Episode 113
“The Heresion of the Sagyeong Palace.”
In the entire empire, fewer than a hundred knights have been bestowed with a Heresion. Among them, the Heresions held by the knights of the Thirteen Constellations were particularly special.
Three hundred years ago, the Holy Empire, which had unified the entire central continent, fractured as local lords and kingdoms asserted their autonomy. Among them, the Kingdom of Rom claimed to be the true successor of the Holy Empire.
While the Holy Empire was a theocratic state centered around the worship of the Sun God, the Kingdom of Rom revered both the Sun God and the Moon Goddess Theia, along with the constellations of the Thirteen Constellations that protected her.
The Kingdom of Rom bestowed Heresions, imbued with the power of the Thirteen Constellations, upon its most distinguished knights to combat the Papal faction. This power forced the Papal faction to retreat to the east of the continent, establishing the Holy Kingdom, while the Kingdom of Rom expanded its influence, eventually growing into an empire in the southern central continent.
Given the significant role the knights of the Thirteen Constellations played in the Rom Empire’s rise, the Heresions they received were rare artifacts of immense power.
Morgan Buffon, clad in the Heresion of the Sagyeong Palace, approached Zeke.
“To make me activate the Heresion… I must admit, you’re no ordinary foe.”
A deep, crimson aura emanated from the Heresion of the Sagyeong Palace. Simultaneously, the same aura enveloped the sword Morgan wielded. The ominous yet potent energy surged forth as an aura blade.
Though Morgan was a blue-ranked knight, with the Heresion equipped, he could rival a red-ranked knight in strength. Zeke remained wary of the power emanating from Morgan’s sword.
“This aura blade… it feels different.”
It wasn’t a typical aura, nor was it a corrupted energy like dark magic. As Morgan swung his sword, he shouted, “I’ll capture you and make you confess who’s behind this!”
With a snake-like aura trailing him, Morgan charged at Zeke.
Boom!
Morgan’s leap, empowered by the Heresion, was formidable. From above, the aura blade, infused with the power of the Sagyeong Palace, rained down on Zeke.
Swish!
Astonishingly, the aura blade from Morgan’s sword twisted like a whip, hurtling toward Zeke.
“What is this?”
Zeke rolled to the side, narrowly evading the aura blade. Yet, like a living serpent, the aura blade relentlessly pursued him.
Snap!
Suddenly, the end of the aura blade split into four, piercing through Zeke’s shield and coiling around his limbs. The aura whip dug into his iron armor.
Crack!
Despite being made of aura, the whip’s force was enough to dent the usually resilient iron armor.
“So this is the power of the Sagyeong Palace.”
The Heresion of the Thirteen Constellations, said to be imbued with the power of the constellations, was far more terrifying than Zeke had heard. Though Zeke possessed an ancient Heresion himself, using it in the presence of the empire’s knights could reveal his activities in the south.
Zeke focused his mana to activate his full potential.
Rumble!
The heart of Bahamut within Zeke roared to life. Gathering the immense mana from Bahamut’s heart into his core, Zeke invoked the spirit of strength through his incantation.
Hum!
The spirit of strength fortified his body into a “strong body.” In this state, any technique he executed would be significantly more powerful. While the side effects were severe, preventing him from using it in his past life, the incantation now allowed him to wield it freely without drawbacks.
With his body enhanced, Zeke felt much lighter. He yanked on the aura blade binding his limbs, pulling Morgan toward him.
“Ugh! What are you doing? Attack him now!”
The knights, who had been dealing with the rampaging Guraab, turned their attention to Zeke. Despite being bound, Zeke swung his sword at the approaching knights.
Clang!
With his body strengthened, Zeke’s sword was as formidable as any knight’s aura-infused blade. Using the rugged northern swordsmanship, Zeke parried the knights’ attacks.
Crash!
The knights who clashed with Zeke’s sword were sent flying backward. Seeing this, Morgan poured more power into the aura blade, trying to immobilize Zeke.
But Zeke kept moving.
“Haaah!”
With his body fortified, Zeke was a force of nature. He swung his sword at the charging knights, kicked them, and even punched them.
Thud!
A knight struck by Zeke’s fist was sent sprawling. Witnessing this, the empire’s knights were filled with dread.
“Damn it, he’s a complete monster!”
Even while bound by the power of the Sagyeong Palace, Zeke was holding his own against dozens of imperial knights, causing the imperial forces to lose their will to fight. The aura of a dragon, subtly emanating from Zeke, who bore the title of Dragon Knight, also played a part.
As the knights hesitated, Morgan gritted his teeth and stepped forward.
“Damn fools! Move aside!”
He unfastened the belt wrapped around his Heresion. As Morgan infused aura into the belt, it stiffened and transformed into a long spear. Gripping the spear, Morgan pulled on the whip-like aura blade holding Zeke.
Snap!
The aura blade coiled around Zeke rapidly retracted. As Zeke’s power waned, he was drawn toward Morgan.
Morgan aimed the spear at Zeke.
“I didn’t think I’d have to use this.”
The spear, imbued with the power of the Sagyeong Palace, possessed the authority to pierce anything. Though he had refrained from using it to capture Zeke alive and uncover his backers, the dire situation forced his hand.
Hum!
The same snake-like aura rose from the spear Morgan held. He thrust it toward the approaching Zeke.
The Authority of the Sagyeong Palace
Unerring Piercing
At that moment, Zeke unleashed a field of water.
Elemental Sword
Field of Water
Reverse Wave Blade
Relaxing his body and surrendering to the flow, Zeke used Morgan’s force against him, executing the Reverse Wave Blade.
Crash!
Zeke smoothly deflected the spear’s power. Simultaneously, a massive wave surged, engulfing Morgan.
“Ugh!”
The power of the Sagyeong Palace that had bound Zeke now ensnared Morgan. His body was lifted into the air, swept away by the Reverse Wave Blade’s force.
Zeke’s sword summoned an even greater tidal wave.
Hum!
The wave’s energy swept through the entire canyon. Given Morgan’s immense power, the Reverse Wave Blade’s effect was colossal.
Boom!
The knights caught in the wave were flung aside, their limbs twisted, and they crashed into the canyon walls, losing consciousness. Figures falling from above suggested that even the snipers stationed at the canyon’s edge were affected.
Morgan, too, was overwhelmed by the powerful wave, unable to regain his senses. Lifted into the air and tossed by the wave’s force, he crashed to the ground, struggling to rise.
“The spear of the Sagyeong Palace missed?”
The authority of the Sagyeong Palace was unlike any ordinary technique. With limited uses per day, he had saved it, but once unleashed, it was supposed to pierce its target without fail. It was the first time the authority of the constellations had failed.
Recalling Zeke’s Reverse Wave Blade, Morgan trembled.
“A technique I’ve never seen before. Could it be ancient magic contained in an artifact?”
Had he not been wearing the Heresion, he might have been shattered and killed.
Zeke surveyed the surroundings and approached Morgan.
“You conducted horrific experiments at the ruins of the Jo-in tribe.”
Morgan’s eyes flickered at those words. Seeing his reaction, Zeke realized Morgan was involved in the inhumane experiments of infusing human subjects with demonic blood.
“This one is better off dead.”
In his past life, Morgan Buffon had killed countless people during the Third Continental War. More than as a knight, Morgan had excelled as a commander, eventually rising to the position of regent due to his achievements.
Killing Morgan here would significantly weaken the empire’s forces.
Zeke slowly approached Buffon, raising his sword to strike Buffon’s neck.
Clang!
Even with Zeke’s strike, the Heresion, imbued with the power of the constellations, did not yield.
Zeke employed a magic reflection skill.
Crackle!
Sparks flew from the Heresion, but the armor remained intact.
“Heresion, great to wear, but a real pain for the enemy.”
Even trying to stab his sword into the Heresion’s gaps, Zeke couldn’t reach a vital point.
“Hmm.”
Lingering here could attract more troops. Zeke quickly mounted Morgan onto a fallen horse. He planned to kill him once the Heresion deactivated.
Zeke pulled out a chain from his left arm, using soul-binding magic to restrain Morgan.
“Gah!”
As soon as the chain bound him, Morgan was immobilized, gritting his teeth in pain.
“Ho? This works well.”
Though he hadn’t yet mastered it for battle, Zeke knew that if he could wield it, it would be a formidable weapon.
With Morgan slung over his horse, Zeke calmly made his way out of the canyon.
Once the spell wore off, he planned to kill Morgan and return to the Alencia border headquarters.
As he emerged from the canyon into the red desert wasteland, Morgan, who had been tied up behind him, shouted out.
“You scoundrel! How dare you lay a hand on the Empire’s legion commander! Aren’t you afraid of the consequences?”
Zeke turned and struck Morgan’s helmet with his elbow.
“Ugh!”
The blow left Morgan momentarily silent, but soon he was yelling again.
‘What a troublesome fool.’
Zeke resolved once more to kill him as soon as the spell lifted, but as he rode through the wasteland, a cloud of dust rose behind him.
Zeke glanced back with a sharp gaze.
‘Who are they…?’
They were knights in familiar attire—the Red Lion Knights of Abel.
In their midst, Zeke spotted Abel and William.
‘Damn it.’
He hadn’t expected Abel to come in person. It seemed they had come to investigate the collapse of the ruins and ended up pursuing him.
Realizing a pursuit was underway, Morgan shouted again.
“Ha, the Lion Sword has arrived! Fool! Release me at once and reveal your backers! I’ll grant you a painless death!”
Zeke tightened the chains binding Morgan.
“Aaargh!”
The soul-binding spell seemed to inflict pain even beyond the spell’s limits.
Just then, Zeke’s horse began to tire, its pace slowing.
‘Heal.’
Zeke cast a healing buff to rejuvenate the horse, widening the gap between them and the knights once more.
But then, Abel broke away from the group, charging forward alone.
Thud, thud, thud!
Abel was closing in on Zeke at an incredible speed, drawing the red sword at his side.
As he infused the sword with aura, flames erupted from it.
Whoosh!
A massive blaze shot toward Zeke.
A shield unfurled from Zeke’s armor, but Abel’s flames pierced through it.
Neigh!
The fiery attack incinerated Zeke’s horse in an instant, leaving nothing but ashes.
Zeke landed on the ground, clutching Morgan.
From atop his horse, Abel looked down at Zeke.
“So, it’s you. The one who spirited away Karus.”
Having encountered Zeke at the Pansthas terminal, Abel recognized him immediately.
Dismounting, Abel pointed his sword at Zeke.
“This time, you won’t escape. I’ll find out who’s behind you.”
Whoosh!
Flames flared from the red sword in Abel’s hand.
Zeke gritted his teeth at the sight of Abel’s flames.
‘The Red Dragon Sword. A unique artifact Abel received when he became a Blue Knight.’
Forged from the fang of a Red Dragon, the sword was a powerful artifact, difficult to wield, and had been kept as a family treasure for years.
After his promotion, Abel had demanded the sword from Arthur Draker.
The cursed sword, said to engulf unworthy wielders in flames, was claimed by Abel with confidence.
Wielding the flame-spewing Red Dragon Sword, Abel was among the most formidable of the Draker knights.
Abel unleashed a powerful blaze toward Zeke.
Boom!
Zeke summoned his will to defend against Abel’s attack.
Whoosh!
Simultaneously, Zeke swung his sword at Abel.
Abel concealed himself within the explosion of flames.
‘Damn it.’
With so many enemies and unable to use Bahamut, Zeke was at a disadvantage.
He needed to find a way to escape before Abel caught him.
Zeke steadied his breath, gripping his sword.
Abel watched him with a sly smile.
“Abandon your futile hope. You’ll never escape this place.”
Just as Abel was about to unleash another fiery attack—
Thud, thud, thud!
A strange cry echoed from afar, accompanied by a massive dust cloud.