Episode 236
“Are you saying Bacchus’s mother is really a vampire?”
Zeke was taken aback by the unexpected revelation.
“Leaving aside the fact that Bacchus is a vampire hybrid, how did a vampire even manage to enter the Sacred City?”
Vampires typically lived on the Northern Continent or wandered the Central Continent. While they didn’t turn to ash in sunlight like in stories, they were nocturnal by nature and survived by feeding on the blood and life force of others.
In the Central Continent, such races were rare, and the Draker family, in particular, placed immense importance on bloodlines, strictly forbidding any mixing with other races or beastfolk.
Yet, the idea that Arthur Draker had an affair with a vampire maid and even fathered an illegitimate child was hard to believe.
Zeke turned to Kali with a question.
“Did Bacchus ask for your help to protect his vampire mother?”
“Partly, yes. If it’s revealed that his mother is a vampire, Bacchus’s own safety as a hybrid would be at risk.”
Zeke nodded in understanding.
“If he had sought protection from the Black Order, it would have exposed his mother’s identity as a vampire, and his own hybrid nature would have been revealed.”
“Exactly. That would have made Bacchus a topic of discussion at the council. The Draker family would almost certainly disown him.”
If disownment was all he faced, he would be lucky. The hardliners in the council might demand Bacchus’s execution for tainting the Draker bloodline.
Zeke understood why Kali trusted Bacchus’s intelligence.
“It seems you have Bacchus under your thumb as well.”
The situation was becoming increasingly complex. What Zeke initially thought was a trap set by Abel’s side had become more intricate with unexpected players involved.
Zeke asked Kali, “Do you think Bacchus has betrayed us?”
Kali shook her head. “It’s hard to believe he would. His mother is in my territory. Why would he risk betraying me?”
Yet, betrayal often comes when least expected. While the circumstances made betrayal seem unlikely, Zeke couldn’t fully trust the situation.
“Bacchus might not know the information is false, but that’s too optimistic. He could have abandoned his mother, or Abel’s side might have already secured her safety in Kali’s territory.”
There were countless possibilities. In the cartel, it wasn’t uncommon to abandon family for power, so it was hard to be certain Bacchus wouldn’t betray Kali for his mother’s sake.
“I’ll need to investigate this further when I return to the Central Continent.”
After organizing his thoughts, Zeke spoke to Kali. “For now, we should focus on leaving this place.”
Kali agreed, nodding. “We have a ship. I’ll inform our companions. You should leave the island with the Knights of the Silver Order.”
“Aren’t you coming with us?”
“I plan to rescue the merfolk captured by the Empire.”
Kali frowned at this. “Zeke, there’s no need to risk yourself for the merfolk.”
Zeke shook his head. “I’m not planning to take unnecessary risks. If we can rescue the merfolk hostages, it would put Peter Pan in our debt. It’s a worthwhile investment.”
“Are they really worth that much to the pirates?”
“They’re not just any pirates. Peter Pan is a descendant of the ancient deep-sea tribe, holding significant legitimacy among the merfolk. They’re worth keeping.”
Kali seemed convinced by Zeke’s explanation. “I see your point. Very well, I’ll depart first.”
“Thank you for understanding, sister.”
With that, they concluded their conversation and stepped outside.
As Kali emerged from the hut, fully recovered, the Knights of the Silver Order wept with joy.
Following their prior discussion, Zeke instructed his companions to board the Reinhardt’s ship and leave the island.
“I’ll take the young merfolk and the hostages. Protect Lady Kali until you reach Iason. Lord Farrell, please lead them well.”
Farrell nodded at Zeke’s command. “Understood, my lord. Don’t worry.”
Zeke provided the location of the cave where the Reinhardt’s ship was docked, and the group quickly departed.
Once Kali’s group had left, Zeke called Peter Pan over and handed her a conch shell given by Poseidon.
“What’s this?”
“It’s called the Tome of the Deep.”
“The Tome of the Deep? What’s that?”
“I received it from the sea god. He asked me to pass it on to you, his descendant.”
“What? The sea god? Where on earth have you been?”
“It’s a long story. Anyway, I’ve heard it contains the lost ancient power of the deep-sea tribe.”
Peter Pan examined the conch shell with awe. “So, how do I use it? Do I eat it?”
“Surely not. Try channeling your power into it.”
“How do I do that?”
“Focus your energy as if you’re summoning a spirit.”
Following Zeke’s instructions, Peter Pan held the conch shell and concentrated her power. But nothing happened.
“It’s not working.”
“Then try shedding some blood.”
Peter Pan recoiled at the suggestion. “Blood? I’m scared of bleeding!”
“Sometimes I wonder if you’re really a pirate.”
Zeke took out a dagger and gently pricked Peter Pan’s finger.
“Ouch, that stings!”
A drop of blood fell onto the conch shell, which immediately reacted to Peter Pan’s blood.
A deep hum resonated as a blue light enveloped Peter Pan, then seeped into her body.
“Whoa!”
As the blue light fully integrated into Peter Pan, her eyes began to glow with a brilliant blue hue.
Mysterious symbols emerged from the conch shell, glowing as they wrapped around Peter Pan, etching themselves onto her skin and shining even brighter.
“This power… it seems like a form of shamanism. Could spirit magic be related to shamanism?”
Considering how northern shamans used ancient shamanistic rituals to control spirits, it seemed plausible that spirit magic was similarly spiritual in nature.
After a moment, the blue light within Peter Pan settled completely into her body.
She opened her eyes, which now shimmered with a unique blend of green, blue, and yellow.
At that moment, a message appeared before Zeke.
[You have successfully completed the Achievement Quest.]
[You have received the ‘Medal of the Deep-Sea Tribe’ as a reward.]
Zeke immediately checked the medal’s information.
―Medal Information―
Description: A medal containing the power of the deep-sea tribe.
Unique Ability: Telepathy
Special Note: Allows you to convey your thoughts to others.
“Telepathy? That’s an intriguing ability.”
Zeke promptly absorbed the Medal of the Deep-Sea Tribe.
[You have absorbed the Medal of the Deep-Sea Tribe.]
[You have acquired the active skill Telepathy.]
[The active skill Telepathy has merged with the skill Blood Vision.]
[The proficiency of the skill Blood Vision has increased.]
[The range of the skill Blood Vision has expanded.]
Upon checking his skill window, Zeke saw that ‘Blood Vision [S Rank (Expert+)]’ was now listed.
“So telepathy was a form of shamanism too. I’ll need to test this new ability.”
As Zeke pondered his new power, Peter Pan, having absorbed the Tome of the Deep’s abilities, approached him.
“Have you absorbed the Tome of the Deep completely?” Zeke asked.
Peter Pan nodded. “This… it’s the lost ancient shamanism of the deep-sea tribe. With this, the merfolk can live without discrimination!”
Zeke nodded in approval. “That’s good news.”
Peter Pan hesitated for a moment before bowing her head to Zeke. “Th-thank you…”
Zeke responded in his usual dry tone. “I was just doing what I was asked. There’s no need to thank me.”
Peter Pan quickly lifted her head, her face flushed, and shouted, “I was just saying thanks! Not a lot, just a little!”
Turning away, she added, “My real name is… Nerissa! Just so you know!”
With that, Peter Pan dashed off in another direction.
Zeke tilted his head, puzzled by her sudden behavior.
“Not sure what that was about.”
It was a typical reaction from Zeke, who remained unfazed even in the presence of the continent’s most beautiful woman, Angelina.
Leaving Peter Pan to her own devices, Zeke called for Bill.
“Bill, where did you hide the Triangle?”
“The ship’s stashed behind that island over there.”
“Gather the young merfolk. We’re taking the Triangle to rescue the villagers.”
Bill responded enthusiastically, “Got it! I’ll round them up right away!”
The Neverland, a symbol of Peter Pan’s merfolk pirate crew, currently held merfolk captured by the Empire.
Imperial soldiers and the sorcerers of the Abyss guarded the brainwashed merfolk aboard the Neverland.
The sea, which had been calm just moments ago, was suddenly engulfed by a thick, rolling fog.
A soldier patrolling the deck waved his hand in front of his face, trying to make sense of the sudden, impenetrable mist.
“The weather was fine for days, and now this out of nowhere,” he grumbled.
But then, through the fog, he spotted something.
“Huh? What’s that?”
Something was racing toward the ship through the murky darkness.
It was none other than a massive whale.
“What the—?”
The whale surged forward, its fin slicing through the air as it aimed for the Neverland.
Swoosh!
The ship rocked violently as waves crashed over it, sending soldiers sprawling across the deck in a chaotic tumble.
Amidst the confusion, figures emerged onto the deck.
A group of young mermen swiftly grabbed the fallen soldiers with hooks, tossing them overboard.
“Aaah!”
In no time, the mermen secured the deck and signaled to their allies.
Zeke and Peter Pan soon joined them on the deck.
Zeke was quietly impressed by the mermen’s ability to swiftly overpower the imperial soldiers guarding the ship.
‘No wonder they’re famed as the great pirates of the southern seas,’ he thought.
Thanks to their natural affinity for the sea, the mermen excelled in naval combat. Moreover, the fog was conjured by Peter Pan using a newly learned deep-sea spell, effectively obscuring the ship from the imperial fleet’s view.
This allowed Zeke and his companions to board the Neverland undetected.
Zeke realized that his decision to ally with the mermen had been a wise one.
He descended to the lower decks where the hostages were held.
The soldiers there had already been dealt with by the young mermen.
At the very bottom, he found mermen with vacant eyes, chained and subdued.
Drawing his jewel-encrusted sword, Roland, Zeke used a wide-area recovery spell.
A soft hum filled the air as the spell’s light spread over the brainwashed mermen.
Moments later, clarity returned to their eyes.
“Where… where are we?”
A few villagers quickly regained their senses.
Peter Pan approached them.
“Isn’t that you, Lisa?”
“Shh, everyone keep it down. Are you all back to your senses?” he asked.
The villagers nodded, thanks to Zeke’s recovery spell.
“Are these the villagers?”
“Yes, after the attack, they were all gathered and held here.”
“Alright. Let’s get everyone out and take the ship.”
While the young mermen freed the villagers, Zeke headed back up.
Suddenly, something leapt out from the shadows.
Swoosh!
A sorcerer in a black robe hurled a suspicious potion at Zeke.
Sizzle!
Zeke dodged, but the sorcerer sneered, taunting him.
“It won’t matter if you dodge. Once you inhale the fumes, your mind will be mine…”
The sorcerer trailed off, silenced by the sight of Zeke’s glowing forehead.
Overpowered by Zeke’s presence, the sorcerer found himself unable to resist.
Zeke approached him slowly.
“I’ve been waiting for you. We have much to discuss about the empire’s brainwashing techniques. Let’s have a chat.”
Hours later, as dawn broke and the fog began to lift, chaos erupted in the imperial camp. The Neverland, which had been there just hours before, had vanished without a trace.
The imperial ships scrambled to locate the Neverland and the mermen aboard, but they were already long gone, leaving no sign behind.