Episode 234. To Hell
As Murakan initially expected when using the passage of Groshay Castle, it seemed like it would take at least two days for Kinsello and Zipfel's fleets to completely cross the subspace.
"Judge, Demon General."
At the call of Veradin, Satrin and Betty approached.
"Yes, Master. Please speak."
"I just received a report from the reconnaissance team that Kinsello's Demon Dragon has started to pull ahead of the main force."
"Zephyrin... That means he intends to reach Hell before us."
"That seems to be the case. I don't think Zephyrin moved alone."
"Do you mean Orgal went down with Zephyrin?"
Veradin nodded.
"That's right. There's a high chance that Orgal wants something from the demon world. Something like power, or a special item that could complete him. The Demon Stone also made such predictions."
Of course, it wasn't onlyRuncandell but also Zipfel who didn't want Orgal and Kinsello to get stronger.
He's still a secretive entity.
Especially since he is closely related to the Demon World, Veradin had to be cautious of him striking the back of other forces in Hell.
"We have to pursue him. If we keep matching the speed of the entire fleet, we'll be late to confirm JinRuncandels movements. He must have arrived in Hell several times faster than us."
Jin was showing no consideration for Zipfel and Kinsello.
Although it was not a relationship worthy of consideration in the first place, Jin was acting as if he could confront Zito alone without any significant forces.
However, Veradin continued to be troubled by Jin.
Despite his position of wishing Jin would die while fighting Zito, or grasping any opportunity to kill him, his heart was not aligned.
"Veradin, know your limits and come back like before. Such a plot doesn't suit you."
Ever since hearing those words from Jin before using the entrance of Groshay Castle, his inner turmoil had become increasingly complex.
In that sense, his current statement about pursuing Orgal served as an excuse. Satrin and Betty were completely oblivious.
"Understood, Master. We will prepare immediately."
"We will ride Tuyan and Finia down. I will delegate the command of the fleet to Almatia."
As Veradin stepped outside the bridge, the two Guardian Dragons landed on Kojak's deck.
"It looks like you've come out because of Zephyrin, Veradin."
"That's right. Take us and chase him."
"Understood. However, he is familiar with this subspace, so it won't be easy for us to catch up."
"Let's go down to the demon world first and look for traces."
The dragons began to descend, carrying the three of them.
Excluding the fleet, the speed of crossing subspace was undoubtedly much faster.
After about an hour, Veradin and his group were able to reach the dark zone of the demon world.
The vast dark zone and the mountain made of millions of corpses awaited them. It was a scale of death they had never seen before in this world.
"Jin Luncandel didn't kill these. They died fighting each other."
"It seems so, Master. Just as Rosa used others' despair as his power in the past, Zito seems to use suffering."
"Like with the Holy Kingdom, Jin Luncandel left some power in these corpses."
However, unlike when Jin first arrived, Veradin's group also saw the golden aura enveloping the numerous corpses.
"According to the Barmel Union newsletters, Ayura said before dying that this golden aura can resurrect the dead. She said Jin Luncandel has gained the power of regeneration..."
While Betty was talking, Veradin reached out for the golden aura passing in front of him.
"Ugh."
And as soon as the aura touched his hand, he felt a powerful dizzy spell.
Scenes he had forgotten, Jin in his boyhood, moments with Dante, were flashing in his mind.
"Master, are you alright?"
"It's an unpleasant power. Just like the curse left by Kelliark Zipfel last time."
However, the rest of the group was not affected by the golden aura at all.
Veradin began to quickly leave the dark zone as if running away.
If he kept facing this golden aura, he felt like his mind would go strange even before he started something in the demon world.
'...It's dangerous.'
If it continues like this, he felt like he would fall apart soon.
Veradin had been feeling such a sense of crisis lately.
The personality he lost due to mental manipulation was causing turmoil in his subconscious.
This feeling is not suitable for leading the family in the future.
Another celestial knight was born from Luncandel, the greatest enemy of the family, Kinsello's potential is still unknown, and the Demon Stone is not yet complete.
If Elona hadn't returned, Zipfel would have had the most precarious days among the three forces by now.
The things gained by joining hands with the Sun God's faith were now gradually becoming a hindrance to Veradin.
Moreover, Kelliac Zipple Kelliac , thought to have lost everything, had survived and was regaining strength in hell.
In such a situation, he couldn't afford to waver in confusion. To Veradin, that meant defeat.
'But, why am I so obsessed with the family's victory and prosperity? Why am I... fighting?'
Suddenly, Veradin glanced to the side.
Betty was fumbling and holding out a dry cloth to clean the sword to Veradin.
"Master... blood is flowing from your mouth."
"Ah."
It was then that Veradin realized that he had been gritting his teeth hard enough to ache.
"Thank you."
Satrin was riding Phinia, so she did not see this. He thought it was fortunate.
Betty was completely trustworthy, but Satrin was not.
Apart from Ellona, Betty, Almatia, and Koon, everyone in the family was like that.
Even Octavia, who had tried to save him when he had gone berserk, Veradin couldn't completely trust.
'Because even I overthrew the Kelliac Order and became the Master, I guess it's because I think such a thing could happen to me anytime.'
Betty scratched her head restlessly.
A biogolem, almost a human-made replica of herself, her warmth was undoubtedly a non-existent element in him now.
They escaped the dark area where Jin's energy remained as if fleeing, but Veradin's party had to face the golden energy left on other piles of corpses as they moved north.
[Jito seems to be using pain as his power, just as Satrin predicted. Wherever we go, there are only armies that fought each other to death, Veradin. Jin Runcandel has left his mark on most of them.]
"There's no need to track Jin Runcandel's movements any further. But just in case, Satrin and Pian, keep following this golden energy and track Jin Runcandel. Betty, Tuyan, and I will look for traces of Orgal and the demon dragon."
He had found a plausible excuse again. If he continued to face the energy that Jin left in this state, his unstable inner self seemed likely to reveal itself again.
Following the order, Phinia and Satrin departed, following the golden energy.
[There seems to be an alien magical energy mixed with the wind blowing from the west, Veradin.]
"Then let's go that way. If Orgal and the demon dragon headed in a different direction while Jin Runcandel left markers, they must have another purpose."
[Understood.]
As they began to fly west, the golden energy no longer entered their sight. Veradin felt his mind clearing as he moved further away from Jin's energy, regaining his composure.
["We cannot rule out the possibility that Zephyrin and Orgal might suddenly attack us, Veradin. Of course, it doesn't seem like we'll be pushed back right now, but if those scoundrels have already obtained some object or power and become stronger, it might be a headache."]
"No matter what power they gain, they won't suddenly become virtuous. It sounds like you're talking about stopping the pursuit, Tuyan."
["That's not it. Just... I wonder if it might be better to get in touch with Jin Run-Kandel and move together. Or bring Elona now."]
"Bringing Elona down to the demonic world is our last resort. You seem a bit different from usual. Why are you suddenly worrying about something so unnecessary?"
["Just, I have a bad feeling about it, that's all."]
Veradin did not respond, focusing his mind on the energy emanating from the surrounding area.
The farther west they went, the more distinct the unnatural magical energy Tuyan had mentioned became.
About ten minutes later, Veradin and his party were able to face a single massive dimensional gate floating in the sky. It was also where the unnatural magical energy suddenly cut off.
"They passed through this dimensional gate..."
["Now that we're here, it's clear. What's left nearby is undoubtedly Zephyrin's energy."]
"We're crossing. Whatever Kinzelo has prepared, we cannot let things go their way. They all agreed to deal with the public enemy first, but as expected, they had other pockets."
Veradin and his party crossed the dimensional gate.
Upon escaping the dimensional gate, what spread before the party was a barren land where rivers of poison flowed.
It was the extreme toxic zone of the demonic world.
"...Where is this? This poison, it's unmistakably the one that threatened Elona!"
Faced with the poison of the extreme toxic zone, Veradin's eyes filled with hostility. Uncontrollable rage exploded in Veradin's chest.
It was the very poison that had hurt the person most dear to Veradin, Elona Zipfel. It had been used to take the citizens of the Lutero Federation hostage.
"Ragal's area! Could Kinzelo, those bastards, have conspired with Ragal? Maybe even Elona's injury is related. Tuyan, right now, to the castle of those beings over there...!"
The moment he spoke, Veradin quickly glanced around again.
On the ground, the strongest battle troops of the demonic world, led by Leila Belcasium, were taking formation, and a massive fireball was rising in the sky like the sun.
It was the fire of Kelliac.
The dimensional gate they had just passed was closing.
'Kelliac Zipfel...!'
The distorted light emanating from the fireball illuminated Veradin's twisted face. Kelliac looked down at Veradin with the fireball at his back.
"It's been a long time. I thought you would come here to avoid Jin Run-Kandel's energy."
Betty stepped in front of Veradin and drew her sword. Tuyan hastily put up a shield, but it didn't seem like it could stop that fire.
"Now, it's time to return everything you stole from this father to its rightful place... Veradin Zipfel, my most cherished son."