Chapter 388
Episode 117: Who Is the True Runcandel? (Part 8)

Jin and Runtia slowly closed the distance between them.

Meanwhile, late cries of agony echoed across the ground that had once been the duel arena.

“Aaagh! Ugh…!”

Over a hundred Guardian Knights lay sprawled around, groaning in pain.

The warriors who had protected them finally caught their breath, but instinctively sensed a new shock was coming.

“The Third Rank has unleashed its fury…”

“Until now, we were too busy saving the knights to even think about stopping the Twelfth Rank, but now we can’t even intervene.”

Those who “knew a little” about Runtia—mostly the core members of the Elder Council—judged that it would be nearly impossible to stop the fight from reigniting.

They understood just how dangerous Runtia was after she had cast aside her weariness.

And there was no need to stop it.

“The family’s Guardian Knights were nearly burned to death.”

“If this isn’t rebellion, then what is?”

The entire central duel arena of the family had been obliterated, and dozens of Guardian Knights had almost been reduced to ashes.

Thanks to the efforts of the Rank leaders and senior warriors, no one had died—fortunately.

But it was still an act worthy of the charge of treason. From the perspective of the attacked Runcandels, Jin had even shamelessly made statements that undermined the family’s legitimacy.

Of course, Jin had unleashed the Flame Art believing the Rank leaders and senior warriors could protect the Guardian Knights, and there was some indication that Lin Milcano had provoked the situation by boasting about his strength.

Still, that hardly justified it. There are limits to what can be excused.

What Jin needed to show now was nothing less than value.

He had to prove that his declaration to restore Runcandel as a family of magic swordsmen was not empty words.

And to do that, there was no question.

He had to win.

The moment he lost to Runtia, no matter how shocking his words, how great his challenge, how fierce his warning, or how brilliant his truth—

Everything Jin had said would lose its meaning.

Normally, as a Twelfth Rank, just putting up a respectable fight against the Third Rank would be a remarkable achievement.

But not now.

He had to take responsibility for the heavy words that carried a thousand years of history. As a single Runcandel.

With ten paces left between them, Jin and Runtia stared silently at each other.

Determination and murderous intent filled Jin’s eyes, soaked in flames, while Runtia’s gaze was inscrutable and deep.

The swords, one imbued with Flame Art, the other with aura, vibrated—Bradamante and Charles resonating sharply like beasts ready to tear each other apart.

There was no signal.

Yet, without a hint of hesitation, they both lunged their swords at each other.

No sheath, no guard—like wielding clubs rather than blades. Their first clash since the fight resumed erupted like that.

An explosion.

The energy that had been bound within their sword spirits was unleashed, sending shockwaves roaring outward. Before the shockwave even left the duel ground, their blades struck again.

Like shattering glass, flames and aura poured from their swords.

“Ugh!”

It felt as if a handful of iron nails had been driven into his bones and organs. Jin’s face twisted in pain, while Runtia pressed her lips tightly shut.

Despite wearing flames like a cloak, Runtia seemed calm—more so than Jin. She even managed the essence of the Flame Art flowing from Bradamante through the clash.

“I will kill you.”

Though she said nothing aloud, Runtia’s murderous intent seemed to take shape, stabbing into Jin’s mind like a drill.

‘There’s no way she’s unharmed.’

No matter how strong Runtia was.

Jin was wielding the secret magic sword technique of Sara Runcandel. Though not yet at Sara’s prime, it was a sword that had just pressured the entire Runcandel family in the duel arena.

‘She can’t keep holding out like this. No one but Father could.’

Though her expression was indifferent, Runtia was not unaffected. The Flame Art within Bradamante was relentlessly eating away at her body.

But Jin’s body was breaking down even faster.

‘Flame Art alone isn’t enough.’

If he had unleashed it solely to harm Runtia, things might have been different.

But over half of the Flame Art’s power had been spent fighting the other Runcandels. Gathering the remaining flames wasn’t enough to overcome Runtia.

‘She hasn’t even unleashed her decisive technique yet. At this rate, I’m definitely going to lose.’

He had to make a bold move.

A sword strike with power to rival or surpass the Flame Art.

“Fwoooosh!”

Jin poured the last of the flames remaining in Bradamante and created distance. The flames surged with his spiritual energy, wrapping around Runtia.

For the first time, Runtia faltered.

But only briefly.

The next moment, as Runtia emitted her aura, the Flame Art dimmed to faint embers.

The flames surrounding Jin scattered. His body, once blazing, returned to its natural color.

“Huff, huff, huff…”

Jin’s breathing was ragged. Blood dripped from his cracked lips. The wounds that had once burned now bled, and he staggered as if about to collapse.

Meanwhile, Runtia, freed from the torment of the Flame Art, seemed lighter on her feet. She did not gasp for breath like Jin.

‘It’s over…’

‘Impressive as it was, the Third Rank will win. Judging by the Twelfth Rank’s condition, the fight will be decided within three minutes.’

‘The Third Rank won’t spare the Twelfth. Even if they keep them alive, they’ll cripple them.’

Those watching naturally came to that conclusion.

It was true that Jin had displayed an incredible power as a magic swordsman, one they couldn’t understand.

But the Third Rank, considered the strongest aside from Luna, and the nineteen-year-old Twelfth Rank were worlds apart in strength.

Still, it was shocking.

Some Runcandels were so distraught at Jin’s impending defeat that they felt like they might go mad. Just minutes ago, they had wanted to personally behead the Twelfth Rank for their actions.

They shuddered at the power Jin had shown in his magic sword. They found Jin’s claim—that he could defeat Ziphl—plausible.

So they thought:

“If the Acting Head would step in, the Twelfth Rank could be revived.”

“If the Twelfth Rank dies, uncovering the secrets of the first Head’s tomb will become impossible. If the Third Rank claims their lives before the Acting Head acts…!”

Conflicting thoughts swirled in the minds of the Runcandels.

But those who wished for Jin’s death and those who wished for his survival shared one belief:

Jin’s fate rested in Rosa’s hands.

Rosa Runcandel sat in the head seat of the duel arena, her expression unchanged despite the flames of the Flame Art surging toward her.

She pushed back the flames without moving a muscle.

While the Rank leaders and senior warriors protected the Guardian Knights, Rosa had watched the entire fight between Jin and Runtia from start to finish.

“Third Rank.”

At Rosa’s call, Runtia stopped in her tracks.

If Rosa hadn’t spoken, Runtia would have taken two more steps and ended Jin’s life.

“Yes.”

“Will you kill him?”

“Yes.”

Rosa said nothing more in response.

In the silence, Jin’s ragged breathing sounded unusually loud. Even those unfamiliar with swords could tell his stamina was nearly spent.

After several tense seconds, Runtia finally asked:

“Is there some problem with killing the Twelfth Rank? I would like to know why you have said nothing.”

Rosa slowly shook her head.

“I was pondering a question.”

“What question…?”

“Why does everyone think the fight is over?”

At Rosa’s words, the Runcandels all turned their gaze to Jin. Still breathing heavily, he was sheathing Bradamante.

Then he drew a new sword. Its blade, pale as the dawn sky, slid from its scabbard.

The Thunderbolt Sword, Sigmund.

The divine sword of the Meiwang clan, inherited from the half-god warrior.

Fzzzzzz…

The blade hummed low and ominous, charged with thunder energy.

The Runcandels’ eyes widened in shock.

“He still has the strength to fight…!?”

“After unleashing that insane flame sword, he still has energy left?”

“No. The Acting Head only saw that the Twelfth Rank’s will remains. His actual stamina is gone.”

Jin had no strength left to fight.

Even if he did, it wouldn’t be enough to turn the tide. That was the consensus among the Runcandels.

“Hoo… I thought I’d smashed everything clean, but there was one left.”

When Jin finally spoke, Runtia’s hair stood on end.

She had thought Rosa’s words meant Jin’s remaining willpower.

But that wasn’t it.

“To truly deepen the meaning of my declaration today, I must destroy even the seat where Mother sits.”

At those words, the Runcandels were once again struck dumb, as if their heads had been hit with a blunt weapon.

From the Chronicle of the Sword of the Underworld King, Volume 10:

Underworld King’s Sovereign Sword – Kai (Open)

Jin’s bloodshot eyes gleamed with crackling lightning.

The ground twisted and cracked, blackened earth splitting apart as it spewed forth electric energy. Unlike the flames of the cursed fire, a cruel, biting heat surged along the lightning, rapidly engulfing everything around.

“Everyone, open your eyes wide… Look closely. See what the true Runcandel is, and what has protected the Runcandel all this time. And—”

What the current Runcandel has forgotten.

Jin’s lightning-flashing eyes swept over the Runcandels as he finished his words.

The electric energy of the Underworld King’s Sovereign Sword spread chaotically across the shattered land.