Chapter 947

C947

As Murakan predicted when he first used the Grosch Castle passage, it seemed the Kinzelo and Zipple fleet would take at least two days to cross that subspace.

“Consul, Commander of the Magic Golem Corps.”

Satrin and Betty approached at Beradin’s call.

“Yes, Patriarch. Please, speak.”

“I’ve just received a report from the reconnaissance unit that the Kinzelo demon dragon has separated and begun moving ahead of the main force.”

“Zephyrin… It seems she’s trying to reach Hell before us.”

“Indeed. I don’t believe Zephyrin acted alone.”

“Are you saying Orgal went down with Zephyrin?”

Beradin nodded.

“Yes. There’s probably something Orgal wants to obtain from the True Demon World. It could be power or something special that completes him. The Demon God Orb also predicted something like this.”

Of course, Orgal and Kinzelo growing stronger wasn’t something Runcandel and Zipple desired.

Orgal remains a being shrouded in mystery, especially given his close connection to the True Demon World. Beradin had no choice but to distrust Orgal’s betrayal in Hell.

“We need to pursue her. If we continue matching the speed of the entire fleet, it will be too late to confirm Jin Runcandel’s movements. He probably reached Hell several times faster than us.”

Jin showed no consideration for Zipple and Kinzelo.

They were never in a relationship where consideration was warranted in the first place, but Jin acted as if he could handle Zito alone without the help of the other two major factions.

However, Beradin remained worried about Jin.

Ideally, he hoped Jin would die fighting Zito, or an opportunity to kill him would arise, but his heart didn’t agree with that.

-Beradin, calm down and regain your usual self. These kinds of phrases don’t really suit you.

His inner turmoil had increased significantly after hearing those words from Jin right before using the Grosch Castle passage.

In that sense, saying he would pursue Orgal now was a kind of pretext. Satrin and Betty had no idea of this.

“I understand, Patriarch. I’ll make the preparations immediately.”

“I’ll go down with Tuyan and Pinia. I’ll delegate command of the fleet to Almatia.”

Beradin left the bridge, and two guardian dragons landed on the deck of the Kozec.

[It seems it’s Zephyrin’s fault, Beradin.]

“Yes, accelerate and pursue her.”

[Understood. However, she’s familiar with this subspace, so it won’t be easy to catch up to her.]

“Let’s start descending into the True Demon World and then look for her trail.”

The dragons carrying them began their descent.

Once the fleet was excluded, their speed across the subspace became incredibly fast.

About an hour later, Beradin and his group arrived in the dark region of the True Demon World.

A vast dark area and a mountain of tens of millions of corpses awaited them. It was a scale of death unlike anything they had seen before.

“It wasn’t Jin Runcandel who killed them. They fought each other and died.”

“It seems to be so, Patriarch. Just as the evil god used the despair of others in the past, it seems Zito uses their pain.”

“Similar to the Holy Kingdom, Jin Runcandel seems to have left part of his authority within these corpses.”

However, unlike when Jin first arrived, Beradin and his group saw a golden energy enveloping the countless corpses.

“According to reports from the Vamel Alliance newspapers, Ayula mentioned before her death that this golden energy could resurrect the dead. She said Jin Runcandel obtained the regeneration authority after achieving Genesis Knight.”

As Betty spoke, Beradin extended his hand towards the golden energy passing in front of him.

“Ugh.”

He felt a strong dizziness as soon as his hand touched the energy.

Forgotten scenes, moments of his youth with Jin, and moments with Dante flashed through his mind.

“Patriarch, are you alright?”

“It’s an unpleasant power. It’s like the curse left by Kelliark Zipple last time.”

However, everyone but Beradin was unaffected by the golden energy.

Beradin quickly began to retreat from the dark region as if fleeing. He felt that if he continued facing this golden energy, his mind would become unstable.

‘…This is dangerous.’

If things continued like this, he might lose his sense of self.

Beradin had been feeling this danger lately.

The personality he had lost due to mental manipulation fluctuated in his subconscious.

These emotions weren’t suitable for leading the clan forward.

Another Genesis Knight was born in Runcandel, the clan’s greatest enemy, and Kinzelo’s potential remained largely unknown. The Demon God Orb was still incomplete.

If Elona hadn’t returned, Zipple would have faced its most precarious days among the three factions.

What they had gained through their alliance with the Sun God Religion was gradually beginning to hinder Beradin’s ambitions.

Furthermore, Kelliark Zipple, who was believed to have lost everything, was still alive and gaining power in Hell.

Beradin couldn’t afford to be shocked and confused in this situation. For him, that meant defeat.

‘But why am I so obsessed with the victory and prosperity of the clan? Why am I even fighting?’

Suddenly, Beradin looked around in surprise.

Betty hesitantly pulled out a dry cloth used to clean her sword and offered it to Beradin.

“Patriarch… you’re bleeding from your mouth.”

“Ah.”

Only then did Beradin realize he had bitten his lip hard enough to make it bleed.

“Thank you.”

Satrin was riding Pinia and couldn’t see this. Beradin was grateful for that.

He could fully trust Betty, but not Satrin. He couldn’t trust anyone in the clan except Elona and Betty, Almatia, and Kun.

Even Octavia, who had tried to save him from his past rampage, wasn’t entirely trustworthy to Beradin.

‘It’s probably because I became the patriarch after dragging Kelliark Zipple down, so I think it could happen to me anytime.’

Betty nervously scratched her head.

A living golem no different from a human being modeled in her image and likeness, and her kindness was clearly an element that didn’t exist in his current self.

Beradin and his group had fled the dark region, where Jin’s energy remained, but they had to face the remaining golden energy on the piles of other corpses as they continued north.

[It seems Satrin’s prediction about Zito using pain as his power is correct. Wherever we go, all we find are armies that died fighting each other, Beradin. Jin Runcandel seems to have left his authority as a mark on most of them.]

“There’s no need to examine Jin Runcandel’s movements further at this point. However, just in case, Satrin and Pinia continue tracking Jin Runcandel following this golden energy. Betty and I, along with Tuyan, will look for the traces of Orgal and the demon dragon.”

Once again, he had found a plausible excuse. Beradin felt that his inner turmoil might be exposed if he continued encountering Jin’s energy.

Following orders, Pinia and Satrin departed and followed the golden energy.

[It seems there’s a foreign demonic energy presence mixed with the wind blowing from the west, Beradin.]

“In that case, head in that direction. Jin Runcandel even left these marks, but if Orgal and the demon dragon are heading in different directions, they must have a different objective.”

[Understood.]

The golden energy was no longer in sight when they started flying west. Beradin regained his composure. He felt his head clearing as he moved away from Jin’s energy.

[We can’t rule out the possibility of Zephyrin and Orgal suddenly attacking us, Beradin. Of course, it doesn’t seem like they’ll make us retreat for the time being, but if they’ve already grown stronger by acquiring some item or power, it could be a headache.]

“No matter what power they acquire, they won’t suddenly become Genesis Knight. It seems you’re suggesting we should stop pursuing them, Tuyan.”

[That’s not what I mean, but… I think it would be better to contact Jin Runcandel and move together. Or bring Elona now.]

“Calling Lady Elona to the True Demon World is a last resort. Why have you suddenly started having those unnecessary worries? You’re not like yourself.”

[It’s just that, I have a bad feeling for some reason.]

Beradin didn’t respond and instead concentrated on the energy emanating from the area.

As they moved west, the foreign demonic energy presence Tuyan had mentioned was becoming thicker and more pronounced.

About ten minutes later, Beradin and his group came face to face with a massive dimensional portal suspended in the sky. It was also the point where the foreign demonic energy suddenly cut off.

“They’ve crossed this portal…”

[It’s clear after coming here. What remains nearby is undoubtedly Zephyrin’s energy.]

“We’ll cross it. Whatever Kinzelo has prepared, we can’t simply let the situation unfold as they intended. They first said we would deal with public enemies together, but as expected, they had something up their sleeves.”

Beradin and his group crossed the dimensional portal.

As soon as they emerged from the portal, what lay before them was a desolate land with rivers of poisonous water flowing here and there.

It was an extremely poisonous region of the True Demon World.

“…This is? This miasma is undoubtedly the same one that threatened Lady Elona!”

Beradin was filled with killing intent when faced with the poison of this extremely poisonous region. An uncontainable rage was erupting in Beradin’s chest.

It was the same poison that had injured Elona Zipple, the most precious person to Beradin. They had used the citizens of the Lutero Magical Federation as hostages.

“Ragal Fun! It’s that bastard’s territory. Could it be that those Kinzelo scoundrels are allied with Ragal? Lady Elona’s wounds might have something to do with it. Tuyan, head towards the castle you see there…!”

The moment he said that, Beradin recoiled and scanned his surroundings.

On the ground, the strongest combat unit of the True Demon World led by Layla Belgasyum was surrounding them, and in the sky, a massive fireball suddenly appeared and shone like a sun.

It was Kelliark’s flame orb.

The dimensional portal they had just crossed was closing behind them.

‘Kelliark Zipple…!’

The light emanating from the fireball distorted Beradin’s face. Kelliark looked at Beradin with the fireball behind him.

“It’s been a while, my son. I figured that with your current self, you would avoid Jin Runcandel’s energy and come here.”

Betty stepped in front of Beradin as she drew her sword. Tuyan quickly cast a shield. However, it seemed unlikely they could block these flames.

“Now, it’s time for you to return everything you’ve stolen from your father… Beradin Zipple, my dearest son.”