Chapter 610
C610
Once again, Jin stood in front of the Chaos Gate.
As usual, all the Legends alternately glanced at Jin and the Chaos Gate.
"Today, that guy's fate will be decided."
"Whatever decision Brother Jin makes, we will sincerely follow."
Jin looked at Vahn, who stood with an expressionless face.
In Vahn's calm eyes lingered the feeling of loneliness he had harbored while gazing at the Chaos Gate for the past two days.
"I'll be back."
As Jin entered the gate, empty darkness and Chaos greeted him.
Initially, every time Jin entered, he would immediately see Chaos's massive body.
Chaos would initiate the fight each time with a powerful front paw strike or a mighty tail slap.
Now, whether due to loss of strength or some other reason, Chaos was not visible.
So, Jin advanced aimlessly. He walked slowly for an hour.
And for the first time since entering Chaos's territory, he realized there was an "end" in this dark space.
Jin began to see an unusually dark curtain.
At first, he thought it was a point connected to Chaos's unconsciousness, as it was in the abyss of Gliek.
However, it was simply the end.
It seemed to be blocked by a wall, and Jin couldn't advance.
Even if he slashed it with the Shadow Blade, the crack wouldn't open and it wouldn't be destroyed.
As Jin walked along the wall, a figure of Chaos lurking in the distance became visible.
Chaos lifted its body when Jin came into view, appearing even smaller than last time.
Though maintaining the form of a dragon, it was overall round and almost resembled a rabbit pup.
It seemed it wouldn't even fill Jin's palm if placed on it.
Moreover, there was no longer the destructive force that used to emanate from Chaos.
The moment Chaos was struck by Jin's ultimate sword technique, it lost almost all its power.
"Eh, bastard. It's disgusting to see your arrogant face already drunk with victory."
Jin had an expressionless face.
"The Sister Goddess of Battle said this outside. It's not that you couldn't kill me, it's that you didn't kill me out of fear of feeling even more lonely. Is that true?"
"What do you know, you said you were going to kill me now."
Jin unsheathed his sword and placed it beside him.
Then, after raising his hand as if with no intention of harming, he sat down ten paces from Chaos.
"You never know, your answer might make me change my mind."
"Huh! Are you taking it easy because you think you can handle me even without a weapon?"
"You're distorting the meaning quite a bit."
"Don't you think? My life is ruined because of you. Originally, I was supposed to hatch perfectly by merging with you, but thanks to your sister, that plan went awry. So, we should be able to live our own lives, but you hurried to kill me."
"Isn't it natural since you took away my strength?"
"Your monstrous siblings just sided with you. Ignoring all my pleas."
"If you had returned my strength, the problem would have been solved."
"If I returned it to you, it would be useless, and I would have died by your and those monsters' hands! Did you ever think to speak as you do now? Besides, you keep saying that you stole it from me, but that's my strength."
There was a moment of silence.
"You just said your life was ruined. Is it because you lost all your strength? Or is it because once you enter this place, you can't leave on your own?"
"...Wait, how do you know I can't leave on my own?"
"The Sister Goddess of Battle told me. Every time a crack opened, your inner thoughts were transmitted."
Chaos's eyes widened.
Chaos was completely unaware of this fact.
Chaos followed Jin and stood in front of the crack, then hesitated for a moment.
"If I leave, won't your monster sister hate me?"
"Well, if you want to stay here, feel free to do so."
"No, no. I'll leave, I'll leave."
Finally, when Jin and Chaos stepped out into the training ground, the Legends widened their eyes in curiosity.
"Is that the First Chaos?"
"It's gotten very small, hasn't it?"
"Brother Jin, you said you wanted to give him a chance, but it seems you decided to let him live."
"Now that it's come to this, let's give him a warm welcome. He even looks a bit cute."
"Oh, Brother Jin. Well done! I was actually worried about what would happen if you killed that guy. Nice to meet you, I'm Boras, the Fifth Battle King! Since we need to proceed with some investigations with your help, it would be good for us to get closer quickly, right?"
Surprised by the unexpected welcome, Chaos seemed bewildered and hid behind Jin.
Additionally, Jin noticed Vahn's eyebrows furrowing.
She could now read Chaos's inner thoughts.
On the other hand, Jin didn't hear Chaos's inner thoughts.
"Come closer."
Vahn reached out to Chaos. Chaos looked at her and cautiously climbed onto her hand.
'Although he kept saying she was a monster, he seems very docile with Sister Vahn.'
There was one last problem.
When Jin said that just before coming out, he referred to the black stains that had remained on his body.
It was hinted that they might disappear if he killed Chaos, but Jin spared Chaos for Vahn's sake.
It was because he had seen Vahn sad. Vahn had felt Chaos's loneliness as if it were her own, and she felt a kind of camaraderie with Chaos.
A feeling of being trapped in a dead world, unable to escape even if she gave her life for it.
That's why she had been looking at the Chaos Gate with such a lonely expression.
Chaos seemed to be continuously talking with an inner voice while sitting on Vahn's hand.
Occasionally, Vahn nodded in response.
"...So, does that mean you can get rid of the stains on Brother Jin? I understand. Brother Jin."
"Yes, Sister Goddess of Battle."
"Now, I'll take care of this child."
Jin didn't question Vahn.
Her choice meant she trusted that Chaos could never threaten her and the siblings.
A black energy, like Shadow Energy, flowed from Chaos's body.
The energy hovered near her, Vahn, and was absorbed by her Light Heart.
As Chaos's energy seeped into Vahn's Light Heart, the black stains in the form of tumors on Jin's body faded and disappeared.
It seemed like some kind of contract, and from Chaos's perspective, it was a "relocation".
'But how can you be so cruel? You've been reading my thoughts all along.'
'That's because you tried to harm Brother Jin.'
'In the end, the reason you agreed to accept me is that I could be of help to that damned one.'
To that, Vahn responded by stroking Chaos's head and said,
"It's not just for that."
And Chaos read Vahn's inner thoughts.
The truth is, I've felt a lot of pity for you since the first time your inner thoughts were transmitted through the crack.
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