Chapter 261
Episode 81: The Pursuers (3)
Goooooo…!
As the Phantom Corps simultaneously surged their magical power once more, the very air began to tremble. It wasn’t just a simple vibration.
It felt as if the atmosphere had turned to water, choking the breath from their lungs and weighing down their shoulders.
An immense magical force was expanding outward. Without at least a five-star level protective barrier, standing still would be impossible.
Belonging to the world’s most prestigious family’s elite forces, the Phantom Corps’ power far exceeded ordinary comprehension.
“You intend to kill the kid? I already told you, it’s too late,” Murakan said, his voice laced with disdain. “Seems you’re a bit slow on the uptake.”
Octavia gave a faint smile.
“According to the records, you were the strongest dragon in history… but seeing you in person, you don’t quite live up to that reputation. The more you talk, the more you just reveal your insecurity.”
Kiiiiiik—!
Suddenly, a piercing screech tore through the sky. It was the sound of the Phantom Corps’ Red Abyss magic pushing back Murakan’s spiritual energy.
Red magical energy flickered across the darkened sky like scattered spots.
Murakan summoned more spiritual energy, but even at forty percent strength, he couldn’t overpower the combined magic of the entire Phantom Corps.
As Octavia added her power to the Red Abyss, the sky’s color shifted faster.
‘Andrei Ziphl was monstrous, but these… these are on another level entirely.’
There were fifteen members in the Phantom Corps.
Jin, reading the flow of their magic, was certain they weren’t the whole force.
‘There are awkward elements in how their magic complements each other.’
This was common when there weren’t enough mages to perform linked magic. The Red Abyss was a spell that reached its full potential only when the entire Phantom Corps cast it together.
A sharp pain struck the back of Jin’s neck. The possibility that there were more than fifteen mages—comparable to the Black Knights—was unsettling.
‘And none of this power is known outside.’
Unlike the Black Knights of Runcandel, the Phantom Corps of Ziphl was an organization even Jin hadn’t known about. They were literally a secret weapon.
There was a reason Runcandel, led by the Radiant Knight Siron Runcandel, hadn’t engaged Ziphl in all-out war.
“Are you alright?” Misha transformed back into human form and landed beside Jin.
“Yes, thanks to you.”
Jin spat out blood but took her hand and stood.
His stomach churned. His core heart, heated by reversed aura flow, throbbed wildly, and his vision blurred—he wasn’t in fighting shape.
Though Murakan and Misha had arrived, Jin couldn’t relax.
“I never imagined so many high-level mages would come at once.”
“You should consider yourself lucky. The Phantom Corps I faced in the past were even stronger than these. Murakan will have to swallow his pride.”
Since the Phantom Corps was formed after Temar Runcandel’s death, Murakan had never fought them.
Misha, however, had clashed with them several times over the past millennium and judged them stronger than any other combat organization in the mortal realm.
“Jin.”
“Yes?”
“Listen carefully to what I’m about to say. No questions or objections.”
Kiiik, kiik! The sky turned almost entirely red again, making Murakan’s spiritual energy look like mere specks.
Losing the ‘territory battle’ against a mage unit was fatal.
Especially now, with linked magic filling the sky, if they couldn’t prevent the mages from saturating the battlefield with their power, they’d be at a severe disadvantage.
“More reinforcements from Ziphl will come soon. If this fight drags on, there’s no hope.”
If the Phantom Corps waiting at the main house, Kadun, or Baekya and Kojek arrived, even the Black Dragons would be helpless.
There was even a chance Keliak Ziphl himself might appear.
No matter how strong the Black Dragons were, if two of them could have crushed Ziphl’s full force, Ziphl wouldn’t have risen to become the world’s strongest family.
Jin nodded inwardly.
He had expected this to some extent. Even with Misha and Murakan, killing Octavia and the Phantom Corps would be difficult.
“Then you and Murakan should run. I’ll buy time. And don’t forget—your future enemies are just as powerful as these.”
“You speak as if this is the last time.”
“I told you, no questions. Why, do you think I’m sacrificing myself to save you?”
“Yes.”
“Of course, if necessary, I will. There’s always the variable of ‘if.’”
Whoooosh!
Spiritual energy gathered in Misha’s hand, forming the shape of a spear. The energy then spread over her entire body, creating armor.
Fully armed, she shimmered like a shadowy ghost.
“But today, I probably won’t die to these fools, so go without worry. Even the old Phantom Corps couldn’t touch me. Once I judge you’re safe, I’ll escape too. I’ve already told Murakan.”
She had planned this from the moment they broke through the Phantom Corps’ barrier. Victory was impossible; they had to get Jin out with Murakan.
That was why Murakan had been so confident, saying, “You can’t kill Jin.”
I can’t leave Lady Misha behind.
The words rose to Jin’s throat but he didn’t say them.
Such words should only be spoken when you have the power to take responsibility for the situation—or when you’re ready to fight and die alongside her.
But Misha had no intention of dying gloriously just to uphold the pride of the Solderet and Black Dragons, and Jin wasn’t about to abandon the future by ignoring her duty.
No matter how much he insisted on fighting together, the only outcome would be a miserable death.
So Jin decided to say something that would realistically help her.
“Lady Misha, this place is within the domain of the Secret Palace.”
To avoid the family’s surveillance, Beradin had deliberately built a villa on a deserted island in the Western Sea.
Since the Western Sea was under the Secret Palace’s influence, Ziphl couldn’t openly send people there.
That judgment was proven completely wrong by Octavia and the Phantom Corps’ appearance, but regardless, it was fortunate for Jin that Beradin had a villa here.
“If the fight becomes too much, cause as much commotion as you can. Enough to shake the entire Western Sea. Then the current Secret Palace Lord will surely come to help.”
“Oh? Now that you mention it, your comrades in Tikan said something like that. That the current Secret Palace Lord’s only daughter is your lover. A welcome piece of news in a bad situation.”
“That’s not quite it… but it’s true the Secret Palace Lord cares for me deeply. If Ziphl’s actions cause damage in the Western Sea, the Secret Palace will have justification to intervene. There’s no reason for them not to help you.”
“Heh, you’re shameless.”
“I’d rather be shameless than see you hurt, Lady Misha.”
The red magical sword and chains bound by Misha’s spiritual energy began to stir slightly. The spiritual energy holding them was about to break.
Murakan and Octavia had been fighting since earlier.
Octavia’s beams continuously rained down on Murakan, who countered with mere breath.
Murakan was using most of his spiritual energy to suppress the Red Abyss, leaving few offensive options.
Swish—Misha lightly twirled her spear and took a step forward.
“This is the second time I’ve met you, and both times I owe you, Lady Misha.”
Misha shook her head.
“No, the debt is mine and his. You are the last hope of the shadows.”
Just as Jin was about to reply—
Spiritual energy gathered at the tip of Misha’s spear. Jin flinched at the sheer magnitude of the energy converging there.
It was deeper and denser than when Murakan faced Yulian, the incarnation of Feitel, or when he slaughtered the dark mages.
It took barely a second to condense that infinite energy at the spear’s tip.
Her martial art was a variation of the spirit sword technique, wielded as a spear.
Temar had named it the ‘Shadowless Spear,’ but paradoxically, it required even more spiritual energy than the spirit sword.
“I’m going to clear the way now.”
The name ‘Shadowless’ was metaphorical.
Even Temar found it hard to read her attacks. It also meant that when she swung her spear with intent, nothing would remain.
She would shatter everything so completely that not even a shadow would be left.
“Stay still. Don’t follow me.”
Jin bowed his head as Misha’s spear sliced through the air.
At that moment, Octavia, who had been relentlessly casting spells at Murakan, flinched and turned her head.
Because of the dust cloud from the island breaking apart and the fight with Murakan, Octavia hadn’t noticed Jin and Misha.
Her reaction was delayed.
And her delayed reaction meant the entire Phantom Corps failed to respond in time.
There was no mage here stronger than Octavia.
The black sword energy extending from Misha’s spear struck the Phantom Corps’ protective barrier.
Crack—!
“What…!?”
With a single blow, the thick barrier shattered like an eggshell.
Even Octavia couldn’t help but swallow hard, and the wraith battalion mages inside the protective barrier felt their hairs stand on end.
Jin also swallowed dryly.
“When I was healing Murakan and beating him up, I thought Misha’s skill must be incredible…”
But this was far beyond anything he had imagined.
For a moment, he had even thought, “She might die trying to save me,” and now he felt ashamed of that thought. Even if reinforcements arrived, there was no way Misha wouldn’t escape from here.
“…I was overthinking it.”
Somehow, it felt as if Misha was smiling behind his back, as if to say, “Do you really think I’d fall to those guys?”
“The time has come for that arrogant mouth of yours to learn humility, mage,” Murakan said, looking down at Octavia.
He feigned a breath, and the moment Octavia raised her guard, he suddenly dove sharply toward Jin’s side.
Only then did Octavia realize the truth.
The black dragons never intended to fight them. All the posturing and bluster at the start of the battle was nothing but a smokescreen to rescue Jin.
“Stop Murakan! Don’t let him reach Jin Runcandel!”
“Hahaha, you think you can?”
Murakan sneered at Octavia as he withdrew the spiritual energy suppressing the Red Abyss.
Immediately, the red magical sword and chains flew straight at Murakan—but Misha’s leap was faster.
“Looks like the wraith battalion seniors didn’t bother to leave any records about me, huh? You have the luxury to worry about other things while I’m right in front of you?”
The sword energy unleashed from her spear sliced through the Red Abyss’s sword and chains with wild ferocity. She moved so fast, swinging her spear in a blur that she almost looked like a black orb.
“Let’s go, kid!”
Jin leapt with all his might onto Murakan’s back.
As soon as Jin landed safely, Murakan shot upward at top speed, heading straight for the barrier they had opened in advance.