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[Oh, let's see how well you can mimic Sun Splitter in such a short time. We'll be back, kid.]
"All right."
The three of them set off.
Jin immediately walked towards the dimensional portal leading to Zito's residence. The demonic energy emanating from the portal intensified rapidly as he got closer.
However, that dense demonic energy couldn't penetrate Jin's golden energy that surrounded him. The demonic energy evaporated like morning dew when it came into contact with his energy.
"As expected, it's uncomfortable to have three swords hanging at my waist."
Jin unsheathed Bascala.
Bascala was a sword that, in itself, was equivalent to gaining authority. However, Jin had no intention of using Bascala for its intended purpose.
He had no desire to wield three swords, and the issue of the demonic energy imbued in the sword posed a problem when any member of alliance wanted to use it.
He had even considered sending it to Picon to see if there was a way to remove the demonic energy.
Picon said it is possible, but if he removed the demonic energy, Bascala would become no more than an ordinary sword.
Therefore, the only value Bascala held to Jin was as a key.
'A sword used as a key...'
-...Barisada, the patriarch’s sword. The fake Murakan is after that.
-Huh? Barisada? What would the fake guy want with that? What could he use it for?
-In the past, Solderet told the patriarch that Barisada wasn't just a sword, but also a key that led to somewhere.
Jin suddenly remembered Frey's words from Kaytam’s painting.
‘The world in the painting was in a corrupted state at that time. So the information that Barisada was a key might be an error, but it still bothers me. If only I could meet Father once. There are so many things I want to ask, hear, and show him.’
It was a problem that couldn't be solved right away.
Jin hurled Bascala toward the massive floating dimensional portal.
Crack!
A sharp cracking sound spread, and the space near the dimensional portal began to warp chaotically. The shockwave was so intense that it felt like an earthquake, yet the land beneath Jin remained still and undisturbed.
Kaboom!
Before long, the dimensional portal split open, and a spherical object emerged from within. The sphere soared high and enveloped the dimensional portal like a protective shield.
[Whew... ]
The demonic energy emanating from the protective shield formed a mist, and the vague forms of the demon gods began to appear one by one within that mist.
There were five in total.
Two of them had gigantic bodies like castles and covered the sky, and the other three looked similar to other high-ranking demons.
[What refreshing air... It's been a while since I have seen the outside world.]
[It seems it wasn't Paellito who found this place, considering that we've awakened.]
Jin briefly examined them and focused his attention on two of the demon gods who emitted familiar aura.
"Hey there, blue-horned guy, and melting... Well, there's no other way to describe it. Softly melting away guy."
Jin had already experienced the powers of these two demon gods when he fought Paellito. So he could recognize them immediately. The blue-horned one was Bisaro of ageing, while the melting one was the Plague God Tsuzak.
[Could it be that you called me and Bisaro?]
"Yeah. It’s nice to see you, I have some memorable experiences thanks to you."
The demon gods felt uneasy at Jin's nonchalant attitude, as if he were on a casual stroll in the neighborhood.
The intelligence and insight of demon gods had deteriorated to levels even lower than those of ordinary humans after being imprisoned in Bascala for a long time. However, they could still sense it.
How formidable the human standing before them is.
[...Memorable experiences? Ah, could it be that our recently brought out powers from Bascala attacked you?]
"Yes."
Swoosh...
Jin slowly drew Sigmund.
The golden energy swirling nearby converged around the sword and transformed into sharp lightning bolts. Jin named this transformed golden energy 'Golden lightning.'
Hedo had given it a name, just like he did during the eternal flame.
Hedo felt immensely proud when Jin reached the Genesis knight and named the newly created technique from Plutonian Swordsmanship, “Golden Lightning Technique.”
[...The power of the Plutonians? It's somewhat different from what we remember, but it's shocking in many ways, human.]
"I even considered sparing you if you could be of help to True Demon World in the future, but judging by your condition, that seems unlikely."
[Hehe... I suppose you can see it, can't you? Our madness.]
"It would have been strange not to fall into madness after being sealed for so long. Still, I should be a worthy opponent for you. You were all once referred to as the rulers of the Demon World before being defeated by Zito and Paellito."
[It’s not that much, but it's an honor! We are ultimately destined to rot within the Bascala and be reduced to beings worse than beasts. Before that happens, it's an honor to be defeated by a great human's sword.]
Tsuzak placed his right hand over his chest and bowed his head slightly. The other gods followed Tsuzak's lead. Tsuzak was the most powerful demon god before Zito, making him the de facto leader.
[Unfortunately, we are so weakened that we won't be able to stimulate you in any way, but understand this. Our body has been bound for far too long within Bascala.]
Since the other side had offered the gesture of respect first, Jin lightly nodded in response.
"What an unexpected reception. I won't refuse your courtesy."
[Very well. Then, wait for a moment...!]
Whoosh!
Suddenly, Tsuzak punched the chest of another demon god standing next to him.
The punch pierced through the chest and the body was consumed by the plague in an instant. The body melted away and gradually absorbed into Tsuzak.
Tsuzak then leaped high into the air and swallowed the two massive demon gods just as he had done with the others.
The demon gods who were swallowed by Tsuzak did not resist in the slightest.
[They are already under my control. It would be discourteous to attack you in a group, don't you think?]
However, he did not absorb Bisaro. Instead, he pushed Bisaro aside as soon as he landed to the ground.
Jin understood Tsuzak's intentions and nodded.
"It seems like you want to leave one demon god who is in relatively good condition. You must cherish True Demon World more than Zito, after all."
[Khikhi.]
Tsuzak's eyes glowed as he formed swords in both hands.
The swords he created were also constantly melting away, just like Tsuzak's body. There was no reason for Tsuzak's swords to be sharp. Anyone they touched would become a slave to the plague, no matter how strong they were.
Tsuzak charged forward.
The flowing plague was expelled as the swords clashed, and energy of Golden lightning instantly vaporized them. Even if Tsuzak had been in his prime, he could never defeat Jin. His sword couldn't even graze Jin's clothes.
The reason he was able to directly clash his sword with Jin even once with his weakened body was thanks to the honor Jin had bestowed upon him.
"Not a bad encounter at all, Tsuzak."
Plutonian Swordsmanship: Golden Lightning Technique
Golden Moon
The Golden lightning extended in a straight line following Sigmund's trajectory, and pierced through Tsuzak's chest.
Then, a small whirlpool formed by the Golden lightning began to engulf Tsuzak and pulled him in.
The remaining plague energy within Tsuzak was evaporated by the Golden lightning without respite. Tsuzak couldn't escape from the attraction force of the Golden lightning, and his quick regeneration had no meaning.
His gray body crumbled and turned into golden light. Tsuzak, who had begun to break apart into shining golden particles, no longer looked like a plague god but rather resembled the final moments of some holy being.
[Ah... This is what it feels like to have an illness disappear from your body. I suffered from the power of plague for a long time as a plague god.]
While the outcome was decided in an instant, Tsuzak felt not humiliation but rather felt a sense of liberation.
The long, wasted time spent within Bascala, the madness that had eroded his mind, and the torment of the plague—all of it was now over.
[You must have awakened us to open this gate and kill Zito. Tell me your name, great knight.]
"Jin Runcandel."
[Thank you…]
Tsuzak vanished in that manner. The plague energy he had been spreading also disappeared completely.
Jin looked down at the traces of Tsuzak, who had dispersed into golden particles, and then turned his gaze to Bisaro.
Bisaro, without his horns, appeared almost human.
"Bisaro, the demon god who controls the power of aging. According to what I heard from Paellito, you completed the wish of demons who want to die of old age. And you resisted Zito before being sealed in Bascala."
Bisaro nodded.
Jin felt that the madness Bisaro carries is much lighter than other demon gods. This was partly because he had been sealed relatively recently, and also thanks to the respect Tsuzak had shown him when he was sealed.
Bisaro had assisted demons who were tired of life by granting them a peaceful death before his sealing, which had earned him respect from everyone in the True Demon World.
[...Yes.]
"Your will to resist Zito still seems to be strong."
[I have the will, but I no longer have the power for it. My combat ability is likely far below that of ordinary high-ranking demons now. So if you spare my life, my only purpose from now on... will be to help demons who wish for a dignified death. My authority of ageing has also dimmed considerably.]
"Then you may leave. After today, Zito will disappear."
[I understand... However, there is one more reason why Tsuzak spared me.]
"What is it?"
[You possess the key to the gate but do not know how to use it properly. If you enter like this, the path to Zito's residence will be messy.]
"I see."
[I will organize the dimensional portal for you. It may take about a day.]
"One day, perfect. My companions are also scheduled to return in a day. Let me know when you are done."
Jin left Bisaro behind, and immediately sat down in a lotus position and began meditating.
Bisaro did not contemplate fleeing or trying to deceive Jin in any way. He simply focused on the task of organizing the dimensional portal.
And after Zito's demise, he was prepared to use his remaining years of life for the sake of the True Demon World.
‘The aura, mana, and shadow force are clearly swirling around Barisada in Sun Splitter. It was a form quite similar to the golden energy I'm using now. There didn't seem to be any special elements in the sword technique other than that.’
Jin didn't ponder Sun Splitter's sword composition for long.
In the end, such a level of swordsmanship wasn't just a matter of technical expertise, but rather the realization of his will to master that sword.
‘Perhaps Sun Splitter is a sword created to cut gods. And when Temar was mastering this sword…’
Soon, Jin was able to reach the reason for the Sun Splitter.
‘He must have learned it with the intention of cutting Solderet. So, from now on, the opponent I need to fight within my meditation is not Zito but Solderet.’
Amazing