Episode 344
The golem standing before Zeke moved with an uncanny grace, greeting him with a welcoming gesture, much like the automatons Hades had once crafted.
“This one’s even more lifelike than Hades’ creations,” Zeke mused, marveling at how it seemed almost human.
The golem knight rose to its feet.
“Successor, I shall guide you to the Sanctuary of Light.”
Zeke found the golem’s archaic speech fascinating and followed it into the ruins with renewed curiosity.
Inside, the ruins were preserved by some ancient system, maintaining the original architecture of the Lubern Dynasty. The distinctive style and rose motifs, emblematic of the dynasty, were visible everywhere.
“I heard most of the Lubern Dynasty’s architecture was destroyed after the Holy Empire, making intact relics rare. Scholars would drool over this place.”
The artifacts of the Lubern Dynasty were known for their intricate craftsmanship and practicality, making them highly valuable. Even without enchantments, undamaged relics from that era fetched high prices.
Zeke scrutinized the golem knight leading him.
“A golem that moves so naturally… I didn’t know the Lubern Dynasty’s holy magic could achieve this.”
The Lubern Dynasty expanded its influence through the abilities of its founder, Geo Lubern, and the holy knights empowered by his magic. Geo, inheriting the powers of Claudia Lubern, the Light Mage, could wield potent holy magic, crafting enchanted armaments for his knights. This allowed the dynasty to establish the first Holy Empire.
Zeke addressed the golem.
“Guide, I have a question.”
“Speak, Successor.”
“Were you created by a mage of the Lubern Dynasty?”
The golem replied, “My form was crafted by Hyperion, the Watcher of Dawn from the Silver Clan, but it was Geo Lubern, the Heir of Radiant Light, who awakened my consciousness.”
After the Liberation War, dragons vanished from the central continent. Yet, a dragon-made guardian protecting the sanctuary of the Holy King was astonishing.
“Hyperion, the Watcher of Dawn… Could he be directly linked to the Holy King? I’ll have to ask Hades about this later.”
Another question surfaced in Zeke’s mind.
“Why is there no record of the relationship between Holy King Geo Lubern and Terracan Draker?”
While records confirmed Geo Lubern’s lineage from Claudia Lubern, the Light Mage, there was no mention of his connection to Terracan Draker, the Dragonslayer.
Zeke recalled how the Draker family had deliberately erased records of Terracan.
“Did they erase the connection to hide their own shame? Why does the Draker family harbor so many secrets?”
Despite being his own family, the Draker lineage remained a mystery to Zeke. After their founder, Shaton Draker, they were known as the Absolute Sword Family, but now they were famed as the Dragonslayer family, established by the exiled Terracan Draker.
“Perhaps the Forest of the Forgotten holds the answers.”
Zeke believed the secrets of the Absolute Sword Family might be hidden in the crypt left by Shaton Draker.
The golem knight interrupted his thoughts.
“Successor, we have arrived at the entrance to the Sanctuary.”
Zeke looked up to see a grand door adorned with intricate and lavish decorations.
“Is this where the first Holy King rests?” he asked the golem knight.
“The Heir of Radiant Light has awaited the Successor for a long time.”
The golem’s response was vague, as if it could only answer predetermined questions. Yet, Zeke was satisfied and reached for the door.
[Accessing Administrator System.]
[Verifying Code.]
[Successor’s Code Verified.]
[Opening Portal to the Sanctuary of Radiant Light.]
A white light shimmered, forming a portal instead of opening the door.
“What is this?”
The golem knight explained, “This is the true entrance, accessible only to the rightful Successor.”
Zeke sensed that the Holy King had arranged this for someone, though he couldn’t fathom who.
“For the descendants of Lubern? Or the Draker heirs?”
The Holy King’s intentions were unclear.
“I’ll find out once I enter.”
Zeke stepped into the portal of light.
Surrounded by brilliance, he could barely keep his eyes open. Moments later, he found himself in a completely different space.
“What is this place?”
It was an audience chamber, resplendent with vibrant, multicolored decorations.
Zeke was taken aback by the sudden change of scenery.
“This isn’t part of the ruins.”
He recalled a similar experience when he met the god of war, Tyr, in the inverted tower, and was transported to the hall of Creta Castle.
Someone entered the audience chamber.
Zeke looked up to see a knight clad in armor that shimmered with a mystical glow, striding confidently to the throne.
Though the knight’s face was hidden by a helmet, Zeke had a strong sense of who it was.
“The first Holy King, Geo Lubern.”
Realization struck Zeke, and his eyes widened.
The armor Geo Lubern wore was familiar.
“That armor…”
It was none other than the Hersion of the goddess Theia.
Freed from his brainwashing, Carlito pondered how to escape his predicament.
He decided that rejoining the Emperor’s forces was his best option and obediently followed the hunting dogs’ lead.
As Carlito’s group descended into the catacombs through an underground passage, the entire subterranean space suddenly trembled.
“Damn it.”
He couldn’t tell if something was happening above or if the ground itself was unstable and about to collapse.
With no immediate options, Carlito pressed on with the knights, despite his growing unease.
Some knights began to collapse from exhaustion.
Having marched relentlessly under brainwashing, and with some having used their life force to heal injuries inflicted by cultist magic, their bodies could no longer endure.
“You weaklings! How can you call yourselves knights of the Celestial Bow?”
Carlito ordered the exhausted knights to be left behind and pushed forward.
The priority was to reach the Emperor’s forces and secure an escape route.
Once in a safe area, abandoning the Emperor was an option.
Suddenly, the hunting dogs raised their hands, signaling a halt.
“What is it?”
One of them gestured for silence and whispered, “Something’s behind us.”
Carlito turned to see figures emerging from the darkness.
A chilling growl echoed through the underground space.
The figures were undead soldiers, transformed into ghouls by the cultists’ dark magic.
Undead were not uncommon on battlefields, but these ghouls were faster and stronger than typical zombies.
The ghoul soldiers, once part of the Emperor’s army, had found another entrance and now approached with frenzied eyes.
Carlito cursed, “Damn these monsters!”
He drew his magic sword, ready to unleash a spell, but a hunting dog stopped him in panic.
“Using explosive magic here could cause a dust explosion and collapse the cave!”
Grinding his teeth, Carlito shouted, “Then what are you waiting for? Go and take them down!”
As Carlito retreated, the knights of the Celestial Bow and the hunting dogs engaged the ghouls.
The ghouls attacked with grotesque movements, climbing walls to reach their prey.
The ghoul soldiers lunged at the knights, sinking their teeth into necks and slashing with sharp claws.
“Argh!”
The knights struggled to fend off the ghouls, but no matter how many they stabbed or dismembered, the ghouls clung on relentlessly.
The hunting dogs managed to hold them at bay, throwing daggers and wielding swords to subdue the creatures.
Then, a strange sound came from above.
More ghouls appeared, climbing down from the ceiling.
These new arrivals were clad in knightly armor.
The ghoul knights ambushed from unexpected angles.
“Argh!”
As the knights and hunting dogs were overwhelmed, Carlito drew his magic sword once more.
“Damn it. If they get this far, I’ll hit them with everything I’ve got.”
If push came to shove, he could always release Gillian’s restraints and let him take care of the enemies. But there was no guarantee Gillian would listen to him now that the emperor’s mind control had been broken.
Even under the cult’s influence, Gillian hadn’t followed the emperor’s orders properly, which was why they had to restrain him in the first place. There was a real risk he might turn on Carlito instead.
A guttural roar echoed through the air as more ghouls approached.
Carlito gritted his teeth, ready to draw his enchanted sword, when he heard footsteps behind him.
“Who could that be?”
Out of the shadows emerged a knight clad in blood-stained brass armor. Only the Imperial Guard wore such armor. The knight, holding a sword in one hand and a buckler in the other, brushed past Carlito and raised his weapon.
A brilliant aura blade flared from the knight’s sword. With a swift motion, he cut down not only the ghouls but also the knights and hounds ensnared by them, leaving nothing but scattered remains.
The sudden appearance of the Imperial Guard knight had cleared the ghouls in an instant.
Carlito was taken aback by the unexpected arrival.
“At least a Blue Knight, maybe even a Red Knight…”
As he warily considered why an Imperial Guard knight had shown up, the knight sheathed his sword and approached Carlito.
“Deputy Commander Carlito.”
Carlito quickly composed himself, maintaining the pretense of being under mind control, and shouted, “Where is His Majesty? Take me to him at once! As long as I’m here, those fiends will never harm him!”
Despite Carlito’s exaggerated declaration, the knight remained unfazed. In a calm voice, he said, “His Majesty has summoned you. Bring Commander Gillian and follow me.”
With that, the knight turned and began to walk away.
Carlito’s eyebrows twitched at the knight’s words.
“The emperor wants to see me?”
He couldn’t fathom why the emperor, who had discarded him, would call him back now. Thinking quickly, Carlito realized he had no choice but to follow the knight and rejoin the emperor’s side.
“Whatever’s going on, I’ll stick with the emperor’s men for now and get out of here. At least with the Imperial Guard, I won’t die at the hands of these monsters.”
Carlito glanced at Gillian, who was restrained and following him, his eyes sharp with determination.
“If the emperor tries anything suspicious, I’ll release the commander and use the chaos to escape on my own.”
Carlito was a survivor, adept at navigating any situation to stay alive. With the remaining knights of the Celestial Spear, he followed the Imperial Guard knight.