Chapter 954

C954

As soon as Elona reached Hell, she headed towards the place where she sensed the strongest energy.

That’s how she discovered a dimensional portal leading to Zito’s residence. The portal was closed, unlike when Jin had entered, but Elona forcibly opened it and confronted the abyss.

She could also sense powerful beings battling beyond that abyss. Elona naturally assumed it had something to do with Beradin and decided to cross the abyss alone, leaving Salion behind.

That’s how Elona ended up here.

Both Jin and Zito looked at Elona for a moment and were speechless. Zito, in particular, was deeply shocked.

‘It was already quite shocking that Jin Runcandel confronted the abyss without any apparent effect, and now, someone has crossed the abyss to get here? Why is this happening to me?’

For Zito, it was a series of events he couldn’t comprehend. The dimensional portal to the outside world was already closed when he brought Jin here.

Therefore, without the witch’s help, it should have taken anyone at least ten days to get here, and he didn’t even think anyone would come here by crossing the abyss.

[Are you Elona Zipple? Since your Patriarch isn’t here, you can go on your way. Eh? It’s just a joke……]

*Kuddduk!*

Elona cut Zito off and extended her staff. Her mana instantly spread around Zito. Elona grabbed Zito and crushed his body as if she were clenching her fist.

The mana spread like a net and continued to contract. And she tore Zito’s body to pieces. Elona quickly realized that this level of magic wouldn’t kill Zito.

“Demon King Zito, I’m not in the mood for games right now. If my Patriarch isn’t here, then tell me where he is,” said Elona.

[*Kek, ugh!*]

“If you don’t tell me right now, I will destroy you and this entire space without leaving a trace.”

[*Gah, you’re a stubborn one, aren’t you? But have you gone mad? Coming to someone else’s house and causing a scene like this, that’s just madness, pure madness.*]

“Are you saying you don’t know?”

[*Ah, I don’t want to tell you even if I know where he is.*]

Elona tossed Zito’s body aside and turned her gaze towards Jin.

“Jin Runcandel. Do you know?”

“You’re rude.”

“I thought I said I wasn’t in the mood for jokes.”

“I’m not in the mood for jokes either. Elona Zipple. I wanted to meet you once, but I didn’t expect it to be at a time like this. And I also don’t know where Beradin is. I’ve never met him since I descended to Hell.”

“I can’t sense the Patriarch’s mana from you, so I guess you’re telling the truth.”

“But isn’t it obvious? Kelliark Zipple is also in Hell. Perhaps Beradin is involved with him. Then, they must have used the Patriarch’s staff to summon you.”

[*But isn’t she here because she couldn’t find the way correctly?*]

Zito spoke up and suddenly reformed his body. He looked appetizing as if he had delicious food in front of him.

[*I initially intended to send you away, but you suddenly attacked me, and now I feel bad.*]

Zito did feel uneasy seeing Elona. Dealing with two Genesis Knights at once was an unprecedented situation for him.

However, the moment Elona made “contact” with Zito when she attacked him, Zito realized that she, unlike Jin, wasn’t immune to mental pain. Elona’s expressionless face trembled slightly.

[*You can die while you’re here, Elona Zipple. After all, Beradin has already fallen to Kelliark. What’s the point of you living?*]

“The Patriarch… fell to Kelliark Zipple?”

[*Yes, he’s already gone. You just have to follow him.*]

“I can’t believe it until I see it with my own eyes.”

[*Whether you believe it or not is your choice. I’m just telling the truth as the ruler of Hell.*]

“He’s lying, Elona Zipple.”

Jin also noticed that Elona was struggling after making contact with Zito. Unlike other Genesis Knights who had obtained their strength through training and willpower, Elona had obtained her power from a different source and it had made her vulnerable in some aspects.

[*Is it really a lie? I can’t sense any trace of him from Kelliark’s side. He really is gone, you know?*]

“You don’t need to try so hard to hide your pain, Elona Zipple. Both Zito and I have already identified your weakness. That’s why Zito suddenly wants to kill you.”

*Shiiing!* Purple thorns formed behind Elona. Although the thorns couldn’t penetrate her shield, she didn’t react immediately.

It looked as if she had fallen into a nightmare. The painful events of a thousand years ago constantly resonated in her head due to Zito’s mental attack.

The days when she massacred innocent people and destroyed their lands as a war machine of the clan.

And the day she was betrayed by her clan. The clan she trusted, tortured her and how they manipulated her mind. All these scenes from the past filled Elona’s mind.

Elona’s formidable mana shield protected her from immediate harm, but her shield would eventually break if she continued to be unresponsive.

Jin leaped and took his place beside Elona.

“I have a proposition for you, Elona. Fight alongside me against Zito right now.”

“What are you suddenly talking about?”

“The main faction came to Hell to subdue Zito in the first place. However, I somehow ended up confronting Zito alone. I was lacking a bit of stamina to seize the opportunity to kill him, and then you arrived.”

“But I need to save the Patriarch.”

“If we can’t kill Zito right here, the human world will be doomed. Beradin will also suffer and die in agony, and you alone won’t be able to protect him from that scoundrel. Demon God Stone? That terrible thing isn’t even complete, so it might not help you immediately.”

[*Why are you talking so much? Are you two supposed to be enemies? Why are you acting friendly?*]

The thorns continued to sprout around them. Elona noticed how casually Jin was deflecting them.

‘I feel like I’ve faced a similar situation even with Temar. Ugh, I feel like my head is going to explode.’

Elona tightly closed her eyes and grabbed her head.

“Control your mind and keep listening, Elona. This pain is nothing compared to your power.”

“I… I’m not the only one protecting the Patriarch. The whole clan will protect him together.”

“Most of the current Zipple leaders are the people who experimented on Beradin and manipulated his mind. Do you really think those scoundrels would fight for Beradin, even at the worst moments? You’ll probably have to protect him alone.”

“…… the Patriarch’s safety is my top priority for now, anyway. I can cross the Abyss again with my abilities and find the Patriarch.”

“Zito won’t stand idly by. There’s no future even if he lets you go. And don’t worry too much about Beradin. If Beradin is really fighting Kelliark, my guardian dragon will be watching over him.”

“Murakan? Why him…?”

“Because he knows better than anyone that Beradin is my closest friend. Regardless of the situation, Murakan won’t kill Beradin, nor will he allow him to die. And Murakan has almost recovered the power of his prime.”

It wasn’t something a young Patriarch of Runcandel would normally say.

However, Elona found an inexplicable comfort in Jin’s words. Beradin had never referred to Jin as a friend, but Elona had always felt he held a deep respect for Jin.

“Then, let’s deal with Zito for now and go find Beradin together. I’m worried about him too.”

Elona’s nightmares and hallucinations were intensifying. Somehow she can endure the physical pain, but what tormented her were the feelings of guilt from her past. It was something she could never overcome.

Should she accept the suggestion made by the enemy leader, or should she start moving again to save Beradin somehow.

Elona couldn’t figure out which was the right decision.

“Follow your heart, Elona. I’m not someone who would harm Beradin. You must have felt it, even if you don’t know why.”

Elona opened her eyes.

Her vision was still blurry due to the hallucinations. Jin’s figure shone like a lone star in the darkness.

‘Follow the light in the darkness.’

A memory surfaced in Elona’s mind.

It was something Temar had told her a thousand years ago. She couldn’t remember why he had said it, but the emotions of that moment were vivid.

“Alright, I accept your proposition.”

Jin smiled.

“That’s an excellent choice, Elona Zipple. Now, place your hand on my back.”

“My hand?”

“I don’t know the exact reason, but I feel that if you do that, I might be able to share some of your pain. The hallucinations you’re experiencing seem to affect me as well. Perhaps it’s because those tormenting memories have something to do with Runcandel.”

Elona removed the shield she had erected in front of her and approached Jin. She drew closer and saw Jin up close. Elona couldn’t help but be surprised.

Because Jin had faced almost all the thorns to protect Elona until just a moment ago. As a result, his entire body was covered in blood. Warm blood stained her palm and back of her hand as she reached out.

And then, just as Jin had said, the hallucinations dissipated as if the fog had cleared.

Elona felt the tormenting memories receding from her, as if they were transferring to Jin, as if her malevolent spirit was being transferred.

‘Jin Runcandel will have to endure much more if this continues…!’

But Jin remained there, as resolute as an oak tree.

“I’m fine,” said Jin.

Compared to the debt he carried as a world-regressor, pain and torment were nothing.

If Elona had the worst compatibility to face Zito, Jin was the complete opposite.

“Now, can you fight properly?”

Elona nodded her head.

“What should I do?”

“Just tear him apart as best as you can. He’s tough, as you can see. Then, I’ll finish him off when the time is right. Can you do it?”

Elona lightly touched the ground with her staff.

Instantly, mana surged throughout the subspace and formed a massive storm.

Zito’s thorns, which had been forming incessantly around him, were swept away and disintegrated the moment they came into contact with the mana storm.

“Depressingly, that’s what I do best.”

Zito grimaced as he saw Elona’s mana tightening around him.

[*Ugh, I really hate you both.*]