Episode 153
The Death Knight, having escaped the flames, charged straight into the battlefield.
Boom!
With a powerful swing of his shield, he sent Richmond’s skeletons flying in all directions.
“Ugh!”
Richmond, who had been controlling the skeletons with his staff, was beginning to show signs of exhaustion as his magical energy waned.
Zeke stepped forward, gripping his orichalcum sword.
‘Richmond, pull the skeletons back.’
At his command, the skeletons swiftly retreated.
Zeke hurled a mace of light at the Death Knight.
Boom!
The Death Knight blocked Zeke’s attack with a shield wrapped in dark energy.
Seizing the brief opening, Zeke lunged at the Death Knight with his sword.
Crash!
Though the Death Knight managed to block Zeke’s strike with his shield, the impact pushed him back. He raised his shield again, pointing his sword at Zeke.
Zeke smirked at the Death Knight.
“You seem stronger now than when you were alive.”
The Death Knight trembled with rage, feeling deeply insulted by Zeke’s words.
Boom!
A massive aura of dark energy erupted from the Death Knight’s body. It was a power far beyond that of the demons Zeke had encountered in the dungeon.
Zeke swung his purifying blade at the Death Knight’s sword, which was enveloped in dark energy.
Crackle!
Sparks flew each time their swords clashed.
Zeke marveled at the Death Knight’s strength as he parried the blows.
‘A tireless knight of death with the skills of a red knight, and an arch-lich to boot…’
Zeke realized that the dark energy was far more potent than an aura blade. Not only did it disrupt his aura, but any wounds inflicted by it were tainted with a poison that was difficult to heal. Prolonged exposure to the dark energy also caused mental fatigue far greater than facing a regular knight.
He understood why stories often depicted Death Knights as harbingers of disaster.
Boom!
A blade of dark energy flew toward Zeke.
Crash!
Hershion deflected the dark blade, but the impact still pierced through his armor. Thanks to his dragon-scale armor skill, Zeke was barely affected, but an ordinary knight would have been severely injured.
‘Fighting a Death Knight requires extreme caution.’
Zeke continued to learn the Death Knight’s characteristics as they battled.
Fortunately, Zeke, with his limitless stamina, was just as tireless as the undead Death Knight, allowing their fierce exchange of blows to continue unabated.
Meanwhile, the arch-lich, observing the battle, seized an opportunity to unleash a barrage of spells at Zeke.
Boom!
Black fireballs rained down on Zeke, creating a wall of dark flames. However, Zeke, protected by Hershion’s magic resistance, remained unscathed.
The real problem was that the magical flames affected others as well.
‘The longer this drags on, the worse it is for us.’
While the undead army never tired, Zeke’s summoned creatures could be dispelled, putting him at a disadvantage as time passed.
‘I need to deal with the arch-lich first.’
Eliminating the arch-lich would also cause the skeletons and skeletal knights to vanish, significantly reducing the enemy’s forces.
Zeke leaped through the flames, soaring into the air.
Slash!
He swung his purifying blade at the arch-lich.
Rip!
His surprise attack tore through the arch-lich’s defenses.
『Aaargh!』
Black smoke billowed from the arch-lich’s torn armor.
Without hesitation, Zeke unleashed the power of the Great Purification.
Hum!
A golden aura radiated from Zeke’s body.
Sizzle!
The power of the Great Purification turned the skeletons to ash, and the skeletal knights retreated, avoiding the aura.
The Death Knight and the abyssal mages erected barriers to shield themselves from the purifying force.
The arch-lich, caught in the golden aura, screamed in agony.
『No! I can’t end like this!』
Black flames erupted from his armor, and the arch-lich’s body exploded, sending black fire in all directions.
Boom!
The explosion shook the crystal cave, scattering shards everywhere.
[You have vanquished a corrupted death priest fully consumed by dark energy.]
[The ‘Worn Crown of the Arch-Lich’ has been automatically stored in your inventory as a reward.]
[Your proficiency with the Shield of Light and Mace of Light has increased.]
[You have absorbed the fallen priest’s ‘Sun Magic,’ upgrading your active skill Flash Bomb (C-rank) to Solar Bomb (B-rank).]
[The absorption of the fallen priest’s spirit has enhanced the skill level of Curse Reflection.]
[You have been awarded 300 Karma Points as a reward.]
Creak!
With the arch-lich’s demise, the skeletal knights and skeletons lost their strength and collapsed.
Zeke withdrew the power of the Great Purification and advanced toward the Death Knight and the abyssal mages.
The panicked mages shouted at the Death Knight.
“Death Knight! Destroy them!”
However, the proud Death Knight only obeyed the summoner who had called him forth. Ignoring the mages’ commands, he glared at Zeke with burning eyes.
The abyssal mages were flustered by the Death Knight’s refusal to heed their orders.
At that moment, Gurav unleashed a poisonous mist, threatening the mages with his scorpion-like tail.
“Aaaargh!”
Gurav’s tail, deadly with even a glancing blow, forced the mages to keep their distance and counter with magic.
Seeing this, Zeke spoke to Richmond.
“Richmond, send the reptilian skeletons to support Gurav. Keep those mages occupied.”
With the abyssal mages tied down, Zeke approached the Death Knight, brandishing Bahamut.
“Let’s settle this once and for all.”
Sensing the need for a change, the Death Knight retreated and began to chant something.
『Great master of darkness, grant your humble servant the power to vanquish my foes.』
In response to the Death Knight’s plea, a transformation began.
Crack!
His armor thickened, and his helmet morphed to cover his entire face. A ghostly steed, exhaling blue mist, appeared beside him.
Mounted on the spectral horse, the Death Knight exuded an even more intense dark energy. His sword elongated, transforming into a lance.
The sight of the Death Knight, armed with a shield and lance atop his ghostly steed, was imposing.
Zeke, not to be outdone, summoned Bucephalus.
Neigh!
Mounting Bucephalus, Zeke drew Bahamut.
Hum!
An aura blade surged from Bahamut.
Zeke and the Death Knight, each on their respective mounts, eyed each other, waiting for the right moment to strike.
Then, in an instant, they charged at each other with blinding speed.
Crackle!
Lightning crackled from Bucephalus’s horn, striking toward the Death Knight.
Crackle!
The Death Knight raised his shield, deflecting the lightning. Simultaneously, his ghostly steed opened its mouth, spewing blue mist.
Bucephalus, an elemental beast, recoiled in pain from the mist, leaping into the air.
The Death Knight urged his steed upward as well.
『I will sever your head and offer it to my master!』
The Death Knight brandished his lance, charging at Zeke.
In mid-air, Zeke guided Bucephalus and assumed the stance for the Dragon Slayer Technique.
Dragon Slayer Technique: Piercing the Dragon’s Heart
Zeke’s aura blade transformed into a lance, spinning fiercely as it flew toward the Death Knight’s shield.
Crack!
The Death Knight’s shield crumpled under the force of Zeke’s attack, the aura lance piercing through.
Crack!
The aura blade struck the Death Knight’s armor, fracturing it at the heart.
For a moment, the Death Knight’s red eyes flared from within his helmet.
Grasping the lance infused with dark energy, the Death Knight hurled it at Zeke with tremendous force.
Boom!
Seeing the dark lance hurtling toward him, Zeke activated his Light Shield skill.
Crack!
The lance’s power was overwhelming, shattering the Light Shield.
Gritting his teeth, Zeke prepared to counter the incoming lance with all his might.
Ultimate Skill: Double Spell
Will of Reflection
Channeling the Will of Reflection, Zeke deflected the lance with Bahamut.
Hum!
The lance reversed course, flying back toward the Death Knight.
Boom!
The lance, driven by a will of its own, pierced straight into the cracked heart of the Death Knight, a remnant of Sieg’s earlier attack.
CRACK!
The Death Knight, its heart impaled by the very lance it had thrown, toppled from its horse and plummeted to the ground.
THUD!
It landed atop a crystal that jutted from the earth, the lance embedded in its shattered armor, leaving it twitching helplessly.
Sieg dismounted from Bucephalus, enduring the recoil of his double spell, and gazed down at the fallen Death Knight.
From within its helmet, glowing red eyes glared back at him.
“Sieg Draker… I’ll take your head… for my master…”
Feeling his body stabilize with each passing moment, Sieg caught his breath and unleashed his Devour skill on the Death Knight.
Ssssssh—
The Death Knight’s body slowly vanished into the shadows.
A message window appeared.
[You have devoured a corrupted Death Knight fully consumed by dark magic.]
[Your health, mental strength, and mana are replenished.]
[‘Cursed Armor of the Death Knight’ has been automatically stored in your inventory as a reward.]
[You have absorbed the memory of the ‘Paladin’s Solar Swordsmanship’ that the corrupted Death Knight mastered in life.]
[Combined with Agamemnon’s Golden Swordsmanship, you have acquired the special skill ‘Golden Solar Swordsmanship (Grade A)’.]
[The rank of your Dragon Soldier skill has increased due to absorbing the spirit of the corrupted knight.]
[You have been awarded 300 Karma Points as a reward.]
Devouring powerful creatures like the Arch Lich and the Death Knight had yielded substantial rewards.
“The rank of my Curse Reflection and Dragon Soldier skills has increased.”
With the Dragon Soldier skill’s rank up, Sieg could now summon up to 30 warriors at once.
Satisfied, Sieg turned his attention to Richmond and the Dragon Soldiers, who were battling the Abyssal Mages.
The Abyssal Mages continued to resist against Gurav, the Dragon Soldiers, and Richmond’s undead legion.
Sieg leaped into the fray where the Abyssal Mages were gathered.
“Stop him!”
The mages, panicked, unleashed a barrage of spells at Sieg.
Sieg deflected all their dark magic with his now more proficient Shield of Light. Then, he launched a Mace of Light at them.
BOOM!
The Mace of Light, now far more powerful, obliterated the Abyssal Mages.
“Ugh!”
Sieg approached one of the fallen mages, pressing his foot against the mage’s throat as he asked, “Why aren’t you summoning your familiars?”
The mage’s eyes darted wildly in response to Sieg’s question.
As Sieg looked down at the mage, he suddenly sensed a familiar aura.
“Hmm, this feels like the presence of Griesmodar.”
Realization dawned on Sieg as he observed the mage sweating profusely.
“So, Griesmodar no longer answers your summons?”
The mage’s eyes flickered with panic at Sieg’s words.
Griesmodar, having been severely weakened after being devoured by Sieg, could no longer respond to the calls of his contracted servants.
As a result, the Abyssal Mages, who had contracts with the beast tamer Griesmodar, were reduced to wielding only the power of ordinary dark mages.
The mages here had volunteered for this mission to prove themselves and forge new contracts with even stronger familiars.
Sieg clicked his tongue at the sight of Griesmodar’s former contractors.
“Making deals with demons for power… you’ve lost your minds.”
One of the Abyssal Mages, coughing up blood, looked at Sieg and spoke in a strained voice.
“Cough! A Draker blessed with aura! How could you understand the suffering of the powerless! Cough!”
Sieg approached the mage who had spoken, grabbing him by the collar and shaking him.
“Don’t try to justify your cowardice and weakness with pathetic excuses, you piece of trash.”
The mage trembled under the weight of Sieg’s fierce words.
The natural aura of a dragon’s majesty was too much for the corrupted dark mage to withstand.
Sieg addressed the mage he held by the collar.
“I’ll give you one chance. Tell me everything you know about the Abyss, and I’ll grant you a painless death.”