Episode 228
“You insolent brat,” Hook sneered, brandishing his hook-shaped sword as he glared at Zeke.
He took a step back and plunged his sword into his own shadow.
Peter Pan, witnessing this, shouted urgently, “Damn it! Stop him, quick!”
With that cry, Peter Pan unleashed a sea serpent towards Hook.
Boom!
From Hook’s shadow, black chains erupted, snaking upwards.
Clang!
The sudden appearance of the chains ensnared Peter Pan’s sea serpent, immobilizing it.
“What is that?” Zeke’s eyes widened in shock. It was eerily similar to the soul-binding technique he used.
Then, something emerged from Hook’s shadow.
Growl.
A black crocodile slowly crawled out, its body entwined with the chains, still connected to Hook’s shadow.
Hook commanded the creature, “Devour him!”
The crocodile obeyed, opening its jaws wide.
Hiss—
A black mist spewed from its mouth, prompting Peter Pan to retreat towards Zeke.
“That mist will blind you! Get back!”
Having faced Hook several times, Peter Pan knew the terrifying power of the summoned creature.
Yet, despite the warning, Zeke stepped forward instead of retreating.
Hiss—
As the mist touched Zeke, his skill, Curse Reflection, activated.
The mist, unable to approach further, began to reverse its flow.
Hook, witnessing this, shouted in frustration, “The mist doesn’t work? Damn it! Crocodile, swallow him whole!”
Clang!
The crocodile, bound in chains, lunged at Zeke with alarming speed.
It swung its massive tail at him.
Crash!
Zeke dodged with an illusionary step, causing the tail to slam into the deck, shaking the entire ship.
Zeke activated his skill, Blood Vision, focusing on the black crocodile.
Whirr!
A crimson eye appeared on his forehead, revealing the unseen world.
He scrutinized the chained crocodile with his enhanced sight and quickly realized its true nature.
“It’s just a fixed form. The essence is the soul bound to that sword.”
The crocodile was merely a visual manifestation, with the core being the soul and sword bound by the black chains.
“If I sever those chains, the soul trapped in the sword will be freed.”
Zeke closed his Blood Vision and drew his gem sword, Roland, instead of Bahamut.
Growl!
The crocodile growled menacingly at Zeke.
Seizing the moment, Zeke enveloped Roland in sacred energy and launched a powerful attack.
Vroom!
The wave of energy spread across the deck, halting the crocodile’s movements.
Simultaneously, Zeke used his illusionary step to close in and swung his sword at the chains binding the crocodile.
Clang!
Despite his efforts, the chains remained unbroken.
Hook laughed mockingly, “Fool! Those chains can never be broken!”
Zeke considered attacking Hook directly, but the chains protected him.
“A sword that protects its master… This isn’t just any weapon.”
The chains and the soul within them exuded a formidable power.
Zeke stepped back and asked Hook, “Where did you get that sword?”
Hook smirked, “Curious for a man about to die, aren’t you? But I’m a generous sailor, so I’ll tell you. I got it from raiding an Eastern merchant ship. It’s a unique item.”
Zeke’s expression shifted subtly upon learning this.
“Artifacts from the Eastern continent often have nasty side effects.”
Eastern weapons were known for their powerful abilities, but they often consumed the user’s soul, leading to their downfall unless they underwent special training. Those who mastered such weapons were called “Heirs.”
It seemed Hook had stumbled upon one of these heirlooms and was using it recklessly.
Zeke raised Roland again, targeting the black chains.
Hook taunted, “Fool! Damn crocodile, finish him off! Today, I become Pirate King Captain Hook!”
Zeke focused his mind on the tip of his sword, channeling all his strength.
Vroom!
If the chains were a spiritual seal binding the soul, then his spiritual energy should be effective.
Zeke infused his sword with both sacred and spiritual energy.
He advanced with determination.
Spirit Technique
Double Spell
Will of Shattering
Zeke’s sword, imbued with his will, clashed with the chains binding the crocodile.
Clang!
The sound was different this time.
Hook’s expression changed as the vibration reached the sword in his hand.
“That… that guy?”
He hastily pulled on the chains.
Clang!
The chains binding the crocodile tightened.
Zeke swung his sword again.
The Will of Shattering erupted once more.
Clang!
The impact reverberated across the deck.
A crack appeared in the section of the chain Zeke struck.
The crocodile’s body trembled, its form beginning to dissolve.
Hook’s face turned pale.
“No, it can’t be. The chains can’t be broken…!”
Zeke struck the chains once more with a shout.
“Haah!”
With a final cry, the black chains shattered.
Snap!
Clang!
With the chains broken, the crocodile was freed.
Growl.
The liberated creature shuddered, its form shifting.
Crack! Crack!
Its limbs elongated, and its shadowy body donned thick armor.
The creature rose, resembling a massive lizardman, exuding an overwhelming presence.
“Is that… a genie?”
Initially, Zeke thought it was merely a magical artifact, but it seemed to possess a greater enchantment.
The creature glanced at Zeke before turning its gaze to Hook, who still held the sword.
Hook, clutching the sword, slowly backed away.
“You damn crocodile! I’m the master of this sword! Obey me!”
The lizardman advanced towards Hook with heavy steps.
Even the towering Hook seemed like a child before the creature.
The lizardman dissolved into smoke and entered Hook’s body.
Gasp!
Hook’s body swelled dramatically.
Rip!
His clothes tore under the strain of his expanding muscles.
Peter Pan, watching from behind, grimaced.
“What the hell is that? An ancient wraith?”
“Something like that. It’s what the Eastern continent calls a ‘genie.’”
A genie was a being somewhere between a spirit and a wraith.
In the East, there existed a technique to bind genies to weapons, granting their power to exceptional warriors.
In a past life, Zeke had encountered Eastern warriors and sorcerers known as Heirs, allowing him to recognize the creature’s nature.
It was a unique power, distinct from the aura of the central continent.
Growl.
The genie-possessed Hook turned to face Zeke and Peter Pan.
It began to speak to them.
“A woman who commands water spirits. A fitting feast to celebrate my release.”
The genie-possessed Hook spoke in ancient Eastern tongue.
It then turned its gaze to Zeke, locking eyes with him, and cast a bizarre spell.
“Capture that woman, and I’ll grant you a wish.”
The genie’s eyes held an irresistible magic.
An ordinary person would have succumbed to its temptation.
But Zeke was far from ordinary.
“Such a crude trick.”
Zeke replied in ancient Eastern, startling the genie.
“What? How do you know our language?”
“That’s none of your concern. Judging by your possession, you’re more wraith than spirit.”
The genie-possessed Hook sneered, “Arrogant human. I’ll devour your soul and make you my puppet.”
Hook’s form vanished, reappearing behind Peter Pan.
“I’ll consume the spirit and your soul!”
Black smoke erupted from Hook’s mouth, enveloping Peter Pan.
“Ugh!”
Overwhelmed by the malevolent spirit’s power, Peter Pan couldn’t summon her water spirit.
Yet, she wasn’t entirely subdued, and she drew a dagger, striking at the genie.
“Struggling is useless!”
The genie, shrouded in smoke, hurled Peter Pan across the ship.
Thud!
Peter Pan crashed into the hull, hitting his head, and collapsed to the floor.
The genie slowly approached the fallen Peter Pan.
Just then, a dagger bound by chains flew towards the genie.
Whoosh!
Sensing something unusual from the chains, the genie stepped back.
Annoyed, he glared at Zeke and shouted, “I’ll devour you first!”
Captain Hook’s massive form charged at Zeke, wielding an Eastern sword.
Clang!
Zeke’s sword, infused with power, deflected the genie’s strike.
“Inconceivable! How can a human possess such strength?”
Startled by Zeke’s counterattack, the genie decided the sword was futile and opened his mouth, releasing a cloud of black smoke.
The smoke attempted to invade Zeke’s body.
But then—
Crackle!
A curse reflection activated, repelling the smoke from Zeke’s body.
“What… what is this?”
Panicked, the genie retreated back into Captain Hook’s body.
At that moment, the chains on the floor began to move.
Clink, clink!
Annexi’s dagger embedded itself in Hook’s shoulder, and the chains swiftly wrapped around Hook’s body.
Sizzle!
The chains glowed red-hot, binding the genie tightly.
The genie screamed from within Hook’s body, “This… this is the Chain of Souls! How did you get this?”
Instead of answering, Zeke channeled holy fire into the chains.
Fwoosh!
The holy fire traveled through the chains, reaching the genie inside Hook.
“Aaaaargh!”
The flames, unbearable even for a demon’s soul, took their toll on the genie.
Desperate, the genie changed his tone, pleading with Zeke, “Master, please spare me. I’ll grant any wish you desire. Just spare my life!”
“I don’t really have any wishes. Even if I did, I doubt you could fulfill them.”
“That can’t be… Every human has a wish. Please, just trust me this once!”
Zeke tightened his grip on the chains, continuing to pour in the holy fire.
Eventually, the sword held by Hook’s possessed body clattered to the ground.
Zeke picked up the sword and examined it slowly.
“A Damascus blade. Quite rare. How did such a wicked spirit end up in a fine sword like this?”
He looked at Hook, possessed by the genie, struggling to escape the chains, eyes turned black.
Zeke made up his mind.
“Doesn’t seem like you’re worth saving. Let’s just finish this.”
As Zeke intensified the holy fire, the genie writhed in agony and was expelled from Hook’s body.
“Aaaaargh!”
Zeke seized the moment and used his devouring ability.
Sssshhh—
His shadow rose, swallowing the black smoke.
“No, it can’t be! This power… impossible! It can’t be!”
The genie was dragged into Zeke’s shadow, screaming.
[You have devoured the spirit of the wicked crocodile.]
[Due to the influence of Shadow Dominion, the devoured spirit transforms into a shadow spirit.]
Sssshhh—
From Zeke’s shadow emerged the form of a warrior.
Wearing a crocodile-shaped helmet and clad in Eastern armor, the warrior stood upright before Zeke.
[You can register the shadow spirit as a summon.]
[Would you like to register it and give it a name?]
Zeke considered the formidable-looking shadow spirit.
“Having a summon can’t hurt.”
After some thought, he decided to name it after one of Don Juan’s cherished shark dragons.
“Let’s call you Caiman.”
[You have acquired the summon Caiman.]
The newly summoned Caiman knelt before Zeke.
“My name is Caiman. As a reborn spirit of the shadows, I pledge my loyalty to you, Master.”