Episode 259
“The power of a dragon?”
Zeke was taken aback by Owl’s words but managed to keep his composure.
“What do you mean by the power of a dragon?”
Owl spoke again, slowly and deliberately.
“There’s no concrete evidence, but according to the successor, there are rumors that dragons still exist on the Eastern Continent.”
Zeke had heard this from Hades before, but he feigned surprise. Meanwhile, Andrei, standing beside him, was genuinely shocked, his reaction overshadowing Zeke’s more subdued response.
“That’s impossible, Owl! Dragons still alive?”
It wasn’t surprising for Andrei to react this way. Officially, no living dragons were known to exist on the Central Continent since the Liberation War, even though one could see them alive and well in Mycenae.
After calming the excited Andrei, Zeke turned back to Owl.
“Assuming dragons do exist on the Eastern Continent, how would one harness their power to forge weapons?”
“I’m not entirely sure. The successor mentioned something about implanting ‘chains of the soul.’”
Zeke felt a spark of understanding at Owl’s words.
“Chains of the soul, huh. Now that I think about it, when Terracan Draker and Bahamut made their pact, their hearts were bound by chains. And the chains that bound Lord Hades in Blanca…”
Zeke pondered whether this might be a form of ancient sorcery that had long since vanished.
“I’ll have to ask Lord Hades about it later.”
With the conversation concluded, Owl stood up, sword in hand.
“The longer you stay idle, the more you rust. Let’s get to training.”
Owl, ever the training enthusiast, never took a break. As a result, Zeke found himself sparring with Owl and Andrei every moment he wasn’t eating or sleeping, right up until the appointment ceremony.
He began to understand why Duke was apprehensive about their arrival.
Boom!
In the same hall of Atemfel where Abel Draker’s appointment as a guardian knight had recently taken place, Zeke Draker’s ceremony for promotion to senior knight was now underway.
Despite the short notice, the hall was packed with people.
Zeke, renowned as a knight of the sea lord, was being appointed to a position equivalent to the command authority of the Draker family, drawing significant attention.
Dignitaries from major kingdoms like Alencia, Thebea, Delphoa, and Argos were in attendance, along with representatives from Zeke’s patron families, Agamemnon and Graham, and other influential noble families from the central region. The turnout was even greater than for Abel’s ceremony.
Arthur Draker sat on the Dragon’s Throne as before, with the guardian knights, members of the Cross Council, and elders maintaining solemn expressions.
Among them was Abel Draker, newly appointed as a guardian knight.
As the attendees watched, the doors of the hall swung open.
Boom!
Zeke, clad in the official uniform of the Draker family, made his entrance.
As he walked across the hall, an aura of authority emanated from him, captivating the audience.
The attendees were impressed by Zeke’s commanding presence, his striking appearance, and his well-built physique, which even the uniform couldn’t conceal.
Possessing both the body of a warrior and the physique of a dragon, Zeke had achieved the pinnacle of human physicality.
With confidence, Zeke approached the Dragon’s Throne and knelt before Arthur Draker.
He then recited a lengthy homage to the head of the Draker family.
Arthur, watching Zeke with a grin, slowly rose from his seat.
He addressed the audience.
“I thank all the distinguished guests for attending. We shall now commence the ceremony to appoint Zeke Draker as a senior knight!”
In response to Arthur Draker’s words, knights clad in ceremonial armor emblazoned with the dragon-slaying emblem entered, bearing flags.
They lined up and drew their swords.
A hum filled the air as the knights’ swords all emitted a clear aura blade.
This indicated that they were all of blue knight caliber or higher.
Only the Draker family could muster blue knights for such a ceremonial event on the continent.
Zeke rose and stood before Arthur Draker.
Arthur smiled at Zeke and retrieved a silver dragon-slaying emblem from a box brought by an attendant.
It was the emblem symbolizing a senior knight of the Draker family.
Just as Arthur was about to pin the emblem on Zeke, someone stood up.
“I have a request for the head of the family!”
All eyes in the hall turned to the speaker.
It was none other than Abel Draker.
Even though Abel was a guardian knight, it was considered improper to interrupt a ceremony conducted by the head of the family.
Arthur paused, turning to Abel.
“Sir Abel, what is your request?”
Abel stepped forward, addressing the attendees.
“I am delighted to participate in the ceremony where my youngest brother is appointed as a senior knight. However, as a guardian knight, there is one matter I wish to address.”
Abel surveyed the audience.
“It is to verify whether Zeke Draker truly possesses the skills befitting a senior knight.”
Before becoming a guardian knight, Abel had proven himself as a black knight. He was challenging Zeke to demonstrate that he, too, was worthy of advancing to the next level.
Arthur addressed Abel.
“An intriguing request. What is the standard of skill you propose for a senior knight, Sir Abel?”
Abel replied.
“All those appointed as senior knights currently possess the skills of a red knight or higher. Zeke Draker needs to prove he has comparable skills.”
At this, Kali stood up and shouted.
“There is no clause in the family’s laws requiring a red knight’s skills to become a senior knight! I object to Sir Abel’s demand.”
As Abel and Kali clashed, the hall grew noisy.
Zeke’s patron and allied families protested the unreasonable demand, while the anti-Kali faction supported Abel, insisting Zeke prove his skills.
As the hall grew chaotic, Abel smiled at Zeke.
He knew Zeke possessed skills equivalent to a red knight.
His aim was not merely to test Zeke’s skills.
“Zeke, even as a blue knight, you can exhibit the skills of a red knight because of some mysterious power I don’t know about. Will you reveal that power for the sake of becoming a senior knight, or will you hide it and forgo the title? The choice is yours.”
Abel believed he had cornered Zeke, leaving him no choice.
At that moment, Zeke stepped forward.
The hall fell silent at Zeke’s movement.
His mere presence commanded the room.
He addressed Arthur, not Abel.
“How should I prove myself, my lord?”
Arthur’s expression turned intrigued.
He called out.
“Sir Gareth! I request your assistance.”
Gareth Draker, one of the guardian knights and the leader of the Black Wolf Brigade, one of the three great knight orders of the Draker family, stepped forward.
Known as the Scarred Knight, Gareth was a renowned knight across the continent.
Gareth was chosen to test Zeke’s skills.
As Gareth stepped forward, the attendees retreated.
In the center of the hall, Zeke and Gareth faced each other.
Gareth drew his sword, prompting Zeke to do the same.
“Zeke Draker, I seek your guidance, Scarred Knight.”
Gareth stood silently, sword in hand.
Then it happened.
A powerful aura surged from Zeke’s body.
In an instant, Zeke charged at Gareth with blinding speed.
Boom!
Gareth, caught off guard by Zeke’s unexpectedly strong attack, hastily drew his sword and assumed a defensive stance.
Clang!
Zeke’s heavy strike sent Gareth’s sword flying.
Zeke seized the opportunity.
A fierce hum emanated from Zeke’s sword as a dark aura enveloped it.
He swung his sword at Gareth once more.
Dragon Slayer Technique
Black Sword Technique
Black Wings
The dark aura spread like wings, targeting Gareth’s vital points.
Gareth, a seasoned knight, remained calm and counterattacked.
Dragon Slayer Technique
Shadowless Technique
Silent Shadow
As Gareth swung his sword, Zeke’s technique seemed to dissipate.
Simultaneously, an attack came at Zeke from a blind spot. It was the Scarred Knight’s signature move.
Boom!
But the Black Wings, thought to be nullified, reemerged, targeting Gareth’s back.
Both Zeke and Gareth swung their swords at each other’s counterattacks.
Crash!
The clash of swords forced both men to retreat.
“Hmm…”
A thin line of blood appeared on Gareth’s cheek.
The audience murmured at the sight.
Gareth lowered his sword and addressed Arthur Draker.
“My lord, I believe Sir Zeke Draker’s skills have been sufficiently proven.”
Arthur turned to Abel.
“What do you say, Sir Abel? Are you convinced now?”
Abel nodded, his expression stiff.
Contrary to his plan, Zeke had proven his skills using only his sword.
It was now officially recognized that Zeke possessed skills beyond those of a red knight.
Arthur rose from his seat and approached Zeke.
He pinned the silver insignia onto Zeke’s uniform, then threw an arm around his shoulder and announced with a booming voice.
“With this, I hereby confirm the appointment of Sir Zeke Draker as a senior knight! Furthermore, Sir Zeke Draker has become the youngest Red Knight on the continent, which is certainly a cause for celebration! And also!”
Arthur paused for a moment before dropping a bombshell.
“As the head of the Draker family, I, Arthur Draker, declare Zeke Draker as a candidate for the head of the family, alongside Kali and Abel!”
The hall erupted in shock, the faces of the Draker elders and council members painted with disbelief.
In a rapidly shifting succession landscape, Arthur had officially introduced a new candidate for the family headship. And he had chosen the youngest among the direct line, promising a storm of change.
The youngest Red Knight and now a senior knight. On top of that, a candidate for the head of the Draker family. Zeke Draker’s remarkable journey had just added another chapter.
The head and elders of the Agamemnon family rose to their feet, applauding vigorously. The thunderous applause from the robust Agamemnon family members shook the entire hall of Atemfel.
Amidst the applause and cheers, Zeke bowed his head respectfully. Arthur Draker leaned in to whisper in his ear.
“Congratulations. From today, you’re truly stepping into the Draker’s battlefield.”
Arthur had set the stage for a new competition, eager to see how the dynamics would shift with Zeke added to the rivalry between Kali and Abel.
Though Zeke found Arthur’s machinations distasteful, he kept his emotions in check and responded calmly.
“I will do my utmost to meet your expectations, my lord.”
With the promise of upheaval, Zeke’s senior knight appointment ceremony came to a close.
Even at the banquet that followed, Zeke dutifully greeted the guests. Princess Melissa, whom he hadn’t seen in a while, approached him with a stiff expression, offering only a few words of congratulations and a gift before retreating.
Recalling Princess Melissa’s flushed face, Zeke tilted his head in puzzlement.
Just then, someone approached him hesitantly.
“Si-Sir Zeke. Co-Congratulations on your appointment as a senior knight…”
The man stammered badly, his thin frame and sallow complexion making him appear rather unimpressive. Yet, surprisingly, the emblem of the Draker family was pinned to his collar, marking him as an official knight of the family.
A thought flashed through Zeke’s mind.
“Could it be?”
Zeke asked the unassuming man.
“Are you Sir Luther Zemben?”