Chapter 568
C568
At that moment, the reason Jin could prevent Ron's sword from cutting his throat was probably the Shadow Energy reinforced by Chaos.
Even Jin himself couldn't believe how quick his reaction had been.
Obviously, he couldn't widen the distance even after being ambushed by Ron, who rushed at full speed.
A stream of warm blood ran down his neck.
Finally, he met the most reliable and powerful ally in this subspace, but Ron tried to kill him without a second thought.
That fact was much more shocking than the sense of danger that he was about to die.
Moreover, what Ron said about him.
"Why was it Dante who got devoured and not you!"
Ron's voice, shouting once again, was colder than any dagger and scratched the inside of Jin.
Guilt, an emotion that had tormented Jin since all of this began.
The guilt he had hidden so much to focus on the fight burst forth like revenge.
'Ron-nim must not be in his right mind right now.'
No matter how desperate he was, he could never say such things.
Jin himself had just suffered how his body and mind were consumed by Chaos.
Once past the torment of physical pain, he barely managed to suppress the growing madness.
'Just by looking at the eroded eyes, Ron-nim went through the same process as me. I'm sure...'
As soon as Jin thought that, he felt nausea in his stomach.
An unbearably repugnant knot seemed to stick in his throat.
It was because of the 'doubt.'
Despite being consumed, what Ron was saying now was probably the hidden truth deep within himself.
Considering the recent tragedy Hairan had suffered, it was very possible.
Anyone would resent Jin.
And what was even more unbearable for Jin was the Chaos madness that began to infiltrate his mind...
And the murderous intent that was emerging had begun to turn towards Ron.
Whether Ron's resentment towards Jin was genuine or not.
Jin believed he was unworthy of holding a grudge against Ron.
After all, Ron had continued trying to save him even after Dante's disappearance.
The tip of Ron's sword, occupying his position, headed towards Jin.
Somewhere on the now blackened edge of Rashid's sword, the true essence of Ron, which had once shone so brightly before Gliek awakened, seemed to be.
That invisible light guided Jin.
If Jin hadn't seen the effort Ron made to save Hairan and keep him alive.
Jin would have given in to the fighting spirit and fought against Ron.
Jin also slowly raised Bradamante and focused.
The madness that had crowded into his mind was gradually subsiding.
Jin began to perceive that the current Ron was no different from Shadow Energy or the Blood of the Battle Goddess that had previously saved him from invasion.
Just like Shadow Energy and the Blood of the Battle Goddess helped him control the Shadow Energy strengthened by Chaos, the light called Ron Hairan was causing another significant leap within Jin.
He surpassed the invasion of the body and shook off the madness of the demonic heart.
In other words...
Jin achieved growth and transcendence in this subspace.
Even the suspicion that all of this was a trick by Gliek might fade away.
To break through a wall means being able to see beyond.
In the new domain, Jin could not sense any of Gliek's intentions.
Jin saw it clearly.
When Gliek dragged Jin into the subspace, he had foreseen that Solderet's dirty power would soon come to an end.
That's why Gliek said that all the opportunities given to Jin had disappeared.
As much as the power of Solderet, it was so weak that it couldn't resist.
Moreover, what exceeded his expectations was not only that.
Gliek hadn't brought Ron to this place.
'Now it's my turn to help Ron-nim.'
Jin couldn't think of anything to help with.
However, Jin decided to accept Ron's anger.
Now that Chaos had strengthened his Shadow Energy, he felt he could engage in a sword fight with Ron.
Jin resolved to fight him.
Until Ron's fury subsided even a little.
Ron's sword rushed and landed on Jin's forehead.
Still, there was no hesitation in the tip of Ron's sword.
Jin was no longer saddened by this and firmly wielded his sword.
"Why wasn't it you!"
No matter how heartbroken and sad he was.
Jin couldn't compare to the pain Ron was going through.
So Jin can't show more sadness than that.
It would be an insult to Ron's suffering.
The battle began with clashes and strikes.
Both knights stood firm without yielding an inch, their swords entwined in a fierce duel.
However, even though Jin insisted on wielding his sword, he had not managed to land a single successful attack.
Not because he couldn't bear to cut or stab Ron, but because he couldn't afford to.
Similarly, Ron, attacking unilaterally, couldn't penetrate Jin's defense either.
"Give me back my grandson...!"
As if in agony, Jin endured the resentment of the man named Ron Hairan.
In the abyss, their solitary battle continued.
It was impossible to tell how much time had passed since they entered the subspace.
However, probably not much time had elapsed, but Jin felt a sensation akin to aging.
To embrace Ron's pain, the giant had to become even harder, inevitably giving him a strange feeling of aging.
Ron must have needed someone at some point.
Someone who would allow him to cry and unleash his limitless rage, someone he could rant wildly to, whether it provided relief or not...
Someone should have told Ron to unleash his anger only for himself, not to save Jin or for revenge.
Hot tears ran down Jin's cheeks with more fervor than the blood from his neck.
Ron overcame death for his grandson and friend, even after losing everything, because his duty was too heavy.
Similarly, Jin had no choice but to resurrect Ron with the detestable Demon God Orb.
In this war, neither of them had chosen for themselves even once.
They had only wielded their swords for others.
And the reason Jin kept fighting for Ron, not for himself, was that he had suffered less than Ron.
As a result, Jin consoled himself.
He genuinely pitied his own suffering with Ron's pain.
He couldn't contain the tears streaming from his eyes.
Humans are born to be able to see themselves in others.
Now Jin glimpsed the sorrow he didn't know about Ron.
But that doesn't help in the battle.
Ron's sword, which was narrowly blocked, was closing in.
At this rate, Ron's sword would soon pierce Jin.
There were residual scars.
Perhaps because the Chaos staining Ron's sword intensified during the battle, the cut made by Rashid spewed black blood as if it had been poisoned.
Shadow Energy and the blood of the Battle Goddess couldn't suppress Ron's Chaos.
Although it was poisonous, the Thousand-Poison Antidote did not respond to it.
Death was imminent.
However, what Jin feared was not death.
Jin feared that Ron wouldn't return before his life ended.
Slash!
'Ah...!'
Suddenly, Ron's sword pierced Jin's abdomen.
Jin would die the moment Ron twisted the sword or cut it aside.
'No, perhaps I'm already... in trouble.'
Even the remnants of Chaos in the scars caused severe toxic reactions.
Needless to say, Chaos energy penetrated his abdomen.
Ron stopped moving and kept his head bowed.
If Jin had the strength to move even once, he could easily stab Ron with the sword he held.
However, Jin only managed to cling to the sword, unable to move a single finger.
Soon Ron raised his head, and Jin could look at him.
Tears stained with Chaos welled up from Ron's eyes.
"Ron-nim......."
There was no response, and Jin only heard his sobbing.
Ron's hand holding the sword trembled.
It was because he was resisting the Chaos energy whispering to him to twist the sword and kill Jin.
Jin said nothing like "you have to overcome this," "you have to stop it," or "you shouldn't do it."
Jin just waited.
So that Ron could climb the last step of the abyss.
The reason Ron postponed the death he so desired until the last moment was the same as Jin's.
Just as Jin gained enlightenment after seeing the light of a human named Ron Hairan, Ron also learned from Jin, who wielded the sword for him until the end.
He became a monster because he was buried in pain.
"It's okay even if you hold a grudge against me..."
Ron's eyes twitched.
He was slowly pulling out Rashid, which was embedded in Jin.
Ron's darkened eyes began to regain their true color, and as soon as he recovered his sword, Jin sat up and vomited blood.
Chaos spread through his body like poison, and the hemorrhage and internal injuries were so severe that he would surely die.
But Jin felt he wasn't going to die.
Ron stared into space without looking down at Jin.
In that empty space, which was invisible to Jin's eyes, and even if someone else were on this battlefield, they wouldn't see it... there was something.
There were only two humans in the world who could see it.
Cyron Runcandel.
And another was Ron, who had just entered the domain of the Genesis Knight.
A pure white light that only Ron Hairan could see filled the air.
Ron remained motionless for a while, gazing at that light.
If he pierced the wall, he could see what lay beyond.
As soon as Ron faced the light of the Genesis Knight, he realized some things he hadn't even thought about, or barely expected.
Jin couldn't see the light directly, but he felt it.
The fact that Ron had finally taken the last step to challenge fate.
The murky Chaos energy no longer transmitted from Ron.
'...I can see it... hope.'
Ron reached the light of the Genesis Knight, and Jin smiled and lost consciousness.
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