Chapter 905
Episode 228: The Fierce Battle at Grosh Castle (1)
After Ziphl and Kinzello each dispatched their fleets toward Grosh Castle, the Barmal Alliance held a continuous meeting, anxiously awaiting news. They needed confirmation that their fleets had truly begun the assault on Grosh Castle.
Though unlikely, if either force was repelled en route, their entire plan would collapse.
[Commander Gongja, we’ve received a transmission from the Golden Fleet. Ziphl’s fleet has begun attacking the rear defenses of Grosh Castle, and Kinzello’s fleet just arrived moments ago, taking position along the left flank. Once again, events are unfolding exactly as you predicted.]
“Understood, Lord Kashimir. Please inform them we will deploy shortly.”
[Yes, Commander Gongja. Wishing you good fortune.]
Now that the battle had begun, there was no turning back for Ziphl or Kinzello. Jin lowered his communicator and smiled.
“Ziphl’s on the rear, Kinzello on the left. That means we just need to pressure and break through the front line, which faces the barrier directly. The right flank will naturally fall under our and Ziphl’s joint responsibility.”
[Ziphl likely expects the same, Sovereign. Since our goals align, even if the fronts overlap, it won’t turn into a three-way conflict. But mutual caution is inevitable, so the right flank’s fighting will probably drag on the longest.]
“I agree. Ultimately, the breakthrough into the castle will start from one of the front, rear, or left defenses.”
“Heh, a competition, huh? I don’t want to lose, kid.”
“Same here. Normally, it’d be more strategic to test the waters and wait for others to break through first… but this time, we’ll be the first. Even if Ziphl and Kinzello hold back, we won’t.”
“Oh? So you’re saying we just go all out and slaughter everything without hesitation? I like that.”
Murakan chuckled in agreement, but Luet looked puzzled.
It was natural. This offensive was a rare alliance of three hostile factions united against a common enemy, so there was no need to rush to lead the charge.
[Sovereign, may I ask why you’ve come to that conclusion?]
“Because the record must show that it was none other than our Barmal Alliance who brought down Grosh Castle and ultimately shattered the Jinma Realm.”
Luet’s eyes widened.
[You mean you want to engrave in the minds of all Inse that it was us who saved this world from the underground?]
Of course, if Inse won the Jinma War, everyone would know that multiple great powers fought together.
But the greatest honor could only go to one faction—the one that broke through Grosh Castle and struck down Jito.
Jin believed that honor, like the one earned in the Hyungshin War, should belong to the Barmal Alliance again.
After all, they were the only ones fighting purely for ‘life,’ without ulterior motives like world purification through the Sun God’s resurrection or total domination via the Demon God Stone.
He didn’t want to hand that glory to Ziphl or Kinzello. They simply weren’t worthy.
“Besides, Ziphl’s Demon God Stone could suddenly strengthen at any moment. The more people know we’re fighting with everything we have for the world’s sake, the clearer the names of everyone here—including myself—and the power we wield will become.”
“That might just be wishful thinking.”
[No, it’s reality. Sovereign, you’re right. The greatest honor must be ours.]
“I suspect Veradin might be aware of this too. If the public believes Ziphl was the one who defeated the underground forces, it’ll be easier to manipulate history later.”
Jin stood, gathering his sword.
“Let’s go, Murakan.”
After the long meeting, it was decided that only Jin and Murakan would join the barrier frontline first. They would begin the breakthrough, and reinforcements would follow based on the Jinma Realm’s response.
Those seated rose and saluted Jin.
[Travel safely, Sovereign. I’ll contact the Golden Fleet again and tell them you’ll arrive at the front within five minutes.]
“See you on the battlefield in an hour, rookie. Come to think of it, this’ll be the first time you’ve fought since I trained you. You’re in for a surprise.”
“We’ll join the barrier as soon as we confirm no additional cracks appear.”
Jin and Murakan stepped into the garden.
“Murakan, this time there’s no retreat after just scouting Grosh Castle. Go wild.”
“Heh heh. Just what I wanted, kid. I’ve been itching to move since I recovered.”
In an instant, the Crimson Owl transported them to the front defense line of Grosh Castle.
“You feeling alright inside? No vomiting this time? Getting used to it?”
Murakan was about to say he’d held it in when suddenly the ship shook violently, jolted by a powerful impact.
Some of the Jinma Realm’s indiscriminate bombardment and magic, aimed at the barrier, had struck the Crimson Owl.
“Damn, no luck. They couldn’t have aimed at us while we were cloaked, but to hit the hull dead center… Still, Dr. Kwaul’s shield tech is impressive…”
“Ugh, krrrkkk!”
Unfortunately, Murakan couldn’t hold back and vomited violently, the ship’s shaking sending the mess flying everywhere.
Jin, focused like never before, dodged the spray with precise footwork. Thankfully, the dragon’s vomit didn’t stain his coat before the enemy’s blood could.
Normally, this would be a bad omen.
But when Jin glanced at Murakan’s expression, it was quite the opposite.
‘He’s pissed. Really pissed.’
Murakan was furious. Just as he was about to overcome the space jump sickness for the first time, enemy fire ruined it.
“Haha, hahahaha! These bastards. How did I even hold it in… They’re all dead now, for real.”
As the Crimson Owl’s invisibility faded, the Jinma Realm’s frenzied assault abruptly ceased.
“A small space jump ship… Jin Runkandel…!”
“Jin Runkandel has breached! All units, target the small ship!”
A brilliant white signal flare shot up above the Crimson Owl, announcing to allied forces at the barrier that Jin and Murakan had arrived.
“The commander is here!”
[Our commander has arrived! Kwaul, order all units: open fire to maximum and blast everything!]
“Hey, that position! Even cloaked, the Crimson Owl will get hit! I’m the one who has to fix that! Damn it! All fleets, hold fire! While the enemy targets the commander, we’ll pour every shot and spell straight into their hearts!”
Unlike the Jinma Realm, the Barmal Alliance intensified their assault, fully expecting Jin to avoid damage. This was a prearranged tactic.
Of course, focusing all fire on the Crimson Owl was a mistake by the Jinma Realm. They didn’t expect to kill Jin with bombardment—they just desperately wanted to destroy the Crimson Owl. It wasn’t a bad judgment, just a desperate one.
Soon, Jin and Murakan leapt out, and the Crimson Owl began a series of rapid space jumps to pre-set coordinates.
Once beside the initial jump point, then forward, then into the heart of the Jinma Realm’s front defense…
In just over ten seconds, the Crimson Owl sowed chaos among the enemy before smoothly making its final jump to Tikan.
That brief window was enough to disrupt the balance of the ongoing long-range bombardment by allied forces, including the Golden Fleet.
Jin and Murakan weren’t idle either.
Skillfully dodging the dense barrage of allied fire and magic, they destroyed the Jinma Realm’s flagship vessels at the front line.
Jin didn’t use any special finishing move or sword technique—just a powerful slash that cleaved through enemy flagships and troops alike. Murakan, transformed into his true form, lashed out with his massive claws, tail, and wings, his every movement sweeping away enemies, defenses, and ships like fallen leaves.
Crack, crunch, slash!
They looked like giants invading an anthill. Every small motion dealt devastating blows to the demons defending the line.
“Lord Crabs! We need the Demon Lords and Grand Generals to intervene. The regular troops can’t handle this!”
The Grand General called Crabs couldn’t even finish listening to his subordinate’s plea before a sudden black darkness swallowed the man.
It was Murakan’s spiritual energy—Black Shackles, massive black spikes piercing through everything like pillars of a grand temple.
‘I must request support from Lord Sachiel…!’
Boom! Ssshhh!
Before Crabs could finish his thought, he too was engulfed by darkness. Every demon aboard his ship vanished. The same happened to nearby vessels.
[Filthy Jinma Realm vermin, you will pay for enraging Murakan. How dare you interfere with this historic moment… Have you all gone mad, trusting Jito so blindly? What do you take me for?!]
Hearing Murakan’s voice, the demons were on the verge of demanding what exactly they had interfered with—but before any of them could speak, death claimed them.
In an instant, the two of them annihilated the vanguard of the defensive line and turned their swords and black chains toward the Demon Lords positioned behind.
“Looks like there are some Demon Lords mixed in from here on out. So they were using the weaker ones as shields? Or have they just lost their edge after such a long battle?”
Whoosh!
Bradamante was engulfed in fierce blue flames.
“Either way, since you’ve crossed paths with me, you’re nothing but ashes now. Consider it an honor to die by this blade. It’s going to be a pretty painful death…”
As Jin unleashed the fiery technique of the cursed sword, the Demon Lords hastily pulled out chunks of Jito’s flesh from their robes. But the flames of the technique surged forward without giving them even a moment to break down and absorb the flesh.
Amid the raging inferno that blotted out the sky, the demons could only sense the inevitability of their demise.