Swordmaster's Youngest Son Chapter 804
Previously on Swordmaster's Youngest Son...
C804
Pzzzz…!
Crimson thunderbolts cascaded upon the primary facility of Kinzelo’s seventh branch.
This tempest was the work of the Red Legend Tribe, having just finalized their spatial transition.
Under normal circumstances, much like the destruction of the beastmen’s lands, the battle would conclude the instant the Red Legend Tribe’s lightning struck.
A one-sided slaughter usually followed such an opening.
However, the Red Legend Tribe found themselves unable to claim an immediate victory from this initial strike.
A massive surge of blue lightning was currently convulsing the entire perimeter of the seventh branch, countering their own.
The warriors of the Red Legend Tribe, poised to storm the building, froze in their tracks and shifted their gaze.
“That energy… It is him!”“Jin Runcandel has arrived!”
The atmosphere warped as the Red Legend Tribe members let out a collective cry.
Nearby Kinzelo beastmen collapsed to the earth, blood leaking from their ears from the sheer pressure.
Their Light Hearts pulsed with a violent red glow.
The individual responsible for the death of their kin and the heir to the Blue Legend Tribe—the one they sought to tear limb from limb—stood before them.
Furthermore, unlike the initial emergence of Shimat’s unit on the surface, over thirty Legends were now assembled, commanded by the Great King of Battle, Rakiman Hog.
The hour for vengeance had come.
“Quite a crowd has gathered here.”
Jin remarked, scanning the Legends revealed before the seventh branch.
The Red Legend warriors formed ranks behind Rakiman. Because of Jin’s incredible speed, Bishkel had not yet reached the scene.
Jin locked eyes with Rakiman.
“You must be Rakiman Hog, the Great King of Battle of the Red Legend Tribe. You ought to have remained in the depths; why emerge to cause such a ruckus? I gave Shimat a clear warning that it would be wiser for your tribe to live in obscurity.”
“We have never distinguished between the world above and the one below. Our only restraint was the Great Serpent. Now that the true master has returned, is it not only right that you step aside quietly?”
“I see. You aren't much for conversation, Rakiman. Your comrade Shimat at least possessed a shred of realism. Can you not perceive, Rakiman, that your opponent stands far above you?”
Shoo…!
Jin drew Sigmund from its sheath.
“To me, you look like nothing more than a peculiar mongrel. A blend of humanity and Blue Legend… seeing it in the flesh is even stranger than I pictured.”
In response, Rakiman manifested two massive blades forged from lightning energy.
His aura was significantly more potent than when he had clashed with Bardray and Berakt.
This was the fruit of his campaign against Kinzelo.
“You have persisted in calling me Blue Legend, but I am the Thirteenth King of Battle of the Great Legend Tribe. The Legend—a title none of you could ever hope to seize. Today, you shall understand why. I will demonstrate the true extent of the chasm between us.”
Tsu-aak-!
The moment Jin finished speaking, the blue lightning gathered in the heavens descended upon him, vibrating through the earth.
The rank-and-file warriors of the Red Legend Tribe instinctively swallowed hard at the sudden eruption of Jin’s power.
Merely gazing at him instilled a sense of suffocation.
The air grew impossibly heavy, and they were struck by the hallucination that their allies standing right beside them were drifting into the distance.
“First, I must correct your perspective. Those of the Red Legend should never presume to look down upon the Legend… If you stand too tall, it is only proper that you kneel.”
Rakiman charged, swinging his dual blades, but a barrier of lightning intercepted his path.
Though the shield shattered under the impact of the swords, it instantly reconstructed itself, causing the blades to slice through nothingness without reaching Jin.
Meanwhile, the ordinary Red Legend warriors behind him were forced to their knees, unable to endure the crushing weight radiating from Jin’s blue lightning.
Kings of Battle like Andolin managed to remain standing, shielding the common warriors and deflecting the energy, but it was a losing battle.
Shortly after, the Sword of the Reign of the King of Legends was fully unleashed.
God of Battle’s Tenth Sword Technique
Sword of the Reign of the King of Legends - Open.
This was the ultimate technique of the God of Battle, representing the absolute zenith of the Legends.
Within this titanic blue vortex, only Legends of the highest caliber or their equals could maintain their posture.
Only they were permitted the privilege of combat without being overwhelmed by the Sword of the Reign of the King of Legends.
The common soldiers of the Red Legend Tribe did not meet this standard.
Already, twenty-seven warriors were on their knees, blood pouring from their eyes, noses, and mouths.
Jin’s Sword of the Reign of the King of Legends was no longer the incomplete version of the past.
While he could not yet be compared to Vahn, he was only second to its absolute perfection and was capable of claiming the title of God of Battle in an era where she was absent.
Consequently, it was only natural for the ordinary warriors to fall unconscious or perish instantly.
Even the Red Legend Kings of Battle struggled against his presence.
“Kuh…!”
Andolin and the other lower-ranked Kings of Battle sank to the ground, coughing up blood.
The blood spilled by the Legends was instantly vaporized by the lightning energy before it could even touch the earth.
[Accept it as an honor to witness the Sword of the Reign of the King of Legends. From this moment on, whenever you stand before me, this is how you shall act. Kneel or lie prostrate.]
The resonant voices of a hundred Legends thundered across the field of battle.
Despite the deafening roar of the surrounding lightning, the Red Legend members heard those low voices with haunting clarity.
It was a terrifying sensation, as if the words were carving directly into their minds.
Of all the Red Legend Tribe, only Rakiman Hog remained on his feet, slowly closing the gap between himself and Jin.
‘Without a specialized trait like Beast Butcher, he wouldn't have dominated Bardray and Berakt like that, but he is still a formidable Great King of Battle. Even if he hasn't fully recovered yet.’
Kraaaah!
With every roar from Rakiman, a speck of red appeared within the domain of the Sword of the Reign of the King of Legends.
It was a sign that he was carving out a personal space, refusing to be suppressed by the blue thunder.
He was still far from his peak strength.
The red lightning within Rakiman’s Light Heart was at barely half its full capacity.
Yet, even knowing this, Rakiman refrained from making arrogant boasts.
Jin was fully aware that even at his best, Rakiman could never hope to win a duel against him.
“The fact that Shimat survived your encounter is truly impressive, Jin Runcandel!”
[I had many questions for you previously out of curiosity. But not today. If you have a hidden hand, play it now. Use your status as a Great King of Battle to call for aid or initiate your fortress transformation.]
“That Great Serpent spoke of us to you.”
[Or perhaps you intend to follow Shimat’s example—using your own people as fuel to flee with a return technique?]
“Ugh!”
Rakiman threw himself to the ground to evade Sigmund.
Jin, who had been standing in plain view, had vanished in a blur to launch an attack.
Reorienting himself, Rakiman raised his twin swords once more.
Jin remained invisible to the eye, forcing Rakiman to sharpen his senses until his blood felt like it was boiling.
He could not discern the direction of the next strike. The lightning of the Sword of the Reign of the King of Legends acted as a dense fog, masking Jin’s movements.
Had he been at full power, Rakiman might have used his fortress transformation to neutralize the blue lightning and launch a counteroffensive.
Of course, that would have merely prolonged the inevitable.
Rakiman alone was no match for Jin, regardless of his methods.
Furthermore, Rakiman could sense that the Sword of the Reign of the King of Legends possessed multiple stages.
It was currently only in its primary phase; if it advanced, he would lose the ability to resist.
‘He named it the Sword of the Reign of the King of Legends. It evokes memories of the Blue Legend Tribe’s King of Battle from the old days. There must be further stages—is he holding back to manage the physical toll?’
Just as Rakiman suspected, the technique placed a heavy burden on Jin’s body.
He saw no reason to escalate against an opponent he could dominate with the first form.
Additionally, Jin was husbanding his strength, waiting for Rakiman’s true move.
‘He doesn't seem to be preparing a return technique like Shimat. He used the Sword of the Reign of the King of Legends specifically to pin down the other warriors. Therefore, Rakiman’s remaining options are likely summoning or the fortress transformation.’
If it were the fortress transformation, Jin was confident he could evaluate and dismantle it.
If it were summoning, he could simply activate the next stage of his technique and wipe them all out, regardless of their numbers.
He could even employ the Runcandel Magic Sword, but he chose to refrain, wanting to maintain his dignity as a member of the Legend Tribe.
Given the number of Kinzelo members the Red Legends had harvested, they couldn't summon a massive force.
It appeared no other Great Kings of Battle besides Rakiman had been awakened yet.
Thus, Jin’s victory was certain.
The Red Legend Tribe was still recovering and lacked the raw power to challenge him.
As he kept the pressure on Rakiman,
Jin spotted the bracelets on Rakiman’s wrists glowing a vivid red.
He checked the fallen warriors, but their Light Hearts were not incinerating as they had when Shimat triggered the return spell.
‘He’s utilizing dimensional storage. It must be a summoning.’
Jin fully expected the arrival of more Red Legend warriors.
However, in the following heartbeat, the energy erupting from the bracelet tore a colossal rift in the sky.
It was a portal designed for something far larger than any living being.
When the object emerged, Jin’s eyes narrowed in surprise.
‘…A fleet!’
A Red Legend Tribe armada of over fifty vessels moved into position within the massive dimensional gate Rakiman had opened.
“The might of the Red Legend Tribe is built on both strength and intellect. I have been told that most surface warships are considered mere junk by our standards.”
Jin halted his blade, redirecting it from Rakiman toward the hovering fleet.
With a stoic expression, Rakiman barked an order into his bracelet.
“All ships, precision fire. Target: Jin Runcandel.”
{Red Legend Tribe!}
The bombardment commenced instantly.
Hundreds of red lightning bolts, twisting like serpents, arced downward, every single one locked onto Jin with perfect accuracy.
Jin, wearing a grin that showed no intention of retreating, swung his sword.
In a flash, he unleashed Runcandel’s Third Final Movement:
“Meteor Shower,” infused with lightning energy, rose to meet the aerial assault.
[Rakiman, I expected you to summon more of your brothers at most, but I must admit this is an impressive surprise.]
To Rakiman, the sight of Jin effortlessly parrying a full fleet's bombardment was far more terrifying.