Chapter 1095
Episode 256: Morganiel (4)
Five days.
Considering the situation outside, that wasn’t a short amount of time. With beings like Keliak, the Demon Corps, and Malugia all running rampant at once, the destruction of Inse was entirely possible within that span.
‘It’s actually fortunate that both Keliak and Malugia are still alive right now. No matter what happens in Inse over these five days, they’ll have to keep each other in check.’
He couldn’t afford to be weighed down by guilt. Jin believed it was more likely they’d come here than cause trouble in Inse—if they saw Solderet’s arrangement as a dangerous move.
Steeling his resolve, Jin looked at Siron. The alliance’s rapid rendezvous with the expedition and swift defeat of Morganiel in the Black Sea had happened far faster than expected.
“It seems the changes you brought to Inse are greater than the shifts happening here in the Black Sea after Morganiel’s death. A fleet isn’t enough—you even have portable long-range communicators? Suddenly, I feel old.”
Siron was marveling at the progress Jin and the alliance had made in Inse. Fiddling with the communicator as if it were a wonder, he was a side of Siron that Jin and his brothers had never imagined.
“No, Father. It’s a shame I can’t inform the family directly that you’ve fulfilled your mission. Communication from the Black Sea to Inse is impossible.”
“Hmph, feeling old? Compared to me, you’re still a newborn, yet you say that, Siron.”
“Same goes for me when compared to you.”
“Ban, how old are you?”
“That’s classified. Just know I’m over three hundred.”
Murakan, Ban, and Siron—these three already treated each other like old friends, comfortable and familiar. To the alliance members, especially the knights of Runkandel, it was a curious sight.
“You’ve both lived long lives. But you must live longer.”
Those words carried so much meaning.
Siron Runkandel had once believed that until he overcame the demonic corruption, his fate would end in death here in the Black Sea.
But since the corruption vanished, he no longer considered death an option. He was determined to survive, return to his family, and spend his remaining days atoning.
He felt deep remorse that during his absence, the burdens of Runkandel had fallen on his family, especially Jin. He wanted to make Runkandel a better family—stronger, more resilient, yet joyful.
He believed that alone could atone for the dark times past, and that conviction remained strong.
“Of course, that’s how it should be.”
“Yeah, if only the Demon Corps and Malugia were gone, what a better world it would be. Oh, and Ganesto too. Once those pests are gone, there won’t be such brutal wars until we’re gone. I’ll live happily, baking strawberry pies with my family. Hopefully, then I can stop babysitting that little brat.”
“…Wait, Murakan. Are you seeing Gili?”
“Oh, you didn’t know? Heh heh, even in war, love blooms. Even you better not mess with Gili, or it won’t be fun. Got it? If you start talking about Runkandel’s laws or whatever, I’ll just shut you up.”
“I’ll bless that.”
For a while, their casual, friendly chatter continued. Above them, the Black Sea had transformed into a beautiful primeval forest, with airborne fortresses and the golden fleet sparkling in the sky.
It felt as if a terrible nightmare that could end the world at any moment might just pass by harmlessly.
But reality was different. They couldn’t afford to waste these five days resting.
“I think we’ve rested enough. It’s time to move.”
Ameris wasn’t the only one with work to do.
The alliance had to scout the changed terrain and check the path Morganiel had deliberately opened.
Even if this was the deepest part of the Black Sea, there was no guarantee of no sudden enemy attacks. They couldn’t let their guard down.
“Junior, if Solderet’s arrangement truly benefits us, I think the enemy is likely to come here. Keliak Ziphl or Malugia—they won’t fail to notice such a big change in the Black Sea.”
“I agree. They’ll definitely sense the change. The question is how much they’ve recovered.”
With the Five Stars, the airborne fortress Laprarosa, and the golden fleet, even beings as extraordinary as Keliak and Malugia would be taking a risk coming here while injured.
“Also, we must keep an eye on Lokia Ganesto. He seemed desperate to get the arrangement, so he’ll try to interfere somehow.”
“Let’s check the path Morganiel opened first. Junior, you’ll lead the troops.”
“Is that alright?”
“I’m the head of Runkandel, not the alliance leader. You’ve been leading them all along, so it makes sense.”
Siron patted Jin’s shoulder.
Even before reaching the Five Stars, Jin had indirectly earned Siron’s recognition—when they met in the inner world, and when he received the letter.
“Appointing you as the sub-head was one of the best decisions I made leading the family.”
Hearing that in person for the first time stirred something deep inside Jin.
“Something’s welling up in my chest, Father.”
“Don’t overvalue the harsh and cruel rule of your father. Your Runkandel will shine far brighter than when I led it. When the fighting’s over, I’ll support you.”
“Ugh, I feel like crying.”
“I’m not crying, so don’t you cry, sister.”
“Tch, you’re so full of yourself.”
“While we scout the destination, Laprarosa will hold position here, and the fleet will disperse to patrol.”
The Five Stars began moving.
Passing through the pale yellow trees, a beautiful path appeared. Falling leaves fluttered in the wind like a dance.
There was no sense of threat, yet the Five Stars didn’t quicken their pace, moving cautiously.
They kept glancing back.
They worried the path might suddenly change like before. But an hour passed without incident, then two.
The trees weren’t very tall, so the airborne fortress Laprarosa remained visible behind them.
After some time, the five finally stopped before a ‘line’—a perfect, straight black line dividing the territory as if cut by a blade.
“This is the real boundary.”
“Hmm, can we cross this? What if it suddenly transports us somewhere else or cuts us off from this area?”
Even with the insight gained at the Five Stars, they couldn’t see everything. Especially here in the Black Sea, where Morganiel had opened the path.
“It’s a line made of energy that’s neither aura, magic, nor spiritual energy.”
“The color is similar to spiritual energy, though, Father.”
Ban, Murakan, Siron, and Luna spoke in turn. Their gazes naturally shifted to Jin, who stared at the black line, lost in thought.
“It’s not spiritual energy. But strangely familiar, Murakan. Don’t you feel anything?”
“You say the energy forming this line feels familiar?”
“Yes. It’s not spiritual energy, but it feels as comfortable as spiritual energy. No, even more comfortable.”
“What? If that’s true, it must be related somehow. Why do only you feel it? And more comfortable than spiritual energy… is that even possible?”
A deeper, richer, darker energy.
Jin felt it in the black line. He knelt on one knee and touched the black surface with his finger. Like ink spreading, a fist-sized wave of dark energy rippled out.
“It’s hard to explain, but it’s not a harmful power to us.”
The others tried touching it too, but the line didn’t react to their energy.
“Is this something Solderet prepared for the kid? Hmph, I’m a bit disappointed I can’t feel anything.”
“We can go in.”
Led by Jin, the Five Stars stepped over the line.
Instantly, the scenery changed. Looking back, the brilliantly colored realm of Morganiel vanished as if hidden behind a curtain, replaced by a pitch-black space inside the line.
But stepping back a single step made the darkness vanish and Morganiel’s realm reappear.
“It’s a kind of pocket dimension. Should we go further or stop here? I suggest we follow Jin’s lead.”
“This unknown power is definitely favorable to me. There should be an entrance to the arrangement inside. We should go deeper and see for ourselves.”
“Alright, let’s go.”
Beyond the black line, the others couldn’t recognize the path—it was just darkness to them.
But Jin felt as if he were walking a broad avenue in broad daylight. Naturally, the others followed him, and it didn’t take long to reach the end.
“This is the entrance to the arrangement.”
Jin stopped and said.
“To us, it’s completely invisible.”
The Five Stars looked at Jin’s back. He pressed his palm against the dark entrance and remained silent for a moment.
Then suddenly, Jin flinched and spoke.
“I think I know what’s inside.”
On Jin’s palm, touching the unseen entrance, a black energy rippled like night itself.