Chapter 387

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The arena became like a landscape of hell, with waves of fire raging fiercely around two individuals at the center.

The flames clung persistently to the Runcandels, growing even more intense instead of weakening.

The sword energies unleashed from Jin's blade, resembling the hellfire, did not easily dissipate even if they encountered obstacles along the way. As if the flames were wind, they bounced and scattered in all directions.

The barrage of sword energies, pouring forth like a torrent from the flame of hell, overwhelmed the knights who were protecting others.

However, these sword energies did not reach Luntia, who stood right in front of Jin.

Her body radiates an aura, a colossal force that pushes the sword energies aside.

Jin knew very little about her second sister, Luntia Runcandel. In his past life, they rarely crossed paths, and the same held true in his current life.

'Elder sister Luntia is the only one whom elder sister Luna finds challenging to deal with.'

Strangely enough, despite her nonchalant attitude towards most things, many clan members still held high expectations for Luntia. They think that she, not Joshua, is more suited to be the next Patriarch.

'Come to think of it, even in my past life... my parents didn't take Luntia lightly.'

-Luntia, Ran, and Vigo.

-Yes, Mother.

-As fellow flagbearers, you are also responsible for Myu and Anne causing this disaster. Especially you, Luntia. You will take some time for reflection, and Ran and Vigo will each return one sword.

In his cadet days, Rosa had scolded the flagbearers in Jin's presence. At the time, Jin believed that Luntia was being punished with 'self-reflection' simply because of her position as 3rd flagbearer.

But that wasn't the case. Luntia undeniably possessed something unique compared to her other siblings.

"Ha."

Luntia sighed with a narrow brow.

It wasn't a sigh of exasperation because of Jin's comment. By the time the flame of hell unleashed, no one here could look down on Jin.

But Luntia seemed extremely annoyed by the situation itself.

Ever since Jin had left the Storm Castle and arrived at the Garden of Swords, it had been like this.

The little boy, who was only ten years old, quickly got under the skin of his siblings. When Jin went on a mission to Mamit during his days as a cadet, she had received a punishment of self-reflection from Rosa.

Jin's very presence posed a significant threat to Luntia's long-held goal and attitude of wanting to live a life free from trouble.

During his time as a reserve flagbearer, Jin suddenly broke the rules and caused turmoil when he returned, turning the clan upside down. Similarly, during the Holy Kingdom incident, she had to be dispatched because of Jin. Looking back, it was always Jin who stirred up troublesome storms.

Luntia could assert one thing for sure.

For nearly a decade, no one had exhausted her more than Jin. Those who knew her personality never dared to provoke Luntia recklessly.

Indeed, it had been a long time since Luntia felt the boiling anger deep within her chest. Nothing in the world irritated her more than unwelcome consequences, disturbing her peaceful world.

"It doesn't seem like it's going to work out, you, youngest."

Swoosh!

As soon as she spoke, a sword, infused with blue flames, once again dug into Luntia's chest. There was a contrast between Bradamante, which became huge with flames, and Luntia's rapier, 'Charles'.

At first glance, it appeared to be a slender and fragile sword, ready to break at any moment. However, the next moment, when Luntia thrust it, it seemed to depict a phenomenon that did not exist in this world.

It could be described as if a solid light was rushing toward Jin.

Shing!

The tip of Charle's blade precisely pierced through Bradamante's edge.

One might even call it miraculous to accurately pierce through a single strand of thread gently descending through the air.

Luntia's thrust was undoubtedly beyond that. She accurately pierced through the blade of the sword, which was falling at lightning speed. Bradamante was deflected at a right angle, and Jin could feel the sensation as if his wrist was about to break.

'Is this what the 3rd flagbearer of the clan is capable of...!'

That single strike was more than enough to describe Luntia.

An unimaginable speed.

A swift sword that you would not be able to counter unless you could predict its trajectory. In the scorching heat where the entire arena seemed to melt, Jin felt a chill in his spine.

As he blinked once, the next thrust came. Charles, which had grazed Jin's cheek, was now stained with flame instead of blood.

It felt like a hurricane had suddenly begun right in front of his nose. Just as the wind couldn't be seen, Luntia's rapier couldn't be seen either.

Jin felt a dangerous sensation of something flying at an incomprehensible speed without pause.

He was certain that if he failed to dodge or deflect even once, he would surely die.

'It is familiar.'

It was an emotion he always felt when facing formidable opponents.

Jin had no hesitation or fear. All he has to do is stand and fight, and instill the same feeling in the opponent.

The flames in Jin's pupils intensified.

"Indeed, you are quite fierce."

Swish, swish!

Charles continued to brush against Jin's body, emitting sparks with each contact.

"But it doesn't seem like it's enough to stop me. It's disappointing, considering you said it wouldn't work."

The sword energies, previously shooting out like projectiles, began to converge, guided by Jin's will. It was like the coordinated movement of dozens of snipers, aiming all at once.

As these sword energies converged and rained down upon Luntia, her relentless thrusts began to decrease in frequency.

While the sword energies had been diverted, there was no respite for the Runcandels engulfed in flames.

The flame of hell, which was already at its zenith, grew even more intense.

The place that had been referred to as the "arena" was almost entirely gone.

The melted and ruptured ceiling allowed the harsh sunlight to pour in, staining even the blue sky below a deep red.

Beneath it all, Jin and Luntia's swords clashed once more.

"It's strange how fire flows from your wounds instead of blood."

"Elder sister, you are unleashing such a deadly sword with a rapier is no small feat."

"Seriously, what are you trying to achieve with this?"

"I've already told you. I'll reinstate the status of Runcandel as the Magic Swordsmen Clan."

Crash, clash!

It didn't sound like blades clashing but rather the sound of a giant beast gnawing on bones. The shock waves generated by the clash between the two distorted places.

On the surface, they appeared to be equal in attack and defense, but in terms of swordsmanship, Luntia was clearly ahead.

That's why Luntia kept thinking the same thing every time Jin showed weakness.

It's over.

This time, it's really over.

No... Is it over?

Certainly, it felt like they had reached the end multiple times as their blades passed through each other's bodies. When she thought she had pierced his throat, it turned out to have grazed Jin's ear, and when it felt like she had pierced his heart, flames poured from the shoulder instead.

'Why? There were definitely flaws in the youngest swordsmanship, so why is Charles only producing futile results?'

It was strange. Despite perfectly understanding the youngest's movements, the battle wasn't turning in her favor.

It is a strange phenomenon, the fact that her rapier wasn't reaching the youngest.

And a premonition crept in.

'Didn't something like this happen when I faced Luna unnie?'

A similar thing happened when she faced Luna.

And Luntia had found the answer before long. The reason why her sword kept missing the opponent wasn't because of the opponent, but rather because of herself.

'I... I've been avoiding getting hurt too much.'

When facing formidable opponents like Luna. Luntia unconsciously chose to move in a way that minimized injuries.

Being injured was more tiresome than anything in the world, and in such situations, Luntia's desire for the annoying time to pass quickly outweighed her desire to defeat the opponent.

That's why her blade had become shorter, her steps narrower. It was easier to accept defeat than to suffer from injuries.

'I didn't expect this to happen even when facing the youngest. It is something that hasn't happened many times in my life…'

While Luntia didn't take Jin's battle prowess lightly, she didn't consider this fight a life-or-death battle.

She needs to revise her judgment.

'I will risk my life too.'

Of course, when the battle was over, there was a much higher chance of the result being survival rather than death.

However, there was a significant difference between entering a fight where one staked their life and not. Just as the attitude of the predators in the open field depended on how big their prey is in front of them.

The fact that she unconsciously avoided injury when encountering a difficult opponent was also a kind of proof.

Luntia Runcandel is a bit of a weird human being.

No, even throughout her entire life, the fact that there were very few times she had been 'injured' was evidence in itself.

For Luntia, aside from those few occasions, every other fight was almost the same with a similar level of danger as breathing, eating, and lying down.

But this fight with Jin was different.

Luntia perceived that this fight was one where one side would be defeated, and lose everything and disappear. Therefore, every moment was a fight where her desire for survival and victory overtook the boredom.

"It seems like you're finally serious now, elder sister."

Jin immediately recognized Luntia's change.

Luntia's suffocating intimidation suddenly disappeared, which was only natural. Her aura was now as calm as still water.

"You're strong. You've grown well."

Luntia adjusted her stance and continued speaking.

"But you shouldn't have provoked me today."

Since there was no aura shield, Jin's fire penetrated through. In an instant, Luntia was engulfed in flames, leaving only a dark silhouette behind.

She was facing the flame of hell with her bare body.

At that moment, Jin couldn't help but recall his first sister when looking at Luntia. Luntia's body is known as the best among Runcandel's blessed body...

It was even stronger than Luna's transcendent body.

Luntia approached Jin, stepping confidently through the flames. Even amidst the flickering flames, her body remained unblemished.

"This is something else."

Jin gathered the flames that had spread in all directions.

The flame of hell that had been spreading a dreadful heat even outside the arena was being absorbed by Bradamante.

"I've never imagined anyone stronger than elder sister Luna among my siblings..."

It wasn't just Jin; all of his siblings felt the same way. None of them had ever thought that there could be a sibling like that except for Luna.

This was because none of their siblings had ever posed a threat to Luntia.

"I also never imagined I would have to fight you with all my might, so there's no need for you to be heartbroken."