Episode 542
Chapter 145: Omen (11)
Meanwhile, deep within the inner sanctum of the Sword Emperor’s Castle, Thalaris gazed down at Ron.
Ron’s breathing was so faint that even Thalaris had to focus intently to hear it. It was weaker than when she first came to him.
The Sword Emperor’s once formidable frame was now gaunt beyond what clothes and blankets could conceal, and the air was thick with the heavy scent of death.
“Ron.”
Thalaris carefully perched on the edge of the bed and gently took Ron’s withered hand in hers.
“Your beloved grandson, his friends, your knights—they’re all fighting for Hiran. Are you really going to stay down like this?”
Thalaris thought of the only two people she could call friends: Sir Ciron Runcandel and Ron Hiran. She shook her head, recalling their former selves.
“Sigh… these pitiful humans. The stronger you get, the more you disappoint me.”
Though many had predicted that Keliak Ziphl himself might come, when his imposing presence finally appeared, it took everyone’s breath away.
The entire fleet was shrouded in flames of magic. The flagship, Kojek, was so far ahead it looked no bigger than a fingertip.
Yet, everyone inside the Sword Emperor’s Castle felt as if they were standing just a step ahead of Keliak.
An overwhelming presence—the fleet led by the head of the world’s greatest family was slowly advancing toward the castle.
Among the knights of the Sword Emperor’s Castle, not a single one feared death.
But no one believed they could defeat this force. It felt as if no miracle or twist of fate could change the outcome.
Their morale hadn’t broken.
They were just worried—worried that even if they didn’t win, they might not even manage a single meaningful counterattack before it was all over.
“Finally, I’ll get to see the face of this generation’s Ziphl head.”
Murakan spoke in a low voice.
It was his first time seeing Keliak Ziphl in person. In both his past and current lives, he had only ever seen him through newsletters and family records.
“A giant among giants. I’m curious what he’s really like.”
Fortunately, Keliak’s main force did not attack the Sword Emperor’s Castle immediately upon arrival. The problem Amela feared had not come to pass.
The current Kojek was capable of unleashing power on a level far beyond anything Jin had ever experienced.
“Sir Luyan.”
“Yes, Sir Jin.”
“I’m sure Runcandel has prepared for a full-scale battle as well.”
“I suspected as much. If Ziphl covets something that much, Runcandel won’t stand idly by. If Runcandel intervenes, some of Hiran might survive… but—”
“Not some. All of them will survive.”
“I know you mean that sincerely, and I believe you have the ability. But we will never abandon the head of the family.”
“Neither will I, Sir Luyan. But I want one promise from you.”
“A promise?”
“The seal imprisoning Dante in chaos exists because he resists the chaos.”
Jin informed Luyan that Thalaris was here.
Earlier, Thalaris had given Jin permission to explain the mission of the Secret Palace and the dangers of chaos in more detail to Luyan. She had done so out of consideration for Jin, not Luyan.
For a while, Jin explained the situation, and Luyan listened carefully.
“…If the head of the family cannot overcome the power of the White Stone, then even the Secret Palace Lord alone cannot stop the monster that will awaken?”
“That’s correct.”
“Then what will the head of the family do… Ah.”
Luyan did not question why Jin was telling him this now.
He understood that the Secret Palace Lord was showing such consideration only because Jin was at the center of this incident. And even if Jin had warned earlier, it wouldn’t change the situation.
“…If that happens, promise me you will order all remaining Hiran knights to retreat.”
If Dante died and chaos awakened, if the battle for the Sword Emperor’s Castle became a war between Ziphl and Runcandel or a campaign to subdue chaos, the knights of Hiran should leave.
Whether they died caught in the war of the two great families or were slain by the chaos monster, it would be nothing but a senseless death.
Even then, since chaos would have killed Dante, they would have to fight to avenge him.
Luyan could not bring himself to say this aloud. He understood the pain behind Jin’s request.
To even imagine Dante’s death was heartbreaking for Jin.
“…I will.”
Luyan answered in a somber voice.
The fate facing Hiran was cruel.
Though they risked their lives to uphold the pride of Dante and Hiran, Hiran could only survive if the chaos of the White Stone swallowed Dante and awakened. A miserable and terrible existence.
“In return, I ask one thing of you.”
“Speak.”
“If the head of the family ever returns… if he returns when we are gone, please help ensure that Dante does not become a monster.”
No one could predict how things would unfold.
Luyan was speaking of the possibility that Dante alone might survive while Hiran was destroyed.
He was asking Jin to help Dante not lose his way, not become a demon, despite the loss, sorrow, and wounds he would suffer.
Only a friend could do that.
“Dante has already suffered too many wounds. It must have been unbearable. Even now.”
“Even if Dante falls into hatred, claws at me, and betrays me, I will never let him go.”
“Yes, that’s who you are. I just wanted to say it. There’s so little Hiran can do for that boy.”
Keliak’s flames now bathed the Sword Emperor’s Castle in a crimson glow, and the fleet halted its advance. Everyone on the walls lifted their heads, glaring at the fleet.
Among the mages standing at the forefront of Kojek, an old man with long white hair and a pure white robe stepped forward.
It was Keliak Ziphl.
“Raise the shields!”
Dragon Knight Captain Kalmain shouted, eyes wide.
The heat radiating from the flames engulfing the fleet was already penetrating the entire Sword Emperor’s Castle. For the foot soldiers, even enduring it was a struggle.
The stones forming the walls glowed red-hot, radiating heat, and the air was so scorching it felt as if it would melt lungs and organs.
No one had expected this.
Keliak hadn’t even fully cast a spell yet, nor had the entire fleet moved forward—he had only stepped to the front of Kojek, and this was the result.
The knights raised their shields and activated their defensive gear. The entire Sword Emperor’s Castle was instantly covered in a blue barrier, seemingly blocking the heat.
But in the next moment, Keliak swung his personal staff, “Hroti,” once.
The protective barrier surrounding the castle vanished as if it had never existed.
“Just came by out of curiosity, to have a little chat. No need to get so worked up.”
“You spew flames hot enough to melt the castle, and then you talk nonsense.”
Kalmain’s words drew a gentle smile from Keliak, like a kindly old man indulging a child’s tantrum.
“Ah, it’s been a while since I’ve been on a battlefield. I didn’t pay attention to that. Let me clear it away.”
As soon as he finished speaking, the heat vanished as if by magic. The flames still roared around the fleet, but Keliak’s power clearly transcended magic—it was divine authority.
“And just so you know, don’t interrupt my conversation any further. If I wished, I could annihilate all of you within seconds. I’ve been considerate so far; I expect the same in return.”
“Keliak…! How far do you intend to humiliate us?”
The voice came from Golo, a commander standing to the left of the wall, who had evacuated non-combatants and civilians during the first battle.
He did not shout with any particular intent.
He was simply trying to resist the overwhelming pressure and fear that gripped his entire body, and the shout escaped unconsciously.
“You don’t understand.”
The warriors who had reached their peak could already sense what was about to happen. But they had no means to stop it, no time to warn others.
And their instincts were wrong.
Boom.
A spatial explosion.
Keliak Ziphl’s magic unfolded.
But the target was not Golo.
Everyone expected Golo to be blown apart, but Keliak’s magic struck Kalmain Aita instead.
An explosion erupted on Kalmain’s shoulder.
The blast completely tore off his right arm. The severed limb was torn apart and scattered by the following spatial explosion. The only sound left was the hollow clatter of his sword dropping onto the stone floor.
“Ugh…!”
“Captain!”
“Kalmain!”
The Dragon Knights and Sword Emperors shouted and rushed toward Kalmain, but Keliak detonated spatial explosions right in front of their faces, halting their advance. A final warning.
Then he spoke.
“This is as far as my consideration goes.”
Most of those inside the Sword Emperor’s Castle had never heard a voice so chilling in their lives.
A terrifying silence fell.
Keliak waited about five seconds, confirming that no one moved, then met Jin’s gaze, wearing an indescribably benevolent smile.
“Jin Runcandel.”
“Keliak Ziphl.”
The majesty in Keliak’s eyes made Jin’s blood run cold and his bones ache. He radiated an aura unlike any transcendent figure Jin had ever encountered.
Gentle yet strong, dull yet sharp, light yet heavy, kind yet cruel.
Jin defined the presence of a man named Keliak Ziphl in this way.
“Now I understand why those who have seen Keliak in person liken him to a god.”
Without a doubt, he was an overwhelmingly shocking figure.
“But I also get why Keliak is the second-in-command.”
Because Jin could sense the divine yet enigmatic aura surrounding Keliak, and glimpse a single, hidden emotion beneath that smile, he understood why Keliak stood behind Siron.
That’s why Jin returned his smile.
“You hate me, don’t you, Sir Keliak Ziphl.”
If the person before him had been Siron instead of Keliak, Jin would never have been able to read his feelings.
After all, his father was someone far above harboring such a deeply human emotion as hatred toward him. No matter how Jin provoked him, his father would never feel anything beyond anger.
Even if Jin had been born as Ziphl and slaughtered everyone in Runcandel.
“Did it show?” Keliak asked calmly.
“Yes. Your divine power just now almost seemed to fade in comparison.”
Jin answered, wiping the smile from his face.