Chapter 857
Episode 213: The Fracture, Omen of Cataclysm (4)
The Tower of Stories, Elona’s office.
“The White Knight and Jed Runcandel, the former Black Knights, have returned…”
Veradin spoke as he examined the news sheets spread across the table.
Every bulletin was filled with reports about Luna and the returning Runcandel knights. Especially the news from Huepester detailed their exploits in eradicating the Great Rift of Siatel, led by Dino Jaglun, right after their return.
“Who is the White Knight?” Elona asked.
“He was the first knight of Runcandel who left for the Black Sea alongside Siron Runcandel, Lady Elona. Undisputedly the strongest knight of his generation—well, except for Siron himself—he’s known as the mightiest of the Runcandel knights.”
Elona nodded at Ronil’s explanation.
“Is that still true today?”
“It’s hard to say now, with Jin Runcandel as the current head of the Sword Clan. The White Knight’s major achievements date back quite a while, since he left for the Black Sea. But considering his reputation at his peak… he probably still holds his own against Jin Runcandel. He might even be stronger. After all, the White Knight must have accomplished a lot.”
“The traitor Keliak Jiple’s assessment of the White Knight comes to mind.”
“What did he say, Satlin?”
“He said Luna Runcandel is someone who could defeat anyone in the world—even Siron or himself. That’s what he claimed. In fact, when he was the head of the clan, the traitor was most wary of Siron Runcandel, followed closely by the White Knight.”
“A person who always has a chance to win, no matter who they fight…”
Elona murmured, recalling memories from a thousand years ago.
There were people like that even then.
“Temar and the Flame Emperor come to mind. Like Jin and Luna Runcandel today, those two were siblings with a strong bond.”
Naturally, those two were Elona’s most troublesome rivals back then. Both were clearly weaker than her, yet whenever they fought, she felt an inexplicable pressure mounting inside.
‘There was one more person besides those two… who was it? Anyway, the Runcandels today are just as strong as they were back then.’
Jin Runcandel, Luna Runcandel.
Elona repeated their names silently, wishing she never had to meet them. But someday, a fight was inevitable—and that day had to come only after she regained all her strength and fully awakened.
“At least it’s a relief that the overwhelming energy I sensed recently near the Black Sea… means Siron Runcandel himself hasn’t returned. Though, on the other hand, it’s troubling that someone of that caliber, even if not Siron, exists. The White Knight isn’t Changseong, yet he wiped out the Rift just like I did… Ugh.”
“Lady Elona.”
“Yes, Commander.”
“Don’t worry so much. You won’t have to face them alone like a thousand years ago.”
Elona flinched and met Veradin’s gaze. He always understood her innermost thoughts.
“I’m glad to hear you say that, Commander.”
“Since your return, not only the Runcandels but also the Red-Eyed Tribe—and now another underground faction, presumably—have started stirring. It’s no wonder your mind isn’t at ease.”
The Rift.
The Luterro Federation was also experiencing signs of demonic incursions. As Nameless had recently discovered, Jiple’s defeat against the Red-Eyed Tribe was partly because Elona had to leave the battlefield to seal a Rift.
“That seems to be the case. According to what I’ve confirmed through the Tower recently, these demons are a type we’ve never encountered before. We haven’t communicated with them directly yet, but since they’re opening dimensional gates in our territory without permission, they’re definitely enemies.”
Jiple had identified the Rift as a form of summoning magic.
“The demons’ dimensional gates will eventually summon their base somewhere in Luterro.”
“Because neither I nor the Tower can seal all the Rifts…”
“That’s not Lady Elona’s fault. It’s our incompetence for not developing spatial transport methods like the Bamel Alliance. Once their base is established, we’ll confront them immediately.”
Veradin was already considering negotiations with the True Demon Realm. With war already raging against the Red-Eyed Tribe, adding another enemy would be overwhelming.
“If they’re open to dialogue, it might be an opportunity to completely drive out the Red-Eyed Tribe. I’ll have the priestess gather more information on the demons as soon as her prayers conclude.”
Sanna, the priestess of the Sun God’s Church, was currently praying to locate Keliak Jiple. The powers of Shinu and Keliak were still essential to supplement the Demon Stone and the Tower of Stories.
“We also need to prepare for the possibility that the demons won’t negotiate. Above all, the relationship between them and the Red-Eyed Tribe is crucial… We’ll keep a close watch for now.”
True Demon Realm, Sword Demon Castle.
“So, twenty-three out of the thirty Rifts that Lord Zito created between the surface and the intermediate world have been destroyed…”
Faelito said, downing a glass of soul liquor.
The drink was brewed from the souls of those who failed to reincarnate and fell into hell from the surface and intermediate worlds. The agonized screams distilled within soothed his restless mind.
“I expected as much, but knowing Lord Zito’s magic has been damaged is unbearably frustrating. Considering how long it took me to first counter his power… it’s absurd that a short-lived human managed to do it.”
“That’s why humans must be ruled through suffering. After the Sun God’s death, they’ve come to harbor too many possibilities.”
“Indeed, Sakiel.”
“According to the information we obtained from the witch this time, the one who severed the most critical Rift is a woman named Luna Runcandel.”
“The Rift of Siatel, you say? The daughter of Siron Runcandel who returned from the Black Sea?”
“Yes.”
“If it’s true she used that red energy, then this Luna is, alongside Siron Runcandel, the most dangerous individual to Lord Zito right now.”
Sakiel handed Faelito a report detailing Luna’s information. Faelito savored the soul liquor as he studied it carefully.
He was already contemplating how to torment her.
He quickly found her weakness.
“For someone with such power, she’s emotionally fragile and compassionate.”
“Most humans on the surface are like that. Even Jin Runcandel, a top priority target, is the same.”
“But unlike Jin, this Luna carries a subtle guilt toward her blood relatives.”
A smile crept onto Faelito’s lips.
“Sakiel.”
“Yes, Lord Faelito?”
“Immediately halt soul liquor production temporarily. Search hell thoroughly to confirm if Luna Runcandel’s siblings still exist. They likely fell into hell. If they haven’t become soul liquor yet, they should still be there.”
“You intend to inflict mental anguish through guilt—a classic method.”
“Classics are always exemplary. By the way, any news on that vermin Bassett?”
Bassett Visceps.
He was the head of the Visceps family in the True Demon Realm and a key leader of the resistance against Zito.
“Dailus’s pursuit squad managed to get a lead on him once.”
“That bastard is persistent. I never thought he’d escape again after nearly killing me. How many times has he fled now? At this point, I don’t know if I’m incompetent or he’s just that good.”
“I think Bassett’s been lucky. Should I order more pursuit squads?”
Faelito hesitated, then shook his head.
“No, leave him be. It seems he wants to survive somehow and make contact with surface forces later… When that happens, it won’t hurt to deliver a greater despair. Keep a close eye on hell.”
“Understood.”
The Garden of Swords.
“Ah, my ears are suddenly itching. Is someone talking about me?”
Luna rubbed her ear and said.
“Right now, the whole world is probably talking about you and the returning knights. It’s a mild itch, so consider yourself lucky.”
“Yeah, I guess so.”
The grand ceremony welcoming Luna, Jed, and the former Black Knights back had just concluded. Jin was finally sitting down alone with Luna, catching up after a long time.
They had a mountain of stories to share.
Since Luna left for the Black Sea, Jin had found seven Temar tombs, declared himself clan head, developed Tikan, fought the Sword Emperor War and the Gliek War.
He had also brought down Joshua, completed the Dark God War, and endured countless trials and pains.
Luna was most saddened by the deaths of their brothers. Yet she also took the greatest joy in hearing how the brothers had united to protect the clan until the end.
“Joshua, Mew, Ann, Ran, Vigo… I was too indifferent to them. I wish I had looked after them more, so they wouldn’t have gone astray.”
“That’s not your fault, sister.”
Jin expected Luna to shake her head at that. Surely she would blame herself heavily and suffer over it.
But Luna only gave a faint, bittersweet smile and nodded.
“That’s right. It’s not my fault. In the end, everyone chooses and takes responsibility for their own life. I never pushed them to go astray or break. I’m not without regret, and it’s sad that brothers fought each other to the death. But more than that, I’m proud that you, as a Runcandel, did what was right—and I feel even more sorry for you.”
“Please stop apologizing to me, sister. How far do you intend to keep feeling sorry? You didn’t just go off playing in the Black Sea, after all.”
“Then shall we? Hmm, anyway! If the day ever comes when I cross paths with those wayward brats again, I’ll make sure to give them a proper scolding.”
“Do you really think you’ll meet them again?”
“Well, I’ll grow old and die someday, so maybe we’ll meet in the afterlife.”
“Even if there is an afterlife, you and they will probably be in different places.”
“Is that so? Regardless, that’s how I feel. I’ll make sure to scold them—whenever we meet, no matter when.”
Jin laughed as he watched Luna dramatically clench her fist.
“You’ve told me plenty about yourself. Now, please tell me about you. What’s been going on in the Black Sea all this time?”