Chapter 898
Episode 225: An Unwanted Reunion (3)
Jin’s eyes narrowed sharply. A single drop of blood trickled down his cheek.
In the past, Anne could never have left even a scratch on Jin—not even during the time she embraced the power of chaos.
“Huh?”
Jin was momentarily speechless, stunned beyond belief. Anne stood up, smiling, but there was a different kind of madness radiating from her now—calm, calculated, and sinister.
“What the hell is that?” Murakan, who had been busy punishing Sikher, glanced over at Jin and Anne in surprise.
‘What the hell is going on with that guy…?’
Even Sikher, who had only seen Anne as a hostage, was wide-eyed with shock. The strange energy emanating from Anne far surpassed the demonic aura of the Demon Lord himself.
“Looks like you’re pretty surprised, little one,” Jin said coolly, quickly piecing together the situation.
‘Tillyas and Misol wouldn’t have pulled something this shallow when they gave me intel on my brothers. There must be something Biceps doesn’t know.’
Biceps had only learned through spies that Lagal had secured the brothers, so it made sense.
“This is the most unexpected thing I’ve seen in a while, Anne. I always thought you were dumb, but I never imagined you could pull off such a brilliant act.”
“Oh, I was dumb back then… which is why I couldn’t crush you when you were young. That’s something I regret. If I’d been as clever as you, none of this would have happened. You’d be thriving, and I wouldn’t be living like a worthless bug, doomed to hell.”
“Well, I thought maybe you’d had a change of heart, but it seems you’re still as deluded as ever.”
“Haha, I’ve never been clearer-headed.”
A pale energy gathered in Anne’s left hand, forming a new sword. Back when she was a Runcandel rider, she wielded twin swords.
‘When I approached Anne, I didn’t sense any aura at all… so that’s why she formed her weapon like that.’
While it was possible to hide murderous intent, Jin couldn’t conceal the aura of a hidden sword from someone like himself. That was why he hadn’t noticed Anne’s true nature before.
‘And that energy… it’s foreign, but definitely magic.’
Jin was one of the world’s foremost experts on magic, but he’d never heard of magic that could create physical objects like swords.
Sure, forming a sword shape from aura or magical energy was possible, but the magic Anne wielded perfectly replicated the texture of ancient eternal steel.
Judging by the form of the magic, it wasn’t a summoning. Anne had literally created a weapon from magic.
Perhaps it was a form of “creation” magic—undoubtedly a power granted by Lokia.
“Well, we’ll see about that. And you came back from hell just to become someone who worries me? Still no confidence you can beat me? Pathetic.”
“Ah, now I’m finally able to face reality. I’ve gotten stronger, sure, but how could I possibly kill you alone? No matter how strong I get, Anne Runcandel is still Anne Runcandel.”
“Don’t use the Runcandel name anymore. As head of the family, I’m warning you—take this seriously.”
“Haha, so now that I’m head of the family, you want to get under my skin? Well, you succeeded. I’m so pissed off I could go crazy. I never even dreamed of that position. Anyway, I guess I’m too scared to keep using the Runcandel name now. But it’s fine—I’ve got a new surname anyway.”
“A new surname?”
“The one given to me by the person who made me this way. Well, more accurately, I realized my true name thanks to my awakening.”
Suddenly, Jin recalled a conversation with Dante from the past. After the Battle of the Evil Gods and hearing Padler’s last words, they had talked about Quaul.
“He’s a genius, no doubt. But I’m a little worried.”
“Is it because he’s also a descendant of Ganesto, like the Evil Gods?”
“Yes. If Padler’s last words are true, Dr. Quaul might one day become Ganesto’s puppet. And maybe… this applies to us riders, the children of the Evil Gods. We too carry some of Ganesto’s blood.”
“That’s a terrible thought. But somehow, I don’t think it concerns you and the other riders. If Lokia Ganesto could have influenced your inner selves, the Battle of the Evil Gods wouldn’t have ended the way it did.”
“Lokia Ganesto, huh.”
Jin said it deliberately, as if testing Anne. She smiled knowingly, as if she had no intention of hiding it.
“You’re smart, as always. Yes, Anne Ganesto—that’s my new name. And I am the one who kills the twisted Runcandels… It was my fate from the start. This was my destiny, even before I was born.”
Swish…
Jin slowly drew his sword.
“Thanks to you, everything’s become clearer.”
Lokia had long been suspected of betraying the family during his teenage years as a knight, and Anne’s recent shocking transformation had unsettled Jin.
But now, Lokia’s betrayal was confirmed, and Anne had become an even greater villain through that power.
‘The other brothers said to be in hell must have changed like Anne. Our enemies have multiplied.’
Anne steadied herself, drawing more energy. Her wild yet powerful aura distorted the surrounding debris, lifting it into the air.
The two charged at each other, swinging their swords simultaneously. The ground beneath them cracked and twisted from the shockwave.
“Ugh, heavy. Even heavier than Luna’s sword in my memory. No wonder I can’t win.”
Anne was immediately pushed back by Jin’s relentless strikes.
Though Anne had suddenly gained superhuman combat power, she was no match for Jin. She could only manage a fight that resembled a skirmish.
Jin fought with ease, as if testing her. Within seconds, shallow cuts began to appear across Anne’s body, and Jin gradually increased his speed.
Anne bled red blood, just like before her corruption by chaos.
‘No reinforcements seem to be coming, and she has no super-regeneration like when she was corrupted. Yet she doesn’t seem to fear death at all. Either she can revive after dying… or she has a sure way to escape.’
Jin was certain he couldn’t kill Anne here.
Anne already knew about Jin’s most unique power, “Eternalization.” She must have also received information about Murakan’s ultimate technique, Dark Jin’s Arrival, from Lokia.
Lokia had already rescued Anne from hell through some ability and awakened her. Whatever the case, he must have prepared for Anne’s death or disappearance. After all, the reason he turned Jin’s brothers into what they are was because he needed them for his own goals.
‘Even if not today, I’ll find a way and deal with them all—Anne, the other brothers who changed like her, and Lokia Ganesto…’
“Graaah!”
Sikher’s agonized scream echoed. Murakan redirected the power he had been pouring into Sikher straight at Anne.
He was furious at Lokia’s betrayal.
“Anne!”
A fierce black chain slammed down onto Anne’s back. She was too preoccupied with Jin to dodge or block it properly.
“Ugh!”
As soon as Anne’s stance faltered, Jin plunged his sword deeper into her waist. Anne clutched at her spilling organs, screaming in pain.
Jin hadn’t even used his full strength, and it was already hard for Anne to withstand his sword. With Murakan joining in, it was basically over.
“Tell me—what exactly has Lokia been up to? From the moment you first met Temar, from the moment you set foot in the family, was there another purpose all along?”
“Ah, sorry, Black Dragon Murakan. It’s hard to answer when my insides are about to fall out.”
Despite her body breaking apart, Anne showed no sign of shrinking back. Seeing that, Murakan realized she wouldn’t die today and cooled his head.
“Betraying your comrades, revealing your true colors after a thousand years, and the first person you send is someone like you? Whatever Lokia’s scheme is, things look grim. Tch.”
Murakan landed on the ground and spoke.
Anne barely supported her trembling legs, glancing between Jin and Murakan. She coughed up blood, her waist bending with each spasm.
“Hoo, huh… Your words are harsh, for someone who died a thousand years ago without knowing anything. But then… how could you understand Ganesto’s ideals? You’re just obsessed with survival and prosperity!”
Suddenly, Anne’s voice changed. It sounded like Lokia’s voice from the painting in Keitam’s chamber.
She gasped for breath, then calmed herself and looked at Jin again.
“Next time I show myself to you, I’ll pick an opponent worthy of my level… so I don’t lose my body so easily like this. You’re still my brother’s responsibility. He inherited much stronger blood and will than I did. You can count on him, little one.”
Jin let out a short laugh.
“Have you already forgotten what you said yourself? No matter how strong you’ve become, Anne is still Anne, and Joshua is still Joshua. Cut the nonsense and tell Lokia Ganesto this: I know your weakness. If you keep acting up, you’ll end up in a far worse state than you are now.”
“Heh, such a shallow lie. Doesn’t suit you.”
“You must have heard that some of the expedition members recently returned from the Black Sea. My father sent me a message through them—about Ganesto. Once you report this to Lokia, you’ll understand what I mean.”
At those words, Anne’s eyes flickered for the first time. The tremor was so subtle that Murakan might not have noticed it, but Jin caught it without fail.
It could have been a simple eye spasm caused by physical strain—such things had happened during their conversation. But the moment Jin mentioned Siron and the Black Sea, the timing of the twitch seemed less coincidental. He leaned toward the idea that Anne was faintly unsettled.
‘Damn it, I can’t beat him with words any more than I can with fists. There’s no way he actually knows the secrets of the Black Sea and Ganesto…’
Anne muttered this to himself, shaking his head.
“It’s time to part ways. Let’s not cross paths again, kid. I’ll make sure to avoid you. And say hello to your brothers for me. If you ever think about defecting, you’re always welcome. After all, we were all born from the same ship.”
Pssshhh…
With that, Anne’s body rapidly dissolved into white particles. It was another strange kind of magic, and soon the particles scattered in all directions, vanishing without a trace.
“I hoped that wasn’t true… Lokia, huh… sigh Hey, kid. What was that about Lokia’s weakness?”
“Obviously, it was a made-up lie. I just wanted to see if Anne would react. The deepest part of the Black Sea is more mysterious than the underworld itself, and since my father is the one exploring it, it sounded plausible that he’d have information about Ganesto. Anne probably thought he was hiding something, but it showed.”
“It showed? I didn’t notice.”
“I’m just a bit sharper than you, I guess. I do feel a little guilty for betraying my father without permission. Anyway, judging by Anne’s reaction, there’s a good chance Lokia does have a weakness—probably something connected to the Black Sea.”