Episode 322
The moment Abel realized that Zeke was a Black Knight, his demeanor shifted dramatically.
Black Knights were legendary figures, with fewer than twenty across the entire continent. Each one was a strategic weapon capable of obliterating an entire kingdom, making them far more formidable than ordinary knights.
When Abel became a Black Knight, it sent shockwaves across the continent. It was considered nearly impossible for someone of Abel’s age to achieve such a status, regardless of their talent. Abel knew that without the power of the baptism, he would never have reached the level of a Black Knight.
But now, learning that Zeke, who was even younger and had achieved this without any baptismal power, sent a chill down Abel’s spine.
Abel quickly recognized the unsettling emotion he was feeling towards Zeke.
“Jealousy? Am I really jealous of him?”
Just a few years ago, Zeke was nothing more than an insignificant insect to Abel, not worth his time or attention. Yet now, Zeke had risen to challenge him, sword in hand, almost at his throat.
Abel felt a creeping horror, as if a loathsome bug was crawling all over his body. He glared fiercely at Zeke.
“I must kill him. Here and now.”
If he let Zeke go, there was no telling how much stronger he would become or when he might reappear.
Abel reached into the air, and a sword materialized. It was longer and thicker than a typical sword, its dark crimson blade exuding a sinister glow.
Pointing the sword at Zeke, Abel declared, “Today, you die here. Without fail.”
Zeke responded by raising his own sword, Bahamut. “You’re just saying what I’m thinking.”
Zeke knew this confrontation had to end here as well. The problem was Abel’s armor, Hershion. Despite being struck by the Astral Sword, Abel seemed largely unaffected.
“Is it the power of a dragon, or is it the armor, Hershion?”
The Astral Sword was a force that touched the very essence of existence. If Hershion could withstand even that, it was no ordinary artifact.
“Even so, it can’t be completely unscathed. I’ll find an opening.”
Zeke focused on Abel, then swiftly moved with a phantom step, activating his holy light technique. A mace of light descended upon Abel.
Boom!
The massive light struck Abel, but when he swung his bizarre sword, the light shattered into fragments and dispersed.
“I never thought I’d have to bring out Zahhak.”
Sensing the ominous energy from Abel’s sword, Zeke retreated.
“Zahhak? Is that the sword’s name?”
Though unfamiliar, Zeke could guess it was more powerful than the Red Dragon Sword. Soon, black flames erupted from Zahhak.
As Abel swung Zahhak, the black flames snaked towards Zeke like a serpent.
Sssshhh!
Zeke leapt into the air to dodge the flames. Suddenly, the flames split into dozens of fiery arrows, raining down on him.
Fwoosh!
Despite Hershion’s protection, the black flames clung to Zeke, burning even fiercer.
“This is…”
The flames were far more potent than the Red Dragon Sword’s power. Zeke tried to quell them with elemental force, but it was futile.
Sizzle—
The intense heat of the black flames seeped inside Hershion.
“I need to extinguish these flames.”
Zeke recalled the freezing power he had absorbed from the Snow Queen. He directed the freezing power at the flames.
Crackle—
Frost formed on Hershion, and the icy chill began to battle the unyielding black flames.
“Haah!”
With the flames not fully extinguished, Zeke charged at Abel.
Vroom!
Bahamut roared with a powerful resonance. Zeke gripped Bahamut, channeling the Astral Sword, and thrust it towards Abel’s heart.
Infinite Sword Technique: Dragon Slayer Style
Chapter 6, Verse 2
Piercing the Dragon’s Heart
The Astral Sword spiraled fiercely around the blade, driving towards Abel’s Hershion.
Crack!
The Dragon Slayer technique struck true. Yet, even with the Astral Sword, Bahamut couldn’t pierce Abel’s Hershion.
Sweating, Zeke pushed harder with his sword. But Abel’s armor remained unmoved.
“Such a futile effort.”
Abel reached out, gripping Bahamut’s blade tightly. With his other hand, he raised Zahhak high, black flames swirling around the blade.
“This ends now!”
Abel swung the flaming sword at Zeke.
Whoosh!
In that instant, Zeke activated the spirit transformation skill engraved on his scabbard. His body slipped into the boundary of dimensions, vanishing from Abel’s sight.
Startled by Zeke’s sudden disappearance, Abel shouted, “Where are you? Stop hiding and face me, Zeke!”
Within the dimensional rift, Zeke pondered how to breach Hershion and strike Abel.
“Physical attacks won’t work on him.”
He recalled a technique that could directly assault the soul.
“What if I combine the Astral Sword with the Soul Strike?”
The Astral Sword targeted the essence, while the Soul Strike attacked the soul.
The spirit transformation skill’s duration was nearly up.
Tick—
As Zeke focused his consciousness on the sword, time seemed to slow. He could feel every energy coursing through his body.
Zeke experienced the moment of becoming one with the sword, a state of perfect harmony.
The Astral Sword enveloped his blade, and he intuitively understood its true nature within the dimensional rift.
Vroom!
Zeke stepped forward calmly in the slowed time, wielding his sword.
Rumble—
Abel sensed Zeke emerging from the dimensional rift. He turned slowly, Zahhak in hand, black flames forming a demonic visage.
Abel swung the flame-wreathed sword at Zeke, the black inferno surging towards him.
Roar—
The black storm swept over Zeke like a waterfall. Emerging from the rift, Zeke held Bahamut with a serene stance.
He imbued Bahamut with the Astral Sword’s power and the will of the Soul Strike.
Exhaling, Zeke took another step forward and swung his sword.
Soul Strike
Double Spell
Will of Destruction
Vroom!
Zeke’s sword, infused with the will of destruction, struck Abel’s Hershion.
Screech—
As before, Zeke’s sword was halted by the mysterious power of Abel’s armor. But the combined force of the Astral Sword and the will of destruction surpassed the unknown power, reaching Abel within the armor.
Boom!
The destructive will exploded against Abel. He was thrown back, crashing into a wall, coughing up dark blood, overwhelmed by the searing pain in his chest.
As he struggled to rise, Zeke was already upon him, sword poised at his throat.
“Let’s end this.”
Zeke’s blade moved to sever Abel’s neck.
Clang!
Suddenly, Abel’s face was shielded by his helmet, blocking Zeke’s strike. Simultaneously, a red glow emanated from Abel’s helmet.
Crack!
A crimson aura burst from the armor, seizing Zeke’s sword and swinging it aside.
Whoosh!
The invisible force lifted Zeke, attempting to slam him into the wall. Zeke maneuvered with dragon wings, circling in the air, and launched a mace of light.
Boom!
The crimson aura, struck by the light, receded into the armor.
Catching his breath, Zeke eyed the armor that had attacked him, his expression hardening.
“Could Hershion really move on its own?”
Despite the Empire’s advanced technology, an armor that acted independently to attack was unheard of.
Hershion was undoubtedly as extraordinary as the divine relic Zeke had obtained from Cain.
Abel’s Hershion, still glowing with a crimson light, aimed Zahhak at Zeke.
Crack!
Something was happening inside Hershion. Abel’s faint groans suggested it was healing his wounds.
“What an incredible artifact.”
Zeke was also drained, having used both his Astral Sword and Soul Fusion techniques, leaving his mana significantly depleted.
“I need to replenish my strength.”
That’s when Zeke noticed the shattered Red Dragon Sword that Abel had discarded on the ground earlier.
Being a unique artifact crafted from a dragon’s fang, absorbing it would surely restore his power.
With his sword still pointed at Abel’s Herseion, Zeke swiftly extended his shadow to absorb the Red Dragon Sword.
Ssshhh—
As he absorbed the sword, a message appeared before him.
[You have absorbed the unique item, the Red Dragon Sword, imbued with the power of a Red Dragon.]
[Your depleted health, mental strength, and mana are replenished.]
[You have acquired the power of Flame Authority by absorbing the item’s abilities.]
[The active skill Solar Flare has merged with the Flame Authority.]
[The Black Sword Bahamut has absorbed the Red Dragon Sword, partially lifting its seal. (Current seal level: 55%)]
Absorbing an item from the same dragon lineage had also reduced Bahamut’s seal.
“Fortune smiles on me. To absorb such an artifact and gain the power of Flame Authority.”
Rejuvenated by the Red Dragon Sword, Zeke charged once more towards the fallen Abel.
Suddenly, a crimson glow erupted from Abel’s Herseion.
Ssshhh—
Everything touched by the light began to melt away.
Zeke transformed Bahamut into a demon blade to shield himself from the searing glow.
Moments later, Herseion began to rise slowly.
Seeing this, Zeke clenched his teeth.
“Whatever the mechanism, physical attacks are useless against that Herseion…”
Just then, the helmet of Abel’s armor started to morph.
It transformed into a demonic visage, its mouth gaping wide as it unleashed a terrifying roar at Zeke.
Kaaaah!
The roar carried a formidable power, akin to a dragon’s.
From Herseion’s back, something began to grow.
Crack!
Astonishingly, a pair of wings sprouted from the armor.
With a flap of its wings, Herseion took to the skies.
Kaaaah!
As Abel’s Herseion continued to morph into a demonic form, it let out another roar and began to flee.
Zeke took to the air, pursuing Abel.
“This is becoming more and more mysterious. A demonic form… Could it be related to the Fallen Constellations?”
Chasing after Abel’s Herseion, Zeke unleashed a Holy Light Strike.
Boom!
A massive bolt of light struck Herseion.
Yet, due to Herseion’s effects, the light magic had no impact.
Zeke gritted his teeth.
“It’s not magic, nor aura, nor mana. What on earth is it?”
Then, a thought struck Zeke.
“Could it be spiritual energy? Is that what powers Herseion?”
Though Zeke used spiritual energy for his dragon skills and Soul Fusion, he hadn’t fully grasped its nature.
He only vaguely understood it as the power of the soul.
“The Soul Fusion attack worked earlier, so perhaps spiritual energy-based attacks might be effective.”
Zeke focused his energy into his core.
Vroooom!
A symbol etched on his chest began to glow, projecting itself above Herseion.
As Zeke activated the Dragon’s Breath skill, a compressed mana cannon shot forth from the symbol.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
A massive beam of light surged towards Abel’s Herseion, which was soaring skyward with its wings spread wide.
The Dragon’s Breath struck Abel’s Herseion.
Boom!
A powerful explosion erupted in the sky, scattering flashes of light in all directions.