Episode 203
The Tyrant abruptly veered in mid-air, reacting to the ominous strike of the Dragon Slayer technique.
For Balrog, who never retreated, this was an instinct-defying move.
Boom!
Zeke’s Dragon Slayer energy struck the Tyrant’s right wing.
Crack!
The massive wing of the Tyrant disintegrated as if it had been obliterated by the Dragon Slayer.
[Aaaaargh!]
With a monstrous scream, the Tyrant plummeted towards the arena floor where Zeke stood.
Crash!
Zeke dodged using his flight technique, and the Tyrant’s colossal body slammed into the ground.
[Growl!]
Even with one wing lost, the Tyrant’s power remained unbroken.
Its fierce red eyes glowed as it rose to its feet.
[Screech!]
Thud! Thud! Thud!
With razor-sharp claws, the Tyrant charged at Zeke, its armored tail sweeping across the arena floor.
Boom!
The Tyrant’s tail, shrouded in dark energy, was a weapon of nightmares.
If a battalion of ordinary soldiers had been in its path, they would have been annihilated in a single sweep.
Whoosh!
Zeke deftly evaded the tail, using his illusionary steps.
As he dodged, he retrieved a Balrog’s magic stone from the arena and absorbed its power.
Sizzle—
Thanks to this, Zeke’s depleted stamina and mana were nearly restored.
He quickly summoned chains from his left arm.
Previously, the mana cost of maintaining the Soul Binding technique was too high, so he avoided using it. But now, delaying any longer seemed too dangerous.
Clatter!
Chains shot from Zeke’s hand, wrapping around the Tyrant’s tail.
Creak!
The tail, ensnared by the chains, struggled to keep moving.
Zeke infused the chains with the energy of Resonant Force.
Vroom!
The waves traveled through the chains, penetrating the Tyrant’s tail.
[Aaaaargh!]
Using the chains proved more effective than infusing the waves directly.
‘This is a new discovery.’
The chains’ waves disrupted the dark energy emanating from the Tyrant’s body.
As Zeke pressed the attack, the Balrogs grew excited, stomping their feet and letting out eerie cries.
Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!
The entire arena shook as the Balrogs stomped in unison.
The Tyrant glared at Zeke with its red eyes, opening its mouth wide.
[Die, human!]
Dark energy compressed within its mouth, igniting into black flames.
The Tyrant unleashed the black flames of dark energy at Zeke.
Boom!
The flames, capable of incinerating anything, engulfed Zeke.
The flames were so intense that the blades embedded in the arena walls melted away.
The Tyrant believed no human could withstand its flames.
Then it happened.
Dragon Slayer Technique: Dragon Decapitation
Chapter 7, Verse 1
Zeke’s Dragon Slayer strike flew towards the Tyrant.
Slash!
[Ugh!]
The Tyrant barely twisted its body to dodge Zeke’s attack.
Amidst the black flames, Zeke, cloaked in Hershion, emerged.
The chains from his left hand split into two, wrapping around not just the tail but the entire body of the Tyrant.
Creak!
[Aaaaargh!]
The chains of the Soul Binding technique ensnared the Tyrant, preventing its escape.
Zeke raised Bahamut, aiming it at the Tyrant.
Vroom!
The power of Resonant Force was channeled into the Infinite Chain Technique.
Simultaneously, Zeke summoned all his strength.
His eyes, hidden by Hershion, glowed with determination.
Soul Force
Double Spell
Will of Penetration
Vroom!
The form of Bahamut, imbued with the Will of Penetration, transformed into a spear.
Zeke hurled the transformed Bahamut at the Tyrant.
Whoosh!
The Will of Penetration, powered by Resonant Force, flew towards the Tyrant’s heart.
[Aaaaargh!]
The Tyrant struggled to escape, but the Soul Binding technique held it fast.
Creak!
The spear-like Bahamut pierced through the Tyrant’s steel-like body.
[Gah!]
Zeke didn’t stop there.
He channeled power into his hand with the Infinite Chain Technique, striking at the Tyrant’s horn.
Infinite Chain Technique
Spinning Strike
Hand Blade Slash
Zeke, clad in Hershion, spun and severed the Tyrant’s massive horn in one swift motion.
Creak!
The Tyrant’s two horns fell to the ground.
[Aaaaargh!]
The Tyrant staggered back, its body slowly turning to black ash before completely disintegrating.
Zeke, a mere human, had successfully subdued the champion Tyrant.
Roar!
As Zeke defeated the Tyrant, the Balrogs in the arena also began to vanish into black ash.
Soon, the once-crowded arena was empty.
Zeke dispelled Hershion and surveyed the vacant arena.
Feeling a wave of exhaustion, he collapsed to the ground.
Though his spiritual power had increased, it wasn’t enough to fully counteract the aftereffects of using Double Spell.
‘Perhaps as my soul matures, it will improve.’
With his infinite stamina limited, the fatigue hit him harder.
Zeke steadied his breathing and slowly stood up.
“Phew. I barely made it.”
If he hadn’t absorbed the Butcher’s magic stone to activate Hershion at the last moment, he might have been consumed by the Tyrant’s black flames.
Once he had gathered himself, Zeke approached the spot where the Tyrant had vanished. There, he found a magic stone shining like a black jewel, along with two horns and a tooth.
“Being a champion has its perks, I see.”
Zeke examined the Tyrant’s horns and tooth.
[Horn of a Balrog evolved into a Dragonkin]
[Tooth of a Balrog evolved into a Dragonkin]
“A Balrog evolved into a Dragonkin, huh.”
As he pondered this, Zeke drew his sword and summoned Arataso.
“Arataso, do you know what an evolved Balrog is?”
Arataso responded with surprise.
[An evolved Balrog? They were rare anomalies even during the Demon King’s army days. Balrogs with the power of a low-tier demon.]
“Do they transform into dragons when they evolve?”
[Not exactly. Balrogs absorb the power of their opponents. If it transformed into a dragon, it must have fought a dragon and absorbed its power to evolve.]
“A Balrog that absorbed a dragon’s power. Fascinating.”
Zeke stored the evolved Balrog’s horns and tooth in his inventory.
Just then, a message appeared.
[You have perfectly conquered the second hidden stage.]
[The Domain of the War God is impressed by your remarkable prowess.]
[Rewards are being determined for your successful stage conquest.]
[Rewards are being assessed.]
[Rewards are being delivered to the recipient.]
As with the first hidden stage, a random box appeared before Zeke.
This time, however, there were only two random boxes, both glowing with a golden light.
[For surviving the second hidden stage, you receive 5,000 experience points.]
[For your extraordinary prowess in conquering the hidden stage, you receive two special random boxes.]
Zeke approached the dazzling golden random boxes.
Arataso, within the sword, marveled at the sight.
[A Celestial Box. It’s been a while since I’ve seen one.]
“A Celestial Box? You mean the random box?”
Arataso replied as if Zeke had asked something obvious.
[I don’t know what a random box is. This is like a sponsorship from the celestials when they could intervene in the material world, given to their chosen avatars.]
“A sponsorship from the celestials? What do you mean by avatars?”
[You really don’t know much, do you?]
“Stop with the unnecessary comments and explain.”
[An avatar is a being chosen by a celestial as their representative. Celestials are forbidden from directly intervening in the material world due to karma, so they express their will through avatars.]
“Expressing a celestial’s will through an avatar. I suppose an avatar would possess extraordinary abilities.”
[Indeed. Not just anyone can become a celestial’s avatar. Technically, I could be considered the avatar of the ‘Clear Green Wish.’]
“So being an avatar isn’t limited by species.”
[Correct. Celestials choose beings that can best express their will. Only the celestial knows the criteria.]
Zeke pondered the random boxes, then asked Arataso.
“Does that mean I’m an avatar of some celestial? I’ve received quite a few of these random boxes.”
Arataso clicked his tongue.
[An avatar is a chosen representative of a celestial. If you were an avatar, you’d know which celestial chose you.]
“Hmm. That makes sense.”
Zeke realized that the rewards he received, like karma points and random boxes, were part of the system, not celestial sponsorship.
With the conversation concluded, Zeke opened the special random boxes without hesitation.
When Zeke opened both boxes simultaneously, a blinding light burst forth from within.
He peered inside to examine the artifacts.
“What is this…?”
Inside the box lay a strangely shaped horn and a jewel that shimmered with an ethereal glow.
Zeke quickly accessed their information.
―Jewel Information―
Description: Heart imbued with the magic of a dragon
Unique Ability: Mana Conversion
Special Note: Heart of a dragon that has matured for approximately 500 years
―Horn Information―
Description: Horn containing the power of the ‘Arbiter of Endless Strife,’ master of the Balrog
Unique Ability: Meteor Summoning
Special Note: Usable only in battlefields filled with the fervor of intense conflict
“A dragon heart and an artifact with the power of a fallen constellation?”
Arataso, upon seeing the horn, was taken aback.
[The power of the Arbiter of Endless Strife? You’ve acquired something truly rare.]
“Do you know this constellation?”
[It’s a powerful constellation with a domain similar to my master’s. The Tumaz tribe, who command the Balrog, were under its influence.]
“What does it mean that it can only be used in the heat of battle?”
[If you’ve seen the Balrogs, you’d understand. The Arbiter of Endless Strife values the clash of power and the will to fight above all. It means he’ll grant his power if he deems the battlefield worthy.]
“A rather finicky artifact, isn’t it?”
[Constellations are inherently demanding beings.]
Zeke nodded in agreement.
He stored the horn in his inventory and picked up the dragon heart.
“Hmm, it’s been a while since I’ve seen a dragon heart, not since Bahamut’s.”
He gazed at the dragon heart, which glowed with a vibrant green light.
Then, suddenly—
A low hum resonated as the dragon heart in Zeke’s hand began to vibrate.
“Huh?”
A message appeared before his eyes.
[The system detects the dragon heart.]
[Bahamut’s heart is responding.]
[Bahamut’s heart and the dragon heart are synchronizing.]
The vibration intensified.
Simultaneously, a symbol appeared on Zeke’s chest.
A radiant light emanated from the symbol.
The dragon heart floated into the air from Zeke’s hand.
Crackling!
Mana currents surged from the dragon heart, connecting with the symbol on Zeke’s chest.
“Ugh!”
The energy from the dragon heart was absorbed into Zeke’s body.
“Argh!”
Just like when he first accepted Bahamut’s heart into his core, an overwhelming pain coursed through him.
Zeke gritted his teeth, enduring the agony.
Gradually, the brilliant light from the dragon heart faded.
The energy from the dragon heart was absorbed, causing his core to expand rapidly.
“Ugh!”
The now-dim dragon heart fell to the ground with a thud.
Zeke felt as if his entire body might burst from the swirling energy within his core.
Then, another message appeared.
[The energy from the dragon heart is being absorbed by Bahamut’s heart.]
The green glow of the symbol began to fade.
Zeke steadied his breathing, channeling the energy into Bahamut’s heart.
His entire body vibrated.
Another message appeared.
[Bahamut’s heart has absorbed all the energy from the dragon heart.]
[The seal on Bahamut’s heart is partially lifted with the absorbed energy.]
[Current compression seal level: 55.5%.]
[The system autonomously allocates experience points to spiritual power.]
[Spiritual power has increased, enhancing the soul’s tier.]
[The soul’s tier has increased, unlocking the passive skill ‘Limit Break.’]
[Due to the influence of the Inverted Tower, the effect of ‘Limit Break’ is restricted.]
[With the increase in spiritual power, the seal on Bahamut’s heart is further lifted. Current compression seal level: 49.5%.]
[The compression seal level drops below 50%.]
[The first stage restriction on the user is lifted.]