Episode 230
“The Sentinel of the South Sea?”
Upon hearing the warrior’s words, Zeke realized who he was dealing with.
“Could the forgotten sea god actually be a dragon?”
At first glance, there wasn’t much difference from a dragonkin, but the aura was distinct. It felt as if the majesty of a dragon naturally emanated from him.
Though it was a spirit form, this was Zeke’s first encounter with a true dragon.
Poseidon looked at Zeke and spoke. “The soul of an Elder Dragon, the heart and fangs of Bahamut…”
Being a dragon himself, Poseidon immediately recognized that Zeke carried Bahamut’s heart.
Zeke flinched at the revelation, but Poseidon continued calmly. “Are you a descendant of Terracan?”
Surprisingly, Poseidon was familiar with Terracan as well. Zeke nodded in response. “Yes. It’s been a thousand years since Terracan Draker ended the Liberation War. Did you become a spirit after meeting him?”
Poseidon shook his head. “When I met Terracan Draker, I was already in this spirit form. My karma data is stored, so I retain memories from that time.”
“How did Terracan Draker find his way here?”
Poseidon continued, looking at Zeke. “Bahamut brought Terracan here.”
Zeke was taken aback. “Bahamut personally brought Terracan Draker here?”
“Indeed. He came to properly learn the True Dragon Sword Technique.”
Zeke’s eyes widened at Poseidon’s words. “Could it be that he sought Poseidon’s help to turn the True Dragon Sword Technique into a dragon-slaying art?”
Even to Zeke, Poseidon’s spear skills were extraordinary, far surpassing those of a mere black knight.
Poseidon twirled his trident and looked at Zeke. “Zeke Draker, why have you come here?”
Faced with the warrior’s imposing presence, Zeke felt a bit embarrassed to admit he was there for a quest to obtain the sea god’s treasure. After a moment of contemplation, he spoke earnestly to Poseidon. “I want to surpass my limits.”
Poseidon’s expression shifted at Zeke’s words. “You’re better than Terracan. He was more interested in the sea god’s treasure than in mastering the True Dragon Sword Technique.”
Zeke felt a pang of guilt at Poseidon’s remark. “Terracan… Even in the past visions, he seemed quite worldly.”
In legends, Terracan was a knight among knights, a symbol of bravery and selflessness, but reality seemed different.
Poseidon twirled his spear again and addressed Zeke. “To surpass your limits, you mean to break through the wall that holds you back.”
“Yes. I’m so close to reaching beyond the black knight, but I can’t quite get there. I want to become the strongest on the continent.”
Poseidon gazed at Zeke and said, “Terracan said the same. He wanted to be the strongest in the world.”
Zeke had seen Terracan battling dragons corrupted by dark magic. He didn’t know much about Terracan’s personality, but he was undoubtedly a formidable knight.
Poseidon spoke again. “What advice do you think I gave him?”
“Did you tell him to practice his swordsmanship more?”
Poseidon shook his head. “No, I recommended a book.”
“A book?”
Zeke was taken aback by Poseidon’s unexpected answer. Instead of explaining, Poseidon waved his hand, and several books appeared in the air.
Zeke read the titles as they fell before him. “A Collection of Sayings for Growth.”
“That title sounds familiar.”
After a moment’s thought, Zeke realized it was a title from Terracan Draker’s secure library. He had read it, hoping it would be helpful, but found it filled with mundane platitudes that only frustrated him.
“Terracan was moved to tears by this book.”
“What?”
Zeke couldn’t believe Poseidon’s words. Who would believe that Terracan Draker was moved to tears by such a childish collection of sayings?
But Poseidon spoke with a serious expression. “Do you understand the meaning of what I’m saying?”
“Read the book?”
Poseidon shook his head. “No, it means that everyone needs different things for their growth. Terracan lived such a harsh life that no one ever spoke to him about growth. So even a simple book of sayings could greatly aid his development.”
Zeke nodded at Poseidon’s words. “Indeed, they said he was beaten to a pulp in the Draker family and then discarded.”
Though he couldn’t know for sure, it was clear Terracan had a miserable childhood, much like Zeke’s past life.
Zeke reflected on his own life. “But my life hasn’t been much better. Should I read the book again?”
Poseidon pointed his spear at the pondering Zeke and spoke. “Blue Dragons are smaller and less powerful than other dragon species. So we have a tradition of honing what we do best over a long time. I chose this spear.”
He twirled the spear and addressed Zeke. “And through long practice, you gain one ability. Do you know what that is?”
“I’m not sure.”
“The ability to recognize what you’re lacking.”
Vroom!
Poseidon’s trident vibrated with energy. He looked at Zeke with piercing eyes. “What Terracan lacked was ‘culture.’ Zeke Draker, what do you think you’re missing?”
Zeke instinctively stepped back from the aura emanating from Poseidon.
Poseidon charged at Zeke, shouting, “What you need is a ‘stimulus’ to awaken your survival instincts.”
Whoosh!
Poseidon’s trident came crashing down on Zeke with a thunderous roar.
Boom!
Unlike before, the trident, now imbued with immense power, collided with Bahamut.
“Ugh!”
The shockwave sent Zeke flying backward. Poseidon looked at him and said, “It seems you’ve been trying to achieve a new state with a sword style that doesn’t suit you.”
Zeke’s jaw dropped at Poseidon’s insight. He had indeed gained some enlightenment, but he was beginning to doubt if it truly suited him.
“How did you know?”
“I could see you trying to wield the sword elegantly, despite your tenacious survival instincts being your strength. You must have been trying to imitate a great swordsman.”
Zeke was impressed by Poseidon’s observation. After meeting Sword Saint Shaton Draker, he had unconsciously tried to mimic the Sword Saint’s style.
Poseidon’s words struck a chord with Zeke. “No one has ever understood me so well.”
Zeke earnestly asked Poseidon, “Lord Poseidon, how can I overcome this wall?”
Poseidon nodded and replied, “You need to be hit.”
“What?”
Poseidon continued with a stern expression. “I told you, your strength lies in your cockroach-like survival instincts.”
“But calling me a cockroach is a bit…”
“Your resilience is greater than a cockroach’s, if anything.”
”…”
Though not incorrect, Zeke felt uneasy about the comparison.
Poseidon removed the blade from his trident, leaving only the shaft in his hand.
“Lord Poseidon? Why did you…”
“I’m going to awaken the fierce survival instincts still dormant within you. Without the blade, there’s less chance of you dying. I removed it to lower the risk, so don’t worry too much.”
“Doesn’t that mean I could still die?”
“Technically, yes.”
A cold sweat ran down Zeke’s back. He recalled a similar experience from his past life.
“Just take the hits. It’ll work out somehow.”
“What? Master, does that even make sense?”
“If it doesn’t, what can you do? Just shut up and take it.”
He had been beaten senseless by his master, which forced him to awaken as a healer, and after even more beatings, he eventually unlocked his potential.
“Come to think of it, I always seemed to break through walls after being beaten to the brink of death.”
Rumble!
Poseidon, holding the spear shaft, unleashed an overwhelming aura.
Zeke quickly raised Bahamut and faced Poseidon.
“Ugh.”
Under Poseidon’s storm-like pressure, Zeke felt like a tiny insect.
“I need to change the flow.”
He charged at Poseidon first.
“Haaah!”
But Poseidon’s spear shaft deflected Zeke’s sword and struck him squarely in the chest.
Thud!
Zeke was sent flying into a wall, gasping for air.
“Cough!”
Blood spurted from Zeke’s mouth as his insides felt completely battered.
“This is insane…”
Whoosh!
Poseidon advanced on Zeke, twirling the spear shaft.
Zeke, having regained his strength, sprang to his feet with surprising agility. His eyes, once dull, now sparkled with life, driven by a survival instinct more tenacious than a cockroach’s.
“How many times have I died already?” Zeke muttered, spitting out a mouthful of blood before pulling a potion from his inventory and downing it. No attack seemed to work against Poseidon. Neither sword nor power, skill nor dragon’s might could touch him. Meanwhile, Poseidon didn’t bother with magic or powers; he simply wielded his spear with devastating effect. Each strike from Poseidon’s spear was on a different level entirely. Just one hit left Zeke’s body shattered, barely clinging to life. If the spear had been sharpened, Zeke would have died hundreds of times over.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Poseidon advanced, twirling his spear. Zeke, whose insides had been crushed and bones shattered, rose again, gripping his sword. Poseidon paused, adjusting his stance with the spear.
“Honestly, I didn’t expect you to last this long,” Poseidon remarked.
“And you think that’s something to brag about after turning me into a ragdoll?” Zeke shot back.
Poseidon nodded, acknowledging the point. “True. So this time, I’ll put a bit more effort into it.”
Rumble!
The energy around Poseidon’s spear intensified, making it appear to Zeke as if it could engulf the entire world. Yet, Zeke steadied his breath, clutching his sword, Bahamut.
“Hoo. Hoo.”
His stance had changed completely. It wasn’t the refined posture of sword techniques like the Dragon Sword Style or Infinite Chain Style. Instead, he stood with legs apart, holding his sword in a stance reminiscent of his past life as a wanderer. Back then, the world was his enemy, and he had honed his instincts to survive. Now, after so long, those instincts returned to him.
As Zeke settled into his stance, Poseidon’s spear hurtled toward him.
Crash! Crash! Crash!
The spear was imbued with the intent to obliterate Zeke entirely. Clenching his teeth, Zeke charged toward the spear.
“Haaaah!”
After countless deaths, he awaited this one moment. Just before the spear struck his head, Zeke grasped his sword’s sheath and activated his Spirit Form skill.
Whoosh!
His body transformed into a spirit, slipping into the rift between the physical and spiritual realms. Within this dimensional gap, Zeke unleashed the dragon skill, “Dragon’s Breath.” A sigil glowed on his chest, concentrating mana there.
Vroooom!
Thirty seconds passed as he compressed the mana. The longer he stayed, the stronger the temptation to remain in this liminal space forever.
“I have to get out!”
With unwavering resolve, Zeke emerged back into the physical realm.
Whoosh!
He slipped into Poseidon’s blind spot and unleashed the stored “Dragon’s Breath.”
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The high-compression mana blast surged toward Poseidon. But Zeke wasn’t finished. Though drained of mana and at his limit, he raised his sword.
“Just a little more!”
A message flashed before his eyes.
[Skill Limit Break is activating.]
Poseidon deflected the Dragon’s Breath with his spear, creating an opening. Zeke seized the moment.
“One chance!”
He advanced, sword in hand, and suddenly, his vision transformed.
“What is this…?”
A mirage-like energy emanated from his sword, unlike mana or aura. Zeke grasped this new force, bending it to his will. The energy coiled around his sword, guiding his movements. Through this altered vision, the flow of the sword became clear.
The sword in Zeke’s hand moved of its own accord.
Whoosh!
A new sword technique, one he had never known, unfolded from his hands.