Chapter 645
Episode 164: Land of the Ominous God (7)
The Fourth Secret Technique of Runcandel: The Black Cross Star.
As the meteor shower shattered, Rosa unleashed her sword.
A frenzied blade, carved in the shape of a cross, radiated a dark, ominous energy.
From the center of the intersection, the sword’s black aura traced a circle, pouring toward Thalalis.
Rosa was not a pure-blooded Runcandel.
Yet, perhaps because she had embraced chaos, she flawlessly executed both the decisive technique and the secret art without a blessed body. Her power was so overwhelming that it was more reminiscent of Siron than Rosa herself.
Before the countless sword energies of the Black Cross Star, Thalalis and Mote had no way to evade.
Originally, Jin and Kaio would have had to risk their lives to get past Rosa and break through the attack.
Even then, it was uncertain whether their exhausted bodies could withstand Rosa’s secret art.
It was possible that not only would they fail to save Thalalis, but all of them might meet death.
If Murakan hadn’t appeared just then, that grim outcome was almost certain.
At the very moment the Black Cross Star was about to engulf Thalalis and Mote—
Suddenly, like a black mountain rising, Murakan’s massive form landed behind them.
Even at a glance, his body was far larger than Jin remembered.
A pair of black wings spread out before him like a barrier, blocking the Black Cross Star. They were so vast they completely concealed Mote within their embrace.
The frenzied sword energies relentlessly cracked against the wings.
Though it seemed as if the wings would be torn apart in an instant, it was merely an illusion caused by the shifting spiritual energy.
[And it’s been a while, Archery Princess. How did you become so weak? Mote-san is badly injured too.]
Thalalis lifted her head.
Relieved by the darkness Murakan brought, she smiled faintly.
Just moments ago, she had been ready to face death, but now, wrapped in the embrace of this dark, colossal dragon, she felt as if she were in the safest place in the world.
“You showed up at the perfect moment. But how did you get so strong, Black Dragon Oppa?”
[I’ve just reclaimed a little of what I lost. Thanks to that, today neither the little one nor I will lose you.]
“Heh, I might just fall for you.”
Fifty percent.
The power Murakan held during the last battle alongside his comrades—the Battle of the Sword Emperor Star.
Not only Jin, but even Thalalis, who wasn’t as sensitive to spiritual energy, could recognize it at a glance.
Murakan’s current strength was close to his prime.
Jin’s spiritual energy, now at the tenth star, and the crises he had overcome on behalf of Solderet were restoring Murakan’s old power.
Murakan raised his wings again.
Thalalis and Mote had suffered no damage from the Black Cross Star, and Rosa’s expression twisted in frustration.
[The ancient guardian dragon of the family… I didn’t sense your arrival at all.]
That was the source of Rosa’s anger.
She felt every battle raging throughout the Sword Garden and the entire Karon region as if it were her own body.
Yet she had no awareness of Murakan’s appearance. That meant Murakan hadn’t approached from outside the Sword Garden but had suddenly appeared from within.
[It seems your enlightenment is still lacking, Rosa Runcandel.]
Rosa turned to look at Jin.
[You and your comrades are truly lucky, youngest one. Whenever you’re in danger, someone always comes to save you.]
Rosa didn’t know the full story of Jin and his comrades.
But she knew that at every critical moment, they had overcome obstacles with help from others—or from each other.
Her own Runcandel bloodline had never experienced such aid.
Only hope that never returned, no matter how long she waited. She didn’t bother hiding the bitter feelings born from that truth.
[I… will break that chain.]
The blades of chaos, frozen in midair, began to whirl again. They pressed the group more fiercely than before, as if fueled by Rosa’s wrath.
At the same time, part of Murakan’s body dispersed into spiritual energy, grabbing hold of Thalalis and Mote. Moving swiftly like a hawk and freely like a ghost, he was beside Jin in an instant.
Rosa scattered sword energy in all directions from her spot. Though part of Murakan’s smoky form was swept away, it caused him no significant harm.
Though Murakan had arrived, the battle still heavily favored Rosa.
Jin, Thalalis, and Kaio were all in no condition to fight properly.
And that wasn’t all.
Jin sensed Murakan’s impatience before they could even exchange greetings.
“Don’t tell me you’re not fully capable of fighting either?”
[Not exactly, but time is short.]
After the Battle of the Sword Emperor Star, Murakan had been acting as Solderet’s proxy in place of Misha.
Even Misha, who had overseen Solderet’s affairs until then, didn’t fully understand the details.
It was beyond mortal comprehension. Misha and Murakan’s roles were simply to maintain their ‘presence’ within Solderet’s domain.
If that presence were to be broken, it would pose a great threat to the world.
Murakan was less skilled than Misha, so he could spend even less time away.
Especially while wielding such immense power.
This was why Rosa hadn’t sensed Murakan’s energy. He had manifested here from the divine realm without any physical movement.
There was no time for detailed explanations.
[So you need to escape quickly. You can’t keep fighting in your current state.]
Moreover, the seals on Elona and Ziphl were a problem.
As Thalalis’s internal injuries worsened, the area Misha had to maintain the seal over expanded. Thalalis had been worried about the seal ever since Rosa had struck her.
Jin nodded.
At least there was some relief.
Murakan could see that Rosa’s power wasn’t without limits.
[You underestimate me too much, Murakan. Do you really think you can escape?]
[Don’t bluff, Rosa Runcandel. I’m not the only one running out of time. I can see a realm now that mortals can’t.]
[You’re so arrogant, talking like you have a choice when all you can do is run…]
Screeeech!
Rosa lunged, slicing in half the breath Murakan had just exhaled.
Spiritual energy spikes shot up from all directions, blocking her path, but the frenzy only ceased after colliding with Bradamante.
“I can feel your wrath.”
Rosa pressed her attack again, but Murakan’s spiritual energy and Kaio’s arrows restricted her movements.
While the frenzy deflected Kaio’s assault, a spiritual spike grazed Rosa’s forehead.
A horn about half a finger’s width was sliced off, and black blood splattered.
Until now, the chaos Rosa emitted had been so stable it resembled spiritual energy.
But since the Black Cross Star was blocked by Murakan, her chaotic energy had become erratic—its color and power fluctuating unpredictably.
‘As Murakan said, this infinite power does have its limits. It doesn’t seem to be from the horn’s injury. Has the conduit weakened? Or… could it be some mental reason?’
Unlike Ron or Smarion before defying fate, Rosa’s reason remained perfectly intact.
That might be the key. Rosa herself had said, ‘I have not yet succumbed to chaos.’
In any case, the priority now was escape. Even if her chaotic energy was unstable, it didn’t affect her transcendent rank.
Swish!
Rosa’s blade relentlessly targeted Thalalis. Each clash between the frenzied sword energy and spiritual energy sounded like the heavens themselves opening and closing.
Murakan struggled to shield Thalalis from the impact. With Thalalis’s life, Elona’s seal, and the ticking clock all weighing on him, his anxiety grew with every passing moment.
The battle had reached a stalemate.
Which meant Jin and his group were still at a disadvantage.
Even if Rosa had limits, Murakan’s forced recall would come sooner.
“The escape point is a forest about 150 li away, Black Dragon Oppa. There’s a spatial leap flying ship there.”
Thalalis pointed to where she had hidden the red owl.
[That’s cutting it close. Which side is it?]
Amplifying spiritual energy to break through would hasten Murakan’s forced recall.
Without hesitation, Murakan drew on more power. It was better than continuing the stalemate, even if his manifestation ended before reaching the escape point.
“I’ll buy you time, Black Dragon Murakan. Escape with Jin and the others.”
Just as Kaio said this—
A voice suddenly echoed from the sky.
[Murakan! I’ll cover you!]
It was Orgal’s voice. Above, Kinzello’s flagship, the Grnil, hovered, crackling with immense lightning.
The other ships were still far away. Orgal had read the situation and opened a dimensional gate to bring reinforcements to the battlefield.
Of course, his dimensional travel was also affected by the chaotic energy. But since all the chaos in Karon was concentrated on Rosa, the restrictions were less severe than before.
Murakan recognized Orgal immediately, even without Jin’s explanation.
A bolt of lightning poured down on Rosa.
At that moment, Murakan took Jin and Kaio onto his back and soared into the sky. Another of Rosa’s sword energies pierced through Grnil’s lightning as he ascended.
The Fifth Secret Technique: Hyperspeed Thrust.
The blade left deep wounds on Murakan’s tail, back, and left wing, but he pressed forward without hesitation.
“Murakan, are you okay?!”
“Of course it’s fine—just damn thrilling. But it’s hardly a fair price for saving you and the princess.”
Thanks to Gneil, the power hadn’t been amplified, buying them a bit more time.
Yet Murakan hadn’t accounted for one crucial factor.
Ram—the massive black ship of Runkandel—was closing in. And where Gneil’s lightning had vanished, Rosa was nowhere to be seen.
She stood at the forefront of Ram’s ship, watching the direction Murakan was heading. Rosa and Ram were, in essence, one.
Ram reloaded its main cannon with a speed that far outpaced before. The ominous energy darkening the sky grew even more unstable.
“Lady Rosa, perhaps it’s best to stop here,” the prophet suggested.
Rosa let out a short, bitter laugh.
[Isn’t it exactly what you’ve always wanted? To see my mind shatter?]
“Honestly, it’s just a bit too dangerous right now,” she said quietly.
Without another word, Rosa accelerated the chaos’s amplification, and Illina watched her profile with anxious eyes.