Chapter 299
Episode 91: Power, and the Worship of Power (10)
“I never imagined that Sir Siron would meet his end not by your hand, but by the swords of the riders here in Runcandel. If there’s any regret, it must be that.”
Barton spoke as he examined Dipus’s sword.
The greatsword Volgar was encrusted with crystals of aura. These crystals looked as solid as real ore, not mere energy.
Kwang! Krrk-!
The clash resumed, and Barton was the first to charge.
He had already expended so much strength that he couldn’t wield his full power.
Still, even though his aura and stamina were nearly depleted, the desperate fury of a 10-star knight prepared to die shook the very ground beneath them.
Each step he took cracked the earth, sending rocks flying.
His protective barrier was at an 8-star level, but even the aura contained within it caused the sound of fractures to ripple through the air.
This was his final counterattack, the “Return Reflection,” unleashed with every ounce of his energy.
In Barton’s wild eyes burned madness.
There was a bitter, self-mocking despair in him—his role as a pawn exposed, his honor as the Black Helmet utterly lost—and a deep shame that he would die not by Sir Siron of Runcandel, but by the riders’ blades.
Before his betrayal of Runcandel and meeting with Keliak Ziphl, Barton had once held pride in his heart as a Black Knight. Now, those conflicting feelings warred within him.
Barton firmly believed in Ziphl.
He was convinced that, standing with Ziphl, he could transcend the limits of humanity—not just in words, but truly reach transcendence.
Yet Barton Vichena was still undeniably human.
He had gained near-limitless power, long shed his fear of betrayal and death, and masked his emotions behind the Black Helmet. But he was still human.
“Seems you’re ashamed, Barton Vichena. Judging by the way you’re strutting around, putting on airs. Do you really think you have enough honor left to die by your father’s hand?”
Jin saw straight through Barton’s turbulent mind.
Instead of answering, a blade flashed toward Jin’s throat. The edge was blurred—meaning the strike had already passed.
Jin instinctively stepped back half a pace, nearly reaching to check his neck without realizing it.
Talent or achievement.
If either had been lacking, he would have instinctively touched his neck.
Trying to confirm whether he’d been cut or narrowly avoided it would have left him open to a fatal blow.
Instead, Jin extended his sword to counterattack.
Just as Barton’s blade grazed Jin’s throat, Sigmund’s sword swept past his cheek.
Before the two swords could cross, a sharper flash of light streaked between them.
It was the greatsword Volgar, descending with brutal speed.
The three swords spun in a whirlwind, clashing with a dozen explosive sounds every second.
The guardian knights standing at a distance swallowed dryly.
Though they were warriors of at least 8-star rank, they dared not intervene—not because their swordsmanship was lacking, but because their bodies couldn’t endure it.
Blessed Runcandel physiques, or bodies pushed to their limits—without such factors, no one dared step into this fight.
The shockwaves felt like thousands of shurikens raining down relentlessly.
With every faint sound—pfft, hiss—that only they could hear, all three bore fresh scratches somewhere on their bodies.
Kaaak-!
Diphus let out a roar and stepped forward.
The aura crystals on Volgar glowed even brighter, and Barton, as if aware of this from the start, began to widen the distance between them.
The aura not poured into Kozek was now shining.
What Diphus had prepared was Runcandel’s Sixth Final Technique.
“Lightning Flash.”
The aura crystals on Volgar shattered.
As the shards scattered like glass fragments, aura flowed between the hundreds of pieces.
Kijijik!
A sharp crackling noise like spreading lightning filled the air, and the dazzling light flickered rapidly on and off.
With each flash, the greatsword’s trajectory shifted.
Because of the irregular aura formations, the blade’s length changed constantly, and the broken crystals danced alongside the sword.
“Ugh!”
Barton spun his body and struck the greatsword away.
Though it seemed he had fully parried, his armor tore and blood splattered.
He’d been hit by the clusters of aura still clinging to the blade.
He’d been wary of the crystals on Volgar from the moment they appeared, so the damage was limited. Had he not known the form of Lightning Flash, even Barton would have suffered grievous wounds.
The aura clusters on the greatsword resembled lightning.
Of course, it wasn’t real lightning, but aura—and anyone familiar with the Dark King’s Sword would recognize it.
Runcandel’s Sixth Final Technique, Lightning Flash, was modeled after the Dark King’s Sword.
It was a curious coincidence.
Lightning Flash was derived from the “Thunder Blade” technique Jin was about to unleash.
Pzuzuzjik-!
Sigmund’s blade glowed with aura similar to the lightning on Volgar.
Crystals like those on Volgar filled the pale blade.
“…Is that the lightning the youngest uses? Why does it resemble Lightning Flash so closely?”
“I heard all the elders except Zed refused to learn the Final Technique. How did he manage to master Lightning Flash?”
Diphus and Barton thought simultaneously.
They were naturally flustered by Jin’s unexpected technique.
But appearances were deceiving.
While Lightning Flash merely extended the greatsword’s attack range, twisted its trajectory, and expanded its strike points,
Thunder Blade formed dozens of “blades” made of flowing lightning aura.
Pijijit, ziiik-!
Blue blades filled the air, all aimed at Barton.
These blades were lit, making their movements hard to predict.
“Kaaak!”
Barton screamed and swung his longsword.
His cloak was already tattered, and his torn armor no longer offered proper protection.
Trying to fend off both Thunder Blade and Lightning Flash, he looked almost like a white blur. His longsword moved so fast it swept in every direction.
Jin and Diphus fought desperately.
Though Barton seemed purely defensive, any opening would be met with a counterstrike.
Blood sprayed into the air continuously.
It was impossible to tell whose it was, and the blood splattered between the clashing swords evaporated within a second.
Through the distorted space warped by shockwaves, a single finger flicked out.
It was Barton’s index finger.
Yet his momentum showed no sign of weakening.
If anything, his sword strikes grew fiercer and faster, forcing Jin and Diphus to retreat briefly.
What a waste.
That thought flashed through Diphus’s mind.
He shuddered at the fact that such a formidable warrior had betrayed Runcandel.
He was curious, too—what had Ziphl promised Barton to drive him to betrayal? At first, Diphus only wanted to kill him, but after clashing swords, those thoughts kept creeping in.
Jin, on the other hand, felt neither regret nor curiosity.
He could understand weakness, but he could not accept ugliness.
No matter how great the power, Runcandel had no need for someone like Barton.
Pfhak-!
Diphus’s greatsword sliced into Barton’s chest.
The deep, wide cut broke ribs and pierced internal organs.
Barton coughed blood but showed no sign of pain.
He kept moving.
It was impossible to believe a man with such wounds could still fight, but Jin and Diphus reached the same conclusion.
It was time to end it.
“Time to finish this.”
As Jin stepped back, Diphus also widened the distance.
The fierce exchange paused briefly.
The intense resistance from moments ago now seemed like a lie.
Barton stood frozen like a statue.
In truth, Barton had lost his sight some time ago.
Despite his vision darkening from blood loss, he had kept parrying their attacks.
Sigmund released lightning aura once more.
The Thunder Blades hovering in the air converged toward Jin.
Dozens of lightning blades floated behind Jin, targeting Barton.
Diphus’s Lightning Flash took a similar form.
Between the two, nearly a hundred blades were aimed.
Amid the crackling noise, Barton’s ragged breathing stood out.
“Barton Vichena.”
Barton could not answer.
Blood refluxed in his throat, leaving only ragged gasps.
Though blind and rooted in place, Barton’s attack radius still extended about 20 meters.
In other words, if they stepped beyond 20 meters, they would be safe from his strikes.
“Ziphl must have promised you eternal life and ultimate power, or something close to it. And you must have witnessed undeniable proof with your own eyes.”
The energy of Thunder Blade and Lightning Flash burned brighter and brighter.
Now, the two auras no longer flickered—they blazed fiercely.
“It’s probably the Demon God Stone. I’ve seen with my own eyes how that strange artifact can resurrect the dead and grant incredible power. It’s a mysterious force anyone would be tempted by.”
At those words, Diphus’s eyes twitched.
He had never heard of the Demon God Stone in his life.
Not even in classified documents accessible only to the four riders and above.
“But Barton, did you know? I’ve already witnessed a demon stone shatter against Runcandel’s sword.”
Barton lifted his head.
No way. It’s impossible for a mere human to break that.
He wanted to say that, but all that came out was black blood.
What Barton had seen and what Jin experienced were two different demon stones, so from his perspective, destruction was unthinkable.
“Even my father knew of that thing’s existence. So don’t dream of anything else. The death you face today is absolute. No resurrection, no immortality—none of those empty hopes will come true.”
Just before Sigmund lunged forward, Jin added as if recalling something.
“Oh, and hell itself is real. I caught a glimpse of it once, and if I remember correctly, that place suited you quite well. So, I hope you enjoy your stay.”
Sshhhhk!
Sigmund sliced through the air, and thunderous blades shot forward in unison.
The flashes of Diphus’ lightning surged toward Barton, leaving afterimages in their wake.
The brief, fierce final resistance had begun.
Out of the hundred or so blades and volleys unleashed in a single second, Barton’s monstrous strength deflected nearly half.
But he couldn’t stop the other half from tearing his body to shreds.
No screams escaped. Only the dry sounds of blood, flesh, organs, and bone scattering echoed between the riders and knights.
When Barton’s body was finally reduced to nothing, Jin slowly stepped forward to where he had stood.
Though his body and armor were utterly destroyed, for some reason, the black helmet—the symbol of the Black Knight—lay almost intact on the ground.
Jin picked up the helmet and glanced at the knights.
“Mission complete. Everyone, return.”
“Sir!”
The knights saluted. Diphus was displeased that the knights saluted the youngest of the twelve riders instead of him, but he said nothing.
He acknowledged that without Jin, success would have been impossible.