[Support me here:- https://bmc.link/punisher87 ]
'However, this wasn't the voice of Bubare.'
Bubare's voice is stuffy, as if clogged with lumps of oil, and it didn't match his nervous tone.
And it was the voice of a woman, with a touch of innocence but lowered in anger.
'It wasn't Margiella's voice either. So who could it be?'
Someone else from Kinzelo? Or perhaps Amela?
Jin was having his doubts but at that moment, a massive and dense sphere formed, with Bubare's figure emerging with an open mouth.
The members of powerful factions that were unaffected by even mental attacks did not panic but casted their protective shields when Bubare's figure was suddenly created. They were the elite who were impervious to various forms of mental attacks, so they remained calm even when facing something new.
Wuuung-!
Bubare's breath rapidly expanded, creating a powerful and deafening sound, as if it might explode at any moment.
It was evident that an enormous force was about to be released.
Just before the breath erupted, the protective shields of the elites shone brightly. The first place the breath hit was where the Runcandels were stationed.
"Haah!"
The man at the forefront of the Runcandel formation shouted and released a powerful aura.
The man shouted as if he had split the breath in half with his shout. It was because the breath was cut in half even before the sound echoed, but in reality, the man's sword striking down the breath.
Interestingly, he was armed with a sword and shield, unlike the usual Runcandels, and he released tremendous energy with each shout.
'Runcandel has sent elder brother Vigo.'
Vigo Runcandel, the fourth son of the Chiron and the sixth flagbearer of the clan. Behind him were the Guardian knights of Runcandel and two enforcement knights who casted their protective shields.
'I thought Joshua would have come in person. Is he occupied with something else?'
Amela was one of the few remaining major neutral forces, so Jin had anticipated that the major factions would send their most prominent members.
In other words, they would send someone from the top flagbearers.
Vigo was certainly not lacking, but this situation called for sending an opponent worthy of Runcandel's top flagbearer.
However, when Jin turned his gaze toward the Zipfel faction, he realized that they too had not brought forth their top flagbearers.
'Midor Elner...?'
Jin identified him first. The breath that was attacking Runcandel suddenly shifted towards Zipfel, so it obscured the other members, but there didn't seem to be anyone of higher rank.
Midor was the illegitimate child of Kelliark Zipfel and he had come to rescue Myuron Zipfel during the Colon genocide. He has to pay some debts.
Back then, Jin almost lost his life because of the Kelliark's power, "Spatial Explosion" displayed by Midor.
The memory of that day flashed in Jin's mind, and he instinctively clenched his teeth.
He had gone through quite a bit of trouble back then, but ultimately, Midor had been the one who had inadvertently helped Jin. Thanks to Midor, Jin had learned that Kelliark could "divide" space.
Jin also examined the personnel of Kinzelo and the imperial family.
Apart from the giant figure of Bubare, there were no familiar faces from Kinzelo that Jin recognized.
The imperial family's troops concealed their faces, but it appeared to consist only of a special task force and the Imperial Guard.
Hairan had been unable to participate recently due to terrorism and political pressure, at the very least, the leaders of the empire's top families or individuals of equivalent status should have come. However, only regular members had come.
Of course, the individuals from each faction currently in Gaifa Archipelago were undoubtedly figures who could exert influence anywhere in the world.
However, there was a clear sense that there was a shortage of representatives in this gathering of the four major factions where they were meant to confront each other properly.
[Hey, kid. Didn't you tell me that you'd use me as a halo?]
Murakan spoke.
Now, Bubare's breath was directed toward the imperial family troops after striking Kinzelo, and Murakan even chuckled at the sight.
[What kind of spinning top is it? I've never seen anyone spew their breath like that. And it gets weaker with each collision, which is even funnier. Anyway, I don't think you need to use me as a halo in front of these guys. It's unfortunate, but honestly, you're better off than those folks, aren't you?]
"It is an insult to compare them to our lord."
[You looked like a snake at first. But you're quite skilled at flattering too.]
"Thank you, Lord Murakan. But, in my opinion... I have a feeling that the people who should have come here originally are gathered somewhere else."
Jin nodded in agreement with Lata's words.
He had the same thought as well.
'There is a far more significant figure somewhere else than Amela here...!'
Otherwise, there was no way that only people like Vigo would be gathered here.
He couldn't think of any other figures that he should be conquering besides Amela.
Jin felt as if he had been hit hard in the back of the head.
[Huh? So, the guys who should be here are gathered somewhere else?]
"There's something more important than Amela. At this point, I can't even guess what that is."
[So you're saying we have wasted our opportunity by coming here in Gaifa Archipelago right? Without even starting anything?]
Meanwhile, the giant Bubare was gathering his breath once again.
"You can't be certain of that."
[Why?]
"So, we should clean up here as quickly as possible because only lower-tier members are gathered here and then go where they are."
[By then, they might have also secured something more important than Amela.]
"That's a matter of luck. But, haven't we been quite lucky lately?"
The giant Bubare moved very slowly even when he fired the first breath and as he prepared the new breath.
However, despite that, the various factions were struggling to respond quickly to Bubare's actions.
They couldn't counterattack properly. The warriors were firing their sword energy from where they stood, and the mages were casting long-range attack spells, but the majority of them had low power compared to the level of Bubare's figure.
Most of them were unable to release their full potential due to some sort of hindrance. Extraordinary individuals like Vigo and the enforcement knights were protecting those who couldn't fight.
Furthermore, everyone hadn't even recognized the presence of Murakan and his group, floating in the sky.
The dense energy, breath, and protective shields clashed, and clouds of dust billowed like crazy, and the skilled individuals had no time to rest because they were constantly safeguarding their people.
"My lord, except for a few, they all seem to be moving as if they've been poisoned or driven to madness."
"It's undoubtedly due to the proliferating black energy. Like the guys we saw on the island earlier, it turns anyone below 7-star completely insane."
Lata and Faye explained.
"Sir Lata, is it still not some poison or hallucinogen?"
"That's correct, my lord. I initially assumed it wasn't the drugs due to the lack of a lingering scent, but the color and scale of the phenomenon indicate that if it were poison, there would definitely be a distinct odor. There are limited toxins that produce this color."
Murakan had lowered his flying altitude to avoid exposure to the other factions. So he thought it was better to minimize their presence and stay hidden from other factions.
However, as they approached the expanding muddy aura centered around the giant Bubare, something changed in the Proch siblings.
"Ugh!"
"My lord...!"
Lata and Faye suddenly clutched their heads. They also let go of the scales on Murakan's back, groaning in pain as if something was torturing them.
They had casted protective shields as a precaution when they got close to the muddy aura, but it seemed to be of no use.
"Sir Lata! Faye?"
Jin grabbed the two who were about to fall.
It had been only a few seconds since they got close to the muddy aura, but the Proch siblings had gone pale and they were sweating as if it were raining.
"Snap out of it!"
[Hey, hey, what's wrong with both of you all of a sudden?]
"Murakan! We need to get away from the energy,... Hu!"
Swish! Slash!
Something sharp grazed Jin's coat collar. He reacted swiftly and dodged, so it only scratched the front of his collar, but the sharp nails were targeting his throat.
It was Faye's nail.
Jin's enlarged pupils reflected the gradual change in Faye's skin color. Her skin had changed, and now it bore a striking resemblance to the hue of the giant Bubare.
And then, Faye tilted her head with all her might. This was not her intention; it was her final act to convey a message. After that, Faye completely lost her sanity.
"Kyaah!"
Faye attacked again, and Jin threw a punch with all his strength to knock her out.
Jin felt his fist landed on her jaw, but Faye kept attacking as if she hadn't taken any damage at all.
Beside them, Lata was hunched over and trembling. He was unable to grasp the scales on Murakan's back. He continued to struggle against the muddy aura.
Unlike Faye, Lata's resistance was stronger due to his higher achievement, but he appeared extremely precarious, as it was unclear when he would give in.
"Ugh... M-My Lord!"
"Sir Lata!"
"There's something... in my head!"
At that moment, Murakan ascended and escaped the muddy aura.
[Ha! Well, what the hell? Kid, do you think they've finally regained their senses?]
The expressions and skin color of Lata and Faye returned to normal at the same time, but the siblings still gasped for air and appeared deeply shocked.
'What is that muddy aura? What's its nature? Why does it only affect Sir Lata and Faye? And it also completely disregarded the protective shields.'
It wasn't poison as the Proch siblings had said. Because the thousand-poison antidote in Jin's body showed no reaction at all.
However, the muddy aura exhibited effects similar to a potent drug or hallucinogen, making it more akin to a poison or an incredibly powerful narcotic.
Even the members of the giant factions were struggling under its influence, so it wasn't specific to the Proch siblings. The most exceptional individuals from each faction were not entirely free from the muddy aura's influence.
In other words, only Jin and Murakan were unaffected by the muddy aura within the Gaifa Archipelago.
'It affected everyone here, but it can't harm me or Murakan.'
There was one word that flashed through Jin's mind.
'Curse!'
It was correct.
The muddy aura shrouding the entire island was the energy of a curse. This was why only Jin and Murakan, the contractor and the Black Dragon of Solderet, remained unaffected.
'Sir Lata and Faye are cursed. Once I send them away and move alone, I'll have the upper hand among all the factions in this situation.'
Hence, he was about to tell Murakan that they should fly to another island.
[Ah, what the hell! Why now?]
Suddenly, the tentacles of muddy aura extended from Bubare. Murakan easily avoided them, but the Proch siblings leaped into the muddy aura as if possessed by ghosts.
The tentacle-like muddy aura then transformed into something like a cradle and wrapped around the siblings and pulled them inside.
[T/L: You can read more chapters and support me here: https://ko-fi.com/punisher87 & https://bmc.link/punisher87 ]
[T/L: Join $29 membership on my "buymeacoffee" page and read 55 chapters ahead and daily 1 new chapter update. I have introduced new memberships, and you can read upto 75 or 85 chapters ahead.]