Chapter 390
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The momentum of the Plutonian Reign Sword was growing stronger by the moment.
It felt as though lightning from the entire world was converging upon the Garden of Swords. Amidst the earth shattering beneath the onslaught of lightning, the shattered annular solar eclipse fluttered through the air like blossoms.
For several seconds, Rosa remained silent, gazing down at her youngest son.
Amidst the devastation of the arena, only the seat of honor where Rosa sat remained tall and untouched, like a solitary pillar. Neither the blaze of the flame of hell nor the lightning strikes of the Plutonian Reign Sword could penetrate her energy.
Just by meeting Rosa's gaze, Jin felt as though he were being crushed under a mountain, and his entire body grew heavy.
'She's strong, stronger than I ever imagined.'
That much was certain. Rosa Runcandel, the Black Panther, was more formidable than any foe Jin had ever encountered. She possessed a power that far surpassed his expectations.
It was only natural though.
The figure sitting on the seat of honor was none other than the second-in-command of the great Runcandel, who had led the Garden of Swords in place of Chiron for a long time. She is the empress of the Runcandel, and she has been recognized by the entire clan as well as the admiration of all the sword masters in the world.
Facing such an influential figure, if Jin hadn't felt this overwhelming presence, he would have been disappointed.
Slowly, Rosa rose from her seat.
Her field of view was only slightly higher, but the feeling of intimidation had multiplied exponentially compared to when she was seated. Jin felt his body as heavy as if it were submerged in water.
"She let her guard down, but who would have expected you to defeat even Luntia and come before this mother."
Her voice was devoid of any emotion.
In Jin's mind, memories of Rosa flashed by like a swiftly passing landscape. Memories from a past life, when he had recognized her not as an enemy but as his "mother."
After Jin's exile, his mother had cut off communication from the outside world for two days. And before his exile, she had even violated the clan's rules to pass on some information in preparation for when he became a flagbearer.
'Surely she knew that Joshua cursed me when I was in the cradle, so why.'
Why had she been so abhorrent when dealing with me?
Was it her last shred of conscience as a mother? But Rosa Runcandel was no weak human who would be swayed by something as insignificant as conscience.
Jin couldn't know and he didn't want to know. He would probably never understand the reason.
What mattered now was breaking that seat.
It was a symbol of the Runcandel that Rosa was displaying, a way to undermine the authority of the second-in-command.
Sigmund's thunderbolt grew stronger.
[I'm doing all this, but I didn't expect you to be so composed, Mother.]
"Speak freely."
[Even if it were my father, I would have certainly done the same.]
Rosa smiled slyly.
"I acknowledge your remarkable growth."
[Perhaps I can give you a chance.]
"A chance..."
[Everyone in the clan has seen my power. That means Runcandel sees the potential for me to become the successor.]
As Rosa's sword emerged from its sheath, it made a sharp and hissing sound.
[In this situation, do you really think the 2nd flagbearer can become the patriarch?]
"So, do you want me to support you instead of the 2nd flagbearer?"
[No. I don't need your help to become the patriarch.]
Jin retorted.
[Disappear somewhere at the right time. When I become the patriarch, there will be no place for you in the Garden of Swords, mother.]
Even with such a strong provocation, Rosa didn't get angry.
Instead, she seemed subtly satisfied and smiled secretly.
Yes, you know what a real Runcandel is, she had that kind of look in her eyes.
It also means that she acknowledged Jin.
On the other hand, it was a smile that implied that Jin was not yet a match for her.
'I'll shatter that arrogant confidence.'
A bitter taste of blood filled his mouth as Jin clenched his teeth. Using the flame of hell and then the Plutonian Reign Sword had brought the risk of a backflow.
Rosa was aware of this fact, so she remained composed.
Furthermore, she believed that this incident alone, by coming this far, was already Jin's victory.
As Jin said, since he demonstrated such power in front of the entire clan, now a significant and certain variable will emerge in the succession structure of the clan.
Perhaps the clan might fall into an uncontrollable chaos. Rosa had foreseen this day ever since Jin returned, from the moment Chiron forgave him, or perhaps even earlier.
'You have gained the upper hand, so you can stop now. But your greed knows no bounds.'
Rosa raised her sword and spoke.
"Come at me, my son."
Her favorite sword, 'Frenzy,' gleamed with a dazzling light. A single sword shining like a lighthouse amidst the storm of the blazing thunderbolt.
As Rosa's energy surged, the shattered pieces of the ground rose into the air like bubbles and disintegrated.
Finally, Jin began to move slowly.
And the moment he took his first step, those gathered here felt an ominous foreboding pressing down on their shoulders.
It was because an unexpected earthquake had suddenly occurred and the entire Garden of Swords began to sway slightly with Jin's steps within the intense noise of the thunderbolt.
Thud, thud, thud. Amidst the intense noise of the thunderbolt, a heavy vibration emerged, growing more pronounced.
The earthquake was a herald of the change in the Plutonian Reign Sword.
It was the battle anthem that only those who inherited Sigmund could sing.
Plutonian Swordsmanship Battle God Technique 10th sword 2nd form
Plutonian Reign Sword - War
Open, a roar that signaled that one person had reached the pinnacle among the kings of light.
It was merely a gesture to raise one's spirits before the battle began.
The second form of battle god move "War" shows the solemn will to annihilate the enemy.
Rosa's pupils dilated.
Once again, even more powerful.
It was a phenomenon that even Rosa could not help but be shocked by witnessing gigantic thunderbolts.
'You still have this kind of power...!'
The word that Rosa first thought of was incomprehensible.
Living as a martial artist for decades, she had never witnessed anything like this. To display such an overwhelming force, far beyond anything Jin had shown before, even when he could have fallen into backflow!
But Jin, her youngest son, is a human.
As a human, he couldn't escape the consequences of defying the order of the world. Rosa immediately understood what Jin had wagered for this power.
What Jin had staked to unleash this power was his own life.
'Is it really worth risking your life just to shatter this symbol, this seat of honor that I occupy? Right after gaining so much?'
Even without shattering Rosa's seat.
Today, Jin had gained immeasurable things. Even if he were to fall now, when he woke up, he would see the countless sword masters offering their loyalty to him.
But to stake his life for this, what on earth...
Rosa, who ridiculed Jin just moments ago, gnashed her teeth in anger.
The judgment she had made with a smile, realizing that Jin knew what real Runcandel is.
She realized that her judgment was wrong and arrogant.
'This is Runcandel, Mother.'
Like a person forever thirsty for battle, never backing down when the fight begins. Even making enemies who were clearly stronger than themselves hesitate and falter in the face of their fighting spirit.
Creating a phenomenon that would deny the fight was over even when the opponent thought it was.
That was what Jin and those who believed in the ancient Runcandel thought Runcandel is.
Suddenly, as if millions of migrating birds had taken flight, a dark cloud covered the sky.
Underneath that ominous cloud, the only ones who could remain unharmed were the Plutonians and those who ruled above them.
Kururur...!
Unbelievable lightning bolts rained down like an absurd thunderstorm. Countless streaks of thunder struck the ground without warning. A deluge of lightning was devastating the Garden of swords.
Throughout the Garden of Swords, flagbearers and elders unleashed the decisive killing moves.
They fought with desperation on their faces, giving their all as if their lives depended on it. However, even the several dozen decisive killing moves that unfolded simultaneously appeared minuscule in the face of the thousands, even tens of thousands, of lightning bolts pouring down.
Can this be called swordsmanship?
It seemed more like an authority.
The sword masters defending against the lightning felt as if they were trapped in a long and dark nightmare.
They could not believe that this horrific nightmare had been started by the 12th flagbearer.
Rosa, who had been composed until now, was also overwhelmed by madness.
With each swing of her sword, the thunder was wiped out, but the cloud continued to unleash more violent lightning.
Amidst this chaos, Jin calmly walked forward. He strode forward confidently, as if he were a king reclaiming his territory, heading straight for Rosa.
The resonating sound of Sigmund reverberated powerfully. Its blade was aimed at Rosa's throat. His mother's imposing posture, sitting high and mighty, seemed oddly bitter as she was wielding Frenzy.
Now was the time to decorate the finale of the declaration.
Thunk!
As Jin raised Sigmund, it seemed almost like a lie. The thunderbolts ceased. The lightning, which had been roaring as if heralding the end of the world, disappeared all at once.
The sword masters, like people who had awakened from a nightmare, stared around in disbelief at the sudden calm.
But the thunderbolts hadn't disappeared.
The thunderbolts were simply converging toward Sigmund's blade at a rapid pace. So much power converged effortlessly into that single blade.
Everyone was witnessing something they had never seen before.
Everyone knew what was going to happen in the next moment. That pale blade, which had swallowed everything, would now fall towards Rosa.
The distance between the two when they faced each other was short.
Jin slammed his sword straight at her center.
There was no way for Rosa to evade this sword. As the Second-in-Command of Runcandel, her only choice was to face it head-on.
Pick...!
As Sigmund clashed with Frenzy, Rosa's eye veins burst. Her eyes, which had widened for a moment, grew thin again and expanded, and caused twitching.
Though there was only a single tear of blood, it was the first time anyone had seen Rosa cry.
The seat she had been sitting on crumbled as if it were nothing but a plaything in the hands of a giant.
[I, Jin Runcandel, the 12th Flagbearer.]
Before losing consciousness, Jin managed to conclude his words.
[... will become the patriarch.]
As Jin collapsed, Rosa vomited a mouthful of blood.
The sword masters could not help but feel a strange sense of dissonance as they looked at Rosa's pale face and the unconscious Jin, as if reality were crumbling.