Episode 296
When Zeke opened his eyes again, the first thing he saw was the soft, golden fur glowing warmly around him.
“Huh? What’s this?”
He lifted his head and realized he was nestled within the fur of the mountain spirit.
Just then, Michelle approached the newly awakened Zeke, tears streaming down her face as she clung to him.
“Thank you so much, Sir Knight! Thank you for saving the mountain spirit!”
Zeke realized that he had succeeded in purifying the spirit at the last moment. He grasped Michelle’s shoulders, steadying himself as he rose to his feet.
Unlike before, the mountain spirit now sat against a tree, looking serene.
With a gentle smile, the spirit spoke to Zeke.
“Thank you truly. Thanks to you, I have regained my divine status.”
The ancient spirit, who had lived for countless years, bowed its head in gratitude to Zeke.
Zeke returned the gesture, acknowledging the spirit’s thanks.
“I’m relieved the purification was successful. But what exactly was that dark energy embedded in your body? It felt different from ordinary dark magic.”
The mountain spirit nodded in understanding.
“Humans began driving stakes filled with dark energy into the mountains, disrupting the natural flow and weakening my power. One day, they buried something with a malevolent force at the heart of the range, poisoning me.”
Zeke’s mind flashed with recognition.
“The Empire… They did the same in the Giant’s Range, using artifacts filled with the power of blood and madness to weaken the barbarians’ territory.”
What had happened in the barbarians’ land was now occurring here as well.
Zeke turned to the mountain spirit.
“Those who seek to summon the power of demons into this world are behind this. They severed the mountain’s energy and buried that evil force.”
The spirit nodded slowly.
“It seems something is indeed stirring in this world. Times like these call for the power of sacred relics.”
The spirit rose and placed a large hand on Zeke’s head.
“Brave and pure knight, this is all I can offer as thanks. May it aid you on your perilous journey.”
A faint green aura flowed from the spirit’s hand, seeping into Zeke’s body.
A message appeared before Zeke’s eyes.
[You have acquired the title ‘Blessing of the Divine Beast.’]
[Due to the influence of ‘Blessing of the Divine Beast,’ the skill ‘Taming (B)’ has evolved into ‘Communion (A).’]
[The passive skill ‘Limit Breakthrough’ has increased the proficiency of your Sacred Weapon.]
[With increased proficiency, your Sacred Weapon has evolved into a Holy Weapon (S+).]
Receiving the spirit’s power, Zeke gained new titles and skills.
“It was risky, but I’m glad it worked out.”
The mountain spirit handed Zeke something it had been holding—a moss-covered, ancient box.
“What is this?”
“These are treasures offered to me long ago by those who feared my presence in the mountains. They hold little value to me, but they might be of use to you.”
Zeke opened the box the spirit had given him.
“What is this?”
To his surprise, it was filled with ancient artifacts.
Zeke examined each artifact, reading their information with his discerning eye.
Among them, he found something unexpected—a worn ring with an engraved emblem, unlike the ornate crests of other noble families. It bore only the image of a single sword.
Zeke checked the ring’s information.
―Ring Information―
Description: Emblem of the Draker Family
Unique Ability: ???
Special Note: Created by Shaton Draker, founder of the Absolute Sword Family.
Zeke was taken aback by the ring’s information.
“The Absolute Sword Family of Draker?”
In Zeke’s mind, the Draker family had always been known as dragon slayers. He had never heard of them as the Absolute Sword Family.
He recalled that Terracan Draker had been exiled from the family, left for dead.
“The Draker family before Terracan… It must have been governed by entirely different rules and customs.”
Just then, a message appeared before Zeke’s eyes.
[The discovery of the Draker Emblem has updated your Achievement Quest.]
―Achievement Quest (Linked)―
[Find the hidden chamber containing Shaton Draker’s insights.]
[Discover the last legacy of the Absolute Sword Family.]
[Quest Mission Reward: The final insights of the Sword Saint]
[Quest Mission Reward: Special Bloodline Ability]
Zeke was astonished by the message.
“The last legacy of the Absolute Sword Family? A special bloodline ability as a reward?”
The linked achievement quest suggested that the legacy of Shaton Draker was hidden in a forgotten chamber.
“Shaton Draker’s chamber was in the Forest of the Forgotten. The legacy of the Absolute Sword Family…”
Zeke had never imagined the Draker family as anything other than dragon slayers.
He carefully stored the Draker emblem and placed the entire box into his inventory.
The mountain spirit spoke to Zeke.
“With my divine status restored, I can open the path to the Fairy Lake. Are you ready to go now?”
Having fully recovered his strength, Zeke nodded at the spirit.
“Please, lead the way.”
With that, the spirit opened its mouth and exhaled a golden aura.
The golden energy swirled and coalesced, forming a circular portal.
Zeke felt a sense of wonder at the mysterious energy emanating from the golden portal.
“It feels similar to the power of purification.”
The mountain spirit pointed to the golden portal.
“Enter here, and you will find the path to the Fairy Lake. But remember, if you succumb to the temptations before you, you may never return to this world.”
“I understand.”
Suppressing his curiosity, Zeke stepped into the golden portal.
As he entered, a vibration resonated, and the portal dissolved into golden light, leaving no trace behind.
Michelle, who had been watching from behind, gasped and asked, “Where did the knight go?”
The mountain spirit, leaning against the tree once more, replied, “He has left this world for the boundary of the fairy realm. Let us hope for his safe return.”
As Zeke passed through the portal, he squinted against the burst of light. When he opened his eyes, the scenery had completely changed.
“Where am I?”
He found himself surrounded by an endless forest.
But something was strange about the forest. It was as if the trees were painted with oil colors, their forms indistinct, and their leaves constantly changing hues.
Zeke realized he was losing himself, staring blankly at the ever-shifting trees.
Shaking his head, he regained his focus.
“It feels like when I was in the boundary of dimensions in my spirit form. Staying here too long wouldn’t be good for someone from the physical world.”
Turning around, Zeke saw a path stretching through the forest.
He began to walk up the path slowly.
As he advanced, the colors of the trees became more vibrant, shifting in a mesmerizing dance as if trying to lure him in.
He even heard laughter among the trees.
―Heeheehee!
Joyful, enchanting laughter echoed from all around.
―Come play with me.
Zeke ignored the sweet voices calling to him and continued forward with determination.
As he walked up the path between the trees, he eventually came upon a large lake.
Zeke approached the lake slowly.
The water, too, seemed painted with oil colors, exuding a mystical aura. With each ripple, the colors changed beautifully.
He felt he could sit there forever, watching the waves and the trees.
But then he realized he was about to lose consciousness again.
“Stay focused.”
Quickly, he retrieved Agamemnon’s mask from his inventory.
The mask was on the verge of breaking, with fine cracks running through it.
Zeke pondered over the mask.
“How can I repair this?”
―Heeheehee!
The laughter echoed again from the forest.
Zeke called out in the direction of the laughter.
“I’ve come to restore this broken sacred relic! How can it regain its power?”
His voice echoed back, but there was no answer.
After a moment of thought, Zeke placed the chalice and scabbard alongside the mask at the lake’s edge.
Then it happened.
A ripple spread across the lake, and something began to rise from the water.
“What is that?”
Zeke watched warily, retrieving the relics.
A figure formed from the multicolored water, approaching Zeke.
He sensed a powerful presence from the figure, even though it hadn’t fully taken shape.
“A high fairy, perhaps. It feels different from the spirits Nerissa summoned.”
The watery figure stood before Zeke.
A voice flowed into his mind.
“Immortal who has turned back time with an irrevocable promise.”
Zeke was startled by the figure’s words.
“It knows I’ve returned to the past?”
Until now, only Chronos had known about his return.
Chronos had embedded his power into the Elder Dragon’s relic, which is why he knew about it.
Gazing at the form in the lake, Zeke spoke up.
“My name is Zeke Draker. As you mentioned, I possess the Immortal class. I’ve come here to restore the sacred relic.”
The lake’s form responded once more.
“The relic is a power beyond the laws. If an Immortal, who also defies the laws, wields it, the world as we know it will collapse.”
“But if we can’t use the relic’s power to stop the Abyss, the Demon King might be resurrected in this realm.”
“The more power that defies the laws, the closer the Demon King’s resurrection becomes.”
“Are you saying the relic’s power will hasten the Demon King’s return?”
The form in the lake shook its head.
“It is not the relic, but the Immortal—it’s you who hastens the Demon King’s return.”
Suddenly, the form in the lake swelled and wrapped around Zeke.
Caught off guard, Zeke couldn’t react in time and was pulled into the lake, enveloped by the form.
As he sank into the lake, colors swirled around him in a mesmerizing display.
Zeke wondered if he had ever seen anything so beautiful in his life.
‘Ah…’
Enchanted by the breathtaking scenery, Zeke felt a profound peace, forgetting everything else.
The strongest on the continent, Abel, the Abyss, Siemens, the Empire—all seemed trivial now.
Just being here felt like eternal happiness.
The form’s voice drifted back to him.
“The power of the Immortal will slumber here. I do not wish for it to reappear in the world.”
Lost in the wondrous sight, Zeke was jolted back to reality by the form’s ethereal voice.
‘This isn’t the time for this.’
Realizing he might truly lose himself if he stayed, Zeke struggled to escape.
He tried to open his inventory to retrieve a weapon, but unlike before, it wouldn’t work.
‘What’s going on?’
No matter how hard he tried, the inventory remained unresponsive.
Then, unexpectedly—
[The power of Fortune activates.]
Something rolled out of the inventory into Zeke’s hand.
It was the Spirit Beast’s Egg he had obtained from the Nest of the Sky.
‘Why this, all of a sudden?’
The egg in Zeke’s hand began to absorb the swirling lake water.
Vroooom!
As it absorbed the lake’s energy, the egg’s surface started to shimmer with vibrant colors.
The form’s voice echoed again.
“Immortal! What are you doing?”
Holding the egg that was absorbing the lake’s power, Zeke swung it toward the source of the voice.
The egg began to glow even more brilliantly.
The form shouted in alarm.
“Stop at once!”
The form created a massive wave to swallow Zeke and the egg.
Sensing danger, Zeke clutched the egg tightly to his chest.
The wave engulfed them, shaking them violently.
‘Ugh.’
At that moment, the egg in Zeke’s arms reacted with his core.
It absorbed mana from his core and began to emit a dazzling array of colors.
“Immortal! Stop immediately!”
Though he didn’t fully understand the form’s words, Zeke poured even more mana into the egg.
Cracks began to form on the egg’s surface.
Crack!
As the egg shattered, a burst of light erupted from within.
With the light, something unfurled its wings and emerged.
Wrapped in a radiant spectrum of colors, the being soared upward with Zeke.
Rumble!
Zeke, enveloped in light, shot up from the lake.
Once above the water, Zeke finally saw what had emerged from the egg and was taken aback.
‘What is that?’