CHAPTER 729

[T.L: punisher87]

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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."

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