Episode 362
“Destroyed by the love of the gods?”
Zeke couldn’t quite wrap his head around what Arina was saying.
Seeing his confusion, Arina began to explain in more detail.
“When we talk about history, we often refer to the period after the Liberation War as the Golden Age, and the era of the Hero King Kaishir as the Age of Heroes. If that’s the case, then the time of Carcosa could be called the Age of the Constellations.”
“The Age of the Constellations…”
“Back then, there were more races and cities than there are now. Among them, Carcosa was the city most beloved by the constellations.”
“The love of the constellations?”
“Yes. At that time, the constellations could intervene in the physical world and freely bestow their powers upon those they favored.”
Zeke recalled hearing something similar from Arataso.
“The Box of the Constellations. It was said that the constellations granted their blessings to their chosen avatars.”
Arina continued.
“Solomon was the king of Carcosa. As the king of a city loved by the gods, his power and authority must have been incomparable to any king today.”
Zeke thought of the golden city of Blanca, where Hades had been imprisoned.
Blanca could manipulate karma within the city itself, even subjugating dragons with its power.
If Carcosa was even more powerful than Blanca, then King Solomon would have wielded unimaginable authority.
Arina gestured towards the book in Zeke’s hand as she spoke.
“The apocrypha describe King Solomon as incredibly wise and powerful, even comparable to the constellations themselves.”
“Comparable to the constellations?”
Hearing this, Zeke thought of Solomon’s ring.
“If he could manipulate karma with the city’s power and seal demons within his ring to use their abilities at will… it’s certainly possible.”
“The problem arose after the wise and powerful King Solomon died.”
“What kind of problem?”
“The constellations’ interference grew too great, and those who were loved by them began to use their powers recklessly to fulfill their own desires, plunging the world into chaos. Carcosa, once the largest and most beautiful city, became known as the City of Corruption.”
“The City of Corruption…”
“The atrocities committed by worshippers to gain the constellations’ favor were so horrific that words can’t even describe them.”
She continued.
“Eventually, the Creator’s emissary, unable to bear Carcosa’s corruption any longer, erased the city with the primordial light over seven days.”
“Erased the city?”
“Yes. After that, the world lost Carcosa’s brilliant civilization and had to start anew. However, theologians deny the existence of such an ancient civilization, so this story isn’t included in the current scriptures.”
Carcosa, a city that could manipulate karma.
For such a city to vanish, an entity stronger than an Elder Dragon must have intervened.
Zeke recalled what Tyr had mentioned about the Godslayer.
“The Godslayer who killed the gods for their excessive interference in the world. Later, he fell and became the king of the fallen constellations.”
Zeke asked Arina about the Godslayer.
“Is there anything about the Godslayer in the apocrypha?”
Arina shook her head.
“The Godslayer? I’ve never heard of such a thing.”
It seemed the Godslayer wasn’t mentioned in the apocrypha either.
Then Arina clapped her hands as if she remembered something.
“Oh, maybe it’s in there.”
“In where?”
“In Laura’s notebook. I know it contains things I’ve never heard of.”
“My mother’s notebook?”
Zeke asked Arina.
“Do you know where my mother’s notebook is?”
Arina shook her head with a regretful expression.
“After Laura joined the Draker family, we lost touch. But… I remember her mentioning in passing that she had a hideout in the northern region of Himonas. She might have left the notebook there.”
Zeke pondered the mention of Himonas.
“In Himonas, my mother?”
Currently, a monster legion was advancing over the Ice Mountains towards Himonas.
If Himonas fell to the monsters, Laura Agamemnon’s records might be lost forever.
Zeke now had another reason to go to Himonas.
After sharing more information with Zeke, Arina checked the time and stood up.
“Sir Zeke, I’ll be returning to the academy in the Southern Isles.”
Arina had established an academy in the Southern Isles to help the children rescued from the merfolk and slave traders, as well as the descendants of Luvern.
She wanted to teach and protect the children until they could become independent adults, and Zeke had helped her set it up.
Though the facilities were still lacking, they planned to gradually expand and improve them.
“Are you comfortable there? If you wish, I can establish the academy in Mycenae.”
Arina shook her head.
“No, the island we’ve settled on is spacious, and the children love it. I feel at peace there.”
Arina had spent her life being hunted by the Empire and the Holy Kingdom.
For her, the Southern Isles were a sanctuary where she could finally relax.
Zeke nodded in understanding and spoke to Arina.
“If you need anything, please let me know.”
Arina bowed respectfully to Zeke.
“Thank you, Sir Zeke, for everything you’ve done for us. May the God of Light shine brightly on your path.”
A few days after Arina left, Zeke finally received word from the Four Seasons Castle.
It was the official announcement from the Draker family regarding Zeke’s appointment as a Guardian Knight.
Thud, thud, thud!
Zeke sat in a carriage heading to the Four Seasons Castle.
Across from him sat Duke, who was wearing the Draker uniform for the first time in a while.
Duke looked at Zeke and asked.
“Nervous?”
Zeke shook his head.
“Surprisingly, no. How about you, Master?”
Duke pulled out a flask and took a swig.
“I’m nervous. Damn, my student becoming a Guardian Knight. I never got that honor.”
Not all Black Knights became Guardian Knights.
Conversely, one didn’t have to be a Black Knight to receive the title.
For example, Gareth, the Knight of Scars, was a Red Knight but was appointed as a Guardian Knight due to his influence and achievements as the leader of the Black Wolf Brigade, one of the three major Draker knight orders.
The Guardian Knight title considered not only a knight’s prowess but also their potential as a leader within the family.
The carriage carrying Zeke and Duke entered the Four Seasons Castle.
As they disembarked, they saw the Draker knights lined up in formation from the entrance of the Autumn Palace.
The sight of dozens of knights in uniform was impressive.
As Zeke stepped down, the knights all bowed their heads in greeting.
Even though the title hadn’t been officially bestowed yet, this level of ceremony showed how the family regarded Zeke.
Zeke, accompanied by Duke, was about to enter the Autumn Palace’s hall when a guide approached them.
“Sir Zeke, I’m sorry, but the ceremony isn’t in the hall.”
Most major family events took place in the Autumn Palace.
However, the guide led them to the grand arena outside instead.
It was only upon reaching the arena that Zeke understood why the venue had changed.
The vast arena was filled with a crowd gathered to witness Zeke’s appointment.
The number of attendees far exceeded those present when Abel received his Guardian Knight title, including prominent figures and renowned knights from various kingdoms.
To Zeke’s surprise, even the Sword King, Bernas Draker, who rarely appeared in public, was present.
Seeing Bernas, Duke whispered to Zeke.
“Huh, what’s he doing here? I always told him to drop by if he was bored, but I never thought that old man would actually come.”
Duke, who was familiar with Bernas, was genuinely surprised by his presence.
But Zeke had a hunch about why Bernas was there.
His gaze turned to the platform at the front of the arena.
There sat Kali, clad in silver armor, watching Zeke with a stern expression.
Though not widely known, the Sword King Bernas was Kali Draker’s mentor.
“Whether the Sword King’s presence will be a boon or a bane, I can’t say.”
Zeke slowly crossed the arena towards the platform.
As the most renowned knight on the central continent, Zeke Draker’s presence was unmatched.
His entrance silenced the murmuring crowd, all eyes turning to him.
With confident strides, Zeke approached the platform and looked up at Arthur Draker seated there.
Arthur Draker rose slowly from his seat.
“I thank all the esteemed guests gathered here today!”
After the formal greetings, Arthur Draker got to the main point.
“Thus, the Draker Council of Elders, the Cross Council, and the Guardian Knights’ Council have decided to bestow the title of Guardian Knight upon Zeke Draker!”
With Arthur Draker’s official declaration, Zeke Draker was named a Guardian Knight.
The attendees erupted in applause, offering their blessings to Zeke Draker.
“The Knight of Salvation!”
“Glory to the House of Draker!”
The knights of the Black Sword Order erupted in cheers, celebrating Zeke’s appointment as a guardian knight.
Felix, whistling with excitement, clambered onto Liam’s shoulder and shouted, “My lord! You’re the best! It’s an honor to serve you!”
Everyone laughed at Felix’s boisterous congratulations.
But then, it happened.
Thud!
The Sword King, Bernas, who had been quietly observing the ceremony, suddenly stepped forward.
An imposing figure, with a long scar running from his forehead to his chin, clad in thick leather armor, Bernas exuded an overwhelming presence as he approached Zeke.
Without warning, he drew his sword.
The crowd, taken aback, watched in confusion.
As other knights moved to intervene, Arthur raised a hand to stop them, watching with interest to see how Zeke would respond.
Bernas spoke to Zeke, “Draw your sword, boy.”
At his command, Zeke retrieved the Black Sword Bahamut from his inventory and gripped it firmly.
At Arthur’s signal, the surrounding knights formed a circle around Zeke and Bernas, creating an impromptu arena for their duel.
Zeke couldn’t fathom Bernas’s intentions, but he had no intention of backing down.
‘The Sword King Bernas, one of the continent’s mightiest.’
Zeke dreamed of becoming the strongest on the continent, to roam free. And now, one of those very legends stood before him.
It was a perfect opportunity to test how close he had come to his dream.
The sword in Zeke’s hand hummed with power.
Vroooom!
Hearing Bahamut’s resonant hum, Bernas lowered his own sword. It appeared ordinary and worn, devoid of any aura or energy.
Standing like a noble tree, Bernas remained still as Zeke charged at him.
Whoosh—
“Haah!”
A dark aura enveloped Zeke’s sword as he unleashed his signature move, the Dragon Slayer’s Black Sword Technique.
The dark energy-infused strike descended toward Bernas’s head.
Swish—
Astonishingly, Bernas’s sword sliced through Zeke’s attack effortlessly.
‘What is this?’
Zeke, who had faced countless formidable foes, had never seen his sword’s energy severed like this.
He withdrew, not following up with another strike, and retreated.
Bernas stood unchanged, exuding no discernible energy.
‘It’s not an aura blade, nor an astral sword. He just cut it with a regular sword.’
The idea that an ordinary sword could slice through an aura blade seemed impossible, yet the Sword King had done it.
As Zeke hesitated, Bernas made the next move.
Thud!
He stepped forward, swinging his sword in a simple horizontal slash.
And then, the unbelievable happened.
Zeke’s body was cleanly sliced by the Sword King’s blade.