In the midst of rubble, dust hanging in the air and partially destroyed walls, a beast-man with rabbit ears was blocking Jino Britz's path. The beast-man approached with great confidence.
"I am North King Nucklegard, one of the three blades of the North God! They call me Twinblade!"
As he spoke, the man began to 'split' into two, half of him moving slowly to the left while the other half shifted to the right.
"Alone, we are only half a man."
"Together, we are a whole man!"
Jino looked at the twins, confused.
"I am Jino Britz... you two are of the Beast Race, of the Mildett Tribe, correct? Why are you still working as mercenaries in the Kingdom of Asura...?"
Normally, given the situation, Jino would not hesitate to kill them both before any introductions. Still, in that case, he had to ask.
The Kingdom of Gaia was well known for accepting all races under its rule, and the Great Forest was still the Beast Race's territory, led by the strongest Beastman in history.
Jino saw no logical reason for two warriors of that level to keep roaming around as human mercenaries.
Why hadn't they returned to the Kingdom of Gaia? With their strength, as long as they followed the rules, they would do well there.
The two glanced at each other for a brief moment, exchanging a simple, almost casual look.
"Huh? Why not be mercenaries?"
"It's quite profitable!"
"We fight strong opponents!"
"And we're even very well paid!"
The two spoke, completing each other's sentences. Jino wore an odd expression; he finally concluded that the two were simply idiots.
However, at that instant, his senses abruptly alerted him.
He turned his face toward a specific area of the rubble and spoke, in a calm but resolute tone:
"It's a pity I can't stay longer, I have an important mission this time."
The two swordsmen sensed the danger immediately. Both retreated instantly.
Even so, all they had time to see was Jino completely disappear from their sight.
In the next moment, the sound of blades slicing through flesh echoed down the ruined corridor.
"AAAAAAAaah!"
"OOOOOOoh!"
Both Nuckle and Gard had their leg and arm tendons severed when Jino passed by. The bodies lost support and collapsed among the rubble, blood spreading across the cracked floor.
Jino was already far away when he left a few words in the air:
"If you survive, consider this a favor. Your contractor is already dead, so I'm hiring you for the Kingdom of Gaia, travel there."
Jino ran through the corridors while using Wild Dash. Everything around him became a distorted blur as he reached his maximum speed, reaching his target in an instant.
---
Some time earlier.
At another point, where a small group had gathered, an anxious voice echoed amid the confusion.
"Lord Perugius, Princess Ariel and Rudeus are still over there! We have to go look for them!"
It was Sylphiette Greyrat, who had stayed by Perugius's side since the beginning of the chaos. Her expression showed evident concern. Before Perugius could respond, Sylvaril spoke in place of her master.
"Miss Sylphiette, with his strength, Lord Rudeus will be fine alone, and Lady Ariel was being protected by the North God, her safety is not a concern."
She turned to Perugius and added, seriously:
"Instead, Lord Perugius, I recommend we retreat immediately to Chaos Breaker. With the Beast God present with his generals, it's difficult to sense their exact intentions."
At this point, the Twelve Spirits were only nine. Three of them had already been destroyed, but that was not important, since Perugius could revive them simply by summoning them again.
Still, all the remaining spirits were surrounding Perugius, forming a solid defense around him.
Sylphy spoke furiously:
"You are our allies! How can you think of retreating at the first opponent who shows up to fight?!"
Sylvaril looked at her calmly, without changing her tone.
"Lady Ariel is using Lord Perugius's influence to support her rise. We never promised to get involved in any sort of fight for the throne, much less a fight against the Apocalypse Beast, which puts Lord Perugius's safety at risk."
"What? It's above you to get involved in fights?! Prince Grabell is already dead! Even if Darius survives he can't turn the tide! All we need is to kill these invaders and we win!"
Sylphy was still angry. It was at that moment that Perugius, who had been calmly contemplating and observing everything around him, finally spoke:
"Clearnight, can you tell us the exact situation on the battlefield?"
Without hesitation, one of the Twelve Spirits, Clearnight of Thunder, narrated everything she could see:
"On the Dragon God and Beast God's battlefield, I cannot see either of them, probably because one or both possess means of concealment, but they seem to be holding back each other for now. Princess Ariel decided to retreat and is being escorted by Lord Sándor, while the remainder will stay to fight."
The spirit continued speaking and reported most of what was happening on the battlefield.
It was as if she had some kind of naturally clairvoyant sense, for she was aware of everything happening around her across a wide radius.
After hearing everything, Perugius thought. Sylphiette was anxious for him to go help. Sylvaril wanted him to retreat immediately.
Even if he had to be cautious regarding the Beast God, it was still true that he himself had taken on a responsibility by supporting Ariel.
After pondering, he said:
"We will fight. Help Ariel and her allies drive away their enemies, but do not kill any general of the Kingdom of Gaia. If you cannot win without killing them, then retreat. Our second priority besides helping Ariel is not to make the Beast God an enemy; now is not the right time."
At that moment, Harkenmail of Life, one of the spirits, suddenly lost her composure while looking at the sky. This drew everyone's attention.
She was looking in the direction of the Flying Fortress, Chaos Breaker.
With a trembling voice, she said:
"L-lord Perugius! Chaos Breaker has been invaded by external forces!"
Perugius's expression finally underwent a significant change. He was truly agitated now. However, just as he was about to give the order, a blue light passed like a flash.
Harkenmail of Life was split in two, instantly.
The remaining spirits turned to the threat. Trophimus of the Wave was the quickest, for he had a spell ready. Huge ice spikes formed in sequence, transforming the terrain instantly.
But that was not much for his opponent.
Standing atop one of the spikes of ice newly formed by the magic, he said:
"I'm still one step late... anyway, Perugius Dola, why don't we keep each other company for a while?"
The Spirits were about to leap and eliminate the threat.
But Perugius raised his hand in a gesture to contain them; the movement was enough to signal that no one should attack.
This paralyzed everyone present, who were already about to advance against Jino. Spirits, guardians and allies stood still, weapons at the ready, spells interrupted mid-cast.
For a moment, everything was motionless.
Sylphy was clearly about to lose her patience, but before she could say anything, Perugius spoke in a grave voice:
"Young swordsman, we do not intend to take part in your fight. For the sake of our relations with the Kingdom of Gaia, I beg you not to obstruct our retreat, unless you wish to make us enemies."
Jino was surprised to hear Perugius speak directly to him. For a brief instant, his eyes widened, before he opened a lively smile.
"Haha, who would have thought that one of the Three God-Killers, the Great Armored Dragon King Perugius Dola, would one day even try to negotiate with me!"
He tilted his head slightly, clearly amused.
"I have to brag about this to Nina when I return, without a doubt!"
Even masked, it was possible to perceive that most of the Spirits were furious at Jino's blatant disrespect toward Perugius. The atmosphere around them grew heavy.
Jino, however, had a much broader view of things due to his time with Rygar. So, even if he admired Perugius, he still did not revere him like most people.
Unconcerned with the hostile looks, he continued:
"It's a pity that today I have to stop you right here. You cannot leave, so your negotiation is doomed to fail."
In this situation, he could try to stall or contain the group simply by talking to them, but Jino was not good at that.
Someone would certainly notice his act at the moment he began. After all, it was good to know one's strengths and weaknesses.
He then stood and looked at the blade of his sword, Storm Tremor Hunter Sword, watching the reflections of his opponents on the silver surface.
Despite his casual posture, Jino was analyzing the position, stance and strength of each opponent present with his sharpened senses.
Facing that formation required extreme caution. He had some advantage in information, but he knew that if he made a mistake, one of the strange abilities of that group could defeat him in an instant.
His greatest advantage was that his opponents knew very little about his true abilities.
Perugius's expression grew dark. The scenario he most feared was unfolding. If Jino Britz was there to contain them and prevent their return to Chaos Breaker, then the conclusion was obvious: the Kingdom of Gaia itself was invading the Flying Fortress.
Perugius was at a severe disadvantage in terms of information. He did not know how they had managed to get through the barriers he himself created.
He did not know who was behind the attack, what their objectives were, nor how long it would take them to reach them.
With no time to hesitate, he said:
"Then so be it. Take him down."
At that same instant, without wasting a moment, Furiousful of Fury attacked. He leapt like an enraged bull toward his opponent, using only his fists.
He wore the characteristic white clothing of Perugius's Spirits, which contrasted with the black gauntlets on his arms. His brown hair swayed with the force of the leap.
Furiousful was one of the best fighters among Perugius's Spirits.
The moment Furiousful was in the air, a word sounded, coming from another Spirit:
"Collapse!"
A white light emerged from the ice crystals beneath Jino's feet, while a violent tremor ran through his body. However, thanks to his immediate reaction — a jump at the right instant — the impact was minimal.
That was an ability of Gall of Earthquake.
At the same time, Sylphy looked directly at Jino, activating the Demon Eye of Affection. Jino was barely reacting to the rest when his instincts fired.
He felt a strange heat spread through his body, while his eyes were drawn to Sylphiette Greyrat's charming, enchanting beauty.
For an instant, his mind wavered.
At that exact moment, a ring on his finger shone.
"Haaaaaaah!"
He regained consciousness in time to notice a gauntlet inches from his face. In fragments of a second, he wielded his sword, redirecting Furiousful's attack with a Secret Technique of the Water God Style.
Upon touching the ground again, Jino smiled.
Then, he vanished.
He used a technique he had only recently mastered, taught personally by Rygar.
"Wild Light."
Instantly, Jino's figure became only a flash. One second late, ice spikes grew exactly where he had been before.
Only three people managed to keep up with his speed: Furiousful of Fury, Perugius, and Jino's true target — Sylvaril.
He crossed the battlefield in an instant, attacking directly the only one among the Twelve Spirits who was not a true spirit.
Sylvaril was not weak. She drew a blade to defend herself, but how could she withstand a supreme speed technique? Jino's blade passed through Sylvaril's short sword without losing momentum.
But then, another blade blocked the blow.
In fact, overpowering it with greater physical strength.
Jino reacted immediately. He was a genius of fencing, one of the few in the whole world capable of transitioning freely between styles without compromising effectiveness.
In an instant, he used a defense of the North God Style, moving his touki in an instant and throwing himself in the direction he would be thrown, reducing both the cutting power and the impact of the enemy.
These were defenses in which the Water God Style did not specialize.
Even so, Jino was thrown by the power of the blade.
Who had protected Sylvaril was none other than Perugius Dola himself, who had drawn a powerful two-handed sword.
Although not specialized in close combat — his focus being Summoning Magic and Barrier — he was still a genuine member of the Dragon Race, a direct descendant of the Armored Dragon General Dora and the Sturdy Dragon General Cristal.
The Dragon Touki granted him innate superiority over ordinary touki users.
Of course, against a genius like Jino, that would not be of great help.
Spells rained down on him as he was thrown, projectiles of various natures cutting through the air. Still in mid-flight, Jino recovered, dodging and cutting through each spell with ease.
Then, he vanished again, using Wild Light.
Only his voice remained on the battlefield:
"Let's see what one of the Three God-Killers can do!"
-----
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