Chapter 954
Episode 235. Jito (3)

The moment Elona arrived in Hell, she moved toward the place where the strongest energy was felt.

There, she discovered the dimensional gate leading to Jito’s dwelling. Unlike when Jin had entered, the gate was closed, but Elona forcibly opened it and faced the Abyss beyond.

From that abyss, she could sense colossal beings locked in battle. Naturally, Elona assumed this was connected to Veradin, and leaving Salion behind, she decided to cross the abyss alone.

That was how Elona ended up here.

Both Jin and Jito looked up at Elona, momentarily speechless. Of the two, Jito was especially shocked.

‘Jin Runkandel wasn’t affected at all by facing the Abyss—that was shocking enough. But now, someone’s actually torn through the Abyss to get here? Damn it! Why me?’

For Jito, this was a string of incomprehensible events. The outer dimensional gate had already been closed when Jin was brought in.

So, without the witch’s help, it should take at least ten days for anyone to reach this place. He never imagined someone would cross the Abyss itself to come here.

[You’re Elona Ziphl, right? Our family head isn’t here, so just turn back. Got it? Don’t go poking around for no reason…]

Crack!

Elona cut off Jito’s words, extending her staff. Magic spread around Jito, binding him tightly, then crushed him as if squeezing a fist.

The magic, spreading like a net, kept contracting, turning Jito’s body into pieces. Elona immediately realized that wouldn’t be enough to kill him.

“Demon Lord Jito, I’m not in the mood for games. If your family head isn’t here, tell me where he is.”

[Gah! Ugh!]

“If you don’t speak now, I will erase you and this entire space without a trace.”

[Ha! You’re fiery, huh? But are you crazy? Coming into someone else’s home and causing a ruckus like this?]

“Don’t you know?”

[Ah, now that you say that, I don’t feel like telling you even if I did.]

Elona tossed Jito’s body aside with magic and turned her gaze to Jin.

“Jin Runkandel, do you know?”

“Harsh.”

“I told you I’m not joking.”

“Neither am I. Elona Ziphl, I wanted to meet you once, but I never expected it would be under these circumstances. And I don’t know where Veradin is. I’ve never met him since coming down to Hell.”

“You don’t radiate any family head’s magic, so that sounds true.”

“But isn’t it obvious? Keliak Ziphl is in Hell. Veradin is probably involved with him. That’s why he used the family head’s staff to summon you.”

[But our fiery friend here got lost and ended up coming this way, huh?]

Jito, who had reformed his body, spoke again, licking his lips as if savoring a delicious meal.

[I was going to let you go, but since you hit me first, I’m in a bad mood now.]

Jito genuinely felt burdened the moment he saw Elona. Facing two Changsung at once was something he had never experienced.

But the moment Elona attacked and ‘made contact,’ Jito realized she wasn’t as immune to mental pain as Jin was. Her expressionless face trembled slightly.

[Since you’re here, let’s die together, Elona Ziphl. Veradin’s already dead at Keliak’s hands, so what good is it if you live longer?]

“The family head… was defeated by Keliak Ziphl?”

[Yeah, yeah. He’s gone. You just have to follow.]

“I won’t believe it until I see it with my own eyes.”

[Believe it or not, that’s your choice. I’m just telling the truth as the ruler of Hell.]

“That’s a lie, Elona Ziphl.”

Jin also noticed Elona struggling the moment she made contact with Jito. Unlike other Changsung, Elona hadn’t gained her power through training and will alone, so it was natural in some ways.

[Is it really a lie? The Veradin Ziphl I know is definitely dead. I can’t sense any of his energy from Keliak’s side.]

“You don’t have to try so hard to hide your pain. Both Jito and I have already figured out your weakness. That’s why Jito suddenly wants to kill you.”

Shiiit! Purple thorns formed behind Elona. Though they couldn’t pierce her shield, she couldn’t react immediately.

She was awake but trapped in a nightmare. Jito’s mental assault relentlessly echoed agonizing memories from a thousand years ago in her mind.

Days when she massacred innocent people as a weapon of her family’s war, destroying the lands they lived on.

Days when she was betrayed by the family she trusted, subjected to torture and mental manipulation—those memories filled her vision.

Thanks to the powerful magical shield she had erected, she suffered no physical harm for now. But if she remained unresponsive, the shield would inevitably break.

Jin leapt forward and took a position beside Elona.

“I have a proposal for you. Fight alongside me against Jito.”

“What are you talking about all of a sudden?”

“The great forces of Inse came here to defeat Jito. But somehow, I ended up facing him alone. I was just about to get a chance to kill him but lacked the strength. Then you arrived.”

“But I have to save the family head.”

“If we don’t kill Jito here and now, Inse will be destroyed. Veradin will die in agony, and you alone can’t protect him from that monster. The Demon Stone? That dreadful thing that might never be completed won’t help for now.”

[What are you whispering about? Weren’t you two enemies? Now you’re acting all friendly.]

Thorns sprouted all around them again. Elona noticed how Jin casually brushed them aside.

‘Temar…? I think I went through something similar with him. Ugh… my head’s about to explode.’

Elona squeezed her eyes shut and clutched her head.

“Focus and listen to me, Elona. This pain is nothing compared to the power you possess.”

“I’m not the only one who will protect the family head. The entire family will stand together.”

“Most of the Ziphl leadership now are the ones who experimented with mental manipulation to use Veradin. Do you really think they’ll fight for him in the worst moments? You’ll probably have to protect him alone.”

“…Anyway, the family head’s safety is my top priority. With my abilities, I can pierce the Abyss again and find him.”

“Jito won’t just stand by and watch. Even if he did, that’s a future without hope. And don’t worry too much about Veradin. If he’s really fighting Keliak, my guardian dragon will be protecting him.”

“Murakan? Why would he protect the family head?”

“Because he knows better than anyone that Veradin is my closest friend. No matter what, Murakan won’t kill Veradin or let him die. And Murakan has almost fully regained his prime strength.”

That wasn’t something the head of the Runkandel family would say.

Yet, somehow, Elona found comfort in Jin’s words. Veradin had never called Jin a friend, but Elona always felt he was aware of him.

“So, for now, let’s defeat Jito and then find Veradin together. I’m worried about him too.”

The nightmares and hallucinations worsened. Elona could endure physical pain, but the guilt from her past tormented her—something she could never overcome.

She couldn’t tell what the right choice was. Whether to accept the enemy leader’s offer or to start moving again to save Veradin.

“Follow your heart, Elona. At least you must have sensed one thing—I am not someone who would harm Veradin.”

Elona opened her eyes.

Her vision was still blurred by hallucinations. In the darkness before her, Jin’s back shone like a lone star.

‘In darkness, you have to follow the light.’

A memory surfaced.

It was something Temar said to her a thousand years ago. She couldn’t recall why he said it, but the feeling was vivid.

“…Alright. I’ll accept your offer.”

Jin smiled.

“Excellent choice, Elona Ziphl. Now, place your hand on my back.”

“My hand?”

“I don’t know exactly why either. But I think if you do, I can share some of your pain. The hallucinations you’re seeing have been partially transmitted to me. Probably because the memories tormenting you are connected to Runkandel.”

Elona lowered the shield she had raised ahead and approached Jin. Seeing him up close, she flinched.

Until just now, Jin had been taking on almost all the thorns alone to protect her. His entire body was covered in blood. When she reached out to touch his back, warm blood soaked her palm and the back of her hand.

And just as Jin said, like a fog lifting—

Elona felt the hallucinations clouding her vision begin to fade. The painful memories were passing over to Jin, like a cursed spirit transferring.

‘If this keeps up, Jin Runkandel will suffer even more…!’

But Jin still stood firm and unyielding, like an ancient tree.

“I’m fine,” he said.

Compared to the debt he felt as someone who had returned to this world, the pain and torment were just fleeting moments.

If Elona was the worst match-up against Jito, then Jin was the exact opposite.

“Think you can fight properly now?”

Elona nodded.

“What do you want me to do?”

“Just tear him apart however you can. As you can see, he’s tough. When the right moment comes, I’ll finish him off. Can you handle that?”

Elona tapped her staff lightly on the ground.

Immediately, magical energy surged throughout the pocket dimension, forming a massive storm. The thorns Jito had been constantly generating in all directions were swept away by the magical tempest, shattering the moment they emerged.

“Sadly, that’s my specialty,” Elona said with a wry smile.

Jito scowled as he watched Elona’s magic tighten around him.

[Ugh, I hate you two so much.]