Chapter 403
Episode 119: The Banquet of Sword Emperor’s Fortress (8)

Very few knew what that gray robe truly symbolized. Unlike the Black Knights of Runcandel, the Phantom Corps was not a force openly displayed to the world.

They stood among the monsters, silently watching the crumbling Sword Emperor’s Fortress.

It was as if they were waiting for the central training ground’s walls to collapse.

Slowly, they advanced toward the central arena.

‘Were they lying in wait near the fortress, only revealing themselves now to escort Veradin?’

That was possible.

But Jin felt an odd sense of unease emanating from the gray-robed figures. It was as if they were commanding monsters and bio-golems.

This wasn’t just a vague feeling—he realized immediately it was real.

The bio-golems were parting the way as the robed figures walked forward.

Even seeing this, Ron’s expression remained indifferent—not from ease, but from the calm composure unique to a warrior who had reached the pinnacle.

A low hum filled the air.

Red magic began to gather at the tips of the gray robes’ staffs.

It was the same spell Jin had witnessed firsthand near the end of the preliminary riders’ trials, at Veradin’s villa.

“The losers of Inse are going all out, unleashing the Red Abyss just to catch one kid? Even the old Phantom Corps would be speechless.”

Back then, Misha had told him the spell’s name: Red Abyss.

Massive crimson stains began to spread across the sky, soaked in spiritual energy. The Red Abyss was the Phantom Corps’ ultimate combined spell—a massive chain reaction that had once clashed fiercely with the spiritual energy of the Black Dragons.

That day had been one of the most dangerous moments in Jin’s life.

So every detail came rushing back vividly: the blood-red sky raining down blades and chains, the searing pain in his palms as he struck them away.

And one thing he distinctly remembered:

‘There are awkward elements in how their magic complements each other.’

That was the impression he’d had while reading the flow of the Red Abyss cast by the fifteen Phantom Corps members.

Based on that, Jin had instinctively known the Red Abyss required a larger number of participants.

‘But now, their magic is too flawless.’

There were six gray-robed figures at the Sword Emperor’s Fortress.

The spell that fifteen had awkwardly cast due to insufficient power was now being executed perfectly by just six.

According to Jin’s magical knowledge, that was impossible.

Since he’d only seen the spell once and it wasn’t documented anywhere, at first he thought the gray robes were casting the Phantom Corps’ Red Abyss.

But upon closer inspection, while similar, it was clearly a different spell.

‘They’re not the Phantom Corps. All six are powerful enough to imitate the Phantom Corps and their arcane magic.’

Jin was the only one who saw this clearly.

Few of the warriors here even knew of the Phantom Corps’ existence, and none had experienced the Red Abyss firsthand.

It was possible for Ziphl to attack Hyran, but using the Phantom Corps and monsters together was unthinkable.

After all, adding monsters to the already tarnished image of the Seonguk incident would be madness.

‘So it’s not Ziphl. That leaves Kinzello and Biment. The former has far more reasons to strike Hyran, but it’s strange to think the emperor would orchestrate this just to check Ron’s power.’

Kinzello.

Jin’s irritation flared at what these guys might be up to this time.

There had to be a reason they were pretending to be Ziphl’s secret mage unit with such a clumsy act.

A deep rumble filled the air.

The gray robes’ chain magic caused the atmosphere to vibrate. From the crimson-stained patches in the sky, blood-red swords and chains made of pure magic poured down.

Though not quite on par with the true Phantom Corps’ Red Abyss, this was still a chain spell cast by skilled mages, carrying terrifying destructive power.

Murakan and the dragons couldn’t block everything. They could only neutralize some of it, but the massive monsters on the ground kept firing relentlessly, leaving little room to spare.

“I don’t like using divine power from Biment, but there’s no choice.”

In the end, Quikantel transformed into her true form and decided to wield the power of time.

“Enya, deploy the Dragonfire Barrier. Stay close to me.”

“Yes…!”

Quikantel didn’t take to the skies but sent her power upward. Silver waves radiated from her forehead, binding the chain magic.

With the power of time and the Dragonfire Barrier in place, the situation on the ground seemed to ease just enough to breathe.

Still, the death toll kept rising. Some warriors suffered fatal wounds or died instantly.

“Ahh—!”

A woman was thrown to the ground, letting out a sharp scream.

“Marziella!”

Vishkel shouted, coughing up blood.

Her wheelchair was shattered, and she tumbled across the floor, caught in the chain magic’s fragments.

Since earlier, Vishkel had been cutting down anything that approached to protect her sister—monster flesh and bones, magical projectiles, chain spells, even other people.

Though she hadn’t attacked everyone, she was ruthless toward anyone recklessly charging at Marziella.

Bubar was barely holding himself up behind Vishkel, already gravely wounded.

Amid the chaotic monster slashing, Jin’s gaze happened to catch that scene.

The fact that Marziella was in such danger turned his suspicion into certainty.

But as if it didn’t matter if he was discovered, Marziella’s lips formed words as their eyes met:

“You will gain a great advantage, Jin.”

He read it clearly.

Marziella’s boldness meant Kinzello had already achieved his goal.

‘…I see. It doesn’t matter to Kinzello that the mages imitating the Phantom Corps aren’t Ziphl.’

Jin thought as he scanned the area.

The disgust was almost enough to give him goosebumps, but this wasn’t the time to confront them.

The number of giant monsters rising from underground showed no sign of decreasing.

A dreadful sound of the ground collapsing echoed as the earth gave way in all directions. Each time a black pit formed, a group of people fell in, screaming as they disappeared.

Still, the desperate efforts of the Sword Emperor’s knights and warriors were not entirely in vain.

More than half of those in the central training ground had already escaped the inner fortress.

But with monsters outside continuing to assault the outer walls, safety was far from guaranteed unless they wiped them out.

Who would believe this was an attack by Kinzello?

There was little proof, and even if they captured and tortured Vishkel’s group, they wouldn’t get a confession.

Ron, the towering figure of Hyran, could clearly see the enemy.

But the smaller noble houses affected by this attack were in a different position.

Among the victims, rumors would spread that Hyran was using Kinzello to cover up an attack by Ziphl.

Though Ron would hush it out of fear, Hyran’s reputation would never be the same.

Of course, Ziphl would extend a hand to the struggling Hyran.

Or, the moment the Sword Emperor’s Fortress demanded an explanation, Ziphl might turn on Hyran, accusing them of using others as scapegoats.

Either way, Hyran would suffer massive losses.

‘Ron will refuse any deal Ziphl offers, and this incident will end with only Hyran looking foolish.’

That was Jin’s calculation.

Then what was Kinzello trying to gain from all this?

‘The hostility between Hyran and Ziphl. They want other great powers to more actively check Ziphl.’

It might be a stretch.

But Jin concluded that if he didn’t miss the final piece of this puzzle, he could be absolutely certain.

‘I have to tell Lord Ron what that is!’

The gray robes began withdrawing their chain magic. But that was only a setup for a new attack, not a retreat.

Suddenly, a streak of light shot toward them.

The flash pierced through four giant monsters, swept away hundreds of bio-golems, tore through layers of protective barriers, and finally pierced the chest of one gray-robed figure.

Death.

The remaining five gray robes scattered, reforming their defenses.

“Do you really think I’d fall for the gray robe disguise? That you’re Octavia Ziphl’s subordinates?”

Though Ron had already cut down over a hundred giant monsters and thousands of bio-golems, his aura only grew stronger.

To him, the number of monsters or golems was meaningless—like sparks before a storm.

Yet the only reason he hadn’t ended this was one:

The ‘culprits’ who had come to and were guarding the Sword Emperor’s Fortress were being held hostage.

For the first time in a long while, a furious fire boiled within him—anger even greater than when he’d admitted defeat to Siron in their rivalry.

“Ron Hyran, you’re mistaken. Deceiving you was never part of our plan.”

“I’ll tear your mouths apart one by one to hear what that plan is. So, have you shown all you can?”

The gray robes remained silent.

They were preparing to shatter the final piece of the puzzle Jin had been piecing together.

“Sir Ron!”

Ron turned his gaze toward Jin.

“There’s something more important than killing those guys. We have to find Veradin!”

“What did you say…?”

“If Veradin returns to the main estate wounded, it’ll be impossible to handle Duke Kinzello. Hyran will become a clear enemy of Ziphl!”

Ron’s eyes widened at those words.

All the possibilities Jin had been considering just moments ago flashed through Ron’s mind—exactly the same, in an instant.

Jin was right.

If Veradin didn’t make it back safely, no matter how things unfolded afterward, Hyran and Ziphl were destined to become enemies.

Even if Kinzello feigned ignorance, even if the victims suspected Hyran, even if Ziphl used that to pressure Hyran—

As long as Veradin returned to the estate without a scratch, they could handle all those scenarios appropriately.

Though hidden beneath his hood, Jin seemed to see the shocked faces of the gray-robed mages. And behind them, the twisted expressions of Vishkel’s gang, pretending to be injured.

“There must be more mages of that caliber, and they’re probably chasing after Veradin right now!”

Ron’s eyes blazed.

“Can I entrust this to you, Jin Runcandel?”

He had a duty to save the dying followers and guests right before his eyes.

“Of course, Sir Ron. I accept this honor.”