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Kaaaah!
Paellito screamed as he pushed Jin back. Jin staggered backward and his arm almost bent backwards.
A burst of flames erupted due to the recoil and blocked Paellito's sight for an instant. Just as he tried to charge through the flames, Bradamante fell down while splitting the flames in half.
Bradamante landed precisely on Paellito's forehead. However, it couldn't reach Paellito due to the lack of power to break through his demonic energy shield. It left only a scratch on the shield.
'I didn't... notice it?'
But for Paellito, it was nothing short of shocking.
It was an unexpected counterattack, but it wasn't fast or sharp. Jin's sword looked dull after he lost his arm. It was even less impressive compared to the ordinary strikes of the unskilled martial artist who had just begun to learn swordsmanship.
But what bothered Paellito the most was that he didn't even sense the moment when that sword came toward him.
His entire body would have been cut in half if there hadn't been a shield, or if Jin had possessed the same strength as before. And a chill ran down his spine.
'Is it because of the inner demon? Even so, it is not possible for a plain sword like this...!'
It was incomprehensible. He felt anger and frustration welling up inside.
The death of Sakiel, the absurd counterattack Jin had just shown, the fact that Jin was a regressor. All of these things continued to drive Paellito insane.
He couldn't accept it. He had to defeat this blazing monster, Jin Runcandel, for this nightmare to end.
Paella once again used the Netherworld Sword.
But now, the ability of interference with sense had little effect on Jin. His vision had been dimmed since earlier, and he was not able to control his shattered body precisely.
Moreover, Jin's hazy sensation only increased even if the characteristics of the Netherworld Sword were added. Whether he opened or closed his eyes, everything was dark in front of him, and no matter where he walked, Paellito was there.
There was a Sword Demon consumed by anger, hatred, and madness.
"Die!, die!"
Chiing!
The sharp clang of the two swords clashing pierced through the air. The two of them leaned towards each other so hard that the guard of their swords touched.
It was impossible for Jin to win in such a raw power struggle. Paellito pushed the sword aside as if throwing it away and struck Jin's defenseless face with his fist.
A muffled and heavy thud echoed as if a rock had exploded. Jin clearly felt his forehead bone shattering as Paellito's fist struck, and he was sent flying and slammed into the ground.
"Urgh!"
It felt like a bag of blood had exploded in his head. Blood spurted from his eyes, ears, and mouth, and all his senses were blocked for a moment.
Paellito rushed towards Jin like a wild beast without bothering to conceal his impatience. Now Paellito was continuously pursuing Jin even if Jin had lost consciousness for a moment.
"Die, Jin Runcandel, die!"
However, as soon as Paellito closed the distance to Jin, he had to shut his eyes tightly.
Moreover, Jin had unconsciously casted the flash cannon. The moment Jin was thrown to the ground by Paellito's fist, Jin momentarily let go of his sword and conjured the flash cannon into his empty hand.
It was merely an instinctive action.
It was a shallow move that should never be able to harm a Genesis knight. However, Paellito was feeling a burning sensation in his eyes, which were directly exposed to the flash cannon.
It felt like there was something invisible constantly distorting the situation. Things that should not have happened were recurring.
Jin only regained consciousness when Paellito closed the gap between them. The once dark vision of Jin was now entirely red as if soaked in blood.
He had a hard time breathing due to the blood clots in his nose and throat. Nevertheless, Jin clenched his sword again, conjured flames, and adjusted his posture.
He was determined to transcend fate.
He had decided to bear all the history changes and deaths that had occurred due to his regression, no matter what. Even if his body broke, he couldn't stop fighting.
Even if an inevitable death came, he had to keep fighting. Just like Ron Hairan, whom he had admired in the past, Jin was transcending death right now.
'This bastard's heartbeat is slowing down.'
Paellito opened his eyes and walked toward Jin. Paellito could hear the beating of Jin's heart with each step toward him, as if he were pressing his ear against Jin's chest. He wanted to take that lifeless and faltering heart in his hands.
He could do it at any moment. As long as the inexplicable phenomenon, which felt like the protection of the Sun God, would stop.
'Wait,... Could it be the light was the blessing of Sun God just now when he revealed that he is a regressor?'
Paellito was having such strange thoughts.
There's no way. The Sun God is already dead, and Zito will soon take over and become the new order of the world.
The shadow of the cruel creator who banished the demons in the nether seemed to envelop Jin. The illusion was so vivid that it sent shivers down his spine, and Paellito wanted to take a step back.
He wanted to run away. It was a fear he had never felt since becoming the Sword Demon, and it was not just ordinary fear. An indescribable and primal fear froze him in place. His grip on Bascala shook, and his legs wobbled as he walked.
"The Sun God... The Sun God!? Nonsense, I'm the Sword Demon. I am the only sword blessed by the grace of pain!"
As if a young boy was trying to ignore his fear, Paellito forced himself to speak and tried to dispel the light.
He advanced forward and pushed through the terrifying illusion. What stood behind this illusion was a mere human who would soon turn to dust.
That thought was not wrong.
After a moment, Paellito could finally face Jin, who was barely standing, clutching his sword as if he was hugging it. Jin appeared like a wounded beast, with patches of fur left here and there.
"Haha, Jin Runcandel, can you still say that you will transcend fate, say it again!"
Paellito's voice was mixed with his original and demonic nature voice. And his expression kept distorting and returning to calm. Just as Jin was overcoming death, Paellito was also fighting against the inner demon.
Jin didn't say anything.
His vocal cords, lungs, and everything had almost completely lost their function. Jin couldn't even perceive that Paellito was approaching, so he swung his sword randomly through the air.
Paellito laughed for a moment after watching this. He touched his forehead and bent forward, letting out a hollow laugh.
"Right, that's the look that suits you, a human. You died and came back in time? You think that regression is superior to fate? Never, you're just drunk on luck that you should never have."
Paellito shot a sword energy. It wasn't the Heavenly Destruction Slash, but rather a relentless sword energy that he had been continuously releasing throughout the battle.
Even that was something Jin couldn't withstand. Thud….! Jin fell to the ground and his body started crumbling like a pile of loose dirt breaking apart after being touched by sword energy.
The first things that fell were two fingers clutching the sword. There was no flesh, blood, or even bones visible. The exposed inside of the severed limb was simply an empty void of darkness.
Bradamante continued to shake as the remaining three fingers of the hand that held it also lost their strength. If it pushed even slightly, all the fingers would disintegrate, and the sword would fall to the ground.
Only then could Paellito truly calm down.
He was able to escape the fear that seemed to have no origin and face reality. All he could see were the words of an arrogant human who was nothing more than a corpse.
Paellito felt as if he were alone on a deserted island and surviving while extinction was imminent when he faced Jin.
He was engulfed in loneliness. He felt no joy in his victory. As Jin had said, the only thing waiting for the victor were the scars that they would never forgot, even in death.
"...You cannot transcend anything. In this world, someone like you will never appear again. No one can carry on your will, and no one can escape their predetermined fate."
Bascala turned black.
However, it was not easy to stab Jin. Paellito hesitated for a moment as he observed Jin.
It wasn't because of the fear created by the illusion of the Sun God, and it wasn't because he lacked the strength to swing his sword. Paellito still had the confidence that he could kill all the remaining bugs in the Holy kingdom by himself.
What was stopping Paellito from proceeding was the thought that death might actually provide relief for Jin.
It didn't seem like Jin's soul would go into hell. Even if he were to be swallowed by Bascala, it didn't seem likely that the sealed beings, like the Bisaro, could break Jin. Instead, Jin might even resurrect from within and break free from Bascala.
The order of pain had not been completely established yet. It seemed like he wouldn't be able to seal Jin in any way until the order was completely established.
It was not just a feeling but a conviction.
However, Paellito had decided not to kill Jin. He needed to keep Jin's soul tethered for now even if an unforeseen event occurred in the future where Jin broke through Bascala's seal.
So, he had to show him. The world where order of pain was established, the bugs struggling beneath the ceiling of fate, the world he had loved, and everything he had tried to take responsibility for would eventually face their end.
"Scream when you wake up again one day."
Thud!
Paellito stabbed Bascala into Jin's chest. Dark and viscous black blood oozed from Jin's heart, which had already grown cold.
Now that Bascala is opened, Jin was on the verge of being devoured. Bascala will seal Jin's will to overcome his death and postpone his extinction by sealing his soul.
The sealing would be completed in a matter of seconds.
However, the demonic energy that spread out like roots from Bascala's blade was blocked by something and unable to seal Jin.
Paellito realized the reason a moment later.
There was a human kneeling behind Jin while touching his back with her forehead.
"Jin, I'm here. I'm here, along with the people and Holy kingdom."
It was Holy Queen Lani. She was praying behind Jin.
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