Episode 126
“Is it changing shape?”
The color of Hersion, imbued with Theia’s power, shifted from gray to a deep black, resembling Bahamut. The armor, which had previously resembled a standard full plate, now adjusted to fit Zeke’s body perfectly, allowing for more fluid movement.
[Shape transformation complete.]
[15 out of 28 grand magic circles have been activated.]
[The unique ability ‘Shield’ from the previous meteoric iron armor set has been registered to ???‘s armor.]
[16 out of 29 grand magic circles have been activated.]
[An authentication code is required to activate all functions of the armor.]
[Proceed to the designated location to activate the authentication code.]
Simultaneously, a quest window appeared.
―Achievement Quest (Advanced Mission)―
[Find the Temple of the Moon Goddess Theia and obtain the authentication code. (No time limit)]
[Quest Mission Reward: Title - Theia’s Blessing]
“Theia’s Blessing, huh.”
Having already gained the unique class of Immortal through the blessing of an ancient dragon, Zeke found the title of a goddess’s blessing equally enticing.
He checked the coordinates for the authentication code on the map and frowned.
“This is… right in the heart of the Rom Empire’s capital.”
Rom, the capital of the Rom Empire, was home to the infamous mad emperor. Although the continent wasn’t at war yet, making entry into Rom possible, the relationship between the Draker family and the Rom Empire was tense due to Karus’s asylum.
“Still, it’s probably best to go before the continental war breaks out.”
Zeke decided to plan a mission that would take him to Rom.
At that moment, Golyn, observing Zeke, commented, “Oh, the armor changes on its own? Fascinating. Is it due to the meteoric iron’s energy absorption?”
Golyn examined the Hersion armor closely and nodded approvingly. “It seems fine. How does it feel when you move?”
Zeke moved around in the Hersion armor. Unlike the previous meteoric iron armor, which had slight discomfort due to its segmented plates, the new armor moved seamlessly with him.
When Zeke deactivated Hersion, it reverted to its original form. Golyn looked pleased.
“How about that! My craftsmanship!”
Eccentric as he was, Golyn was undoubtedly a master artisan. While his apprentice, Gelion, was a silent craftsman, Golyn had the flair of a genius artist.
Zeke extended his hand to Golyn. “Thank you, Master Golyn.”
Golyn shook Zeke’s hand vigorously. “Thanks to you, I’ve found new inspiration! Now off you go! I must start my next masterpiece!”
Golyn hurried Zeke out of the forge, eager to begin his next creation.
Zeke shook his head at Golyn’s eccentricity. “A true eccentric.”
He then headed to the village to find Wangjumeok.
“Wangjumeok, I have to leave now.”
“Huh? Zeke, already?”
“I’m busy.”
Wangjumeok looked disappointed, but he understood Zeke’s situation and escorted him to the edge of the Barbarian territory.
“Zeke! Make sure to visit again!”
Zeke chuckled at Wangjumeok’s earnest farewell. He hadn’t realized in his past life that barbarians, known for their ferocity, could be so genuine.
As Wangjumeok faded from view, Zeke turned to Richmond, who was following him. “Richmond, what’s that you’re carrying?”
Richmond was struggling under the weight of a massive bundle. “Ugh, these are rare monster materials! I couldn’t hunt them myself, but they were just lying around here, so I picked them all up!”
Zeke clicked his tongue at Richmond’s enthusiasm. “Can you carry that all the way to Atlas?”
“Where’s Atlas?”
Zeke reminded himself that Richmond was a lich from 500 years ago. “I wonder if it’s okay to keep a dark mage like him in Atlas.”
While ordinary summons could be hidden in shadows like Gurav, Richmond, being a humanoid summon, could live among people. Zeke decided to leave him with the Syndicate for now.
“I’ll summon him when needed.”
Feeling satisfied, Zeke stored the monster materials in his inventory and headed to Richmond’s old laboratory.
“Gather everything you need.”
Richmond pulled out all the research materials he had accumulated over 500 years, piling them up like a mountain. Fortunately, Zeke’s inventory had expanded enough to accommodate everything.
Richmond was amazed at Zeke’s inventory capacity. “I’ve never seen space magic like this.”
“Is there anything else?”
“No, that’s all, Master.”
Zeke believed Richmond’s monster research would be invaluable in future battles against the demonic beasts. Feeling a sense of accomplishment, he led Richmond out of the cave and down the mountain.
But then, he sensed something suspicious.
“Who are they?”
It was none other than the Empire’s hunting dogs.
Zeke activated Hersion and summoned Bahamut, transforming its shape.
“Richmond, show me what you can do.”
Zeke first transformed Richmond into a demi-lich and sent him out.
Kaaaah!
Richmond let out a chilling scream, unmistakably a high-level undead. The sudden appearance of a demi-lich startled the hunters.
“A m-monster!”
Richmond felt a bit hurt by their reaction, so he unleashed his magic with even more force.
Boom!
The black lightning Richmond cast devastated the area where the hunters stood.
“Damn it! It’s a demi-lich! Fall back!”
A demi-lich, a high-level undead, required a blue knight to handle. As the hunters retreated, Richmond, now emboldened, hurled black flames at them.
Boom!
The flames were far more potent than a typical fireball.
“Aaaah!”
The hunters screamed as they were engulfed in Richmond’s flames.
Zeke instructed Richmond, “Don’t kill them all. Follow the survivors and find their base.”
Richmond turned invisible and began tailing the retreating hunters.
The hunters, deep in the mountains, seemed to have set up camps everywhere.
Through Richmond’s eyes, Zeke confirmed the camps and decided to test the new Hersion’s capabilities by infiltrating the inner camp.
“Summon the monsters, Richmond.”
Richmond used his magic to draw nearby monsters toward the camp.
Grrrrr!
Responding to Richmond’s magic, monsters began converging on the camp.
Roar!
From minotaurs to cyclopes and ogres, high-level monsters stormed the camp. Richmond’s transformation into a demi-lich had increased the level of monsters he could control.
The sudden monster attack threw the hunter camp into chaos.
“Monsters are attacking!”
The hunters and soldiers scrambled to fend off the monsters. Even skilled knights found it challenging to deal with high-level monsters.
While Richmond distracted them with the monsters, Zeke stealthily infiltrated the camp’s interior.
Unlike the chaotic front, the inside of the camp was eerily quiet.
Zeke, still hidden, moved deeper inside.
He was searching for traces of the “Herald of Blood and Madness” that had affected the hydra.
Then, something caught Zeke’s eye.
“Is that…?”
A knight clad in black armor. It was a demon knight, similar to those Zeke had seen at the shrine of the Jorin tribe.
The demon knights were patrolling, blocking the path further inside.
“What’s in there?”
Zeke summoned Richmond. Soon, Richmond, who had been controlling the monsters, joined Zeke.
“Richmond, sneak past the knights and check inside.”
“What? If those knights attack, I’m as good as dead.”
“Why does a lich care about dying? Just go.”
As a summon, Richmond couldn’t defy his master’s orders.
Trembling, Richmond approached the demon knights.
Surprisingly, the demon knights didn’t react to Richmond.
“Huh?”
Having absorbed the purified essence of the “Herald of Blood and Madness,” the demons didn’t perceive Richmond as a threat.
Zeke had Richmond continue deeper inside, using his vision to survey the camp’s interior.
Unlike the makeshift camps outside, this area seemed meticulously constructed.
As Richmond explored, Zeke sensed something unusual at the end of a corridor.
“Richmond, check that black door at the end of the corridor.”
Richmond turned into a spirit form and slipped through the wall into the room beyond the black door.
Through Richmond’s eyes, Zeke was shocked by what he saw.
“Is that…?”
Several artifacts, exuding an aura similar to the staff containing the essence of the “Herald of Blood and Madness,” were displayed on a table.
“Richmond, search the room.”
Following Zeke’s instructions, Richmond found a map on the wall.
“There’s a map here, Master.”
The map depicted the Giant Mountains, marked with various symbols.
Zeke marked the coordinates on the map, his eyes narrowing as he realized the largest mark corresponded to the cave where the Hydra had been.
“So, all these marks are places where artifacts infused with demonic power have been set up,” he mused.
It dawned on him why monsters were running rampant in the Giant Mountains and why the guardian towers in the Barbarians’ territory were malfunctioning. The artifacts, tainted with demonic energy, had been corrupting the land, causing chaos.
Zeke recalled the fortress of Agamemnon, which had nearly succumbed to the same fate. “This place could have ended up just like that,” he thought.
Thanks to his purification efforts, the areas corrupted by demonic energy had been cleansed, rendering the artifacts powerless. It finally made sense why the hounds had appeared throughout the mountains—they were there to collect the now-useless artifacts.
“Richmond, can you grab those artifacts on the table?” Zeke asked.
Richmond shook his head. “If I pick them up, I won’t be able to pass through walls.”
Zeke pondered for a moment before standing up. Despite the risk of causing a commotion, retrieving those artifacts was necessary.
“Richmond, when I break this place open, grab them and head straight outside.”
“Understood!”
In an instant, Zeke dropped his stealth and charged at the demon knights.
Crack!
The knights unleashed their dark energy at the sudden intruder.
Vroom!
Zeke’s sword emitted a purifying blade, slicing through both the dark energy and the knights themselves.
Then, a piercing whistle echoed across the camp.
Soon, imperial knights would rush in, and the hounds would set their traps. Zeke aimed his sword at the black gate.
Vroooom!
With all his might, he swung his sword, imbued with the intent to destroy.
Boom!
The strike obliterated the gate and the surrounding walls. Seeing Richmond gather the artifacts, Zeke unleashed another powerful blow.
Boom!
A path to the outside opened up. As he sprinted, he called out to Richmond.
“Richmond! Transform into your beast form!”
At Zeke’s command, Richmond morphed into a dragon-like creature.
Screeeech!
As a draconic lich, Richmond spread his wings and took flight. Zeke leaped onto his back.
Screeeech!
Richmond let out a monstrous roar. Arrows and spears flew toward them, but Zeke’s armor shield deflected them all.
In mid-air, Zeke aimed his sword at the camp. Drawing on what he’d learned from Golyn, he summoned “pure fire” and rained it down.
Fwoosh!
The essence of fire fell like a storm, causing the hounds and knights to panic and flee. But with monsters closing in from all sides, escape was impossible.
Zeke willed the flames to burn only around the camp’s perimeter. “This way, they won’t know who attacked.”
He stashed the artifacts Richmond had collected into his inventory and swiftly left the Giant Mountains.
The camp was engulfed in flames and monster attacks, filled with the screams of trapped imperial soldiers.
Days later, Zeke appeared at the gates of the Four Seasons Fortress, covered in dust.