Episode 679
Chapter 173: Chasing the Sword (4)
The Balmur Alliance, the Garden of Swords, Ziphl, Kinzello.
He never imagined that all of them would end up entering Temar’s sixth tomb together.
From the initial possibility of encountering the living ancient Runkandel, to the sword’s flight, and now this chaotic situation—everything about this tomb’s opening was defying expectations.
Whoooosh…!
The spiritual energy pouring out from the sword was swirling into a massive vortex.
Though the sword was submerged beneath the seawater, every few moments, structures and some kind of mechanisms rose from the ocean floor.
Ruined fortresses, shattered spires, and mysterious devices that looked like defensive equipment. The pocket dimension the sword contained had clearly suffered multiple damages and was far from stable.
Yet, an inexplicable sense of danger sent a chill down Jin’s neck.
“Is it because of the guardians?”
Except for the time he met Luet Damiro Yul—the living ancient Runkandel he couldn’t quite remember—Jin had always faced peril whenever opening a tomb.
This time, his entire body was screaming danger again. But the source wasn’t the pursuers sent from the Garden of Swords; it was coming unmistakably from beneath the sea.
“The spiritual energy used to open the tomb has fully recovered during our approach, so there’s no problem going into battle.”
He dismissed the assumption that the guardians would distinguish friend from foe.
They would probably strike indiscriminately, so it was best to use that to their advantage and take out the enemies first.
“The problem lies with Ziphl and Kinzello’s side. How far should I protect them…?”
Jin shook his head, cutting off the thought.
“They’re not children. I don’t need to worry about them.”
If it were a serious matter, they would have sent appropriate reinforcements. If it were a temporary alliance, they would have requested support beforehand. But this was more of a personal issue for Jin.
In other words, they were outsiders meddling in his affairs. While he wouldn’t harm them, there was no need to go out of his way to protect them.
“Anyway, I can sense Bianca Caligo and Lanke Halobiche’s energy on Kinzello’s side. Even if Zephyrin can’t help, they’ll protect themselves. On Ziphl’s side, Kadun is healing, so Octaviana or Ronil must be here. They’re not helpless.”
The ships and dragons of the Garden of Swords, Ziphl, and Kinzello were drawing closer. Jin fired a light-speed thrust toward the direction where the Chaos Dragon and the Black Ship were.
As the lightning-charged thrust surged forward, the Chaos Dragon and Black Ship lunging at them disintegrated, leaving behind remnants of chaos.
The sea churned as if a new world was being created, brilliant energies radiated from each faction’s forces, and at the center, a single sword plunged down.
Amid this mythic tableau, the guardians finally revealed themselves beneath the sea.
No—guardians.
“Master, massive beings are appearing underwater…!”
Jin looked down.
Ominous red glows, like distant wildfires, stared up at the intruders.
Colossal bodies like fortresses, wielding enormous spears and shields that matched their grandeur. These giants, humanoid in shape, seemed forged from rock so solid that even Jin couldn’t easily cut through them.
Everyone except Jin and Hedo froze in place, overwhelmed by their presence.
There were more than a few.
At a glance, over a hundred giants were preparing to slaughter the intruders.
Their numbers even increased in real time—not emerging from buildings or underground, but forming gradually in midair as outlines solidified.
[Those are… Graveyard Giants?]
Quikantel swallowed hard.
Graveyard Giants.
They were ancient weapons that nearly endangered the youngest division back when Jin was a cadet.
Back then, the threat came from Bubar Gaston’s creation, and Murakan subdued it in one fell swoop.
“At that time, Murakan hadn’t fully regained his strength. Even if it was just one, it would have been impossible to defeat. But these aren’t Bubar’s creations—they’re originals. Is that why they’re different?”
But judging by Quikantel’s expression, that wasn’t the case.
“Quikantel, do you know about them?” Valkas asked.
[Of course. Our dragonkind killed all the Graveyard Giants left two thousand years ago. Murakan and I fought in that war. But these Graveyard Giants now are a different breed from the ones we destroyed.]
—The God of Sculpting, Wel? I’ve never heard that name before.
—It’s natural you wouldn’t. Like Klam we met on Colon, Wel is one of the forgotten gods lost to history. He remained within the tombs of the dead gods.
A conversation from the past about Murakan and the Graveyard Giants.
According to the dragons, the Graveyard Giants were weapons created by the God of Sculpting, Wel, to guard the tombs of the dead gods and his own fallen self, now reduced to a mere human.
Quikantel’s face twisted in pain.
[Earlier, Aria said this tomb doesn’t seem to be Solderet’s pocket dimension, right?]
“Yes, because Solderet’s name isn’t recorded.”
[This must be the tomb of a dead god, not Temar’s. It’s different from the tombs our dragonkind handled.]
“Then originally, this was the tomb of a dead god, but during the relocation of Temar’s tomb, it might have been temporarily used as his resting place.”
[Probably… Ugh!]
Suddenly, Quikantel shook his head violently, as if reacting to a forgotten memory being manipulated—just like when Murakan’s lost memories resurfaced.
[The Tenth Knight assigned to guard this place… was originally connected to the dead god who owned this tomb…!]
He couldn’t recall more. Quikantel steadied himself, breathing heavily.
“We should meet him and ask about the stories tied to this tomb.”
“Quikantel’s memories resurfacing now is proof that the living ancient Runkandel is inside here, Jin.”
Valeria’s words made Jin nod.
“This is a great breakthrough, Keeper. I have a favor to ask.”
“How shameless. It’s only getting worse, and you want to ask me for a favor now?”
“I’ll handle all the Graveyard Giants myself. So don’t just protect Sandra—watch over my comrades too.”
“No. I’ll leave as soon as I find the sword.”
Jin shook his head apologetically.
“If that’s possible, then do so. But I can read spiritual energy, and that sword is firmly fixed so no one can pull it out.”
Jin pointed at the sword.
He wasn’t lying.
Even if he used all his spiritual energy again, he was certain he couldn’t pull out Hedo’s sword embedded in the seabed.
Moreover, the sword no longer resembled the unusually long greatsword Hedo once knew.
“My… sword, what kind of bizarre shape is that?!”
“That’s probably the sword’s true form.”
Valeria shrugged and answered for him.
It was as if the sword spirit had sprouted horns.
Hedo, sharpening his senses, gritted his teeth as he saw the small blades jutting out from both sides of the sword spirit.
“12th Cavalryyyyy!”
Finally, Hedo exploded, shouting.
He had endured situations worsening like this many times before, but never since meeting Sandra.
No matter how crazy Sandra’s actions were, Hedo had never lost control like this.
He couldn’t abandon the sword and escape either.
The pocket dimension formed in the sea was at least ten ri wide. Being in the middle of the ocean, running away was impossible, and the layers of spiritual energy barriers were the real problem.
The barriers seemed determined not to disappear until they swallowed all intruders.
Some of the Garden of Swords and Ziphl forces were already being sucked into the barriers, leaving behind agonized screams.
There was no need to imagine what happened to those absorbed. On the opposite side, flesh, swords, and staffs were raining down as debris.
This place was already hell.
“I’m truly sorry. Given the situation, I can only suggest the best course of action I have. Once this is over, I will apologize properly and make amends.”
Jin wanted to apologize more sincerely, but with the Graveyard Giants moving, he kept it brief.
“Quikantel, Sir Valkas, Keeper. Please take care of our comrades. Let’s try to resolve this as quickly as possible.”
“Hey, Hedo! He’s trying to face those monsters alone! You better throw yourself in and help!”
“Ugh… grrrk!”
As Hedo struggled to hold onto his sanity, making strange noises, Valeria grabbed Jin’s shoulder.
“I’m coming down with you, Jin Runkandel.”
“What!? Why you!?”
Of course, that was Sandra’s reaction, not Jin’s.
The others were also puzzled.
Even Valkas found it hard to understand why Valeria would step into a fight she couldn’t even join.
But Jin didn’t hesitate and followed her lead.
“I’d appreciate that.”
Not in a past life, but now, Valeria wasn’t the type to rush headlong into certain death just because she worried about Jin.
Her stepping forward meant she was confident.
Valeria naturally extended her hand to Jin.
Without any hidden meaning, it was simply an invitation to descend together for battle—but Sandra’s blood boiled at the sight.
“W-what… what are you two doing! Stop it, stop! Ah, my head, I’m dizzy!”
“Miss!”
In the end, Sandra fainted, unable to bear the sight any longer—though even then, Hedo stayed by her side, tending to her. Meanwhile, Jin took Valeria’s hand in his.
It had been a long time since he’d held his mentor’s hand.
He wondered if, this lifetime, they might finally share the heavy burdens contained within those fragile, delicate hands. Or perhaps, in some way, they already were.
The thought struck him suddenly.
“Let’s go.”
As Jin and Valeria leapt from Quicantel’s back, the graveyard giants unleashed their crimson beams as if they’d been waiting for this moment.
Jin’s psychic energy and Valeria’s blue magic intertwined, illuminating the dark seabed.
He felt the chill of danger that had gripped the back of his neck when the pocket dimension first opened begin to fade rapidly.