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***
The Poison Demon Castle of True Demon World.
"It seems the fire of hatred has ignited."
Kelliark Zipfel remarked as he set down his teacup.
Normally, this was a moment when he should have smiled, as Paellito had indeed used the chaos energy marble filled with fire of hatred as planned.
Now Paellito would start to transform into the evil god, and in the process, it will devour Zito’s eye and merge with it. Everything was proceeding as Kelliark had planned.
They would take care of Paellito in one go and weaken Zito in the process.
However, the problem is that an unexpected variable has emerged.
[Seems like everything is going as you planned, Sir. But you seem somewhat disappointed... Am I right, Sir Kelliark?] Kimalos Zipfel spoke.
He was 40th patriarch of Zipfel, and was given a new body thanks to Kelliark.
Sitting beside Kimalos were other resurrected mages and Kidard Hall. They all watched Kelliark closely.
"It seems you haven't fully regained your senses of that time yet, Sir Kimalos. Have you not felt it?"
"Felt what...?"
"Jin Runcandel. He has become the Genesis Knight."
The eyes of those who were listening widened. In particular, Kidard Hall was unable to contain his anger and was trembling. The fact that Jin had become the Genesis knight meant that his revenge was now forever out of reach.
[Huh, the young patriarch of the sword clan has risen to the Genesis knight!?]
"That's right. So we can't simply rejoice... No, you could say that the situation has become worse. Rather than using Paellito, I should have staged a decisive battle between Zito and Jin Runcandel before he ascended to the Genesis knight."
For Kelliark, Jin's rise to Genesis knight was more than unsettling. Jin had always been a variable for him even before becoming the Genesis knight.
[All we can hope for now is that he faces irreparable damage while dealing with the evil god Paellito or Zito... I guess.]
Kelliark stood up from his seat, and the others followed suit looking at him.
"I am going to meet with the members of Ganesto. It seems it's time to rethink our strategies."
***
Zipfel, Drakka.
Elona had also been observing the change in Jin.
"...lord patriarch, the young patriarch of the sword clan has reached the Genesis knight."
Veradin felt joy before anything else upon hearing those words. Jin becoming Genesis knight meant that he wouldn't die in this battle.
Veradin hid his emotions and made eye contact with Elona. She had been keenly aware of the changes occurring within Veradin.
"Furthermore, as I expected, a colossal and ominous power has also awakened. If Jin Runcandel hadn't reached the Genesis knight, the Holy Kingdom would have likely perished by now. After that, they would have set their sights on other regions of the human world. I would have had to leave behind you with your cursed body in order to prevent that…... Undoubtedly, we would have suffered a significant blow."
Elona vividly recalled all these scenarios as though they had actually happened just like the precognitive dreams that Az-Mil’s contractors tend to have.
In that case, Veradin thought he might have fallen into despair and become a monster after being submerged in the inner demon. She might have needed to kill such a Veradin to stop it.
‘...I would have fallen into terrible grief once again, too. Driven by the pain of killing the patriarch, I might have become a monster like before and mindlessly destroyed everything in sight, just like in the past.’
All that unhappy future had been changed by one person who had just reached Genesis knight.
Internally, Elona praised Jin. He had erased another source of despair from the world by transcending his fate, for Zipfel and for the world.
"So, Lady Elona, do you now think that the ominous entity will be defeated by Jin Runcandel, who has become Genesis knight?"
"Yes, patriarch. That ominous entity is undoubtedly formidable to the point where even I would find it challenging, but it is not yet complete. It will require time to reach full strength, whereas Jin Runcandel is already at his peak."
Veradin smiled without realizing it. That smile had mixed feelings of frustration, worry, and a peculiar sense of relief.
"I will need time to catch up to him... No, can I even catch up to him?"
"Please don't be too impatient as long as I'm here, patriarch. From my experience, strength is just a tool. No matter how strong you are, if you don't know how to use it, it's as good as nothing."
"But I believe Jin Runcandel will not remain ignorant. I have never seen someone who knows what they want better than he does."
"Power of Genesis knight is always accompanied by demonic nature, and that power may not be suitable for your current condition, patriarch. Let’s concentrate on dispelling the curse for now."
"Whether it's a sense of defeat or something else... It's been a while since I've felt this peculiar sensation."
Veradin and Elona continued to discuss the situation, taking into account the changed circumstances brought about by Jin reaching the Genesis knight.
"Do you dislike it?" Elona asked, and Veradin pondered for a while before shaking his head.
"Not entirely."
He didn't voice out the sense of longing he felt. Veradin was reminiscing about how he had competed terms with Jin and Dante in his teenage years.
***
“You are definitely strong.”
Human world, confined subspace.
A woman looked down at the ground and spoke. The battlefield was filled with the corpses of dragons fallen in the prolonged battle, and amidst them stood a man bathed in their blood.
Lucy Runcandel and Joshua Ganesto.
Both of them showed no signs of fatigue. Lucy was unable to participate in the battle directly, and Joshua had been facing Lucy's dragons alone.
"You've probably awakened the power of Ganesto's blood... That power doesn't suit you. No matter how strong you become, it can never truly be yours."
"You've been spouting nonsense since earlier. How many more of your dragons do I need to kill to make you reveal your true form? Are you going to keep hiding, even after witnessing the deaths of so many dragons that consider you their mother? Lucy Runcandel."
As Joshua spoke, Lucy wasn't physically present in this place. The translucent body currently floating in the sky was merely a projection, not her actual body.
"I had no choice but to leave this place temporarily because of your persistent pursuit. I couldn't protect my children from the pain they were enduring. However, thanks to Human world, I've realized one thing."
"What have you realized?"
“Just now, your youngest brother and the distant descendant of me and Runcandel from that time, has finally set foot on the domain Temar had reached.”
".... What did you say?"
Joshua's eyes sharpened.
He hadn't been aware of the moment when Jin ascended to the Genesis knight.
"You wouldn't have sensed that fact even if this place weren't a confined subspace. So that power isn't yours."
Joshua raised his head once more, his expression returning to its calm demeanor.
"You're mistaken. From the start, whether this power is entirely mine or not is of no importance. This power belongs to all of Ganesto. What matters is that all the dragons here today will meet their end. Keep running if you're scared, Lucy Runcandel. Run until not a single dragon remains to protect you."
The moment Joshua responded in that manner, light appeared in Lucy's eyes.
The fallen dragons were rising again every time the light-filled gaze touched them. Shadows of the dragons rapidly enveloped Joshua.
"If you truly want to kill my dragons, then go and tell Lokia. It's impossible unless she comes in person. Don't think I'd be afraid of the likes of you, a descendant who has gained power through the awakening of Ganesto's blood."
***
The Black Sea.
Chiron suddenly stopped walking. The members of the expedition team also stopped in their tracks after sensing the change in Chiron's demeanor.
"Ho-ho..."
Chiron wore a smile as if he had just thought of something amusing.
Ozdock and the members of the expedition team were no longer surprised by Chiron's smiles. After overcoming his demonic nature, he had often shown a lighthearted demeanor, cracking jokes and smiling during their journey through this dark land.
[Should I prepare a meal, old man? Or maybe Ozdock's signature full-body massage to relieve your fatigue? Ozdock's entertaining contest? Please, just give me any command.]
"I thought for sure the eldest one would reach there first, but that fellow again gave me a refreshing shock."
[Excuse me? Old man, what are you talking about?]
"A big occasion has come to the clan."
[Big occasion?]
"Patriarch, no way... could it be that the Young Patriarch has reached the Genesis knight?"
"Yes, indeed. I always thought it would happen someday, but I never thought he would surpass his eldest sister."
The members of the expedition team blinked their bewildered eyes.
They were unable to sense the birth of a new Genesis Knight like Chiron. Moreover, the fact that one clan had two Genesis Knights in the same generation was nearly inconceivable.
What's more, based on what Chiron had said, it didn't seem like it would stop at just two. Chiron was confident that Luna would also become the Genesis knight.
If that were to happen, the Runcandel clan would possess a total of three Genesis Knights.
It was a power that no other faction in history had ever possessed. Even in the prime of the Plutonian Tribe led by Vahn, there was only one Genesis knight.
[Oh my, old man! I congratulate you…..! Gen, Genesis Knight! This means that Runcandel is getting closer to conquering the world! Kya. Just thinking about it brings tears to my eyes.]
"Hahaha!"
[Hahaha!]
"Hahaha!"
[Kyahahaha!]
"Hmm."
Chiron suddenly stopped laughing and his expression changed. Ozdock became tense and swallowed hard.
"Reaching the Genesis knight became a common thing in this era."
[Old man? What do you mean?]
"That's probably because me, my children, and Runcandel have to accomplish something that no one or any faction has been able to achieve until now."
It was true that he was happy. His fully grown youngest son had finally ascended to the Genesis knight and will protect the clan, and there was nothing more joyful than that.
However, with that joy came worry. What his youngest son will have to endure in the future will be the same as what he has endured until now.
Perhaps even heavier than that.
"Ozdock."
[Yes, old man!]
"I need to send a letter to the clan. Prepare for it. This might be the last opportunity I have to contact the clan, probably until we've taken care of all the kings of the Black Sea."
Amazing