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***
The Tomb of Swords.
Huphester named the newly built castle in the Garden of Swords as such.
The Huphester press was pouring out praise for Rosa's power and the army of chaos relentlessly building the castle.
The temporary alliance had been conducting strategy meetings day and night, gathering information about the Tomb of Swords. Orgal had been patrolling the vicinity of the Garden of Swords through the steel gate every day.
"Judging from its appearance, it already looks complete... Such a gigantic castle? It's only been two days since the first report came in!"
"To think she can wield such power without even reclaiming the strength she gave to the Fourth flagbearer. Truly, a god is a god."
Octavia and Veradin said. The others in the room also showed signs of shock.
Compared to the former palace of Vermont, the colossal fortress had been completed in just a few days, so it was only natural.
It was also an entirely unexpected development.
The only remaining issues for the temporary alliance were the incomplete battleship Ram and the injured Rosa.
The issue of a super-sized fortress, like a castle, without any precedents in human history, was not something they needed to consider.
Talks about the castle continued for a while.
The true reasons behind why Rosa built the castle, what she hoped to gain from it, and whether the forces of the temporary alliance could break through the chaoa structure.
Of course, no clear conclusion could be reached.
However, there was a prevailing opinion regarding the "purpose" behind Rosa's construction of the castle.
"It seems to be a measure to recover from the blow caused by the Fourth flagbearer's death. It's a kind of display. She still believes she possesses that much power."
Ronil nodded in agreement with Kadun's words.
"I think so too. Although the castle was completed so quickly, construction of the battleship Ram, the real symbol of evil god's authority and strength, remains at a standstill."
"A display, you say..."
As soon as Jin spoke, everyone's attention turned to him.
Jin's face was noticeably more pale than during the first meeting. Dark circles formed under his eyes, and his hair appeared disheveled. His face seemed worn-out.
It was because of nightmares.
Since Rosa began building the castle, Jin had been plagued by intense nightmares every night. Nightmares involving Rosa.
It wasn't psychological pressure or anxiety that caused the nightmares.
Rosa's power and will were directly infiltrating Jin's inner self, as if the Glyek within the white stone had devastated Dante's inner being.
As a result, Jin was constantly fighting against her will even when he slept.
No, even when he was awake, he constantly felt her influence without a moment's respite.
The alliance members and his comrades were aware of this fact. Though the decisive battle had not yet begun, one could say that the "inner battle" between Jin and Rosa had already commenced.
"She doesn't need that kind of thing."
It was a resolute statement.
After the first major attack, only Jin had "directly" experienced Rosa's power within the temporary alliance.
Therefore, Kadun's boasting about displays seemed ridiculous to Jin.
"What do you think then, 12th flagbearer?"
"It's like a grand tomb, just as its name suggests. A tomb where I will be buried."
A moment of silence passed.
Jin carefully surveyed the allies and comrades around him.
There was a sense of unease in their eyes as they looked at Jin.
Jin was Rosa's only opponent.
It was no exaggeration to say that everything depended on the one-on-one battle between him and Rosa in the impending showdown.
With each passing day, Jin felt increasingly overwhelmed by Rosa's power even before the fight began, and it was only natural to be concerned.
[Considering the obsessions that the evil god has shown you so far, it might be possible.]
As Orgal spoke up, Jin nodded.
"We won't have a chance to analyze the structure of the castle or assess its internal power. It will be one battle, one outcome. That will determine our... no, the world's fate."
Jin stood up from his seat.
"In two weeks."
[Two weeks?]
"I will strike at the Garden of Swords then. I will prepare myself to overcome Rosa's nightmares and fight in my best condition by that time. The temporary allies can finish their preparations during that period."
"And if you can't overcome Rosa's nightmares by then?"
"In that case, we will have to postpone the date. There's no point in going into battle in this state when we can't possibly win. It's a rhetorical question, Veradin. On the other hand, if I manage to expel Rosa's power and return to my original state before then, we will launch the assault immediately."
"So it means we could set off as soon as tomorrow. Understood, I'll get prepared. Kinzelo, do you agree?"
[I agree.]
"From now until the final battle, should I only participate in these meetings when there is something I absolutely need to be present for?"
It was a message indicating that Jin would focus on improving his physical condition. It was far more important to overcome the nightmares as quickly as possible than for Jin to participate in the meetings directly.
"That's fine. The detailed operations will continue to be relayed anyway, so feel free to voice your opinions whenever you have them."
***
Since that day, Jin has spent his time in the Hidden Palace.
There was no better place than the Hidden Palace to end the inner battle he was fighting against Rosa's power, without caring about anything else.
The only comrades who came with him to the Hidden Palace were Gilly, Valeria, and Qwaul. In the calm and cold space, Jin spent a lot of time sitting cross-legged, practicing meditation.
Although it couldn't be seen by others, within Jin's inner self, a fierce battle unfolded at every moment.
When he opened his eyes, Rosa's voice echoed in his mind, and when he closed his eyes, Rosa's sword surged into his heart.
When he slept, Jin dreamt of Rosa killing him and his precious ones, and he could only watch helplessly. It was a constant struggle to distinguish whether it was reality or a dream.
Therefore, Jin's chosen method was to minimize sleep and focus on meditation. There was no other means to resist Rosa's mental attacks.
'It's not like you don't know that these tricks won't work on me.'
'I admit they have some effect. But if I win in this fight, it seems like you would lose something too.'
'Well... If there is something I have left to lose, it's only you, my son. You are the last remaining joy for me.'
The inner conversation within Jin couldn't be heard by others, but he conveyed the content to his frustrated comrades.
"Phew."
A group of small beastmen at the entrance of the training ground gazed up at Jin, pushing their heads forward.
They were members of the Golden Peng and Water tail tribesmen.
"Look, Jin. It's tough, die, you can't."
"Oh, what do you mean die! Hmm, it seems like he doesn't have a hint of color in his face as if he is seriously ill. His body looks dehydrated, yet he is sweating so much. And he keeps groaning, it's distressing."
Darkflame and Peng expressed their concern.
"Does he need some medicine or something?"
"We have, eel jerky. Should we give it to him? Jin. It gives strength when you eat it."
"Do you think that would work? Huh? Eh, isn't there some kind of elixir in the hidden palace? Why doesn't the acting master of hidden palace bring it out quickly? Is she saving it for something!?"
"No, medicines like that are useless, that's why."
Suddenly, the voice of Syris was heard, and Peng covered his mouth.
In no time, Syris was also stretching her head out towards Jin like the small beastmen.
"Whoa, what a surprise. It doesn't look like I'm gossiping behind your back, acting master of the hidden palace. It's just that I was worried about him and said those things. Haha."
"That's right, Peng talked behind your back."
"Anyway, you only speak properly in moments like this!"
Syris ruffled the heads of the small beastmen while pressing her index finger against her lips. It meant to be quiet and not disturb Jin's meditation.
Every day was like this. Jin meditated while his comrades watched from a distance, keeping an eye on him. It was like a whole family being cautious around someone preparing for a big test.
One day, Syris asked Jin a question first.
"Jin, I can give you my mother's closed training grounds. Why do you insist on the public training ground?"
"It's because it's slightly better to sense the presence of close people."
Syris looked at Jin, taken aback by his unexpected answer.
"To resist the attacks of evil god?"
"That's right. Knowing that there are comrades nearby sometimes serves as a reference point. When my self sinks and I'm on the verge of being overwhelmed by Rosa's psychic attacks, if suddenly I hear a comrade's voice, footsteps, or a cough, it helps me regain my composure."
"So you mean you need a moderate level of familiar noise."
"Exactly, Lady Syris. If it's too noisy, I won't be able to concentrate on resisting the psychic attacks."
"It's hard to believe that someone as strong as you can be so overwhelmed by psychic attacks even seeing it with my own eyes."
"It's just... It feels like being tied up and sinking into the abyss, and as you go deeper, you start seeing the bodies of the people you care about. It's a feeling of that horror persisting 24/7 in the boundary between reality and psychic attacks."
"Seriously despairing. Is there any improvement at all?"
Syris asked again, cautiously.
Jin's face was much worse than it was on the first day he came to the hidden palace.
"To be honest, I don't know. And... when the time comes to completely end the psychic attacks, that's when the closed training ground will be necessary."
"In the end, there will be a moment when you have to fight alone."
"Yes. It's just a gut feeling, but that will definitely happen."
As comrades, they couldn't help but feel frustrated. Before the temporary alliance launched a full-scale attack, Jin was already fighting a difficult and lonely battle.
That's why the comrades could only vaguely imagine the struggle Jin was going through and cheer for him.
However, since Jin arrived at the Hidden Palace.
Rosa's psychic attacks began spreading to his comrades, including the key figures of the temporary alliance.
The first one to have nightmares similar to Jin's was Syris.
"Aaah!"
"Acting master!"
"Captain!"
When they heard Syris' scream, Hidden Palace's Seven Swords and the guards hurriedly entered the hidden palace master's chamber.
They saw Syris, drenched in sweat and trembling all over.
It was the first time they had seen Syris so terrified.
Syris closed her eyes and took a deep breath, she wasn't so terrified even when she had a nightmare in her, and did not show signs of distress even when she was training severely as the next master of the hidden palace.
"Captain, are you okay?"
"Ugh, huh... Jin, where's Jin?"
"Captain?"
"Do you endure this kind of thing... every day?"
Syris said that, and for a while, she couldn't think straight.
While Rosa's terrifying presence paralyzed her body, an unbearable sense of pity soared for Jin.
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Kwaian of the Seven Swords wiped the sweat clinging to Syris's forehead.
"Captain, could it be that you're experiencing a psychic attack like Sir Jin?"
"...Yes. There's a high possibility that the psychic attacks from Rosa have also begun against the Vamel alliance and the temporary alliances. Lars, go to Tikan and assess the situation. I'll give you Mort."
"Understood."
Syris immediately got up from her seat and headed to the training grounds.
She still saw Jin sitting in meditation, seemingly enduring intense pain as sweat streamed down his motionless face.
However, screams could be heard from the direction of Gilly, Valeria, and Qwaul's sleeping quarters.
Among them, Valeria was the one affected by Rosa's psychic attack.
She was experiencing convulsions as if struck harder than Syris. Blood trickled from her clenched teeth, as she struggled to maintain control.
Gilly was desperately holding onto Valeria, who was convulsing uncontrollably. Despite Valeria's will, the raging mana left residual scars on Gilly's body.
"Oh, our Valeria. How did it come to this?"
"Don't panic because of her unstable mind, Sir Qwaul! It's Rosa's psychic attack."
"A psychic attack?"
"Gilly, just hold on a little longer."
Syris created cold energy to cool down Valeria's body, and after a few minutes, Valeria regained her senses.
"Ha, ha, ha...!"
Valeria gasped for breath.
She was trapped in an illusion created by Rosa's psychic attack, witnessing not only the present comrades but also the annihilation of her only family, the Grey Owl Mercenaries.
"Are you okay?"
At Syris's question, Valeria nodded her head with a vacant expression. And like Syris, she also felt a deep sorrow for Jin.
From that moment on, the same thing happened in Tikan, Drakka, and the headquaters of Kinzelo and the Empire.
In each faction, one or two individuals started experiencing Rosa's psychic attacks.
In Tikan, it was Kashmir; in Drakka, it was Veradin; in the headquarter of Kinzelo, it was Margiella; and in the Empire, it was Dante who came under attack.
Surprisingly, the group that suffered the most impact was Kinzelo.
"Gr-Grand, Grand Duke! Have you come! Margiella is rampaging again...!"
"Please, do something about Ms. Margiella!"
In desperation, Ainas and Bubare shouted.
Kinzelo's headquarters basement was being destroyed by Margiella's rampaging purple energy.
Before them, Berakt and Joe, Bianca and Ranke, and Bishkel were struggling to resist the onslaught.
Except for Margiella, the rest of the group did not show such a violent reaction even when subjected to psychic attacks.
The recently arrived Zephyrin immediately joined them.
"Sir Bishkel, you should withdraw now."
Zephyrin ran up and stood beside Bishkel, speaking. Bishkel was in a critical condition.
"She is my sister."
Although Bishkel was usually one of the calmest within Kinzelo, whenever it came to Margiella, he always lost his composure.
"Do you think Ms. Margiella would be pleased to see you in such a state when she returns?"
"I'm still... ugh."
Zephyrin struck Bishkel's neck from behind. She threw the unconscious Bishkel to Bubare and raised her strength.
'At a time like this, such a rampage... I hope evil god didn't recognize the entity associated with Ms. Margiella.'
Zephyrin joined the fight, but for a while, they struggled to suppress Margiella's rampage.
As Orgal regained some strength and Zephyrin also became stronger, it was still not easy to subdue Margiella and prevent serious damage to the headquarters.
It was three hours after Margiella's rampage began that it finally stopped.
At that time, Orgal, who had just finished a meeting in Tikan, returned to the headquarters.
Examining the situation, Orgal pressed his forehead as if in distress.
[You've all been through a lot, especially the vice leader.]
"Master, did any countermeasures for the psychic attacks come up during the meeting? If Ms. Margiella continues to rampage like this, the temporary allies might discover her true identity. It's also burdensome to carry this anxiety before the battle with the evil god."
[The existence of a countermeasure has been confirmed. But it seems we can't do it ourselves.]
"What do you mean?"
[Jin Runcandel. He is the key once again.]
Orgal explained.
The current random psychic attacks occurring throughout the factions would only disappear if Jin emerged victorious in his battle against Rosa within his inner self.
[The reason the psychic attacks that originally only affected Jin spread to others seems to be because he is losing in his current battle against Rosa.]
That was what Orgal had heard directly from Jin when he visited the Hidden Palace. Jin himself said it was a "speculation," but it was almost certain.
-It started when I began to lose to Rosa. When I was holding up well, there was no problem. As you can see... my current state is not great.
-[Indeed. If you just put on some clothes, you'll look like someone terminally ill.]
Jin had only been living in the Hidden Palace for four day.
Seeing his pathetic state, Orgal couldn't help but wonder if Jin could return to his peak physical condition within the remaining ten days.
"Well, Master, if that devil starts to lose even more..."
[More people will be exposed to psychic attacks. From what we confirmed in the meeting, the number of individuals currently being exposed to the evil god's psychic attacks in real-time is increasing.]
"It's absurd."
[Since the opponent is a god, it can't be helped. In the worst-case scenario, we may have to postpone the decisive battle... and consider other means besides Jin Runcandel.]
"Hmm. So in the end, the best thing to do is sit still and pray for Sir Jin to win. While stopping Ms. Margiella, that is. At least the rest of our Kinzelo members won't go on such a rampage, even if they are subjected to psychic attacks.]
For a while, Orgal and Zephyrin remained silent as they looked at the bedridden Margiella.
***
Veradin and Dante were flying over the sky of Drakka on the back of the Water Dragon, Tuyan.
Both of them had dark and worn-out faces.
"Now even ordinary people are being affected by the psychic attacks, Veradin. The situation in the Empire is likely the same."
A week had passed since the start of the psychic attacks.
Now, people driven mad by Rosa's voice could be seen everywhere, even among the civilians.
As a result, the temporary alliance had also made the information about the psychic attacks public to the masses.
It meant that this situation would only come to an end if Jin managed to overcome Rosa's psychic attacks.
"Yes..."
Underneath Tuyan, there were people kneeling on the square, wearing black ribbons on their chests. All they could do as ordinary citizens was to gather in one place and express their hopes.
"At first, I didn't understand why people would gather in the square, even reaching the point of risking their lives. Well, to be precise, I still don't understand. It's just fascinating that such actions are slightly slowing down the spread of despair worldwide."
Naturally, since the start of the psychic attacks, the despair in Veradin's map had been growing, but when people gathered to support or pray for Jin, the proliferation of despair was slightly delayed.
"That's the power of solidarity, Veradin."
"I suppose you could see it that way. However, fundapsychicly, the end of this evil god's psychic attack doesn't rely on the unity of the culprits but on the victory or defeat of a special individual named Jin. They are merely delaying the spread of despair, albeit ever so slightly. In reality, it's not significantly meaningful. It's closer to futile acts."
Thwack!
Suddenly, Dante struck Veradin's face with his fist.
Although Veradin didn't react, his head shook from the impact, momentarily taken aback.
"Why did you hit me? You know that's a serious offense."
"Oh, no. It seems I've become a bit too touchy lately. I apologize, but my fist acted on its own without me realizing."
"I understand. But be careful, as I might not forgive you if it happens again."
"But, Veradin, can you do it?"
"Do what?"
"Can you, like them, even for a short while, delay the spread of despair like these people gathered below?"
"I cannot."
"In that case, don't speak as if their actions are meaningless. Moreover, even if it's something you can accomplish alone, you cannot belittle those who came out to do something, no matter how futile it may seem."
"I don't understand, but I'll consider it. It seems that encouraging them and moving towards the Empire would be more effective in maintaining the cohesion of our dwindling temporary alliance."
"It might be an unknown possibility. Actually, if these people gathering below can provide even a slight assistance to Jin, it could help him eventually win the inner battle he's fighting alone."
Dante truly believed that the subtle delay in the spread of despair caused by these people's actions was aiding Jin.
"So, it would be best to encourage them and proceed to the Empire. People are also gathering in the Empire's square. You might question the meaning of us encouraging them, but it's a very important issue. It's also the duty of a leader."
Veradin nodded without saying a word. Although he didn't fully agree with Dante's opinion, he didn't want to provoke any further disturbance by getting hit again.
Above all, as Dante said, if this act could be of any help to Jin, even in the slightest, it was the right thing to do.
***
It had been ten days since the psychic attacks began.
Jin was reaching his limit. Even sitting still and meditating proved to be a struggle as his body trembled under the strain, and he couldn't even bring himself to consume food or water.
Rosa's psychic attacks, spreading across the world, were growing stronger each day. The number of civilians exposed to the attacks had skyrocketed exponentially. What used to be around a hundred reported cases per day in each region had now reached over a thousand.
There were only a few days left until the final battle.
Within that time frame, it seemed almost impossible to resolve all the chaos and for Jin to be in peak condition to confront Rosa.
Observing from a distance could be agonizing at times.
Jin's comrades, currently watching him in the Hidden palace, felt the weight of that burden. They worried that Jin might suddenly collapse and perish, feeling as though they were walking on thin ice.
"...It seems we might have to postpone the final battle. It will be difficult for the young master to engage in combat just a few days from now," Gilly remarked as she watched Jin from afar.
"Indeed, a message arrived from the King of Tikan as well, Gilly. The suggestion during the council was to indefinitely postpone the battle until the psychic attacks subside," Syris revealed.
"Yes, Lady Syris. Please take a rest. Your complexion looks terribly pale," Gilly added.
"Resting won't make a difference; this psychic attack won't cease," Syris responded.
As Syris spoke, Jin suddenly rose to his feet.
His trembling legs seemed on the verge of giving way, but Gilly and Syris quickly supported him.
"Young master!"
"Jin!"
"No, postponing... it won't... make a difference."
"Then?"
"Lady Syris, I must use the Closed Training Grounds now."
"I mentioned that before, Jin, but it's impossible for you to enter the Closed Training Grounds alone in your current state. If something were to happen to you inside, we wouldn't be able to help."
"I can't explain in detail. Just please open the Closed Training Grounds for me. It's becoming increasingly difficult to even speak in this reality..."
Jin's struggle in the physical world signified the intensifying battle raging within himself.
Now, Jin was preparing himself to end that battle, alone, without the comforting presence of his comrades serving as his guiding light.
Syris clenched her fists, locked eyes with Jin, and nodded.
"Alright, I understand. I'll open it for you right away."
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There were two exclusive Closed Training Grounds for the master of Hidden Palace.
One was in the "Hidden Palace within the Hidden Palace," accessible only through the power of Myriad Ice and Mort. The other was the top floor of the Hidden Palace.
Syris was about to open the latter.
The former had limited access since Syris hadn't yet fully mastered Myriad Ice, and it currently housed the sealed Elona Zipfel.
Opening the Hidden Palace within the Hidden Palace haphazardly and stimulating Misha and Elona could cause problems, and above all, if something were to happen to Jin inside, there would be no way to swiftly respond from the outside.
[Boong!]
Syris placed Jin on Mort. The faint pulse she felt from his wrist, which she held onto to support him, was too feeble.
'Jin must be facing psychic attacks on a completely different level than anyone else…'
Indeed, the psychic attacks experienced by those other than Jin were several steps lower in intensity.
Having bravely endured all that until now, Syris felt a profound respect for Jin, who now declared that he would go and fight alone.
Mort crawled up the walls, heading outside.
Although they considered teleportation, even the natural fluctuations while running through the snow garden would likely harm Jin in his current weakened state.
Valeria, Qwaul, and the other Hidden Palace members were already waiting for Jin at the top floor.
Finally, Mort reached the top floor.
"Hoo..."
Jin, descending from Mort's back, took a deep breath. The air was chilling, to the point of making his lungs ache, but Jin could hardly sense that sensation.
His senses in the physical world had dulled to an extreme degree. His vision was blurry, his hearing faint, and his limbs devoid of any strength.
Could they really send someone like him alone into the Closed Training Grounds? Observing Jin as he walked with the support of Gilly, his concerned comrades could only worry.
Jin gazed at his blurry comrades in his field of vision.
"Young master..."
Gilly's voice, filled with worries, trembled. It was hard for her to witness Jin, exhausted to his limits.
"You all waited for me, I see."
Jin wanted to speak in his usual confident voice, reassuring them not to worry and to wait.
But now, he wanted to share his true feelings, just a bit.
"If I don't come out of the Training Grounds after these few days... It means I've lost. And that would signify my death."
At that point, Gilly couldn't hold back her tears any longer.
Valeria gently patted her back, biting her lower lip.
For a while, no one said a word.
"To be honest, I'm not sure if I can win. But I won't leave any last words behind. I don't want a sad farewell as if it were the end. After this battle, there will be real battle that remain."
Jin made eye contact with Syris, signaling her with his eyes to open the door to the Closed Training Grounds.
As Syris took out Myriad Ice and inserted it into the door like a key, a wave of pure white energy surged from inside the Training Grounds.
As the door opened, an expanse of pure white, vast, and cold ground revealed itself.
"So, it can't end here..."
Jin slowly took steps, trudging forward. He pressed the ground with Bradamante, acting as a staff.
The bag containing the bare minimum of provisions didn't seem heavy at all.
His senses in the physical world were dulling at a rapid pace. Even though he had only taken a few steps, his comrades behind him already felt distant.
"Jin! Come back safely. I'm holding up well against the psychic attacks, so you can definitely win! When you return, I'll share my eel jerky with you!"
Surprisingly, the first and most accurate voice to shout belonged to none other than Darkflame.
Darkflame, among the small beastmen Hidden Palace, was the only one experiencing psychic attacks.
"W-What? W-What's happening? Why is that guy suddenly speaking so well!?"
Peng was taken aback, shouting in disbelief.
Even the bewildered comrades were momentarily startled by Darkflame's precise and rapid speech.
"I'll share my eel jerky! Eel jerky...!"
"Hey, Darkflame! Are you okay? Huh? No, you must be... right. You're not okay at all."
"I'll share my eel jerky!"
As Peng grabbed Darkflame's shoulder, he realized that Darkflame was tightly closing his eyes, clearly in the midst of psychic attack pain.
Amidst the foggy state of his mind, the fact that he said this to cheer Jin and that they were coming out in a rapid and smooth manner surprised him.
Darkflame was undeniably the weakest person in this Hidden Palace. Yet, he was exerting such effort.
The shouts of offering his eel jerky continued like an echo, unseen by his comrades, and unnoticed by Jin himself. Jin faintly smiled upon hearing them.
Once Jin fully entered the Closed Training Grounds, Syris closed the door with a heavy expression.
Now, there was only one thing his comrades could do for Jin.
They could only hope for his victory, like countless ordinary people in the world.
***
The training ground was pristine white, but in Jin's eyes, it looked like a night sea without a single glimmer of light.
He couldn't distinguish whether he was standing, sitting, or even lying down.
But what mattered to Jin now was not reality. The inner battlefield that had been fiercely raging without a moment's rest was more important.
He needed to immerse himself deeper into his inner self. To the extent that not a single trace of sensory perception from the outside world remained.
That's why he chose the Closed training ground. He needed a space where he could completely focus on the inner battlefield, without even the slightest external stimulation.
Jin was carefully sinking into a deep trance, heading towards his inner world.
It was like walking on the boundary between life and death.
If he deviated even a single step, forgetfulness and death would engulf him.
'Do you think that's right?'
'Do you think that method is correct?'
'And do you think you can reach me through it?'
'Can you save all those people from me?'
Occasionally, amidst his journey to the inner world, Rosa's voice would echo in his ears.
Every time her dark voice invaded his consciousness, he shuddered with unease.
He regretted it at times. He even felt the urge to turn around and leave immediately.
As he approached his inner world, the fear grew stronger and stronger.
A colossal fear that he had never experienced in his past lives or present was devouring Jin's self.
'You trembling with fear is something I've never seen before.'
'It's just the first time you see it. It happens to me often.'
'Is that so?'
'When you were human, you must have felt the same way.'
'I have never succumbed to fear. So, show me. Show me that you can do the same.'
At first, Jin had thought of fighting alone to do so.
But as he delved deeper into his inner world, Jin quickly realized.
In this desolate and lonely world, to overcome fear, he had to become a monster just like Rosa.
Without becoming a monster to some extent, he could only succumb to the fear of solitude in his inner world.
A white line entered Jin's field of vision.
He instinctively recognized that it was a kind of door leading to the deepest part of his inner world, where Rosa's self was supposed to be waiting for him.
Moreover, that white line was also a crossroad of choices.
Depending on the intention with which he pulled it, the outcome would change.
If he pulled it with the intention of becoming a monster, he would become one, and if he wanted to remain human, it would simply open.
'But by remaining human...'
'You cannot defeat me.'
Rosa could now penetrate Jin's thoughts just like Lingling did in the past. It was because their selves that touched the inner world had become closer.
'Now, you should be able to read my thoughts too, my son. This internal battle is a gift I have prepared for you. Before forming an attachment, this mother wanted to make you a more perfect being. A being capable of fighting me on equal terms.'
Open the door with the intention of becoming a monster. That is your only hope of defeating me.
Rosa was saying that.
Jin held the white line with caution. But just as he was about to pull it with the intention of becoming a monster, he flinched and stopped.
When he looked back once, the road to the inner world that he had walked so far, was shattered and blown away like dust.
But a rustling sound suddenly came from his ear.
It wasn't Rosa's gloomy voice, but the whispers of people outside, like a murmur, tickling Jin's ears.
He couldn't hear the content at all. It felt like a cool wind blowing in his ears, but it was enough to make Jin think again.
'I almost gave up the one thing that makes me superior to you, just to become like you, to oppose you.'
Because humans have the emotion of fear, they protect themselves from danger. They can flee because of fear, and they can confront properly because of fear. It was the human way to struggle while trembling with fear.
'Even if I become a monster and defeat you... nothing more than another evil god will appear in this world.'
Due to the prolonged psychic attack, Jin had neglected the obvious fact. Jin cautiously grabbed the white line and as the door opened, what appeared was not Rosa's ego.
It was neither an empty space nor vague darkness. It was the back of a sitting man.
"Father…?"
It was the back of his father, Chiron Runcandel. The reason he was standing in the place where Rosa's ego should have been was because Jin had not become a monster.
"Jin."
There had never been a time when Jin earnestly wanted to see his father like this. Strength returned to his trembling limbs, and his hazy mind felt as if hot blood was rushing through it. Jin found himself running towards Chiron without realizing it.
However, he couldn't reach Chiron. A deep and massive chasm, like a cliff, separated Jin and Chiron. When Jin stopped in front of the cliff, Chiron turned around and looked back. It was indeed the face of his father that he hadn't seen in a long time.
Father and son gazed into each other's eyes for a while.
"You endured well."
With those words uttered by Chiron, Jin suddenly realized.
In this lonely and agonizing inner world, Chiron had been watching over him from the beginning to the end.
"There will be a day when we meet again."
With those words, Chiron turned around and started walking away.
As if saying, let's return to our respective battlefields.
Jin watched his father, walking towards a deeper and darker place, for a long time.
It didn't seem appropriate to add any more words to his father at this moment.
When Chiron's figure disappeared and Jin turned around again, he saw that the shattered paths of his inner world were reforming.
Like Chiron, Jin silently walked up that path.
When Jin finally escaped his inner world and regained his senses of reality,
Four days had passed outside, and the psychic attacks of Rosa that had been tormenting the world had completely disappeared.
Jin, filled with more energy than ever before, opened the doors of the training ground with all his strength.
729
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The Black Sea, an unknown territory.
Chiron slowly rose to his feet, opening his eyes. In the space filled with nothing but venom and darkness, he could hear the sound of his eldest daughter enduring pain.
"...Father, you've awakened after four days this time."
Luna, who sensed Chiron's movement, spoke up.
Lately, Chiron had been losing consciousness frequently, and each time it took longer for him to regain consciousness.
For the past few decades.
Chiron Runcandel had become a symbol of an impregnable wall, reigning as the pinnacle of power, an entity that could never be surpassed or destroyed.
However, even in this dark land, even such a mythical existence had become nothing more than a "mortal who could die at any moment."
Until facing the kings of the Black Sea, Luna had never even imagined the possibility of Chiron dying in battle.
In other words, Chiron was wavering.
Just like countless ordinary people.
[Old man! You've awakened. I have diligently prepared remnants of chaos that can serve as provisions.]
"Excellent, Ozdock."
[Huh... To receive such praise right after waking up! This humble servant, Ozdock, will continue to assist you and the knights wholeheartedly.]
"Bring me the remnants."
Ozdock, as if deeply moved, discreetly wiped the corner of his eye and went to fetch the remnants of chaos.
Chiron needed to purify those remnants and feed them to the knights so that they could regain some strength.
A faint smile appeared on Luna's lips, which had been filled with a bitter expression while gazing at her father for a while.
"You seem to be in a good mood as soon as you wake up today, Father. Usually, you remain silent for a while."
Upon hearing that, Chiron smirked.
At times like this, Luna felt pained by the fact that her father smiled more in this hellish place than when he was with their family.
"I saw the youngest."
"You mean... Jin?"
"Yes, he's walking through his own inner world. He seems quite exhausted."
"Mother... No, because of the traitor who destroyed our clan..."
Chiron nodded.
Since Rosa became possessed by an evil god, Chiron had occasionally observed his dreams and in the inner world to assess the situation of the power struggle in the human world. Currently, only he and Luna were aware of Rosa's betrayal within the expedition team.
He deliberately kept it a secret from the other knights.
It wasn't because he didn't trust them.
The knights in the expedition team were already in a situation where hope was scarce.
The superhumans had both their bodies and minds exhausted by the overwhelming chaos, and some of them, especially the worst affected, had even lost their ability to speak.
There was no need to add more pain and confusion to them.
Therefore, Chiron only shared the story about Rosa with Luna, who was relatively less affected by the chaos.
"Is the youngest alright?"
"If he had met Rosa instead of me, he wouldn't have been fine."
"Well, then, meeting you in the inner world... It could mean that the child has reached the genesis knight realm."
"That's not it."
Ozdock politely placed the remnants of chaos in front of Chiron.
[Hehe, please take a look at this. I've gathered them with the utmost effort…]
The energy of the genesis knight and mana began to purify the black masses.
Ozdock watched the scene with satisfaction for a moment before stepping back at Luna's gesture.
"You don't need to worry too much."
"Yes, Father. Ozdock has worked hard all this time, and I think I responded a bit coldly just now. Ozdock has earned the right to listen to important clan matters. He is also the most intact among us, both physically and psychologically."
"Daughter, it means that you don't need to worry too much about that child. Jin is ready to bear his own fate. That is much more important than reaching the level of a non-human being like the genesis knight."
Luna's pupils widened. The meaning contained in Chiron's words was remarkable.
"Father, right now... Is this the first time you've seemed to trust your children?"
"What are you talking about?"
"You speak as if you have faith in your children. You have never done so, especially when it comes to matters concerning the fate of our clan. But now... you say Jin is ready."
It wasn't simply because there were no other alternatives that he had to trust Jin. The words spoken in the midst of the relentless and despairing fight were even more meaningful.
Luna realized that Chiron genuinely believed that Jin was filling the void left by his absence.
Chiron's gaze fell upon Barisada.
If he were to go back, it seemed fine to entrust the sword to Jin now. If he could only go back, any time.
"Distribute the purified provisions to the knights, Luna. We need to prepare for our own tasks as well. As soon as the meal is finished, we will set out again. We need to cover as much distance as possible while I am awake."
"Yes, Father."
***
There is only one day left until the scheduled decisive battle.
Upon returning to Tikan, Jin didn't show any traces of his previous weakness.
His eyes shone brightly, as if they couldn't be tainted by anything, and his straight posture seemed unyielding, as if it wouldn't be broken by any enemy.
Jin carefully looked around at the comrades and allies gathered in the conference room for the last meeting.
"This will be our final meeting. But to be honest, there isn't much to discuss among our temporary alliance today."
The strategy for the decisive battle had already been coordinated and agreed upon, taking into account various variables and detailed factors.
"Nevertheless, you all gathered here in the Tikan conference room because you wanted to see and confirm my condition with your own eyes. So, how do you feel? Are you satisfied?"
It was not just satisfaction; it was even beyond that—fear.
From someone who was on the brink of death due to psychic attacks just a few days ago, Jin's robust appearance, as if he couldn't be believed to have gone through such a thing, instilled both anticipation and fear in the members of the temporary alliance.
If the psychic attacks displayed by the evil god were absolute terror, what Jin was currently proving was an unwavering determination within that terror.
While that determination was now directed towards the evil god, after the battle, it would once again pressurize the temporary alliance.
"...You seem even stronger than before the psychic attacks by the evil god."
Jin nodded in response to Veradin's words.
"The Zipfel side seems satisfied. What about Kinzelo? Do you still think we should delay the decisive battle?"
[No, it's fine to start right away.]
"Good, then..."
Jin stood up from his seat.
"Step outside for a moment and meet the people."
[Suddenly?]
"I have something to say to the people before tomorrow."
"Are you planning to give a speech?"
"Something like that. It wasn't planned, so you don't have to come if you don't want to. As you know, I've been quite busy, so there was no chance to inform you in advance. But I hope that the leaders will join me if possible. It will present a stronger image of the unity of the temporary alliance, don't you think? Feel free to add anything you want to say."
Jin immediately walked out of the Tikan Palace.
Every person in the conference room followed him without exception.
Naturally, a crowd gathered, forming a procession.
Cheers erupted from various places as Jin walked.
Jin waved his hand and thanked them or exchanged words of gratitude as he moved forward.
At times, he even chewed and swallowed the jerky given to him by the Darkflame.
Jin stopped his steps at the central square on the first floor of Tikan.
The cheering of the crowd ceased.
Although Jin hadn't said anything yet, tens of thousands of people were all holding their breath, simultaneously sensing his mood.
"The battle against evil god, called the psychic, is over."
Jin skipped the greetings and continued his speech slowly.
"I told my comrades that when I embarked on the inner battle to resist the psychic attacks, there was a possibility that I might not return. Those who have experienced the psychic attacks know. How can we possibly overcome this? Shouldn't we just give up?"
The people continued to listen attentively, and the members of the temporary alliance waited, trying to gauge how the speech would unfold.
"Fortunately, the results of that prelude ended in our victory, and I have safely survived to have this opportunity to speak to all of you. It's thanks to all of you who fought alongside me. If I had fought alone, I would never have been able to win."
Jin bowed his head once.
Sincerely, Jin believed that the determination of ordinary people had a tremendous impact on why he was able to survive.
When he walked through the inner battlefield, if he hadn't heard their wishes whispering in his ear like the wind, he would have undoubtedly lost his way.
"Now, tomorrow, the members of the temporary alliance, including myself, are finally heading towards the den of evil god. We march to strike the final blow in this long and dreadful fight, to the evil god."
We will definitely win and come back.
The alliance expected such words to follow, but Jin continued with a slightly different story.
"Just like that day when I headed to the inner battle... to all of you. I want to say that there is a possibility that we might not come back this time. The greatest powers of humanity have formed an unprecedented alliance and have achieved victories in several battles. However, the evil god is still an immensely powerful and colossal existence."
The real story that Jin wanted to leave with the countless ordinary people of the world before the decisive battle was this.
"Nevertheless, we are going to fight. So please, even if I, even if we, don't return victorious against the evil god. Please don't give up and continue to fight. Stand up against the evil god in any way you can. Just like we have done together in the past few days."
Jin took a deep breath.
"I believe that we will be able to return. From the land of evil god to our own land, from a life stained with fear and pain to a peaceful daily life, and beyond fate that has been predetermined, to forge our own fate."
A moment of silence passed.
And then, the crowd began to place their hands on their chests as if making a pledge. It was as if they were promising to do just that.
Jin looked at them and offered a salute.
"It is an honor to fight alongside all of you. Well then, I will be on my way."
730
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June 20, 1803.
The decisive battle had begun.
A fleet of about five hundred battleships and over six hundred dragons cut across the sky of the Huphester, stained with darkness.
The night that determined the fate of humanity flowed slowly and painfully, like the passing of years.
Occasionally, knights and mages aboard the battleships, as well as demons and beastmen, were enveloped in an illusion that felt like a faint breeze blowing through the air.
Profound terror can be transformed into such a sensory experience.
The elite martial artists from each camp, who had crossed numerous life-death situations, were intensely focused on their own strategies.
If they were to lose even a moment of that focus, it felt as though fear would pierce their souls like a sword. It seemed impossible to fight.
It was not because they were lacking. As the tomb of the swords drew nearer, the influence of the evil god grew stronger, like the deepening of the night.
"There could exist a labyrinth even in the sky... The course should be accurate, so why haven't we observed Huphester's fortress yet?"
Veradin spoke. Due to the thick fog of chaos that had obscured their vision since earlier, the fleet could not pick up speed.
The reconnaissance led by Orgal was in a similar situation.
The true chaos spread by the Huphester had made it impossible for even his steel gate to be opened and closed freely.
However, Veradin soon could realize.
"...We were already close."
As if a door suddenly opened, the fog cleared, revealing an absurdly massive fortress before their eyes.
The fog had been continuously concealing the castle.
The fortress, completed by the evil god in just two days, revealed that the reports of its walls had not been exaggerated in the slightest.
The hundreds of battleships and dragons appeared insignificant in front of that fortress, merely transient beings.
The end of the world.
Those who confirmed the evil god's fortress could not help but think the same thought.
This was indeed the end of the world.
"Young Patriarch! The sky... is opening!"
The spreading chaos cloud above the fortress was splitting in half. What weighed heavily and distorted nature was the colossal flagship symbolizing the power of the evil god.
The shadow of "Ram" cast a dark silhouette over the entire sky and land. The dragons, sensing its massive weight, felt the difficulty of flight, and the mages maintaining the fleet's power source were sweating profusely.
In reality, the altitude was decreasing. It felt as though an invisible hand was lightly pressing down on the temporary alliance fleet.
No matter how hard the dragons and mages tried, they couldn't maintain altitude. The pressure ceased when the fleet stopped at about halfway up the fortress wall.
"So, it seems impossible to fly over the dwelling of the gods...."
Regarding facing a god, it was appropriate to start the battle from a higher position than that.
Veradin understood this phenomenon. If they couldn't break through head-on, they couldn't enter the fortress.
"It was expected that penetrating the fortress from within would be impossible. Everyone, don't try to increase the altitude but calmly prepare for deploying protective barriers. The welcoming ceremony will begin soon."
Furthermore, Kadun, Orgal, and Bale took their positions at the center of the fleet formation.
It was preparation to block Ram's main cannon, an experience they had gone through during the first initial battle.
Grooooar!
However, what suddenly resounded was not a roar but the gloomy howl of the Chaos Dragons.
They displayed a strength far surpassing what they had experienced during the first initial battle or the Rikalton war.
The power of the evil god was amplifying the strength of the Chaos Dragons.
Chaos Dragons poured out from beneath Ram, surpassing several thousand in an instant.
Ram never stopped spewing out Chaos Dragons and Black Ships for even a moment.
The welcoming ceremony Veradin had anticipated was not this.
'Instead of firing the main cannon, they are sending out Chaos Dragons and Black ships?'
The course of the battle showed a flow that was difficult to understand from the beginning.
If a number of Chaos Dragons and Black Ships similar to them appeared, the sky would naturally descend into chaos.
Even if it was the evil god, it wouldn't launch Ram's main cannon in the midst of a mixed sky with allies.
'Is it trying to conserve the power used by the main cannon? Or is it because she believes that after inducing a chaotic battle with such a force, she can eliminate us together?"
As Veradin was pondering that far, an urgent report came from the watchtower.
"Young Patriarch! It is reported that the power of Ram is presumed to have been cut off!"
"What did you say?"
"It is reported that the movement of the protruding main cannon, which was being revealed as the central part of Ram, suddenly ceased. The chaos gathering around the main cannon has also dispersed!"
The power of Ram itself was the embodiment of the evil god's power. If the power was cut off, it meant that the evil god had encountered a problem, and the Chaos Dragons and Black Ships should not have been strengthened.
'The power of the evil god remains intact, but only the connection with Ram has been severed...?'
Lynn Milcano.
Except for the Varmel alliance, the temporary alliance was unaware of her betrayal.
Therefore, they had no idea why Ram suddenly stopped.
"Young Patriarch, we may not know the cause, but this is an opportunity. We must break through before Ram resumes its operation."
Octavia said.
Veradin also thought the same. There was no reason to disagree. However, an inexplicable unease was clouding his mind.
But soon, Veradin decided to give the order to break through. There was no evidence to dispel his unease.
"...Change the formation to a breakthrough formation. Among the three individuals responsible for defending the main guns, fire dragon Kadun and Knight Bale will take the lead, and Orgal, continue to prepare for defense."
As the fleet began to change formation, the aerial forces of the evil god also started blocking their path.
"Position the gunners. From now until the breakthrough is complete, I authorize autonomous firing."
As soon as the order was given, the entire fleet began firing simultaneously. From the direction of the castle, the breath of chaos dragons and the bombardment of black ships flew towards them.
The continuous thunderous noise filled the air, and the chaotic light created by the collisions of the bombardments spread in a chaotic manner.
"I shall go out now, Young Patriarch."
"I wish you good luck, Captain of the Specters."
Octavia stepped onto the deck. She and the other giants revealed themselves on the decks of each fleet.
Hedo's swordsmanship, Dante's invisible sword, Syris' Myriad Ice, Valkas's Black King Fist, Amela's war machines, Yulian's thunderbow Harmilla, Berakt and Bianca's greatsword techniques, Ranke's rampage, Octavia's light magic, and the link magic of the Specters, among others.
All of these techniques were slaughtering the enemy forces that gathered.
The most outstanding among them was Bale, who led the vanguard.
Every time his golden wings fluttered, hundreds of chaos dragons and black ships disintegrated into particles and disappeared.
Bale in aerial combat was truly a disaster. It was impossible to intercept his speed, and he alone took responsibility for the attack range of an entire fleet.
Ram's main guns were still closed. The continuous influx of chaos dragons and black ships from below did not pose a significant threat.
Originally, a war of attrition had no meaning against the current temporary alliance.
Unless a force capable of dispersing the power of the giants appeared, breaking through to the front of the castle was only a matter of time.
However, about ten minutes later, the temporary alliance encountered another unexpected situation.
"There is a purple barrier forming ahead!"
"The barrier is pulling the fleet in...!"
It was about 2.5km away from reaching the castle.
The fleet's speed began accelerating faster than the set speed due to the gravitational force of the purple barrier formed around the castle.
The aerial forces of the evil god were unaffected by the barrier.
While the fleet slowed down for a moment, the enemy counterattack continued.
Most of the personnel on the deck were struggling to resist the gravitational force, holding onto something and deploying their defensive barriers, unable to fight properly.
The dragons at the forefront were being sucked into the barrier.
Bale exerted his golden authority to pull some of them out of the barrier, but it was inevitable that some of them were trapped inside.
[Kahh!]
[Kruh...!]
The dragons trapped in the barrier let out desperate screams. They crumpled like pieces of paper as soon as they touched the barriers.
The situation where the fleet could not easily escape the opposite side of the barrier continued.
"Fortunately, the barrier is not completely impervious to physical attacks."
Each time the fleet's artillery struck the barriers, cracks appeared.
"But the speed at which the cracks heal is too fast. It will take too long to break through with just artillery."
One by one, battleships began to sink, overwhelmed by chaos dragons and black ships. Veradin closely observed the situation.
He noticed that the cracks caused by the attacks of individuals with special powers, like Bale, took noticeably longer to heal compared to regular artillery strikes. Therefore, Orgal and Bale needed to be at the forefront to destroy the barriers. However, the forces of chaos were aware of this fact and persistently pressured the two.
"Change the positions of Orgal and Kadun."
"It will take some time. The chaos dragons have seized the rear!"
Orgal, who had been prepared for defense all along, was dealing with them, holding back the battleships being pulled toward the barrier.
Bale at the front was in a similar situation, so it would take time to change their formation and break through the barriers with them at the center.
At that moment, someone who had been in Kozec's training room revealed themselves for the first time.
"Veradin."
"I was just about to call you."
Jin, the magic swordsman with unique powers.
"Did your meditation go well?"
While the fleet advanced towards the stronghold of the evil god, Jin had been meditating alone in the training room for the final time.
It was a meditation to envision the one-on-one battle against Rosa, where he would face her alone with his sword techniques.
Jin gazed at the stronghold of the evil god, faintly visible beyond the purple barrier.
In the deepest part of that stronghold, Rosa was likely imagining her confrontation with him.
Jin nodded slowly.
Then flames ignited on Veradin's staff. It was the "Fire Seal'' that Kelliac had used in the past during the Battle of Sword Emperor Castle.
As Veradin began to swing his staff in the air, a giant glowing script in the dark night sky appeared, etching itself in crimson.
Jin Runcandel is descending.
As if a cannon had opened, Kozec's front window opened.
Jin grasped Bradamante, which was imbued with shadow force, and threw himself towards the battlefield.