CHAPTER 648

[T.L: punisher87]

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After Rosa was engulfed by chaos, there were about a thousand knights who rebelled against her Runcandel. 

They had fought large and small battles in the Garden of Swords, led by Diphus, Mary, and Jorden.

However, before even a month had passed, more than sixty percent had been subdued, and the remaining had to make a choice. 

Would they plan for the future, or would they fight to the end and perish?

Their choice was the former, but they couldn't execute it. Rosa easily found the hideouts of the rebels and hunted them down like mole hunting, calling them to the Garden of Swords.

The rebels struggled against the chaos knights of the clan, but in the end, they faced defeat from summoned flagbearers and black knights of the past.

At that time, there were around two hundred and fifty knights imprisoned in the dungeon.

But the knights brought by Cuicantelle now numbered less than a hundred. In the process of escaping from the Garden of Swords this time, more than half of the remaining knights lost their lives.

There were only 97 left. 

Jin looked at them without speaking for a while. His heart felt heavy as if hot foam was surging up.

"Everyone... thank you for your hard work," Jin finally spoke, and the knights saluted.

No one shed tears. Jin, too, suppressed his boiling emotions and accepted the knights' salutations.

'Fortunately, none of the survivors are infected with chaos at a level that cannot be treated with a purifier.'

The chaos that tainted the knights was not too deep. However, many of them suffered severe physical injuries, so they will need the help of the healers of the Holy Kingdom.

"First, it would be best for everyone to receive treatment. There is a device that can purify the chaos."

Jin explained to the knights about the purification device. He also mentioned that the treatment period was long, the targets were limited, and it would be of no use in the corrupted Garden of Swords since the purification process required the blood of battle god.

"I am fine, 12th flagbearer," Jorden said.

"Elder chief?"

"What are you talking about? Elder chief, you should be the first to receive treatment more than anyone else..."

The Tona brothers stopped speaking halfway through their response to Jorden. They realized the meaning behind his words belatedly.

Jorden seemed uninjured on the surface, but he had suffered irreparable internal injuries. The price of the survival of the 97 knights was his life.

Jin had noticed Jorden's condition from the first moment he saw him.

"Why are you all making such foolish faces? Follow the 12th flagbearer's words and receive treatment and purification. I must do my last duty before I die."

Jorden met Jin's eyes.

"The 12th flagbearer."

"Yes."

"From now on, I will pass on all the sword techniques of the clan that I know. It would be wise to head to the training grounds immediately. I don't have much time left."

Jin decided to follow Jorden's words. Even if Lani came directly, there would be no chance of recovery, and Jorden deserved respect.

"All right."

"The training won't be that long, so don't worry about anything else. Along the way, I'll explain anything you might be curious about. You can also tell me about your experiences in the Garden of Swords."

On their way to the training grounds, Jorden occasionally stopped walking.

Jin recounted their last battle, marveling at Jorden's incredible determination to fulfill his final mission.

"So, you fought Rosa one-on-one... and yet you weren't affected by the chaos at all."

"I gained immunity."

"It's not the kind of immunity you can share with others, I suppose. I envy you. Looking back, I've always felt that way about you. The whole clan does."

Jin remained silent, waiting for Jorden to continue.

"The Sword Garden has been in this state since half a year ago."

"I had some expectations since they sealed off Kalon and controlled information about me from that time."

"Rosa Runcandel kept having seizures up until that point. And then she eventually broke her promise to you and joined forces with the Prophet. It was a crucial moment. While Zipfel and Kinzelo were building their fleets and employing all sorts of new technologies, we were falling behind. Of course, that wasn't right."

It was as if they had no other choice.

Jorden spoke bitterly.

"Even if you hadn't left, Rosa would have made the same decision. So your decision to enter closed door training was probably the right one. If you were still in the clan, the first thing Rosa would have done was to eliminate you. Without the patriarch...… no one could have stopped her."

"Is there still no news about my father?"

Even in this rapidly changing era, 

The dignity of the knight named Chiron Runcandel has not lost its value at all.

If he and the knights, who left for expedition, were there, Runcandel would still be a land that other factions could not dare to cross, even without the prophet or fleets.

"... Rosa said the patriarch was dead."

 Jin stopped in his tracks.

"Was there any evidence to support her claim?"

"No. I don't know if she found out about it through the prophet's ability, or if she said it just to establish her own authority. She just said he was dead. But I, too, don't expect the patriarch to be alive. Almost everyone who rebelled against Rosa thought so."

Whether Chiron survived or died in battle, it was difficult to hold much significance.

If the patriarch of the clan does not return from an external mission as the situation of the clan deteriorates, objectively speaking, he is already unfit. He was as good as dead.

"But some thought differently. Your uncle and siblings did. Zed Runcandel, he left for the Black Sea to find the patriarch as soon as Rosa's tyranny began."

Zed had not yet returned, so his life or death was also uncertain.

"The 4th and 7th flagbearer have been missing since the final battle. As I said then, I cannot tell whether they are alive or dead. But if they escaped alive, they probably headed to the Black Sea too. Those two also said that the only way to resolve the situation was to find the patriarch."

"So, no one witnessed the deaths of elder brother Diphus and elder sister Mary. Perhaps, they could be imprisoned in the Garden of Swords. It's unlikely that Rosa would have released all those imprisoned in the dungeons."

"That may be true. But if so, they're likely to emerge as your enemies. The reason why our 1,033 knights were able to resist Rosa was partly due to their willpower, but the fact that they weren't directly exposed to the chaos emitted by the Prophet played a significant role."

"Does that mean that most of the knights remaining in the Garden of the Sword did not rebel because they were consumed by chaos?"

"There are probably some who did so willingly. But as you said, most likely did not. What sane knight would want to fight under that monster? No matter how strong that monster may be. The knights of Runcandel have particularly high pride."

It was already known from several cases that it was almost impossible for humans to resist the madness of chaos. 

It was something achievable only by exceptional individuals like Ron. Even Ron was completely consumed by it until he received Jin's help.

'Elder brother Diphus and elder sister Mary may appear as enemies....'

Just imagining that scenario felt like his head would explode.

Jin continued to match his pace with Jordan's without showing any emotion.

"Looks like we are here. It's quite a decent training ground. Did you mainly sharpen your sword skills here during your days as a reserve flagbearer?"

"That's right."

"Jin."

"Yes."

"Now, you are the only hope for our clan. Never forget that."

After saying that, Jorden held Jin's hand tightly. 

The only knight who could fight against the immense chaos of Rosa Runeckandel without any constraints, the only flagbearer who could immediately cleanse the clan.

Jordan was in tears. 

The image of the current Runcandel in decline, the regret of the past when he struggled to become a patriarch, the fallen companions, and the helplessness of having to entrust everything to the 12th flagbearer.

These emotions mixed together to make Jorden cry.

"... I understand, uncle."

For the next three days.

Jorden taught Jin six decisive killing moves, four secret techniques, and one ultimate technique.

Jin, who had already reached a high level, quickly grasped the intricacies of those swords in an instant, often demonstrating perfect execution with just Jordan's verbal explanations, without needing to witness Jordan himself perform them.

Occasionally, when Jordan needed to rest due to exhaustion, Jin would receive various reports on the current situation at the mansion.

As expected, the leaders of each faction were urgently requesting a meeting in Tikan.

Runcandel had yet to show any significant movements. There were no troop movements, but there were reports that the speed at which Huphester was encroaching had slowed down a bit.

Still there was no news about Valeria. Jin wanted to find out if she was alive or dead by any means at once, but he couldn't leave Tikan until the meeting with the major factions was over.

Because Jin has the responsibility of carrying the clan crest and the world.

"Now all the inheritance is complete"

Jorden said with a hoarse voice.

While passing down the sword moves, they conversed in a friendly atmosphere, not as enemies, but like uncle and nephew.

"Do you remember the day I cut your arms?"

"How could I forget, uncle?"

"In fact, that day I saw your father, patriarch, in you. The sight of you walking towards me, stepping forward with both arms severed, sometimes appeared as a nightmare."

"I was pretty scared that day too."

"Kuk, now you're buttering me when I'm dying."

"It's true. I was really afraid that my arms might not be fully attached. And to be honest, I was sure that your end wouldn't be pleasant, uncle."

"So, was that your plan?"

"At that time, you and I were no different from enemies."

"After that day, I thought you might be even more dangerous than Joshua, perhaps even more so than Rosa."

Sssshhh, siiitt....

A metallic sound came from Jordan's breath.

The moment of his death was approaching.

"Do you still have that thought?"

"Yes... you will defeat Rosa and become patriarch. But..."

Bang!

Suddenly, Jorden squeezed out the last of his strength and grabbed Jin by the shoulder.

"Never, ever think you're already the patriarch. Even if all the remaining rebels accept you as their lord. Whether your father is dead or alive. You must reclaim the Garden of Swords to have the qualification. You must reclaim the Garden of Swords... Understood...?"

Jin nodded with his teeth clenched, and Jorden took his last breath.

And a day after he died.

A flagbearer of Runcandel came to Tikan.

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