SYS (Novel) Chapter 491

Jin decided to follow Joshua and his group and head slowly towards the Second Magic
Tower. Joshua and his group advanced while massacring Zipples and Kinzelo members
in the following sections, so there was no need to engage in battles or hide.
Scenes of corpses, blood, and destruction continued. From behind, the vibrations
and noise of ongoing battles could still be heard, and it seemed that at this rate,
the entire shipyard was going to collapse. Yes, not even Jin can understand
everything perfectly. Joshua, that viper, is not only skillful at scheming but also
possesses the abilities of the prophet... It's impressive enough just to perfectly
understand the flow of events so far. Honestly, I wouldn't have been able to keep
up. Dyfus felt anguish knowing that he still couldn't be of much help. "Second
elder brother, honestly, I didn't plan to make you this proposition. I thought I
could kill Joshua on my own. But sister Mary asked me to come back with you without
getting hurt." (Note: Remember that Dyfus is the Fourth Flagbearer but also the
Second Elder Brother of Jin.) He remembered the words Jin had told him just before
starting the operation. If things continued like this, even if he managed to kill
Joshua, he would end up being led by Jin. Just like in the time of Barton, I must
not fall into a situation where I have to retreat unless I receive help from Jin.
Since Jin had mentioned that he didn't know why Joshua felt confident at that
moment, Dyfus also couldn't come up with an immediate solution. However, what was
important was that he could cling to his spirit and will, which had momentarily
been lost in the excitement of being able to kill Joshua. Dyfus had rarely failed
in what he had set out to do so far. The group soon crossed to section twenty after
passing through nineteen. According to the shipyard's layout, there was an
emergency passage near the Second Magic Tower. Looking around, they saw signs that
Joshua and the Black Knight had forcefully opened and destroyed the passage. "Jin,
it seems there was no fight in the passage. Did Kinzelo use a different passage?"
"Or maybe they used their leader's steel door ability." "That ability he showed
during the terror attack on Sword Emperor Castle, damn it. Except for Runcandel,
everyone has surpassed the limits of transfer gates." "Vermont hasn't shown such
advanced technology or capabilities yet." "The Empire can't be compared to us.
That's why Vermont hasn't appeared here yet. Anyway, I feel bad. Let's move on."
Fierce and thick sandstorms covered the entire desert. The giant sandstorms
scattered here and there gave an ominous feeling. Naturally, from this point
onward, there were no traces of Joshua and the Black Knight's movements. The
footprints lasted not even an instant and were covered with sand, and it was
difficult to breathe without forming a protective shield. Natural disasters and
adverse conditions that for civilians would be nothing more than catastrophes were
not fatally effective on most trained martial artists. Even dying uselessly from
falling rocks or being struck by lightning with astronomical odds, individuals with
a power level of 8 stars or higher would never die unexpectedly. And much less for
those like Jin or Dyfus, who could be called superhumans. The Sota Desert
environment threatening the group at that moment far exceeded that normal level. It
was such a fierce environment that a civilian couldn't survive for even a second.
The sand-laden wind cut through protective shields like a sharp knife. The entire
desert seemed to be infested with a terrible destructive magic. 'These are large-
scale barriers and chained defense magic maintained at all times. They are to
protect the Second Magic Tower from intruders.' The Second Magic Tower was one of
Zipple's most important areas. It was close to the center of the Lutero Magical
Federation, right next to their headquarters, Drakka. Such levels of barrier and
defense magic were natural. The White Night Tower could be seen in the distant hazy
sky, obscured by the sandstorm. "I never observed this phenomenon during all my
explorations before your arrival." "This defensive magic, including the illusion
barrier, is likely to be activated when someone deviates from the predefined path
or enters a specific area." All but one were illusions created by the illusion
barrier. And as with this type of barrier, another trap was activated upon reaching
one of the false towers. "Hey, why is it so dark like that...? Brat, Dyfus, take a
look at that." At first glance, it seemed there were more than a hundred. If Jin,
Murakan, and Dyfus feared Zipple, it would have been a sight that would have
weakened their legs. Unlike the towers, they couldn't be sure that the battleships
covering the sky like a group of whales were an illusion. Considering the size of
the shipyard they had just checked, it was a number that could easily exist if
there were several more shipyards. In other words, these battleships could be
finished products of mass-produced battleships deployed to support the shipyard.
"Shall I fly up to the sky and deal with those first? I can also check which of
those towers is real." "If you start flying up there in your original form, the
three of us will be as good as dead, Murakan. And by the looks of it, there are
more than a hundred." Even if these battleships were illusions like the towers,
flying openly above the Lutero Magical Federation would be madness. If it were that
easy, there wouldn't have been a need for the infiltration plan. "Ah, this is a
specialty of that despicable demon." "Yes, that's right. I don't have the ability
to discreetly eliminate these barriers. Although I might be able to break through
them with brute force." "I can roughly understand the basis of the confidence
Joshua has shown. He has a means to avoid being exposed to the barriers. Unlike me,
he probably planned to steal the Second Magic Tower, not the inside of the
shipyard, from the moment we set up camp, so he must have prepared the necessary
means in advance, using the power of the Prophet," said Dyfus. Jin had similar
thoughts. "And he probably thought that we couldn't get through it. He moved as if
he wanted us to follow him," Dyfus continued. As he said, Joshua had a hidden
motive to "actively use" Jin and his group. Since Jin and Kinzelo wouldn't be able
to pass through the barrier as quickly as he could with the key, he naturally
wanted to use them as bait after breaking the vault. Even if the vault opened
without a trace with the key, the fact that there was an intrusion and theft would
soon come to light. Naturally, Zipple would have to locate the culprit. To do that,
all barriers near the Second Magic Tower would have to be removed to facilitate the
search for allies, and then Jin and his group, along with Kinzelo, who were still
wandering among the barriers, would become the main suspects and be subjected to
intense pursuit. This was part of the scenario that Joshua desired. Dyfus clenched
his teeth, vaguely guessing the process. "How about advancing while using my body
as a shield? I'll do my best to handle the traps, while Jin and you follow Joshua
as fast as possible." "Is that so? Are you as sturdy as the First Flagbearer of
Runcandel?" "As Jin said last night, this is a time to take risks. Such a risky
opportunity may not come again. Let's go in, gather real information, and kill
Joshua." "That's bold, I like it. Put your body on the line, and let's overcome
this crisis." Murakan, speaking as if he agreed, looked at Jin for a moment. Jin
flatly refused with an attitude that there was no need to worry. "No, that's a last
resort. If by any chance you fall into a trap, the losses will be too great, older
brother Dyfus, and if our location is exposed due to the activation of the
barriers, there will be no escape." "I knew you'd say that, the younger one. Do you
have any other option?" "...I have experienced this terrible desert once. I have a
sword that I obtained along with enlightenment at that time, and I think it might
work." Jin had passed through the final gate of the Great Mitra Desert with that
sword. Although Zipple's barriers and magic were formidable, they didn't seem
superior to Solderet's trial. After forming a blood alliance with the Phantom
Legion Mercenaries, the Soul Slash had also been effective when the remains of the
Seigal Clan tried to commit suicide in the unnamed desert in the eastern part of
the Empire... "If the Shadow Blade doesn't work, then I'll consider using my
knowledge to personally unravel the barriers and spells. And if that doesn't work,
then I can consider putting you in the front, older brother." The will to cut, the
belief that he could cut, the will to cut and pass through. The strength of will
and knowledge acquired in the Great Mitra Desert passed through his entire body and
mind. Before swinging the sword, a smile appeared on Jin's lips. This was because a
mysterious and indescribable sensation extended from the tip of his sword, as if he
had already glimpsed the future and the outcome. The barrier and magic were cut
with a gentle stroke of the sword. Every time he lightly swung the sword, the
sandstorm diminished, and the illusions covering the tower gradually faded away.
Jin continued to wield Bradamante until all the spells were erased, and it seemed
as if he were performing a sword dance. When Jin opened his eyes again, he felt
refreshed, as if he had just taken a bath. The horrible sandstorm and tempest had
mysteriously disappeared. In the serene twilight, with a gentle breeze blowing, the
lonely White Night Tower appeared. The White Night Tower was much closer than the
illusions had hidden. "The moment you have to risk your life for the Family
shouldn't be due to mere barriers like this, older brother." After saying that, Jin
waited for Dyfus to respond.
But for some reason, there was no response even after a few seconds. Instead, the
sound of Murakan clicking his tongue was heard. "Hmm... Tsk. Well, after all, they
were all real." Dyfus was momentarily speechless, realizing that all the flying
ships filling the sky were indeed "real."