Chapter 880
Episode 220: Tireless (2)
“What’s going on?!”
The moment Luna unleashed her Shwaecheon technique, Jikalo Ramier—the Demon Lord inside the summoned Jinma Realm fortress—felt a shock ripple through him and shouted out.
“It’s an ambush, Lord Jikalo! The sentries spotted a giant toad and two knights. It seems the Sub-Lord of the Bow and… Baekgyeong are involved!”
Baekgyeong.
The First Rider of Runkandel, the one who recently killed Grand General Plex Kaluuga. Now, in the Jinma Realm, no demon was unaware of her name and reputation.
Jikalo briefly gauged the scale of the energy Luna was radiating. Just glimpsing that power sent a chill down his spine.
Rumble… Crash!
Luna’s energy battered the fortress walls like a tidal wave, soon to breach the inner defenses.
Jikalo, not one to become a Demon Lord by chance, made a swift decision.
“All forces except Grand Generals Villagul Ramier and Shikan Ten, evacuate immediately. Head to the Kalim garrison where Sakiel is stationed.”
“What? Lord Jikalo, what do you mean—”
“Did you not hear me? Evacuate!”
Crash! Boom!
Before he could finish, the entire front of the inner fortress was obliterated, and hundreds of razor-sharp sword energies poured in like a deadly storm.
Jikalo raised the greatsword beside his throne, blocking the incoming blades. The shockwave sent his aides flying in all directions.
“Ugh!”
“L-Lord Jikalo…!”
“By now, at least thirty percent of our troops are dead. With our current forces, anyone below Grand General rank is useless against her.”
His words were true. Luna’s Shwaecheon—a signature technique—had shattered the fortress walls and was now spreading sword energy throughout every corner inside, slaughtering demons indiscriminately.
Because it was her personal ultimate move, Luna’s Shwaecheon was even more enhanced. The sword energies pierced the ground and soared upward, never losing strength even when blocked or deflected. They moved like living creatures, relentlessly seeking new targets.
The sword energy Jikalo just blocked was no exception. After piercing the ceiling and bouncing outside the inner fortress, it had already turned back, raining down like deadly rain upon Jikalo and his aides.
Those who immediately understood Jikalo’s orders managed to dodge and survive, but those still stunned were swept away by the blades.
Jikalo swung his greatsword again, pushing back the sword energies. No matter what they struck inside the fortress, the blades remained fierce—but when they hit his greatsword, their power clearly diminished.
Still, only a handful of the hundreds of sword energies were weakened.
The fortress is beyond repair now. Jikalo thought grimly. But that doesn’t matter. If Lord Jito summons another fortress, we can start anew… The real problem is if we fail to kill that vicious human.
The area away from Jikalo’s position was already a ruin unworthy of the name fortress. Only the side where Villagul and Shikan, the two Grand Generals, waited was still somewhat intact—but not for long.
And this was only the beginning of Shwaecheon.
Feeling Luna’s overwhelming fighting spirit casting a dark shadow over the entire garrison, Jikalo stepped toward the gaping breach.
He saw Luna striding boldly through the broken walls into the inner fortress. The sword energies of Shwaecheon moved in sync with her steps, scattering demons who couldn’t escape like chopped meat.
Purple blood and flesh splattered wildly across the ground and air, yet not a single drop stained her black knight’s coat.
“How someone like you can be human is beyond me.”
“I don’t understand why those underground dwellers have come up to the surface to cause trouble. They seem to know how to fight, though. There aren’t many who can so casually deflect my Shwaecheon.”
“Jikalo Ramier, head of the Ramier family in the Jinma Realm and ruler of the Flame Zone.”
“No wonder you carried more weight than those so-called Grand Generals. You’re a Demon Lord after all. Luna Runkandel, First Rider of the Sword Clan.”
Just then, Grand Generals Villagul and Shikan broke through Shwaecheon and took positions below Jikalo. The demons trembled at Luna’s power, but she smiled faintly as if a good idea had just come to her.
“Oh… you two will make excellent experience points.”
“What did you say?”
“If you want to end your meaningless lives torn apart like insignificant bugs, come at me. But if you want to die fighting a proper battle, pass me and head to the rear. Someone will be waiting to welcome you.”
Villagul and Shikan didn’t understand her words. They were certainly insulted, but with Jikalo silent, they had no choice but to hold back.
They were also intimidated. Luna was literally unleashing her full power now, radiating a pressure far beyond when she took down Plex Kaluuga.
“Villagul, Shikan. Go deal with her.”
Jikalo knew how crucial it was to eliminate the Sub-Lord.
Even if he lost to Luna now, taking out the Sub-Lord would be a huge gain for the Jinma Realm. If they could capture Manbing in the process, the invasion of the surface world would leap forward dramatically.
With two Grand Generals, capturing the Sub-Lord is definitely possible. Baekgyeong must know this too… So she plans to kill me and aid the Sub-Lord? She’s gravely underestimating me.
Luna saw right through his thoughts.
“Well then, the battle lines are drawn. No need for more words. Come, Demon Lord Jikalo.”
As Jikalo leapt down from the fortress, Villagul and Shikan followed. Luna didn’t attack the Grand Generals as they nervously passed by, just as she promised.
More accurately, she didn’t even acknowledge them. Her focus and will were solely fixed on Jikalo.
Though she had mocked his fighting skills, Jikalo was one of the few worthy opponents in her eyes.
Demon Lord of the Flame Zone.
True to his title, Jikalo wielded fire. The moment he landed, the entire fortress was engulfed in flames, melting away the remaining energy of Shwaecheon.
Luna countered immediately with a meteor shower. The fiery ground clashed with the raining sword energies from above, turning the battlefield into a demonic realm in an instant.
Though she came to the battlefield burdened with the duties of Runkandel and the Balmel Alliance, and the heavy cause of protecting the world—
When axe and greatsword clashed, Luna felt a surge of exhilaration.
She thought of killing Jikalo, the Demon Lord, in this first strike, shattering one pillar of the demon realm and boosting the morale of her family and alliance.
It was also the thrill of growth.
Experience points.
What Luna told Siris just before the fight wasn’t only for Siris. Luna herself hadn’t yet fully unleashed or blossomed the experience she gained in the Black Sea. She knew this better than anyone, and to fully open that reservoir of growth, she needed a spark like Jikalo.
Thump, thump!
Every swing of her sword sent a wild sensation rippling through her heart and veins.
Luna had been a warrior since childhood. Though she had grown stronger through her youth, she often felt stuck, as if she’d hit a plateau.
At least in the Black Sea, she had clear growth, but survival there left no time to savor it.
Now, it felt like when she first learned to wield a sword as a novice—each day was different.
Demigod, one who ascended beyond the surface. The words people used to describe my father… is this what they meant? That he had begun to rise to the heavens.
She was finally beginning to transcend the surface. It was just the beginning, but if this continued, she would soon be among the heavens.
Luna recognized herself this way. Even as Jikalo’s blade grazed her face, she felt no threat.
Only a weak, desperate foe was struggling.
Thunk!
Krantel’s blade slammed down on Jikalo’s shoulder with a dull thud, more like a blunt strike than a cut.
That was how tough his body was. Protected by fire and demonic energy, few in the Jinma Realm could wound him properly.
Meanwhile, Luna’s blessed body—stronger than most—was covered in countless scratches. Each one could have been fatal if deeper.
But as time passed—
Minute by minute, second by second, even smaller fractions of time—
The number of times Jikalo’s blade touched Luna decreased, while the sound of Krantel’s axe-sword striking Jikalo grew sharper.
The dull thuds turned into the chilling sound of steel slicing flesh and bone. Jikalo couldn’t keep up with how quickly Luna’s blade sharpened.
Baekgyeong was definitely at full power from the start. It must have taken a long time to damage my body with that strength. But now… she’s growing?
It was a realm Jikalo couldn’t comprehend.
Only those who had never ascended to the pinnacle—or those like Luna who were on their way—could understand this state.
Before long, Zikalo no longer had the luxury of entertaining such thoughts. Luna’s sword had grown not just sharper, but more precise—almost artful in its deadly grace. Fire and magic could no longer serve as shields; standing before Luna now, Zikalo felt utterly exposed, defenseless in his bare flesh.
The greatsword he wielded felt as fragile as a twig in his hands. Meanwhile, his opponent remained the same—Luna Runkandel, the White Whale—and her grotesque axe-sword seemed capable of tearing through anything in existence.
“Is that all you’ve got to show me?”
Though the voice had come from behind him just moments ago, Zikalo swallowed hard and spun around sharply.
Luna’s face bore a look of pure curiosity as she half-slashed across Zikalo’s cheek. The wound healed instantly, but it was a reminder that some scars never truly fade.
“If you have nothing more, then it’s time to end this. But don’t be too disheartened to die by my hand. You were strong enough, Zikalo Ramier.”
While Luna faced off against Zikalo, Siris glared at the two generals, struggling to catch her breath.
From the very start of the battle, Siris had been on the defensive, overwhelmed by the combined assault of the two generals.
‘Are the first riders of Runkandel trying to help me grow, or are they trying to kill me…? I’m not even sure anymore. Is this really how it’s supposed to be…?’
Watching the generals unleash their magic once again, Siris spat out a mouthful of blood in frustration.