Episode 1034
Chapter 249: The Pluto Clan’s First Deployment (1)
At the Kinzelos Divine Headquarters, all the underground hangars were thrown wide open as preparations for yet another “relocation” were underway.
While the members busily moved their belongings without pause, as usual, only Bubar and Ainas sat tucked away in a corner of the central hall, quietly chuckling to themselves.
“Sigh…”
Vishkel stared down at the strands of hair caught in his hand, his face drawn and weary. The hair had fallen as he absentmindedly brushed his forehead, but the amount was alarming.
By now, he found himself envying Bubar and Ainas. With the Barmel Union having firmly established itself as the strongest force and now offering terms of surrender, how could they still be so carefree and cheerful?
“What on earth is going on in their heads? Is it even a brain, or just some soft, squishy dough? Probably the latter.”
Imagining their minds as dough, Vishkel couldn’t help but let out a low, bitter laugh. The nearby officers, seeing him lost in thought and laughing like a madman, felt a pang of pity.
Everyone pitied their own fate. Though they called it a relocation, in truth, Kinzelos was preparing to flee and hide.
“Vishkel, pull yourself together.”
“Ah, I’m showing a bad side, aren’t I, Pirops?”
“No, I’m worried too. But where exactly are we supposed to go…?”
They were packing their things, but in truth, there was nowhere left to hide in Insen.
With airships becoming commonplace, even the most remote corners of the surface continent were easily discovered. The underground world had been shattered recently when the Demon Realm was defeated.
And the Barmel Union had record mages. Whether on the surface or underground, if Valeria set her mind to tracking them, capture was inevitable.
Today was May 26, 1804—the day after the “Lafrarosa Speech.” Kinzelos had only six days left. To surrender, to fight on, or to run—they had to decide within that time.
Of course, this was not the future Kinzelos had dreamed of.
When they first decided to provoke a battle between the Barmel Union and the Red-Eyed Clan, they had expected to buy themselves plenty of time.
But the battle was full of unforeseen variables. The summoning of the three demon lords seemed to give Kinzelos some advantage, but in less than a month, the fight was over.
No beautiful future of mutual destruction or unexpected gains came to pass. Only the worst outcome remained: the liberation of Lafrarosa.
“Hey, why the long faces? If it comes to it, we can always retreat to the Abyss, right?”
The three demon lords approached the two men.
Since Lafrarosa’s liberation, they had been able to leave the Mitra Desert. However, their ability to ignore physical attacks was gone.
Though regaining their peak combat power was some consolation for Kinzelos, it was no match for the Barmel Union, which now held Lafrarosa.
“In the Abyss, only the dead can dwell, Sir Srivi. Besides, you need the witch’s permission…”
“That’s right, Pirops. Permission is necessary. That’s why the witch summoned Orgal this time. But it’s wrong to say only the dead can live there. Even the living can stay if they get the witch’s approval.”
Orgal was currently crossing into the Abyss, summoned by the witch Helluram. The witch’s message was that there was something to give and something to receive.
That was why Kinzelos was packing without a destination—the decision-maker, Orgal, was absent.
“Masalun thinks the witch doesn’t want Orgal to die. So under her protection, survival is possible. Even if we don’t surrender to the Barmel Union.”
“Oh, so that means the members too?”
“But you’re not special to the witch. She’ll save only Orgal. As for you, she won’t care what happens.”
At those words, Pirops sighed, and Vishkel clenched his teeth. Srivi nodded thoughtfully.
“Since we pledged ourselves to Kinzelos’ great cause, we never fought expecting the witch’s help. As always, we’ll find our own way this time too. With our own strength.”
“Oh, big brother, you’re so cool!”
It was Margiela. Her face was gaunt from repeated outbursts, but her eyes sparkled with mischief as always.
“Margiela, are you alright?”
“Of course, big brother. It’s a bit frustrating that I can’t help much with the move in this state.”
Vishkel ground his teeth, unable to suppress his sorrow. A long-held wish haunted him like a nightmare—to see his sister alive and healthy just once.
But Margiela herself was neither sad nor gloomy. She smiled brightly, looking around at Vishkel and Pirops.
“Sir Pirops, don’t worry too much. When the commander returns, everything will be decided. Maybe we won’t even have to hide anymore.”
“Are you saying the commander might choose to surrender to the Barmel Union?”
“No way. While there are some overlaps between Commander Jin’s goals and ours, they’re not the same. If it were the commander, he’d rather die than become a has-been.”
“You sound like you think you might surrender.”
“That’s right, Sir Srivi!”
Srivi chuckled at her innocent reply.
“Well, unless the witch gives Orgal something incredible, there’s no answer now. Everyone here is on borrowed time. We can just return to the Abyss, but as Masalun said, to you, the witch is like air. Or maybe less than that.”
“Maybe we should ally with Ziphl again, like before…”
Bubar muttered to himself, but the members shook their heads. Ziphl’s power over the demon stones had grown too great. Relying on them now would likely mean being discarded like a pawn or sacrificed to buy time.
“But let’s not live in constant worry, everyone! My power is awakening little by little, and I think I can control it. I don’t want to fight Commander Jin with it, but if pushed to the edge, I have no choice.”
“…Really, Margiela? You can control it?”
“Probably, Sir Pirops. Though I’ll need more time than the six days Commander Jin mentioned. Luckily, it seems there are people who can buy us that time.”
“People who can buy us time?”
All eyes turned to Margiela.
“Yes, many. Those unforgivable ones, and those like us who won’t ask for forgiveness.”
Ziphl, Ganesto, and the Solar Faith.
Margiela was focusing on the Solar Faith. Recently, a presence “within” her had awakened, allowing her to sense what they were up to and where.
“The Solar Faith. If I’m right… they’re about to make a foolish choice. A meaningless, foolish choice. So let’s pack carefully and wait calmly for the commander. Hoping he brings good news.”
Deep within the Black Sea, the domain of the Five Kings.
A lone raven, out of place in the murky sky, cut across the darkened heavens. The sky was cracked like shattered glass, sharp fractures threatening to collapse at any moment.
“My brothers…”
The raven’s name was Nirgand.
One of the last two remaining of the Black Sea’s Five Kings, the fourth shard of the Origin Stone. He felt the pain of Gliek, Kial, and Sui, who had died before him.
And he was running.
“Sirron Runkandel… How did he transcend all fate? His power should have been completely drained by now, yet why is he stronger than ever? Has he truly achieved eternal transcendence…?”
Just as Sui had fallen helplessly before Sirron’s blade, Nirgand could not comprehend him. His dream of uniting with his brothers through Sirron had vanished like smoke, leaving only the threat of annihilation.
The Five Kings of the Black Sea could not unite without Sirron’s power. Even if the strongest shard, Morganiell, had taken refuge somewhere in this domain, they could not aid one another.
[Graaaah…]
Suddenly, Nirgand’s wing snapped.
It was from a wound inflicted by Sirron’s blade ten days ago. Over the past ten days, Nirgand had encountered Sirron three times, fleeing each time.
Capture was only a matter of time. Each time he was caught, another wound appeared. At this rate, he would be erased within days.
He couldn’t even leave the Five Kings’ domain now—not enough time to recover and break free of his constraints.
Though he was at least a million steps away, he felt Sirron’s blade coldly flicker behind him. Having transcended the Stellar Age, Sirron had become a being even Nirgand dared not face. Seeing how easily Sui had fallen made it all too clear.
“Morganiell, brother. Do you know that Sirron has become a calamity? Are you moving because of it, or are you, like me, fleeing miserably? Hiding?”
As he struggled to lift his heavy body and spread his wings again, Nirgand suddenly sensed Sirron drawing near. A massive power poured forth from the darkness ahead.
There was no hope if it was Sirron. But even if Sirron had transcended the Stellar Age, he could not suddenly teleport within the Five Kings’ domain.
Nirgand calmly read the energy once more.
“It’s not Sirron. Just another mortal who has reached the Stellar Age.”
After a few seconds of hesitation, Nirgand began to flap his wings forward. As he drew closer, a pure white light shimmered—something he had never seen among the Five Kings of the Black Sea.
For Nirgand, it was a warmth he had never felt before. As he quietly gazed into that light, an indescribable calm settled over him. It was as if he were seeing the lights of his hometown after a long absence.
From within the glow, two figures emerged: Luke, the High Priest of the Sun God’s Church, and Sanna, the shrine maiden.
“Greetings, Nirgand, King of the Black Sea. I apologize for the sudden introduction. I am Sanna, a shrine maiden of the Sun God’s Church,” Sanna said, bowing her head as she spoke. Luke stood beside her, his wounds from the last encounter with Jin completely healed.
“And this is our High Priest, Luke,” she added.
[…The Sun God’s Church?]
“It seems our situations are somewhat alike. How about studying the Sun God together? It would be beneficial for both you and us.”