. I want to be with my husband, embrace my children. But by doing so, the Runcandel clan wouldn't become stronger. That's not the way of the family of swordsmen called Runcandel; it's the way of an ordinary household."
Jin tightly closed his eyes for a moment.
"I am not a monster, my youngest. I was thrown into a position where I had to become a monster. Even before accepting the chaos, I was already a monster. I had no choice. The power to make decisions in my life was never in my hands."
That's the difference between you and me.
Transparent tears streamed down the evil god's eyes as it continued its words.
"I fought against life with all my might, but I lost. I couldn't surpass an unavoidable fate, a destiny. It was the difference caused by the capabilities and opportunities given at birth."
The evil god slowly withdrew its frenzy from the scabbard.
"It's not unjust. Not everyone can fulfill their dreams, not everyone can fulfill their given duties. There are things that are inevitable no matter how fierce you are. Naturally, I don't have the desire to make excuses. I just wanted to say it to someone, to you..."
"...I might have felt some empathy if you had failed as a human rather than becoming an evil god and stayed as a person, even if it eventually led the clan down the path of decline."
"That might have been the case."
"While I cannot forgive you, I would have made an effort to understand."
"But I no longer seek that. Now, I don't know what the human heart is, what choices a person should rightfully make. I don't want to deny my harsh past, and I certainly don't want to justify my sins."
Now, I just want to fight you until I break and collapse...
Clang!
The frenzy struck Jin's chest.
It was heavy.
Jin couldn't tell if the weight came from the frenzy or something else.
All he knew was that he had to push it away, strike, stab.
"Youngest. This battle is more like a blessing to me. My last vestige of humanity cursed me as it died in your embrace. I am fervently hoping for that curse to be fulfilled. Do you know why? Because pain is better than loneliness."
This time, Jin pushed the blade into the evil god's throat.
Drip. The blade grazed the throat, staining it with blood. Hot, crimson droplets were obscuring his vision.
It felt like cutting a person, not an evil god.
Only now did he realize the sensation of being able to establish a bond with a human, no longer a monster.
However, Jin didn't see this as a "battle."
The evil god was already in a state of defeat even before giving birth to Jin. It was already a monster, no different from a person, even before Jin grew up.
Defeating someone who had already been defeated long ago was impossible.
That person wasn't present in this place.
One of the two entangled swords in the relentless clash belonged to the current living human, while the other was merely a trace of the person who disappeared long ago.
In the endless exchange of blows, Jin and the evil god accumulated wounds on their bodies. They were drenching each other in their own blood.
To the point where they wanted to stop fighting.
The evil god fiercely extended its sword, becoming desperate but showing no hesitation.
Jin felt that she, in the end, remained selfish. Just like how everyone becomes sad when their parents die, despite being brutally abused.
Just like an inevitable torment that came.
They couldn't tell how long they fought.
Jin kneeled on one knee, leaning on the sword, and looked down at the evil god.
"Ugh, cough..."
The fallen evil god gasped for breath. It continued to open its mouth as if trying to say something, but only blood foam came out instead of a voice.
Jin no longer had the strength to cut off its last breath. With labored breathing, Jin had to silently witness the evil god's final moments.
The evil god's consciousness was fading away.
Jin never took his gaze off the evil god.
He held on to its fading spirit, not letting it die to escape that death.
Finally, the evil god couldn't leave any last words to Jin.
The moment the evil god's breath ran out.
Whaaaam!
A sudden white light burst forth, and Jin instinctively closed his eyes.
When he opened his eyes, the blue and shining sky of Huphester enveloped Jin, a sight he hadn't seen in a long time.
Jin was plummeting towards the ground, unable to move a finger.
He had exited the subspace.
As Jin descended, one by one, voices of people reached his ears. He could hear the lamenting calls of his companions.
"Jin...!"
A warm gust of magic, like a whirlwind, wrapped around Jin.
It was Valeria's magic.
Jin was gently pulled towards her embrace by the magic of the wind.
And Jin could see.
He could see the figures of Valeria and his companions anxiously shout something.
And what unfolded beyond that, the Garden of Swords.
Jin closed his eyes, confirming the landscape that remained unharmed.
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