Chapter 507
Episode 140: The Real and the Fake

No one had anticipated this turn of events.

But Jin had planned to use Joshua this way from the very start of their escape.

Sometimes, overcoming a crisis requires sacrifice. And among their group, the one whose death wouldn’t matter was, naturally, the Joshua clone.

Jin desperately wanted to save Jane as well.

But Jane was already beyond revival without the legacy of Numerus. Alone, she couldn’t realistically hold off the ten members of the Phantom Squad plus reinforcements for any meaningful amount of time.

A brief silence fell.

“You didn’t have to say it. I was already thinking that way.”

Joshua’s calm voice made even Jane flinch and turn to look at him.

The one most shocked was Defus.

“What? Joshua, are you serious?”

“Second Seat, if you stay with me, you won’t survive.”

“It’s a relief we can risk our lives now, not when fighting the Tower Keeper.”

“Joshua, what are you thinking?”

“Exactly what you see, Defus. I’m making a choice for the family. If you’re unhappy with it, why don’t you take my place?”

“There’s no way I’m unhappy. I’m glad the troublemaker is disappearing on his own. But I know better than anyone that our brother isn’t the type to give up his life so easily.”

There was no time for a long discussion.

“See you later, Second Seat.”

With a swift motion, Joshua threw the black sword Kainner, which he wore at his waist, to Jin. Even if the clone died, there was no need to lose the sword as well.

“Take it back and catch it.”

“I was reluctant to part with the sword, but if that’s the case, what will I fight with…?”

Before Jin could finish, Joshua’s eyes suddenly darkened, the whites turning black.

—If this still isn’t enough, I may have to consider using that power…

It was the thought Joshua had kept to himself during the battle with Hedo.

Now, his eyes were stained with a murky black, and in his grasp, a new sword was forming—the very power he had hesitated to use against Hedo.

“What the hell is that, Joshua!?”

“What is this? It looks similar to the ‘Takgi’ power Amela used in Gaipa.”

“…Takgi?”

The aura surrounding Joshua resembled the Takgi Amela wielded in the Gaipa army.

But it was much denser and more refined—Joshua’s Takgi was almost identical in color to spiritual energy.

‘It was expected that the Prophet would be closely linked to chaos… but can Takgi be used to strengthen others like this?’

The Phantom Squad raised their staffs in unison, unleashing pure white magical beams aimed at Joshua, who had just begun to move.

The group was once again shocked as Joshua effortlessly blocked or deflected every beam with a protective shield.

‘This can’t be his true strength. Is this also a Prophet’s ability?’

Defus furrowed his brow.

Joshua was undoubtedly strong, but he was nowhere near the level of a martial artist or superhuman.

Moreover, having just fought a fierce battle and sustained internal injuries, it was impossible for him to so easily fend off attacks from ten Phantom Squad members.

[We can’t maintain this state for long. I’ll hold them back as much as I can. Make sure to bring the stolen items back to the family.]

Jin and Murakan, knowing Joshua was a clone, remained calm, but Defus felt a strange sensation.

He had long wished for Joshua’s death but never imagined it would end like this.

Of course, he wasn’t about to get sentimental or realize that his feelings toward Joshua were more complicated than hatred.

“Whatever your true intentions, we need to move quickly before you change your mind. Brother, if this is the end, at least make it a memorable one. We’re still in front of the enemy, after all. And if by some miracle you survive, I’ll be the one to finish you off.”

Before leaving, Jin and Defus saluted Jane on her back.

She was swinging her sword at the newly fired magical beams aimed at their group.

Swish!

Despite standing at death’s door, her sword strikes were unbelievably fast and precise.

Jane was pouring her last ounce of willpower into her attacks. Like a flame that burns brighter just before it goes out, her sword briefly surpassed the limits she had reached in her lifetime—transcending one more step, burdened by the weight of duty.

Three Phantom Squad members closed in to trap her, while the rest seemed to be moving to pursue Jin’s group, who were already retreating.

[Engaging in close combat against Runcandel? Aren’t they underestimating her too much?]

Clang!

Two of the staffs aimed at Jane were blocked by Joshua’s sword. The remaining one, transformed into a spear, was deflected by Jane.

[And she’s the Black Knight, no less.]

Scritch!

One of the three rushing Phantom Squad members didn’t hear Joshua’s words.

Jane sliced off his head with a swift strike. Though she was wounded in the shoulder from pushing herself too hard, it didn’t dull her resolve.

Seeing their comrade’s head fall, the Phantom Squad hesitated.

No matter how much they thought of the Black Knight as just a sword-wielding soldier, they never expected such a result from a single strike delivered by someone so close to death.

They had assumed Jane wouldn’t even be able to inflict meaningful damage, let alone decapitate one of them.

‘What is this? Moltan died from a single strike?’

‘How is this possible? Just standing is a miracle enough!’

‘Runcandel types especially hate this kind of thing—an inexplicable power that sometimes manifests like this…’

Jane adjusted her distance from the Phantom Squad, forcing her broken shoulder back into place with a grinding crack.

“I won’t let you pass… Ziphl.”

Her entire body was torn and shattered, but her eyes burned fiercely.

The remaining nine Phantom Squad members met her gaze and felt a chill run down their spines.

Though they still held an absolute advantage despite losing one member, an indescribable dread tightened their chests.

Some stayed behind, others pursued the fleeing group.

Given the power difference, they could have chosen any number of options.

But the Phantom Squad was gripped by a strong premonition that leaving only four or five behind would lead to irreparable losses.

‘Not only the Black Knight, but Joshua Runcandel’s power has suddenly increased.’

‘We can’t afford to lose more members so easily. The 4th, 5th, and 6th squads and the main force will arrive soon. We’ll finish these two here and resume the pursuit!’

‘Sandra Ziphl won’t be foolish enough to help the escape until the end with her crazy love. Without Hedo, she can’t provide any meaningful aid alone anyway.’

The Phantom Squad reformed their ranks. Those who had been chasing Jin’s group began fully unleashing their magic, drawing magical circles.

“Looks like you’re ready to fight properly, Phantoms.”

[It’s an honor to join you in your final battle, Lady Jane.]

Joshua stood back-to-back with her.

“…Second Seat. Seems the rumors were true.”

Jane spoke first, not with gratitude for his intervention, but with a cold statement.

[Rumors?]

“That your body isn’t singular.”

Her tone was dry, but Joshua clearly felt the deep contempt beneath her words. It was the first time he’d seen the Black Knight so openly emotional.

[…Is that wrong?]

Jane didn’t answer.

[No matter what you think, I am fulfilling the family’s highest values in my own way.]

Though he wished to serve Jin, Jane had not been lying when she followed Joshua under Rosa’s orders.

She believed it was the path of loyalty to the family.

But she was human. And facing death.

Disappointment was inevitable.

“You mean… the struggle.”

[Yes.]

The sky reddened with the magic the Phantom Squad unleashed.

It was the ‘Crimson Abyss,’ a Phantom Squad-exclusive chain magic Jin had first encountered.

Hoo…

Jane took a deep breath.

“It’s shameful… utterly disgraceful, Joshua Runcandel.”

Like blood rain, the red magical particles poured down from the sky, transforming into blades and chains that rained upon the two.

Clang! Thud!

Jane’s first move against the Crimson Abyss was to deflect the red blades falling toward Joshua’s back.

A surge of emotion welled up inside Joshua—familiar and terrible.

Self-loathing.

A monster that had taken root deep within him one day and never retreated.

[What do you… what do you know to speak so carelessly!]

Joshua shouted as he cut the chains falling toward Jane’s head. His darkened eyes trembled.

“The only fortunate thing is…”

[Despite the harsh contempt from father, sister, brothers, and even mother, and thousands of repeated frustrations, I never gave up. I was more desperate than anyone!]

“That my final glory is dedicated to the real, not the fake.”

Their swords clashed relentlessly.

Deflecting the red blades and chains falling into each other’s blind spots, their movements could easily be mistaken for strikes aimed at one another.

[Why won’t you accept me…? No one, no one! No one…!]

Amid the roaring clash of two swords and nine magic users, their anguished cries scattered into the void.

How much time passed like this?

In the end, Jane’s flame was extinguished.

Thud!

The blade of the crimson abyss pierced through her back.

Until just moments ago, she had swung her sword fiercely, like a vengeful spirit, but suddenly, she stopped moving.

Her body had reached a point beyond the reach of willpower—or any transcendence a human could muster.

“Damn it, Jane!”

Joshua instinctively lunged forward, but protecting her was impossible. Even if he had succeeded, it would have been meaningless.

As her body, shattered by chains and blades, was about to be torn apart—

Jane looked Joshua squarely in the eyes one last time.

“May my current state serve as a lesson to you.”

And so, Jane, the Black Knight of Runcandel, met her end.

The remaining impostor fought on alone for a while longer, amidst the scattering remnants of her body in the crimson abyss.